Plum Jam Turned Out SO GOOD! -(nq*)

(nq*) = non quilting

When we bought this place about 8 1/2 years ago, we were pleased to have 2 plum trees on our property.  About a year or so later, they were overloaded with plums.  So we picked, and picked, and picked...etc....

 And I learned how to make plum jam.....

I canned at least 50 quart jars of jam that year. From 2 trees.  That was a lot of jam for me.  Some of you who can might think I was a wimp, but I just couldn't keep up with the trees. I could have put up a lot more, but I couldn't reach all of them (even with a ladder) and I was just learning and was slower than molasses.....picking, pitting, cooking, etc....this was an introduction to retirement that I was not expecting. 

But oh, such good jam.. and from our own trees! I shared a lot with relatives and friends....

Fast forward to Summer, 2010. 

Drier weather, pre-drought conditions, but we were lucky to have rain at the right time....One of the trees came through again. The other had a few, but this one....WOW!  No pictures of the crop of plums during that summer, but there were even more than the last time.  Branches were weighted down.  Still a lot I couldn't reach. Big job for someone in their 70s.... I called a friend of mine who loved to can and told her that I couldn't handle them all and didn't want them to go to waste.  So she came over, several times actually.  There were so many to pick..we concentrated on one long branch at the bottom..She is shorter than I am and I am only 5' tall.  We filled about (10) 5 gallon buckets that day..we continued to fill buckets in the days that followed and still didn't get them all... 

This year I was smarter...I prepared about (3) 10 cup containers of pulp and juice and froze it (no sugar, no jell). My friend took the bulk of the plums for her use and canned them all..In addition, she brought me 3 more containers, same size, and I froze them. I made a couple of batches last year. 

This year I made another batch. On Dec 23rd.... The containers hold just enough for one batch + enough juice for a couple of loaves of plum bread...

There is just the two of us, so the main portion was canned in 12 small 1/2 pint containers for us. 

I'll give away the 3 larger jars and keep the 12 smaller ones, one for each month.  Hopefully I can finish canning the rest of the pulp in the freezer this coming year, one batch at a time......

 It is SO GOOD!  

  

  

To All.....

Myspace Graphics, Christmas Graphics at WishAFriend.com

See you after Christmas!!!

Another Project for 2012

Some people in my quilting group has decided to try this pattern...

It was published in 2001 and still popular today.   I would have never picked this one to try on my own.  There are so many pieces to work with and so many matching corners!  Hopefully there won't be too many extra valleys in the mountains....

 That's why I like interacting with other people. They can be such a help and encouragement...

The book comes with a template to use.  The first thing I noticed about the layout of the book is how the instructions are not crowded on the page.  I will be able to see where I am most of the time.

I am going to do one thing before I start, however...I am taking it down to an office supply store and put binding rings (is that what you call them?) on the side so the book will lay flat and I don't have to worry about creasing the binding or it coming apart.

I have decided to start simple with this design...doing the wall hanging, with  2 fabrics and a 

fussy-cut center instead of the center shown here

So now I am up to 5(?) new projects for 2012..... Let's see, that's a little over 2 months per project....

Busy, busy, busy....

Untitled ---or--- What Can I Say????

As all can see on the side, I have started another quilt top.  I am using 36 squares of the Layer Cake package I bought a while back.

The pattern calls for several angle cuts and mixing up the different fabrics to end up with blocks that are a little wonky. 

They are.

More so than the pattern shows.

An explanation is in order......

No, I shouldn't call it an explanation.....that would insinuate there was something to explain..

 

A Lesson of  Positive Piecing in Progress instead.....

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Things I have Learned During This Construction:

1)  When cutting 9 (yes, it called for NINE) layers, a new blade is in order

2) Keep track of where you are in the pattern

3) Keep going as if you know what you are doing

4) Believe in yourself

5) Remember, all quilts are unique

6)  Artistic design is in the eyes of the beholder

7)  All patterns need a little "tweeking"

8) Never assume you are on a roll....you can't see where you are going if you are rolling....

9)  If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all....but you can sure look

10)  If it turns out great,  "It was planned that way...."

