CHRISTMAS GIFTS...

HI...AM WORKING ON CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR MY SISTERS. THIS FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE A TABLE RUNNER. I USED ONE OF JAN PATEK'S PRIMITIVE ANGELS . I WILL PUT ANOTHER AT THE OTHER END AND I AM THINKING ABOUT ADDING PIECED STARS TO THE BOTTOM. AS SOON AS I GET IT STITCHED, I WILL POST MORE PICTURES!

STAY WARM EVERYONE,

HUGS,

MARY

FRIDAY NIGHT WITH COOPER!!! OH, AND SOME SEWING TOO!!

HI EVERYONE, HAPPY FRIDAY!! AFTER WORKING ALL AFTERNOON ON CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR SISTERS...MAKING THREE ANGEL WALLHANGINGS AND THREE WOOL APPLIQUED STOCKINGS (PRIMITIVE LOOKING), I TOOK OUT MY CAMERA AND STARTED TAKING PICS OF COOPER, AGAIN! I KNOW, I HAVE TO STOP THIS....BUT HE LOVES THE CAMERA. I WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT A GOOF-BALL HE IS... I BOUGHT HIM A NEW TOY - WHICH AS YOU CAN SEE IS IN HIS MOUTH...IT MAKES QUACKING NOICES WHEN YOU THROW IT. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY THE QUACKER HE DISTROYED, BUT THE DUCK IS STILL GOOD.. SEE YOU CAN SEE HIM TRYING TO ATTACK THE SQUEAKER!! HE JUST LOVES THIS PART OF THE TOY!

AND YES, THAT IS HIM TRYING HIS BEST TO GET "UNDER" HIS BED...FOR SOME REASON HE LOVES TO SHAKE HIS BED TO DEATH, LITERALLY, INSTEAD OF LAYING ON IT AND LOVES TO TURN IT OVER. THEN HE GETS UNDERNEATH IT! WHY??? YOU ASK, I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT HE PLAYS LIKE THIS FOR HOURS. I AM NOT KIDDING, UNUSUAL ISN'T IT?

THEN OLDEST CAME IN THE DOOR AND WELL, CHAOS FOLLOWS, BECAUSE "IT IS PLAY TIME"!!! HE JUST LOVES THE KIDS (OR I SHOULD SAY YOUNG ADULTS)!!! HE BELIEVES HE IS A LAP DOG AND WANTED KATE TO SEE HIS NEW TOY SO UP ON HER LAP HE WENT. I AM TAKING PICS ALL THE WHILE AND FINALLY HE PUT ONE PAW ON THE TABLE TO SAY, OK, MOM, YOUR PICTURE TAKING IS GETTING WAY OUT OF HAND!!! SORRY COOPER, I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF,

ENJOY,

I PROMISE TO TAKE PICS OF WHAT I AM WORKING ON OVER WEEKEND (SEWING RELATED)...BUT NOW IT IS STARTING TO SNOW AGAIN, SO WILL HAVE TO TAKE COOPER OUT...SO MAY HAVE SOME NEW PICS OF HIM TOO! SORRY, LIKE I SAID, CAN'T HELP MYSELF,

HUGS,

MARY

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED BY VAL!!!

TODAY I WENT TO MY BLOG AND I WAS TAGGED BY VAL AT http://valsdailythread.blogspot.com. THANK YOU SO MUCH VAL!

THE RULES OF THIS TAG ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. THE WINNER MAY PUT THE LOGO ON HER BLOG,

2. PUT A LINK TO THE PERSON YOU GOT THE AWARD FROM IN YOUR BLOG (http://valsdailythread.blogspot.com

3. NOMINATE 5 PEOPLE

4. PUT LINKS TO THEIR BLOGS

5. LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR NOMINEES.

OKAY SO HERE GOES, I NOMINATE:

PAT http://alittleofthisandalittleofpat.blogspot.com BECAUSE SHE HELPED ME ON VACATION FIND A QUILT STORE ALL THE WAY IN NORTH CAROLINA AND IS ALWAYS SO POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE!

NANETTE & DAUGHTERS http://freda'shive.blogspot.com BECAUSE SHE WAS HELPED CREATE A CHRISTMAS HOUSE BLOCK EXCHANGE AND IS A SUPER SWEET LADY!!

KAREN http://karen-logcabinquilter.blogspot.com BECAUSE I JUST LOVE HER BLOG AND ALL THE PRIMITIVE QUILTS SHE MAKES...SHE IS A KINDRED SPRIRIT!!

