Oh Happy Day!

My darling son Leonard has finally got the phone call he has been waiting for since he left the Marine Corp 2 years ago. The FAA called and they have a spot for him in class December 10th in Oklahoma City. Yipee! Don and I are thrilled to say the least and it will be such a relief to see him finally working in his chosen career. He was already hired by the Oakland airport so thats good news that he will still be close to home. The young man is destined to see the world one way or another!
I have been working so much at my job since May that I really have no time or energy to do much of anything. Don had a disability this summer that lasted almost three months and that took its toll on the family. Happy to report that all is well once again and he is back to work and feeling good.
Christina has been preoccupied with work and school and we are lucky to see her on her way in or out! She will be 21 this year, my how time speeds by when the kids get older.
Mahria..... still no news on her. I just pray each day she is happy and well without her family. She is such a free spirted young woman and will flutter until she finds just the right spot to land. I believe that my energy is sent to her across the heavens, it has to because it is energy from love. Pure unconditional mommy kind!
So I managed to work into my schedule a trip to the Pacific International Quilt show and had a great day. I was by myself which was hard because I always go with Cathy and we just work ourselves into a frenzy of good fun. We did get to go together on the last day and it was quiet, and the people were rather testy! I always thought quilty people were the kindest, most loving of sorts but I was proven wrong and my bubble was popped! I won't be wearing Rose colored glasses to a quilt show again and I will hold on tighter to my wallet! I am sticking to my online shopping. Proves wonderful and fullfilling! Shhhhh just don't let Don know!
Ok so I am off to work on something quilty and I will be back. I promise. Hugs to all, Patty

Nothing New

Not much going on lately. Busy with work and family. No time for quilting and that is frustrating. I just signed on to a block of the month by Lynette anderson that incorporates on of her hand painted buttons. I hope I can get started on it soon.

What Did You Do Today!

Pouring down rain, freezing tempatures, day off from work! That was not all that consumed my day today, My dear Hubby had a blast in the garage building his new handy dandy BBQ. I swear to God when it comes to him I have my own "Tool Time Guy".

 In 21 years of marriage the man hasn't proudly posed for a picture without an arguement since his wedding day to me, but today all that changed when he was asked to pose for the camera with his new love interest...... The BBQ.

OK so the man knows zip about the internet, can't turn on a computor doesn't even know how to look up a number on his cell phone but He purchases online all by himself without my knowledge this monstrosity of a BBQ. His Hot Rod Grill! I could have had a new sofa for what this damn thing cost. (You don't want to know) So folks when you come for a visit bring something to sit on and we will watch the BBQ spew smoke out the pipes while he revs up his grilll!

 Our neighbor next door encouraged him to get it built saying that he wins the
"Macho Man of the Block" award! 

So check out the pictures of his new love interest and get a good giggle. I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up during the night and he has it moved into the bedroom!

Our dear devoted and very loved pet Annie passed into Gods hands for a much deserved peaceful rest tonight. You will be so missed "My Annie" and will always be in momma's heart.
Annie came into this world on November 4, 1995. She was born in Oregon and came to live here with us when she was just 8 weeks old. She went to school with the family everyday in the start and had great fun with all the kids in the first grade. When she saw kids her stumpy little  tail always would start "awagglin". She knew no strangers and was such a delightful member of our neighborhood. Never barking or peeing on anyones lawn, an occasional poop now and then but mom or dad was always on hand to swoop it up as she never would leave our side. She loved Vanila ice cream and beef jerky. She loved rides in the car but was most happy just chillin with the family. Every birthday she got her own T-bone steak and one year I remember the very expensive fruit Tart from the fancy french bakery that cost me more than care to share. That was the year she was a vegetarian!

This little dog didn't have a mean bone in her body and even when she was feeling grumpy and tired from age she still was waggin her tail. She supervised many a quilt being pieced and always was handy to lay her butt on each new one to give it the "Annie Butt Approval". Yep everyone out there who has one of my quilts that you so loveingly snuggled up with or displayed on your wall, rest assured it has had the Annie Butt Stamp of Approval.  I think she thought they were all meant for her. She seemed to enjoy being under my feet at my sewing machine, never really getting in the way. She would just snore an snooze while I worked.

She will be so dearly missed by so many but mostly by us, her family.  Rest in Peace sweet Angel Girl,  My Annie Bananai, Momma loves you forever and always.

Happy Valentines Day

Let me share with you the wonderful Valentine Quilt and goodies I recieved from today from  my swap Partner Nikki Rainey. I signed up for Pat Sloan's Rockin Sweethearts Swap  http://www.deathbyquilting.com/ and was matched up with Nikki.           Nikki's website is  http://www.nikkittyquilts.com/ take a look and see the beautiful work she does.

 Nikki lives currantly in Georgia but being an Army wife she is relocting this summer to Colorado. While trying to pack up, sort through and sell her home she managed some time for me! I was thrilled to open the package the postman left on my door step today to find so many yummy goodies (not just the chocolate ones). Nikki surprised me with not only the delightful quilt shown here (note its already on my wall) but an assortment of chocolates, fabrics with pattern kits and sticky notes and stickers. she even included an audio book for me to enjoy so I will have to move the cd player in my quilt room.
 

