These are a few of my favorite things.....

2009 Is gone... I've spent the greater part of the year quilting, completing 15+ projects. Listed below are my top ten items I found made it easier to finish my projects.

Heres my top 10..

10. My notions... Including my cutter, seem ripper (ergonomic even!) quilting pins, and thread scissors.

9. Essential thread from Connecting Threads they have a ton of colors and it comes on a 1200 yard spool for less than $2.

8. My sewing machine. I spent 4 weeks trying to get the accessories the website SAID came with it. Since my machine arrived, it's completed most of my projects. No more sharing a machine with my wife.


7. Freebies!! I won these from a couple of blog give aways... I'll know what day it is thanks to Ryan at I'm just a Guy Who Quilts and the book came as a multi-part win from Carin at Conceived Without Regard for Reason or Reality . I also won a kit from Carin, pics to be posted soon.

6. Quilters Cache.com Tons and Tons of FREE patterns...

5. The QuiltGuy Yahoo! Group. Lots of talented guys who quilt.

4. Aunt Sadie's Quilt Shop. In a very small town. Open 3 days a week. Unbeatable customer service. Worth the trip if you're in the area.

3. Raymond K. Houston. Owner, operator, and mad genius behind Nacho Grandmas Quilts. Both the BLOG and WEBSITE. Raymond does amazing work.

2. Charlie Scott owner of the It's Just Me blog. He also does amazing work. He keeps creating quilts even though two of his quilts have been quiltnapped by his long arm quilter. Shame on you Amber!!!!

and my number 1...

My wife and quilting partner, Brooke, the driving force behind the Disconnected Stitches blog. It's great that I can bounce ideas and color choices off of her and she'll give me her honest opinion.


So, thats my top 10. I read over 100 quilting related blogs and all of them are great reads. If I had the time to list them all I would.

An Irish Christmas Give away..

Micki over at Irish Muses is having a Christmas Give Away... Check out all the cool things you could win. Click here for all the details

Totally done...

My must do projects for 2009 are officially done. Everything is complete boxed and ready to wrap. This is my last quilt of '09. It's got a bit more color than my last quilt. Now on to 2010 projects!!! And I'm 2 weeks early....More time equals more projects right???

Dear Santa

Yo Whats up Fat Guy..

My friends over at the Fat Quarter Shop told me to cruise through their site and pick something for ME!! Guess what? I think I've been really good this year, my must be completed projects for 2009 are DONE and I've even started my 2010 projects early. I've kept my needle sharp, my bobbins wound and my stash somewhat in check. So if you should happen to find room in your sack for that special gift for ME I'd really really like the Blessings Fat Quarter bundle. (See picture below)


Even though it would initially be mine, the finished project would more than likely be donated to our local Domestic Violence shelter to be given to one of the women who seek a safe place to live. I really don't ask for much, but in the spirit of giving tis better to give than receive and I'd give the bundle away after I've cut and sewn it back together. So it's more like I'm the middle man.

Thank you Santa. And as always, there will be beer and good snacks in the fridge when you get here. I know you get tired of cookies and milk.

Vanilla Splash

This is my sister's quilt. It's a simple design with just a splash of color. I'm one binding closer to 2010.


The front



And a view of the splash of color, the red binding really sets it off.


Also, it appears that I'm not being notified of comments that are posted to my blog. This has been happening for about a week now. Anyone else having this problem? My Blogger settings haven't been changed so I don't know whats going on. I will reply to your comments as soon as I can.

Also this is my 80th post..Hmmmmmm :)

Final project of 2009

My last major project of 2009 is finished. All I have left to do is put the binding on 2 more quilts and then on to my 2010 projects.

I should have the binding on one of the quilts today since I have the day off and I'll post pics as soon as I'm done.

But for now enjoy the boots!


This is the completed wall hanging.


Here is a close up of the simple quilting and the piecing detail. I quilted 2 horseshoes and 2 stars (the stars didn't photograph well) and thats it. I didn't want to take away from the boots too much.

