GO Giveaway

Ryan at I'm Just a Guy Who Quilts is holding a GO! Giveaway.  Pop on over & check out the details.

The Cost of Stubborn

My Life Lesson for Today - The Cost of Stubborn

1) Spend hours squaring up quilted pieces OR
2) Order the 1/4" foot for my Kenmore for $9.99 plus shipping

Hmmmm ... option 1 used up considerable time and caused great frustration.  I do wonder why $9.99 plus shipping sounded way too expensive earlier today. I think the game plan had something to do with learning to quilt before investing in the equipment ... well, I have been sewing since childhood and ... Stubborn is the best description I can come up with. Looking back it sounds like trying to bake a cake without the ingredients. Now that I have used up considerable time and been greatly frustrated I have ordered the 1/4" foot! It is due to arrive 09/09/10, which fits my schedule perfectly, since I have a trip to Mississippi planned and am scheduled to work next weekend. Live and learn.

Happy Quilting!

So Sew Crafty just joined a Blog Hop - Check it out! Sorry but the Linky Links had to go - they were taking forever to load. Enjoyed the Blog Hop. Now it is over.

Sneak Preview & A Great Giveaway

Perfection it is not BUT I am pleased with the result. Took me all day - cutting even simple triangles from a Moda Charm pack requires intense effort on my part.  I will get better.  I will get quicker.  I will get more confident.  Time takes time!  There is actually more of my all day effort.  This is all I am showing for now.  The fabric is Awesome designed by Sandy Gervais for Moda.

I have truly enjoyed my day.

Hooked on Needles is having a Great Giveaway.  Hop on over and get the details.  Be sure to congratulate on 600 posts - a Blog Anniversary!  Look for the August 21st post.  Winners will be drawn August 31st.

HAPPY QUILTING, TO ALL!

Silver Thimble Talk's Giveaway, Quilt Hollow's GO! Giveaway & Cleaning, Planning, Scheming!

Pat of Silver Thimble Talk (I love her blog name!) has let the cat out of the bag. She is writing a BOOK! due for publication next fall. Head on over to her blog and get the details direct from her. This is Sooo Exciting!  To celebrate Pat is holding a fabulous giveaway - called The Cat is OUT of the Bag! - very simple rules - very wonderful winnings - be sure to check it out and Congratulate Pat on the BOOK!

And, another GO! giveaway. Go to Quilt Hollow to enter ... or perhaps don't, so I can win it (Just kidding - head on over).

Spent the weekend cleaning, planning and scheming.  The apartment got an old fashioned spring cleaning - even if it is August in Florida and hot as blue blazes!  Poor Cha Cha cat spent considerable time hiding under the bed.  She has an unreasonable fear of the vacuum, broom, clothes hamper, even the dusting cloth.  I think perhaps she is plain lazy and hides to avoid being asked to contribute to the effort!  The planning and scheming was in preparation for the F-R-I-E-N-D-S Swap Khris at Sew Prim Khris is sponsoring.  My New Friend is Leanne of Stitch Selection. She lives way over in Australia.  I hear they have kangaroos!

Go Cutter Giveaway

Paulette at Sweep P Quilting and Creating has a Go Cutter giveaway going on.  Pop over to her blog and enter.  May the best quilter win!

Go Giveaway, Fabric Shopping & Dreams

Jackie over at Canton Village Quilt Works is having a giveaway - Go Cutter  from AccuQuilt.  Head on over and check out the details. Then go to the AccuQuilt site to check out all the possibilities the Go Cutter offers.  Jackie's contest ends at midnight Eastern Time on August 26, 2010. The complete rules can be found at Jackie's blog - just click the link above. Good luck to all!

Joann Fabrics had a Sale! yesterday.  Check out my colorful fabric additions.  I have gotten the quilting "bug".  I'm planning a strip throw for a 7 year old.  Perfect for Christmas.  Actually I am dreaming of a handmade quilted Christmas for the family.  We'll see - the cutting takes me ages.

Happy blogging quilting to all.

PROGRESS!!

A quilt top 42" by 42" - no fancy pieces - just colorful squares and stripes.  But...for an Old Gal, who hasn't done much sewing in years, struggled with the cutting and found the scant 1/4" seams maddening (I'm programmed to the 5/8" used in clothing) this quilt top is not bad.  Honestly, I am pleased with the result so far.  I love the colorful fabric!

