....just one more stitch

Do you like Candy Apples?

2012-01-31T13:21:00.001-06:00

I remember when I was a child and we would go to the fair. They always had those delicious candy apples. You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that made your dentist VERY, VERY happy! I guess since we only had them once a year it was okay. Thank goodness we never broke a tooth. :0)

The candy apples that I want to show you today won't cause broken teeth or a trip to the dentist. They will be TOTAL eye candy!! AND....you have a chance to add them to your stash. Interested?

Jodie at Fort Worth Fabric Studio has put together the prettiest fat quarter bundle ever, and it's got candy apples!!! YAY! I know it's close to Valentine's Day and you might not have time to make something with these pretty fat quarters, but me being the red lover that I am (but ya'll already knew that!), I would absolutely use these year round. Oh yes I would! I can see a most adorable table topper for my kitchen table with these. Or an adorable quilt to hang over the top of my chair. How about a new tote/purse? TOO. CUTE. Want to see what she's put together for you?

Pretty much?

There are so many pretty bundles that Jodie has put together. I've said it before and tell her all the time, she has a wonderful eye for putting fabrics together. Every Friday she has a new Friday Bundle Batch to offer you. I always can't wait to see what she's come up with. I love the one that is up now. Check it out! It's called Itty Bitty Pink Ditty. I love it! If you would like to make something for Valentine's Day, you still have time to order some. Jodie's shipping is as fast as lightning, so you'd get your fabric in time to make something special. Look at these pretty pinks and reds and hearts and...... I want them ALLLLLL.

Okay, back to the giveaway. ;0)

If you would like to sign up to win this yummy fabric bundle, here is what to do:

Mandatory:

1. Be a follower of my blog and tell me that you are.

2. Sign up for Fort Worth Fabric Studio's newsletter and comment here that you did.

Extras (these are only if you want extra entries and are not mandatory):

3. Leave me a comment telling me one of your favorite Valentine's Day memories. :0)

4. Like FWFS on Facebook, comment that you did, and leave Jodie a shout out on her FB page.

5. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link telling me you did.

6. Post about this on your blog or facebook page and tell me you did so.

and one more:

7. Go to Fort Worth Fabric Studio, look through all the pretty fabrics, and come back and tell me your favorite fabrics.

Please make sure I have a way to get in touch with you by email. If you win and I can't reach you, I will have to give the prize to someone else. This giveaway will be open until midnight CST Saturday, February 4th, and I will announce the winner on Sunday evening.

Thank you to Jodie for yet another awesome giveaway! I appreciate it so much!

So are you going to sew or watch the Super Bowl or both? I know what I'll be doing, and it involves my sewing maching. Just sayin'.... ;0)

Happy week, friends!

Beautiful Giveaway Winner is......

2012-01-23T11:52:00.000-06:00

Linda V from Home Sweet (Quilting) Home! Congratulations, Linda! I hope you will enjoy your patterns! This is one of the prettiest quilts I've ever seen. :0) Lucky you! A big thank you again to Shabby Fabrics for sponsoring this giveaway!

I hope you are all having a good start to the week. I'm having my sewing studio painted and it's a total MESS in there. We normally never pay anyone to do any painting but hubby has been working so much lately that it would take him forever to get it done and I don't do painting. I finally picked a color and will show before and after pictures as soon as it's done. They should be finished in a few days, and then I'll need to get everything put back in place. It looks so different in there. Going from red to a very light aqua has totally brightened up the room. I've been back and forth in there a dozen times making sure everything is covered up good. I would not be happy if paint got on all of my fabric. The painter told me I should sell some of it. hmm....What does he know? *hands on hips, tapping foot*

Okay so where is our winter weather? I mean, even though I live in Texas, we usually have some cold weather in January. This weekend it was 81! It broke the record. My poor A/C has been going non-stop for so long. It's also been humid, which makes it seem hotter to me. I hate humidity. Every day is a bad hair day for me. ;0)

I SAID I wasn't going to sign up for any more BOM's. Well, I lied. I signed up for another one. So that makes 3 that I'm signed up for now. I need to get busy and get caught up. Here is a picture of the latest one I've signed up for. It's called Sweet and Simple.

I think it's really cute. Must. Get. Busy.

Hmmm....I just took a peek into the sewing studio. The first coat is on the walls. I'm not sure if I'm liking this. It seems lighter than I thought. Maybe it will look better when the second coat is on. Either way, it's staying. I think it's just going to take some getting used to. Once they re-paint the trim, bead board and cabinets glossy white, I think it will look really good. I hope so. I have this vision in my mind, ya know?

Well I need to get busy and get something done. Laundry is in the dryer and the buzzer keeps going off. I think I'm being paged.

Have a GREAT week, friends! I'll be back soon with some finishes to share with you.

Love and hugs,

Time for a BEAUTIFUL giveaway!

2012-01-17T13:23:00.001-06:00

What do you think of this BEAUTIFUL BOM quilt that Shabby Fabrics has starting this year? Isn't it just the most gorgeous thing EVER? OMGosh, I'm head over heals about it and can't wait until it starts in July.

Jennifer's newest design is called Sweetheart Houses. Perfect for Valentine's Day, it is also sweet enough for year-round appeal. Quilt finishes to 65" x 68". Here is the link to the pattern.

The fabrics shown are from Penelope 4, 5 & 6 by Holly Holderman for Lakehouse Dry Goods. Love this look? Sign up for their Block of the Month program, beginning in July. I will definitely be signing up for this one. I. Must. Have.

They also have embellishing kits available which include all of the buttons, charms, ric rac, and other embellishments used in the quilt.

Jennifer never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful designs. I wish I had the time to do each and every one of them. So, so pretty.

Okay, about that giveaway! LOL Shabby Fabrics has generously offered to give away one complete set of the patterns to a lucky winner. WOAH! I would LOVE to win this one! If you love houses, love PINK, and love the look of this awesome quilt, you will definitely want to sign up to win these patterns. All you have to do is:

Mandatory:
1. Be a follower of my blog. Please leave a comment telling me that you are.
2. Go here and sign up for Shabby Fabrics newsletter. You'll be glad you did. They will send you all kinds of good info about their new products, sales, etc. I love getting mine in my inbox. Come back and tell me you did so.

Extra entries just if you want to. :0)

3. Facebook about this and comment that you did.
4. Tweet about this and comment with your link.
5. Blog about this giveaway and comment that you did.
6. Go here and come back and tell me what your favorite new product is.

That's it. PLEASE PLEASE make sure that I have a way to get in touch with you. If you are a no-reply blogger, please make sure that your email address is included in your comments.
This giveaway will end on Sunday, January 22, and I will announce the winner on Monday, January 23rd. Good luck!

In other news, I've been sewing up a storm lately. I've finished three Christmas cross stitched projects, almost finished a new purse/tote for MEEEEE (just need to add the handles which I will do today) , machine sewn the binding on a quilt (just need to do the hand sewing part) and have cut out 3 more quilts and a tabletopper. I'm a sewing fool right now. LOL I love it when the mojo is in full swing and have to take advantage of it. I will get some pictures uploaded as soon as I finish up the purse and quilt.

I hope your New Year is off to a good start! Mine is so far. I'm trying REAL hard to be positive about what I'm accomplishing instead of brewing about what I'm NOT getting done. I tend to do that sometimes which makes me feel like I don't accomplish anything. Even if I can mark off one itty bitty thing off of the list, it's better than nothing, right? Right! It works for me, anyway. :0)

Have a good rest of the week, dear friends, and good luck in the giveaway! I'll be back real soon. :0)

Love and hugs from Texas (a balmy 78 degrees??)

Fort Worth Fabric Studio Giveaway Winner is......

2012-01-06T14:17:00.000-06:00

mblittle5!

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your new fabric! :0) Please let me hear from you within 48 hours so that I know that you've received the email I sent to you. Thank you to Jodie at Fort Worth Fabric Studio for offering up such a wonderful prize for us!

Thank you all for playing along and for all of your wonderful paint ideas. I think I've finally decided to go with the light aqua color. It's going to be so pretty (pictures to follow when it's painted).

Have a great weekend, friends!

A Happy New Year .....GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-28T22:31:00.001-06:00

What a better way to start off the New Year than with a giveaway, right? I thought so! :0) Jodie at Fort Worth Fabric Studio thinks so, too. That's why she's offering up a WONDERFUL fat quarter bundle that she's put together called "Full Bloom". OMGosh, that girl has such an eye when putting fabrics together! I totally love anything with red, so this one is screaming at me. What do you think? Could you find something to make with these pretties? I know I could. :0)

FULL BLOOM, a 12 piece Fat Quarter Bundle blooming with possibilities! :o) Featuring Henry Glass' Daisy Dance along with fabrics by Michael Miller, Timeless Treasures,

Riley Blake, and Moda.

Here is what to do:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment saying that you do.

2. Go to Fort Worth Fabric Studio and sign up for their newsletter. You'll be glad you did! Come back and tell me you did so.

If you would like any extra entries, you can do these things:

3. I'm getting ready to re-paint my sewing studio. Any suggestions of a good color? I would LOVE any ideas on this one. I'm a bit stumped right now.

4. Post on your blog about the giveaway and come back and post here.

5. Put the info on Facebook and come back and tell me here.

6. Tweet about it, leave a link to your tweet, and tell me here.

So that is 2 that are mandatory and 4 extras - 6 chances to win.

This giveaway will end on January 5th and the winner will be announced on January 6th. PLEASE PLEASE make sure that I have a way to get in touch with you if you sign up. No-reply bloggers that don't leave their email address won't be able to be contacted.

Sooo, that's the scoop on the giveaway. Any New Year's plans? None here, and I'm glad. I love staying home on New Year's Eve. I used to love to party that night, but now I'm just a happy girl with my sewing machine or hand work, my hubby, some old movies, a comfy quilt, and some yummy coffee. I know, I know, I need to get out more! But that sounds like heaven to me. LOL It doesn't take much, does it? Then of course the traditional black-eyed peas, ham, and cabbage for New Year's dinner. GOTTA have that, for sure!

Speaking of old movies, I have one in my Netflix queue thingee (Dial M for Murder) that is calling my name.

Happy New Year, dear friends! My wish for you is that your new year will be blessed with all that you need, with those that you love. Be safe!

Hugs and love from TX,

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T18:04:00.001-06:00

I wanted to take the chance to wish all of my faithful readers and those that are brand new a very Merry Christmas and a most blessed 2012! You are all so special to me. :0)

Are you making any resolutions? I've decided instead of making "resolutions" , I would make a "2012 Bucket List". That way if it doesn't get marked off the list, it's not a failure....and those things that DO get marked off are a big plus! Looking at the glass half full here. :0)

As far as cross stitching goes, this is the year for stitching Christmas. Lots of it. I always start so late stitching ornaments, and I really don't know why. I love stitching them! So I've already pulled out some projects for the new year. I also want to work on a few of my WIPS. I have some biggies. I'm not going to be ridiculous by putting them all on my list, so how about just a couple of them. Like "Houses of Hawk Run Hollow". And maybe I could add "Amid Amish Life" to the list too. If I REALLY want to get ambitious (and totally ridiculous at the same time), I could add "Marianne Wrenn" to the list as well. Hmm.....need to think on the WIP list a bit more. If I could just finish ONE of those, I'd be a happy camper.

Then there is the quilting/sewing part that I want to do. Oh so much on that list. Well, I haven't really written a list out for this yet. I'm still drooling. Over fabric. Over new patterns and old patterns. I am bound and determined not to be a "hoarder" or "collector" of fabric and patterns. Well, maybe just a little bit, but I want to have pretties to enjoy, too. So I will be working on that list in the next few days.

I'm still trying to decide what color to paint my studio/pit/cave. It's time for the brick red to go. I will always love red. Red and pink. oohh la la....love them both. I just need to change up and maybe go a bit lighter in there. Any suggestions? I've been stalking Pinterest (LOVE me some Pinterest, oh yeah!) for ideas. WOW, there are some gorgeous craft/sewing studios out there. My cabinets and shelving will remain white along with the chair railing and bead board. I can really go with any color I want, but I do have a lot of red accents that I'd like to still use. Lots of red toile boxes, etc. I. Love. Them.

Pay me no mind. I'm just thinking aloud right now.

Hubby and I are both sick with the crud so will be staying home tonight and tomorrow. We had Christmas with the buglets last weekend, thank goodness. In fact, it seems like everytime we come home from visiting them we get sick. They are little cootie carriers, and since we're kissing and lovin' all over them, of course we have to get the "little kid cooties". I guess maybe our immune systems don't like little kid cooties. LOL BUT, it's worth it to get to spend time with those sweet babies. :0)

My bugs with Santa - 2011

Well, I think I will put my jammies back on, sow up in my recliner and watch "It's a Wonderful Life" for the eighty-hundreth time. Oh, how I love this show. I could watch it in July and enjoy it just as much. And while I'm watching the show, I will finish up the ornament I started yesterday. It says "Bedford Falls 1946". Pretty fitting, wouldn't you say? :0)

Merry Christmas, my friends, and love from Texas. For the new year
I "wish you enough".

Another UFO finished YAY!!!

2011-12-08T21:02:00.000-06:00

I think this was my second oldest UFO. After the Christmas bee exchange back in 1994, we did the tree exchange. With the help from one of the ladies at my quilt shop YEARS ago, we finally figured out how to set the squares, and then I decided to make it a little larger by adding the border. My sweet neighbor machine quilted it for me, and I finished hand sewing the binding down.

It's washed and dried and sooooo soft! I've already spent some time snuggling under this one. :0) I named it "Family Tree". I hope you like it. :)

Last night I finished up a cross stitch piece that I had started earlier in the year. It's called "It's Berry Time" by Blackbird Designs. I love every single thing that Barb and Alma design including quilt patterns and cross stitch. However, for some reason I had a hard time stitching this one. It wasn't hard. It's in my favorite color. I just didn't seem to enjoy the "journey" like I normally do. I love it now, though, and can't wait to get it framed. (It's sorta crooked, but it's not framed yet.)

I've been stitching a few ornaments in the evenings and working in my sewing studio/pit/cave during the day. :0) It's totally a work in progress, but I WILL get there.

There will be a giveaway soon, so be sure and check back. Thank you so much for visiting! I love it when you stop by. :0)

Hugs and love from Texas,

Thankfulness....

2011-11-23T16:34:00.005-06:00

I have so very much to be thankful for. Our family is healthy as far as I know. Everyone has jobs. My buglets are growing, happy and loved by their wonderful parents. I have a nice roof over my head and a husband that loves me. I have friends that are always there for me as I am for them and always will be. True friends. I can't even begin to name all of them, but there are many and I am blessed. I have my God that has forgiven me and loves me and continues to do so every day.

I wish each and every one of my USA friends a most wonderful Thanksgiving. May the year ahead be one that is filled with love, laughter, health and joy.

Love and hugs from Texas,

Christmas Quilt FINALLY finished!

2011-11-20T21:28:00.002-06:00

This probably could be classified as the world's oldest UFO (for you non-quilters, that's unfinished object). Seriously. The blocks for this quilt were made in a bee exchange back in 1993 or 1994. That's like almost 20 years ago. I'm surprised they haven't rotted by now. I FINALLY put them together 2 years ago and my "used to be neighbor but they moved" quilted it for me. I FINALLY put the binding on it year before last. Then it sat for another year. I FINALLY hand sewed down the binding and it's now finished. WHEW! That wore me out just thinking about it. Nothing like stretching a project out, is it? LOL I'm totally doing the Snoopy dance for this finish!! Wanna see? Here are a few pictures of the world's oldest but now finished UFO.

It is so fun looking at each of the blocks and remembering the person that contributed to it. This was when I was a brand new quilter and one of my first exchanges. I was so scared that my blocks wouldn't be good enough. I guess we all go through that from time to time. Hopefully the pictures are clickable so you can see the detail of the blocks and the quilting.

Then several years ago I bought a Christmas placemat kit thingie from my local quilt shop at their after Christmas sale. It was half price so I couldn't pass it up, ya know? It sat and sat. I have no clue why I never made them up. It was a fun project and worked up really cute. It was the first time I had done any of the "quilt as you go" projects. I really enjoyed the fact that once I finished sewing it together, it was already quilted. Woohooo! Anyway, this year I have two new Christmas placemats. Here is a picture of one of them:

I have one of our Christmas trees up (actually have had it up for two weeks LOL) but it's not decorated yet. I've just been enjoying the lights. I usually put up at least one tree in every room of the house, but I don't think I will be doing that this year. The older I get the harder it gets to drag all that out and put it all away. I say this every year and every year I end up doing it anyway. It always looks like the Griswold's (inside and out!) around here. I just love the magical twinkling of the lights.

Anywho, I will be decorating the tree that's up this week so it will be done when Kevin and the family come on Friday. I can't wait to see my little buglets again! There is nothing like little children at Christmas....the way their eyes light up when they see all the decorations and packages. I'm so thankful that God blessed us with grandchildren so we can still enjoy that, even if it's not exactly on Christmas day. I feel that since the babies are still so little (almost 3 & 4) that it's so much easier for them to be in their own home on Christmas morning. I want them to be able to enjoy Santa and not have to hurry to get somewhere else. We are six hours away, and it would just be so hard for them to drag all those gifts here (from Santa) and then drag them all back. SOOO, we will probably do like we did last year and go up there a few days after Christmas and celebrate. It worked out fine and made the season last longer, plus we got to be there to celebrate my little Carter's birthday (Kevin's little tax break LOL).

I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Sometimes in the midst of all the chaos and illness and problems, it's hard to find something to be thankful for at that moment. But when I sit down and think of it, oh my! I'm overwhelmed with things! Little things...big things....and all those in between.

I hope this Thanksgiving brings you hope, blessings and thankfulness.

Love and prayers from Texas,

Sewing Studio Do-Over EDITED to add pictures

2011-11-12T10:27:00.002-06:00

For quite some time I've wanted to change quite a few things in my sewing studio. We've already done a ton of things in there, but being a woman, my mind has changed again. LOL I know you other ladies out there can NOT relate. HA! I have cabinets and a counter top that are coming out. That will involve repainting, of course. I'm really wanting to put up wood plank ceilings. I'm not sure that will fly, but we'll see. I usually come up with the ideas, and my wonderful husband makes it happen.

