Eileen-of the East Coast-"My Quilting Porch"

Eileen - of "My Quilting Porch" renowned and a blogging buddy (blogette) who has nurtured me along in my quilting and blogging, lives on the East Coast, Boonsboro, Maryland.  On our trip back to the East Coast, Eileen and I thought that since I was going to be in the same state, that we could meet for a couple of hours in-between her DH's needs and my family needs.  We were able to stay in touch and fit the visit in between visiting the Anteatim and Gettysburg battle fields.  She live right between them in a quaint little boro of Boonsboro.

We got to Boonsboro just fine yet we took the wrong road up the mountain, and ended up on her street, only on the other side of the mountain.  So we got to see the "other" side of the mountain, we called her, she "talked us down" and got better directions, plugged them into the GPS and drove back to Boonsboro then straight to her home.

What a joyful moment in time to meet her, chat with her and see her "Quilting Porch".  The chicklets picked acorns in her front yard while we visited. Peter Pan and Tinker Bell took home a bag of them.  I guess in this case the "nut" does not fall from the tree because I love acorns too! :0)

Just before we left she surprised  me with a breath taking treasure.  A table runner she had made in 2000 using the first Quilt for the Cure Fabric.  She gave it to me, knowing I would treasure it because of surviving breast cancer twice.  Well, I will treasure it because she gave it to me and her piecing and hand quilting is exquisite! Thank you Eileen!

Here are a few pictures back home in my kitchen.

Her work is exquisite!

Tiny hand quilting stitches!

This shot shows off the fabric design on the Quilt For a Cure fabric.
(I think it is the first of its kind.)

A close up of the label-

It reads:

The Annapolis Quilt Guild

Pink Ribbons and Flowers for Cancer Cure

Fabric and Pattern by Bonnie Dena Strotton

made by

Eileen Schamel, Boonsboro, MD

Jan. - Feb. 2000

For my Friend Gran - "Shirley" 4-14-10

Thank you Eileen!

You can check out her blog page at the following link.

My Quilting Porch

She is going through a very tough time - you can read about it - send her a hug.

PS - tomorrow is the deadline for entering my blogiversary give away.

It's My First Blogiversary! - GIVE AWAY

First as in first off - thank you for the memories of an adventure totally "outside of my box"!  My first post was on April 28, 2009.  It's my first Blogiversary and I am celebrating with a give away!

French General (Moda) Rural Jardin

1 Butcher Apron, 2 Kitchen Towels to match

Plumcute Designs by Tracy Souza

1 Harvest Queen Pattern for pincushion (7.5" x 14.5")

Someone once joked about my/our blogging friends as being imaginary friends.  NOT!  Experienced being a winner of a Give Away and  having a Give Away this past year.  Sending my Schnibbles quilts off to Mary (Quilt Hollow) in my "online" Schnibbles Group, across the country, to be quilted is real, yes, I did get them back and beautifully quilted!  Meeting a blogette, Eileen (My Quilting Porch), on the East Coast and standing in her front yard picking acorns (love acorns) with my grandchildren is real.  Finding out that on the same trip I was so close to another blogette and did not even realize it - next trip - Kelly Ann!  It has been fun reading blogs from "down under" like GranyLoz and her love of stitching adventures and Jenny of Elefantze, who took us all on a ride across Australia when her husband's work was relocated.  Kim and I even sent quilt blocks for quilting angels (Tracy and her gang), who put them together for the Australian fire victims.  Heckety in Ireland and I are still fighting over one of Kim's red and white polka dot mugs.... I learned how compassionate blogettes are when a tragedy strikes someone in their family.  Terry (Terry's Treasures) and her husband have taught us so much through their very difficult journey after the accident that took his leg.  Laurie (A Yankee Quilter) put out a call for quilt blocks to make a quilt for Terry and her family, we sent them, I think there were hundreds that came in from around the world and people like Mary, (Quilt Hollow) volunteered and quilted one (maybe more - sorry I can not remember Mary...) of the three huge quilts tops that Laurie made.   I love Yvonne's (My 365 Day Challenge) photos of her cats.  Jan (Quilting in Davie) has the sweetest heart and little Yorkie to go with it.  Right now Paulette (Sweet P) is returning home to Victoria, B.C., after being a "Snow Bird" all winter long in the South West of the USA - her quilt shop adventures/classes along her journey have been great to see.  (FYI - Canadians who go where it is warm during the long cold winter in "the old country" are called "Snow Birds").  Speaking of the "Old Country"  Anna (Quiltmom's Journey) comes from the same "dirt" as me, except her dirt is not as old as mine.... Sinta (Pink Pincushion), Pam (Orcsmom), Jen (Punkie Pie) all started blogging last year about the same time as moi.  They knock my sock off with their quilting adventures.  You know if you ever want a good laugh check out Dianne (A Month of Sundays)!  Pat (Silver Thimble) and Laura (May You Bobbin Always Be Full) have given me encouraging and kind comments letting me know they have read my blog. (Thanks!!!)  It has been a rich experience to get to know all of you (and many more, I am sorry I am missing some of you - you know I love you because I leave you comments....) and I have learnt so much from you over this past year — my maiden voyage into the blog world - Quilting Style!  My DIL and sons have enjoyed the ride too, and always chuckle with a twinkle in their eye, when they chat with me  about the "things" I have shared on the blog i.e., "The Adventures of You be Thelma.  I'll be Louise."   Even DH can not resist, when I am sitting and laughing out loud in front of my lap top, he wants me to read what was so funny - and he laughs too. 

