Happy Holidays from Me to You!

Turn on your speakers!

This video from the small Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska, was a school computer project intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area. Much to the villagers' shock, over a half million people have viewed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=LyviyF-N23A May the Joy of the Season fill your Hearts and Homes!  Enjoy!!!!

CALLING ALL WANTOBE QUILTERS!!!

Okay - all together now!  Give me an L . . . give me an O . . . give me an S . . . give me an E . . . give me an R!  Just call me LOSER!   

Madame Samm's Wantobe Quilter Campaign has been in full steam since August 1st and I am just jumping on the Bandwagon now - I will spare you all my sorry excuses, but needless to say, let's get this party started!

The Fabulous Madame Samm, moderator of Sew We Quilt, is hosting a magnificent campaign for all "Experienced" Quilters and their protege "Wantobe" Quilters now through October 29th.  Generous sponsors are hosting daily giveaways (Saturdays and Sundays excluded) to include, but not limited to sewing machines, batting, patterns, fabric, cutting mats, rotary cutters, thread, scissors, rulers, books, magazines, DVDs . . . oh, my . . . it is making me a bit dizzy thinking of it all!

(Small, very very small disclaimer:  Winners are responsible for shipping charges)

I have excerpted some of the following rules from another of our great Mentor Bloggers, Stitchin' by the Lake, because she condensed everything together so beautifully!

 

Everyone is eligible! There are two categories: the first is for the new quilter, the person who wants to be a quilter but who doesn't have much in the way of equipment or supplies. There are prizes that will help you get that start you need...everything from thread to rotary cutters, from rulers to sewing machines. The second category is for the "old" quilter, the person who's been quilting for a while but who would love to win some great prizes to add to their stash.

Both groups of quilters register in the same way - you send your name, e-mail address and telephone number to a blogger who has the Wanttobe Quilter Campaign button on their blog, like the one I have posted. You must follow or subscribe to that person's blog as well as to Sew We Quilt aka Stash Manicure.  

 

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday all you new wanttobe quilters should read the post and COMMENT so that your name will be entered into the drawing. If you sign up with me you must leave my name in your comment every time...that's so I will also be eligible to win. :) If you're an experienced quilter you must comment on Tuesday and/or Thursday's post, also leaving my name. If you don't comment, you don't get entered that day.

Because all of the prizes are being shipped from Madame Samm (that's where all the sponsors are sending the goodies) you will have to pay postage because, heavens, with that many prizes, there's no way she could afford all that postage. I'm just so thankful that she has come up with this wonderful giveaway and is donating her time and labor to coordinate it - what a blessing that is for all of us!

So, what are you waiting for . . . get started NOW (or you will have to wear a LOSER badge like me -lol!)

HAVE FUN AND WIN SOME PRIZES!!!

 



A Hero In My World

I can't resist a shout-out to this beautiful face!!!

Photographer Says 'No' To Senior Pictures For Bullying Students

Jennifer McKendrick of Indiana County, PA self-employed photographer, says (among a few other choice statements) "If you are ugly on the inside, I’m sorry but I won’t take your photos to make you look pretty on the outside!"

Jennifer McKendrick - you rock!!!

RUN . . . . DON'T WALK!!!

Run, Don't Walk to Aunt Polly's blog and enter the Giveaway for a FREE FREE FREE GO Baby Accuquilt Cutter and 3 Dies (of your choice)!

Drawing closes on Wednesday, July 27th!!! 



Pillowcase Kit Giveaway Winners

Thank you soooooooooo much for all the kind comments left on the Stash and on my blog about the "Hot Dog" tutorial!  Our wonderful neighbors to the North seem to have a lucky star over them this week as both winners are Canadians!  Please send me your snail mail addresses so I can get your prizes on their way to you!!

Congratulations to:

sandra (from Canada) Winner of the Groovy Slug Bug Kit said...

"Hi really loved that simple method for making pillow cases,thanks. I am already a follower."

Kelly J (from Ontario, Canada) Winner of the Mary Englebreit TeaCup Kit said...

"Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get"?

Actually, Life is a like a fabric store! All the treats are waiting inside, you just have to push open the door.

(Winners were chosen by Random.org)

I wanted to share a few of the comments that made me laugh out loud (literally.)  You made my day!

Colleen said...

I really don't eat whilst quilting but I do feel free to purchase as much fabric as I want to support what I call a "HIGH FIBER DIET"! :)

rosemagnificent said...

On occasion I have been known to eat cheetos...with a fork or a toothpick so I don't get the orange gunk on my hands! 

 Nikki said...

I like to drink when I sew.....my fingers stay clean that way. Late at night I have tried wine, but I usually have un-sew the next day.

Pots and Pins said...

  Thanks...burrito pillowcase...enchilada dreams will follow! xo, Nan

Kim Schafer-Jones said...

