Liebster Blog Award

Imagine my surprise when I opened my email from Lee Prairie Designs saying that I had been nominated for the Liebster Blog award!   Thank you, Carolyn!

From what I understand, the aim of the Liebster Blog Award is to bring recognition and exposure to small blogs who have less than 300 followers.  If you accept the award, you agree to tag three to five other small blogs that you enjoy reading and recommend to others.

Hope you will visit the following lovely ladies and leave some blog love!

Gmama Jane at GrandMama's Stories

Kim at Now Where was I?

Annie from Seize the Day Quilting

Now back to the Word Up sewing party!  Thanks so much for hosting this, Kelly and Kris!

Indulge

Indulge your sense of enjoyment.
(Mug rug by Madamme Sam and Chocolates by Dove!)

When I opened my little Dove chocolate, this is what it said......now how perfect is that?  We are all indulging ourselves today, doing what we love and sharing with friends.  
My Midnight Stars is set together...thanks Lori for such a fun quilt-along.  Your instructions were perfect!  These blocks are only 5"...love how this turned out! 

Off to visit some blogs and see what you all are up to! 

Word Up sewing party

Today was a little card-making workshop at our church.  12 of us, (including 2 husbands!) got together for a couple of hours and made Valentines that will be delivered to the VA hospital here in Kansas City.  It was a wonderful morning of fellowship and creativity...lots of fun for everyone!

Now I am home, and I can join in on the Word Up sewing party!  Actually, I don't have a plan for what I will work on...but I am content (my word) to sew on my Midnight Stars from Lori's quilt-along, and my Civil War Block by Barbara Brackman.  Then, I will retire to the couch with my sweet husband to watch one of these movies we picked up this morning.  I can watch a movie, do some hand-quilting on my Garden Path, and snuggle with my hubby...how do you spell content? 

Now, off to visit a few more blogs before I sit down at the sewing machine...gotta catch up with all you gals, and see what you are working on!   Later!

Build a Monster

The boys came over on Saturday for a sleepover.  Originally I had thought about having them make Valentines, but I saw a website with Ugly dolls.  After looking at them, I decided that this would be a fun and creative project for the boys....actually for Caleb, the 6 year old.  Jack is 2 years old and we let him supervise.  So this is the result....

Caleb wanted his guy to have eyes that look excited...what do you think?
He drew a picture of the face and this is what he came up with...
cracked me up!  Exciting eyes!

Meet Jack and Spaz, with a bit of supper left on his face...oops!  

The most rewarding part of the whole thing was a statement that Caleb made. He said..."Gramma, this is really neat!  We are taking scraps of fabric, sewing them together and turning them into something brand new."  Maybe he will be a quilter someday?

Piddling around

This is my Seven Sisters block from last Saturday...I decided to hand-stitch a blanket stitch around the stars, as I was not satisfied with my star points.  Wish I could master those points as I do enjoy hand applique!  Barbara Brackman  posted another interesting block today...love this Civil War block of the month.

This is something else that is on my sewing table, along with the Midnight Stars quilt along with Lori from Humble quilts.  As you can see...I have had attention deficit disorder this week!  (that's what several days of migraines does to me!)  The little quilt is from Lori Smith's book, Fat Quarter Quilting.  I want to make all of the quilts in this wonderful book!

And I am putting together a few Valentine cards.   Have you caught the love bug yet?

Hope to get to my sewing room for a bit today, the grandsons are coming for a sleep over tonight and another snow storm is on its way.   I think the boys and I may make a few Valentines.  They love to play in my sewing room!   

 You might want to check out this blog post by Carrie, I enjoyed reading what she had to say about our "artistic voices" and making quilts that matter to you.   Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Giggles in the snow

Our 6 year old grand-daughter is still giggling!  Daddy pulled her around with a 4-wheeler, loads of fun!  It is great to see all the "snowbound" and "snowday" pictures out there in blogland.  Hope everyone is staying warm!  

A little bit of stitching....



Yankee Puzzle

Just a little quilt, it only measures 13", but it makes a great candle mat.  This was a pattern from Jo Morton a few years ago, it was included in one of the Jo's Little Women clubs.  I decided I needed a few blue quilts for January decorating and I had purchased several fat quarters of the Indigo Berries line, one of my favorites!   Then, I cut out this little quilt from a previous JM Little Women club...Soldier Blue.  It is ready to layer and quilt.

And I got my North Star made for Barbara Brackman's Civil War blocks.  If you have not checked out her website, just click on the link on my sidebar.   She is hosting a year long BOM dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  Great way to use the reproduction fabrics that we have been collecting!

North Star block

The weather forcasters are telling us that snow is on its way...woo hoo! 
 I look at snow days as sew days!

Content

It has been been wonderful reading all the Charming girls blogs, and seeing what "word" will take new meaning in their lives as the new year begins.  Finally, my "word" has come to me...I thought about a few words, like joy, happiness, faith, kindness, compassion, gratitude...and wound up with content.  I decided that if I can learn to be content with who I am and where I am in this life, it changes everything. Everything I need to be happy, I all ready have...right here and right now.  

 God has provided for me and always will, even when my faith ebbs in and out.  I am grateful for my life, my gifts, my family and my friends.  

My blogging friends who inspire me everyday...thank you!

"Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. 

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

                                                                                          ~Lao Tzu

How beautiful it is

Max the cat is just worn out from watching Jim and I put away Christmas decorations.  I am so glad that chore is done, but it really makes the house look empty.  We left out all the snowmen, so that helps a bit!

Barbara Brackman has started a new blog commemerating the 150 year anniversary of the Civil War.  Check out her blog, every Saturday she will have a new block and story to share with followers.  While Max took a much needed nap, I sewed mine up this afternoon.  I am excited and hope to keep up with the blocks as she adds them, along with the history she will be sharing.  Here it is:

And here is a near finish...a Schnibbles called "Figgy Pudding". The charm pack I used was Park Avenue. I really like the little "peppermints" in the center of each block. 

It is ready to quilt...any suggestions?

With any amount of luck it should be done for next Christmas!