Book Giveaway! My 100th post! New Year's Resolutions

WOW!  This post will be my 100th post!  How cool is that for me anyway.  Many of you are way past that number but to me that's a pretty big deal!  My hubby laugh at me the other day saying "you really like that blogging stuff don't you?"  My reply was YEP!

Please don't forget to enter to win a copy of Melinda Evaul's novel GROW OLD WITH ME
It is really a great book!  Especially if your love a good book with a love story with good moral and Christian values.  If you live in NC area you may even be more interested as it is based on Love Valley, NC.  The book mentions Stateville, NC where I live!    Easy to enter, Please click on the BOOK below to see how.
Right now only a handful of people have entered so you have a really good chance to win!

Please click on the link above to read more about Melinda Evaul, her book, and to receive her newsletter or subscribe to her blog!

So now for my New Year's Resolutions!

I need to put them in writing here so I can't say I forgot what they were.  lol

First -To put God First and Foremost in my life.

Second -To be the best person I can be each and every day.

Third - To see the glass as half full.

Fourth - To breathe deeply, slowly and accept each moment as it happens

Fifth - To quilt things that make me happy!

Happy 2011 Y'all

Christmas Day Snow!

Well We didn't wake up to snow fall but it started shortly after.  White Christmas!  Love it!
Merry Christmas to you all!

The frist true snow fall of the season

Isn't it just Lovely!

Me and Tucker and Red

My Christmas gift from my Daughter, Lauren (in the background)

My other present. I love Montana Silversmith jewelry

Merry Christmas Y'all

My Christmas Wish...

My Christmas Wish For All of You....

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joy in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Merry Christmas to All.....

Quilt Collage for Little Ones

Here is a picture or two of one of three quilts a friend of mine is working one for her three grandsons.
Noah, Nicolas and Reese.  Noah is the one most interested in fabric and quilting.  And according to his grandmother he is pretty good at it.  She has acquired over the past months fabrics of all of their favorite characters.   Or as many as she could fine.  I think this is a wonderful quilt project for little ones to use everyday and to look back years later and have fond memories.

One day when I have grand children I hope I remember this pattern.

Merry Christmas Y'all

New Year Giveaway!

It is better to give than receive.  Tis the Season! SO...  In honor of that and the beginning of the New Year, I will be holding my own giveaway. 

I will be giving away a autographed copy of Melinda Evaul's newly release book,
 Grow Old With Me.

I plan to give the book away January 3, 2011 so you have plenty of time to pass the word on to friends.

There will be several ways to get several chances to win.
Just remember, I need to be able to contact the winner via EMAIL so please remember so send me your email if I you don't have a blog.

You only need to complete one of the things below,
but you will get one entry for each thing you do!

1. Visit Melinda Evaul's website and sign up to receive her E-Newsletter.
2. Post a link on your blog to my giveaway.
3. Request to be a friend to Melinda via facebook. Search Melinda Evaul-Author.
4. Post a link on your facebook using the cover of Grow Old With Me.
5. Share her website with your quilt group/church group.
6. Buy a copy of Grow With Old Me for yourself or a friend.
7. Post a comment on my blog telling which things you did to enter the giveaway.

Winner will be decided on January 3, 2010
Winner will be drawn using a random number selector by Melinda Evaul!

Grow Old With ME
Novel #1 in the Quilt Trail Series

A modern day Beauty and the Beast, meet in their fifties when a disfigured carpenter becomes a guest at a bed and breakfast in the western-style tourist town of
 Love Valley, NC.

Benjamin Pruitt plans to repair the town’s buildings before retiring to a solitary life. Sarah Campbell longs for freedom since her long task as caregiver has ended.

Can Benjamin and Sarah piece the tattered remnants of their lives into a beautiful design to warm their waning years?

I like to write about real life problems—the hard choices in our complicated lives. God’s love and redemption are key themes you’ll find in my novels. This book is set in the western-style tourist town of Love Valley, NC. Grow Old With Me keeps the western flair of this unique town, but the characters and some settings are fictional.

