Guess the Contents

There's this unopened box sitting here from The Fat Quarter Shop. I remembered this weekend what is in it, and only one other person knows besides the folks at FQS. I guess that disqualifies them!



I thought it might be fun having a guessing contest! All you have to do is leave a comment with your guess and your name will go in the hat for a drawing. The winner of that drawing will get a P & B bundle of Morning Garden fabrics. One guess per person.



Penny didn't think that was good enough, so she insisted I add another layer of fun to this contest. She said that if anyone guesses EXACTLY what is in the box, the PERFECT guess, then they will win a $100 gift certificate from her to spend at The Fat Quarter Shop! It has to be exactly what's in the box. Not just a yard of fabric, but a yard of what fabric. Not just a bundle of fat quarters, but a bundle of what line. Not just a .... well, you get the drift. She's a sneaky little punk, isn't she? I told her this was coming out of her allowance, but she just wagged her tail and looked cute. I think she knows I'm wrapped around her little paw!

The drawing will be held on Sunday morning, 12/6/09, when I get up and have a cup of coffee. Well, let's say at 8 a.m. Pacific time. If I sleep past 8:00 don't call me because that's a rare occurrence and I must be tired! LOL.

I must be able to contact the winner or winners, so if your guess doesn't have a link to your blog, please leave an email address. Good luck, everyone!

Pennsylvania Dutch BOM Drawing Winner

The winner of the first monthly drawing for the Pennsylvania Dutch BOM gift certificate is.......

ERIKA from The Netherlands!!!!!

Congratulations, Erika!! Your gift certificate will be emailed to you tomorrow!

Kimberly and Kevin at The Fat Quarter Shop have generously donated a $25 gift certificate each month for the Pennsylvania Dutch BOM drawing participants. Thank you so much, you two! Making this block each month is going to be so much fun, and your drawing will make it even more so!

It's not too late to sign up for the Pennsylvania Dutch BOM. Don't forget that All BOM members will receive a $25 gift certificate along with their first block!

I loved working with the Wiscasset fabric by Minick & Simpson for Moda. I can't wait for next month! But next month I won't have a bowl of gumbo right before the drawing and fall asleep like I did tonight! Promise!

A New Blog to Visit

I was reading through Judy's stash reporters today, and found a new blog! Brand spanking new! In fact, I left her first comment!

The blog is Quilt2sr5 and her name is Penny! I see Penny loves applique, and is working on a fabulous new project called "Flowers Forever."

My Penny says hi to you, Penny! Congrats on getting a new blog up! I look forward to watching your progress on Flowers, and all of your projects! Penny and I predict that you'll have lots of visitors!

Stash Report Week 49

Pennsylvania Dutch BOM block makers, please go HERE to comment about your finished blocks and to be eligible for the drawing to be held around 6:00 tonight Pacific time, Sunday 11/29! Good luck!
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Judy's weekly stash report has been an interesting one to participate in this year. I failed miserably, but am ending 2009 with new resolve! Judy is the queen of stash busting - my hero! Way to go, Judy!

I'm going to say this next sentence very loudly and boldly -- I DID NOT BUY ANY FABRIC THIS WEEK! No, I'm not sick! And, no, my button poking finger is not broken (although it needs a manicure)! I was busy in my sewing room!



I did bust 8.5 yards because I cut out and sewed about halfway through the Fig Tree Club quilt! 8.5 yards!!! Good grief, I can't even remember the last time I busted anything! One small step for a fabric collector .... well, I don't think that's exactly what Neil Armstrong said when he stepped on the moon! But I'm determined in 2010 that my stash room 'black hole' will be renamed "Tranquility Base."

Can you tell I've just finished reading "Rocket Men" by Craig Nelson? Oh, my! Even though we know how the story ends, it's an extremely good and educational read. I was holding my breath at moon touchdown! July 10, 1969. Where were you that day 40 years ago? Good grief, I'm older than dirt!

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 184.75 yards
Purchased: 749.95 yards
Net YTD: <565.20> yards

Awesome Give-Away!

Vickie E a/k/a Spun Sugar Quilts f/k/a Mid-Ohio Quilter is having an awesome give-away to celebrate her 405th blog! Wow, that girl changed her blog name and had me all confused! But DO NOT go over there to check it out! I want to win! Me!! Thanks, Vickie!

Also a reminder that your Pennsylvania Dutch blocks must be made by Sunday 11/29 afternoon to be eligible for the $25 gift certificate drawing from The Fat Quarter Shop. Please go HERE to leave your comments about your finished block!

Ahhhh, the day after Thanksgiving! I'm about three-quarters through cutting out the Fig Tree Club quilt! I'm SO excited! I'm in my sewing room and am a happy camper! Penny is napping again. And it's only 8:15 a.m. She wore herself out yesterday!

