Polka Dots and Rick Rack Gift and a bit of sewing

Hi there, blogland! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving is wonderful because it reminds us all of the blessings in our lives. I am just so blessed by family and friends that I could do a whole post about it, but instead I am going to write about a blessing I received in the mail from my polka dots and rick rack partner, Susan. Look at all of these great polka dotty goodies!

Isn't Susan just too sweet? You all know how I love aprons, LOVE THEM! Isn't that just the cutest apron? And check out the pin, isn't that a great idea?

It is too cute. I have already been prancing around the house in it. Thanks so much, Susan! It was such a fun swap. Susan's family is in need of some mighty prayer warrior's and I know some of you are up to the task, so please head on over to her blog. I certainly wish healing for her husband and comfort to them both.

I did a bit of shopping this weekend, did you? Nuts, I tell you. I am officially DONE with my Christmas shopping. Hark, I hear a choir in the background! I also finished the binding on my mom's quilt she made in August. She has been really busy lately, so I figured I would just finish it. We also made a dozen cookie mix jars. Someone in a previous post asked what recipe I was using. We made 6 M & M bar cookie jars and 6 sand brownie jars both out of a cookbook I own.

I have not been doing much sewing. I guess I am in a bit of a rut. I have lots of projects started and none to really report on except for these tissue holders I made for my girlfriend's purses.

Aren't they cute? On my to do list: 3 charm bags for buddy's teachers, 2 more sets of holiday towels, finish my Christmas quilt and send it off to the quilter, 2 different kinds of bags for myself, sash my cottages together, and finish my NYB. It is a long list, this is why I am in a rut I think. Realistically I would like done before Christmas the 2 towel sets, the 3 bags, and perhaps one for myself. I can work on my quilt over break, and the rest can wait.

On a closing note, a few posts ago someone left me a message about my swimming monkeys quilt (Just monkeying Around) and wondered what pattern I used. However, this person didn't leave me anyway to contact them! If you are still out there reader, you should know that it was a pattern from PS I Love You and I bought the book at JoAnns.

Speaking of handmade gifts. . .

Check out these nice hand knitted mittens I received from my friend, Judy. They are so snuggly warm! What a nice (and early) Christmas present. Our weather has recently changed to quite chilly (30's), so this is just in the nick of time! Plus, it's snowing here today!

I enjoyed reading everyone's favorite handmade presents stories so much, I thought I would share mine. Coincidently this was also made by my friend, Judy. It is an adorable sunflower wall hanging I asked for when I was just a teenager. I have used it every year since.

I am sure you are wondering who won the drawing? Buddy did the drawing honors and pulled out Cheryl's name! Cheryl, if you would email me your address, I will get that sent out. I am sure in the year to come there will be more giveaways, so keep checking back!

Quilt Giveaways Galore

Wow, so many generous quilters out there. It makes a girl happy to post about it, it truly does. Ladies, there are lots of great giveaways out there right now and you should check them out. First of all, Dana is having another crazy quilt giveaway. Everytime I think this gal has gone nuts giving away one of her gorgeous quilts to some stranger, she goes and out does herself! This time she is not giving away one quilt, but 3! She had some help from some generous friends and quilters this time. So, what are you waiting for? Go enter! A big thanks to Dana and all of her quilting elves.



Secondly, Camille over at Simplify is giving away a quilt of YOUR choice. I know, I cannot believe it either. You choose your favorite Thimble Blossoms pattern and she'll make it (most likely in her fabulous Cotton Blossoms fabric line). So, head on over here to enter. A big thanks to Camille for her generosity.

I know I kept teasing about a giveaway and I think technically this should be the entry. Sighh....I have been a bit overwhelmed trying to get Christmas projects done and I know you can all relate to that. I will finish up the project and it will be GIVEAWAY time, I promise.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

Sorry bloggers, I have been gone for awhile. I have been busy (as I have read so have many of you) working on Christmas projects. TOWELS, TOWELS, TOWELS. . .to be exact. While I was visiting my folks, I was busy whipping up lots of these.

Mom helped some, but a lot of it was a one gal show. She kept the 4 she worked on and these are the rest of the lot. I think I am sending the bathroom hand towels to some friends. The kitchen towels I am dividing up and giving one towel with a homemade cookie mix jar to buddy's daycare workers. I think that should make a nice gift together.


Thanks for all of the buddy love. He had a great Halloween. I think we have enough candy for the year! He did get a lot of compliments on his chaps. He is just one cute, buckaroo!