A Give away from Green Fairy Quilts

Check out this give away... It's got a layer cake and jelly roll and pattern. GO. NOW. ENTER!
Green Fairy Quilts: Time for another giveaway!!

To the victor go the spoils...

And yes, I was spoiled!!! Thanks to Rosa over at Rosa's World for the BRIGHT place mats and candy she sent me..



The front (I think)




and the back... with candy!!!


And to make the postal service happier, Carin over at Conceived Without Regard for Reason or Reality sent these wonderful spoils....

This is fabric for a BRIGHTly colored wall hanging or baby quilt. When I get it finished I'll post pics

And a really cool star quilts book (spiral bound even!) and some Hot Tamales!!

Thanks to both Rosa and Carin. You've made my month... Not a bad haul for it being my birthday month!!!

An antique give away

My friend Stephanie over at A Ditchin' Time Quilts is giving away this antique doll quilt. It's really cute but I don't believe the dog is included. Click here to enter.

Talk about deadlines!

So a co-worker is expecting his 2nd child in January... No big deal... I have enough time to whip out a quilt and get it to him... Yesterday (Monday) he says that today (Tuesday) will be his last day!! So I come home and create this little baby quilt and a gift for the 2 year old big sister! The parents-to-be are both BIG Kansas Jayhawk fans and I'll bet the lil' one will be too!



The front and back of the baby quilt




a close up of the back.

And a crayon roll for the big sister .

It's time to gobble up this give away..

Elaine over at Faithful Quilter: Elaine's Journey is having a Give Away. Go enter and be Thankful if you win.

I've actually finished some projects!

I know it's been a few days since an actual quilting related post. But I have been busy on various projects. I've got my mother's quilt back from the long arm quilter, worked on my BOM, finished my sister's quilt top and it's now at the quilter and a few other projects. I have 2 more to start and finish before Christmas.


My mother's quilt is DONE!!!!


This block looks a lot better than the block from last month.

As soon as I get my other projects together and back from the quilter I'll post them for you.

Veterans Day

Quilts For Kids

This is my contribution to the Quilts For Kids organization. It was a simple project and only took a few hours to complete. If you've got a few minutes to give, click over to Quilts For Kids and either request a kit (fabric for top and back are included, you supply the batting and thread) or send one of your own creations. You know you'd like to make a child smile.

Are you ready for some BINGO?

I know you want to play... Who doesn't like the possibility of winning a serious amount of fat quarters? click here for details.

A really cool give away. and some really great prices on some cool things at Etsy.

My blogging friend fabricartist21 has an Etsy shop you need to check out. She has some really cool items... You can find her shop here . And you can find out about her give away here. Go.. Now... Browse.. Buy.. and Enjoy both her shop and her blog.

Free stuff!

My friend, and fellow Bottle Cap candy connoisseur Carin is celebrating her 4 year blogoversary. And she's giving away 4 gifts just for us! Click on over to Conceived Without Regard for Reason or Reality for your chance to win!

And the winner is.....

ME!

If you're a reader of the Blue is Bleu blog you'll remember the above picture. That is where the very funny hubs of Audrie drew my name to win this wonderful table runner.


This is the back

And the front.

She even attached a 'blue is bleu' tag to it. Its totally cool and massively festive!

Pictures borrowed from Audrie (with permission) 'cuz it's been raining and kinda crappy here all week and couldn't get any decent pics. THANKS AUDRIE!!!

For the greater good.

This cute little baby quilt was created from my belief that EVERY baby needs a quilt. I had the opportunity to provide a quilt to a newborn who just happened to be born on our anniversary day. How cool is that? The pink and brown was just a piece I had in my stash and backed it with a solid brown. Quilting was a simple square on the outside edge then diagonal through the dots, changing directions when I reached the outer square. I had no idea what colors the mother had chosen but when it was presented, it matched the other items for the baby including another blanket and the diaper bag.

I apologize for the bad photo, the wind was blowing and it was overcast. Not the best conditions for a picture.

And the bouquet was caught by......

We had a total of 74 comments between our two blogs. You all have some great advice, and yes Gene we've used your tips!

