Happy 2010 !!

I wish you a safe, healthy and happy New Year from my family to yours. Welcome 2010!

Hugs,

Pat

THANK YOU KAAREN!!

On Christmas Eve I found another surprise in my mail box. It was from Kaaren over at The Painted Quilt. At this point I was shaking. Kaaren has a wonderful creative talent she shares with all of us.

The card she sent was so her! She loves sheep. I was not surprised to find them on her Christmas card.

I was surprised and shocked to she what she sent me. I saw it on her blog and loved it. She designed it for her December FFF (First Friday Freebie). Yes, she sent me her Santa Stocking. I couldn't believe it. I still can't. When I opened it I just stared at it. My Family thought that something was wrong with me. It's beautiful. Her stitches are all so even and perfect. I love her fabric choices. I love this stocking. Thank you Kaaren.

There was still more in the bottom of the box all wrapped in foam. I took it out to find a Patriotic Santa painted on an old Coke bottle. It doesn't happen very often, but I was speechless again. It is absolutely beautiful and will be staying out all year. I am not sure where yet, but it will be displayed all year. Look at the detail. Love it! Thank you so much Kaaren I will treasure them always. Don't forget to go over and visit Kaaren on Friday for her next FFF. I can't wait.

Yesterday I had gift exchange with "my real life friends". I will be back soon with pictures of our gifts. Until then keep stitching!

Hugs,

Pat

Thank You Blogging Friends!

Blogging Friends are the best! I was very surprised to find this package in my mail box just before Christmas. Mary over at Quilt Hollow posted about doing some Random Acts of Kindness. (RAK) Never in a million years did I expect to be a recipient of one. Inside I found a lovely zippered bag. I love the fabric. It is full of sewing notions. Perfect for a sewing pouch. Inside the pouch .... quilting thread, a note pad and an emery board.

Thank you so much Mary. You made my day! I love it all. That was so nice of you.

Another package arrived in my mail box from another blogging friend. This was also a surprise. It was from Kris over at Dandelion Quilts.

Inside was a snowman spreader and a spinach dip mix along with two dish towels that she machine embroidered. They are beautiful! Thank you so much Kris. I am going to use the dip mix on New Years Eve. It is my granddaughters favorite dip.

Again, thank you so much Mary and Kris. I really appreciate your kindness.

I will be back tomorrow with more blogging buddy goodies.

Hugs,

Pat

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I wish each of you a safe, healthy and Merry Christmas.


Hugs,

Pat

A Day With Barb and Alma...fun,fun,fun!

In my last post I asked if anyone knew the lovely lady in the picture. No, it wasn't me! That was Carrie Nelson from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. She took classes with us at Country Sampler . She is just as sweet as sweet can be. Love her patterns too!


On to our day with the Blackbird Design girls. This was my favorite day of the Gathering. Barb and Alma were so nice ......and funny! They kept us laughing most of the day. You can tell that they are great friends as well as great designers. They played off , teased and told stories on each other. They even laughed at each other.



This is Barb.




This is Alma.

This is the fabric, Worn and Loved II by Jeanne Horton from Country Sampler that was in our kit for a beautiful table runner.

The runner was very long and lovely. It was difficult to get a picture of the whole runner with everyone admiring it. I took some pictures in sections.

Alma also suggested using the runner across the foot of your bed or across the pillows. I loved that idea.

From the scraps left over from the runner Alma made this pincushion. I love that button! She also gave some hints on machine applique with hexagons and everyone got to use HER

machine to try them out.

Here is the pocket that they designed for our aprons.

If you read their blog, this is the box that Alma did a tutorial on. I love it and I am going to make some.

She photo copied fabric for the inside of the box and the lid. The outside is fabric.

Next are pictures of their trunk show. These are only a few pictures of the beautiful pieces that they brought along.

I love this quilt. I had to go and buy the book right after the show!

Another favorite.

Beautiful!!!

OMGosh!!!

If only I had more time!!!

Someday....love it!!

I have the pattern for this project and all the supplies in my closet. I had forgotten all about it.

This years ornament in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Book.

I am going to stitch this one.

I bought the supplies to stitch this pattern too!

Here they all are in one picture. We were so lucky to be able to attend this Gathering with such fantastic people. I am sure that we will attend another Gathering one year.












Early Sunday morning we were back on the road with "Carmen" heading back to the Madison Airport.






What a great time we had. Next time we will stay a couple more days and see some of the beautiful state of Wisconsin and their quilt shops! I will be back soon with some of the goodies I bought. Until then keep stitching.

Pat

A Day With Stacy Nash

Our second day at Boxwood and Berries Gathering was spent with Stacy Nash. When we walked into the classroom at Country Sampler we each found a fabric covered box waiting for us. It was so pretty I didn't want to open mine. This is what I found inside.

Three projects. They were all neatly wrapped with lovely photos. We started on the sampler. When the sampler is completed it will be glued to the top of the box.Also included was a small pillow that could be used as a pincushion and two Christmas ornaments.

This is Stacy. She is a very quiet, soft spoken and a bit shy in front of a crowd. One on one she is as sweet as can be. Stacy and her mom had covered all the boxes for us to save some time. She explained how they did them and answered several questions. Next year Stacy is going to have you stitch your project before class so there will be time to do the finishing with her. Great idea!

This is the sampler completed. Isn't it lovely?

The Christmas ornaments.

This little pillow is so sweet.

Here you can see a few of the finished projects that Stacy had stitched and were for sale. She does beautiful work.

Stacy has a new book coming out soon. Projects for her new book were available to drool over. The first picture is of a sewing roll. Love this one. I got the wool and her fabric to make it.

The inside.

A Naughty or Nice Pinkeep Drum. I love the aged look of the berries on the top.

A sewing pouch. Front and back.

This is a little pinkeep or an ornament.

Stacy had a work in progress. I think that this might end up to be her project for our apron pocket.

Stacy again chatting away.

We met so very many lovely ladies at this gathering. Do you know who this one is????

We also made Boxwood Wreaths with Stacy. It was fun to try something new. I don't think that I will go into the business of making them though. The one I made still looks good after being squished and I mean squished in my suitcase. Next time I will tell you all about our day with Alma and Barb from Blackbird Designs. OMGosh!!! Until then keep stitching.

Pat