That Civil War Look

You have got to go see what I just found through the Quilt Hollow link - here 
She talk about bathing her quilts in a tea bath.  I hope she shares how she does that.  On top of all the good information I always read on Mary's blog, she is one outstanding and gifted long arm quilter.  She has done some of my Schnibbles quilts and they were beautiful when she is finished with them.  Yes, she is so good, I send them clear across the country!

Barbara Brackman's Civil War Blog

Barbara has put together a blog just to "Commemorate the 2011 Sesquicentennial with a Block of the Week".  I even got so excited about finding this blog, that I added the button on my side bar, to give you a permanent link. There now, see that late Christmas present "Blogging for Dummies", is coming in handy!  Well you are in for a treat at these sites.  

Let me know what you think, eh!?

Thoughtful Thursday - Update on Need

Received today from Melinda S.

In my January 13th, 2011 post  I put out a call for help - here - for 
our Knot-y Embroidery Sisters in Queensland, Australia.  I am so thankful for your emails and dropping embroidery supplies on my door step and sending here by mail. I hope more of you are able to spread the word of this great need, no it is not giving blood, yet it is important.  For years these same women in Australia have developed a strong embroidery tradition.  Their talents have reached our shores and we have embraced them whole heartedly.  We can show them we care and are thinking of them.  I am going to share a couple of emails from my dear friends who live in Queensland.




Alison email January 12

Hello there  and so wonderful to get your email.  It is very difficult here - and there's so much devastation. Our relatives were rescued from Murphy's Creek - the worst hit and they are still looking for 2 other families who were simply washed away. Our relatives have only the shirts on their backs and it was a miracle they made it onto their roof. They have their lives and for that we are so so grateful.  I am waiting to be sent into the zone as part of my job includes community recovery - so I have been on the "helping side" before but not had people / relatives / friends who have been caught up in the actual disaster.

It is affecting everywhere - we are safe and high and dry - and so are Lorraine and Keith -  both of us send you a great big hug back across the pond.

Take care.        Ali xxx

It was after reading Ali's email that I realized that there was something that we could do to touch the hearts of the hands hanging down in Queensland.  Her email and Lorraine's email show you the kind and caring, Can Do Women, that they are.


Ali's email January 13

Hi there and that is such a generous idea. I actually get to work in the worst affected areas - and am happy to be the recipient / conduit for you. My address:  Alison George, 169 Niebling Road, Tarome via Aratula, QLD 4309 AUSTRALIA

You tell me where you'd like them to go and I'll make it happen on the ground - if you are unsure of where they should go then I am also happy to coordinate through the various guilds / organisations that do know where the greatest need is ... if that helps.

Your generosity knows no bounds ... thanks Gran it is wonderful of you.

Thanks for your kind thoughts - your sisters in stitchery

ALison (and Lorraine too)

Lorraine's email January 14

Hi Gran,  that's a wonderful idea for a collection of threads and materials for all the unfortunate ladies who have lost so much.  And, because they would have necessary home items to buy first, craft supplies would be right at the bottom of their list.

I am a member of Country Bumpkin in South Australia, who are embroidery suppliers and will act as a collection point for anyone wishing to donate materials and threads, and will contact guilds in the affected areas to distribute them.

Their address is 916 South Road, Edwardstown S. Australia 5039

Alison also has contacts through her quilting group. It would be so devastating to lose everything and just to know people are thinking of them would be a wonderful boost to their moral. 

Where we are there was no danger of flooding but some towns approx. 2 hours away from us had to be evactuted and all homes were distroyed.  It must be so hard to pick up the pieces and start all over especially the elderly.

Hope you and you loved ones are well, Love Lorraine

Please note the address you can directly send to if you wish.  Laurie Becker emailed me she has a contact address and was sending Fat Quarter muslin for embroidery in a box.  Feel free to send your embroidery supplies to:  

Lorraine W., 

c/o Country Bumpkin,  

916 South Road, 

Edwardstown, 

QLD 5039 AUSTRALIA 

or

Alison G., 

169 Niebling Road,

Tarome via Aratula, 

QLD 4309 AUSTRALIA

or

Moi 

Received in the mail today from Lillieanne C.

