In Celebration of my 100th Post....a Giveaway!

* This post will stay at the top of my blog till the drawing.*
*You can find my usually chatting below*Holy Cow!!....this is my 100th Post!

WOW, the time just flew by!

As promised...I am having a little giveaway
This is the prize.....a pretty book on making pincushions and a needle case I made just for this giveaway.
A close up of the needle case .....outside & inside....


I hope you like the prizes since I am going to make you work a bit to get them...don't get nervous, you don't have to wash my windows or anything ( but that isn't a bad idea ;-)

In your comment, you have to tell me what your favourite crafting /sewing/quilting item is ??
Or any neat new product/ item you have discovered.
I am looking for ideas for Santa.
I figure if I give him a detailed list he should manage to get me one item from it. (Or does your Santa manage to bring you great gifts? Mine needs help...I have been married to him to long which means his "gift giving" brain cells have died! )

Help my Santa....enter my giveaway!

Here are the rules:
- you get 1 entry by leaving a comment about your favourite item in this post.
- you get a 2nd entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog with a link and picture.
I will NOT be giving a 3rd entry for becoming a follower. I feel you become a follower because you like my babbling and not to get a prize. ( I am honored if you do become a follower but it is not necessary, you can pop in whenever you like :-)
So the most entries you can get is 2!
After all, you only need 1 to win!

This giveaway is open to everyone!
If you don't have a blog please send me your email addy, so that if you win I can get in touch with you, otherwise I will have to pull a second name.

The winner will be chosen on November 15th, 2009

Thats it...lets hear your ideas!!!

Planting Bulbs Tutorial....don't laugh!

As my poor Hubby raked leaves ...actually he sucked them up.
He got himself one of those sucking/blowing garden tool thingies ( don't ask me what is is called)
It looks like a big elephant trunk thing that sucks up the leaves.
My Hubby is out there vacuuming the garden and I can't get him to vacuum the house! MEN!!
I wonder if that thing would work indoors ??
I think I just found a new job for him ;-)

As he was playing with his new toy I planted my spring bulbs...finally!
A neighbour had told me about a tool that makes it easy ...once again I don't know what it is called ( I am not very bright today !!) but I thought I would share my excitement with you.

This thing is fabulous ( probably you all know about it and I am the last person to discover it)
I am going to call it a bulb planter for lack of a better name.
This is my new wonder tool!!! LOL

If you enlarge this picture you can see that it even has markings on the side for the different depths you have to go.
This is sooooo easy......you just push it into the ground....and pull it out...the dirt stays inside like magic ands you have a perfect hole!!


Drop your bulb in.
Make sure the pointy end is up!!!
Place the bulb planter over the hole and press on the handle ( one side will go in) this releases the dirt.
Viola ...hole is covered !! Bulb is planted!!

Now was that not cool or what ??
I know .....I am easily entertained!
I hope you liked my first tutorial ?

Hugs,

P.S. I know my Dutch friends are probably laughing their asses off about bulb planter ! :-)

Posting Help ???

Does anyone know how I can keep a post at the top ??
I wanted to keep my Giveaway post above so that others could see it and all my new posts would fall underneath.
Does this make any sense ??
Can anyone help me ??
Hugs,



*** Thanks Julia, your tip worked!!!!
When you write your post , at the bottom there is a button "Post Option"...click on it and predate your post ! So easy!! Duh !!! Why didn't I think of that ?? ;-)

Fall

I love fall!
The crunch of leaves under my feet.
The changing of colours.
The crisp cool air letting you know winter is coming.
The reminder that Christmas will be soon upon us.

This is the fall I like....



This is the fall I don't like!
Under the yellow leaves is green grass...trust me!

I know why they call it "Fall" ...since ever leaf falls into my garden!!
We don't have a tree in our yard but we have the pleasure of our neighbours trees hanging over our yard which means....tons of leaves!
More leaves then I have ever seen!
They just keep raining down upon us !
I won't even tell you how many times we have raked them up and they keep coming ( I think they are secretly multiplying on their way down!

On the one side we have the pleasure of Birch trees ( I never knew they had SO many leaves) and on the other side we have a huge Walnut tree. ( I could bake enough walnut bread for 20 years)
Don't get me wrong...I like these trees in the summer when they give me shade but in the Autumn...I hate them! LOL
Couldn't they just drop all their leaves in one day??
Do they have to take weeks to tortue me ???

Ahhhh, the joy of Fall!

Guess what we will be don't tommorrow??
If you are bored, I have an extra rake...come on over!
Hugs,

99th Post

I can't believe this is my 99th Post!!
I started this blog on January 23, 2009
I figured it would be at least a year before I would have a 100th posting giveaway.
WOW, I sure can talk a lot !!

I guess this means I will have to have a giveaway for my 100th post!
What will I be giving away ??? I don't know but I can tell you what it won't be.....
It won't be a car, a trip somewhere exotic or a fancy sewing machine ( I wish) ...guess you will just have to check back and see what it is???

In the meantime, I wish you a Happy Halloween!!
May your bag be filled with your favorite candy!

