Happy New Year!

I glanced over my calendar year, and blogged about it - but oh my...a post can get lost in the shuffle, especially if you use the same calendar for both your hobbies!
Rather than writing another "glance at the calendar", may I ask that you please consider clicking onto my other blog?

Oh! Yes! And please don't get stuck on reading the first post you come to, and forget to move on, so you can read how I summed up my 2010.

"A year at a glance" is just beyond "the give away" at my other site: http://maggidoodles.blogspot.com/


Who knows, you might even be tempted to click on the give away - participate - and win!

I would love to hear how your 2010 was summed up, but until then...finish strong and oh!
Have fun celebrating the beginning of a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love, Debi

"flower sugar giveaway"

What an awesome title to catch  my eyes today on blogging!

photo of the give away - isn't it pretty?!

"FLOWER SUGAR GIVEAWAY"  
Just something so sweet could welcome the New Year in with so much color and inspiration!
The offer is for anyone, and the photo introducing the give away is awe inspiring! Click on here
http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/12/flower-sugar-giveaway.html
and follow the directions so you can participate, too.
Happy New Year and best wishes to the winner!

Remember when I won the basket?

Looking back over the year is best accomplished for me with a quiet afternoon to glance through the photo albums I created each month by clearing my camera onto my computer. As I click through the photos, I allow my heart to walk back through the memories and joys once again. It gives me a chance to reflect on all God's blessings for the past year and praise Him for his love. This afternoon, I began in my Sewing/Quilting album, and realized I never posted any photos on that lovely basket I won on the SAFARI SHOP HOP.

Who could resist time with these?

I'm so sorry. Life became so busy and full of my 3 grand daughters being in the states with us. Look...can you blame me?
 The photos were filed, but the script not written for my blog friends to enjoy the basket with me! I also remembered that I saved the photos to blog until my three traveling friends could enjoy the "spoils" with me in person.

So, with no more delay, here are a few snapshots of the wonderful basket. It was packed full with pattern books, a calendar (2008) of patterns, stencils, kits, charm packs, and fat quarters. There was even a pack of batting and several sewing/quilting notions.

Full basket

For my Redwork project

There is so much in this remarkable basket that as a novice quilter, my heart grew faint thinking of all the projects and work it will take to make everything offered in the prize!
My favorite bundle is this red/white fabric. I've already started a Redwork project of antique scenes on muslin, and will use these fabrics to make the border around all each block of embroidery. Another blog will show what I plan to do to join the blocks together with these fabrics, and what the final outcome plan will be for this bundle.

Flannel...pillowcases?

Wrapped in ribbon was my next favorite combination. This pile was an assortment of flannel. I absolutely love the color of burgundy, but when you add a couple of plaid fabrics and top it with a simple floral, my heart is hooked. I have no idea what this grouping will make yet, but I know that something very special will pull all these fat quarters together in a lovable project. Just touching the flannel gives a cuddly feeling.

I offered anything from this whole basket of goodies to my three favorite quilting friends. They "ahhh'd" over each item pulled from the basket and many comments were made as to what they thought they could make with this or that. The final agreement is that they would remember what I had in my quilting box and when it is needed, it would be theirs for the taking. I really want to share it all with them just as they shared their days of shop hoping with me.  Time will tell as our projects evolve which parts of this basket are used by one of us. I just know it will be fun to be together, working on a various of projects and have the availability of all this "stuff" at our fingertips!

We're waiting for the next one!

Seeing the photos of this basket, reminded me again of the good times we had on our road trip and the excitement we had on the SAFARI SHOP HOP.  As a new year comes across the horizon, here's one quilter hoping the shop owners decide to plan another "HOP" really soon!

Have a happy and wonderful new year with your hobbies!

My first project on my new Janome

I have to admit that using my new Janome has brought the joy of creating back to my sewing room. It is so easy to use, and absolutely exhilarating to try the new stitches at the push of a button. I miss my old friend, the New Home machine in the garage, but there's no comparison in the clunking noise of the old broken down machine and the quiet hum in my room now! Sewing in the new year is going to be such fun!