Who new that the words "Give Away" would take on a new meaning in my life.  How about yours?  I find it exciting to see what a blogette wants to share (a Give Away) in celebration of something special to her.  

Give Away Guidelines

1. Leave a comment  = one entry

2. Become a follower and leave a comment on this post = one entry

3. Blog about my Blogiversary Give Away and leave a comment on this post = one entry

Total possible entries per person = three

Drawing will be Saturday, May 1st, 8 PM, PST and I will post the winner shortly after that.

Thank you for reading wading through my chatter, grammar and spelling - I am excited about it being a year tomorrow!  

Our Visit to Antietam, MaryLand

My meds. are working and I feel like blogging tonight or I should say this morning.  

These are the dear chicklets that we visited on the East Coast.

At Harper's Ferry, no stone was left unturned or water fountain untested.

Meet Peter Pan and Tinker-Bell.

Much cooperation in the car was bartered for with a promise of kite flying at the battlefields that we visited.  We had the most success at Antietam.

  

Peter Pan who is three, almost four, really felt he could handle it on his own. 

What a guy! He did a fine job after his Dad and Granddad taught him the "ropes".  It was his hearts desire to fly the kite on his own.  He did it well for quite a long time.  I will always treasure this moment I captured.

It was a glorious day.

Tinker-Bell with my Daughter in Heart.  They are beautiful inside and out.

DH reading about the history that happened on this spot.

We felt that we were on hallowed ground.

"There are no better teachers for those who come after us than the silent monuments on the battlefields, marking the places where men died for a principle they believed right, whether they wore the blue or the gray uniform."          Major Wells Sponable, 34th New York Monument dedication

If you have been to Antietam, what did you experience?

 Tomorrow I will share some photos of our visit with Eileen of "My Quilting Porch" blogging fame.

I Think Today is Earth Day??

I have a new meaning to add to going green - Pre-School Crude!  East coast Pre-School Crude!

Yup, I have it and am heading off to the Doctor, in about 10 minutes, to be checked out.   DH is struggling with a sore throat.  My green just took hold and is not budging no matter how much Sudafed, Mucinex, nose rinsing (been watching Dr. Oz....) and lemon herb tea with honey that I drink.

Oh, the joys of Gran Parenting!

Sinta at Pink Pincushion is Celebrating Her 1st Year in Blogland!

Sinta at Pink Pincushion is celebrating her 1st year blogging anniversary.  She started blogging a couple of weeks before I did and it has been fun watching her blog bloom.  It is a blog well worth investigating!  Someday I would like to meet her in person!

This is the first day since I have been back that I have have taken a moment to start reading some of the blogs that I follow.  So the late fyi is going out - her giveaway closes tomorrow.

You can click on her button on my sidebar to get to her blog.

PS - My anniversary date is April 28th - watch from my Anniversary Celebration Giveaway!

My Two Schnibbles

So far I have done two Schnibbles: RoundAbout and TagAlong.  They are on parade at Mary's Quilt Hollow.  I love what she has done to them with her Long Arm Quilting Talent!  If you have time you could pop on over following the link below.  My quilts are the third and the fourth ones on her blog today.  She is good, really, really good.

