The Bags Have Landed!!

Well for me, Linda's Bag swap has officially come to an end. I have to tell you it was a very happy ending on my side of the world. Monday I received an email from Solstiches in Spain. I think she was very pleased with her bag. Her email just made me so happy. Mission accomplished! I came home from work the same day and found a box in front of my door. WHOO HOOO! My bag arrived. I forgot to get the camera right away, but I did come to my senses and I can show you what I received from Suzie The Busy Bee in GERMANY!!!

Suzie wrapped everything so pretty. I love this paper and I opened everything very carefully so that I can save it. There you can see a German postcard and some German hand lotion. I systematically opened the gifts largest to the smallest. I'm here to tell you that all were full of wonderful gifts. First, the star of the show... The Bag!

The fabric choices are perfect. Suzie hand stitched and appliqued the front and the back of the bag, it's fully lined and has a perfect little pocket inside. It cinches up really tight with the wooden beaded drawstring. I love it. I continued to open presents and was more amazed at each one! yummy chocolate!

Can you imagine my excitement when I opened these fat quarters of awesome red and white German fabric. Aren't they fabulous? and there's more!!!

Suzie also made this sweet little needle minder to match the bag, love the little stitches and needle. Look! a wrist pincushion that also coordinates. Love my reds!!

Linda has done it again! She matched me up with a great partner. One who obviously is talented and put a lot of thought and consideration into what she sent me. The only clues I gave were: No purple, I love red. WOW, I am overwhelmed and very grateful. Thank you Suzie and Linda too!!

Tomorrow I'm heading down for another sew day at Holly's with Deb, it should be a wonderful day with lots of sewing, chit chat, food and laughter. I'm excited because Holly finished my quilt so that I can bring it home with me! Hope you have a good day planned also!

xomar

Obligations... Check, Check, Check!!!

I finished yahooooo! I've finished my gifts for the PIF that I signed up for back in April. Less than six months, not too bad. So if you were one of the the 3 that signed up to play, I need your addresses. You know who you are! These gifts are for you, you and you! I'll get them to the post office next Friday. I'm anxious to show what I'm sending, but until they are received all I can show is the left overs. Sloppy leftovers, lol.

Unfortunately all that I have time to work on is obligations, I'm in the pincushion mode right now so there is a lot of stitching going on, but not much I can show. I will be using Alex's More Romance line. I love this line, so it is a joy and red/black are my favorites, so I'm hoping I don't get bored too soon. The next thing on my list of obligations is a couple of items for the Secret Santa Swap. I won't be able to share those either!! I'm going to have to dig up old projects to blog about.

The cupcakes were a hit last week. They flew, I didn't go to the event. I stayed back and watched the fort so that my staff could attend. I did manage to catch a bug and have been laying low since Friday. Just a lot of rest with stitching in between. (and no shopping!)

Hope you all have a wonderful week xoxomar

A Few Hours Later

Tomorrow is the office picnic, time to frost the cupcakes, some one wanted to see them all frosted, here they are. Again, apologies for the blurry pictures, I wonder if I have the macro on? I'll have to check it out before I take more pictures. It's a production to load pics on my computer. For some reason the card reader will only work once, after I take it out, if I want it to work again I have to re boot, this is all a pain in the behind, so what you see is what you get. So that was a picture of them all frosted in case it's too blurry to tell and here they are being packed. I collected copier paper boxes from the office and cut them down to the same depth as the lids.

TAH DAH!! yes ladies and gentlemen there will be cupcake lift off!

News on another front. Today was a lovely mail day. In my box was this sweet little package of napkins from Heidi at Hen & Chicks as a little thank you to me for sending people her way. Thanks Heidi what an unexpected little surprise!

And..

I also won over at Cath's Willow Valley Store blog. I was allowed to chose a pattern and this came today too! Thank you Cath!

