Dear Jane Siggy Swap 2010

Yes, it is that time of year again, and Yes I signed up again!!!!

Even after I said I wasn't going to until I got all my siggy swap

quilts together (No laughing or snickering Rosa).  I just couldn't help myself.

There were so many "newbies" and quite honestly not very many "oldbies".

Now what fun would it have been if only 30-40 people signed up????

So I did my part and signed up...ended up with 67 people signing up. 

So my siggys are sewn, signed, heat set, packaged, & mailed:)

As a matter of fact, debgiggles has probably received them by now.

So here is a sneak peek of mine...

I went through my fabrics this year and used up left over Fat Quarters to make the siggys:)  And of course in keeping with tradition there is one

"Special Siggy" :)  The person who recieves it will win a special little giftee, when they let me know that they have it *grin*  Here is a peek at the Special Siggy:

  Looking forward to this years swap, hope everyone else is too!!!

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

2nd "Good Eggs" Prize Arrives :)

These are all the goodies that I received from Kaye at "Nana B follows Nana T".  She was also a Giver from the "Good Eggs Give Away.  My number was drawn, and my wonderful package arrived this week:)  There is one item that doesn't show up well in the picture...it is a threaded needle, no explanation, but I think it is to remind me to "keep on sewing" or "get busy on the next project".  (LOL)
On second thought, maybe it is a reminder that I have many projects I need to finish *grin*  Thank you very much Kaye, you are most definately a "Very Good Egg"  OH!!!  I hate to admit this, but see that little travel sewing kit...as much sewing as I do and I did not have one of those, BUT I do now!!!!! And it is safely tucked away in my purse:)

Hugs & Blessings to All.  And I hope everyone gets to sews a few stitches today:)
Terry

New Siggies :)

More new siggies have arrived in the past week:)

They are all so very very pretty...so I am once

again sharing pictures of them:)

               This lovely one is from Dorine in the Nederland.  She wrote that she used the "Fleur de Lis", French lilly, because her town is Lelystad.

This little beauty is from Eva in Hessen, Germany.

She belongs to a patchwork group, and I believe she has been quilting for about 15 years.  Love the little appliqued hexagon in the center.

This wonderful little kitty came from Carolyn in Iowa:)  Absolutely adore the calico kitty...too cute.  Oops the cat lover is showing again, hehehe.

And last, but certainly not least is this beautiful one from Alessandra in Italy.  She lives about an hour and half from Venice, in a small village in the country.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my newest siggies. 

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

TOO CUTE

As most of you know I am a cat lover:)

Well I am doing my best to

convert my grandchildren into cat lovers too:)

This is one of my Grandsons with

Mr. Sassy.  Out for the night !!!

Notice the cat has the pillow... (LOL)

And here is one of granddaughters with Samson.

Samson is my kitty.  My 22 pound sewing buddy kitty:)

And in this picture the cat has the blanket!!!

Ummmmm, I'm thinking my conversion plans are working:)

Too cute, not to share:)

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

April Secret Pal Gifts:)

My Dear Secret Pal some how knows me very, very well???

Her gifts are always things that I would pick out for myself...

truly amazing to me!!!

This month I received a wonderful Easter kitchen towel, lovely dish rags, one of which a friend of hers crocheted, a tea infusion strawberry and a tin of Jasmine Green Tea.

The cute little notepad, felt Easter Basket and of course some Easter chocolate...

ummmm, there was actually a few more pieces of chocolate, but they didn't quite make it to the picture *grin*   Can't wait to find out who this year's Pal is????  Thank you so very much for everything:)

Hugs, Prayers & Blessings

Terry

Good Egg Give Away Prize Arrives!!!!

My wonderful prize arrived, that I won at Gene Black's Blog:)  He was one of the "Good Eggs" that participated in that great Easter Blog Hop.  Gene is quite an artist as well as quilter:)

So as promised here is the prize package:

He contacted me after reading my blog, and offered to make me a siggy for my collection, too:)  Very nice of him.  You can see a better picture of the siggy in my next post.  Gene, Thank you so very much for the prizes and the for the wonderful siggy.

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

Super Siggy Week:)

Unbelievable Siggy Week!!!!!

I received all these siggys in the last week:)

I was amazed when all these siggys started arrriving over the past week...but aren't they all so beautiful:)

Everyone on the International List is responding so quickly.

