APRIL SHOWERS TRULY DOES BRING MAY FLOWERS!!!

I don't know about you but I believe that there are certain parts of Texas that are going to float away.  We are expected to have more rain this week.

Shreveport is truly going to float away near the Red River.  

Relief efforts are in the works for parts of Shreveport.

That being said and prayers their way.

Here is a wonderful quilt using Island Batik fabrics.

I just love this quilt.

Now as for the last giveaway of the Sunshine Topper....you will not believe me if I tell you this but I can not remember who I sent the pattern to.  I sent several people the pattern and for the life of me it is gone.  I even told myself that I would remember.  Have any of you ever done that?

ROUND TOPPERS AND A GIVEAWAY

The winner of the April Showers Pattern is:

Siouxzq64@gmail.comApril 5, 2016 at 2:06 PM

Cute table topper and love the ideas for the potatoes, and the strawberries

don't you just love the Island Batik Fabrics?

                                                                           Here is my Sunshine topper 

This topper is actually on the Accuquilt pattern site but I want to give one pattern away, just leave a comment.

APRIL SHOWERS BRINGS MAY FLOWERS AND MAKES MY LITTLE GARDEN SO HAPPY.....

                           Here is my April Showers Round Topper which you can find the pattern here!

The fabrics I used were Island Batik's Lavish

 and Deseret rose for the flowers and handles

. Can I just say that I love this fabric and I also know that I am a broken record.  I took this picture out on our tree stump.

 This picture was taken in my house and was wondering which buttons you like?  Answer this question for me and I will give one person a free April Showers Pattern.

Now for some over due business....

The winner of Wendy's  book  "Quilts and Projects from precuts and stash" was

Rita LynnMarch 22, 2016 at 4:48 PM

Cute placemat. Thank you for the chance to win the book.

The winner of my April Showers Island Batik fabric giveaway is :

ShebandowanMarch 23, 2016 at 3:08 PM

What gorgeous fabric! I think you may be making a table mat with umbrellas? Just guessing.

Janet

So Janet, I just need your address.....  Rita's book is probably already on it's way.

Thank you to all who came by and left a comment. 

 The weather is so beautiful outside so I want to show you my potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers.  Truly April Showers did me good.

I don't think you can call me a farmer or a person with a green thumb but I know you can call me lazy.  I put everything in pots.    My strawberries are in rain gutters (thanks to my husband for the construction).  Tomatoes on the side as well as cucumbers in pots.  

 What I am really proud of is my potatoes.  I saw a youtube and couldn't wait to try it out.  So far so good.  I prepared the bottom with rocks and paper.  Put a layer of soil, then placed the potatoes.  Added soil on top and just waited for them to grow.

Believe me when I tell you that it didn't take long for them to grow.

When they sprouted up about 4 inches I added more soil on top.  I have done this process five times now.  They just sprung up again and tomorrow I will add more soil on top.  I am so excited.

The hardest part is waiting to see if I have some good potatoes.

 Here are my strawberries....I am so happy since last year they did not do too good.

I hope all of you are enjoying this beautiful weather.  This month Island Batik Ambassadors are showing the wonderful fabrics of Island Batik using the theme "April showers"....which you can find the ambassadors on my sidebar.

I AM CRYING TODAY!!!

You ask why?

Because I am getting ready to cut into these awesome Island Batik Fabrics...that is why!

If only you can see these up close and personal...you would cry too.

These are from the Lavish Collection....  Oh my stinking gosh...it just doesn't get any better than this but it hurts oooooo so bad to have to cut them.

Next month we are having an April Showers Island Batik Hop.

Can you guess what I am going to make?

You can go here to guess...

Leave a comment and I will send you some Island Batik happiness!  Don't know what to send yet, but I will send you something fun rest assured.

Now on an even brighter note....I am getting a second grandson today, just waiting for the arrival as we speak.

Just a reminder - Wendy Sheppard's Book hop is still going on...be sure to go by, you can win her book and some awesome fabric from Island Batik (have to go to their blog to enter that one).

Monday, March 14 – Island Batik Intro

Tuesday, March 15 – The Fit Quilter

Wednesday, March 16 – Pamela Quilts 

Thursday, March 17 – MooseStash Quilting

Friday, March 18 –  Bejeweled Quilts

Monday, March 21 –  One Quilting Circle

Tuesday, March 22 –  BeaQuilter

Wednesday, March 23 – Freemotion by the River and KISSed Quilts 

Thursday, March 24 – Mary Mack Made Mine

Friday, March 25 – Lemon Tree Snippets

NEEDLE INTERVENTION

Actually this is a pin

Look at it real close

Look at it again!

