Have you seen what's new over at The Painted Quilt??

Just wanted to share with you the news of the newest BOM being offered by Kaaren over at The Painted Quilt - her Raggedy Ann BOM!

Perhaps you have already seen this button around blog land that she shared for participants to add to their sidebars?

Click the logo to take you to the first pattern.

Raggedy & Friends is comprised of 12 individual blocks. Nine of the 12 blocks include two stitcheries each and three of the 12 blocks have one stitchery in each. In the seventh month, I will release blocks 7, 8 and 9 together as they are the ones that have only one stitched design in each. The tenth and final month will include the last block and finishing instructions. The button will also act as a reminder that on the 20th day of each month for the next 10 months I will be posting a new block

Love from Texas!

What's acceptable for black white 4-patch swap due 10-31-10

I know there have been several people who asked - what do I mean by the sub catagory for ROUND 2 when we swap Scrappy 4-patch blocks agian in the fall... do I mean fabrics that are black and white?

no. I actually vision 4 patch blocks that are made up using white on white fabrics (WOW) and then the black part of the 4 patch, to use a BLACK fabric. I prefer them to have some small tonal designs on them...

So for the visual people who need examples take a look. The top row are fabrics that I'm looking for in the black/white 4 patch swap if you'd like to participate. Those paired up with any WOW fabrics to make your blocks.

Thanks for the questions - you guys keep me on my toes :) I hope the photo you can click on to see larger to see that there are some print designs on those blacks at the top...

Also I would very much like for the same matching blacks to be used within the same unit. So a total of 10 identical blocks like the one above would = 1 set. Limit 10 sets per swapper. Hope this helps.

NOTE: my above example was used with paint software - the WOW tonal fabric doesn't show up very well... please use a WOW. thanks.

Hey Kelly @ IHAN - Aren't you proud of me for not opening my EQ6 software that has been here for right at a month now... I'm being very patient for my birthday to roll around before I open it... only 6 more days :)

Love from Texas!

Blocks from quilting professor are here

Thought I'd share some snapshots that I took of the little ones this morning during breakfast. Most days they enjoy their Cinnamon Toast Waffles ;) That's one item I let then have while sitting at the big table and not in their booster chairs... I use the word "sit" very loosely here... as you can above.

Yesterday I only shared one of the packages that was picked up when we went downtown to the Post Office. This one took me a little while to figure out WHO it was from... I had to use my detective skills... but I did finally figure it out.. quilting professor sent in 15 sets.

"Freshly wrapped" I might add :) 5 sets neatly lined up in each wrapper.

There was no HGTV nickname inside - just real life name... and in this swap as you know I have 39 participants which several are first timers with me either from reading my blog or found it when I posted it on the yahoo quiltville group.... most of my swappers give me all their mailing info when they sign up, but there are 13 that I do not have addresses for in my spreadsheet ---yet. :) I will though once they arrive ;)

and this one - how I figured it out was - the city was also the same as part of her email address which I did have in my spreadsheet! ;) YES! I found the clue I needed! haha. ;)

I have to say, it really makes my job easy peasy when they are so easily to lay out. Just lift up a set at a time, verify that there are 10 in each set... and everything stays so nice and neat ;)

1,2,3,4,5 and again... and again ;)

Oh and I'm not sure if prior to this swap she had used the pressing tip as shown in the video I shared (look for it in my sidebar on the right) but looks like to me that she mastered it ;)

Ta-Da! All 15 scrappy sets from quilting professor... at least I think they are from you...

Please correct me if I'm wrong ;)

Love from Texas!

