Yea! It's Gonna be Funnnnnnn!

I just received my swap partner from Shawnee for the Fall Table Runner Swap. I am so excited -- I LOVE table runners, toppers, etc. and use them a lot in decorating my home. I've already gone to my partner's blog and am familiar with her and even planning my runner! Stay tuned for more details and sneak peaks!

It's Fall Ya'll and Gettin' in the Groove

Hello Folks! Yep, I'm still around -- I've just been in a 'funk' since the passing of my sweet husband and haven't been posting. I'm really trying to get into the groove of things again -- it is just hard to stay in focus. I am going to do better about posting on my blog and sharing with you what I'm doing.

It's Fall -- my very favorite season. Fall makes me think of beautiful turning leaves, cooler weather, campfires, Thanksgiving, etc. My husband was a big bow hunter and I loved going with him to the deer lease (yes~wives were welcome on this lease). We would sit around the fire and just enjoy visiting with friends. I always made sure that I took some type of handwork or a good book to read to keep me busy while he was in the woods. I won't be doing much of that type of activity any more but that doesn't mean I have to stop enjoying the beautiful fall!

Speaking of Fall, Shawnee, over at Shawnee's Flirty Apron Swap is doing something different for Fall. Instead of aprons, we will be swapping TABLE RUNNERS! Isn't that fun? I love me some table runners and use them (along with small quilts) for decorating in my home. When I read her idea of swapping table runners, I was really excited. I said to self, "Poor Pitiful Self, I think this will be just the thing you need to do to get you back in that studio and working on projects" so I immediately signed up! You should go over -- no, you should RUN over, and sign up to join the fun. The deadline to sign up is September 30 with mailing date of October 20-30 (date depends on whether you are a new swapper). I hope you will join us!

Hot Mama Apron Swap

I participated in the Hot Mama Apron Swap with Val. The theme? CHICKENS! I love me some chickens (not the real ones -- LOL), but my kitchen is decorated in kitchens. My partner was Amy from California (a transplanted Texan). She is so sweet and we became fast friends.

When I came in from work, my hubby said "you have a package". woo hoo! I open this box....the excitement is increasing. Look at all these goodies.......

LOOK.....Amy has absolutley spoiled me. Check out that black/white chicken -- LOVE it!! Also, adorable napkins, a cool T-towel (red -- Perfect for my kitchen) an adorable x-stitch pin cushion, egg separator, chicken broth, a darlin' spatula (yes, there are chicks on it), an adorable rooster figurine, and two recipes that sound fabulous!

I saved the apron for last!!! It is too stinkin' CUTE! It is a 'convertible' apron. You can take the bib off and it will be a half apron. I absolutely love all the fabrics and colors.
Look at this darlin' bib and those chicken buttons are absolutely awesome!
Look at the cute chicken Amy appliqued on the apron -- lovin' it!
THANK YOU AMY for a fabulous swap package and thank you Val for hosting such a fun swap!!!!

Frosted Flurries

Hop on over th Shawnee's Christmas Flirty Apron Swap. This is her 13th apron swap and they are always bunches of fun! This one has a different twist -- go check it out!!!!!

Flirty Apron Swap

Go over, NO, RUN OVER to Shawnees and join the Flirty Apron Swap 12 -- Halloween or Fall theme. Everyone needs an seasonal apron for those fall cook-outs.

Alice in Wonderland Swap

I participated in the Alice in Wonderland Apron Swap. My partner was Michelle B and she has spoiled me with this wonderful package. Soap, bag, apron, bag charm. THANK YOU MICHELLE.

Cupcakes, Cherries, and M.E. -- OH MY!

I recently participated in Shawnee's Flirty Apron Swap "Cupcakes, Cherries, and M.E. -- OH MY! We exchanged aprons with the theme of cupcakes, cherries and Mary Englebreit. Looky what I received from Madelyn. She really outdid herself!

The above is a pic of the wonderful bag that was in the package!

Look at all the goodies above: reversible apron, hot pad, oven mitt, emery boards, napkins note pads and cookbook. OH MY!

The above pics show pictures of both sides of the apron! Love it!!!!

Great Mail Day!

I have been having a tough week. It is the first week of the month and I have my month-end reports due. On top of that, we have been having vehicle issues (I work at Senior Services/Transportation), and then tomorrow is our county-wide Annual Senior Citizens' Appreciation Luncheon where we will be honoring 300+ senior citizens. WOW! I've really been busy, busy, working some overtime trying to get every thing done.

I came home today to a GREAT mail day!!! First, I received my apron from the Flirty Apron Swap. The theme of our swap was "Polka Dots". It came from Heather and she sent me the cutest apron (below) and the Farm Chicks Cookbook. The picture does NOT do the apron justice. It is Twirl Girl apron and is just precious. I will be sitting down tonight reading this cookbook. I've been wanting this one, but had not bought it yet. Thank you HEATHER! May is not only the month to celebrate all the Mothers of the World, it is also my birthday month! My son and daughter-in-law, Josh & Patience, sent me some Polish Pottery serving pieces. It is beautiful. J & P live in Germany and J picked it up while on a trip to Poland. I received hand-painted plates a couple of years ago for Christmas from J & P. I absolutely LOVE what they sent me for Mother's Day and my Birthday! wooo hooo!