Dancing with the Stars

After dinner, Skippy and Penny took to the dance floor!

Is there a mirrorball trophy in their future?

Happy Thanksgiving 2009!

I was up way too early this morning. I walked in the kitchen and realized I only have one dish to make, smothered squash. Mom used to always say, as she was fluttering around the kitchen, that we had to have squash because that's what the Pilgrims ate. And Dad would always wink at me and say, "She should know. She was there." I miss them so much.

Penny and I are heading over to Jane's later. Penny has a play date with Skippy. Camera is in the car - check! As you can see, she's all ready to go!



Looking back through the three years of blogging this is how my Thanksgivings past shaped up:

2006 - Finished the 100th block on Dutch Treats. There are 196 total blocks. I have 80 something left to applique. I guess I'll finish this one up in The Home.

2007 - Just got out of the hospital. Felt lousy. Spent most of the weekend sleeping.

2008 - Just getting over the flu. Felt lousy, but spent the weekend sitting next to Daisy on the sofa appliqueing and also caught up on BOM blocks.

2009 - Except for a tiny headache, I'm feeling great and looking forward to a wonderful day.

Penny sends her most heartfelt Thanksgiving wishes to everyone and their pets! I do, too!

Every morning ...

Pennsylvania Dutch BOM block makers, please go HERE to post your finished blogs and to read the rules. Drawing is this Sunday, 11/29! Good luck!
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Every morning this is how I find Penny's food bowl. I wonder if she thinks she's "saving" it. It used to be her octypus draped across it. The last few days it's been this awfully worn out ball.



Once she left a ball in the bowl of scraps on my cutting table. Maybe she's just marking her territory. I need to find that picture. It was too funny!

Silly dog!

P.S. Those two red bowls were purchased in August of 1980 for Katie, my first doxie. I paid 99 cents each for them. Three doxies and 29 years later they're still going strong. I'd call that a good buy!

Progress Stopped

Progress has stopped at least until after Thanksgiving. The shelves on the right once held Christmas fabric that is now tubbed up in fairly large tubs. I'm still discovering piles and boxes of various fabrics (Minick & Simpson) and those will be added to the stash during the holidays, but for the most part I'm done for now. I'm ready to sew up a storm for at least three straight days!



Penny has a ball when I open the door to the stash room. Tonight I found her sitting on top of a tub surveying her queendom. Well, actually she was probably looking for a Moda bundle to untie. She's so darn cute!

Tomorrow is going to be a bear at work, but I have my eye on the end zone! Four days off will be so wonderful! I'm probably going to cut out this Fig Tree Club quilt, and then work on BOMs. And I'm committed to piecing at least two backings while I'm off!

I'm giddy with anticipation! :)

Oh, I found an unopened box from The Fat Quarter Shop. I might have a guessing game after the holidays - what's in the box? I don't even remember. Stay tuned!

I've received several emails from folks who are completing their Pennsylvania Dutch BOM. Remember to either leave a comment HERE or send me an email when you've finished your block to be entered in the drawing of a $25 gift certificate from The Fat Quarter Shop!

Thanksgiving Week 2009

What a busy day it was today. I'm plumb worn out. The theory of getting a long weekend is good, except I have to cram five days into three.

For those who are making the Pennsylvania Dutch BOM, be sure to leave a comment HERE with a link to your block completion to be entered in the drawing. The rules are all posted on that link.

I worked all weekend on the stash room. I was real disgusted with myself for even thinking about undertaking the project, much less starting it. However, yesterday afternoon things started to shape up a bit in there, so I'm liking what I'm seeing. Now to lug all those heavy tubs of fabrics that were on the shelves down to the garage. It's always something!

I had one whole shelving unit with only Christmas fabrics, and I suspected a good portion of them were Robyn Pandolph Christmas lines. Well, I ended up with four large tubs off of that one section, and three of them were RP. I've made two or three RP Christmas quilts, and there is enough fabric for at least ten more. What was I thinking? Wait, don't answer that!

I'm real excited, though, about having all of the lines I love together in one place. I'm itching to start sewing again! I think I might just do that over the long weekend. I can always finish up in the stash room after Thanksgiving. My goal is still to have it all done by the end of the year. We'll see - but I think I can do it.

Penny has been SO helpful during the process. I stacked a bunch of Moda towers on the floor, and she thought she'd help by untying all of them! Now, some of my readers thought Penny might be a quilting doxie. Well, I now know for certain she's absolutely not! Why you ask? Because a quilter would NEVER untie a Moda bundle! They're too pretty to actually use! (sigh)

I'm pondering what to work on this weekend. Endless possibilities!