Hugs,

Sore feet

Have your feet ever hurt so much that you thought they would explode ??
Well, my feet are at that stage!
Actually, I wish they would explode so the throbbing would stop.
I shouldn't whine...it is my own fault!
If I would just admit I am not as young as I think I am or should I say, my body isn't as young as I think I am !

Yesterday was the first day of our big "Kreativ Welt" (a creative fair) and I walked my feet off till they could not walk anymore! (Yes, I wore comfy shoes...I am over 40, all I own is comfy shoes!)
I am getting to old for big events like this.
Years ago I could go through the whole fair in about 6 hours...now I need 6 days!
Maybe not 6 days ( it only runs for 4) but 2 days would be good!
My feet would thank me for it but I am sure my wallet couldn't handle it.

There were over 400 booths, and I had to check them all out! ( almost all)
There where beads, papers, fabric, ribbon, threads, stamps and more stuff I am forgetting. (the pain from my feet is blinding my brain)
It seems that scrap booking has finally hit Germany big time. There were so many stands of scrap booking supplies that a collector could go crazy!
I had wanted to get a stamp of a sewing machine....5 million different kinds of stamps but do you think I could find a sewing machine...NO!
This is a plea to the stamp makers...we sewers would like some stamps of sewing machines, spools of thread, thimbles & needles! Maybe next year someone will have heard my plea??...maybe by then my feet will be ready for it?

I did manage to find one stamp ( that I wasn't looking for) ...isn't this cool??
What are the chances I would find this but no sewing machine???
I didn't find the fabric that I was looking for but I did find these ( they just jumped into my basket).
Either the price of fabrics have gotten ridiculous here or I have become cheap. ( the sale fabrics were 10€ meter = $14...most fabrics were about 16€ meter = $23 US)
I am use to ordering my fabrics online from USA shops so I wasn't prepared for some of the prices.
Is that high or am I a cheapo ?? ( I know I am a cheapo!!)
What is the most you have ever paid for quilting fabric ???
My personal top was 19€ ($28US) needless to say I only got a FQ! ( no, it wasn't laced with gold...I still haven't used it...I am hoarding it for something special!)

Even thought some of the fabric prices were high, every once in a while a girl just has to buy some locally. I can't order everything online. I need to touch it, stroke it, ohhhhh & ahhhh over it. I need that instant gratification of "shopping" not waiting 2 weeks for it to arrive by mail. Even though I do enjoy when a package arrives...I ohhh & ahhhh over it too! But there is something wonderful about instant shopping ( even if your feet hurt, a nice piece of fabric makes it all better)

I was telling my Hubby all about the fair last night. He even pretended to listen and be interested (probably he was afraid if he ignored me I would go back a second day and break the account!)
I said...If my feet are so tired from our little fair, how would I ever survive the Houston Quilt Show ??? It is every quilters dream to attend it but I think I would need at least 3 days to walk through it...that or rollerskates!
Needless to say, I am not dreaming of the Houston Quilt show today ( even if I am envious of everyone that can go)

In the meantime I will have to be happy with our fair.
If you want to get a impression of our Creative fair, click on the videos here and here

Now I am off to pamper my sore feet.
Hugs,

Great Giveaway

How would you like to win 27 FQ's of Red Rooster's Pumpkins & Spice Fabrics by Whimsicals.?!!!
Doesn't that make your mouth water...it does mine!!!
All you have to do is visit Brendas Blog "Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe" and enter.
Please go enter...if she gets 250 enteries then she will give away a second bundle....that might help my chances of winning ( and pigs fly!) :-)
Hugs,

Omas 100th Birthday!

Sorry I haven't written all week but life got busy here.
Usually I live a quiet, boring life but once in a while the Gods decide to shake it up a bit.

My Hubbys Grandma ( we call her Oma) celebrated her 100th Birthday on Tuesday!!
Yes, you read right....100!!!!
The woman is amazing!!
We had a party for her ( about 50 guests) and she talked to everyone of them...for hours!!
I was exhausted from the whole day advents and the next day she went to a 70th birthday party. She amazed me! I hope I am as fit as she is when I am 80! Oh heck, at 50!!

Here in Germany, it is normal for guests to show up at your home and congratulate you on your birthday(and bring gifts of course!)
Since Oma lives in a retirement home we had the "congratulations" part at the home and I can't believe how many people showed up! I think the whole town was there at one point or another (she knows the whole town)
Even the Mayor came and a photographer from the paper.
It is not every day that someone turns 100.
The morning was busy serving the guests Champagne and sandwiches and then off to the restaurant for the party.
By the end of the day I was exhausted but Oma was happy....I think she became 10 years younger!

Here is our 100 year young Oma!!

then ....... now.......
Here is the Mayor congratulating her......

