EASTER BLESSINGS AND A WINNER

MAY WE NEVER FORGET

 OR

 BECOME COMPLACENT 

ABOUT WHAT TOOK PLACE

 ON 

THAT OLD RUGGED CROSS 

SOME 2,000+ YRS. AGO!

THANK YOU LORD (MY JESUS!)

FOR SAVING MY SOUL (LITTLE OL ME!)

THANK YOU, LORD (JESUS, JESUS, JESUS)

FOR MAKING ME WHOLE (I WAS A MESS!)

THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING TO ME(ME AGAIN!)

THY GREAT SALVATION (I NEEDED HELP!)

SO RICH (I WAS DIRT POOR BUT NOW I'M RICH IN YOU!)

AND 

FREE 

(AMAZING & UNBELIEVABLE, BUT TRUE)

............................................................................................................................................................

WINNER 

OF 

STITCH ME UP GIVE-AWAY

$25 GIFT CERTIFICATE 

from 

JANE'S FABRICS

WENDY

WENDY SAID:

"Your blanket is so pretty. My daughter was the recipient of a crocheted blanket when she lost her baby due to cord trauma. The NILMDTS made photos and those are the only items she has of baby Payton. Speaking from experience your blanket will become a treasure for a grieving mother. "

I'm so glad you won, Wendy!  Your comment touched my heart as did so many of my followers both new and "old" (many of you reminded me of the need to say *long-time* follower rather than old...LOL!!)

I've contacted Wendy and am waiting on her reply which I'm sure will be quickly!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, KIND REMARKS, AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.  LIKE I ALWAYS SAY,

QUILTERS ARE NICE PEOPLE

STITCH ME UP AND GIVE-AWAY

STITCH ME UP

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

One of my favorite projects is quilting, sewing, and stitching items for our local hospital NICU, and the local NILMDTS Photographers to use in their bereavement photography.

For many parents, these items will be the only and final memento of their lost child. 

As I stitch, I like to think I'm stitching prayers of strength, compassion, and HOPE into each stitch.

I used Presencia #16 Thread

I'm starting to get the hang of French Knots...thanks to You-Tube videos

In both outline stitches I used  a "split stitch" double row technique.

The blanket in the photo is 1 of 4 NILMDTS Blankets with this flower pattern in one corner.

Blankets used to photograph these precious Angel Babies need to be Simple & Elegant.

What a Blessing and Honor to know that my embroidered blankets will grace the precious body of an Angel Baby as it lays in it's Mother's arms for the last time.  I've mentioned the NILMDTS organization in an earlier post but I hope this post will be yet another reminder of the many ways your hand stitched items can offer comfort to a family through NILMDTS or other charitable organizations.

LOOK around and Pay It Forward.

TUESDAY MARCH 26th

Isabel @That Other Blog

Jeanette @That Other Blog

Just Let Me Quilt

MacDonald’s Patch 

Pots Pans Pins and Prayers

GrandMama's Stories (You are HERE!)

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

Needled d

Tomorrow's Treasures Today 

Lemur on a Stick

 Life In Every Breath

Zellerwear 

 Bumbleberry Stitches

threads on my socks

Hanging On By A Thread

Fresh Cut Quilts

Thank-You to our Gracious Hostess Madame Samm

and Head Cheerleader Jane

Embroidery Designers Cyndi and Debbie

and

Colonial Needle (Sponsor)

for a Lovely Stitching Hop!

GIVE-AWAY

$25 Gift Certificate

Jane's Fabrics

(Hope you will buy some dreamy

Presencia thread but you can use it anyway you wish)

WINNER Chosen MARCH 29TH

ANNOUNCED MARCH 30th, Sat. Morning

1.  Leave a comment and become a follower if you are not already!  Tell me if you are a new or old 

      follower.  I would so love to reach #600 Followers for a BIG Give-Away! Easy Peasy!

                                      (No-Reply folks, you're just out of luck!  Sorry!)

Blessings

STITCH ME UP , I'M IN A NEW BLOG HOP!!

TOMORROW IS MY DAY 

ON 

STITCH ME UP!

My 8th grade Home Ec Teacher can take credit for the only embroidery stitches I ever learned.

Today, I have YOU-TUBE to thank for teaching me French Knots.  Those little buggers have me all tangled up but I think I'm finally beginning to master them...Almost!