We took each comment, assigned it a number depending on the date & time stamp, and asked the bloggers friend RANDOM.ORG to tell us who won. The lucky number is 64 and that number was assigned to to Anya the Hills Creek Quilter. Congrats to Anya and Thank You to the rest of you for your wonderful tips.

A Holloween Give Away

The multi-talented Audrie over at Blue is Bleu is giving away a nice table runner for Holloween. Its really cool looking, get over there and check it out!!!

Bloggers Quilt festival

This is a quilt I created for my grandfather during his stay in a nursing home. It was crated using a blue flannel, creme and solid blue fabric. The creme and solid blue were sewed into a four patch and alternated with the flannel. giving the appearance of diagonal stripes. The two borders were of the creme and blue. Once it was together it was hand tied.It took about a week to complete.

Creative in more ways than one.

So I went to a craft night at one of our local shops. It was fun. Of course I was the only guy there tonight. No big deal. I have creative demons and they must be exercised!!! Check out this candy dish I created. Its made from an old record thats been melted and shaped. I painted the skull, added the eyes and bow tie. And how freakin' cool is the spider on top? That came from my creative brain!!! And it was copied by others! I'm thinking about drilling 4 holes in it and adding some LED lights to make it glow.

We've got a bouquet just for you!

On October 12th (Columbus Day) Brooke and I will have been married for 13 years. So whats this mean to you? If you leave me a positive relationship tip or a favorite thing about YOUR relationship AND (yes there's always a catch!) leave a different one for Brooke, we'll give you two (2) chances to win, the nice, fresh and wonderful bouquet pictured below. It contains 13 Fat Quarters of funky prints. Having trouble thinking of a tip? Well lemme help you..


Greg's relationship tips:

1. Men, Every night before going to bed recite the Man's Prayer. "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." Thanks to Red Green for that prayer. It helps, believe me!

2. Always have more than 1 quilt on the bed, that way you each have one and no one gets cold, you can always snuggle under both quilts and you don't have to worry about your partner hogging the quilt! (okay so we have 4 quilts on the bed!)



Look it! Arn't them pretty?


Rules, regulations, conditions, catches(you didn't think it'd be THAT easy did you?).

1 comment= 1 entry

2 comments (1 on EACH blog) = 2 entries

must be POSITIVE tip

we must have way to contact you, if you are a no reply blog reader leave your email address.

give away entries must be received by 12:00 pm (central time) on October 12th.

New followers are always welcome, but will not increase your chance of winning

We'd love for you to blog about our bouquet and tip request, but it won't help your chances of winning.

There's a lot of conditions right?

No purchase required

Batteries not included

No refunds if raining

Must be able to leave a comment (or 2)

Crystal vase not included

Almost done now.

Free cat if you want one (just kidding)

International Bloggers welcome (we'll ship worldwide!!)

Winner drawn October 12th.

Want some free Moda?

My blogging friend the fabricartist21 is having a give away. She's got 4 FQ's and a 1/2 yard of coordinated Moda fabric in a leaf print to give away. What better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons other than with a flu shot? And you don't need to get poked in the butt with this give away!!! Go here for the details.

We love quilting....

and I love freebies! Thats right, Chris over at We Love Quilting is having a give away in honor of the Wizard Of Oz turning 70!!! But since I was the first to comment and I live in Kansas I think I should win. But since I'm a nice guy, I'm telling you about it so you too may enter and possibly win.

A cool Give Away...

Pat over at Silver Thimble Talk is having a give away with some really cool freebies for you IF you win. Look at it this way, if you enter thats one less chance for me to win.. Go now, Pat will pick the winner on the 27th...

It's a Boy or Girl... It's a BABY!!!!

Thats right... My blogging pal Gene has a new BABY!!!! Although it's been with him for a while now, we are at this time unsure of a name.. Go check out the pictures and more info on Gene's Blog . And don't forget to participate in his Give Away.

And the wait.......

Continues.


