Happy Birthday to Me Giveaway!!!

Yup, today is the big day!  My birthday.  It's a special year...I am now eligible for Social Security.  Gosh, I remember once thinking that anyone this age was ancient!  Now, I'm thinking I have a lot of life yet to live!  

I mentioned in Friday's blog post something about having a giveaway...I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my special day than to give.  So, I looked around and found a few things that I think will appeal to you. 

Birthday 2014 Giveaway!

*1 jar (empty) Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves...with 1 fabric strawberry
*1 applique block...instructions and 4 fabric pieces included
*3 pieces of overdyed (by me) wool (5x28, 9x26, 10x12)
*4 green on green cloth napkins

To be in the drawing, please leave a comment on this blog post. Email me if you are not able to leave a comment (act_collies at yahoo dot com) and I will leave a comment on your behalf.  Please tell me if you are currently a follower of this blog.  

The drawing will take place at noon on Sunday, February 23, at which time the winner will be announced by edit to this blog post, and will also be contacted by email.  If you are a no-reply commenter, please be sure to include your email address in your comment.

  

OH!  I almost forgot...BONUS!  If I draw your name and you are already a follower of my blog, you will also receive this Stacey Nash pattern... 

Good luck!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Birthday Boy!

Today is Tag's 12th birthday!

He doesn't act his age, for sure.

More like a 2 year old.

Which is fine with me.

Happy Birthday, Tag E. Butt!!!

Love you beyond forever...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

3 Day Weekend...

This is a 3 day weekend for me, so I'm hoping to accomplish a lot!

First things first.  I must tell you about a package I received in the mail this week...a late birthday package.  From my almost birthday twin, Lindy.  I met her on a rug hooking forum several years ago.  Lindy blogs here.  Her birthday is the day before mine. 

I was absolutely stunned by what she sent...

'Border Music' by the author of 'Bridges of Madison County', pink grapefruit body lotion (yummy!), and fabric.  Yes, FABRIC!  She sent enough of the Curio by basicgrey for Moda fabric for me to make a lap-sized quilt top.  And, the pattern for it...kaleidoscope.  Here's what it will look like...

Isn't that absolutely gorgeous?  Lindy knows me well...this fabric is so me.  I cannot wait to get started...it absolutely is the next quilt in line.

I didn't take a photo of the cookbooks she sent...several specialized recipe books...catfish, fast simple meals, chocolate and others.  Definitely some must-try recipes there.  See those pocket pie molds?  We're going to try those out real soon.  {grin}

I've not been idle this past week.  I've been working on my blocks for the Poppy quilt.  (note to self:  please come up with a better name for it!)  I have 13 of the 21 Rubik blocks finished.  I am so pleased with how they're looking!  Here's one of them... 

I am sure that you're wondering how (knowing how un-random I can be) I decided on the layout of those 9 squares.  Cuz, you know, each of the 21 Rubik blocks will be different.  I'll tell you my secret...I numbered my fabric squares, then used finished sudoku puzzles to number the spaces.  Clever, hey?  {grin}  Also, there are 9 squares per block, but I have only 7 prints.  I thought about adding in some Kona solids or some of the olive green colorway Poppy fabric, but decided against it.  Instead, I am trying to find different areas of the same fabric to use.  Twice.  For example, the first square in each of rows 2 & 3 are the same fabric.  Hard to tell with them, isn't it.  Course, not all of the repeats in all of the blocks are as different as those, but I wasn't going to be OCD about it. 

Also.  The Rubik blocks have 4 different layouts...1 centered and 3 off-centered.  It's a very fun quilt top to put together.  

We got 5" of heavy, wet snow yesterday.  Looks much like my header photo...which was taken a few years ago.  Course, the temp will be in the 50's this next week, so the snow will be gone very soon. 

Have a great weekend, and please do let me know what you're up to.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Oh, Happy Day...and Giveaway!

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me...

Happy Birthday to me!

Guess what today is?

{grin}

I love my birthday.

Every one of them.

It's been a great day,

filled with food and gifts.

Yummy to everything!

I have the best coworkers.

And friends.

And, family!

Thank you, everyone.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now for the good stuff.

The giveaway stuff.

Here's what I am giving away...

Quilt - 19 inches square.
Jan Patek - The Pokeberry Quilt
Indygo Junction - My Folk Art Best
Figgy Pudding quilt pattern
Fifty 5" charm squares - creams/golds/greens

rustic bell hanger

Leave a comment in this post only.

Please be sure that I am able to email you

either through your profile or in your comment.

 I will draw a winner on Sunday night.

Good luck to you all!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11

Birthday Celebration!

Yesterday was Kaylynn's birthday party.

Julie and I had a lovely time in the company

of my sons and their families!

Kaylynn was crowned

Princess Kaylynn

and loved being the center of attention!

Here is what I was working on last week...

Not quite square, it measures about
19 x 20 inches after being laundered.

I used Kona solid in White

with scraps from the quilt I started

last summer for Kaylynn.

I guess I'll need to get that one finished!

Go here to see the Paris Park quilt top.

Princess Kaylynn loved her new doll quilt...

 It was a great day!

Hold Everything!!!

Today is Miss Princess Kaylynn Marie's 6th birthday!

Happy Birthday!

I love you more!

Doesn't seem that six years could have gone by already...

 

 

 

Her birthday party is Saturday.  Can't wait to spend a bit of time with her.  But, guess what?  I don't have a gift!  Yet.  I was going to make doll clothes.  But, I changed my mind because I had a better idea.  Better for me, anyway.  {grin}  I started on it tonight.  It's a fun little project...not necessarily a very original idea, though.  Best part of it is, I get to use leftover fabric from something I started for her last year.  You'll see it in a few days, so that's all I'm going to say about it right now.

