Good Morning!

What a beautiful morning it is too! I was staring at this vision only a few minutes ago.

At the exact same time, this was above my head...

It is an amazing blue sky with pink clouds. Quite a contrast and certainly made my heart sing this morning.

After receiving that gift this morning I thought I would share a few things from friends last week. This is the beautiful vintage sheet music from Becky.

Becky also gave me this vintage paper doll set.

I don't know how she knew I loved paper dolls, but this is certainly a treasure. There are various heads that slide on the bodies with outfits and hats. Adorable. If you peek in my window some day you may catch me playing !

Among Karen's gifts I found sheer fabric with embroidered dragonflies , vintage lace and a silk dupioni that I don't have :-)....I haven't opened the Almond Champagne yet!!!!!!! Perhaps we need another play date? Love the card!

Jilly used this awesome rag bag to stuff goodies in. I could hardly get past the bag. I thought she had made it.

Those were a few things from my wonderful friends Jilly,Karen, Laney,Becky,and Ellen who now have reason to watch their backs!

This gorgeous card arrived from my friend Jan from Michigan/Arizona. It arrived while Saturday's CQ class was taking a lunch break. Isn't it beautiful? The music paper is the envelope. Thanks Jan!!!! Have fun in AZ!

After class , a student gifted me with something she picked up from a quilt show recently.Pat Resler presented me with a scrumptious bag of pink trims with a beautiful Susan Clarke dragonfly charm.

 

Oh how I love Susan Clarke charms! I still have an unopened Sea theme pack from my dear friend that I can't bring myself to disturb. One day I will ....really I will.

Thank you so much Pat. I will most certainly put these to good use.

I am still thinking about the students and their excitement over crazy quilting. It was a wonderful class.

My dear friend Marjorie sent me such a sweet gift. Something she had made and perfectly suits me to a tea!

Thank you Marjorie, I love it! What a special treat to have a hand stitched item from you. That must go in my front room where I have tea.

Well, that is a bit of my goodies however we all know where the true treasures are found....our friends.

I started painting the last rental for my mother in law yesterday. Today I will catch up on finding shelters for the 8 dozen Comfort Dolls and a few projects before attending the NANI(Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana) meeting tonight. I get the privilege of hand delivering the mini CQ brooch prize won on my blog. The winner happens to be a NANI member! Small world!

I hope Marjorie, Karol and Lelia attend. If not , perhaps next month.

Have a great day and see if you can catch the sunset this evening :-)

Catwright sequins

I just had to post  about my favorite source for sequins.I've been ordering from Cartwright's for many years and am always 100% satisfied.I placed my order earlier in the week and it arrived on Friday .I was so excited to have found the tiny sequins I have been searching for right here at Cartwright's. I am thrilled with their offerings and the service can't be beat. My orders arrive so quickly it is almost as if they deliver them during the night,LOL.

I highly recommend this company for sequins. I am not affiliated with them in any way. I'm just a very satisfied customer. You must try some of the 3mm fully cupped Iridescent sequins, they are gorgeous and so cute! Perfect for the Inner Child dolls and small creations.

I know you will be quite satisfied with Cartwright's.

Four more CQ addicts in the world....

Can you see me hunched over , wild eyed, with a wide smile while wringing my hands and being blissfully content in knowing there are now four more crazy quilt addicts in the world? Yes, it is true! Their names are Pat Shalks, Diane Cademartori, Alison Wojcik, and Pat Resler, my students from yesterdays CQ class. They worked hard and were naturals at CQ.

Mother and daughter played well together :-)Alison's mom, Diane, does beautiful tatting...lucky girl! I can imagine Diane will keep busy tatting motifs and seam embellishments for a very long time.

Decisions, decisions....it looks beautiful Pat!

Hmmmm..should I use another image or save it for another project?

 Smiling faces = new crazy quilt addicts! Look out world!

 It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed these friendly, creative ladies. It was a privilege to introduce them to CQ. Their blocks all turned out so pretty and I think they enjoyed themselves and will now be looking for additional stash.  I must  go now and pack up the house for our move before their husbands arrive with weapons. Oh dear!

Thank you Pat,Diane,Alison,and Pat for a wonderful day of sharing my passion with you. Now, back to work! :-)

And the party continues..............................

Last night Jilly and Karen had planned to come over to review some stitches and gab, or so I thought........
I worked on Comfort Doll boxes all day and around 5:00 I headed out to the CQ studio to finish a few things for Saturdays class and wait for the girls to arrive. With the heater warming me and soft music making me sleepy, I lost track of time but managed to finish my tasks when Jilly came in. She announced that people were coming over. Well I knew Karen was coming and figured she had invited another stitcher but then she said I'm having a party. I didn't know if she was kidding or what because she was so calm and I said "No I'm not, when?" She said now! She handed me a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses and pushed me out the door to put them in a vase.

