Just so you know ...

Moda's Just One Star a photo by Wendy in MT on Flickr.

Just so you know that I haven't been sitting and twiddlin' my thumbs ... I finished these and mailed them yesterday. You can learn more about them here: Just One Star... this is a challenge by Moda to create quilts for soldiers.  Just one star from each of us quilters and imagine the amount of quilts that can be made.  I happened to have signed up for this through p.s.iquilt who was challenging her readers.  It was the kick in the seat I needed to get'r done ... and yes, she's offering prizes to those that let her know via pictures that they've made them and mailed them.  My sister is/was a Marine, so in her honor, I did these.

I am also working on two pincushions, to be seen later, for two different swaps. One stated she didn't like wonky and all be darned but I just feel so very tempted to do something wonky ... shame, shame!! LOL

And, to everyone who may or may not need a hug ... consider yourself hugged!! You know you cannot give a hug without receiving one, so I give each and everyone of you a virtual hug!!

Sweet Sunny Happiness

Thank you MS!

Friday, I received this very special order from Sweetwater:

beautiful piece of art ... will be matted and framed.

Sweetwater blogged about this art print on Monday on there blog, here: makelifesweet.  My picture doesn't do this beautiful piece of art justice ... check out their post and then come back ...

Welcome back. :-)  As soon as I saw the script under the Sunkissed circles, I had to have this. I mean I HAD to have it.  I don't do this too very often ... really :-) but ... well, wait a minute, let me show you this next project I've been working on (before I discovered Sweetwater's artwork) and then I'll explain:

Sunkissed fabric by Sweetwater ... Of Course! ...
The design is mine, I was aiming for a 'sun-like' image. Center is paper-pieced, rest of it was a work in progress ... designed as I went.  It's not yet quilted, maybe next week...

I enlarged this picture so you could read the bottom of my wall hanging. ...

"U R My Sunshine"

Did you notice the song on Sweetwater's art piece?  "You Are My Sunshine"

Well, the story behind this special song for me, is a bit personal ... so skip ahead if you don't want to be bored ... really, I understand {{chuckle}}

Long before I ever knew "about" life, my lifetime's goal was to become a mother.  Long story short, God had different plans.  Needless to say, I constantly questioned his plans and through many false pregnancies, miscarriages and upsets, I began doubting I would ever achieve what I thought was my lifetime goal.

Fast forward from age 19 to 36, which spans a marriage, a divorce, several years single ... can you hear the tick tock ?? ... lol ... and by 36 I was married again, set on life as a childless women, unless I could afford to adopt, which really wasn't in the cards.

Until, wow, one day I was pregnant, and I remained pregnant ...  I was so thrilled that every day I would place my hand on my little baby-bump and sing "You Are My Sunshine" over and over again to my tummy.  Silly, I know.  But then, it became such a mantra to me, that I sang it to my daughter as a baby, my second blessing of a baby and then to both of my girls at bedtime or when their tears just needed a mommy hug.  Seriously, my girls are my Sunshine...

Thank you God, honestly and truly!

Okay ... if you've skipped ahead past the boringly personal story ... I've a few more shares for you:

My sister has a birthday on Sunday.  I made her this:

Adorable laminated material, isn't it? :)

Inside ... I really think this can be reversible, don't you?

Laminated materials I used.

So, what this is, is a laminated market/grocery tote.  I will not admit to being too lazy, or too cheap, to purchase a pattern ... I really thought there were lots of patterns for this type of bag online, for free.  My Bad. {{chuckle}}  Well, what makes this bag different is that it's laminated on the outside, and the inside. So, since I had to have this ready to be mailed this weekend (sorry Sherry, it'll be there Monday, a day after your birthday ... hugs! ... ) I didn't have time to purchase a pattern, nor run to town to find one.

If you'd care to, I'll write up a tutorial for this very quick and very easy tote.  I made it all in one afternoon and I believe it's good enough to be reversible.  Not bad for cheap and easy :) :)

And on a final note, I persevered and finished up this week's block for Blockapalooza ... keeping me caught up.  Here:

Kinda fun, isn't it?  Yay! I'm still caught up.

