Stitchers' Angel package received!!!

Today was a terrific mail day for me. . .and DH was pretty excited about it as well.

My Stitchers' Angel package arrived all the way from Norway!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Anne Heidi!

Here's what was waiting on my kitchen table when I got home:



I opened the package & here is what was waiting inside:



Inside the package was this:



What a wonderful little quilt tote. . . I love the fabrics & what I should have taken a picture of is the adorable buttons that Anne Heidi used on the side flaps of the tote.

When I opened the first little package I found this:



It is an adorable little needlebook. . .with needles & pins already inside. What fun fabrics!

Inside the next package I opened was this:



Three pieces of fabric (one with Paisleys. . .I adore paisley fabrics!!)

And wonderful little Halloween buttons of 2 different styles.

The last package I opened contained this:



A wonderful vinyl fronted case (could this be from the tutorial that Crazy Mom Quilts (http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com) has?

There was also 3 skeins of embroidery floss and a package of darning needles.


I am so happy that this package arrived before I went on my trip. . . .now I can bring the tote & case with me in my luggage.

This was a wonderful swap. . . . and I hope that my partner is as happy with the items I sent her as I am.

Now I'm off the email Anne Heidi!

In peace and pieces,

New Patterns Announcement

If you are in the market for some wonderful new patterns you have to check out Helen's blog (http://hugsnkisses.typepad.com/hugsfromhelen/2008/10/finally-i-can-show-you-the-new-patterns.html).

Helen is the hostess of the Stitcher's Angels swap that will be ending next week. . .and she comes up with some wonderful patterns.

Enjoy,

In peace and pieces,

My Only Comment on the Coming Election

I am NOT voting for Obama. And I have been a die-hard Democrat for my entire life.

That is MY choice. . . . based on information that I have gotten from many, many sources.

One of my main concerns is discussed here:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/13/news/economy/voting_for.moneymag/index3.htm

While I may not fully agree with the "trickle down" effect that is the Republican party, I also do not agree with Obama's Socialist leaning rhetoric.

It is not enough to help those that are here illegally, or are making so little that they pay nearly no taxes. What about the Mom & Pop operations, like family farms, small businesses, etc.

Increasing the taxes on small businesses and/or families making $250,000 or more a year is just penalizing the backbone of this country.

Increasing the taxes on capital gains for "the little people" also penalizes those of us in this country that have busted our butts to live the American dream without the benefit of "bottomless pockets" based on our family backgrounds.

Educate yourself before you cast your ballot. . . . you will reap as you sow.

'Nuf said,

In peace and pieces,

More projects completed

As you know from the button on my sidebar, I am a Stitcher's Angel. . here are some pictures of the gifts that I sent out:

This first is a needlecase (the pattern came from www.quilterscache.com). . it was very easy to do



I did change the pattern just slightly. . . instead of using poster board to make the case sturdy I used heavy craft type fusible interfacing.

This picture shows all the items that I sent. . . a fabric basket (courtesy of a tutorial on Pink Penquin), the needlecase, a cathedral window chatelaine & a tissue holder.

I hope that my partner likes these items.



The next picture is of the Birthday Block for October. . . .I hope Ginger likes this. She had requested a star (the pattern is from Quilter's Cache) but each member of the birthday block swap could put in their own 6" block for the center. I'm partial to the propellor block that I used because it reminds me of the pinwheels I used to get as a child.



I've been moving right along with my projects. . . but I still don't have the Mystery Quilt top from Retreat done. . . but it should be shown here soon.

Until next time,


In peace and pieces,

Gee, I'm amazing myself!!

I just added the last book that I have read this year to my side bar listing.

I'm amazed, I've read more than 30 books so far in less than a year!!! That comes out to about 3 books a month. And most of the time I only read at lunch during work!

The number wouldn't be so surprising to me if they were mostly audio books. . . because I have been getting alot of sewing done & like to have something to keep my mind occupied while my hands are busy. . . but these were actually the written word that I have been reading.

