I think I’ve got it! I tried black --- too dark--- I tried white --- too light! Besides, who makes a white baby quilt? STAIN is the first thing a new mother learns --- I know babies see black and white first --- and then into color, so this is what I decided to do! I spent the morning cutting 1.5” strips from my solid black, and several different black on white prints. Again, it’s hard to go
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
More Novelty Stars..
Posted on 05:36 by Unknown
I still need 3 more…and they are cut out to sew this morning. As I lay in bed last night, before my brain shut down so I could sleep ---I played with setting ideas in my head. Do you do that? I am an “on-point” girl, but I quickly ruled THAT out…these blocks are all directional. There is a definite right-side-up to them…. Sashing? Maybe. A pieced sashing? Well, maybe ---and then there are the
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Time-Out for a Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 14:45 by Unknown
I’ve been sewing like a mad woman….even madder than normal! These stars have taken over the plans I had for my day, but they are so fun, easy and cute that I just can’t stop! Right now there are 11 of them all laying on top of the long arm machine rollers….shining like little star-pointed soldiers. Five more to go – I think I’ll stop at 16!I just took a break and found a little goodie that
What a Novelty!
Posted on 05:27 by Unknown
For years as I’ve been working on keeping up with my Scrap User’s System, I’d divide fabrics to be cut into strips by size –and that was fairly straignt forward. But occasionally I’d be gifted things like leftover novelty prints. Just HOW do you slice those down? Because EVERYTHING loses its head or arms or legs or becomes undetectable if you start cutting it into narrow strips! Sometimes this
Monday, 28 November 2011
Blog Gremlins?
Posted on 11:15 by Unknown
I was sure there HAD to be a glitch going on with the Blogger Archives this morning when I tested some things out…and this was AFTER I got this message from a reader: Hi Bonnie, I was on your blog this morning and saw a previous blog you had on April 30, 2011 about a trip you took to the Lancaster area. My sister, a friend and I are going to the Lancaster Quilt show in March and I am in charge
Mystery Monday Link-Up! Part 2!
Posted on 04:55 by Unknown
Have you been busy bees, even with the holiday hoopla gaining force in our lives? Someone made a comment on our Quiltvillechat email list that even though November and December ARE extremely busy months, that taking this small bit of time out for herself to keep up with the mystery steps each week added a feeling of peace to her other wise busy chaotic Holiday season. I mean, think about it ---
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Show & Tell Sunday!
Posted on 03:18 by Unknown
Today I am on my way up to Lynchburg, VA for a sew-day with some quilty friends! I’m really looking forward to this…we are going to sew on our projects like maniacs, laugh a lot, talk a lot ---order pizza for lunch ((delivered! YAY!)) and sew all the way til dinner time! We’ve planned a dinner out --- and after dinner I’ll head back home. Last night DH and I were out late, at a dinner party with
Saturday, 26 November 2011
First Quilts!
Posted on 06:37 by Unknown
The first recognizable traditional patch-working I ever did was an Ohio Star block we made in home ec, my senior year of high school --- but I’d been sewing since about the 6th or 7th grade. I LOVED to sew. My mom would take me shopping for remnants, looking at the little bundle wrapped with a paper label, telling us how much yardage the rolled up piece contained. Even today I get excited by
Friday, 25 November 2011
Afternoon Edition! Free Kindle Book ---
Posted on 12:26 by Unknown
And the fun continues! I love long holiday weekends….still cleaning out closets here! The pile of stuff to be dropped off at the goodwill donation center is growing, and it feels so good to CLEAN IT OUT! Do you go through this same kind of re-adjustment when the Holidays start to settle in? I’ll go for months without having anything bother me, then all at once..BAM! I can’t leave it alone and
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Out of the Closet!
Posted on 08:59 by Unknown
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the USA! Happy Thursday to the rest of you, unless you live in Australia or some such place where it is a completely different day for you as I post this, but I’m sure you are used to the recalculating of dates by now! I’ve spent the morning reaming out a closet in the guest room. Last night about 9pm we got the call from Jeff that things to his room mate had
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Turkey Day Eve ----
Posted on 14:14 by Unknown
And I was stupid enough to venture out into the the “dreaded” shopping area of Winston Salem’s Hanes Mall Boulevard. I know every biggish city in America has this same spread of stores…..It’s near the MALL ((other wise known as the M.A.U.L. in my book, and we don’t go there!!)) and as soon as you exit the freeway you can see Chilis, Applebees, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Costco is across the street--
A Day in Labadee, Haiti!
