Prayers Needed

If you are a praying person I would appreciate it if you would add my family to your prayer list.

There is a situation that we can't handle on our own.

Thank you,

In peace and pieces,

Wow, here's another cool challenge!!

If you are looking for a challenge that is different than the ones I've decided to really try to work on you may want to check this one out -- Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

This sounds like a really cool idea & I will definitely be checking out the ideas. . .but I have listed 22 UFO's that I really would like to get moving along in 2011 (not to mention being better prepared for NEXT Christmas) so I think I will have to pass on this one.

But it sounded like so much fun I just had to pass it on.

What are you challenging yourself to "own up" to in 2011??

In peace and pieces,

2011 UFO listing --- Judy's program

Ok, to say that I have more than 12 UFO's is almost expected. . . .isn't it? After all, I have been quilting for more than 20 years so I can say I have a LOT of UFO's.

Here are my 12 --- I'll upload pictures as soon as possible:

1. Bear's Paw Quilt

This is a quilt that I purchased as a kit. And the top is completely finished. I just need to get the backing together, get it quilted, bound, labelled and then it will be done.


2. 9/11 Remembrance wall hanging

This is a kit that I purchased at JoAnn's Fabrics. I've been working on this for a while but got a bit nervous about the embroidery of the words. But since I have done several embroidery pieces lately I think that I can get this one done.


3. Spa Mystery Quilt

This is the quilt that is in my banner. I have most of the borders done; several are even sewn to the body of the quilt. But this one is also so close to getting done that it is crazy that I haven't finished it yet.


4. Scrap nine-patch quilt

I made this quilt with another quilter and it has been basted for more than 12 years. Since it is marked for hand quilting it might be a longer term project, but getting it under way may just be the "push" I need to get it finished.


5. Flowers of the Month

This is actually 12 little mini quilts with embroidered flowers and fabric pots. The pieces could all be put together into one piece; but I like the idea of having 12 small quilts (one for each month) since I have a narrow wall where I could hang them. I've gotten the fabrics together but haven't actually gotten any of the blocks completed yet.


6. Square Dance quilt

I made this quilt top as a class sample many years ago (probably 17 years or more). I never cared for the border that I used originally, but I recently purchased two fabrics that I think will work much better. I have given some thought to how I would like to make the border, just need to buckle down & finalize my plan.


7. Sister's Choice quilt blocks

I was in an on-line swap several years ago and got 6 blocks. I had cut the fabrics to make 3 more blocks but never finished sewing them.


8. Christmas Single Wedding Ring

These blocks were done as a block of the month program for a guild that I no longer attend. . . I don't remember how many blocks there are but there should be plenty for a nice Christmas quilt. I'll have to measure the blocks. . . I think there was some deviation in the sizes so some adjustments may have to be made.


9. Old Maid's Puzzle blocks

These were also a block of the month that I won. I have the sashing/border/binding fabrics already picked out. . . just need to "get 'er done".


10. Economy Blocks

Yes, this also was a block of the month from an old guild. There aren't that many blocks so I'm thinking that I may use these for tablerunners or something. Have to ponder on what will become of them.


11. Pre-marked white-on-white

This is another project that has been basted for hand quilting for more than 15 years!! I bought this from the Stencil Company (Holice Turnbow) at a Quilters' Heritage Celebration show in Lancaster, PA.


12. Linda's quilt

This is a very over-due quilt that is almost done with the quilting. I need to concentrate of this so that I can get it done.


Hopefully this program will get me moving my butt & getting alot of stuff done in 2011.



In peace and pieces,

SSCS package arrived......and other swap pics

I received a wonderfully tempting package from Lise in Australia.

Since I was able to borrow a camera cord here is a pic of what she sent:




The first picture is the darling pocketbook ornament that she sent. I was allowed to open this package before Christmas.

The second picture shows the other two packages that I am not allowed to open until Christmas. . . .hope I can hold out that long --- patience has not been one of my strong suits! he he he he

This was part of the SSCS 2010 that was run by Chookyblue (and mentioned in a previous posting).

Here is also a couple of pictures of the small quilt that I received as part of the Winter Secret Swap (also referenced previously); one picture is the full piece; the other is to show the detailing on the birds:




It is wonderful that I have been able to "meet" such wonderfully creative people from all over the world via the internet. I love doing these swaps.


