Seriously?!!

I can hardly believe I won these...

A full fat quarter bundle of Zen Chic's "Juggling Summer" and "OHO" quilt pattern--an absolutely lovely surprise from a giveaway on bon bon atelier's blog!!  Bon Bon has a beautiful shop right here in Kansas City......and to them I say, THANKS SO MUCH!!!

 

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

Ephemera and Fabric Scraps--Things That Make Me Happy!!

Yesterday, I received a delightful piece of mail from Mary...it was her July Giveaway package that I was so lucky to win!


Vintage book pages and postcards, a variety of game cards--including Logomachy, vintage calling cards and other bits that are perfect for ATC's and tags, etc.


I was surprised to see that Mary also included a packet of charms--so pretty and unique! These will be great for paper projects too...and/or fabric projects.


As you can probably imagine, lingering over this package of goodies has been muchos fun! Thank you, Mary!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Today, I was back in front of the sewing machine and it felt goood!!! I made blocks for Rachel in my Stash Busting Bee International group.

She wanted Wonky Stars, either 12.5" or 6.5". I made five 6.5" blocks...


The centers are fabric


Rachel sent from her stash.


The points are from my stash.


Except for this last one, which is made with scraps from her fabrics.


I'd forgotten how fun it is to make these stars--just about anything goes!

Hope you're having a good weekend:)

Marilyn

Home and Doing Great!

Thank you, everyone, for your good thoughts and well wishes--I took them all to heart! Everything went very well, I came home Tuesday afternoon and feel considerably improved with each day!


Family and friends have spoiled me with flowers, cards, gifts and meals.


(I even got my own box of Skittles Crazy Cores, like the ones I sent to my mini quilt swap partner.) And how do you like this pretty bicycle horn?! The card reads "Beep for service"! Hehee!


I've had one moment of inspiration this week...while reading a new quilt magazine, I got an idea for Doll Quilt Swap 7. It's all sketched out and I've ordered the fabric from Hancock's. Can't wait to get started :)

Now.....this is where I must tell you about Rick suggesting that he take a picture of my stitches for the blog to show you my 'stitching' for the week:) LOL, what a goof! (Get your own blog, darlin'!)

Actually, the rest of my week was mostly spent with what I would usually call guilty pleasures--things that just fill up time, nothing more--crossword puzzles, magazines, movies, NAPS. I did manage a little crocheting and stitching, and snipping ephemera, and then more NAPS! But no guilt here, not this week:)

Speaking of ephemera...Lucky Me!!...last weekend, I heard from Mary that the random number generator picked me for her July Give Away! I'm very excited--Mary can come across some really incredible ephemera!!

One last thought...isn't it interesting how different one year can be from the previous year? A year ago Monday we left Kansas City headed for a week in Eagle Nest, NM. Rick and I have had the best time this week remembering that trip. The photo album has been out on the coffee table for us to refer to and things have come to mind that we hadn't thought about since returning home. It really can be a lot of fun!


For example, a year ago today we spent the day in Taos, NM...a perfectly gorgeous day! We ate the most delicious lunch and the sights, the sounds, the smells were the kind that fill my soul! And now, recalling it all, I'm filled again:)

Hope you're having a good weekend...

Marilyn

Roses, Beautiful Roses

"The roses had the look of flowers that are looked at."
~ [T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), American poet.] ~


I saw these roses late last week and just had to photograph them...aren't the colors beautiful!


And more roses from Karla (Karla's Cottage)...


Karla has a giveaway on her blog every month and drew my name from all of the comments made in April. She sent me a lovely charm with a handpainted rose (by Karla) on it. I've been wearing it on a chain and just love the dainty sweetness of it! Thank you, Karla!

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

The Blogoversary Giveaway Winner is...

First, I want to thank all of you again for making my first year of blogging the wonderful experience it has been. Your comments this week were a true reflection of your incredible kindness and encouragement. Thank you, dear friends, one and all!

Soooooo.....this week, I numbered each comment as it came in. Then this afternoon, I entered that range of numbers into the amazing and magical Custom Random Number Generator.....


And the winner is.....#4, the lovely and talented Michelle, 3rd Eye Muse, who said:
"HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY! thank you for your generous and happy spirit ... and for offering such a FABULOUS giveaway - who couldn't use a lucky cat?!?
(fingers crossed)"
Thanks, Michelle! I'll email you for your address and your prize will be on it's way to sunny Florida, *sigh*.
Again, thank you all for playing...and for enduring my game-show announcement of the winner--you'd think I was giving away a million bucks, and I wish I could:)

Have a lovely weekend!

Marilyn

Craft Room "After" Pics AND One Year Blogoversary Giveaway

The week before Thanksgiving, I started painting my craft room. I'm not sure what drives me to start a big job like that right before the holidays, but it's not the first time I've done it, so there must be some related reason.

I can now report that I'm finished. The painting went relatively fast considering the amount of stuff I was working around. But it was that stuff that made the job last well over a month. A freshly painted room stirs up the organizing side of me and so I did. And, before my next flurry of a project puts that stuff back on every available flat surface, I photographed it so I could remember that once upon a time...







*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

One year ago today, I started this little blog o' mine. I pretty much just jumped in without really knowing where it would lead. One year later I can say that it was a good idea. I've met many new and interesting people, made friends and experienced things that I wouldn't have otherwise. And I've had a lot of FUN, thanks to all of you!

So, to celebrate these good things and to thank you for making it so, I'm going to have a drawing next Saturday, January 10th, for this embroidered dishtowel that I've whipped up for the occasion.

The embroidery patterns are ones from Sublime Stitching (I love their patterns) called Sushi Bar. I chose it for my blogoversary giveaway because of the Lucky Cat...Meneki Neko, Japanese "beckoning cat". A Meneki Neko is said to bring in good luck and visitors by beckoning "Please come in. You are welcome!"


To enter your name in the drawing, just leave me a comment, on this post or any post, between now and next Saturday (1-10-09) at noon CST. All comments will be entered. Be sure there is a way for me to contact you if I should draw your name:)

Thanks for celebrating my one*year*of*blogging with me--you're the reason it's a celebration!

Marilyn