Posted on 06:20 by Unknown
It was unanimous! There would be NO crazy bike excursions on our last port of call, Labadee, Haiti! Of course this could be because no bike tours were offered ---- But really, this was our last port before starting our return journey home, we’d had 3 previous days in a row of pedal to the metal ((Literally!)) cycling tours. This was our day to VEG OUT! Labadee is not a Haitian village --- it’s
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Afternoon Edition! Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 12:52 by Unknown
There comes a time when you have to give in to the holiday fervor building and just go with it! I’m not saying that I’m into playing Christmas music 24/7 --- even on Christmas Eve that is too much holiday for me, but I have to even admit that yesterday, while sewing on a binding….sitting at the machine, zoning out in that zen-of-machine-stitching fashion that always hits me….I found I was humming
Tools of the Trade for the Serial Quilter!
Posted on 06:00 by Unknown
A very funny thing happened on the way to --- Doesn’t that line just draw you in? Stories like this have to be good if they start with “A funny thing happened!…” In this case, it deals with the cruise, 52 quilters, and a bunch of luggage being held in security because there was ((Insert that gavel sound from Law & Order here!)) SCISSORS. In the LUGGAGE!! ****GASP!!**** Security on ships is not as
Monday, 21 November 2011
Sad Day for Lancaster, PA!
Posted on 16:58 by Unknown
I just got an email from my friend Nancy in Shippensburg, PA…with an article attached! The Lancaster Quilt Museum that houses the Esprit collection of Amish quilts is closing! I am severely bummed out. I’ve visited this museum several times and I love the inspiration that I find there! I’ll never forget the time I had a personal tour by one of the docents….It was just amazing, and the lives of
Mystery Monday Link Up!!
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
We are doing a Linky thing on Mondays! Starting TODAY, those of you with blogs will be able to link to your post showing your Orca Bay progress every Monday throughout the mystery. I knew NOTHING about these linky things, I’ve never ever entered one, only followed them on Judy’s blog for Design Wall Monday ((Good stuff there folks, be sure to check that out too today!)) and I’ve followed Jo’s
Sunday, 20 November 2011
A Day in the Dominican Republic!
Posted on 09:54 by Unknown
Yep, back to the travelogue that is my life! Of all the places that really touched me on this cruise, it has to be the time we spent on our excursion outside of Samana. I’d never been to the Dominican Republic before, and I really didn’t know ANYTHING about it. Remember that whole thing about “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”?? Well he certainly didn’t land in Boston! He landed on the
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Evening Edition! Errands, and some recipes!
Posted on 13:09 by Unknown
This morning was full of errands. I had a $20 rewards card to redeem at Staples before it expired…..$20 is ENOUGH of a chunk to make me NOT wan to waste it…and I bought something I have been telling myself to get for months, but just never got around to it..or forgot about it..you know how it goes! But never mind. I bought it.What did I buy? A WHITE BOARD! I need to make notes for myself so that
Friday, 18 November 2011
SEW MUCH FUN!!
Posted on 10:45 by Unknown
Do you know how long it has been since I’ve participated in an “AT HOME RETREAT” with a bunch of Internet Quilters? This feels like THAT! You know, I had a hard time explaining to others who didn’t “GET IT”-- What was the difference between sewing at home on my own --- and participating in an “at home retreat” with a bunch of other quilters all over the globe who were also just basically at home
Thursday, 17 November 2011
It’s Orca Bay Eve!!
Posted on 10:17 by Unknown
All week long I’ve been giggling to myself! Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the build up that would present itself over the past few weeks, including mails asking what TIME this first clue would be posted tomorrow morning! OH. MY. GOODNESS!! I had to think about it. I live on the East Coast of the USA. Someone asked if it was going to go live just after midnight my time tonight….I
Shore Day 2! St Thomas!
