A new and great give-a-way

Wow, Rhonda, http://ravelly1-quiltzblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/500th-give-away.html has had her 500th blog and is giving a gift certificate to a quilt shop. You have to go there to find out how much and where it is. Congratulations Rhonda

15 Reasons for Buying Fabric ( as if we need any reason)

At our Lancaster Trip Sherry gave each of us a copy of this, I thought you would enjoy it. Here they are: 1. It insulates the closet where its kept 2. It helps keep the economy going. It is our Patriotic duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and Quilt shops 3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care 4.Because its on sale 5. Because I'm worth it. 6. A sudden increase in the boll weevil population might wipe out the cotton crop for the next 10 years 7.I'm participating in a contest: the one who dies with the most fabric WINS 8.It keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy it, and you never have to feed it, change it, wipe its nose or walk it. 9. I need extra weight in the trunk of my car for traction on snowy, icy roads. This is important even in Florida and California, you never know when the weather will change. 10. Like dust its good for protecting previously empty spaces in the house, like the ironing board, the laundry hamper, the dining room table.......... 11. When the big earthquake comes, all the quilt shops might be swallowed into the ground and never seen again 12. Stress from dealing with the Fabric Control Officer (my husband ) made me do it. 13. Its not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and make you feel good. 14, Buy it now before your husband retires and goes with you on all shopping expeditions. 15. A yard a day is all the Quilt Shops of America ask.

Wonky Swap

A couple of months ago, I joined a swap on East Coast Quilters, a group in Quilt with Us from Connecting Threads. It was a fun swap, and here are the 8 great blocks that I got. Thanks again to Barbara Dannenfelser from NJ, Lisa Timmer from MD, Debbie Kozcela from NH, and Sue Lynch from Maine.

Thanksgiving almost here

I would like to wish each and every one of You a Happy Thanksgiving. It crept up so fast, but its here along with the start of the Holiday Season. How many of you are going out shopping bright and early on "Black Friday"? I think the crowds will be less this year because of Swine and reg flus. This Turkey I made from a Pat Sloan pattern, isn't he just too cool? The wooden holder was made by an Amish gentleman. It was in the last Quilt shop we went to on our Lancaster trip. Its the same place where Pat bought the never ending tote. I am really sorry I did not get one, next trip

How Lucky can a Person Be?

They say Friday the 13th is a Bad Luck Day---- not for me!! First my DH was born on Friday the 13th of March and then ------- I won the most awesome give-a-way I have seen--- It is from Kelly Jackson of www.ihaveanotion.blogspot.com Here is a picture of some of it!!!! WOW-- The Basket and contents are valued at $225.00. Pinch me I am dreaming. Thank you Kelly for your generousity

Our Lancaster Trip

Its hard to know what to tell you as Pat and Kathy both are blogging about our Great Trip. If its repitious, I am sorry. I will tell you about the evenings. Oh my Goodness were we having fun, just like a group of teenagers, silly and giggly. We decided to each take a silly picture. Here are a few--Sherry & her Sister Prue, Linda & Sherry goofing off and then there is Prue teaching us to cut out snowflakes. They are soo nice and easy when you know how. Last is Pat Casadei with her wee one. We had 3 teachers in the group, Pat, Prue and Kathy. She was a college professor. We tease her sometimes and call her Doc, but she is a great gal and a beautiful quilter.

Quilt Retreat

Sorry no pictures yes, had a bit of a camera problem, Oh Goodness- where do I begin? It was absolutely a great time. The girls couldn't believe it was the first time in 50 plus years of Marriage that I ever had a vacation away from DH. I was so happy to go as I have to use oxygen when I sleep and a walker to walk any distance and the girls were so good, took great care of me. I haven't walked so much in years but I managed to keep up..We went to a quilt shop after quilt shop and in between a Candy Factory and a pretzel factory and another quilt shop. We left in the mornings at around 9, shopped, had lunch, shopped and got home around 5. We had planned to eat all our meals out but by 5 were tired so we got take out and ate home. Pats daughter told her to eat something she had never eaten before and do some fun- silly things, well we sure took her advice. I had stuffed pepper soup and tasted sho fly pie. I ordered for dinner one nite that we did eat out stuffed cabbage. Speaking of cabbage, Pat bought a hugecabbage, about 15 lbs for 1.50. They had the largest califlower and broccoli almost as big for 1.00. Must be all that horse fertilizer. LOL. The highlight was seeing them plow the fields and watch the children walk to and from school with their Lunch pails. The one room school was down the road from us, We saw them at recess, and heard the bell call them back in. Most go to school till the age of 12 and then either work the farm or around the house. The entire Lancaster area is so clean, no litter and the sight of the farms at a distance is breath taking. Almost all of the shops that sell material also sell quilts. What an inspiration they are, prices run from around 400 to 900 on the average. Most of the ones for sale are done by Mother-Daughter teams. The reason for that is the stitches should be very much alike. I asked about the quilt bees and was told that was when they were making quilts for newly weds. Each new Bride gets 7 Quilts. I bough a couple of patterns that hopefully I can do. The prices were unbelievable! From 3.00 to maybe 6 or 7 dollars. A queen size backing piece of quality material was 24.00. The house we rented was so clean and spacious and lovely. It cost each of a a little over 90 dollars for a 3 nite stay. We were 6 but it holds 16 people. More tomorrow about our nightly activities and anything else I can think of that will interest you. One thing I will say, if you ever have the opportunity to go there GO. We decided to do it a couple of times a year, it was that wonderful

Lancaster Quilt Trip

I am so excited, I am all packed and ready to leave tomorrow morning for Lancaster for our Quilt "Retreat" as I refer to it. 6 of us ( 3 are bloggers, myself, Pat of A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of Pat, and Cathy of Creative Urges) have rented a beautiful house. It is well furnished, and 4 of us have our own bedroom and the other two are sisters and will share a room. We will do no cooking, will eat out except for maybe breakfast. Besides sewing and shopping we may relax and read or play Dominos- Mexican Train or a couple of card games. We will do a lot of shopping that much I am sure of. Only thing we will be missing is a computer but be sure we will catch up when we get home Fri or Sat.. It will be great just to get away. We went to Quilt Guild today and they revealed our Secret Sisters. I said many times over the last year that I felt my Sister knows me because she got me such great gifts, but I had no clue who she was. I found out and was floored, she is my Pal and fellow Quilter, but best of all Friend. It is Pat Casadei ( Little Bit of Pat) How she pulled it off I have no clue as most times we rode together, but she sure hid it well. Thanks again Pat for your Generosity and thoughtfulness, most of all I so appreciate your friendship.

Halloween at our House

Boy oh boy, what a night for the Grandkids. The rain held off and they had a great nite "Trick or Treating" Katie was Vampira and looked so cute, Brandon was an ugly goulie. I have always enjoyed it and made many a costume for my kids and my nieces and nephews. Only about 6 kids came to the door. I was kinda disappointed as in NY we would get over 100. The gk went to 3 churches for Trunk or Trick. If you have never seen or heard of it, a group form a semi circle and open their trunks, or rear doors and thats all decorated with the candy ready for the kiddies. A lot of the people dress up and its a great time. Its safe and best of all the kids don't bother people who don't like Halloween. They got soooo much candy, I have never seen so much. Now its November!!! get ready for Thanksgiving, my how time fkies