I Won, I Won, I Won!

Can you believe it?! I won Sweep P's Container giveaway; Woo-Hoo!

What a great surprise when I had a box waiting for me on my doorstep and it turned out to be a package from Paula! Look at all the goodies she sent me. First, she sent a cute little turtle planter/now sewing container filled with "stuff". Among them two fat quarters of very funky fabric, embroidery floss and needle case pattern to get the creativity going. Then she added some delicious taffy treats and drum roll please....a handmade pincushion and needle case made out of the cutest Summer fabric...it's just so cute! What a great surprise. Thanks Sweet P!

Cupcake Swap!

Now how on earth could I pass up on this swap? Not a chance. This is a great swap for anyone who doesn't quilt because you don't even have to make anything, LOL! OK, so I'm hoping that whoever gets me sends me a dozen homemade cupcakes...one can dream. Hey, nothing wrong with that, right? Whatever she does, I SURE hope she doesn't think I can actually bake, yikes... that would be bad. Anyway, I think this is the coolest swap and thought I'd share a link, Just in case there is a pastry chef out there that would like to sign up and be my "swap person".
Now go sign up!
Red Geranium's Cupcake Swap!
Update: This swap is closed!

The Simple Woman Summer Swap!

Oh, Dear...I'm in another swap. I just couldn't help myself! Today is the last day for sign ups. If you are reading this and are a confirmed "swapaholic", never mind the post, just rush on over and get in on the swap. Today is the last day! Oh how I love a good swap. LOL! Here's a link to all the details, now go and sign up before it's too late!
The Simple Woman Summer Swap
Update: This swap is closed!

A Summer Giveaway!

To celebrate the Beginning of Summer,

not that we had much of it yesterday, mind you!
I will be making up and giving away a
Patch Abilities Sandcastle quilt KIT!
Yes, the pattern and all the fabrics for the top, backing and binding!
All you need to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment and spread the word by posting about the giveaway on your blog; and don't forget to link back this post so your readers can enter too! You'll get two entries for your efforts =). If you don't have a blog, you can still enter, just post a comment and you'll have an entry; be sure I can access an email for you; just in case you are the lucky winner!
I know that seems counterproductive but it wouldn't be much of a drawing if there was only one entry!
I will draw the lucky winner June 30th so don't procrastinate!
This is a really cute Summer quilt and I know it'll be loads of fun to make.
I will be making mine this week; check back for pics! Good luck to one, and/or all! =)
The handmade polymer clay buttons by Just Another Button Company, the cute little pink Sandals and Beach ball, will be included in the kit!
Update! This Giveaway is Closed!
Update#2! We have a Winner!
T from Fiber Babble is the lucky
blogger that will receive this wonderful Sandcastle Kit.
Congratulations!

First Day Of Summer 2008!

WooHOO! It's Summer! Or so I thought until I looked outside and saw the sky was gray, hmmm. "Wonder what that's all about..." I didn't have to wait long to find out; no sooner had I thought it was going to rain, and wham! It's thunder & pounding rain. Just great! Well, the rain is sporadic now but sure put a little damper on my "give the new swimsuit a Test Drive" plans. Just goes to show you, never leave anything for tomorrow. Yesterday GP and Gino were in the pool having a great time and I thought, "Nah, I'll celebrate Summer "tomorrow", duh! Well, this is the sad looking pool today. This was taken at 2PM. I'd need a flashlight to see what's on the grill (way back in the "shade") There's no way anyone can get too excited over this Summer Day! OOps, the thunder just started up again. Guess I'll just have to do some quilting, poor me! LOL!

Mission Accomplished!

GP wants to know, "Hey, where'd you get that?"...
The camera is not allowed at the beach because it might get ruined! Or so he says, LOL!
Needless to say, he was a very happy camper when we arrived at Hampton Beach this afternoon for a couple of hours of much needed respite away from the phone (that only seems to announce bad news these days!) He said he was going swimming but once he walked on the wet sand and ran along the shoreline he changed his mind. Guess he's not feeling like a dip in 60 degree water!
I just watched and counted my blessings as he splashed along the water. It was a good day to just be "Mom".
This was the icing on GP's cake, he climbed this HUGE boulder that he had not been able to conquer last year. He was so excited. This is his "Yahoo!". I was so happy... it's the little things that count in my book!
Hope your day was as memorable as ours. Hugs, B=)

Playing Hookey!

Gene Paul and Mom are "Playing Hookey" today. We are going to the Beach! Our first trip to the Beach of 2008 and I thought it was worth documenting. I had GP pose in the garden, among
my "humungous" Foxglove blooms. GP is 5"2" and the fence behind him is 6' tall. I just couldn't resist having him pose there. All GP wants to know is, "How many more pictures before we can go to the beach?"...LOL!

