Blog Hop Winner Announced!

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.-Thomas Jefferson

We got home from the mountains exhausted from too much fun. Apparently we are not used to having that much fun. It is exhausting.  Tricia and I tagged teamed a quilt for Mary Beth! Purples and Greens for her new room. I would show it to you but Mary Beth might be nosing around my blog and although she knows we made it, she does not get to see it until Leisa quilts it. There have to be some surprises in life right?? I also got another gift quilt cut out and ready for sewing. It took awhile to get it cut (one whole day) but I'm ready to go now! So I'm back to work and will be working on a new quilt for market. whewww. 

I know everyone has been enjoying the blog hop and today is my turn to annouce the winners of my book and "Pat's Pasta" roll. Drum rolll pahlezze!

True Random Number Generator

Min:  

Max: Result: 117 

 She wins dis fabboo book! She is going to be a happy quilter yes sirreeee.

 And she wins dis from moi! Actually she gets to choose. A neutral Pat's Pasta roll or a mulit colored roll. I like to pamper my winners!!!

GRENDELSKIN!!! Contact me with your snail maill addy and the gift will be on its way! 


Please let me say that at the beginning of this blog hop my intentions were to write each and every one of you that left fabulous comments. Well, life just gets in the way and your comments were MANY (how cool is that!). Let me say my thank yous here. I have enjoyed reading and rereading all the comments. I have added zillions to my reader and will be stopping by to visit you on your blogs.  I read many of your comments to my SIL while we were sewing in the mountains we enjoyed them so much. Thank you for telling me the projects you are working on and a little sumthin about you. I know we will meet each other in time if not face to face then lets continue the sharing and caring through blogs and through comments. I hope ya'll will come often to visit me in my little corner of the world. I LOVE YOU ALL THAN I LOVE MY CHEETOS AND SELF CLEANING OVEN (and that is sayin sumthin). Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Sue's blog hop continues so don't forget to hop on over to Paulette's blog today. 


Come back on Friday because I'm going to announce my plans to celebrate the publication of MY BOOK! It's gonna be a dooozie too!

A little trip

At the moment of commitment the universe conspires to assist you. -Goethe

We ran away yesterday.. Sir Quilt Dude, my SIL and BIL and moi are safe ensconced in the glorious mountains of North Georgia. Lest you think I might get a vacation from All things sewing.. No not in the cards right now... But moving my sewing to the mountains and parking my self with this view is perfect for me. Them there is the little matter of happy hour in the rocking chairs! Yup, you don't have to worry, I'm ok.

The guys are happy cuz they are on the golf course! We told them to go ahead and play 36 holes... We would be fine with our sewing. I hope we didn't hurt their feelings! We will see them for happy hour!


My big mistake is that I left at home a little thing that you put in the thingy on my iPad to push the button and make the photos appear on the blog post thing..are you following my train of thought here??? In short I got no proper photos of the quilt I am making so I will just have to splain it to you with photos when I get home.

I'm making a quilt for my youngest daughter. I love her so much! She is doing her new room in purples and greens. I'm doing a Turning Twenty Again quilt. This kind of quilt is not something I normally do. At this moment making a quilt that is completed quickly is a good thing. The pattern calls for 20 fat quarters.. So I'm using 40.. For me the scrappier the better. I'll send you a photo as soon as I find my thing for the thing in the thing of the iPad.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pick Four "My Day"

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from 

your own actions.

-Dalai Lama

Today is my day on Sue Abrey's fabulous blog hop. I'm so excited dee da dee I just can't hide it doo dah doo I'm about to loooose control and I think I like it! dee dah doo dah dah. OK, that is enough singing lets talk Blog Hop and Sue's new book!  I love that she is giving everyone a little bit of information about the places that each of the featured bloggers live! Can't wait to see what she says about the Atlanta area...but here is my side bar comment. Sue is from England (very British!) I am Southern ya'll (insert Paula Dean accent). Can you imagine what a conversation between the two of us would sound like??? I laugh just thinkin about it..Holey Smokes!

 Isn't the cover lovely? Eye candy. Love it!

So now comes my little bookie reviewie...be patient there will be prizes at the end!

When I look a new book I look at it with several different things in mind. I wear lots of  "hats" so I like to find books that meet several different purposes in my quilting life.

The first "hat" is finding a book that would work for the quilters in my Silver Thimble Quilt Club. There are about 70 members that meet monthly, many have been members for 8 years! I work with shops in the Atlanta area to kit projects for the membership. We do a quilt kit per month. (Kits are optional so don't pass out every member does not do a new quilt each month.) This book fits the bill for my club members because it has multiple projects I think they will like. The value of the book for  is raised if I can get at least two projects from the book. The projects I can sooo picture my group liking are Starstruck, Diamonds for Christmas,Stars at the Crossroads, Poppy Twist  and Antique Nine Patches..yes sir, these projects will make awesome kits. We can use this book for many months. perfecto!

