Have you done it????

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! If you are age 50 or over OR if you have a history of colorectal cancer in your family, PLEASE GET A COLONOSCOPY! Why am I such a champion of this? Well, let me tell you my story.......

Six years ago, my GYN told me that I was at the 'magic age' and needed to have a colonoscopy. In my mind, I was saying "yeah right - I'll get right on that". I had absolutely no intentions of having this test done! NO ONE was going to stick a tube up my butt!

My pap test came back abnormal, so I had to go have a repeat test. I knew my doctor was going to ask about the colonoscopy, and I didn't want to lie to her, so I scheduled an appointment with a gastronologist with every intention of canceling it! (See, I could truthfully say I had an appointment and then cancel it....yep, I'm sneaky like that). SO, I go back to the GYN and SHE NEVER EVEN ASKED ME ABOUT THE COLONOSCOPY. AND, I forgot to cancel the appt.

So, I went ahead and went to see the gastro dr. to "just to talk about it". I ended up scheduling the colonoscopy. The day before the test is the WORST.....just get you a good book and plan to spend the afternoon on the toilet! (Are you just loving this topic -- right????? LOL) You are asleep during the test so you don't feel a thing.

Well, long story short, I had the test performed and I found out I HAD CANCER!!!! I had absolutely no idea! I was told I would have to undergo chemo and radiation before surgery could be done. Talk about getting DOWN ON MY KNEES AND TALKING TO THE LORD! After another biopsy and a sonogram, where some of the tumor was flaked off, it became operable. Praise the Lord, it was in an early stage. I had surgery where they removed a portion of my colon. (that surgery was worse than having a baby -- PAIN!!!!) They were able to get it all so I didn't have to undergo chemo or radiation. I'm telling you it was by the Grace of God and all those people praying for me that I am now officially a "Cancer Survivor" 6 years!

The moral of this story --- MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR PREVENTATIVE TESTING PERFORMED!!!!! JUST DO IT! It could save your life -- it did mine.

Another Tree!!!!

Molly's Place posted the second "Tree Time" pattern and I just couldn't wait! I've already made it tonight while watching TV. I think it is the cutest tree -- so prim and cute. I used wool for the star, tree skirt and the packages. It reminds me of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree! I am using the same background fabric for all my blocks -- a white with red, green, and gold splatters on it. Caauuuuuttttteeee! Even if I do say so.

Are you planting your trees in anticipation of Christmas 2010? You know, Christmas will be here before we can even give it much thought. I can't wait to display my "Tree Time" quilt this Christmas.

I've been busy!

I have been really busy doing some quilting.....Here is a Christmas table runner that I pieced a while back and I am just now getting it quilted.

Here is another look closer up.

This is another table runner that was also made a while back and is just now getting quilted. I pinned it up on the design wall to get the picture.

The following is a project I've been working on while watching TV. This free pattern is from Val Laird. She made a table runner, but I decided to make it into a small wall hanging. The hand embroidery is done in only four colors -- two shades of purple, yellow, and green. I have really come to enjoy hand embroidery -- great TV work!

Here are a couple of close-up shots at the blocks. They were so fun to stitch.

Here is a picture of my Bunny Hill BOM on the quilting machine. This was one of the funnest (yes! that is a word!) that I've made in a long time.

Here is a close-up of the November block -- isn't that squirrel cute???

This is a baby quilt that I put together recently and I have it loaded on the quilting machine. I decided to practice my feathers and they look like BUTT FEATHERS! Yep, I said butt feathers -- a new original design -- 'cause they look just like big ole butts! LOL

Well, I'm off for a girls' weekend with my sister-in-law and niece. They are going to scrapbook and I'm going to tack down bindings and do some hand embroidery. Ya'll all have a Blessed Weekend.

My Tree is Planted!

My first tree is planted! Molly, over at Molly's Place has began her block of the month "Tree Time". Have you started yours? You better get it planted 'cause it will soon be time to start another. Come on and join the fun.

Happy Valentines Day!

May all my blogging friends have a wonderful Valentines Day and are surround by all those you love.

Trees, Trees, Trees

Sometimes I just can't see the forest for the trees! Do you ever feel that way? Well, that is not always a bad thing. If you want to feel good about it, go over to Molly's Place. She is hosting a fantastic BOM called "Tree Time."

Molly is one my "Wacky Sistas" (our quilt group) and these are her very own original designs. She is oh so very talented and I am so proud to call her my friend!!! She has designed some great trees for us to get 'growing'!!! SEW, go check out her blog, gather your supplies, get planted in that favorite chair, and join the fun!

I have decided to use all the same background for my trees. The following is what I have chosen. The picture does not do it justice at all. It is an offwhite background that looks like red, green, and some gold have been splattered all over the fabric! Now I just have to get busy.

You KNOW you want to do this BOM!!!! Just go on over and take a peak. I promise you won't be sorry.

Wacky Times!

Here some pictures of some "Wacky Times" with friends.

The picture below is Rhonda showing off her new little scissors I gave her.

Don't you just love to play in someone elses' scraps??? Below Molly and I are going thru the scraps looking for just the "right" fabric for our row quilts. One quilter's scraps is another quilter's treasure!

