Well, I closed my eyes, pinched my nose and took the plunge. I dove right in! I really wanted my blogger friend Carey over at Blueberry Lane to make me a little something. I signed up for her Pay It Forward. Now that I've done it, yikes!!, ya know it's kinda like throwing a party and worrying that no one will show up. But hey, here I'm all out in the open offering you a little something if you would like to play. It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on the blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog

We are having a beautiful weekend in the SF Bay Area. just the kind that the Big Boy (on the left) likes. The temps are in the 80's, they say it will chill up a bit, but I'm enjoying it while I can. Love having the doors open. Yesterday I spent the day sewing with my good friend Deb and her 96 year old aunt. Her aunt is such a character, she had us laughing all day. She was very interested in our processes as we prepped our appliques. Deb uses a thread basting technique and I was using starch. Deb is in my Lost Sock Swap, so we were working on socks. I only finished one sock and prepped another but we had a wonderful day.

I thought I would show you what I've been puttering around with while waiting for my Prairie Paisley order to arrive. One of the fabrics is backordered so it may take a while. That is ok, because it gives me more time to clean up loose ends before starting a new project. Maybe it's not ok, I've got that itch to start something new and it won't go away. I will be strong!I will be strong!I will be strong!I will be strong!

So, yesterday I also finished Bock #5 of the Piece and Plenty BOM.

And I didn't show you the blocks I made to donate over at QYW, we are making red/white/blue friendship stars to give to some of the members that have family in Iraq. I got 8 done, they are huge 12 inch blocks. I need to get them in the mail.

After trying to take a picture of my pincushion and it coming out blurry, I decided to purchase a tripod. It wasn't very expensive, I think $20 at Target, I didn't shop around for the cheapest, you may find one cheaper. This is what it looks likeThen I had to play around a little and yes it will improve your pictures! (I need all the help I can get!)

With tripod: and without:

Can you say Giveaway! yep, it's not a secret any longer, so I'm telling one and all while you still have a day or two to get in on the great "Thimble Blossoms Giveaway" I really want to win and need all the help I can get, so get on over there and give it a try! Today, do not delay!

I just gotta say... Did you watch American Idol????? OMG! David Cook... singing one of my favorite show tunes and an awesome job he did!! I don't know how to add video, but you can see it here if you missed it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and now back to the stawberries.

I got lost! LOL, busy, busy busy! I've had a string of pet sitting jobs and of course there is my 9 hour a day job and I've got my own house to take care of and other than that, I haven't been up to much. I did manage to get a prize together for Cara over at QuiltNook and it has been recieved so you can see a picture of my newest pincushion. My pictures were too blurry! Also finished some filler blocks for the Piece and Plenty BOM, a couple of Lost Socks done and 8 friendship stars for a group effort. What else... hmmm... not much... hmmm gosh I need to get busy! I've been busy poking buttons for more Prairie Paisley, I think I have a new plan, I'll tell you more once I get started. Anyway, one shop that I poked at, Forever Quilting, gave very speedy service, but had I to laugh. They were selling what they called misc. pieces. I ordered a 1 yard piece of a Buttercream and Figs print @ $4. Not complaining here, but it was interesting to get it, the piece actually looks like it's been washed and ironed! you know how you can tell from the cut edges? I can't help but think I helped yet another person bust their stash! LOL ! Well enough of the unimportant stuff, down to the real reason for this post; If you haven't seen this already, please go help out and maybe win this beautiful quilt! Such a good cause and for the sweetest little girl. OKPeri's Place has instructions on how you can have a chance to help the cause of Cystic Fibrosis and maybe win a beautiful quilt. Check it out! Well tomorrow is Professional Assistant Day or whatever they call it. I'm heading up a banana split day for about 125. I'm going to go prepare about 15 lbs of strawberries for the occasion. Toodles xoxomar

The good news is.... We have a winner!!

I told all of the contestants that their name was in the hat, and then I couldn't find a hat!! Well it just happens that a certain little 5 year old left a hat here a long time ago, so I put it to good use!

Then I thought wow if only I had a hamster to pull a name for me, like this one. I tried the cat, but DUH! She just didn't get it! Then I thought maybe I could go knock on a neighbors door. It's a good thing I thought that idea through... no Mar, not everyone quilts... no Mar not everyone blogs... I have to live in this neighborhood, so that left little O me to do the deed and here it is!

I pulled Cara's name from over at Quiltnook. She guessed the correct pattern, the answer if you haven't solved my little mystery is the Crazy About Hearts and Stars Pattern from Buggy Barn.

I picked this pattern because, well, I had it already. Also because I could use all of the fat quarter stack and not have to buy a lot of yardage.

Congrats Cara, welcome to blogland, I will get your prize to you soon. Send me your info.

The bad news is...

