Sunday Samplings...

Congratulations to Pat M. - she is the recipient of my latest giveaway - I have already e-mailed Pat with the details. Thank you to everyone who entered the "Extra Special Giveaway" - thank you to the Rafflecopter widget for organizing the entries and randomly choosing a winner - and a very special thank you to Rina for providing the inspiration and zippered project bag for the prize! If you didn't win this time, please don't be discouraged - there will be more giveaway opportunities in the future...

Today, I will be in my sewing studio working on several commissioned quilting projects - it is the perfect day to spend sewing and quilting...and who knows, I may just get in some model stitching this evening! My fingers will be keeping busy...

...and before I forget...for those of you who have been asking about Simba and Schatzi - they are getting along better each day...and yes, Schatzi is growing like a weed - she isn't even a year old yet and is already around the 80-pound mark! Here they are, side by side, waiting for dad to finish making their Kong treats...

Schatzi LOVES the snow and cold...here she is (our "baby" girl), playing outside during a recent snow storm...and yes, she is starting to grow into those ears!

...Simba, on the other hand, rather be curled up inside on my quilt...and I can't blame him...

Enjoy your day...and I will be back with more creative inspiration soon!

An Extra Special Giveaway

On occasion, I receive a message from a blog friend/follower telling me that my posts and projects gave them motivation and/or inspired them to expand their creativity...those are messages I am thrilled to receive! Recently, I heard from Rina - she is an avid cross stitcher who has followed my blog for a few years - she told me a wonderful story about how my blog and Etsy shop inspired her to take a sewing class. You see, she had be admiring my sewing/quilting projects and had ordered one of my project bags...when her new project bag arrived, she decided she would like to be able to make them for herself in different sizes and she would like to be able to finish some of her cross stitched items into pillows...so she decided to take a sewing class. She proceeded to tell me - "one three-week course was extended into a nine-week course...my husband bought me a Pfaff sewing machine for my birthday, and I was on my way!!"...she told me "sewing was fun....and quilting was a natural progression - super-fun! How had I lived this long without my sewing machine?? And fabric, well, fabric was, and is, downright addictive!" - I think many of us can agree with that statement!! Rina told me how quickly her tastes have changed and how she still enjoys cross stitching, but right now her passion is for quilting and she even shared a couple photos of her beautiful quilt blocks with me.

So what does all this have to do with a giveaway?? Well, Rina still had that project bag she purchased from my Etsy shop (click to see more photos and details)...and it is still brand new...and since her taste in fabric has changed and she was not going to be using it, she wanted to know if I would like to give it away to one of my blog followers. Well, of course I would! I know many of you are going to be excited about this giveaway, because this particular zippered project bag uses popular sampler print fabric from the Rhubarb & Ginger Collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda for the outside and a floral print from the Madeira Collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda for the lining - and both of these fabrics are long retired! The zippered project bag is approximately 14" W x 10.25" H and is the perfect size for taking your entire needlework project on the go...it will easily hold a standard pattern/booklet (8.5" x 11"), along with fabric, threads, and tools.
...and since Rina was generous enough to supply the zippered project bag, I thought I would add a couple charts to the giveaway, as well...how's that for a BRD prize??!

I am so thrilled Rina decided to message me and share her story (and allow me to giveaway her zippered project bag to one of my blog readers) - I have a feeling we are going to be great faraway friends, as we share a passion for many of the same things. Rina has an Etsy shop called Stitcherina that specializes in quilting fabrics (many of which are retired) - check it out, you may find something you have been searching for...

Giveaway Fine print:
As this giveaway relates to those inspired/motivated by my blog, only followers (current and new) are eligible - after you tell me how you follow, you will have four more entry opportunities! One winner will be chosen randomly and will receive the zippered project bag shown and two Blue Ribbon Designs charts of their choice from my current catalog. International entries are welcome. You must use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter - no e-mail entries will be accepted. The giveaway is open until 11:59 PM CST Saturday, February 22, 2014 and the recipient will be announced on Sunday, February 23, 2014. No prize substitutions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have been inspired by my blog, I would love to hear from you...I always enjoy getting messages from my readers!

Birthday Blessings

I received an incredible birthday package from my very dear friend Robin this past week, so I have a few more inspiring/creative birthday gifts to share with you. You should have seen me smiling when I opened these packages - Robin knows me extremely well and spoils me beyond belief! She sent me another gorgeous cross stitch piece - she does BEAUTIFUL work - and this design is perfect for me...a quilt block with birds!! It is finished as a stand-up with gorgeous quilting fabric on the back - it is LOVELY and I am extremely touched.

