Never Arrive Empty Handed

It's never too late to sew up a little something special for a hostess.  This is especially true if  you are going to someone else's house for a holiday meal.  Sew a simple set of cotton coasters, a quilted table runner in your hostess' favorite colors, or even a pretty wine bag for that bottle of wine you are gifting.  An item can take minutes to sew, or a couple of hours.  Regardless of the time spent something sewn by you will leave a lasting impression.  The time invested will be small compared to the memories made when you show up with something truly special in hand.

Happy creating for the holidays.

Quilter's Prayer

Lord forgive me when I sew
There is so much that I don't know
Gadgets, rulers, and special tools
Sometimes make us feel like fools
When I acheive that special look
Then I will write a nice big book
But for now I continue to grow
My ever changing talents as I sew

Original poem by Jillian Grant

I am re-posting this poem by request

Doing Your Own Thing

Maybe this should be entitled doing my own thing.  Whichever it is I highly encourage everyone to take the freedom to do what pleases them when it comes to creating and sewing.  For me it's finding that perfect  match of doing what comes to me and doing what makes others go "oooh and aaah."  Nonetheless, it's still self directed.

I like to work on designs for machine quilting that don't look cookie cutter.  I buy patterns and read the directions then never use the pattern but instead prefer to make it up as I go along (I learn by doing).  Sometimes I watch videos and walk away wondering why the presenter bothered then set about creating something completely different from what they did.

Maybe it's rebellion and maybe it's just me being me.  Regardless of which it is I encourage people to find their inspiration inside then go make happy sewing experiences for yourself.  You don't need Pinterest or magazines to show you how, let your spirit and talents guide you there.

Happy doing your own thing.

Counting Blessings

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and this is truly a month we Americans count our blessings.  I keep thinking of all the things I am grateful for:  an incredible family, wonderful friends, a good job, a nice place to live and freedom.  We often don't take the time to sit back and "count our blessings."  As we move through the month I challenge each reader of my blog to find one thing you are grateful for each day through the rest of the month.  If you have the ability to read this blog it's a guarantee that you have many, many blessings in your life.  Count as many as you can find!!  You don't have to be American to be blessed.  It happens around the world.

On a creative note, I am thankful for my ability to create, sew and make QUILTS.  Bringing joy to others is so rewarding and truly a blessing!!

Happy month of blessings and thanksgiving to each of you.

Giveaway Tuesday Is Here Again

SOUTHERN FABRIC $40 GIVEAWAY! (FREE FABRIC)

Another fabulous fabric giveaway.  Enter to have a chance to win a gift certificate for $40

They are generously giving away a gift certificate for $40 to Southern Fabric.  You must enter through the blog link listed below:  

http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2013/11/southern-fabric-40-giveaway-free-fabric-yo.html#comment-43988.  

There are 4 chances to win.  Wahooooooooooo!

The Family That Sews Together

I just got back from an amazing weekend in Illinois.  My cousin got married for the first time, and he's 50+. Better late than never.  Congratulations to Brian and Beth Graham.  I know your union will bring you many blessings.

In the meantime the women of our family are all planning a sewing retreat yet this month where we have hired a meeting hall for two days.  We women and the young girls are all going to sew together.  The goal is to bring our current quilt project or anything else we want to work on and we will sew away.  What a good way for we women to enjoy one another.  Of course, we have decided the men will cook for us and deliver the food.  Now how's that for a good way to enjoy time together.  We will also be honoring our matriarch, Alma Dye Grant, my salt-of-the-earth grandmother.  She was a quilter and a sewer and she has handed down the gene to  we "girls."  We can hope this will become an annual event.

Happy beginning of the month of Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for my family, friends, a great job, and the talents bestowed on me to create.

More Giveaways--From McCalls Quilting

When we reach 50,000 fans, we'll be giving away this gorgeous fat quarter pack of 40 fabrics from the Avalon collection by Fig Tree & Co for Moda.

Go to: https://www.facebook.com/McCallsQuilting to see details

Watch & Win Contest 
Each of the FREE Surf & Sand Quilt Along episodes features a word of the week—click here to enter to win! Contest is open from October 25 through November 24, 2013. Three random winners will be selected November 25, 2013, and notified by email.

For more details:  http://www.mccallsquilting.com/contests/Surf_and_Sand_Quilt_Along_Giveaway.html

Happy Halloween

Hope all my readers are having a fun-filled Halloween.  Mine has been spent sewing and studying...my next quilt design.  There's nothing like an evening of sewing to brighten up any holiday, is there?!

If you bagged a bunch of candy or have a lot left over from the ghosties and goblins at your door, please eat responsibility.  Always keep a little of the good stuff set aside to mix with the candy you don't like so you can savor the experience.

ENJOY!

Aqua Velva has arrived!

Aqua Velva went for her unveiling and preliminary check-up today with Dr. Shawn at Shawn's Center Center here in Springfield, MO.  The initial prognosis is that she's a healthy girl in good shape for her age.  She just needs a new leather belt and a bit of oil to spruce her up.  Thanks Dr. Shawn for verifying that my girl Aqua Velva is a good match for me and fit for the final adoption.  I'm pretty proud of her and will start looking into her history very soon.  

Isn't she beautiful!!!

My Beautiful new machine!

Here is my new sewing machine.  I've named her Aqua Velva.  Isn't she beautiful.  She was won on eBay and I am over-the-moon excited to get her and have her serviced so she can be used again.  She is so beautiful.

It's Giveaway Wednesday--Here's the Quiltmaker's Treasure Hunt

Lot's of chances to win, amazing prizes.  Over $29,000 in prizes and 29 winners. To enter go to:  http://www.quiltmaker.com/contests/treasure-hunt/index.html

Good luck and I will continue to search for more sewing/quilting giveaways.

Another Giveaway---From Angela Walters

Hey all, it's not always easy to find one giveaway for the week so to find another is like a treasure chest of gold.  This one is from Angela Walters as part of the launch of her new fabric line, Legacy, being shipped to stores. Go to her blog and watch her video then make a comment for a chance to win.  It's really that easy.

To enter:  http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/2013/09/27/legacy-has-shipped/

It's Giveaway Day--Follow the Link and Enter to Win!!

2013 National Sewing Month Giveaway!

I have found another great giveaway.  Prizes include a Babylock sewing machine, threads, fabrics and more. To enter:  http://thesewingloftblog.com/2013/09/22/national-sewing-month-2013-giveaway-time/

Another Giveaway--THREE FAT QUARTER BUNDLES

Triple Bundle Giveaway - Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com Today we're giving our readers an opportunity to score big on not just one or two, but THREE FAT QUARTER BUNDLES of our most recent collections starting with Nördika, Tule, and an exclusive bundle of Legacy, which is yet to...

To Register to Win:
http://artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com/weblog/2013/09/triplebundlegiveaway.html

Good Luck