Day #66 - Celebrate life!

Good morning, everyone!

Just having one of those "appreciate what you have" mornings... just 'cuz..  I ran across this quote this morning:
I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be "happy." I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter and to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.  - Leo C. Rosten

A friend commented yesterday that she was in a difficult place and was getting that feeling we all do at one time or other of not being where she thought she ought at this point in her life.  We should have achieved "it" (whatever that is), we should be in a better financial place (don't we wish?), we look at others and think "they've 'made it' and we haven't" ... you know the drill.  Or perhaps you don't and you are more like my wonderful, well balanced husband, who is the rock for all of us here. 

I have found myself more like my friend at different times in my life.  My 40th birthday sticks out in my mind: I woke up and cried all day for all the reasons listed in the paragraph above.  I obviously worked my way through that and found my 50th to be a MUCH better day, lol!  I sat down then and made a list of the things I wanted to do that year, "for my birthday" and worked my way through the list as the year progressed.  I didn't "do" all the things on that list, but I did enough that I felt pretty good about me. 

So my 51st rolled around in January and THIS is the result!  I decided to do at least one (if not a bunch!!!) creative thing each day.  I didn't start right off - as your addition might indicate if you look at the day number and work out the math, but it didn't come as clearly to me as the other idea!  No strict guidelines to make it hard, just the chance to do something I love everyday!  It's been a blast!  Most of the time it's fabric based because, well, I have LOTS of fabric to work with!!

I think that sometimes we need to remember to relax and celebrate life!  We each face challenges, battles and good along the way, some more and some less than others.  One of my favorite things to do is share, so in honor of both the celebration of life and the need to share, I am giving away two beautiful machine embroidered designs, ready to be incorporated into a special project of your choice!  Perhaps part of a quilt?  Maybe you or someone you love would like to frame it and hang it on the wall?  All up to you!

There will be 2 names selected.  The first person gets their choice of the green or the blue.  The second person gets the other.

All you need to do is comment below with something in life that you celebrate!  I'll get us started!  (oh, and if you'd like to FOLLOW my blog and chat along the journey, feel free!!  :o)

Have a wonderful day,
Carrie

Day #65 - Back to normal, a relative term

Good morning, all!

I expect to be "back to normal" this week, relatively, that is.  The number of softball games should be less than the 7 in 5 days of last week, and could be MUCH less if Mother Nature has her way.  Just when we were enjoying a bit of sunshine...

My plan, this week, is to work on a couple of the Bottled Rainbow blocks, list a WHOLE bunch of fabric on eBay and Etsy, finish up the May birthday goodies for the family, try another recycle/repurposing project, "fire up" the embroidery machine and work on my blocks for the jungle critter applique. 

Some quilt/project labels available in my eBay & Etsy stores!

My plan today is to feed some hungry teenagers, send off a couple of hungry early 20's "kiddos" who're heading to PA mid-day, re-claim my living room, take a nap (due to being UP quite late with teenager crowed) and craft a wee bit of my plan for the week.

I just want to say that I LOVE reading blogs!  Lol!  I found a marvelous one this morning ("Gussy Sews") and joined her "creating community".  It is sooooo motivating to read about what fun things other people are doing that you can't help but try things out!

But for the moment, I have breakfast to make for 12 today ... so I am off to get the hashbrowns going!  Looking forward to what the day brings!

Hugs,
Carrie

Congrats to Katherine from FL!!!

Due to the changes in Facebook rules, I was concerned that despite my best intentions, I might have messed up, so I took the number 19 (how many said they'd like to win the fabric) and ran it through Random.org.

True Random Number Generator


Min: 1

Max: 19

Result: 14

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

#14 was Katherine from FL.  WAY TO GO!!  I just need your address and the fabrics will be on their way to you Monday!!

Thanks to all of my wonderful FB fans!!

I will be reviewing the new rules and finding out how to work with them.  My guess is that things will go through here.  There is a lot of conversation about the topic floating about FB Land and I read a very good blog piece about it on Trophy Wife's site.  Makes sense to me, but I realized my thank you to you all might be against their policy, so, am ending it tonight.

