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!

Mama, Don't Let Your Baby Grow to be a Cowboy

My mama is busy tonight. I thought I'd do her blog for her.
I love these chaps my mama made me for Halloween. She loves that she used all my scraps from my quilt and it didn't cost a cent for my outfit. I guess that is alright by me, yessirreee.

I gotta practice my serious cowboy face. I have some outlaws to catch.

We have had a fun fall for playing outside. Look at this puddle I found. Good thing my mom uses Tide, that's what she said when I came inside.

These boots were made for stompin'.

Happy Halloween everyone. I sure hope you get lots of candy. Love, Lil' Buddy

The Cowboy Way

I stayed up later last night finishing the binding on buddy's quilt for his bed, a cowboy quilt. I love the Benartex vintage cowboy fabrics. They are so sweet and remind me of what every little boy's play should be. Anyway, when I finished I crept into bud's room and swapped the new quilt for the old. He stirred a bit so I whispered, "I finished your cowboy quilt and I just put it on your bed." He smiled. And then went right back to dreaming.

My quilter did an excellent job with the detials . . .covered wagons, cowboy boots, hat, long horns, and cactus. It looks fabulous.

I also finished this quick and easy fall quilt. My mom liked the sample in the quilt shop, so this is going to be a Christmas present for her. I have never been in love with panels, but have found myself purchasing two lately. They have some darling prints and kits out there right now. Has anyone else purchaed a panel lately? What are your plans with it, if you did?

Lucky Me

First of all, it has been a very busy week. I feel like crazy mama on the run! I just want to thank each of you for all the quilt love. I'm so lucky to have all of your great feedback, it keeps me sewing. A gal couldn't ask for better blog friends! You're right buddy was thrilled with his quilt. His friend came over to play the next day, and he took her right in, spread out his quilt, and told her to check out his new quilt his mama made. Of course, I heard this from the next room and I couldn't help but feel like I was the luckiest mama in the world. That little man is such a joy.

Speaking of luck, check out my loot I won over to Pat's blog Bits and Pieces!

She was participating in that huge Fall Blogger Giveaway that was so much fun. I was so excited to see the package on the kitchen counter when I arrived home today, that I almost knocked husband down on the way. Look out when there's loot, that's all I will say about that. The truffles are so yummy. There is a cute table runner kit, some Halloween fat quarters (yessiree!), some Best Press (I love that stuff), and a real cute little decoration for Halloween. I think the DQ photographer forgot that someone already put that in a display around the house. You'll have to trust me, it was just cute. Thanks so much, Pat, for the generous giveaway!

Speaking of giveaways. . .This marks blog number 96, only 4 more until my 100th blog-i-versary. So, keep checking back in and I'd best get sewing on my little giftie that I am going to giveaway!