Needles and Pens

Two more blocks finished for the Blogger's Block-a-Palooza . Block nine is the "Lemonade Stand" block, designed by Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios ( Of course, my lemonade is the PINK variety ): And block ten, "Turned Geese," designed by Amy Ellis at Amy's Creative Side : Six more blocks to go. So far, so good. Just one question... is it spring yet?

Finished Block-a-Palooza blocks seven and eight this week, the "Orange You Glad I Chose a Nine-Patch" block, designed by Heather Bostic of House of A La Mode , and the appliqued "Basket of Geese" block, designed by Angela Yosten of Moda Home Mom , Having made it to the halfway point, I decided to put together a little compilation of all of my blocks so far. I thought it might be a bit much at first, but the more blocks I finish, the more I'm liking all this pink goodness. Bring on the next block!

Playing catch up today on the Blogger's Block-a-Palooza blocks, and now I have two more finished... Block Five -- Geesey-McNinePatch, designed by Kaye Prince of Miss Print Block Six -- You Are Here, designed by Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie Still have block seven to finish, and block eight will be announced tomorrow. It seems I'm always one behind. But I hear there will be a midway prize drawing after block eight -- for those who have posted pictures of all eight blocks. More incentive for me to keep up! And if I get off the computer now, I might just have enough time to finish block seven tonight...

Despite some really painful and annoying back/neck/shoulder issues this week, I've finished another two blocks for the Blogger's Block-a-Palooza Quilt Along . Block #3 is Shoofly Geese, designed by Amanda Sasikirana of sasikirana handmade . Block #4 is the Gingham Pinwheel (or in my case, the PINK Pinwheel), designed by Cherri House of Cherry House Quilts Block #6 will be announced tomorrow over at Quilt Dad's . Guess I'd better get going on number five...

Well... since I'm getting so much accomplished in the UFO challenges, why not start another project, right? (Hopefully this one won't wind up as next year's UFO.) I couldn't resist the 2011 Block-a-Palooza Quilt Along over at Quilt Dad's place. Each block will be designed by a different blogger and revealed on Mondays and Thursdays through the end of March. I thought it would be interesting to see the different ways each quilter will use wild geese and/or nine-patches in the various blocks. So far, I haven't been disappointed! Here is my first block, "Flying Over Fields," designed by Quilt Dad, John Adams. Pretty wild, I know. But I do have a "vision." lol We'll see if I can make it work. The designers of the quilt-along are all featuring fabrics from Moda's Sunkissed line, but since I have little fabric budget and ample stash, I'm going a very different route with my bright pinks. (That is hot pink, and not red. It's ...

Finally changed my "Fall" blog background today. About time, eh? And considering my inability to keep such things current, I opted this time for a "non-seasonal" look. ;o) Thanks to The Cutest Blog on the Block , for the great background options!

I only just discovered Sew & Tell Friday last week, and seeing all the great projects everyone posted really motivated and inspired me. In fact, two of my finishes for this week were directly related to last week's Sew & Tell, so if you're in need of some creative inspiration, I highly recommend visiting Amylouwho for a list of this week's participants. Last week, Beth, from Love Laugh Quilt , posted a scrappy pin cushion tutorial, that looked like so much fun, I had to make one myself. I wrote about it in an earlier post , but here's a picture, in case you missed it. Fun project, Beth. Thanks again! :o) I also received a package in the mail this week, children's novelty charms from a Country Quilters USA charm swap. The original plan was to use them in an Ami Simms Picture Play quilt. Unfortunately, I jumped the gun and had already sewn 130 little charms together before I learned that they were cut a little too large for the pattern. I could have taken...