Is this not the cutest baby quilt you ever saw? Kathleen made this quilt for a friend's first grandbaby.

Kathleen also made this red/white/blue quilt for the new Postmaster at the Post Office where she works. Great job Kathleen!

Annie has also been busy working on a baby quilt for a friend -- Minkee -- and so soft!

Annie has completed her blocks for the free BOM offered by Gail Pan Designs. She did a really great job!

More photos to come! Ya'll come back, ya hear?

One Cheap, Hot Mama!

I participated in the Cheap Hot Mama Apron Swap. The purpose of the swap was to spend NO $$$$ except for postage. We had to use fabric that we already had and 're-gift' a few things and share recipes. Here is the package that I received from Donna. Isn't it great? I just love it. Thank you Donna!

Bunny Hill BOM

Yea! The Bunny Hill Block-of-the-Month top is completed. Now to just get it quilted. This was a very fun project. Each block has been hand stitched using the blanket stitch. What fun it was to do all the embellishments. I am hoping to embellish a bit more with some quilting. I'm not sure that I'm real crazy about my choice of sashing and borders, but I did not want to have to go out and buy more fabric.

Now I am starting another hand embroidery project, but it won't take a whole year to complete (I hope -- LOL!) Here's a sneak peak at the fabrics I will be using -- purple, green and white!

Cock-a-Doodle-Do!

Is this not the most beautiful rooster casserole dish and bowls????? Well, I am planning to win this. Bella Vista is celebrating her blogaversary and is giving this generous gift. Go on over and visit her blog and take a look!

Sew Sunday Sew!

Here is the apron that I made for my partner in the "Cheap Hot Mama" Apron Swap. I sure hope she likes it!

The following is a project in progress. My Wacky Quilting Sisters and I swapped 2.5-inch charm squares -- 500 hundred of those lil suckers! I didn't worry about colors, placement, or anything. Just picked them up and sewed together. Here are mine sewn together with a small black border around them. I am not finished! I still have more to do. I'm thinking I will add another border of 1.5-inch half square triangles. Then, maybe, put it on point! Who knows.......You'll just have to watch this blog to see what happens! If you have any ideas, by all means, please share them.It has been great to get back into my studio to do some sewing. Now I think I'll do some hand embroidery while watching football with the hubby.

Ya'll all have a Blessed Sunday!!!

Charmingly Wacky!

The Wacky Pac recently swapped 2.5 inch charms -- 500 hundred of those lil suckers. Well, here are mine!!!!

I have sewn them into rows and now to get the rows sewn together! It's going to be really cute when I get finished.....sew stay tuned!

I attended a quilting retreat last weekend. Photos are to follow. My hubby's Army Buddy (from over 40 years ago) and his wife are visiting so I've not been able to do sewing or blog posting. I'll be back with you very soon!

UFO Challenge

Do you have lots of UFOs and just came seem to get them finished? Well, here is the solution! Nancy over at Patchwork Penquin has issued a UFO Challenge.
Go over and visit Nancy's blog and join up and you can get 10 of those many, many UFO's completed. I'm going to try to git-r-done in 2010. Thank you Nancy for organizing this challenge.

Happy New Year! I hope each of you have an abundance of Blessings in 2010.

Embroidery Software

While spending a few days in Florida during Christmas, I went into a quilt shop "Keeps Me in Stitches" in Tampa, FL. It was a small shop; however, they were a Janome distributor. I was able to find a foot I had been looking for, a new Creative Grids ruler (size I didn't have) and a package of bobbins. That was it! All for this shop. BUT WAIT.....while at the checkout counter, I looked up and saw this software. I have heard a lot about the Designers Gallery Software and became intrigued. The clerk began to share with me the things it would do. She was quite the salesman! I walked out with Studio III and SizeWorks. Now I wish I would have also bought the LetterWorks.

Studio III is a platform program that allows me to organize all of my many designs as well as color management. It will allow me to sort the color changes so I don't have to change thread so many times, and much more!

The Size Works will allow me to change design sizes proportionately with the correct density adjustment. I can reduce designs by 50% or enlarge them by 200%.

LetterWorks will allow me to add lettering to designs, etc. I'm thinking I really need this component -- LOL! Time will tell as I can always order it online.

I am very excited to learn this software. If you use this software, please comment and let me know your thoughts.

A Cheap, Hot Mama!

Are you a Cheap, Hot Mama?????? Go over to the Hot Mama Apron Swap Blog and check it out.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope all of you are getting ready for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that I am. The tree is decorated, gifts wrapped (well some of them), and I can't wait to see my grandchildren's eyes when they open their gifts.

I didn't do much decorating this year. In fact, not much at all as I have done in the past. Years ago, my house always looked liked someone had "vomited Christmas". LOL! I just wasn't "in to all that decorating" this year. I lost both of my parents during December and that always puts a damper on things.

Last night we had our Christmas with my hubby's family. It was fun. I made quilted Texas flags framed under glass for the brother/sisters. They loved them. I didn't get pictures made of them though -- shame on me! They turned out really good and now I have two people wanting one. I'll get some pictures to post.

