A Birthday Giveaway

Well it is the eve of my 30th milestone birthday. Am I excited? That's hard to say...What are you suppose to feel as you get older? I don't know. I really don't feel like I am old? I asked Nate...Do you feel old now that you are 30? His response; What are you talking about? Why are you asking? You are wierd. Maybe now that I will be 30; I will suddenly become hip and cool? Ya think? Enough rambling.....It's time for a giveaway, my 1st!! Yeah!! Just leave me a comment on this post about what it was like to turn 30 or if you aren't yet 30 let me know if you are anticipating the big 30 or dreading it. Please leave your comment by November 4th and I will have Nate draw a name out of the hat. Here is what I have so far for the giveaway:


I have included a beach theme cosmetics bag for those of us wishing for a vacation, a Moda charm pack with guess what? 30 charms! Ha!, a wonder wallet for those of us wishing for more money these days and some cupcake erasers and pencils since I can't send my mom's famous filled cupcakes. You should be jeaous because they are yummy just like Hostess only better!! She has made them for my sister and I only on our birthdays since I was in kindergarten for treats. This made me a very popular child back then!!

Here is my little sis at our sister sew in from last Saturday night. Notice her pants. I had matching ones that my gram had made for us to wear at our sister sew in nights. Such fun! Well until next time when I will be a little older.....

LesleyAnn

Nate's Birthday and Fishing

It sure has been busy around the bungalow these days. I have been stitching like a mad woman trying to get my Stitcher's Angel stuff done before I had to take my sewing machine in for her annual oil change and service. We definitely want to keep her in tip-top shape. Can't show anything yet as I haven't sent it yet. It may cost a small fortune though for it to get across the great blue ocean.


Here is Nate on his 30th birthday with his cake that I got him. Even though he won't admit it he was excited about getting a cake. (Don't tell him I said that because he will probably kill me if he knew I put these pictures on my blog.)

I made him take this picture of his presents that he got from me. He really didn't want to, but he did to appease me. Isn't he cute. Deep down I think that he wants to be like my dad and gramps with his overalls..... I think he probably had a good 30th birthday!! Now next week we shall see if he can out do me for my 30th? Yes, I will be turning 30, t00! Been thinking how I can celebrate on my blog...maybe a first giveaway is in order and some goodies. We'll have to see. Stay tuned....

I went on my first fishing trip to the Mississippi and caught this nice crappie. I really couldn't believe that I actually caught something but I did. A total of about 4 nice ones. Nate asked me when him and his dad go fishing will I have to go every time now. My response was no. Fishing is kinda a man thing...I get it but...I don't think that I get it enough to make a serious hobby like my sewing. It was fun to spend time with Nate and his dad but I think I will leave most of the fishing to them and I will take the day to sew.
The other day in the mail arrived a package from Cinderberry Stitches in Australia. I won in her giveaway for a Christmas Gift Bags pattern. I love it. It is so cute. Thank you Natalie!! Can't wait to get started on them! Well, until next time.....

LesleyAnn

Busy Quilting Workshop Weekend

This last Saturday I went with my grandma and sister to a quilting workshop with many quilting sessions where we learned new techniques and we even saw a quilt talk with Kay Capps Cross "The Black and White Lady". I have seen her before but I always enjoy listening to her and gaining inspiration from her quilts. They are gorgeous!

Here is my sister at the make it take it work session. We made little cell phone cases. It was a lot of fun and I even got a few more to make. It was so simple. The pattern was all on the fusible you attach to the fabric. How easy and quick it that?? Love it!

Here are the goodies I got at the workshop. See my cell phone case?


I almost forgot to show all my goodies that I got on my bus trip. Man, do I have my work cut out for me to get all these projects done....where should I start? Well, I did get one thing as a gift for my sister...the yellow tin with Wizard of Oz charms. When my sister and I were little we use to have to watch the Wizard of Oz everyday since it was her favorite movie. I promise..... I looked inside the tin to make sure the there were no flying monkeys :)!! I know how much you hated them!! LOL!

And last but not least...here's my Nate. We celebrated his birthday with my parents on Sunday. He is going to be the BIG 30 on the 9th!!! He got a new fishing pole and reel from my sister and her boyfriend. He will just have to wait to get his present from me!!! Until next time.....

LesleyAnn

More Bus Trip

Well, life has sure been busy since my last post. Lots going and lots to show all of you. First I will take you back to the bus trip...So much fun and the most wonderful part about it was that I didn't have to drive to all 5 states. I also got to see so much more than I would have if I would have been on my own; considering Nate would have been along and there is no way he would have lasted going to 9 shops. He's a wonderful man but there are limits and patience is not his virtue.


This is a photo of the Calico Hutch in Hayward, Minnesota. It was a really cute shop and probably one of the biggest businesses besides the Coop in town. This shop is really not that far from me, so I can visit this one again!

Here is the Country Sampler in Omaha, Nebraska. A beautiful shop with fabrics to die for. I got an apron pattern and some quilt diva fabric with jumbo rick rack. What a stitch!!! Can't wait to make it.

The Calico Hutch fed us this yummy breakfast of skier's french toast with strawberries. Just the right thing to hit the spot on a day of quilt shop hopping......

