Friends are one of life’s treasures.

While I was in Omaha last month I took an outing to meet up with Kindra, who was just by chance participating in a local craft show. Kindra and her mother are a crafting team. So I was so pleased to meet both of them, and see there booth. There booth was full of wonderful handcrafted items and I enjoyed finding a couple special items. It was near the end of the day when I got there so it was slow and we had time to visit, bloggers are just the nicest people and Kindra it was a real treat for me to meet both you and your mom.

I wanted to buy the big star that Kindra made out of reclaimed wood, no way it would fit in my bag so I bought the cute tree that was still there. It will be fun to find the perfect spot for it this Christmas. I love the hand towels Pam makes, they are wonderfully soft and embroidered, I love baskets and she had some done in red and green. My favorite colors. Then there was this wonderful saltbox scene that just pops. Well Kindra, it was one inch to tall but I carried it proudly in my carry-on bag without any problems.

Krista was not able to make the trip, my son was sick that day, so she stayed home with the boys. I missed sharing the trip with her but she loved the towel so I am going to order some for Christmas gifts. I will make it a point to take the trip to see Kindra again on another visit.

I finished this Schnibbles, Winter White, last month. I used the Blessing line by Brannock and Patek from Moda. I am not keeping up with the schedule at all, but that's going to be ok with me I want to enjoy the process and not make a burden out of it.

A few more embroidery stitches on a couple blocks and then I will be ready to sew the blocks together. Karen showed the finished quilt on her blog and it is just so cute with the scalloped wool border. I will be sewing it up soon.

Anne of Cottons and Woolens was so generous and did some shopping for me at quilt market. I gave her some cash and a wish list and bless her soul she got everything on my list.

Maggie Bononami’s new book Nature’s Offering, it is full of wonderful projects big and small. I am definitely putting a few on my 2010 to do list. Primitive Gatherings new pattern along with a bundle of their new brushed wovens. They are fabulous and yummy!! Anne I am going to copy you on your sashing and post’s, they say it is flattery :))!! And a bundle of Jo Morton’s Toast II, and…… three bundles of Andovers Wuthering Heights. Holy Moly this is better than Christmas. I love them Anne!! You were so sweet to take that extra luggage and share the joy with others!

This is a sad time for Anne, know I am keeping you in my prayers. I know you are being surrounded by friends and family who will be a strength for you!! Hugs!!

I went shopping at Country Sampler in Omaha too, I knew Anne was shopping for me at market so I was very good and boring. LOL… its not fun. They have Fig Trees Mill House Inn in flannel, boy that really had my attention but I do not have a little girl to make a quilt for and I just couldn’t justify another bundle to decorate my sewing shelves. They have so many wool kits and goodies there that it is the most fun. I have a couple kits to make up for gifts so I didn’t need to indulge, but its fun to see them made up and not just pictures. What I purchased was there embroidery threads, they carry Weeks and I needed some colors for a couple projects. No one locally carries it so I was tickled to find some. I bought Krista a yummy scented candle. I found some primitive light strands in brown for my mantle that I will use soon. It was fun to browse the store, they have so many wonderful samples it was a treat!

We are having some cold Fall weather with snow in the mountains. Many people will be traveling the passes for the football and basketball games in the valley, my youngest son is going over for basketball so I am nervous for safe driving conditions. The pass is such a beautiful drive, I just don’t like packed snow and ice at all. This doesn’t get better with age, you know what I mean!!!

Tomorrow a local quilt shop, Stitchin Post, in Sisters is having their pajama sale. It’s a big deal with 30% off between 6:30-8:30 am and an extra 5% if you were pajamas. It’s a lot of fun and I am going to meet my girlfriend who lives there and we will see what we can find. You know you can save online tomorrow too, they are giving a 25% discount to online sales. Yeah, I like to share the love with you!! Then we will go out for our favorite coffee shop and have some breakfast too! A girl works up an appetite with all that excitement!!

I am thankful for my friends, blogging has brought many new wonderful people into my life and I count you as my friends. I hope I get the opportunity to meet you in person too. God Bless and have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Carrie

Primitive Autumn Prize

I was very fortunate to win this prize from Robin of  Bird in Hand Primitives.   I have it in on my grandmother’s piano in the heart of my home and enjoy having  a special addition to my Fall decorations.    The little stocking is just to cute too,  I keep wanting to make some for my grandkids and fill them with harvest goodies.    The little tarts smell so good,  they made the whole package smell like heaven.    Thank you Robin for sharing your talents,  I love having your special handmades in my home.

I didn’t finish my Schnibbles last month,  see,  I need to get the last little border on and I am waiting for the Blessing line to come to my lqs so I can choose the border.    I am hoping to get  the new project done this month,  man I have a ton of projects going…….yeah, I know you are all laughing,  gee like I am the only one!!   But finishing was a goal I set this year…..naive me,  isn’t that what New Year is all about.      My #1 problem is lqs do not have the patterns and I will mail order it,    its a cute snowball design.     

