It's on sale!

Have you tried our popular spray bottles?  So many of you have and you know, they are truly amazing.  Well, we decided to have a sale on them for a limited time.  This is the perfect time to pick up a few for last minute gifts and stocking stuffers.  These are perfect for so many things - not just for water, starch and tea dye solution for quilting, but also for any of your household cleaners.  I keep window cleaner in one, and multi-purpose cleaner in another.  My husband keeps apple juice in one to spray on meat when he's grilling!  You can use them to mist your plants.  SO MANY USES! You can use them for anything that is water based.  Now is the time to stock up, while they are on sale for under $10 (regular price is $12.95).

We are starting a new program in January.  Well, I guess it's not completely new, but it's been a few years since we offered it, and this time we changed it up by adding some bling! This is a year-long program, starting in January. It's called "Celebrate" - we are celebrating the seasons and holidays with a different pendant that corresponds with the current or upcoming season (and you can wear them year around if you like!).  You will receive a pendant every other month (six times throughout the year).  And on top of that - you get FREE STUFF too!!  With your first pendant you will get a free leather necklace cord or a ball chain (your choice). And each time, you will also receive a free pin cushion pattern!  SIX FREE PATTERNS!  What a deal!  Go to my website to sign up now! The first pendant will be mailed out by the middle of January.

I know I've been terrible about keeping this blog up-to-date, and I'm not going to even bother to give you any excuses.  But I do want to share a cute new member of our fur family.  My sweet boy, Ozzie, passed away in July.  I miss him terribly. 

Callie and Daisy don't have the sweet personality that he had, and they are not cuddly.  Don't get me wrong, I love them too, but I really wanted a little sweet sewing room buddy again.  But I also was not in any hurry and thought, if the right kitty came along, then so be it.  Well...a Facebook friend posted pictures of a bunch of adorable little orange kittens.  I made the mistake of jokingly (joke's on me!) saying...I want him!  And she wanted to know when she could bring him over!  When I brought it up to Greg, he said NO! But about 24 hours later, he wanted to know when we were getting the kitten!  So, here is Finley!

He was born August 4th, and came to live with us at the end of October.  Isn't he adorable?  He's fluffy and has a super sweet personality.  Although, Daisy would disagree.  She is not happy about Finley's arrival at all.  She is playing with him some, but will growl and hiss even in the midst of playing!  Geesh!  She is so jealous - just gets a ticked off look on her face when Finley walks in the room!  Callie is more accepting - she is 10 years old, but is very playful and seems to have a higher tolerance level for little Fin.  Here is a rare and very short-termed glimpse of them together.

Pretty easy to see how happy Daisy is about this situation!

So, that's it for now.  Don't forget to take advantage of the sale on the spray bottles!  And to sign up for Celebrate - it's going to be fun!!

Second Annual Christmas Ornament

I know it's too early to be talking about Christmas, but we have to...just for a minute!  I'm super excited to have our 2nd annual Christmas ornament ready to show you.

It measures 1 3/4" and like all of our jewelry, it is paper pieced.  The box is made from our yardsticks, but is unlike any of the others that we sell.  The lid slides on and off, and provides safe-keeping for your ornament.  They are available on the website now, so go take a peek.

The reason that we need to talk about Christmas now is that when we offered this last year, I thought maybe we would have 50 orders.  Well...we had 50 orders the first day!  So, then we really had to re-group and decide just how many of these we could realistically make.  We are starting a little earlier this year so we can make sure that everyone who wants one, can get one.  I know last year we had a lot of people who ordered two, three and four ornaments, which is a great idea - it is a keepsake that you could share with a friend (or 2, 3, or 4!). 

Also, please understand that if you order other items with your ornament, we will hold them until we ship the ornaments.  But...yours will be among the first to go out.  We will ship these in batches, as we get them finished.  They will be mailed out in this order - first will be international, then to anyone who ordered other products, then in the order they were received.  But don't worry - we intend to have them all shipped by the end of November - in plenty of time for decorating and for gift giving.

