Fall Decorating

I did a little fall decorating this weekend. Even though in Texas, you don't see the "changing of the seasons" as much as you do any other states, Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. This is a picture of an old school desk that I picked up at a flea market many years ago. My hubby loves this little desk and tends to "pile it up" with his junk -- hunting/fishing magazines, etc. When he saw this, he just said "hump....girl stuff". LOL! Here is a picture of our mantle. If you notice the candle to the right of the clock, that is a handmade beeswax candle that came from Frankfurt, Germany. The picture to the right is my parents' wedding picture. The antique frame belonged to my "Aunt Eller". The glass is cracked, but that is the way it was when I got it -- just haven't changed it out!
Here's a little hutch in my kitchen that my hubby made for me a number of years ago. He used to do a lot of woodworking in his "younger years".

This is the top two shelves of the hutch. My new doll, "Carla Jo", sits to the left along with some of my roosters. She sits on a little doll quilt that I picked up at an antique store in Blanco, TX.
The bottom shelves are decorated with Fall stuff with a rooster tucked in there!
This is the fireplace screen.....Hubby gave it to me for Christmas a few years back. Not decorated too much.......

This is a quilt rack that hangs in my kitchen. Hubby made the quilt rack too. The pumpkin quilt was made a few years ago from Thimbleberries fabric.


On the shelf of the qult rack are some things special t o me. The old tin coffee pot to the left and the rolling pin on the left belong to my "Aunt Eller". The old wooden grater was my Mama's. All the other things are just some stuff I picked up "here and there."
The table in the kitchen sports a runner that matches the quilt hanging on the rack. It as three pumpkins, but one doesn't show well because the crock bowl with pumpkins is covering it up.

Happy Birthday to my Mama!

Happy Birthday to my Mama! She would have been 81 years old today. She passed away just after her 75th birthday after living the last three months of her life in the hospital. This is a picture of a scrapbook layout that I did about her. (I'm in the process of making a scrapbook "all about me" and these are just two of the pages about her.)

I miss her terribly. I woke up very sad this morning as I had been dreaming about her. She was one heck of a woman. She and my Dad were married 53 years when he passed away. During most of that marriage, my Dad was unhealthy. He had an accident that left him physically disabled. She stayed by his side. She worked right by his side in his TV repair shop (that's how he supported our family). She had such responsibility -- a disabled husband, a business to help keep going, and three kids. But, she did it all and found time to do some quilting. I realize now that quilting was probably what kept her going! LOL! I know it does me. When Daddy became unable to work and had to retire, she worked at the school cafeteria for extra income.

My Mama was my biggest fan. Whatever job I had, it was the best in the world, whatever I wore was beautiful. She loved every hairstyle I ever tried. She loved every quilt I made -- no matter how ugly! LOL! At the age of 72, she INSISTED that she have a longarm quilting machine. I tried to discourage her. I knew she was in no physical condition to do this. I talked to the vendor about it. BUT NO, (she could be hardheaded), she had to have it. So here we go, checking out machines and made the decision to buy a Gammill from Linda's Electric Quilters in Texas. Okay, she and I travel to McKinney, TX, for training. She got ill and couldn't finished training. But she would not let me take her home. She sit in a chair and watched me. When I went to visit her (I lived 150 miles from her), I would spend the entire weekend quilting her quilts and her little friends. She loved to sit and watch me quilt.

After she passed, I brought that LA machine to my house. I didn't touch it for a LONG time....made me too sad. I finally decided to set it up to use it and it had problems. Well, to shorten this long story, I took the head off and drove it to McKinney for repair. After explaining, the machine being moved, why, etc., the owner and her husband said they remembered my Mother. I was commenting that she didn't need to purchase that machine and Linda Taylor looked at me and said "You mother did not buy that machine for her; she bought it for you!" Linda continued to say that Mama had told her during the purchase that she was buying it for her daughter to use at her house, but I could not have it until she passed away. Oh My! I just boo-hooed and so did Linda! Thank you Mama!

Sorry to ramble.....there is so much more I could tell you, but this post has become long enough. Thanks for listening (or shall I say reading).

World Alzheimer’s Day -- September 21, 2008

This Sunday, September 21, 2008, is World Alzheimer’s Day. It is a day to remember the 26.6 million people worldwide who have this vile disease that will eventually rob them of the ability to remember and to reason. It will take from them every skill they ever learned and every relationship they ever held dear. And for most, they will watch this thief at work in their own minds.

