Good Saturday Morning everyone, how has your week been? Mine has been unusually busy!
In the hours of the yesterday that were left over and not having to be with anyone or take anyone anywhere or pick someone up, or do a charity Bingo, or anything, I stole sleep time hours and played with my new baby Ella. I learned so very much in the peace and quiet and now I do not feel as technologically challenged as I first did.
I have to hand it to Husqvarna for making my life a challenge, I don't give a tinkers for who wrote the User's Instruction manual. I think it could have been better written! Having said that I played and began writing down what exactly works for me and how I accomplished it and this morning I am pleased with my own progress. I did it, I did it, I actually patted myself on my own shoulder.....
I love, love, love this beauty. To the lady who sold it to me, bless you for allowing me to buy it! It's manufacturer's name is Sapphire and truly it is a real gem to me!
Here are some of the stitches I actually learned how to do.
Tiny Cars and Caravans, script with different fonts, tiny bicycles and so much more.
I realize many of you have these wondrous sewing machines that embroider and you can even download designs from the internet, but to me after all of my sewing life to date using just a basic sewing machine, this one is such a huge step up for me. I am a very happy lady at this point in time in being able to have learned just how to accomplish this simple task of sewing these beautiful and so different designs. Now my quilts will become more interesting.
Do any of you have the Sapphire 855? If you do what do you accomplish with your pretty gal? I would dearly love to hear all about it.
I thought it was today that the clocks sprang forward and having spent so much of the wee morning hours playing with Ella, it was near 3:30 this morning before I finally gave in to sleep and shut everything down, but, much to my surprise when I woke it was what I thought to be 9 a,m, now here it is just after 12 and I discover it is not today but tomorrow.... well how do you like that, here I am dragging myself around thinking it is supposed to be an hour later and it isn't! I tell you, I am such a ditz at times...(no pun intended)!
I hope all of you are watching out for the 17th because that is when the latest of the Blog Hops begin over at The Quilting Gallery! I have already registered to be a participating blogger in this St. Patrick's Day Blog Hope which is supposed to end on March 23rd. I said in my last post it was to be the 16th, but that date is incorrect so please stay tuned for March 17th - St. Paddy's Day!!! Everything green on St. Paddy's day wouldn't you think? Great fun is in store for both bloggers and readers...
To the ladies awaiting my parcels, have they arrived yet, Martina or Joan?
I would like to thank each and every one of you for putting up with my absences and then having to read my gobbilty gook, but I confess I am so happy you are sticking around and that I have someone to talk to.
Thanks for stopping by this afternoon, I hope your day is thoroughly enjoyable.
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown
I know it is late, but I still haven't caught up today. Thought yesterday was our Lions club day for the charity Bingo, but I was wrong, it was set for today and I am just now getting home and have been dying to tell you all of my news.
I have also been busy finding a space for the Stitch 'N' Chat group I am attempting to get started here in my small Town. Our Township is sadly lacking in a space for people who love sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting to get together as a group and to enjoy the company of others and in turn to teach others what they know of their craft and to teach or share it with others, or just to sit and chat amongst their friends and neighbors for a few hours a week.
The members of the United Church in town offered their church hall for such a social club and I aim to take full advantage of this good fortune.
I will offer what I know of quilting to those who may wish to take up quilting, LOL, another acquaintance who knits well will teach or share her knowledge with those wishing to learn how to knit, and I crochet so can help some to learn to crochet, and a lady who sews clothing is willing to share her knowledge with those who may wish to learn to sew.
ALL of this is free, no charge and all in aid of drawing members from within our Township together, it should be alot of fun. Eventually, if my dream comes to fruition, then we can all make efforts to do things with those crafts which will benefit our community, there are dozens of organizations which can use handmade items and it would be a win win for all concerned. Our hospitals can use preemie knitted goods, quilts to cover the incubators, lap quilts for those who need dialysis, or others who are being treated for cancer, cancer hats, cheerful mitts for children so they won't scratch , or special magic pillowcases with secret pockets in them for children who need their own little secret hideaways while having to stay in hospital.