She also sent me some fabulous fabrics for my stash and a new book. Robin knows I adore mini quilts, so the book Simply Charming Minis from Moose on The Porch Quilts is right up my alley - there are 16 mini quilts included ranging from 13" - 21" and they are all made with scraps and/or charm squares - several of them are already on my "must make" list! The fabric included a gorgeous panel and a 1/2 yard of fabric from the American Beauty Collection by Beth Logan for Henry Glass & Co., Inc....along with several other marvelous prints that fit nicely in my fabric collection...

...and, as if all that wasn't way more than enough, she included a new squirrel for my collection...a miniature pewter squirrel pincushion. It is just shy of 1.25" tall and is completely adorable...I put two 1" applique pins in it and they almost look too big...it is just the cutest thing!

I had a wonderful birthday - my heart is full - it was a fantastic week and I am so grateful to all my family and friends - you all spoiled me rotten and I feel like a princess - thank you!

This afternoon, Travis and I are headed to his parents house for one final birthday celebration...his mom is making her homemade pizza (my favorite)...

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend...

Topsy Turvy

Remember these fun mugs that I am totally obsessed with??

Well, I heard from many of you asking where they came from and who makes them...and I had absolutely no information - one was a gift and one came from a local gift shop...neither had a tag or information, so I had very little insight to share...

...but last week, look what arrived from my very dear friend Terri for my birthday (yep, she knows me well!)....

...four more adorable mugs...a turtle, owl, butterfly, and pig...and guess what...they had tags! The are called Topsy Turvy Mugs and are made by Midwest-CBK...and if you do a Google search for "Topsy Turvy Mugs", there are TONS of them! Now I have a wish list - I just have to find a place that has them locally or order them online...the first one on my list is this springtime rabbit - yep, I have to have her...hopefully I will be able to track one down (I'll keep you updated)...

I know they are goofy...even my own mother thinks I am completely crazy...but for some reason they make me smile...plus, isn't it always fun to have something to collect and look for???...hmmmm...I wonder if there is a squirrel....

O'fish'ally Fun!

I'm not one to make a big fuss for Valentine's Day - I usually send a handful of cute cards to friends...and make a nice dinner for my husband...nothing over-the-top. Travis and I don't "go big" for Valentine's Day anymore - it was different when we were dating or when he could send me flowers at an office - but now, after quite a few years of marriage, the mushy stuff has long gone by the wayside (which is fine by me). However, this year, I was inspired by a blog post over at Lil' Luna to do something fun for my hubby. You see, he has a couple big fishing trips planned in the next several months and the talk around our house seems to be about fishing reports and rods and reels (and pretty much anything fishing related)...so when I saw the "Reel U In Valentine" a few weeks ago, I just knew I had to make him a tackle box filled with treats. I picked up the tackle box organizer a few weeks ago and started hunting for "fishing" treats...I found some really fun candies, including (unbelievably) Sour Brite Octopus...of course I got some Swedish Fish (in red and assorted colors) and Gummi Worms...and I had to get a box of Whoppers, because you know on his fishing trip he wants to catch a "Whopper". I looked everywhere for Gummi frogs, but couldn't find any in the city of Des Moines (bummer!)...but I think I got a pretty good assortment of sweet treats. I decided to play with the label for the tackle box just a bit - combining a couple that Lil' Luna has for free download (I did this in Photoshop) to make it more "me". After filling the tackle box and applying the label, I tied the Whoppers (they wouldn't fit inside one of the compartments) to the top of the box with sea blue silk ribbon...I thought it turned out pretty darn cute! ....and the verdict?? - I'm pretty sure he loved it - especially the fact I put some thought into it...

I hope you are enjoying the Valentine's Day and that you are inspired to do something a little fun for a loved one!

Wool Wonders

It is another cold/snowy day in Iowa, so I thought I would brighten things up a bit by sharing a couple amazing wool pieces with you. It is no surprise that I have a love for birds and owls...and my good friend Kimber shares my owl obsession - in fact, I think she loves them more than I do (if that is even possible)!...so when I opened a box of birthday goodies from Kimber, I was extremely touched to get a couple pieces of her wool art - including an owl portrait. Kimber's wool portraits are AMAZING...so amazing, that one is featured in the latest issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine (visit Kimber's blog to read all about it!). I think what I love most about this particular piece is that she created it with her very favorite colors and I can't help but think of her and smile each and every time I look at it....and isn't the frame absolutely perfect?! In addition to the owl portrait, she made me the most GORGEOUS wool button with earthy colors...yep, she designed it too - she's crazy talented...I love the added touch of the three little beads! This handmade shank button measures 1.5" in diameter...and I just have to find the perfect use for it...but for now, I'll admire it lovingly on the sunshiny yellow card.  Kimber included several other owl and bird gifts in my box of treasures...including some fun notepads, labels, a glass ornament, some fabrics...even my birthday card was a pop-up card with owls in a tree and the box was wrapped with adorable owl paper.