I recently met this wonderful lady who was publishing her own novel after she commented on my post about quilt trails and barn quilts.  After she mentioned the story was set in Love Valley, NC it was instant attraction for me as I have been there several times myself and only live about 45 minutes away.

Melinda came to Statesville and I took her around to several quilts shops in the area to help promote her new book.  I'm not sure who was more excited me or her.  Once the book was finally published and ready for sale, I told Melinda I wanted to purchase two books, one for me personally and one to give away on my blog to help promote her book.  Melinda actually gave me a autographed copy to give away!  So here is your chance to WIN your own copy of GROW OLD WITH ME

Good Luck!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Y'all

I Finished the Tie Quilt! the second one!

I got started on this project awhile back and finally got it finished!  I had to as it is for a Christmas present for a co-worker's brother and they are exchanging gifts then this Saturday.  Many of you offered suggestions of what colors to use.  I thank all of you who did leave comments.

Let me explain the story behind this quilt.... Eddy, a co-worker lives here in Statesville, NC. His father and brother both live in Virginia.  His brother had planed to retire from work this year and then spend many days with his dad fishing, playing and just hanging out together.  Well plans don't always happen as planned....One year ago this past week, Eddy and his brother lost there, dad very sudden and unexpected.  A day before his brother's birthday.  Eddy and his wife had to take care of the arrangements, all of which were out of town and hard to deal with but managed to get through.

Then some time in January/February of this year Eddy told me one of the things that he kept of his dad's things was his ties.  He always seemed to were ties.  Eddy asked me if I could make him a quilt using his dad's ties and I said of course.  Well I did post that picture awhile back but here is that picture once again for those who may not have seen it.

Eddy's brother really liked the quilt, so that is when Eddy asked me if I had enough ties to make another quilt for his brother.  He is a single man, living alone.  So I though he would like something a bit more manly plus I really didn't want to use the whole tie as I did in the first quilt. Hard to work with.

I found a pattern in American Patchwork & Quilting and though it would work just perfect. well....

Now for the unveiling.....

Ta Dah!  So what do you think?

Finished size is about 85w x 105

Grey blender between ties.

Maroon trim and grey stripe on sides and back.

I did free motion quilting on my Janome 6500.

UGH... doing quilts this large are HEAVY to do on your lap!

A friend who does scrap booking asked me for some of the tie fabric and

she made these note cards to go with it.  She scanned some of the ties.

Then she cut and pasted squares together, embossed the card print,

then use her cutting system to cut out shape.  It that not just cool!

I'm now thinking that this would be a nice present to go with each quilt you make.

It could be a special card presented to the recipient of the quilt you just made, or

just something to match with the quilt.

Thank you to those who are reading this long post!  I hope you leave me a comment
or two about your thought on the quilt.  Please feel free to leave suggestions as there is another
tie quilt in my future.  For Eddy's daughter who really misses her Grandfather!

Merry Christmas Y'all

It only took 3 nights of trying!

BUT...I finally THINK I created my own Blog Button to share!  I thought I had got it right a while back but the Stray Stitches try to copy it and let me know it didn't work.  I have been trying to accomplish this little feat for the last 3 nights!  So much for getting any quilting done, but this was driving me crazy to get done. I wasn't going to let me beat me!  I have to give thanks to this link http://www.manicmother.com/2009/09/how-to-make-grab-my-button-box.html  I searched and searched and this is the only one that worked for me, so thank you to Manic Mother!

Creating the button was not the hard part, creating the code for the code box!  NOW I can sleep peacefully tonight!    Sweet Dreams Y'all !

PS... someone let me know if this one doesn't work .... I may go off the deep end if it doesn't!!!!!

Merry Christmas Y'all

It finally Arrived!

