Just a Little Obsession

Last Friday, daughter and I were out shopping, and I picked up these (yes, all of them in one day... Hey! Don't judge me! I'm sure you have your "thing"....)

I don't know what it is with me and magazines.... I feel kind of like a moth drawn to the flame... I try to look away... I do, I really do.... but somehow, the pretty pictures capture me every time... and then I start to imagine cozy evenings by the fire glow of the television screen.... just me and my glossy little friends curled up together enjoying one another's company....

I know they can get a little expensive, but at least they're not fattening or illegal, so why not indulge? (Look, Robin, I even bought the ridiculously expensive Gooseberry Patch Christmas edition!)

What's funny is that when I bought them, I knew I'd have to show them to you and make my "confession," and then, lo and behold, while visiting over at Blackbird Designs blog,  Alma admitted to the same obsession.

12 Step Meeting, anyone?

And speaking of "habits," (but this is a good one), block 2 for Settler's Pride showed up in the mailbox yesterday, so I'd better get to it (I know myself: if I don't start it very soon, it will get pushed to the bottom of the pile, possibly never to see the light of day again, and that would be sad....)

Giveaway Winners, Little Visitors, and Yummy Treats

First things first: The winners of the Quiltmaker 100 giveaway are Tricia from Our Happy Little Home and Laura from A Quilter's Nest.

Congratulations- I'm sure you'll enjoy pouring over the pages of this wonderful publication... bring on the inspiration!

Do any of you have these little guys (girls) in your house? Seems like this time of year, every year, ladybugs take up residence in my studio. Aren't they cute? I even have a few living on the ceiling!

Here is one looking over my sketches....

Taking a sip from my water glass...

He (she??) even likes the same books I do!

And it must be getting close to Christmas because we found Panettone in the store the other day... We love this for breakfast or for a snack. It is something in between a cake and bread- light and fluffy with dried fruit, just a little sweet. Love it!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks

I am happy to be a part of Quiltmaker Magazine's Special Interest Publication (hits the newsstands Nov. 17) and, of course, to be a part of the blog tour:

Wow! 100 Blocks! And you can WIN A FREE COPY!
Here is the block that I designed for the issue:

Of course, I had to do something with applique, because I just can't seem to stop drawing...
I have to say, I spent way too much time on this blog post.... I thought I'd just show one or 2 ways that the block could be used in a quilt, but then I was on a roll and I just couldn't stop.... so here are a few of the ideas that I came up with.

You could just make one block with the applique, add a couple of pieced blocks, and make a quick wall hanging: (exhibit A) You could use your single applique block for the center and build a whole quilt around it: (Exhibit B)This is the same exact quilt, done with different fabrics- a totally different look: (Exhibit C) Of course, you could make several blocks and put them together just about any way you choose: (Exhibit D)

(Exhibit E):
Same quilt as above but with a more complicated block (Exhibit F):
(Exhibit G):
Your fabric choices could be soft and subtle: (Exhibit H)Or a little wild and wacky: (Exhibit I)

So you can see I got a little carried away.... But this is what I really love about quilting- you can NEVER ever run out of ideas.... Just one block.... a million possibilities.... and with today's choices in fabric.... (please excuse me while I hyperventilate just a little bit)...

BTW I did all of the above quilts with my EQ6 program- I am totally addicted! (And it's not like I needed another "habit", what with my affinities for chocolate, diet Pepsi, Jane Austen movies, British Country Living magazine, fabric, fabric, oh and fabric... really, need I go on??) I can "make" a whole quilt in about an hour, and never get stiff shoulders or sore fingers!

To WIN your very own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, comment on which above quilt design you like the best. I will pick 2 winners at random 8 pm EST Sunday November 15.

Good Luck!

Halloween 2009 Revisited

After visiting the farmer's market, we brought our pumpkins home and set to work...

Just one of us decided to dress up...
Pumpkin guts everywhere.....

The finished product (and no lost fingers.... a very good thing...)
In the afternoon we also visited an old fort... nice and spooky....

What is that saying about the lunatics running the asylum? I think it may apply....

I can't believe I posted those pictures.... I have a feeling I may regret it... maybe I already do....

Trip to the Farmer's Market

Saturday we took a trip to the local farmer's market. It was raining (AGAIN!!) but we had fun looking at all of the interesting pumpkins and gourds on display, and choosing just the right ones. Maybe daughter will start a new jewelry trend at her college.....

I will show you what we did with our pumpkins in my next post.

Surprise Giveaway Winners

I actually decided to randomly pick 2 winners for the Surprise Giveaway, and they are....

Dawn from Linen Closet Quilts and Robin from The Robin's Nest.

Dawn and Robin will each receive a candle, a package of note cards, a hand-painted pin (made by yours truly), and a CD of my favorite music.

I love surprises (well, I really like surprising other people, but don't necessarily like being surprised myself- I always like to know exactly what to expect). My kids have learned that when we tell them to get their shoes on and get in the car for no apparent reason, they should do it without question or complaining. Because often it means a trip to the ice cream shop or something fun like that.

Oh and speaking of surprises, Happy Cottage Quilter will also receive a hand-painted pin and package of notecards for being the first one to comment on yesterday's post which announced the Surprise Giveaway...... Whoa! Betcha didn't see that one coming, did you????????? Yep I'm just full of surprises today..........

So don't be surprised if I decide to do more SURPRISE GIVEAWAYS in the future. 'Cause I think I mentioned, I'm sneaky like that!

SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!!!

I have been trying hard to keep up with all of my favorite blogs (so, so many....) and trying to reply to comments on my blog (because I read and so appreciate each and every one). But I fear I have fallen woefully behind (again.... tsk tsk... I know.... shame on me....) So in appreciation for all of the lovely and encouraging comments I receive here, I decided to do something a little special. You see, during the entire month of October, I filed away ALL of your comments. Yep, every single one (I'm just a little sneaky like that...) All of those names are going into a giveaway I am doing. You get an entry for every comment, so if you commented 10 times during the month of October, then you get your name entered 10 times. (You were entering a giveaway and you didn't even know it- hee hee!!)

I am in the process of compiling the entries right now, and I will pull the winner later today.
Tomorrow I will post the name of the winner and their FABULOUS prize (insert Bob Barker immitation here.)

Thank you to everyone who visits here and leaves a comment. Have a wonderful Monday.

My Favorite Fungus

A few weeks ago we had several days of rain (which seems to be a recurring theme around, since this past spring). After it cleared up, I looked out the front window and saw something strange. Upon inspection I found this really interesting "garden" of mushrooms of various kinds and colors. I just had to take (a lot) of photos.
This one formed a cup on top that collected water.

I think this is the same type of mushroom as the others above, but in a different stage of development.These were a beautiful bright yellow color, but we looked them up and found out that they are extremely poisonous.This group looks like the Mushroom Family- Papa, Mama, and Baby Mushroom, don't you think? And below, they are pictured a few days later.

I thought they were so beautiful and interesting, they inspired me to do a few quick sketches.