It's been 3 weeks since I got my new machine. It was supposed to arrive with a darning foot and a walking foot. But they were not in the box when I opened it. So I played number punching on the phone until I got a hold of customer service from the place I bought it. I told them of the error and was assured they'd take care of the issue. 6 days later, I get a small box via UPS.. Goodie, my missing feet are here.. WRONG ANSWER!!! I got another darning plate and the standard sewing foot, both of which were in the box originally. So I call the customer service department of the worlds largest retailer AGAIN... I get to talk to them plus the machine manufacturer (3 way calling is fun!). Told them of the issue, proved my machine should have come with those accessories (pictures speak 1000 words!) and was assured I'd have the correct parts within a week. Well what do ya know, a small box from UPS today! Yeah! Kinda.... Open the box... I got the darning foot... but no walking foot. Instead I have a set of bi-level spring action guides. WTF Mary? What are Bi-level spring action guides used for? So I call the machine manufacturer, and tell the guy I've got the wrong parts AGAIN! He doesn't deal with sewing machines, he's in some other department... I'm transferred 3 times before I was told to call the retailer again. So I just got off the phone with customer service again, they've supposedly contacted the manufacturer about their error. I guess I'll see in a week.. If this keeps up, I could have their entire accessory catalog at my disposal.Maybe I'll open my own parts department. All I really want is my walking foot... plain and simple.

Want a free quilt? I know you do....

Whats muilti-colored and comfy and could be yours? This right here. But you gotta enter to win! This Give Away is brought to you by Judi of Green Fairy Quilts.

Want a free Jelly Roll?

Thats right me peeps... The nice peeps at Missouri Star Quilt Co. are giving away a FREE jelly roll. Go check 'em out!

Goodies in the mail...

A few days ago I was one of the lucky winners in the I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts give away. Ryan is a great guy, not only for offering to give random strangers FREE STUFF, but for the lil' extras he included in my goodie box. Below is a pic of the goodies I received from Ryan today.

Thanks Ryan!!!!

A very nice give away

Nicole over at Our Cozy Nest has been featured at the Moda Bake Shop. And to celebrate, you could be getting a freebie... Wander on over, under, through, up to, beside or whatever there and enter. If you enter and win, remember I sent you!! If you enter and don't win don't worry about it, you'll win something soon! If you don't enter but win anyway, uhh we's got problems. But I know you'd never do that.. So go now.. Enter and possibly win!

It's all about ME!!!!

Its been a great weekend here. First I reach 50 blog posts and have 32 followers as of this post. I won the I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts calendar give away and I managed to snag a guest blog spot over at We Love Quilting . Go forth now and check ME out elsewhere.

Quilt BINGO!

Okay.. Okay... Okay... I know in a previous post I said they (who ever THEY are) should rename the game of BINGO to OH CRAP!. I have joined a quilting version of bingo in which you "buy" cards by sending in FAT QUARTERS. If you win the game you receive ALL the FAT QUARTERS paid in for cards. Sound like fun? I thought so, and look at it this way, if YOU win you'll be getting FAT QUARTERS from my stash! How cool is that? C'mon Gene, this could be yet another thing YOU win!!! Click here to visit this rounds host's blog. And here for info on quilt Bingo!


Oh lookie, I mentioned FAT QUARTERS 3 no 4 times! (for more info read the "WTF Mary series", links in the right column)

Greg

TESTED

Hello all, I've been temporarily granted posting privlages in honor of my "late" husband. This message is a bit of a test run. The plague of emails from our favorite mis-speller may finally be at an end. About 10 minutes ago we were notified by Grandson of the mayhem maker that Greg and Blog were "exterminated from her wishes." Although I'll miss the laughter and the tears - I really hope they figured it out. It's really depressing to think of a "101 yr old" granmother tapping away at her keys, worked up beyond her normal blood pressure readings because she subscribed to and repeatedly insulted a creative and twisted smart ass. So long Mary, we shall think of you often.

-Brooke

I'm Alive!!!