CARRIE http://apassionforapplique.blogspot.com BECAUSE I LOVE ALL HER APPLIQUE WORK AND HER BLOG IS SO COOOL!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,

http://dandelionquilts.blogspot.com BECAUSE I LOVE TO SEE WHAT SHE IS UP TO AND LOVE HER BLOG TOO!

I REALLY LOVE BLOGGING AND VISITING WITH MY BLOGGING FRIENDS, SO THANK YOU AGAIN, VAL FOR TAGGING ME! THIS WAS FUN!

MANY HUGS,

MARY

1st Snow with Cooper...

Had to take these pictures of my 9 mo old yellow lab, Cooper...it was his first experience with SNOW!!!! He kept digging to see what was under it, too funny!!! He didn't know whether to eat it or dive into it!

Hope you enjoy,

Hugs,

Mary

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

EVEN THOUGH, THANKSGIVING WAS TWO DAYS AGO, I AM FINALLY POSTING PICS I TOOK AT MY HOUSE. I HAD NOT A REALLY LARGE GROUP, JUST MY SISTERS, YOUNGER NIECES AND NEPHEWS, HUSBANDS, MOM AND THEN I INVITED MY KIDS GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIENDS. THIS YEAR THE TURKEY, WAS REALLY GOOD! IN FACT, ALL THE SIDE DISHES EVERYONE BROUGHT AND DESERTS, I HAVE TO SAY THE NEXT DAY IT WAS HARD TO BUTTON MY PANTS! THANKSGIVING IS ALL ABOUT TRADITION, AND WAS SO BLESSED TO HAVE MY WHOLE FAMILY THERE.

MY 19 YR OLD BROUGHT HIS GIRLFRIEND, SO HERE IS A PICTURE OF ANGIE... ISN'T SHE JUST BEAUTIFUL!!! SHE IS JUST AS SWEET TOO!

HERE ARE SOME MORE PICS OF MY FAMILY...I REALLY FEEL BLESSED!

AND THIS IS WHAT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON...30'S - 50'S FABRIC ALQ2 FOR A VERY SPECIAL SWAPPER...WILL HAVE MORE PICS TO FOLLOW.

WELL I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GREAT WEEKEND, HAPPY SEWING,

HUGS,

MARY

THE WEEKEND IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!

MOVING FORWARD...I AM ONLY GOING TO MAKE ONE COMMENT REGARDING MY LAST POST, IS THAT, I AM DEFINATELY TAKING A BREAK FROM FUTURE SWAPS.

LAST NIGHT I WORKED ON MY MISSOURI DAISY BLOCKS, REMEMBER THOSE? AND IT FELT REALLY GOOD TO SIT AND SEW ON THOSE CHEERFUL BLOCKS. I WILL POST PICS LATER AS I HAVE TO ADD THE SQUARES AND TRIANGLES STILL, BUT GOT THREE PIECED TOGETHER LAST NIGHT. SO AM FEELING PRODUCTIVE...

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT WILL BE THANKSGIVING NEXT WEEK? WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE. I AM HAVING THANKSGIVING, ALL MY SISTERS AND THEIR HUSBANDS AND KIDS AND MY MOM WILL BE HERE, SO AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I JUST LOVE THANKSGIVING! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MY FAMILY!!! THEY ARE SUCH A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.

WELL, BETTER GET SOME LAUNDRY DONE,

HAPPY SEWING,

HUGS,

MARY

SAD, EMBARRASSED & DISAPPOINTED

TODAY I LEARNED THAT THE LITTLE QUILT I SENT MY SWAPPER, SHE DID NOT LIKE. MY MACHINE QUILTING WAS REALLY HORRIBLE, BUT I THOUGHT THE PATTERN AND THE MATERIAL AND THE FACT THAT I HAND PIECED IT (AND IT TOOK ME 3 MONTHS), SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED IT THE WAY I DID. BUT, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

I RECEIVED A LITTLE QUILT FROM ANOTHER SWAPPER, WHICH WAS WELL MADE AND PUT TOGETHER SO I AM GOING TO SEND HER MINE. THAT WAY I FEEL SHE HASN'T LOST OUT ON RECEIVING A LITTLE QUILT THAT IS ADORABLE.

WOW, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER JOIN ONE OF THESE SWAPS AGAIN, AS THIS HAS REALLY TAKEN THE AIR OUT OF ME.

ALL THE FABRICS WERE OF HIGH QUALITY AND I TRIED TO MEET HER EXPECTATIONS OF THE RIGHT COLOR GREEN, POLKA DOTS, ETC. BUT THE BORDER FABRIC SHE DOES NOT CARE FOR, WHICH IS FINE, JUST I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY PRETTY.

