Thanks to our Veterans.......

In honor of the many Veterans of all our wars, I'm repeating my Memorial Day post .   Thank you for all the freedoms you've given us and the sacrifices you and your families have made.
http://quiltingwithamarmaladecat.blogspot.com/2009/05/today-is-day-to-remember.html

WOW--I'm in the Top Ten...

I entered 6 of my mug rugs in the "MUG RUG CONTEST" over at This-n-That Fabrics blog last month, figuring mine would just be a few in thousands of entries. I don't know how many they ended up with for sure, but guess what? They picked TWO of mine for the top 10!!!! Woo Hoo !!!

So if you would, I'd love for you to please go over there and vote for my mug rugs. I'm sure I'll never win, but I would like to at least have a few votes in the contest. Just making the Top Ten is so awesome, I've been bouncing in my chair with excitement since I read the email and went and checked out the blog post. WOW!! (Did I say that already, lol?) I can't believe it.

Mine are Number 2-the Irish paper-pieced cup with the tea, sugar, and spoon holder pockets,
and Number 4-the paper-pieced spring flower I made for the Seasons BOM Mug Rug Swap.


Just follow the link in their email, which I've included, so you can all see.

-------Original Message-------

From: news@this-n-thatfabrics.com
Date: 05/08/11 21:58:45

This-n-That Fabrics

Our local quilt group has selected the top ten picks for the "MUG RUG CONTEST"
and a poll has been set up over on our Blog for you to vote for your favorites.
(http://tnt512.blogspot.com). Come join the fun, check out all the great rugs and be sure and vote.

Linda and Sandy
www.this-n-thatfabrics.com

Isn't that exciting? Thanks for all your support,
a Happy Dancing Sharon

I really have been working...

I haven't been completely lazy--I've been working on a bunch of swaps for other groups. I did a Mug Rug swap at Seasons BOM group and received this little beauty from Carla Louise in California. Isn't it pretty--even has my name embroidered on it! And here is the one I sent to Valerie in France. I have several others in different stages that I need to finish up and get mailed out. I can't show them yet just in case someone might be peeking. These are so much fun to make-I love them! My Scrappyandhappy Yahoo Group had a 3-G Swap last month. We had to create a great, green goodie for our swap partner. My partner was NorthernDeb, who makes all things beautiful. I decided the best thing for her would be a traveling sewing kit, as she's always on the go. Here's what I made her. I filled it with some sewing notions and, scissors, and thread. Gerda in Alberta had my name and made me a darling needlecase and scissor holder. They are a perfect fit for the traveling sewing caddy that I received from Dale in Chookyblue's SSCS last Christmas. Remember that? I just finished one needlework project for Easter, so as soon as I decide what to do next, I'll get that caddy organized again and use Gerda's gifts with it. Aren't these cute? I also did some swaps with my Quilted Table Yahoo Group . We've been swapping St. Patrick's blocks, Easter bunny and carrot blocks, and are just finishing up an Easter/Spring table topper swap. I received my new Spring topper from Linda in CA, who made me a gorgeous topper that I forgot to take a picture of! I'll have to do that tomorrow and post it later. Gosh, I'm such a goof sometimes. I did remember to take a picture of the one I made for ?????? It went out in the mail the other day, so I can't say who it's for. I hope she likes it. I think I need to make one for myself, too. I love the colors--but I don't have enough of the Iris floral to make another one. Well, back to the sewing machine to finish up those other projects. Until next time... Happy sewing from Sharon and the girls Katie and Patsy Cline

Lots of pictures to share this week...

seems like when we are all back at Quilt Club, there is an abundance of beautiful projects to look at.

Diane S is back from Florida, so we celebrated her birthday belatedly. Here is the garden flag that Donna G made for her. And Diane was also busy-she made herself an Esther-the-Easter-Chicken tablerunner, like Bonnie made last year. Isn't it a gas?
Ann made herself a new purse-not sure if it's for Easter or just for Spring. So pretty, I want to make one for myself if I ever get caught up on my UFO's, lol.
Here's Bonnie checking out Donna's latest quilt-the Buck-a-Block we did at Village Sampler last year. Donna doesn't like the yellow, but we all did. I have to get both of mine finished yet. Isn't her's pretty?
Here's another of Donna's beautiful creations-a table hanging for her daughter.
We're all supposed to be making these little tabletop hangings, but so far Donna is the only one who had actually finished several of them. I finished my St. Paddy's one and then went on to other things. So now I don't have anything to put up for Easter. But I still have a couple of weeks, so maybe this will inspire me to get going on them again.

