And...the winners are.....

The Jim Shore Santa kit

was won by Gloria ("quilter")









And the Gobble Til You Wobble pattern

                                                 was won by Denise!   Congratulations to both...I hope you enjoy and maybe you can email me photos of your completed projects.  I have emailed both of you to ask for your mailing addresses.

My PLAYTIME on a long-arm machine.....

I went to visit my friend, Michelle, recently.  She was kind enough to let me bring a project and "play" on her long-arm machine and quilt my item myself while visiting her.  I had chosen a wall-hanging that I really want to finish (it's been a UFO for way too long), but the night before, I realized it was going to be too complicated to do that.  So...I opted to pay her to do that one for me sometime this spring and, instead, I took along a fall-fabric table runner.  I had fun doing it.  I just did some meandering and some loops and I am really happy with how it looks now.  Here are two photos of it. (I am quite sure you can click on them to see them in greater detail.)   THANKS, MICHELLE!!!  I know I will never have a long-arm machine, so that was a real treat for me to use yours! I actually came home and did the binding on it pretty quickly......and I will look forward to using it next fall.  (The runner was pieced using the Disappearing Nine Patch technique.)

 

Reality-check time GIVEAWAY!

Okay.......I am really making an effort to go through my sewing and craft stuff this winter and do some purging.  I am finding some items I forgot I had and know I will make....and some items I have found and, in reality, I know I will never make them....or they are patterns and I've already done them and know I won't do another.   These two items fit the "don't need any longer" category. 

The first one is a counted cross stitch Jim Shore "Father Christmas".  I really do like it (and someone gave it to me...if it was YOU, I'm sorry I'm not going to use it, but my eyesight has caused me to give up counted cross stitch for awhile now).  This is totally unopened and is not only the pattern, but also contains all the materials needed to make this...including the little beads for embellishment.  I so wish I could have made it, especially since I collect Jim Shore items, but I can't, so it is best in the hands of someone who will be able to complete it. You should be able to see the kit somewhat better if you click on the photo. 

The next one is a pattern only........Gobble Til You Wobble.  It is a small appliqued wall-hanging.  I did make this (so the pattern has some of my penciled notes on it as to my fabric colors, etc.).  I really like how this turned out, but it's the kind of project that I know I will only be making once, so....if you will use it, then it might be yours.  Sorry the photo isn't so great...didn't want to use a flash to make any glare spots on the pattern picture. Click on this to see a bit better, also.

If you would like one of these and will USE it (or be sure it does get to someone you know who would use it), please leave a comment telling me which one you'd like.......and why.  I will accept comments through Thursday, February 14.  At some point within a day or so after that, I will draw the winners' names.  Be sure your comment isn't anonymous and that I can reach your email address through that comment.  If I can't reach you by email, I will draw another name for the prize.

Easy soup for cold-weather days!

With the frigid temperatures coming back yesterday (along with some snow), I decided to concoct a homemade soup with things I had on hand here.  It turned out very tasty and I'll be making it again, I'm sure.  It is, basically, a chicken corn chowder and it made about 2 quarts...enough for yummy leftovers! 

I used:  1 cup of cooked chicken (cut up), 2 cups of chicken broth (used low-fat but any kind will work), 2 cans (14 ounces each) of creamed corn.  Optional:  small amount of cooked potato (cut up) OR a tiny bit of some small pieces of pasta (or you can decide not to use either of those).  Put all of that in a saucepan and simmer on low for awhile, stirring often. I added some pepper for seasoning, but you can add any seasoning that appeals to you.  It really did hit the spot on a cold day!