Tomorrow I'll get it squared up and ready for quilting.  That may be a bit ambitious.  I do have some serious ironing left.  I can dream! 

I'm thinking the quilt name will be Sunshine Zoo. 

Happy quilting to all!  I believe I will unwind with a wee bit of TV before bed.

Not a Cat Picture!

Baby quilt top ALL cut out.  New blade in the rotary cutter cuts like butter .... comes out straight as long as the cutter holds the ruler in line. Those 2 1/2" strips wore me out! I cannot even imagine doing the cutting with scissors.  Tomorrow I sew - my favorite part!

Cha Cha

This is what Cha Cha cat thinks of the charged camera.  She refuses to look when called even to the mention of FISH.  I must get to quilting so I have a new subject for the camera. 

The plan is to finish cutting out the baby quilt after work.  Then perhaps I can quit boring myself with uninterested cat photos.  Good day to all!

Another Great Giveaway

Rush on over to Jay Birds Quilts and check out the giveaway - fat quarter bundle - Pure by Sweetwater - from  The Fat Quarter Shop.  There are 5 opportunities to win.  The instructions are simple.  Good luck to all! 

The camera is on the second of three scheduled new battery charges.  Hopefully, by the weekend it will be ready to go.  The timing will be great.  I have a partially cut out baby quilt top ... with luck I can post with pictures some real progress. 

A great Thanks!!! to all you experienced quilters who blog and share so beautifully.  I'm learning lots.

Sew Many Ways...: Accuquilt Go Give Away...Let's Go, Go, Go

Sew Many Ways...: Accuquilt Go Give Away...Let's Go, Go, Go

Karen at Sew Many Ways has a fantastic giveaway ... Go Cutter! Click on the link above. Read the simple instructions. Follow them... and who know you could be the Lucky Winner (unless I am)! Of course, should you win I hope you live close to me because I might need to drop by and borrow it. Pop on over and enter. You will find Karen's blog well worth the trip. Have a nice evening!

Camera Battery & Comment Moderation

Finally got a new camera battery.  It is charging for the first of three charges the nice man said had to happen before I used the camera.  Silly me thought I could plop it in and it would magically work.  Actually, I knew better but ... we the magical part was on my wish list.

While updating the picture on the blogs I follow, it came to my attention that "comment moderation" meant I had to take an action before the comments would appear on my blog.  No magic here either?  Oh, well I do apologize to my friends who were gracious enough to post on my blog.  I will be more on the ball next go around.

Tomorrow - pictures!

Okay, I absolutely had to cheat on the charging.  Here are a couple of Cha Cha cat pictures from the partially charged battery.

Not great shots.  The couch truly has much deeper color.  I will have to work on my picture taking skills.  After the battery is fully charged that is.  And Cha Cha is not impressed either!  Have a wonderful evening!

Blogging..Should Be Sewing

I'm blogging when I should be sewing.  Perhaps I need to re-evaluate the rest of my day!  Okay.  Okay.  One more computer "duty" and I will get to the sewing.

F-R-I-E-N-D-S Swap

Just received the name of my friend for the F-R-I-E-N-D-S Swap that Khris at Sew Prim Khris is hosting.  My new friend is Leanne at Stitch Selection.  I'm so excited.  Can hardly wait to get to know my new friend from Australia.

I checked out Leanne's blog as soon as I got Khris' e-mail.  Leanne is making softies - adorable stuffed animals to donate to her local hospital for sick children.  Check out her blog and consider participating.  I borrowed the picture from her blog.  Isn't that the cutest pig you've ever seen.  He will surely bring a smile to a sick child's face.

My new friend has been e-mailed.  I had no idea what time it was in Australia - isn't e-mail great - no need to know what time it is - just type and the receiver can read when convenient!  However, for fun I have added a Time Converter ... and, what the heck a Language Translator ... to the bottom of my blog.  I adore the Internet!  Have a wonderful day whatever the time is where you are!

Special Baby Quilt, Cha Cha & Life

SPECIAL BABY QUILT TO BE!