Yes, I truly have the best friends - and I am so blessed that they share their talents and hearts with me...

Cross My Heart

I continue to work on BRD deadlines and projects, but as I promised myself, I am still making time to sew and quilt....it keeps me refreshed and definitely lowers my stress level. I am still playing with the newest AccuQuilt dies - specifically, the dies in the fall "stash buster" collection. There were twelve new GO! dies in the last release...including the one I have been focusing on for a couple days - the GO! Snowball (6" Finished). The classic snowball block is quite versatile - and although from a distance, it can look like a round circle, it is actually an octagon with a triangle in each of the four corners. I decided to work on a Valentine quilt using the 6" snowball blocks for an appliqué base - I didn't use a pattern, just created/designed my own - which I titled "Cross My Heart". I dug through my fabric stash (fabrics are mostly from the Winsome Collection by Nancy Halvorsen for Benartex) and started out by cutting and piecing nine snowball blocks...the the GO! Snowball  die makes it incredibly easy to make this block with little fabric waste...the octagon and the coordinating triangles are on the same die...and the dog ears are cut off the triangles, allowing the corners to match up perfectly for piecing! All the measuring and calculating is done for you...

After piecing the snowball blocks, I went through my AccuQuilt dies and choose some fun Valentine shapes. I did all the appliqué stitching on my sewing machine using various sizes of blanket stitch....then added 2" strip borders and cornerstones. 

And after quilting and binding, here's the final result...my 21" x 21" Cross My Heart wall hanging...I added a sleeve to the back and it's hanging in time for Valentine's Day!

Tonight it is back to model stitching...it is still bitter cold, so I plan to curl up in my warm stitching nest with my favorite quilt and spend some time with my needle...

Books and Blessings

I have gotten a bit behind on my blog posts...and I have so many creative and inspiring things to share with you! I have been doing more stitching and sewing - having lots of fun in my studio...plus I am celebrating a birthday this month and I have received some really artistic and crafty gifts I can't wait to tell you about...each and every day has been full of beauty and surprises.

Last Thursday, I received a bright and cheerful gift in the mail from my fabulous friend Elizabeth - a lovely needlepoint scissor case! This triangular, pink and orange poppies scissor case was just what I needed to see during this long, hard winter. Inside, there is a ribbon to attach a pair of scissors - and I found the perfect pair in my collection...I just love this...

Then I got to start off my weekend right with "Friendship Friday"...yep, it was time for lunch with my BFFs Mary and Lorrie...and this time Kimber was able to join us too! We met at a local restaurant for a little food and fellowship (always my favorite Friday of the month). I had no idea the girls planned to celebrate my birthday, so when they showered me with gifts, I was a bit emotional and overwhelmed. I feel so blessed to have these three beautiful, strong, inspiring women in my life - they are all truly incredible. We enjoyed a long lunch and it was exactly what I needed. I have to share just a few of the creative gifts they had for me...

Lorrie made me tear-up with a unique stitched pocket watch...I just adore the little woman with a crown (Give Love by The Little Stitcher) that is Cross Stitch over-one...and the two vintage buttons are a great accent. I placed it on a piece of Valentine fabric my friend Mary gave me...

Lorrie also gifted me with an incredible book that she just knew I would love - The World of Wooden Bobbins: The Story of Old Wooden Textile Bobbins by Graham Fellowes (Editor), David Harban (Photographer) - ISBN 10: 0964672006 / ISBN 13: 9780964672000. This book is an excellent resource for bobbin collectors, as it contains extensive history and particulars...plus, there are more than 300 images (many color). It is extremely detailed, while remaining easy to read...and I have found it quite interesting to look up the bobbins in my collection and read about their history and uses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in wooden bobbins...

I also received a wonderful book from Mary - Sonoran Borders: Threads of Friendship by Vickie LoPiccolo Jennet. This beautifully illustrated book follows the fictional journey of two young girls, Feliciana and Emily, who met in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona Territory more than a century ago. Although their time together was brief, their friendship spans a lifetime through correspondence and a shared love of needlework. The book includes 11 inspiring projects with unique finishing ideas...and now that I have had a chance to look through this fabulous book, I must have the author's newest release A Schoolroom Alphabet: 12 Cross-Stitch Projects Based on an Antique Handkerchief...it is definitely going on my wish list!

Mary also gave me a Thirty-One Round-About Caddy filled with tons of treasures and goodies...yes, she spoiled me, as she always does! I really like this sturdy caddy with numerous pockets - it is extremely versatile and I can think of a half a dozen uses for it...plus it is black and white polka dot...too fun!!

I have so much more to share - but I will save some for another day...just wait until you see what my extremely talented friend Kimber made for me...and I received two more packages in the mail today (which I will save and open later in the week). My heart is full - I am feeling extremely blessed and beyond spoiled....