I realize I am dreaming but if I must have a dream it may as well be a large one, don't you think?
Then I have my pet project which is The Chosen Soldier project to get done this month. Some of our platoons are in regions of the world where there is no PX and so items from home are greatly desired. especially when not near their base but out somewhere without running water, or the opportunity of just keeping their faces washed, or the likelihood of clean socks, or a spice up for their dried food packets which aren't all that tasty. This year I have a new platoon out in the boonies somewhere in this wide world of ours, just where I am unable to tell you because I simply do not know, but these men and women could use a care package from home and I am busy getting that together too.
THEN there is the March GIVEAWAY. Remember, I did tell you I would be hosting a Giveaway this month, and so I shall, along with many others through The Quilting Gallery.... Michele Foster, owner of The Gallery is organizing another Blog Hop Party and what better than a host of many blogs to visit and the chances of winning a multitude of wonderful items?
PLEASE stay tuned for the news about the St. Patrick's Blog Hop Party which will be advertised as soon as Michele gives us the word. YEEHAW another round of fun is on the calendar for this month and I simply cannot wait, I have a wonderful prize to give away and I just can't wait!
Thank you so much for visiting and if your like me and you love surprises, please keep checking in to read about the upcoming Blog Hop Party, it is going to be as much fun as the last one was.
Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve
I have been wondering what I can do with Mondays' around here, it is the beginning of the work week, it is usually quiet, and for me it is usually a day set aside for lots of undone chores. So while I am working away why not visit some of the sites I found surfing, and these I gladly share with you.
For those of you planning a new paper piecing quilt, look what I found this morning!
It was a BOM along with the actual set of paper pieced houses along with the actual layout plans which I am certain you can copy and use. How sweet are these? While it is all written by a German Quilter/Blogger, whose name sorry, I was unable to locate inside the blog, however, this site page can be translated and you are free to use these paper piecing patterns for your own personal use.
I found this super site as well, Free Quilt Patterns Info. I know I wouldn't get through this list in a year, this is such a kewl site! It shows free patterns for just about every type of quilt project you may have in mind to try out. If you hit the home button you can even sign up for updates to the site, which is a bonus.
Also, while surfing a found another new to me site, by blogger Michele Bilyeu, and her site title is called With Heart And Hands. Michele also sets forth within her blog many quilt block patterns which are concisely described and nicely laid out for those that are searching.
Once again, the very generosity of Quilters is heartwarming, all of those people so very willing to share.
With the devastation of those tornadoes in the United States, I am certain there will be much need for assistance to those who have suffered losses, not only of their homes and business' but to life of their loved ones, so, if you are thinking of helping in some small measure, or you discover sites where quilters are calling for help, please let me know so that I might set them up here on my site. I realize a quilt does not make a house, but it certainly shows that we care and so, as ever the charity line continues.
There is one more site I wish to share with you today and one which you might enjoy visiting today, it really is a collection of a Village bearing the name GEITHOORN in Holland that literally has no streets in it, want to see why? There are other sites but have still photo's whereas this one is a You Tube video and has soothing music to go along with it, so relaxing....
Thank you for stopping in today to visit with me, now it is time for me to get back to the laundry room and see if the sheets to my mothers bed are nice and dry and ready to put back on her bed. With her age she feels the cold more than ever before, so she has a set of fleece sheets and really go along way in keeping her warm and comfy at nights. I sincerely hope you are enjoying your day no matter where in our large and beautiful world you live in, and please, if you have a site where others can join to assist those who have suffered terrible losses last week from the tornadoes that struck in the South U.S.A., please share them with us. Se you tomorrow.
Hugging has no unpleasant side effects and is all natural. There are no batteries to replace, it's inflation-proof and non-fattening with no monthly payments. It's non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable. ~Author Unknown