ANOTHER LIFE LESSON, I GUESS...

ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP 2...QUILTED!

YEAH! FINISHED MACHINE QUILTING THIS LITTLE DOLL QUILT FOR MY SURPRISE PARTNER AND PUT THE BINDING ON LAST NIGHT, SO IT IS OFF TO THE UPS STORE TO MAIL TOMORROW. JUST MADE THE DUE DATE, NOV 10TH! YES!!!

THIS LITTLE QUILT I FOUND IN THE FONS & PORTER MAGAZINE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND JUST LOVED IT...HAND TO HAND PIECE BECAUSE OF Y-SEAMS AND THEN MACHINE QUILTED. NOW I HAVE NEVER MACHINE QUILTED BEFORE, ALWAYS DONE IT BY HAND, BUT WAS IN A TIME CRUNCH SO THOUGH, OK I CAN DO THIS! WELL, I HAVE A NEW FOUND ADMIRATION FOR MACHINE QUILTERS, NOW. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO DO!! I WANTED TO STIPPLE QUILT IT, BUT AFTER MANY TRIES ON MY MACHINE (PFAFF), THE STIPPLE STITCH WAS KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE, PLUS THE PRESSURE YOU PUT ON THE PEDAL OF YOUR MACHINE CREATES THE LENGTH OF THE STITCHES, LET ME TELL YOU, IT WAS HARD. SO INSTEAD I JUST CRISSCROSSED LINES FROM ONE ANGLE TO ANOTHER. THE QUILTING ISN'T THE BEST, BUT I HOPE SHE STILL LIKES IT.

WELL, OFF TO COOK SUNDAY DINNER, HOPE ALL IS WELL IN BLOG LAND,

HUGS, MARY

ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP 2

WHEW!! JUST FINISHED MY LITTLE QUILT FOR SWAP 2 AND JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME!! IT HAS TO BE MAILED OUT BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, SO WILL MACHINE QUILT IT TODAY AND BIND IT AND OUT IN THE MAIL IT WILL GO TOMORROW.

I HAD SOOO MUCH FUN MAKING THIS QUILT. IT WAS FROM A FONS & PORTER MAGAZINE AND IS CALLED "HUMMINGBIRD", USING REPRO FABRICS. THE PIECES OF THE QUILT I HAD TO HAND-PIECE AS THEY ARE VERY SMALL AND Y-SEAMS EVERYWHERE, SO IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO CUT EACH SHAPE OUT AND THEN HAND SEW TOGETHER. I DID IT ALL AT NIGHT WHILE WATCHING TV, SO FELT PRODUCTIVE THAT I GOT IT DONE IN TIME.

I JUST HOPE THE LADY THAT IS GETTING IT LIKES IT!

I REALLY LIKED HOW THE TWO BORDERS LOOKED ON THIS QUILT!

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEKEND,

HUGS,

MARY

CHRISTMAS COTTAGE BLOCKS AND ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP 2

WEW!!!! IT HAS BEEN ONE BUSY WEEK...

FINISHED MY CHRISTMAS COTTAGE BLOCKS. ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW IS GET THEM TO THE POST OFFICE! WHAT A FUN BLOCK TO DO! I THOUGHT I WOULD EMBELLISH SOME OF THEM, SO TRIED TO TAKE CLOSEUPS OF THE ONES I PUT LITTLE SWAGS IN THE WINDOWS...

ALSO, ALQS2 IS ALL CUT OUT AND STARTING TO PIECE, HAVE A PICTURE OF THE FIRST THREE DONE, THIS QUILT IS NOT MACHINE PIECED, I HAD TO HAND PIECE AS IT HAS TO MANY Y -SEAMS (I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE CALLED), BUT DIDN'T TRUST IT TO MY MACHINE SKILLS, SO AM DOING THIS ONE AT NIGHT WHILE WATCHING TV. HOPE TO GET ONE ROW DONE EACH NIGHT, THAT IS MY GOAL!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! LOVE FRIDAYS!!

HUGS,

MARY

A HALLOWEEN GIVE AWAY

PUMPKINPATCHPRIMITIVESQUILTSHOPPE.BLOGSPOT.COM IS HAVING A HALLOWEEN GIVE AWAY! SO RUN OVER THERE AND POST A COMMENT. Brenda has a great Blog, I think everyone will enjoy!

Hugs,

Mary

CHRISTMAS COTTAGE BLOCKS...