Today's Schedule

MONDAY MARCH 25th

Beverly @That Other Blog

Betty@That Other Blog

Stitches to Sprinkles 

 Stitch Duchess' Crazy and Sane Quilting World (not Up)

Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Kathy's Quilts

Mountain Delights 

Tea and Quilts    

 Charlottes Creations

Quilt Obsession

The Slow Quilter

Cali Quilter

Little Pieces of My Life

Creating My Comforts (no show)

TUESDAY MARCH 26th

Isabel @That Other Blog

Jeanette @That Other Blog

Just Let Me Quilt

MacDonald’s Patch 

Pots Pans Pins and Prayers

GrandMama's Stories (ME)

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

Needled d

Tomorrow's Treasures Today 

Lemur on a Stick

 Life In Every Breath

Zellerwear 

 Bumbleberry Stitches

threads on my socks

Hanging On By A Thread

Fresh Cut Quilts

HOOCHY SPRAY STARCH???????

YES, IT'S TRUE!!  

DIY SPRAY STARCH MADE FROM HOOCH (that's lingo for Cheap Booze)

Do you ever just start clicking and find yourself on someone's blog and not have a clue as to how you got there?

WELL...that's exactly what happened to me so I HAD to share one of the most UNIQUE tips I've heard or read about EVER!  Maybe everyone else knows this tip and I'm simply behind the times.  But for those of you who, like me, have NEVER thought of using VODKA for QUILT STARCH, 

HERE is the LINK

Complete with picture Tutorial!!

Please be polite, leave her a nice comment and tell her you are visiting from Grandmama's Stories, since I hijacked her Blog Post. ( I did ask permission)

Now...Who can I persuade to go to the local "Beverage" Store and buy me some cheap HOOCH?

I can't be caught in the Liquor store on Palm Sunday Week-end, folks?  I teach Sunday School for goodness sake and we Baptists are Tee-Totalers...LOL!!!  Let me see, who is the nicest *heathen* I know?   I'm not judging ladies, I'm Joking!!!!

Blessings

BACK FROM SMOKEY MTN. QUILTFEST

HOME AGAIN 
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN QUILTFEST 2013

I've been in Quilt Nirvana surrounded not only by gorgeous Quilts, Quilt Masters, Quilt Notions, but the Spectacular Scenery of The Great Smokey Mountains!
Weather was predicted to be warm and springlike...Nah, Mother Nature had something different in mind.
It was COLD!!!  Snow Flurries!!!
But we had this Gloriously Huge Fireplace to break the chill

#1 Husband is Cheesing for all the Quilting Divas "on your blog"  as he puts it.
The Cabin came compliments of my Niece, Jenny, who owns the house, and allows us the privilege of using it each spring during Quiltfest.

I can take a totally sparse and uncluttered space and turn it into a
cluttered Sewing Nook in a matter of minutes....just like I did in the Cabin's Kitchen.
I had to sew standing up which for a short person isn't so bad.

The sunroom used to be one big sauna which has been turned into a much more livable space.
Gotta have the Big screen TV.  you are looking out over the TOPS of trees on the top of a Ridge near downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Gmama & Cindy Blackburg...guru of hand quilting & piecing.

Want or NEED some Quilt Notions???  

Each Year, The Mountain Heritage Challenge determines a theme, designates fabrics to be used, and quilters all over are challenged to interpret the theme any way they choose as long as guidelines are strictly adhered to.  You can read the Challenge for 2012.

Here are just a sampling of the Challenge Quilts:

These are HAND QUILTED STITCHES !!!!

Hope you enjoyed the Quilt walk with me!!
Blessings

NANCY DREW "HOT" SLEUTH

TODAY IS MY DAY

ON

NANCY DREW IS A CLUE

BLOG HOP

(psst: ignore the incorrect time stamps on the pics)

NANCY "SUE" SLEUTH

(ode to Vintage Sunbonnet Sue)

IS 

HOT

FOR  CLUES...

Here's Why

I am getting ready to spend a week in The Great Smokey Mountains

at the 

19th Annual Mountain Quiltfest

I'm taking a 2 day class from 

Author Harriet Hargrave, HEIRLOOM MACHINE QUILTING

AND

I needed a portable ironing pad for my sewing area.

 Voila!

(psst: ignore the incorrect time stamps)

My IRONING PAD IS MADE USING THE NANCY DREW FABRIC

AND INSUL-BRITE!  THIS SPECIAL BATTING MAKES IT HEAT RESISTANT AND PERFECT AS A PORTABLE IRONING SURFACE

FOR MY QUILTFEST CLASS W/ MS. HARRIET HARGRAVE!