I apologize in advance to those of you who are waiting for me to finish something.  Life interferes in all of our best intentions.  As does that day job of mine.  I will be back at it in a few days and will crank things out.  Promise.

  

Allegra

Yesterday would have been Allegra's 13th birthday.  She died almost 18 months ago.  Gosh, how I miss her still.  I can now finally talk about her without a catch in my voice...without tears...most of the time, anyway.  As a tribute to Allegra, I am repeating the verse I wrote and posted over a year ago because it holds true to this day.  If you'd like, you may read that post in its entirety here.

Without You

My breaths are filled with sadness.
My pillows are tear-soaked.
The house seems so much larger.
The days so much more quiet.

There is a huge hole in my heart.
An emptiness that cannot be filled.

It's as if part of me went with you. 
Because...
I feel no nudges from your petite collie nose.

I see no expectant looks or wagging tail.

I hear no welcome home bark, no story of your day.
I have no tiny feet to trim, no beautiful long coat to groom.
I miss your warm body across my feet as I awaken.

The sun no longer shines just for you.

Oh, how I miss you, my baby girl, my Princess, my woo-woo girl. 

Nine Years Old!!!!

Oh, gosh...hard to believe!

Especially since he acts like he's two years old.

Yup, Tag E. Butt is 9 years old today.  

Then...

Now...

I love him so.

He has always been my laughter.  

Happy Birthday, brown dog!

(Check out those browns on Tag...making him look like two completely different dogs!   He's really the same brown as he's always been, except now has some white mixed in.  The brown color has not changed or lightened up.  Browns are hard to get accurate and with different cameras, different backgrounds, different lighting...they all are different!  The most accurate color of Tag is the photo of him on my sidebar.  Just sayin'.)  

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday.  He would have been 83 years old.  I say 'would have', because he died when he was 51.  He died 32 years ago.  That's a really long time ago...a long time to be without a Dad.  To say that I miss him...well, that doesn't even begin to describe what I feel.  I miss him for what I have missed out on.  I miss him for what he has missed out on.  I miss him for how our lives changed...for what we didn't have.  Dad.  Grandpa. 

I had the first boys in the family.  My dad was so excited that he had grandsons!  Matt and Paul were 1 & 3 when their Grandpa died.  I think of what they missed by not having him in their lives as they grew up.  The relationship they would have had with him.  The balls they would have thrown and the football games they would have watched.  The fish they would have caught.  The building/fixing things they would have done together.  The influence.  The 'guy' jokes between them.  Ya know...guy things.

I was 26 when I no longer had a Dad.  It was really tough.  We used to argue a lot.  True.  He would argue with me.  From the time I was a toddler...instead of just laying down the law (or whatever), he would argue with me about whatever it was I wanted or didn't want to do.  That never changed.    

Dad took us fishing on Saturday mornings...back when we girls were young.  I loved it when it was just the two of us.  We'd get up before the crack of dawn and get on the road.  Sitting in the boat with my dad was heaven on earth.  I LOVED fishing with him.  Just cuz.  

This is one of my favorite photos of my Dad and I.  Because it was a big day in my life, (though that life is no longer mine).  Look at our smiles to each other...I'm so happy that the moment was caught on camera.

 There is so much more that I could say, but I cannot.  Just that I sure wish my Dad was still here with us.

Sew...Snow Day!

It is snowing like crazy and the roads are slicker than you know what.  Glass hills are not fun to drive over.  So, I am home.  What shall I do?  huh...got me!  {grin}

I have declared this a SEW day!

This next part is kinda wordy.  But, so worth the few minutes it'll take you to read it.  

Tag had a lovely birthday...thank you for all your comments and well-wishes.  A little story for you...last week, Heidi (coworker) brought in the most delish peanut butter cookies for us all to gorge ourselves on.  And, we did.  Yummy.  They're so not on my list of foods, but...what can I say?  Peanut Butter Cookies!!!  

So.  I said to Heidi, "Heidi, Tag's birthday is on Monday and I'm wondering if you would bake some peanut butter cookies for him."  She looked at me like I was nuts, and I thought she would say something like, "are you nuts?"  Instead, she said, "Jacque, do you know how busy I am this weekend?  We're going to a Super Bowl party and I have to make a dip.  Plus...blah, blah, blah."  Just so ya know, she didn't really say 'blah, blah, blah', but what she really said isn't relevant to my story.  I told her that I thought she could bake the pb cookies while she was doing everything else.  So, we kinda left it there.  Well, yesterday was Monday...Tag's birthday...guess what Heidi brought to work?  (I tell ya...my coworkers are so fun!)  Yup...peanut butter cookies just for Tag!  A couple dozen!  Nothing in them that he cannot have, right?  I did take them around and shared them with the others...a treat to celebrate Tag's birthday.  ha!  I ended up with about a dozen to bring home.  Now, remember, these are for Tag.  Not me!  Though, gotta tell ya, Tag loves to share with his mama.  I've had about 4 so far...but so has he.

Here is a photo of Tag about to enjoy a peanut butter cookie.  Please note.  It took me at least 5 minutes to get this shot...gotta get the pose with the dog in a down position, with his head down, with a delicious-smelling cookie close to him.  Tag has always been very good at 'leave it'.  I think, though, that he thought I was never going to let him have the cookie.  But, I did.  Tried to get a photo of him eating it, but his big head got in the way.  

Anyway.  Here's what I got...

That's it for now...I have some heart day quilty things to make, so I best get sewing! 

Hope you have a great day!

Happy Birthday, Tag!!!

Today is Tag's birthday...

8 on the 8th!

woohoo!

Hard to believe he is 8...

he still acts 2.

{grin}

33 years ago...

Paul Gary was born. 

 

Happy Birthday, Paul!