Well, off to bed, there won't be cupcake lift off unless I can get out of bed in the morning. This morning I woke up with a sore throat, I'm drowning it in Air Bourne so please send good thoughts my way, I have no time to get sick, I have things to do!!! xoxomar

Politics the Musical

This will probably be my only post regarding politics, my friend Susan sent me this link, I think it's a hoot! Hope you will too... http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

I've Run Amuck

Another weekend is coming to an end and I don't have much to show for it. The work week was one of the longest short weeks I've ever worked. I must of been delirious by Thursday because at the office picnic meeting I raised my hand and volunteered to make over a hundred cupcakes. I am NUTS!! This has been the hottest week of the year, hitting triple digits for the last few days and I'm gonna bake cupcakes, amuck, yes, amuck!

It seems this past two weeks all I've been doing is shopping. Since I don't have any "product" to show you, I'll share my purchases. Last weekend was Labor Day weekend, good for sales.

Saturday, on the way to my Aunts for dinner, I dropped in at the Quilter's Inn, then stopped at In Between Stitches. I've been collecting black/tans for this project. So far I have this plus some black and whites to maybe tea/coffe dye and another bag full of black/tan that I can't find. Maybe its in the trunk of the car? I hope so... not that I need it, I probably have enough here to make that quilt 3 times! amuck, yes, amuck! I will still continue to pick them up until I get the quilt made. I'm like that. I love little collections.

Here are a few other things I picked up, no particular reason in mind, like I mentioned... amuck!

I thought that maybe Labor Day weekend would be a good time to purchase a light box. I have been using a tiny one for a long time now, or putting my ott lamp under my sewing machine extension table. I headed out with coupons in hand. First stop was Aaron Bros., they had the 12x18 Lite Tracer for $69.99 on sale from $89.99. They wouldn't let me us my coupon. So I trekked over to Michael's Crafts, they only had the smaller version for $49.99, I did have 50% off coupon, but now I wanted the big one! Next stop.. Joann's they did have the larger version at a price of $129.99 (what a mark up!) & I had a 40% off coupon. Hmmm... NOT! One more place.. Beverly's. WHOOHOO they not only had the larger version at $89.99, but they also let me use Michael's 50% off coupon. This light box is so awesome!! Beverly's also had all of their fabric at 25% off for the day and some of it followed me home. amuck, yes, amuck!

I've already put my light box to good use. I've been tracing little stitchery designs for the retreat pincushions.

So on to this weekend... Unfortunately I used permanent red ink (for redwork) and found that the size of the design was too large. Wasted a yard of fabric and time, but I'm getting good use of my light box! Yesterday I went to the post office and mailed off all of the prizes for my give aways and the swap bag. What a great feeling to get those packages on their way!

On the way home I stopped in at Thimble Creek to replace to fabric I wasted. They were having a sale on fat quarters and who can resist, so this little pile followed me home. amuck, yes, amuck!

My condo has piles all over the place but it smells good in here. I have a few cupcakes too! I've gotten them all baked. No these aren't designer cupcakes, these are the cupcakes that your Mom made and sent you to school with. Thank goodness for Duncan Hines. I'm freezing them and will pull them out on Wednesday nite to frost them for Thursday. And yes Sharon, that is a cake tester!

Hope you have a wonderful week! xomar

Time to Catch Up -Quilt Frenzy 08

I thought I should finally post about my heavenly weekend. At least before the next new work week begins. I have some pictures to share, and you know what they say about old news. can't let it get too old. Some of this has already been shared by my fellow worker bee, Deb, who also attended the Quilt Frenzy.

On Friday I packed my car and headed 2 hours down south. I met up with Holly and packed her car for the 2 hour ride further down to our destination.... The Hive, yes, there was a Quilt Frenzy at the Hive and I was invited! It only took 4 of us to rock the "Hive", our hostess's husband probably thought there were eight of us with the noise we made and the food we ate.

When we got there the first thing we did was unload, then stand in stunned awe of the 'hive' and our Queen Bee's stash, omg! Deb got better pictures, but mine was so bad that it looks like I tried to do that, I thought it looked pretty cool. Next thing you know we were throwing quilts around. Holly has a long arm and Deb and I both brought quilts for her to take home. The rail quilt is Debs, all brushed cotton, it's lovely. Mine is made of cw repro fabric, I will share when I get it back from Holly. She just told me this evening that it is done!!!