I just completed this beautiful table runner for someone very special to me. I cannot wait to see her eyes light up as she sees her favorite hues of blue dance past the tissue paper of her Christmas gift box!
Her favorite color is blue and it will enhance the other accent touches in both her living room and dining area. I am sure she'll add a crystal vase to the center, full of roses which are usually a gift from her loving husband.
The muted yellow and celery green enhance the beauty of this piece of fabric, and my favorite shade of red softly shadows the branches of green. For each end, I added some antique ivory lace with velvet ribbon, a piece of tweed fabric, which matches her LR furniture, and a soft blue velvet ribbon ensconced by blue crochet.
I cannot wait to see this grace her large formal dining table of dark cherry wood! She'll open our gifts on Christmas Eve, so maybe her dinner on Christmas Day will have a touch of newness on her table. We'll see.

I am also making 16 place mats to match the runner. Why so many? Because that is how many sit around her table at her family gatherings! And that is only counting the adults! Her six beautiful grand children prefer to squat around her coffee table for their conversational meal and quick release from the table. What a happy bunch they all make at our special family times!

The little things...

Quilt hanging for Dad's room

Oh! I am so sorry! This month, 8 technicians guessed which part of the cable made my TV, telephone, and internet shut down! It has been absolutely frustrating, but I think everything that could be replaced, has been!
Is this a good enough excuse why my blog has been so quiet?  
I even messed up on FNSI! Please forgive my neglect! A stored "cheat cloth" caught my attention while cleaning, so for FNSI, I finished this quilt hanging. The artist, Norman Rockwell, is my Dad's favorite artist, although my daughter's work runs a very close second for her Grandpa. I stitched around all the figures and the border. I really wanted to add sparkling satin ribbons to the gifts at the bottom (another year, maybe), but for now, it brightens a little apartment for a dear elderly man.

The "baby"!

An eastern flight took our family soon after Thanksgiving, leaving behind a definite silence and emptiness in our home. We were together for 5 months and feel so blessed for all the memories we made. We watched the infant grand daughter change daily and grow into a beautiful toddler. While the family packed suitcases, she even accomplished rolling over to reach some colorful toys. She giggles and has the brightest smiles. Now, I wait for the phone calls, carefully listening for the talking sounds which show her verbal skills keep developing, too. Her first word is definitely "ma-ma"!

visiting a sick neighbor with treats

The oldest two have experienced so many new adventures in America. I think their favorite spots are the local libraries! They are having a wonderful time with paternal family members and each phone conversation fills me in on their daily activities. Christmas is exciting for them this year! They cannot wait to see JOY in their friends' eyes when gifts they chose are opened, and they say they have bundles of hugs for all their cousins!
So, as we watch our tree lights twinkle, my Don and I are recalling this awesome year. We're thanking our God for His goodness and faithfulness to us, and for the blessing of family and friends. I also greet you during this special celebration of Christ's birth and wish you all a wonderful season with your families.

Check THIS out!

Just received this site from a girlfriend, with this message:

http://www.alzquilts.org/5579.html

Debra's friend (mine, too!), Judy Matlock donated her mini quilt to the Altzheimer's auction.  Her quilt is titled, "Musical Memories" and it's #5579.  The link above should take you right to it.  If not, begin at http://www.alzquilts.org/quiltauction.html and you'll find it that way too.

The quilt is beautiful!  Judy's husband, Gene, serves with Rick on the FaithBBC&S board.  Thought you'd be interested and inspired.  :)

I thought all my blogger friends and visitors would love to see this beautiful quilt...so pop over to this site and oooooh and aaaaah! 

Have a great quilting day! 

Friday Night Sew-In

I invite you, my stitching comrades, to join me in "Friday Night Sew-In" on November 19th. Here is the link to explain all the details and how to join the group...
http://handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com/
I hope to do a lot of hand stitching that night and finish a big project I've been working on for a long while.
Please come join me and let me know what you'll be doing that evening. That way, I'll be thinking of you working on your project while I patiently stitch my way to the "finish line".
Envisioning creativity in color! Debi

I won a basket!

I can't believe it, but there is a postcard in my hand to prove a dream come true!

Such a pretty star!

One of the drawings from the SHOP HOP pulled out my name!
I'm now planning another trip to a Quilt Shop nearby to carry home a wonderful basket of quilting goodies! Of course, my three girlfriends will share in my bounty...so, I am excited to get together again and allow this basket of goodies to bring back our memories of two special days on the road! We had such fun!

Pop back over to this blog so you can see the gift I carry home!
I'll post again with the basket in hand...

Thank you, Shop Owners, for this encouragement to sew and quilt more! I loved the SHOP HOP and especially meeting all of you personally.
Debi

Welcome!

Just saw this image on another site and loved it!
I thought I'd use it to welcome you to my blog!

I  just love Autumn, don't you?!