11) Repeats:

11a) One repeat in a block is a problem

11b)  Two repeats are a oops

11c)  Three repeats = see #10

12) If  #11 is relevant:  Remember,

It's only fabric.

 

On the Side.....

Mommarock wrote a comment on my Pipe Dream post re: my list of projects for 2012...

Maybe you could make them your blog header somehow.. don't ask me.. that way you would have to look at them every time you opened your blog.. it would remind you every time :)

Thank you, Mommarock.  I let the idea tumble around in my head overnight.  Result, if you look on the side of my blog under Picture Progress, you will see what I am working on.  These pictures will change occasionally to show my progress or show another new project.

If one picture stays too long, maybe.....

1)  It is taking me a Really Long Time to finish (as in handquilting)

2) I haven't had time to take pictures (shame on me)

3) I haven't been sewing as I should

4) I am on a roll and forgot to take pictures

5) my camera is broken

6) no film in my camera (What???)

7)  My machine broke down...no electricity..forgot to pay my bills...no stash left.....

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If so, you are free to e-mail and ask me "how are you doin'?? "

Or...

"Get Going, Lazybones!"

Optomistic Pipe Dreams (or) I Can Do It!

No New Years Resolutions...they all fall flat, usually.

Instead, I submit the following in hopes it comes true.....

About 1-2 years ago I bought 2 boxes of sheet protectors (200/box).  I placed articles/patterns/etc in them (1 project per protector) and placed them in this very huge binder.  I am now on my second box.

The binder is full.  It's weight and bulk makes it difficult for me to open and flip through it.  Definitely cannot fit on my lap. 

So comes the time that I need to split it up into several smaller binders.

I plan to only use these three binders.  I will continue to store the remainder in the big binder...using these three as my "I really want to do these next" folders".

I know there are initials for that,,,but what are they and what do they mean?? Can't remember....

Anyway, I have picked out 4 projects that I want to do next year..in amongst all the others that come up in the meantime...

And they are.....

This brown/blue one I have to get going on right away...for next Christmas..It will be a king size, hopefully, if I can convert the mathematics correctly...It is shown as a lap quilt...

Love these next two..don't know if it is because of the way the pictures look or the pattern..maybe both.

And a tablerunner from a blog post I read awhile back...

I figure these will keep me busy. 

I am going to try to squeeze one more in, but no picture yet...I just downloaded the tutorial today and I have my Moda Layer Cake package in mind for it.....

So we'll see the results a year from now.....

Ya'll remind me then, you hear???

A Survey and Review.....Non Quilting

Saw this link on Facebook and couldn't resist sharing...It's worth the click....


http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/01/the-5-best-toys-of-all-time/all/1

Wonder what would happen if we put these under the tree for Christmas?????

Stage One Done & Other Stuff

Hurrah! 

... I sat myself down, brushed myself off, and started (all over) again....

I finished separating the scraps as show at the last of the previous post...

....and....

I finished these as well...

They are out of the dreaded cardboard box...

and added to...

I found some 2 gallon ziplocks and put some of them to use...

Today I found that I was running into fabric I had done yesterday as well.  Remember the orange I said I put on the red pile yesterday?  Today some ended on the yellow pile instead...It seemed more logical.  That's okay..this is the first level of separation.....

Also, notice the small pieces next to my "neutrals" in the green basket.. They are slated to be used in my braided fabric..Yes, I am continuing to save narrow strips to be braided and later used in a rug, mug rug, coaster, or whatever.

I have more scraps, but they are mingled with a lot of larger pieces and are next on my list.  But for now, I am resting on my laurels..

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OH< OH< OH<

Wanted you to know what I read last week in several blogs/forums/somewhere (maybe Bonnie??).

Unquilty uses for left over batting:

Fits on your Swifter for dusting floors.

Takes the place of cotton balls for makeup, unmakeup, etc. (assuming it is relatively clean, of course)

Dust mop (tie several pieces together for hand dusting)

Tiny, tiny pieces great for bird nests....(along with small strips of cloth)

Put between toes when pedicuring....

