New book on my shelf

Barnes & Noble had this right where I could not miss seeing it.

What could I do but add it to my library.

It's not actually on my shelf.  It's right here by my chair, Handy when I want inspiration.

As usual, Kaffe has used color and design to bring these quilts to life.

 

 

Tumbling Fans

page 130

Bordered Diamonds

page 117

MY FIRST TIME EVER

Giveaway

is going great !

There's time left if you've not entered.

Deadline is April 3rd.

Gifts

These are some gifts I've been lucky enough to receive lately.

In the center of things is Renee's Portrait by Lyn

In the background is the door prize from our Quilt Guild

And the balloon is from the every end of December and is still floating.

Don't forget to enter MY VERY FIRST TIME Giveaway.  The deadline is April 3rd.

My First Time ! ! ! . . . . . . .

I've participated in blog giveaways and have won
But I have NEVER hosted my very own blog giveaway.
Until Now - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -This is it ! ! !

This is
MY FIRST TIME EVER
Blog Giveaway

The Winner will get this book:
Socks from the Toe Up
by Wendy D. Johnson

and

2 skeins of Regia Silk Color yarn
[enough for a pair of sox, of course]




It's easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy to take part !

Just one tiny but important point -
Please, in your Comment include a way for me to contact you when you win.

Here's the way it works:

*** just make a Comment to this post equals 1 chance
*** the first six to Comment will get 1 extra chance
*** blog about MY FIRST TIME EVER Giveaway WITH A LINK to my blog gets you two extra chances
*** if you are a Follower to my blog you get another two extra chances

So, you can have your name in the draw up to six times. Six chances to win ! !

Sounds so good I feel like participating myself.

The Deadline will be April 3rd - ten o'clock p.m. my time as posted with your Comment

Lots of Good Luck to every one.


Edit:  You do not have to have a blog to enter.  Just leave a way to get in contact with you if you win the giveaway.  Priscella, leave a way for me to contact you if you're the winner.

Hand Appliqué

This is the layout for the first block for our Needle-Turn Appliqué class with Dawn Heese, instructor.



As you can see [below] I've appliquéd several of the sixteen leaves.
A couple of things I have learned.
*** the finer the marking the better
*** using silk thread is easy to sew with; my stitches are almost invisible
*** taking this block along in my purse is easy, a 15.5" block, spool of silk thread, small pincushion and small pair of scissors. Oh, don't want to forget the toothpick for turning those pesky corners
I'll post a couple more photos in a my next post.



Newbie Bloggers:

All Kinds of Everything
Suzanne lives in The Netherlands and blogs about all kinds of everthing.

LUV2SEW
Betty is new to blogging.  She has only a few more days before she becomes a retired, lady of leisure.

 

Flirty Aprons GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Who doesn't love an apron !

This is no requirement of being able to cook to own an apron.

Perhaps there should be a requirement to just love aprons.

Here's an opportunity to win a Flirty Apron.

Happy St. Pat's

My Irish line of ancestors arrived in America ca 1840.

I am third-generation.

Had my first class in hand appliqué;

already learned a technique or two.

Our Instructor is Dawn Heese of Columbia.

The class is based on the pattern in

her book Geese In The Rose Garden

published by Kansas City Star.

I beleive she had another pattern book coming out in the near future.

By the end of class Monday afternoon, I felt confident enough to be able to work on my block and have it finished by our next class.  Well, the class isn't for another four weeks.  So I'd better have the block finished.

This what our first block should look like.

Already, I know my leaves are not going to align exactly opposite each other.

Hey, it's Mother Nature.

Once I got home and had the time to look at the fabrics in the kit for the Geese in the Rose Garden and then really look at what I began in class
 I decided right away the block had to be changed.
It wasn't working.

The buds faded right into the background as did one set of leaves.

Didn't like the choice of values.  In my defense, I didn't see the fabric until class and class got under way with speed.

I did keep up with everyone else during the three hours of class.

