Needle Exchange

Recently, Kelly at

I Have A Notion 

had a Needle Exchange Program.

I sent her one of my broken Sewing Machine needles and Kelly exchanged it for a

Superior Titanium Coated Sewing Machine Needle 

Since Kelly gave us a choice of sizes - 

I decided that the 80/12 would be a good size for overall use.   

I have yet to put this in my machine as I'm finishing up a few odds and ends with various materials - mesh, vinyl, and the like.  When I do use it you'll get a full report of my experience.

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What do you do with a naked mug?

Thanks to my pal DJ I was able to dress it up.  

She picked the perfect color

and who does not love cupcakes.

'course I couldn't help but accessorize it with bright markers.

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My fraternal aunt Eleanor.

Hugs

A while back Josette from My Grama's Soul

picked my name to receive this

It says it all.

Jo has a beautiful blog.

Hugs

a new twist to the traditional

A few weeks back House of A La Mode has a giveaway.

Oh, yes, I won - 

I won this interesting quilt book.

It has taken my quilt making in a new direction.

Take a look .. .. .. 

Emily Cier has taken the traditional and tweaked - with exciting results.

Thanks, Heather, for the chance to win this neato book.

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This is the view I grew up with.

Isn't this something?

Hugs

Winner - We have a Winner ! ! !

Dianna is the WINNER ! ! 

Thanks from my heart goes to each 

and every one of you 

for taking time to visit and comment.

You know how those Comments

feed our posts.

I have so much fun putting together my giveaways.

The anticipation of the draw is exciting and puts me on pins and needles just awaiting the results.

As I'm getting the Feline Vinyl tote, From my Heart Journal and the Oh, So Pink Notes and Desk Tray off to Dianna I'm beginning to plan my next giveaway.

I truly wish each of you come back again.

HUGS 

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It's About Time We Have a Giveaway ! ! !

Comments are Closed ! ! 
The Deadline is Now ! ! 
The winner is 
* * * * * * * * * * Dianna * * * * * * * * * * *




This is my "It's About Time ! ! " giveaway.

It's been months since we had a giveaway here.

So let's do it!

Deciding what to include has been holding me back.

Brain must have slowed like molasses in January.

Here's the deal

if you wanna have a chance to win

A cute, yet practical, desk caddy

a PINK desk caddy

with three lovely note pads

one is a frenchy note pad

PINK note pads

and then you'll win

my vinyl tote 

made with Laurel Burch feline fabric

with a magnetic closer!

Not too big,

not too small,

just the right size!

And this journal cover

with

Journal 

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You know the drill

leave a comment.

Hugs

♥

Two Updates

Thought I'd show you what I've accomplished lately.

I'm just a few rows into the heel on Marilinda.

Worked no more than eight rows of the thirty-two of the heel flap yesterday and will continue just as soon as I post this.

Before I push the 'Post' button

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my thread sketch is finished for now.

I know it needs something more in the upper portion and will make a decision

 - - - ?soon?

The sun's out

had a great lunch out with Daughter #2 - thanks Sweetie.

snow is melting

have new bird seed

and a new wind chime

life is good

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Hugs

I won ! ! ! I won ! ! !

Yep, that's right, I've won a couple of recent giveaways

How Pink-a-lish-ish is this ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Ariane at Ariane's Crafts

has celebrated her second year of blogging 

by giving away

her ever so Pink-a-lush-ish Button Heart

AND 

sixty, Yes, I Said "SIXTY", 

3.5 inch tumbler blocks in what else? PINK ! ! ! ! ! 

Sweet Ariane added some wonderful goodies.

RicRac in Red that just might go with those tumblers.

Cheery painted wood buttons.

A Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Schnibbles pattern - Madeline

a pkg of tissues - though I would never think of using them.

as you can see the front of the tissue pack sez:

"Happiness is a Habit ~ Cultivate it."

a quote from Elbert Hubbard.

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Some of you may remember when Ariane's sister

Michele at michele made me

had her giveaway some months back,

Her Denim Tree Purse [plus goodies] arrived at my doorstep

These are two interesting, creative, talented gals.

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Okay, there's one more.

I won two   half-yards of Jane Sassaman fabric

from DragonThreads

You you just picture my living room re-upholstered in these two?

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FABRIC ! ! ! 

Hugs

Meet Marilinda

Here she is - a few more rows until I'll begin the heel section!

This pattern is just flowing off my needle.

Hadn't intended to go this far but I just can't stop.

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However, I did stop long enough to do some prep work for our Art Quilters next meeting.

Since I am showing thread sketching I decided now was the time to get ready.

This is the quilt top I'm using.

Small enough, something like 18x20, to handle easily.

I use a low loft cotton batt to add depth and a wool/rayon blend felt to stabilize.

I stabilized the top with horizontal lines in the center

and spirally squares and random half-circles in the borders.

This is the reverse side.

Looks to be pretty much evenly stitched.

Next time I'll show you my progress

thread sketching some bare winter trees.

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Been enjoying our local library's ebook selection.

My Nook has three current titles one by John Sandford,

two by Harlan Coben.