Posted on 05:57 by Unknown
Of all the places we were seeing on this cruise, the one place I was looking forward to was St Thomas! It’s just the most beautiful place! We were off the ship by 9am to meet with our guide out on the pier --- today’s adventure? The Water Island Bike Adventure! We hadn’t done much research before leaving for this cruise – there just wasn’t time. So we had a couple days on board before we
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Afternoon Edition–Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 12:14 by Unknown
Oh My Goodness --- there is no fighting it! As I am typing this, Harry Connick Jr is singing “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year…..” on my radio station --And I am SO not ready for this! I guess there is no stopping it though, and I thought this little freebie MIGHT..just MIGHT get me a bit closer to being in the mood for the holidays just around the corner. Angel Be Good by Kathy Carmichael is
A bike tour through San Juan!
Posted on 06:28 by Unknown
Our first port of call, and a short one! As far as day light hours goes, that is….we pulled into port about 3pm, and we were there until 11pm, but we only had 3 hours of daylight left to cram in all we could! Being as I had lots of beach time and boat time and snorkel time on the last cruise ((Quickly translate that into SUNBURN time, ya’ll!!)) and was not really in the mood for repeating those
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
More Backing Fun!!
Posted on 12:57 by Unknown
I SERIOUSLY needed to get on the ball and get some stuff done when we returned home. Deadlines were looming, so much needed instant attention….but we returned home Saturday evening, and I decided that all “ELSE” ((Aka- BIZ STUFF!)) Could wait until Monday. I was continuing my vacation through the weekend, and that was all there was too it!Let’s face it – I had spent the past 10 days watching 50+
Rockin’ Rollin’ & Cruisin!!
Posted on 05:32 by Unknown
The difference between sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida in August, and Balitmore, Maryland in November?? WEATHER!!Here is a pic of Pat and myself...along with a random stranger guy in the background! :cD We were just leaving Haiti -- We had waves, baby! And swells that had us rockin’ and rollin’! Our sea legs got well conditioned rather quickly, and some of us applied the help of either the
Monday, 14 November 2011
And The Winners Are!!
Posted on 13:52 by Unknown
Look what just came in my mail today! My 100 blocks, Vol 4 commemorative mug! Yippee! I’ve now got a set of 3 of these….The big buttons make GREAT coasters too…got a set of 3 of these too! LOL! I can’t tell you what fun I’ve had reading everyone’s comments and entering their names into the drawing! I *DO* have to mention one that really gave me the giggles---one reader had written that she
Afternoon Edition–Free Kindle/Nook Cook Book!
Posted on 09:07 by Unknown
This is just a quickie post! I’ve learned to send these on as soon as I find them, because even a few hours delay and they might NOT be free anymore! It doesn’t work to stack the blog up with these to release later, and I apologize if there were books that came through the queue while I was gone, and they were not free anymore when you clicked to get them. That’s the breaks, I guess! You know
And they sailed from Baltimore!
Posted on 05:45 by Unknown
I’m backing up in time! Clear all the way back to November 3rd when we headed out on a beautiful early autumn afternoon ---- Sadie was SO knowing we were going somewhere ----Dogs just KNOW don’t they? She was hunkered down in her bed all day, just giving me LOOKS. Yeah, that look --- You know the one! Never fear, she was going to have more company that she would know what to do with. I’d
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Drawing Time!!
Posted on 12:47 by Unknown
I’m still unpacking! Somewhere, I’ve lost that Mp3 player again….it WAS connected to the headphones…but this morning, I could ONLY find the headphones… And I have no idea WHY they were in the box of Cheese Nips crackers!!??! That’s the kind of “clean the car” episode we had last night upon returning home. It’s weird to have it dark so early……and easy to lose things in the dark! I’ve just drawn
Come to Bali with Me!
Posted on 04:46 by Unknown
Bali Trip, 2012! We arrived home from our Caribbean Adventure last evening! I have so much to share with you, but it's going to take a day or so to get my bags unpacked and get to feeling "normal" again....so I'm leaving this in the queue for you---Have you been feeling left out of our traveling adventure fun?? There is no better time than now to plan for NEXT AUGUST! Come to Bali with me! You
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Name This Gadget!
Posted on 03:53 by Unknown
Have you ever wondered what some of these really strange contraptions could be? If you are a vintage machine lover, then perhaps you know……but some of these? I’d never seen before! Just what IS this thing?! It has moving parts and little notches with numbers….if you know? Leave a reply below! My love of vintage machines started early on..and along with every treadle or vintage machine came a box
Friday, 11 November 2011
Evening Stroll through Santa Fe!
