Friday's Favorite Blog #13

I can’t believe how absent minded I am. I breezed right through Friday without posting my favorite blogger. Hoping that late is still better than never, my pick this week is Jeanne from her blog, luv2stitch. She shows great pictures, you know I love pictures.
She does lovely work and writes an interesting blog. She has posted some blogs that are having giveaways. Click here to go there and visit. I am sure you will enjoy yourselves. Jeanne, I would write more about how much I like your blog, but I have to go check out some of the giveaway links you posted…………

Finished the Cottage

A few posts ago, I showed you a picture of the cottage stitchery I had begun. It is now finished, but I think I got too carried away with the flowers. They sort of hit you in the face! I think I should have used a bit more soft colors and maybe not so many different ones. Oh, well, It was just something to do while watching TV. I think I will make a throw pillow out of it. Maybe I can pick out some fabric that will make it look better. If I still don't like it, I will give it to my daughter. "In your face" is right up her alley.

Another Giveaway

Helena is having a giveaway on her blog. She is giving away a nifty project keeper thingy and also a free stitchery pattern. Go on over and check it out. Click here to go there.

Friday's Favorite Blog #12

This Friday’s Favorite Blogger is Finn from the blog, Pieces From My Scrapbag. She is a very nice lady and is always ready with a **VBS**. Great pictures, fun happenings, and interesting stories can be found on her blog. She has a secondary blog that shows pictures of quilts made with orphan blocks. She hasn’t posted in a few days. She said that she recently found the mo-jo that she had lost, so maybe she is too busy quilting to post. Click here to go there.

Another Giveaway

Carin is having a giveaway to celebrate her 200th post. Can you imagine.......... 200 posts! ...Click here to check it out. I hope she doesn't mind that I "borrowed" her celebrate picture. I don't like to post without a picture of some kind.

After

Ok……Here is the after picture. I must say it looks a little more fit for human habitation. I am looking forward to some stitching this evening in my new de-cluttered space. All of the stuff I need to work on my current project is in the little box. Kathy, I will really try to put things back when I am finished with it. I know my life would be much easier if I would make a habit of doing that. Sheree, I hope this picture helps to restore your chi. Just in case I haven’t mentioned it before, Sheree is my baby sister.

Before

I am a slob. I have been working on some embroidery projects the last few days and I looked at my table today, and realized I am a slob! I have never been the most tidy person, but this is ridiculous. Kathy, my sister, will have a cow when she sees this. She is a total neat freak! But a wonderful person and my best friend!!!!! I just cleaned out that drawer a week or so ago, honest. You can't see it too well in this picture, but on the table there is a glob of floss with thread dangling everywhere. The remote to the TV does not belong there. There is a little dish with the floss I am using to make the Noah's Ark blocks. It could be put away. The mirror is out because I had to pluck my eyebrows and the light is good there. Of course, since I am a slob, I couldn't put it back when I was through. On the floor there are boxes of floss and bags of floss, some books and back there I see the cone of peaches and cream crochet yarn that I got out to make a dishcloth, and of course I didn't put it away when I was through. I am going to clean that area up and show you a picture of it tomorrow.........or maybe the next day. I don't want to turn over this new leaf to quickly. Have to be careful of my back you know.