My official siggy count is now 52.

Oh I have one more...My dear Sister-in-law gave me 2, because I couldn't make up my mind which one I liked best (LOL)

I guessI better get busy sewing up some more little siggy

darlings to get mailed

this month:) 

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry 

Snoopy Doing the Happy Dance, Here :)

You know what this means, Right???

Snoopy is Happy Dancing...

That means I won something:)

Yes, I won a gift package from Gene over at his blog http://artbygene.blogspot.com/

He was one of the "Good Eggs" that hosted a give away for the

Good Eggs Give Away:)

When my gift arrives I will be blogging it, until then, hop over to

Gene's blog and check out all his wonderful talent.  I love his

story about who inspired his quilting.

Hugs & Blessings,
Terry

Jelly Roll Block #3

Here is this week's Jelly Roll block from Moose on the Porch.  These blocks are so easy and quick to put together, I'm lovin' them.

Back to the sewing room, still have a Dear Jane block and triangle to work on :)

Hugs & Blessings,
Terry

Next UFO Up...

This is the next UFO I will be putting on the front burner, so to speak ;)

This little baby will be a wall hanging.  It was made last year, one of the many 2009 BOMs I did.  Just so happens this one got finished (LOL).

Don't worry this one will be quilted, not tied!!!  *grin*

Hopefully this will be my April UFO Finish.

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

UFO Finish for March!!!!

I showed you this project a few weeks ago, well it is finished:)  This quilt is made up of siggies from the Dear Jane alternate group.  Back in 2008 we had a Birthday Siggy exchange.  I was lucky enough to end up with 90 Birthday Siggies wishing me "Happy Birthday.

Since my Birthday is in February, I chose the amethyst color fabric to make the 9 patch alternate blocks.  I also used a lavender pearle cotton to tie this quilt off.  I love tying quilts off...guess that is because my grandmother always tied her quilts.  Don't get me wrong, I love hand and machine quilting too, and some quilts just "have to" be hand or machine quilted, but others say, "It's Okay, tie me off !"

Happy Quilting.  Hope you all have a blessed week, in whatever you choose to do:)

Hugs,

Terry

International Siggy Received

Isn't this one so very cute!!!

I love the kitty:)

This lovely siggy is from Mary Kruimer of the Netherlands.

She has been quilting for about 25 years.  Her embroidery work is beautiful.

The back of her siggy looks just as nice and neat as the front.

Thank you very much for the siggy, Mary.

Another Great Celebration GIVE AWAY!!!!

Okay here is the info on another GREAT GIVE AWAY...

It is a 1 year Birthday Celebration over at Kelly's.

http://ihaveanotion.blogspot.com/

She is giving something away everyday until April 15, 2010!

Yes, you read right, everyday something is given away :)

Now is that cool or what??? Get on over there and wish her "Happy Birthday"

and sign up.  Oh, she has lots of neat stuff to "look" at too:)

Good Eggs Giveaway!!!!

Yep, Yep, Yep... Today begins the "Good Eggs" Giveaway!!!

There are around 30, I think, blogs to visit and sign up for

AWESOME Giveaway Prizes!!!! 

So you better get to hoppin' cause, you only have until

Sunday, March 28, 2010 to make it to all the blogs!

Be sure to read each bloggers rules for entering

their giveaway, some are a little different than others:)

A BIG "Thank You" to Sandi, the mastermind behind this

"EGGSTRODINARY" Event:)  You can find the list of "GOOD EGGS" at

http://hoppingoodeggs.blogspot.com/

Too much fun and really, really fantasic prizes being offered out there...

Guess how I know....Yeppers, I've already been there, and signed up!!!!

So....What are you waiting for????

HOP TO IT

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along Block #2

This week we received directions for our second jelly roll block.

These are really very fun and easy to make :)

...So far, anyway.  Here is my Block #2

~*~Happy Quilting to All~*~

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

International Siggies Received

This week I was lucky enough to receive 2 International siggies :)

The first one from Erich S. from Austria.  This is the first Siggy that I have received from a male quilter.  He embroideried his initials on the center.  Pretty cool, huh?  Very nice Siggy too :)

The next siggy is from Ludy N. of The Netherlands.  Love her angel drawing.  She collects angels, so that is what she used for the center of her siggy.  Also a very pretty siggy :)

 Both siggies came with lovely letters.  The letters are just as enjoyable as the siggies :)
Many Thanks to both swappers :)

Hugs & Blessings,
Terry

March Secret Pal Gift Arrives :)

My wonderful Secret Pal is spoiling me to pieces and I'm loving every minute of it :)  Look at all the pretties... 4 beautiful springy Fat Quarters, an oh so lovely stationery set, like I've never seen before, and of course the chocolate.  And a wonderful note in the notecard :)  I really enjoy the notes and the gifts, Thank You so very much!!!

