a giveaway from my favorite fabric designer!

Ms. Lila Tueller is having a giveaway on her blog! How cool is that? It is for a jelly roll and a layer cake of her new line called "Eden".

I love her designs. I am very partial to "Woodland Bloom" and "Soiree". The new wonky log cabin quilt I am am making for my bed is mostly "Woodland Bloom" with a little "Soiree" thrown in for good measure. I am in the process of finishing up the basting, so I can get quilting on it. Good thing, too is that our weather is going to drop considerably over the next two days. High of only 49 degrees tomorrow. Too bad I have to work tomorrow, or I would spend the whole day hand quilting my quilt!

I am not sure what I would make if I won. There are some awesome tutorials on Moda Bake shop, so maybe I would pick something from them to make with the prize. Or maybe, I would make another wonky log cabin quilt that was a bit more wonky than the one I am getting ready to quilt.

Thanks Lila for having a give away! I hope I get chosen.
Have a great day!
Donnelly

September Potluck Hexies!

I finished my hexagons for the September Potluck giveaway for http://hexagonquilt-along2.blogspot.com/ on Saturday. I am so excited to have met my goal; I wasn't sure I would make it!

When I visited the quilt store, these fabrics spoke to me. They are from the same line, and for the life of me I can't remember the fabric line, sorry.

I am a freezer paper girl. I am a baste through the fabric and the paper girl. This was a challenge for me. I was going to say that it took longer to do this method. But, I have changed my mind. With the freezer paper method, you have to include the ironing time, so it really doesn't take any more time once you are in the swing of things. The baste through the back is definitely not what I am used to, but I love how these turned out. I might be a convert!

While I would like to be the winner, I am okay with not winning! I will DEFINITELY be participating in the next Potluck, for sure!

And what would the "Great Hexagon Quilt-Alongs" be without Robyn? Thanks Robyn, for all you do. You are amazing!

Have a great day!

Donnelly

A Great Evening!

Last night was the Hall of Fame Ceremony for our local theatre group--the Magic Valley Dilettantes.

We weren't sure (or maybe I should say, I wasn't sure) we wanted to go. It was a long week at school for both Rick and I. Sometimes I feel like I give everything emotionally to my kids at school. I work with children with emotional and/or behavior disorders. It is exhausting. This week was no exception. Most of the time I have nothing left for my family, let alone a fancy dinner. But I bit the bullet and decided what the heck.

Well, I must say that I had the most fun I have had in a long time. I got to see alot of people that I have known in the past. I got to see former neighbors that I respect. I got to see former colleagues that I enjoyed working with. I got to see family and friends that make my life joyful! I got to see many of the people we worked with during the last 2 shows Rick has done and the 1 show Hannah has done.

Not only that, we got to see a few people that first inspired Rick to act. Rick's first musical with the Dilettantes was "Kismet" in 1981. Rick has been in 8 musicals in all. There have been a few gaps in between each, but it is his love! And Hannah has been bit by the acting bug, too. And, can I just add, that girl can sing, just about anything she sets her mind to! I wish I could sing like her.

Since Rick and I have been married (in 1990) he has acted in 4 musicals. He has played 'Big Julie' in "Guys and Dolls" with the North Side Playhouse (that is no longer in existence), 'Old Joe' in "Damn Yankees" with the Dilettantes, 'The Captain' in "Titanic", and he played one of Alfred P. Doolittle's buddies in "My Fair Lady" last winter. He is currently practicing the part of 'General Glossop in in "Jekyll and Hyde" for Magic Valley Little Theatre.

So, to get back on to last night's celebration. We had a lovely dinner, buffet style at our local "Turf Club". It is a venue that is done in an Art Deco style. A lot of the old-timers from last night can remember going dancing there in the 40's and 50's. The induction ceremony was wonderful. Each inductee had a tribute paid to them with their favorite piece sung to them. We were there for Lori Henson, the current director. She is an amazing woman. It was great to see her honored.

This photo is of Hannah and Keith. I think they look amazing!

The last photo is of Rick and I.

The night was delightful!!! Thanks honey, for wanting to go! Love you!

Have a great day!
Donnelly

More thrifting goodness and a birthday!

I want to start with the Birthday today! My grand-daughter Sophia Christina turned 8 years old yesterday!