()()()()()()()()()()()()())()(

and my memory escapes me with other uses....

Anybody out there want to give other ideas??...

Floors are Wonderous Things (or) Divide and Conquer!

I don't especially enjoy working on my sewing room floor.  My back and it don't get along.  However, every once in awhile it fits the purpose.***see below

I needed space to start separating my scraps.  I mean really start....I have read Bonnie Hunter and her separation tutorial, as well as others.  In 3 years I have yet to be able to continue or "find time" (lame excuse) to even begin the task.  I keep thinking, I must cut the strips, blocks, squares, triangles, blocks, etc first..  NOT HAPPENING, DUDE!

So here, on a dreary, cold, semi-moist, thoroughly yucky day, instead of going to Big Town for groceries, I took a container of red beans out of the freezer with the idea of Mexican Cornbread as accompaniment, and settled in my sewing room with the first (yes, first) small batch of scraps.

I was in such a hurry I didn't think of taking pictures until after this was emptied...

I sat in my comfy office chair, reached over and grabbed pieces and literally threw them onto the floor, creating approximate piles of somewhat differing colors. 

 It was liberating!  I was carefree and wild! It was.....Eleanor Burnish!  Such a good feeling! 

 There were a few flannels that I kept together, regardless of color, and a few pieces I had sewn together in earlier attempts of corraling stash. Those I will place in their own pile for future possible use (no sense cutting them apart again).

***(I had just finished clearing the floor after my marathon of wrapping Christmas presents and here I go again!).....

Here is the result so far...after I finish with this post, I will pick them up and put them in ziplocks (for now), and get out another bunch.  I am not worried about sizes or shapes.  Of course if I come across a large piece that can be folded onto a mini-bolt, or some such item, then of course I'll do that. But for now, multi-color items go where first impressions dictate.  I have light background (largest pile), yellow, dark, green, red, and blue with a little orange mixed in with the red right now.

Not much, but I gotta start somewhere.......

And here comes the next challenge,

results in another post...hopefully...

Mini-Giveaway Changes

It has been almost a year since my first Giveaway (Jan 3)...My goal at that time was to clear out my sewing room, offering items I did not want or need, or ones I thought ya'll might like. 

I have met my goal.  Thank all of you for helping me declutter and refine my stash and take away some of the items I had no need for.  Love you all.

Before I go any further, I want to assure you I do intend to continue the Mini-Giveaways.  I would feel lost without the excitement of giving something someone else can and would use. 

My choices, however, have dwindled as I had hoped they would when I started.  I have found it a little more difficult to choose the item lately.  When I started this, I had oodles of items on my list.  But because I had several multi-item giveaways this last year, that list has shrunk. 

All that last paragraph is saying, in different ways, is that I have decided to only have one giveaway a month during this coming year.  The first one will occur on January 15, and the ones following will be on the 15th of each month thereafter.  This will allow me to slip in extra giveaways if I want to (and I want to!), so don't be worried.  I won't run out of things ya'll might be interested in. 

So continue to check in and see what's new in my quilting life. 

See you soon........

Wanta Be's.........Gotta Be's.........

My wanta be's and gotta be's are fighting with each other...The battlefield is my sewing room...it has    been invaded by gifts, boxes, wrapping paper, and bubble wrap. 

 Salvos of tape, be it scotch, masking, packing or shipping, were heard at varying intervals....

The pivotal battle occurred this last weekend, when all the above was corralled and lassoed ...

(now I wonder if it was a battle or a round-up???)

At any rate, law and order prevailed.  Now all that is left is the remnants of the conflict.  The Mighty Post Office is in control and the boxes and packages are on their way.  Including a Mini-Giveaway package (white squishy below)..

Of course I had to float a loan to pay for shipping (5 packages!), but what the heck, it's only once a year, right?

In a couple of hours, my sewing room will revert back to it's hopefully original state, and I can start playing again....

Until I start working on more decorations and food stuffs, that is......



Mini Giveaway #22 Winner......

Congrats to Deb in Virginia!  She will be receiving the beautiful afghan in a few days. 