*These are the cabinets and counter that I want to remove*

As far as organization goes, I've been working really hard on this. For my yardage I've been using the comic book boards and I LOVE them. The price is right and I just love the look of them. I have 3 more packages of 100 on the way. :) I know, shame.

* Here is a picture of some of my fabric on the comic boards. Love this!*

Here are a few more pictures of the rest of the room at this point. These are the floor to ceiling cabinets that my husband built for me. I love them!

Here is the side of the room where I do my sewing and machine embroidering. The long arm quilting machine is in another room. There is no way it would fit in here. This picture was taken before I put these fabrics on the comic boards. My husband made my cutting table for me. The top is the size of a sheet of plywood and he topped it with kitchen counter laminate. VERY easy to clean. I have two of the 36 inch cutting mats on it with a bit of room to spare. One side has drawers in the middle that are just the right height to hold my boxes of embroidery threads. He put shelves on both sides for me that are crammed with Rubbermaid (I'm totally the rubbermaid or sterlite or whatever brand it is, QUEEN). I WILL be "un-cramming" them during this overhaul. He made it the perfect height for me for when I have to stand and cut for a long time. I'm short, so it helps not to have to raise my arms all the time.

I always look forward to home remodeling. Unfortunately, one thing usually leads to another. Have you found that happens to you? LOL You KNOW it does! Any suggestions for me? I do know that I'm going to change the paint color. Even though I love love my red, I'm ready for something else, and since we are going to have to paint anyway, might as well change it up. It's hard to see since most of the wall is covered up, but halfway up on all the walls is beadboard painted in glossy white. I WILL be leaving that. I love it.

Happy Saturday!

Hugs and Love,

The Knots Prayer

2011-11-07T22:25:00.002-06:00

(Click on picture to make larger and easier to read)

Amen and amen.

Love and hugs,

Winner of the White Christmas Giveaway!

2011-11-06T12:19:00.000-06:00

Mr Random Number picker guy was such a help as there were 394 entries in this giveaway. That's a LOT for me to count. He picked number 385, which shows it's never too late to sign up. There winner is:

Karen said...

Just signed up for the FWFS newsletter!

Congratulations, Karen! I will be emailing you and you will need to get in touch with Jodie at FWFS and she will send your prize ASAP. :)

This was such a fun giveaway getting to read everybody's Christmas traditions. I did read each and every one. Thank you for playing along!

Come back real soon as there will be another giveaway VERY soon! Hint - this one involves some awesome thread. :) After all, it's Christmas time, so we have to give away some prizes. :)

Love and hugs from Texas,

I'm dreaming of a....... GIVEAWAY

2011-11-01T23:12:00.001-05:00

White Christmas...oh how I love this song. :)

Okay, I know it's just the beginning of November, but to me that's the best time to work on my Christmas gifts and projects. If I don't get started even before now, it just doesn't all get done. Jodie from Fort Worth Fabric Studio is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway this week (thank you, Jodie!), so one lucky winner will be adding this lovely fat quarter bundle to their Christmas stash. Here is what you will receive:

Pretty, huh? 14 fat quarters! I think it's a beautiful selection that coordinates so perfectly. :) You could make something really nice with this bundle.

FWFS has some beautiful fabrics to choose from, some great fat quarter bundles and LOTS of sale pages. Jodie has a great eye for putting bundles together. They also have an Interactive Design Wall that you can use to make sure what you are ordering matches. I LOVE this feature. :) Their shipping is lightning fast, and the customer service is awesome!

To enter this giveaway, there are only a few things to do.
Required:
1. You must be a follower of my blog.
2. Go here and sign up for FWFS newsletter OR go here and follow FWFS blog. Come back here and tell me you did so.

For extra entries:
3. Tell me what you will make if you win this bundle. (love your ideas!)
4. Just for fun, I'd love to hear a favorite Christmas tradition that you do in your family.
5. If you would like another entry, either post this information on your blog, twitter or facebook (only one, please) and come back and let me know.

So you have 5 chances if you choose to do them all. :)

That's it. I hope you will play along with us. You can sign up for this giveaway until Saturday, November 5, midnight central time. I will announce the lucky winner on Sunday. BTW, don't forget to set your clocks BACK an hour this Saturday. YAY! We get an extra hour of sleep!

PLEASE, please leave me a way to contact you if you don't have a blog.

We've had the flu going on at our house so not much creativity going on to show right now. Hopefully in the next few days I'll have something to share.

I hope y'all have a great week, and be sure and sign up! Many thanks to all of you that visit. I so love it when you stop by. Please come again soon. I just love visitors! ;)

Love and hugs from Texas,

OH. MY. GOSH.

2011-10-28T01:28:00.003-05:00

I just have to share with y'all what I won. I had signed up (and forgot) for a giveaway at Ellison Lane Quilts for the 12 Gifts of Christmas Blog Hop that Jennifer started. I loved visiting the blogs, seeing the tutorials and getting some new ideas for Christmas gifts. I signed up in the very beginning for the giveaway. Actually there were several giveaways, but the GRAND PRIZE giveaway was a $250.00 gift certificate to Fabricworm. OH. MY. GOSH. I won. I WON!!! I don't even know what to say! I've been happy dancing ever since I found out and have spent literally hours browsing their website. WOOOHOO~ "Snoopy, may I have this dance?" lol Jennifer, thank you so, so much! I'm in heaven!

I also wanted to let you know that I decided to sign up for the BOM for the applique pattern that I just bought. I thought about it for awhile and decided that yes, I DO love flinging fabrics, etc., but this was just a little bit too much flinging for me. My mind was going in a gazillion directions. Sooo, I should be getting the first block the first of next week. I can't wait. In the meantime, I'm practicing my applique on a piece I started years ago and never finished. I'm not sure why, as it will be beautiful when finished. I guess it's because I haven't appliqued in years. I've been doing a lot of counted cross stitch, so I suppose that was my handwork instead of the applique. I always have to have something in my hands while watching TV, etc. Now I'm back into my appliqueing and loving every minute of it. I DO need to work on my points, etc.

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! I'm still doing the happy dance!

Hugs and love from Texas,

P.S. Be sure and stop by again soon. Something special is happening next week. Just sayin'... :)

I think I've lost it...

2011-10-14T17:21:00.000-05:00

I need to have my head examined. Really. Truly. Oh wait...I already did that. Well, obviously either nothing was up there, or it was so bad, it was kept a secret. You know why? Well, okay, let me explain. I love to applique. I love to do counted cross stitch. I love to hand sew on binding. Anything handwork, I love. I "like" to hand quilt, and would LOVE to LOVE it except my stitches look like basting stitches. I guess I haven't practiced that enough. ANYWHO, the reason for this short and sweet post today is to show you why I need head examination. This came in the mail today. And I ordered it. LOL Don't panic. The quilt didn't come in the mail - just the pattern. ;)

Pretty? GORGEOUS SMORGEOUS? Am I nuts? yep... I mean, I DO love to applique, but if you click on it, you'll see there is quite a bit. A. LOT. And I love it. I think it's one of the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen. So I am now the proud owner of the pattern (maybe I should just frame the pattern LOL). I'm dying to start it...kinda sorta. It's a tad intimidating, but I know that like any other large pattern like this, I just need to break it down into sections. Anyway, what do you think? You likey?? The name of it is "Stars and Sprigs" and it's by Kim McLean (just in case I've enabled anyone here LOL). If I HAVE enabled you, I'd love to know. ;)

Okedoke, back to your regularly scheduled programming. I just wanted to share my new purdy with you.

Have a most wonderful weekend, friends, and thank you for stopping by. It makes my day! Truly it does!

Hugs and pats,

Yummy Mail Day! WOOHOO!

2011-10-13T13:58:00.001-05:00

Oh my. I was just reading a friend's blog and she reminded us how soon it will before Christmas is here. I have yet to begin making any of my gifts. It's funny....it DOES come on the exact same date every year. It never changes. It looks like by now I would realize this and get busy in advance, which I always say I'm going to do. *sigh*
"The road is paved...." as they say. So today I'm working on making a list of some of the things I need to get done.

I had a good mail day today. I received the BOM that I'm doing from Fat Quarter Shop YAY and also received three books that I had ordered from Amazon. I ADORE anything by Blackbird Designs. I also do counted cross stitch and have all of their pattern books. Love. Them. I didn't have any of their quilting books (didn't know there WERE any?? how did that happen?), so when I found them, I had to have some. I only got two, but will be putting the rest on my wish list. These are the ones that I got:

Then I had to add the newest Schnibbles book, too. I love Schnibbles and this one was calling my name big time.

I love my books. I can grab a pile of them or my quilting magazines, curl up in my chair with a diet coke or cup of coffee (usually coffee!) and sit there and make all sorts of plans of what I want to make. Are any of you like that, too? I just love it. I do that with my cross stitch, too. Sometimes when I'm just not in the mood to sew or stitch, I'll sit and dream about what I want to do next, or make a LONGGGGG list! LOL

So, I have not yet looked at these since I just grabbed them from the mailman. It's time to make a cup of coffee, curl up in my chair and have a good ole' time. They are totally calling my name!

Thank you for stopping by. I so enjoy it when you visit. Maybe next time I'll have some brownies to offer you! Come back soon!

Hugs,

Funk is gone...

2011-10-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

I slept it off and woke up and told it that I had absolutely no room in my life for it today, so it's poofed! See? I told you pinky swear. Soooo today will be spent working on some cheater quilts and pillow panels trying to decide how to make them into quilts for charity. I've had them a while, and they are really nice. I just never did anything with them. So today is the day to at least make a plan. Any and all ideas are welcome. I SO wish I would have listened better in Geometry in High School! LOL

Still working on my scrap busting. I've sent a time limit of at least 30 minutes a day. I'm getting a lot done by doing it that way. I haven't sewn in a few days, but will get some of that in today.

Both of my last two quilt finishes have gone to North Texas with my dear friends to be quilted. I can't wait to get them back. They are Hometown and my friendship quilt. It will be interesting to see what pattern they come up with. I always leave it to them because they are just so talented.

I hope everybody's day has started off peachy! Mine has so far. It's going to stay that way, too. Nothing and nobody is going to make the funk come back. I have control over this, right? RIGHT!!!

Love and hugs to my buds,

Funky funky.....

2011-10-11T17:52:00.002-05:00

I'm in a funk today. Sometimes people put me in a funk. Other times I am perfectly capable of getting there by myself. Today is a combination of both. People can be so hurtful and insensitive sometimes and may not even realize it. It happens quite a bit in the blog world. There are some of us (me included) that aren't as confident at times about what I post and the amount of things that I get done. THAT in itself can get me in a funk. It's something that I "allow" to happen as I do have the control over that. I'm working very hard on this "trait". I'm just an overly sensitive person. I would never EVER intentionally hurt someone on a blog or in person. EVER. I try very hard to be sensitive to their feelings, and if I know they are hurting, try to listen to them, and if they ask for help, give to them what I can. But listening is usually the best medicine. Anyway, enough funkiness.

I will be back tomorrow in an "unfunk". Is that a word? LOL See you tomorrow in a good mood. Pinky swear! Go RANGERS!

Hugs and pats,
Carolyn :)

Rainy Sunday in Texas YAY & Giveaway Winner

2011-10-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

OMGosh, last night was awesome! I laid there and heard thunder and lightning and loved every minute of it. This may sound weird to some, but those of us in Texas who have been under drought and fire conditions for months, it sounded like heaven on earth. Now my four dogs......totally different story. They were going ballistic. Wooses...They are supposed to be my protectors (2 labs, a golden and a mut, all whining like crazy!). I guess it was because they hadn't heard the noise in forever. It's still raining, and I hope it does all day. Those are the kinds of days I can just sew or whatever, which I fully intend to do.

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for. I've been trying forever to figure out how to post the picture of Mr. Random Generator as he picks the number so you will know that it's legit. I can only hope that you will trust me when I put the numbers on here until I learn how to do this. It can't be that hard, can it? Anyway, the number that he picked was number 39. That number would be Sharon at Craizee Corners. Congratulations, Sharon! I hope you enjoy your prize! Please contact Jodie at FWFS and she will send out your fat quarter bundle ASAP.

Thank you so much to Fort Worth Fabric Studio for such a wonderful giveaway! I can't wait to see what you make with these gorgeous fabrics, Sharon. Congratulations, again!

Happy Sunday to each of you. I'm off to my sewing studio/cave/sanctuary to play around on this rainy day.

Love and hugs!

Goin' Places Giveaway

2011-10-06T04:05:00.003-05:00

Happy Thursday friends! Today we are "Goin' Places". Where are we going? We are going to Fort Worth Fabric Studio in North Richland Hills, TX. Want to come with me? I think you'll be glad you did. We have THE most awesome fat quarter bundle to give away to one lucky reader.

First I'd like for you to know a little about our sponsor. Fort Worth Fabric Studio is an end-of-the-rainbow, dream come true for owner, Jodie Heinold. She has had an incredible love for fabric since learning to sew as a child. With a degree in Business Administration, she has never forgotten her passion for design, fabric, and creation, and has spent a number of years pursuing these interests by designing & selling children's boutique clothing to a wonderful group of clientele. She has a trained “eye” for beautiful fabric & color combinations, which will be reflected in choices available on the website.

FWFS is an online-only fabric store, specializing in beautiful quilt fabrics & batiks for quilters and the creative seamstress. They are the home of the Friday Bundle Batch! Their fabrics are from major manufacturers such as Robert Kaufman, Hoffman, Alexander Henry, Michael Miller, Riley Blake, Moda, Windham, Timeless Treasures, Andover, Makower, Exclusively Quilters, Free Spirit, Island Batik, Fabri-Quilt, Quilting Treasures, VIP Exclusives, P&B Textiles and more! New items are added weekly, if not daily.

This is what Jodie is giving one of my followers. I just LOVE these colors all together. They are definitely "goin' places"! It looks like a present with that pretty bow. :)

If you would like to win this awesome fat quarter bundle, here is all you need to do:

1. Be a follower of my blog.

2. Go to FWFS and sign up for their newsletter. Come back here and comment to me that you did.

3. Tell me what you would make with this bundle if you won it.

That's it! If you would like to have extra entries, here are some things you can do:

1. Post about this giveaway on your blog and come back and tell me.

2. "Like" Fort Worth Fabric Studio on Facebook, tell them you came from here and come back and tell me for another entry.

3. Tweet about this or post on your facebook page and let me know you did.

Please make each a separate entry if you want them to get counted. I use Mr. Random Generator and he only knows to count your entry if they are listed separately. :)

Thank you for "goin' places" with me today. You have until Saturday, October 8, midnight CST to sign up. I will announce the winner on Sunday, October 9th. PLEASE make sure if you are a no-reply blogger that you leave a way for me to get in touch with you.

I'm so glad you stopped by. Please do come back again. :)

Do you like to organize?

2011-10-04T10:13:00.000-05:00

I do. I'm weird like that. I can spend hours and hours organizing in my sewing studio. What's up with that? I could be sewing. And I do sew. But it seems that when I pull out fabric and notions and other "stuff" that I need to organize, it motivates me, gets my creative juices flowing, and before I know it, another quilt or purse or "something" is in the works. I'm OCD like that, but you already knew that. The funny thing is that I may have a pile of papers a foot high that need either filing or shredding or just plain throwing out, but oh boy, my sewing studio is another story (Kinda like my pantry = alphabetized= sick).

Tell me about yours. Tell me what you like to organize or if you hate to organize. I'm always trying to find the most "user friendly" way to organize mine. What I mean by that is I do have a fabric stash. A LOT of it is old from when I started quilting back in the early 90's. But I still love it. It's still good. It's quilt shop quality fabric, so why would I dump it? I'm not. *oink* It's great for some of the charity quilts I like to do.

I've organized my fabric a dozen ways and change it up all the time. Sometimes I have it organized by color. I always try to keep my "lines" together just in case. Sometimes I have the other organized by theme. I'm so cORNfused. A little help here, peeps. If you help me out, I may have something special to share tomorrow. No, I WILL have something special to give away tomorrow. ;) Just sayin.....

Sooooo c'mon. Share your wealth of wonder with me. I respect your opinions. I love y'all more than my sweatpants (not saying more than my luggage because I hate my luggage LOL). And if you're REALLY good and give me some ideas, I promise to show pictures. In the meantime, I'm heading in there to work now. YAY! I LOVE DOING THIS! By the way, there will be painting going on when I finally get things like I want them. Help will be requested, so put your thinking caps on. Here is an old picture to give you an idea of what's up. (By the way, this is only a fraction of the stash.....THAT is the problem). I will be doing some pattern purging, etc., so guess who gets to reap those benefits? hmmmm????

Love y'all more than.......well I love ya a lot! LOL

Hometown Giveaway Winner (s) !

2011-10-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

Well, as promised I am announcing the winners of this most awesome kit from Fat Quarter Shop today. I say "winners" because someone will win the Hometown kit AND Sweetwater has "sweetened" the deal by giving away their awesome new book "Simple Home". It is a GREAT book with lots of wonderful ideas and patterns.

The funny part about the winner of the Hometown kit is that it shows that it's never too late to sign up. I had a total of 382 people sign up for this giveaway. The winning number is 379 (thanks to Mr. Random Org)! I thought that was so cool. Soooo the winner is :

Aster Cody said...

Summer Lovin' is my favorite kit right now.

October 1, 2011 3:40:00 PM

If you will send your snail mail address to Kim at Fat Quarter Shop she will send this beauty your way. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did.

Here is a picture of my pictured flimsy. It will be sent off to be quilted next week.

It's very hard to see the beautiful colors in this picture, but you can get an idea.

Okay, now the winner of Sweetwater's book is #160 PDX Pam. Pam doesn't have a blog, but if you will please email me with your snail mail address, I will get this awesome book in the mail to you ASAP. :)

Thank you so much to Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring this great giveaway. If you didn't win you can still order one of these great kits.

