Happy Valentine's Day 2013

Hope you all have a fantastic day, and your sweetie brings you lots of goodies.

Are these two lovely boxes mine??? NO They are for our girls for Valentines Day.. I always try to make the holidays a little special for the kids and grand kids.. My Son got a box of candy, He loves my peanut brittle and I guess I didn't send enough at Christmas so he got a big box with a surprise inside for him and my daughter in law..

For the daughters that live here we had planned on taking them out to a nice lunch as we do every year.. But one has to work and the other one called to say she is sick..  We will drop Jen's Valentine off today when hubby and I go out for our special dinner.  Mel's husband stopped here last night and picked up the Valentine's for her and the grand kids.  OH Well, nothing goes as planned all the time.

 

As for me and my Valentine..  

What is in  my future, Candy, Flowers, Diamonds, a Coach Purse, NO TO ALL.. 

 My hubby knows me well. he knows what I like.

Flowers wilt and die, candy makes me fat, I have a purse and jewelry, so what is left??  A new car maybe, NO!  a new fridge or stove,  NO!  

 how about a new vacuum, well really he does know never to go that route.. 

 But there is something that you plug in to make it work... A new toy for me, I just love new toys, that is when the new toy is a sewing machine... YEP  got me a new toy... and what a learning curve this machine is going to be.. 

 

If you don't hear from me for awhile, I am in the sewing room with the Do Not Disturb hanging on the door,  trying to figure this machine out...

Hope you all have a great Valentines Day..

 

Well, some of my sewing, embroidery and quilting friends wanted more info on the new toy... so here I am adding a update to my post.  The machine is a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 sewing/embroider/quilting machine.  As for what it does, well as for what it does, I am still reading and learning all the functions of this machine. It is a older model, but there is only 250 hours on the machine, so I know the lady didn't use it that much.  She must have been in some kind of embroidery club as there were projects,  feet,  and hoops  that were never opened. There are also a lot of design disks that still have the shrink wrap on them.. I really wasn't planning on getting another machine type... I thought if I got a new machine it would be to up grade on one of the models I now have, either a Janome, Singer or Brother... BUT this deal was just to good to pass up.. I did join a Husqvarna Viking group so if I need help or information they can give me some insight. I did ask if they know where I can find either the software for 3D design as I have files in other machine formats and need to convert to SHV which is this machine's format. They had some good information.. I just need to check into the programs so I can convert designs to this machine's format. The lady I bought the machine from had 3D but she only sent CD 2 for the program so she is looking this weekend to see if she still has that disk, if not I need to purchase some kind of design software that will format SHV any one have any ideas.

OK up date is done... back to the post

 

 

 

 

Nursing Home Valentine's Day Delivery

This is the second year that members of The World of Charity Stitching Group stitched small hearts that were made into Valentine Cards for the seniors at the nursing home.  Just a small gesture to let these lovely people know that someone still thinks they are special.  One of our members stitched lots of bookmarks that went into each card and some pillows were sent along with some personal care items in little heart bags.

Valentines for the Seniors at the nursing home all ready to go

 

some of the cards WOCS members made for the Seniors

 

 

 

 

Golden Quilters Awards Time to Vote

 

It is time, time to vote that is...

Yes, the voting has begun for this years Golden Quilter Awards.  All the nominees are in, and it is so east to vote for your favorite teachers, products, stores and more..

So take a few minutes and stop by SewCalGal's blog and get your votes in.

As for me I am routing for my nominees

1. Best Quilt Designer

  Barb Gaddy, a wonderful designer, love her octopus baby quilt

 

2. Best Fabric Designer

  Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

 

3. Best Quilt Book Author

Bonnie Hunter

4. Best Teacher/Instructor

 Alex Anderson

5. Best Quilt Store (Physical) Martelli's

http://www.martellinotions.com/index.htm  love the cutters and mats..

6. Best Quilt Store (online)

 I Have a Notion http://ihavea-notion.com/store/// Kelly is always presenting info on what is new in the quilting world.

7. Most Innovative Product (Physical

8. Most Innovative Product (Software)

9.Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (Physical)

Fiskar's Fuse

http://www2.fiskars.com/Crafting/Products/Fuse-Creativity-System/Fuse-Creativity-System-Starter-Set

10. Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (Software)

 

11. Best Quilt Book Published in 2012

 

12. Lifetime Achievement Award

Marianne Fons   of Fons and Porter

 

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-golden-quilter-awards-nominations.html

Spring ???

This weekend will find many of my northern friends and family digging out of snow, lots of snow... I remember those days all to well. There were storms in Indy when we couldn't get out of the door because of snow... and when in PA there were times I had so much snow in my driveway there was no way to dig my way out... and when I did do the digging to clear the path to the mail box then sure enough the plow would come and I would have 4 ft of snow pushed into the space I just cleared..  BUT I am now in the south and last week I saw my first robin in the yard... Today I noticed that there were buds on my trees and my Azaleas were starting to bloom... Blizzard up north, Spring in the South?????   I'm so confused.... LOL

OK, now for a little hint for all my male readers... pay close attention... NEXT Thursday is Valentine's Day... You know February the 14th... so don't wait till the last minute to order flowers, stop by the jewelers or the candy store... You have been given plenty of notice to get it all together for your special someone... don't forget or you will be in the dog house...

 

 

 

 

I just finished a baby quilt for Jen's friend...  I think it is for a baby shower as she did have a deadline on the finish date... But I am way ahead of schedule.