Head on over to our website now and get your exclusive 2019 Christmas ornament!  And then we will go back to enjoying the Fall weather!

I hope you have a great week!

Callie's Court

Just a quick post to share my new pattern with you!  It's called Callie's Court and you can find it on my website

See that tiny little churn dash in the center of the courthouse steps blocks?  Cute!  If you like to over-size and trim your blocks, I would suggest you use the half-square triangle Bloc Loc ruler - they are more versatile than the flying geese rulers, and you could use the 2 1/2" or the 4 1/2".  I'm selling the 4 1/2" because I thought you could use them more than the smaller one. 

Don't forget about the Quilt Expo coming up in Madison, WI!  I'm so excited to be vending there for the first time and hope you stop to say hi.  Here is a link so you can see all of the details!

The usual...catching up!

I'm finally posting - and will again try to be short on words and heavy on pictures!  We are getting ready for the show in Shipshewana (details below).  Here are just a few pieces of jewelry that we've been working on.  I always love anything patriotic...

 This is a new design - these are all 1 1/4"

 These pineapple pendants were a special order - aren't they pretty?  They provided the fabric - it's from a beautiful opportunity quilt using these fabrics with this pineapple block. 

Here are the details for the show in Shipshewana, IN.  It is in a new location this year.

Michiana Event Center

455 E. Farver St.

Shipshewana, IN 46565

Wednesday, June 19 - Noon to 5:00

Thursday, June 20 - 9:00 to 5:00

Friday, June 21 - 9:00 to 5:00

Saturday, June 22 - 9:00 to 3:00

We will be in booth #16 - hope to see you there!

I've mentioned before that I started cross stitching again.  Here are a few projects that I've worked on lately...

 I love anything Quaker!

 I'm super-excited about these - they are needle minders!  Each one is an inch square.  These are in the works, and I hope to have them available at the show, and then on my website when I get home. 

Much to the chagrin of the farmers (my dad & brother included), we have had tons of rain this spring, which brought this beautiful double rainbow one evening.  It was really bright and pretty in person.

The rain didn't stop me from seeing this Cher concert with my friend, Loyce.  

We have customized loads of spray bottles for other businesses (Red Button Quilt Co, Prairie Star Lodge, The Woolen Needle, and Yellow Creek Quilt Designs are just a few)...

My niece, Johnna, turned 21!  How is that even possible?  I tell her that she can't be 21, she's still a tiny baby in my eyes - lol!  Here she is with her grandparents - my Mom & Dad on the left and her Grandma Campbell on the right.  This was the night before her birthday.  I asked her if she was going to go have a legal drink at midnight.  She looked at me like I was nuts and said that was past her bedtime!  She's too funny.  

And of course, the kitties!  Callie is off doing her own thing most of the time, it seems like she isn't in a lot of pictures.  Sad news on Ozzie - he is 16 and his kidneys are failing.  Makes me so sad to think about it.  We are babying him along - but he won't eat the food that the doctor prescribed, so he gets force fed with a syringe.  He actually takes it pretty well, but I feel bad. He always acts like he's hungry, but won't eat much on his own - I have about 20 different kinds of food and sometimes he will eat them and sometimes not so much.  He likes to lay in the sun on my ironing board.  Doesn't he look like he wishes I would stop disturbing him!?

 He's ready for his shower!  Strange cat - he loves to go in the shower and drink.  He doesn't get in the direct spray, but he is wet by the time he gets out!  Whatever makes him happy...

 My mom was knitting, and Daisy chewed through her yarn!  So, Mom gave her a chunk of it.  She drug it around for days, until the roomba ate it.  Then Mom felt sorry for her and mailed her more.  That's right - one day we had a card addressed to Daisy Letvin!  Too cute.  She sent one to play with now and one in case the roomba eats it again!