Guess I really like to read, huh??!!

In peace and pieces,

30th year High School Reunion

Last night was the reunion to celebrate 30 years after graduation. I have attended each of these events, with the exception of one, as a way of catching up with "long lost" friends.

Last night I was finally able to catch up with someone that has always had a special place in my heart ---- ever since we were in school ---- after losing touch for 25 years.

Roy and I were in choir, together with quite a cast of characters. . . most of whom I have been unable to locate, or have reached out to & haven't heard from yet. He was, and is, the "guitar man" in my life (you should hear him play!!!)

Whenever there was a concert or something where music was involved you could bet that the "chorus room gang" would be involved! Roy, Denise, Vinny, Bobby (my birthday twin -- except for the 12 hour time difference), me, and several others would always be ready & willing to do our part to keep the music going.

It was so good to get to catch up with him again. . . and I wish it would have been less noisy so that we could have more time to have just talked.

He's in a band (Truth 2 Power)-- http://www.truth2powermusic.com -- and they have a demo out. . . and hopefully they will get a label soon --- he deserves it & I'm sure the other guys in the band do too (even though I don't know them yet).

We have both been through our share of bad patches. . . but he's not going to disappear on me again. . . . friendship is too precious to let slip away. . . and "old" (as in length of time, not age) friends are the best ones to have. . .they have known you when you were a jerk (and, at least for me, still a jerk at times) and when you were a saint (for me, not many times!!). . .and if they still like you YOU KEEP 'EM CLOSE!!!!

I'd post a picture, but I was a jerk & left the camera home last night. . . . so, no pictures for you today.

In peace and pieces,

Quilt Retreat News. . . .and one more project completed

Last weekend my DH & I went away for the 3rd Quilt Retreat Weekend at New Life Island near Frenchtown, NJ. The camp is rum through Baptist ministries as a summer camp and has lately branched out into offering Quilt Retreat and a Scrapbook Retreat weekends.

Two friends (who are husband & wife) had been involved in the camps when their children were young & have kept in touch with the camp all these years. It was through them that Steve & I got involved.

If you are interested in learning more about the camp here is their website: www.nli.org.

At retreat this year a Mystery Quilt program was presented. . . here's a picture of the first (and only) quilt top (sans borders) that was completed:



I think you can click on the picture for a closer look. It was really pretty in person. . . I don't think my photography does much to show it off.

My mystery quilt top hasn't been completed yet. . . .I have too many swap obligations to work on it full time. . .but I am hopeful that it will be done before Thanksgiving.

One of the swaps that I am in is a Forum Quilt program where each of us that signed up were given a 12" square of fabric & were to make a 12" quilt block from it adding fabric from our own stash.

Here is the block that I made:



The pattern is Antique Tile from Quilters Cache (www.quilterscache.com) and was very easy to make. . . I'm thinking that it would be a good choice for a leader/ender project as long as the colors were kept straight during piecing.

The lavender fabric with the gold flowers is the fabric that we were given; I added the gold & the cream fabrics. I think it came out pretty well.

Other than that I have been working on my Twisted Mystery and my Stitcher's Angel projects. . . but I can't show those off yet (which is really driving me NUTS).

Until next time,

In peace and pieces,

Oooppps, I did it again!!

No, I am NOT a Britney fan. . . .but I did it again! I signed up for another swap!

This time I signed up for the Doll Quilt Swap 5! This will be the first time that I am swapping with that group. . .and the sizes can be even smaller (12" x 12") than what I have worked with in other swaps.

It should be fun. . . I can't wait until I get the info on my partner so I can start planning.

Definitely won't have any eye candy until I get back from Retreat. . .but hopefully I will get lots of pics so I can make up for boring posts. Unfortunately, I won't be able to show you some of what I will be working on because it will be my Twisted Mystery swap piece.

Until next time,


In peace and pieces,