Well, the husband's off work and the kids are out of school for the weekend so I probably won't get much sewing done ... maybe ;) ... stitching in the car? lol

And on that note, I best be heading off to bed ... somehow the clock is close to that 1:00 hour again ... when I start getting silly, so I'll spare everyone and stop while I'm ahead. Hope the long post was too bad for you!! Hugs and luv to each of you ... thank you for stopping by and thank you even more for letting me know you stopped by!  Quiltastic day to you!!

No Rhyme, No Reason ...

No rhyme, no reason, just tis the season ... and I'm teasin!  lol

(Okay, so at 1:00 a.m., I thought that was funny ... {{grins}} )

Happy Hellos to you on this fine Tuesday!!

So ... What have I been up to ... you don't ask ...

tonight I caught up on my Blockapalooza blocks:

I really like the blocks and the colors ... though the pictures turned out dark ... again a bit late at night, everyone else is in bed therefore I get to actually accomplish something ... like maybe a silly post that might bring a few laughs? luv and hugs!!

My girls did make this last week:

Abbie, Snowperson, Emily

Yes, I think they are just too cute not to include in my post today.

See, I told you ... no rhyme or reason to my post today, though I did want to share!!

OH .. and look what my sweet post lady brought me:

This would be my most awesome Kansas Troubles Fat 1/8th Bundle recently won during the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop ... you my remember my smidgen of excitement posted here ... not that I was excited or anything ... HA!  Super cool!!  Thank you Moda and Kansas Troubles Quilters!!

Then ... I  know, I know ... stop with the bragging already, but hey ... I was so lucky to win and I really do want to give credit to the most wonderful people that make and share these wonderful projects ...

Isn't this bag adorable?!?!!  Ms. Geta Grama of Geta's Quilting Studio made this bag and had a giveaway.  I was the very fortunate winner ... she thinks I should share it with my daughters,but I do believe I might end up being a bit selfish here and keep it for myself ... besides it's just one and they would probably fight anyway so, in the end, I'm doing us all a favor, aren't I?? ... just say yes, it's easier, trust me {{grins}}  Thank you Geta!!  Do take the opportunity to check out her blog ... she's an amazing quilter and truly worth the trip to Romania to see her (in the bloggi-sphere).

Okay .. I've been working on another little project, but since it's isn't quite ready for it's curtain call, I can't share ... its camera shy  ... or camera smart with the way I've been taking pictures lately ... but I hope to finish my little project soon so I can share it with anyone interested enough to come on back for a visit.

I'm off to raid the snack cupboard and then connect my head with the pillow ... Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a visit ... thank you even more, and more, and more {{hint hint}}, for leaving me a little comment telling me you were here.  I so appreciate you!! 

Until next time ... Quiltastic day to you and happy heart hugs to each of you!

Bucketful of Gratitude

My thank yous go to each and every one of my supporters that not only visited me for this small giveaway, but for every comment and kindness done for me since I started this blogging endeavor.  You may  never know what your small moment of time and kind words may do for me, or any other person, but there are days when my supporters, blogging friends, lift my spirits and help me through another day, or hour, or very frustrating minute.  You are all dear to my heart.  Thank you.

I so truly wish, as many do, that I could gift every one of you with a prize, however ... there will be another time if you have the gumption to stick it out with me ... I promise!!

So, without further adieu ...

My Bucketful of Gratitude Winner is: 

True Random Number Generator

Min:   1

Max:  74

Result: 54

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

54 Stray Stitches said...

I am a regular follower of your great blog. If I'm so lucky as to selected as one of the winners I would like the Make Life Simple bucket. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.

March 1, 2011 1:58 PM

Congratulations, Linda!!  You got back from your travels just in time, it seems, as you are my lucky winner.  Please send to me your mailing information and I will send along your Make Life Simple bucket with all the goodies I posted about in my blog yesterday....