Quilt Hollow

TTYL

Time Flys When You are Flying

We took a jet plane and so began our adventures across the country to Bethesda, Maryland.

There was only one event on the flight worth mentioning, however, I am taming it down so as not to scare off KIM from flying.  Kim we have to work on you're flying issues because there is quilting history to explore and vintage everything to see here.

Excerpts from my journal-

I Am Leaving On a Jet Plane

Grand children here we come. (DH and me.)

Been people watching right out of the car door at the airport.  People dumping cups of coffee, water before they head up to the security check point.  Yesterday, some “idiot” on a flight from Washington DC to Denver decided that he wanted to have a smoke in the lavatory.  Well, that has put most security screeners on high alert (and I am glad that they are).  Everything went well through security, you know the usual disrobing, jamming all your carry on possessions into grey trays as they roll along (quickly) and I was still struggling with my belt as my trays went into the scanner….  

Oh, you will be interested in this little tidbit of information:
  Being a stitcher, there is no way that I am not traveling without a stitchery.  I  settled on a Tea Towel that I am making a set of for our DIL (my Daughter in Heart), and the question of the day, what to bring to cut my thread?  So “wondering minds” came up with the Clover round circle that houses a razor blade inside of the casing.  There are tiny slots on the outer circle edges, no chance of cutting myself or anyone for that matter.  It kind of looks pretty with the antiqued flowers in the metal and it has a nice clasp that I threaded a ribbon through.  I cut the ribbon the length of a long pendant, tied a knot to join the ends of the ribbon, wore it around my neck as a necklace, and never set off one bell or whistle.  I also have a blunt one inch blade travel scissors, that I thought might be taken from me, but at least in Sacramento, on April the 8^th, 2010, at 5:15 am no body thought that I was a threat to National  Security.  Yes, and I stitched happily ever after on the flights.

Our flight left at 6:10 am this morning.  We had to deplane in Vegas and the last leg of the flight (5 hours) is over the heartland of America.  We have seen Pikes Peek, and the area that inspired the author of America The Beauty.  Heading over Kansas it was time for me to get up and walk (don’t want any blood clots…) and for a little pit stop.  I have never appreciated the size of the bathrooms on a plane, today being the exception.  Just as I was squeezed in, knee caps on the door, back on the wall behind me, there was an urgent, “All passengers are to return to their seats immediately!” No curiosity Ladies and Gentlemen we are going to be experiencing some turbulence, please be seated and fasten your seat belts.  Oh, No!  I was in a situation that I was not going anywhere.... As my life passed before my eyes, I thought that this is another in my life of experiencing…. I was already seated... and just hung on. It was instant!  On one such turbulence I had to look down at my feet to make sure they were still on the floor of the bathroom, they were, yet I felt like I was suspended well above where I was firmly seated and hanging on for dear life.  Ever been there, done that?  It was a wild ride and when I thought that the turbulence was subsiding, I ventured to stand up.  Well, it was arms on the walls, try to get the water going for hand washing, water slipping up the sides of the sink, managing to avoid water and hand soap suspended in the air, anchoring my feet on the floor and pushing my back against the wall.  Reaching for a paper towel was a joke.  It felt like I was reaching for them and when my hand got there they were not right where I thought my eye and hand thought that they were.  While I still could stand, I opened the door, was catapulted across the little galley at the tail of the plane and had an out of body experience walking back to my seat.  It was like crawling on my stomach on the ground, only I was standing and dragging myself, arms and legs, from one seat to another until I reached my seat - the middle seat between a father and son (10 year old).  (Another story there.)  While the father of the son got up out into the isle, anchored himself using all fours and his derrière, I crawled into my set strapped myself in, and prayed for the father, who hit his knee caps several times, as he got back into his seat.  I was sure he was going to howler in pain, from the look of the wincing on his face.  He retrieved  his book, the son closed his mouth, plugged in his  IPod, I found my book and we enjoyed the rest of the ride, firmly strapped in for the next while.  

Later - I am safely strapped in as we fly over another state, and another announcement just came from the captain with a warning of possible turbulence.  Nothing will ever match the bronco ride I had in the bathroom and back to my seat.

Our largest suitcase is full of “things” for the chicklets.  Then there is a suitcase devoted to stitcheries, maps (of the areas we want to go see) and books of the areas we want to go see.