Hugs-n-Stitches!   Debi

Finally, Thursday's SHOP HOP...

Dawn came early, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't be ready when the girls came to pick me up and begin our journey to the southern shops of KC area! They patiently waited for me to finish making my elderly Dad's plans for the day comfortable, and kissed my little grand daughters goodbye. Then, we were racing down the highway with great expectations to finish the SHOP HOP started on Monday!

Get your stamp here!

Not only were these shops I didn't know existed, but I'd never even been to these towns! Belton, Pleasant Hill, Kingsville, Warrensburg and Higginsville all quaintly welcomed us and the shops were adorable! Each displayed their version of the designated Quilt squares, stamped our passports, offered us great deals on fabric and wished us well on our Safari hop.

Look at Quilt on ceiling!

A day of shopping was so fun in these little shops, and we diligently received our stamps, purchased the kits, and browsed all the other awesome fabrics offered.

We absolutely fell in love with Kingsville's gorgeous shop of hand dyed fabrics and homey atmosphere!

One room in Liberty Homestead

Miniature version of the quilt

I love it!

Look, girls!

LIBERTY HOMESTEAD caught our attention for hours! The miniature version of the quilt was awesome and the whole arrangement of the shop gave us all kinds of ideas for future excursions! Looking like a home from the street, the owners have arranged their shop to accommodate the love quilters have for space, fabric, and retreats! Their hand dyed fabric is exquisite and her many books of instructions and patterns are worth checking out! We know we'll return to this spot often! We gathered all her information, several packages of her special fabrics, and ideas for future projects and sadly left her shop to continue our hopping.

Finalizing our stamped passports

At our last shop, we finalized our passports for the Shop Hop, cast our vote for the best liked quilt, and finished shopping for the odds and ends still left on our list.

Loved this center! 

This shop's personal quilt caught my eye for their originality and the added Autumn center. I've included this photo of it, so you can enjoy the beauty!

Have a splendid Fall and happy quilting!
Debi
Hop to a previous blog entry to read about MONDAY 5 shops and especially our MSQC visit!

Donna Days Video

On Friday, our little group had our Sew-n-Share and enjoyed a whole day of cutting out fabric, quilting, and spending more time together. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and spacious room for laying out my plans for my first quilt. I am excited to see little blocks coming together to make such a beautiful array of color. As I placed the blocks down, I could envision this quilt finished someday and hanging on my LR wall. These are my favorite colors and accent almost every room of my home. So, my very first handsewn quilt is finally taking some shape

My favorite colors coming together

Once in awhile, we become silly and put on a demo for the others. I had a new tool for cutting circles that Jenny suggested when I visited MSQC. What a difference it makes to have the right tools! I absolutely love this little "cutter" - especially made for the circle ruler. My friends wanted to see it in action, so I gave a "Jenny Tutorial". I didn't know I was being recorded and chuckle even now as I see the final little snippet of my demo! You can see me being goofy on my girlfriend's blog:  http://www.dixieandthechicks.blogspot.com/

Donna & Jan steadily working on projects

but don't laugh too loudly! It was only my second circle cut! The procedure was much easier as I learned to be at ease with this cutting tool!

Ron joins us bringing his own project!

We have great fellowship as our quilts and projects are slowly pieced together! Each has a table and spread our work out over the room! We have an excellent island counter top in the kitchen for cutting, and another for ironing. It is an awesome setting and allows us to work non-stop on projects, with accomplishments getting cheers from our friends.
Often the guys join us at a table, pretending not to hear our constant chatter, but loving the day spent with us all. Thanks, Ron!

Adventurous Safari Shop Hop

Donna & Jan mapping our route

Like any other Monday, I raced around doing the household chores and morning routine; yet, it was different, for everything needed to be done by 8:00, so I could race off to join my friends on our planned SAFARI SHOP HOP.  

While refreshing ourselves with coffee and “monkey bread”, we mapped out our route of the five northern shops, then we excitedly climbed in the car headed to the farthest point and our favorite shop: “Missouri Star Quilt Company”.

"the girls of the shop"

At this shop, it is like meeting old friends! The girls welcomed us, giving us our Safari passports, showing the kits, charms, an awesome "winner's basket", the “Daily Deal” charm packs, and answering our many questions. I wandered over to the cutting table and was not surprised to find Jenny giving a tutorial on short cuts for the Dresden pattern. Wow! I love her demonstrations! She is so awesome, making any task sound so easy!

