Thursday Stuff. . .

I really have boring subject titles, don't I?  I just don't think to brightly at 5 am some morning.

Just a quickie give-away I wanted to share because it's a good one in my opinion, free pizza stone!  100 Days of Real Food 

I've been sewing, got inspired at JC Penny's last night when I saw these:

I love the green and the purple in these and finally started a project I've been working up to for over a year now.  I visited thrift stores last summer and purchased several pairs of plaid colored shorts.  So, I pulled out a set and started a proto-type sample. . . . I'm not ready to share all the details yet, but I've very excited with what I'm working with!  Just have some fine tuning.

I started to play with this technique yesterday as well (thanks to Ms. Cindy):  3 Seam 10 Minute Block.  I'm making a smaller block (cutting blocks at 7 1/2") using stash fabric and using a setting of 4 x 5 for a quilt top.  Should whip up pretty quick.

We were very lucky here in Oak Ridge, TN last night....Knoxville had a lot of hail damage and other wind issues from the storms here.  Going to be an interesting day to see the aftermath.

Happy Monday Morning!

Without further delay, the lucky winner of Friday's Charms is (according to Random.org) is sweet 16, who is Robin!  I'll email you shortly to get your mailing info.  Thanks to everyone who commented--looks like you all were busy this weekend!

I did get a bit of sewing in, time with family, football games (ugh...still not happy with the Ravens), Chinese food, Big Ed's pizza, and lots of hubby loving ....it was a very good weekend indeed!!

I do have some pictures to share.....I received my second towel from Cindy in our Towel Swap II, isn't he adorable:

I got my towels for Februarys's swap.  They will be different, but I'm excited with what I have planned for the towels - that is one of my milestone goals for this week (will post those later in the day):

Then, because of the "Meet The Teachers" Event at the shop, I had to finish up another sample.  I finished making a sample for my Quilting Basics 102 class:

Also, was able to squeeze in one more block for the Goose Tracks:

I think both classes are filling up!  My Pizza Party class is also filling up...the event was a huge success and I got to meet a lot of "regular" customers.  I normally work in the back so I don't get too see alot of faces, that is why I'm so excited to be teaching again!

I also got my BOM from the 12 Days of Christmas this weekend and my Tonga BOM....so I'll have BOMs to work on this week!  Also a lot of work on the computer and more sewing for work.  Glad to be at home today, going to be busy today!!

TGIF!

I'm glad it's Friday and hubby has arrived!! :)  It will be a wonderful weekend!

Thank you for all your comments yesterday!  (I'm in the process of responding to them)  I don't have a few of you on my blog list - so out with a few blogs and in with a few new ones :)  Never ending process!

Had my first Quilting Basics 101 class last night - wonderful group of ladies!  I'm excited to be instructing again.  It's always a pleasure building up people's confidence in they own skills and creativity!  I plan to take pictures next week, because their fabric choices are great!!

I have no new pictures to share, so how about a quickie giveaway?  I have these left over 5" charms from doing my Pay It Forward items....I think there is about 25.  I have them in an envelope ready to go!

Just tell me your weekend plans when you leave a comment.  Please don't share this giveaway, because I want it for those dedicated readers :) I'll pick a random winner Monday , 1/17th morning by 5 am EST.

My plans this weekend include "Meet The Teachers" at Gina's and spending lots of time with my hubby!!

Tuesday thoughts

First, I'm back into blogging full force - catching up on blogs over the past 2 weeks was challenging to say the least.  I did post in a few giveaways - which require sharing their links on your blog - so, I'll play along!  Visit these folks for your chance to win some cool stuff!!

Stray Stitches 300+ follower Giveaway
The Pickle Patch Giveaway
Let's Ring in 2011 Blog Giveway
January Giveaway

As I have read through many blogs over the past few days, I have come across several interesting and FREE Block of the Month projects for 2011.  I've listed several that interest me and several for the general viewing.  I'm unsure if I'll start any, but wanted them here for reference:

Birdie Stitches
Jewels In The Crown - most likely will do, have tons of batiks perfect for this!
Lazy Hearts
Give Thanks
Redwork Kitchen - if you look on the left side they have links from their previous BOMs as well
A Sentimental Journey Through the Months 
Boot Bash
Granny's Hankie
Home Sweet Home
The Quilt Works, Enchanted Forest
Nancy Rink's Designs, Ole To The Blue And Gray
Civil War Quilts (need books for the patterns)
Ethter Aliu BOM - hasn't started yet, just reference
Pine Needle Quilters - great reference page with LOTS of BOMs starting and completed
The Quilting Clubhouse - another great reference page with lots of boms
BOM Quilts - always have new things going on as well

whew....that's a lot :)  Many wonderful free choices out there to use up your stash!  I'll stick with my list I have on the right bar for now.