 I can't get much ironing done with these 3 around!  Ozzie and Callie are by the window. . Daisy wants to be, but they wouldn't let her in!  See that clipboard in the center of the picture, with the star block on it?  Be looking for those soon too!  We will have some at the show, then will try to get them on the website when we get back.

 She wants to get on the counter, but knows I'm watching her!

Now you know what's going on in my life!  Will try to update again soon!

Have a great week!

See us at our local quilt show!

We don't vend at many shows in Iowa and have never been to our "local" show in Mt. Pleasant, so for all of you who live somewhere near southeast Iowa, I sure hope you can come and visit.  Here are the details...

Saturday, March 30, 2019 - 9 to 5

Sunday, March 31, 2019 - 1 to 4

Located at...

Iowa Wesleyan University

601 N. Main

Mt. Pleasant, IA

The show includes vendors, boutique, door prizes, demos and lunch will be served.  Admission is $5

Our last show was in Dallas, Texas, and it was fun, as always.  My friends Jill & Vicki from Yellow Creek Quilt Designs came along and we caravanned (not a word!) our way to Texas.  It sure was nice to have someone to go with so I didn't have to be by myself for that long drive.  We went to Moda/United Notions before we left for home, which was also lots of fun and I came home with some good stuff! 


Here is a picture of our booth in Dallas (before we put the jewelry on the stands)

The theme of the show was animals, and they had some really cute balloon animals.  Aunt Nancy is posing with one...

Since I've been home, I've just been working on paperwork and trying to catch up on some things.  Of course, there is always lots of help from the kitties...

Party in the shower!

Ozzie is such a sleeping beauty

 This is Daisy's favorite toy in the whole world and it's broken!  Might have to take her to kitty therapy to deal with the devastation.

Here is a new pendant - I think I like this pattern (it's 1 1/4")!

And this is something new that we're working on...

That's all for now!  Hope to see lots of you at the quilt show!!

First show of 2019

I'm busy finishing up a few things and packing up the van because tomorrow we hit the road to Dallas, Texas.  This is my favorite show of the year because I get to stay with my cousin, Phillip, and his family.  You remember him...he was in charge of spray bottles last year...

My niece has always gone to this show with me, but she just started a new job and can't go this year.  Boo!  I'm really going to miss her.  Luckily my friends from Yellow Creek Quilt Designs are coming over tonight and we will drive to Dallas together tomorrow.  My aunt (you all know Aunt Nancy - also Phillip's mom!) is flying to Dallas today and she will be helping out as well.  I also have a great customer (Sandy), turned helper, turned friend, who will be there as well.  Hope you can come and see us!  I have some cool new items and also my new quilt design called Bundles of Stars...

Come and see us at Dallas Market Hall!  The show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday (March 8, 9, 10).  Here is a link to the show so you can see all of the vendors, times, etc.  You will find us in Booth 210-212.  Come visit!!

An overview - long on pics, short on words!

Wanted to show you what has been going on here...

Still making tons of jewelry

These were in our last Surprise program made from our yardsticks and wood from my family farm - LOVE THEM!

Sold lots of these before Christmas...

We were busy, busy, busy (my excuse for not blogging!)

FINALLY finished this T-shirt quilt for my mom - all shirts from the Snake Alley Art Fair, which she has been a part of for about a million years.

 The back...

This happened in November - about 9 inches of snow. But we did NOT have a white Christmas.

And speaking of Christmas...these 2 (Callie and Daisy) trashed the Christmas tree...

I know she looks innocent here...

And how can you stay mad at Daisy when she has all of this cute toe fluff?

And Ozzie is a perfect, innocent little angel (not really, I caught him chewing on the tree too!).  But look at him...I love him!

I'm designing a new quilt with these Kim Diehl fabrics...

I started cross stitching again...

Callie likes cross stitching...

My step-daughter made these for me for Christmas!  I really love them - what do you think- should we make some to sell?  Don't miss the little photo bomber!!!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!