Before I started quilting I used to make crafts.......

bears, dolls, snowmen, Santa's, elves and just about anything that required fabric and thread...here are a few of my crafts..........I never made just one of any craft...they usually came in 3's...4's...or 5's...or even more!!

this is Annie. I own one and my 2 granddaughters each have one.....and you guessed it....I have 3 UFO's...some have the straight hair and some have yarn loops for hair.



this is Victoria. I've made three and yes three more UFO's.



this is Willard. I've made two and both have been gifted and you got it 2 more UFO's. This one has been a UFO for about 8 years....poor Willard, he does need his coat, scarf and pail of snowballs.



this collection of crafts were all made before I caught the quilting bug!

I also have a dear friend who is a Teddy Bear artist. I have a lot of her bears. I'll show more pictures in future posts. May even post a picture of the bears I've made...and a Teddy Bear artist I'm NOT. She designs her bears under the name Bren's Bears and is from Ontario. She taught me a lot about bear making...hope it all comes back to me when I get to those UFO's. I'm hoping I'll get to see her when we are back to Canada for Christmas.

.....love this bear.  His name is Tristan and he is 10 years old.



I would really like to finish some of my UFO's....I can't call them WIP's as the body parts have been in plastic bins for over 8 years

....sEw there you have it...I'm sorry to say I'm really really BAD at finishing a project before I start another one and I'm finding I'm the same with my quilts.  Do you finish a quilt before you start another?????

I have embroidered 36 snowmen blocks sEw far and have 4 more to embroider and I will have enough blocks to make 4 quilts.  There are 8 snowmen blocks in each quilt. This is quilt #1.  



#2 is just back from the quilters and the binding is almost finished.  I'll be making the 3rd one in the new year and a 4th one when I get the other 4 blocks stitched. 

The other 8 snowman blocks were a giveaway I had earlier in the month. They are now on their way to Karen in Australia.

My New Year's resolution is to......finish SOME of my UFO's...... and I've got LOTS .......
and to start quilting on my Gammill Classic.....wish me luck!

Hugs

Christmas is almost here.....

....and I'm almost ready....in the sewing department that is!

I've just the binding to stitch down on my Snowman quilt. This is the second one I've done. It is the 'Yellow Brick Road' pattern by Terry Atkinson. The blocks are sEw quick and easy...it's just the embroidery that takes the time.  I've got one more blue one to make but that will be in the new year.



....and just a few pictures of what I sewed before I started quilting.



....and a few more...and yes I made more than 1 moose in his robe and flannel boxers.





Wait till you read my next post and you will see how BAD I was....and still am!!
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

MAY 2011 BRING YOU GOOD HEALTH,

HAPPINESS, AND PEACE!

...and the WINNER is.....

To

everyone who entered my giveaway,

to all of you who became a follower

and to Sew Mama Sew for hosting the giveaway

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

and now for the winner

Commenter #1

Karen said

Hi Pauline!
Great to see you in blogland again! This is a very generous give away. Yes, please, I would love to go into the draw. I love these snowman blocks. You have done beautiful work with the stitching.
I have been quilting for about 20 years and I still get frustrated with getting an exact quarter inch seam.

Karen, please send me your mailing address and I'll get it in the mail tomorrow.

Happy stitching
Pauline

Embroidery Giveaway

I am participating in Sew, Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day!!!!

My giveaway is......

.......a set of 8 hand embroidered blocks from the Bird Brain Design's 'Snowmen & Reindeer Blue Work Quilt' pattern.

They are 9 1/2" square blocks. The 'Yellow Brick Road' pattern by Terry Atkinson is a favorite of mine. I used the lap size instructions and added one 9-1/2" embroidered block to each row of the lap size quilt. The lucky winner could make a quilt similar to this or could make them into something completely different.



Here are the individual blocks that will go to a lucky winner....





To enter to win the embroidered blocks simply tell me

'how long you have been quilting' and

'what part of quilting do you least like to do? Is it borders.... binding.... backing etc?

I've been quilting about 9 years. I started January 2002. My least favorite part of quilting is 'adding borders'.

You do not have to become a follower but I would love it if you did follow me.....

Make sure you supply me with an e-mail address so I can contact you......

I will do the random draw on December 17 at 9 p.m. Eastern time.........

This giveaway is open to international bloggers.......and the winner will be drawn after 9:00 pm eastern time, December 17 and will receive an email on Saturday December 18.

I LOVE READING YOUR COMMENTS....they put a smile on my face but during this giveaway I will not be able to reply to the comments unless I can find some extra hours in my day...I still have shopping, sewing, wrapping, baking, cleaning, packing.... you name it I still have to do it before Christmas........I know you will all understand. If anyone can give me a few days with 36 hours I could really use them!!

Now click on my Sew Mama Sew button and check out all the other participants in Sew, Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day. Good Luck everyone!!!!!!!!!

Happy Holidays, good health and happiness in 2011!!
Pauline

Friday Night Sew IN FNSI......and a giveaway

My first Friday Night Sew In was FuN, fUn, FuN. Mama Spark came over as planned and we had our play date.  Our friend Cori (owner of Crazy Quilt Girl Quilt Shop) came for lunch and helped Mama Spark with a bit of unsewing.  Mama Spark was using one of my machines and they always say 'if you start a project try to use the same machine to finish it' as they may give different results.....oh yes they do ......so she had to do a bit of unsewing and Cori helped her with that tedious task that we all hate.....Cori is a sweetie....she came bearing gifts for both of us.....she surprised us both....she is a real sweetie!!!!