The tan and red quilt is Holly's, she certainly has fun with her long arm, isn't it beautiful? Funny thing, I have the blocks made for this quilt. I made them at retreat last year. Makes me want to get it out and work on it!

The Queen's husband treated us like royalty, he made us awesome grilled poppers and tri-tip, wonderful salads, an awesome cake, woooooo, yummy!! Deb made us french beef and breakfast, even the Queen herself made us breakfast. Talk about getting spoiled! Every morning I woke up to a doe with her twin fawns eating breakfast in the yard and fresh coffee. Now that is heaven! I don't have pictures of food or deer, I need to take lessons from the paparazzi princess! I never think to take pictures of the right things. I'm just sayin.... I'm a Bad Blogger!

The weekend was very productive, we were motivated to show our host and hostess PRODUCT!Even with all of the gabbing, laughing, singing oldies, and eating, I managed to show PRODUCT! I finished a PIF (2 down, one to go), put together the back for the CW quilt to give to Holly, showed the Queen how to make a fabric basket, learned how to make a project pouch, finished about 6 potato bags and embroidered 5 or 6 little squares for the retreat pincushions. No pictures, seems I'm always working on stuff I can't show.

Deb worked on her socks and Holly the speedqueen of quilting, made all of the blocks for her Halloween quilt.

Here is Holly with the Queen herself behind her. They are both no bloggers, but we're working on them!!!

The Queen flitted from one project to the other, she made the cutest red and yellow basket ( a tisket a tasket O MY!) and no I don't have a picture!

But I do have a picture of her other project. She cut out all of these cute things from her stash and glued them down to the wrong side of a piece of purple polka dot flannel. She will then raw edge sew it all in place and finish with a grid. It turns out to be a wonderful weight, just right for dragging around and should keep any child fascinated for hours.

As you can tell, it was a perfect weekend. I can proudly say I earned my first Bee and had a blast doing it.

Have a good week! xomar

Time's Up

We have a winner, Deb pushed the button and tooted her horn! The number is.... 21 which I calculate to be Sue Cahill. Congratulations Sue. Please send me your address and I will put it in the mail to you.

I will be going to the post office on my next day off, which will be next Friday, I have a lot to deliver!

Little something for Julia

Purple 30's to Regina

Bag to Sue

and my swap bag too!

If you are up for another giveaway, check out Heidi's blog!

xomar

Happy Happy Bloggy Bloggy

Well, I had a tough go of it. I cut up all of the comments but it wasn't working, so I googled up a random number generator, but it was so fun I started playing with it and then I couldn't really use any of the numbers. I wanted everyone to win. My solution to this problemo was to call my friend Deb and have HER go to a random generator, you see I can trust her, don't trust me, but I trust her. Deb put the numbers in and gave it a go and BINGO the winning number! A number I can stick to.

25!!! Regina at Bitnbyaquiltingbug

Regina, send me your address and I will put it in the mail, which reminds me, Julia, I haven't forgotten you, your's will be mailed in the same group.

Thank you all so much for your awesome comments, I will try to respond to all of you, but it will take a little time. I still need to tell you about the wonderful weekend we had!! That will have to wait till tomorrow because this day is about to end, and I have an announcement needs to be made TODAY.

The Happy Happy Bloggy Bloggy is because it is my blogaversary tomorrow! One year ago I took the dive. What fun it has been, meeting all of you in this lovely place called blogland. I love seeing everyone's talent and creativity, not to mention that some of you are so funny you should be published! OOO and the pictures, I hope to attain just a tiny bit of what makes you all so awesome & original. I'm just sayin.....

I mentioned last week that I would be having two celebrations, and I also mentioned that the bag I made from this pattern designed by PKM would be making a special repeat appearance. Well, to celebrate my first year of blogging I would love to offer this bag with a couple of surprizes inside.

