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!

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

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!