Well, all you folks have a wonderful Sunday afternoon. My hubby is going to watch football and I am heading out to my studio to do some serious sewing!

Catching Up!

Oh My! It has been 'a while' since I have posted!!! I need to do a little catching up. Here goes:

Our precious granddaughter, Camryn, spent the weekend and we spent some time out in the quilting studio. Here is Camryn:

Here she is with a completed project that we made for her Dad. It is going to be a Christmas present. She did all of the blanket stitching and helped with the finishing sewing.

The following is some frame quilted art -- the Texas Flag. This was a fun little project to make. The flag is 11x14 and was great fun to make. Somebody "may" be getting this little gift.

I participated in the apron swap "Hot for Chocolate". The following is the apron that I sent to my partner along with some 'chocolate goodies'. I can't reveal the name yet as I've not heard if she has received her package yet.

The following is the apron I received in the swap along with all the goodies. Cute apron and I really like it!

Here is a table runner that I made sometime back, but had never finished it. I finally got it quilted and now just have to add the binding.

A close-up picture.

Here's wishing each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a great time with family and friends. I will be celebrating with my brother/sister-in-law and their four daughters and families. It should be a WILD THANKSGIVING!

Cross Country Christmas Blog Hop

Gudrun has lined up 12 fabulous quilt designers for a Cross-Country Christmas Blog Hop. There will be great free projects especially designed to be quick to make for christmas, either as gifts or for yourself. Go check it out!

Ja-no-me?

Did Ja no me got a new baby????? I did! I have a new Janome machine to sit with my Janome 10001 and keep him company! Now I can have one machine embroidering while I sew on the other. Here are my babies:

My Janome 10001 that I purchased at International Quilt Festival in Houston in 2004. I just LOVE this machine!

Here is my new baby, Janome Sew Precise. It is a good little machine and I plan to be really putting it to the test in the next week. I have been looking at the Janome Jem Platinum 760 and then I found this one. Since I really DID NOT need another machine, I went with the Sew Precise as it was about half the cost of the Jem. I have a Singer Featherweight and a Husqvarna Viking #1+ too, so you can see I didn't need another machine -- LOL -- but whoever said NEED had anything to do with WANT. LOL

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone has a safe day/evening and you get lots of TREATS and not TRICKS!

It's About Time.........

It's about time....that I got back to blogging. Life has not been the greatest at my house. Some of you know that my husband mysteriously contracted a staph infection (MRSA) in his knee joint and muscles of his leg. It has been a long haul, but we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. After three surgeries, LOTS of physical therapy (and PT continues), he is SO MUCH BETTER. He can drive now and isn't near as dependent on me. It was/is a joy for me to be my hubby's nurse as he is definitely my best friend. Working full time and then coming home and taking care of hubby, taking care of the house, laundry, etc. has been very demanding. I've hardly done any sewing and it's quite obvious I've not done any blogging. Why, it has been 6 weeks since I last posted. In fact, the last time I posted was on September 11th, the day he came home after a 16-day hospital stay.

I have missed all of you!!! I've not been visiting blogs or posting what I've been doing. Well, we now have a "new normal" and life is getting better. I will be posting more and sharing more of my activities. I will be going on a retreat in about a week -- oh, how I need one! SEW, ya'll all stay tuned as the Humble Quilter is 'COMING ALIVE'.

We Will Never Forget!

Same Kind of Different as Me

I just read this book, Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It is a true story that takes place in Louisiana/Texas about an international art dealer and a modern day slave from Louisiana. It is a heart-warming story and a great read! I have read The Shack and I rank this one right up there with it.

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day to all my Blogging Friends!

Hubby is still in the hospital -- day #13 -- but they have finally found an antibiotic that the infection is responding too so he is getting so much better. Still a long road ahead, but we are making progress. God is so GOOD! Thanks to my blogging friends for their comments and prayers.

A Give Away and A new BOM

Go check out Dorothy Baker Designs for her give-away and her upcoming free BOM. I love stitcheries and can't wait to see these designs. The link is also on my side bar.

First Friday Freebie

Come join the fun! Karen at the Painted Pony is offering a wonderful freebie pattern each Friday. Thank you Karen for your generosit.

Tough Duty

Sitting at the hospital is tough duty, but hey somebody has to do it. My sweet hubby and best friend is in the hospital with a really bad staph infection in his leg. Today makes day #8! The doctor thinks we are heading in the right direction and perhaps antibiotic #3 is the one! The infection is very difficult to treat and often resists antibiotics.

Thank goodness I remembered to grab my laptop (which has become another appendage to my body -- LOL) and bring it to the hospital. It has been a lifesaver for me and has kept me occupied when not doing things for my honey. You see, his leg is so swollen that he can't bend it, can't walk and is pretty much bedridden. I've been reading blogs, Facebook, playing games, etc.

I am doing lots of reading and embroidery. I'll get some pictures posted after we get home since I don't have my camera with me.

Parade of Roosters

DUH....It seems that instead of 'saving' my post of my roosters, I published it on August 20th. No wonder I couldn't find it. Sorry about the confusion. Just scroll on down and take a look......