Swap Goodies

Here is a picture of the things I sent to my partner for the Stitcher's Angel Swap. Patricia is from Brazil and has a nice blog. She has sent me a very nice thank you and I am so glad that she likes her goodies!!! About a week after I sent Patricia her goodies. This arrived in my mailbox from my Stitcher's Angel....

It came all the way from Australia!!! I love the little sewing companion in green. It is probably my favorite thing, but then I like all of it!!! Thank you so much again, Marlene. It is wonderful!! And also a big thank you to Helen for hosting this wonderful swap!!

Just got back from my vacation to Ohio. I have some great pics that I will have to share with you soon!! So, I will leave you with this great picture of my sister and me at the Quilt Show in Des Moines Iowa!!! Until next time,

LesleyAnn

It's My Birthday!!!

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to......not really. It is my birthday and I am going to be celebrating with a trip to Ohio to see the Longaberger Basket Factory and Football Hall of Fame next week. Nate wants to see....Guess? I will let you be the judge of that one!! At least, we are going somewhere, thank goodness since here in Iowa the weather has been so yucky. Rain Rain and more Rain. It seems to never stop and the farmers are getting nervous if they will be able to get the crops out in time.

P.S. I sent my Stitcher's Angel swap gift on Friday of last week. Don't know how long it takes to get to Brazil??? We'll have to see. Post pictures later..... Until next time..

LesleyAnn

What Was Missing Has Been Found

I guess you could say that I have been missing in action.....The summer was so busy with WORK and MORE WORK. You know the kind.....where the paycheck comes from. Plus the organization that I work for is restructuring due to budget cuts. So the changes have been stressful. But at least I still have a job. That's a good thing. Sewing is my stress relief, but it seems that I just haven't gotten in as much time as I would like. Been working on the Angel Stitcher's Swap gifts and also working on some other things. Hopefully in the next week or so I can find some more time to get the camera out and dust it off and show what I have been up too.

I did enter the recipe for the picture above into the French's Foods contest. It is called Burger Delights and it is delish. Find the recipe here. Type Burger Delights in the contest search engine and VOTE for ME!! (On the main page with contest info click on Learn More and this will get you to the contest search engine!) Thanks!!

Well until next time,

LesleyAnn

Hippity Hop Shop Hops!!

Here's a little bag with accessories that I made my sister for a military ball she went to 2 weekends ago. I think it turned out really cute and funky!! I love the black and white...hated the pattern though it did some things that I couldn't understand so I modified it a little to fit the way I wanted it. Before we dropped her off at the ball...we went on a little Shop Hop to a few quilt shops. Didn't really find anything that interested me.

This past weekend, my mom and I went on another Shop Hop. We had a good time even though my mother doesn't sew......Ironically we both won a prize, don't know what it is yet since we haven't been back to the shop. I hope it is something good. Below are the goodies that I got on this hop. Lots more successful than the weekend before. Don't know when I am going to get to all these projects, but that is the joy of being a quilter....adding to the stash.


On another note, Nate and I are going on a little vacation to Branson over the Memorial Weekend. I am really excited. We are going to take in some shows and some quilt shops I hope. Nate is looking forward to Bass Pro Shop, whatever. We get to get away from it all for awhile. I think we both need it.....we have both been putting in a lot of hours at work. Thus explaining my absence from blogging. Well, until next time

LesleyAnn

Show Some Love Swap Giftie!!

Last week a very special package arrived on my doorstop from across the big blue ocean! I was so excited when I opened it and found all the wonderful things my secret swap partner, Julie from Australia made for me!! What wonderful talents she has!! I really don't even want to use the dish towels and clothes because they are so nice and I don't want to get them dirty!!

Here is how my package came and below is a better view of all the nice things she sent me. One package of the Tim Tams is already gone! Nate really liked them and I can't say that I didn't like them either. They are very good. Thank you so much, Julie, you really made my day. Your generosity and kindness were very appreciated!!

Because I am sure that my giftie should arrive in Australia sometime soon. I will show my gift that I sent across the big blue ocean to my secret swap partner, Tracey!! I hope that this gift arrives to you safely and you are safe from the devastation that has happened in your country recently. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Australia in this saddening time for them. Been working on my BOMs and hope to show you my progress next time. I have also been reading a lot of books lately, most with a quilting theme. If you haven't read anything by Jennifer Chiaverini, do... Her Elm Creek Quilt books are wonderful and I have a hard time putting them done. I also just finished a book called, "They Named Me Marjorie" by Ann Zemke. It was wonderful and it was written in memory of her grandmother of which the story is about her life in Minnesota in the early 1900's. Very interesting and inspiring. Currently I am reading "The Lover's Knot, A Someday Quilt Mystery". So far so good. It is actually a little lighter reading compared to what I have been reading lately. Most of these books you can find at the bookstore or on Amazon. Well, it has been busy around here at the bungalow. Hope to post sooner and more often. Another goal for 2009!! Until next time......

