Getting all my ducks in a row

Took me what seemed like foreveah to get all my larger HSTs trimmed and squared up. I didn't' use Triangulations with those b/c I had a super stash of nickels of blues and COC and WOWs to use up... now I know and remember WHY I LOVE Triangulations SOoooo much! When you're done cutting you're done! know what I mean Vern? :P

Now that I'm at this stage, it shouldn't take me much longer... each of the blocks laid out on the left of my machine are double... exact same below them (one for me and one for crazy) I find it works so much faster like this to match up pairs to sew for at least 6-8 blocks at a time = always leaving behind the matching blocks below so I can know where they go after I press... kinda like a puzzle ;)

and see that bright HOT PINK long rectangular box - got it at a garage sale a while back and it's holding my 3.5" x 6.5" CANDY BARS that I'm cutting here and there... as I've signed up for vickiquilts' swap ;)

Well, now that I have all my little "ducks in a row" right there in front of the sewing machine waiting to be chain pieced - I better get back to what I was doing.... ;) Oh and my machine is in the BRIGHT SPOT light provided by an adjustable floor lamp b/c the light above my needle has been shot since before Easter and I've still not bought a replacement.... *sigh*

Love from Texas!

Goodies in the Mailbox again! ;) Package Received form Bails

Look how green the front yard is looking! What little rain we received really helped a lot! Take a look what I found today in my mailbox yesterday 6/23..... ;)

HGTV Sunshine Quilter wiley sent me these pink/white string blocks. It's been a while since I counted them but I have quite a stack and will have to get them all out soon as the month is almost over... and I'll be sending on to Sue & Mary of the HeartStrings Project on behalf of all us over on the boards.

Also inside the mail box was this package from swapper bails

thank you * thank you * THANK YOU for the extra 4 patch blocks!!! I la,la,love "leftovers" ;)

Leftovers - the kind with zero calories! :)

and can you take a guess why the kids were are all wearing hats last night around 6:00 pm???

It's b/c the BIRTHDAY GIRL Nora (turned 6 today) and I asked her what she wanted to help me make for supper tonight - our usual Birthday supper is spaghetti - and I was really thinking she'd want the same only with MEATBALLS instead of our usual meat sauce....

but no, this 6 year old Birthday girl had other plans - Momma, I want to go to the PLAY McDonalds - and this time I don't want to "ride thru the window stop" I want to GO INSIDE - PLA-PLEeeeese!"

Well, how can you say no to that? It was her idea for everyone to wear a hat...after all if you ask her she will tell you that "she's the boss of what we do for her dinner"... and we all did. Yep, David thru on a Firestone Cap and I grabbed my Texas Longhorns sun visor. :P

Nora ready? ...CHECK!

Olivia ready? ... CHECK!

Paul Thomas ready? ... CHECK!

Tally Ho... Here we GO!

Happy Birthday Nora!!!

....cha, cha, cha ;)

Her REAL party isn't until we return from vacation. In July we will be having a POOL PARTY for all the kids since they all had birthdays back to back.

Love from Texas!

Did you know you can Get Paid to REUSE! ;)

MOST of the time when I grocery shop I remember to take my reusable bags. I have the bright blue KROGER ones that I stared using about 3 years ago... but the one I'm showing above is also a bag bought from Kroger but their logo is really small and I really like the green Reuse on the side..

Recently while shopping and checking out at my CVS pharmacy store - guess what I spotted hanging by the checkout. This little leaf bag tag.

If you attach it TO ANY reusable shopping bag - doesn't have to be one of theirs **although theirs are cute** and you have your bag with you when you shop and have them scan the back of your Reuse Bag Tag then you will earn $1 extra buck on every 4th visit!

How cool is that! I paid $0.99 and in 3 more visits I'll get my first $1 extra buck back form using it! I even bought one for David to keep in his truck and use too b/c half of the time he stops in there on his way home from work to pick up his prescription or whatever item we need that can't wait till the next big trip to the grocery.

I attached my little plastic leaf to the small loop that is on the side of the bag that was used to hang them on the rack at the store. It hides nicely hanging down inside my bag ;)

I love CVS! Do you have one near where you live?

Love from Texas!

Swap blocks from Lisa S

What cute cards! I have some like these with our family info on them and a photo of all of us from a birthday party a few years back... I think I paid $10 for 500 of them and still have lots left. They sure are handy for handing out when you want to give someone your phone number or website ;)

I can already tell from Lisa's ziplock that she's got it packed to the rim with beautiful fabrics!!!

again I've spotted 3 sets of nearly identical twins LOL

I know everyone loves sneak peaks ....and not meaning to spoil any surprise for you here's 3 clues of what will be returned to each of you in August..... everyone in the swap will be guaranteed to receive one of each of these ;)

Since there are 39 of us... and 40 of the blocks in each of those photos...... again, so thankful we have a big group of us... other wise it wouldn't work out as easy. Lisa S will get 2 of her own back of these leaving 1 of those for everyone else in the swap. ;)

However all in all - there are a lot of variety of great fabrics in her swap package! Thanks Lisa S for participating in my swap I'm so glad you found us! ;)

Whew - now that all 3 of Friday's packages have been opened, logged in, and photo shooted... this late night owl is loggin off and headed to bed now! ;) Have a great weekend everyone!

Love from Texas!

Another package opened - from indycatcarol

This time from indycatcarol. Although she doesn't have as many different fabrics used as what you've been seeing in the photos I post of the packages received - thankfully we have a large group of swappers so I think between the 39 of us I can evenly disburse them out so that no one gets 6 that look alike in their return package. However I did contact her so that she will know for round 2 to use more fabrics next time. :) Thanks for swapping indycat! :)

Love from Texas!