I don't feel bad about beginning again as I can re-use the orginal background.  
I'll have time to pick and choose fabrics for the flowers and vine fabric our next block.

I exchanged a couple of leaves by adding an additional green.  So with the different background and the new set of leaves, it'll work.

So far, I've completed five leaves and one bud.

At this rate I should have the block completed in plenty of time

and even be able to cut the templates and pieces for the next block and have them ready for class next month.
[Hope I haven't jinxed things.]

I spent a couple of very early hours this morning working on the piece  and enjoyed the time.  I'm fairly satisfied with my work.  Hey, Gerry, if I was perfert I wouldn't need the class ! ! !

Have a great St. Pat's Day !

Why not stop to welcome a new blogger
Shevvy London

she sez: 
"Musing on my love of crafting, especially my newly discovered obsession with patchwork and quilting and whatever other randomness takes my fancy"

Now here's an interesting twist on a Giveaway.
Karen's Quilting
is hosting a giveaway for a non-blogger.  This is the first time I've ever seen this.
Teri Dingler from Alabama has some gifts for one lucky winner!
Anyway, take a look, leave a comment on Karen's blog and be sure to mention that I sent you.
:^)

Sandy's Creations
is having a wonderful Alice In Wonderland Giveaway.
Her blog is great and you'll be twice St Pat's Lucky when you visit.
You'll have a good chance of winning her fantistic prize.
However, I do have dibs on the
Vintage Bottle of Shrinking Solution.

Video Chat and Hand Appliqué

With a 'bit' of prodding from me,  my brother got a Google Video Chat up and going over the weekend with the help of his son.

We had an excellent visit.  He took us on a walking tour through his home and outside showing us 8 to 10 feet of snow they still have there in the mountains of Southern California.  Don't know how he manages to keep a walkway clear for the doggies - really where does one put snow when it's piled eight feet high?

We were able to meet his twenty-two month old granddaughter who was visiting with her parents.  I have dubbed her Cindy Who.  IMHO, looks just like her.  Adorable ! ! ! ! 

Yesterday was the first class of Hand Appliqué.  Class will meet once a month for six months.  Our practice piece will result in a twin size quilt top.  At the end class we should have a completed 80" x 64" quilt with six pieced blocks and six hand appliquéd.  The kit isn't in my colors, but, it is after all a practice piece.

Great instructor - Dawn Heese -  who is knowledgeable and has lots of experience.  And has the ability to teach.  I learned a number of very good techniques and really feel confident that I can complete the first block by next class.  She wants NO UFOs ! ! !  Yikes, I better get cracking.  Am really looking forward to working on this project.

Marydon 

is having her

 Giveaway Anniversary Celebration Quickie

in celebration of three hundredth post and one year of blogging!

You really should visit her.  

Her giveaway is spectacular !

However, I do believe this one has my name written ALL OVER IT ! ! ! 

Marydon has a great blog that I've followed for a while now enjoying each of her posts.

Better get over there.

Renee International

Lyn has placed Renee's portrait on her Emporium blog

I know you know Renee, but take a look at a sampling of Lyn's artistic talent.  

Isn't it amazing? 

Renee is on lovely Lyn's Everyday Life Emporium

Mmmm . . .Yummy
M&M's
Triple Chocolate M & Ms

Last night

Betty brought her Giveaway prizes from Q is for Quilt! so she could show 'em off at our little gathering! ! ! !
 Very nice work, they were.

Most of all, we were all impressed with this delish M&Ms that was one of the goodies included.

Generously, shared these delish treats with us.

Odds-n-End

Below is an example of Color Value
vs.
the b&w version 

A new project with No Strings Attached !

Edit: Contrary to popular belief this is not a purse or tote.

Would you believe me if I told you it is the bib of an apron?

And, yes Blogger must be in Charge today because I certainly am not.

Vintage Child's Prayer Book

A Pretty Cool Tote

Look what my friend NancyCap made for me.

It's big enough to carry show-n-tell quilts to guild, with room to spare.

