Giveaway Winners!

I loved reading all of your summer plans. I think a lot of us are staying closer to home this summer.
I have been finding new places to walk in my area and today I found a new one, right in the next town.
I never even knew it was there and I am glad I found it. It is an area that was preserved by the Audubon society.

We crossed lots of wooden bridges and streams.



We walked around a large pond. One lone goose and in the distance, a piece of wood that looks like a seagull, lol.
I won't mention that I walked up the hill to visit an old graveyard and on the way back around, I just missed walking on a 4 foot water snake, ugh. Talk about making me jump, lol.



The pond ends at a small falls. One path led out and we took the long one, up into the woods and around fields and stone walls. I still wanted to walk, so we took the trail on the other side of the road, which was mostly woods and a few streams, but it gave me a good walk for today.



And now for what you are waiting for, the winners of the giveaway!
The winner of the Americana quilt set is......... Terry!
And because I had a lucky week and won another prize, I will be giving two winners, a choice of a free epattern from my ecrater site.

Winner # 1 is number one, Gayle!
Winner # 2 is Erin of Erin Tame Designs!

Thank you everyone for playing along and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Terry, please email me your address so I can send your package and Gayle and Erin, pick any pattern from my ecrater site and email me with your choice and I will get it right to you.

Stitchery: My Dolly and Me!

I think I am on a stitchery binge, lol.
I find it relaxing and something that can be made quickly.
I wanted to try some on floral fabric and I like how it gives it an antique look.
I also worked on my dog, which has now become a pillow for casey, since I didn't want to go crazy with it.
I also started a project from the new primitive magazine, so will have those to show you, soon.

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway if you haven't already. It will end on Saturday night at 9 pm and I will be announcing the winner after 10pm.

Creations and Gifts!

Today I was in the mood to try machine quilting. I found this wonderful dog pattern at Angie's Bits and Pieces. I thought it would be a fun one to practice on and I will be adding other items as I go along. I didn't do too bad for my first try at following the edge with my star foot. I am thinking that this might be a good piece to donate to our local shelter for their auction. When I found Moki, they took care of all the shots and spaying, for free, so I like to help them out with the auction.



A new friend, Chris Wheeler sent me this wonderful fabric postcard for Easter. I love how she used paper with scripture in the background. I have always wanted to try them myself and she was sweet enough to send me some precuts to make my own. This will be great for practicing my machine skills with, as well. Chris also has some wonderful contests, so be sure to visit her blog.



And I thought I would show you my win from Minick and Simpson. I won a jelly roll of their new fabric line, American Banner Rose. It isn't even out yet, so was thrilled to have won. I am thinking of making two smaller quilts with it. One from the new magazine, Primitive Quilts and Projects and maybe an americana one.



And another blogging friend is sending me one of her art panels. Fannie Narte does such beautiful work with her fabric paintings, I just love the designs. I want to make a purse or tote, so this will go into something I can use for my things when I go to classes someday. Visit her blog and you will be inspired. The panel's name is, "Surround yourself with Magic".
And if you haven't already, don't forget to leave a comment for my Giveaway!

Primitive Americana Giveaway!

Well, I decided on the giveaway prizes, as you can tell by the title.
I really love this piece and hope you will too. It is made from a design by Tiffany of Primitive Blessings. You will also get a pillow with a Primitive Blessings design and a quarter yard of whimsicals prim americana fabric to make your own summer piece.

To enter, leave a comment telling me what your plans are for this summer vacation.
I am so sick of winter and cold, and so ready for getting out again.
I want to go camping on a lake, in the mountains and paddle and bike and relax.
No shopping or driving around, just having fun outside.
Though, with the gas prices, I may be doing that close to home;)

Leave a comment on this posting only, and I will draw a winner on April 30th.
First place winner will receive the stitchery, pillow and fabric, and the second place winner can have their choice of one of my epatterns.

I want to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter day.

Goofs and Giveaway!

I had one of those days, I got a lot done, but not without the help of my furry buddies and a lot of mess ups.

First I cut up some more hexagons. This way I have plenty to work on, to get some progress done this weekend.
Of course Izzy had to check them out.



Then I got the idea to make an apple core runner for my dining bureau. I have a large penny rug on it now, but the cats get all over it and i need something clean I can put on, to set the dishes on. But my first try, I jammed the threads at the beginning. The second, I sewed two together nicely, then realized one core was backwards, so I tried one more and got it right. But, it made me realize that I need to take my time and it is too much to get done for Easter. Soooo, I decided to make a quickie runner. I got some nice fabric from my friend Kelley, perfect for a table cloth. I sewed two pieces together and planned on doing a blanket stitch with my machine, but then I changed my mind and went fancier. Machine sewing a design, takes a long time, lol. I have never done this before and I made a mess, but it will have to be good enough. At least I can put the dishes down on a clean runner.



This is a close up, you can see my bad stitching, guess I need to show it to my pfaff lady and have her explain to me, how to do it right;) I really need lessons, lol. The good thing is that the material is still good, so later I can take off the edges and still use the material in another project.



And then I got a start on Easter cleaning. I cannot vacuum without Casey wanting a clean up for himself. He likes to be vacuumed and playing ball while I clean. As I vacuum he throws the ball at me and if I ignore him, he will put it on the vacuum. I think it is the noise that gets him going, he is definitely a bit odd;)

And this is my 500th post! And I think it is time for a double giveaway! First prize will be a handmade item from me and the second winner will receive a free epattern. But, I will make you wait till saturday to find out what the prize will be. That will be the official contest day! I haven't quite decided, but I have a few ideas;) So make sure to come back Saturday and leave a comment!

Hippies and Hens!

First I have a link for the little apple girl. I remembered where I found her so here is a link to the coloring page.

Also, I am only one post away from 500 posts! I guess I am going to have to have a giveaway this weekend to celebrate.
I truly appreciate my visitors and your comments.

Today I worked a bit on my hippie piece. The last time I added a kitty, had to have one in my world;)
Today I added the words and the flower. The concert we saw was Aerosmith and Dream on is their first song and I do love that one. My notes look a bit wonky, lol. I had cut the pieces, so all of the new things are freehand. Now I need to add a face and some ruffles for a collar and sleeves. Not that I ever wore things like that, lol. The funky colors I am using are some precuts that I ordered years ago. Will never do that without knowing what fabrics I am actually getting.

On the new pieces, I started using the regular weight wonder under. It is much easier to sew by hand, but it is harder to peel the paper off. I like being able to iron on the pieces instead of pinning them.



Then I finished off a little pillow. I used my new Spring Chicken design. As you can see, it is not good to stitch while watching a good movie, I was not paying attention to my stitching;)

Rooster Stitchery Mat!

I finished my mat today, one project at a time.
I found the pattern for the rooster at NeedleCrafter.
There are a lot of wonderful stitchery patterns that you can use for free and they make great gifts too.
After I added the border, I realized there was empty space, so even after I cut it down a little, it just had to be filled with more stitchery;) I used designs that I found on another free site, Broderie d' antan. It is in french, but you can find a library of designs and the site is updated, regularly with new ones.

I was going to make it into a hot pad, for a gift, but it was too pretty to get spills on.
So, I made it into a table mat, so it can be used that way or hung on a wall. Now if I can just part with it;)