The Reindeer pattern is...

right now on ebay for 4 more days.

ebay link

*see Oct. 25 post for pic

Fabulous Giveaway

Head on over to see Vickie at Spun Sugar Quilts. She is celebrating her 400th post. I love that brown fabric on the top of the Momo fat quarters!!!

Win a Cricut Gypsy!

Such a great giveaway! Click HERE

Little Totebag Ornament Tutorial

This is the first time trying to write a tutorial. I sure hope you can follow my directions. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. Sure hope you like it! Please let me know if you make one. I'd love to see it.

TOTEBAG ORNAMENT

All seam allowance is 1/4"

1. Begin by cutting
two squares for lining 4 3/4" tall x 5" wide
two 6" squares for outside
two 5 1/2" squares of lightweight fusible interfacing
one 9 1/2 x 2" strip for strap

#2. Adhere the fusible web in the center of your outside fabric, then re-cut it to measure 5" wide by 5 1/4" tall.

#3. On each bottom corner of both outer and lining fabric, cut out a 3/4" square.

#4. Fold the strap in half and press. Open and fold each long side to center, press again. Finally, fold in half again. Your strap now measures 9 1/2" x 1/2". Stitch as close as you can the length of both edges.

#5. Right sides together, sew each side and bottom of outer bag. At each corner, match seams and sew across. This will box the bottom.

#6. Sew the lining in the same way BUT, leave a 2" opening in the middle bottom for turning later on. I finger press all seams open.

This next photo shows the opening in the bottom of the lining.

#7. Pin handle at sides over seam on inside of outer bag with handle facing down in the bag.

#8. Turn lining right side out and insert into outer bag, right sides together. (Lining is shorter than outer bag)

#9. With side seams matching and top edges even, sew 1/4" seam around top.

#10. Pull lining out, then reach in through opening and pull outer bag through.

#11. Using a ladder stitch, close the opening in the lining, then push the lining into the bag. I like to stitch in the ditch around the top.

#12. Your little bag is done now. All you have to do is embellish it. Fringe, rhinestones, lace, buttons, ribbon..... Put a little stuffing in the bottom and hang on your tree with a candy cane in it or a little gift. After I was all done, I decided to put a small pocket on one side for a little note.

That's it!!!! Can't get the spacing right for some reason.

2 DAYS

This Friday The 13th of November is the kick off to the next round of Quilt Bingo.... There are 12 players and 45 FQ's in the pot... You still have time to sign up.. See post below for link to Quilt Bingo.

Click Here to go to their site.

Wanna Play???

Quilt Bingo (click on the words quilt bingo to go to their site) starts in 6 days and only has 4 players. It's a lot of fun if you're interested. Just like regular bingo but played online with the word q u i l t instead of b i n g o. Here are the 3 fat quarters that I'm sending.

Quilt Bingo win

I totally forgot to tell you about my win in quilt bingo! I shared half the prize and received 25 fat quarters. Sure made my day. Quilt bingo is starting again soon. Thank you so much to the previous hostess, Melissa!!! It was a lot of fun!

Challenge doll and Stitcher's Angel package

I'll show my little Halloween gal now. I entered her in a challenge of which I didn't win. I knew I wouldn't, LOL, but I was determined to finish and get her entered.

Next is the package I finally finished and sent to my Stitcher's Angel. I'm so disappointed in me with this bag! It took forever (wrist in brace again) and I used the wrong interfacing on the lining. Made it crinkled and wrinkled. ACK!!! I had to send it though and sure hope my gal likes it a little. I also included a little zipper bag to match. Then, showing the rest of the package in the bottom photo. A couple of little gifts for her little girl, a couple of fat quarters, a couple of pincushions, note books, calendar, needlecase, fold up tray, rick rack, cute buttons, about 25 yards of lace, 36 - 5" charms and a friendship bag. Can't forget the Florida magnet and postcard! It was fun, but I'm glad this over for another year.

I haven't heard a thing from my angel yet. Sure hope I don't get stiffed again. :(

Aww Darn It!

I love it when people comment on my blog but the last couple of days I've had some anonymous doozies!!
Sorry to say I've had to dis-allow anonymous comments.

What I'm talking about here is porn and spam. Can't these people find better things to do?

Southern Ringneck Snake

It's so beautiful!!! We've been in Florida for 11 years and this is the first time I've seen one. They are very common but very reclusive. They are usually 8 to 12 inches long. This one is about 6 inches. They are harmless and make no attempt to bite. When disturbed, they often coil up their tails to show the bright color underneath.