Wednesday hump day? for us it's go day. ;)

Earlier this week, I mentioned that I had a post card from the PO saying there were 3 packages for me to pick up down town at the Post Office... Well today the kids and I ventured out to do some errands...we've been cooped up in here since Sunday! I had to go by the church and swing by the bank.. along with a few other places, but going to the Post Office was first on our list of things to do. I even dared to go in with all 3 kids and WITHOUT the double stroller! They're 3 now so they need to start learning to "stay together" and "hold hands" and despite Paul Thomas' best effort to escape me, he never got loose :P

Since I knew I'd have two little hands to hold and packages to carry, I took along my newest reusable shopping bag that I received for preregistering for MOPS. Love the color and logo but quite frankly I have to admit that the quality of the bag is disappointing... but I'll try and use it, b/c after all it's great advertisement to invite other moms to join our group ;)

Anyway - the packages... one was for David and the other two shown above were from scrappy 4 patch swappers! :) Take a look at what vickiquilts sent....

Peek-a-Boo! I see a little Red Riding hood looking at you... :)

Isn't this book soooo cute?

Nora sure thought so and took to reading it right away. I'm sure the twins will enjoy it too as we keep a whole backpack full of books with us in the van by her chair and she reads to her "backseat buddy" - which is usually Paul Thomas. She prefers him over Olivia b/c he doesn't try to "tell her what to do" haha and lets her read what ever she chooses - whereas if Olivia doesn't get her way on what book to read, she'll cry and scream all thru the one Nora picked...

although I think before I let this book get put into the backseat of the van... I'm taking it upstairs when I go get the twins from naptime so that we can all enjoy it together at bed time. I love books that have a rhyme verse. ;) and "I" want to be the one to read it :P

I did go all thru vickiquilts package really good b/c it was marked on the outside as damaged... and had a little mishap with one of the machines along the way. Two of the bags popped open..

that is when the "Cards" with my name & addy on one side ... and your info on the back side, along with the number of sets you sent - COME IN SO USEFUL... I was able to take a look and see just how many sets were suppose to be in each baggie... ;)

and after getting them all out - and count and recount... and RECOUNT...

First two times I came up with 199 both times... then 3rd count = 200 and so I had to do it two more times to make sure that there really were 200 and that I had not miss counted the third time.....you know - to make for sure, SURE :P b/c I'm nerdy like that....

and indeed - ALL 200 blocks were there! whew! ;) I love it when it all works out... oh and one more thing... vicki also sent Nora alphabet bands! :) Thank you so much missy for ALWAYS finding a little something to send to my kidos. You are soooo spoiling them! ;) You've been in a number of my swaps over the years and I know you know you don't have to... but I know that you want to. I hope I'm doing a better job of sharing photos with you. I'll try to get some of the twins at bedtime one night this week too ;) but as you know I open and go thur the swap stuff while they are napping! ;)

Thank you Ms. Vicki in FL!

Love from Texas!

Package from Quilter Jen arrived!

and here's the last post of photos of the packages that arrived while I was on vacation for the 4th of July to Kentucky. There was one card that said I have a package at the PO I have to go pick up... so if you didn't see yours listed below, I've yet to make the trip to town with the kids to go get it but I will. It probably has a few cents due on it... sometimes if it's less than $0.25 my carrier will deliver anyway to me and I leave it for her in the box... but perhaps this one I got a card for required a signature? I duno.

anyway - the last package I opened Monday was from... Quilter Jen. It came while I was in KY last week.

She used 2 quart sized ziplocks and staggered sets so that they were very easy to remove as sets. One baggie had 6 and the other 7 for a total of 13 sets to swap. ;)

Thanks for the cash for postage to return your package to you. I have some boxes just like the one you sent "in stock" here at home ;)

For those readers just stoppin by my blog for a visit, I W-E-L-C-O-M-E you! I know my girlfriend Karen in KY just recently shared my link on her facebook page. ;) Seems there's a group there that are working on making their own One Yard Wonder Stripy Quilts, that I blogged about earlier this year. ****shamefully I have to admit that you won't find a single post about the finished quilt... b/c it's still at the "needs borders sewn" stage :/ sorry.

I hope I'm not boring you with swap photos...from current posts... but I know that myself, I love sneak peaks at all the goodies!!! and as Hostess of the swap = that is something I have fun doing. ;)

I'm already taking signups for ROUND 2 due this fall (Oct. 31st) email me if you'd like more information. This swap filled up fast with 40 participants!

Love from Texas!