Posted on 03:41 by Unknown
More Santa Fe? Yes, more Santa Fe!But first, I need to wish a very, very happy wedding to my little brother Scott, and his sweetheart Alicia who are being wed today on 11/11/11 at 11:11am! I can't be there in person, but I am there in spirit! I wish you guys the happiest of lifetimes, and can't wait to see you as soon as I can!*SIGH* If only I could be two places at once, but the cruise was
Thursday, 10 November 2011
A Visit to Southwest Decoratives!
Posted on 04:31 by Unknown
When I was in New Mexico, In between a morning guild meeting in Santa Fe, and an Evening guild meeting in Albuquerque, I had the opportunity to take a little side trip out to a very special shop! Not that ALL shops are not special, but this one was something REALLY neat! Southwest Decoratives might not even “SOUND” like the name for a Quilt Shop, but if you go to Albuquerque, please leave
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
MMMmmmmmm! Mulled Apple Cider!!
Posted on 13:52 by Unknown
Yes, I know that I’m out floating about on a huge ship with fruity frozen umbrella drinks, listening to the music of Caribbean steel drum bands, etc--- but I’m thinking of you folks back home! This recipe is REALLY yummy --- I think it’s the cranberries and the lemon juice & peel that do it, so don’t skimp out on those! The Holidays are quickly approaching and I definitely want my hands around a
Harvest is Over!
Posted on 04:32 by Unknown
Tobacco harvest season 2011 is now a thing of the past. Remember when I wrote THIS POST about the fields that grew near my house? Thearica over at Pigtales & Quilts has taken some videos for us of the whole process! If you are interested, give her a little click and go see! There are two videos on her page, one on priming ((picking)) and one of loading the barn! We emailed back and forth, her
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Evening Edition --- Simmer All Night!
Posted on 14:22 by Unknown
I’m lightening things up a bit here, there has been an awful lot of crime/murder/intrigue kind of books loaded on my kindle lately, and when this one came through I thought it would sweeten up my load a bit! Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson is ((was??)) free in the kindle store ((before I left home!)) and I hope it still is for you! From Publishers Weekly Dawson (The Wedding Raffle) offers a
Monday, 7 November 2011
100 Blocks, Vol 4 Blog Tour!
Posted on 21:10 by Unknown
***NOTICE*** The drawing for this magazine is OVER!!Have you been waiting for my turn to post? IT’S TIME! Here is your sneak peek at what you will find from me in 100 blocks by 100 designers, vol 4!This is my third issue as a designer for Quiltmaker’s 100 blocks by 100 designers magazine. I just LOVE doing these! I’ve found it very freeing to just work on ONE BLOCK….and see what comes out of the
Evening Edition --- Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 14:12 by Unknown
Just passing on another freebie to those who love mystery/crime/who-dunnits! Fool me Twice by Paul Levine is free in Amazon in the Kindle Store. There wasn’t a whole lot about the plot of this one written, but here is what I got from Amazon: BESTSELLING MYSTERY BY EDGAR NOMINEE PAUL LEVINE"Wildly entertaining blend of raucous humor and high adventure." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Take one part
Quiltmaker Magazine 100 blocks Retreat!
Posted on 03:57 by Unknown
August 2012 is going to be a busy busy month! Williamsburg,Virginia has been named the site of the FIRST EVER Quiltmaker Magazine 100 blocks retreat! In my OWN neck of the woods! Okay, well a short 6 hour drive away, but I can be there --- and hopefully SO CAN YOU! Plans are just now jelling for this. So far the plans are that I will be the featured key note speaker on one of the nights--The
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Happy Birthday, Little Sis!
Posted on 13:42 by Unknown
I’ve blogged a bit before about My sisters ---- I’m the oldest of 8, the older three of us from my mom’s first marriage, and the younger five from her second. Three girls and five boys complete our eight!I honestly don’t ever think of us being two sets of kids ---other than the age difference that separates us a bit, but never EVER EVER have I considered these brothers and sisters to be halves
Backing Battles!