I am quite proud of the fact that we each only have one of those small suitcases with the clothes we “think” that we will need for our various outings with the family.  


Days later - we eat, sleep and drink in the joys of grand parenting with our two little ones.  I was saying to my DH that I never felt old in my life until we came to visit here.  Usually I can keep up with the best of them, however, it ain't happening here.


Well, I am off to see how the troupes are doing.  I feel guilty stealing away to have gotten this off.


I hope that you are enjoying this lovely April day.

Give Aways

http://adventuresinaliceland.blogspot.com/

She has three giveaways to celebrate her 200th post - cute blog - click on over.  I am going to make the cupcake recipes that she has featured.  Yum.

Also, I am going to be coming up with a giveaway around April 28th - to celebrate my first year anniversary in blogland - so stay posted (pun intended).  :o)

It has been pouring down rain here most of the day.  A good day to stay in and sew on my latest Schnibbles, perhaps I will get it finished tonight and post a picture tomorrow.

Tootles

Happy Easter Morning

Photo with permission of Granny Loz in the world down under - thank you Granny Loz.

http://grannyloz.blogspot.com/

I was quite taken by her photo shoot and loved the lighting and layout in this shot.  Don't you just love it - warm cup of tea, fabric and chocolate all sitting on an antique trunk.  You might want to follow the link above and check out her blog - it is a good one.

It is a joy to raise this Easter morning before the family and in the quiet, have a warm cup of tea, feed the dog and cat and listen to the birds start singing.  My family will be up soon up to see if the Easter Bunny visited during the night and he did...

I am wishing you a Happy Easter and peace from the One who made it.

Guess Where I Was This Afternoon?

Can you guess where I was this afternoon?

Some of This and A Little of That

Well, how are you doing today?  I hope you have a peaceful day and that you do something to feel good about yourself.

Rained - heavy last night and today the sun is shining and there is a stiff Spring breeze.  I know more storms are coming, yet it is nice to putts around the house doing housework and listening to the breeze in the trees and the birds singing.  Yes, Spring has sprung here.

Creativity Amongst Chaos is having a Free BOM starting April 1st.

You can follow the link above and check it out if you are interested.  Yes, it does feature  hand embroidery.  I am looking forward to seeing her design because I love her creativity amongst the chaos of raising her little ones.

Another of my favourite designers is Tracy Souza - Plumcute Designs. 

Plumcute Designs - A Stitch For Every Season

She also is creative while raising her little ones.  You have to check out her site, she is a bright designer who will knock your socks off.  She too is a young mother who is inspiring to the rest of us (over the hill mother's) and who are loving watching and seeing what they do.  You go girls!!!  

Tracy (Plumcute Designs) came by Bearpaws and Hollyhocks to enjoy the Gathering of Quilters that Lindy had last Sunday, March 28th.  She had a gift for me and I am still rocked over with her thoughtful generousity.  Floss to embroider with - my most beloved floss, of all time, from Gentle Arts in Ohio and some Valdoni.  While I have not used Valdoni in any of my embroidery work, it does look very nice.  The Gentle Art's floss is to die for.  The picture does not do the floss justice, and while you can not tell, there are around 80 - 90 skeins there.  You know something, what goes around comes around and I plan on sharing "some" of it with my students.  :o)  

THANK YOU TRACY!  

Another bit of something to share - drum roll - I finished the top of the Schnibbles pattern, Sunday Best.  Wee bit late (like a month) yet it is done 

My post on March 2nd, where I was sharing with you what I had woken up to the morning after starting my piecing on Sunday Best.  Never had that happen before - have you?

Anywho, I have moved the pieces all over the house several times and groaned when some would slip and fall.  You see in my maiden voyage with Schnibbles, I wanted to make mine, oh, I don't know what I had in mind, perfect in the way I thought the blocks should harmonize together, and was sharing with my buddy Kim, the mess I had gotten myself into trying to keep everything together, have you ever been there or done that, well probably not, yet, she heard my whining and ever so cleverly suggested a few simple things.  She said it would probably take a couple of hours.... well, NOT!.  It took me longer, but it was done in no time really and I am happy with the results.  Ignorance was not bliss.  Easy is bliss.  Thanks Kim!