Now imagine this in your foot!

OUCH!!

Well....this was what was in my foot.  It happened Tuesday afternoon.  It was almost an inch long.

I thought I could get it out myself.

I soaked the foot

I used the ointment that is suppose to draw it out.

I walked around on the side of my foot for days.

This is where my stubborness comes in.  I just knew I could get it out.

My husband even tried to dig it out.  We used a numbing spray.

Finally this old goat gave up and went to the Dr.

FRIDAY!!!

Now don't go and say that about me.

Not very nice.

I have to tell you that I just figured it was like a splinter and you know how it festers up and just shoots out.  Well...I guess all that soaking kept it from festering.

Needless to say an hour on the table....who knows how many numbing shots later

It finally came out.

My poor husband.  The first round of shots to the foot almost had me throwing up, I don't believe I felt that kind of pain in a long time.

The second round of shots had me squeezing my husband's hand and sleeve.  Oh my stinking gosh...could it hurt anymore?

Finally after the third round of shots, a scalpel, and the determination of the doctor it came out.

He said he if could not get it out he was going to send me somewhere where 

 it would be surgically removed...I thought that was what he was doing.

So....I was very grateful the ordeal was over and Life is good.

This barefoot gal is now going to wear shoes in her sewing room....don't ever want to go through that again!!!!!

"QUILTS & PROJECTS" By Wendy Sheppard with a book giveaway, Island Batik Fabrics

I have been a fan of Wendy Sheppard's since the very first day Quilt Shop Gal told me about her.

She has a fun informative blog "Ivory Springs."

Here is her lastest book.  Each blog in this hop will be giving one way.

You can purchase a copy at Landauer, Amazon or a pdf copy Here:

Here is the line up for the hop so if you have missed a few days you can always go back and check the blogs out and try your hand at winning this fabulous book.  Island Batik is giving away  a batik bundle but you need to go there to enter that giveaway.

Monday, March 14 – Island Batik Intro

Tuesday, March 15 – The Fit Quilter

Wednesday, March 16 – Pamela Quilts 

Thursday, March 17 – MooseStash Quilting

Friday, March 18 –  Bejeweled Quilts

Monday, March 21 –  One Quilting Circle

Tuesday, March 22 –  BeaQuilter

Wednesday, March 23 – Freemotion by the River and KISSed Quilts 

Thursday, March 24 – Mary Mack Made Mine

Friday, March 25 – Lemon Tree Snippets

As you can see all of us are using our fabulous Island Batik Fabrics and we are recreating her patterns.

I just have to tell you that I fell in love with Wendy's book right off.  Her directions are so easy to understand, the book itself is bright and inviting.  Using these fabulous Island Batik Fabrics is just the cat's meow.

It has just been in the last few years that I have wanted table placemats for my table instead of table cloths.

                                               HERE IS WENDY'S PLACE MAT DESIGN

She gives you two color ways.

Don't you just love them?

Here is mine!

                                             I used Caribbean Splash from Island Batik.

                                    I truly enjoyed these awesome fabrics and this fun design.

                                My son andH is wife came to dinner Sunday and I just had to use them.

I did make the little runner to go in the middle which is on the post here!

FAST

EASY

FUN!

FUN!

So Check out Wendy's book and hop on over there to Island Batik to find the nearest store near you or online store that sells these fabulous fabrics!

Just leave a comment to win her book.

NEED FOR SPEED AND INSUL-BRIGHT

I was asked what type of foot I use for FMQ.

When I had my Janome I used this foot.  In fact I have a Janome I purchased at a garage sell that is sitting waiting for me to play on.

I had a foot similar to the one above for my Pfaff but the bottom part was plastic but since I have a need for speed (nothing like the wind in your hair).....I broke mine I am ashamed to say.

I was too cheap to buy another one.

So I went to my trusty manual and found I could use the embroidery foot.  It is plastic too so it should be wary of me.

I have been using this foot for over a year now and I love it.  The only problem is sometimes I can't see what I am doing.  I need to get an open toe foot.

Now that being said.

I won  this Insul-Bright from The Warm Company (store).  Here they are on facebook.

It truly is easy to sew and I love my table runners to be made with this so I can sit hot stuff on them and not have to worry about the table or have several pot holders to find.

I made this little runner from Caribbean Splash by Island Batik.

I say little because it is only about ten inches wide and 32 inches long. I used orphan blocks and orphan binding.  Waste not want not...right???

I like my runners for my dining room to be thin and long that way the runner will not be crowded or over come by table mats.

So what type of foot do you use when free motion quilting?