12.16.11

You have not seen anything new here for a couple of days because I have been busy entering contests. Sometimes the contest has given me an extra entry if I "like" them on FaceBook or mention them here on my OWN blog. Well, here is the main one I have been doing.

It is sponsored by The Quilting Gallery.

As part of their BLOG HOP, I went HERE  to BEAQUILTER where she is giving away this:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if I won?

I have a backlog of pictures to share but they are still in the camera. Maybe I can come up with something you might like

 It has been unseasonably warm but last week we had a little snow. When I awoke, the land was misty and still. Very fantasy inspiring.

It looks like temperatures in the 50s through Christmas.

12.14.11

Have you ever been to the Quilting Arts website? It is an Interweave Press production so it is the very finest in instruction and technique, has great photography, but annoying ads that pop up like those pesky tiny flies that hover around your face in the summer. Never mind, brush them away with your mouse.

I wandered over there and found out you can download all kinds of free information in PDF form. For instance HERE is where you go when you want to find some free patterns for making totes and bags.  They call them eBooks but really they are just patterns you have to print at home. 

You have to register to use the site but you get access to so much free information. Worth the little flies.

12.12.11.2

I entered another contest.

Here is their website if you want to check it out. My entry says that I quilt under the influence of old sci-fi movies and programs and comedy movies.

12.12.11

GO! is my favorite word this month. Every morning I wake excited to get GOing on projects in my queue.

I just entered a contest at Ellison Lane Quilts. Actually, I am in several online bloggy type contests but this one is my focus. She had people respond with their favorite word. It was hard to choose. When you are a happy person, you like just about everything. A lot.

I walked yesterday with HomeSon and we took photographs. Today is the BIG Guild luncheon so I may not have time for photo editing until tomorrow and tomorrow I have planned a trip into Blue Ridge to mail my stocking exchange, a birthday present to a sister-in-law, and visit an antique store or two.

12.11.11

Tangerine Tango is the Pantone 2012 Color of the year. I think I like a redder red or an oranger orange.

12.10.11

Nice, early morning by the fire. I went for a long walk yesterday, with a new neighbor. She is a marathon runner and it was very nice of her to slow down to walk with me. My doctors in the past have said I should walk at a pace where I can just barely keep up with conversation. That just about describes yesterday! I expect to be sore later on today. I had knee and hamstring issues but my back was not horrible most of the time.

Today I will be working on a few gifts to send out to family members and wrapping up what goes in the stocking exchange. I hope to have cooperation from the sun so I can take last photos of my exchange stocking.  As soon as the Exchange Manager shows RECEIVED next to my recipient's name, I will finish posting the pictures. 

12.9.11

Went to my evening quilt guild in Blue Ridge. We had a gift exchange. Remember, I bought a pattern and purse clasps? I received four fat quarters of fabric, a package of needle pullers all in a cute little stocking someone made and used their embroidery machine to make a Santa and Rudolph. I will get pictures later. 

There was a huge buffet since everyone brought something. I brought teeny squares of butterscotch brownies.  There were a lot of sweets and a lot of sweets left over after. I decided that I prefer savory to sweet. Maybe I just sampled too many butterscotch brownies while I was cutting them up. At any rate, every time I have to make something to bring somewhere, I end up bringing most of it back again and my family is happy to see it come back in the door. I will be bringing the same thing to the Monday guild. Maybe I should put a sign so people know what it is.

To get ready for the meeting last night, I thought I would share my stocking for the exchange. I also took the Julie McCullough Santa off the wall to show. I checked the date--I made it in 1996! They took pictures so maybe it will be up on their website. If so, I will link here. Probably not until later in the week.

Today I will probably go for a walk with a neighbor if my back feels okay. I have to go check on all the contests I am in, see you later!

12.8.11

Sure had fun in the REAL WORLD yesterday. I bought some candle warmers at a Michael's Crafts, some kitchen odds and ends for my Christmas at Bed Bath and Beyond, and at JoAnn Fabrices, I bought some more felt, a few things for my stocking exchange, and the new Quilters Newsletter Magazine.  If I subscribed to a magazine, this would be the one. I will see if I can hunt out a jpg of the cover of the one I just bought.

12.7.11

I dreamed of an old relationship. I dreamed of wonderful, happy closure for us both. I am basically an optimistic person but it never occurred to me to imagine good things from bad times and give myself my own closure. Since I had a tremendous feeling of well-being when I woke up, there must be a LOT to that forgiveness thing. Must think about it.

Long trip today to a real town. I plan to go to a favorite antique mall in search of a dresser, Joann Fabrics, and Bed Bath and Beyond. I need to get my lists ready!

12.6.11

Warm and rainy. I have my first cup of coffee with me and plans to do a lot of little things in the studio. Tomorrow we go to a real city with real stores so I will pause every now and then and write things on my list for that trip. I have some strips to cut and some blocks to put together for Thursday night's guild meeting.

12.5.11

I am still mostly sewing, somewhat reading and having a little trouble with my back. Today should be all sewing and just a little complaining.  No pictures. The stocking is coming along GREAT but maybe my exchange person is looking and maybe it is supposed to be a secret. It should be in the mail Friday and after a decent interval, I will post all the pictures you have been missing.

We put the Santa's Little Helper t-shirt on the dog. She looked cute and growled when I tried to take it off but I did not want to overheat her. Wish I had a picture of THAT to show you.

The pre-lit tree is up and we have been to town to buy two more strings of lights for the middle section. Why is it always the middle section that will not light? Half the ornaments are out of the boxes, the wreathes are up and I am ready for egg nog. The person putting up the tree and messing with the lights has not taken the new strings of lights out of the boxes yet...

12.4.11

Back is still troublesome but I have been able to use the computer a little. I have entered a contest and a challenge.

The contest is sponsored by Lisnaweary Quilts for a contraption called a Go! Baby. This is the second time I have tried to win one of these. I picked 3 dies as part of my entry but now I think maybe I should have spent more time thinking about them. For instance, are the dies that cut multiple 2 inch blocks--do they really cut 2.5 inches and finish out to 2 inches? If I got the 4 and 7/8 square die, what else should I get to work with them? Too much to think about.

See the button to the right? I hope to improve my machine quilting skills.That is the challenge for 2012!

12.3.11

I am back again. Actually, it WAS my back again. Lower back, to be specific. Rest, stretching, yoga, and lots of analgesic. Then walking as it improved.

Anyway, I got out of the house today and bought a gift for one of my guild exchanges. I waited just long enough for inspiration to strike, then headed to my favorite "local" quilt store--Bless My Stitches. If you click the link, you will see it is actually in the next state.  Bless My Stitches is closer to where I live than my other favorite quilt shop which is in my county, Fabric Center.  

I bought this pattern and a package of magnetic clasps. If I was in a quilt guild (like I am--in two of them) and I was to participate in a gift exchange and the limit was $10 (okay, cheated just a little) this is something I would enjoy. Not only does it support both a small business and a pattern designer, the recipient can MAKE gifts from the gift. I am very pleased.

 

Pink Sand Beach Designs exists somewhere in cyberspace. I do not really know where in geography Nancy Green is located but she must like traveling. Go to her website and check the names of the purses she designs!

12.1.11

I am a little under the weather and may not post for the next couple of days. I will try, though. Here is a picture of some of our trees.

When I woke up, everything was silvered with frost. 26 degrees.