I won't make you jump through hoops, play games, nor make any guesses. This is not a test, just a give away. Comment any time to this post between now and Sat. nite and I will beg Deb to put the numbers in the generator again and make one stick! I'll post a winner Sunday morning (not too early, I'm a California girl!) Looking forward to another year of having fun with all of you.

xomar

So Happy Together>>>

LOL but oh so tired too. We had a fabo weekend, singing old tunes and rockin the hive. I'm so tired that I'm going to extend this little give away till tomorrow nite, I'm going to climb into the sack early and be fresh for work in the morning. Till tomorrow, xomar

A few things to talk about

I've been putting off this post. I wanted it to be an important one, it's the 100th! My blogaversary is next week also. I was going to combine the celebration, but it's taking too long and I already have things to show you and places to go. So what the heck, I'll just have 2 celebrations! One now and one later.

Last weekend, I managed to finish this little baby boy's quilt. I had purchased this fabric at a quilt shop close out with the intent to make 2 Yellow Brick Road quilts. I cut out both, but got one top made and didn't care for it. The fabric is cute, but I just don't think I like the YBR pattern. I like seeing a design when I look at a quilt. That is unless it's a fabulous scrap quilt, that's different, then there are so many fabrics to dazzle you, you don't need much else. Well anyway, I took the pieces of the top that wasn't finished and added the yellow stars and stripe border. The stripe border was left overs from the placemats I made my staff for Christmas last year! It worked out well, if I would have found that before I made the stars, I might have matched it a little better.

After that was finished, I had to get rid of that mini patch basket bug that I caught from Darlene, and Lorraine and all of the others. I made 3 for little prezzies. They are so much fun to make, I want to make more. I want to make myself one for my desk at work, to put note pads and staple puller and stuff like that.

The week's mail has been a lot of fun, socks are starting to

arrive and a most unexpected gift from my good friend Syl!!

Look at this pumpkin stack. Syl called it a big pumpkin pincushion! LOL, she is so sweet, what a lovely surprise. The best part of this gift was hearing her voice when I called to thank her! This lady is a dear and she makes some beautiful quilts, she just won some ribbons, I'm not surprized at all. We talked about her starting a blog. I think she might!!! Come on Syl, join the fun! Here is a picture of Syl and her quilt that we suprized her with at retreat last year!

So are you still here? Good, I've got a lot to be excited about, I'm packing and planning to leave tomorrow morning to go down the coast to a mini quilting retreat. I will drive down to Aromas and meet up with Holly, we'll trek on down further and meet up with Deb and Pam. I can't wait. I can't stop grinning, we are going to have some fun!! I'm so looking forward to this gettaway!

I was making a list of stuff while at work today, and the list went something like this...

Projects to Pack

Pincushions

Prairie Paisley

PIF's

Potatoe Bags

Other Items to Pack: Pillow

Phone charger

Prezzies

Do you see what I see? How does happen, why am I perpetually plagued by P's??? Well to celebrate my 100th post I thought it would be fitting to offer this perfectly precious 30's fat quarter packet to a random commenter. Yes, they are purple! I'm so sorry the pictures are blurry. They are cute, honest! and I'm not even gonna make you count the p's in this post! I'll pick a name when I get home on Sunday nite.

Hope your weekend is a fun one! xomar

So Tell Me, How Was Your Weekend?