Jenny pointed to the MSQC square

As we admired the Kansas Star Quilt, Jenny pointed to the square made my MSQC. Loving the colors of the assembled quilt, it was easy to pick up their packaged kits and pattern and dream of our own personal quilt! Our minutes in the shop clicked away to hours making us sadly realize we needed to leave our favorite place to continue the tour of shops. So, we headed for Kearney’s “Sew Bee It”, and realizing it was close to the lunch hour, we discussed lunch plans with a Mexican flavor close by the shop. 

Celebrities visit Kearney!

Each shop surprised us with the beauty of their star, and their personal arrangement of the designated squares.  We spent quality time in each shop, admiring the array of fabrics and supplies each carried. I enjoyed meeting the shop owners and observing the personalities of the individual shops with the many displayed quilts hanging on the walls.

Quilts and kits were easy to find!

When the day ended, we carried away our little totes of supplies, kits, patterns, and visions of our imagined creations. But, the SAFARI SHOP HOP wasn’t finished…

There were 5 more shops waiting for our next free day (Thursday) when we could head south of Kansas City and discover shops never visited before!

GO! fast to the drawing!

Lana just informed me about this "gift give-away" and I am passing it on to my friends....
Follow the link below and take a minute to walk through her steps! Enjoy!

http://janesfabrics.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-go-for-giveaway.html

Pay It forward....

Here's the plan...

The idea is that 3 of you join my Pay It Forward and then 

I will send a hand made gift (made with love!!!) to each one of my THREE

within the next 365 days!

Then, those 3 people must also host a PIF on their blogs

and ask for 3 people to join their PIF -  To pay it forward!

So this is me, asking for 3 people to join my PIF -

just leave a comment to this post !

That's it...no Catches!

NOW...

I only need THREE...

who wants to be my THREE????

Now, this is what Lana had on her blog and it says it so well, so I thought "Why change a good thing?" Lana said exactly what needed to be said and has precise details. So, when she picked me (as her fourth), I needed to post immediately and get started on my 365 day projects! This will be so fun and a definite challenge! I've spent the morning thinking of gifts I would like to make and wondering who would be the special three friends that would receive these ideas from my hand. Will it be you?

I wonder.

Remember, all you need is a comment added to this post to be chosen as one of my three.

OK...so, I didn't relax!

I know it was Friday sew-in night, but I didn't have a place to sew in! We now have 4 generations living under one roof for several months, and to make that possible, the little family has the main house and we moved to the only space left - the garage. We constructed a beautiful 12 x 11 bedroom in front our parked car area, and then carpeted the second front part of the garage for a sitting room/sewing room. Of course, there are boxes everywhere, a make-shift closet hung using an antique ladder,

and much to sort through and give away...yet, we love the comfort and coziness of seeing our plans fit together. This part of the house is now our favorite little haven!
So, while most of you were sewing up a storm, I was looking for a place to sew in my new garage setting!

I looked at our "stuff" - piles of boxes, gadgets, and tools, and wondered how I could make a homey and pleasant corner! With the help of my Grandmother's antique quilt -  sewn in 1920's and hidden away in her hope chest, I covered clutter. It makes such a pretty wall and hides the storage boxes yet to be sorted! Then I added her rocking chair and sewing box to my corner. My husband's tools are stored in the cabinet, but even that fit the decor!

Now, to make it fair and to participate in the actual Sew-In Night, I sat on my comfy bed and stitched  2 - 8" blocks together. I hope that counts!  I have a long way to go, but I am so happy to have my sewing room set up and ready to create once again! I want my very first attempt at quilting by machine to be the postage stamp quilt! I cannot wait to get started!
Happy "Show n Tell" to all of you! Debi

Friday Sew-IN challenge met...

Getting into jammies and dreaming of sewing for an entire Friday evening was one thing! But, blogging what I've accomplished on a Friday night "sew-in"? That takes a lot of courage! I have 36 Dresden-decorated white blocks spread around me on the bed ready to be assembled, but I am so nervous!
You see, I'm a newbie...and this is a big deal to me! I cannot believe I am telling professional quilters that I am making a quilt one hand-stitch at a time...and then, showing them how it is slowly coming together. I never would have guessed that I would even blog, and have others see my feeble handiwork! I had big dreams of some day sewing a quilt, but wow...what a support group I gained by hanging out around you all!
In a previous blog, you can read my first photos in this attempt, and I will add new photos later tomorrow because you all are so encouraging and write things that make me think I can accomplish this great feat!
So...here goes - I am sewing and having a ball! Debi

A VERY FUN DAY

It was absolutely amazing! My four friends chose the day for a field trip and we piled into the largest van and took off for Hamilton, MO. One of them had found "the coolest Quilt Shop website" and the address was close enough for a day's excursion! Quietly two admitted to their tryst and day's excursion to spy out the place, begging a guilt trip for shopping without us. They tried every possible excuse for why they came across the location weeks before telling us what they found!