If you have a family member or friend that suffers from this disease, please post on your blog. Let's get the word out! You can create a virtual quilt patch here.

Internet Shopping & Primitive Things

You know this surfin' on all of these blogs can sometimes "tempt" you -- LOL! Here is the result of last week's internet visits! I ordered these cute little chickens and eggs. The basket and raffia is mine and I just put then together. I don't know if they will stay this way (I like to change things), but it works for the photo. They are made of "grungy" muslin and painted. I fell in love with them and HAD to have them!

Then I saw this dahlin' little "Annie" doll. She is SEW CUTE! She has red yarn hair and is sporting a homespun red dress and a chenille sweater. Check out that face -- the eyes, mouth and nose are made with NAILS! Too cute --- I think the nails sold me -- LOL! And that cute tin heart around her neck. I love primitive things. I've decided her name is going to be "Carla Jo". I haven't decided just where I'm going to display her yet, but I'll find that special place.

It's Here from Australia!

I participated in the Miniature Booty Swap that QuiltingPirate hosted. This is the little quilt that I received today from Serena from Melbourne, Australia. She handpieced the quilt because she wanted to make sure the curves were nice and smooth -- they are. The pattern came from a Japanese quilting Book.

Thank you Serena!!!!!!!

Hurricane Ike

To all you bloggers in the path of Hurricane Ike, I want to say that I hope you all stay safe and that you do not sustain too much damage from this storm.

I live in Texas, but not near the coast; however, we are expecting high winds and lots of rain.

Hang on everyone!

Give Aways!!!!

Char over at the Pickled Pepper Patch is having a Fall Giveaway -- a wonderful breadboard, bowl, wooden spoons and fabric cinnamon rolls! She even offered to include the flour -- LOL!

Lisa at Black Sheep Prims Homeplace is also having a Giveaway for her 38th birthday -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA! She is giving away some candy corn ornies and a stitchery. What a nice thing to do.

Go over everyone and enter.....it will be to no avail cause I'm plannin' on winnin' them both! LOL

Pin Cushions

My friend and Wackie Sister, Molly, has challenged the Wacky Pac to make a pin cushion and exchange them at our annual Christmas Party. Now, let me tell you, Molly is a very talented quilter and wonderful person. She usually has some good challenges for us -- like the year we had to decorate a miniature gourd as a Christmas ornament. All we did was complain -- but we all made one LOL! They were "interesting" to say the least.

Then, during a retreat, she challenged us to do postcards -- what fun that was. Now Rhonda is in a postcard exchange. I think that is sew cool.

Sew, as I was thinking about pincushions, I had to share this one with you. I made this for my Mama (who was also a quilter) on her 75th birthday. The cup and saucer was my Aunt Ella's (or as us kids called her "Aint Eller"). She was in the hospital on her birthday and I remember taking it to her there. She loved it, but never got to use it. She was admitted to the hospital on September 10 and she passed away on December 9th. She never got to come home. Everytime I look at this particular pincushion, it brings me great memories of both my Mama and my Aunt, but it also makes me sad. I miss my Mama very, very much!

What do you Do? Revisited

Well, I finally got that mess straight. I have sorted all the fabric by color in these drawers. I do have some drawers for western, 1930's, Christmas, Americana, etc. It was quite a job (see previous post for "before" pic) but well worth it. All I have left to do is label the drawers.

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions. There were six people who left comments. I put all the names in a basket. I shook it up, and drew a name. And the winner is.......................................

TERESA from Stitchin' Friends

(sorry about the photo -- too much light)

Teresa, I need your addy so I can send you your prize. Here it is:

What do you Do?

Is this pitiful or what? I say "or what". And this isn't all of it. It looks like a dog that has been digging in the dirt! I'm trying to get my fabrics organized AGAIN.

How do you do it???? by color? by collection? by theme? I lean towards by color, but then putting western together, Christmas, etc. It's really hard to decide. I've got those elfa baskets for FQs, and small pieces and then cabinets for yardage. Post your ideas on how to organize fabric. I'll put all the names of comments in a basket and I will draw for a prize. What is the prize, you ask??? FABRIC, OF COURSE!