On Saturday I spent the day quilting at my LQS with two very nice ladies, Jo & Di from my Wednesday nite group and of course Susie the shop owner joined us when she could. And then there are the shoppers that sit with us a spell. It's a small world. Both of these ladies (Jo & Di) happen to know my ex-mother-in-law and all were good friends with the family. We shared a lot memories, it was funny to think that we could have actually crossed paths before. We even gave her a call and she was thrilled. Now we are going to plan a little train ride together to visit her. It should be fun! I can imagine all three of us sitting, doing hand work and giggling through the whole trip. While we were there Jo started talking about Verna Mosquera's new pattern. We share a love of applique and Verna's stuff is so beautiful. I knew exactly what pattern she was referring to, Faded Glory! . (My good friend, Deb had called on a Friday while at the Long Beach Quilt show told me to go check it out at Verna's site.) Can we say ADORABLE! O yes we can!. Well Jo was telling me that she ordered the kit from InBetween Stitches. She mentioned that she always liked what they put together. I was sure that I would do this quilt, but I was thinking that maybe I would just pull fabrics myself. Well one by one everyone left and I was still trying to finish the potato bag and Susie tells me that Jo is on the phone and not to leave, she will be right down. OH Boy! What's up? Well Jo went home to find her kit from InBetween Stitches on her doorstep and wanted to show it to me! What an enabler she is and I just met her!!! I kept thinking about that kit all nite. Everytime I try to pull my own fabrics I end up with WAY too much!

The Faded Memories line that I used to make "Rabbits Prefer Chocolate"? Well, I made the bag using only left overs and look! I still have a bunch! I don't mind having it, but I have this problem with using it all up, gosh what happens if I need it for something else? See, if I don't have it in the first place then I won't miss it! But once I have it, I'm in trouble. So all nite I'm thinking about going to Livermore and buying a kit. I talked to Deb and she tells me... don't buy the pattern!! Ooops! My anxiousness spoiled Deb's surprise for me. But she certainly had that gift right!! I called my son and arranged to meet him for dinner decided to hit the road about 2pm. I spent the morning trying to free motion the baby quilt, but actually I spent the morning ripping out whatever I accomplished. I hate it when that happens.

When I got to the shop, I asked for the kits, they asked if I had one on hold, WHAT? NO! They told me the only ones they had were on hold. She opened a drawer and there were the kits and my name wasn't on one of them! DARN DARN DARN....Oh I should have called! Darn! Darn! Darn!, I was so upset! The whole drive over I was thinking that I should have just called and ordered it, with the price of gas, it might have been cheaper, but then I wouldn't have had an excuse to have dinner with my son. So I start looking around to see there was anything else to take my mind off of this I was so focused on getting this kit and was so distressed. There had to be something that would help me feel better. Well, there in a little basket were 3 little kits, only one had borders and they had no patterns left. Ok.. Hello store people! Lookie here!! this little tag says "Faded Glory"! If you don't know what you have, you shouldn't answer!!! So enough said, I bought that and then practically got kicked out of the store because they close at 3pm. But I got my kit!! they did their kits with a few different fabrics and the border are more of 30's look. I like it, and hope I can get to it soon. I just love seasonal quilts.

So at the end of this weekend I'm feeling pretty good, I sure don't want to go back to work tomorrow! I think I would make a very good retiree. That will have to wait.

On Saturday at the shop I finished the bag, here's another pic. It's all DONE! The little stitchery on the front is actually a days of the week tea towel pattern from Crabapple Hill. I just reduced the image and took the day of the week tag off.

Ok, so if you're still with me, you saw that I mentioned a potato bag, well, I'm starting on Christmas gifts for my staff. Right now I have 19. I'm going to make these potato bags and put a grocery gift card inside. I found this perfect fabric at the Fat Quarter shop on clearance. Perfect! This is the first one, I just wanted to see how they went together. If you have any suggestions for a cute wrapping please let me know. Oh wait, maybe I can find some mini brown paper grocery bags! LOL , ok, so have a great week! xomar

Yes, We Have A Winner

And a young one! LOL, Julia was the first to guess "We Can Work It Out". Great detective work Julia! Send me your info and I'll send you a little surprise. I had a giggle at the other guesses, Help! and Hard Days Night would also be appropriate! The more I listen to this song, the more I can see how it fits my quilting. I think this will now be my quilting anthem! Try to see it my way, Do i have to keep on talking till i can't go on? While you see it your way, Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.We can work it out,We can work it out. Think of what you're saying. You can get it wrong and still you think that it's alright. Think of what i'm saying,We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.We can work it out,We can work it out.Life is very short, and there's no time For fussing and fighting, my friend. I have always thought that it's a crime, So i will ask you once again.Try to see it my way,Only time will tell if i am right or i am wrong.While you see it your wayThere's a chance that we may fall apart before too long.We can work it out,We can work it out. Life is very short, and there's no time For fussing and fighting, my friend. I have always thought that it's a crime,So i will ask you once again.Try to see it my way,Only time will tell if i am right or i am wrong.While you see it your wayThere's a chance that we may fall apart before too long.We can work it out, We can work it out. While I was surfing around in You Tube I came across this video of a roof top concert. What fun, hope you enjoy it as much as I did, there are 3 parts. xomar who is still gaga over the Beatles!

