My Turn!!

EDIT
THE WINNER IS
#68 EVELYN
An email is on the way.
Congratulations!!!

Yes, it is now my turn to talk about the
Beam N Read Hands Free Light

Thank you to Kelly for allowing me to be part of this Blog Hop, and thank you to Bob, for sending me this amazing light for my personal enjoyment.Wow, I love this light! I suffer from macular degeneration and as you might know, that means we need a lot of light to help us in our daily routine.

It has 6 LED lights, two filters, a magnifying lens and a strap for your neck that is adjustable so it can be set to your desired distance. It does not put forth any heat, unlike other lights that can make it too warm to work. Which is wonderful in the warmer weather.

As I am tying this post I have my light on to illuminate the keyboard.
(No flash used)

I also love to use it when I am doing hand work, whether it is quilting, sewing,
knitting or any other type of craft.

Travel, perfect to use in the car, plane and wonderful for hotel rooms that are frequently low on lighting.

Do you have a kindle? I do and the only part that I do not care for on my kindle is that it does not have a back light. Problem solved and your loved one will not complain and say “Go to bed and turn off the light!”

Another use, a flashlight!! Last week we had a terrible thunderstorm. As I ran into the basement I thought, candles? no, where is that flashlight?, no, I grabbed my Beam N Read and yes, the electricity went out and this baby lit up the whole room. (No flash used)

What a wonderful way to check on your sleeping children without disturbing their slumber.
This is one “tool” you will be delighted to own. It will surly light up your life!
So, thank you again to Bob from Beam N Read for being so generous and to Kelly for hosting this Blog Hop.
Here is your chance to win one of your very own.
Or if you just cannot wait, you can purchase yours here.

To enter the giveaway.

1. Must be a follower of my blog.. Let me know how this will light your way.
2. Must be a follower of IHAN.
That’s it!!
Good luck, winner from my blog will be announced July 1st.
Winner will be responsible for shipping costs.
I hope you have a bright day!

The Economy Hits Again…

It is sad but another of our local quilt shops had to close their doors. The shop was Tammy Tadd Designs. She designs patters and has written books. I was lucky enough to live close to her store. But alas that stinky old economy reared its ugly head. Her doors are closing and everything; I mean everything in the store was for sale.
So, my friend Elaine and I headed out to hit the store when the doors opened. I did not expect to see such a crowd boy was I wrong.
I only had one thought on my mind, one thing I just HAD TO HAVE; when you made a purchase at her store you were allowed to grab a pink or green charm square as a thank you. Now, would those be for sale? I sooo wanted those.
It was wall to wall people. We decided not to wait in line for cut fabrics so I picked up a few things then got in line.
Lo and behold right there on the counter was a tray of the 5 X 5 squares. I said to my friend, “See, that is what I want. I wonder if they are for sale?” The two ladies in front of us head me, when the first lady went to check out she asked the clerk if they were for sale.
I have no idea what came over me, but in the ever most sweetest voice I could speak, I said,”Oh no, don’t you dare”. Yep right out of my mouth!! Me, yikes! She looked at me and said ”Oh, I was just asking for you”. She then proceeded to take her free ones and more on, really I tried to be kind, but the green eyed monster just came out from nowhere. The next lady knew better and did not say a word!
Finally mine turn, “Are these for sale?”, I asked. “Hmm, you would have to ask Tammy”, she said.” Well, I would hate to get out of line, could we just shout to her?” She asked, she looked, and she said $5.00!!

Mine all mine!!!

Yes the little green eyed monster won this time.
Look, I even got the tray……

I also picked up this darling suitcase set for $4.00

And some fabrics for 6.25 each!!

We had yet to get any cut fabric.
We went to breakfast and then returned and hour later to purchase fabric. The line wrapped around the store!! We would have to wait hours to get fabric cut and then paid for, no, went home, maybe we will come back other day.
After all we both got some great deals!!!

What I have been up to.....

Wow, I really did not want to take a break from blogging, but my computer had other thoughts! She is in the shop trying to get better as I try to blog from our family computer. Really, it is not too easy, I go to click and the item I want to click is not there!! So, I have made new folders and added new favorites so maybe I can maneuver!
BUT…
This is what I have been doing!
My Row House Wall-Hanging is complete! Sorry to go on about this, but I love this and quite pleased I was able to accomplish this project. Much gratitude goes to my friend for cutting the pieces and attaching the binding.

I also worked on my strawberry basket stitchery. I am not sure how to quilt her? Maybe diagonal lines? But do I stitch through the embroidery? I would be grateful for any ideas. Thank you!

Happy Sewing!

This and That....