To everyone else ... truly, stay posted, as soon I know this little bitty blog is gonna have to share another fun giveaway.  Thank you for being here!!

Quiltastic day to you all!!

Happy Hellos!

I wanted to share some smiles, send some flowers ...  

share what I've been up to this past week and

wish you all a wonderful Tuesday ....

Some of you may remember from a previous post a quilt I had on Gammie ... well here it is, finished:

Julie's Star Quilt

Just for the record, she liked it.  My frustration was in the fact that I want to be better than I am and I tend to get impatient with myself ... at one point, while attempting to follow a stencil, I quilted a bit and spent the next 1 1/2 hr ripping out the stitches.  Yes, frustrated.... but I know, I know, time, time, time ... practice, practice, practice and lots of patience ... I'll get there!

however, my next quilt, for Dawn, was this: 

Back of Dawn's Quilt ... First time for feathers

Front of Dawn's Quilt ... quilted freehand feathers and quilted appliqued flowers

 And I had lots of fun :) creating free motion feathers and then: 

Free motion meandering heart quilting on this table runner.  Very relaxing.... so Gammie can stay put ... until next time ... :) :) :)

I thought I'd share this with you also:

My very 'Sweet' Sunkissed winnings from Sweetwater from the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop
Thank you Sweetwater and Moda!!

I do believe this stuff may find it's way into a bucket

that will be given away tomorrow:

1/2 yrd Canvas Authentic, 4 Fabric Make Life labels, 1 Sunkissed Grey Mug Rug,
assorted Sweetwater iron on labels

 Interested? .... don't forget to comment here as my giveaway ends at 10 p.m. MST Wednesday, March 2nd.

 Oh, and while I was making the mug rug to include in the bucket, I made this little beauty for myself ... couldn't resist :)

Got time for one more share? 

Well, here's the darling little friend that received the quilt I recenlty made.  I'm including a picture from a distance so you can see she's not much bigger than the quilt :) ... isn't she adorable?

Thanks for letting me share!

Quiltastic day and happy hugs!!

I GIVE you my Sweetest Thanks ....

as in a Sweetwater Charm Pack & Bucket Giveaway!! 

Here's the deal ... yes, "officially" I have one hundred posts.  However, since I've deleted several here and there as they were just quick notices, I'm sure I reach the one hundred milestone quite some time ago.

This giveaway is for you, my Support Group!  I thank each of you that inspire me to be creative, whether in sewing or in writing ... so far my musings haven't gained too much critizism, so for that I am thankful!  I also want to thank those of you that stop in from Twitter and from Facebook as I know that while you may not be a member of my "Support Group" (follower) here at Why Knot? you are either a friend of mine on Facebook or one of my tweeps {funny name, but much loved, thank you!!}, so I consider all of you to belong to my support group, especially when you all leave such kind and encouraging comments.

Therefore, without further ado, would you like to see what you are taking a shot at winning in this here giveaway????  Take a gander:

Okay, okay ... before you get TOO excited ... only one of these buckets and it's charming little addition will be going home with the winner.... Sorry, I know, BIG disappointment! {{chuckling}}

I made these buckets {{aren't they awesome???}} using Sweetwater's Make Life ... Fun pattern #150.  These buckets are 7" tall and about 9" around at the top. They are made from canvas on the outside and have cotton fabric and batting lining inside. Each bucket is holding the charm pack of the material that is used for the lining ... Make Life Fun bucket has Make Life charm pack, Make Life Simple bucket has Pure charm pack, and the third, Make Life Fresh bucket, has a Sweetwater charm pack.

Your job, if you so choose to accept, is to select which set you would like, leave me one comment below telling me where you support me from; either here on my blog, Facebook, or on Twitter; and with that comment, tell me which set you'd choose if you are the lucky winner. Either way, I really am trying to show my appreciate for those who support me, so while you do not have to be a "follower" or a "friend", this giveaway is for those who are.  Thank you for understanding!!  I'm hoping to sweeten the "bucket" by the end of the giveaway with a few other selections from my Sweetwater stash ... yes, I said Sweetwater Stash as I adore them so much ... and fill the chosen bucket a bit more for the winner.