Thank you to all that entered! I wish I had one for everyone. I will say that I read every one of your comments and some of them literally cracked me up! I heard you singing...I really did!! I would have loved to have commented back to each of you, but there were just too many to do so. It was so heart warming to read about what "hometown" means to so many of you, too. Thank you for playing along. I loved it!

I will be having another great giveaway VERY soon, so come on back and check it out.

I hope you are enjoying this fall weather wherever you are. We are finally getting some relief here in Texas.

Hugs and love to each and every one of you!

Giveaway time again.... Let's go home!

2011-09-26T20:46:00.001-05:00

Does anyone remember Bruce Springsteen's song "My Hometown"? Well, Fat Quarter Shop sent me this awesome kit several weeks ago, and I've been stitching away on it. With every stitch, that song has come into my mind. I always loved it anyway! The name of the fabric is "Hometown" and it's by Sweetwater by Moda.

Okay, enough of that. They are also going to give another one away. I mean, we are talking full kit AND the backing. Every single thing you need to make this kit except your thread and your sewing machine. Are you interested? Wanna see what I'm talking about? I just love this pattern!

Here is the backing fabric. Love, love it!

Fat Quarter Shop was more than generous on this giveaway. This is well over $100.00 worth of merchandise.

If you would like to win this, the first thing you need to do is sing to me...."My Hometown". Sing loud. Really loud. Of course I won't hear you, but hey, I can pretend. LOL (and I WILL be listening, so don't try to cheat! LOL)

Seriously, I do think this should be for followers, so you need to be a follower of my blog to enter this one. Please let me know you are.

For another entry, tell me what hometown means to you. Is it where you were born, or where you live now? Please tell me on another post.

If you would like another entry, go over to Fat Quarter Shop and pick out your most favorite kit and come back and tell me what it is.

And if you would like once last entry, blog, tweet or facebook about it (counts as only one).

Please make each of these a separate entry, so Mr. Random Generator will count them all. That is four chances to win. PLEASE, PLEASE let me know how to get in touch with you. There are still so many "no reply bloggers" out there, and it's so frustrating not being able to let you know you won.

This giveaway will go until midnight CT on October 1 and will be announced here on October 2nd. Good luck to everyone!

Have a great week full of stitching and sewing and whatever else you love!

Blog Hop #2 Make New Friends....

2011-09-24T00:00:00.006-05:00

......and keep the old - one is silver and the other gold. Does anyone remember that song? I learned it many, many years ago in Girl Scouts and have never forgotten it.

That's what this post is all about - making new friends. Several weeks back I had posted on my blog about how I wished I had bought Sherbert Pips when the fabric line came out because I was having a hard time finding what I needed. Someone (Sha - Craizee Corner) commented on that post that she had a jelly roll and some left over yardage that she'd be glad to trade. WOW! I didn't even know this lady and she's offering to trade with me? WOOHOOO! And that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship between Sha and I. As you can see from my quilt, we DID trade, as I made my quilt out of it and have named the quilt "Make New Friends". I have not quilted it yet, but plan to work on that this weekend. I think a simple free motion stipple is what I will use. Any other ideas about that?

I've so enjoyed working on this quilt and the pattern is so easy to follow. The good thing about this particular pattern, as you will see with each of our quilts, is they look totally different by the fabrics used AND the way they are put together. Love, love, love them and will definitely be using this pattern again. The name of it is "Key to My Heart" and I got it from Fat Quarter Shop <-------- awesome shop, BTW!

I just love the colors in this quilt. I'm really into the red and turquoise together. They are so pretty and bright.

If you missed yesterday's first blog hop, be sure to visit Tiffany at Another Pie in the Sky and see her pretty quilt. Tomorrow will be Sharon's post, so be sure to hop on over to Craizee Corner and see her quilt as well.

This was a lot of fun to do, and hopefully we will do it again soon. It's fun to quilt with friends. :)

Oh, BTW, just an FYI, a major giveaway coming up next week. Just sayin'...... ;)

Friendship Blog Hop!

2011-09-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

Yay! Today is the first day of our friendship blog hop. You didn't know there WAS one? Well, we kinda kept it a secret. :)

Tiffany of Another Pie in the Sky is starting off the hop today at her blog, I will be posting tomorrow, and my friend, Sha at Craizee Corner will round off the hop on Sunday.

We are all using the same pattern, but it's so fun to see how totally different they each look by using different fabrics and setting them differently. Be sure and stop by Another Pie in the Sky and spread some comment love. :) Tell her Carolyn sent you! :)

Be sure and come back here tomorrow so I can show you my quilt and the story behind how it all started.

Have a great Friday!

Hugs and love,

YAY for Tuesday!

2011-09-13T13:11:00.000-05:00

See? I told you I'd be back with a positive post. LOL Actually, today has been a good day so far. For those that have been following me for awhile, you know I've had that QBot that goes on my long arm that's been looking at me and making me feel guilty because I never use it. Well NO MORE! I went down to the quilt shop today and traded that baby in. Yep, I took a loss on what I paid for it, but who cares. It's not doing me any good just sitting there. Soooo I got another machine. That would make 3 now. But before you get your undies in a figure 8, it really will be a help to me.

I got the Viking Sapphire (very hard for me to do - I'm a Bernina girl all the way but they don't sell Bernina's), but the cool thing about it is that it has the longer....is it called plate? arm? whatever, that will give me more room to do my free motion quilting. The only difference in this one and the other Sapphire is that it doesn't do the automatic cut (I think I can handle a pair of scissors) and doesn't have as many stitches. I don't need a gazillion stitches. My Bernina does more than I'll ever do in a lifetime. Sooooo, I'm a happy camper. Owners classes start Friday morning at the pre-crack of dawn (we get three), so I will be hitting those so I can at least learn how to thread this mother.

NOW, the next question. Do I learn how to use the MegaQuilter without the Qbot (yes!) or sell it. I think before I do anything rash, I'm going to give it a shot. I'm so proud of myself I could just spit!! I'm going to hit YouTube, and Yahoo groups and everything it takes for me to learn this. I'm bound and determined. Hold me accountable, okay? That's why I'm putting this out there. So you will hold me to my word. That's what friends do, righto? :)

Another post without a picture. hmmmm.....I guess I could go through my pictures and try to find something to show you. I tried to copy the picture of the machine I'm getting to put on here, but it wouldn't let me. :(

So, I will bid you adieu and go clean potties. Don't be jealous. You KNOW you wish you were me. You know it. LOL

Love ya to the moon and back,

Enough is enough is enough......

2011-09-12T18:14:00.003-05:00

Monday - BLEH! That is all. Please return to your regularly scheduled programming. I will be back tomorrow with a positive post. PROMISE (hold me to it, k? )

Hugs and love,
Carolyn :)

Picking your brains! HELP!

2011-09-02T14:27:00.001-05:00

I have several questions I'd like to ask my readers so that I can make my blog a better place and one that y'all want to come and visit. I'm not trying to win any kind of prize for the most followers, as I know that some are just followers because of the giveaways (and that's okay, too!). I want you to REALLY enjoy my blog and want to come back to it. Sooo, in order for that to happen, I want to know what you want to see.

First of all, do you like giveaways? I've read lately on some blogs that they really don't like them. I guess I'm clueless about that, as I love to enter them myself, although I very rarely ever win. I love getting some pretty fabric or notions, etc. in the mail for free...but that's me. I do understand not having to jump through 10 hoops to be able to enter. I usually only ask that you be a follower of my blog and of the person that is sponsoring the giveaway. The other entries are purely extras if you want to do them. I will never ask for your first born. LOL

Second: Do you enjoy guest speakers or do you just want to have me write on here? Sometimes I do enjoy guest speakers on other's blogs, especially if there is a tutorial involved. I'm always wanting to learn something new. Other times, I don't really care for them. I guess it just depends for me. What are your thoughts? Yay or nay.

Remember, nothing you say on here is going to hurt my feelings (unless you tell me my blog sucks. Then I may pout for a day or two! Just constructive critism, please). I'm truly trying to make it a better place.

Thirdly, do you want to hear about me, family, etc., or just mainly creative, crafty things?

Fourth, do you only like blogs that have a lot of pictures ? Do you turn away from a blog post if there are NO pictures?  Sometimes I've had things to say to you that really don't involve a picture, but I hesitate to write them because of that. I know most love to see pictures, but sometimes the subject matter doesn't really warrant one.

Fifth, I want to talk to you like I would talk to a friend sitting across the kitchen table from me over a cup of coffee, tea, or a coke (yum). Sometimes I'm a bit...wonky. Borderline smart a** at times (I've kinda sorta hid that part from you). Tell me...I want to know you and I want you to know me.  :)

I read each and every comment that comes across my blog (they make my day. I know, I need a life!), and I do try to answer them, but sometimes it doesn't happen.  I will be trying really hard to do better in the future on that. I do, however, usually click the link to your blog and read up on you. I love getting to know new people. I feel the internet has been a wonderful tool in making our world a smaller place. I cherish my overseas friends as I do the ones that live in my same state or town. I am close to my online friends (if not closer) than I am to my friends in "real life".

Sometimes I don't have access to a camera, which has hindered me from posting MANY times.  Do you like pictures of my studio and how I organize it? (I am a bit of an organizing freak and love to organize things! ) Does that bore you? Or are you more interested in the things I've made or others have made?

I know these are a lot of questions, so just pick and choose the ones you'd like to comment on, or pick none if you want. I want my blog to be for YOU as well as it is for ME. If you aren't enjoying it, I'm wasting my time. I'm not trying to make the big times with my blog....no way. It's a way and a place for me to vent at times, too. That's another thing. When I'm down, I always hate to post in case readers think it's a downer blog. But we aren't always in perfectly happy moods, are we? Should we stay away from our blogs at that time, or reach out to our readers? I want you to know the real ME. The one that is happy sometimes, excited sometimes, worried sometimes, upset and mad sometimes etc., and trying to be faithful at all times to the One that matters the most to me.

If you are still here with me, thank you for hanging in there. I know this post is a bit "different", but is very important to me. Thank you for those of you that are faithful readers. I treasure all of you so much. I look forward to hearing how I can improve my little spot on the world wide web.

Have a safe and happy long weekend, for those that get it. :)

Hugs and love from STILL hot and dry Texas,

Intrepid Thread Winner!

2011-08-29T15:09:00.002-05:00

We have a lucky winner of the wonderful fat quarter bundle that Julie at Intrepid Thread so generously supplied for us. Mr. Random Generator picked the winner and the number he chose was 237, Melinda! I have yet to figure out how to copy a picture of the generator to show you the number that was picked, so I ask that you please take my word for it. Here is what Melinda said in her comment:

Melinda said...

I would choose the yellow bundle. I don't do much with yellow but I love it. I would start by using some snippets of it for my Bottled Rainbows quilt!

August 24, 2011 8:36:00 AM CDT

Congratulations Melinda, and thank you again to Julie! Melinda, I have emailed you, so if you will please email me back with your mailing info, I will get these sent out to you ASAP.

Thank you to all that entered. I always wish I had enough to give to everyone. When I win the lotto (oh wait! You have to buy a ticket, right? LOL), I will do just that! ;)

Happy week to you and I'll be back in a few days with more to share.

YOOHOO!! Giveaway time again!

2011-08-21T22:32:00.002-05:00

Since it's so hot and dry in Texas and I don't feel like doing anything that involves going outside, I think it's time for a giveaway. :) Sound good? Julie at Intrepid Thread has graciously sponsored a really, really nice giveaway for my readers. If you like fat quarter bundles, you're gonna love this giveaway. :) You really need to check out her blog. She is soooo creative, has a wonderful etsy shop (with great sales and terrific prices!) and giveaways all the time. Here is the beautiful eye candy that one lucky winner will win:

It is called "Promenade" and it's by Riley Blake, one of my favorite designers. You likey? I sure do! You will have your choice of the yellow bundle or the purple bundle, and each one has 8 beautiful fat quarters!

How to win:

1. If you are not a follower of The Intrepid Thread, sign up to be one and come back and leave me a comment on this post telling me you did.

2. If you are not a follower of mine, sign up to be one and leave a comment telling me so.

3. Post about it on your blog and leave a comment stating you did.

4. Tell me which color you would choose and what you think you would make with these (cuz I love hearing what people like to make).

That's all you need to do. Easy as pie! I will keep this giveaway open until midnight CT on Sunday, 8/28/11, and will announce the winner's name on Monday. Please make each of the four requirements SEPARATE comments if you wish to have each entry counted. Also, PLEASE PLEASE make sure that I have a way to contact you. There are so many times that people will comment, etc., and they are "no-reply bloggers", so I can't reply back to them.

Okay, let the games begin! I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead, and I look forward to seeing who the lucky winner is on Sunday. Good Luck!

Hugs from horribly, horribly hot and dry Texas,

What's up?

2011-08-17T00:47:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to pop in and tell each of y'all that are so faithful to visit my blog that I love you to pieces and hope that you have a wonderful "rest of the week". It just makes me so stinkin' happy every time I see a comment from one of you. :) Then I have to head over and see what's going on in your world. (Doesn't take much to make me happy, does it? LOL)

Seriously, I love the fact that the internet has made our world so much smaller. I have friends in many different states and many different countries. No way would that have happened without our cyber world. I love all of my online friends so much and have made some wonderful lifelong friends. :)

Okay, enough of the mushy stuff. LOL I think I'll head to bed since I don't have any cool pictures or anything really productive to show you. I will, however, have something going on in a few days. Just sayin'........

Hugs and love from HOT AND DRY Texas (PLEASE send rain. My nekkid rain dances in the front yard have not worked so far!).

Do you like a giveaway?

2011-08-10T06:06:00.001-05:00

Well......I will be having a most special one coming up really soon, so you need to be sure and keep checking back. You will have to be a follower to sign up for this one, as it's a biggie. Just a hint.....can you say Accuquilt? :) I will be having a tutorial about it really soon, but just thought I'd give y'all a heads up. I'm excited!!! Are you? LOL

Speaking of giveaways, Lynn over at Happiness is Cross Stitching is having an awesome giveaway. If you've never visited her blog, she does the MOST beautiful stitching and her finishing is perfection. Here is a picture of what she is giving away. I want it!!

Pretty nice, huh? Head on over and sign up. You can't win if you don't sign up, right?

Have a most wonderful Wednesday. I plan to!

Hugs from VERY hot and VERY dry Texas,

EDITED....What do you think?

2011-08-08T12:36:00.001-05:00

Just thought I'd show you a picture of what I've been up to lately. I got this idea on another blog and was a woman on a mission until I got it done in my own sewing studio. I still have a little bit more to go in my cabinets, but this is just an idea. Whatcha' think?

I'm loving it all standing up like little bolts. I can finally see exactly what I have, AND when I need a piece, the whole stack doesn't end up on the floor. I guess by now if you've been a follower for awhile you know I'm sort of an organizing freak. I think I'm loving this.

For those that are wondering how I got the fabric to stand up like this, I used these:

I bought mine online, but I'm sure any comic book store would have them. They are like mini bolts and are just perfect for fabric. I wrap the fabric around them and then hold it together with a small pin. :)
Happy Monday!

How particular are you about the brand of your fabric?

2011-07-28T15:12:00.001-05:00

EDITED to change title....I just didn't like the word "snob". LOL
I wish I could think of a better word, because that one sounds rude. If I think of one before this post is over, I'll change it. (I used to think I was until today) ANYWHO, while working on my organizing, de-stashing, etc., this morning, I've come across fabric that I bought years ago, still love and can't for the life of me tell you who made it. I WILL say that I do love me some Moda. It is my favorite. I love the feel of it, and could just waller in it all day. That said, there are others that are the same way.

Since I've been quilting since the early 90's back before we had tons and tons to pick from, I do have lots of the older fabrics. Some of them I still love. Some of them I think, "what was I thinking?". I think we all have some of those. As Bonnie of Quiltville says, "no fabric is too ugly to use. It just needs to be cut up smaller."....cracks me up. Love her...she is totally the scrap user's queen! So my question is this: "Do you only buy certain brands of fabric? Do you buy what you like no matter who it's by? Would you DARE buy fabric at Hobby Lobby, Joanne's, Hancock's, etc. (I do, and have, and will continue to do so if I like it)?" Seriously, there are those that won't. Why? If the quality is good, it's got a good, tight weave and is 100% cotton, feels good...why would I not if I like it? No judging going on here, so be honest. I truly want to know!

There are so many of my fabrics that don't have word one on their selvages, but I like them. I will keep them and use them. I'm not really one that can remember to tell every single piece of fabric and the designer in the quilts that I make, etc. In my purses, I might could do that, but not with my quilts. I just use what I like, and what fits.

Some of the fabrics that I've run across today are sorta stiff. I know I've used a lot of these for backings for my cross stitch pinkeeps, etc., and they've worked well. However, I will be getting rid of them, as I have plenty of the others I can do the same with. I will never quilt with those, and they are just taking up space that I need. The patterns are pretty....I just have enough others that are pretty.

I will say that there was I line that I would have dearly LOVED to get my hands on: Sherbert Pip. (if any of you have any for sale, holler!) I love that fabric. I would have loved to make a quilt for my grand babies out of that line. I can find one piece here and there, but haven't been able to find enough for what I need. That is one that I wished I would have bought when they first came out. *sigh* BUT, I'm trying really hard not to buy unless I absolutely have to. I could shop out of my stash forever, but gosh....these designers keep putting out all this beautiful, cool stuff, and I just long for them all. Sound familiar? No way can I buy them all. There are a few others, though, that I can see in a project and would love to have. Kind of weird since I'm doing a de-stash, huh? I would suggest to myself not to look. I get every newsletter in the world, and "Like" all these wonderful shops on Facebook, so I'm doomed. LOL

Seriously, when I get in this mood, Bob hides his stuff. LOL He's so afraid that I might get rid of something of his. (of course I wouldn't) Sooo, after all these long, drawn out words, tell me how you feel about your fabric stash. Is it a mixture of different designers/brands? Do you tend to gravitate to certain ones (which is fine, we all do that from time to time). I have GOT to find another word for snob. Tell me what you like and don't like. I love hearing from others and how you feel about things.