Friday's Favorite Blog #11..and More

Today is Friday once again and I think Bonnie at Calamity Jane’s Cottage is an excellent choice for this week’s favorite blogger. She is a very interesting person and has a very nice blog. Pretty pictures and some very creative projects she has made. She also has a shop with some of the nicest vintage items for sale. I see she is also in the Stitcher’s Angel swap group. Whoever is chosen to be her swap partner will be a very lucky person. Go on over and check out her blog. I don’t think you will be disappointed. Click here to go there.
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The older I get the faster time seems to go. That is not fair. When you don’t have a lot of time left, it should go slower! I live a very calm but boring life, and you would think the time would drag, but no!!! It seems to speed up more everyday. This stinking computer is probably part of the reason this happens. I start reading blogs and it doesn’t seem like much time has gone by, but WHOA!!!!!, I have been reading for two hours. I don’t plan to change though, so I guess I will just have to shut up and deal with it.
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I will close this post with the reason it has been a week since I have last posted. Last Saturday My son and his wife from Houston came for a visit. We had a great time and Eva, my daughter in law was so kind. She did all the cooking while she was here. She even cleaned out my microwave, which was in great need of it. My back is still preventing me from doing many things. Reaching over my head, where my microwave is above the stove, is one of them. Tim, my son, brought his new toy with him. It is the Wii gaming system. I am not sure I have the spelling correct on that. The grandkids had a great time with it. My son Dan and Tim had a few cut-throat games of tennis and golf. They are very competitive and both hate to lose. Playing with that game leads to lots of NOISE. The games themselves have audio comments. The players add to the NOISE with all of the comments they make while playing. For example… Dang, You cheated, I am just better than you, I let you win, You have had more practice, On a real golf course I would have made par, etc, etc. Fun, but NOISY. We had a houseful one evening. My daughter Amanda and her family, Dylan, Ashley and Kiley, were here. With Tim and Eva, Dan, myself and my husband, my little house seemed just a bit crowded, and NOISY. We had burgers from the grill and all the trimmings. We had a great time. I feel blessed to have such a loving family. Wish my other son, Chris and his family could have come. Tim and Eva left for home on Thursday. They called in the evening to tell us they had arrived safely. I worry so when my family is on the road. So it is back to just my husband and myself. I love visiting with my family, but I gotta tell ya, It wears me out. My life is boring, but I like it that way. Boring and QUIET. I know in a little bit I will be wishing they were back, but for now I am happy to be back to reading my blogs and doing just the normal QUIET things.

Friday's Favorite Blog #10

This Friday I have chosen Rondi, at Rose Colored Glasses, as my favorite blogger. I very much enjoy reading her blog. She recently changed her header and this one is as nice as the last one, which I loved. She has a real eye for color. Something I do not have and wish I did. Her pictures are always so beautiful. She has a post on Thursdays where she tells of the things for which she is grateful. This weeks was very lovely and inspiring. Take a look at her blog. I am sure you will enjoy your visit. Click here to go there.

I Finished Something

I got tired of being behind on everything, so I got busy and finished the latest stitchery from the Noah's Ark Bom. The colors don't look exactly right in the scan, but I thought it turned out well. I don't know if I have said it before, but I really don't like to do the satin stich. I am just not very good at it. I got the spots done and I guess they came out ok. Maybe I should just practice more. I was doing a running stitch as the border, but decided I like the back stitched look better. Have to re-do all the ones I have made so far, but it doesn't take too long to do. Getting finished with this one so quickly, makes for a long wait for the next one.

Computer Problem

I have not been able to make a post recently because of a computer problem. Our wireless router went on the fritz. It took my husband a few days to figure it out, but he got us back on the regular router and now I can get back on the internet. I didn’t get to post a Friday’s favorite blogger, but I think the world will survive. I don’t have any recent project finished, and since I can’t stand to make a post without a photo, I am showing you a pillow that my sister, Kathy, and I made for our sister, Julie, for her birthday a few years ago. It was our first attempt to print pictures on fabric. We used the bubble jet stuff. I thought it turned out pretty good, but it is a lot of work. I think I will bring this post to an end, and go catch up on my blog reading.

Friday's Favorite Blog #9

Tempus Fugit and it is Friday once again. Nancy from With Thread in Hand is my choice for blogger of the week. She has a great blog, with nice photos of her quilts and other projects. It is easy to see that she loves her children and grandchildren. I think you will enjoy your visit with her. Click here to go there.

Pity Party

I have been having a pity-party for my self this week. I went to see a specialist about my back last Thursday, and he said that I was healing and that it could take up to a year for it to be back to something like normal. Take calcium meds and supplements, yada, yada. Then he told me that my lungs were s**t. Yes, he said that word! He did get my attention though. On Monday I decided to quit smoking. I know I should have quit long ago, and I have made the attempt several times. Have made it a couple of months before, and then something very stressful comes along and a cigarette is in my hand again. It is my only vice, and very hard to give up. They need to start a re-hab program for smokers. If I had a bad drug problem, I could get all kinds of help to get off them. If I could be locked up in a padded cell for a couple of weeks with out cigarettes, maybe that would do the trick! I have tried all the products that are supposed to help you quit, but they cause a rash or make me sick to my stomach. So……I guess using will power is my only choice. I am trying. Have cut down by about 80%, which isn’t good, but it’s better than nothing. Anyway……..my week has been all about not smoking, and it makes me irritable and nervous and edgy and not interested in anything. I have managed to do a little bit of embroidery. It’s just something to keep my hands busy. My back is getting better and I hope to be able to get back to my sewing machine soon. Please excuse the ranting of this post. I will try to be more upbeat in the future.