Not all has been rosy cosy in Mar land today. I started the morning off ok. I had to go feed some cats (remember that second job to pay Sharon?). The cats made a pukey mess for me to clean up. Finished up and came home. I was out checking on my BBTP (Big Boy Tomato Plant) and to my dismay he is already infested with white flies!!! Pests are the exact reason I abandon my gardening projects! Off again to the nursery. They recommended Neem Oil spray @ $10 which gets me to thinking, $3 bucks for the plant, $3 bucks for the plant food, $3 for the marigolds and now another $10. Hmmm if I get a tomato out of this it is going to be the most expensive tomato I've ever eaten. So now my BBTP has been sprayed and so have the marigolds, they will all have to be treated every 7 days till gone.. and that brings me to this...

I took me so long to post the winner because I was trying to make a block to show you. Guess what? I DO NOT like making these blocks! Lets just say I wasted a coulple of fat quarters and I'm looking for a new pattern. I'm a little red faced after all of the "to do" over finding the perfect pattern. Marcie over at Patchalot Patterns emailed me and said she might use her Wintergreen pattern. Hmmm, I'm looking for a pattern again. Any suggestions?

A day well spent. Quilting, friends and a view, what more can you ask for? I spent the day with the Deb's up at Holly's Hillside Hideaway. A few years ago Holly and her hubby built this not so little quilt studio for her and a garage for him. Holly lives a little down the coast from me and it's almost half way to Deb's so it's the perfect place to meet and have sewdays! Holly worked on her antique ebay find, Debbie worked on Lost Socks, Deb worked on the starbellies from a past Alex Anderson Retreat and I managed to finally get the label on the turtle quilt and a Lost sock done. Lots of laughing, lots of chatting, and mmmmm lunch too! Here's a few pics of the day, I'll be right back with my little mystery winner!

I've decided that I don't like not hearing from you, I guess I got lonely, LOL pathetic huh? So comments are on. I wanted to show you what arrived in the mail today, I was lucky enough to catch the sale over at Red Geranium Cottage. WHOO HOO! Thank you Sharon, the check is in the mail.. Honest!! Also thought I would give you a glimpse of what I'm making for the giveaway. Since I had to take on a another job to pay Sharon, I'm going to extend the deadline to Saturday nite. Actually I have a sew day planned with the Deb's and Holly on Saturday and won't have time to pick the winner until Sunday. Let me tell you, only 6 names are in the hat so far. It's really easy. Just read those italics and you'll either get it or go buggy! *wink* *wink* I've also been known to give out a few more clues if you send me a wrong guess.And now for something a little different from me, I'm attempting to grow my own food. I'm such a city girl. I actually planted a tomato plant. Say a little prayer that I don't kill it. I have such a black thumb. Any advice you could give would be appreciated. And no wagers as to how long I can keep it alive. And if you do wager, keep in mind the last time I tried gardening I gave it up for a year. I took a picture of my baby because I have great hopes of taking more glamour shots as it flourishes and produces. I'm thinking big red juicy homegrown tomatoes... yummmmmmm. I think I read somewhere that marigolds help keep bugs away, Hope that was right!

My Prairie Paisley Plan you ask? Well, maybe I'm just P crazy, but I thought I would tell you a little about my plan. The pattern that I picked is comprised of one block with 3 fabrics. There is no applique and no embroidery. I'm going to name my quilt "My Heart Shines on American Prairies". But wait, I haven't told you the pattern yet. The pattern comes from a "Unique Quilt Shop In The Country" located in a North Western American state. Well how could I tell you all of that and still you don't know what the pattern is? Have you guessed yet? Have I made it too easy? This is a little game with a little pincushion giveaway gift! Oh look, I'm getting into G's now! Ok lets GO! email your answer to me at marquilts@gmail.com by Friday, midnite 4/11/08. I will put all correct answers into a bowl and draw a winner. *a little note to all - I've edited this to try to give you a few more clues and italicized the keys to unlock my little mystery.

YUMMYLICIOUS! Look what was on my doorstep Wednesday nite!

Can we get a WHOO HOO?

My order of Prairie Paisley fat quarters! I was off yesterday and played with it all day, lol, I added a couple of pieces of green from my stash to change it up a little. I've got a bad case of what Linda calls Start-itis. I have my plan all set and I'm so wanting to start that I can't think of much else. I wish I could catch Finish-it-itis, then I could freely start cutting into this, but alas I have other priorities, one which needs to get in the mail by Monday. So besides a trip to the garden store for some marigolds and tomato plant food, I will be here all weekend, just working away. And resisting the urge to start... wish me luck!

Added note: I was just adding Prairie Paisley to the labels and it occurred to me that I am stuck in the "P" lane! Most of my interests start with a "P" hmmm.... pincushions, pumpkins, placemats, pimp my pincushions, Piece & Plenty, and now Prairie Paisley... what's up with that?