Time to get back to de-stashing. I will show you later in a few posts how I am organizing the fabric that I keep. I think it will work better for me. I have found that if I store it in tubs, I have no clue what I have. This way, there is no doubt. Hang in there with me...pictures to follow when I get more done. In the meantime, speak to me, okay?

Love and hugs from Texas,

Kind of a quickie post and request RE: Major De-stash

2011-07-27T13:55:00.000-05:00

Hello ladies and gents,

This will be short and sweet as I really need to get busy. I've had my sweet grand babies here since last week, and being 2 and 3 years old, you know that means you don't take your eyes off of them for one second. LOL

I have to destash....seriously destash for several reasons. I'm asking from those that maybe have done this in the past if there is a better way to do this. I'm talking quilting, cross stitch and TONS of brand new scrapbooking (what was I thinking?)Ebay? Etsy? Put lists on here? I really don't have a clue. I have a long arm that I have never used and also a Qbot that has never been used, either. Both I really need to sell, but don't have a clue. I'm a bit scared of Craigslist after hearing about some of the weirdos out there. LOL It scares me to let some stranger in my house.

I will post more later, but I'm working on this a bit today, and thought I would ask if there were any of you "seasoned" quilters that could give me some ideas. I'll be anxiously waiting to hear your ideas. Any and all are SO APPRECIATED!!

Love to all....

Oldies but goodies...

2011-07-19T08:26:00.000-05:00

I just totally LOVE old, vintage linens and sewing items, etc. Everytime I see anything like that, I have to pick them up. Fortunately the ones that I'm about to show you all came from my family....either my great-grandmother, grandmother, or my mother. Some of the things I dont' even know what they are. LOL I was blessed to receive all the beautiful vintage lace, hankies, crochet, etc. that nobody else in the family wanted. To me they are TOTAL treasure. Every day I'm trying to find ways to display these beauties. I hate seeing them packed away. The one thing I don't have that I've looked everywhere for is a flower frog. I really need/want a couple for my gingher scissor collection. I'll keep my eyes open. I'm always on the look out.

I've also been busy making a few purses/totes for friends. I guess I could share a few of those pictures so you'll know that I actually DO sew instead of constantly organizing, ALTHOUGH I am in the process of totally re-doing the studio AGAIN. I'm trying to decide on a paint color. I love the red, but I'm wanting a cooler color. Any suggestions????

These are just a very few of the ones I've made for friends. I have a few more to get done and then I'm going to make myself another one. :) I love making the purses and totes.

Well, time for me to get busy, although I don't really know what's on the agenda for today. Maybe some more organizing. I'm really having fun doing this and finding things I didn't even know I had. :)

Have a most wonderful Tuesday, and wherever you are, try to stay cool if you can. We are about to die here in Texas.

Hugs and love,

Perfection....

2011-07-15T10:09:00.001-05:00

I have one of the worst problems/traits whatever you want to call it, ever. I'm a perfectionist. It's like the worst thing ever because it holds me back from so many things. If I can't do it perfect, then it doesn't get done, period. I'm afraid to try new things because I'm afraid I won't do it right. It's like a huge chain around my neck. I've been like this all my life. I'm sure if I were to go have some therapy, they'd dig up something from my childhood that caused it, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it would be. I was like this even as a child. I can remember writing an entire paper on notebook paper. I would get to the very last line. If I made a mistake, instead of marking a line through it, the whole page would get written over. OCD much?

I'm telling you this because it's held me back from lots of my quilting and crafty ideas, etc. I have a longarm machine with a Q-Bot. I've been soaking up every uTube and tutorial that I can soak up to learn how to use it. I'm afraid. My hubby promises me that it won't blow up. LOL He promises me that the longarm police won't show up to take me to jail. He is the best....he will try ANYTHING. I was horrified when he wanted to put down our laminate flooring and had never done it before. He read the directions and did it perfectly. He said the only way to learn is to try it.

Why am I like that? Can anyone relate? I am very blessed to have my own sewing studio filled with "to die for" quilting fabric, and everything else. I won a GO!Baby. Never taken out of the box. I have a Cricut. Never taken out of the box. I have enough fabric (literally) to open my own quilt shop (and I'm seriously not lying here). I want to PRODUCE like I see on all these blogs. It seems like every day there is something new that they have produced (hi Barb!). I spend more time organizing the stuff than using it. Stupid.

God has blessed me with the gift of creativity. I'm not using that gift to the best of my ability. I pray daily that He will help me with this.

Anyway, enough of that. I do have some pictures to show you of some purses I've made, but will save them for later. I have some organizing to do in my studio. LOL

I would welcome ANY comments from those of you that have the same problem, or if you have some suggestions, or just want to say hi!

Love and hugs from VERY hot and DRY Texas,

Blessings....

2011-07-01T11:22:00.000-05:00

I've been blessed with five wonderful men in my life. The first was my father. He was my rock and definitely loved his first born (that would be me!). I loved him more than I can ever say, and watched him suffer until he finally went to his forever home in 2004. I love you, Daddy.

Then God totally blessed me with the best husband and best friend, Gary, in the world. We were married 18 happy years until he died in an accident in 1995. At a very young age, I was all of a sudden a single mom with a 9 year old son. I was devastated and thought I would never get through it. Thank God I have a very strong faith. That is TOTALLY what got me through that time, along with my family and friends, without losing my mind.

During that 18 year marriage, God blessed me with the 3rd man in my life. That would be my precious son, Kevin. As a mom, I don't have to tell other mom's out there the love that I have for him. Even though he is 25, married and has blessed me with 2 grandchildren, I still love him as much if not more than ever. You are a wonderful husband and father, Kevin. You will always be my "little man".

Then after being a single mom for five plus years, God brought my Bob into my life. Today we celebrate our 11th anniversary. He totally completes me and I love him very much. I could NEVER have picked anyone better to step up to the plate and help me raise Kevin. Most people didn't even know he was his stepdad. Kevin loves him and looks up to him. Boy that does my heart good. Thank you , My Bob for 11 wonderful years together. I pray we have many, many more! I love you!!

And last but not least, God blessed me with my little Carter-man, my grandson. He sure has stolen his LaLa's heart. AND those sweet babies are coming this weekend and I'm jumping around like a kid in a candy shop. I can NOT wait until they walk in this door. They are 2 and 3 and are at such a fun age. NOW, I have to admit that when they leave, I will probably sleep for 3 days straight! LOL But while they are here, we will spend every moment having a good time, and of course I'll be stocking up on neck sugars and hugs to last until the next visit.

Have a wonderful day, my friends, and enjoy the weekend. We are so blessed to still be a free country and have so many blessings. Let's celebrate those, shall we?

Hugs and love from Texas,

I'm buried..... in stuff

2011-06-22T21:13:00.002-05:00

Not much going on in this here neck of the woods. Nothing really news-worthy, anyway. It's been VERY hot and dry here, and the drought conditions are getting worse every day. We had the first rain today that we've had since January! That is a LONG time. Thank you, God!

I have a WIP that I've been working on a little bit, but really haven't been in the stitching mood. Actually I have several WIPS going, but this is the one I've been working on lately. It's called "It's Berry Time" and it's by Blackbird Designs. The color in this picture is horrible, but hopefully you can get the idea.

I've really enjoyed stitching on it because there are no color changes. Sometimes I LIKE the changing of colors, but with my mind set right now, this has been just perfect.

I'm still working on organizing and purging around here. I honestly have too much stuff. TOO. MUCH. STUFF. I have clothes I haven't worn in years, shoes I don't even like, I never change purses, and have a ton of them, etc....not counting all the other things. I need a professional organizer to come here and help me. Actually I'm a pretty organized person. It's just that I have this MAJOR sentimental side of me that has a very hard time getting rid of things that mean something to me. I have so many of my grandmother's and mother's things. I feel "guilty" if I don't keep them. I truly do. How does one handle that kind of situation? I have my mom's complete collection of Jim Shore figurines. I love Jim Shore and had a few pieces myself before she passed away. She left ALL of hers to me. Don't get me wrong - I love them. But I had to buy a curio cabinet to be able to display them all. I don't WANT them all (there must be 100). I can't believe I said that. *sigh*

Now, all the vintage hankies, dishes, teacups, gorgeous hat pins, vintage linens and lace (LOVE THESE) things like that? You couldn't pry those out of my hands. I love them all. BUT, they are just in boxes. I need a vision. I need to find a way to show them off or incorporate them into my home. I LOVE those kinds of things. I just don't know how to show them off and use them in my decor.

Pictures.....old black and white pictures of people. I have TONS of them....an entire big rubbermaid container full, and I have no clue who they are. There is nobody left to ask, so they just sit here. I feel guilty just throwing them away. I mean, they are way cool, because I love things like that. But .....

Oh well, I could go on and on about the things I have here that I need to do something with. Anyone want to come live with me for awhile and help me? I'll trade stuff for your ideas and help! LOL (I'm serious!) This does NOT include my fabric, though. Sowwy. That's mine all mine! ;) (Well I might be able to be talked into giving you SOME of it. LOL)

I truly would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and comments about these things before I go bats worrying about it. C'mon....help me out, k? Speak! (or type!) :)

Love and hugs from Texas,

Shabby Fabrics Giveaway Winner :)

2011-06-19T12:52:00.001-05:00

First of all I want to thank all of you for entering and reading Jennifer's interview. I truly enjoyed reading about her beginnings. Thank you again, Jennifer, for sharing with us!

Okay, here is what you've all been waiting for. I used Mr. Generator Dude, but still can't figure out how to take a picture of it to post on here. Please just trust me that I'm being honest with the numbers that he picked, okay?

Our first place winner of the jelly rolls is.........# 51 mblittle5
2nd place winner for $25 GC is......#117 Jessica
and our 3rd place winner for a $25 GC is ..... #174 Kate R.

Congratulations!

I'm so excited for you and hope you will enjoy Shabby Fabric's wonderful gifts. If you will please email them and let them know you are the winner of whatever you won, they will get the gift right out to you.

Thank all of you so much for playing along. We will be having another one soon, as I just noticed I've reached 500 followers, so I must giveaway something myself. It may be a little while, but I promise it will be soon. :)

Enjoy your Sunday and Father's Day and have a wonderful week ahead.

Love and hugs from Texas,

We have a guest and a giveaway!

2011-06-13T22:41:00.004-05:00

Howdy friends,

How about grabbing a cup of coffee, tea or whatever your choice and sit and visit with us for awhile. We have a wonderful guest speaker today. I'd like to introduce you to Jennifer from "Shabby Fabrics". She has quite a story to tell and would love to share it with you. So you can put a name with a face, here is Ms. Jennifer her very self. :)

She's just as sweet as she is pretty. :) So without further ado, give it up for (I TOTALLY hate that saying!) Jennifer!

My name is Jennifer Bosworth, owner of Shabby Fabrics. I am honored to be a guest at Just One More Stitch. Thank you so much, Carolyn! (You are so welcome!)

The Shabby Fabrics story begins here. All along while growing up, I loved arts and crafts with every ounce of my being. When it came time to choose a career and go to college, I figured I couldn't make a living crafting so I pursued an aeronautical degree and became an airline pilot. I would take my hand sewing with me on trips and stitch to my heart's content while laying over at various hotels. The love of crafting never left me. The events of September 11, 2001 changed the entire world and definitely my own personal world in a very big way. Soon thereafter the airlines began furloughing pilots. Both my husband (also a United pilot) and I found ourselves out of work with no health care, two children and a mortgage. These were indeed uncertain and scary times. All of the flying experience I had accumulated over the last 20+ years suddenly meant nothing. No one was hiring pilots. I knew I would have to reinvent myself and awaken a skill set that I never even knew I had. After much prayer and contemplation, I felt God urging me to do something I loved and knew a great deal about already. After all, we needed to find work right away! I applied for a business license and began selling a few fabrics on ebay. Ten years later, we are selling fabrics from our own website worldwide and loving every moment. There is no question that God is behind the success of Shabby Fabrics. I have a wonderful staff that I enjoy working with each day. Besides buying products and deciding which projects will becomes kits, block of the month, etc, I also design a line of quilt patterns called Shabby Exclusives. Some of our designs have been featured recently in McCalls magazine. When I think to the future of our company, I remind myself to remain flexible and attentive to God's word and plan. After all, He's the author of this great book.

Blessings to you all,
Jennifer

Thank you SO MUCH, Jennifer, for sharing your story with us and taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit with us. I always love hearing the story behind people's life choices. :)

Not only is Jennifer pretty and sweet, she is also VERY VERY generous. She's offered a most wonderful giveaway to my readers that I think you will like very much. You can do as few or as many entries as you want, but you do have to follow my blog and follow their blog to enter. Other than that, the rest are extras. :)

There will be THREE winners in this giveaway! Here are the awesome prizes:

1st Prize: 3 jellyrolls at over $100.00 in total value

2nd Prize: $25.00 gift certificate

3rd Prize: $25.00 gift certificate

Pretty cool, huh? (I'm jealous! I love me some jelly rolls!)

Okay, here are the requirements. You get one entry for each one that you do. PLEASE put them on separate posts so that Mr. Random Dude Generator will give you credit for each one. :)

1. Follow my blog (link on my sidebar)

2. Follow their blog.

3. One entry for signing up for their newsletter on their website.
4. One entry for following them on Twitter.
5. "Like" them on Facebook. Be sure and leave them a message that you came from here.
6. An extra entry if you put this giveaway with a link on your blog.

Again, please post a separate entry for each one. :)

They offer a wide selection of fabrics including some of the world's largest selections of Lakehouse and Mary Rose fabrics; quilt kits; pre-cuts; nearly 1000 patterns; block of the month and club programs, and a variety of trims, buttons, and other notions. It's a great place to shop. :)

Okay, I think that's it for now. I hope you've enjoyed learning about Jennifer and her wonderful shop. You have until midnight CST Saturday, June 18th to sign up for the giveaway. I will announce the winner on Sunday, June 19th. Good Luck everybody!
Have a wonderfully blessed week doing what you love with who you love!

Love and hugs from hot, hot, hot and dry Texas,

DOO Day.... or is that Doo Dah?

2011-06-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

Today is the day I get my new doo, or I should say my summertime cut. At this moment I look like Marge Simpson on steriods, so I'm sure my beautition will have a big, fat laugh when I show up. Thank goodness it's only at her house and I don't have to go into too much public. I literally scared myself looking in the mirror this morning....and my saint of a husband still told me he loved me before he left for work. I really, really need to make him an eye appointment very soon. I love that man!

All three dogs had their new doos this weekend. I will have to post pictures later. They don't even look like our dogs anymore, but I know they are much cooler. With our weather already in the three digits (I am doing to die, I tell ya), they are very lucky to be inside dogs. They are spoiled...VERY spoiled. Gotta love 'em...

No pictures today to share with you unless I would share my dry, dead yard (no rain) or my hair (that is SO not happening - you would never come back!), or my floors that need mopping. I hate mopping. I'd rather chew on the bottom of my shoes than mop. I do it, but I don't like it.

My sleeping habits are still HORRIBLE. I wish I could get back into a normal schedule like NORMAL people. It's beginning to take a toil on this old body of mine. I mean, who gets their second wind at 1:00 a.m. besides me??? Nobody. I'm so weird.

Okay, off to the doo lady. Hopefully I will look a tad bit better when I leave than when I get there. Oh, BTW, a GREAT GREAT giveaway is coming up in the next few days. Just a little tease there, but I guarantee you that you'll love it!

Hope to see you soon and have a most wonderful day. :)

Hugs and love from hot and dry Texas,

Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway Winner!

2011-06-05T11:32:00.001-05:00

I have yet to figure out how to copy and paste the picture of Mr. Generator (any help would be appreciated), so I'm hoping you will take my word for it. Out of 243 entries, Mr. G picked 223. That person is stitch_days.

"I would love to win so I could order a couple of Moda Marbles fat quarter bundles.'
Rita E in AZ

Congratulations, Rita! Fat Quarter Shop would like for you to email them and they will send you the code for your Gift Certificate. Their email address is: mailto:kimberly@fatquartershop.com Be sure and tell Kimberly that you are the winner of the giveaway on ....just one more stitch and she'll take care of you. Also, if you don't mind, please let me know that you have emailed them so I can check up and make sure you've received your prize. :) Have fun shopping!

We will be hosting several more great giveaways soon, so check back often. I just love y'all so much and it makes my heart sing when you visit my blog whether to sign up for a giveaway or just leave me a comment. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful Sunday and congratulations again to our winner!

Love and hugs from Texas,

Howdy Ladybugs! Ready for a Giveaway?

2011-06-01T06:57:00.004-05:00

Of course you are! Who doesn't love a giveaway? I know I do!
We have a new sponsor for my blog and they are generously giving away a wonderful gift for my readers. We now have Fat Quarter Shop as a sponsor!

I'm just so excited to have them on board. Have you ever shopped there? Well if not, you don't know what you're missing. I LOVE their shop and they have great sales and giveaways, too. They have generously offered up a $25 Gift Certificate to their store for a prize! Woohooo! You can pick whatever you want. I don't know if you are like me or not, but my wish list grows daily. Just click on their button and you can shop to your heart's content in the middle of the night in your jammies like I do!

Here is all you have to do for this giveaway:

1. Be a follower of my blog. (that's a given!)
2. Visit Fat Quarter Shop and come back and tell me what you would buy with your GC.
3. For an extra chance, put this on your blog.
4. "Like" Fat Quarter Shop on Facebook and leave them a message on their FB page that you came from here.

Please make each of your entries a separate post. I use Mr. Random Generator, and I want you to get all of your chances. Also, PLEASE leave me a way to get in touch with you if you win. Thank you!

I will keep this giveaway open until midnight Saturday, June 4 and will announce the winner Sunday, June 5th.

Good luck everybody and have a great week! I'm still working in my sewing studio, so more pictures to come when I get more done in there.