I stitched down binding on 2 of Mama Spark's cardinal wall hangings.....5 down and 3 to go....she took them home with her and she has them posted on her blog. Look HERE and read about her FNSI.

I still have 2 more to bind that are similar to this one and a Merry and Bright hanging to bind. Mama Spark said I could pick one.....any one I wanted for me to keep. Which one do you like best?

Here is Merry and Bright.

I also finished these snowmen tea towels

and almost finished the pot holders. Just the binding to do on one. The pot holders were purchased at IKEA. I unsewed the binding and then stitched the red binding on and I like them better. It would have been easier to make my pot holders from scratch. Two of the tea towels came from IKEA too. I'm glad that tea toweling is becoming more available by the yard...40+ years ago when I got married I made myself a set of 7 hand embroidered tea towels. Glad to see it is becoming popular again. I still have them.....and a few are :( looking and pretty thin but still not as thin as the new IKEA ones.

I was hoping to get a binding on a quilt...it is a beast.....I am procrastinating can you tell.....but I will be working on it tonight....promise.

Happy quilting......I'll be posting on Monday and you won't want to miss it!!!!!

Wins and a Giveaway is Coming!!!!!!!

OK....I have been a BAD BAD BLOGGER as it has been almost a month.  This is post #25 and I should be at #125.  First off....my DH is following me around with the Lysol whipes.  Hopefully that will change soon..... I have had enough of feeling crappy.   I've been reading and commenting on a lot of blogs so I have been in blogland just haven't posted on my blog....but if you have been following me you know that already.  There have been lots of giveaways in blogland and I've been a very lucky girl this week. Had a few bursts of energy and attempted to do the happy dance. On Monday I received a yummy win from Anne Sutton at  Bunny Hill Designs. I was the winner of this bit of sweetness. Lily and Will II....3 packs of 2 1/2" square and some taffy.

Then on Monday while sitting with my cuppa and reading my favorite bloggers I found out I was the winner of the Christmas Giveaway at Blue Bird Quilts. It is coming from Australia.....can hardly wait. It is a surprise Christmas gift.....and yes another win......Tuesday night I was reading blogs again and OMG!!!! a third win in one week.....YES I'm now GIDDY in Michigan and not feeling quite sEw crappy.  I won a $25.00 gift certificate on Michelle's blog L7 Quilt Co. The gift certificate is for Desperate Quilters which has an online site. They have some awesome deals!! At some point this week I'm going to buy myself a lottery ticket while I still have that horse shoe......you know where....

Tomorrow I'm having a play date with my BBF Mama Spark.  She is coming over for the day and we are going to sew...sew...sew. I've got my list and I'm hoping to cross a lot off before we drop. Our friend Cori, who is owner of a wonderful on-line shop called Crazy Quilt Girl Fabric Shop, is going to join us for lunch and may stay to do a bit of sewing. You can check out her shop HERE. She has wonderful prices and lots of Moda pre-cuts and yardage.

Mama Spark and I are participating in the FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN...the button to join is on my sidebar. This is my first FNSI but Mama Spark has done it before.  I'm way older than she is but she is the one that always does it first.   No grass grows under that girls feet.  One good thing about being first....she then shows me how it is done..........I gotta love it.   We will be going to the gym at some point during the day........just for a break as we are trying to be good....our weigh-in is Saturday morning. At this point it's not looking too good for me....

I'm going to do a giveaway on Monday December 13.....I hinted about a giveaway in my last post...you know way...way back when.....can you guess what I'm thinking of giving to the lucky winner? Guess my giveaway and leave a comment on this post before Sunday Dec 12 at 6 p.m. Eastern time.  I'll post the prize on Monday Dec. 13 and if you're guess and the prize are the same you'll get an extra chance to win it....Comment again on the Dec 13 giveaway post and you have another chance to win.....2 chances in total.  You won't have to become a follower to win but  I would love it if you did.  Please make sure you have an e-mail address so I can contact you. No-reply e-mails make me SAD. The giveaway will be open to everyone. I try to reply to all comments so PLEASE please PLEASE make sure I have your e-mail.....

See you on Monday !!!!!!!!

Hugs

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!

Do you every have those down days, you are not motivated to do anything, and you never get going.....well guess what I've been that way for a few weeks.  Not sure why but yesterday..... I helped Mama Spark make some pillowcases. From the cutting to the final press we completed 8 pillow cases .... 4 pairs for Christmas gifts in 2 1/2 hours. It made me feel I accomplished something.....Check out her website as I'm sure her blog will have pictures posted, and today, just a compliment from LTW and a new follower has put a smile on my face. OH yes and DH is back from England....that surely put a smile on my face. It is always a relief when his flight has landed safely..... It is nice to have him back home. Always miss him when he is away!!!

And now ..... my newest follower is Madamme Samm. It was like winning a blog giveaway. I am thrilled......Madamme Samm you made my day!!!! THANK YOU....I'm going to try to post more often. I've not been commenting on many of the wonderful blogs I've been reading in the past few weeks either sooo today I changed that....I left a lot of comments. That must have been how Madamme Samm found me....by leaving comments. I read Aunt Polly's Porch blog. Love the owl mug rug. Check out her blog. I did leave a comment on Polly's blog.   I also read Stash Manicure and loved Madamme Samm's guest blogger Holly Mabutas. Holly's blog 'Sprinkles of Thought' is WONDERFUL!!.....I commented and then I had 103 followers!!!!  I wish I was as confident at blogging as I am about doing binding. I've decided to blog more often and say less in each blog.