Some of you may remember my last Mary post where she asked me to "cease and decease" my blog activities. After very little thought and consideration and another email from mary, I decided this is MY blog and she can bug off. (This here's the time where you cue up RUN -DMC's song Mary Mary). I have to ask myself why she's buggin'.. Here's yet ANOTHER email from my biggest fan.


Mary writes:

"I feel as you sit in my compooter laughing at me at my expense. I can not to ford this as I am a fixed income. Will you please stop your postings so as I can get back to my online bingo? My information served to me sedated told me that I must request you to stop as that is my only course to take. Please honor my request as I am not wanting to hear from you again. Your postings have become brothersome to me as I am unable to do my daily compterization activations. Some nights I have lost sheep because of your constant postage. I do hop that you will soon stoop this and that I may regain my excess to my compooter. I wish you ill soon and stop this behiveor with I find too bee very childless.



Mary"

Yet again my dear readers lets break this one down...

"I feel as you sit in my compooter laughing at me at my expense." Thats gotta be one big "compooter"! I'm 6 feet 3 inches tall. My time and talents are valuable. Please remit $74,689,567 for my time sitting and laughing at you.

"I can not to ford this as I am a fixed income." I believe Ford will be okay with the fact that you're a fixed income. BTW you're a fixed income? How much? Most hard working American's are also on a fixed income, they work 40 hours a week for a certain rate per hour. Sounds pretty fixed to me...

"Will you please stop your postings so as I can get back to my online bingo?" Personally, I think the game should be renamed to "oh crap" because everytime 1 person yells "BINGO", 45 others yell "OH CRAP!" And if you are a "fixed income" you shouldn't be wasting your money anyway.

"My information served to me sedated told me that I must request you to stop as that is my only course to take." So thats your problem, you've been sedated. Explains a lot there.

"Please honor my request as I am not wanting to hear from you again." I believe this is the only sentence I understand without having to translate it.

"Your postings have become brothersome to me as I am unable to do my daily compterization activations. " She ain't heavy.... She's my brother! WTF are computerization activations anyway?


"Some nights I have lost sheep because of your constant postage." You might want to call Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue or your local animal control people, they may be able to help you find your sheep. I apologize if my postage rates are too high for someone who is a fixed income. But rest assured my prices are cheaper than the US Postal Service.

"I do hop that you will soon stoop this and that I may regain my excess to my compooter." Be careful while you hop. I don't want you to fall and break a hip. I stoop it as soon as I figure out where to stoop. Consider yourself very lucky that you have "excess to your compooter". I know some people who like to have compooter excess.

"I wish you ill soon and stop this behiveor with I find too bee very childless." My dear Mary.. I think it's time to take your medication or seek professional help. I would NEVER wish anyone "ill soon". It's just not polite. Behiveor.. I guess a bee hive beats a hornet's nest! Too Bee or not too bee? thats not the correct spelling of "to be".. Childless? Hey now, thats a low blow.. I know I don't have children yet. But we's working on it. Besides does the world need another me running around?

My faithful and highly entertained readers (I hope), I can only imagine that Mary has added my blog to her blog list by mistake. I have to the best of my ability sent her instructions on how to remove my blog (I'm fighting back tears) from her list. Will this be the final episode? Tune in later to find out.

September 11

In memory of those we lost and in Honor of those serving and protecting.

At mary's request

click picture to view bigger
You wanted it... You got it...


Mary writes:

"Please cease and decease all blog posts and emails to myself for 48 hours until such a time I can review my options.

Mary"

You don't even have to dress up.. Please be kind in your comments...Bring your friends!!! In 48 hours can someone stop by with a defibrillator please? Thanks

Will she EVER give up?

A few minutes after I posted about Myrtle's retirement, my friend & critic Mary sent me the email posted below. WARNING: the email is UNEDITED, meaning the spelling, grammar and choice of words are hers. Some people may find it offensive.I have in no way edited her email. If you have not read the previous WTF Myrtle please do so to gain some background on this what I consider to be humorous issue. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

WTF Mary???