Love and lots of hugs from Texas,

Color My World

2011-05-20T23:34:00.003-05:00

This last week I've been working really hard in my sewing studio organizing fabric, purging and I'm still not near finished. I've made headway, though, so that counts for something, I suppose. :) I've had fabric in my cabinets that I've had since the early nineties. Do I get rid of it? Will it come back in style? I don't know. What do you do? Help me out on this, okay? I haven't organized that yet. It's in the cabinets with doors, so kinda hidden away. I saved all of that fabric for last. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to folding my fabric and organizing it. It all has to be folded the exact same way, and I divide it in several ways. Alot of it is by colors. Some is by designers if I have the whole (or part)line that I plan to do something with. Others are divided by projects that I intend to make. Then there are others (like my teacups and roses) that I've been picking fabric up for years so that I can make a special quilt with it....so those are all together. It may not make sense, but it does to me, and I guess that's what matters, right? I even have my scraps organized, but I'll talk about that on another post.

Color makes me happy, so I thought I'd show you a bit of what I've been doing. I hope you enjoy! (all pictures should be clickable for a closer view)

Here are most all of my solids. I see in the picture that they aren't straight, so I'll have to definitely do something about that. OCD? yep, just a tad. lol

This shelf is divided by my solids on the top shelf and my stripes, polka dots, animal prints and pinks on the second shelf. Retro, feedsack, fabrics for projects and ladybugs are on the third shelf. Sampler fabric and fabric lines that are together for small quilts, etc. are on the fourth shelf, and on the bottom some of my red toile storage boxes, miscellaneous fabric and some lavender and purples.

Top shelf is my Bliss line (I LOVE me some Bliss!), my jelly rolls and fabric that go with the jelly rolls, some charm packs (can you tell I love jelly rolls and charm packs? Yeah buddy! ) Then the rest of my solids that wouldn't fit on the other top shelf are next. The next two shelves are specific lines of fabrics or fabrics that I've put together to make quilts. The next shelf you will see my large selection of teacup and roses fabrics. The other two stacks that are on that shelf are all sewing/quilting themed fabric. I love to collect that, too. Makes precious totes! The bottom shelf is floral fabrics and whimsicals.

These are obviously organized by color, another small quilt pulled and some prints. The red basket holds my starch, spray glue for basting, and other ironing supplies.

Okay, there ya go. You've now seen part of one wall of my sewing studio. As I work on each side, I'll post more and THEN will post the whole room. I have so many things in my head that I want to start. Then I get on these stupid cleaning/organizing jags, and poof. BUT, I have to say that I've found fabric that I had forgotten I had, and I've pulled out a PILE that I'm getting rid of. Purging, ya know. Simplify. My goal for this year. Besides, I can't work when my sewing table is a pig sty. Oink It drives me nuts. (OCD again)

I hope y'all have a most wonderful weekend doing what you love with who you love. Thank you so much for stopping by. I love all my "old faithfuls" and all my new friends, too. It's so much fun to follow you back to your blog and see what you're up to. I DO try to reply to your posts, (except when there is a giveaway - one coming up very soon!), but sometimes I don't do so good. I have good intentions, though. It makes my day to hear from you and know that you've stopped by for a visit!

Love and hugs from Texas,

I'm a woman on a mission

2011-05-18T21:16:00.001-05:00

Okay....after my last post I literally stayed up all night last night YouTubing. I looked at any and everything I could find from loading quilts, installing the q-bot, which is already done, and lots more. There are still more to look at, but my brain is on overload right now.

I think I said last time that I'm a mule. Well, I totally am. All someone has to do is tell me I can't do something, and I WILL prove them wrong (although that hasn't happened with losing weight yet..hmmmm). Along with that is that I'm a frustrated perfectionist. That means that so many times I'm afraid to try something for fear of doing it wrong or not good enough. I've ALWAYS been that way. My hubby tells me all the time that the only way to learn something is to jump right in. He also tells me that the quilting police will NOT be showing up, so just go for it. I know he's right. It's just me. I AM working on it, though.

Anywho, not much to share, but wanted to let you know that I WILL learn this, but I still would welcome any help, tips or whatever that you might have.

Thank you for stopping by and your comments. They mean so much to me!

Hugs and love,

Q-Bot and Mega Quilter...... :(

2011-05-17T23:47:00.001-05:00

Do any of you awesome quilters out there have a Mega Quilter and/or a Q-Bot? Well, I do and I'm clueless. I mean TOTALLY clueless. I've had them both for awhile and never used them once. NOT. ONE. TIME. I don't even know how to load a quilt on it. And the Q-Bot? It might as well be from outer space - again, clueless. I really think people should get lessons on them when they buy them from a shop like when you buy a sewing machine and get lessons. I know they come with a DVD, but there is quite a bit more to it than that. Afterall, they cost more than a LOT of sewing machines, so it would be nice to be taught how to use it.

I talked to a friend and she has both, too, but she said she doesn't use her Q-Bot that much as she really likes to do the free motion quilting herself. I'm more of a "show me" sort of learner, where there are so many lucky ones that can just read an instruction manual and fly a plane. Unfortunately there are no "show me" people around here to help me out. Gosh, what a waste of money for me. :(

I have this horrible guilt when I look at it. It rolls it's eyes at me...calls me stupid....says neener neener....it doesn't like me. I can feel it.   I guess my only choice right now is to try to find something on that UTube thingee (there is everything on there) and see if I can figure out the rest. If not...well I guess I'll just sell it. Or kick it. Actually that's what I'd rather do anyway (sell it not kick it LOL). I could use the room and the money. But...I'm just stubborn enough that I don't want it thinking it defeated me. I'm kinda like that. I think people like that are called mules?

Anywho, I was just wondering if any of you had any wonderful inspiration, some hints or tips, etc., that might make this doable for me. I'll send you all my stash ( I lie). I'll send you all three of my dogs (they don't eat much HAHAHAHAHAHA). I'll send you my bills. I will totally make it worth your while, as you can see. Wanna be my Q-Bot Mega Quilter buddy?   We could call it the QBMQ club. Yeah..that sounds good.

"Quit looking at me that way".   It's looking at me again. grrrr....

Hugs and love from Texas,

And the winner is......

2011-05-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Mr. Generator, he pulled out number 11. Number 11 would be Julie from Myler Musings ! Congratulations, Julie! If you would please email me with your snail mail address, I'll get the information to Natasha at SkyeReeve Fabrics so she can send the lovely fabrics on to you. :) Woohooo! Enjoy!

Happy week, everybody~

Love and hugs,

I Won!

2011-05-15T13:59:00.000-05:00

I'm just so excited! I signed up for Edgar's blogoversary giveaway a few weeks back, and got an email from him telling me that I won. I almost didn't even sign up because there were so many that did, I didn't think I'd have a snowball's chance in hell of winning. Well I did and this is what dear Edgar sent me. I'm still happy dancing!

He stitched this awesome piece for me from Blackbird Designs, which is one of my most favorite designers, and mounted it on a box. PERFECT stitching and finishing, which is not unusual from Edgar. He always does beautiful work. You should check out his blog and see all the pretties he does. I adore his header!
But...... that is not all! He filled the inside of the box with all kinds of wonderful goodies. Here is a picture of the inside. :)

Pretty awesome, wouldn't you say? He knows I love my tea, and I LOVE fat quarters, I collect thimbles (how did you know that, Edgar), a wonderful magnet that says San Francisco, some stitching needles and WDW threads in colors I didn't have. The card he sent is just beautiful. I would say I got majorly spoiled. Ya think? Thank you so much, Edgar for a wonderful giveaway gift! I love everything. :)

I will announce the winner of my giveaway this evening, so there is still time to enter if you are interested. Aren't giveaway's fun!

Enjoy your Sunday, and be sure and check back later for our winner!

Hugs and love from Texas,

It's Giveaway time again!

2011-05-07T18:58:00.006-05:00

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all of the mom's out there. I hope your day is special. :) My son and family live far away and my mom passed away two years ago, so it will just be a quiet day at home with my hubby. I always get a bit down on this day, but I just may spend it at the sewing machine! Maybe that will cheer me up. :)

We have a new fabric shop that is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway for us, and I think you'll like it! In case you haven't visited SkyeReve Fabrics, you will need to pop on over and see what Natasha has in store for you (click on link or there is a link button on my sidebar). If you hurry, she has a Mother's day sale going on that ends on Monday, May 9th. She also has another great deal going on until the end of May. Every time you make a purchase at her shop, your name goes in the pot for a $50.00 credit to her website! I just love the name of her shop. She says it's the middle names of her precious daughters. :)

Would you like to see what one lucky winner will walk away with? Okay, well here ya go....

Pretty? Well, you will get a HALF YARD of each of these fabrics! That is SEVEN half yard pieces! This is the Honey Child green and blue bundle by Jennifer Paganelli. I just love these colors together.

Naturally we have to have a few things for you to do to enter. It's only fair, ya know? I mean....just sayin'... Natasha is wonderful enough to give these wonderful fabrics to a lucky winner, so we at least have to make it worth her while. No worries, though. It's all easy peasey!

Please make each of your entries a separate comment and ONLY on this post. If you do them all together, Mr. Random generator doesn't know that, so you aren't getting credit for all of your entries. :) Also, PLEASE PLEASE make sure that I have a way to get in touch with you. If I can't, then I will have to do another drawing. :(

You don't have to do ALL of these, but of course, the more you do, the more chances you get. You DO have to be a follower of my blog, though, and "like" Skye Reve Fabrics on Facebook if you have an account. Other than that, the rest are optional.

1. Be a follower of my blog and make a comment telling me so.
2. "Like" SkyeReve Fabrics on Facebook and leave her a comment saying you came from here and then come back here and tell me in a comment (for Mr. Generator man).
3. Post about this giveaway on your blog and come back and comment about it.
4. Post about this on your Facebook page and come back and comment about it.
5. Go over to SkyeReve Fabrics, check out Natasha's favorite picks, and come back and tell us which one you like the best.
6. If you won this beautiful fabric, what would you make with it? Leave a comment and let us know.

That's it! No asking for your first born, your bank account number or how much you weigh (nevah happen on THIS blog! LOL) This giveaway starts now and will end on next Sunday, May 15th. I will announce it here and also email the winner.

Good luck to each of you and again, enjoy your day tomorrow! Hugs to each of you that are so faithful to visit me and comment and to all my new friends, too! You just can't know how much it means to me. Please come back often!

Hugs and love from Texas,

Come back, come back......

2011-05-04T21:32:00.000-05:00

I don't understand. My mojo just flew out the window. I saw it leave. Poof. Gone. Outta here. I don't WANT it to be gone. I WANT to WANT to stitch and quilt and sew and all those cool beans things, but it's not happening. Does this ever happen to you? If it does, what do you do to get it back? I have all these new pretties that I want to "play with", but I can't focus or get motivated. MOTIVATE ME!! If you do, I will send you all my stash! (I lie, BTW) LOL Well, maybe not all my stash, but I think if you come back real soon, you'll see that we are having another giveaway. VERY SOON! So, be thinking of ways to motivate me because that will be one of the ways to enter. ;)

See ya soon!!!

Love and hugs from DRY Texas,

We have a winner!! WOOHOOOO!!!!

2011-05-01T21:34:00.002-05:00

This was such a fun giveaway, and I do thank Shawna from 1Choice4Quilting for her generous prize! I hope y'all will visit her and take advantage of her great prices and wonderful sales.

Sooooo I won't make you wait any longer. The winner was chosen using Random.org. Out of 261 comments the winning comment is:

Number 10! Vivian!

Vivian said...

"Hi Again,
I've posted on my blog, I don't know how much traffic I get but every little bit helps!"

April 25, 2011 11:22:00 PM CDT

Vivian, please email me with your snail mail address and the jelly roll that you for sure want, and I'll get the info over to Shawna ASAP. I hope you enjoy your jelly roll! :)

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone. I'll be back this week with some more to share...and another giveaway is coming soon!

Hugs and love from Texas,

Super Duper Giveaway!

2011-04-25T22:30:00.001-05:00

Several days ago I posted that there was a giveaway coming soon. Well, soon is NOW! This giveaway is sponsored by one of my all time favorite quilting shops - 1Choice4Quilting. Shawna has the best customer service EVER and always has a sale! (Great one going on right now). I've bought from her several times and already have another list going. LOL

She always sends a hand-written thank you note and puts an extra goody in your package - in other words, goes the extra mile. ALWAYS. She has graciously offered as a giveaway a Jelly Roll of your choice from her shop! How awesome is that? So here are the rules (gotta have a few, ya know!).

1. For your first entry, you need to leave a comment on this post only.
2. For a second entry, you must follow my blog. (If you subscribe by email, you must email me your entry.)
3. For a third entry, you can follow her on facebook.
4. For a fourth entry, post about this giveaway on your blog.
5. For a fifth entry, visit her shop and come back and tell me if you win, which jelly roll you would chose that she carries.

That's it. FIVE chances for each person to win. PLEASE post each entry as a different post. It's much easier that way. Also, PLEASE leave a way to get in touch with you. Some people are no-reply bloggers, which means there is no way to get in touch with you if you win. Again, PLEASE only post your entries on this post.

This contest will end May 1st, and the winner will be announced here and notified that night. Since this is such a nice giveaway, we wanted to let everyone have a chance that is interested. :)

Sound like fun? I think so! C'mon, you know you want to enter! LOL

See you soon!

Love and hugs from Texas,

Great Giveaway Coming...and the "buglets" :)

2011-04-21T07:31:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned. There will be an awesome giveaway in the next few days! I'm not saying what, but I can guarantee that you'll love it! :)

On another note, I've had several people ask me either in email or on facebook how I came about calling my grandbabies "buglets". I can honestly say I've never heard anyone else use it before, so I guess it's an original. :) Anyway, when Kayla was born, I called her my little "ladybug". Then she became Kaylabug. I don't know how or why, but she ended up being my little buglet. I guess that's good because I doubt Carter would like to be called a ladybug! LOL Soooo, for those that were interested, that's where my buglets came from! Gosh I love those babies! I've always used pet names for people, so I guess this isn't any different.

My precious Kaylabug... Lala loves you soooo much!

Sweet Carter-man! You've stolen my heart, little man!

Sorry about posting the "bugs" again, but I was thinking about them and loving them and wanted to share them again. They are just so stinkin' sweet and cute! And I'm not ONE BIT prejudiced! LOL As if....

Okedoke, that's it for now. I'll be back soon. Hope to see you here!

Love and hugs from Texas,

Cleanout Winners

2011-04-17T01:17:00.000-05:00

Hello friends,

Just a quick post to let you know who won the cleanout giveaway. There were actually two winners. :)

1. Lisa C.
2. Teresa S.

Would you both please email me with your snail mail addresses? I will get these out to you as soon as I hear from you.

Thank you for giving my things a new home. Keep checking back as there will be MUCH more as I continue with my purging.

Have a great Sunday!

Happy Sunday Clean Out

2011-04-10T13:37:00.001-05:00

Gosh, I have THE most boring titles, ever! No pictures for you today, but I wanted to stop by and tell you what I've been up to. The next post, when I'm finished with my work, I'll share some pictures with you. I've spent the last three days organizing my sewing studio (my feet and back are killing me for standing for hours on end) and I'm still not done. I'm really doing it right this time, so it's taking longer.

I'm an organizing FREAK. Let me clarify....I do have my piles. But in those piles, I can put my hands on whatever I need. I have to admit that I don't LIKE the piles, and I am working on them. My goal is to be "pile free" one of these days. :) I am, however, very particular about my sewing studio. The fabric has to all be folded a certain way or I go insane until it is. My books have to be in a certain order. Can you say OCD? I guess that would describe me. I just can't work in my room if it's all cluttered with JUNK. It is the largest room in the house, so sometimes it does end up being the "catch all". This is my haven....my castle....my sanctuary. "nuff said!

I've been working the last few days on organizing all of my floss so I can find what I need when I get ready to start a new stitching project. Most of it was already pretty much organized, but I had bought some new floss and didn't like my system, so I started over. Go figure. That is so me. LOL I still need to finish up my silks and that little (HA!) project will be complete and I can move onto the next one.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post about by piles of freebies. I've pared down hundreds (LITERALLY!) of them (actually sent them to a friend - hi Chris - have fun! LOL), and threw away a ton. I still have so many it's pathetic. I did get all the sewing/quilted ones organized in binders (I'm LOVING THIS!). Now it's time to decide how to organize my cross stitch ones. I can guarantee you that as I go through them to put them away, there will be many more that are out of here. I've decided that life is too short to hoard all this stuff that I will NEVER stitch in ten lifetimes. Sounds good, anyway. ;) I don't want to be like those hoarder people on TV.

One of the next things this week I will be going through and paring down is my cross stitch finishing supplies. I have so many that I will never use. If anybody is interested in any altoid tins, acid free matting, some ribbons and trims, and whatever else I can come up with,etc. let me know on this post, and if there is more than one person, I'll draw a name by Friday. That will give me plenty of time to get it all gone through. I like to share (even though this isn't anything exciting), and would rather pass on to another stitcher than take to a thrift shop or throw away. Soooo let me know. :)

I haven't sewed or quilted one thing, but I have put in a few x's. I finished up a Christmas ornament that I started months ago. I'm not sure why I hadn't finished it. I only had about an hour of work left on it. Anyway, it's done and now it's time to do some "finishing" finishing. I've also done a bit of stitching on MW, but I'm really waiting on some scroll rods that I ordered to work on her again. I needed some bigger ones. These q-snaps aren't cutting it on something this large.

In between that, visiting my buglets and doing laundry, that's about the extent of what is going on in my world. I promise next post to have some pictures and maybe a giveaway? I've been working on one, so it's about time. I was going to wait until I had 400 followers, but that might take some time.

Have a wonderful week ahead doing what you love with who you love. As always, thank you so much for your visits, comments and emails. I cherish them all and YOU!

I wish you enough....

Love and hugs from Texas,

OH.MY.GOSH!

