Oh Christmas Tree.......

Today we put up our Christmas tree. We bought this tree two years ago, a pre-lit tree that I think is pretty without any ornaments at all, but alas, we have been collecting ornaments 34 years now, and they ALL have to go on the tree. Notice the picture in the background? That is my husband's grand
father and his TWO wives. Now before you all jump to conclusions...he remarried after his first wife died, and had three different pictures superimposed onto this one picture, and this hung in his house while he was married to my husband's grandmother (the second wife). I just love this picture - but my kids say its spooky.

I also wanted to share a picture of this cute ornament that Cathi made . She dried orange slices last year after Christmas and made these beautiful ornaments, one of which I was the lucky recipient. Thank you, Cathi!!!

Hope you are all having a good weekend and enjoying this holiday.

Check out Daisy Quilts give-away, its fantastic.

November Friendship blocks...

Tonight was such a fun night at my house. I belong to an applique group called "As the Needle Turns" (isn't that a cool name?) and we normally meet in a local church, but tonight we met at my house and had a table full of goodies to eat, and lots of fun and fellowship mixed in with a dab of sewing. I got my camera out and as usual, was enjoying myself so much I did not take any pictures. Cathi, over at Shakerwood Primitives, http://shakerwoodprimitives.blogspot.com/, was here tonight and got a couple of picures, so be sure to go on over and check out her blog and see what she has to say.

I do have pictures to share of the November Friendship block swap. The sewing machine is just absolutely beautiful and stitched by Carol. I just love this block and the three of us have really been enjoying our stitching lately. The cheerful breath of Spring daffodil is by Cheryl. Such a lovely block to receive when it is so cold and drab outside. And then, the Dutchman's Puzzle block is mine. I wanted to do something with Flying Geese blocks as I always think of the Canadian Geese (I think I have that right) that fly over our house around this time of year. I just love the sound of their "honking" as they fly over at dusk.

So, let me wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day and thank you for coming by.

And the winner is................

Sweet P of http://coffeetimequiltstudio.blogspot.com/ ! Congratulations and I will be sending you the goodies as soon as I get your snail mail!

Thank you all for entering my 100th post giveaway.

Teresa

Last call......

I will be drawing a name TONIGHT for my give a-way! So if you have not left a comment to get your name in the draw, do so now!!! Just remember, to be in the draw I must have either an email or a blog address to be able to get in contact with you.

And thank you again for dropping by and paying me a visit now and then.

Catching up....

Seems like it has been awhile since I told you what I have been up to quilting wise. While in Washington I did some hand stitching, finishing one of my NPNT block sets - Party Time. This was a very appropriate one to be working on DC that week as it was election week and there sure was a lot of partying going on in the streets that night when the returns came in.

I also recently finished up my November red-work BOM. This one is a nice pumpkin, making me think of pumpkin bread I make every year around this time.

I made a fun trip to Mary Jo's and came home with the perfect fabric for my KScope quilt. Remember this one? Well I was wondering how I was going to find the various shades of these colors. I didn't want really bright colors, something a little more subdued (just like me, LOL) and not a bunch of different prints, etc - but not solids either. Well the fabric I found is so cool. Its 4 different values of the same color on the same bolt - 10 inch stripes. I love the colors, I love the way the colors are shaded in each strip, and I am thrilled that I have 4 different values on each piece of fabric. Oh how I want to start cutting into this fabric...but this will have to wait awhile.

And then finally I took a workshop from Linda Cantrell on freezer paper applique. We worked on bottles and I am not too happy with mine right now - but I have big plans on how I will fix this, so stayed tuned.

If you are still here with me, then don't forget to sign up for my giveaway if you have not done so already.

Happy Stitchin!

Butterfly Award

Kathy, over at the Humble Quilter sent me this pretty award. Thanks, Kathy! And now I am to pass it on to 10 others...