And now for the compliment.......I love to do the bindings on quilts and I've never thought my bindings were anything special. I've been called the Quilt Police by some and those very same have asked me how I do my binding. I've shown many many quilters.... how I do my binding. They are so appreciative and now love their results. They have even tracked me down at the gym. I've offered to bind quilts for a number of my friends...some with hand issues and some with time issues and guess what....they keep coming back with more quilts..... so they must like my nice crisp mitered corners.



I recently did a binding for my friend, LTW who is a very busy lady....works full time, has a farm with all the farm chores to go along with having animals. She is a long arm quilter (and a good one at that) and she tells me every time I bind a quilt for her "when I grow up I want to be able to do binding like you". She is soooo sweet. She recently quilted a "beast of a quilt" (king size) for a customer. I bound the quilt and this is what her customer emailed her.... "I'll also say your binding work is perfect. I've done a lot of sewing in my life and I can certainly appreciate all the work that went into that hand work." LTW emailed her customer with this "I am so glad you like the way the project came out. I have to confess that a friend of mine did your binding and her work is exquisite! Some day when I grow up, I want to be able to do binding as well as she does!"

Pretty soon I'll be saying to LTW "some day when I grow up, I want to be able to do long arm quilting as well as you do!" Yes, I bought LTW's old .... but new to me.... Gammill.  She's upgraded to the computer guided and I'll be hand guiding.  I'm about to learn long arm quilting and I'm getting pumped.....hope I like it as well as I like doing the binding.

The 'Yellow Brick Road' pattern by Terry Atkinson is a favorite of mine and I've added the 9-1/2" embroidered blocks from Bird Brain Design's 'Snowmen & Reindeer Blue Work Quilt' pattern to the lap size and voila!!!!!!! I've stitched not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 sets of the applique blocks. Only one set has been sewn into a quilt top.  Maybe I should have a give away......what do you think?  Keep following me and there might be a giveaway soon.



Here are some up close blocks......



and this one......




and last but not least.....



Happy quilting and thanks for visiting.....

Pauline

HAD A LITTLE TIME TO DO SOME SEWING THIS WEEK.....

A Halloween schlep bag for Mamaspark....hope she likes it. 



I think I'm going to make one for myself too...it's cut and ready to sew.

Mama Spark is on her way back from NYC and she did meet with Heather Ross on Wednesday afternoon.....Heather was a real sweetie and signed a quilt top I made using her Lightning Bugs line, she signed some fabric pieces and our mesh bags I made using her Mendocino line. I made Heather a bag too and here she is.....isn't this a great picture.....



This quilt will be heading to Afghanistan .......sorry about the shadow....it is a terrible picture but I really like the quilt.  It's quilted with stars and stripes......

It's Amanda Jean's 'Fair and Square" pattern and can be found on her blog.......Crazy Mom Quilts.  The 'Fair and Square' pattern was designed for Margaret's Hope Chest.  This week I also finished the binding on a quilt that Mama Spark made for MHC.   I'm still working on my quilt for MHC.  If you piece the top and send it to MHC they will quilt and bind it. Check out their web site and just maybe you can send them a quilt top or even a completed quilt. The are located Grand Rapids Michigan.



........ and the back of the quilt has lots of space to send messages....still more messages to print......before it is shipped for Christmas.

AND NOW....TWO GIVEAWAYS YOU WILL WANT TO ENTER..............

There is a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Fat Eighth  Bundle give away at Green Fairy Quilts.  Click HERE to enter.

Judi aka The Green Fairy will announce the winner on October 25.  Good Luck!!!

and the other giveaway

  

It's a "BLISS" FQ Bundle at Little Bluebell.  Click HERE to enter.

Adrianna aka Little Bluebell will announce the winner on November 3 after she returns from Quilt Market. 

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Have a wonderful weekend...... 

Pauline

I Won..........in the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway!!!!............and another GO Giveaway

Yippee I won my first giveaway as a blogger in the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway!!!!

I won a pattern by Debbie Grifka called "Traffic Pattern" from Aspen Hill. I saw the quilt hanging at the GAAQG quilt show this summer and almost bought it.


My BFF Mama Spark has left for New York. She and her sweet DH invited me to go and my sweet DH said I could if I wanted to. Her DH has flight school and she is going to do some sightseeing and visit with a friend who used to live in Michigan......she is also meeting up with the one and only HEATHER ROSS........the great designer of Lightning Bugs.... Mendocino...... Far Far Away..... Far Far Away II to mention a few. Her Munki Munki line is awesome!!! I really really wanted to say yes I'll go but I have so much yard work....house work.....windows to clean before the winter sets in I said .....maybe next year when he goes back to flight school I will be able to go....and just maybe Heather will meet with us again......I can only dream.

I did make a few of these bags this week after Mama Spark found out she was going to meet with Heather at The Purl Soho.......one is for Heather, one is for Mama Spark and one is for me......Maybe.... just maybe Heather will sign our bags.

and a little something to put in Heather's bag .... a hand embroidered tea towel. It is a free design available at Bird Brain Designs.

and a jar of my raspberry jelly with blueberries ......hope she likes it...