I was so excited today when I check my mailbox and found my copy of Melinda Evaul's new book,
Grow Old With Me !  The first novel in the Quilt Trail Series.  It is about a modern day Beauty and Beast, ( my all time favorite Disney movie) and it is based in the town of LOVE VALLEY, NC.  About 45 minutes from my house!

Here is a picture when Melinda came to Statesville and visited Needle and Thread Quilt Shop

Promoting her book.  (We're not the most photogenic group but we have fun!)

Keep watch on my blog for more news about Grow Old With Me!

 



Merry Christmas Y'all

John Deere Baby Quilt

Well I have finished another Christmas present.  I made a pink John Deere quilt for one of Lauren's friends who had their first baby now long ago.  The mom liked it so much she asked if I would make a one for her sister's little boy for Christmas.  So here it is.

Christmas 2010

Laithan Andrew Church

I really love my Janome 6500 machine and glad it does do some lettering but I really want to get an embroidery machine.   Nothing really big or fancy but something that can do monograming.

Maybe with a tax return.... if there a tax return in 2011 !

So any one offering suggestions of what machine I should start looking for will be most welcomed.

Merry Christmas Y'all

Another Messenger Bag

Here is another Messenger Bag for a Christmas present.  This is the fabric Lauren and I went to Mooresville to look for at the Quilter's Loft when it began to snow! I hope my niece will like it. I love the pattern as it is really quick and easy to out together. 

The pattern I used is Butterick B4147. I had to make the messenger bag a bit smaller

than it called for as Lauren didn't like the bigger size.

Here is another little purse/backpack I originally bought the pattern for.

While we were there, Lauren saw another purse pattern she liked.  They had a sample hanging up and if they had not had that I don't think either of us would have given a second thought to the picture of the pattern.

Although is says lunch tote, I think it will work for a purse tote!   This will be AFTER Christmas before I start anything new!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Christmas Messenger Bag

Since today was the First Snow of the Season here in Statesville, I thought what better way to get into
the mood than to make a Christmas Snowman Messenger Bag for Lauren.  She picked this fabric out
about three months ago.  I think she'll like it!  I do!

Merry Christmas Y'all

The First Snow of the Season!

Lauren and I went to Mooresville this and just as we were parking, IT STARTED TO SNOW!!
It was so pretty. It was only sticking to grassy areas but that was ok.  I guess this makes it
officially the Christmas Season now.

We went to Quilter's Loft to buy a few pieces of fabric to finish the Christmas Purses I have been
making. I have been cutting out fabric all afternoon. Had to take a break and rest before I begin to sew.
I also receive a phone call that made my day!  My son Nathan and his girlfreind, Emily are coming up
in two weeks for a visit.  We are planning to go to the Biltmore House.  That place is awesome at Christmas time, not to mention crowded!

While taking a break I had to see what everyone is blogging about and I came across
The HOLLY JOLLY BLOG BINGO Fun!  First snow, now this!  Life if Good.

Want to have some fun??? The Quilt Shoppe's bingo starts on Dec. 10.

Check it out!!! http://www.the-quilt-shoppe.blogspot.com/ 

Tie Quilt Top

I finally decided on a gray to go between the ties for the Tie Quilt.  I put a wine color border to set off the ties and I found a gray wavy stripe to go around the main center piece.  Here are a few pictures of the top.  I hope you approve.

I have to get the back sewn together. I think I will the same gray wave for that.

I considering the wine color the binding but thinking that the same gray
I used between the ties.

For the quilting, I think just a random stippling will work.

This is for an older unmarried man, I think it looks

rather manly.  The ties were his father's, and he past away this time last year.

Thanks for Reading

Turkey - Quilter's Style

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

Gotta give Thanks to my sister for sending this to me!

Thanks for Reading

Tiring Week!

I am back home now after spending what seems like 90% of my time at the hospital with my husband who had a total knee replacement this past Thursday.  I didn't have any hand work to take to hospital so I took a charm pack and just starting sewing the squares together.  It is amazing just how relaxing sewing really is to me.   My mind just forgets everything else....