In peace and pieces,

Oh my. . . has it really been a MONTH???

Oh boy, I can't believe that it has been more than a month since I last posted.

But, I have been busy, busy, busy.

I was working on my Twisted Mystery quilt, then I was working on Mr. Books Twisted Mystery due to a bit of a problem, then there was the SSCS swap from Chookyblue, and a Delphi Forum Winter Secret Swap.

Hmmmm, are there any pictures that I can post so that I can make this post more fun to read? Yes, but. . . .I can't find the cable for my camera **again**. . .I just had the thing a week ago (I think).

Ok, you will have to stay tuned for pictures.

On top of that for the past 4 days I have not had a voice --- frozen vocal cords according to the doctor --- and I have missed 3 days of work.

Mr. Books said that it is no fun that I have no voice since he is used to having nice, long conversations with me. Having to write everything that I am trying to say is not fun. . . .I think faster than I write!

It is also not good that I have not been able to get my Christmas preparations completed. . . the house still looks bare because I haven't been able to get to the decorations.

Oh well, if we have a less decorated house this year it really isn't the end of the world. . .Mr. Books has been working quite a bit of overtime & emergency situations so he hasn't been feeling up to pulling out all the boxes. . .he hasn't even gotten his antique trains out yet.

For Christmas Eve my parents & Mr. Books & I will be going out to a local restaurant for dinner, then we have evening services at our church.

Other than Christmas Eve & Christmas Day at my parents house we don't have much planned. . .maybe this will be the year of spontaneous celebrations.

Do you have quiet holiday celebrations or elaborate ones?

In peace and pieces,

It's the Day after Election Day

Did you vote? Do you vote? Do you vote regularly?

I've just read the election results for the county that I live in. . . .and I am amazed that only 30% of the registered voters in the county actually went to the polls (or submitted absentee ballots) to cast their ballots.

Ok, there might be some argument that "well it's mid-terms" or other such, to me, nonsense. . . .that still doesn't account for the lack of action. . . .again, that is my opinion.

I will admit that I do not vote in the school board elections. . . .but I feel that I do not have enough knowledge to accurately decide the best candidates in those races since I do not have children in the school system and don't have enough of a working knowledge of the needs and day-to-day concerns of the school system.

If others feel that my reasoning is a "cop out" I can accept that.

But when it comes to the way my borough, my county, my state and my country are run you can "bet the farm" that I get involved and I vote.

Yes, there are plenty of people that will say. . . "Washington does what they want regardless of what the people say". Admittedly, sometimes it feels that way. . . so perhaps they do.

But why are they able to do that? Because people do not vote. . .either to oust those they don't like, or re-elect those that they do like.

Yes, political advertising has gotten to be no more than name calling & almost as scandalous as the latest TV reality show. . . .but all of that "clutter" can be done away with if you check voting records and actually look to the attitude of the individual candidate.

Does all of this take time? Yes, it does. Does it mean that you may have to think and ponder and reflect on the issues at hand? Yes, it does. Does it mean that you may not be "following the crowd" with your vote? Well, yes, it does.

But you don't have to tell anyone how you voted. . . you just have to do it.

Mr. Books and I vote. . . .and sometimes we don't agree, but we still do it because without us the system doesn't work.

Yes, I think that we would both prefer to have a real THREE or FOUR party race. . . now wouldn't THAT shake up the "Washington insiders"?

However, from my perspective, while elections appear to be won or lost on how much money gets spent on advertising, etc. that option doesn't seem to have a chance. But, again, everything comes down to what the VOTERS do.

If you voted yesterday, thank you & congratulations (even if your candidate didn't win). If you did not vote yesterday, shame on you & I better not hear you utter one complaint about anything that the government does.

There is a quote I heard a while back. . . .and if you recognize it please let me know that I can give credit here. . . .it went something like:

"To make no decision is to make a decision"

For me, I'd rather be in charge of my decisions. . . .and that is why I vote.



In peace and pieces,

Boy, have I been BUSY!!!! (includes a very belated Stash Report)

Well, lest you all think that I have flown the coop yet again. . . .here I am!! he he

This past Saturday Mr. Books and I went to New City, NY to see a school mate perform with his rock band. What a great time!

