Texting While Sewing...

...don't you love that title?! It's actually a fun quilt block challenge from Amy, During Quiet Time.

I'm always up for a challenge and for trying something new so here's my entry:

I used Jednoiglec's "Christmas Truck" paper pieced pattern for this 12 inch block. The pattern was also my jumping off point.

Next came the fabric with the girls on it and from there, I knew I wanted it to reflect the fun of girlfriends. The text fabrics with names of beaches and cities seemed perfect for a universal theme.

But I was mostly inspired by my teenage years when girlfriends and I would pile as many of us as we could into someone's parent's car and head out for a good time. Carefree days, huh?

There's a linky party starting today on Amy's blog. Head on over and take a look at the clever and creative blocks being posted...and also the awesome prize list!!

Marilyn

I Hope I Win THIS Giveaway!!

This is going to be a short little blog post but it's gonna pack a punch.....

My friend, Aneela--the multi-talented Aneela--is having a huge scrap fabric giveaway.....and not just any fabric scraps but pieces from many treasured fabric lines!!

You can check it out here--even if you're not a sew-ist, Aneela writes an entertaining blog:)

Marilyn

P.S. I'll have some Hoop Up! Round 2 embroidery pieces to show you soon. It's a rainy morning here today and difficult to get decent photos.

"Quilting Bee Blocks"..... the Blog

There's a new blog in town (blog-town, that is). It's Quilting Bee Blocks and it is a great source of information about virtual quilting bees all in one spot.

If you're interested in joining a virtual quilting bee, this is your go-to blog.

If you're already in a bee but have questions, this is the place.

Looking for quilt block tutorials? Looking for quilt block inspiration? Yes, and yes, you can find it there.

Quilting Bee Blocks was started by Erin (Two More Seconds). I first learned about it when she contacted me about my photo of a quilt block I recently made for Stash Busting Bee International. My photo is now located in the blog header.....do you recognize this block on the far left of the header?


Exciting, huh?

Also, exciting is the Grand Opening Giveaway going on...read all about it on this post, then have a look around while you're there;)

Marilyn

In the Pink Artists Drawing, Everyone Wins!

For a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure through The Pink Artists Drawing, Part 2, my name was entered...and drawn for one of the amazing 63 prizes gifted to the Prize Wheel by 63 equally amazing artists!


Specifically, an incredible mixed media piece, "Sailing Through It" by "Nikki" Lee Anne Ghilain, (Sun Soul Art Thoughts)!! It's gorgeous and I can't thank Nikki enough for her generosity!!

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So, this is what it's looked like around here for a couple of days...

(Image from DryIcons)

Oh so dreary! But before the cold rain moved in, it was sunny and warm and I gathered up a few of the autumn leaves from our yard.


I decided to scan them...


...although, I'm not sure what to do with them.


Maybe you have an idea? Please feel free to use them:)

Marilyn

The Pink Artists Drawing ~ Part 2

Read about Part 2 then be prepared to be awed!

Do you recall a special drawing held last year for the Pink Artists Doll? Do you remember how beautiful she is?!

The Block Art Quilt is every bit as beautiful! And again, the funds raised by the drawing will benefit breast cancer research. This is where you go to view the quilt and to be awed!

This is where to go to view other wonderful prizes you could win in the drawing!

And that Pink Artists button at the top right of my blog...that's where you click to learn where to enter and how to donate to Breast Cancer Research.
Last year, $3028.34. This year, ?????

Marilyn

Under The Sea Swap

This is the mermaid I created for the Under The Sea Swap. A mermaid wasn't my initial idea...well, actually it was, but I started thinking that maybe everyone would be making a mermaid and surely I could come up with something different. Even as I pulled out fabrics that reminded me of the sea, and then sewed them together randomly, and then top-stitched like crazy on them, I still wasn't yet thinking 'mermaid'.


