What a Christmas This Is!

Wow! It's all ready been an absolutely amazing Christmas for me! The kids got me the WII to begin with and my brother gave me a Pfaff Quilting Machine and Frame! I'm so excited, I'm just climbing the walls. lol We're doing a lot of rearranging and hauling off in the garage so we can put the frame up out there. In the meantime, I have the machine in the house and will play with it for a while. It's going to be after Christmas before we have the garage cleared to set up the frame, which is ok. I can't wait to get started! I can't post any pictures right now because my computer hook up is goofy and I can't connect the camera to it. Maybe I'll have that fixed in time to take pic's of the set up as we go along:)
Hope everyone has a very very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!

An Early Christmas Gift

Wow did I get a surprise the other day. I've been wanting a WII for quite some time now, but really just couldn't justify the cost. Well guess what? My kids surprised me with an early Christmas Gift, it was a WII with about 4 different games. Of course my grandson and I had to go shopping at the game store to find a GOOD fishing game for Grandpa! lol OMG I've never seen anything like it! It's like a video store only all games! New games, old games, games you can rent, you can turn in your old games you don't use anymore and get credit towards new ones. I was so overwhelmed. I had no idea what all was in one of those places. I HAVE no idea how the majority of them even work yet alone how to play them. We did have a small fishing game that my son rented and I caught a couple of fish! lol Had a great time with it. So can't wait to get Bert on it at Christmas! lol What a wonderful surprise they gave me! Boy do I have a lot to learn but have some great teachers to learn from:)

Teapots and Tea Cozies added to Etsy

Here's a three of the Teapots and Cozy, as well as one of the Teapot Cozies I just got listed on my Etsy. I've had them ready to go on there for several days but have had trouble downloading any pic's on Etsy and on my blog. Go take a look there's 7 teapots with matching cozies and 3 cozies.

New Items Added To Etsy

I just added 7 Pincushion Sewing Bags to my Etsy but only showing a picture of one here. This is what I will be giving away on the "Pay It Forward" since winning the lovely pin holder from Jill. There are 5 different prints available and they each have their own mini needlecase, and happen to be one of the handiest items I own! I love mine, I even keep my magnifying glasses in it. So even though it looks small it holds a LOT.

Seam 2 with Button Cluster

This is the second seam, and the narrow one beside it. Plus I added the charm and the button cluster. I hope you like them all Meg:)

Seam 1

This is the first seam I did with the Chevron Stitch and the French Knot.

Seamy Side Round Robin-Megs Block

This is the Meg's block from The Seamy Side Round Robin in CQI. Her block is just gorgeous, the colors are so wonderful. Some of my favorites. I'll try and load the seams I did, but Blogger isn't really co-operating today.

New Header from Victoria Rose Cottage

Some of you may have noticed I have a new header here on my blog site. It is compliments of Victoria Rose Graphics who does absolutely gorgeous work. I wanted something a little more feminine and I've ordered tags from them, as well as business card backgrounds. I also have their CD Victorian Rose Cottage Designs that I use (with written permission) to make my Silkies for my Etsy. If you like Victorian, you'll LOVE them!

I'm now fortunate enough to be advertising with their Shopping 4 Home Decor . Go there and check it out, it's totally awesome. When you get there, click on Ebay & Etsy Shops, and I'll be there on the right hand side of the page when you begin to scroll down. There are so many places to visit! I think you can find just about anything you want among ALL the shops that are there, not just the Etsy & Ebay.

I have to tell you, if you've never been to their site or I should say sites, do go and visit! Talk about Eye Candy and Gifts galore!! The items they sell are top quality, beautiful and very desirable. They have broken their site down into sister sites to make it easier to access the different things they have and here's the listing.