The fabric in the bag is from the Lightning Bugs line.  Just look what I still have in my stash that was designed by Heather.


I have the banana seat bicycle in the white background too.....luv it.

They are all from the Lightning Bugs line.  Heather had a studio sale a few months ago and the sale lasted less than an hour.....before a STUDIO SALE SOLD OUT appeared on her blog.   It is like a mystery sale.....not sure what will be in my box that should be arriving sometime this week. I'm so excited.  My DGD1's new bedroom is decorated with Mendocino.  Her 2 twin beds are painted aqua and the quilts have all the prints from Mendocino line.  I'll take pictures and post them after they are quilted ......hopefully by Christmas.

AccuQuilt Giveaway at Alderwood Quilts.

The winner will be selected on November 1st. 

Good Luck Everyone!!!!

Please visit again.  Pauline

FALL-INTO-FALL WINNERS ARE.........

I HAVE 2 WINNERS.........

I would like to thank everyone that participated in my Fall-into-Fall Giveaway.  I appreciate all your comments and hope you visit again. It was a fun time.

I used random.org and at 12:30 a.m. last night I couldn't figure out how to copy the results to my blog.  I've still got a lot of learning.....anyway

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO

.......comment #15..........Crazyquiltgirl

I feel like I am a winner too... because I now have 100 blogging friends aka followers.
As promised I had a second drawing....... and the winner of the Christmas Schlep bag is

......comment #104...........Living4quilting

The winners have been sent an email

Thank you again and have a wonderful day!!!!

Last Call for the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter my Fall-into-Fall Giveaway.  My giveaway will remain open until midnight EST Friday October 15 and I will announce the winner Saturday morning.  If your comment contained a NO-REPLY-comment@blogger.com email address you are not entered into the giveaway. I have received a number of NO-REPLY comments.  Remember......I must have an e-mail address to contact you.

Only comments on my October 1st posting will count in this giveaway. 

Click here to go directly to my October 1 posting to leave a comment.

Still hoping to get 100 followers before the giveaway ends......only need 3 more followers .....for a second drawing.  This is the schlep bag for the second drawing......100 followers and you could be the lucky winner.





My giveaway is open to CANADA and the UNITED STATES only.

Good Luck every one....I appreciate all comments and if I haven't replied to your comments....hopefully I will get to them tomorrow .

Hugs

Giveaways are fun!!

It's a McCalls Magazine giveaway at Molly's Place.

Giveaway ends soon.....don't know when .....that's just what Molly said.

Go here to enter...... 

Good luck!!!!

............................................................................................

It's a BLISS Layer cake and a Thimble Blossoms Pattern giveaway at Crazyquiltgirl Fabric Shop.

Giveaway ends October 15 and is part of  Fall-into-Fall Giveaway.

Cori has an online quilt shop offering excellent prices and customer service.

Go here to enter.....

Good luck!!!!

Come back soon.......

Don't forget to enter my Fall-into-Fall Giveaway!!

I've received a lot of encouraging comments and to all of you that have commented.... THANK YOU....you know who you are...they are great confidence builders to a new blogger. You've put a smile on my face.

Now.....if you haven't left me a comment you don't have the opportunity to be in the drawing. Remember....just 1 comment..... could make you the lucky winner. It is real simple....just leave an encouraging comment to a new blogger...that's me....will get you one chance to win. For a second chance become a follower and if you choose to follow me leave me a second comment telling me "I'm a new follower" and you are in the draw twice. Becoming a follower is not necessary....follow only if you want to....hopefully some day my blogs or comments will but a smile on someone's face. If I reach the 100th follower I will be having a second drawing.........a Christmas Schlep bag.

Comment here .....easy peasy.

I'm a little behind but I am replying to everyone that comments. If your comment contained a NO-REPLY-comment@blogger.com email address you are not entered into the giveaway. I've had a number of NO-REPLY comments. Please comment again and include an email address with your comment. I do require a return e-mail address to contact you. Good Luck everyone.....October 15th is fast approaching.

This drawing is open to US and Canada only. Good Luck everyone!!!

Double the fun.....if you like this giveaway visit Mamaspark's blog and enter her's too......Note....and she does apologize....Mamaspark's giveaway is for US only.



It's a Halloween schlep bag and inside you will find a Halloween quilt kit.... finished size will be 48" x 68".....it comes with an autographed pattern by Amanda Jean from Crazy Mom Quilts. There is enough fabric for the top and binding and a little surprise will be included.

I still have a lot of the giveaway blogs to visit.....and to leave a comment on. One thing I've discovered about blogging.........it takes a lot of time and thought....not much sewing getting done here.

Good Luck to everyone participating in the 150+ giveaways.

Before you leave......I had a request for a PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE recipe that I received from a friend. This is for you Wendy and anyone else who loves Pumpkin Cheesecake.....with Kahlua.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
(From Sebastian's Grill in Troy 1991)

Crust

2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1 T Flour
8 T Melted butter (approx 4 oz or 1/4 cup
1-1/2 T sugar

Melt butter. Pour butter into dry ingredients.
Mix well. Press into a greased 8" spring form pan.

Cheese Cake Filling

1 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Pumpkin (approx. 8 oz)
1 yolk
1/4 t cinnamon
1/4 t all spice

Mix all together and set aside.