What say you? Can you tell I adore my Support Group?  Well, I do! and I hope you know it!!

I'll close this giveaway on the night of Wednesday, March 2nd and annouce the winner on Thursday, March 3rd with a random.org drawing.  Good luck, and again, thank you for all of your support!!

edit:  Yes, of course I will ship internationally !!

Thank you for entering ... comments are now closed ... 3/2/11

Mail Call, News & CGQC Finishes

Okie dokie then ...  how excited am I???

Boogetie, boogetie, boogetie ...

Look what the mail lady brought to me today:

Yes, indeedy ... my Cuppa Cozy and Little Quilts book which I won from Madam Samm of Sew I Quilt ... words ... LOVE IT!! :)  scwheeet! Thank you so very much Samm!! (((bonus Pure fabric on the Cozy -- you all know I adore Sweetwater fabric ... okay so I drool  now and then ... seriously ))) and the Little Quilts book by Alice Berg, Mary Ellen Von Holt and Sylvia Johnson  very, very nice.  And, if that wasn't sweet enough ...

well, I took some time this evening to read some blogs and discovered this most fantastic news ~

The Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop recently ended and during the hop we were asked to leave comments on each post for that designer's designated day.  Some of the designers had giveaways ...

In fact, two of my ultimate favorites are Kansas Troubles Quilters ... 

The KT giveaway is a Perennials fat 1/8 bundle, which goes to Wendy from Florence, MT. Congrats Wendy!

And, Sweetwater Fabrics ...

The winner will win an entire collection of fat eights (from Sunkissed of course!).  And the winner is....WendyMT

Yes, I feel as if I won the quilter's lottery ... Thank you Moda, Kansas Troubles Quilters and Sweetwater Fabrics!!!

Yes ... I humbly thank you!

And as for the my finishes for Charming Girls Quilt Club ....

Kelly you are awesome!!  You work so very hard, even in your down time, and you inspire me ... I'm grateful to be included in your club.  So ... I am proud to report that while I did not finish all I set out to accomplish way back here ... I did accomplish this:

1. Bind my Sunday Squares wallhanging

2. Potholders & Snap Bag for Church Auction

3. Gift Shawl for dear friend

4. Ritzy Cracker Quilt for daughter's friend

5.  Quilted 2 quilts on Gammie

6.  16 Valintine Treat cones

7.  3 Pillowcases

8.  M'Grug for SewIQuilt contest

9. POSTAGE STAMP QUILT TOP ... Yay Me!!

10.  Totally up-to-date with my Block-a-palooza Blocks ... Score!!

I'm sure there are a few tidbits here or there I'm forgetting, but I'm sure you'all will forgive me in my brain's excited fever tonight ;)

And besides ... being as this is post 99 ... I am working on some very "Sweet" ideas for my 100th post giveaway. ... though I have to say it'll be more of a giveaway in thanks to all my supporters than for my posts as I've deleted several quick notice posts that would have put me over the 100 mark long ago, so I'd rather show my gratitude to all of you that follow my gibberish blogging than anything else .... I'm grateful for you!

Heads up ... no-reply bloggers ... not good.  Please check your status.  This doesn't help either of us, especially if you win....

Oh yeah, one more picture to this long winded post ...

This is my Gammie, in my studio, looking out towards the back of my house ... with the quilt that I just about gave it all up on ... not mine, a friend's ... a story for another day, but lucky for me, a very dear, wise friend called at the right moment, talked me down from my stress-high and I recovered :)  Thanks Missy!!  I pray I am the wiser for this event and I may have to post this picture on my inspiration wall as a reminder! I'll say this, newbie long-armers and perfectionists DO NOT mix!!!  Enough said.

Quilted blessings to each of you!  Check back for my Supporter Appreciation Giveaway soon :)  Trust me, I think it'll be worth it!