Future promotions and such will be here!

Night, all!
Carrie

Comment to join Critter Applique Block Creating ~ Bloggers Back up!

Good morning, friends!
It would appear that Blogger is back up and running and the post about the jungle critter appliques is BACK!

Unfortunately, ALL of the comments you folks made, are GONE!  At least it says "0" from my end.

So... if you'd like to join us, COMMENT NOW to this post: http://whittskitsfabricscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/05/day-64-this-months-block-contest.html again!  Lol!!

Thanks oodles,
Carrie

Day #64 - This month's block "contest"

Good morning, from "mosquito-ridden" New Hampshire!

Yes, it's that time of year!  We New Englanders have to have something to complain about and I am going to complain about the mosquitoes!  Last night, as the evening wore on and bedtime came you could hear the "SMACKS" throughout the house as the Great Mosquito Hunters were in search of their prey!  I was pretty impressed by hubby who was tracking the buggers down and tossing a pillow at them, knocking them from the air while laying in bed!! 

But I digress...

I thought it was time to toss out another invitation to join in a block creating!  I am the Memere to a couple of sweet boys, and animals are what they love, SO..... I thought we could work on some critter blocks!  I have lots of the RJR's Sew Easy as 1-2-3 jungle animals and thought we could use those!

Here's how it will work:

1. Comment below and then send me your mailing address to receive a critter to carrie dot whittemore at gmail dot com.
2. The first 10 people (if we get that many) will each receive a critter to applique on a block.
3. This time, the blocks are WIDE OPEN to allow you to be creative!  Have some fun with your scraps!  Mine is a 9 1/2" square, to give you a reference.  I thought it would create a fun, modern-type quilt/wallhanging this way!
4. As soon as we have 10 to join us (if we only get a few, then we'll each get several) I will mail out the appliques.
5. Once we are done, I will use Random.org to draw a comment number and that person will get ALL the blocks!!
6. I created a new photo album within the Yahoo group to post our pix.
7.  Someone will have FUN and we all get to see it!!

What you will need:
1. A critter from me in the mail.
2. Fusable interfacing to back the applique.
3. Nice, sharp scissors to cut it out.
4. A block (either from your stash/UFO piles, or one you create for the project) to sew the applique onto.
5. A wee bit of luck to win!!  :o)

Hope you want to join us!!
Have a GREAT day!
Carrie

Day #63 - Little bit of paint...lol!

Good morning, all!

Wordless Wednesday of sorts ~ painting with my grandson yesterday! 

My next project is an art smock for him!  I will be working on that for next week!

Enjoy the day, all!
Carrie

PS.  Watch for my next swapping project, coming this week!

Day #62 - Photo time, soggy markers & what's up for today!

Good morning, everyone!

It would appear that spring has finally sprung!  Yea! 

Yesterday was about photos at softball and trying out toddler arts & crafts.  Every sports season we are a part of (field hockey, wrestling & softball) I gather photos and create a slide show.  My "baby" (a Canon digital Rebel) has taken tens of thousands of pictures and the button is just plain tired.  It won't push down, which can be a bit of an issue in the midst of an action shot...

So, I am using Kelly's Canon Sure Shot. It's doing a good job, all things considered. It did a GREAT job of my 3 kiddos!

It's also fine for all of the "filler" shots I use, like this one:

Beggers can't be choosers!

I tried the "wet plate & marker" activity yesterday - Little man liked it, but we used paper, as I was out of paper plates!  I took his "artwork" and covered his crayon tin!  :o) 

Today, we are going to give fingerpaints a try, after a trip to the grocery store and some time at the park! 

Does anyone have any sites with fun activities for toddlers?  Say... 22 months?  PULEEZE let me know!!



I would like to mention I slept like a BABY after running around after him yesterday!  Thank goodness DD and friend are here to help!!!  YIKES!!

Have a wonderful day, all!

Carrie