LesleyAnn

Busy Busy

I have been so busy lately finishing up projects and starting others. I also started a Weight Management Class at Curves. It was really informative and helpful. Now just need to lose some weight. I have also cut down on my soda drinking. I am down to 2 cans of Diet Coke a day. That is huge. I am a popaholic, so I think cutting that down is a good thing even if I don't lose a lot of weight. Also trying to eat better and exercise. So far so good.
Sorry about no pictures. I am posting this on a different computer so I don't have any pictures of the projects I have been working on and I have given some projects away already. I really have to get more intimate with my camera. I never have been good at taking pictures. Even as a kid when we would go on a field trip I was always the one who forgot a camera.
On another note, my Show Some Love Swap Gift is almost done, just a few more stitches and a buzz around with the sewing machine and it will be done to sail across the big blue....I will post pictures soon, hopefully!! Until next time.....

LesleyAnn

My finger has a Boo-Boo!!

Many of you are probably looking at the title of this post and thinking, What is she talking about? But it is true. I made a hole in my finger, putting the binding on a casserole kimono and a table runner. It's my own fault since I don't wear a thimble because it seems akward on. I have tried several different ones but it seems I just can't find one that doesn't make me seem like I am all fingers. I even tried to take a picture to show you but I couldn't get it to look not blurry. So I guess you will just have to take my word for it.
So my sewing table still looks like it did when I made my last post...everything waiting to be sewed. So I have been taking a little break, while doing so I happened upon some Free BOM's in blogland. I decided to print them out. So we'll see if I get them done or just collect them. The first is from Gail Pan Designs. She is doing different word blocks. The next is from Bunny Hills Designs called A Tisket, A Tasket...A Year full of Baskets. This one sounds really cool, especially with the basket theme. I love baskets and so does my mom, so I may have to make this one for her. Take a look at the first block it is really cute!! Well, until next time.

LesleyAnn

Look What I Got Done....

Sitting on the couch for 3 days feeling yucky is not fun, because you are thinking of all the things you should be doing and that are not getting done like housework, laundry, etc. But on the other hand, I got things accomplished that I feel a little guilty about doing when there is so much other things to I should have been doing. Except when you are sick you really don't want to do anything.

Exhibit A: I got several project cut out and ready to go....How often does that happen before you really need it done? LOL! For a special person in the Show Some Sewing Love Swap. Here is a sampling of the fabric I am using....Hope you like pink!!

Here is the stitchery I finished for a sample at my LQS. The owner is going to frame it. I love how it turned out with the crayon colored effect. My new fav technique...using crayons to enhance my stitcheries.

Also I finished reading "Runaway Quilt" by Jennifer Chiaverini. If you haven't read any of her books you should. I just can't get enough of them. Nate's mom gave me some for Christmas and Nate couldn't believe I wanted boring books for Christmas, but I did!! I am so glad that she got them for me! It is exactly what I wanted. Well, enough procrastinating I need to get back to work and tonight I really need to tackle cleaning the BATHROOM!! I am in for another exciting Friday night. Happy Friday to everyone!! Until next time......

LesleyAnn

Happy New Year!!

I can't believe that 2008 is now over. The holidays were sure busy around the bungalow. Lots of activity. Right now, I have been laying on the couch all day with the flu. Yuck! I just started feeling better so I thought now would be the perfect time to blog about what has been happening.

Here is my model, Nate, holding up the wall hanging I completed for my mom for Christmas. It took me about a year to complete. All hand embroidered with crayon colored stars. It was probably the best thing I made this year. The pictures don't quite do it justice. It is gorgeous.

Here is a close up of some of the blocks. My mom loved it and she already has it hanging in her entryway.

Look what I have been up to....All gifts for friends and family. I even still have a few more to make for some after the holidays parties. There is one purple monkey missing--a gift to Nate's niece. She is 1 1/2 and loved it.

I also joined this swap hosted by Dandelion Quilts. It should be a lot of fun. I have been thinking about what I will make for my partner.... There is still time to join so don't miss out on the opportunity. Well, until next time...

LesleyAnn