New Free BOMS for 2013

Since my surgery was postponed until this coming Tuesday, I've had time to check out some of the new BOM's for this year.  Some have already started, so I apologize for posting the links so late.

Sindy at FatCat Patterns has a darling free Owl BOM just starting called Whoo Knows. 

She also has several other BOM's still running, so take a minute to check out all her free or buyable designs.  Her patterns are fantastic!

Another Cindy - at Quilt Doodle Doodles has started a a block of the month club. 

The blocks will be pieced with the occasional appliqued one, maybe paper piecing too. She'll have a tutorial with the pattern included each month and will throw in sashing directions one month, cornerstone blocks in the end. The monthly patterns will be FREE during the month that they are announced, after that they will be available for a small fee.

Jeanne Rae Crafts has started another garden-themed BOM called The Pixie Garden Quilt.  

It  features Pixie Posy and the inhabitants of her wee garden: Red Bird, Blue Bird, Inchworm, Butterfly 1, Butterfly 2, Snail, Bee, Dragonfly, Flowers 1 & 2, and Lady Bug on her Mushroom. This quilt was designed with machine appliqué in mind but is still suitable for hand appliqué. The twelve applique blocks will be introduced throughout the year. 

Angie at Angie's Bits and Pieces has started a new baby quilt made up of animal blocks called Animal Babies.  This year's project consists of not one, but TWO sets of blocks to make a darling little crib quilt, perfect for that precious little baby or toddler! You choose which set to sew -- farm or jungle/forest animal babies -- or make them both. You can mix and match to your heart's content!   Later in the year, she'll be offering her annual free Christmas quilt, so be sure to check back often. 

Val Laird is offering another of her free beautiful stitchery and applique quilts as a BOM, called Apples of Gold.

It consists of 7 embroidered blocks with proverbs and 3 appliqued blocks.  And while you're there check out all the gorgeous patterns she has for sale.

There are lots more of these free BOM's out there, but these are a few of my favorites and should keep you busy for a while.  Remember, most of them are only offered free for 1 month, so make sure you visit every month and save them or print them out so you don't miss any.

Another place where you can find a big list of more of the 2013 BOM's is by joining The Quilted Table Yahoo Group.  In this group we take the quilts off the beds and put them other places. Each month we're challenged with a new item that will suit the current season or holiday.  If you join in the monthly challenges, by the end of the year you could have a load of gifts all ready for holiday giving.  Every now and then we have some fun swaps and everyone is welcome.  Stop in and check us out.

This will be my last post for a while.  I don't know how long I'll be laid up with my reverse shoulder reconstruction, but I'll be back as soon as possible.  Until then...

Happy quilting from Sharon and Patsy Cline

A House in Mourning....

Not having a good week here.  We had to have our beautiful Katie sent to the Rainbow Bridge Monday.

I thought she might have developed diabetes or a thyroid problem.  All of a sudden she was not eating and became very weak.  Her fur got funny and she wanted to drink cold water and to be in the cold all the time.  She kept going off by herself and instead of eating her food, she wanted ours now.  

I made an appointment with the vet on Wednesday for Monday morning for both cats to go and get caught up on their shots.  But between Friday and Monday, Katie just went down hill fast.  She went into kidney failure and was so bad in such a short time, that when the vet saw her and did testing, she said poor Katie wouldn't make it thru the night.. I couldn't let her suffer any longer, so I held her while she went to sleep.

She was only 7, and we're still in shock. Patsy Cline keeps going into all our rooms looking for her. 

We are very sad here.

Rest in Peace, Katie - you were loved so much.

Happy New Year

My New Year's wish for you:

12 Months of Happiness, 52 weeks of Fun, 365 days of Succes, 8760 hours of Good Health, 52600 minutes of creativity and 3153600 seconds of Joy.

I stole this picture and the well wishes from a blog I read by Jacqueline at The Log Cabin.  I hope she'll forgive me, but she expressed perfectly mu wishes for all of you.  Jacqueline is a very talented quilter and stitcher and posts about her work and her quilt shop.  Sometimes she has free patterns for blocks and stitcheries and her blog is always interesting.  So stop over and check her blog out .

Sharon

It's snowing again...

I just hope my DGS makes it back to Boston all right before they get hit with all this snow we're expecting.  He was supposed to fly out at 4:30 pm today, so he should be ok.

What a lovely Christmas we had.  For the first time since we bought this house in 1976, we didn't have Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner here.  Hubby and I had our own little turkey breast dinner with Katie and Patsy Cline and had a relaxing evening in front of the tree Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning we had our gifts after breakfast and "the girls" gave their "Daddy" a new pair of fur-lined moccasin slippers.  Now he can throw away those old stinky ones he loved so much (and they like to sniff---ewwww!)