You probably can't really see the guys very well. . .but here's a try at posting a picture:



My friend plays guitar. . . he's on the darkest side of the picture. . .don't think you can see him.

In addition to travelling I have been working on pillowcases for an upcoming retreat where Mr. Books & I will be teaching. . . there are a total of 17 pillow cases that were cut (the first one was my prototype & will remain with me, the last one is not completed since it will be used as a demo piece during the retreat).

The following pictures will give you an "all over" view which includes the prototype opened up; as well as two additional pictures that show the completed ones a little closer so that the fabrics used can be seen:





What I haven't shown here is my Twisted Mystery quilt. . . .I can't show that until it gets returned to it's owner sometime in early November. Mr. Books & I are both in the swap this year so I haven't shown his work either. . . but it is looking pretty good!!

I also am in the process of completing a cube pincushion. . .that will be part of the demonstration at retreat plus there will be one in the package to my SSCS partner.

There is also a totebag that I am making for the retreat. . .the outside is made from fabrics that Mr. Books & I had hand dyed a couple of years ago during a workshop with our quilt quild. . .figured it was time to cut into some of the stash.

Now, here's the STASH REPORT. . . .in the past 2 weeks I have used almost 19 yards of fabric.

ALL of it was from stash --- and ALL of it was from a single tote box that was in the basement.

Yup, all of the pillow cases came from the same box of fabric. . . and, the box doesn't look any lower AT ALL!!! he he he I'm hoping that it is just because I did not neatly fold back all of the fabric. . . because if that is not the reason I have a bigger fabric stash than even I could have imagined.

Now mind you, I am no where near being a hoarder. . .I know better than to pack a storage unit with unwashed dishes and purses full of garbage, etc., but I do love buying fabric!!

Since I am on such a roll I am going to start my stash reporting again as of 10/01/10. . .so:

Fabric Used: 19 yards

Fabric Purchased: 0 yards

Stash Busted since 10/01: 19 yards

More to come. . . I am sure . . . .

In peace and pieces,

Always mindful, always mournful

As a singer music has always been there when I couldn't find the correct or "right" words. . . . today, as for the past 9 years, I think these lyrics sung by Alan Jackson are perfect.

We need to remember. . . . .We need to be prepared. . . . We will always mourn. . . .We will always have hope, with God's grace. . . .

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day





In peace and pieces,

Where have all the English teachers gone?

One of my "pet peeves" is that there are so many people that cannot use proper grammar(and I am talking about people that think they are very smart).

I haven't been in a public school in a while but I hope that the educational society hasn't given up on basic grammar and punctuation rules in an effort to be more "cutting edge".

Case in point, when are you trying to say "You are welcome" but want to use a contraction the proper spelling is "you're" -- which is the correct way to abbreviate the words "you" and "are". I can't tell you how many times I have seen it as "your".

"Your" is the correct word to indicate possession (as in "your desk is too messy".).

And I don't even want to start on how kids today can't spell in any way except "cyber speak". . . .makes one wonder how they think they will be able to move up the corporate ladder without basic skills of proper language skills.

Do you have any English pet peeves?


In peace and pieces,

This is just plain disgusting behavior. . . .

Ok, I will be the first to admit that I prefer the company of animals over alot of humans. . . . so my attitude might be a little too "hard core" for some people to take; but after reading this article online from my local newspaper:

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100908/NATIONWORLD/100908030/PETA+says+video+shows+lab+dog++cat+abuse+at+NC+research+facility

I just have to ask when are people going to "get it". . . God created everything on this earth (not to mention the Earth itself) and while we humans were given dominion over everything God expects us to be good stewards of his creation.

Now don't even get me started about how animal research is the most backwards, idiotic thing I have ever heard of --- researchers even admit that testing chemicals on animals is NOT a good gauge of how things will work in or on the human "animal" since we are NOT the same. But here, this research lab is supposed to be helping with medications for companion animals and God's creatures are mistreated, uncared for and made fun of.

Hey, I have a wonderful idea. . . .people like the lab workers in this story & all animal abusers should be used as research subjects. Human studies will actually WORK when it comes to actual chemical reactions & treatments for the rest of us & all of the animal rescue people would be happy to "dish out" a little justice for our 4 legged counterparts that do not have enough voices advocating for them.