Katie says if I'd get off the computer, I could get to work now and get one made for myself for Easter! Sheesh! She is such nag! Patsy is taking a nap now, so maybe I'd better listen to Kate.

So until next time...
Happy Quilting from Sharon and "the girls", Katie and Patsy Cline

Just a quick post to let my favorite cynic, Maxine, say a few words of her matchless wisdom...







You have my friend, Donna G, to thank for adding these little cartoons to my growing collection of Maxine art. I love Maxine--she's not afraid to say what I'm thinking, lol.

With that said, I hope you all have a




and


From Sharon and "the colleens", Katie
and Patsy Cline

More pictures....

from "the girls" and their quilting friends.

I have to start with Patsy Cline--she had to check out the quilt we made at Hug Club at O'Susannah's. Lynne brought it today so she could sew the label I made on it. Mary was helping her open it....and the next thing we knew, Patsy jumped into the quilt and proceeded to investigate. She ended up having a great time, as my friends swung her back and forth in the quilt.
She still didn't want to get out, but Katie came to investigate. So Patsy had to tunnel under the quilt and play hide-and-seek. She is such a character...and my friends indulge her!!

Here is the quilt our Hug Club is giving to a friend of Lynne's, who is going thru a bad time right now. Lynne, Linda, and I worked on this quilt in the Fall. We've been lucky with our group--we've been able to get a quilt done every month. Here are some of the others we've made.

Judy and Bettina, Linda, Lynne, and I are very proud of all the quilts we've made that are giving people comfort. O'Susannah's furnishes all the fabric and does the quilting, we do the sewing, and we can all feel good that we're helping someone in distress.

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and "the girls"

DID YOU KNOW?

Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined? There is a wonderful organization out there called It's My Heart, whose mission is to provide support, spread awareness, educate and advocate for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects by creating alliances with fellow families, hospitals, support groups, and the community. One of the needs of this group is masks for babies up to young adults who must wear a mask due to compromised immune systems. Several of us got together and made masks for these kids. I cut up about 6 yards of juvenile fabrics that were just sitting around in my stash gathering dust and made kits for my buddies. Then Jane, Joan, Ann, Gail, Donna, and I went to work and made masks to donate. We filled a large Priority Mail envelope full to overflowing with the 4 sizes of masks they desperately need. I forgot to count and take pictures of what we made, but I know we made at least 5 dozen (132) masks. Here is a picture of the masks from the website... Ours were turquoise bugs, red with blue submarines, and hot pink daisies. I wish I hadn't forgotten to take pictures, but they were really cute. And we know they'll be put to good use.

Until next time....
Happy quilting from Sharon and Katie and Patsy Cline

Super Bowl Sunday...

doesn't necessarily mean football for quilters and sewers. Today members from two of my quilt clubs combined for what I billed as our first annual "Super Bowl Sew-a-Thon". Ten of us gathered together in the local fire hall for a day of fun and sewing. Each lady invited was told to bring her lunch, her sewing machine and sewing supplies, the required number of strip sets all sewn, lined with Peltex, and ironed to make a Biscuit Basket, and a $10 wrapped gift for a "Snowball Fight."

Biscuit Baskets are fabric baskets made by sewing strips together and then weaving them into a basket. One of the gals had already made a larger, round version called the "Knobby Basket", so we assigned her the task of making this new, smaller, rectangular basket--and teaching the rest of us how to make it..

Needless to say, we had a lot of laughs--and some naughty words, too, lol. We had to sew the fabric strips and then insert Peltex strips inside the sewn strips--which led to frustration and laughter both. Then weaving those pesky strips - that have a mind of their own - into a basket shape using clothespins, was a trip in itself! But we all perservered and left with baskets that only needed a binding on them to be finished

We had chips and dip, 2 kinds of sweet breads, lots of chocolates, and a lemon cake to take our minds off any frustration we felt. All this on top of whatever we brought for our lunch.

Then we had our "Snowball Fight", but instead of pelting each other with real snowballs, we just drew numbers and selected from a pile of lovely gifts for our little door prizes. Everyone "won" a great prize--from patterns and books to fat quarters and thread.



What a fun day we had--and everyone wanted to know how soon I could plan another sew-a-thon. Guess I'll have to get right on that, eh?

And finally to close - pictures of Katie and Patsy doing their "Quality Control" jobs after I got home with my basket.