"I'm here! I'm finally here!"

What fun we had! Chatting and catching up on the summer past, we covered the miles quickly and pulled up next to a corner store. Photos had to be taken immediately for the explorer, but she struggled to pose as she danced a jig at the entrance into the place of her website!

Even the bathroom had displays!

Inside, I stood amazed. A colorful array of quilts lined the walls, and stacks of charms, jellyrolls, and bolts decorated each wall. I was drawn to the Autumn color pallet of fabrics across the first room and found beautiful charms in navy, gold, and garnet! I knew a pile of those would be in my shopping bag before I left the store!

Jenny, the store owner, greeted us enthusiastically, as did her husband and daughter! Jenny pointed out the Daily Special Rack and began a story of why this special was one of her favorites. From that conversation, she jumped to several "shortcuts" we'd enjoy. When our faces told her we were not picturing her lesson,

Right then, she taught us the short cuts!

she pulled open a drawer under her cutting board and with a "Let me show you!" began one of many demonstrations we saw in our field trip. I cannot tell you how many simple tricks she taught us in such a short time. She also made me think I could accomplish great things with the little blocks, the long strips and the tools hanging on the walls around us!

Jenny showed us many new tools

If you love quilting, please find some time to click on their shop website and enjoy all they offer or give yourself a treat and drive to Hamilton, MO!
Their website: http://missouriquiltco.com/shop And wow...great tutorials are in store for you at this site!

Here's the beauty of it!

And just for a quick note, I want to thank my awesome girlfriends for planning such a wonderful day of shopping, lunch, and just being together.
You all made a special memory for me!
And my vote is: "Let's do it again real soon!"

Fabric Mural on Display

The onslaught of preparation for VBS at our church found me with paint brush in hand and a twin sheet draped across my plastic covered cutting table. This summer's theme "SeaQuest" was developed by RBP who also provided color pages of deep sea diving for class activities. I especially liked the treasure chest scene, so using a projector, I enlarged it and made a sparkling display mural. The results were life-like and stunning. Eyes were drawn to the jewels in the chest, but hopefully during the week, it also suggested to the kids and helpers alike that there is need to dive deeper in the study of God's Word to discover the true treasures of knowledge God wants His children to find.
This mural displayed in the hallway about a month prior to the week of the program to advertise the theme and initiate excitement for the upcoming event.

Peacefully attempting handmade quilts

Love of fabrics and stitching during peaceful hours in my empty nest has led me to new attempts in making a handmade quilt. I am having fun so far, and thought I would blog the different steps of this beginner...so now and then, you'll see progress on this blog.

Peace or war, faithfulness honored...

With his career placed in the hands of the Marine Corps, my brother served our country faithfully and with his whole heart. We were both young teens when he enlisted and through the years, I saw his ranks change, many honors awarded him, and much wisdom show up with each graying hair. For many years, he held the standard high as his country's flag waved in gentle breezes. During the National Anthem, his attentive stance with glistening eyes focused on the flag he loved so well, and he stood tall among all those who served with him. His toughest tour of duty took his heart into battle. He answered the call bravely and once again met it with faithfulness. This tour called his only son back into battle and because he knew the challenges of conflict, they both faced war. The elder on his knees while the younger fought on rocky mountain terrain.
I am so proud of my brother's service, and thank my heavenly Father God for sparing both their lives in patriotic service. I thank this family with a project I cross stitched while praying for their safety.

piece by piece in peaceful moments

Each first Friday, I join a group of friends who love to quilt. This is totally a new adventure for me, but I am learning so many features of quilting! One of my lifelong dreams in sewing is to learn how to create handmade quilts as my grandmother did for me. I would love to pass on to my grand daughters the quilts I make and the love of sewing.

I chose a bow tie pattern for my first attempt. I loved making the little ties!
I chose colors that basically match any room in my home and eventually will have a small printed white cotton as my background.

Next the little ties made beautiful fans! Putting these together took only a couple of peaceful evenings while my guys watched their sports channel. I made a pile of 30 of them and cut out the 9 inch squares of white.



And that's how far I am right now on this fun project!