In peace and pieces,

Back Home

DH & I are recuperating from a lovely trip to Denver, PA. It's amazing how tired I get after coming back from a relaxing vacation!

Casey is doing well on her meds. . . .she is pretty much back to normal which is making both of us happy.

Sorry, no new pictures. . . .but I'm almost done with the afghan for my friend so I'll be showing that soon.

Have a wonderful day,

In peace and pieces,

Same Stuff. . . . . Different Day

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth again. . . .I just don't have anything new to post about.

I'm still plugging away on the blue & cream afghan --- I'm thinking I might be able to finish it this weekend as I only have 10 or 12 more rows to go.

I haven't been working on the pink & green quilt all that much. . . even with the air conditioning it has just been too hot to quilt. Plus I have some other projects that have been demanding some time.

On the Lyme Disease front. . . .Casey seems to be doing well on the antibiotics --- she is pretty much back to her old self. We still have a little while before the drugs are completed so I am hoping everything will be fine once she is back "on her own".

DH & I are planning a cruise to Alaska for next year. We will use the trip as a celebration of our 5th wedding anniversary. We will be married 5 years in November of this year -- but as there are no cruises in Alaska at that time it will be a celebration postponed.

We have been very blessed that even in this economy we both have jobs and have been able to get into a position to afford this type of trip.

Sorry that there is no eye candy this time; hopefully I'll have some by the next time I post.

In peace and pieces,

Update on the furbaby

As of this point our vet thinks that Casey just has lyme disease.

We started giving her the antibiotics on Thursday evening & by Friday she was wagging her tail. . .which was a great improvement however how she had been feeling. I thought everything was going fine.

Today she won't let us go anywhere near her mouth. . . even just petting her snout causes her to start whimpering like she is in pain. I'm not sure what to make of this new development.

She did not want to eat this morning. . . . but ate her supper easily and even gave me some soft "whoo whoo" sounds when I offered her the cheese that she gets her meds with.

Hopefully things will continue to improve. . .but if they don't we will just have to see what the vet thinks should be done as a next step.

Hope things are well in your households. . . . .


In peace and pieces,

My furbaby has lyme disease. . . . .

Those of you that have read my blog for a while know that I am a dog person. . . my beloved Bogart died almost 2 years ago after enriching my life for 11 years (and helping me find "Mr. Right").

Casey, our cockapoo rescue, has been with us since shortly after Bogart's passing. . . I wasn't ready, but DH was & she just kind of "picked" us. . . and those of you that have adopted a rescue dog probably understand what I am talking about. . . there wasn't ever really a conscious decision of "this is THE dog". . . everything just sort of fell into place.

Anyway, Casey has been drinking a lot of water for the past couple of weeks. . . I really didn't think too much of it because the weather has been really hot & humid. . .but in recent days it has been pretty dank & dreary but the water consumption kept up.

They she started acting really lethargic. . . and not really being interested in eating.

So today, off to the vet we went. After dealing with Bogart's diabetes I was expecting that same diagnosis. . . .

That's NOT what I got. . .well, at least not yet.

Casey tested positive for Lyme Disease and is now on mega doses of antibiotics. She may have just gotten the disease or she could have had it all along but it just "flared" again. . . there is no way to know since, as the vet put it, "once positive for Lyme, always positive for Lyme".

Now we have the waiting game to see what the rest of the blood work has to say. . .could be diabetes, could be Cushings (haven't looked that up on the internet yet but the vet said it is medically treatable). . .her kidneys could be effected. . .just have to wait & see.

Oh, and on top of all of this. . . .she needs to have her teeth cleaned (which means being knocked out); but that will have to wait until we have these other medical issues dealt with.

There's always something going on in our house.


In peace and pieces,

WIP Wednesday

Despite being busy I was able to get some more work done on some projects. . . here are the pics to prove it:

These first two are pictures of a Flickr block swap that I am in. . . these blocks will be winging their way to Arizona later today.



This is a progress picture of the baby afghan that I am making for a friend of mine. Yes, I like to make my baby afghans extra big so that they can be used by the adults with the child. . . .and there is plenty of "grow into" room.