Name That Tune

Remember this little wall hanging that Darlene sent me last year? We'll I'll tell ya, I don't listen to music while I quilt, but songs sure pop up in my head and they are usually songs that are of my heart and soul. I'm a child of the 60's and there was some great music during that time. After I show you this picture you will understand why I don't do tutorials. OUCH!, why do I do this? Feel free to use this picture of what NOT to do in tutorial if you like. It's certainly the consequences of borders gone bad or is this a bias based booboo? What ever it is, a little song popped into my mind as I was pin basting this little guy. Can you guess what song it is? I can't get it out of my head now! I'll send a little something to the first correct guess! now back to quilting...xomar

hmmm need a clue or two? The song was written & recorded by the Fab 4 who launched the British Invasion. I was so gaga over this band! My parents thought that they were raising a groupie! The song was recorded in 1965.

Lesson Learned... Again

How many times do I have learn the hard way? A couple of weeks ago while at Beverly's Fabric store, I stopped in to take a peek at the consignment shop next door. On the shelf I found an elf planter. I had it in my hand and put it back. Last week I went back to buy it. It was gone, that was what led me to the Peddler's Fair last Sat. I thought for sure I would get my elf fix. Nope, no luck there either. This is the second time this happened to me at this consignment shop. The last time it was a hutch that would have been perfect for my kitchen. Lesson learned again? buy it when you see it, it will not be there when you return. I'm tired of telling myself that if it isn't there it isn't meant to be.

So about collections, I have a few; tins, elfs, pincushions, other sewing odds and ends. The elf collections started with the little burgundy guy and the little green guy on the tin in the picture on the left below. They were my grandmother's. All of the others have been given to me by friends.

When my maternal grandmother passed, I was asked by my Aunt to help clean her house. She had a few things that I carted home.My grandfather was in the Seabees and brought home a few trinkets.The bowl in the background above, the little coffee puzzle and a coffee pot or two. There were a few pre WWII pieces, cups and saucers, and these adorable little musical pigs. But I have to say that the most unique trinket I found there was this little lady. I've never come across another, there are 4 of the little cups that are next to her, they are the size of a thimble and hang off little hooks on the back of the sofa. Hope you don't mind the x-rated post, LOL.

Ok, so back to the peddlers fair, I have two pictures that I took that I would like to share. Since the booths were all packing up, I went into a couple of antique shops that were still open. The shop where I took this picture had great displays, very artistically arranged. With so many items of odd ranges a shop can look very messy. I took this picture of the shop owners display of Bakelite. So much color contained in one space. Check out the cherry necklace. I love looking at this stuff, but the only jewelry I wear are earrings. So I don't buy, just look. That is the shop owner in the picture, oops.

The other picture is in the same shop, what a find, I have to remember this. I didn't realize I had such a great source for buttons so close! This whole cabinet is full of sorted buttons!!

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm on vacation this week. You would think I would be getting a lot done... NOT! I've been putzing and putzing and not accomplishing much. There are two bloggers that will remain nameless that have been checking on me, I'm starting to feel bad, I don't have anything to report. Hanging my head in shame for my slothfulness. I did manage to get my swap bag just about finished, all it needs is the handle and the lining. I also have a baby quilt just about finished. I will be quilting it tomorrow and show you when I'm done.

I really need to finish all of this stuff so I can start the PINCUSHIONS for the AAQ Retreat. Later...xoxomar