Thank all of you for participating and be on the lookout in 2012 for the next giveaway. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mini-Giveaway #22 - Cross Stitch Afghan

Greetings.... and FYI::::

Because of the time of year and all activities involved, I have decided that this will be the last Giveaway for the year...so no Giveaway is scheduled for December 15th...more on future Giveaways in another post coming up in a few days....

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Now::::
Found this next item on the very tip-top of my metal shelving.  I was I was moving items to make room for some more mini-bolts/bolts of fabric.  Guess it always helps to "tweak" what you already have moved once. 

I have a non-quilting item this time....very nice large 11-count throw size (45" x 66") afghan cloth with free cross stitch design.  It has been gently folded in plastic bag for a couple of years.

Rather than continuing with the verbal description, here are the pictures...

It's not a kit, so no thread, but you don't have to use the design given.  Comment below and be available to be notified. 

DH will draw on December 3 after 10:00am, which is on a Saturday, so the earliest I can mail this is the next Monday. 

  

Ya'll have fun, now......

Normal Days Doings....

Because my DH and I have been under the weather or getting out from under the clouds during pre-Thanksgiving days, we elected not to be around other people for fear we would be giving them an early Christmas present or a belated Thanksgiving package.  Our Thanksgiving was a stuffed cornish hen with gravy, veggies, and cranberry sauce. 

 So I may not have been as busy as some of you.

However,

I am slipping into in one of those periods where I know I have to do things, but looking back wondering what I have done. To refresh my memory, I have been listing things I have done during the days before Thanksgiving.

Not in order of importance, just rambling....

1)  Started to walk with DH to the mailbox and back. Right now, he walks all the way to the mailbox and I walk as long as I can, then wait until he comes back to where I stopped and we walk back to the house together.  Hope to make it to the mailbox with him soon (little over 1/2 mile r/t)

Property outlined, very shaky, mailbox at corner of lane and road.  Ponds, or tanks are dry now..

2)  Scheduled a few posts, including this one. 

3)  Had dentist appointment...x-rays and diagnosis....Will have a lulu of one during the first half of January.   Let's forget that and continue.....

4)  Still handquilting and a long way to go...

5)  Remember these bolts DH got for me in Corpus?

I have only 4 more left and hopefully by the time you read this they will be in use also. I used a lot of them as is for larger pieces of fabric, such as my flannels which were not folded very well.  They will be in better shape now. 

The rest I cut into mini-bolt sizes for smaller pieces.  To protect the fabric from the cardboard, I used a few plastic bags from store purchases (not grocery).  I was planning to use some Glad Cling Wrap, but that is so expensive it will be a last resort.  I looked around and found some of the very thin white trash bags...the kind that has the handles and is difficult to tear open and so thin they are really worthless for trash bags...so I cut them up and am able to cover about 6 or more mini-bolts with each one, using scotch tape.  

It takes a little time, but hopefully they will last awhile....

6) 7) 8) etc....general housework and goof/off stuff......

Hope to start another quilt shortly.  My machines are feeling neglected......

And I have other plans......

Later....

Baseball season quilt

I found baseball and dinosaur fabric at the church quilting group.  Brought it home and was lucky to find solid colors for borders to match it.  Add a colorful binding and tacking and I have another quick quilt to give away.

Now if it just wasn't sideways......

Wish I could give it to one of my grandsons, but don't want to use the church's fabric for personal use....

Love making these quilts....I feel I have a little more freedom than I do when I make a quilt for someone... I always worry if the relatives or friends will like them...

Update on Janome Health Status....

In the middle of October, I blogged that my Janome was sick and acting up. 

I wish to report, belately, that she is well and humming a nice little tune...No, I did not have to take her to the emergency room.. A little touch of home remedies did the trick, as well as a keen eye.

I ended up changing upper thread and used a brand new bobbin (definitely correct size), 

I was ready to thread the needle using the new upper thread (after I had filled the bobbin), and I could not find the needle hole.  It was very difficult...So I turned on the light behind the machine and took a really good look...

And found a broken needle.....no point......anywhere.....

