Loose Change -- Decision Made!

Well, you have probably seen my posts. . . . as well as posts from other bloggers about taking the challenge to save up our pennies (nickels, dimes, quarters, etc.) for a year and then purchase something wonderful for our quilting life.

I've thought about getting a serger. . . I've thought about getting a new sewing machine (the ones I have are older models). . . .I've thought about getting specialized rulers, Bloc-Loc sets, etc., etc., etc.

But, at least for right now, I think I am going to save for a quilt display cabinet from DWR Woodworking.

I've seen their cabinets in person and they are lovely and well made.  So that is what I am aiming for!  Of course, since I plan on throwing in all of the money that I have left at the end of the week (bills as well as change) I should be able to come up with enough by next year to purchase one of the larger cabinets.

So now, in addition to my penny-pinching challenge I have the challenge of getting the house cleared out enough so that I have the SPACE to put my anticipated purchase!!  LOL

All of this on top of having to seriously think of how I am going to downsize so that in 8 years if we decide to retire and move there is not a lot of flotsam left to get through.

Oh boy!!  LOL


In peace and pieces,
 


 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any other site it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

FNSI. . . . Friday Night Stitch In!

Wendy opened up the sign-ups for this months FNSI over here . . . .and I have been busy so I was almost too late for the game!

But, it is Friday night & I have a project that I need to get done by the end of next week so that I can enter it into our local county fair.

I don't have any pictures of it yet. . . . and it is not quilting ---- it is my 1st love, CROCHET.

The pattern is one that I have done a couple of times. . . . .and the piece I am working on now came about because I had the yarn in the stash and did not want to discard it since there was enough to actually "do something with".  FYI, I am great for holding on to every last little bit of everything (thread, yarn, ribbon, fabric, etc.).

I will try to get some pictures tonight & post them here. . . . . or I'll just do another post to report on how far I was able to get tonight.

So, if you would like to join in the fun click the link above & sign up. . . . . .you know you want to!!  LOL

In peace and pieces,
 


 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any other site it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Scrap Quilt Challenge 4

Ok, here is another one that I am a little late with. . . but I am not that late.

Fabrics N Quilts is hosting their 4th annual Scrap Quilt Challenge .... the link with their name will take you to the exact posting of the rules and goodies that are up for grabs.

I have tried to take part in this for the past couple of years but never got around to it. . . . I'm hoping that this year will be different.


In peace and pieces,
 

 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any other site it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Loose Change. . . . the challenge

Over at Val's she has a challenge posted about saving loose change for a year to be spent on quilting supplies.

In the past Mr. Books and I have saved our change and when we have "big" trips come up (like the Rally we just attended in Indiana) we combine the change to add to our spending money.  One time, between the two of us we had over $800!  Unfortunately, for Indiana he only managed about $180. . . . but I think he had dipped into his change for some fishing equipment that he needed.

I'm getting a little bit of a late start. . . . I will be starting today, July 8th, but I am hoping that I will have enough at the end of the year to purchase something fun.

I don't know what I am shooting for. . . . I certainly don't need any more books, patterns, fabric, or kits.  I have enough of that to stock my own store!!  LOL

And, with the collection of sewing machines that Mr. Books and I have I don't need any more of those either.  But, I don't have one of these:



Hmm. . . .does anyone have any opinion on the use of a serger?  I have never used one and don't really see where I would get as much use out one as I do with my sewing machines.

Of course, I could always use the money to help defray the cost of our latest acquisition:



Guess I will just have to see where I am next year before I can decide on what I want to use the money for.



In peace and pieces,
 

 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any other site it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Two more books read. . . . .

Over the long weekend I was able to complete 2 more books -- numbers 16 & 17!

Both of them were written by Sally Goldenbaum and I enjoyed each one --- although this time around I was able to figure out the "who done it" part well before the last page.






These are part of her "Seaside Knitters" series and have knitting patterns in the back of the book.

I am not much of a knitter, but I keep trying, and I think I may try the baby afghan pattern that was in "Angora Alibi".



In peace and pieces,
 


 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any other site it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Back from Indiana

Mr. Books and I were in Indiana last week for the International Coachmen Owner's Association Rally.

Neither of us had ever been that far west before. . . . and this time we were able to caravan with the members of our Chapter so it was doubly fun.

Oh.my.goodness.  We need to go back!  I did not realize how much there was to do there!!  Even with getting advice from my on-line groups, and researching the area on-line, etc.

First up. . . . here are pictures of 2 of the Quilt Gardens that we were able to find:

This first one is Bow Tie blocks in a frame:

This one is harder to figure out. . . .but it is a heart framed by Rail Fence blocks:

There were a total of 20 quilt gardens throughout 3 counties. . . . . we were only able to find 4 in the limited time that we had outside of Rally activities.  Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me when we found the other 2 so I don't have pictures.

I'm not sure if you will be able to enlarge this next picture enough to read it. . . but this has some information about the quilt gardens, it also gives you a better idea of what the 2nd garden looked like:

The Shipshewana Quilt Festival started towards the end of the week and we were lucky enough to be able to visit it.  WOW!  It was so great to see work from other quilters than the ones I have been exposed to here on the East Coast.  An added bonus was that there were Operation Home Front quilts displayed on some of the Hudson cars (in the Hudson museum).

We had a wonderful time. . . . but now I am trying to recuperate.

Why is it that you always seem to need a vacation from your vacation????!!!


In peace and pieces,
 


This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any other site it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.