I'm also working on a "secret project". . .namely the annual Twisted Mystery #6 project. I can't show pictures here until sometime in late October or early November. . .but I love the fabrics I was sent and now that I see the project coming together I am really happy with my decisions.

DH is feeling better. . . but with school starting in less than 2 weeks he has been kept extra busy and, IMHO, hasn't been getting enough time to sleep.

Not much else to report for today. . . we have been getting some rainy days lately (which I am NOT complaining about after the long period of high heat, humidity and no rain). . .it's been touch & go for several of my newer plants and I'm not sure if some of the dogwoods have survived. I'm pretty sure some of my azaleas are gone. . .there was just no way to give them the amount of water they needed with the summer that we have had.

DH would disagree with me but I can't wait for the cooler weather of fall to get here.

In peace and pieces,

WIP Wednesday. . . . . on Thursday

DH called yesterday afternoon to tell me that he was going home & then directly to bed. . . .he's been attacked by a nasty, evil cold!

He looks and sounds terrible. . . and I really feel sorry for him but why does the world stop for colds with men but nothing changes when we women get sick???

Now I understand what my friends have been complaining about all these years!! LOL

Ok, to be fair, there have been some times (like when I get my migraines) that DH has waited on me hand & foot. But I still have to tell him where things are & what needs to be done --- guess I've made life a little too easy for him!! he he he he

Enough about that. . . here's some eye candy:




These are pictures of a baby afghan that I am making. I got a bit bored with doing all blue so I thought some bands of a cream would brighten up the piece --- and help to show off the design of the pattern.

There are post stitches (for those of you that crochet) that create the ridges down the length of the piece. . .I'm hoping that you may be able to see them somewhat clearly in at least one of the pictures.

This has been my lunch project. . .I eat in our cafeteria and then use the rest of the hour to work on projects or read. I find that I get alot of things done doing this; very much like taking 15 minutes to work on a project as many people blog about.

I'm still working on the pink & green quilt. . .just thought that you might like to see something a bit different this week.

In peace and pieces,

Welcome to New Readers!

I've just been advised that my blog was added to the Quilters Blog listing (see side bar for the button).

Welcome to any new readers that may be passing through.

I write mostly about quilting --- both items I am making and swaps that I am in; however, I am involved in a lot of different endeavors so you never know what I may be writing about.

As I get comments I try to respond to them individually; however, if your email comes back as "no reply" or you use an anonymous identity that will not be possible.

There have been some issues previously with this blog and an internet "troll" so I screen all messages.

I'm hoping to have some pictures up later today of a crochet project that I am working on. . . . the quilt project that I posted about this past Wednesday is still in the works but probably won't be pictured again until I can show some *real* progress (like working on the binding) because I'm thinking it will be very boring for readers to keep seeing what appears to be the same picture.

But, if DH doesn't mind taking pics of me stitching I might show the hand quilting in progress. . . since there aren't too many of us that still do hand quilting it might be interesting for some to see.



In peace and pieces,

WIP Wednesday

Well, I am getting better!! It's only been a week since my last post! LOL

And, I have some more pictures (same item so it might be a little boring!)

I have been plugging away on this quilt. . . trying to get 1 block per day quilted & I have been doing pretty good at that pace -- not perfect, but I am moving the project forward so I am happy.

Here is a closer view of the quilt blocks as they sit in my hoop ready for quilting:



There are two different blocks (one with a pink center & the other with a green center) and I am quilting them differently. One design of square in a square on the green centers since the stitches show better and a larger single square in the pink centers.

This is the back of the quilt -- I thought perhaps the stitching would show up better:


In this picture I think you can get a better look of the quilting in the green centers; I don't think the quilting in the pink center shows very well:


Yes, in case I hadn't mentioned it (and you weren't sure) I am hand quilting this one. It is very calming once the initial stitches are done. Once I get going I do not want to stop. . .but sleep has to be done at some point!

Since I have more than 40 blocks to go on this I am sure that you will be seeing it for at least a couple more weeks. . . but perhaps I will have time to throw in some other projects that I need to get busy on just to give you some other "eye candy".

Until next time. . . . .

In peace and pieces,

WIP Wednesday

In an attempt to be more productive I am going to try to blog more frequently so that everyone (including me) can see that I am actually working on something!! LOL

Here's a picture of a quilt that I originally started for a co-workers husband that was undergoing cancer treatments. Well, I had always wanted this to be a quilt for her but she wanted it for him so I prayed for both of them while I was working on this.