If I EVER get this place organized, I'm going to post pictures and take you on a tour of my studio -- "Mama & Me". It is a stand alone building 18-feet by 40-feet and it is FULL! Imagine that! I am very proud of it. The building is a result of my inheritence from my Mother and the hopes of fulfilling one of her dreams.

Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day! Me? I'm being lazy this morning....watching the news on Hurrican Gustaf and browsing blogs. I tell you---this internet can really get you in trouble!!!

We don't have any plans for today -- just relaxing. DH just came home from a fishing trip to Alaska with DS#2 and he is exhausted. He got caught in Portland, OR -- canceled flights -- so he is really tired. I'm hoping to get in the studio and get "something" done -- we will see!

Have a great Monday!

Happy Birthday Anna! She is having this wonderful give-away over at Around the Block for her birthday. Go check it out for yourselves and make a comment. However, don't get your heart set on winning 'cause I'm going to win! LOL

My New Light

For a while, I have been wanting the new "bendable light" for my Janome. My Friend, Kathleen, has one and she said she loved it. While retreating with the Wackies, I traded my Sew-Steady table with Molly for a Bendable Bright Light. My DS#2 and DIL gave me the Sew-Easy table so I didn't need the acrylic table anymore. Molly also has a Janome, SEW, we traded! I love my new addition to my Janome. Let's just say that it puts a "whole new light on the subject."

Miniature Booty Swap -- Complete

I am participating in the Miniature Booty Swap that Quilting Pirate is hosting. We were assigned a partner and are to make a small quilt for that partner. Shhhhh -- it's a secret! I can't tell you who will receive this quilt.

I hope that the recipient will enjoy this quilt as much as I have enjoyed working on it. It was a really fun project. Notice the cute paisley print used as the backing and the fun brown and pink dot fabric for the binding. Both fabrics were used in the tiny little pinwheels along with a number of other fabrics. I like the scrappy look. I just wonder where oh where this little quilt will go??????? I'll never tell!

Now, I'm ready to start another. I'm having really fun doing these miniature swaps! Thank you Quilting Pirate for hosting such a fun swap!

New ISP & Blog Problems

A few weeks back, we 'bit the bullet' and got rid of the SLOW dial-up connection and opted for satellite ISP. Do you realize what a pain it is to change your email address on everything??? You never remember all the places it needs to be changed. Little by little, I'm getting everything changed.

Now, onto my blog problems. I still have to use my old email address to sign in which is no problem to me, BUT on the commnet pages, it says "send followup email commnets to "my old email address". How in the world do I change this????? On the publishing page, I successfully changed the address to the new one.

Now another problem, I uploated a new template from the "cutest blog on the net" and the little box that advertises that is right over the title of my top post!!! I've notice other blogs where it is over in the left hand side bar. Now what's up with that and how do I fix that??

Okay, I finished complaining and asking questions; I'm heading to the studio to do some serious quilting -- be sure to watch for pictures!

T.G.I.F.

Thank God it is Friday! What a week it has been. I've been very busy at work and so ready for the weekend.

I hope everyone has a great weekend filled with lots of peace, love, and LOTS OF QUILTING! I'm hoping to get some quilting done this weekend -- but then I have started a really good book -- NO, NO, NO -- I can only read at night when I go to bed! I MUST QUILT -- LOL!

Have a good one! I hope to post some accomplishments!

Raining in Texas

Well, our part of Texas is getting some much needed rain -- YEA! I just wish that I was able to sit at home and sew and watch it rain out the window! Oh well, somebody's gotta work -- LOL!

I enjoyed my retreat this weekend. I feel like I got a number of things accomplished, but there is still sew much more to do! I'm looking forward to Labor Day Weekend -- I plan to get lots of sewing accomplished!

Well, ya'll all have a great day!

Sunday Already?

Here we are at the retreat and it is ALREADY SUNDAY! WaaaWaaaa.....We have to go home today -- back to reality. Here are a few pictures of things on the design boards and various other things.

The picture to the right is of a stack n whack that someone is making. I've never done this technique. It is really interesting looking.

Here is my Americana star block that I am making for the Wacky exchange. Ignore the right-hand side of the picture -- I cropped the picture but now I can't find it on my computer......duh.....

Here is Rhonda giving Kathleen a quick shoulder massage on late Saturday afternoon -- ohhhh we were getting tired!

Check out this cute Betty Boop quilt. It is hanging in the dining room. It is really cute.