Any questions please do not hesitate to email me.

• Yes, you can send your partially used floss.  
• Remember all those skeins of floss we gathered during the cross stitch craze - well, that is the kind of stash you can get rid of - see it is a win/win for all of us.
• A Big Thank you to YOU for caring about our stitching sisters in Australia.

Wordless Wednesday

What no words?   

This is going to be hard, eh!?

Word Up - UP

For "Word Up" - Can you believe my word is - "UP", eh?!


MUF'S GIRLS

You know when Kelly announced her word challenge for us in Charming Chatter, she used a cute button with "Word Up" to inspire us to pick a word to reflect on for this year.  Well, right from the first time I read the post, all I could think about was the word "Up".  Now, I am a person who loves words, have been since I was knee high to a grass hopper.  So, what was the matter with me, just "Up", no brain twisting pun or a word  borrowed from 17th century Scotland (and there are plenty of those words spinning around in my head), or no profound word that reflects the meaning of life, etc., etc., etc.  Just "Up" surfacing again and again.  So "Up" it is and I am excited about it.

With getting that off of my chest, phew, I am "Up" to sharing a poem that my sweet Daughter-In-Heart, Tianna, posted in her reflections of 2010 blog post.  Our family has been through so much since the beginning of the year, yet we are all "Up" to the challenges ahead, the fun times, and all the dreams that we dream.  "Up" is a verb to me.  


I do not know the name of the poem, yet the meaning is so beautifully stated - Perhaps the author would consider naming it "Up", eh?!


For every Winter there's a Spring-
   Oh, that's the beauty of the thing!
For ev'ry midnight there's a morn,
   For ev'ry loss a hope is born,
For ev'ry sultry day the dew,
   For ev'ry old year there's a new!

Yes, buds for all the leaves that fall-
   That is the beauty of it all,
New dreams for all the dreams that die,
   For ev'ry night a dawning sky-
For ev'ry heartache, failure, fear,
   Another chance, another year!
                         -Douglas Malloch


Goals for January 

1. Reorganize "The Room" and find places to hide relocated my stash. (Son #3 needs to move back into it during his recovery). 
2. Make a Fermentation list, with looking ahead, due dates and shop sample dates need by dates.
3. Find the colour chart for Callie's embroidered quilt, send to my Daughter-In-Heart (we are making it together).
4. Begin the embroidery on Callie's quilt.
5. Make an "Up" stitchery.
6. Start Jenny's BOM Give Thanks (Make the hanger/base for the monthly sayings.
7. There is so much that I am "Up" too -  take time for rest. 
8. Write shorter and more often on my blog - who wants to read my long windiness - not me, that is for sure.
9. These goals are something that I can accomplish - starting now until the of the month.

Take care and be kind to yourself - you deserve it, especially after reading through all my bather.

Finally Some Pictures ... Son #3

He continues to improve.  (As in, he can swallow more and more and with healing.)  Doc. said, "His throat is like a bomb went off in there.)  The virus was vicious.  I made up a little photo scrap book for you.  The pictures are not of the earlier days in the hospital.  Just from the time that he was, " - able to sit up and take a little nourishment ...".  He tires very easily and is so patient with all the things he can not do and focuses on the things he can do each day.  

Disclaimer - The slide show area is still a work in progress for me.  Anything that you see that is not so great - it is the operator error i.e. I can not figure out how or why I can not change out this intro picture ... Oh, well!!  Sorry.

Customize a free photo slideshow

Thank you for your support, prayers and emails.  Reading them to him has been encouraging especially when he needed that! 

Home - Safe and Sound

Got home about 8:30 pm tonight!  We did not drive through any snow or rain!!!  We did not have some of the problems the doctor prepared us for and our dear sweet guy snored most of the way home.  Snoring never sounded so sweet!!  DH, bless his heart drove all the way.  Thank you for your prayers that lifted us on wings - now I really understand the saying, "On Wings and A Prayer."