Then there is the "teaching hat".  I love to teach. Most dear to my heart are those beginning quilters. (I love a baby quilters, especially if they are 95 years old!) This book will not only guide a beginner through the process of choosing fabrics but will also provide some projects they can feel successful with right off the bat. Double Blue Patches and Stepping Stones are perfect for the beginning quilter. Way to go Sue! 

 

Then there is another part to the teaching hat. I talk to quilters  ALL THE TIME about fabric selection. From beginners to experienced quilters fabric selection seems to be the most terrifying part of quilting. Sue's book makes fabric selection so easy.  The section she wrote called "  Choosing Fabrics"  is terrific. BE NOT AFRAID, Sue makes the process painless. 

The visual appeal of the projects in a book is important to me especially if I am recommending it to a group of quilters. Sue has put together a great collection of quilts with a variety of color palettes that are yummy. I especially like that she added "  Color Alternatives". NICE! groovy baby.

Last but not least is the hat that I wear " for me". I don't get a lot of sewing time just for me so I pick and choose very carefully the projects would I like to spend time making for my home or for gift giving. Again, Sue rang the bell and I came a runnin! I love "Drew's Windmills, Poppy Twist" and I must make "  Diamonds for Christmas". Yes sir, I would love to make each one and I will. Sue can you put a few more hours in my day???


I hope you have enjoyed my little take on Sue's wonderful book. I'm so happy for her and wish her great success with "Pick Four." Thank you Sue for including me in your Blog Hop..I'm honored!


Dah prizes. Sue will be giving away an autographed copy of her book drawn from the comments left on this very blog post! Hey hey hey.

 I will be giving away another copy of Pick Four  along with a 
"  Pat's Pasta Roll"   40: 2 1/2" strips of fabrics similar to the above photo... selected by moi from my very own stash  (got fabric? oh yeah). I would love to get to know you so tell me about your current project or just tell me something I don't know about you, I can keep a secret! I can't wait to see who wins and will draw for my winner on Wednesday August 31st. Good luck to all!


Tomorrow, hop on over to Kim's blog she is terrific and has written two fabulous books herself!  I'm sure she will have a lot to share with us.

Pick Four Blog Hop Day 2

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

- Helen Keller

Day 2 of the Pick Four blog hop. Sue has a great group lined up for the hop check out the line up on her blog! Today is Mary's day over at Quilt Hollow, dang has SHE BEEN BUSY! Use my little linky to pay her a visit.  

 

Tomorrow is my day so I'll have to read what Sue says about Georgia! Here is some Georgia talk for you. 

 "  I'm gettin ready for my turn at bat for the blog hop, I'm fixin to tell ya'll about Sue's book. I'll be givin some prizes and doin some dancin (while listnin to Charlie Daniels Band singin The Devil Went Down to Georgia) so come on over tomorrow and I'll tell ya'll a story while we sit on the porch and drink some sweet tea!" 

 

See you tomorrow..there shall be prizes!

 

Blog Hop Starts Today

No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.

-Helen Keller

Guess what! There is a fun blog hop starting to day at Hazel's Quilts

We are celebrating the arrival of Sue's new book   PICK FOUR. Sue is a sweetie pie and a proud mother of this new book. I'm so happy for her.

 

Published by the fabulous people at Martingale & Co. There will be prizes and fun galore so head on over there and be sure to come back to see me on Friday cuz I'm going to be a guest blogger on the HOP! There shall be prizes!!!!! Things just get better and better...

Lessons Learned

Always take hold of things by the smooth handle. Thomas Jefferson

Sewing rooms are full of adventure, thought, turmoil, peace, lessons, war, creativity and fun...I have a pearl of wisdom for you to remember while sewing this Monday morning. It is important, wise, life changing. Here it is!

When sewing at the machine have you ever dropped your small scissors on the floor? My advice to you is NEVER pick the scissors up with your toes! 

Don't be a lazy person, take the time and bend over to get your scissors (think of it as a stretching, yoga kinda thing). I have experience in this matter but no photo evidence so you are going to have to trust me on this one! and listen to Thomas Jefferson (see above).

Thimbles met this weekend with the usual great sewing and fellowship. Here is some of the goodness. 

Ok! that went well, blogger has decided to take another vacation and I can't upload my photos. You will have trust me on this one as well. 

Yes, Monday morning is off to a great start!  I'm going to get some bandaids  and go upstairs to sew.

Sewing in a very happy place

One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.

Helen Keller

A friend was in my sewing room last week for the first time and she said "  This is such a happy place" .  I think that was the sweetest thing I have heard lately and I could not agree more! I have been spending some long hours working on a very special new quilt. Piecing and applique' such fun.  There have been about 75,000 fabrics off my shelves and having their auditions for me on my design wall. (which makes for a lot of refolding,sheesh) Don't cha feel a little sorry when some of those fabrics get rejected? Well maybe this subject falls in the category of "What was I thinking when I bought this!"   Ikkkeeees. 

