This the Season for Giving

The is the time of year for showing gratitude for the blessings in our life.

I am grateful for my children, all seven of them and their spouses.
I am grateful for the 23 grandkids they have given me.
I am grateful that my husband is my best friend.
I am grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ and the hope that brings to so many people.
I am grateful for the bounty of this earth that I get to enjoy.
I am grateful for my many friends.
I am grateful to be employed.
I am grateful for challenges and growth opportunities.
I am grateful for my mother and glad that she is being well taken care of.
I am grateful for my siblings who are taking care of our mother.

I have many more things I am grateful for but I am only going to list the 10. Take a few moments and think about what you have and show gratitude by giving of your time and talents. This is the time of  year to help others, to give back for all that we have, and to enjoy the season.
I hope that all of you have a happy and peaceful Christmas Season.

PS. I am going to giveaway a Christmas 1 yard bundle (of your choice) from Riley Blake. Just leave me a comment of what do you do to give back at this time of year. What service do you perform for others? If you haven't done a service think about something you could do with with 5 yards of Christmas fabric for someone else and let me know? I will choose a winner next weekend December the 11th. Happy Saturday to you. Here is a link to a list of giveaways sponsored by sew mama sew.

http://sewmamasew.com/  

Island Batik Winter Wonderland!!!!

The holidays are here are you ready?


I have things I need to be doing to get ready for Christmas but I need to get through Thanksgiving first.



My latest Island Batik project is a table topper made out of reindeer fabric. It is so cute with reindeer all over and the colors are great for any Christmas project. I made up the pattern Starry Night from Riley Blake and I think it turned out rather pretty. It is a quick paper pieced project that you can make in an evening or two after work to relieve stress and make you feel better about your day. There is nothing better than finishing a project.

I have some cute Christmas precuts coming tomorrow from Riley Blake. You should check back and see if there is something that would make up one of your projects. My prices are rock bottom and I would love to see them go to a good home;)

September is Half over.

This is made with Island Batiks Tuscany Sun

 

It was a very simple pattern that I designed as I went. Take 27 five inch squares and sew them together into 3 nine patches and then cut them though the middle both ways (disappearing nine patch, there are tutorials on you tube). Arrange them into two rows with a black strip through the middle. Iron fusible onto enough 5 inch squares to cut out leaves. I used my GO cutter. Iron them onto the runner. Then I did the easy technique for putting the backing on where it ends up on the front for the outside border (self binding baby blanket, Missouri Star quilt co has a tutorial). I love this technique and use it for small projects when I don't want to have to fool with a binding. 

Batiks make for wonderful projects and I love accenting them with black because it makes them pop.

 Fall is a busy time if you are into canning and gardening beside all the other day to day to day stuff like work, school, kids, grand-kids and so on. But on the brighter side it will all wind down and there will be a small window of time that sewing can be done without feeling guilty and then.... the holidays hit and life gets hectic. I think maybe I need to start on my Christmas presents now. I have good intentions but  you know what they say the path to ...... is paved with good intentions. 

Happy Sabbath.

Seaside Blog Hop

Hello today, Monday, is my day and my fabric is Tide Pool by Island Batik.

 

 When I was in Alaska last spring I bought a pattern Alaska Arcadia, it was made up with batiks. Pattern designed by Kari Nichols of Mountainpeek Creations. I thought it would be perfect for Island Batik fabrics. I love how this turned out. So my creation is Seaside Arcadia. I will give this pattern to one lucky winner just leave a comment on why you like Batiks.

It is a great pattern for a focus fabric, 8 1/2 inch squares surrounded by 2 1/2 in squares with strips of black in between.

I have memories of the going to the beach and Coney Island
when I was a child and  we lived in New Jersey. My favorite treat was a coney island dog. A hot dog on a bun with chili and cheese on top. I still love eating them even now. If you have never had one you should try it.

Don't forget to check out Moose Stash today, she also had the same fabric. Island Batik has a giveaway for this blog hop that you should check out also.

Seaside Summer Blog Hop with Island Batik Fabrics

I have had Grandkids at my house for a week but I did manage to get my blog hop project done. My daughter and son (yes I said son, he supervised so that there weren't any blocks the same.) helped with some of the sewing.Come back on the 29th to see my awesome project.

We also have some special things for you. 

We'll have something to giveaway. 

You'll see a seaside recipe on each Ambassador's post. And from some posts, you will find a Rafflecopter Giveaway entry.

HERE’S THE SCHEDULE FOR THE BLOG HOP.

Monday Aug 15 – Rain Forest
Kissed Quilts

Tuesday Aug 16 – Red Tide
Free Motion by the River
Mary Mack Made Mine

Wednesday Aug 17 – Sand Dune
Purrfect Spots
KnitBug 2

Thursday Aug 18 – Seashore
Pamela Quilts
Maria Michael Designs
Tamarinis
KISSed Quilts

Friday Aug 19 – Surf Squirt
Quilting Affection
Archipelago Quilting

Monday Aug 22 – Tradewinds
Arkangel Creations
Bejeweled Quilts

Tuesday Aug 23 – Equinox
Kauffman Designs
Adele Mogavero

Wednesday Aug 24 – Sea Canyon
Lemon Tree Snippets
Bea Quilter

Thursday Aug 25 – Sea Foam
Stone Cottage Quilts
Sew Supportive

Friday Aug 26 – Spoolin’ Around
Sallys Quilting Corner
Toolontilkkupaja

Monday Aug 29 – Tide Pools
Inchworm Fabrics
MooseStashQuilting

Tuesday Aug 30 – Wind and Sea
For Quilts Sake
Patchwork Breeze

Wednesday Aug 31 – Spring Zing
Desert Bloom Quilting
Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Thursday Sep 1 – Splash
Kissed Quilts
The Patchwork Pearl

Friday Sept 2 – Landscapes
For Quilts Sake

 

 

Winner of Island Batik Christmas in July Giveaway

Winner of my Christmas in July is Gene Black

I have a surprise box that will  have of course Island Batiks and other goodies so Gene email me and let me know your address and I will send your prize right out. Thanks so much for everyone that entered. If you would like a bargain on Island Batik 10" stackers check out my InchwormFabric store.

I also just got in some lovely Riley Blake fabrics. I needed some small prints for a project I am working on and I thought these were pretty and would be perfect for vintage quilts. 

I try to buy fabric at discounted prices so that I can pass the savings on to you. It is all top quality quilting fabric from top name manufacturers. I am a small store and depend on your patronage to buy new stock.  Thank you for supporting my store.

Suprise in the Mail

Mail came and there was a box from Island Batiks

Did I make an order, I didn't, honest. Surprise it was my Ambassador box for the second half of the year. Oh it has some gorgeous Christmas fabric and some luscious purples. I can't wait for the new challenge projects. Right now I am working on my Island Batik Summer blog hop project using the Tide Pools Collection (Aug 29). I am calling it Seaside Arcade. Aren't those lovely fabrics for a Seaside quilt and the rest of the line is just as pretty. I am so excited to show everyone.


Peaches are early this year and our tree at our house in Mose Lake yielded 7 boxes. I talked 2 of the daughters into taking 2 boxes and you guessed I am doing the other 3 boxes when I get home after work.

Speaking of the house in Moses Lake. DH has been working hard at remodeling for the last year and he is almost done. We should be able to put it on the market soon and then he can start remodeling on the new home....ha.ha.. He just thought he could relax.