I've been doing quite a bit of blog surfing today and there are so many awesome giveaways going on right now, I just had to share a few. Check these out! Brenda, at Pumpkin Patch Primitives , is giving away a fabulous bundle of Red Rooster's Pumpkins and Spice fat quarters, in her Happy Halloween Giveaway! Entries close October 31. There's another fabric giveaway at True Up , a Kiyohara bundle of "My Favorite" prints! Winner will be drawn October 28. Holly, at A Fish in the Water , is giving away BUTTONS! Maybe not these buttons, necessarily, but it promises to be a buttony giveaway. :o) Giddy for Paisley is offering a cute pattern, called Sweet Tweets. Enter by October 25. And last, but not least, Kelli, from There Is No Place Like Home , is giving away a $25 gift certificate for her Etsy shop, Seasonal Delights! Enter by October 25. Good luck! :o)

In one of my recent blog wanderings, I came across the blog of Amylouwho , hostess of Sew & Tell Fridays, where those like her, with "obsessive creative disorder" can share their finished sewing projects for the week. I'm happy to be joining in for the first time today! A couple of weeks ago, a quilting friend issued a challenge to our online group to make a donation quilt for Quilts for Kids , a charity dedicated to providing quilts to children in need. I love making small quilts, especially for kids, so I was thrilled to learn about this charity, and couldn't wait to get started on a quilt. In the past week, I have finished two Quilts for Kids quilts, and look forward to making more in the future. What a great charity! Now, I've been blessed to have others remember my quilting obsession when clearing out their fabric stashes in the past, so I've had boxes of fabric donated to my stash. It can sometimes be a challenge to work with various sized pieces, a...

I spent quite some time yesterday giving my blog a new fall makeover, and somewhere in the process it dawned on me... Oh, no! I forgot to pay it forward! See, months and months ago, I was the lucky winner in a Pay it Forward giveaway over at Angela's Textile Art . Of course, I was supposed to then pay it forward with a giveaway of my own. I don't know how I let it slip my mind, although when I think about the crazy year I've had, I guess it shouldn't surprise me. Still, it's not like me to forget about something like that, and it's definitely time now to make up for my slacking. :o) So without further ado... it's time to Pay it Forward! The prize : Five Halloween Print Fat Quarters The details : For this giveaway, you must have a blog to enter, so that you, too, can Pay it Forward with a giveaway of your own (hopefully in a more timely manner than I have! LoL). Just leave a comment on this post letting me know you'd like to be entered, and be sure ther...

Hard to believe it with my hit-or-miss posting, but I've actually reached 200 posts today! And what better way to celebrate than to have a giveaway? The winner will be chosen on Friday, January 23, at 12:00 p.m (CST) in a random drawing. Just leave a comment on this post to be entered. And the prize is... (drumroll, please) ... Fred Rabbit , a cute mini-quilt pattern, published by Patch Abilities, and designed by Julie Bohringer, PLUS all the fabrics you'll need to complete the 5-1/2" X 22" quilt top (you will need to add your own 1/3 yard of backing and binding fabric for the completed quilt). The pattern is designed for fusible web machine applique -- a quick and easy project! In other news, I've just launched a new blog, Pen to Paper , to help re-kindle my writerly pursuits. Please feel free to stop in anytime, and see how things progress!

This time, by Scrapping Servant , and she gave me a choice of three memes. One was the same one I posted earlier today, so had to scratch that, the other was the Amish Friendship Bread recipe (which is, by the way, deee-licious) but seeing as how I'm on a diet, I just can't handle that temptation. So there was really only one choice for me. Marvelous Musings Here are the rules (though I'm not actually following them to the letter ): 1. In your post include a link back to the person who has tagged you. 2. Post one of your intriguing, or shocking, or challenging passage of scripture from the Bible showing scripture references (chapter and verse) with Bible version. 3. (Optional) You may choose to state what you currently understand it to mean. You may also encourage others to comment or share on what they understand that excerpt to mean. 4. Tag at least 5 or more new people to participate. My verse of choice is Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) I don't know if it fits the definition...

Pat Sloan is starting a "Christmas Rumble" over at her blog. Just click the logo above, then leave a comment about what gets YOU in the Holiday Spirit! You have until December 15, and you could win a quilty, Christmas-y gift from Pat. Fun!

