Raggedy Ann Embroidery Blocks

Kaaren of The Painted Quilt has been offering a block of the month Raggedy Ann quilt for the past few months.

 If you have not been over at her blog to check it out...really, you should! The blocks are wonderful!

 She just posted the last in the series...so you can go and download all twelve embroidery blocks. Her embroidery designs are stupendous...and the patterns are very well done. They are all in pdf format downloads...just click...scroll down...wait a few moments and then download!

TDiTM Stitch #139

This would be a great stitch for any block...but it reminds me of snowflakes. So, I think it would be really effective on a winter block...done in metallics!

TDiTM Stitch #138

This is a very simple feather stitch seam...but very lovely! This would also make great "seaweed" in an Under The Sea style block...of course, it would be vertical then! LOL!

Woot! Woot! It's Better than Christmas...

I won again! And you just won't believe what it is....my love..my passion (well one of them anyway)...

Swarvoski crystal! Isn't this a gorgeous beaded tassle! Oh, I hope I can make something as wonderful as this one day! I'm following Sharon's blog SharDon Exclusives to get inspiration and enjoy all of her eye candy! So, if you like to bead...come on over and you can drool over her wonderful creations along with me!

A Story of True Love...

My friend, Pam, sent me this in an email...and frankly, I usually delete these "feel good" notes...instead of forwarding them as I'm asked to do. But,...for some reason this one really touched me...so I'll forward this little story along to you.

I have no idea if this is true...

but I'd like to believe it could be!

I call this ....

True Love 

It was a busy morning

about 8:30, when an elderly

gentleman in his 80's arrived to have
stitches removed from his thumb.

He said he was in a hurry as he had an
appointment at 9:00 am.

 

I took his vital
signs and had him take a seat,

knowing it would be over an hour

before someone
would to able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and

decided, since I
was not busy with another patient,

I would evaluate his wound. 

On exam, it was
well healed, so I talked to one of the

doctors, got the needed supplies to
remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of
his wound, I asked him if he

had another doctor's appointment

this morning, as
he was in such a hurry.

 
The gentleman told me no, that he

needed to go to
the nursing home to eat breakfast

with his wife. 

I inquired as to her
health.

He told me that she had been there
for a while and that she

was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we
talked, I asked if she would be

upset if he was a bit late. 

 
He
replied that she no longer knew

who he was, that she had not

recognized him in
five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him,

'And you still go every
morning, even though she

doesn't know who you are?' 

 
He smiled as he
patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't
know me, but I still know who she is.'

Now, wouldn't that be a great and true love! 

I'm sorry to say that I don't think I've ever had anyone love me this way...but I hope that you have! 

I don't know who created these gorgeous photos, 

but if you do...please let me know so I can

properly credit them!

Here's my favorite:

 

Want to See Something JawDropping?

 

Isn't this GORGEOUS!

This absolutely stunning hand embroidery was stitched by Sherry Johnson. It is the prettiest heart I think I've ever seen stitched! And that's not even the best part...she is sharing her pattern on her blog Time For Stitching...for free!
So hop on over to her blog timeforstitching and check out all of her work and download the pattern to stitch for yourself! Sherry is well known for her Brazilian Embroidery work...and any accolades I could give her are very well-deserved! I'm so glad to have found her site...and hope to learn a lot from her work! After you check out her blog...I'm sure you'll agree with me that it is INSPIRING!

I won, I won! ...and again!

It is hard for me to believe...but look what will shortly be mine!

Isn't it pretty!!! I commented on over 500 posts during the recent One World One Heart event...and actually visited all of the sites...over 800 of them! However, I did not have time to stay long at most of them because I was flying around visiting! Of course, some of them caught my eye right away...and I could tell that specific "blog" and I would become good friends...so I became a "follower" and will be keeping an eye out for their wonderful posts. Others were interesting to read and view different artist talents...but, the blogs were not "right" for my interests...so I simply enjoyed the brief visit. And a couple scared me even!

During the visits...I hoped that I would win at least one little thing after commenting on over 500 sites...but when I woke up this morning...there were no "congratulation" emails for me. No great surprise really...as my luck really is not good with this sort of things. [This is the reason I stopped buying lotto tickets!]

Then around noon...I got a real surprise. An email from Dale Ann of "Chronicles of Whimsy"...with notice that I had won something! And not just a simple something...but this astonishing necklace. It will be my new talisman of good-luck! If you have a minute...hop on over and check out Dale Ann's blog...and her stupendous artistic endeavors!!

EDITED TO ADD:
Oh my...I've won again! Becky of ArtBeckons emailed me today...and I won a great book on wreaths! Check this out!

I can't wait to get it. Becky does multi-media art...which is not usually my "thing"...but her site is full of great ideas...so worth my visit there. Go check it out...you might get hooked by her posts and let loose your Artsy Self!

TDiTM Stitch #137

Here's the second of the feather stitch base seams...this time, let's add some detached chain stitches and beads!

Time to Bake some Cookies!!!

These are so easy, a seven-year old can do them!

[Wow, that photo makes it look like I actually have some counter space...but no, it's an illusion. I have a spot that is 13" wide by 35" long to create any food magic!]
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 egg
1 container whipped topping (Cool-whip, reg size)
1 box cake mix (your choice of flavor) Chocolate works great, but we didn't have one...so we used basic yellow cake mix by Duncan Hines (any brand should do)
1 box powdered sugar
I'm not sure if there is a substitutes for the Cool-whip for you international folks...so here is a photo. Perhaps you can figure how to create these cookies with different brands of items.

Mixing: Beat the egg slightly with a whisk or fork. Add the Cool-whip and stir. Add the cake mix and stir until well blended. Put the powdered sugar in a seperate bowl. Take a spoon full of batter and drop it into the powered sugar bowl...Coat well.

 This was Aidan's job!

Shake of excess sugar and place on the cookie sheet for baking...slightly flatten. Bake at 350F degrees for about 12-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheet.

 They are a little messy...but fun!

And they taste great!

OWOH FOOTNOTE: I have not forgotten that today is the day to "draw" the winner for the OWOH prize...I will let the Random Generator pick a number and send that person an email. When they respond...(and I'll wait only 3 days)...I'll post the winner at the bottom of the original OWOH Post.

TDiTM Stitch #136

Feather stitch is one of my favorite stitches to use...and you've seen it a lot on any Under the Sea style of crazy quilt patch. Just about any sort of button, bead, sequin, or even straight stitches can be added to dress it up!

The straight stitches on the red fabric don't show very well...guess I should have used yellow there!