The cutest things can be found in small boxes. I opened up the checkered one that was enclosed and it is a kit already to go including the buttons to make a sweet libery Angel. How did she know I am a patriotic girl!

I can't wait to dig in to my treasures.

I completed the first block of "Bouquet" BOM by Jenny at Elfantz. I just love how easy her designs are to recreate. Her pattern is flawless of error and the design line is intricate enough to give excitement to the piece but not so much that you get burdened down. I have include the link to the pattern on my sidebar.

I don't know about anyone else but I love to zoom through my projects. I like to complete it in a day. I guess that shows in my capacity to complete so many little quilts. The problem with the little quilts is I only have so much room on the walls!

I spent last week sorting my quilts by holiday and season. This will make it so much easier to pull them out. I was surprised at how many I really have completed. I do need some more summer quilts. I am thinking lots of white and pastels, maybe some sand colors and blue sea glass. I have never been to a blue ocean beach so don't really know how to visualze it. I have only been to the California Coast line which I adore. I would love to see some tropical beaches in the future.

My Annie has been hit bad with a bug. I have spent the past two days tending to her. She seems to be perkier tonight after a good warm dinner of rice and turkey. We took Midget and Seven for a walk between bursts of rain. They had a wonderful time as the park was all theirs(No Kids today) They ran all over the fields and Midge was so proud to be off the leash. She was just prancing along the pathway like the queen in procession! Have I mentioned how I love them so.

Today I discoved Flicker and was able to download a picture of my Noahs Ark quilt. Oh boy have I got more to share. Have a wonderful Stitchy day, Patty

I can share some of what I made for Xmas this year for family and friends.I still have one gift to be hand delivered to my bestest friend so I can't show it but here are the others.

I completed Sophie from lasting treasures for my #2 daughter the day after Xmas. (she didn't mind)

For mom in law I made her an angel wall hanging and matching table mat. She was thrilled as she loves to cover her tables. I made a blue/green pillow for my  mom

 A wall hanging for sister Jackie with the bunker, a wall hanging for my other sis Linda of a lighthouse.I did an experiment with color with my online group, One Stitch at a Time and gave it to my cousin and his wife.   I made a cute little kitty wall hanging for my best friends quilt studio. ( I am her kitty's godmother)  I also made her a scissor keep and a book mark. I was a busy stitcher this past holiday and proud of it.  

Another of my 2009 finishes- Noahs Ark designed by Lynette Anderson        @    http://www.lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com/

Lynette graciously offered this as a free BOM and it is so fun to stitch. The animals are so unique to her style. I am not sure what room of the house this will go in, maybe in my quilt studio when I get it back from my son!

I recommend surfing the internet and looking at the different blogs all over the world. There is so much talent out there and these ladies are fantastic. There are alot of projects that are free. I love my BOM's and look forward the each new month.  Happy Stitching.

My Furbabies

Annie is my sweet 15year old Cocker Spaniel. She is a lovelyl old girl with a easy going temperment. She loves anybody and everbody. She is especially fond of those who bear gifts fo food! She loves to eat, sleep and just hang out. She can always be found sleeping right under my feet. She has been my sewing buddy and the hum of the sewing machine just sings her to sleep.

Midget is my little baby dog. She is a one and a half year old Pachini! For those who dont' quite know what that is I will break it down for you. Papion, Dachsand, Chihua mix.She came into my life at just the perfect time. She makes me laugh and gets me up and on my toes. She is very much a daddy's girl though and I must admit I am jealous at times. On a positvie note he keeps her busy so I can get some stitching done. She lets me dress her up which full feels my need to design clothes! She is long and lean thus requires custom outfits.

Day 5 of the New Year!

So many new and exciting BOM are starting up this week. I don't know about everyone else but I am still working on last years. Sometimes I feel like I am scrambling around trying to get them all done before someone pulls the rug out from under me and says "Times UP". Why I got it in my head that its a race against myself I will never understand. I am going to work on one of last years BOM as a BOW.(block of the week) In fact I am going to name it my BOW-WOW because I can stand back and Say WOW when its complete. Sounds like a plan!

I finally figured out how to get my photos on my blog so I am sharing my Veranda View designed by Cheryl of Willowberry Design inwhich she shared so graciously last year as a BOM for free. I think it is stunning and put it up on my wall New Years Eve when I completed it. Thanks again Cheryl for such a wonderful pattern. It was a thrill to make.

Willowberry Design has a new BOM  called under the sea. It looks adorable. I am going to make it just because it looks so darn cute. Someone very lucky will end up with it someday. I have plenty of time to figure out who that will be as the months pass. The link is on my sidebar. How cool is that.

Happy New Year 2010!

Can you believe it, another new year. Wow!!!! Well I brought in the new year with a evening full of machine quilting, potatoe chips and ice cold diet coke. What a night! Hubby was in his element with the Three Stooges Marathon running on the TV. Found some wonderful downloads of new and exciting projects for 2010. I am just loving all the BOM that the lovely ladies from all over the world share. As I figure out this computor stuff I shall begin posting some of my projects completed and in the works.
My wish for this year is happiness, good healthy feet and a job working with nice decent people. (and of course a paycheck) My wishes for everyone else is happiness, health, finacial security and love.
Happy New Year to all the flowers in my garden.