Posted on 04:16 by Unknown
Last July in Iowa, Jo, Amy and some others of us took time out from the Iowa State Guild Retreat to go hit the quilt shop…they were having a HECK of a sale, and I know I didn’t need more fabric, but when stuff is $2.00 a yard and they are clearing it out…I’m going –—whether I need it or not! A girl can always use backings-- And the backing fabric has ALREADY been used! In fact, it never even
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Evening Edition --- Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 13:47 by Unknown
We are up to November 5th! Are you counting down the days until Thanksgiving? Is Christmas music playing on radio stations in your area? It started for me the day AFTER Halloween --- good thing it didn’t start BEFORE! I’m just not ready for Christmas music…I spent time before leaving on this cruise downloading all the Jimmy Buffet and other Caribbean laid back summer type music that I could find
Ask Bonnie!
Posted on 04:05 by Unknown
Today’s topic: Washing old, musty string blocks! I received an email the other day from Anna who has acquired some really great string blocks…but there is a problem. They are still attached to the paper ((Dated 1955!!)) and some have stains…and they smell musty. Her question: Hi Bonnie, I just received two old string quilt tops that were sewn on the machine and pieced on newspaper. One of the
Friday, 4 November 2011
Evening Edition—Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 13:31 by Unknown
First off, A very happy happy birthday wish going out to my brother, Rick! Rick was born when I was 15, and I remember his birth so vividly! He has a special place in my heart, he and I are two of a kind, and the further we get into our middle age years, the more we have in common! I love you baby, bro --- Hope your day is wonderful! ((Pic from my 2009 visit to Idaho.))Where are we now? As
Apple Spice Coffee Cake!
Posted on 04:28 by Unknown
Yes, I know, we are floating out here in the midst of a Caribbean sea in November, and you are at home in dropping temperatures and thinking of Thanksgiving around the corner! When Carol was driving me from Portland Maine, up to Rangeley a couple weeks ago, we stopped at a little road side farmer’s market ---it’s apple season! They had people running the sorting belts in the back and the whole
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Evening Edition–Free Kindle/Nook Book!
Posted on 13:05 by Unknown
By the time this post goes live…..we’ll be sailing out of Baltimore and on our way to the Caribbean! It’s a funny thing to start a trip in cold weather! I’ve been thinking the past several days about what it will be like on deck as we leave the harbor, all of us huddled in jeans and sweatshirts, coats, jackets, scarves..hats and gloves? Or will we give up and go INSIDE to watch from the warmth
Zuckerwatte Quilt & Curved Bindings!
Posted on 04:17 by Unknown
This tutorial is being written as an extension of a Quilt pattern that recently appeared in the September 2011 Patchwork Gilde Magazine in Germany! Remember I showed you the back of this quilt? I was unable to show you the FRONT until it appeared in the magazine! And the Magazine is HERE! Zuckerwatte is the German name for Cotton Candy, and this quilt, with its pinks and purples just have
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Evening Edition! Free Kindle Book!
Posted on 13:00 by Unknown
This goes RIGHT ALONG with today being the second day of Dia de los Muertos! How could I not post this?! Recipes and a mystery thriller combined? Double combo! Double fun! Chili Con Corpses by J.B. Stanley is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received an average user rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 10 customer reviews. Category: Mystery Book Description:In Stanley’s
Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assissi!
Posted on 08:15 by Unknown
One of the landmarks I was able to visit in Santa Fe, New Mexico was the Cathedral of St Francis! You can’t hardly miss it, it’s there….larger than life…at the end of the street---and it’s a busy place, bustling with tourists! With good reason! My fascination with historic buildings holds no bounds, and I was eager to walk the grounds and find my way inside. I always feel a reverence when
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Why I blog ---
Posted on 20:13 by Unknown
I’ve been traveling around the internet from time to time, visiting blogs, following links, seeing who is in other people’s reading lists, trying new venues, seeing what is out there. There are times when I even end up questioning myself, why I do what I do at all--- at the end of the day, what drives me to post and post and post? There have been comments --- not necessarily about me, but about
Evening Edition --- Free Kindle Cookbook!
Posted on 13:36 by Unknown
Those folks at Gooseberry Patch are at it again! This time it’s Savory Pies!! Book Description: From Flaky Chicken Pot Pie and Spaghetti Pie to Upside-Down Mexican Pot Pie and Slow-Cooker Sausage Pie, this new collection features 25 savory pies that are sure to get mouths watering and tastebuds tingling! Yummy Yummy, get it while you can! There is nothing like a warm and comforting main-dish
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