Normal v.s. Now

This is how the maple tree in my backyard usually looks at this time of year.

This picture was taken on Oct 30 last year

This is how it looked yesterday.

Oct 30 2011

You just never know what the crazy weather will do.

Thankful Sunday

I am thankful that God is ALWAYS with us. He promises to NEVER leave or forsake us.

This artwork is by Celia Currin, you can find it here.

 Even in those unsure hours, He is faithful. We can trust in HIM always.

What are you thankful for today?

On the Front Page

A gorgeous treasury including my Marie quilted bag made it to the Front Page a few days ago.

Unfortunately, I didn't see it when it was on the front page of Etsy. In fact, I found out about it three days later from a teammate and customer - MySweetieBean (who makes adorable children's clothing and accessories by the way).

The curator of the treasury, Rosalind from PortRepublic, carries wonderful vintage items in her shop like the antique reading glasses pictured below.

Thank you PortRepublic for including me in your lovely treasury!

P.S. - the bag sold yesterday, Hooray!

SNOW - Oh No!

Look what we woke up to this morning:

The leaves have not even finished changing color, and only a few have fallen.

We're not supposed to shovel snow before we rake leaves!

 P.S. - I thought that I was taking pictures, but apparently the little button on my ipod was on video, hence the very short video.  Next time I will put on my glasses.

52 Week Challenge - Week 43

I save the cardboard bolts that fabric comes wrapped around. They come in handy for lots of art projects because of their large, rigid and lightweight work surface. 

This week I used three of them to make a quick bulletin board for my sewing room. 

These cardboard bolts are held together with a few strips of packing tape on the back, and hung by twill tape. Right now the board is hanging on my sewing room door, but eventually it will be mounted on a wall in my craft room. 

I like that it represents my fascination with fabric, and that I can easily tack items to the surface with a pin. If it gets bent or used up, it is simple and quick to replace. 

Use your imagination to visualize this project with ribbon joining the three bolts together, or maybe covering the surface with a fabric sleeve, or with decorative paper or paint. Lots of possibilities here.

If you would like to read about the 52 week project click here.  If you have a project that you would like to link, click on the linky tool below.

Let's get busy, 

NonTeam Blitz Treasuries

Last week, a team I belong to (called the NonTeam) honored my work as a volunteer by featuring items from my shop in a number of treasuries. The NonTeam has weekly treasury challenges that are a lot of fun, and often have a treasury make it to the front page of Etsy. Anyone can join. If you are interested, check out more about the NonTeam here.

   

W.I.P.

My latest work in progress (I have lots of them). This one is on hold at the moment because my main sewing machine is in the shop for maintenance.

Charms & Jellies Quilt

How about you, do you work on one project start to finish? Or do you generally have multiple works in progress?

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for my country - the United States of America.

I am thankful for our history (much of which I am very proud of). I am thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. I am thankful for the size and variety of environments that this country offers - from beach to mountain to desert and plain. And I am thankful for the diversity of people who call this country home. 

I found this wonderful red, white, and blue quilt in ChefMama's Shop on Etsy

I know there are many wonderful places to live around the world. Where do you live, and what are you thankful for?

New in My Fabric Shop

Tonga Treat Minis - 5" squares, 40 in all, two each of twenty different fabrics.

Blueberry and Pomegranate

I also have coordinating Tonga strips, and some yardage as well.

As it so happens, Maria from DreamInspirations, a lovely Etsian who lives in Greece featured one of these minis in a treasury today.

Happy Sewing ♥

P. S. - Watch for a charms and jellies quilt pattern and kit coming soon.

52 Week Challenge - Week 42

This week, I finished a custom order of place mats.  Here they are being packed up and ready to ship out.  Hooray!

What have you been working on this week?  Leave a link below.  I love to see your projects, crafty and otherwise.

P.S.  To learn more about the 52 week challenge, read here.

Treasury Tuesday

September Round Up

Autumn has begun, and the 52 week challenge continues. These are the projects that were linked in September.  You can click on the names below the pictures to go to the blogs and websites of each participant.
 