Premiere Gift Website and Parent Company:

http://www.victoriarosecottage.com

http://www.victoriarosegraphics.com

http://www.victoriaroseprints.com

and opening soon Victoria Rose Tags

http://www.victoriarosetags.com

The blog address is:

http://www.victoriarosecottage.blogspot.com/

http://www.shabbylaneshops.com

There's also a button on my site for Victoria Rose Cottage, you can just click on that and it will take you to the parent site. Enjoy and be sure to go visit, it's sooo much fun!

Beautiful Pinkeeper from Jill

Isn't this just beautiful!!! I was the winner of Jill Phillip's Pay It Forward and won this gorgeous Pinkeeper. She also sent some lovely bridal lace and some adorable charms! I was so excited. This has been a day and a half for me. I received an early Birthday present from my Secret Pal and it was a Gift Certificate from Vintage Vogue! What another surprise that was. I ordered the A-Z Embroidery Book 2 and will post it when it gets here. What a day! Thank you both for making my day so amazing!
hugz:)
Candi

Annette Jeavons Postcard

Postcard for Kathy Tollefson

In Stitchin Fingers I belong to the Fabric Postcards Group and we're swapping Postcards. This one is for Kathy Tollefson, in MN and the next one goes to Annette Jeavons in UK. I hope you like them ladies:)

New CD's My Husband Bought ME

I have to tell you, I lost everything on my computer a week or so ago and all I did for a while was whine about it. lol I think Bert felt a little sorry for me because he knew I wanted these CD's and he ordered them for me. I love them!!! They're great addition to the one's I have. Now I can get crazy making silkies for my Etsy! lol

re: Kreative Blogger

Well, after posting all the addresses below with the names I nominated for Kreative Blogger I've discovered blogger is not letting them work:( Sooooooooo I'll have to come back later and try again. Anyway ladies, please know I think you're great!
hugz:)
Candi

Kreativ Blogger

I received a lovely surprise from Rengin of Rengin's Colors today and it is the Kreative Blogger Award. Thank you Rengin, what a wonderul surprise. If you hven't been to her blog, then definitely go visit to see some gorgeous Eye Candy!!


The rules for the Kreativ Blogger Awards are:

- the winner must put the logo on her blog;
- put the link to the person you received the award from;
- nominate 5 blogs;
- put links to the blogs;
- Leave messages to your nominees.

I'd like to nominte

Karrin

Norma

Ati

Gail

Fran

Be sure and visit these ladies, they're blogs are just great!

Fall - Halloween and Christmas Silkies

Hi all:) I just posted some new Fall, Halloween and Christmas (snowmen, tree's, Santa's and scene's) on my Etsy I'll be adding some Edwardian Ladies and some Vintage Ladies in the next day or so. I don't know about you, but I'm in the process of trying to get as many Christmas projects finished in the next two months that I can. As well as the one's I have yet to start!! lol

New Fantasy Fun Bags Went On Etsy Today

Hi all:) Just wanted to let you know a Halloween and a Fall Fantasy Fun Bag's went on my Etsy today. They're just great (even if I do say so myself lol) I love the fall colors anyway and Halloween is my second favorite holiday so these were really fun to put together. Susan is putting all but the Christmas Bags in storage as she's going to be "on the road again", so that's why these went on my Etsy rather than Susan's. Hope you stop by and check them out along with the other "stuff's" there:)

Redoing My Blog

As you can see by the header, I'm in the process of redoing my blog. ( Although I LOVE the colors and the print, want to try something new. Trust me I can't do it by myself,lol, so with the help of Susan Nixon we'll get this done here before too long. Please be patient with the weird way things will look for a bit. lol

Check out this fun giveaway from Retro Cafe

Retro Cafe is offering this digitalsheet giveaway and it is really cute. Go check it out!!

Bonnie's Finished Block

Here's the final addition to Bonnie's block and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out.

Bonnie's Block

I just finished the work on Bonnie's block. We're in a RR called the Seamy Side RR in CSI. I'm happy with the way it turned out I hope Bonnie is:) Her block is just lovely.

New Charms Added

I've just added some new charms to my Etsy and there are some really cute ones for your blocks. Go check them out. Here's a sample.