As I was cutting stems in the kitchen, Ellen  came in. She brought Angell some homemade treats. She gave me a birthday hug and we went back out to the studio where I found my friends Karen and Becky and a table full of treats. Then Laney walked in. I was in total shock and didn't quite know what to do. I've never had a surprise party before and I must give Jilly credit for pulling this off. Of course I will never trust her again.

Let me tell you a little about my peeps who pulled a fast one on me last night.......

Many of you know Ellen, the queen of thread play! She is such a talent, clever,fun, and a wealth of knowledge.She will listen to your woes and have you laughing and feeling worthy again as you leave with a dyed thread or pretty fabric bit tucked in your pocket skipping merrily home.

Laney is comedy in motion, pretends to be hard-*## (excuse my French) but is too cute to take serious. She is a very caring pal you can spill your heart to and feel ok about it. The kind of friend you jump in the car with and just go with the flow knowing you are in for an adventure! Let's say...Thelma & Louise. She keeps me laughing.

Karen, when you first meet her you think she is so prim and proper, serious and brainy....now, keep the brainy part and toss the rest because they are a disguise. Karen is a Diva, a funny, no, HILARIOUS gal who surprises me every time. She is a perfectionist I think but she may deny it. She can be so mature and all knowing..(in a good respectful way), then do or say the funniest thing. She is the life of a party.I can just imagine knowing her in high school...oh my the trouble I would have been in! :-)

Becky...I've known Becky for a year now and what a treasure she is. Soft spoken, sweet, and such a caring person. She is the only other person besides myself who enjoys wearing pink..soft pastel pink. That is neat I think. I can imagine sitting and creating with Becky and having tea and interesting conversation. I look forward to many creative play dates with her.

Jilly.....well, now as you know, I have learned she is sneaky. Jilly has a gift of seeing ones soul. She is a deep thinker but is all about having fun. She cares and lets you know it. She is intrepid, and although she knows I'm not, she gently nudges me from my safe corner showing me everything is fine in the big world and good friends are there to comfort when needed. Laughs are never a shortage with Jilly.

Look at these expressions on Laney and Karen...what are they up to? Nothing innocent I'm sure of that! Ooops! Jilly wasn't supposed to be in the picture...sorry Jilly! (love ya)

I love this picture of Laney  who appears to be staring at the strawberry whip cream cake anticipating a taste, or is she contemplating dipping into the whip cream with her pinky?

I can't express how great it was to have my friends together laughing, sharing stories and having a good time. I am amazed Jilly found a way to contact those she didn't even know or meet before. I'm still a bit in shock wondering if it really happened or if it was just one of those very realistic dreams. Although I'm sure I will know the answer when I get on the scale...the cake, crab dip, taco dip......oh my!

Let me leave you with this beautiful poem from a gift of vintage sheet music from Becky. It sums up my day very well.I will post more pics when I catch my breath...........Thank you Jilly,Laney,Ellen,Becky,Karen,and all my friends out there who made this the most memorable and perfect birthday.

When you come to the end of a Perfect Day

And you sit alone with your thought

While the chimes ring out with a carol gay

For the joy that the day has brought.

Do you think what the end of a Perfect Day

Can mean to a tired heart

When the sun goes down with a flaming ray

And the dear friends have to part?

                     Carrie Jacobs-Bond

                               1909

Think Pink Charm Exchange charms have arrived!

So many pretty charms arrived from the Think Pink Charm Exchange hosted by none other than Amber Dawn! Amber collects 2 of the 12 charms participants submit and creates beautiful jewelry for the Susan G Komen fundraiser via Monica Magness.

The lovely charms shown here were made by the following creative souls....

Amber Dawn,Moon Rae,Fancie Horton,Terisa Brooks-Huddleston,Johanna Felberbaum,Karen Witte-Elkins,Elizabeth Woodford,Holly,Sandy Firestone,Cindy Hoglund. Thank you all for the beautiful charms. All will be added to my Pink charm necklace!

Thank you Dawn for another well organized exchange and allowing us to help a great cause.

The winner of my 50th Birthday drawing is........................

 The  random generated  number was for Linda Lynch! Congratulations Linda! I'm also glad you entered because I now have your blog link. I lost many links when I tried to update my blog...didn't work out so well.

Anyway, you are the winner of the fabulous prize of any sign or frame you design from Danielson Designs, "THE STUDIO". As you may know, I received my sign last week and am loving it. I am planning to order a sign to go above my tea set in my dining room. Yesterday as I was having tea with mom I stared at the empty space and a light went off. I can't wait to design another and I know you will love yours too. They are really a neat company.
Congratulations...I will get the info to you when I hear from you!

Thank you all who entered and for the birthday wishes. Each one made me smile. I think perhaps there will be another drawing for a small handmade item next week just because it is "Trick or Treat" month :-) Stay tuned! Have a great day!