Okay, I know I've been neglecting my blog and all, but... I was just about to post an update and came to find a whole new blogger setup for creating posts. And it seems kinda goofy. I don't see a way to upload photos. There's no more "preview" option. I'm lost and clueless. Waaaah... Guess I may be MIA for a little while longer. :oP

So, here's how the kids spent this beautiful Minnesota spring(?) day. I can't believe it's April 12th: We've been hit with our last (oh, please, let it be the last!) snowstorm of the season, complete with 60 mph winds and accumulation of 8-9 inches of new snow. Blessedly, the storm was followed by a gorgeous, sunny day today. I've been enjoying the quiet while the kids play outside, tackling a long-overdue updating of this cross-stitch sampler that I made for my sister and brother-in-law back in 1994. Their youngest child, Dominic (now nine-years-old), has finally been added to the family tree. Speaking of updates, I also finished my schoolhouse blocks this week. Sashings and border are next: I've been in a real funk lately, and really slacking with this blog among other things. Between the virus that seemed to last forever and the slow torture of this never-ending winter, it's been a challenge just doing the basics each day. But, good news, I do believe the...

I was tagged awhile back by my friend, Carol, at Giraffe Dreams , to do the Seven Random Facts meme. THE RULES: 1). Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you. 2). Post THE RULES on your blog. 3). Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog. 4). Tag 7 people and link to them. 5). Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged. Okay, here goes... seven (extremely) random facts about me: 1. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover – once. I’d like to make it a regular habit! 2. Growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I was about fourteen, my sister-in-law was a pre-med student and let me help with her lab work. I did my first (and last) surgery, performing an ovaryectomy on a white lab mouse. I’m happy to say, the patient survived. Actual surgery didn’t change my mind, but four years later, the pre-vet college workload sure did. I gave up my veterinary dreams. 3. Everyday conversation triggers music in my head. For example, a simple “hel...

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog ! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible! Boy, would I love to win! I mixed countless dozens of Christmas cookies in December, and eight loaves of almond bread, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. All with my little hand mixer (and my hands, when necessary!). I'd love, love, love a stand mixer... Thanks, Red Sox Mommy , for the link to this contest!

Recently my friend, Angela , posted about " being fearless ," and she asked her readers if they'd done anything fearless this week. As I read that post this morning, I thought about it... ... nope. I couldn't think of one thing I had done all week that could be considered "fearless." It was a completely low-risk week. If you don't count the various drives to the grocery store, school, and etc. (You know how many car accidents occur within one mile of home?) But not an hour after reading that post, I found myself here: Helping my husband shovel snow off of our roof. I have an almost-paralyzing fear of heights. I've been on this roof in the summer, when it was bone dry, and even then I was physically shaking and scared out of my mind. To go up there when it's slippery, slushy, snow and ice, well, that's facing fear in a big way! But I did it. And I shoveled, too. "My side's done." I said, inching my way sideways up the icy shingle...

Cripes! I nearly missed out on my chance to win a PINK Dyson vacuum cleaner from " The Domestic Diva !" Thank goodness I heard about the contest today, 'cause I could really use a new vacuum. Mine is second-hand. I have no idea how old it is. It doesn't have any attachments. The cord is almost completely covered in electrical tape and ends in a misfit plug taken from an even-less-fortunate vacuum. Recently it required ball-bearing transplants on the roller brush. But yeah, it does still suck up some dirt, so I guess I shouldn't complain. But still... a DYSON! And it's PINK! ( You can enter, too. But hurry, time's running out...)

Surprise, surprise! I won today’s drawing for the Writer Mama Back-to-School Daily Giveaway , a copy of Michael Larsen’s How to Write a Book Proposal (Writer’s Digest Books 2007). I’m taking this as a sign -- it’s time to get busy! I highly encourage all writers out there to check out this contest. Just answering the daily questions has brought about some eye-opening revelations on the direction of my writing. Winning this book today is icing on the cake! Christina's comment about my blog has roused some interest in the Library Quilt pictured here. The pattern was designed by Christine Thresh and can be purchased at her web site, Winnowing.com . I made this wallhanging as a gift for a writer friend in a "secret friend" exchange several years ago. If you have any questions or comments about the quilt, I'd love to hear them. ;o)