Added Some New Ribbons

I just added some new ribbons to my Etsy and I just love the colors! The Forest Green almost has a blue hue to it and the English Moss is like a soft gold/brown. All of them are mottled and I love that look. Soooo pretty. I can't wait to work with these. I'll be doing more this week sometime. Stop by and check them out.

Pincushion Bags on Etsy

I just got my newest additions added to my Etsy. They're about 6X6 inch Pincushion Bags.:) The bag opens up and sewn into the bottom of the bag is a pincushion and along the inside of the bag are small pockets where you can store your thread, thimble, etc. It also comes with a matching needlecase. I absolutely love mine. I'm finding it to be one of the most useful tools I have. Check them out:)

Gail has honored me with the Brilliant Weblog Award and I'm so surprised:) Gail has a heart of gold and is one of the most giving people I know. Thank you Gail. Now it's my turn to pass it on. I'd like first of all to give it to

Susan who has not only inspired me on my blog, but has been my right hand in learning how to do things on here. She's shown me also, that the blog is not only to share what you've done, but your thoughts and feelings about these things as well. Thank you Susan.

Thelma
who has given me so much encouragement, not only in my stitching but in my hand dyeing of fabrics and ribbon.

Ati
has always been so supportive of what I've learned since I started and her blog is always full of beautiful things she's done and working on. Always ready to share

Norma who is always there with a helping hand and gives me so much inspiration when I work. Thank you Norma

Pat Winter who has given me so much support in Etsy and shares so willingly in everything that she does. (I'm sure she's all ready been passed this award, but here it is again to a deserving lady.)

New Ribbons Up on My Etsy

I just put up quite a few new hand dyed ribbons on my Etsy the other day. There's I believe around 15 that I added, so check out my Etsy

The Horse Quilt Top Is Done:)

Whoo hoooo I finally got the horse quilt top done yesterday. I still don't understand why I haven't wanted to work on this one. lol It's not difficult or anything?? Oh well, now to get the back done for it and send it off to Gail:) Now to get started on some other things until it's time to do the binding on it.

Fabric Postcard Kits

Here are the pic's of those I have on my Etsy that I've done up. Of course you can do them any way you'd like:) The kit is complete with everything you need to make a postcard, from the muslin to do the cq'ing on to the pre-printed postcard backing. They're fun and not at all difficult. So check them out at my etsy :) I almost forgot! The threads I've included are the wonderful Sassa Lynne's on some of them. Susan carries them over on Desert Sky and if you haven't tried them, you're missing some good stuff:)

A Job That's Hard To Get Into

Have you ever had something you HAD to do but just couldn't get yourself into the mood to do it, now matter how hard you try??? That's what this one is for me. It took forever to find the right horse fabric to start, then it took another forever to find fabric's that would even come close to matching the colors of the horses. The yellow looking strips I'm not happy with, but they'll work in the long run. So now I need to get back to it and quit complaining! lol I guess we all run into a job that's hard to get into but has to be done anyway:)

100 Details in 200 Days

This is the first day in our
This is the first seam of stitching I've done in our 100 Details in 200 Days,(which is from Sharon Boggons 100 Details in 100 Days) in my Stitchin Fingers Group. I'm not real happy with it, but it'll do for now:) I have the second day to start on now:) I think I'm really going to learn a lot.

