Black Friday - A Blog Hop Funday

One week from today is Black Friday 
which traditionally kicks off Holiday Shopping. 

But this year it is MY DAY to host a stop on the

Holiday Lane Blog Hop.

Pattern is by Jill Finley from Jillily Studio Designs
and will be used by all hop stops.

So Many Holiday Lanes - So Little Time!

Although the fun begins on Monday, Nov 21st
Please take a stroll down my HOLIDAY LANE on 
Friday, November 23rd !
 Then enter my contest for a 
 Kwilty Pleasures Give Away!  

Sunday Snippet - A Mystery of Wonky!

Take a Mystery Quilt and a WONKY Paint Chip 
and what do you have?
Two great quilt challenges!!!

First up...The Plaza Quilter's Mystery Quilt Challenge

 Red Rooster Quilts and Quilt Beginnings  both donated 
$50 gift cards for the finale
 so a HUGE thank you to these shops 
for the continued support!

The Mystery Quilt clues began in February and
every other month the participants received a "clue".
Along with the clue showing them 
how to make a  "unit"of the quilt top,  
I provided a demo showing the pieces they would
be cutting and how to sew them into the units.  
As clues were completed, participants were entered into drawing
for tools that would help the quilter make the blocks!
I wanted this to be a SUCCESS!

By the 4th "clue" participants could FINALLY 
see what the finished top would look like.
The challenge ended in late October...
here it is my finished quilt top.  

and you can see here, the Mystery Quilt Challenge 

was a huge success.  Here are some of my favorites!

Then I challenged the Columbus Modern Quilt Guild
 to a Paint Chip Challenge.

Each participant drew an envelope 
that contained a paint chip
from the local big box hardware store.
This was my chip and fabrics 
pulled from my stash for this challenge. 

Being a "MODERN" quilt group this challenge 
had to have a WONKY theme.

And some of my WONKY FAVORITES!

See the challenge rules here on the 
Columbus Modern Quilt Guild website and 
perhaps you can use this idea 
in your own guild or quilting group.


I made a WONKY pillow!

To go with this quilt I made some time ago.

Cupcakes for Gemma

Earlier this year I found out I have a new niece...
a great-niece or grand-niece?   
Doesn't matter - just matters
that she IS! 

Gemma was 15 months old when I finally got to meet her.   
Cupcake is a key word as I describe that meeting.
She is a sweet as "cupcake", brought "cupcakes" to
the party and ate the "cupcakes" like I wish I could!
What is that in her hand?  Looks like a "cupcake"!!!

  I knew immediately I had to make Gemma

 a quilt for Christmas.  

It is large enough for her to use for several years. 

I used lots of fun "cupcake" fabrics

from Connecting Threads and designed 
made  9" blocks.

A simple meander quilting on my Bernina !

Easy Peasey!

I never like to buy fabric when I can piece a backing

from my stash.  I love this back!

I hope Gemma likes this Kwilty Pleasure and maybe

I'll get to wrap her up in it when I babysit!   

Sunday Snippet - WICKED WINNER

This contest is now closed.

I have had such a WICKED time but who knew...

• I would meet so many WICKED bloggers in just a few short days.  
• Your kindness and comments would lift my spirits higher than a witch flying past a full moon!
• I would end up with sew many new "stalkers".  
• I would receive nearly 100 WICKED comments 
•  #12 would be the lucky winner of the mug rug.

• #12 would also be a "new follower" and that person is JoyceLM and here is her comment.   

JoyceLMOctober 24, 2012 7:01 AM

Thanks for sharing your great tutorial - I have to make this. And thanks for the giveaway. I'm a new follower.

Joyce I have sent you an email so I can get your mailing address!

I am so thrilled that Wendy invited Kwilty Pleaasures to be a blog stop, a FIRST! And what about the Great Madam Samm...OZ has nothing on you my dear!     

Next up...I"ll have another give-away when 
Kwilty Pleasures is a stop on...

I know everyone has a memory of their "favorite" 
Holiday Lane....what is yours?

A Journey of Thankfulness

November is a month to give thanks for all our blessings. 
I have a lifetime of thanks but today I want

to reflect on how this 1st day of November began for me. 
AND share with you, my blogging friends
an entertaining story about my journey of Thankfulness.

I am "thankful" I have new blogging friends!

This story has nothing to do with quilting but 

to be in line with my quilting blog....

here is an autumn batik quilt I made last year!

I'm snuggled under it right now.

This morning I had surgery on my left foot 

for tarsal tunnel syndrome 

(like carpel tunnel only in the ankles) 

and a fascia muscle release.  

I have this issue in both feet,

but can only repair one foot at a time.

 

This surgery has happened AFTER 

finding a new doctor, an MRI, a nerve conduction.  

Before Dr. Berlet I had 3 months of wearing night splints 
custom orthodics, painful cortisone shots, 

6 weeks of physical therapy, steroids and pain inhibitors.

I am "thankful" for Dr. Berlet. 

I originally thought this all began in Fall, 2011 during vacation, 

You know, the extra walking shopping, sight seeing and 

taking a barefoot walk on the beach for 1/2 hour each day.  

If barefoot, the soft water/sand causes you to use 

the muscles in feet and legs differently.  Who knew?

If you walk the beach please wear proper shoes. 

I am "thankful" for the beach!

I am thankful for "wine" at the beach.

Then a good friend of many, many years said, 

"What about all that dancing you used to do".  

I loved to dance in nightclubs and hardly 

ever sat down-given the chance to dance.  

I am thankful for all the fun I had dancing with my friends!

And now for the entertainment I promised.
During my late 20s and early 30s 

I was a professional dancer and 
director of an ethnic dance troupe.
I was lucky to travel to Egypt and yep
this is me on a camel in front of the Giza pyramids.

"Raheja" was my stage name and I'm dancing  with a very sharp sword balanced  on my head at the Aegean Supper Club

in Columbus, OH

Raheja (me) was a featured "belly dancer"
at one of two local restaurants in 
Columbus Ohio for many years.
I also danced in other cities, states as well. 

I am thankful for the Agean and Fisherman's Wharf!

As a belly dancer for 15 years and instructor for 13 years
 (teaching hundreds of students)
I danced on the balls of my feet for countless hours
Yes...that dancing may be now 

be taking a toll my 60 year old feet.   

  

I am "thankful" that my belly dancing brought 
such joy to others and to my heart, soul and creative spirit!

Today,  my wonderful husband, took me to surgery, 

got me home safe and sound, picked up scripts, 

my lunch, made me coffee, and is catering 

to my every need or whimper! 

God has blessed me with a second chance 

to share a love that is second to none.  I got it "right"
 with Mr. Right, this time...my soul mate. 

I am "thankful" for Phil Gordon...the love of my life.  

Perhaps he is not an actual Kwilty Pleasure,
 but my best pleasure "to have and to hold"!

Tell me something your are thankful for.