Is this Yours?

Look at this quilt.....It is looking for a home.....The only thing left to do is to quilt, bind, and put on a label. I wonder where it's final destination will be???????

Good Saturday Morning!

Good Morning Quilters.....Live from the Compass Centre Retreat in Mt. Calm, Texas! I am posting a few pictures of items that are on the design walls around the room. Enjoy the view!

Melissa, the Retreat Owner, was working on a string block swap that she is involved with one of her groups.

The Christmas Quilt (to the left) was made by Jerri. Jerri, Kathleen and I went to Paducah a few years back and we all bought this pattern and challenged each other to complete the quilt. Well, Jerri won! Isn't it beautiful? It just came back from the quilter who did a fabulous job.

This quilt to the right is one that Kathleen is making for her niece who is graduating high school this year. It is very nice. Can you see the star pattern?

This quilt to the left is one that Nancy is making for her hubby. Isn't it cool? It is from the book The Modern Quilt Workshop. She is also making a wallhanging to match.

The picture to the right is the black/white braid quilt that Liz is working on. Liz is a little instigator and wanted to go around and take everyone's needles out of their machines when they went to bed -- BAD GIRL!

Now the picture to the left, could that be the Miniature Booty Swap???? Maybe....Maybe Not!

Miniature Booty Swap

Here is a little progress on the Miniature Booty Swap that Quilting Pirate is hosting. I have a LOT more done than this, but you'll just have to wait a bit to see more pictures. Wonder who is getting it???????

I arrived at the Compass Centre yesterday just after Noon. It took a while to get my space set up, but then I got BUSY! I have completed my center for the Spring Fling Round Robin 2 swap and am in the middle of the Miniature Booty Swap.

We are having a great time! My Wacky Friends, Rhonda, Jerri, Kathleen, and Annie are all here. We are just laughing and having fun. We have met some new people and they are CRAZY! To the right is a picture of the group -- LOL!!!!

I'll be posting more pictures throughout the retreat so stay tuned!

Let's Go on a Retreat!

I will be going on a quilt retreat this coming weekend at the Compass Centre in Mt. Calm, Texas. It will be four days of wonderful quilting, laughing, eating, and fellowship. I can't wait! I've already decided what I'll work on: Spring Fling Round Robin 2 Center block; Miniature Booty Swap; Swap Blocks for the January Retreat, and Wacky Pac Swap blocks. Yes, LOTS OF SWAPS! My friend, Jerri, says I am a "joiner". I think I just like the challenge of getting it done and also the different things I get in return. I just hope I get a lot of this list accomplished.

Stay tuned to my blog for posts from the retreat this weekend.

My Weekend!

Well, my weekend plans went to heck in a handbasket -- NOT at all what I had planned. I had plan to complete my center block for the Spring Fling Round Robin 2 and start my Miniature Booty Swap, but NO, I had to go and get sick! I woke up Friday morning feeling a bit queasy in the stomach, but went on to work anyway. By 10:30 a.m. I was home in bed! I have decided I must have had some type of 48-hour stomach virus. I was running at both ends (more info than you really wanted) and also running a low-grade fever. NO FUN! If I wasn't in the bathroom, I was sleeping! I've never slept so much in my life! I feel much better -- still not my best -- but at least I can sit on the couch and play on my laptop! I'm really trying to do better at my posting on my blog so I guess maybe this "sick post" can count!

Glass of Texas Wine????

Would you like a glass of Texas wine to help me celebrate? Did you know that Texas is the 5th in the Nation in wine production? The Texas Department of Agriculture sponsors a quilt block contest each year. As I posted earlier, I (along with 3 of my Wacky Friends) entered blocks. I received notification today that my block (see picture to the left) was one of the blocks chosen! I was really excited. I wasn't too sure if it would get picked or not. My Wacky friend, Rhonda, also had her block chosen as well. Yea!!! We are so excited. We will go to the Texas State Fair for the unveiling ceremony. We hope to make it a "Wacky Trip" -- LOL! But then all of our trips are "Wacky" when the Wacky Pac gets together!

Internet Connection/Happy Birthday

OH MY GOSH! I can't believe it. I no longer have a dial-up internet connection. I gave up on getting DSL in my area and "bit the bullet" and went with the internet by satellite. Actually, it is MUCH faster than my previous dial-up. I uploaded this picture of my son and hubby and it was QUICK. Now, I will be blogging more. It was just a pain before with the dial-up. Most of the time I couldn't even upload pictures and had to try to do it from work. Watch out Blog Land!!!!

