A Couple of Reveals and Giveaway Winners...

 I just have to share my newest fabric acquisitions with you!

This is a fabric line called "Rosie's Love Letters" from Stof Fabrics.

I bought this fat quarter assortment from Shabby Fabrics.

I saw these gorgeous grays and I couldn't resist!

I promised you that I'd share the other project I made with this black, 

white and red music-themed fabric. We're going to spend part of the

day on Monday with musician friends. I decided that since the hostess

wouldn't let me bring anything to contribute to the meal, I'd make a

nice hostess gift for her instead, and these napkins were the result.

 They're double-sided with a beautiful red fabric on the reverse.

I made six in the set and I sure hope she likes them!

 Time to announce the winners!!!

I used the Random Number Generator to choose the winners, so

before all of you head out to enjoy your weekend, I'll reveal their names.

(Oh, poo! I made a pdf file of the page each time I ran the generator to

prove the numbers that came up and all I have are partial images. I'll

use them anyway...)

Sharon of Wildflower House!
Civil War Love Letters book

Sherri of Sherri's Jubilee! 
Nature's Pharmacy cards

 Shirley of Shirley Stitches!
Pincushion

 Laura Jane of Lou's News and Crafty Creations!
Bag Boutique purses book

Patty of YumYummz by Patticakes! 
 Handsome Handbags and Creative Carry-Alls book

Some of you mentioned what you liked in your comments, but I'm going to let you choose your prizes in order of your names drawn. Please contact me with your choice(s), YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS, and after the people ahead of you in line have chosen, you'll receive your choice in the mail. Sharon, you're first, Sherri is second and so on.

Congratulations to the winners!

If your name wasn't chosen, don't feel too bad. I'll be doing this again very soon!

It Needed "A Little Bit More"...

You might remember that I "finished" this ribbon embroidered pincushion

a little while back. I thought it was ready to mail to its recipient, but I kept

looking at it and thinking that it was missing something...so I waited.

 Over last weekend, it occurred to me.

I needed to add a ruffled seam binding trim to the edge.

 When I was finished stitching the trim to the edge of the pincushion,

I knew that it was finally finished. I really loved the "little bit more"

that I added. The next morning I wrapped it, posted it and sent it on its way.

I finished another music-themed gift yesterday and 

I'll share it with you, along with the story behind it tomorrow.
Don't forget to enter my giveaway (click on button in my left sidebar)
Drawing is this evening at midnight!

I bet you're all ready for another holiday weekend!

Handsome is back home after a week spent with his brother,

so we're looking forward to a nice relaxing few days, 

and some time spent with dear friends.

Happy Friday!

Yes, Honey...

 It's not often that I get a special request from Handsome, but when he asks

 me to create something just for him, my answer is always, "Yes, Honey!"

To tell the truth, I'm always honored to do things for him, whether it's to

hold the new snare wires just where he needs them until he can tighten them

onto his newest drum; cut his hair; or help him with something in the yard. I'm an

old-fashioned wife that way. This time, his request was for a new iPad case.

 I have a stash of music-themed fabrics (don't look so surprised!), so I hauled

them out and let him choose his favorite. I just purchased this one at 

Sandy's Quilt Shop and I love it! I glad Handsome did, too! Next, I showed him 

his choices for the lining/contrast fabric. He also asked for a velcro closure instead

of the flap I usually add. Once that was all decided, it was time for me to wake up 

Prissy (my Babylock quilt machine) from her afternoon nap and get to work.

By late day yesterday, I handed the finished iPad case over to Handsome.

He thanked me and told me it was exactly what he envisioned.

Mission Accomplished!

I can't tell you how much I like seeing that smile on his face.

I got an email from my friend, Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

She's moved her blog over to WordPress, in case you hadn't heard.

I want to share her new URL so that you can visit her new home.

She's at http://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/ now.

She'll be glad you stopped in to visit.

Be sure to click here to enter my 1200 Post Giveaway if you haven't yet.

I'll be drawing all the winning names on August 31st at midnight.

There's still time to enter!

More Giveaway Goodness...

I've found some more goodies to add to my 1200 Post Giveaway!

My first addition is an oversized deck of "Nature's Pharmacy" cards.

The beautiful botanical images, along with their medicinal value,

are printed on heavy card stock. You can use them for scrapbooking,

assemblages or even as reference cards for healing a mild malady.

I wanted to add items for those of you who aren't quilters, but

perhaps you like to sew wearables or other useful things...like handbags!

The "Bag Boutique" is full of handbag inspiration and patterns.

 Another book called "Handsome Handbags/Creative Carry-Alls"

for bags with a funkier aesthetic. There are many patterns to choose from.

Finally, even if you don't sew at all, this cute and off-beat little pincushion bird 

can decorate your desk or side table. She's filled with plastic pellets so she's

 a little bottom heavy. (No jokes, here!) She's not going to blow away, but you 

might not be able to resist just holding her in your hands to relieve the stress of the day.

 

 Who could resist that flaming red hair and those wonky eyes?

You're welcome to leave a comment on this post, but 

only comments left on the original giveaway post will count.

CLICK HERE

to enter my 1200 Post Giveaway.

The drawing ends August 31st at midnight.

Good Luck!

Celebrating 1200 Posts...

nd

I can hardly believe that I've written 1200 posts since I started my blog in March 2009. I've shared projects, memories, travels, life with some pretty cool pets and, of course, my loving husband of nearly thirty years. It's time to have a giveaway to commemorate another milestone.

  I've decided to offer a favorite book to one lucky reader.

This book is The Civil War Love Letter Quilt, and as

suggested by the title, it's filled with letters written between

people separated from their loved ones by the Civil War.

The author, Rosemary Youngs, has compiled many moving and heartfelt

correspondences from a painful time in our nation's history. Amid all the

fighting, there were many poignant personal stories.

Each letter and story has a full size quilt block to illustrate it, and

there are also quilt instructions and applique' patterns in the back.
I love reading my copy so much that I 

purchased a second copy to share with you.

It's one of those books that a great read, and I'm sure

you'll love it even if you're not a quilter!

UPDATE: Click Here to see more

items I've added to this giveaway!

The only requirement to be entered in the drawing is that you be a public follower friend of my blog, and that you leave a comment on this post. I'll draw one name (using the Random Number generator) on Friday, August 31st at midnight. I'll announce the winner on Saturday, September 1st.

Thanks again for sharing this newest milestone with me. I love this journey I'm on, and you make the trip to much sweeter for me.