Who Wants A Freebie?

(Keep the comments coming. I'm throwing in another set just for fun in a totally random drawing!)

I've decided that just for the heck of it that I would offer up a freebie. I might even make it a monthly thing. So for October, let's say, I'm offering this:



But what is THIS? you ask. Well, it's a bundle of 5 fat quarters of quilting fabric. How do I get my HANDS on it? you ask.

It's SEW simple! Just leave me a comment telling me you want it. I'll accept takers until midnight on October 15th. When I get moving around on the 16th, I'll put all 26 letters of the alphabet into a 'hat' and draw 1 out. The first "NAME" in the comments section beginning with that letter will win. Easy to do, very fair, and easy to verify!

I'll post the winner to my blog by the end of the day. If I have an email address for you, I'll contact you. Otherwise, just check back to see if you've won. As soon as I get an address, I'll ship it out. I'll even pay the postage. And I WILL ship to an International address, so everyone can play!

I hope you will join in on the fun. Until next time...Happy Needling!!!

MeMe's and Other Stuff

Mindy has tagged me for a Four Things MeMe. So, here we go...

4 Jobs I've had:
Waitress
Bartender
Accounting Clerk
Paralegal

4 Films I could watch over and over:
Cinderella
Romeo and Juliet
The Illusionist
A Good Year

4 TV shows I watch:
CSI Las Vegas
CSI Miami
Antiques Roadshow
Raymond

4 Places I've lived:
Northern California
Southern California
Central Utah
South Carolina

4 Favorite foods:
Sushi
Mexican
Meat
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

4 Favorite colors:
Purple
Green
Maroon
Ivory

4 Places I would love to be right now:
Cancun, Mexico
Park City, Utah
Toas, New Mexico
On the back of a Harley

4 Names I love but would/could not use for my child(ren)
Zachery
Elizabeth
Patrick
Jessica

Now, I tag Candi, Susan, May, and Lauri. The catch is...I'm going to let them find this on my blog (or not).



Another fun thing I ran across is at Jo's blog. It circulated around my area about a year or so ago. I had all but forgot about it. It's weird but fun. Just try to read it before you say, "WHAT THE HE**?"

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!



SOH for Peggy
Peggy is our October birthday girl at CQN and she likes (among other things) oriental themes. I just happened to have some darling geisha fabric, so this is what I made for her. It's not due until the middle of October but It's going out in the next day or two. I'm trying really hard to get projects finished and loose ends tied up.




Well, I guess that's it for now. So until next time...Happy Needling!!!

Happy October 1st

I just can't seem to accept that autumn is here until October rolls around. I think it's because I am still programmed for a mountainous climate. And October usually brings the changing of the leaves in the canyons, cooler nights, and often the first snow of the year.



October also gets the ball rolling for one of my favorite holidays. Oh, I do look forward to Halloween in as much as I love to decorate, love to carve pumpkins, and love to dress up to hand out candy to our trick-or-treaters. Although, we just don't get as many trick-or-treaters as we used to.

October is also a birthday packed month for us. We celebrate more than 12 family birthdays within 3 weeks of each other. WOW!!!! Oh, and mine is in there, too! I'll be 47 this year. I think I'll get off this subject. LOL.

Instead, I will leave you with some October what's it's and observances. Enjoy :-)

Zodiac signs: Libra and Scorpio
Birthstone: Opal (Traditional) Tourmaline (Modern)
Flower: Calendula (The Calendula represents grief and jealousy)

Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month
AIDS Awareness Month (National)
Apple Month (US National)
Auto Battery Safety Month
Blindness Awareness Month (World)
Book Month (National)
Brain Injury Awareness Month (National, US)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (National, US)
Car Care Month
Caramel Month
Car Care Month (National US)
Child Health Month
Clergy Appreciation Month (Pastor Appreciation Month)
Computer Learning Month
Cosmetology Month (National, US)
Country Music Month
Crime Prevention Month
Dental Hygiene Month (National, US)
Dessert Month (National US)
Dinosaur Month
Disability Awareness Month (National)
Disability Employment Awareness Month (National, US)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Drum Month (International)
Energy Awareness Month
Family Health Month
Family History Month
Family Sexuality Education Month (National)
Fire Prevention Month (National)
Flu & Pneumonia Month
German American Heritage Month
Glaucoma Awareness Month (National, US)
Healthier Babies Month (National)
Healthy Lung Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)
Adult Immunization Awareness Week (National)
Kitchen & Bath Month
Learning Disability Awareness Month
Liver Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month (National)
Magazine Month (American)
Medical Librarians Months (National, US)
Mental Illness Awareness Week
Pasta Month
Pastor Appreciation Month (Clergy Appreciation Month)
American Pharmacy Month (National, US)
Physical Therapy Month (National, US)
Pickled Pepper Month
Pizza Month (National
Polish-American Heritage Month
Popcorn Poppin' Month (National)
Pregnancy & Infant Awareness
Pretzel Month
Rollerskating Month
Sarcastic Awareness Month
Seafood Month
SIDS Awareness Month (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
Spina Bifida Awareness Month (National, US)
Spinal Health Month (National, US)
Stamp Collecting Month (US National)
UNICEF Month
Vegetarian Month
Youth Against Tobacco Month