[I'm not doing huge quilts.  Maybe not mini, but some where in between.]

I'll have more than enough room for things to show.

Hmmm, I wonder how many placemats it'll hold.

The Pocket is deep enough to carry my water bottle and whatever.

Now, take a look.

It folds up into it's own pocket.

Isn't that a space saver when it comes to storing it?

I have to admit it took a couple of tries before I got it in there.

This is the Tote in A Pocket's reverse side.

I love the fabric Nancy chose for me.  Antique sewing machines, I love 'em.

Such good Friends.

Package from Yorkshire

Today’s THE DAY ! !

Came home and there it was ! !  
A package from Lyn!

I won her giveaway and have been anticipating the arrival of her package.

Here’s what I found
- -
brim full of goodies.

Lyn’s note card shows picturesque scenes from her part of the country.
Really, a lovely looking area.

Oh, where do I begin ? ? ? ?
Which goodie should be first?
hmmmm -  -  -  -

so many to choose from

Okay, I’ll go according to size from smallest to largest. 
Sounds sensible to me.

I do believe it’s the Union Jack

Next

Looks like Lyn wants me to feel at home should I do the tourist bit ! !

This little book is to acquaint me with Yorkshire.  Short little articles/comments about the place and the people.
One comment that particularly caught my attention was this one regarding Yorkshire Pudding
- - - - - - -
Interesting

I made and served this dish for years before I learned it’s name. 
Now some of you Yorkshire Pudding lovers may cringe when I tell you we usually served it with yogurt and syrup. 
I told you you’d cringe.
Everything I know about it is summed up here
V

Some weeks ago I was reading Lyn’s posts when she posted about making Button Hearts 
Oh, my heart skipped a beat or so. 
I fell in Love with them. 
So Dainty, so Cheerful.
You can imagine my surprize when I opened the next gift to find  .  .  . 
One of Lyn’s Button Hearts
FOR ME ! ! ! ! !
I’m in love 

  

The caption on the next gift ‘In bloom all year . . . . ‘
caught my attention. 
Gee, if it was in bloom all year long I’m sure hoping it made it through the mails .

  

Ohhh, my!  It’s a Gerbera Flower just like the one I saw on
Lyn's Everyday Life Emporium

How did you know, Lyn?
You made mine
in MY COLORS

Thoughtful Lyn even included a neat book to inspire me to do more needlework. 
A great book with instructions for stitch after stitch and idea upon idea. 
Right now it’s bedside so that it’ll be the last I read before dreaming.

 

 
The illustrations are gorgeous.

 

   
To make certain I’d not forget my nightly inspirations,
Lyn sent along this jazzy journal and pen so 
I can record them.

   

These are the very wonderful giveaway surprizes from Lyn to me.
Ah-Ha ! ! !  

You’re correct, there is one more goodie.

I kept this one for last, not only because it was the largest in size - remember I opened them according to size from little to BIG.
Are you Ready??????

Here it is.
Can you read the tag?
Hmm, whatever could this be???????


Taaaa Daaaaa ! ! ! ! !

Some may recognize her.
It’s Renee ! ! !
Look how lovely Lyn has
painted her portrait.
Oh, Lyn, you’ve made her so beautiful.
I love, love, love how you’ve painted her.


Lyn, Thank You from the bottom of my Heart.


I am so lucky to have met some many wonderful, generous, creative, talented, lovely people since I began blogging.

Love and Hugs to each and everyone of you,
Gerry

I know this was a very long post, thanks for sticking with me.
Love ya.

Damselfly, etc.

Isn't she beautiful?
She's just lit on this flower and is deciding if she likes it here.
I sure hope she does because Marie created her just for me.
Marie's giveaway was such fun.


My sanity is slowly returning as my Trash Stash disappears.
Now I can see the end along with a pile of finished placemats.


In the meantime,
 here's a glimpse into my dressing room

No Strings Attached & 20 Minutes A Day

This is what I've been doing for my two challenges to help eliminate my TRASH STASH ! !