Christmas in August - Thank you Lyn, Stitchmap and Kerry!!!!

Normally we hear "Christmas in July" but for me, it happened this month - August...In the post office today, I received my "super duper" squishie from Lyn's monthly blog teaser....It's a great contest with unbelievable winnings...Here are 4 pictures just to show you...Thank you Lyn!!

Next, is from a contest we had on the "Stitchmap" yahoo group..It's an awesome group for learning various types of needlework as well as personal assistance...It aides in crazy quilting, cross stitching, tatting, crocheting, knitting, dying, embroidery etc. Almost any kind of needlework you are interested in tackling, someone there is sure to be able to help you.....Anyway, I won a contest on this group and here are my winnings...And if that is not enough for one person to handle on one day, I also received a wonderful Christmas Book from Kerry!!! She did a Christmas in July, and I submitted my name cause anyone who knows me, knows I'm Christmas 365 days a year....And sure enough I ended up with this fantastic Christmas book....

This was an incredible day and one definitely most blessed...I wish to personally thank Lyn from Quilting Lion as well as Lyn, Shari and Moon on Stitchmap for all the stash enhancement...Also, Kerry for the wonderful book displaying assorted Christmas decorating themes...My favorite is the Victorian period and it had some really terrific ideas...

Thank you all!!!!!

Tuesday Once Again!!

What a summer I've had..It's been one thing after another which started out with needing to go to Spokane to help my daughter and son in law...I was gone 3 weeks and honestly I don't mind..Taking care of my grandchildren and visiting with my terrific children makes it the best...Upon my arrival home, I had a few things needing to get accomplished like move into my own little studio - yeah!! This has been wonderful..Although tiny and still needing tweaking, it's been the best...

Last week my husband was laid off and we are unsure of how long this could be..Can you imagine a construction employee being laid off during one of their best months???..However, not this year, construction has been anything but the best...Oh well, another one of life's challenges..

Next, my husband's uncle past away on Sunday morning..We knew he had been struggling for a while now but has had those up and down days...He went into the hospital on Friday morning and we were told he wouldn't make the weekend..Then on Saturday he started feeling better and responded to his care..However, Saturday late night, he took a turn for the worse and my husband's poor aunt had to make the decision to take him off his machine..His brain was no longer with us..She stayed the night, sleeping a little but after talking to his daughter, it was decided to finally make the decision..I'm sorry he's gone, he was such a nice man but I do think he was really tired...

Early in his life he had polio and managed to beat it..Unfortunately, medicine 80+ years ago is now showing effects of some medical issues...He's been fighting and suffering for so long..The first thing out of his mouth to the doctor's was "no tubes"...We spent the afternoon with Lee's aunt..Took a loaf of bread which she seemed to appreciate, however, I think she was just happier to have us around..We hugged and talked about "Uncle Bob" and anything else that came up...

So, my crazy quilting certainly has taken a back burner to life..I would love to do more and in some ways can't wait until the winter is upon us again, so I have no reason to go outside for harvesting of vegetables or herbs, weeding gardens or anything else...

Whewwwww!!!!...But like everyone else, life brings challenges, adventures and many paths..The idea is to walk them all with head up and knowing the sun will shine tomorrow..Well...guess that is a funny statement when most of this month has been spent under clouds and lots of rain..

Happy Tuesday!!

Two Blocks To Share

I've been working on two different rr's...One is the Black and White in Crazy Quilt Interenational...It's a terrific rr!! Everyone kind and patient, which is a good thing since it's taken me too long to complete the block for Ann..However, it is done, although I could do much more but don't have the month to work on it as it needs to be sent...My abilities are sure lacking in comparison from what I've seen already so I sincerely appreciate being allowed to participate....

The second is called "Cobalt Blue Study"...I completed doing Dalette's block and have sent it on but here is a picture....It's been an interesting study in trying think outside the box using the same color, in this case, blue.

Tuesday

I have what one could call a very busy Tuesday ahead of me...In my possession I have a total of 5 blocks that need work done to them to complete my part of a couple r/r's...Two Black and Whites (one for July and August), two Blue Block Study (July and August) and a "Honkin" Orange block for a friend who is recovering from surgery..I also want to start my Victorian Christmas stocking and work on a couple of Altoid Tins...It's a beautiful day but one can tell the heat is already on so I'll hide out in my little studio in the nice cool basement and have a grand ole time while others are enduring the heat...

I'm also going to attempt to do some "silkies" today..I have several kind people who have sent me some wonderful "silkies" and I thought I would like to add some to my Christmas Stocking, so I'm going to jump in with both feet today..I have some gorgeous silk that is quite old (about 40 years) that will be perfect..

Also, I discovered I won a "squishie" this week from Lyn...I've been trying to win one of her incredible "squishies" but as a very fortunate and lucky winner I've actually been blessed to win a beautiful CQ pouch and a pin cushion from her, plus a "silkie". This month I did win a "super squishie" from her and so I'm going to bow out from entering any more till the beginning of the year..One can't be greedy and I've been so lucky...Thank you Lyn!!!

Ok, I'm off..To all of you, have a Happy Tuesday!!!!!

Monday Afternoon

I haven't been online much in the last three days, in fact, just about nil..My husband and I are building a house (very slowly) and this weekend, he managed to get me a small studio set up in our "cool" basement..We are still putting sheetrock up but he had managed to finish up most of it including a small room..Ultimately, this room has been established for his music but I think guilt over took as this new home building (piece by piece) is taking so long that he gave me his room until he can actually get me my "perfect" studio..It's not alot of space but it's mine and its heavenly..Up until then, I've been doing it all from the dinning area of our kitchen...Fabric and embellishments tucked in every nook and granny..It's really nice, knowing I don't have to put things away just to eat..Hooray!!

On another blog (Allie's in Stitching) she mentioned a Pesto recipe..As it's harvest time for my Basil, I decided to give it a try it...If anyone has an abundance of "basil" please try this recipe. It is simply delicious..

Ok, so now I'm off to work on some projects...Before I close this little post, I just wanted to wish my grandson a very happy "14th" birthday..He had the nerve to ask me if I felt older..Told him "no" it wasn't me having a birthday as I don't have them any longer Really bummed him out..

Happy Birthday McKade!! Nannie loves you!!