Another thing as I read through your blogs is seeing everyone's 2010 accomplishments and 2011 resolutions and goals.  Again, I look through my own accomplishments and realize I just didn't do much of anything for me.  I did a lot of work for others and I did have a cross-country move involved this past year as well.  Yet, I'm sadden how my hobby has become more of a job for me than a hobby.  I want to get back to quilting for me, I want to find that place of zen and peace, lost in the creation and the droning sound of my machine.  Being one with my inner self artist.

So again no resolutions for me this year, I don't believe in holding myself accountable for things that most likely will fall to the waste-side because they weren't done in the true essence of myself, then feeling like a failure in the end.  I just will strive to make this year the year I reconnect with my quilting heart.

Design Wall Sunday

Let's see what I do have in quilting related pictures for the past two weeks?  I mentioned how I won a little table topper that screams me at Christmas Party for work, right?

As I'm putting away holiday items today, it will be placed on one of my many flat surfaces - unsure where yet.

I also got my December - 12 Days of Christmas Block completed....ugh, it was the most tedious one so far.  LOTS of small pieces.

I also am in the year long swap at Let's Bee Together and received my first package of fabric and promptly whipped up a scrappy feel block for Ms. Linda.  I'll show the whole thing once she recieves it, but here's a teaser:

And I also received my winnings from a blog giveaway a couple weeks ago from Cheryll in Australia!  Thank you again to Cheryll!  I just love the ribbon:

Now for my design wall this week.  I've been straightening up and cleaning my sewing area this morning and I have so many things I want to work on.  I have several classes I'm teaching at Gina's, so those are top priority - nothing to show on my design wall this morning, but hopefully I can share an image or two throughout the week!

Now to clean house, put away decorations and find time for Starbucks and sewing!

Bloggy Giveaways....

Do you enter these giveaways? You should, you can't win unless you enter!  And I've entered quite a few over the past few weeks and I WON!! 

Cheryll has a 12 days of Christmas Giveaway, granted it's almost over, but I won Day 9!  Very excited to say the least.

Well, here's a few more to take your free chance to enter and win something free and nice!!

• Stray Stitches - Linda is giving away some batiks!
• It Seems To be Sew - 12 days giveaway, on day 4 today - LOTS of fun stuff!

Do you know of others?  Share, please - thank you!

Back to work :)

Spreading a little cheer. . .

I have things I want to share with you, so please pop over to these sites and see what they are all about!

First, we need just a few more players with us for the next year doing this online Bee. Check out Let's Bee Together Blog for all the details!




Next, a friend I've known for many years makes her own jewelry and sells it. I have purchased several items from her over the years and my latest purchase is wonderful to say the least. Please go and pick out a nice holiday gift just for you from her Etsy store - - that is what I did. Here's my new earrings:

 You can visit her store here:  Sihaya Designs Jewelry

She also has a blog if you want to watch for updates:  Sihaya Designs Jewelry

Do you like to blog hop?  What about shop hopping?  I'm sure most of you have done this, but I just spent a few hours this weekend visiting 175+ online shops just to qualify for the huge give aways they do at the end of the time.  I did win a $25 pack of fabric from the FabShop Hop several years ago, and figured I need to win again :)  There are some really cool sites out there and I collected a few new ideas.  Start off here to find how to hop and good luck!

And one more fun site I discovered while hopping.  I haven't visited Stitch'n Heaven in Texas' website in a while and I missed out on this....this is cool and very piratical....you might see some of my own booty up for sell soon!!  (decided not to use their logos, fear of copyrights and all --and they are REALLY CUTE) 

My Sewing Booty

Now back to some sewing, Mondays are work at home days!

Sunday Design Wall

Finished my tree skirt this yesterday evening......now I did take the quick, easy, and lazy way out mainly due to the time constrains (meaning no binding, sewing and turned inside out technique).  But my kitty and girls approve, so that is good enough for me:

Now on my design wall is still the presents which I'll slowly work on all week and plan to finish it during this week's Friday Night Sew In:

I've been doing a a lot of blog hopping, trying to find new and interesting blogs to follow.  And I found this fun game that I wanted to share with you to enjoy as well.  Holiday Bingo - blog style!  Click on the button to learn more!

Back to Sunday sewing...it's been a chilly wet cold deary kind of weekend - - perfect for sewing!!

I'm grateful for . . .

This time of year.

This time of year is always filled with colors, family, love, shopping, baking, decorating, smells, mixed emotions and STRESS!

Several things I'm grateful for this week, first is learning to manage my time and my emotional/mental health this season.  It's only taken me 43 years to do it, but I don't feel the burdens of the past.  I'm grateful I have taken care of myself and allowed myself to understand and see the balance of what "needs" to be important this time of year verses the "wants" to be a perfect season.

I'm grateful for accomplishing cards, decorations and baking this past week with no pressure or expectations.  This will be a wonderful holiday season filled with simplicity, love, family and friends.

I'm also grateful for blog giveaways and free patterns.  Be sure to catch up on this Blog Hop hosted by fabric makes Henry Glass.