2011-04-02T06:24:00.005-05:00

I'm so excited! Guess what I won??? I'm still pinching myself trying to see if it's really true. Have you ever been to Stash Manicure? Well, if you haven't, you don't know what you're missing. You truly need to head on over there and see what Madame Samm has in store for us this month. AWESOME is all I can say. It's my all time favorite blog. Actually, you could probably call me a stalker. LOL So without further ado, this is what I won.

Is this awesome or WHAT? I won the Go Baby and THREE dies of my choice. I'm tellin' ya, the Snoopy happy dance hasn't stopped since I found out. I started not to even enter because there were SO many entries, but I figured there was no way to win if I didn't sign up. There were over 14,000 people that entered between followers and subscribers. 14,000!!! The hubs thinks I need to buy a lotto ticket. I think I agree with him. LOL So in just a week or so, I'll be the mom of a new toy. WOOHOO! Thank you Madame Samm and Stash Manicure! I heart y'all big time. ;)

If that wasn't enough to make my heart smile, I made the drive up to Dallas today to visit with my grandbabies. Oh my.....when those little buglets come running to me, arms open wide and screaming LALA, LALA, I melt. Yep, whatever they want is theirs. Forever. I have to admit that they both have me wrapped. TIGHTLY!

I look real pretty right now. NOT! Carter (who is 2) wanted to brush my hair. Let's just say I look like Marge Simpson on a bad day! Who cares? He was having fun, and so was I. We jump roped (nearly killed me! Where's the oxygen?), played in the sprinkler (well Carter and Kayla did...I would look a tad ridiculous doing that, especially since it was in their front yard LOL) and they laughed. And laughed. I mean that good, belly laugh that makes ME laugh. Gosh I love those babies! Bear with me while I share them with you. I hope they make you smile. :)

I would say I'm a bit prejudiced, but I DO think they are kinda sorta cute. ;)

Well, I get to snuggle with Kaylabug tonight, so I'm headed upstairs to do just that. I want to thank all of my new followers, old followers and commentors for being there. It makes my heart sing. Have a GREAT weekend, friends!

YAY!! A quilt UFO finished and a new OBSESSION!

2011-03-21T20:24:00.010-05:00

Hey y'all! How's everybody doing this week? Well,it's only Monday. So far, so good. We had a busy weekend, and I've been busy playing in my stash and organizing my sewing studio. I have so many binders of freebies that I've printed off over the years. In addition to the completely FULL binders, I had a LARGE tub of them, too, that I never have done anything with. These are cross stitch freebies, quilt freebies, purse and other crafty freebies, etc. Well I dug them all out this weekend, and they are now all over my cutting table. PIT. I. FUL. Some of them I've found three or four of the same one. LOL I guess I must have liked it. Others I look at them and think "What was I thinking?" YOU GLY! But back then if it was free, well, I had to have it. Not anymore. I'm really picky about what I print off. Nine times out of ten I forget I have them. Sad. So to remedy that, I've decided to file them a different way, and hopefully I will stitch some of them that I really, really like. I would hate to figure up how much I've spent on paper and ink with all these patterns. LOL Oh well, enough about that. It's boring anyway.

OH. MY. GOSH. Have you ever come across a chart or stitched piece that was just breathtaking and you knew you had to have it? I mean one that once you saw it, you couldn't get it out of your mind? Well, I've been following the journey of Marianne Wenn on Terri's blog, and being the enabler that she is (and doesn't even know it! Thankyouverymuch, Terri!), I had to order it last night and am now the proud owner of this wonderful pattern. I can NOT wait to start it. I went to the grocery store, post office and did other errands this afternoon and when I got back, it was here! I couldn't print it off fast enough! I want to start it. I mean, I REALLY want to start it. NOW! But what do I do with all these other starts that I have? I mean...there are quite a few. I know if I TRY to stitch on them, and I'm thinking of Marianne in the back of my mind, I'm just going to have to frog. Yep, that does it. I've talked myself into it. (You will see that I can rationalize ANYTHING!) Just sayin... Would you like to see what she looks like? Here ya go. I'm drooling - are you? I bet if you are a sampler lover you are. ;)

Is it just me, or is she just gorgeous? I'm totally in love with the colors. Well anyway, I have the fabric and threads I need, so I feel that before the evening is over, I will have put at least ONE stitch in her. She's screaming at me. Okay, enough about Miss Marianne.

This weekend I finally finished putting the binding on a quilt that I've had pieced and quilted for quite some time. I did the piecing and binding and my neighbor did the quilting. Here are a few pictures of my finish.

I love the quilting pattern that he chose to use for the quilting. One down and two to go. Yep, I have two more that are pieced and quilted and only need the binding. What is so weird is that I really ENJOY doing the handwork on the binding. Whatever...I can't explain why I do what I do and don't do. I don't know either. Old age, ya know. LOL

My plan is to go see my little buglets this weekend. I'm hoping to, anyway. I need to check and see what's going on in our world and in their world and see if it's a good time for all of us. I need a fix, big time. Gosh, there is nothing like grandbabies. They are such a joy to me and make me smile. They are two and three, which to me are just the cutest ages ever.

Well, I'm off to pull fabric and floss...LOL Thank all of you for your comments and emails. You can't know how much they mean to me. I've met so many wonderful people through blogging, and it tickles me to death when I see I have comments and new followers (I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy! LOL). Please do come again and have a happy week full of sunshine and smiles!

I wish you enough!

Love and hugs from Texas,

Giveaway Winner!

2011-03-13T11:42:00.003-05:00

First of all, I would love to thank you all for entering my giveaway. I have several more already planned. I love sharing with my fellow stitchers/quilters/crafters. :) I have so many new followers, and because of that, have added new followers to my list as well. I've found so many wonderful blogs just by your following of mine. Thank you! I love meeting new friends!

So, what you've all been waiting for. I had PLANNED on copying off each comment and cutting them up and putting them in a basket, but got lazy and decided against it. Random Number Generator is our friend! Our Random Generator friend picked:

#112 Tricia from The Stamper's Stitches!

Tricia, if you will email me with your snail mail info, I will get these charts out to you right away. I will email you, as well.

CONGRATULATIONS and I hope you enjoy your charts.

Again, thank you to all that entered. Keep checking back. Many more giveaways in the future. I'm destashing both in quilting and stitching. My loss is your gain!

Have a wonderful Sunday, and as always, I wish you enough. :)

Love and hugs from Texas!
Carolyn

This makes me happy and a GIVEAWAY!

2011-03-06T12:54:00.007-06:00

First of all, welcome to March! I haven't figured out yet where February went, but I do know it's in the past. I will be welcoming March with cleaning out the flower beds and doing some planting. I always get spring fever about this time of year. Until I get that done, I would like to share some of my pretty violets with you. These are just a few that I have around my home. I just love their little blooms.

In my attempt these last weeks (and weeks ahead) to simplify and get organized, I have found duplicates.....DUPLICATES of brand new patterns that I've bought. Now that, my friends, is pathetic. For someone that claims to be organized and strives daily to be that way, I've failed miserably. My unorganization is your gain! I am giving away the following brand new charts and if you are a Shakespear Peddler,Little House Needleworks or Blackbird Designs fan, you'll love them. So without further ado, here is what is up for grabs:

Picture is clickable for larger view of the charts.

What to do to enter? Easy peasey.

1. Be a follower of my blog = one entry
2. Post on your blog = two entries (please make a separate post telling me you've done this)
3, Make sure that I have an email address to contact you if you win.

That's it. No hard questions, giving up your first born, or sending me all your stash (well now that sounds pretty cool!) Just enter. :) The winner will be randomly chosen next Sunday, March 13th. I will be visiting my babies, but will get the winner posted, I promise!

Until the next time, have a great Sunday and rest of the week.

As always, I wish you enough, dear friends. Thank you so much for your visit, comments and emails. I love them all!

Love and hugs from Texas,

What do you want people to remember about you?

2011-03-01T07:10:00.005-06:00

No pictures today, but this is deep. I think about this alot and wondered what others think about this. It's important to me to be remembered for several things. Here are a few that I need to work on.

1. She was kind to everyone.
2. Generous and caring
3. Christian and not afraid to admit it and share her faith
4. Loved her family more than life itself
5. Creative
6. People knew they were welcome at my home and felt comfortable when they were here.
7. Tried to find the good in people

These are just a few. Looks like I've got some work to do. I would love to hear your comments on your thoughts on this. I will add more as I think of them. I'm totally a work in progress, but at least it's something to strive for, right?

Love and hugs,

Christmas in February!

2011-02-26T12:21:00.011-06:00

First of all, I would like to thank several ladies for some pretties that I've received this week. I won two, count 'em TWO blog giveaways, and received my goodies this week. I wanted to share them with you, and also the blog addresses of these sweet ladies. They are two of my favorite places to "hang out". First of all, I received the most beautiful (and SO me!) Victorian stocking from Debbie at A Fine Feathered Nest. Isn't it pretty? It is already hanging in my pink frou frou room and will stay out all year. Thank you so much, Debbie! I love, love, love it!

Then I won a giveaway at Jacquelynne's blog The Noble Wife. I just love everything! She designs her own patterns and has a beautiful fabric line. Thank you so much, Jacquelynne! I can't wait to see your new fabric that is coming out soon. Y'all need to check these two ladies out if you haven't already. :) (Sorry, this is a funky picture)

Then if that wasn't enough, I received two RAKS in the last couple of weeks. Sweet Fiona and Coral, two of my favorite Aussie ladies sent me surprise packages. Woohooo! I do feel like it was Christmas in February. Thank you both!! Both of these ladies are VERY talented and you would love their blogs. I get so inspired reading them both. Check them out if you want some wonderful eye candy!

Remember a few posts back I told you I was working on simplifying my life and home? Well, I wanted to show you the book that I've been reading. It's an older publication...I think was published in 1997, but I'm enjoying it and really getting a lot from it. I got mine free from Paperswap Swap, but I'm sure it's available at Amazon or other bookstores if you aren't a member there.

It is going to be a total life change for me. I'm one of THE most sentimental people on the face of the earth, meaning that I have a very hard time getting rid of things. I even have every tooth that my only child, Kevin, lost when he was a baby. Why? I have no idea. I guess because I can. I will go more into what I'm learning in another post. This one is long enough already. :)

Before I go, I must share with you the famous new jar. Since Valentine's Day is over, here is how it's being used now.

Like I've told you before, I save everything. The sand in the bottom of the jar has been in an old creamer jar for I don't know how many years. TOO MANY. I saved it the last time we went back to the town I was born, Fernandina Beach, Florida, when we walked the beach. Why did I feel the need to bring some of that back? No clue. At least it's finally being used. My grandfather owned a shell shop many, many years ago in Florida. Some of the shells in the jar belonged to him. I have tons more, some very large. I'm working on trying to figure out how to display them. I'm planning on decorating my main bathroom in beach/shells, etc. Any and all suggestions are welcome. :)

Well, I believe I've bored you enough for one day. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I'll see you next time. Until then...

I wish you enough.

Love and hugs from Texas,

Is this cute or what?

2011-02-18T19:27:00.010-06:00

Yep, more fabric came in the mail. Hmmm....I don't remember ordering it. Or do I? I'll never tell! LOL

I came across this awesome blog the other night and she has her own line of fabric and also patterns. Well color me happy! I mean, what can I say? I HAD to buy some. All of a sudden it was in my cart, and a few days later, it was at my door. Seriously. She must have mailed it out the second I paid her. VERY quick shipping! She not only sent what I ordered, but she even added a few extra patterns and some of her beautiful cards, all done in her artwork. She is a MOST talented lady. Her blog is called "The Noble Wife" and I've put a link to her store on my sidebar (look for the adorable sheepie!). I think you will enjoy checking it out. I know I'll be going back again and again.

Is this not the most adorable panel EVER? On her website she even has a free quilt pattern to use with it, or a tote bag pattern. Too, too cute for words.

This line of fabric is called "Sewing Room Circle" and each and every one of these fat quarters are to die for.

This is the kit called Spring Fling.

This is what that bundle will look like when put together.

Pretty huh?

What can I say? I love fabric. I love to sew and quilt. Guilty as charged. ;)

I have a bit more stash that came the other day but I don't want to overload you too much on one post. LOL Patience, my pretties, patience!

On the stitching front, I've started BBD "Anniversaries of the Heart" patterns all on one piece of fabric. Daaannnng it took an entire half a yard but it will be so pretty when finished. I also have a few other WIPS hiding out that I plan on working in between. I have so many things I want to start....quilting and stitching. I wish I could figure out how to do both at the same time, plus read the books I have, too. Maybe I should just learn to manage my time better.

Speaking of managing my time, I'm working on simplifying our home and my life. I know, I know, you wouldn't think so with the fabric buying and stuff. BUT, with the buying of the fabric, I'm also getting rid of some, too, so it's all good. I'll do another post soon about my simplifying plan and the book I'm reading.

We are doing a bit of painting and moving things around, so as this happens, I'll try to get before and after photos to show you what we're up to...it's never ending around here! One of these days I'll get it like I like it and leave it alone. Nahh....I highly doubt that will EVER happen. I love moving furniture and stuff around too much!

Okay, off to stitch awhile. I hope y'all have a most wonderful weekend!

Hugs and love from Texas,

My heart is heavy...

2011-02-16T14:06:00.003-06:00

A wonderful friend of mine and Shannon's (my DIL) grandmother was welcomed into Heaven last night after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a great lady who gave so much of herself to so many people. My heart is broken for Shannon. She was very, very close to her, as she was like a mother to her. Please, if you have a spare moment to whisper a prayer for her and the rest of the family, it would be so appreciated.

How wonderful to know that she's sitting in the arms of the Lord, but so sad for those of us left behind that loved her. You will be missed, KaKa.

Happy Heart Day!

2011-02-14T13:50:00.006-06:00

Just a quick post to tell y'all how much I love all of you and how thankful I am for all of my friends out in blogland. You've been such a source of happiness and inspiration to me! Thank you!

I also wanted to share a little Valentine tabletopper that I finished up this weekend. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! This topper was a class that I took last year and it was supposed to be a pillow. Well, it measured 25 inches square and I really didn't want a pillow that big. I threw it in the UFO pile and finally picked it back up last week, free motion quilted it and finished up the binding Saturday night. Whatcha' think? Cute? I just love the vintage repro fabrics. It's really straight, I promise. The picture makes it look like it turned out cattywompuss. The roses are from my sweet hubby, and that's my "to die for jar" that I got last week.

This afternoon I've decided to spend kitting up a few stitching projects. I hope each of you have a wonderful Valentine's day filled with lots of love with those you love!

I wish you enough...

Love and hugs from Texas,

It's the little things...

2011-02-11T00:21:00.011-06:00

I was thinking today of the little things that make me happy. I was surprised at how many of them there are. I love decorating. Nothing spectacular. Like my little Valentine tree. It makes me smile when I see it sitting on top of our antique ice box. Some of the ornaments belonged to my mom and some were mine. The fact that I have some that belonged to my sweet mama make me happy. I remember how much she loved decorating for every holiday. I miss you, Mama.

Jars make me happy. Any kind of jar. I use them for everything. I found this baby at Tuesday Morning and about stroked out when I saw it. I couldn't get it home fast enough, thinking of all the ways I will be using it to decorate. After Valentine's Day it will be filled with shells that belonged to my mom. I think it will be totally awesome. Until I change my mind again. :0)

Tea, teacups and teapots make me happy, too. Oh, and lamps. Lots and lots of lamps. I have them all over the house. Heaven forbid that there be a dark spot around here. Not happening. I think lamps make it look "homey".

Hearing my cell phone ring, looking at the caller ID and seeing it's my son. OHHHH how that makes me happy. Even though he's married and a daddy, he's still my baby, and I love hearing from him. He's good about calling his mama. I love you, Kevin. More than my own life.

Hearing my husband's truck pull in the driveway at night makes me happy. He's home safe and sound. Thank you, Lord.

The sound of my precious grandchildren laugh - I mean REALLY laugh. You know that one where they can barely catch their breath. I love that. I love to bury my face in their little necks and smell their sweet baby smell and wish I could bottle it up and bring it home with me. That makes me VERY happy.

Knowing where I'm going when I leave this earth makes me VERY happy. No matter how much decorating I do in my home, or how much work I do in our flower gardens, there is no way it can compare to my final home. It's beyond my comprehension. Knowing that no matter what I do, right or wrong, that I always have my Father in heaven to go to. I picture Him sitting in a big rocking chair. Weird, huh? But think about it. How comforting is it to know that we can crawl up in that chair, sit in His lap and He will wrap His arms around us, filling us with love and comfort. Yes, that makes me happy. VERY happy.

And I love quilts.

I wish you enough,

Fabric Eye Candy

2011-01-27T23:24:00.016-06:00

Uhm....well, you see, I was only going to quilt/sew from my stash this year, but uhm, er...well I kinda sorta went off the wagon and the first month has not even passed yet. Well, I can justify it. I can justify anything. I haven't bought any new stash in over six months. So, I thought maybe I should reward myself for being such a good girl. I just totally forgot about my stash diet. Sorta like I forgot about my food diet when I was eating that Dove chocolate. Oh well. What's a girl to do? Stash and chocolate can cure just about anything! Would you like to see what I've aquired in the last week or so? Hmmmmmm???? Well, without further ado, here we go:

I love this one and will probably start it first since it's sorta Valentiney.

This will look so pretty on the back of our couch.

Oh wait...this one is sorta Valentiney, too. Maybe I should do this one first. I just love the colors.

Cute, cute, cute purse! It's made out of a panel. I've never seen one like this before, but the model in the shop sold me right away.

Another purse with such pretty spring colors that I love:

I'm not sure what quilt will be made out of this, but I had to have it.

This last picture is taken from my stash. I'm planning to make the quilt that is on the cover of the magazine shown.

So see? I can justify these new purchases because I'm going to make a quilt out of my stash. Does that count? LOL Did I do good?

Now I need to get busy. My sewing studio is a complete and utter mess, so hopefully I will get that cleaned up a bit this weekend so I can start "playing".

I hope you enjoyed my eye candy. I can just waller in new stash (I just love that word "waller"). I'm so glad you stopped by and hope you will come again. I love hearing from each of you, so feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think of my purdies. Bad, bad Carolyn!

