Contest Time

Over at 5 Minutes for Mom they are having another contest.They are giving away a Dyson Slim Vacuum. All you have to so is sign up at their site and then link the contest to your site. Easy. Check it out...you never know... You could be the winner! Although I hope it is me :)

Crocheting in the 70s

Like so many knitters/crocheters, my interest in knitting and crocheting began as a teenager. Oh, so long ago... I was influenced and encouraged by my mother. The other day as I was going through a closet I came across these:

These are 2 shawls my mother crocheted for me when I was in high school. Can you tell I was a child of the 60s/70s by the butterfly on the back? Look at those colors...bright orange, pink and blue. I loved that shawl. It went so well with my patched jeans and love beads back in those days. Maybe one day I'll have a granddaughter who will love playing dress up with it.

I also found this:

This is a hooded sweater my mother knitted for me. Living in SC doesn't require this type of sweater very often. It is thick and bulky. I can recall wearing it a few times in college. I attended a small college in NC and can remember a couple of nice snows while there and this sweater coming in handy.

My mother passed away 4 years ago and I often think about her as I work on my knitted and crocheted items. I am so aware of the many items in my home that her hands created and I enjoy using. While my father was dying of cancer, she patiently worked on an afghan while sitting with my father in the hospital. And then there is an elegant white crocheted tablecloth I use on special occasions. Oh, the memories....I was very blessed to have such a loving mother.

Simple and Delicious Winner

I was one of the winners in the giveaway at the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom. I won a year subscription to Taste of Home's Simple and Delicious magazine. This generous gift was given by Kristen of Dine and Dish. Isn't that sweet of her? So generous. Thank you, Kristen!

It Only Took 20 Years

I have lived in my little house for 20 years and from the first day we moved in, this has been an eyesore for me in the kitchen.

After sewing this:

and this:

then putting it together like this:

that eyesore now looks like this:

Excitement in Town

I have mentioned several times that I live in a town which offers very little in yarn and fabric. Well, as I live and breathe, I am here to say a yarn shop is opening in this town. As it turns out a local lady who has a Vera Bradley shop loves to knit, is tired of traveling out of town for yarn, and has decided to expand her shop to include yarns. When I heard this today, I made a bee line to her shop to see if the word on the street was correct. Not only was it correct, she had just received her first shipment of yarn and needles and I was her first customer. Oh, the excitement, the joy, the thrill of buying size #7 bamboo knitting needles in this town. Have I told you I am excited? Joy, joy, joy. Doesn't take much to make me happy, does it? As soon as she organizes the yarns, I'll be back.

So what have I been up to? I am almost through with my quilt wall hanging. All I have left to do is the binding. Here is a preview of a couple of the blocks:

And the blocks sewn together:
Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, this quilt will be hanging on the wall hiding an ugly fuse box in my kitchen.

Ultimate Blog Party

If you haven't heard or seen or joined this party, you might want to check it out. Lots of fun in one place. I love it.

Long Time No Posting

I haven't been able to blog lately but I have been sewing.....see my latest completed project....

I made another apron from Creative Little Daisy's tutorials. I gave it to my sister-in-law as a little gift when we visited her and my brother this past weekend.

I am in the process of sewing a quilted wall hanging for my kitchen. I'll post some pictures later. Got to go...it is pouring down rain tonight with tornado warnings - ugh!