I managed to get the July installment of the Noah's Ark BOM finished.

This is a little embroidery I did and colored it with colored pencils. I still have to go over the colored pencil with some textile medium. I am trying the method called colorque, by helen of hugs and kisses. I don't have her link handy, but will add it to my list soon. I am not sure if I like the look of it. It seems to take away from the old fashioned feel of embroidery.

This is a larger stitchery that I am doing. The fabric is unbleached muslin. I used Paint Shop Pro trying to get the green of the trees to show up better, but it made the whole thing more green. Oh, well. I am going to make a pillow out of this one. It is about the size of the bed of my scanner. If it turns out to be as pretty as I hope, I may give it away when I get to one hundred posts. That is a long way off so I have plenty of time to finish it..........God willing, of course.

Friday's Favorite Blog #8

I can’t believe it is Friday already and time to pick a new blogger of the week. This week’s choice is Kieny from the Dutchlady blog. She lives in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She has an interesting blog, with lots of pictures. I really enjoy the pictures of people and places in Taiwan. I love the quilt she is making called “magic moments”. It shows what a great quilt you can make with 2 different blocks. I may have to make one like it. She is involved in a siggie swap. She has siggies that have been sent to her from so many different countries, and she puts lots of pictures of them on her blog. I think you will like visiting her blog. Click here to go there.

The Closer

Just a reminder to make sure you know that the new season of The Closer starts tonight. It has been my favorite show since it's first season. If you haven't seen it before, you might want to give it a try.

I Have Been Given an Award

A couple of days ago, I got a really nice surprise from Arlette at the Polka Dot Pineapple blog. She was given an award and passed it along to me. It was given to her by Alicia from Curiosities 808. I am passing it along as required by the following rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.

2. Link to the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours. (The links are in my side-bar)

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

I am passing along this award to:

1. Finn at Pieces From My Scrapbag

2. Sweet P at Coffee Time Quilt Studio

3. Stina at Kviltstina

4. Marsha at Threadbender

5. Cathi at Quilt Obsession

6. Pat at Bits and Pieces

7. Kieny at The Dutch Lady

PS........I had to take Myra from Tactile Pleasures in Fabric off my list because she has just been given the award from another blogger! Ditto with Nancy from With Thread in Hand!

I am so grateful to these bloggers, and many others, for the fun I have when visiting them. They have helped me get through a lot of trying days by getting my mind off of my problems. Like it says in a song, a little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down. They are my little bits of sugar. Did that make any sense? Oh, well, I have never claimed to be a good writer, but I hope you know what I meant.

I am going to wrap this up with a little note to Arlette. Your blog is a cheerful and fun place to visit. You have made so many of my days with your friendly comments to me. Thinking of me as your long-lost Aunt was so sweet. "Mahalo nui loa" for the award.

Friday's Favorite Blog #7

Stina is my choice for this week’s blogger. She has a very pretty blog. Always has nice pictures and she is so funny! I really have a good time reading what she has to say. She lives in Sweden. Blogging has allowed me to talk to people from so many different countries. It is like a world tour I can take sitting in front of my computer in my own home. I would rather go to these places in person, but my check book says I must do it this way!! I hope you will take the time to visit Stina. Tell her I said Hi. Click here to go there.

Stitchers' Angel

It has been a few days since I have found anything to post about. Today while blog-hopping, I found this. Helen at Hugs and Kisses Blog has a new project called "The Stitchers Angel Project". Click on the Stitchers' Angel in my side-bar and it will take you to her blog where you can learn all about it. She has several designers that are going to provide a free patten. You can sign up to be involved in a swap, or just visit there each week to get the free project. Sign up ends the 15th of August for the swap. I have never joined a swap before, but I am going to do this one, God willing. I am going to try to talk my sister, Kathy, into doing it also.

Happy Fourth of July

Today I am not going to have a favorite blogger.

Will pick it up again next week.

Have a fun and safe Independence Day!