Being the detective that I am, I realized the point had to have come off while sewing, hence had to be close by.

So I took off the faceplate, took out the bobbin and bobbin case.......

.....and there it was, laying there....

Remember how I said the bobbin had been jumping around and making noise?....well, there you go!

So lucky am I!  It could have gotten into the machine anywhere!

I put everything back together again, changed needles, threaded, and started her up...

and she has been fine ever since.

Still did not figure out why the needle broke, but maybe changing everything else solved that problem.

Another Comfy Baby Quilt Done

I had time on the trip to finish attaching the binding to this charity baby quilt.

 I burrowed through the fabric our group has and found most of the blue, then added a couple more blue pieces, as well as the pink from my stash.  I think it tends to be a girlie quilt, mainly because of the abundance of pink, although I was thinking of one for a boy when I started......

One never knows......

Acquisitions

I promised to show you what I bought on my trip to Corpus. 

http://www.thequiltcottage.com/TQC/Home

 I gave them all a bath and they are ready to be used. 

In what and to make what, I still don't know.  The top one and the two solids at the bottom I bought in Corpus...just noticed that the bottom green one is folded so you can see the back only...{sigh}...try to imagine a very subtle green/brown tie dye...see below....

There was a little over a yard of the grey/red plaid on the bolt so I bought that as well.  The pink one at the top is going with my other pink/green fabric to help knock the socks off of somebody...

Other than that I was in sort of a "dotty" mood. I bought most of them in Giddings...

http://www.gerlinesquiltshoppe.com/

If you remember, I told you in an earlier post that the Corpus quilters had just come back from Houston with oodles of stuff.  Well, look what they gave me after scrounging around in the back room. They even did a quick tape-together for me. They fit nicely on the floor behind the driver's seat. (and I took advantage of another picture to turn the green right side out so you can see it.) 

 

I plan to cut some of them in half and use them as mini-bolts to hold some of my fabric...Some may be used as is for my larger pieces.  They are cardboard, so I hope to cover them with some sort of plastic as protection. 

Guess I need to get busy soon......

Winner of country fabric, Mini-Giveaway #21 is.....

SALLIE --

Congratulations!  I know she will do us proud with the sewing results!  Thanks to all who commented and plan to see ya'll again on December 1st for another giveaway...

I'll send her the packet after contact...

Mini-Giveaway #21 - country fabric

Welcome! 

I debated whether to host this giveaway so close to Thanksgiving....I finally decided, why not.....

So here it is.....

This fabric is slightly slightly heavier that one would usually use in a quilt, although it might be used.  There is about 3 yards of it. I received it from a relative of mine several years back.  The selvage was cut off, so can't help you there....It is a nice piece of fabric......

As usual, DH will do his magic and pick a winner after 10:00 am on November 17.  Please be available for contact......and all that jazzz........

Trip news.....

We finally made it back home after experiencing a necessary delay....we visited cousins in Beeville and my brother in Corpus Christi.  When we realized we were going to have to stay longer than expected, we contacted my sister who owns and rents a small condo right on the beach in Corpus...she made arrangements for us to stay there the remainder of our visit....

These were taken from our balcony....

   The guy above was practicing "surf sailing"...is that the right terminology???....anyway, he was doing flips and the wind was really blowing him along...

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Backing up a bit.....I had planned on stopping in Giddings twice...once on the way down to see the one quilt store I had not seen and once on the way back to see the other one which I had seen before.  Plans change.  I did stop on the way down at this store....

http://www.gerlinesquiltshoppe.com/

Of course, I did not take pictures....but the website will give you an idea. It was a busy time for them...I was told later that they had 11 buses coming from Houston in 3 days (because of the Quilt Show there).  They said the customers consisted mainly of people from other countries who had taken this chance to head out and buy from the "local" quilt stores.  Luckily, I arrived between buses and was able to shop quietly....

On a side note....please take note of the On Line Auction coming up on Nov. 21th which they are helping to sponsor ... This is to help the volunteer fire station which, during the fire flareup in Texas a few weeks ago or so, lost 3 of their vehicles to the fire, as well as homes of 8 of the firemen....They are auctioning off quilts, with the proceeds going directly to the station in hopes to have enough of a downpayment for at least one vehicle...more info on the site if you are interested.