Well no progress on the Special Baby Quilt. However, I did borrow a camera and took a picture of the fabric, which I am in love with. I have a design "mapped" out to turn this into a 48x48 comfy, cozy quilt for a special little girl arriving later in the year. I'm excited to get started. Life got a bit in the way - in a good way - my sister had a birthday, company dropped by unexpectedly and then the work week started (and this week is a full six days instead of the normal 5). Perhaps I can get this cut out in the next couple of days. That will make Sunday afternoon a perfect sewing time.

And, since I have the borrowed camera ... here are a few pictures of my pride and joy - Cha Cha.  She came to live with me in February of this year.  She is now 3 1/2 years old.  I love my Cha Cha!  Isn't she adorable.  She and I are currently have a dispute over walking on kitchen cabinets.  I think she shouldn't.  She thinks she should.  This morning when the alarm went off and before I got my feet on the floor, I heard what sounded suspiciously like cat paws hitting the floor from kitchen cabinet height.  Of course when I got in the kitchen, I found I was mistaken -- she was asleep in a chair - Yeah, right!!  I love my Cha Cha.  She is wonderful!

Baby Quilt in the Making

Spent hours fabric shopping today.  The find was a Robert Kaufman fabric - white background with adorable, colorful elephants, lions, turtles, cats, giraffes...absolutely precious...and the colors of yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, pink and red (I think that's the list!) are so playful.  I got a soft butter yellow cuddle fabric for the back as well as a yellow/white plaid and a cheerful green with little white/pink centered flowers.  This is going to be a baby quilt for a very special little girl expected later this year.  I can hardly wait to get started.

There is a fabric giveaway - a whole shoebox full of 1 1/2" strips - at Moda Lissa.  Go check it out and sign up before the drawing date of Friday the 13th. Lissa, the generous giver, has ironed the strips!  How wonderful.  Ironing is definitely not on my list of favorite things to do.

Friday! Weekend Ahead

Friday!  Yeah!!  I'm looking forward to the weekend - have a few small sewing projects I've been itching to get started on and maybe I'll allow myself a quick (has to be quick or I'll be broke!) trip to the fabric store.  I am in need of a nice, soft, cuddly Minkee for a special baby quilt I'm planning.  More later .... I now have to get ready for the last work day of the week.  Have a good day!

F-R-I-E-N-D-S Swap

Check this out!  Sew Prim Khris is hosting a F-R-I-E-N-D-S SWAP.  Click on the sidebar link to get the details. 

I am new to blogging so am very excited to be able to connect with a crafty blogger.  This will be a wonderful opportunity.  I can barely wait to get a Swap Friend .. am already planning the fun of shopping for my new Friend.  Have a wonderful day!

Sunday Gratitude List

Life has been complicated and depressive.  My mother is recovering from a stroke hundreds of miles away.  The current economic situation is iffy.  Worrying changes nothing except my attitude - and that would be toward the negative.  Time for an attitude adjustment!  So, I am getting back to basics .... My Gratitude List ......

*  My God is love.  My God is in control and nothing, absolutely nothing, happens by mistake in His world.  I am thankful for His perfect plan.  And, I look forward with excitement to where He places me in His plan.  My line of positive communication opened with the writing of my belief.
*  My mother is slowly recovering.  She is in the capable hands of  God.  I am thankful for the medical personnel, the hospital staff, the physical therapists and the healing medications He has placed in her path.  I am thankful for cell phone service which allows me to hear her voice.
*  I have wonderful, supportive and loving friends.  How grateful I am!
*  Cha Cha, my 3 1/2 year old black cat, who came to live with me this past February.  She was skittish, afraid of her shadow when she moved in.  She is now confident - opens cabinets to scatter contents, unmakes the bed, pushes books off shelves and has forgotten the meaning of 'No."  Her latest demand (she's training me - Not Yet!) is a diet of tuna fish, tuna fish and more tuna fish - hold the dried cat food!  I am grateful to have her company. 

More on God's perfect plan - I rearranged the kitchen cabinets yesterday.  My mugs and glasses simply did not want to comply.  This morning I accidentally broke a glass while washing dishes.  The mugs and glasses now fit perfectly!  God has a sense of humor!

My prayer for the day -
                            God, grant me the serenity
                       to accept the thinks I cannot change,
                       courage to change the things I can,
                       and the wisdom to know the difference.

I'm off to the things I can change.  This house needs a good cleaning.  And, this afternoon, who knows, God may sit me down at the sewing machine. 

May God bless!  Wishing you all a day full of serenity.