Unfortunately the hand quilting really kicked my butt & I wasn't able to complete it before he passed away.

Now I am slowly working towards getting this finished for her. I have about 1/2 - 2/3 of the quilt done.



I am hoping to have it completed by the end of this month. . . wish me luck!

In peace and pieces,

More block swap blocks finished

The last three blocks for the swaps I was in have been mailed out. Actually, one had been mailed a while ago, I just didn't have a chance to load the picture. The other two blocks went in the mail today.

Here are pictures:





I hand pieced the Drunkard's Path block because I cannot sew decent curves on my sewing machine. Actually, I have a hard enough time doing straight seams on the machine!!

The square in a square block took a lot of time. . . . not in the sewing, but in the planning. The fabric that I was sent was wild but there was only one strip of each fabric (and some of the strips were not full WOF) so trying to make up blocks that were 12 1/2" was a brain twister for me because the math wouldn't match up with the strip lengths. My nerves really came out when I got brave enough to do that cutting!!

But, now all the swap blocks have been completed and I can mark that off of my "need to do" list.

There are a couple more long term projects that I have in the works. . . .it will be nice when I can get them out of the way.

Until I have more things to show or say. . . . .

In peace and pieces,

Lots of discussion. . . . . .

There has been lots of discussion lately in blogland about ways of starting & stopping your sewing each time.

Bonnie Hunter has the "Leaders & Enders" thing (which is a variation of the method that I use --- but she gets something out of her excess thread). My method has always been to take a scrap piece of thread & run it through to make sure that the stitches looked good. Then, since I'm easily bored, I just kept using the same scrap pieces (well, there were 2 pieces really -- one to start with & one to end with).

By the time I was ready to "retire" my thread checker it was so thick and covered with thread that you could not tell what the original fabric was.

I'd show you a picture but I can't find my camera. . .thought it was on the kitchen table, but it's not. . .so I'll have to edit this once I get a picture.

I still find it hard to do Bonnie's technique with any regularity. . .it just doesn't work for me; but I use a thread catcher so that I don't get a "bird's nest" of thread on any of the blocks that I want to work with.

Do you use a thread catcher?


In peace and pieces,

I LOVE Craigslist!!!

Have you ever sold or purchased anything from craigslist.com?

I've known about craigslist.com for quite some time. . .but never had too much interest beyond looking for small items. I always felt more comfortable with eBay.com for both purchases and sales (if I couldn't find what I was looking for locally).

But last week I took the plunge & posted my DH's travel trailer for sale on craigslist. He didn't think that we would get any bites, since the trailer was 23 years old (but still in pretty good shape considering that it went through both his ex & me for many camping trips).

WOW!! Is all that I can say. . . .we sold it in a week. . . .for a very fair price.

There were people from several states that had enquired about it (which surprised me to no end) and the family that purchased it are long-time campers graduating from a pop-up to a travel trailer.

While my DH was a little sad to see the trailer go -- for the good memories of travelling with his daughter -- we were happy because I can now park back in the driveway. . . plus the memories of the problems with the ex will no longer be travelling with us.

Our new travel trailer was wonderful over the long weekend. . . .even with all the heat & humidity we had.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and a fun 4th of July.



In peace and pieces,

Finally getting caught up. . . .

Several posts ago I mentioned that I was in desperate need of catching up with a couple of swaps that I am in. . . unfortunately that has taken me more time than I even thought possible.

I think part of my downfall was that two blocks required appliqued circles. . . and I'm not very good at the "A" word.

However, as of today I have mailed out 6 of the 9 block packets that I needed to get caught up with. . .here are pictures of the blocks:









I do have to admit. . . .I just don't "get" this fascination with "wonky". . . the fad doesn't seem to be going away & it is entirely possible that the remaining 3 packages will include more "wonky" blocks to be done so I'll have to deal with more of it.

While I love scrappy quilts I like to have the blocks as uniform as possible. . .and wonky just looks like a mish-mash to me.

I have seen quilts that look wonderful, but they just aren't my style. . . and I'll be happy if I never have to make another one after I get these obligations done.

In peace and pieces,