And, then I downloaded an audio ebook to my laptop so that both Hubby and I can listen.

Yahoo ! ! !  so great to listen to a good mystery and knit at the same time.

I, too, can multi-task.

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It began snowing overnight 

so far this 'dusting' has accumulated TWO MORE INCHES ! ! ! 

Hugs

Back in the Saddle Again

You're no doubt as familiar with this pair of socks

well, not exactly a pair YET

as any one.

- - - -

You've seen this yarn more time than you can count.

But that's the way this pair is.

BUT

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

these Pointelle will be MADE.

They will be finished by the end of the month.

I surely hope they are

They are frogged once again.

Now my newest plan

is that

I will knit them one-sock-at-a-time

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Hugs

Snow Days Cast Ons

I suppose this does not look like much to have accomplished in the several snow days we've had,

but this is it ! ! 

You might have to keep in mind

we've not eaten out during these snow days.

Yes, I had work in the kitchen to do.

I cast on for two pair of sox for Rav's Cookie A's KAL

The pearly grey is to be Marilinda

This pink will be knit into In & Out.

These two pair will be finished by the end of March.

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And, now

my snow pics

Our backyard.

Temp this morning is -9 degrees F.

Wintery Hugs

Thread Painting

Saturday was a very productive day.

Our Art Quilters met at the library for our very first work session.

Once we got the tables set up and place, electrical taken care of, and chair height's adjusted

Susan took on the task of showing us some thread painting techniques and we were off and running.

There were seven us - all concentrating and stitching and stitching.

We chose to thread paint onto floral fabric.  Each picking something a little different.

Though a couple did print out their own flower pics onto printer fabric.

Our reserved time for the room at the library was for four hours 

- at right about the three hour mark we were exhausted.

Boy, it was intensive work.  :^)  sweaters had to be shed and the thermostat lowered. 

We were a room full of hot babes ! ! ! 

The work done during those three hours were truly surprizing.  

We done gooooood!

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I know I still have a Looong way to go before I feel confident, let me tell you.

This is what I accomplished during our session.

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Seems the idea of the crafting cottage appeals to our imagination, for sure.

Your comments have my mind reeling !

Ahh, the possibilities.

We, here in mid-MO are anticipating our winter snow 

that is to include, rain, sleet, ice and thunder snow.

Total accumulation forecast to be at least a foot here in Jeff.

Hugs

Hey, wanna hear about my Nook?

This past week Hubby and I have attended two Nook evenings.

Our local library Nook evening introduced Nook users to their elibrary system.  [click on this hyperlink to read more about it]

Our library belongs to a consortium of  Missouri libraries in cities and towns of a population of under one-hundred thousand.

Currently ten libraries comprise the consortium.

Each library contribute to the overall budget based on library membership.

St Joseph being the largest contributor with Jeff City coming in second.

Currently the Consortium has a library of over three-hundred fifty ebooks.

If I remember correctly, more than one hundred of these are e audiobooks.

After downloading two programs from our library website to a pc, laptop or netbook these ebooks can be downloaded and read on my Nook.

We downloaded Overdrive that connects us to the eLibrary

and downloaded Adobe Digital Edition Reader  that enables our Nook to read the digital editions.

We downloaded these to my netbook [these. also could be downloaded to my laptop or desktop pc].

The installed programs allow the ebook to download  so that I can start reading.

Books are lent for a period of fourteen days.

And like any other library book it can be re-newed.

We downloaded our first elibrary book that evening.

We have yet to download an e audiobook from the library but will in the next couple days.

We attended our second Barnes and Noble Nook evening on Thursday.

The very capable Nook 'guru' led us though more hints and tips for enjoying our Nooks.

Since our first Barnes and Noble Nook evening, and our second last Thursday,

we are taking advantage of the pre-loaded Nook Extra  -  Pandora Radio,

it's free Internet Radio that I have customized to my musical preferences.  

I now have three stations - Classical, Enya/Enya-like, and Pink/Pink-like music.

Depending on my mood I chose which genre I can listen to

- though Classical will no doubt be played most of the time.

My Pandora Radio can be

 played on my Nook as background music while I read, or surf The Internet,

while I catch up on blogs I follow,

or while read and send email

or even while doing Crossword Puzzles or Sudoku on my Nook.

Yes, I love the features of my Nook.

Especially The Internet features - liking being able to post to my blog.

Lots of fun!!!!!

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I think there is lots o' snow heading toward mid-MO!

Hugs

How would you like

How'd you like a special cottage such as this 

as your crafting cottage?

Early last summer when son and d-i-l were visiting,

d-i-l and I spied the For Sale sign in the yard.

-  -  -  Stopped the car, 

jumped out for the info sheet

and found that for 160k we could own it

A special crafting cottage of our own.

Gee, a gal can dream can't she ?

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Have mentioned lately how your Comments have made my day?

I love reading what you have to say 'cause they are such a reward.

It's nice to know you care enough to spend time visiting and commenting.

Thanks everyone.

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I want to give credit where it is due.

Lotus Blossom was a gift to me from a special quiltin' gal.

Hugs