Some Stitching

I finished the stitching part for three of my little projects. Not sure what or where Aunt Millie will end up, but I sure love her. She is found in The Flower Patch book by Bronwyn Hayes. The redwork teacup is Bea's BOTM for August. And the cats cross stitch I will make into a little scissor case. The chart for the cats is a freebie offered here.

I've been sewing the last of the all little, dark log cabins. Should have a picture of that after the week-end.





Connie W. is having a 'Just Because' giveaway on her blog. The prize is still a mystery.
Eileen made a cute, little scrappy quilt to celebrate her first blogaversary. Check it out here.



Tami is having a 'green' giveaway although the prizes are blue. She has a knit dishcloth, cotton dishtowel and some cloth napkins for giveaway.


My red hibiscus began blooming this week. I kept noticing other yards where the flowers were open, but mine just had buds until now. They are so huge and pretty!

BBB & More Giveaways

We camped in our tent on Saturday night after a fun family day of Beer, Badminton & Barbeque. (BBB) Our extended family began this sporting event in 1979, but it's been twenty years since the last one. Our wonderful hosts, Brian and Colleen, had four courts set up for the singles and doubles games. They had a trampoline and in the middle of their backyard was a pond with a pontoon. We filled the pole barn with food and started our tournament. Everything was going well until the monsoon rain arrived. I think it lasted for 1 1/2 hours. Of course, a 'little' rain wasn't going to prevent us from finishing our games. We played until dark and awarded trophies to the new champs. A giant campfire kept us toasty warm until we turned in for the night. Several of us decided to camp rather than drive home after the long day. OOOOW! It's been many, many years since I've slept in a tent, although slept is used very loosely here. I'm still sore and tired, but it was a fun get-together.

On the way home, I snapped this picture of a field nearby full of sunflowers. Isn't it a glorious sight? They're smiling at everyone who passes by.



More giveaways!

Jessie in Singapore is celebrating a blogiversary by giving away a gorgeous scissors holder and fob.

Vicki has a lovely assortment of gifts to celebrate her 200th post.

Amy offers a cute bag and lots of extra goodies to celebrate her 100th post. Hurry, as this one ends on Wednesday.

Gina is celebrating 200 posts by giving away mystery package.

Mar has yet another giveaway to celebrate her blogiversary. Go see the cute bag she has pictured.

And to celebrate her new sewing room, click on over to Calidore's blog where you could be the winner of a bag, a heart needle case, a camel scissor fob, three hand dyed fat quarters and a skein of Edmar Iris thread which is perfect for stitcheries.

Blocks, Flowers & Even More Giveaways

The orange and blue fabrics have been removed and new blocks were sewn from the remaining parts. So far I have 36 little blocks that measure 6 1/2" unfinished. So I will end up with two smaller quilts that I like instead of one bigger quilt that wasn't speaking kindly to me. I'm still happy that I did the mystery as it gave me a chance to use those rulers that Bonnie recommended.

Here are a few of the remaining flowers outside. It's been dry this week and they are crying for water. The flowers are black eyed Susans, clematis, an obedient plant, and cat plants. What? Oh, I threw those in to see if you were paying attention. I found the wooden cat plants at a garage sale not too long ago. Aren't they just the cutest?

And I keep finding giveaways in blogland. Here's the latest:







At Molly's Place you can win a box of fabric scraps.

Catherine from Willow Valley Store is celebrating 10,000 visitors. She is giving away patterns.


Karol-Ann has filled two bags full of fabric scraps that need new homes.

Susan is a new blogger who is starting a boxy star quilt. She decided to celebrate with a giveaway.

Kim is giving away a Schnibbles pattern on her blog.


Helena has a wonderful stitchery for her giveaway! UPDATE: Helena has added another wonderful prize. Click on over and be sure to comment on both posts.

Mar is celebrating her 100th post by giving away a bundle of 'perfectly precious' purple fat quarters.

More celebrations

Tuesday addition ... just found another... Amanda is celebrating 100 posts with a give-away, too.

Addition #2

Gudrun is celebrating a new pattern that she designed for the Minnesota Statewide Shop Hop by giving away a complete kit!

Addition #3

How about a goodie bag of fabrics and Threaded Pear patterns from Quilter's Buzz?

Lurline is celebrating her 200th Post by offering a beautiful cathedral window bag for a lucky commenter.

Heather from Anka's Treasures is giving away a pattern and book.

Debi is also celebrating her 200th post. She has charm packs, a book and spools of thread for prizes.

Bonnie's Get Ready for Fall Giveaway is a lovely bag, perfect for the season.

Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville is getting ready for the Labor Day mystery quilt. Check out her blog for more details.

Friday evening

Celebrating 600 posts on her blog, Suzanne is throwing a party and having a giveaway.