I had put together a large poster of Omas Life.....I was really surprised to find old pictures of her and her family.
Guess they did have cameras 100 years ago ;-)


The following pictures are for my sister....no party would be complete without cake!
This is what you missed Sis..... 14 different temptations!!!
(click on the pictures to get a bigger taste)





Now I am off to try and get a bit of sewing done...gotta take advantage of the extra hour we got today ( hope you all remembered to set your clocks back?)
Hugs,

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Dam, it is cold out there!!!
What happened to our lovely Indian summer we were having ??
It sure disappeared quickly.
Instead Mr. Winter is showing his ugly head and I am not ready for him...I don't want him!
I still have work to do in the garden and I don't wish to do it wearing long johns and a winter coat but it looks that is what I am going have to do if I wish to get these darn bulbs I bought planted...why did I buy bulbs?? What was I thinking ??

I went out to walk the dog this morning......threw on my fall/spring jacket ( as I have been doing)....opened the door....walked about 10 meters and turned around as fast as I could!
Dam it was cold !
There was no way I was taking Max out for his morning ritual in a thin coat...he has a fur coat on so the cold doesn't bother him ( lucky dog!!!)
I dug out my red winter coat, red hat, red scarf and black gloves (sis, I can finally use my Isotoner gloves, they kept my hands nice and warm)
I bundled myself up like a true Canadian and headed out.

I didn't look like this.....I looked more like this...without the beard of course!I looked ridiculous but I didn't care...I am past that age where I dress to look good....now I dress for comfort or warmth.
I figured the other doggies didn't care as long as I had cookies in my pocket.

I am off to take a shower and get ready for my fun filled day of running errands ...yeppeee
I will dress a bit better then morning but I can tell you that this afternoon I am putting on long johns for Maxs walk.....burrrrrrrr!!!

Time to dig out your winter clothes...unless you live in Australian...they are getting spring...ahhhhh, what a nice idea.
I wonder if I can move quickly ??
By the time I packed up this house they would be getting winter too ...darn!
Time to dig out those long johns!!!
Hugs,

More blocks done

Slowly my "Journey of a Quilter" blocks are coming to an end.
We had rain most of the weekend so I sat on the couch ( like a potato and stitched away...what else was I going to do ?? clean, iron , wash ??? No way!)
I only have 2 more blocks to stitch and then I can put it together.
Of course, then I have to find fabric for the border, baste it & quilt it...which means the journey will go in for a while! I never said I was fast !

Today I won't make you work for the pictures but I hope you all enjoyed the puzzle?
These are the blocks for the one row....
And here are the couple of finished blocks for the 2nd row....be sure to click on the pictures to see them bigger.

For my Family & Friends in Canada.....Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a piece of pumpkin pie for me!!! ( OK , 2 pieces!!)
Gobble Gobble!!!!
Hugs,

Finally finished something!

I don't want you thinking that I get nothing done ....just almost nothing.
I finally finished something and just in time for the season but you are going to have to put the puzzle together to see what it is.
I hope you like it?!


Now, wasn't that puzzle fun??
You can make your own with any picture you like...I find it cool but I am easily amused!

Also in keeping with the "season" I won these fun Halloween 5 FQ's from Ryan.
I love the tag & card he sent with them. It almost makes me want to get into stamping.
I'll have to check our big craft fair at the end of the month for a sewing machine stamp.....one little stamp is OK ...it doesn't mean I will get obsessive and buy everything for the hobby ...OK, maybe 2 or 3 stamps but no more!! ( I am writing that part for my Husbands benefit)
Hugs,

I am a junkie!!!

I have to admit it...I am an internet junkie!
I don't know how it happened but it did!
Actually it is my husbands fault...he brought the first computer into our house.
I didn't want to get a computer ...what for ?? So that he could sit around and play games all night...no thanks!!
Little did I know that once he set up an email account for me, that I would be the one sitting in front of it night and day.
He has never played a game on our computer...he is lucky if I let him touch it! (only to repair it)
So it is my husbands fault I am a junkie !!! (blaming someone else always feels better :-)

The last 3 days we were without internet again.
I can tell you it was HELL!
If your provider has been down for more then a day you can sympathize with me...it is rough!
How did we live before computers ??
Did we have lives ??
What did we do with our time ??

Last night, I was complaining to my hubby that the internet was still down....Mr. Smart Ass, says to me ..."Guess life has no meaning anymore, why bother getting out of bed!...me being Mrs Smart Ass...did just that...I spent the day in bed !! (not really but I let him think so)
You should of seen his face when he came home and found me in my pajamas! ( that man has to get up a bit earlier to out smart me!)

What I am trying to say is, how amazing it is that a little box has managed to take over our lives.
We can't live without it!

I had wanted to make Stuffed peppers yesterday and couldn't since I didn't have a recipe ...no internet to look one up ( I did fake it but I am sure they would of been better if I had had internet)
I wanted to wish a friend Happy Birthday but couldn't since I had no internet. (Happy Belated Birthday Pat!)
I wanted to congratulated my friend Julia for FINALLY making a Blog but I couldn't since I had no internet.
I wanted to post some pictures on my Blog but I couldn't....no internet.
I wanted to read my emails but I couldn't...no internet
I wanted to waste some time surfing around a bit but couldn't ... no internet.

Maybe my Hubby is right..."Life has no meaning without internet!"
That.....or I am a junkie!

Hugs,