2 lbs cream cheese (4 pkgs.)
2-1/2 cups sugar
1 T Cornstarch
2 yolks
2 eggs
2 T heavy whipping cream
1/4 t lemon juice
1/4 t orange juice
1 T Kahlua

Soften cream cheese. Add sugar and cornstarch. Scrape down bowl. Mix again until all lumps are gone. Add liquid ingredients and eggs until combined. Add pumpkin mixture, then pour into prepared pan.

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Turn and finish baking at 350 for 1/2 hour. It won't be completely set. Allow to cool on the counter and then finish setting in the refrigerator. Works well to make it about 48 hours before you want to serve it.

If using a dark pan bake the hour at 300 but then at 325 for 1/2 hour or perhaps a bit more.

Sorry no picture....not baking.....weigh in didn't go too good this morning....up 0.2 lbs....I'm telling myself it's muscle as muscle is heavier than fat. Enjoy!!!

Visit again soon......

Fall-into-fall Giveaway

Thank you for visiting........

This post was edited Friday afternoon October 1st.....I've decided to extend the giveaway to current followers or new followers from Canada.

This is the day we have been waiting for.......let the fun begin.  Click on the scarecrow button and find all the giveaway bloggers that are participating.

I'm a new blogger and this is my first giveaway.  I'm hoping you like it.

If you like Halloween you will love it.

If you like Amanda Jean's designs from Crazy Mom Quilts you will love it and .......an autographed pattern "Fair and Square" by Amanda Jean is included. Thanks bunches Amanda Jean.

It is a Halloween quilt kit that includes all fabric for the top and binding.  It measures 48" x 66" and the backgound fabric is Kona Black.

This quilt kit is packaged in a quilted Halloween Schlep bag made by me. They are wonderful bags. If you win this giveaway you will want a different bag for every season....I love the Christmas ones. Go shopping and someone at the checkout is likely to say "did you make your bag"? They are fun to make and I've made many.........

Also included will be a Halloween surprise.

To enter the giveaway.........

...........leave an encouraging comment for a new blogger saying why you love blogland and you will get 1 chance to win. Comments short and sweet are OK.

...........leave a 2nd comment telling me you are a follower already and if you have left me a comment in a past post.  It doesn't matter if you say no.  You will still get a 2nd entry just because you are a follower already.  BOO HOO I only had 13 followers at the start of this giveaway.   Future comments are always welcome.

..........if you become a new follower you will get a 2nd chance but you must leave a separate comment telling me you are a new follower and hopefully you will leave me a comment in the future.  Short and sweet ones are great.

.........for a 3rd chance visit Mama Spark's blog, click on the Star Quilt Button  on the top left.  One click and it takes you directly to her quilt and the voting page.   Come back to my blog and tell me what # her quilt is.  There are 15 finalists in the contest and it closes on October 4....so if you want to vote for her do it before then.  You will get a 3rd chance just by leaving a comment on this blog telling me what # her quilt is.

If I reach 100 followers from this giveaway I'll draw a second giveaway......a Christmas Schlep Bag.

......... Mama Spark has a Fall-into-fall Giveaway for you and if you love this one you are going to love hers too.   Most times I call her Pam.......sometimes Mama Spark and in the few blogs I've written I usually call her TAP...... and it stands for "The Amazing Pam".  Become a follower and you will know why....she is amazing.  She has introduced me to this wonderful world of blogging.  Thank you TAP.

If you are the winner...I must be able to contact with you. Make sure your email address is valid and available in your blog ........if you do not have a blog.... include your email address in all your comments.  If I can not contact you I will have to draw another name.

Now for the last part of business.  I'm sorry to say that for this giveaway I am going to limit it to the US only.   I have decided to extend the giveaway to anyone living in Canada......but you must be a follower already or become a new follower to be able to win.  If you have commented already and you are feeling sad......... follow the instructions above and you will get 3 chances to win too.   I am new at this.... so please bear with me..... and please come back and visit me again......... Thank you to everyone in blogland for all your encouragement.

Hugs

Are you ready for the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway?

Thanks for stopping by........

Wednesday I had a busy schedule

......baked these muffins in the morning.......in the oven by 6:45 a.m. It is the recipe from my previous post.



I had 2 quilt outings yesterday......at the morning outing I worked on a binding for Mama Spark's Curious George quilt. I finished it last night when I had the another quilt outing.

Yes I joined the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway.......what was I thinking.........not sure what I got myself into.  I'd been  throwing ideas around in my head for a week or so now.......day and night I'd been trying to come up with something that you would really want to win........I shared my ideas with Mama Spark.  She just loved the last idea I suggested and we decided we should do the same giveaway.  Mama Spark loves Halloween. (That's a hint) We hope you love it too.  We worked on it last night and are ready for tomorrow......when all the awesome giveaways are revealed.

Between quilt outings I managed to get some dusting and vacuuming done. Finally a few less dust bunnies......in all it was a very productive day.......I didn't get to the gym but did 20 minutes on the treadmill at home.

