For Sale!!

In the process of reorganizing my quilting studio, I came across a box of "Needles" the bear and he and his brothers and sisters are looking for new homes. They are similar to a Beanie Baby by TY although not made by the same company. They make great gifts for that special sewing friend in your life and feature one of America's most loved vintage sewing machine, the Singer Featherweight. $10 including shipping. Contact me at my email address.

The other thing I have is one copy of Verna Mosquera's VINTAGE VALENTINE block of the month pattern. It is only the pattern and is an absolutely STUNNING quilt. Instructions are included for both hand or machine applique and it's very popular right now. The pattern alone in the quilt shops is selling for $64 (since it's a block of the month), but I'll let this one go for $40. Let me know if you're interested!

Stay tuned for more stuff and a big announcement I have regarding quilting stuff in the next month!

My Bargain of the Day!!

Yesterday, my SIL and I went shopping and, of course, we love to hit the consignment/Goodwill stores along the way. I just couldn't believe my eyes when I found this beauty in one of them for only $25. It immediately went to the front of the store with my name on it! I love the intricacy of the woodwork and the wheels are a Mariner's Compass pattern (my favorite!). My step-father was an excellent woodworker and I have all kinds of "quilted" tables in my house that he made before he passed away. This will fit in nicely. I'm going to use it in my office as a place to store fabric bolts, I think. Would anyone know what its original purpose would have been? The top has two trays (you can see the handles for them in the top picture), and then inside is really roomy with that little place with the holes. Can't for the life of me figure out what that would have been used for. Anyway, it's about 4' long and 18" wide. Parts of it break down for storage. It could use some cleaning up, and maybe a coat of poly to make it shine...but I think it's WONDERFUL (my hubby thinks I'm crazy!!)!!

In other news, it looks like we will be moving. I'm going to start looking at other acreages this week and see what's out there for what price. There's one that I've had my eye on for quite a while now, but when I called the real estate agent this morning to see about it, she told me it needed a lot of work. We aren't opposed to that ~ actually, we'd rather buy something that way so we can fix it ourselves like we want it. But they want an OUTRAGEOUS price for it...and I do mean outrageous. $175k. Whew!! For our area, it had better be a mansion and have new EVERYTHING for it to be that much. I'm going to look at it anyway...but now I know why it hasn't sold yet. Most acreages around here sell for $80 - $100 so we're looking for something in that range or less if we have to fix it. We'll see what happens!! We won't have to move right away (we know we have at least until March of '08 to live here if we want) but knowing that we have to move gives us the chance to 'leisurely' look for something instead of being forced to buy something just because we have to have a place to live. Of course, all of this happens (what a LONG story!) AFTER my hubby takes a new job that began on January 1st. UGH. If we'd known then what we know now, he maybe wouldn't have taken that job and we'd have looked at moving away from here.

Hope everyone's having a great weekend! Looks like we're setting up for another big snowstorm here tonight and tomorrow...they're predicting another 6" - 8"!! And Miss Austyn is getting baptized at church here tomorrow morning. It could just be us and the pastor!! LOL

Another New Idea...

Usually, I'm a pretty savvy shopper, and I love to hit the consignment stores and places like Goodwill. Last week, I took a day for myself and went shopping in the city. For those of you locals, the east side Goodwill has built a brand new building and it is WONDERFUL. I always loved the east side one because it was so clean and you could find anything without having to wade through piles and piles of stuff. Anyway, I found five cards of these button covers. Aren't they cute? They were considered Christmas so I got them for 75% off which was... are you ready for this...a quarter a card!!! They're Hallmark so I'm sure they cost a pretty penny brand new. The first thing that came to mind was putting them in a quilt somehow...and the more I thought about it, the more I thought about how absolutely adorable a snowman quilt would be with these for the embellishments!!! I have 10 sets so I could make 10 blocks with one snowman each doing a different wintertime activity. Not like I need any new projects, but just couldn't pass up this little bargain. The other really neat thing I found that day was a watercolor painting all about quilting...it has pins and needles, a rotary cutter, applique, quilting, etc. I'm going to hang it up in my studio when it's finished. I'll have to take a pic and post that, too.

Speaking of the studio, I started cleaning it tonight. It's going to take me a couple of weeks, but should work out rather well as the girls and I are planning a trip to Minneapolis sometime in February or March to go to IKEA. They have some really nice storage units that I'm going to get for my newly redone space. No use going to get them, tho, until they're ready to go in. I'll try and find some links to what I'm getting so those of you who are also thinking about purging, reorganizing or just plain setting up a space can get some ideas.

Have a great week! I'll have more pics to post later...

My Christmas Organizer

I really wanted to be organized this past Christmas and, thanks to Nora here, I did just that! She does the cutest scrapbooking and papercrafting stuff...I just had to follow along. My book may not be as crafty or as good as some of you other scrapbookers out there, but it worked for me this year and I'll make improvements as I go along. I had a December calendar (next year I'll also add November), a Christmas wish list (which *really* came in handy), an envelope to keep all of my receipts, a section for Christmas cards sent, a section for recipes, and a section for notes. It worked out really well to have all of my info in one place and I got to spend a couple of hours at Archiver's picking out Christmas paper and stuff, too. It was almost as much fun going to the paper store as it was going to the quilt shop!! Notice ~ Tina and Tracey ~ I said ALMOST. LOL One of my resolutions for this year is to get my office space reorganized (yes, I know, AGAIN) and make time at least once per month to get together with a couple of friends and do some type of scrapbooking. I have so many pictures that I need to do something with.

My last project...

A little commentary on this fun, fun project. We draw names at Christmas time for a "secret-sister" in our small quilting group. I was so excited this year when I drew the name of my secret-sis...she absolutely LOVES cardinals and that made her present super easy!! I found the three patterns on the internet (can't remember names right now but contact me if you want to know and I'll look them up for you). It was a plain black sweatshirt when I started and I added the front cardinal on a branch from one pattern, the pocket from another pattern, and the caridnal on the back from the third. I then embellished it a little with hot-fix crystals and did a decorate stitch on the hem. I think it turned out really cute!! Wonder why I always have the time to make everyone else really neat quilted things but never anything for myself!?!? LOL Anyway, hope it inspires you to create from your heart, too!

More Pics...

I just have to include this picture of our long-haired mini-dachshund, Copper. He is SUCH a little card and brings us so much laughter each and every day!! I'm a cat person, myself, but absolutely love this little guy and would recommend the breed to anyone who is looking for a great indoor dog.

Getting Caught Up...

Going to try and get caught up on posting some of my photos and, in the process, try out the Picasa software that I've downloaded to help me do so! Every year, I try and talk my kids into being something "unique" for Halloween. I've never let the boys be something bloody or scary, but they just wouldn't give in this year and I was ready for an 'easy-out' solution to finding them costumes. Below are pictures of what my four ended up as...a kitty cat, a chicken, dracula and the grim reaper. I made Miss A's chicken costume and did it ever turn out cute!! We went trick or treating at the zoo and people were taking more pictures of her than anything else!! LOL Maybe this year I'll have more time so I can make them ALL costumes. Hmph. We'll see. I'd rather be quilting!! LOL

Happy 2007!!

Wow!! I am SO happy that the new Blogger is here!! I had so many problems at the end of last year that I gave up posting for awhile. I hope that those of you who used to read me regularly are still checking in every once in awhile to see if I still exist. My goal for this new year is to blog at least twice a week.

Would just like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!! I've completed lots of end-of-year projects but will write about them in a new post.

Here's to an AWESOME 2007!!