I finally got to open my gift from Australia in the SSCS 2013 Swap held by Chookyblue every year.  When we receive our package in the mail, we can immediately open the small ornament gift that is part of the swap and enjoy that.  Here's my cute handmade ornie from Vickie in Humpty Doo. (Don't you just love the name of her town?)

But we have to put the big gift under the tree til Christmas Day!  Do you know how hard that is to leave something alone when it sits right there and dares you to pinch it or prod it or squeeze it?   And to make it even worse, my gift this year came wrapped in the most adorable Christmas fabric with little koala bears wearing Santa hats all over it.  That fabric is going right into my "special" stash of unique fabrics from all over the world.  (I've been very lucky in my international swaps to receive fabrics made in other countries.  I'd like to eventually get fabrics made in all the different countries I've visited, but that's just a "wish" now.  If I get enough, some day I may make myself an "international" lap quilt.)

My big gift from Vickie is a darling pleated bag.  I can't imagine how much time it took her to make all the pleats!  It has a pocket inside that's just right for my cell phone and the bag is just the perfect size.  Inside that bag was another smaller bag that will be perfect for carrying a couple of paperback books or for carrying my current stitchery project.  I think right now, I'm going to fill both bags up with things I need to take to the hospital for my surgery stay.

Included in the smaller bag was a really neat table topper pattern called "Something Sweet"  that will be just right for Valentine's Day.  If I can't get to it this year because of my surgery, I'll have something new to look forward to making for next year.  And also in the bag were two adorable teddy bear quilt labels all ready for me to stitch and use.  They're an Australian product made by Teddlywinks.  I can't wait to try those out.

Vickie's lovely gifts have sure made this a very special Christmas for me.  Thanks so much Vickie.  I hope you enjoy your SSCS prezzies as much as I'm enjoying mine.

I'll be back tomorrow to show you all the fun things I received in my Stocking Swap with my friends in my Scrappy and Happy Yahoo group.  Until then...

Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline

Merry Christmas !

From Our Home to Yours

Christmas Fulfillment

By Joanna Fuchs

This Christmas,

may you have the fulfillment

of seeing around you

the people you love the most.

May you have the satisfaction

of giving the best gift,

special memories that will last forever.

This Christmas,

may you feel peaceful and contented,

knowing what Christmas means to you

and celebrating it your way.

The Christmas Gift of Knowing You

By Joanna Fuchs

The Christmas season fills our hearts with joy;

Bright, happy days bring special kinds of pleasure.

We're wrapped in the excitement of it all,

The sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes we treasure.

Yet when we have some quiet time to think

About our finest blessings all year through,

We focus on our family and our friends,

And appreciate the gift of knowing you!

Let's All Be Friends

Katie and Patsy Cline hope you've all been good this year so Santa will be sure and stop at your house to fill your stockings with lots of goodies.

And don't forget to say a prayer to keep all our service men and women safe during this holiday season.  We owe them so much.

God Bless Us One and All


Merry Christmas Everyone!



Thought for the Day

A friend just sent me the following in email.  I loved it and thought I would share with all of you.

THE BUZZARD

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet

and is entirely open at the top,

The bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.

The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground

with a run of 10 to 12 feet.

Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly,

But will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night,

a remarkably nimble creature in the air,

Cannot take off from a level place.

If it is placed on the floor or flat ground,

all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and,

No doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation

from which it can throw itself into the air.

Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler,

will be there until it dies,

unless it is taken out.

It never sees the means of escape at the top,

but persists in trying to find some way out

Through the sides near the bottom.

It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE

 In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee.

We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations,

never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

That's the answer, the escape route,

and the solution to any problem...

Just look up!

 

Sorrow looks back,

Worry looks around,

But faith looks up!

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly, and

Trust in our Creator,

Who loves us.

Share this with a friend... I just did.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

I hope you've all had a lovely Thanksgiving day today and remembered to count your blessings and say a big "Thank You" for all the joys in your life.

I have to apologize because my posts have been missing since October.  For the most part, it's because I've been busy with life, but I will admit to going on a quilting retreat in November with friends. 

But, this year has not been a good one for me, mostly because of physical problems.  I've finally made a decision I've been putting off for several years - that I have to do something about my shoulder/rotator cuff problem.  I had surgery 6 years ago to repair a huge tear in my rotator cuff.  3 of the 4 tendons were torn and the repair was not successful.  Because of atrophy, no further repair could be done. 

Now I've seen a new surgeon to our area, who does a shoulder reconstruction reversing the ball and joint in the shoulder.  She thinks her surgery is perfect for me and will finally give me relief from the pain.  But--it's a lot more complicated than a repair, so it will take up to a year for me to be normal ( ??? - she doesn't really know me yet, lol) again.  But the good news is, as soon as the incisions heal, I can start rehab and not have to sit in a sling for 8 weeks like with the rotator cuff repair.