I hope you all had a good October 1st. And until next time...Happy Needling!!!

Block Update

Season to Season - Fall

I had two blocks to work for the swap I'm hosting at CQN. One for Carole, which I posted previously, and the other for Sharon R, which I include in this post. Again, showing a 'before' and 'after' version.



I added the "Harvest", the ribboned flower and leave cluster with charms, and the seam treatments to the right and at the bottom. Also (2nd photo), the lace motif with beads, and the ribbon and seam treatment below it.



I'm just learning how to do SRE (Silk Ribbon Embroider) and it's turning out to be much more complicated than I had expected. I've bought a number of books and lots of ribbon to practice with. So, hopefully it will be a positive learning experience. LOL.

And finally, I added these seam treatments .



On a closing note, I would like to mention that Wendy's block still has not made it into my hands. The USPS has apparently misplaced it. Or misdelivered it and it has not been forwarded on. Hopefully, Wendy will have time to piece and partially work another block for this swap. Fingers crossed :-)

Until next time...Happy Needling!!!

Blocks Finished

Fairy Tale Round Robin:

Yesterday I received my "Good Daughter" block back from the CQN Fairy Tale Round Robin. I am so happy with it. Thank you to everyone who worked on it for me: Ati, Lynn, Candi, Nancy, Leona, and Judi.

My fairy tale blocks were based on the book "Toads and Diamonds" by Charles Perrault Land, which was originally published in 1889. You can find the annotated version on the story at Surlalune Fairy Tales.







Season to Season - Fall:



I was able to complete my portion of Carole's block. She did a wonderful job with the block to begin with. The colors, center piece, and buttons really brought it to life before my needle took after it.

Here's what I added:

The red leaf and the seam treatment combination below it.



The purple metallic spider web, the pink ribbon and white beads, and the spider.



The stem stitch, leaf stitch and beads to the center piece.



The button wheel seam treatment and french knots.



Well, now I'm off to do my domestic goddess duties. Until next time....Happy Needling!!!

Season to Season Swap

FALL

Quick background: For those of you who don't know what's going on here, I'll quickly update you. I am hostessing my first swap with one of my groups, CQForNewbies (CQN). This is a FALL themed swap and will run from now until around the end of November.

This is a one on one partner share project. Participants will work approximately 1/2 of the block they make, then their partner will work the other 1/2. Participants will get their original blocks back.

Partners have been chosen (via 'blind draw') and here's how it panned out:

Ati partners with Carol
Carole partners with Gerry
Charlene partners with Helina
Courtney partners with Connie
(Gerry's) Make it Even Block partners with Sharon R
Ira partners with Rebecca
Judi partners with Janet
Katrien partners with Christy
Lauri partners with JK
Lori partners with Cynthia
Mary partners with Marlene
Norma partners with Sue
Robin partners with Leslie
Sharon G partners with Faith
Susie partners with Pat

I would also like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of the wonderful cards and goodies that have been sent to me as "Hostess" gifts. I will post photos of those at the end of the swap.

For links to the participants sites or to see photos of those without sites, go to this LINK.

The completed blocks are due back to me around the end of October. So, until then....Happy Needling!!!

Fairy Tale RR - Unicorn Group

I just finished working on Ati's block. This will be a wallhanging for her grandson. I bet he will be just tickled with it. Ati, also has another block in rotation in another group, for her granddaughter.

So....what did I do?

I added the red and white doggy paws, the "Twilight Bark", the black paw print fabric, red ribbon, and the seam blue seam treatment with pearl beads, the dog bones, and silver paw print charm on the yellow ribbon.