Santa's reindeer......**EDITED**

....are waiting patiently for Christmas but 2 of them are taking off within the next few days on a scouting party. ;-)

Many people have asked about the pattern. I did a google search and found many. "Tomorrow's Treasures" design by Joanne Burkhart. 1981

ps. I'm so sorry so many of you can't find the pattern. All I can say is keep searching google. It will show up.

Did you.... *Edited*

....schedule your mammogram? Mine is Thursday.

Hurray for all of you that did it to!!!

Got it. I'm a little flatter now LOL. I just want to say I had the absolute sweetest gal do the exam!!! I was so busy talking I didn't get her name. I gave her a card and am hoping she visits the blog and gives me a shout out. Thank you!

Look what I won!

A few weeks ago Pat at SewPat blog had a giveaway and I was one of the two winners! Today my gift came and what a gift it is! My goodness, take a look at this pretty table runner! The fall leaves are ironed on just like they fell off the tree.

I am so in love with the crows and pumpkins fabric she used. Sure wish I knew who made it.

Thank you Pat! I love it!

White Peacock Butterfly *EDITED*

White Peacock, originally uploaded by Carla Finley.

I wonder how long Flickr has had the option to add a photo straight to your blog? Thought I would just try it out.

EDIT::: To answer a few questions from people that have their email set to no reply: This is a butterfly. The photo is straight from the camera.

Fighting Breast Cancer

Angie is having a great giveaway! You should see the dolls. Adorable! Click on her name or the pink ribbon on the side bar and fly away to enter!

Change happens

It was around 3:45am. I was sooooo tired. I was out on the lanai and had to go to bathroom but all of a sudden I noticed how limp the antennae were. It's time! I never get tired of watching and wondering how on earth? I tried to zoom in a little at the end and made it blurry. Darn it!

Another butterfly soon

It won't be long now before this little one starts to chrysalis. Problem is, it will be around 1am and I so wanted to video it this time. I think I'll probably miss it.
:( This is a Monarch.

My 9th Great-grandmother; The Witch

I do a lot of genealogy and this person has been one of the most fascinating to study. Winifred King. She was born in 1640 and died sometime after 1697. Daughter Winifred was born in 1684 but I don't have a death date on her.

Two possibilities for Winifred's mother: Goody Bassett and Mary Hale.

John Parker's wife, Hannah (Bassett) Parker accused Winifred of witchcraft. Although it hasn't been proven, there is a possibility that Hannah's mother might have been Goody Bassett who had been executed for witchcraft. John Benham pulled out a gun in court and threatened to shoot Hannah if she didn't stop harassing Winifred.

From "The Devil In The Shape Of A Woman", Witchcraft in Colonial New England by Carol F. Karlsen (Professor of History at the University of Michigan ), W. W. Norton & Company, New York, London, 1987.

"Chapter 1, New England's Witchcraft Beliefs, p. 43 - 44.

After the Salem and Fairfield outbreaks, only two people in New England were sent by local officials to the higher court to be tried as witches: Winifred Benham of Wallingford and her 13-year old daughter and namesake. The elder Benham, possibly the daughter of an earlier Boston witch, Mary Hale, originally came under suspicion in 1692, but the New Haven County court had dismissed the case for insufficient evidence. Her husband's threat to shoot her accuser did not end the rumors, and the following year she was in court again on the same charge. She was released again, this time required to post bond of 20 pounds for her good behavior. The church soon after added their censure by excommunicating her. When she was accused a third time in 1697, this time of possessing several of her neighbor 's children, she was sent to Hartford for trial, along with her daughter, who was by now implicated in her crimes. But the Grand Jury refused to give credence to the accusation and the cases were dismissed without trials. The court's actions failed to clear the Benham's of suspicion, however, and the family moved to the less hostile environment of New York. (137)

The Benham cases were unusual. To be sure, some people still believed that witches plagued their communities, but in the aftermath of the Salem outbreak witch trials were no longer countenanced by either ministers or magistrates, nor would it seem the larger community. "

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/SALEM-WITCH/1999-08/0934135577
From: "harold l fitzmeyer"
Subject: [SALEM-WITCH-L] Winifred (King) Benham
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 14:06:17 -0400

Terry's block

Here is the block I made for Terry. It's called a Friendship block. I got the pattern from About.com

__________________________________________

This is a wall of my sewing room I forgot to upload the other day. The little design wall still has a wall hanging on it from January. In the book case are some of my patterns. The folders are all patterns that have been downloaded. In the corner is a stand with a few of my dolls that have been sent to me and some of my pincushion collection. That stand is a big mess too!

Win a jelly roll and help a fellow blogger

Laurie from A Yankee Quilter is rounding up blocks to make comfort quilts for Terry's family. If you are able to help, go here to learn more.
9 1/2" blocks are being accepted until October 25th. You will have your name in the hat to win a jelly roll just for making a block.