Winners of the Random Give Away!!!!!

Thanks for all the comments!! I loved reading all about why you quilt. There are so many different reasons, and I enjoy many of the same wonderful things about quilting that you do. Thanks for sharing.

Here are the two winners of the Random Give Away!!! I think it's interesting that they both have blogs with the word "book" in the title! And, yes, I did use a random number generator!!!!

And here are the winners:

Sara, of The Quilting Bookworm, said: Wow, great giveaway!

Why do I quilt? I quilt for many reasons. One, it relaxes me. Just being in my own little world doing something I enjoy. 2. The challenge - I love puzzles and making quilts can be like putting together a puzzle. 3. The people you meet - I have met so many awesome people through blogs and quilts! 4. the people you touch - when I give a quilt away I can tell that the person who received it will cherish it and that makes it more special and warms my heart, and when its to a great organization that helps those in need it makes it even more special!
5. Its an art - a lost art. And while I can't draw or paint, I can sew and enjoy it!
That is why I quilt!


And, Becky, of The Quilting Booklady said, Why do I quilt? I love the preciseness of piecing. I love seeing the fabric under the needle. I love picking fabrics to go with a project. I love the friends that I have met through quilting. I love the generous spirit of quilters like you!

Sara will receive the quilting book, Quilts from Lavender Hill Farm and Becky will receive the five fat quarters. I'll get this in the mail early next week, ladies. I'm flying home on Sunday night, so I probably won't get them in the mail until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Happy Quilting!!!!!

Happy 80th Birthday Daddy!!!!

Well, I really thought I'd be home on the 24th to announce the winner of the Random Give Away....but, I decided to take a last minute trip to see my dad. My brother and sister will be traveling to see Dad too!! We're having a birthday party, of sorts.

My dad was hoping to come to the wedding and celebrate his birthday early, but driving is getting harder on him and his wife. We live a little over 400 miles away from Dad. My brother and sister are driving and I'm flying so I can go the days that are most convenient for me and my family. Things worked out, and Dear Younger Son is going to be home all weekend to stay with his dad, so that I can go. Thanks Son!!!! *squeeze*

I will make an effort to announce a winner on the 24th. I can't remember if my dad has wireless internet access, and I'm not asking him because he doesn't know I'm coming. He knows my brother and sister and their families will be there. He asked if I'd be able to make it, and I told him I really didn't think so, because it's so hard to leave Dear Hubby!!! He sounded disappointed, but the surprise will be so much FUN!!! I can't wait to see his face.

So, as you read this, I will have just arrived and surprised my dad. I'll be in touch with everyone, as soon as I can. Keep leaving comments, and I promise I will moderate them and get them posted BEFORE the drawing!!!

(Pic of my dad, taken in front of his house, several years ago.)

Happy Quilting!!!!!

Random Give Away

How about a random give away???? Sounds like fun to me!!!

This drawing will be for two different prizes. The first prize is this awesome quilt book entitled, "Quilts from Lavender Hill Farm" by Darlene Zimmerman.

There is a quilt in this book called Frosty Morning....a two color quilt, in blue and white. So pretty. You could get started now and have this one ready for January's cold days. There is a log cabin quilt, a Depression Era quilt, a Pineapple quilt, a pumpkin quilt......one quilt a month. Nice book.


The other gift is a set of random Fat Quarters that I've picked up here and there at some of my favorite local quilt shops. A red wavy stripe, a Fig Tree floral, a blue print by Nancy Halvorsen, a muddy gold print and a Moda print from the line Nell's Flower Shop. Great quilt shop quality fabrics.

All you have to do is answer this question:

Why do you quilt???

Not as easy to answer as you might think!! I'm looking forward to reading your responses.

The drawing will close April 23rd at 10:00 p.m. Central Time. I will announce the two winners on April 24th....sometime during the day. I'll do my best to get the prizes out in the mail on the 27th, but no promises. We roll with the punches around here and hold all plans loosely!!

This drawing is open to everyone. I'll be glad to ship internationally, so everyone join in the fun!!!