JUST POSTED MY FIRST CHRISTMAS COTTAGE BLOCK...THIS IS A "VICTORIAN" CHRISTMAS COTTAGE BLOCK, NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS 11 MORE! WILL KEEP POSTING AS I GET THEM DONE, HUGS, MARY

FALL HOMECOMING DANCE...REMEMBER THOSE!

THIS PAST WEEKEND, OCTOBER 20TH WAS 15 YEAR OLD'S HOMECOMING DANCE! YOU WOULD THINK THAT SHE WAS GETTING MARRIED...THE UPDO, THE SHOES, THE FLOWER FOR THE BOY...OH MY...THE EXCITEMENT! LUCKY FOR ME SHE WORE MY NIECE'S DRESS, SO SAVED ON THAT BUT SPURGED ON EVERYTHING ELSE! HERE ARE PICS OF THE DANCE AND BOY "FRIEND". OH AND OF COURSE BROTHER AND SISTER HAD TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PICTURES...AND DAD...AND ME AND THEN THE BOY "FRIEND" CAME. HE WAS SO CUTE, SO EMBARESSED BY THE ALL THE PICTURES I WAS TAKING, SO HERE ARE JUST A FEW MORE OF THEM, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE 15 PICTURES IN ALL POSTED, BUT WON'T BORE YOU...THEN 21 YEAR OLD WAS HOME FROM COLLEGE, SO HER BOYFRIEND PICKED HER UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TO GO OUT AND YEP... I SNAPPED A PICTURE OF THEM!! 21 YEAR OLD HAS BEEN DATING CHRIS FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS, THEY MET IN H.S., HE IS LIKE MY OTHER SON TO ME. WHEN WE GO ON VACATION, HE COMES TOO! I JUST LOVE HIM!!! A REALLY GOOD AND SWEET YOUNG MAN!!

OH SOOO MANY THINGS GOING ON OVER IN MY HOUSE. 19 YEAR OLD BROUGHT HIS GIRLFRIEND HOME TO MEET US SAT NIGHT, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO EMBARRASS THE GIRL, SO I DID NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF HER (YET)! WILL GIVE HER SOME TIME TO REALIZE THE CRAZINESS THAT GOES ON OVER HERE, BUT I REALLY LOVE ALL THE CRAZINESS...WHEN ALL OF THEM ARE OUT, IT IS WAY TO QUIET AROUND HERE!

AND OF COURSE, HAD TO ADD PICTURES OF COOPER IN HERE. YOU WILL BELIEVE THIS, BUT ACROSS THE STREET LIVE 5 (YES I SAID 5) LITTLE ONES UNDER THE AGE OF 8 AND THEY COME TO CALL ON "COOPER" EVERYDAY TO SEE IF HE CAN COME OUT TO PLAY, SO TOOK SOME PICTURES OF COOPER AND HIS PALS (ONLY 3 WERE OUT THAT DAY)...HERE COOPER IS TRYING TO GIVE THE OLDEST GIRL, HIS PAW, (OH HE IS LEARNING VERY FAST HERE WHO TO GIVE HIS PAW TOO WHO WILL THEN GIVE ME HIM A TREAT)...TYPICAL MALE!! SHE IS THE SWEETEST LITTLE GIRL AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER, SHE IS LEGALLY BLIND, BUT HAS 4 YOUNGER BROTHERS WHO NOT ONLY LOOK UP TO HER, BUT WHO LOOK OUT FOR HER!! IT JUST MELTS MY HEART!! HERE ARE MORE PICTURES OF HIS PALS THROWING THE BALL FOR HIM TO CATCH, THAT IS THERE FAVORITE GAME... AFTER 20 MINUTES OF RUNNING, HE IS WIPED OUT...."OPPS, NO I AM NOT, JUST TAKIN A BREAK" MOMENT!!! "WAIT, WHERE ARE THEY GOING, OH...THEY ARE WIPED OUT, NOT ME!"

AND FINALLY, SOME COOL PICTURES OF FALL I TOOK ON FRIDAY...FALL IN ILLINOIS!
I AM NOW CERTIFIABLE, BECAUSE I RIDE AROUND WITH MY CAMERA TRYING TO CATCH THE TREES CHANGING THEIR COLORS. OH I REALLY LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!

NOW TO CATCH UP ON 2 DEADLINES (2 SWAPS), I MUST WORK ON THESE TODAY!!!!

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT MONDAY,

LOTS OF HUGS FROM WARM (82 DEGREES) ILLINOIS.

MARY