Happy Birthday Josh! Today is my youngest son's birthday -- the big 32. It is hard to believe! Gee, his Dad is getting old (but I'm not!). LOL! He is a very successful young man and I am very proud of him. I hope he has bunches more birthdays!

The Fisher House Program -- Part II

The Wacky Pac got together for a great retreat at the Fryer Deer Camp this past weekend and we worked on the quilt for the Fisher House. We made lots of beautiful blocks and I took lots of pictures. But, guess what? The pictures are GONE....NADA....NOT THERE!!!! I showed them to my hubby via the camera when I got home. I put the camera card into the computer and there was nothing there!!!! I looked and looked. I guess I must have accidentally deleted them! UGH! I was so upset.

Don't worry though, my Wacky Sister, Rhonda, has posted all the pics on her blog. SEW, go over and take a peek at what we did!

The Fisher House Program

The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes" built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. these homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times -- during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.

When my son was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in New Mexico, he had to have surgery which was performed at the Army base in El Paso, Texas. We live south of Dallas, so if you know anything about Texas, you know we were a long way from home. My husband and I were fortunate enough to get to stay at a Fisher House. It was like a big 2-story home and very, very nice. We stayed several days while our son was hospitalized. The charge was minimal (I think about $10/day, but don't remember for sure) and they even gave us a phone card to use. The people were wonderful. We had access to a full kitchen, washer/dryer, etc.

A number of new Fisher Houses are being built in the Dallas area. Our friend, Melissa over at the Compass Centre is coordinating an effort to make red/white/blue twin-size quilts for the beds at the houses.

The Wacky Pac Quilters are getting together this weekend for a retreat. One of our projects is to make a twin-size quilt for the Fisher House. We are each making blocks and will put them together this weekend.

Stay tuned for pictures!

Josh Quilt

Here is a picture of the blocks that are going into Josh's quilt. You will see "Josh Quilt" on my list of things to do for the past several months. This is 50 of the 120 blocks that I have to make. I've got approximately 70 of the blocks made and continue to work on them. See -- I'm really working on it! LOL! I really want to get this finished soon so I can move on to other projects.

Hot Pad or Trivet

Here is a picture of a hot pad/trivet thingy that I made recently. The Wacky Pac Group was retreating a few months back at the Compass Centre and one of the attendees was making these and shared the pattern. Our Wacky, Annale, challenged all of us to make one. Her is mine. It is really easy once you read thru the directions. Who knows, I may have to make some more.

Sew, What's Up?

Sew, what's up with everyone? I've really been in a slump lately. It is the 10th day of July and I've not even touched my applique nor have I turned on the sewing machine!!! I usually do at least one of the two every day. I guess I'm just tired. We spent all last week at the lake. Then we come home on Sunday and Tuesday friends come in to stay with us so they can go to a funeral on Wednesday morning. My son, d-i-l, and grandkids also come in to stay as well for the funeral as well as a little league tournament.

The funeral was for the Fire Chief of Teague, TX, who was killed in the line of duty. This really hit home with me because my son is a firefighter with the Houston Fire Dept. I pray daily that he is safe.

My granddaughter was playing in a little league tournament so we went to that in the evening. It was SO HOT!! Her team is out of the tourney now so they will be returning home today.

I am so hoping to get my life back to normal and to get some sewing done!

Sarah's Craft Nook GIVE AWAY

Sarah over at Sarah's Craft Nook is having a 100th give away. She is giving away the cutest little tidy bin. Go over and comment and maybe your name will be drawn. If you link to her blog, you will get a second chance to win. Go visit her blog. It is great!

Is this Cute or WHAT?

I joined the Spring Fling Round Robin some months back and I recieved my quilt! Is it not TOO C UTE! I love it. The workmanship is fantastic. I thank all who participated.

Happy Birthday America!

I hope everyone had a GREAT 4th of July! We certainly did. We are at the lake with my family, lots of friends, my husband's Army Buddy and his wife (from the Viet Name Era). This is a picture of my twin nieces, Hope and Joy. They are singing the National Anthem.

We began the evening with the recognition of all the Veterans present, the singing of the National Anthem and then prayer.