I added the "Pongo" and "Perdita", the red heart with pearl bead, and stitched Pongo's and Perdita's collars and tags.



I added the "Cruella De Vil" lettering and the salmon colored seam treatment.



I found it interesting that there were things about this story that I had never noticed before. One of them being Cruella's name. I just never noticed it for (basically) Cruel Devil. DUH!!!!

Another thing that I found interesting was that the story summary that Ati sent with her block was much different than the version I grew up with. When I get the time (ha, ha) I'm going to have to do a little more research on this :-)

Until then....Happy Needling!!!

I'm Back!!!!

Okay, Saturday night. Hubby watching the Nebraska game and I'm free to play on the computer with my glass of Argentinian Merlot, and radio cranked up. I've had such a wonderful couple of days. I've managed to clean (scrub actually) all 4 of my bathrooms, top to bottom. I just love a clean bathroom!

Anyway, here's my post....

I got another cell phone pouch stitched and ready to assemble. That's all 5 now. Granted it's taken awhile but I made it.


I've also been eBay(ing). I've decided that I'm going to learn how to do SRE. So, I've bought some books and ribbons. Hopefully, I've made the correct choices. Here's what I got so far:


I was shocked to find out that Carole Samples' Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches was so much in demand. Luckily, I have mine. But Amazon has listing for outside vendors, starting at $94. I'm watching, just for fun, two copies on eBay. They are three days out and nearing $40, with 10+ bids. The Buy It Now is over $80. WOW!!!!

I was seriously tempted to look into buying some of the beautiful silk threads that Charlene got on her "Thread Binge" but I had just received these gorgeous threads from Susan. So, I passed.



I did pick up a number of charms for Halloween and Christmas. And yes, I also got in on the 10 cent DMC sale at Wal-Mart. I didn't buy 600 skeins like Lou Anne but I did a goodly amount.

I also came up with a 'recycled' thread center. Meaning I rummaged through my DS's room and found a locker organizer that he wasn't using anymore. Well, I think it makes a great area for my threads, scissors, and misc items. I need to have these things handy and the system I had before was just not working. And while this isn't the absolute solution, it's working.


And finally, new projects... I'm making Crazy Quilted Christmas Stockings, aka Victorian Boot Christmas Stockings. This was Mary's swap idea last year and she's decided to hostess it again this year. I know that I'll get one done for sure but I hoping for two of them. This is a stash building swap. And it was SOOOOO much fun last year.


This is my stocking from last year. It was much larger than these will be. In fact, about 50% larger and embellished on both sides. I just don't think I'll have the time to do that this year. But we'll see.


Well, I better wrap this up. Nebraska's not doing well and the language downstairs is getting pretty colorful. LOL. I also have to start getting things organized for my Season to Season - Fall Swap. Partners get assigned tomorrow. Mail out starts on Monday. I'm still missing a couple of blocks but we're two weeks behind so "the show must go on" and I just can't wait for the rest of them.

Right now, I'm trying to make the best of my time. I'm expecting to get quite a few blocks from a lagging Round Robin here shortly. I also have an 'October' heart to make for the Sharing Our Hearts (SOH) swap on CQN. And I want to do something nice. Not just a rush job.

I guess if I've forgotten anything, I can blog it later. Have a wonderful Sunday and Happy Needling!!!

Happy Labor Day and...

STS - Fall 2 Progress (see updates here. Scroll down to the first post.)

Today I spent some time adding laces, ribbons, and various trim pieces to this block. Later today and tomorrow I will begin working my half of it.


I hope you're all having a safe and fun holiday weekend. We're sticking close to home but will be BBQ'ing later today - rain or shine!



Happy Needling!!!

Catching Up Post

The Season to Season - Fall swap/share is well under way. The remaining blocks should be in the mail and on their way. I have 17 of 31 already. We did have one partner have to back out for personal reasons, which left us with an uneven number of partners. So...I made this 'make it even' block. I will try to work on it later today and tomorrow.

This swap only allows us each to send one block in. So, my extra block will be raffled in some way on the CQN group. That way everyone gets something to work on and I don't have to pull out myself.



Next we have the Sharing Our Hearts (SOH) heart for Jaki, also through CQN. This was my very first attempt at SRE. And while it's only leaves, I'm very happy with it. I would really like to learn how to make flowers. Oh well, baby steps....




I guess, I better get to stitching. 'Til Next Time...Happy Needling!!!