GIVEAWAY DATE PASSED MY BY

I just found out today that the date of the giveaway had passed.  Time flies so fast that I thought it was next Sunday.  I am going to wait and do it next Sunday and that will give a little more time for some of my followers who have not made a comment yet to do so.  Next Sunday Sept. 1 I will definitely pull the winning name and make a post to tell you who it is.

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST

 

 

Last week I received a package in the mail all the way from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada.  It was from Jillayne of Afineseam.blogspot.com and contained the beautiful Christmas album she made for a group of us.  We mailed her a Christmas card that we liked and she said she would put them into a book and return to us. I sent one of the handmade cards that I sent out to friends.  Well I found out recently that she actually made 14 journals and mailed them back to us.

 

This pic came out sideways but I did add a better one down at the bottom.

 

This is a side view of the book.  She used her bookbinding skills to make the book and then she decorated the sides with buttons, charms, etc.  Gorgeous job.  I can't imagine making 14 of them.  She is a real trooper.

 

Between the 6 cards that she put into each book (various cards in various books) she put in some beautiful papers she made and plain papers that we can write on.

 

 

 

This is the upright picture and you can see the beautiful fabric that she used on the front and back covers.

 

This was the tag she attached to it.  I can't tell you just how beautiful this journal is.  I will treasure it Jillayne.  For anyone that does know of her blog you are missing a wonderful treat.  Go here and say hi to Jillayne:   www.afineseam.blogspot.com



WHITE WORK PILLOW

I have mentioned in posts over the past year and a half that I have been taking classes with Karen Ruane of Contemporary Embroidery in the UK.  This summer was a sit and stitch  type class where we just followed Karen in her sewing routine.  She made some of her lovely pin pillows and a gorgeous wedding folder for her daughter who is getting married in Las Vegas in October.

I followed along but instead of a case I ended up making this pillow with my piece.  My GD just started her first year of college so I hopefully have awhile before I need to think about making one for her.  Karen's classes have been wonderful and I started in Jan. 2012 and just finished this August.  They were all wonderful except the artistic ones with paper and paint that I do not do very well at and truthfully had no interest in.

Here are the pillow pics:

 

LAST 4 SQUARES

Here are the last 4 squares that will be the sides of the quilt.  Now comes the hard part of sqaring  them and sewing together.  I think I am going to make an edging of all the fabrics I used in the puffs and hexagons to give some color.  These are large squares measuring about 22 long by about 21 wide when squared off.

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY REMINDER

Just a little reminder to leave a comment for my giveaway.  It is on the blog Aug. 11th. with pictures of the lace pieces.  One entry for a comment, one more if you are or become a follower, one more again if you post on your blog about our giveaway.

Come on and give it a try - you just might be the winner.

CELEBRATIONS AND APOLOGY

First let me apologize to all the people who have come to my blog and would have left a comment except for the fact that I had the notification on my blog.  I did not know this as I never leave a comment - haha.  I just found out today when my friend Deb told me I had this on my own blog after I complained to her about what a bad time I had trying to leave comments and I hated it.

She also told me how to delete it which I did immediately. Sorry about that and now you may leave a comment if you so wish.

Harv and I celebrated our 54th wedding anniversery on Thurs.  We met with 2 couples, good friends for lunch and they treated us which was unexpected but very nice of them.

Sunday we had the large family birthday party for Harv. my grandson Kyle and Sue's SIL Lisa.

Here are some pics of the occasions.

 

Costco makes my favorite cake with the cream cheese filling in the middle.  This huge cake for less then 20.00.  I bought some home and Harv and I will have a piece when I finish this.

 

Kyle celebrated his 18th birthday July 26th. but he was away volunteering at a camp for handicapped adults.  It was for 1 week for his group and he said it was eye opening but also enjoyable.  The following week he had 4 wisdom teeth out then the next week Sue had her foot surgery - hence his party mid Aug.  He is wearing his shirt from the camp.





 

Here is Sue with the scooter she bought to use after foot surgery.  She has another week before she can put her foot to the floor.  She told me today that she really enjoyed this party as she did not have to work at it.  Everyone else did the work and she enjoyed the luxury.

 

Here is our usual gaggle of boys.  I will own up to 4 of them with the 5th. already down at Bradley University for his junior year. I must admit they are all a very good group of boys. Kyle is sitting in Grandpas old wheelchair which we lent Sue for her foot surgery.

 

Here is our only girl Jenny with her beautiful Mother Jeana.  She has grown up birthday partying with all of the boys.

OLD LINENS QUILT

I have been steadily working along on my old linens quilt as my back allows.  Hand embellishing is no problem but bending over the counter or over the sewing machine for too long is what bothers me.  I have all but 1 of the 6 machine stitched down and have embellished 4 of them.  I took pictures of 2 of the finished ones.  The centre panels have been finished and sewn together.  Once the 6 are finished they will be sewn down 3 to a side of the centre panels. 



JAN'S ETSY

I received a note from Jan that her Etsy shop is now open.  I went and had a look and was blown away by the beautiful work she has there.  I thought she just made cards but that is only a small bit of what she has made.

Go to:  StitchesbyJanO on Etsy and treat yourself to some gorgeous eye candy.

BEAUTIFUL GIFT

Pat Winter on her blog Gatherings showed some beautiful fabric cards that had been made by her good friend Jan Obertein.  I fell in love with them and ordered one from Jan. I did not specify any particular one and she picked one for me that is so pretty. I think they would make a great birthday or anytime card for a good friend who you don't send an actual gift but want to do more then a paper card.

Here is the card I bought.  Note the neat envelope that came with it.  I can't give this away because it is so pretty.  I have it on a shelf where I see it every day.

If you are interested Jan has not set up an etsy shop yet but hopes to in the future.  You can reach her by email at  jobertein@aol.com.





LACE GIVEAWAY

I am finally back with the giveaway I talked about on the last post.  I have been having computer problems the last few weeks and I was so frustrated.  I complained enough about it that Harv finally took over and did a lot of cleaning out files, etc. and then he restored it back a couple of weeks.  That did it and I am back happy with my computer.  I will pull a name or maybe two out of Harv's hat on Sunday Augst 25th. 

I will have 3 chances to win.  One leave a comment on any upcoming posts, 2 if you are a follower or become a follower I will add another chance and 3 if you talk about the giveaway on your blog. Also for my longtime friends who always follow and leave a post I will add another chance. I know who you are.

I am posting the pics of what

 

I have come up with so far and will probably add more to it over the next 2 weeks.  Hopefully all I can stuff into a large envelope or small carton.  I have an oval piece of lace with fabric already sewn inside that can be the start of a lace journal.  I have included one of Pat Winter's beautiful little girl prints that can be added to the cover.  Also I have included one of Gerry Kreuger's painted buttons and a lovely lace motif in Kathy Kazerian's signature color gold.  I added one of my bobbins covered in lace.  I have a bunch of these and love the look of them piled in a bowl.



GIVEAWAY

ust wanted to post that I am today putting together a package of lace and other assorted goodies for a giveaway that I will post in the next few days.

Hugs
FredaB