Polka Dot Pretties

Shawnee is hosting another apron swap! POLKA DOT PRETTIES! Go over to her blog and check it out. It's gonna be fun. You know you want to play so go ahead and sign up now.

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!!!

A Cheap, Hot Mama!

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

Flirty Apron Swap

I was a member of the Flirty Apron Swap. When I returned home from Virginia, this box of goodies was waiting for me. My swap partner, Jany, made this WONDERFUL apron for me. It is made from a vintage pillowcase and she added the wonderful chicken fabric and in just the right colors for my kitchen. Look at that big red vintage button. I absolutely LOVE THIS APRON!

The apron is a clothes pin style and it is reversible!

Here is a pic of the reverse side....just WONDERFUL. See the darling vintage chick used to make the pocket.
And check out these wonderful vintage buttons that she sent to me. AWESOME! But that's not all.

Check out these vintage laces and trims and another vintage embroidery piece. I hit the jackpot!

THANK YOU JANY! You have really gone over the top!

Flirty Apron Swap

I am part of the Flirty Apron Swap -- A vintage remake. We were to take a vintage linen and remake it into an apron for our partner. I have only made one other apron in my life so I was getting "out of my box". I found the following vintage round table topper while at Wimberley Trade Days last month. I absolutely fell in love with it on site and just knew it was the linen to use to make my swap apron. I loved the baskets with flowers and the blue ribbon stitching.

I went to the quilt shop and purchased some vintage reproduction fabrics that matched for the waistband. The original edging on the topper was orange and some was missing and I didn't really like that color with the line. SEW, I added a different edging -- a crochet edging. Nope, I didn't crochet it! Here is a picture of the completed apron. The ties are long and can also be wrapped around the back and tied in the front. I wasn't up for modeling so here it is on my cutting table.

After completing the apron, I wish I would have lined it as the linen is thin, but it's done now. Maybe the recipient will use it as decor instead of a utility apron. The following is a close-up of the embroidery. I can just envision a woman years ago sitting and enjoying her handwork. I love doing handwork, it is my stress reliever.


Along with the apron, we were to send an additional vintage linen and a vintage recipe. Here is what I am sending my partner. The apron, the linen, with another basket on it, an machine embroidered handtowel for her kitchen, and a little handmade trivet/hotpad. The recipe I sent is for Old Fashioned Tea Cakes.

This has been a really fun swap and something very different for me to do. I sure hope my partner (whoever it may be ??????) likes her package. I can't wait to receive mine!

Siggy Swap

Connie over at CootieBug2 is hosting a Swiggy Swap and these are the blocks I made. This is not all the blocks, but just a few I was playing around with on the design wall.

Another project to mark off my list! YEA

A BIG Teeny Tiny Packages

Today, I received this awesome package in the mail all the way from The Netherlands! It is from Simone. This is my prize for the Teeny Tiny Squares Swap. Isn't it awesome????

Here is the precious tiny quilt made with fabric with birds, birdhouses, bees -- it SCREAMS SPRING! I LOVE THIS LITTLE QUILT. Thank you Simone!


The following picture is of the back and the label made by Simone.

In addition to the quilt, I received some charm squares, a candy bar and a lovely card.




AND, I received this little teeny tiny cushion with my name embroidered on it! Isn't it the cutest?

And, last but not least, is the back of the little cushion.



THANK YOU SIMONE!

A Weekend of Sewing

What a great weekend I am having......and it's not over! I am off work tomorrow as well -- YEA!

Here are a couple of things that I've worked on. First is a picture of what is (was) loaded on the quilting machine, "Betty Jo". I would give you more detail on this project, but it is a gift and shhhhh......this person may be a reader of my blog.......sew.........I cannot talk about it. The quilt is quilted and I am in the process of stitching down the binding. I'll post completed pics later.

The following is my completed quilt for the Teeny, Tiny Squares Doll Quilt Swap. It is made of two colors and the blocks are 1-inch finished. I can't say "who" will be receiving this little quilt, but I sure do hope she likes it. I am really enjoying making these miniature quilts. I believe that it is really improving my piecing skills. I will be posting more pictures of some miniatures later on........sew, stay tuned!

Our Town Block Swap

As promised in yesterday's post, Here are the pictures of the "Our Town" block swap that we did at this weekend's retreat. Now I have to decide to put them together. I think I'll make a few more blocks to go with these. We were supposed to have 12 blocks, but two people opted out so I still need a church and a police station.

Barn Block made by Kathleen from Mexia, TX

Flower Shop Block made by Brenda from Centerville, TX -- check out the machine embroidery and silk embroidery flowers

Railroad Station Block by Joyce, Palestine, TX



Flower Shop by Brenda of Tennessee

Hospital Block by Anna, of Centerville, TX -- Check out the machine embroidery trees and ambulance

Beauty Shop Block by Bobbie, Palestine, TX

Library Block by Kim of Crosby, TX
Sweet Shop Block by Pat, Porter TXSchool House Block by Caroloyn, Palestine, TX

Fire Station Block by Me!