Today I spent a good part of my day blog hopping.  Heather Ross had a studio sale a few weeks ago and today I got an email from her..........my box of goodies will be shipped in about a week.  I am sooooo excited.  It will be like Christmas in October when the box arrives. We don't know what we will be getting.  We gave Heather a few guide lines as to what we would like .....fabric......crafts.....drawings.....stationery.....our order form had a list of things Heather had available for sale.  The less specific we were the better chance we had of having our order filled.  Not even sure what I ordered......I know fabric and fabric scrap bags were 2 of the things but what fabric is coming I don't know..... and you know what...... as long as it was designed by Heather Ross I'll take it...........The sale was over so fast...... lasted less than 30 minutes and she sent a posting on her blog.......... STUDIO SALE SOLD OUT!!  We didn't really have time to think too long.  I love her fabric and so does my DDIL.  Heather is making this so much fun.  I wish my DDIL (she lives in Canada) could be here to open it with me.

Please visit me tomorrow for the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway.

Till tomorrow

I'm ready to give up on blogging

Thanks for stopping by.......

I tried to put some pictures in my last blog but every time I tried to insert a picture my spacing would get all messed up.  I must be doing something wrong.  Hopefully some day I will be able to blog like a pro.....don't laugh.....so I decided to  just do another post.  This blogging does frustrate me but I will not give up!!!!!!!!!!!

The following quilts were hung at the Belleville quilt show......I did have more quilts entered but my pictures are ..... should I say ...... not very good ..... a photographer I'm not.  I do have lots to work on.....blogging and now picture taking......

This picture is my DGD1's Bugs and Critters quilt. It was the first applique quilt I'd made and I made a second one as a graduation gift for a friend's daughter.  Katie wanted something cheery.

The second picture is my first attempt at a one block wonder.  It is quilted with gold metalic thread. I really liked how it turned out.  Thank you Sharie for all your help.  It took me 3 years to finish.



This was a mystery quilt pattern and since I like 30's I thought I couldn't go wrong using 30's fabrics.



That's it for quilt pictures.  OMG my pictures need help.

I really liked my pattern purchases at the Novi Sewing Expo.  Two of the patterns are from the line  It's a Jungle Out There are from Sew Wonderful Dreams  Check out their website here.  MamaSpark bought the one with the zebra and the tiger.  It is tooooooo cute too.  Snow Folks is a great pattern if you are into making tea towels.

The other pattern company I really like was Country Faces.  My photos didn't turn out very well as there was a lot of glare.  Their patterns are adorable.  

OMG!!!!!..........2 posts in 2 days.  Please, please leave a comment.  I need the encouragement.  I  am planning to join the Fall into Fall Giveaway on October 1st.  I think I've got a great giveaway planned but I have to figure out how to grab the scarecrow button and add it to my blog.    I'm going to go make dinner now and work on that scarecrow button later.  I may be calling for help later.  

Happy quilting.......

3 Giveaways and More

The muffin recipe is a great one and one that allows you to have the fresh batter in the fridge for fresh muffins every morning for a week or more.  The recipe makes 5 dozen good size muffins.  I add lots of walnuts and raisins too. 

Ever-Ready Bran Muffins

5       cups all-purpose flour
5       teaspoons baking soda
2       cups brown sugar
3       cups natural bran
3       cups all-bran cereal
2       cups golden raisins
3       eggs
1       cup vegetable oil
1/4    cup molasses
1       quart lowfat buttermilk
1 1/2  cup water

Combine flour, soda, salt, sugar, bran, raisins into a large bowl.  Set aside.  Whisk eggs with oil and molasses in a large mixing bowl.  Beat in milk and water.  Pour into dry ingredients and stir until well mixed.  Cover tightly and keep refrigerated.  To bake stir cold batter and fill greases tins.  I usually use paper cups.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 23 minutes.

Note:  The original recipe calls for 5 cups all-purpose flour but I use only 3 cups all purpose and 2 cups of whole wheat.  I used to use spelt flour a lot years ago.  It is so much better for you than the all-purpose.  You can substitute some of the oil with apple sauce.  I will add fresh blueberries, cranberries, cherries to the batter just before I bake them.  I don't like the fresh fruits sitting in the batter for too many days.  Dates are good too.  Let the batter sit in the fridge at least 1 day.  I find it makes a moister muffin.  Enjoy!

It's a give away

Honey Bun Giveaway  

Moda HONEY BUN
from Blackbird Designs
called
BEACH HOUSE

Go to Lana's blog and enter she would love to hear from you.  The drawing ends September 27th.  Good Luck everyone.

It's 9:14 and I have a hair app't at 9:30 so I have to R U N no F L Y or I'll be late.  No I AM late.  I'll be back later in the day.

Hugs

Awesome Giveaway

Head  over to visit Lori Holt (Bee in my Bonnet) and enter to win one of her new Paper Dolls patterns.  Lori is giving away 3 patterns. 



 Good luck everyone.

Till later

 

Summer's End

With summer almost over I'm going to try to get back into a routine.    I've put on about 10 pounds this summer so I'm definitely going to take them off and a few more.  I've joined a weight loss challenge again and will be exercising more and eating less.  The eating less will be the hard part.  Wish me luck.  I'm also going to try to complete some of my quilting UFO's and to blog more.  It has been a busy summer with out-of-town guests.  Just today my  DGS went back to Canada after spending a week with us.  He is a very busy 5 year old.  It was non stop chatter and wanting my attention and that was OK............the house is very very quiet right now.  We didn't make it to LTW's farm but we did spend Friday at the Toledo Zoo.  It was a perfect day.