AND, to let you know, if you have a bowl of Peanut M&M's by your machine at ALL TIMES...you seams will be PERFECT Scant 1/4" and always straight! ;)

I wish I could give each and every one of you a Pillowcase Kit, but please stay tuned.  There will be more fun giveaways to come!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT and a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY

I'm the Guest on the Stash today!

SEW WE QUILT @ stash manicure 

  Skip on over there to learn the latest method for making "a Hot Dog."  While there, leave a comment about your favorite quilting snack.  Then, if you would like a second chance at my giveaway, come back and leave another comment on my blog.  I would love to have you as a follower, but it is not required to win.

Thanks for visiting and Good Luck!

NOW YOU SEE IT . . . NOW YOU DON'T . . . or . . . DO YOU?????

If you haven't been to a quilt show or in your LQS lately, you may have missed the latest-and-greatest product to hit the market since Rotary Cutters.  Well, maybe not that big, but people are gasping in amazement and buying up these little notions by the thousands!

Me included!  I was so taken with a demonstration, I bought 3 on the spot.  In my dewy-eyed purchasing coma, I foggily heard the salesman saying something about "re-generating" your design if you "accidentally" erased it.  That one little comment has come back to nag at me during sleepless nights.  So I decided to conduct my own little Consumer Product Test.

The premise of the pens is that you can mark your fabric and erase it in it's totality with a hot iron.

Very pretty and available in several different colors for all of your fabric marking needs!

Then, with a quick swipe of your iron . . . now you see it . . .

And NOW you don't! Voila!

I was overwhelmed, overjoyed, overcome with this latest-and-greatest invention to make my quilting life more fabulous.  Why, this little product alone would probably make me younger, skinnier, smarter and richer!  Well, could happen!

 But . . . something . . . the salesman had said about "re-generating" the markings kept niggling at my brain.

Oh, yeah, something about extreme temperatures are what activates the gel ink.  So, I placed my little sample block in my deep freezer (had to shuffle some hamburger patties and fish sticks around, but got it in there) and left it to "activate" for 45 minutes.

And, activate it did!  Case in point:

ALL of my scribblings . . .  Yes, by golly, for the Love of Corn, each and every one of them were back in all of their full color glory like a zit on Prom Night!

So what?  I hear you, gentle audience, objecting!  You are not giving your beloved quilt to Eskimos or plan on packing them in ice for perpetuity!  I get you . . .  same thoughts I had!

So, I gave it the Woolite wash and air-dry test.

And here, you have it, the marks are gone again . . . But are they?  Really?  Or are they like a version of a bad slasher movie?  Just when you get snuggled under your beautiful new quilt with a bowl of popcorn and settle in for a Saturday night flick, you glance down and . . .

Oh, it is just too terrible to contemplate!

Below, is the description of the Frixion Pens from Amazon

Technical Details

• Erase and rewrite repeatedly without damaging documents
• Thermo-sensitive Gel ink formula disappears with erasing friction
• Smooth writing Gel ink
• Not recommended for use on legal or official documents
• 3 pack of assorted colors

No where did I see anything about use on fabric, acid-free qualities, long-term effects, or excessive eyebrow growth on lab rats.

Soooooo, gentle reader, I caution you to use at your own risk!  Personally, I will probably refrain from marking any of my heirloom (haha) quilts with one.  But have fun, let your kids use them for Science Experiments or playing April Fool's jokes.

I think I will go back to good old tried-true-and-tested-by-Yo-Grandma chalk!  After all, if it was good enough for Grandma, it should be good enough for me!

 

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

I finished this little quilt just in time to get in under Amy's Bloggers' Quilt Festival deadline.  I took advantage of the first sunny day we have had in weeks to photograph it, but had to fight a strong breeze from blowing it away.

DH and I got a new grandson one month ahead of schedule in January.  He is now growing, smiling, flourishing, and winning our hearts over every day!

This quilt was adapted from a pattern by Acorn Quilt and Gift Company titled "Remember Whooo Loves You." 

I changed the applique to a Wise Old Owl and his young Owl-lette seated on a branch beside him.  I also made an Owl softie of the little Owl-lette for  baby Aedric to snuggle.



 

The label was a design patterned from artist Gwendolyn Gardner.



My dear friend, Karen, did the long-arm quilting for me - Thank you, Karen





It was a fun quilt to make for a precious boy!

 

WARNING!!! For Im-mature Audiences Only - Contents may cause uncontrollable laughter!!!

<><>

Turn up your speakers - You don't want to miss a single "word"!!!!

This has nothing to do with quilting, but EVERYTHING to do with Yumm Yumz!!!

My kids emailed this to me because they knew it was right up my alley - my kids so "get" me! I just can't stop laughing and had to share!!!

Do you have time to send a card?

I received this email from the President and Founder of ConKerr Cancer.  Do you have time to send a birthday card to a little boy?