My girlfriend Sandy called last week to see if I could get away a couple days with her.     After getting my billings out, we headed over the mountains and through the woods to the valley.    Such a pretty drive this time of year,  we talked to much for pictures. :))     She is looking at new horse trailers with living quarters for there trip to Nationals.    That is  GWPCA, wirehair pointers, to attend the field trials.  They are being held in Illinois this year. 

Joe and I did the trek two years ago to Illinois,  it was fabulous.   Now I have about 20 new Quilt Shops and 10 Prim Shops and 100 bloggers along the way.   I think my dear DH would go crazy if we did the trip and I wanted to add my wish list of stops along the way.   But I was talking about my trip with Sandy.     

  So we started in Lebanon spent abit of time looking over one possible unit.  Then  off we went with directions to another dealer  near Salem, well it wasn’t  what we were looking for and we found a nice Farm with lots of produce so we stopped to have a look. 

They had the most interesting pumpkins,  bumpy skinned ones that were very cool…..we posed for a picture.     Don’t you love the handle on the one between our heads.  

This white one was so unique,  should have bought it I think.

These flowers would have come home if I was at home.

Inside their were some fun things so I took a few pictures.   Need a new apron,  they are so popular now.  Love these ones.

I always look at these dishes but have never bought any,  I just love dishes and I think these pottery pieces would bake food perfectly.

Well it was fun to get away and spend someone else's money…….lol…,  I am not sure if we got the job done but if we did Sandy is going to be traveling in style to Illinois.     Joe and I are not going this year,  darn,  it is such a fun road trip,  we never even turned the radio on,  we drove 18 hours a day and made it in 3 days.    Yes, that was one big migraine I had the first day there!!!

Ok its Autumn right?   Well we had snow this weekend,  No I did not take any pictures, it was to d…. cold,   oh excuse me,   I mean I am just accepting the fact that summer is over OK!?!!!     

Well Anne did so go here to see some great pictures her sweetie took.     Well timing is everything and look what was in the mailbox Sunday.     It came so late Saturday we didn’t pick up till Sunday  and boy did I get excited with all the Christmas decorations in Country Sampler.     How did they know it was going to snow 4 inches on October 4, 2009.

Now Cabela’s isn’t really my favorite but is that not a cute picture.   

I hope this finds you well and enjoying  Fall and all its beauty,  God Bless You and your family.    I am still going to share my favorite Apple Cake recipe and I think Friday is the day.

Fall Blessings,

Carrie

Sweet Treasures and Textures of the Garden

I found a cute pattern while shopping in a local shop.     The shop sample was in soft peachy, Fig Tree fabrics and I loved the texture from the small, close quilting.     I bought the pattern not really knowing when I might make it up.  

I have been thinking about an upcoming wedding and what to do for the gift.     While going through my fabrics for the IBOL  package I came across some flannels and  got inspired to sew them up using this pattern for their gift.

They both love the outdoors, hunt, ranch.     I really liked seeing the wildlife fabrics on hearts…..Joe helped me pick the center pieces,   it was way to busy so we chose two fabrics for the center squares alternating the colors.

Greens will go around the outer perimeter to make it look similar to the pictured quilt.     Its been fun making this quilt, the hearts are raw edges and it is sewing up fast.   I will do some of the quilting then take it to  a local quilter to do the background for me.

 

Here are a couple recent purchases,  Karen of Farmhouse Woolens had a sale and I got these little bowls.  Bunnyhill Anne had these spools on her website and I fell in love with them.

Put a couple on a tray with some of my ribbons, love them.      The chickens were a gift from my sister a few years ago.   The are blown glass,  I just love them,  they have some pretty fancy feathers in there hats. 

The garden is coming along, slow but it had to start over on June 15th after a freeze.    The zinnia’s are blooming.  Love them.    We have a few green tomatoes,  the deer are coming in and eating them,  now that’s a first,  even found one they  stepped on today.      Buggars!!

The pumpkins are running over the garden and have very little pumpkins, so I started cutting the plants back to hopefully get the fruit growing.   After I took the pictures I went back out and carved three little names on pumpkins……….:))   wish they were coming to pick them with me.

I took these pictures on macro setting on my little pocket camera,  I was having fun finding circles in the garden and little star shapes.     And big star shapes!

The Schnibble pattern was revealed today and I spent way to long calling quilt shops and searching on line for the pattern.    So I finally found it and didn’t like the shipping amount so I ordered three patterns to justify the shipping…..LOL…..   I don’t know why that feels better,   I am gambling on those patterns may be used this year and I will have them on hand.  

Can you believe it is September 1st……I can’t  yikes where has this year gone……I love Fall,  I love Fall……I am going to keep saying that and maybe time will slow down a bit.

Late Summer blessing dear friends,

Carrie