Storage Container Challenge Day 3

On my third day of Sweet P's Container Challenge I've decided to show another container I use for Threads. I have to admit that I LOVE collecting threads. I match my threads to my pieces and I have different weights or different tasks which only means I need to store LOTS of spools. This is another thread container, it's a Longaberger basket filled to the brim with threads. Oh, and that little Bunny? Well, that's Fiona! Anne Sutton (from Bunny Hill Designs) sent her to me this week. Is she the cutest thing or what?! She's so tiny...and she has an embroidered flower on her little shirt! I must find her a special place before Pepper The Puppy Dog carries her away to her pile of plushies!

Posy in Progress IV

OK, so I spent my quilting day goofing off and didn't finish my Posy quilt! I haven't abandoned my project though, I am still working on it. Here's a pic of what I did get done this past weekend. I used hand dyed wool for the daisy centers. I think it looks so cool and it gives it a dimensional look. I might add the beads (as stated in the pattern) but I've never worked with beads and I'm not too sure I can push the needle through three layers of fusible web and two layers of fabric topped with wool...I have a knack for piecing my fingers and this sounds like a 911 situation in the making. I might have to pass on them unless I can figure out how to glue them on. Food for thought. Stay tuned for more Posy Pics to come!

Storage Container Challenge Day 2

For those following Sweet P's Storage Container Challenge
(Coffee Time Quilt Studio), here's my second entry.
These cute jars were a great find and with my thread basket full (pic to follow) I repurposed them for threads. I have a third one that holds Rick Rack and other trims but I forgot to include it in the pic. DUH! Anyway, I really love them and it makes finding what I need a cinch!

My First Storage Container!

Sweet P. over at Coffee Time Quilt Studio is having a Contest/giveaway. She wants to see our storage containers and I thought, "I'd love to show you some of my containers!" Here's my first one.This is actually a candle jar given to me by my sister when she moved away. No, she didn't give me a candle in the container, she enjoyed the candle and then used the jar as a container for something in her home. When she moved away she decided she could not see it go to waste and since she could not take it with her, she gave it to me! I had just started my quilting journey and needed a place to put all the "stuff" that came with my new Bernina Sewing machine...so I stuffed it in the jar and whala! I have had it on the table for two years now and use it regularly (I switch from the 1/4" to the blanket stitch foot almost daily when I work on any little project.) The weird thing is that I still think of her each time I clean up my space and put it where it belongs.
I think it will never be MY jar, it'll always be Sandy's Jar!

New Pictures from Japan!

Dre's uploaded more pictures to her Photobucket!
Don't miss the new pics from Japan!
New Pics are 200-351!
I didn't know women actually walked around in those outfits! You learn something new every day!

Posy in Progress III

Block one of twelve 5.5"sq. Pretty Spiffy, eh?! =)

Posy in Progress II

My Posy blocks earlier today, before the camera's battery ran out of juice...

Now the flowers have the centers...more pics later!

Dre's Pictures from Japan!

She's posted pictures but forgot the link so here's a link to her pics! Off to see Japan we go! WOOHoo!=)

Dre in Japan - Smugmug

Happy Birthday to Me!

Look! I received a Birthday surprise...Now I have some great Summer reading And some lovely blouses to update the wardrobe. I just love having sisters...they cover all the bases! Love ya! B=)

Posy in Progress

Today is "My" weekend day and I'm making Posy, a wonderful little treasure by Liberty Star.

It's noon and I'm taking a break (someone has to feed the child in this house!) and thought I'd post this mornings progress. I am off to a late start and too much goofing off on the computer but all things considered not too bad. I have four more flowers to cut out and then its off to the iron to get these fused onto the background...Stay Tuned!=)

Dre goes to Japan

My beautiful niece is in Japan. How awesome is that? She is off on a Summer exchange program of sorts and I am so excited I can hardly stand it. She has set up a blog for her adventures and I encourage everyone to go and enjoy the trip with her. Live vicariously through the eyes of a 21yr. old!

http://dreinjapan.blogspot.com/
She has been preparing herself for this adventure for as long as I can remember. She has been taking Japanese classes since long before this trip was even a possibility. She is a Manga fan, one of those that dresses up in costumes and goes to Manga conventions (not as bad as the Trekkies but sure is close...I think my son likes the Manga ones better, LOL!) She loves Japanese TV shows and has immersed herself in Japanese culture for years. This trip is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. She has worked hard to earn her spot among the students who join her, and I am thrilled to see her make this dream a reality. You go girl!