At Year's End

I can't think of a better way to close out 2012 than with a trip home.  It was certainly no secret that I was spending my first Christmas home in 18 years.  I was so busy before I left that I just didn't have time to post about it. 

Penny is probably having the time of her life this week at the spa.  She was real clingy when we arrived, but when I opened the door and she heard dogs playing, she took off running.  I checked her in and watched her for a few minutes before leaving.  She was cavorting and running and kissing every dog she saw.  So much for being clingy - she didn't even look back at me as I walked out the door!  Gotta love a happy dog!

This small town where my brother and sister-in-law live is so unique.  It's (to steal a word often used down here) tee-niney!  There's a Winn-Dixie and several smaller country type markets, so finding food items is not a problem.  There's a Wal-Mart, a small shoe store, a couple of gift type stores, and lots of places to eat.  There are a lot of small businesses catering to the farming industry, John Deere, etc., and there's a hospital.  The next larger town is only about 30 miles, so a once-a-week shopping excursion could easily be planned.  And there are two even larger towns 50 miles away; again, very doable.

I've written many times about the old homes and oak trees here, so I won't repeat that.  I would love to take the walking tour of the historical district.  We attended Christmas Eve Mass in a stunning church.  The stained glass is remarkable.  The church will celebrate its 100 year anniversary in 2013.  I need to read up on the history of Church of the Assumption, but I think I was told the church was built by a local to honor the Holy Mother Mary for blessings received.  A really beautiful structure.   Right across the street is an equally beautiful Methodist church, and I'm sure there are others in the area.  It will be fun getting to know this small town when I retire here.

It's going to be difficult going back to work on Wednesday.  The traffic alone is a good reason to retire!  I so look forward to gardening, quilting, and all the other things that seem to take the back burner to work.  But work, as they say,  is the means to an end!

I wish for everyone a healthy and happy New Year.  My goals are etched in stone!

Just a reminder that I post annually.  Take a few stitches on New Year's Day because ...

... what you do on New Year's Day, you do for the rest of the year!

Happy New Year!

Final Mini Give-Away Winner

Penny did her job this morning like a good girl!  She stuck her head in the bag without a treat enticement, pulled out a slip of paper, and stood there politely while I took it from her!  Yes, she got a treat for cooperating so nicely!  In fact, she had two treats since she seldom cooperates nicely!

I heart my dog!

Without further blabbering, the winner of a $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop is ....

ERICA of Happy Fabric blog!

Congrats, Erica!  Send me an email and I'll get it  purchased and sent off to you by email!  And be sure to let us know what buttons you poked!!

I'm going to be pretty busy for the next week or so, so might not blog again until after Christmas.  My camera isn't working right, so unless I fight the crowds to get another one, any post by me during that period will be pictureless!  Just like this one!  :)

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed the mini give-aways.  They were fun for me.  If you liked them, we can have more in the new year.  Now that we know there will be a new year!  (Think Mayan calendar here!)

I'm freezing.  Need to go dig out a sweater.  I mean, whodathunk I'd have to wear a sweater a few days before Christmas!!

Thanks for leaving a comment.  Wish I could give a gift cert to everyone!

Final Christmas Mini Give-Away

The last give-away for 2012! 

In the spirit of Christmas, in your comment tell us the most exciting gift you're GIVING this year!

Mine is easy.  I made two quilts for gifts.  Lots of time and love went in those.  Still stitching the binding on the second one, but I can do it!!

A drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop will be held on Friday about midday.  Penny insists on doing it then.  She wants the winner to be able to poke some buttons and buy a gift for herself (or himself)  this Christmas!  She's sweet like that!!

I hope everyone has enjoyed the mini give-aways.  Perhaps the new year will see more of those!

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Okay, I had to laugh at myself.  This morning I typed  "Final Mini Christmas Give-Away."  Nothing "mini" about Christmas.  Switched around the post title to read better!!! 

Third Mini Give-Away Winner

I worked late tonight, then stopped to get something to eat.  Geez, it's cold here!  It's forty something - and WET!  That always makes it seem colder!

Anyway, I've eaten, quickly walked Penny, and convinced her to pull a name out of the bag!  It's silly to do that instead of random number generator, but it's fun to watch her stick her head in sniffing around for treats! 

The name she pulled out of the bag tonight is ........

Janet of A Hugs Delight. 

Congrats, Janet.  Send me an email and I'll get these off to you tomorrow.  Oh, and I hope your kitties aren't offended that a dog pulled your name!! :)

In the morning I'll post the final give-away before Christmas.  It'll be a short turn-around on this one, so stay tuned!!

Another Mini Give-Away

Since the last two mini give-aways were patterns, Penny suggested we throw a little fabric in the mix.

Here are two charm packs of Simplicity by 3 Sisters for Moda.

I love these soft colors.  I'm thinking they might work well in one of the Snibbles patterns or maybe ... well, there are tons of possibilities!

After Christmas I plan on getting back on track with my Short Lister projects.  I squared up two quilts today and will attach the bindings tomorrow.  Then I can sit and enjoy the stitching, my favorite part of making a quilt.  I have three quilts to bind!

I've been thinking a lot about things I'd like to learn to do in the new year.  Every year I say I'm going to do this or that, and make goals, lists, etc., but next year I'm going to keep it simple and focus on learning something new. 

So in the new year I want to learn to hand quilt.  I've tried it a time or two, but mostly that was when my shoulder was all screwed up and before I had the replacement hardware installed.  Now there's really no excuse not to just do it!  One or two small projects will probably be on the agenda to learn on before moving to a large project.  Anyone with me?

Leave a comment about some quilting technique you'd like to learn to do in the new year.  Maybe it's something simple that you've just never taken the time to sit down and figure out.  Maybe it will be learning to work with wool.  Or perhaps learning needleturn applique.  I know everyone has something they'd like to learn!