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I decided I was going to skip the stop on the way back in Giddings....I knew we were going to be more than ready to head directly home, so while I was in Corpus, I went to another quilt shop...again no pictures....

http://www.thequiltcottage.com/TQC/Home

They had just come back from Houston with oodles of goodies, not even unpacked, just scattered around the store.  Their rented van was even still parked outside.  I felt as if I was in someone's attic, looking at all the stuff.... And I had fun there, too.

You will see what I got on another post...don't have the pictures yet.....

See ya soon.....

Whew! Winner, Finally, of Mini-Giveaway #20

My quickie trip to see my brother turned out to be a little longer than anticipated....while there, we received word that my aunt who lived in the same city had passed away (she was 90), so we stayed and came home yesterday evening.

I was too pooped to do anything last night, but am ready to roll today, even if it is a little(?!) late.....

And the winner is:     MARTH225!!!!   I have e-mailed her and will be sending the package to her shortly....

Now, unless something unforeseen happens again,  the next giveaway will be scheduled on the 15th, as planned.....  see you then......

Working and Keeping Busy Post ....

I'm trying to get back into posting....really, the only reason I haven't posted was because I had no new pictures of new projects to show you...and pictures in blogs make them so much more interesting, don't ya think?

But after I saw how long it has been since I posted, I decided that pictures of anything be better than not posting at all.....and I have been working....

Sometimes you work really hard at something, but it's like water boiling,,,,,no one wants to hear day after day, "the water hasn't boiled yet, but it's coming".  So it is with my hand quilting....and I really made it worse by deciding to stop quilting on one sandwich after it reached 20% completion and starting on another.  I know where both of them are going, but I am really excited about the 2nd one, and the 1st one has waited this long, it can wait some more.....

So the second one has only strips to work with, and I have completed 5 of the 27 strips...

3 long lines on a strip X 27 = that's 81 lines.....each about 64" long....that's enough math to tell you it will be awhile before I finish...

No pictures of these,,,will have to wait until finished.

Now, to keep my mind from going to jelly while I quilt, I have been working on a some charity quilts...a couple of them you have seen...

The one I was going to finish while my car was being serviced....wasn't.  My DH came with me to town so that has been put on hold until the trip this weekend....that and my HQ will make the journey with me.

I am preparing another top so I can sandwich it after the trip.....

I got the main fabric from the church group and was able to match the colors for the borders from my stash...an easy task since I have straightened up my stash a little....hopefully it won't be so bright that it will keep the owner awake...

I only have one more side to put on before the top is finished.  I would have it done but I had to do a little ripping....twice....once late at night when I added the purple strip on backwards, and the other when that same strip seemed to become attached to the red side, not the yellow like it was supposed to be.... 

Good news is that I remembered how to do what I call a quick rip..instead of cutting every stitch from the wrong side, I cut a stitch every 1/2 inch or so from the right side...then when I started pulling them, the pieces came apart easier.... 

I hope to have enough of this fabric for the backing and binding...

Finally, I found the fabric for the binding of the wall hanging that has the names of all my family, DH, children, and grandchildren....their names, and birth dates...

Obviously, this cannot be pictured because of all the personal info, but hopefully, when finished, I can show you something..... That is supposed to be a light yellow binding.....

See you after the trip...if I can remember to take my camera AND take pictures, I may show you the quilt store I hopefully will discover in Corpus Christi.....

Mini Giveaway # 20 - Another Practice Fabric

edited: 1:45pm (CST)  So Sorry Guys!!!  When I scheduled this post I didn't proofread and had it scheduled for Nov. 3, not the 1st.....   So, I added a few days to the time frame (see below).....

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Hello, after a long time of not posting.....more on that later....

Now, this practice fabric actually has simpler designs, less busy than the last one....although there does seem to be a lot of  the same theme running through it.....feathers, petals, etc....