Mary at Quilt Hollow is a long arm quilter and specializes in Schnibbles, among other things.  She loves Schnibbles like I love Gentle Arts Embroidery Floss.... We have followed each others blog and it dawned on me that she could be the one to send my Schnibbles to.  So I asked, and she said, "Yes!"  Nice, eh!  Check out her site for yesterday and see what I am talking about.  ALSO, she is having a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Quilt Hollow

Well, #2 son and I are off to find the workshop for the Easter Bunny.    Thank you for stopping by!

Give Aways

Give Aways galore!

Rit Dye, fabric art collage and canvas books giveaway

http://www.ctpubblog.com/2010/03/09/rit-dye-fabric-art-collage-and-canvas-books-giveaway/

OK, The Rest of The Story- Thelma and Louise at Total Beauty Experience

Been working at the Q shop and then hosted a huge bus of Quilting ladies to the San Francisco, De Young Museum, yesterday to see the Amish Abstraction exhibit.  Pictures and funny stories to follow in another post.


Let's see - oh, yes to the Secret Sale Room............

This greeted us just inside of the Secret Sales room.

There were tables loaded with items, interestingly enough, neither one of us purchased anything from the Sales Room.  We did check it out throughly, and I did take a few interesting shots to show you some of the things available.

If any of you use these products - I apologize for making fun of them.  They just hit my funny bone that day, and I am still laughing at my own purchases.....

Anywho, onto the main store. 

It all started with a basket....... and the hunt was on.  We had one hecky of a nice shop helper and yes, all the shop helpers knew we were there and what our mission was.  They gave us the best customer service and seemed to have as much fun as us selecting the best items for our needs - yes, it was an "old lady's shopping trip."

No, this was not for us.  I just had to take it because I did not know that they sold these products, then again, I don't get out much....

Sure needed this, magnifying mirror - check.

Eye lash curler - check.

Nose hair trimmer - check.  (FYI - Dr. Oz did a demo on his show using this very item.  So, I had to have it....)

Eyebrow dye (opps, they call it "tint") - check.  

I have never tried this and thought that it might take care of those white hairs popping up in my brows. ???  I still have not tried it yet.

For the serious waxers.

I am talking serious.

And then the other "stuff" you need.  I figured it was cost over $100.00 to set myself up with these items.  I am talking serious!

Hair Removal System - check.

We settled on this little kit.  No, it is not for anything other then the top of my mouth. 

 

No, I did not get this product.  I bet you won't guess what it is for??? 

So I will tell you.  It is for people who have bald spots on their head.  Onto the spot one sprays from the plastic container, the glue "I guess that is what it is" and then sprinkles on the hair dust that is about 1/4 of an inch long.  All those different gray canisters have  different coloured "hair" so that one can match ones colour.  

Neither one of us got one of these purses, but they were remarkable enough that when we spotted them we had to touch.  The shop helper even modeled them for us.

They are made from gym wrappers and/or assorted paper wrappers that most of us throw away.

Perhaps, you have seen these out and about - they were new to me.

It is getting to be pedicure time around here, and this is representative of the various polish removers, polishes and sanding implements that were purchased - check.

What can I say - I do try - check.

We were winding down with heavy baskets, and what did we spot - The Happy Center - check.

This is for me on days when I just need a little "magic" spray and walk down memory lane - check.

I am looking forward to the seeing if the caption on the bottom of the package works.  "We can't change what's happening to your body, but we can change your attitude!"  I am in - check.

We were on our down hill slide when Kim brought this to my attention.

That Kim!

And what should greet us around the last bend towards the till - this and so I crossed off of my list, visiting a Chocolator as our next stop.  This really turned out to be a one stop shopping trip. CHECK!

We were famished and headed to a place that Kim had not been to before (rare because she does get out....) called Denielle's were they serve wonderful crepe's.

Look what we ordered instead - check.

Both of us thought that this lunch sounded good, it was, and they even brought us some Apricot Preserves to enjoy a little sweet with out savory - check.

Yes, this was a perfect ending.  We sat on the patio at Denielle's enjoying the spring air, talking over our latest acquisitions AND talked quilting!

Good friends, good shopping, 

good food, good conversation, life is good - CHECK!

I hoped you enjoyed this in the latest of a series of field trips brought to you by The Thelma and Louise.

  

PS I still have not seen the movie and haven't a clue who is who, but the adventures so named by my side kick, makes me laugh.

I hope you got a little chuckle out of our adventure.  

Perhaps, you too could come along...........