For all the QUILT Pictures my Coolpix Nikon camera will be taking, I made this

*cool* little Camera Holder

That's ALL for me this Go Round...I've been too busy preparing for my Quilting Week.  MY Blog Hop projects had to fulfill a practical purpose, no fru-fru on this trip!

Big Shout-Out to Madame Samm and Carol for CHEERING US ON!

Please go visit these other SLEUTHS today

Monday, March 11, 2013 

Dancing thru-threads

Traveling Quilter

Jane’s Quilting

More Stars in Comanche

Moose Stash Quilting

Quilt Doodle Designs

Cate’s Linens

Sew Incredibly Crazy

                                         Grandmama’s Stories ME!!  (Nancy Drew Wannabe)

BLESSINGS

FROM GMAMA'S

10 WK. OLD BABY

*SI*  

Is that not a face to melt your heart?

NANCY DREW AND YOU

OH I DO LOVE NANCY DREW!

I used to hide my latest ND book either behind my classroom book or in my desk so I could sneak a peek during the teacher lecture!!  THEN...I would come home read some more and hide under the covers with a flashlight after bedtime came and went.  Did I say I LOVE NANCY DREW??

SEW...

 Here is my latest Blog Hop Group and Project.

Can you believe there is Nancy Drew Fabric??

Check out all the creative projects made with the new line of Nancy Drew Fabric by MODA.

Our Cheerleader for this blog Hop is Carol at Just Let Me Quilt.

You can find the entire schedule on her blog.

GMAMA's Day is MONDAY, MARCH 11th

Monday, March 11, 2013 

Dancing thru-threads

Traveling Quilter

Jane’s Quilting

More Stars in Comanche

Moose Stash Quilting

Quilt Doodle Designs

Cate’s Linens

Sew Incredibly Crazy

                                         Grandmama’s Stories      ME!!  Nancy Drew Wannabe

BLESSINGS,

Psst...I turned 60 TODAY, March 6th!!

I've always proudly shared my age...not one of these women who hides her age.  I've earned every wrinkle and just Proud to be ALIVE!!

LET'S PAINT

LET'S PAINT

60+ Ladies met together on a cold snowy Friday Night for 

FUN

FELLOWSHIP

FOOD

PAINTING

GETTING READY

A GROUP OF VAN GOGH'S

WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED?

PROBABLY NOT...BUT WE HAD SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER!

WOMEN NEED OTHER WOMEN

MEET AND EAT...THAT'S WHAT WE SOUTHERN BAPTIST'S DO WELL

and now, the Rest of the Story...

Believe it or not and especially after seeing the above pictures, I'm not much of a social butterfly since I retired.  I choose my activities with care and don't burden my schedule with a lot of unnecessary activities.  I'm going to admit something here.  People have disappointed me in the past.  As I've grown older, I've become less trusting of people so I choose wisely as to who I spend my time with.  #1 husband accuses me of turning into a hermit....I tell him I like his company and my solitude.  It may sound harsh but I've chosen to spend my precious time with those whom I love and trust the most...MY FAMILY.

I've worked since I was 14 yrs old in some capacity.  In High School, I was working two summer jobs while everyone else was laying by the pool.  I ran the concession stand AT the pool!  I even worked my way through college on a work-study program.  Once I graduated, I went straight into the professional field of Speech Therapy and later the field of Special Education.  I was a Working Mother the entire time I was studying to get my Master's degree as an Education Specialist.  An 18 month hiatus to have my first 2 children was the only break I had up to that point.  I continued to work for 30 yrs. so when I retired in Dec. 2008 I made a staunch decision to be a 

SAHGIC

Stay At Home Grandmother in Chief

No more late faculty meetings, after school workshops, grading papers, shuttling children to various activities/friend's houses...NOPE...I had FINALLY reached MY TIME in LIFE.

I love this old FARMHOUSE, this small farm complete with horses, dogs, and goats at various times.  I Love my Husband, my Children, My Grandchildren, My Sisters/Nieces/Nephews and Cousins.

But Mainly it's just ME and #1 Husband

Quietly Together...

Content in our Routine...

Home Cooked Meals eaten together while watching our favorite TV shows...

 My Quilting...

and That my dear friends 

is how I Like it!

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to be content in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.

I Am Content