Mary writes:

" If you do not stop, I will be force not to notify Yahoo.com and have your account deleted. It is not nice of you to mislead people into thinking you will be discussing the use of fat quarters in quiting and the quiting process. Why do you not talk about fat quers in your blog? are you even a quilter or you just making fun of us who are? Please respond via email because I need to know when you reply to me. I have enjoyed your first few blog posts and think your quilts are pretty.


Mary"

Please note I have honored Mary's request and have replied to her via email, after I changed clothes because I wet myself from laughing so hard (not really but close!). My reply is below


"Dear Mary:

I appreciate that you have read and enjoyed the first part of my blog and that you liked my quilts. my Blog was never meant to be educational to anyone nor do I ever claim it to be anything about fat quarters. If you read the tag line in the title you'll see a references to my geographical location - THE FLATLANDS of Kansas. This blog is my musings most of which are about my quilting as are the blog's I follow. I'm not sure from your continued emails that you are familiar with blogging or the site that hosts my blog. It is not Yahoo therefore they would have no power whatsoever to delete my account nor have I in any form violated the terms of the user agreement. I'm sorry that you mistook my blog for something it is not, but that is in no way my fault. Your emails and the tone in which they were written amused me and I chose to share them with my readers. Those words, once delivered to my inbox, are in fact my property. Had you not wanted them displayed, they should have never been written. I have decided to respond directly to you this time as you seemed to not be informed of this and I wanted to correct this mis-perception. I will however be sharing my enjoyment with my faithful blog followers as I see fit. I will not poke undo harm at you. I will simply let your statements stand as written. Thank you. "


Now lets look into Mary's email shall we?

Go ahead and "not to notify Yahoo.com" babe, this is a google owned site and yahoo can't and I doubt will do anything about it.

"Using Fat Quarters in quiting and the quiting process" my question is the quiting of WHAT?

Why don't I talk about "Fat Quers" in my blog? ummm its not polite and I believe you've mis-spelled a word or two. I believe the politically correct term is Pudgy anyway...

Yes I "are even a quilter". And I'm an equal oportunity smart ass. I'll call anyone on their BS and I'd hope others would do that of me. As for making fun of you quilters, we're all in this boat together if'n we can't laugh at ourselves who the hell can we laugh at? Besides I have never poked fun or laughed at any of my quilting friends in order to cause un-do harm to them, you included.

Thank you for reading my previous posts and enjoying my finished quilt tops. Stay tuned I'll post more pictures of my finished work soon.

To all my followers, I thank you from the bottom of my stash bin. If you need, you may apply oxygen to help you breathe.


G

Terri over at Sew-Fantastic is celebrating her 1000th Etsy sale. Get over there and sign up... 8 winners in all!! Go Now!

Happy retirment Myrtle...

NOTICE: ANY AND ALL COMMENTS AND EMAILS SENT TO ME CAN AND POSSIBLY MIGHT BE USED IN FUTURE BLOG POSTS.

Tis I, the Flat Out Quilter back with some news. Myrtle, from WTF Myrtle fame has retired. Tis a sad day, but FEAR NOT! We have yet another installation of the Mary emails... And so WTF Mary is born!!!


Mary writes:

"Why did you post my message to you on your blog? My comments were not meant to be shared by the public. I'm beginning to dislike you, and thus will not return to your blog."

Well, well, well. WTF Mary? Thank you for taking the time to write me again. I see you're a reader of MY blog but not yet a public follower. I write my blog for MY enjoyment first, then for those who choose to follow what I have to say. If YOU don't like it, you don't have to read it. But since you keep sending me comments via email, you must be reading what I have to say.

As for "beginning to dislike me", stand in line... I have a lot of people who down right HATE me and even a few who'd prefer to see me dead, so "beginning to dislike" means, at least in my book, you kinda sorta like me right?

End WTF Mary...


Todays snail mail brought me several (81 pieces in all) "hawaiian postcards" for my yet to be started Hawaiian Postcard quilt (catchy name ain't it?) Enjoy the eye candy. I got these from the about.com quilting forum postcard swap. The nice thing is, only 1 piece of all of these came from my original stack that I sent in.