But, as you well know, some projects create themselves! I began sketching out a pattern for my newly created fabric piece, drawing the tail fin first. THAT is when she became a mermaid and the rest fell into place.

I had a lot of fun with this lady-of-the-sea. There were parts of her that I'm not used to working with (like her hair) but the process of trial and error (and trial and error) was a good learning experience, and it's always good to stretch my creative self.


She made her way to my swap partner, Bairbre Aine, a couple of weeks ago and I hope she likes her! (I haven't heard from Bairbre Aine yet, but when I contacted her for her snail mail addy, she said her internet service at home wasn't working and she has to go to her local coffee house to log on.) I'm also excited to see how Bairbre Aine's sea creature for me turns out! (But the deadline isn't until June 28th, so I guess I need to settle down and relax for a little while longer.)

This is really fun too...Zan (Wild at Heart Art), the hostess for the Under the Sea Swap, has posted a A Parade of Mermaids on her blog where there are photos of amazing sea creatures made by several of the swappers.

Have a great weekend!

Marilyn

So, What Happened To M-T-W-Th-F?

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted!

Where has the time gone?!
Well.....I must admit I've spent a lot of time visiting blogs that are participating in One World~One Heart. The last time I checked, there were 781 listed!

I think I've visited 275 to 300 of them and have already discovered LOTS that I want to revisit. It's unbelievable how many talented and friendly bloggers there are out there, and thanks to this one blog event, there's opportunity to find them.

I've also been creating artist trading cards for a "Women" themed ATC swap. I do enjoy making them...it is interesting to me, though, how some come together fairly easy and some not so easy. I don't know what makes the difference--I just try to go with the flow.





And I'm working on tags for Karla's Puppy Love Tag Book Swap. I've finished the backgrounds so far.

Next comes the really fun part...adding the puppies!

Marilyn

My Heart Is Filled With Gratitude

I have been completely giddy over the response to my One World~One Heart giveaway in the previous post! Your generous and encouraging comments have been a heart-warming and humble encounter and my gratitude is immense! It is yet another wonderful thing to come out of the One World~One Heart blogging event.

Because of the positive response to my QUILTY removable comp-book cover, and because it was so fun to make, I sewed up a similar cover and listed it in my Etsy shop. The fabrics in this one are also colorful and vibrant with lots of purple.

Front:

Back:

Inside front:


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That's what I had today thanks to my thoughtful, creative and amazing hubby! And next weekend, we'll celebrate both of our birthdays (his was 12/26) with our incredible kids...don't you just love to stretch out the partying:)

Marilyn

One World~One Heart Giveaway

(Feb. 12th) THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by to play!
The WINNER has been announced HERE.

(CONGRATULATIONS, CARYL!)

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(Feb. 11th)***THANK YOU, COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED...THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH***




It's here! One World~One Heart!

Lisa "oceandreamer" Swifka, (A Whimsical Bohemian), is the woman behind this brilliant blogging event. She started out two years ago with the idea of bringing people together from around the world who might not have a chance to meet otherwise. The first two years were wildly successful!

Last year, I was a new blogger and One World~One Heart turned out to be the perfect experience for me. I was introduced to new blogs and wonderful people...connections were made and many turned into friendships.

This year, I'm excited to be participating with my own giveaway...
a Composition Notebook/Journal with a removable QUILTY cover (removable, so you can put it on your next journal when this one is filled up).




For a chance to win, just leave a comment ON THIS POST only. The drawing is open to EVERYONE...please be sure there is a way for me to contact you if I draw your name. The giveaway will end February 12th when I announce the winner. I

If you would like to know more about this incredible, worldwide event, click the One World~One Heart logo at the top of this post for information and also to find a list of all the participants.

Thanks for your visit here and enjoy your journeys elsewhere...it's a wonderful world out there!!!

Marilyn

EXCITING NEWS for my 100th Post!

Our first grandchild is due in May and we are absolutely thrilled!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate my 100th post!