Here is a little peek-a-boo of a butterfly sitting under my tea cut of sunflowers (fake flowers..don't judge)...waiting to be stitched down.

 

 

 

Doesn't take much to make me happy these days.

Some Great Reads!

Wise saying often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.- Sir Arthur Helps

Internet...out Thursday - Monday. I can't believe the run around stories we got from our service provider (and I'll leave it there remember this post from last summer when I went Mel Gibson on the Geek Squad at Best Buy? I never want to behave like that, I must learn from my mistakes). So, we are back up and running. whewww. These types of problems are compounded by the fact that I am a home based business..Thank goodness for my ipad!!!! That being said I wanted to take some time to ask you to go to this blog and read about Charlie, leave a post on Marydon's blog. It will only take a little while and is worth the effort! 

My book club met last night and we enjoyed a cool (finally) evening on Jan's deck, eating and talking non stop. We usually read one book per month but this month we read to really good books. Each different, each great stories. 

Crow Lake a wonderful story with all kinds of interesting characters..I love character studies and this one was very good. Easy read too, beautifully written! I believe it was a Today show book club recommendation.

Totally different from the above book.  This is a true story about Henrietta Lacks and the cancerous tumor/cells that were removed and then reproduced beyond imagination. Most of modern medicine and research has been impacted by her cells we have all been impacted by her cells... known as HeLa. I worried that I would be run over with the biology and science of  this book and that it would not hold my attention (I kinda have a lot going on right now, I know you are shocked) WRONG. I loved it!

It remains a miracle that I can even carve out 10 minutes a day to  READ! A few months ago I made a decision to spend some time each day doing "  non quilting"   activities that I love,and to stick to it. Reading is the best for me, with that said I better get upstairs and work on my new quilt. BJ and I have smoke coming out of our sewing machines and BRAINS!!! 

I'm working on those tutorials snapping photos as I go.  Once the web site thing is done I'll be in business.

Send me a comment and tell me what you are reading. I'd love to hear from you.

OH NO!

My computer is taking another vacation...So I'm send a blog via iPad. I swear when this computer dies I'm going straight to the apple store at the Mall of Georgia!
I'll get myself a GENIUS..roll out the 401k (I better hurry cuz that is dropping like a rock too!) and get myself a dependable computer. Well, maybe it is not the computer..maybe it is BELLSOUTH. NO way could my problems be operator error..ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!

Anyway,thank you for responding to my little surprise give away..I used the random number thingy and here is the result! Congratulations #7...Crispy!!! You will a PAT'S PASTA ROLL of neutral fabrics cut from my stash. Many of the fabrics are used in the projects of my book..insert shameless book promo...



True Random Number Generator
Min: 1True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 26
Result:
7
Powered by RANDOM.ORG



CONGRATULATIONS Crispy..send that snail mail addy and Sir Quilt Dude will run to the postoffice with your "Pat's Pasta Roll"

Off to the sewing room! Great things are going on up there.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. 

-Philo

Talk about a battle. The time between one Quilt Market and the next is about 2.5 seconds. It seems like we have hardly been home from Spring Market Salt Lake and it is time to prepare for Fall Market in Houston. I'm telling you there is no down time. So what have I been up to in my sewing room? Well here you go!

Well there is a lot of this

Tons and Tons of this!

Hours and Hours of this!

And you thought I was going to show you the quilts I am working on for Fall Market..didn't you? (Silly, silly,silly you!)

I have been revamping my web site (all will be revealed soon) and subsequently my blog. I was wondering and need some answers from you. Is there any interest in technique based show and tells? (tutorials) with tips and tools added (and comments from the peanut gallery..moi). There is a lot of that to enjoy on web sites and blogs..so would you like more??? Your wish is my command. Just cuz I love comments there will be a surprise give away..I will throw every name in a hat and draw some winners! I'll keep that a secret just like my projects for fall market. sneaky sneaky me.Even if you don't have an opinion...leave a comment and tell me what you had for dinner! hahahaha

Happy Birthday darling girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY BETH!!!

This bundle of beautiful, strong, accomplished, wonderfulness...turns 23 today. Born 8-4-88 at 8:48..how cool is that?

My heart and the hearts of her family explode with pride and are sooo filled with love for this girl young woman! She is the most unique person. Absolutely NO DRAMA..just calm wisdom and joy. The young man that captures her heart will be very lucky..she is so laid back and easy to be with.

She loves her family and gives so freely in her personal life and work life. As I write this she is probably standing at an operating room table with a person who is sleeping...and she once told me..Mom, they are asleep it is my job to take very good care of them while they sleep and can't speak for themselves. (dang she rocks my world with her quiet wisdom). What a gift she is to be our daughter, God has blessed us with HER!!!

 

 

Later quilting and changes...today it is all about her!