Surprises are so wonderful

I know we all get so tired of hearing all the horrible things that happen when we read the paper or listen to the news....wouldn't it be nice if stories about all the good things that happen got as much press? 

When we returned from the mountains this week, a package was waiting for me.  I was told it was coming, but had no idea what it was. I received this lovely gift from Debbie St. Germain.  It's a punch needle stuffed pillow that hangs that she made out of my Shirley, Goodness and Mercy pattern.  This is Shirley out of this piece.  Debbie had no idea who Shirley represented I don't think, but she's very special to me.  Needless to say, I cried when I opened this special little gift.

Inspiration for Shirley, Goodness and Mercy came from a book I had read years ago, but it is more than that.....my sister, my sister-in-law and myself quilted just about every Saturday at my house.  So, when I made Shirley, Goodness and Mercy I decided it was based on the three of us.  Shirley, was my sister because surley she would make us laugh at something she'd make. (She was not a primitive type of gal at all!)  Goodness was my sister-in-law because she really was the good one.....and me, well I was the mercy because I was always doing something that could be considered "not exactly right" or more accurately "a little off!"

I lost my sister 3 1/2 years ago to cancer so when I got my present it was very special indeed. 

Yes, there are so many, many good things that happen in our world that we hardly ever hear about.  Thanks Debbie so much for your kindness.  I will cherish my "Shirley" always.

   

Fun Pictures

Remember when the Mr. Boo's were introduced?  Well, I just had to share these pictures with all of you. 

The top one was sent to me from Cheryle Harte in California...she made this jean's pocket bag for me as a present and she calls him "Mr. Hugs".........It is for me to use when I go shopping for fat quarters!  Cheryle is a member of my pattern club. She and I have never met, but we've been corresponding for a long time.  She does beautiful work..........which you can see in the parlor room of my website. 

Rebecca Hoffman here in Florida sent me a picture of her Mr. Boo's.  Also a pattern club member she made hers only 3 inches and made it into a pin to wear!  How clever is that? I love that you've shared this idea with us. 

We ran away from home for a week, but we're back and just now getting caught up. 

A lovely surprise

When I returned home yesterday, waiting for me in my mailbox was a package from the Kansas City Star.
To my delight,  I received a copy of the "MY STARS II" book.  Several months ago they put out a notice, to everyone interested,  to submit a quilt that was made from a list of blocks that the KC STAR published over the years in their newspaper.  Back in April of this year they published the first book and because of it's popularity, they decided to do a volume II.  Well, it's out and ready for anyone that would like to order one.  I submitted my Snow Trails quilt made from the snails trail block.  It was chosen to be in the book, which was a delight in itself.

What was fun is that when I was looking through the book I felt it would make a wonderful sampler quilt using all the blocks.  The snails trail quilt I made was from the block they published back in November 1935.   I was born in November - just not 1935!  Isn't it funny how things sometimes work out?

If you would like a copy of the book, you can order it through  http://www.pickledish.com

It's beginning to look like fall has arrived.....

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I have been very busy. Transforming the house for the fall months is always a happy time here....you can never have to many fall decorations out, especially in Florida. We create the atmosphere, probably because we don't get the seasonal feel with the cooler temperatures. The witches, pumpkin guys and ghouls started to arrive this week..Scarecrows too. Becca, Sarah, Pa and I went to the pumpkin patch to get our first pumpkin for the season...well, actually, I picked out the biggest one I could find. I don't know what it weighs, but it's about 18 inches tall and the stem is 11 inches. It's a beauty and will make a great jack-o-lantern for our Halloween bon fire Halloween weekend. Becca and Sarah came home with ones they could carry....pie pumpkins.....but I remember Sarah saying, it's heavy gramma! She's 2

The guys that usually are present on the porch to greet guests haven't shown up yet, but I'm sure they will before it's over. As soon as I get my Fall Reversible Quilt back from Moda and quilt market, I'll hang it in the stairwell. I hope you make one too! And, if you do, please send me a picture!

It's such a wonderful time of year...............HAPPY FALL YA'LL

correction to the fall pattern covers.....

It looks like I need a keeper after all! The "Funda Bundle" pattern cover for one of the new fall patterns was shown twice, so I have corrected that. You can now see the "Necessary Bundle" posted. THANK YOU Nancy for letting me know!

the Mr. Boo's

Is everyone ready for fall? I just wanted to share a little ditty my grand daughter, Rebecca, and I and I made last week. I am so fortunate to be a gramma that has her little ones close by. I get to spend time with them twice a week and we have the best time. We actually made two Mr. Boo's - one for Becca and one for Sarah, so we call them "the Mr. BOO's! They are made out of wool so it's easy and fun to make. We made them into a pattern, which all the pattern club members received for free just for being in the pattern club. If you are on my email list and upgrade to the pattern club (it's FREE to join) we will send this to you as a free gift. Send me an email I will tell you all about joining the pattern club.

We hope you enjoy seeing what we made. Becca has become a designer at age 5 1/2....
I wonder if Sarah will like designing too? She's 2 so she has some time to decide.

Enjoy the Mr. Boo's and perhaps making some with your children would be a fun fall project!

NEW FALL PATTERN COVERS

Happy Fall everyone! The new pattern covers have been designed and are now being printed. I should have them all next week. Pre-order today and be among the first to have them.

Two new quilt patterns, but 3 quilts to make. The Fall Reversible, featuring The Fall Guy and Happy Fall Ya'll is my first reversible quilt. It's all pieced with big pieces and really a lot of fun to make. One quilt for an entire season. September until the end of November...with a flip side for the Halloween holiday!

Don't forget Mocking Birds......see, they did come back home to roost! A pieced quilt with wool applique.........and don't let the triangles fool you, it's not hard at all. For those of you receiving a free pattern (you know who you are) I will get these to you as soon as I get them back from the printer....I didn't forget you!

It's a Crock and Will You be My Valentine are both wool table rugs - The Buggy Barn class will also be receiving their free copy as soon as I have them in my hands.

And, something new for Primitive Pieces by Lynda..........patterns called BUNDLES!

NECESSARY bundle is sewing roll-ups - pieced fabrics and wool applique
pattern bags - pieced fabrics and wool applique (sorry, pictures
had to be changed and now are out of sync. This bundle is the
first picture you see)

CHRISTMAS bundle is just that! I Caught Santa and Catch a Falling Star - both
wool front and back

FUNDA' bundle - fundamental projects for everyone....from a beginner who can start
with a smaller project and make a sewing box to keep all her
proper necessaries to an experienced quilter that enjoys a simple
project to make for every season and who doesn't like a new
sewing box once in a while?

I hope you'll collect all the bundles.......because there are more to come!