You know being a "blogger" I just had to take a peek before heading to bed and also to share with you that we are safely home.  Everyone has been fed, meds. have been given, lights are out and I'll ttyt and share some pictures.

Hugs

He Made It!!!

We just about lost him - his throat was closed down to 5mm - yes, the size of a pencil lead!!!  Since being admitted to the hospital, with all the best of care and medicines, he has made steady improvements.  He is not out of the woods yet, however, the doctor is willing to release him as soon as he is stable enough for the 12 hour drive back home.  We are looking into closing down all of his business matters here in this state  and getting things set up with doctors in our state.  Thank God for good student health insurance.  He is going to need two to three months recovery before he can head back to school.  Your kind words and thoughts have all been read to him and he appreciates your caring about him.  You, my blogging friend, are talked about with him whenever he comes home for visits, we are connected.   I was amazed that he remembered many of you from your comments.  Please keep him in your prayers - they have made a difference, and he has been surrounded with the spirit of peace, which is comforting him and holding him close to Heavenly Father.

Boy, I Was Doing So Good ...

At posting to my blog,  that is ...  

             I was really committed  ... 

Then the closing of Bearpaws and Hollyhocks was in full swing, right up into the new year.  Our #3 son, who was home for a week before Christmas,  returned to school and work the last week of the break, and life went on until the  end of  last week when he called to tell us that he was very sick.  The doctor said, "A virus, just go home and rest, treat the symptoms."  It has been a very hard week being a long distance mother with a sick son far away and even though the poor guy was doing the right things and going to the doctor, he kept getting sicker.  This afternoon he was admitted to the hospital and both DH and I have scrambled and we should be by his bed side by dinner time tomorrow.  I will keep you posted if there is time, as I am taking my laptop with us.  My heart is aching for him, and his worsening pain/condition and the prayers on my lips are constant.  

Please keep him in your prayers.  

Blogging for Dummies

After dragging my weary bones home from the close of Bearpaws and Hollyhocks Quilt Shop - sigh - DH was waiting for me and had some yummy treats he had picked up at a local deli ready to enjoy.  We shared about each of our days and he showed me the mail ... For some reason a Christmas present arrived on New Years Eve with a label - "For Mom - do not open until Christmas."  Well, You know me I just could not wait ...  thank you to one of my three sons, (there was no from name).  

How did you know that I needed this book, eh?! 

People do say,  "when one door closes another one opens".

 - I think this is a sign ...

To all my blogland friends - Happy first day of 2011

 1-1-11!

Tootles

Thankful For Small Things and HAPPY NEW YEAR

I am so thankful for small things!  For years we have had the world's worst popcorn popper - groan!  This year son #3 gave us a brand new pop corn popper and we are in popcorn heaven.  

My sweet daughter-in-heart has converted us to white popcorn, clarified butter and sea salt on our popcorn - yum!

DH gave me this small puzzle for Christmas and we put it together for Family Home Evening on Monday night.  

Today is the last day the Bearpaws and Hollyhocks Quilt Shop is open.  It has been a big thing for me!  With our family Christmas holiday week and then working night and day at the shop this week I have not blogged - sorry about that.  I will be back at it next week.

I am wishing you a wonderful beginning to 2011!  I wish you good health and good friends and may Heavenly Father bless you with peace and joy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU MY BLOGLAND FRIEND!!!!

Lindy's Bearpaws and Hollyhocks is Closing

My favourite quilt shop is closing. 
 Link to Bearpaws and Hollyhocks website.  Lindy, owner of the shop, has health concerns and she needs to spend some quality time looking after them.  I wish her wellness and good health.

This is typical of the spontaneous fun we had and a memory I will always chuckle at.  She had just gotten in a very funny children's book and just had to come share it with us after one of Kim's classes last September.