Fabric Fascination

One Perfect Day

Judy Nolan - This Creative Journey

Maureen Cracknell, Lost Lemonade, Memories for Life, Jan Beane - Life Lessons

I enjoyed seeing every one of these creative works.   Thank you all for sharing your links. 

October is well under way, so....

Let's get busy,

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for a day of rest.  Life is so busy, it seems there is never enough time to do all the things we feel that we should, or want to do. 

Lately I have been taking another look at what sabbath means in the Bible.   I have not finished my study, but have found plenty of food for thought.

What is your idea of a day of rest?  Do you take one?

Thankfully,

P. S. - Doesn't that scene look inviting?  If you are interested in the family size hammock, you can find it here.

Customer Appreciation

Recently I discovered a new favorite blog - Ahhh, Quilting through the Selvage Blog.  After a few emails back and forth with Cynthia, the writer of the blog, I found that she had made a quilt using fabrics purchased from my shop months ago.  Of course I asked if she would allow me to feature her work on my blog, and she said yes!

 I absolutely love her designs!  She calls this one the "Wipey" Quilt because her inspiration was a diaper wipes box.  Be sure to check out her blog for more unique and wonderful quilts, plus a really fun blog to read.

In appreciation,

52 Week Challenge - Week 41

I'm hooked on making these woven mug rugs. They are perfect handiwork for those times I am taking a break from my sewing machine.

These are now available in my kimbuktu shop.

What have you been working on this week? 

Feel free to leave a link to a project you've finished recently.  To learn more about the 52 week challenge, click here.

Treasury Tuesday

Some Treasuries from My Trove:

Autumn in My Yard

I love this time of year, right before the trees turn, in between summer and fall.  

Happy Columbus Day!

Thankful Sunday

Do you find yourself with more good ideas than time or energy to implement them?

A wise man taught me that it is not the idea, but the courage of your conviction, that takes the idea from possibility to a concrete reality.  We all have good ideas, but how many of them do we actually carry out?

Thomas Edison spoke of this dilemna often.  He said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."  He is also often quoted as saying, "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."

And I love this one:

Today, I am thankful for ideas, and I pray for the conviction to carry them out.

What are you thankful for today?

Customer Appreciation

Look at this lovely wreath that Nicole from Nikid2 made with anthology fabrics she purchased from my shop:

You can buy it in her shop.

Nicole also has a fabulous homemade treat shop called Nikid. I can attest personally to the deliciousness of her pecan chocolate clusters.

I love seeing what you all make from your fabrics.

Happy Sewing ♥

  
P.S. - you can get your own bundle of Anthology batiks here.

52 Week Challenge - Week 40

As I referenced in my Monday W.I.P. post, this week's project has been to make up a pattern and kit for a placemat set.  The kit includes everything (except thread) to make a set of four.

Kits and patterns have been a long standing idea in my head, but it has been a bit of a struggle to get this first one implemented.  I have lots more designs in mind, so hopefully the next one will be easier.

What have you been up to this week?  I would love to see what you've been working on.  You can leave a link by clicking on the tool below.  To read more about the 52 week project, click here.

Let's get busy,

Treasury Tuesday

Here are some of my recent favorites:

W.I.P.

The Storm at Sea project has been temporary set aside to work on a placemat set for a custom order. 

These are placemats I've made several times before. In fact, I've recently made up a pattern and kit to sell in this design. You can see a section of my (rather messy) 6 foot sewing table in the photo. I love sewing during the day with light coming in through the window.  As usual I am sewing on my simple and trustworthy Janome.  I own other more expensive machines, but this is the one I use most often.

Thankful Sunday

I am so thankful for health.  What a joy to feel good, to have energy, to be able to work.

And I don't take it for granted.  I am thankful for every day that my husband and I enjoy good health.   Isn't  that a big part of living thankfully - not to take things for granted, to be aware of the blessings all around us.

What are you thankful for today?