Now that we are home I am hoping to get back on track with work on the tie quilt and finishing Christmas projects.  I am off Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving and not doing much cooking this year, so more time to sew!   I think I am going to buy a deep fried turkey this year and then make some dressing and gravy.  

Thanks for Reading

New Horizon for my sister!

I received an email from my sister Becky yesterday to find out that her husband bought her a
NEW JANOME HORIZON for the birthday!!!!!!  I am so excited for her and envious for me!
Not really, I do love my Janome 6500 just fine!   I only wish he had bought it for herBEFORE I left last week's vacation there!   Then we could have played on it together!  Oh sounds like I'll just have to make another visit sooner than later!  
Congrats to my sister Becky on a Wonderful birthday present!  I know you will enjoy it years to come!
I love you sister!



Thanks for Reading
Lisa

Sisters!

Seems like it has been forever since I have been here posting.  My daughter Lauren and I went back to our hometown of Pensacola, FL last week to visit my sisters and their families.  We had a great time.   We went to McGuire's Irish Pub Thursday night for Lauren's 23rd birthday and she saw friends she hadn't since since 3rd grade.

Pensacola Beaches from the plane.

Lauren's 23rd birthday!

My sister Becky and I got to spend Thursday and Friday together.  The last time I really remember spending one on one time with her was way back when Becky had a Corvair.  We went to visit all her quilting spots and we had an especially great time at A & E.  This is a strange place of sorts.  You can buy a washer and dryer, get your prescriptions filled and shop for quilting fabric from a WIDE varitey all under one roof!   This store has been there forever, but when I walked in, I was blown away!  I didn't know where to start looking!  She keep telling me we had to go to this great store but I had no idea what to expect.  We spent several hours there and had a wonderful time. 



Barbara with lots of laces and such behind.



Seemed like miles of fabrics!



If you have ever been to Mary Jos in Gastonia, NC...

then A & E has got to be a sister shop! They are so much alike!

When we got back to her house, she showed me her current project that she just bought fabric for at A & E, her stash that is growing and her WELL organized quilt journal.  I was so jealous of that!  I have to remember that she doesn't work 8-5 everyday so she has time to be more organized.

We spent hours playing   EQ7   with me trying to remember how to do things with it.  I need to practice way more than I do. Before we knew it it was way past our bedtime. 

The next morning after a cup of coffee, we got started again talking fabric, quilting and everything in between. Here are a couple of pics of the prayer beads she had been making awhile back.  She did pretty good with orders and You should see that book of organization!  WOW! I hope some of those skills rubbed off on me while I was there!

 

Soon, her husband had to give us a five minute warning before we had to leave to meet family for breakfast.  My sister Wanda was to meet us for breakfast but became sick during the night and couldn't make it. Our older sister Barbara was able to be there.  I sure do miss my sisters!!!!

Becky and her husband are talking about selling their home in FL and moving back to Asheville, NC.  I sure hope they do!  She would only be hour a couple of hours away! Just think of all the quilting trips we could do together! 

My sister Becky, her husband Walt, my sister Wanda!

And my other sister, Barbara is invisible in this picture!  :)

Thanks for Reading

Lisa

Must See North Carolina Color

Last week as I drove to and from work each day, I kept looking for all the gorgeous color that just explode in the folage each fall. With all the heat we had this summer and lack of rain, I was begining to think that maybe the colors would be far less bright.   Then this week we received rain, and lots of it at times, and guess what?  THE COLORS EXPLODED!  Oh how beautiful the drive to and from work is now.  I keep saying I have got to stop and take pictures, but before I can do that I have got to get new batteries for my camera!  I kinda use them up at the balloon festival this past weekend.

BUT... Thanks to Lavendar Dreams blog  I want to share the beautiful pictures that she took while on a hike at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, NC.  I hope she doesn't mind.  They are wonderful photos to share rainbow of colors we get to see in NC.  Please visit her blog and enjoy her hike!

Thanks for Reading