I sewed a little on it, without sandwiching, to see how it would look with red thread on the designs...but decided again it was not for me...

It is on white fabric, regardless of what the pictures show (click on them for a better view)....and about 35 inches, or a very scant yard of fabric....

So,,,here are the pictures.....please disregard the folds....did not want to iron it or heat it up because of the design....didn't want to chance either setting the ink or making it disappear......not sure which, if either, would happen....

Good Luck to all and remember that the winner will be announced after DH does his thing on Nov 7 after 10:00am due to a trip we have planned this coming weekend starting early Friday morning. ..... See how one goofup can multiply into a whole mess?......We might stay over and come home on Monday, the 7th....if so, it will be middle to late afternoon before ya'll know what's what around here. 

BUT,  all good things comes to one who waits.......and wins.    Too, remember please to be available for contact so you will know you won.....

 I am trying to get a couple of sandwiches ready for binding so I can take them on the trip with me.  Also, I have been trying to work on my handquilting a lot since posting last, and have not had much to "show and tell" with pictures. and other things have been either given priority or getting in the way....That is no excuse, but wanted my followers to know that everything is hunky dory and hopefully soon I will be getting back in the groove. 

Winner! MiniGiveaway #19

Edited: 11:15pm (CST) 10/19/11:  Sonya is the winner!  She contacted me and I will be sending her the package shortly.....Thank all of you for joining in and I'll see you again on Nov 1......


...is a fellow Texan....Sonya Threadgill Nelson .   Congratulations on winning, Sonya.  I hope you will enjoy using the fabric.  I'll be sending you the package as soon as you let me know where to send it...I didn't see any e-mail address where I can get in touch with you, so be sure and contact me.

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edited 6:30pm (CST) 10/18/11:  Still waiting for Sonya to contact me..I commented on both her blogs..don't know what else to do....Hopefully, she is just busy and will check in later.....

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 I'll let everyone know when you contact me by editing this post...But just in case, I need to announce that I will redraw after Friday, October 21 at 1:00pm...  

Ya'll  all be sure and check back here on the 1st of next month...well, you can come on in before that time and read also, but the 1st is the next Giveaway.....

Sure has been fun seeing where all my "stuff" is heading.  I'm making little splashes of excitement (I hope) all around the sphere here. Will keep it up as long as I can find stuff I can give away...my room is starting to look a little cleaner...

See you next month!

Mini-Giveaway #19 - Practice Quilting Fabric #1

Welcome! This time I am giving away practice hours or minutes, depending on how fast you are......It is almost a yard of printed practice loops and designs for machine quilting (or handquilting)....

The border has the words.....Machine Quilting Skill Builder Sampler #1   (c) Renae Allen for RGA Design, 2007....  Evidently, you sandwich this and then use it to practice your machine quilting...

It is on a white background, and the designs will wash out, so be sure and use it before washing....... there are no directions, only small arrows to suggest a path in various designs....

They are pretty designs.  When I bought it, I had the idea of handquilting portions of it in red thread and creating a quilt out of it....one of my ideas that did not fall on any fertile and willing ground....

This is my #1.....I have another piece I plan to use in another Giveaway in the next month or so...

So here are several pictures...

As usual, DH will pick the winner on October 17 after 10:00am (CST) , who, naturally, should be available for contact and mailing purposes.....

Good luck to all.....

Quiet Week..Sick Machine...

My Janome is sick.

I am hoping it is just a simple cold or allergy...I had just run out of upper thread so used the opportunity to clean, dust, change needles and thread.  I used a new 80/12 needle I just bought, one that is an "easy thread".  I also put in a new bobbin with thread to match the new upper spool I started to use...

It started showing symptoms (coughing bobbin.. stuffy, stopped up needle..runny, shredded thread).    

So I am going to try some home remedies.....I will change everything (sounds like a thread allergy now that I am re-reading this) in hopes that it will clear up the symptoms...if not, it will need to go to the dr....

In the meantime, my little Singer has been spiffed up and has been stepping up the the plate...

It is hard when one of your children is sick....but so glad both of them are not under the weather...that would be really stressful...