I can remember the day she was born. Our oldest daughter, Christy, asked me to be in the birthing room with them. What an honor that was! Sophie's hair has always been this red, from the minute she was born! And naturally curly too!

Christy had a BBQ at their house on Sunday afternoon for the grand occasion. It was an awesome way to spend a Sunday afternoon. There were a whole lot of giggly little girls, Christy's inlaws (who are awesome, my kids call them Grandpa Joe and Grandma Joan at their request), lots of family and friends. My grandson, Isaak was there, too. He is not always at family functions as he has to split time with Chris and her ex.

I will upload more photos when Chris share's hers with me. I was manning two cameras, mine and hers.

Love you, Sophie!!!

On Saturday, Rick and I went thrifting. It's kinda our thing. When Rick and I were first married, we had 4 children and not too soon after that, we added another one. There were many years that thrifting/yard sale-ing was the only way we could afford to dress our kids. At the time Hannah was born, I had a 17 year old, an 11 year old, a 9 year old and a 5 year old. And all but our oldest, Christy, were growing like weeds. We were on a very limited budget, but we made it work.

Now we thrift, because we can. So this last Saturday, we found two awesome items. The first find is one for our bedroom. Rick and I both love old fans. We found a Westinghouse fan from the 1950's for our bedroom. It works like a dream! Much more quite than the ones we have today. Guess what it cost?

$4.00!!!!! Can you believe it? It was a little dusty and grimy, but with a little elbow grease, it cleaned up wonderfully.

Our next find, is a 70-210mm lens for my Canon Rebel.

I used to have a Pentax film camera, but it quit working about 4 months ago. The Pentax had a 70-300mm lens that I love. But, it isn't compatible with my Canon. I have been in a funk about it for awhile. I needed a zoom lens.

Hold on to your seats, this one cost $15.00! The Canon cost $10.00 about 8 months ago. Rick picked it up because he didn't think he could pass up a Rebel for that cheap. I am glad that he did! Now I am back in film camera heaven.

I hope everyone is having a good start to their week. I am! Despite the fact that I haven't done a whole lot of crafty things lately.

No crafting has me out of wack, to say the least. I hate that! It's not that I don't have things to do, my mojo just isn't functioning right now. Hopefully, I will get that back soon. When I don't craft, I get cranky. I have been downloading, bookmarking and saving crafty inspiration from my favorite places. Maybe that will jump start my mojo soon.



Have a great day!


Donnelly

Thrifting Goodness!!!!!

Rick and I went thrifting this weekend and we found something we both loved.



Vintage vinyl rocker and...

...Hide-A-Bed sofa!


For our back deck! How awesome is that? The awesomeness comes from the fact that we both fell in love with it and HAD to have it. Rarely if ever happens, just saying!

Also, on Saturday, I found two wonderful books at yard sales. The first one is the "Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks" by Lynette Jensen. I love Thimbleberries. One of the first quilts I made was one of her patterns that had bird house blocks. Made it for my mom. She collects bird houses. Patterns are wonderfully illustrated and easy instructions! Score!

Second yard sale book is " Knitting over the Edge" by Nicky Epstein. I am so in love with this book. I dabble in knitting, sometimes. What I have to say is I need yarns in every weight and needles in every size so I can experiment. This book is BEAUTIFUL! I want to do all of the edgings, in every color possible. And I HAVE to have Nicky's first book, "Knitting on the Edge".

On a great note, I got a visit from one of my favorite co-workers today. Not that I don't like/love most of my co-workers. Ms. Heather Barnes is just one of those great people. Awesome treat!

I am plugging away on my new bedspread! I have almost completed basting it and have chosen a hand quilting theme, but I will wait to share it. I am also still plugging away on my "Grandmother's Flower Garden" wall hanging. So moving, but at least moving forward.

Great news, our wild/middle child Cassie left yesterday to return to Anchorage, Alaska. Her fiance Chris, proposed to her on Friday night. Did all the proper stuff like formally asking Rick for her hand in marriage and the down on one knee to ask her. Awesome. Now Rick and I are pricing 3 tickets to Anchorage around July 24, 2010! I am so excited. Who knew that young men still respected parents enough to formally ask. Both of our boys asked their father-in-laws, and now one of our son-in-laws has.

Have a great day!
Donnelly

Never Forget

911 Memorial at the Crossroads Ranch, Jerome County, Idaho.

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on September 11, 2001? I do, and I will never forget.

Donnelly