On our way to South Lyon on Monday, we passed a tree that had been carved with an eagle at the top, a fish, a rabbit, a baby eagle and cattails. The carver was a doctor, but I didn't write his name down. It was an awesome piece of art along the roadway.







Connie ordered us each puzzles from the Bennington Museum depicting the Dear Jane quilt. The museum in Vermont is home to the original Dear Jane. We were expecting the usual size puzzle box, but how cute is this? They also sell large posters of the quilt as well as mugs.

A Finish & More

I finished a Little House Needleworks x stitch a few days ago. This pattern was a Spring RAK (Random Act of Kindness) sent from Andrea in the UK. I love the Little House patterns.

Connie and I joined another club at our LQS. This one is called "Carry All Chicks" and will meet the first Saturday of the month. The cost was only $5.00 for the whole year and that included a charm. Each month we are given a free pattern and the option to buy the pattern for the month. They consist of either purse or tote patterns. Our shop has its own pin and charms are added for the different clubs or retreats, etc. in which you participate. The little purse is for the Carry All Chicks, the cottage is for the shop and the apron is our Clothesline Club charm. Aren't they adorable? There's a bit of a contest going on between some of the patrons and employees to see who can collect the most charms.


Yesterday was Bee day but instead of sewing we took a road trip. There's a quilt shop in South Lyon that was featured in the latest Quilt Sampler magazine called Lake St. Mercantile. They carry lots and lots of Jo Morton fabrics and also the Minick and Simpson fabric lines from Moda. You get a 25% discount on your birthday, including a week before or after. I qualified as mine was last Wednesday. The new Jo's Classics made up most of my purchase. We had a fun time perusing the shop and I made good use of my discount. Laurie Simpson was in the shop and was busy cutting kits for the gorgeous Lone Star quilt she designed that is featured on page 73 in the October issue of AP&Q Magazine.


I hauled out a few batiks from my stash today and made this star block called Double Friendship Star. The pattern is from Marcia Hohn's Quilter's Cache website. Batiks were never going to be part of my stash, but little by little they crept into my sewing room. How do they do that? The stack isn't very large, but there's enough variety for a great scrap quilt.

Trying to keep up with the give-aways. Here's the latest:

Joanna has a double celebration for her first year blogiversary and 100 posts.

Melly & Me has two wonderful prizes offered on their blog.

And last, but certainly not least, Cheryl at Polka Dots and Rick Rack is celebrating her one year blogiversary with a terrific give-away.

I really appreciate all of the border advice given to me. No decision yet on my choice, but I didn't go back to get the nine patch polyester quilt at Goodwill.

And the Give-aways Continue

Celebrating her 100th post - here.

Celebrating her 100th post - here.

Finally, her 3rd give-away - here.

The Forgotten Giveaway

It's not that I remembered, but when I saw it posted on another blog...well, the light bulb turned on. So to celebrate fifty posts, click on over to Farmyard Crafts and sign up for the drawing.

Thank you for all of the suggestions on what border fabric to use. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I do appreciate your opinions.

Border search

Today, I've been digging in my stash for borders and have found some possibilities. I'd welcome your thoughts on whether any of these should be contenders or immediately put back on the shelf. I will also add a narrow border of either red or dark brown (like in the blocks) before the final border. Here are six choices. Please tell me your favorite.
(excuse the toes in the one pic)










































































Yesterday we stopped at a Goodwill Store and I saw this huge and heavy nine patch quilt made from many different polyester fabrics. It was only $3.00 and I put it into my cart for a brief moment. I decided a photo would be enough. Now I'm wondering if I should go back...

Crushed OC

I tried. I really tried to like my Orange Crush blocks together. In the end, I just couldn't wrap my thread around them. My UFO pile is already too large, so I didn't want the blocks to end up in that pile. I was pleased with the star blocks, though. Since there were thirty of them, I pieced them together. Side by side, they produced a secondary pattern that gives some movement to the piece. Once the borders are added it will make a nice throw sized quilt. I might call it my Crushed OC.



In the garden, we are beginning to enjoy some of the grape tomatoes that are ripening. Not too many, yet, but I'm sure they'll be overflowing this basket soon. They are perfect to pop into your mouth for a quick snack. We have a few pickles and some sunflowers besides the tomatoes. Neither of us wants to keep the garden up anymore although we like the benefits of having one.





And finally, our loyal kitties keeping guard over the backyard. (or sleeping) We don't see them side by side too often in the summer months, so I had to snap a picture. Also, Jasper isn't always keen on sharing whatever space he is occupying at the time. They do get along well together and are great entertainment when they chase each other through the house.

I wanted to mention another give-away I found, too, but do you think I can remember where I saw it? Stay tuned in case my memory shows up later.

Time for Secret Santa Christmas Swap

It can't be time to sign up for the Secret Santa Christmas Swap already, can it? Yes, it is! Click on over to Donna's blog and read all about it.