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

* I Won An Olympic Silver *

Yea, that title got your attention, didn't it?????  (LOL)

Well, I most certainly did win a Silver in the UFO-lympics over at the Real Women Quilt Group.  There was a challenge to see how many UFOs each of us could complete during the Winter Olympics.

The Silver Prize was 6 Fat Quarters,
you can see me doing the "Happy Dance" can't you???

Hugs & Blessings, Terry

Dear Jane Journey Continues...

Well, As I said in a post last week, it is

time to face the Triangles and Corners of the Dear Jane Quilt.

So this past weekend I made myself

"GET BUSY"

Here is my progress:

The above triangle is LS9 - Kiwi

I believe there are 52 pieced triangles in the Dear Jane quilt.

This is TR6 - Carla's Candle Flame

The triangles will form the border of the quilt.

The above block is a Kite or Corner for the quilt.

This one is BLC - Goshen

There are, of course, 4 Kites for the quilt.

They are far from perfect, but they are done, and it is a start

on the part I have been dreading and putting off.

Thank You, Dear Rosa for the gentle nudge :)

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

Birthday Siggy Quilt Promoted from UFO to PhD :)

A couple weeks ago I posted this picture of my pile of 90 Birthday Siggy Blocks.

Then I started working on the alternate blocks for this quilt top, and this picture was posted.

Then I was able to get 1 row put together, and I came to a standstill...don't know why, just did????

This weekend I was determined to get this quilt top together!!!!!  And I DID :)  Now I can get it sandwiched and then I will be tying it off with a very pretty shade of Lavender Perle Cotton.

The blocks are 5 inch squares, there are 11 across and 17 down, so this will be a nice size quilt.  The Birthday Siggy blocks were received in 2008, and the quilt WILL be done in 2010...not too bad :)  So I am promoting this UFO (unfinished object) to a PhD (project half done), sounds good don't you think?

Huge Thank Yous to all you Dear Janers who sent me all these Awesome Birthday Blocks...WE have made a beautiful quilt, that I will truly cherish :)

Click on the picture and see if you can find your block, just don't pay any attention to the toes sticking out from the bottom of the quilt top :)  They belong to my daughter!!!

Hugs and Blessings,
Terry

I've Gone Gold!!!!

I have gone "GOLD", and not in age....that was back a few years ago (LOL).  And not as in King Midas, with the golden touch, darn it, I could use some extra gold in my life!

Over the past weekend I made my 50th Dear Jane block, so that means I have received my Gold Award :)

What I think is kind of neat, is that my 50th block happens to be made with a golden colored fabric, and... it happens to be the Dear Jane Siggy Block (D-13 Field of Dreams).  The block we use for all those Siggy Swaps :)  Well now to continue the journey and hit the next Award marker.
And as my dear friend Rosa reminded me, just recently....I really

need to get started on those triangles and corners.        OH MY!!!!!

Siggy From France

Yesterday I received this beautifully embroidered siggy from Ghislaine Veit who is from Saint Cyr sur Mer, France :)    I also received a short letter from her, which is written in French!  Well it has been around 40 years since I took French in high school, but I gave translating it a try....I think I got most of it, not quite all of it.  So here goes:  She thanked me for the siggy. It seems she has 2 daughters and 5 small children (grandchildren, I think).  And has been quilting since her retirement 5 years past.  She hopes that I accept her siggy with pleasure.  (I do accept her siggy with much pleasure)  There are a couple other sentences that I just could not figure out :(  And to think that I thought I would never use those French classes...who would have thought that they would come in handy... in quilting of all places :)

I looked up where she lives and found that it is located on the southeastern coastal region of France.  It is a community based on agriculture and tourism.  In their town square is a replica of the Statue of Liberty!  

Trouble with a Capital "T"... YIKES!!!!

Trouble with a Capital "T", Yep, that's what I'm in :(

No doubt about it...

