Mail Time!

My mailbox has been getting quite the workout lately. AND. I. LOVE. IT.

I received a package the other day from the one and only Sandi Henderson! It was a lovely prize of patterns, fabric, a cupcake pincushion kit, and tiny baby set of crocheted cherries! I am so excited to dig into all of this:

Here are those teensy-tiny cherries up close:

*Swoon* If I ever thought I had the patience to try to make my own, I totally would. But I totally don't. At least not today, after getting soaked by a sudden downpour during my walk with Dax.

During "I'm and Ginger Monkey's" Fabric Swap, I won another wonderful prize from Amy, of Seven Stitches. It came with four yards of beautiful Japanese kimono fabric, and a host of cute bookmarks. I couldn't resist giving two of the pieces of fabric to my co-worker, as she is of Japanese lineage, and had been looking for this exact thing!

I know exactly who's getting this postcard, but I won't say who... hehehe ......

And last but not least, I finally, finally, finally, have a walking foot. I felt immediately relieved upon seeing it in it's tiny box.
And who else happened to be cleaning out their stash? My wonderful neighbor Gayle, who not only lets my pup have an occasional (hilarious) romp in the backyard with her dog, but who also used to love to do needlework.
Now I know the rules here. If I'm going to get this much great stuff, I'd better be ready to pay it forward! I've got quite a few things in mind for another giveaway soon, because I know you love mail just as much as I do!

And the Countdown Begins...

It's not too late to enter for the mini-family tree quilt-  I have had so much fun reading all of the comments and names you have left for me! I will choose and announce a winner on Friday, and then start your quilt on the long drive down to Memphis, Tennessee.  If anyone has any "you must go here" advice, I'd love to hear it!

Thank you for all of your advice on the sticker removal!  I received a few emails about using things such as peanut butter and olive oil too, but I decided to tempt fate with an ancient bottle of Goo-Gone.  I figured I would try it on one patch, and then try someone else's remedy on another patch.  

But, lo and behold, it worked, and it didn't even make the bright red color fade or run.  I still want to try all of the suggestions that were sent my way, and I'm sure I'll have the chance! After the disaster was averted, I cut up a few more scraps of fabric and sewed a couple of courthouse blocks:

And what's better to end a night of sewing with than a root beer float (in the dead of winter, mind you)?

But of course, there's someone who decided that all of the attention can't be on sewing and ice cream eating:

He's weird, but at least I'm pretty sure he knows it.

So Very Excited....

Wow!  That's about all I can say at this point!  It is so wonderful to read all of your great comments and visit your blogs and websites!  I am itching to get started on this mini-quilt giveaway, and I'm debating about whether or not to do two or three instead of just one....

Until I can get started on that project though, I'm cutting all of my pieces for our quilt top:

I'll be very glad when I have enough scraps to someday make a large scrap quilt instead of buying yardage.  Mostly because I don't appreciate when this happens:

I purchased a quarter flat at Joann's, and now I can't get the stupid sticker off.  Please help if you have any remedies for getting rid of this sticky gunk!  If you do, I may give you the recipe for a piping hot bowl of "Baked Potato Soup", complete with bacon, cheese, green onion, and of course, potatoes.

Now this is off subject, but I have to share a picture of Dax with his best friend ever, Charlie. Charlie lives across the street, and they love to do things that all dogs do, but playing tug-of-war is their speciality.  

Someday I hope to be able to post a video of Dax running across the street to go see Charlie.  My neighbor and I check the street for cars, and then I open my door and Dax runs as fast as his little bunny legs will let him to go play with Charlie.  

Hilarious, I tell you. 

Bourbon Slush!

Okay, it was requested by Dozer that I hand over the bourbon slush recipe.  I made you a fun little recipe card- although it isn't nearly as cute as the ones Lollychops makes! Although I haven't tried printing it out yet to check the size.... I suppose I should do that.

I am not responsible for any embarrassing stories that may occur after partaking in said bourbon slush! But feel free to blog about them so that I can say "See honey?!  I'm not the only one that does that!"

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments!  And of course your fuzz butts should be on the quilt too- they are a big part of the family.  Now I'm even MORE excited to make the mini-tree quilt!  Remember that you have until January 16th to enter... and I'll throw in 5 extra entries if you blog about the giveaway!  Maybe I'll add another way you can earn entries  every day.... hmm... sending me chocolate will always work. 

Maybe another way you can enter is by volunteering to sweep all of the Corgi and cat hair off of my couch.  This is what Husband and I come home to most every day:

I think it's called "if we sit here and stare out the window long enough, maybe they'll come home".

How can I be mad at that face for shedding 24/7? Oh that's right, I can't be. 

Giveaway!

The guilt of not posting after mentioning a giveaway has finally gotten to me... oh the shame.  I promise there is one though!  I got a bit too busy with last-minute Christmas gifts that turned out to take a lot more time than I expected.  An entire quilt in three days?  All done by hand?  With everyone in the family's name embroidered on it?  Ah, why not!?  Nuts, I tell you.

Anywho, I would like to make a mini-family tree quilt for you too!!  All that you have to do is leave me a comment that lists all of the names you would like to have on the quilt.  You can enter up to three times, and you can enter on behalf of one other person also.  I mean, think of the brownie points you can earn here, geesh.  I'll give everyone (who ever may still be there after my hiatus, that is)  up to two weeks to enter, and then pick a winner randomly. Good luck!

Until then, I shall be having fun with a few books from a co-worker,

and, finally delving into my stash of favorite fabrics....

I can't wait! 

UPDATE:  Entries for this giveaway will only be accepted until 12:00 AM, January 16th, EST.

Sad face...

Here's to hoping that everyone is getting their Christmas shopping done!  I know I haven't started... eh... maybe Etsy will help me out with that.  The giveaway "surprise" is still not finished, but it's my only project for the night, so it has to get done, right?  Until then, I give you Dax's best sad face (or his get-that-out-of-my-face, face)...  

Stockings for Stuffing

The stockings are still not done- but at least they're getting there!  In an effort to get them done quickly (I'm not looking for heirloom quality here!) I have re-discovered fabric glue. I'm beginning to remember why I quit using this sticky slime.  I think I should find some fusible interfacing- there's got to be more somewhere around here....

I did, during my search for stocking-appropriate fabric, find a few remnants that I liked.  I think I'm going to make a bit of Christmas cheer and give it away! 

I will be taking a break for Thanksgiving with the family, but I hope to have my *surprise* for you ready soon after that!