The down side of this means I have a ton of things to get completed before my surgery the beginning of January,  So I probably won't be posting much between now and next summer.  Physically I'll be unable to as it's my right shoulder and, of course, I'm right handed.  The doctor says I'll need help at home for 2-3 weeks after I come home from hospital, so I know I won't be on the computer much, if at all.

I'm hoping by summer to be able to sew and pick up on my blog, but we'll just have to see how it goes.  So thanks to all of you who have been faithful readers of my blog. I hope you'll check in every now and then to see if I've posted anything.  I'll be back as soon as possible, but until then, I wish you ....

Happy quilting and peaceful days,

Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline

A new blog hop is coming....

A Fall Machine Embroidery Blog Hop will be sharing inspiration with an emphasis on Fall, and Christmas ideas too! They'll also be some tips, tutorials, and giveaways in this fun blog hop. And, you don't have to do machine embroidery to join the fun in this event.

Mark your calendars and come join the fun November 5th - 9th.  I found this info on SewCalGal's blog, so check out the bloggers there.  Since I just purchased an embroidery machine and have only used it once so far, I'll be waiting impatiently for this hop.

My BFF, Donna G, who's birthday we celebrated this week, made another new purse to drool over.  It's in gorgeous fabric that she tried to rip right out of my hands one day at the fabric store--but I was too tough for her, and she had to find this somewhere else, lol.  Isn't it pretty?

Usually a bunch from our Wednesday sewing group goes on a retreat for our Yahoo group during the summer.  The last 3 years we've gone to Canton, Ohio, but this year only Donna and her daughter, Jill, were able to go.  Another Yahoo member, Lyn from New Hampshire, did a tutorial on Celtic Knots at the retreat and Donna took it.  It's all hand applique and here is the piece Donna finished.  She wants to do more soon.

On Wednesday our group went to Hammondsport, NY (officially one of the coolest small towns in America) and visited the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum to see a small quilt and embroidery exhibit being held there.  The museum was fantastic!  Curtiss was the father of naval aviation and supplied the US with the first naval airplanes in WWI.   He also invented many motorbikes and cycles, plus water planes.  Very interesting trip thru history. 

Only a few quilts in the exhibit, but lots of lovely hand embroidery and applique.  The museum also had a large exhibit of miniature and dollhouses--especially liked the Irish Cottage with a thatched roof.

After the museum we headed off to lunch at Snug Harbor, a neat restaurant on the lake.  During the summer I love to eat out on the porch or dock, but a bit windy and cool today, so we enjoyed the indoors instead.  We had a lots of laughs and good food, and gifts for the birthday girls, Donna G and Gail P.

Then off to the quilt store, Lake Country Patchworks,  for some fabric shopping.  They carry lots of Orientals and batiks, so I picked up 3 Oriental fat quarters to add to my stash for my some-day quilt.  They also carry a great selection of grape fabric because, after all, they're located in the heart of the Finger Lakes grape country.

So until next time,
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls

 

Are you ready for the drawing?

Today's the day I said I'd draw for the prizes I donated to the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop.  It's my BFF Donna G's birthday, so she'll bring someone some good luck today.  

So to DONNA:

May you have cake all day long, lol.

What a fun experience this was for me.  Everyone was so nice.  And so many people stopped by and left lovely comments about my projects.  I was very nervous about doing my first hop, but since it was so pain-free, lol, I think I'll do it again.  My buddy, Joan, at MooseStash Quilting does them all the time and gives me lots of encouragement and inspiration, so look for me to do more in the future.

Thank you to our wonderful, hard working hostess, Cherry, at Cherry Blossums Quilting Studio and to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt, the inspiration and bestest (?) cheerleader behind this and many blog hops to come.

With further ado, here is the winner of our little drawing:

Kathy H said...

I am a new follower and love the pictures of your cats. The maple leaf quilt is going to be gorgeous. ANd how cute with the cat and the pumpkin. The mug rugs are a great idea with all the different colors for the seasons. It turned out great too.

So thanks, Kathy H, for your kind comments (and Katie and Patsy Cline thank you, too).  I've sent you an email, so as soon as I receive your snail mail info, I'll get your Fall mug mat and charm pack in the mail to you.

And thanks to all of you out there that stopped by and left lovely comments and mercy me, even became a follower, lol!  This was a wonderful experience.  If you haven't tried it yet, I encourage more of you to join in.

Until next time,

Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline

Day 6 of the Leafs Blog Hop...

Today is the 6th day of the hop and more quilters will be posting their leaf-themed blocks. Cheerleader and hostess Cherry, at CherryBlossoms Studio, has all the info. Visit her to see the schedule on her sidebar and get ready for a fun trip. The blog hop goes until October 10th.

Don't forget the Halloween paper-pieced blog hop is also going on, and doesn't end til the last day of October.  Stop at Whims and Fancies to see the schedule at the bottom of her post.  Lots of great, new, original blocks on this hop.

Until next time,

Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline