Easter Cupcake Crafting

The cupcake crew got together recently for a little Easter craft project.  Here is the prototype that Jill brought.

Before crafting, it is important to take nourishment.  Starbucks makes the best scones.

We received an unexpected package in the mail from our Illinois friend Mary Beth - how exciting.

So many nice surprises in cute handmade bags.

She sent 2 egg coloring books and we each received a wonderful project bag, candy, kleenex and a wonderful note.  Thank you Mary Beth!  We wish you were here with us.

After all that excitement we needed more nourishment, lol.   Susan made cheddar cheese soup and served it with bacon, cheese, and broccoli - delish

On to crafting.  We wound fuzzy green yarn around hard green styrofoam wreaths.

We then decorating them with plastic and candy eggs.  Jill made these cute picks on the computer, how clever is that?

This is Jills.  She is going to use it as a candle wreath.

 

Here is mine.

Thanks Jill for a fun craft project.

How about wearing it as a hat?  The Easter Parade is coming to town.

Here is mine on my front door.  Let's pretend that is not me in the robe, lol.

I briefly reported last week that poor coco had a belly ache.  After not eating for 2 days, she was kept in the hospital and re-hydrated and put on antibiotics.  They don't know what she got into, but it was bad; and she had it good (bad).

After a couple days of this:

Hooray, she's back to her old self.  I'm so grateful.

You still have time to enter my giveaway for a CD of the quilts of the AQS show in Lancaster; click here.

See you Friday!

Show Report - Lancaster 2012

Well friends, I'm afraid there is no pictorial show report.
It is against their rules and I am honoring them.

As a consolation, I am giving away a CD of the show.  No hoops to jump through, no promises to make, just leave me a comment.

I will be picking a winner at random on Friday - Good Luck!

On the way to the show, we stopped at Poole Forge, a lovely historical museum.

Here are some of the antique quilts they had on display.  I am sorry for the poor quality, I was using my phone.

Wow, these are almost the exact colors I used in my Mother's Garden quilt - love it.

I'm in love with this one; toile' love

I thought the pink was a nice change from the usual green in this Grandmothers Garden.

Simple block to block construction - just a nice quilt.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank 2 women that I have never met who helped me finish my Mother's Garden Quilt.  Mary Jo and Joyce of Michigan sent me pink fabric and  without their generous gift, I could not have made this quilt.

Before you sigh in boredom and disgust, I swear this will be the last and final shameless promotion of this quilt.

Photo credit to Pauline - thanks pal!

Don't forget to enter the give away to see all the quilts of the 2012 Lancaster show.

Fun For Friday - Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles.

First and foremost.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to send me a comment or email regarding my quilt at the AQS show.  I told my husband that in many ways they are more meaningful and valuable to me than the ribbon or the prize.

So, why this new feature you ask?

I put a very high value on fun.  I try to inject fun into my life and those around me.  I believe having fun is a state of mind and I want to inspire fun to others (wow, that was almost a mission statement on fun, weird.)

Here is what was recently fun for me:

Drinking  bubbly.  I couldn't wait for RV to get home, so I started and he joined me, wee.

Playing with my new light up bubble gun.  I got this in Disney World and it's so fun!!

Here I'm trying to show you how they look in the dark - the bubble sort of light up!

Don't have a bubble gun?  These work just fine!

The only NOT fun thing.   Poor coco has a belly ache and I'm hoping she'll be back to her old self soon!

I bought these salt & Pepper shakers in WDW.   They look almost toile' to me.  Pretty elegant for mouse merchandise.

Eating our family's favorite WDW treat.

When was the last time you picked up bubble gum?  It's still fun! 

Tomorrow I'm leaving at 0-dark hundred to go to the show in Lancaster.  It's always fun to pack some treats for my car mates.  You are never too old for treat bags with your name on them.

In closing, I'd just like to say that I know life is not all fun.  I too have my own challenges, disappointments and worries, trust me, I do.

Having said that, I hope you find some fun near you!

Life Goal Realized

I normally try to avoid this, but wanted to share the news that my Mother's Garden Quilt won 1st place in the Wall Hand Quilted category at the AQS Lancaster 2012 Quilt Show.

I am beyond surprised.  I was thrilled to have it accepted and for other quilters to see it.

Betsy, a guild friend, sent me this phone picture from the show this morning.  Thanks Betsy~

And here is Abe with Betsy's beautiful Silk quilt -

you can see a video of all the winners here -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QBf4TI3yqMk#!

After the dentist and house chores I plan to sit down with this and celebrate properly.

Thank you to all my quilt and blog friends who have encouraged me through many quilting projects and goals!

This is especially sweet for me because the quilt is a tribute to my mother, Catherine Clarkson Bednar 7/11/42 - 12/10/90.
You can see the full story of the quilt by clicking here.

Sew What?

Here's what:

These little needle books in honor of Presidents Day.  I had to wait until I gave some to friends before sharing them here.

Look at those handsome devils.
I realized these were a perfect size for a little book.
You can bet I'll be on the look out for fabric that lend themselves to needle books~

Making the prototype and figuring out cutting -

Morning work station - so much easier to do when everything is pre-cut.

Front - crooked (which is why it is mine and not a friends)

Inside.  I used ultra suede.  A little thick, but the color was good.

Back - a little heavy on the glue - again, that is why it's mine.

You can make your own if you follow the general instructions of the coffin needle case on the tab at the top of the blog.

Finished the hand quilting on this:

I'm thinking I'll bind it in red.

Here are flying geese units that I'm trading with Susan and Jill (the cupcakes).  We're going with solids and modern/bright fabric.  I know, a departure for us!

I recently realized you can get the streak of lightening with these - a real ah-ha moment for me.

and finally thanks Anna for the Moda fabric.  If you need moda, Thimbleanna is your go to gal!

I ordered 90" wide, so no pieced borders or backing - yahoo!

See you on Friday for a new blog feature I'll be calling:
Fun For Fridays