Look What I Got:)

Karrin Hurd that I'm on a few groups together with, also happens to live about 3 blocks from me. Karrin and I try to go to lunch once in a while and get together to do some stitching. Yesterday we went to lunch and she surprised me with this beautiful package of pink goodies. The earrings that came in it to use on CQ are just gorgeous! There's two different ribbons with pink and green, the beautiful embroidered hanky with the all that lovely variegated trim! Also some green shell buttons and some pink ones. They're going to be fun to work with to make a flower on my next CQ. Thank you Karrin, I absolutely love them all!:)

6 Part Color Wheel

Whooo hoooo I got my 6 Part Color Wheel, that's due next month, done over the week end. Feels good to be ahead of the game for a change and not playing catch up with everything. lol

My Make Orange

I belong to a fabric dyeing group called Dye Hard Run Off and I'm having so much fun learning how to dye fabric's. This is the Make Orange run and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I expected everything to come out a bright orange or something, but they're not. They gradually turn to that awesome orange shade and of course the first (red) and last (golden yellow) are the pure colors. It just amazes me at the way things come out. Having to wait for them to batch is like pulling teeth! lol I feel like a kid in a candy store, I can't decide what color to try next! lol

Susan's Block

This is Susan Nixon's block from a RR group we belong to. Everyone has done such gorgeous work on it and I know she's going to love it.:)

Needlecase Swap

This is the beautiful needlecase I received from Karen Gardner, my swap sister for the Needlecase Swap. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous!! I love it and feel so blessed to have been put together with such a wonderful lady:)

I've been Tagged by Gail

I have been tagged by GAil for this little game.

How it works: Scattergories: It's harder than it looks! Erase my answers, enter yours, tag 10 people, post it on your blog, then notify them, including the person who tagged you.

"Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things.....nothing made up!

Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial.

You cannot use your name for the boy/girl name question"

Ok, let's begin:

What is your name: Candi
Four letter word: card
Vehicle: Camero
TV Show: CSI
City: Concord
Boy's Name: Carl
Girl's Name: Carole
Occupation: Criminologist
Something You Wear: cap
Food: carrots
Something Found in a Bathroom: cleanser
Reason for Being Late: cops
Something You Shout: crud!


Now who shall I tag......................?????

Kate
Norma
Thelma
Jeanne
Pat

Ok so its not 10, but 5 is better then none, right????

My Amaryllis is beginning to bloom

My favorite plants are beginning to bloom now. The Amaryllis on my back patio. I have two huge pots of them. This one is the younger of the two, I've only had it for about 3 years and it's blooming firt. My other one has gotten quite old, I think:) lol It belonged to my sister for I believer 12 or 13 years, she in turn gave it to our mother because it wouldn't bloom for her. (She lives up in the mountains). I believe mother had it for almost that long and since Mom passed I've had it which has been 6 years. Maybe my sister will read this and post so we'll know for sure. OR I could email her. . . what a concept! lol They're sooooooooooo gorgeous in bloom though. The others should all be out in the next week or two. I'll post a picture of the grandma Amaryllis when it blooms. One year the blooms were actually almost 12inches across! The were huge!!

Victoria Rose Cottage

I've been working on getting a license from Victoria Rose Cottage to reprint their roses on silkies to sell on my Etsy. Well I now have the express written permission of Victoria Rose Graphics to do so!!! Whooo hooo!!! I can't wait. They have some of the most incredibly gorgeous roses I've ever seen. You'll soon see them on my Etsy along with lots of other new goodies. Hand dyed ribbon, hand dyed fabrics (slowly, lol) and the beautiful beautiful silkies:)

Ati Opens Her Etsy Today

My good friend Ati from Norway has opened her Etsy Shop today. She has just begun to put her items up but her first one there is a beautiful, beautiful wool postcard. Ati does absolutely gorgeous work so go check out her Etsy and enjoy!:)

Gifts from Gail

A few days ago I received a surprise package in the mail from Gail Odegaard, and what a surprise it was! She gifted me her tag that she made in one of our other groups and it's gorgeous!!! The picture does not do the work on the tag justice. It now has a special place on the picture frame of my mothers poem "Quilts and Friends". Along with the Tag she sent me a Dream Pillow filled with lavender! I've been going to make one for quite a while but just hadn't gone out to biu the lavender so you know how welcome the Dream Pillow is:) It's supposed to help you have restful sleep and pleasant dreams. So far so good, it's working:) Gail thank you soooooooo very very much. You're such a dear friend.