I'll applogize now.. They ain't Fat Quarters, they measure 6 1/2" by 4 1/2 "

Tomorrow evening is our monthly guild meeting... I'm taking my camera and will post pics when we get home. I think you'll like some of the eye candy people bring.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow, where I'll use the term FAT QUARTER FRIDAY!!

Another WTF Myrtle moment

I've just returned from our local library. I returned the 2 books I had checked out and replaced them with 2 more. My wife and I are currently reading the Janet Evanovich By The Numbers series with a twist. We started at the last book and are reading them to the first. Those books are funny even without reading the series backwards. We'll start book 7 tonight and probably book six by Monday night.

On to my WTF Myrtle moment.... I just got back in front of my computer and found an interesting email waiting for me. This message from Mary, location possibly California (using the numbers in her email address as a ZIP code).

Mary writes:

"Hello. I found your blog today and must say I was disappointed. With a name like Flat Out Quilting, I thought you'd have information on Fat Quarters and what can be done with them. Maybe you could write about that instead of whoever Myrtle is. If you don't I guess I will not be returning to your blog."


WTF Myrtle? Fat Quarter... Flat Out Quilting... Fat.... Flat.... Yeesh... Okay maybe the "L" in flat cornfused her, I dunno. Maybe she thought it was FAT Out Quilting, some kinda weight loss while you quilt program.

Maybe I need to Psycho Sanitize again....

They arn't FAT... They're Pudgy!!!

My wife and I wandered over to Weston Mo. this afternoon in search of apples and peaches. Whats this got to do with quilting? Well hang on and I'll tell you. After we stopped for our apples and apple fritters (yummy!) we crossed the road to get our peaches. And before you ask, the apple pies are in the oven as I type this. On our way home I had a eureka moment and realized that Weston had a quilt shop we hadn't been to. So I dove off the highway and into town we went. Lemme tell you finding a parking spot on the main street on a Sunday afternoon is a great feat that if accomplished deserves a medal and a national holiday. But guess what? I found a spot across the street from the quilt shop (so in honor of my accomplishment take tomorrow off!!). Upon entering the store we were greeted by what I refer to as a "kick me" dog.. You know the type, the ones that are no bigger than a 2 liter bottle. Friendly lil' critter, and his/her (I didn't check to see if boy or girl) companion and his/her ball was ,okay I'll say it, CUTE!
We played ball for about 20 minutes before making our purchase and leaving the newly arriving customers to play ball. The Pigs In A Blanket Quilt Shop was a nice stop. Of course I didn't leave empty handed.. check out these "pudgy" finds..

My PIF is.... in the mail!

Thats right my followers, my end of the Pay It Forward has been well, forwarded. By the time most of you read this, my 3 PIF packages will be at the mercy of the USPS (and whatever the UK postal system is called). I'll tell you that this was a fun project to do. If you get a chance to be part of a PIF chain, list, group or whatever you call it, I say DO IT you will enjoy it!!!!

To my 3 PIF recieptiants here's a sneak peek as to what each of you will be receiving. I do hope you enjoy the goodies. Each one is a limited edition.



As soon as I hear that all packages have been received I'll post a pic of the items I sent so everyone can see what I sent out.

Got the Blues? Lee does and she wants to give them to you!!!

Lee over at Quilts By Lee is having a Give Away... You could be on the receiving end of 5 very nice blue fat quarters if you should win. Go check it out.

What I did in the waiting room

Greetings from my cell phone! I'm 45 miles away from my keyboard but still working on quilting ideas in a hospital waiting room. This was created using Raymond K. Houston's tile system. I call it basket weave.

We all love quilting...don't we?

And what better way to love quilting than with FREE STUFF! My new friends at We Love Quilting are having a surprise September Give Away... You can't win if you don't enter! Go Now....



Hey you what are you still reading this for click here for a chance at FREE STUFF.



By the time you finish reading this, you will have realized that "this says absolutely nothing important and I could have entered a Give Away contest by now..." click here NOW!