I received this email today (long sad sigh)

Subject Line:  Blogless

"Hello!  Somebody hasn't blogged since March 2nd.

I wonder if a new sewing machine might be the cause.

Don't forget to eat and sleep now and then."

Love, Mother

I still hate to be called down by my Mother.  Especially when she is right!!!!

I can just hear the disappointment in her voice (sniff, sniff)

So I am blogging a little tonight.  I do have quite a lot to catch up on...

But, I did get a new sewing machine.  A Janome Memory Craft 6500P.

I have never had a machine like this before :)  I've always had inexpensive machines.  And I still love my little Brother XR65 machine.  He is only in semi-retirement...we've made many, many things together :)  And we are not done yet.  Lots of memories, there!

This "bad girl" can do just about anything!!!!  Most of which I'm

still learning about (LOL).  So here are some pics of my new girl....

Isn't she just beautiful?????  I have done a lot of sewing over the weekend and I am learning lots of new things that I can do on this machine :)  So many stitches, and I am suppose to be able to quilt on it, too!!!  OH MY GOODNESS!!!!  I hope I  can master this machine.  By the way, her name is Miriam Bess, after my two Grandmothers.  They had a lot to do with my love for sewing and quilting :)  No, I take that back, they had everything to do with my love of sewing and quilting:)  My love of drawing, painting, reading and music came from my Mother.                      

And I also got this box of embroidery thread FREE with the machine :)

I will be back tomorrow to post some more, but tonight, I have got to get all our tax stuff together for the accountant :(

HUGS & BLESSINGS,

Terry

P.S.  I love you Mom, hope this makes you a little happier with me :) Remember the grin that I use to give that could melt your heart....well that's the grin I'm grinning now.  Is it working????? (PEEP) giggle, giggle, giggle

My New International Siggys

I have been working on a new design for my International Siggys.  These are the ones I will be sending out :)  I change my design every year, at least so far I have.  I find new fabric or a new center design I want to try, so it changes :)  This will be my 3rd year in the International Swap, I have received many beautiful siggys.  I haven't been real active, I only have around 40 so far. But this year I plan to change that!

Anyway here is a picture of my progress so far:

I found this fabric on line and fell in love with it.  I've actually

had it for about a year :)  My favorite color combination

of late has been lavender/purple and greens...so this fabric

works really well.  And since embroidery is becoming

a favorite past-time of mine, I am embroidering flowers in

what will be the centers of the siggy block.  Then I will

sign & date them, and get them sewn together and

mailed out :)

Well, I believe that catches me up on my blogging.  Hope you enjoyed you time here:)

Hugs & Blessings to everyone.

Terry

p.s.  Don't forget, on most of my pictures, if you click on them, you can get a closer look :)

Dear Jane Blocks

I finally got to work on my Dear Jane blocks some more today.  I was able to get 3 done :)  So I thought I would share some pictures of the blocks I did today.  For those not familiar with the Dear Jane quilt, it is a quilt that was made by Jane Stickler during the Civil War Era.  I am using Civil War Reproduction fabric for mine.  My quilt is named "Recollections With Jane", (everyone names their quilt)  and each block is a 5 inch square :)  Yes 5 inches.  

The block above is called Megan's Mountain Laurel and I think I counted about 45 pieces in this little 5"x 5" gem.  I have to admit that when I was working on this one...I was questioning my own sanity...or lack of sanity!!! 

This little purple block is called Hani's Crown, and it only has 21 pieces :)

And my final block for today is Jane's Tears.  This just has the 4 "teardrops" machine appliqued on the 5 inch square...very easy!

Well my blocks are far from perfect, but I'm having fun and being challenged in doing them, so I'm happy :)

Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along - Block #1

Yesterday was the first installment of the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along from Moose on the Porch Quilts.  This is my first block.  I'm using "Recipe for Frienship" fabric from Moda, the Mary Engelbreit collection.  It should prove to be very colorful, don't ya think?

Monday, March 1 Sewing Accomplishments :)

Yesterday I was able to get my Basket Case Block done for March.  Can you believe it...I actually got it done the day that the directions were posted!!!!!!

I'm not a very good machine applique person and I don't have the first clue how to hand applique in any form - so for now this is how applique blocks will look done by me.  I am hoping to try to learn to do some needle-turn applique this year :)

You should see the list of things I want to learn to do this year... we shall see?????