God Bless America

Another Giveaway

While blogg-hopping today, I ran across this lovely blog. It is by Helen Stubbings and she lives in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. She is the designer of a block of the week program called Nice People, Nice Things. The picture is a little snippet from her quilt. It is adorable! I don't think she will mind that I am sharing it with you. I hope!! She is offering a giveaway, but she is not sure what it will be. I love the sticheries on her site, so am sure whatever it is, I will be happy to get it if I am the lucky winner. Oh, yes. You must leave her a recipe for something chocolate in your comment to enter for the prize. Click here to go there.

My Muslin Quilt

I know it has been several days since I have made a post. I have not been very productive. I will take this time to show you another of my quilts, or rather one block from it. I don’t have a picture of the whole quilt. Must remedy that one of these days. I don’t suppose it really matters, since it is a one block quilt. The blocks are 10 inch finished squares of unbleached muslin, front and back. The design is a quilting motif I had used in one the blocks of William’s quilt. It is hand quilted using three strands of DMC embroidery floss. That was not a good idea. It was hard to thread the needle, and hard to pull through the quilt. I used a different color on each block. It is a small quilt, 5 blocks by 6 blocks, but I was sure sick of doing those blocks by the time I finished. Boring!!!! Glad I finished it though, because this quilt I made for myself, and I have used it nearly every day for the last 10 or so years. My sister, Kathy, made one like it and she uses hers all the time also.

Friday's Favorite Blog #6

This week’s blogger of the week is Arlette, at the Polka Dot Pineapple. She has a wonderful blog. It is so colorful! Cheers me up to go there. She has some great tutorials I am anxious to try. You will just have to go have a look to see for yourself. Click here to go there. As soon as I get this posted, I am going to try to make a folded hexagon yo-yo. They are so cute! In her latest post she showed a tea bag tote she makes. I hope she will have a tutorial to make those. I could go on and on, but I want to go make something!

Kangaroos and Giveaways

This is a picture of the latest stitchery from the Noah’s Ark BOM. I think the kangaroos are so cute, and so Australian. While blog-hopping this morning, I came across a couple of giveaways. One is on Natalie Ross’s blog. She is going to giveaway a set of her FAIRY MEADOW BOM patterns. They are fabulous. She is another Australian designer. Click here to go there. The next giveaway is from the Pumpkin Patch Primitive Quilt Shoppe. She is giving away a Patch Abilities Sandcastle quilt KIT! Looks like a fun project. So Summery. Click here to go there.
On another subject...Has anyone noticed that the blog list is not updating the posts of the bloggers you have listed. That is really ticking me off. It worked fine for a bit and now it doesn't. I thought it was working correctly until I went to one of the blogs and found I had missed a couple of her posts. I am going to see if I can find a place to let them know about my problem..........Edited to say...........
Now if that doesn't beat all! I looked at my blog after I made this post, and what did I see? Yep, the blog list had updated!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, if that will "get her done", I will post more often.

William's Quilt

When I started this blog I called myself a quilter, but I notice that of all the pictures I have shown on here, there is not one quilt! I am going to show you one today. I wish I had better pictures. This quilt is the first one I made. I see that it was 20 years ago that I made it. Gosh! It doesn’t seem like that long ago. Time does fly! I look at this quilt now and I wonder what I was thinking when I made that big of a sashing and how much better it would have looked with some corner stones, and why didn’t I…….so on and so forth.. I made this one with cardboard templates, cut everything out with scissors, pieced the blocks on a cheap old machine, and got all my directions from books from the library. I hand quilted it one block at a time using the first Georgia Bonesteel book, also from the library. It is amazing to me to think of how my life has changed since the internet became a part of my life. I will save the rest of that thought for a future post. Any hoo, I was really proud of this quilt when I made it, as was my husband. He is so proud of it that it is hardly ever used. It is folded nicely in a drawer, and I guess it will stay there till one of us croaks.

Friday's Favorite Blog #5

My pick for this week’s favorite blogger is Myra. She is a very interesting person and has a great blog. Lots of nice pictures of quilts. You have got to go see the whole cloth sample she made. It is gorgeous. She seems to be quite fond of her 2 pug puppies, Ruby and Dora. I got a kick out of reading a post she made on June 15. I wonder if it hits home for anyone else? Hope you will drop in and visit her. I think you will enjoy yourself. Click here to go there.