Happy Random Give Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it!!!

I sat down at the sewing machine for about an hour this morning and actually sewed two blocks!! Rather exciting. Of course, I had to drag out tons of fabric to do it...but it's worth it. The sewing room isn't clean looking anymore, but I have an actual project out and I'm working on it, and that feels really good.



Lots to do today....better get busy. I'm hoping to spend a few minutes here and there as I can sewing a seam or two.

Happy Quilting!!!!!!!!

Baby steps back into sewing....

I really wanted to sew, but this made it impossible!!!! What a mess.



During the six weeks (or so) I was away from my blog, I was busily working on wedding stuff. Making invitations for the Rehearsal Dinner, purchasing stuff (and stashing receipts so I'd have an idea of just how much I spent!!), rearranging, and throwing stuff on the cutting and sewing tables. And, this is what I ended up with! Oh my!!

After a day of piddling and moving, throwing away, refiling, cleaning, shredding and stashing....now I can think about sewing. I still need to dust and vacuum, but you have to admit, it's so much better!! That stack of fabric is a quilt I started before the wedding, just for fun. I don't know if I'll start with that (it had started getting on my nerves and that's why it's still there) or if I'll start on those wonderful Geese in the Forest.

Speaking of which, did I understand correctly??? I need to make 29 of Block 2? Is anyone else doing this? I can't find the block requirements anywhere online anymore. Can someone enlighten me????

I think I'm going to put on some music and see what happens. Oh, I forgot, I need to pick up some groceries too. Maybe I'll sew a bit later this afternoon?????

Edited to add: Please do some research, Paula!!! Ughhh. What do you know??? Visit the blog and read "Block 2 is called "Friendly Flock". Why? Because you have to make 27 of them and I thought it would help to think of them as amicable geese."

Happy Resurrection Day!!

Photo: FreeFoto.com

I'm back!!!!!

Thank you so much for your patience during my absence. I missed hearing from each of you!! And, honestly, I'm ready for things to settle down and get back to a somewhat normal routine. I can't wait to read your blogs and catch up on what has been going on in your quilting lives!!!!

Wow!!! What a whirlwind of activity a wedding is!! It has been an exciting time in our lives. Shopping, planning, meeting, arranging, decorating, showers, dinners. Busy, busy, busy. But, I will say, I have had the time of my life. No stress....at least until the very day. But, I never should have been concerned. My dear friends who did all the leg work had everything organized and it went SOOOOO smoothly. Everything got finished on time, well, all except the secret project! But, there is still time for that. The Rehearsal Dinner was gorgeous and the food was outstanding! Oh, I hope someone got pics!! I was so busy and a bit flustered that night, I never even took my camera out!!

Our first child has married and is happily enjoying his honeymoon with his new bride. We received a text from them last night that they arrived safely. So glad that they let us know. (They spent two nights here in town before leaving on Monday for a two week stay in Hawaii.)

There were lots of photographers and just one has posted a few pics, which I will share with you. There will be millions of pics because literally, there were 5 photographers (all professional, and friends of the couple, who wanted to be part of the wedding) and 2 videographers (also professionals and friends)!!!

The couple did an amazing job on the planning of the actual ceremony and it reflected them both. There were 18 voices and about the same amount of instruments. Piano, organ, clarinet, trumpets, violins, viola, oboe, and a flute. The music was outstanding. The vows were written and memorized, and said with conviction and passion. The service was Christ honoring and just so special.

Now, on with life. The three girls in the family, me, Dear Older Daughter and Dear Younger Daughter all got sick right before the wedding. Colds, bronchitis, wheezing, ear infection and crackling lungs. We're off to the Dr. today for follow up visits, but it seems as if we are doing a bit better.

As soon as I'm back on my feet, I'm going to go into the sewing room and I'm going to straighten things up. I think touching my fabric again will bring on a new zeal for quilting. I am looking forward to catching up on the Geese in the Forest quilt blocks.

Maybe tomorrow??