I just love summer! It is my favorite time of the year. I do not mind the heat and loath AC. I have been reading this book for some great tips on keeping cool! LOL!!



I love the long days, softball games, swimming, walks in the evening and of course some sewing.
My FAVORITE Holiday is right around the corner. I adore the Fourth of July (even more than Christmas, shocking I know).

I did get a bit of sewing done.

I finished these wonky stars for my Wonky Bee. We were sent Sherbet Pips, LOVE this fabric.



Thank you for your help in picking fabrics to go with my strawberry stitchery. I have decided to make it very scrappy and use 2 ½ inch squares placed in a random order with the basket as the center “star”. So today I started to cut fabrics, some of which are from Glenna Haileyl’s line “Rise and Shine” I love the 40’s feel of her fabric! She also has a fun blog! Take a peek.



Well, that’s it for today.
I wish a wonderful weekend to you and your family and the Dad.s Grandfathers, Uncles, and men in your life!

Low Key...

Ahhh Summer, We had a low key weekend. Any sewing that was done revolved around softball.

On Friday a friend and I started the Civil War Blocks from Barbara Brackman’s Blog .
We were able to complete three in no particular order.



Cut some squares for a “bee” friend.



And made some angel blocks for another bee.





BUT,

I did start to quilt my Zig Zag quilt. It is so much fun using the finca floss.

Did you watch the Tony Awards? I did not know “Harry Potter” could sing and dance!!

Hope you had a nice weekend!

Zig-Zag Progess

Thank you to everyone who left comments and came to visit me at

Sew We Quilt@Stash Manicure.

It was so much fun!

The winner of the scraps is

"The One and Only"

Congratulations!

Moving on…….

Yes I have shown this picture before but here she is again!



I just could not decide on a border so I have decided to try a different quilting method.
I have no idea what it is called, so I will just say the…

Big Stitch “Stitch”

I took my marker and marked lines ¼ of an inch from the zig- zags.



Next, I will pin all the layers. (How do you like that fancy bowl of pins)!



When she is all marked and pinned, I will start to do the big Stitch “Stitch” using my

finca threads.



I am very excited to start to work on this, but
Alas pinning to me, is just the worst job of all!!! So I may be awhile!

I am so excited!!!!!

Look for me today at Sew We Quilt@Stash Manicure

A Little Stitching.......

This weekend........
besides it being super hot...
DD1 Birthday.......
Softball games in the heat....
brother visiting from Texas.....
board games with siblings, family and nieces....

I did a little stitching!

I finished my Birdie Block for May. I decided not to stitch the last two flowers; good thing the pencil will wash out!!



And NOW!!

I am going to start my quilt shop!!!



Well of course I am going to use my Presencia Perle Finca Floss (On sale)!!!



Have a great Day!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday!!
(Family post feel free to stop here)

Let the celebration begin!! Our oldest daughter turns 30 today!
Last year I wrote a post all about how our DD1 arrived.(Post Here).

SO…
Today I would just like to say...
We love you.
We are so proud of you.
What a wonderful, daughter,
sister,






wife and mother you are!!

How blessed are we.
We love you sweetie, Happy Birthday xxxoooxo


Now I guess because you are 30, I cannot be 29 any more!! Oh nuts!!!

Memories….

Sometimes I am struck by a smell, yes a smell that brings back my childhood.
When I was a little girl we lived in Chicago, in a two flat, popular in the “50’s”. We had a basement, the first level was our two bedroom home and my Grandmother lived upstairs in her two bedroom home.
Our backyard had plum trees and lilac bushes. My mother would make plum jelly every year and in May she would bring armloads of fresh lilacs into our home. The smell was pure Heaven.

Nope not our yard!!!
Later we all moved to where I still live now and when my husband and I built our home my parent bought us 10 lilac bushes to line our back yard. We have lived in this home for 25 years and you would think they would be huge and full of blooms, but alas, no, our back yard is a northern exposure and we have woods, do the pesky 100+ year old oak trees they provide to much shade for our bushes to flourish.

But to this day I adore that smell and the memories it brings.

Nope not our blooms!

One more special “smell” from my childhood…
Jergens lotion, the original scent. 

Oh my how I love this smell and how it takes me back to simpler times……

Yes I did get something done at my machine!!
My June block for the Bee There or Bee Square Bee.

Any wonderful, warm, happy "Memory" smells for you to share?

Auditions….

I am auditioning fabrics that I think might work with my strawberry basket stitchery table topper.

So, I have some fabrics pulled ,but not sure how I want to use them....

Option One

Option Two

Option Three

Here was the inspirational Card…






You can find the sketch here……

And please take a peek at Rebecca Barker’s site Quiltscapes. Her work is truly amazing!!

Any thoughts on what I should do??