Have a great weekend doing what you love with who you love. :)

I wish you enough,

Love and hugs from Texas,

Ahhhh caffeine...

2011-01-24T22:08:00.005-06:00

Have I ever told you how much I love coffee? Ohh I do love me some coffee. Just plain coffee with a little bit of creamer. I don't like flavored coffee or creamers and (shoot me now) can't STAND Starbucks. I know. That's a sin. I just don't care for their coffee and all that stuff that they put on it.

Have I ever told you how much I love tea? Hot tea...yum. Cold tea....yum.

Have I ever told you how much I love Coke? Plain Coke. Not Diet Coke. Plain
Coke with crushed ice and tons of calories. I can't help myself. I'm hooked. Just sayin',,,

We bought one of those Keurig coffee/tea makers around the holidays, and I'm in love. The K-cups that you get to go in it are expensive, but you can use your own coffee, which is what we do now that the cups are gone. Those lasted about a week. Well, today I figured out how to make tea in it. WOOHOOO! They have the tea K-cups, but I'm too cheap. I have a gazillion green tea bags and others so I just tore open two of them, filled up the filter thingeedoowah, and voila! A MOST yummy cup of tea! I'm so excited. I know it doesn't take much to make me happy! It's the simple things in life, I suppose.

Anyway, this is not earth shattering. I just thought I'd share.

Have a great week and I wish you enough,

Is it just me?

2011-01-21T15:41:00.005-06:00

Okay, I will admit that I LOVE to start something new and I have soooo many projects right now that I'm dying to start. BUT, I just can not STAND to kit them up. Is it just me? When I'm ready to stitch something, I'm ready to stitch it. NOW. It reminds me of back when I used to sew my own clothes all the time. I literally hated cutting the pattern out, but loved the sewing part. Do any of you feel this way or am I just whacky? Now with my quilting, that's a different story. I could fling fabric all day. I could literally waller (is that a word? it is here in Texas!) in it deciding on what looks good with what. I.Am.Weird.

I started an ornament last night and stitched until 3:30 a.m. Okay, the reason I stitched so late was because I was watching some good movies on AMC. Have you seen either of the "Cape Fear" movies? The older version came on first and after that the newer version came on. I love them both, so of course had to sit up and watch them. Skeeeery, but good. So I did get quite a bit done on my January ornament. It's a good thing since I'm so late starting on it. I'm hoping to get another one done before the month is over with, but we'll see about that. I love stitching ornaments...just hate kitting them up. LOL I'll wait to share a picture of the one I'm stitching now until it's finished.

We got the last of the furniture out of the storage building today, so our house is...ahem...a bit cluttered at the moment. I have all these boxes to unpack, pictures to re-hang on the wall, etc. I'm finding all kinds of things I forgot I had! LOL We want to paint while everything is already off the walls, so I need to decide on what colors. Ahhh so much to do, so little time on the weekends. I mean, I can't work the poor hubby to death on the only days he has off can I? or ....can I? LOL Actually he loves every minute of it, and I'm truly blessed that he does.

I need to have my head examined. We are going to go to Wally World today. On a Saturday? When everybody and their DOGS is there? I haven't been to Walmart in probably six months. I'm not sure why I feel the urge to go there but I do. I don't normally buy my groceries there, but I suppose I will today. I wonder if there will be more than one cash register open? That would be a miracle at our Walmart.

Time to change clothes, put on my armor and head out. Have a great weekend, dear friends, and thank you for stopping by. I just love all of your comments, emails, etc. They literally make my day!

I wish you enough,

Giveaway Winner and Birthday thank you..

2011-01-19T20:09:00.013-06:00

Howdy friends,

As I promised, today is the day to announce the giveaway winner. However, I'm going to make you wait just a minute because I have a special thank you to post. :) My dear friend, Chris (no blog) sent me the nicest birthday gift and I wanted to share with you. Chris and I "met" MANY (almost twenty) years ago back when there was a "penpal wanted" section in one of the cross stitch magazines. This was way before computers when you actually got letters in the mail. Anybody remember those days? Anyway, she would always send the most awesome letters, and decorate the envelopes and letter pages. I always so looked forward to her letters. I still have them after all these years. Chris has been through so much with me, and has been a dear friend. It's amazing that I can be that close to someone that I've never even met in person, but I consider her as part of my family. Afterall, she's in my will (she gets all my cross stitch stuff! for real!). Okay, here is what she sent to me.

Pretty cool, huh? I LOVE LOVE LOVE red and have my kitchen in white with red accents and some rooster decor. The towel is just perfect! Thank you, Miss Chris, for a most wonderful birthday gift!

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. First of all, I thought I would share a picture of what the winner will be getting.

The basket full of all the entries:

Hubby drawing name out of the basket:

And the winner is Michele!

Congratulations, Michele! I hope you enjoy your winnings. :) I will email you shortly.

On a stitching and quilting note, there has been NONE for nearly two weeks. I was gone for 10 days visiting my precious grandchildren and normally take stitching with me. Well, for the first time EVER, I didn't this time. So I'm having withdrawals and will be picking up needle and thread tonight and working on my sheep weathervane, ALTHOUGH I must admit that there are other things screaming at me. I guess it's a good thing that they aren't kitted up and I'm too lazy to get out of my chair to do that right now. LOL I have fabric that is calling my name to make into a quilt, too, but maybe tomorrow. Afterall, tomorrow IS another day!

Okay friends, that's about all I have to share tonight. This was a fun giveaway, and hope to have another one soon, so come back often. I love having visitors, and when you comment, it leads me to your blog, too. I must admit that I spend WAY too much time visiting my friend's blogs.

Off to stitch...

I wish you enough.

Love and hugs from Texas,
Carolyn

Birthday Giveaway EDITED 1/15/11

2011-01-12T11:42:00.004-06:00

Hello friends,

This will be a short post, as I'm not at home and busy taking care of my sweet little buglets (grandbabies).

Today is my birthday and I had PLANNED on having a giveaway today in honor of that but I'm not at home to post the pictures. I will say that one of the prizes is a pair of Gingher scissors and a few other goodies. :)

If you would like to enter, please post on THIS POST ONLY, and make sure I have a way to get in touch with you if you win. You need to be a follower of my blog and if you post about this on YOUR blog, please let me know and you will get another chance. That's it. Easy peasy.

I won't be back home until Sunday or Monday, so how about I have hubby draw a name next Wednesday.That will give y'all plenty of time. Remember, only sign up ON THIS POST ONLY, There's no way I could keep up with them all if they are on another post.

Okay, That is all for now. I hope lots of you sign up. I think you will be happy with what I've picked out for you. :)

EDIT: Just a reminder for those of you that have signed up for my giveaway. Please remember that you need to be a follower and let me know in your comments, okay? Thanks so much!
Have a wonderful day!

I wish you enough,
Carolyn :)

Happy New Year friends!

2011-01-02T12:53:00.007-06:00

I can't even figure out where 2010 went. I think that must be a sign of age. Not.good. Oh well. There isn't too much I can do about that, so I'll just make some plans for what I want to accomplish in this new year that we've been blessed with.

I always start something new on New Year's Day. Well, I did, but I didn't start it until after 8:00 p.m. last night. I did stitch for several hours, so that counts. I changed my mind about a dozen times on what I was going to start, and at the last minute, I picked this one:

This is called "Sheep Weathervane" by Prairie Moon. I love sheepies. They are just the cutest. I've had this kitted up for quite a while, and decided it was time to get it started. So far I'm enjoying it.

Do any of you have any stitching plans/goals for the new year? I was GOING to join the 15 chart challenge, but I figured I already have enough WIPS and certainly don't need to add that many more.

Here are a few of my plans:

1. Since I didn't stitch but one ornament this year, I want to stitch a bunch more. I'm still in the Christmas stitching mood, so this will probably be what I do next.

2. Finish Amid Amish Life. This is my oldest WIP of all. I picked it back up several months ago and really enjoyed working on it. It NEEDS to be finished and hanging on my wall. It's sad to be left alone for so long.

3. Finish HoHRH. Good thing when I stitched that first block I didn't put the date like it shows. LOL This is another long time WIP that I would love to finish. Actually this and AAL are my two largest ones. The other few aren't as big.

4. Stitch some of my BBD, LHN and LaDDa charts that I've been collecting.

5. Do the finishing work on the things that need it. There aren't very many, but I'd like to have NONE and then finish as I complete the stitching.

There. It's down on "paper". Right in front of me. Hopefully this will help motivate me to finish a few of these things. BUT, I'm not very rigid with my stitching as this is my hobby, so I may vary.

I also do a lot of sewing (not clothes, fun things), and I have tons of purse patterns and other things that are totally calling my name, along with my quilting. What's a girl to do? Have take-out every night? Hire a house keeper and gardener? Well since none of those will ever happen in this house, I guess I better learn to manage my time better, huh? As. If.

THEN, on top of all of that, I have a few pieces of furniture that I want to paint and distress. Oh my. Well, I'll just roll with the flow and do what calls me at the time.

Sooooo, do you have anything stitching/sewing/quilting/crafting/planned for 2011? I'd love to hear about them.

Well, my little sheepie is screaming at me, so I think I'll go put in a few x's. Have a wonderful Sunday, and I look forward to hearing alllllll about your plans. :)

Hugs and love,

Carolyn

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T09:35:00.003-06:00

I wanted to wish all of my blogging friends and followers a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with blessings, happiness, love and lots and lots of stitching/sewing time!

I will be back after the holidays with a giveaway that I've been putting together. Stay tuned!

Until then....I wish you enough!

Love from Texas,
Carolyn :0)

Decorations and giftees!

2010-12-19T18:44:00.012-06:00

Yesterday we spent the day with Kevin's Dad's side of the family for Christmas and had such a nice time. It's always so wonderful getting together with everybody. The plus side was I got to see Kevin, Shannon and the babies! WOOHOOO! I can never get enough of that, for sure.

Friday and Saturday brought some goodies in the mail for me for Christmas. I want to share them with you so you can see the talent some of my good friends have. First I received this GORGEOUS crocheted ornament from Barbara. She is one of THE most talented ladies I know. There isn't a thing she can't do and can look at something, and make it up without even a pattern. I wish I was that smart! Isn't this a gorgeous ornament? (All pictures are clickable so you can get a better view.)

The picture doesn't do it justice at all. I wasn't able to capture the color and true beauty of it, but I hope you can get an idea. If you want a real treat, check out her blog. You won't be sorry. Thank you, Louie!

Next the mailman brought me this adorable ornament from my dear friend, Chris (no blog). We've "known" each other for nearly twenty years, but have never met. We started out as penpals way back when the cross stitch magazines listed penpal requests in the back of the magazine and have been dear friends ever since. She's been through a LOT with me, and I cherish our friendship. She knows I love roosters, so she stitched up this cutie for me. Isn't it adorable?

Thank you, Miss Chris! Both yours and Barbara's ornament have special places on my tree!

I thought I would share a few pictures of my decorations, too. Several people have asked to see. I normally decorate every room in the house and have tons of themed trees. Since we didn't know if we were moving or not, I didn't do that this year. I DID have to put up my "cross stitch only" tree up, though. It's my all time favorite and has more memories than I can count.

Here is a close up of a small part of the tree.Some I have stitched and others have come as gifts from friends or exchanges.

This is the tree in my dining room. I did it totally different this year since all of my Radko ornaments were packed and in storage. I missed using them, but the tree turned out pretty anyway. It's so hard to capture the beauty of the trees with the lights on, but it really does look pretty and sparkly.

Next is a picture of my dining room table set for the holidays. Now all it needs is wonderful family and friends sitting around it, and it would be perfect for me. :)

Last is one of my most favorite things - my Jim Shore nativity. It is so special to me.

Well that's all I have to share with you tonight. I so appreciate your visits and comments. Please come again and make yourself at home. I love all of my readers!

I wish you enough,
Carolyn

Okay okay....pound cake recipe!

2010-12-15T14:58:00.004-06:00

I've had several emails and requests for the yummy Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe that I mentioned, so I'll post it here so you can enjoy. It's easy and a great gift when made in loaf pans. I will say that I made it last night. Well, I used a new pan - a Pampered Chef bundt pan. YUK. I don't know if it was the pan or what happened, but I ended up with two cakes.....the bottom and the top. I should have taken a picture. Thank goodness this wasn't being made to give or take somewhere. So, I carefully got the bottom out, and layed the top on it. YOU-GLEE...but yummy anyway. LOL I've made this cake a gazillion and one times and never had this happen, so it must have been the bundt pan. I just know it.

Sour Cream Pound Cake

3 cups sugar
2 sticks soft butter
6 eggs

Cream together the above. Mix together 3 cups flour and 1/4 tsp.soda. Add to sugar mixture. Fold in one 8 oz. pkg. sour cream and 1 tsp. vanilla. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours in a lined tube pan (never used this kind in my life).

The recipe doesn't say, but I always spray my pans with Pam. Also, make sure it's really cooled good before trying to remove from pan.

I will be interested to hear from any of you that make this how you like it. It's super easy and super good. Okay, that's all folks. I think I'll go make some coffee and have a piece of cake.

I wish you enough,
Carolyn

Good Morning and another thank you!

2010-12-14T08:28:00.004-06:00

Good morning, friends. I'm up early this morning with a long list of things to do. First on the list was to post a thank you to BeckySC for a surprise package I received in the mail yesterday! Look at what was in it:

I love snowmen, so this perfectly stitched and finished ornament is just perfect for me! It now has a place of honor on the front of my tree. Thank you, Becky, for thinking of me at this time of year! I love my ornie!

I have packages to wrap today for Christmas we are having with part of the family on Saturday. I want to get them done today and not wait until the last minute like I tend to do. I also have on the list to make my yummy Sour Cream Pound Cake. OMGosh is it gooooood! I make it in loaf pans instead of a cake pan and give them as gifts to neighbors. Changing the sheets is on the list and other than that, I think I'll just wing it.

I hope today brings each of you the wonder of the season and that we can all think of something to be thankful for....however small it is.

I wish you enough,
Carolyn :)

I'm ready for some changes and a thank you!

2010-12-12T08:36:00.005-06:00

First of all, I want to thank sweet Edgar for his surprise Christmas gift that I received. Oh my! He sent me some YUMMY peach preserves that he made and some awesome candy (oink, oink, the candy is gone!), Thank you so much, Edgar, for thinking of me at Christmas. You are a dear friend. Merry Christmas to you, Rico, and those precious furbabies of yours! Love the hats! LOL

Since we are staying here and not moving like we had THOUGHT we were going to do, I've decided it's time for some changes. I go through this every now and then. Afterall, it's just paint, right? But paint can sure make a change. The first place I want to start is my dining room. I inherited my grandmother's dining room furniture when my Mom passed away, It's cherry, and I have to admit that I'm not a cherry person. However, I have no intentions of changing the furniture, so I need to change the walls. Before I received the furniture we had painted the walls a brick red. Now the furniture just seems to get lost in it. I don't like it together at all. Here are a few pictures to let you see what I'm talking about. Half of our furniture is not even in there, as we had to move it out to "stage" the house for showing. I can't wait to get my teacup cabinet, etc. back in there. Anywho, I need suggestions. I'm open to anything. I will tell you my house is more of the cottage style, so of course this furniture doesn't really match that. BUT, it's here, I love it because of the memories, and it's staying. I WILL be recovering the chair seats. They are totaly fugly. Sooooo, we have to work around it. HELP all you friends out there. I want to start with paint first. Then I will be changing the curtains, although I really love them. I know they are out of style, but....what can I say. They will stay until funds are available to change them out..

See what I mean? It just seems dark in there. Our carpet is sort of a pale green, but that's not an issue, as it will be changed to laminate to match the rest of the house when time (and denaro)permits. Suggestions anyone?

Yesterday we pulled a lot of my mom's Christmas decorations out of storage and brought them here to see what I will be using. Again, since I thought we were moving, I did bare minimum on decorating. Those of you that know me, know that there is always at least ONE tree in every room of the house, and in some cases two or three. I'm a Christmas decorating nut. This year I only have three up and I'm not liking it. I hate to do too much more now, as Christmas is in 12 days, but I do want to find my nutcrackers. Where oh where are they? Which green tub to look in first? Of course it will be in the very last one. Murphy and all... I did find my Christmas dishes, thank goodness. I HAVE to have them. :)

Anywho, I look forward to hearing your suggestions. BTW, I'm going to try to have a giveaway soon. I think you will like it. I've been working on it, but haven't had a lot of time lately. I promise it won't be long, though. The only requirement is to post and be a follower, That's it! Easy peasy. I will let you know when so you'll know what post to post on.

Well, off to dig through green tubs. I'm bound and determined to find those nutcrackers! Have a great Sunday!

I wish you enough,
Carolyn :)

I'm Back.....

2010-11-27T14:42:00.012-06:00

Gosh, it's been so very long since I've posted on here that I imagine most of you have given up on me. The last six months have been a whirlwind, and it would take forever to explain it all. Suffice it to say that I've had very little blogging time and nothing much to share in the way of pictures. I now have some pictures to share with you, so here goes. These are some cross stitch items that I've stitched over the last months. All pictures are clickable for larger views.
Some of them are cattywompus, but I haven't framed them yet. These are just frames from the photo editing software. :0)

I also made Kaylabug a quilt for her 3rd birthday, so I will share a picture of that with you, too. The fabric is hard to see, but it's Beatrix Potter (click to see it a bit closer). She loves to curl up in it, along with Carter man!

We have our home on the market and Bob is already working up in the Dallas area. We decided it was time to move closer to the kids since my parents are gone and our babies are up there. Six hours is just TOO far!

I will try to post more, but with the holidays I can't promise anything. I DO plan to have a giveaway when it gets closer to Christmas, so be sure and watch for that. I think you'll like it!

Bye for now, and as always, I wish you enough.

Love and hugs from Texas,
Carolyn

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T22:26:00.002-05:00

I hope each and every one of you have a wonderfully blessed Mother's day. I saw this saying and loved it so much I thought I'd share it with you. It so fits with me right now, and I'm sure many more of you can relate.