Bearpaws and Hollyhocks has been a wonderful gathering place where we all were nurtured by each other and watched each others talent grow.  The friends I have made and the wonderful fun things we all did together are the memories I will always carry in my heart when I think of Bearpaws and Hollyhocks.  
For all of my special embroidery friends - we are going to go on.  Never fear, have embroidery thread and needle, will travel.  All of the Knot-y Embroidery Ladies who meet once a month will be coming to my home to finish out the Knot-y Embroidery Ladies Year.  As the dust settles on BP&HH closing and the New Year comes to be, the thoughts I have for embroidery will crystallize.  Stay tuned ... 


Tootles

Christmas Party with "The Girls"

Some of us who have been taking a wool penny rug class all year have formed a sewing circle and we had our December meeting at my home last week.  These are a few photos of our happenings - mostly eating - and a lot of good chatting with our projects.

The cake was worth making just so I could eat the cream cheese icing ...

Pam is the queen of veggies and keeping us "healthy".

Mona made theses yummy red velvet cupcakes 

- her basket and towel are so cute!

Pam's birthday on the 3rd and Jackie's birthday on the 6th was all the excuse we needed to sing ...

My finish.

I guess I better go to bed.  

And to all I wish a "good night".

Up At Sparrow's Fart

Chookyblue in Australia knocked my socks off with that phrase.  Up At Sparrow's Fart!  Yup, just after reading that yesterday in her blog, Chookyblue, what do you know, I had one of those restless nights and throw in the towel at about 4 am this morning.  I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about ... Sparrow fart.

Gotta have a picture - Winter Wishes stitchery I did.  Enjoy.

Thumbs Up

Thumb #1 goes to Dianne at  A Month of Sundays .  She had the most interesting event happen in her home recently.  I highly recommend that you visit her post.  In fact I highly recommend her blog, that is why you can always find her on my sidebar.  Thumbs up Dianne or I should say Auntia.

Thumb #2 goes to Kim for putting on Tamale Making 101.  

You can find her rendition of the event here -  

Kim's Tamale Sequel   Our Tamale making at Kim's home yesterday was a wonderful happening.

Thumb #3 - my hungry guys gave thumbs up this evening when they taste tested some of the  tamales for dinner.  I think we have a winner here and a new family tradition.  THANK YOU Kim and my gal pals.

Create your own slideshow

Got My Tamale Filling Made

My beef tamale filling is made

and I am ready to go

It won't be long 

before the big show

I am leaving in my old car

Don't know if I will ever be the same ...

Sung to I am leaving on a jet plane - kind of

This is the before picture

of Tamale Making 101

At Kim's home today.

Wish me luck getting that hot vat of filling 

across town without spilling it -

Ohhh, Right

I can hear you laughing now -

I'll be one Hot Tamale ...

Tootles

"My Soul Is Fed By Needle And Thread"

Below are some pictures from High Hand Nursery last February - 

can not have a blog w/o pictures :o) 

Today's Stash Manicure  Stash Manicure  is featuring Molly of Molly's Place.  Perhaps you read the post too, if not, the links are here for you to check it out.  Molly is brand new to me and I think she looks like fun and is going to have the cutest FREE BOM next year called Boot Boogie, and has a sneak peek in her post.  My gosh it is so cute.  I want to do it.   

She wrote, "And yes my soul is fed by needle and thread, and I am sure that is for most of you here today!~  Hi, I'm Molly from  Molly's Place.   I'm here, once again, to try to help you Manicure your stash.  I come here regularly to get inspiration from all of you and this is just a little "pay back".   It just so happens that I have had a little FREE Block of the Month going on over at my place the past year called "TREE TIME".  I started it not only to bring interest to my blog, but to challenge myself.  My goal was to learn new hand embroidery stitches and to make sure that the blocks were simple enough for everyone to do--even beginners.  In the beginning, I did not plan to use wool, but as my blocks evolved, I decided to do just that."

 Over and Out for tonight - 

been making my beef filling for Tamale making at Kim's tomorrow.

Tootles

It All Started With ...

It all started with a cup (two fists together size) of hot chocolate, that had whipped cream piled high on top.