On Monday DGS went to the gym with me.  They have a few set times during the week that they offer child care so Moms and Nanas can work out.  This past week, he also did some sewing,

 

we went to the water park,  did some shopping.........Target is his favorite store.......and no he didn't get everything he asked for..... he played soccer and went bike riding with his  Bompa.  In all it was a good week.  This year was the first time I had all three grandkids stay with us for a week........of course they had their own week just could not do all three at once.  It is definitely a lot more exhausting having them 24/7 at age 60+ than at 30+.   It was one on one with Nana and Bompa.  All three weeks there were trying times but hopefully cherished memories and we can do it again next year.

I've not been very lucky ....... but I will keep trying .......that is......... to win an Accuquilt GO Cutter.  There seems to be a lot of Accuquilt giveaways lately.  Lots of lucky winners.  Congratulations to Paulette at The Painted Quilt as she just won some dies.  Check out her blog it is wonderful.  She blogged about Amanda's giveaway at The Quilted Fish.  Amanda has a brand new studio........it's gorgeous and she having a giveaway to celebrate.

There is an Accuquilt giveaway at I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts.  Check out Ryan's blog.  The giveaway ends tonight, Sunday September 5.  You may be the lucky winner.  Good Luck everyone.

Hugs

3rd GO Cutter Give Away

Go over to Heathers's blog.  She is giving away a GO Cutter and 3 dies.  Fabulous giveaway thanks to Accuquilt and Heather. Can you tell.........I'm on a mission to win one of these Accuquilt Cutters.  I have 2 dies but NO cutter.

Good Luck everyone.

Another GO Give Away

Please visit Paulette's blog.  She is giving away a GO cutter.

She also has a tutorial for a scrappy quilt using only the 1 1/2” and the 2 1/2” strip cutter.   She only uses a ruler and rotary cutter for squaring up her blocks…I have a lot of homespun cottons and will have to add it to my .......to do list.

Good luck everyone.

Give Away

Visit Canton Village Quilt Works and you will be glad you did.  Jackie is giving away a GO Cutter.  The Give Away closes August 26 so you have lots of time to leave a comment.  Good luck everyone.  It just so happened that my GF let me borrow her GO Cutter to show my Dsister, Dnieces and Dfriend how to cut with this wonderful machine when they were visiting for 4 days this week.  I've purchased a few of the dies ......hoping some day......... I will own a GO Cutter.  It is on my Christmas wish list.  I would luv to win. 
 
I had a great 4 days with my Dsister, Dnieces and Dfriend.  Their visit always goes by far too quickly.  I will post about it later.  


Have a great weekend.

Hugs

Miss Personality or Miss Attitude?

Just wanted to share this picture with you of DGD2.  No.....She is not eating a lemon or a grapefruit as you would think.  This is the face she makes if she doesn't know you and really doesn't want to get to know you.  She must be thinking ........if I can't see you ........you will go away and I won't have to deal with you.  She really is cute........really she is.



Tracing her embroidery pattern on fabric is DGD1.  She thought the light box was real cool.  She tells me......."Nana some day I'm going to be a designer and I'm going to live in Hollywood."   Please not Hollywood........ At age 7 she is already a fashion diva.  She loves to draw and dance.  She is wearing a pair of my Dollar store glasses, red with white polka dots .......they're a little big.  I popped the lenses out and she thought she looked like a designer.    

My 5 year old DGS was shopping the other day and saw a quilted teddy bear.   My DDIL said to him "Nana would be able to make one.  She makes bears and quilts."  When he got home he  phoned me........full of excitement....... to see if I would make him a quilted teddy bear.   Hopefully, when he comes for his vacation week at the end of August we will be finishing a quilted bear. 

I've no current picture of DGS but will take some and share with you after his week's vacation with us.  He is a real charmer.   Now I have to remember to take my camera with me everywhere I go.  We will take a trip to LTW's farm.........I know he will love that.  Not sure what else we will do to make his vacation exciting for him but I still have some time to think about that.  Shopping at Target will also be a must.


Can't believe summer is almost over...........I'm looking forward to some cooler days.  I just don't handle the heat very well even with my weight loss.  It has been a hot summer in Michigan.  They say it is the hottest summer on record . 

Just another uneventful day.........and that is good.  I went to the gym this morning, did some grocery shopping, sent a few email, went to lunch with TAP, did some vacuuming and dusting........no sewing.  Picked some purple and green beans from the garden for dinner.   Still have lots more to pick.  Next week when my Dsister, my Dnieces and my Dfriend are here for their quilting/shopping visit I think I'm going to have stuffed meatloaf for dinner one night served with fresh beans and a salad.  We had this stuffed meatloaf when we were on vacation in Hershey Pennsylvania in the spring.   It was sooooo yummy.    I made it using my own meatloaf recipe layered with mashed potatoes.  It was topped with sauteed sweet peppers and sweet onions and then with gravy.  It was just as good as the restaurant version.   My creation is pictured below.
I

My tomatoes are going nuts, with this heat you can watch them ripen before your eyes.  I'll have to make some chili sauce for sure...........I use peaches and no green peppers .    It's another day of 90 degree weather.  We are short on rain this month so I will have to water the garden tonight.  


Don't forget to email your pet photos to info@bunnyhilldesigns.com  as the giveaway ends August 14th ..........and it is one you really want to enter........it is fabulous.  Thank you Anne. 
Good luck everyone.

Have a great evening and thanks for visiting.  Blogging is getting better.