We'll pick a winner on Tuesday, 12/18/12, when I get home from work.  Be sure to leave contact information in your comment if it's not linked to your blog.

There will be one more quickie give-away before Christmas, and it might be a good one!  At least that's what Penny whispered to me tonight!

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NOTE:  I just finished sewing on three bindings!!  Lots of hand stitching to do this week!

Pattern Winner!

Well, this morning's post was a bust.  I managed to get Penny to grab a slip of paper out of the bag by dropping a doggy treat in there.  Then I managed to get the paper away from her before she ate it.  Then I took a picture of it and got that ready to post.  Then my internet went out again.  It was off last night and teased me for a bit this morning, but went kaput when I needed it most.

So I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way ... with no pictures! 

The winner of the Raining Cats & Dogs in Redwork by Anne Sutton of Bunnyhill Designs is .....

DARLENE!

Congrats!  Email me with your snail mail address and I'll get it off to you tomorrow!

Thanks, everyone, for leaving a comment to enter.   I'll get another give-away up in the next day or two.

Second Christmas Give-Away

Organizing has its benefits!

This pattern is Raining Cats & Dogs in Redwork by Anne Sutton of Bunnyhill Designs.  Here's the link to her site with a better picture of the pattern.

I love this pattern.  So much that I bought two of them!  Hey, you can't say I don't do my best to help the economy, right?

Just leave a comment about what you'd like Santa to leave under your tree this Christmas.  That wouldn't be hard for me.  I want to go somewhere really neat and special for the holidays.  A plane ticket, please, Santa!!

Penny will do this drawing on Wednesday 12-12-12 in the morning - hopefully.  If Penny sleeps in that day, we'll do it in the afternoon.  Either way, it'll be on the 12s!

I have a 7:00 hair appointment this morning.  Thought it would get me up and moving on a weekend when I have a ton of things to do.  We'll see how that works out for me!

Good luck, everyone.  I like the little give-aways.  Might do more of those this year if you all agree with me that they're quick and fun.

Carrie Nelson and the Red Cross

Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company is reducing her quilt stash - for a very worthy cause!

Carrie decided that she could help the Red Cross aid the victims of Superstorm Sandy by auctioning off five quilts.  All proceeds go to the Red Cross.

If you'd like to bid on and possibly obtain one (or more) of Carrie's quilts, please visit her blog.  You'll find all the details and pictures of these gorgeous quilts.

Thank you, Carrie, for your generosity.

And, yes, I have placed my bid(s).  I would love to add a Miss Rosie quilt to my teeny collection of quilts by designers!  It would be in VERY good company!

It's Sew Emma Pattern Winner

Yes, it's four thirty something a.m. and I'm awake.  Didn't sleep well last night.  Well, I was sleeping well until the phone rang ...... I was still asleep when I talked to them.  After going downstairs for a bit, I felt I should call them back.  :)

Anyway, thanks for entering in the drawing for the Patchwork Forest pattern by It's Sew Emma.  I had to let the random generator do its thing this morning.  Penny is still snoring, and I thought I could pick a name by just reading through them.  That didn't work because I wanted everyone to win and I only had one pattern!

The winner is Cathy of Blueberry Patch. 

Congrats, Cathy.  Please email me and I'll get the pattern off to you ASAP.  I know you won't make it for this Christmas - although you're accomplishing a whole bunch lately - but maybe we can both make ours next year!

How's It Going?

It's been busy busy here this week, but not an iota of quilting going on.  (insert frowny face here)  I hope the other Short Listers are getting more done than I am!

Saturday I got up bright and early, got laundry going, unloaded the dishwasher, and loaded boxes in the car.

These are all going in the mail.  Unfortunately, by the time I got the rest of the errands done, my mailing place was closed.  I'll call today to see if they're open.

By the way, I love those Fat Quarter Shop boxes!  I have been stockpiling them so I wouldn't have to look for boxes this month!  They're sturdy, easy to tape shut -- but the best part is when they arrive on my doorstep, they have the most luscious fabric in them!!

Speaking of FQS, did everyone take advantage of their h-u-g-e sale last week!  I did!  I looked around for a whole day until I decided what to get.  Kits are appealing to me right now since so much of my fabric has been temporarily tubbed up.

I try to make at least one Christmas quilt a year, and I fell in love with the It's Sew Emma pattern, Patchwork Forest.  This one will be fun and easy to do, which translates into maybe I'll get it finished by Christmas 2013!!

Isn't it adorable?!!

I also picked up another It's Sew Emma pattern, Color Wheel. 

I love the It's Sew Emma patterns.  These are patterns designed by Kimberly and her staff at FQS and they're all wonderful.  I love them so much that I joined the club!  The patterns are tested multiple times before they're published, so I feel very secure in chopping up fabric using their recipes!  Color Wheel happens to be a free pattern that Kimberly has offered.  I always forget to check out the free pattern section!!

In the spirit of Christmas, I thought I would have small give-aways at least once a week for the next three weeks.  Today is the Patchwork Forest pattern.  I already had one and then got another one in the kit.  So if you're interested in this pattern, leave a comment saying you'd like to be in the drawing.  Penny will pick a winner on Thursday morning, 12/6. 

Speaking of Penny - she's barely speaking to me now.  A trip to the vet yesterday for a shot, a bath and a manicure.  She wouldn't even look at me when they brought her out.  The little snot!! When we got home, I realized that the Christmas bandana they had tied around her neck was bothering her, but she wouldn't come to me to remove it.  I let her stew on that for a while, just ignored her.  It took about an hour!  Once that was off, she was a little happier but is still copping an attitude! 

I need to remind her that Santa is making his list of who is naughty and nice!!