Susan at Blackberry Creek Home Arts
Joanna at Applique Today
Em at Em's Scrapbag


I know this is only three, but if I don't hurry up and get off here I am going to be late for work!!! I enjoy reading these blogs and am inspired by their humor, quilting and wisdom. Thank you ladies for being a part of my blogging experience.

A great give-away

You have just got to follow this link to check out this great give-away. I tried and tried to copy the picture to my post, and nothing worked - so just follow this link..

http://stitchingcow.blogspot.com/2008/11/block-of-month-quilt-competition.html

100th Post Give-Away!

Wow...100 posts! I do enjoy looking back over my posts, and reading your comments which have always been so full of encouragement and humor. Thank you all for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment or just to take a look at what I have been up to. I also want to thank all of you bloggers out there that I follow as you have taught me quite a few things about quilting and shared your thoughts and life. I am so glad I discovered blogging!

Now, for the give-away. I purchased these Fat Quarters in Hopewell, Va at the Needle-N-Thread Quilt Shop. This is a great shop and has lots of new fabric patterns that I had not seen anywhere else. The fabric line is called Noble Family by Mizuki for Benartex. Now what better name could I find for my family of bloggers than Noble Family? I am also including one of my Cathedral Window patterns just to add a little something more personal to me. So, if you would like to win these lovely fabrics, leave a comment telling me so. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but you do have to have an email address so that I can get in touch with you. You can send me an email telling me your email address in private if you like, but I will not include any names in the drawing that I don't have a way of contacting you if you win. I will draw a name on Sunday, November 23rd!!!

And here is what I have been working on this week. It is my Jingle Bell Twist quilt that I started at the retreat a couple of weeks ago and finished the top tonight. This was a workshop taught by Lynn Buske and was a ton of fun. Now to get this one quilted and ready to use during the holidays.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to leave a comment so I can get you in the drawing!

America, the beautiful...

I thought I would share some of the images I captured while in Washington this past week. The ride to and from DC through North Carolina and Virginia was absolutely beautiful and reminds us even in these hard times, that God is good and is still in control. The memorial is the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, VA and is just breathtaking in its simplicity and design. The Cemetery is the Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington and was just amazing in its beauty, size and history. I would like to go back there and spend a couple of hours just walking the paths and reading the markers and enjoying the beauty. The red tree was in Hopewell, Virginia and no way was I able to capture the glorious red against the bright yellows in this picture. God's beauty surrounds us if we just take a moment to enjoy it.

Within the next day or two I will be hosting a give-away for my 100th post, so stay tuned. I have some beautiful FQ's that I purchased at the quilt shop in Hopewell, Va and you will want to get your name in the hat for these!

Don't leave home without "it".....

"It" being your cord that lets you download pictures from your camera. I am on a week's conference in Washington, DC and spent most of yesterday in the small town of Hopewell, Virginia - where U Grant had his headquarters during the Northern Invasion (some call the Civil War). It was a great day and I got some fantastic pictures, including some at a sweet lil quilt shop called Needle and Thread in Hopewell. I also picked up some FQ's that I intend to use as a give-away on my 100th post which is just around the corner. We spent some time crossing some really neat bridges over the James River and I have some great pictures of that too!
Fred and I drove on into Washington last night, and I started my workshops this morning. I had a free afternoon though, and we visited the Pentagon Memorial and the Air Force Memorial, as well as some shopping at the Pentagon City Mall. Sure was a nice afternoon, but alas, I can't share any of the great pictures I took. I have been working on some stitcheries and enjoying a little relaxation in the evenings at the hotel, but am already missing home and family.
Rather than leave you without anything colorful, I am showing a picture of my KScope Design in EQ6 that I am still working on. I had orginally thought NO BLACK on my quilt, but then I just had to try it and of course, I like it. What do you think?

Check out Christines's great give-away and beautiful blog: http://onceuponaquilt.blogspot.com/2008/11/1st-blog-anniversary-give-away.html


Happy Stitching!