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My 1-year-blogoversary is also coming up soon and that calls for celebrating too.

How about a GIVEAWAY?

I like that idea. I'll try to think up something good in the next couple of weeks.


For now, I've got BABY on my mind:)

Marilyn

A Pretty Little Christmas...Blog Party

Heather (Pretty Petals) is hosting "A Pretty Little Christmas" Blog Party today. She has invited everyone, that wants to participate, to blog about your own Pretty Little Christmas...anything you like...whatever makes your heart sing. Sounds like fun!

So, here goes...WELCOME!

First, I want to show you the Holiday Book that I started making on craft day last week, and have now completed. It was a fun project!


Now, let me show you what makes my heart sing...the Christmas decorations and ornaments that hold extra special meaning...


From my very first Christmas, this angel bell--a gift from Santa Claus. I love her heart shaped lips and chubby little cheeks:)


When Rick was two years old, his father was away at Christmas, in Korea, serving in the army. In the gifts that his father sent back to the family that year, was this Santa and reindeer for Rick. It's great fun...each Christmas, at least once, we sit on the kitchen floor, wind it up and watch Santa travel in a big circle. There is a bell on the back that rings and sounds like an old bicycle bell:)


Giving Santa a little help, perhaps, are these elves...



My mother loved Christmas and always decorated BIG for the holidays! I think it was about 25 years ago that she was running out of room for all of her decorations and asked me to go through some of the older things and keep what I wanted. The elves came home with me and I love them as much today as I did years ago. They kind of remind me of Snow White's seven dwarfs, if only there was one more--maybe it's Dopey that's missing. (hmmm, it suddenly occurred to me how politically incorrect the Snow White story is.)

This angel also came from my mother--she gave it to me because she knew how much I loved it. I photographed her surrounded by the glass ball ornaments because Mom used those a lot in her decorating. She had glass ornaments tucked here...there...everywhere! It was beautiful.


The box that the angel came in is great too. Adler's was one of the big department stores in downtown Kansas City, and downtown was a hopping place when I was growing up. Department store windows were filled with magic--decorated trees, motorized dolls and woodland animals...there were holiday lights everywhere...and huge crowns hung across the streets.


Rick and I have inherited several ornaments, some from his parents and some from mine. I really love them all...


but this little church that came from Rick's family is one of my favorites.


The ballerina ornament was my mother's. I thinks she looks like she could be a dancer in the Nutcracker ballet.


I love the winter ivory clothing this young couple is wearing. Mom loved dolls so it was natural for her to be attracted to, and buy, porcelain doll ornaments.


A tiny bear that was Mom's when she was a little girl. So sweet.


And I just had to share these vintage greeting cards with you!




Lastly, a peace dove that I made two Christmases ago...


May your holidays be filled with peace and joy.

Thank you for taking the time during this busy season to come for a visit!

For more pretty little blog parties, click the button below...Heather has a wonderful list of participants for you to visit.




Marilyn

Dia de Bloglandia

I have been fascinated by Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, since our first trip to New Mexico about 9 years ago. So when I read about Stephanie's and Susanna's Dia de Bloglandia, I knew I wanted to be a part of the celebration!


Dia de los Muertos...a day to pay tribute to our deceased relatives and ancestors by playing their favorite music...


and feasting on favorite foods and drink.


Sugar Skulls...


and altars surrounded by photographs, flowers, lighted candles, bread, bowls of water and other symbolic offerings dedicated to departed loved ones.
This altar is in honor and remembrance of my mom, Pat.





(The Sugar Skull pictured above is from the cover of Mexican Folk Art coloring book; and the two embroidered pieces in this post were stitched using patterns from Sublime Stitching.)


Thank you very much for coming by and celebrating Day of the Dead with me! To visit other Dia de Bloglandia posts, you can find them listed here.
I'm excited! I want to see all of them!

Marilyn