Our server did not bat an eyelash at our choice to start with hot chocolate, and gave us time to sip and enjoy the delicious, sweet and warm drink.  In between all the chatting and sipping we decided that our next course should be (drum roll please) the Hand Made Potato Chips with Artichoke    and Lemon Dip - we got the "large" order ...  Kim had a hand crafted sandwich and I had a seasonal salad.  Oh, the conservatory is set in a beautiful nursery  that was all primped and primed for their big event tomorrow evening - a celebration of light that starts at 6 PM by flipping a switch.  We sat by the windows (a whole wall of windows that open out the the nursery when the weather is warm.) We were without our cameras - so sorry.


However, our "entertainment" was interesting.  A big man dressed as a pirate (Captain Hook style minus the hook) arrived about half way through our lunch.  He was eating alone but did manage to attract attention as people leaving keep stopping by his table to chat on their way out.  So, after going to the ladies room I stopped by the  front desk and asked about him and the lady said, "He is just a customer."  We had a little fun imagining who, what and why he was there eating and while it was funny then, you just had to be there.  


Our girl was as stiff and sore as she has reported and she was moving slow, but she was able to get out, have a nice long lunch, but when I dropped her off at home, she was already going over her list of things she had left to do.  What a girl!!!


Tootles


PS  When I got up this morning after posting last night ... 
I just read Kim's recount of out luncheon - she is so good with word crafting - if you have the time pop on over to her blog - she gives you the rest of the story ...    Kim's Blog

Something

Something I am having fun with is a Thanksgiving piece.

See, I really did take my embroidery on the cruise.  

 I found a quiet nook one early morning and enjoyed my embroidery heaven while sea bound.

The fabric is a beautiful toile called "Plymouth" from the Alexander Henry collection.  It has been out for year or two and has been calling my name.   Boy was I in luck to find just enough for an idea ...  Knowing me I had to figure embroidery into it, eh!  It will eventually be a table topper.  I am using Cosmo's Seasons to embroider the turkey's, corn, apples, pumpkins.   Someday when I finish it ... you will see the most wonderful border fabrics that compliment the subtle shades of the embroidery floss. 

Thanks for stopping by - Tootles.

PS - Thelma and Louise head to High Hand Conservatory tomorrow.  

Stay tuned.

Happy December

Just noticed the time and yup, it is December, the first to be exact.

So, where have I been for two months, eh!?  

Well, around.  Went on my first cruise!  And no, I was not on the cruise ship stranded at sea.  We were on the same cruise line and the same route, just a couple of days ahead of the sister ship. 

Our experience was just the best!

And yes, I did take my embroidery with me.  

My tan is fading, 

and I am having a hard time not reading all the ads for cruises now ...

December is looking like a fun filled month.  We are home for the holidays and gatherings.  This Friday evening is  the Quilting Books Club December Pot Luck and gift exchange.  It will be extra fun this year because three of our ladies are bringing their award winning quilts from the River City Quilt Guild Show a couple of weeks ago.  Saturday is our "Circle of Friends" and we are meeting at Kim's home - and she is teaching us how to make tamales.  

I want to be the first to wish you a peaceful holiday season.  

It is my hope that it is a time filled with the joy of being with family and friends and reflecting on the Light of the World.

Tootles

I am Joining the Layer Cake Quilt Along

Last year I let the Jelly Roll Quilt Along pass me by, you know one of those times when I picked out several jelly rolls, kinda had it in my mind and not on the calendar and then and then and then ...

I would watch as Kim posted her blocks and loved her interpretation of each designers block.  She added embroidery and made her blocks come alive (even if she embroidered "dead" people).  I got to she her finished quilt top at the Schnibbles class on Saturday and it was wonderful.  

Treats and the luncheon that Kim put on for us students at class.  

I have to take a picture of the other goodies she gave us 

when I finish my quilt to this weekend.

Okay, back to the ranch.  I am excited to do the Layer Cake Quilt Along and have chosen Claremont Farms for my layer cake.  If you are interested in checking it out and how it all works, click on the button on my side bar.  I hope you join me.  We have a month to get ready!  It's do able, come on join me ... :o)  Let me know if you join and we can kibitz with each other and keep each other motivated.    Tootles