"If roses grow in Heaven Lord, please pick a bunch for me. Place them in my Mother's arms and tell her they're from me. Tell her that I love and miss her, and when she turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile. Because
remembering her is easy, I do it every day, but there is an ache within my heart that will never go away."

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I wish I could tell you in person.

I wish you enough...

Love and hugs,
Carolyn :)

No pictures today..

2010-04-24T12:15:00.002-05:00

Just another invite to my new board. So far we have 70 members and it's been wonderful getting to meet all these stitchers and quilters that have visited my board, but I've never gotten to know. And then there are the ones that I already knew that I'm so glad to have as a part of our little community.

We've already had our first contest and first exchange, and plan to have many more in the future for those that are interested.

So this is a formal invite, not that it's necessary, for y'all to come see what we have to offer. If/when we get to 100 members there will be a fantastic giveaway. I'm already getting things together for it.

Also, this board is for stitchers, quilters, sewers, crocheters, knitters....just any sort of craft that you like to do. We LOVE learning from others about their passions.

Okay, off to get busy. Come on by if you get the chance!

http://letsquiltandstitch.yuku.com/

Happy Monday to my friends....

2010-04-19T06:33:00.012-05:00

Long time no write, huh? Sorry about that. I keep saying I'm going to post once a week, but looks like this time it is once a month. I AM GOING TO DO BETTER. There, I said it!

Before I go any further and show you some pictures, I'd like to invite you, my readers, to join my new message board. We discuss cross stitch, quilting, knitting, embroidery....just anything creative that your little heart desires. We share tips, tutorials and have a fantastic contest going on right now. I've put the link in the sidebar, but will put it here, too. Please come try us out. We're new, but I don't think you'll be disappointed!

http://letsquiltandstitch.yuku.com/

Now in other news, I have been busy doing a bit of sewing/quilting and would like to show you my first free motion quilted purse. HORRIBLE pictures, but hopefully you can get the idea. I had so much fun making this, and already have orders to make three more. WOOOHOOOO!
This is the side of the purse showing how it ties to make it smaller or larger.

This is the inside, showing the pockets that go all the way around.

And this is the front.

I will be working on more this week. They are just too much fun to make!

I was involved in a pin pillow exchange, and I received a WONDERFUL pillow from sweet Paula.
She said she read on my blog that I loved red, and she did GOOD!! Thank you again, Paula. I love it and it has a special place in my home. :)

I signed up for a giveaway on Mylene's board and lookie what I got! This is most cute and it's being used right now with my new scissors. Thank you, Mylene. I love it!

I have a few finishes to share with you. I've been so lax in posting my finishes. I apologize for that.

First off is "Briar Rabbit" by LaDDa. I just LOVE all of their patterns, and this was a fun stitch. I had to change almost every color because I didn't use their recommended fabric, but I love it. Now to decide what kind of finish it will receive.

This is "Winter Sampler" by LHN - another of my favorite designers. I started this one quite a while ago, got "startitis" and put it aside to start something new. I finally decided it was time to finish it before it was Winter again. LOL

This last one for now is "Cast Your Spells" by Stacy Nash. I've had it stitched forever, but finally did the finishing on it. This was a really fun stitch and I love how it turned out. :) This was a kit and I finished it using the supplies provided.
FRONT:

BACK:

That's all the pictures for now. I have something in the works, but don't want to divulge all about it yet, but let me just tease you with the words MODA and jelly rolls. :) When I know more, I will SCREAM all about it to you. In the meantime, I'll have to leave you wondering. Mean, aren't I? :)

I hope y'all have a most wonderful Monday and please do come visit the message board. Each and every one of you have something to share, and one can never have too many friends, can we?

I wish you enough....

With love,
Carolyn

Some finishes to share with you!

2010-03-16T11:06:00.007-05:00

Hello friends!

I have been busy stitching and finishing a few things that I already had stitched so thought I'd share what I have done so far. First up is a pin pillow that I stitched for an exchange. This cutie went to BeckyK. It's "Spring Alphabet" by HIH and I stuffed it with crushed walnut shells and lavender. I love it! I think I may be doing one of these for myself. :)

This next one is a bunny that I received a LONG time ago in an exchange and never did anything with it. I decided to make it into a little pin pillow for myself. This one is stuffed with fiberfill. Cute, huh?

Next we have a small little kit that I've had in my stash forever and three days. I stitched it up one evening and I think I'm going to make this one into a scissors fob. I love the little bee button. :)

And last is one of my favorites. This is by Bent Creek and is called "Are You My Mother?" I'm not sure how to finish this one. Maybe a pinkeep? Any ideas out there?

I have two more finishes, LHN "Winter Sampler" and "Cast Your Spells" by Stacy Nash but I still need to get pictures. I'll do that later and add them in.

I'm off to have lunch with my sister and niece and do some shopping for my sweet grandbabies. I hope you all have a most wonderful day and come back soon!

I wish you enough.....

Love to all,
Carolyn

March Giveaway Winner Is.....

2010-03-15T17:38:00.002-05:00

Blyn! If you will email me with your snail mail address, I will get this chart right off to you. :0) Thank you to all that entered, and keep checking back, as we'll be having another one in April or before.

I have a few finishes to share, but will come back later on with them, as I still have a few pictures to take.

I wish you enough...

Love,
Carolyn :)

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

2010-03-06T15:50:00.004-06:00

I'm hoping I can remember to do this (remind me on here if I forget!), but I'm wanting to have a monthly giveaway of some sort, and will start this month. What we have for our prize this month is "Alphabet Blocks" by Carriage House Samplings. The brand new chart pack contains all 26 letters, the border, and an optional "R" block. Here is a picture of what you will be getting.

Please sign up on THIS POST ONLY to enter and also leave your email if you don't have a blog link so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win. For a second chance to win, please post AGAIN on here and let me know you either already ARE or have become a follower. If you want a THIRD chance to win, post a link on your blog and let me know here you have done so. That is three chances you have to win. :) I will mail anywhere and will have hubby draw a name on March 15th. Good luck to you! :)

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! It's beautiful here in Texas FINALLY!! I so enjoyed getting out in the sunshine today. Unfortunately, rain is predicted for tomorrow. Oh well, it was wonderful while it lasted!

I wish you enough.....

Love and hugs,
Carolyn :)

YIPPPEEEE!!!

2010-02-28T23:15:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was another wonderful mail day for me. First of all I received a Shepherd's Bush kit (O Beautiful - it's gorgeous!) that I had bought from a friend on 123. BUT, drum roll please.....wait until you see this MOST ADORABLE gift that my friend, Barb sent to me. She knows I love biscornus, and she also knows I collect ladybugs, so she stitched this BEAUTIFUL ladybug biscornu for me!

I snagged her pictures from her blog as they turned out better than mine. Barb's work is impeccable. Her finishing is to die for and her signature bows are always the finishing touch that is perfect! If you have the time, pop over to her blog and see some of the pretties that she's done. You won't be sorry! Thank you so much, Louie!!! Thellie loves ya! ;)

Yesterday I bought more fabric. There. I said it. I think I need a 12 step program. Actually I think I need a 24 step program. Well......okay I HAD to go into Houston (an hour away) to pick up one of my sewing machines that was being repaired, and there just HAPPENED to be a Joanne's right across the street, and the car just pulled right into the parking lot. I've never seen such a thing. It just took over! So what's a girl to do? I HAD to go inside. I mean....just sayin'.

Well once inside I realized that they were having a most wonderful sale and I had just HAPPENED to bring my coupons with me (see where we're going with this? LOL) and lo and behold, before I knew it my basket was full. My husband is a saint is all I can say. So, I spent the afternoon today (well part of it) folding my new fabrics and putting them away. Problem #1 here. No place to put them. Hmmm.....so tomorrow I suppose I'll be moving a few things around. NO MORE FABRIC SHOPPING FOR ME. Now. I also have a kinda sorta pretty big cross stitch order coming in, too. Well.....let me explain. I didn't order much last year when my mom passed away because I just wasn't into stitching. AND, since I've totally quit smoking (YAYAYAYAYAY no applause, just send stash! ROFL) I figure I could reward myself with stash with the money I've saved on those stupid cancer sticks. Problem #2....I think I'm a tad bit over what I've saved on not smoking. LOL Oh well, I'll think about that tomorrow. (Scarlett voice here)

Anywho, I'm off to stitch for a bit, but just HAD to share my beautiful prize with you. Hugs and love to all, and please come back soon!!

I wish you enough......

K Bye!
Carolyn :)

Hey friends!

2010-02-26T17:56:00.010-06:00

Long time no bloggie. Well, several weeks, anyway, but I've been busy, busy. As promised, first I will show you some pictures of my sewing room. I've had several requests, so here ya go.
This is the first shelf to the left of my sewing room with fabric.

This is the second shelf. The red toile boxes hold my WDW, GAST, silks, quilt blocks, scissors (I'll show you all of them one day!), etc.

And this is the third shelf of fabric. These shelves consist of mainly my fat quarters. My larger cuts of fabric are in the cabinets that I will show you in a minute.

Next to these shelves is my cabinet that holds my cross stitch fabrics. The shelves and baskets are organized by the count and color of the fabrics. It doesn't look like a lot, but there is tons.

Next is a picture of the cabinets that my sweet DH built for me. They are floor to ceiling and are completely full. Where did I have all this before???
Closed doors:

Opened cabinets in all their fabric glory. This is truly eye candy to me! LOL

This is one side of my sewing table with my Bernina 200 embroidery/sewing machine.

This is the other side of the sewing table with my Viking Sapphire machine and my serger.

Are you sick of pictures yet? I have a few finishes and some new stash to share with you. How about the new stash first. :) First up is some quilting stash that I bought with my Christmas and birthday gift certificates to Connecting Threads. Oh I did have fun with these!

Next are my new scissors that I ordered from Yuko. I do love me some scissors...Yeah buddy!

Last but not least, some of my new cross stitch market stash. I have a few more things on order, but these came today. Ohhhh what a wonderful mail day it was today. just sayin....

When I got this precious chart today I immediately pulled fabric and floss so I can start it tonight. I just adore it!!

And a few finishes that I've been working on. I haven't "finished finished" them, but they are stitched. I also have another finish, but can't share it with you yet, as it's for an exchange.

Saving the best for last are a few pictures of my little family. I miss those babies more than I can say. Carter is walking! They are just growing up so fast, and have my heart and soul.

Kevin and his "girls"!

I love this one. :)

Well friends, I think that's all I have to share for right now. I hope you all have a most wonderful weekend! I so appreciate it when you visit and love your comments.
See you again soon!

I wish you enough....

K bye!
Carolyn :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-13T13:38:00.013-06:00

I have quite a lot to share with you, my special friends, so I'll get started right away. First of all, I received the most adorable stitched Wabbit heart from BeckySC. Is this not the absolute cutest thing ever?

FRONT

BACK

Becky does beautiful stitching and finishing and I feel so lucky to be the recipient of her special work. Thank you again, so much, Miss Becky! I love it!

Next up is a little freebie that I stitched that was designed by primitivebettys. I love her designs. I made it into a small pillow and have it sitting on the top of my Valentine tree.

I don't have a lot of stitched Valentine ornaments or decorations, but plan to have more next year. I just love decorating for each of the holidays, and this is my favorite tree. It makes me smile. :)

Another Valentine piece I'm working on is a pieced top that is supposed to be a pillow sham, but I've decided to quilt it and make it into a table topper. I think it will get used more that way, and besides, for me it's too big for a pillow. I just love the vintage fabric in the center. :)

And the last of my Valentine's stitching is what I'm working on now that should be finished tonight. It's a small kit from my stash by HIH called "Together Forever". It's been a really fun stitch. I haven't decided on the finishing yet. It will either be a pinkeep, ornament for my tree, or a small pillow for a basket.

I have a few other pictures to share with you of my home. I've been doing some re-organizing, re-arranging and moving around in the last few months. We inherited my grandmother's dining room furniture when my mom passed away last year, so what used to be a formal living room has now been made into our dining room. I have pictures of that room to share with you. I'm sorry about the glare. We tried and tried, but couldn't get rid of all of it. The pictures are in the order of starting at the left of my room and moving around to the right.

We are planning to paint in there and are adding wood flooring to that room and the kitchen and den later in the year. Lots to do!

Last but not least, I want to share my wonderful find that I got last weekend at an estate sale. I just LOVE this cabinet. It is solid wood, in perfect condition, and JUST what I needed to display my beautiful Jim Shore Collection.....not to mention that it was a steal at $300.00. This baby is HEAVY!

I have also taken pictures of my newly organized sewing room and a few more things, but will save those for another post. This one is pretty full of pictures.

I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful day tomorrow filled with love. I know that each of you are so special to me, and I adore your comments and visits. Please come back again, as I'm getting a giveaway together, too. :)

I wish you enough....

Love and hugs from cold and dreary Texas,
Carolyn :)

I don't get it.....

2010-02-01T22:26:00.005-06:00

This will be sort of a downer post, so I'm warning you if you want to back out now. First of all, TRUST is one of the most important words in my vocabulary and in my actions. Unfortunately, I normally trust someone until they give me reason to NOT trust them. Anybody that is a true friend of mine KNOWS beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can trust me with their deepest, darkest secret and it's NEVER EVER repeated. I can name on one hand (less than that now, really) how many people I feel that way about. Once a trust has been broken with me, you can pretty much bet I won't be telling you anything anymore. I used to tell that to Kevin growing up.....that TRUST is something that I MUST be able to do with him. Once the trust is lost, it's very hard to gain it back, if ever.

Those of you that have been my "friend" or have followed my blog know what kind of year I've had. It's totally SUCKED. No other way to put it, so I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm far from a drama queen and have tried to handle all this (and more that alot of you may not know about) and come out of it sane. I've been very sick for a long time, both mentally and physically. I've TRIED to continue to be a good friend to those that have befriended me. I haven't been around as much, nor have I posted as much because I just couldn't. Plain and simple. But you know, it's amazing how you find out who you can REALLY REALLY trust and count on and who REALLY REALLY is your friend when you are in a time of need. I never ask for anything, which is probably one of my many vices. I don't ask for help, EVER. I try to "fix it" myself. I've always been a "fixer" and sometimes you just can't fix things. People that USED to stay in contact, email, call, etc. have been MIA. Then there are those most wonderful people that I totally trust and call my friends who have been here through thick and thin, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You will never know how much it's meant to me or maybe how your email or call came at "just the right time". Then there are those that I "thought" were my true friends and I don't really think are anymore. I see them posting on blogs but never on mine anymore. That's okay....there's no prize for the most posts, is there? I certainly won't be using my blog posts to determine my amount of friends. It just makes me wonder sometimes about people and things. Maybe I'm not ENOUGH of a drama queen. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I don't come on here and tell every little detail of my life, but since that's not my style, it won't be happening. I'm not changing for anybody. If people like me, they like me for who I am and what I believe in. If you don't, that's fine too. I LOVE people, and if you are my friend, I'm available for you DAY OR NIGHT and will do anything humanly possible for you that is legal. There are absolutely NO CONDITIONS on that. You never know when that person might really be in "trouble". It doesn't matter if my husband is home, or I'm busy, or I have company, or whatever the scenario may be. If they need me, I've always tried to be there for them. For those of you that have been there for me, THANK YOU. There have been some very, very DARK moments in my life these last few months, and you've helped to bring me through them.

That's all I feel like writing right now. Tomorrow or soon I will try to share some positives with you. Until then, I love y'all and I wish you enough....

Love,
Carolyn

....just one more stitch

Do you like Candy Apples?

Beautiful Giveaway Winner is......

Time for a BEAUTIFUL giveaway!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio Giveaway Winner is......

A Happy New Year .....GIVEAWAY!

Merry Christmas!

Another UFO finished YAY!!!

Thankfulness....

Christmas Quilt FINALLY finished!

Sewing Studio Do-Over **EDITED to add pictures**

The Knots Prayer

Winner of the White Christmas Giveaway!

I'm dreaming of a....... GIVEAWAY

OH. MY. GOSH.

I think I've lost it...

Yummy Mail Day! WOOHOO!

Funk is gone...

Funky funky.....

Rainy Sunday in Texas YAY & Giveaway Winner

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Do you like to organize?

Hometown Giveaway Winner (s) !

Giveaway time again.... Let's go home!

Blog Hop #2 Make New Friends....

Friendship Blog Hop!

YAY for Tuesday!

Enough is enough is enough......

Picking your brains! HELP!

Intrepid Thread Winner!

YOOHOO!! Giveaway time again!

What's up?

Do you like a giveaway?

EDITED....What do you think?

How particular are you about the brand of your fabric?

Kind of a quickie post and request RE: Major De-stash

Oldies but goodies...

Perfection....

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I'm buried..... in stuff

Shabby Fabrics Giveaway Winner :)

We have a guest and a giveaway!

DOO Day.... or is that Doo Dah?

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Howdy Ladybugs! Ready for a Giveaway?

Color My World

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Q-Bot and Mega Quilter...... :(

And the winner is......

I Won!

It's Giveaway time again!

Come back, come back......

We have a winner!! WOOHOOOO!!!!

Super Duper Giveaway!

Great Giveaway Coming...and the "buglets" :)

Cleanout Winners

Happy Sunday Clean Out

OH.MY.GOSH!

YAY!! A quilt UFO finished and a new OBSESSION!

Giveaway Winner!

This makes me happy and a GIVEAWAY!

What do you want people to remember about you?

Christmas in February!

Is this cute or what?

My heart is heavy...

Happy Heart Day!

It's the little things...

Fabric Eye Candy

Ahhhh caffeine...

Is it just me?

Giveaway Winner and Birthday thank you..

Birthday Giveaway EDITED 1/15/11

Happy New Year friends!

Merry Christmas!

Decorations and giftees!

Okay okay....pound cake recipe!

Good Morning and another thank you!

I'm ready for some changes and a thank you!

I'm Back.....

Happy Mother's Day!

Sewing Studio Do-Over EDITED to add pictures