Pooh is still one of the favorites for babies... YEARS ago...like thirty something years ago my friend had decorated her daughters room in Pooh bears and he remains a favorite of mothers today.

 

 

 I thought I would also share the latest group of puppies.. two boys and two girls, they are just so cute..  Our Pom had 4 but Mel's dog had 8 

 

the Poms

 

Dachshund pups

 

and my son called to inform me that I am a puppy Nana... is there such a thing... oh well, he has added Ginger to his family. She is a Golden Lab and by the looks of her big feet she is going to be a big girl..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mardi Gras cakes

We are in Mardi Gras celebration time here in the south, lots of parades every weekend. Beads, tokens, masks are all the fashion around town. There are Balls and Parties every where, so lots of glitz and glamor in their party wear.  We however do tend to avoid the parades and parties, crowds just are not our thing any more. But we might give a little thought about getting a king's cake, they look so good.  To my northern friends a King's Cake is like a big round cinnamon bun with a glaze icing and colored sugar. The three colors of the sugar are Purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power)

Plus there is always a little plastic baby baked inside.. The person who finds the baby must purchase the next King's Cake or host the next Mardi Gras party.

 

 

I kind of like Wilton's Mardi Gras Party Cake...

I think it is just so pretty

 

 

January highlights.

The boys posing or maybe just trying to escape.

There were three boys, each had a personality all his own

The largest puppy  was the bully, The little guy in the middle was the lover, and the white one was our escape artist.

Houdini and Romeo waiting to be picked up in their indoor doghouse.. or maybe I should call it the fun house as most times they would be playing inside and the house would rock and roll all over the house.

 

Thursday the last of the puppies left for his forever home.  So glad they all found good homes to go to, We already miss the little trouble makers. But we had a delivery of 4 more puppies last week, 2 boys and 2 girls.  Three are white and one is a Merle

 

 

 

 

I just finished three baby quilt tops for my charity group. The Teddy Squares were a donation to WOCS and the ABC squares were stitched by a member

 

 

 

 

Now they just need quilted, but my quilting machine is set up in the garage area and it is quite cold there, so I will wait till it gets a little warmer before heading in that direction. 

We are in the process of looking for cabinets to make a table for my quilt frame. We will be giving up the dining room and turning it into a quilting room.  At least the room will be used and not just a room to look at.

 

I also have numerous quilts designed on EQ 7 for the themes WOCS members stitched for... Plus Jenny requested a baby quilt for her friend and Mel wants a new Gown for their Halloween party, yes I said Halloween party, Thankfully she is giving me time to find a pattern for her gown.

 

I still have the quilts to finish for Jen's kids, but again it is cold in the quilting area right now..  This year will be my son's year for quilts. I have him asking his girls what they want for their quilts.

Good thing I like keeping busy.

 

 

 

Golden Quilter's Award press release

Golden Quilter's Awards Show Information

 

It's that time again, Time for the annual Golden Quilter Awards. SewCalGal  at SewCalGal.blogspot.com, hosts this wonderful award show each year to honor the quilters we all know and love. The online world of quilters can nominate their favorite designers, quilters, teachers, and new products. Follow the links to read the press release, then stop back on Feb 9th and nominate your favorites. I have done this part every year and a lot of my nominees have won. Voting starts is February 10th to Feb 28th. So please take a few minutes this year to nominate or vote for your favorites. 

 

I almost forgot, there are prizes to be won too for participating in this years award show.. so get in your nominees, and don't forget to vote.

 

Here are this year's categories

 

1. Best Quilt Designer

 

2. Best Fabric Designer

3. Best Quilt Book Author

4. Best Teacher/Instructor

5. Best Quilt Store (Physical)

6. Best Quilt Store (online)

7. Most Innovative Product (Physical)

8. Most Innovative Product (Software)

9. Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (Physical)

10. Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (Software)

11. Best Quilt Book Published in 2012

12. Lifetime Achievement Award

 

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2013/01/golden-quilter-awards-2013-press-release.html

Good bye 2012, Hello 2013

 

2012 has come and gone and so we are looking forward to another year.  Last year was quite trying for our family but we survived. Here's hoping that 2013 will be a much better, uneventful year for our family.  I hope all the hospital stays are behind us and that every one is healthy this year.

 

As I have done for the past few years, I started my New Year with a New Project... and this year I finished it in record time for me.  She is done and will join the other Dolly Mamas that I have stitched.

 

The Peanut Brittle was a big success.... it was so good..

Mel's husband took it to work and didn't share with anyone not even Melanie/

Jenny said her batch somehow just disappeared.. wonder why... oh yeah, she has all the kids home from school.

Donnie said he was watching the game and his bag just got empty, same thing happened to the second bag.. He didn't share either/  He also said that I really need to make more and send as the two bags wasn't enough.. Poor Chrissy she didn't get any this year.   As for the batch that stayed here.... IT WAS GOOD but it too disappeared, but I shared mine with my husband.  So this weekend we will be picking up more peanuts and I will be making more brittle.

All the out of state boxes made it safe and sound, but two were a day late and arrived the day after Christmas, but that was OK as they had another day to open packages.

 

My year ended on a positive note... We delivered a van full of WOCS items to the nursing home, took numerous quilts to Peggy for Ronald McDonald House and the abuse shelter making their Christmas a little brighter. 

 

Now that the Traditional Pork and Sauerkraut dinner is over and new projects are being started  I look forward to a great year..

 

After all this will be the year that I will make my 100th quilt for my charity group...and this year my birthday will be special too..  it is one of those milestone birthdays, so I plan to celebrate.

 

 

Have a great 2013