Quilter's Quarters in Leavensworth, Kansas had some inspiring quilts with fabulous machine quilting. (Wishing I wasn't such a terrible machine quilter!!) Some people get all the talent, while others are just hopeful that a little might rub off on them. I am one of those that wish for the latter....:)

The little lady (in the brown shirt) reminded me so much of my grandma.....It was like traveling with her and made me wish for my grandma. My grandma is the one who taught me to sew and embroider. She is a very special lady and I admire her greatly for all that she does. She is an inspiration to me. I hope that I am able to do 1/2 as many things as she does at her age. I love ya, Gram!!! Hopefully I will not be as negligent in posting as I have been. Until next time....

LesleyAnn

5 State Quilt Bus Trip

Well, I am on my quilting bus trip where we are going to visit 9 different quilt shops in 5 different states. We have just completed day 1 and it has been very exciting to see 3 different quilts shops. I am helping my local quilt shop as the hostess of the bus trip which has been a fun experience.The shops have been outrageously beautiful and the staff at each of the shops have been very helpful. Below are some pictures of the shops we visited today. I forgot to take some pictures at the second shop we stopped at....will try to do better but sometimes picture taking is not a strong suit of mine. Also a fun thing is...we get 2 batik fabric strips at each shop plus a free pattern. How fab is that???

This is Pine Needles in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a beautiful shop that use to be a wildlife center that sold bird seed. It was huge.

This is a picture of The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville, MO. Another great shop with lots of variety in fabrics and other quilt related gift shoppe. Great Staff!! If you have a chance to visit any of these quilt shops, stop. They are well worth the visit.

Well tomorrow is another day with 3 more shops to visit. Will try to update you and take some pictures of the goodies and treasures I am getting. Until next time......

LesleyAnn

Tator Tot Casserole and Glue Gun Incident

Well, the weekend has come and gone without much sewing progress. I had big plans but those were dashed on Friday at 2:30 when I burned my fingers with the glue gun doing a crafty project that I will not show you because it didn't even turn out like I thought it would. Very bad. After I burned two fingers to a crisp I didn't feel like doing much else plus I have never had a burn quite like I got. So I just decided to take a nap. Nate called and wanted me to come stay at the weekend retreat house, (aka his house) so I thought I might as well since I was pretty much feeling worthless. So I spent the weekend there....

Today I spent the day with Nate doing a little farming...making hay. I rode the tractor with him. There is nothing like the smell of cut hay. So while we were making hay we talked about what we were going to have for supper. From pigs in a blanket to tator tot casserole. When I first met Nate he told me one of his favorites was tator tot casserole and in my family we never had this so I was unsure of how to make it. So I consulted with friends and the internet for advice because I sure didn't want to disappoint my new boyfriend that I couldn't make one of his favorite meals. So I decided to punt and use a combination of all the advice and internet recipes to come up with my own version. So today, I decided to make tator tot casserole because he has always told me I make the best. But much to my horror, I found out today that his favorite tator tot casserole is......the high school cafeteria! AHHHH! WHAAAT??? Are you kidding? I have to compete with the school...school food is something we all would like to forget not remember as our favorite...I am depressed...My cooking confidence is marred. Although, in my opinion, today was the best tator tot casserole I have ever made!!! :) Until next time....

4 Glorious Days

Well I am back from 4 glorious days of sewing in DeSoto, Wisconsin. It was great! Lots of laughs, lots of sewing, and lots of inspiration and relaxation was had by all. It is so beautiful along the mighty Mississippi. And the most glorious thing of all...what I accomplished...a lot...which is so uncharacteristic of me at a retreat. But I did. Here are some pictures of where we stayed and what I accomplished.


Here is where we stayed. It is known as the cottage. And it is super nice. There was no roughing it here.


This is a view out the window of the cottage. The mighty Mississippi is so close...


This is the group of ladies I stayed with and the things we accomplished. Can you find me? We actually took this picture from the other house where some other gals stayed since our house only bunked 10 gals and the other house bunked 8. Then with both houses we could have that many more gals.


This is more of a close up of the things I got done or started on. I am caught up with Lynette Anderson's BOM. , finished putting some ric rack on a tea towel, made 3 bags (1 is missing since Nate took it as a raffle for a church dinner), finished the stitching for the Armchair Caddy from the Stitcher's Angel, and started a Halloween Stitchery. Whew.....

Some gals and I took a little road trip during the retreat to some quilt shops. This is what I got. You can see the Halloween stitchery pattern. I love it and it is going to be so cute!! From the funky paisley fabric I am going to make my own bag like the ones I finished at the retreat, since I am going on a stitching bus trip to 5 different states and 9 quilt shops in a couple weeks. I think I better have a bag to keep all my treasures together. Hopefully I will have internet access during the trip so I can post my fun finds. I am really looking forward to that trip too.


Then today when I checked the mail I found this in my mailbox.....My prize from winning the contest on Mid-Ohio Knitter Thank you Vickie...I love it. You are the best!!! I can't wait to make something out of these yummy charms. Well lots to do and so little time...Until next time..


LesleyAnn