Hugs

A Little Bit of This and That.

I'm back after a lull in my blogging.  Please don't give up on me.  I do hope blogging gets easier.

Our computer crashed July 31 and now I've forgotten everything I knew 2 weeks ago about inserting pictures. 

This is a busy week.  I'm still  going to the gym everyday, trying to get some sewing done and I also I have to move some of my stash so I can make room  for my........ new to me ......Gammill longarm.  I also have to do some major cleaning to get  ready for my annual Quilting and Shopping weekend with my Dsister, my 2Dnieces and a Dfriend.  They will  arrive from Canada Monday around lunch time and the fun begins..... I think this is year # 5.  We'll start with lunch......chicken salad with red grapes or egg salad (farm fresh eggs from LTW's farm) on toasted bagels....they are everyones favorites, some veggies and dip and something sweet.   Monday afternoon will probably be a shopping day  and we'll sew on Tuesday and Wednesday.   My BFF TAP is going to take a  vacation day from her real job to join us on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I try to show them a new technique or give them a little project to work on.  We've made shlep bags, pillowcases, crayon bags, and appliqued tea towels.  This year I'm going to show them how to string piece a block ( the blocks will be for a quilt TAP is working on.....I promised I would help her) and then we are going to make cup cake oven mitts.  If we have time I would like to do some hand embroidery on a tea towel.   Thank you to Kaaren at The Painted Quilt for her free 5 cent apple pie pattern.  I luv Kaaren's  blog.  She has a lot of free patterns and has a new .........Raggedy & Friends BOM.  It's embroidery and its free.  Check her blog out and you will be glad you did and guess what........... she is from Ontario.   

Speaking of hand embroidery, I've been working on two Crabapple Hill patterns.  I've only two embroidery blocks left to stitch for the Winter Wonderland quilt.......and they are the biggest block.   I luv how the blocks are turning out.   Here are a few pictures of the ones I have finished.

 

I'm also working on Over the River Through the Woods.  It's a lot of starts and stops but luving it too.  Sorry no pictures yet.  I'm planning to start tracing Rabbits Prefer Embroidery by Bunny Hill Designs  next week.  I'll be stitching with a medium brown floss and piecing my blocks in tans, browns and reds.  I'll post pictures after they are stitched.

Take a minute and visit Bunny Tales and check out Anne's blog .  It is another favorite blogs I follow.  She has an awesome giveaway.  To enter send an email  with a photo of your pet to info@bunnyhilldesigns.com .  Email before August 14th ......oh....... so many wonderful pet photos.    Sure would like to win that basket of goodies.  Our family had a wonderful little dog.  His name was Bennie and he was the best.  We had 13 years with Bennie before he got his angel wings.  Still miss him.

Also visit  MakelifeSweet and leave a comment.  They are offering a great giveaway too.

Thanks to my DH ............I've got pictures to share and I've spent about 4 hours blogging.  Is there anyone out there that can find me a few extra hours in my days.


Hugs

Hollywood...Here I Come

DGD2  is Miss Personality.  She cracks me up.  She loves her sunglasses, sometimes they are on upside down, her baby (she takes this baby everywhere, it has no clothes and no name) and she is usually carrying not 1, not 2 but multiple bags filled with all her little treasures.    She spent a week with us the beginning of July.  Every moment was precious.    Now I'll have to remember to take my camera with me everywhere.  I missed the photo of a lifetime. 

Picture this......my little 2 year old DGD2 , in her nightie, hair do.......I'll just say it was a BAD HAIR MORNING........with her rain boots on the wrong feet ....... her sunglasses on upside down .....sitting in her miniature arm chair with bags/purses on both arms ..... hugging her bare baby .......  her doll stroller is parked beside her arm chair with more bags/purses hung on the stroller handles........and she has a mesmerized look on her face while she is watching Dora.  She was totally focused on Dora.

I'll have to try to recreate this picture next time we go back to Canada.  It was hilarious.

This is a quilt I made for a friend's SIL who came to visit us in June for the Brooklyn MI NASCAR weekend.  It is a string quilt and I made a red, white and blue pillow case too.   I'm short and he is tall.  He is on leave until October and it is the second time the SIL has been able to come.  Since 2004 we've had a NASCAR weekend with family and friends in June.  They come from Canada on Friday and leave Sunday around 7 p.mish.  This year 8 arrived for a weekend of NASCAR, shopping, and quilting. If the Brooklyn race is on Fathers Day weekend we have a fantastic fireworks display.   Canton Michigan's Liberty Fest is always on Fathers Day and they feature the best fireworks display.  We've hosted anywhere from 8 to 13 family/friends for the weekend .   I really enjoy the weekend and look forward to it every year.  I've never gone to the races..... I prefer the shopping and quilting.  I'm so glad I was able to get the quilt done and loved how it turned out.   I asked him if he would be taking it to Afganistan and he said "O yes".  He was thrilled totally surprised.  He immediately called his wife in New York.  He is American and married a Canadian girl. 

That something special I wanted to share with you will have to wait until my next post.  Sorry.  I'll have to wait until TAP returns from Grand Rapids.  I want to link to this special someones blog and for some reason it just isn't working for me.   If I get it to work before TAP returns  I'll do another post before Monday.   I am amazed I've completed another post, I thought it would be way way way over my head.  I'm loving it but have to find a way to get 36 hours in my day. 

Hugs