Let me add for those who haven't already heard about Dalton,he was diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy or ALD,a genetically determined neurological disorder that affects 1 in every 17,900 boys worldwide. It was explained to me that the presentation of symptoms occurs between the ages of 4 and 10, and affects the brain with demyelination. Demyelination is the stripping away of the fatty coating that keeps nerve pulses confined and maintains the integrity of nerve signals. This process inhibits the nerves ability to conduct properly, thereby causing neurological deficits, including visual disturbances, auditory discrimination, impaired coordination, dementia, and seizures. Demyelination is an inflammatory response and nerve cells throughout the brain are destroyed.

Boys develop normally until the onset of symptoms occurs. Symptoms typically rival those of attention deficit disorder before serious neurological involvement becomes apparent. The symptoms progress rapidly and lead to vegetative state within two years, and death anytime thereafter.

Since, as you all know,  ConKerr Cancer - A Case for Smiles is for ALL children with serious illnesses, we have been sending pillowcases to Dalton for some time. 

It's not hard to send a card - so I'm hoping they will be flooded with them, and I am hoping you all will forward to everyone you can and ask them to forward also.  And probably not so much FOR Dalton as for his family.  I know you, Cindy and Leslie, know all about that.

I know we all get email things to send cards and the requests are bogus, but this one is for sure legit.  I'm attaching a picture of Dalton that his Mother included in a Christmas card to me, thanking us for the pillowcases.  He is just the cutest thing.  And Alisa Lambert, who sent the email below, has been wonderful keeping a Facebook page going for him with updates for all of us.  She is truly an angel.

I am sewing this weekend a Happy Birthday case, as well as pillowcases for his mother, father, and big brother.  The guys like the Jaguars so that's what they are getting - Dalton is a Georgia Bulldog so that is an EASY one for me to provide, and his mom is getting one with flowers.  But keep that a secret -- they don't know.  I'm sending to Alisa so that she can give them to them at the best time.

Hope you will all send cards and recruit as many others to send also.

---

From: Alisa Lambert [mailto:alambertpto@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 1:30 PM

 

As some of you may or may not know, for the last 6 months I have been caregiver to a 5 year old boy named Dalton Luder. Dalton has a rare disease that has no cure. He has been confirmed 100% blind since December. He has not been able to speak in over 2 months and has very little hearing in one ear and he no longer recognizes who we are.
 Dalton has been given 12 to 24 months to live however Dr.'s have said they have never seen a child go downhill with this disease as fast as Dalton has. We know that God will heal Dalton's little body either on this side or in heaven and we find comfort that Dalton is in no pain. He came under the care of Hospice 3 weeks ago.
 Two weeks ago I became his fulltime and caregiver and let me say, " I realize I don't have anything to complain about when I look at Dalton and I see all that is going on with him yet he seems at peace." The old saying you can always find someone in worse shape than you are in is VERY true however Dalton is such a blessing to me!
 Dalton's birthday is in just a couple of weeks and he will be six. His mom said her gut instinct is Dalton will not last to see his 7th birthday. That is where you all come in. Would you each take just a moment and send a card to Dalton with a birthday wish and a word of encouragement to his parents. Ask your church family and friends and lets flood this family with support because there is a big lack of support from their family.
You can find pictures of Dalton updated weekly on my page or Dalton's page. Please continue to pray for the Luders as they face whatever lies ahead.
 His address is 246 First Street Folkston Ga. 31547

Do you have your own "Gayle?"

A Friend will bail you out of jail; a great friend will be sitting right there next to you saying "WOW! Didn't we have a fabulous time?"  I have a lot of acquaintances, but only a handful of really great friends.

Great friends, in my humble opinion, are the ones who are cheerleader, therapist, shoulder-to-cry-on, partner-in-crime (figuratively), and yes, critic!  Quite simply, my definition of friend is someone who tells you what you need to know . . . NOT what you want to hear!

One of my great friends is all that and then some.  Best of all, she never fails to make me double over with laughter no matter where we are or what we are doing!  I love her today, tomorrow, and forevermore!

The only weakness my great friend has is that she never says No! and never ever ever ever will let anybody pay her back for a favor.

So, last weekend, I gave my friend a pay-back she couldn't refuse.

 I love this pattern and have made several purses from it.  No matter what fabric you choose, it always turns out beautifully and with professional results. 

And, inside I hid all this yummy goodness:

She loved it!  And, best of all, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy to make her so happy!!!

So, if you have a Gayle for your Oprah, a Lucy for your Ethel, or a Laverne for your Shirley:

 

Love her today, tomorrow, and forevermore!

I love you, Karen

Yes, that is a pair of scissors sticking out of Karen's head!

P.S.  Here's your chance for a "Shout-Out" to your own BFF - tell us your favorite story of a great friend!