Ah.....Charleston, SC......

Charleston, on the day we arrived, let us experience blue skies, bright sunshine, pretty flowers and temps in the 50's (which was great for us at this time of year). I'm happy about all of that!

In search of better weather......

Okay...I know the weather has been pretty awful in many places, so I know I'm not the only one who is miserable. I guess most of us have heard that there has been snow in 49 of the 50 states and cold temps pretty much everywhere...horrible ice storms down south, etc. (Florida is the only state without snow. Even the mountaintops of Hawaii have had some snowfall!) Our area has been colder than normal, and I just can't take it anymore, so........this has been a busy week at our house:

Laundry done and bags packed (with winter and spring clothing) - check!
House-sitter in place (and thank goodness for her) - check!

That makes us ready to head out tomorrow in search of some better weather. While we'd love bright sunshine and in the high 70's every day of our trip, at this point, we will be happy with some sunshine and daytime temps that don't go below 50! I'll post as I can, but I won't get to read many blogs along the way. I'll take pictures and will try to post some along the way, too. Now...while I'm gone, you all behave, okay? And I'll try to get back in the sewing groove when I return!

YAY...thanks to Laurie!!!

My blogging friend, "Tango", was able to help me with the design issue by researching what I was describing to her and....voila...it worked!!! I want to do some other changes, but at least I know I can do them now! Thanks, Tango...YOU are a treasure!!!

Need help with blog design...

I think I am still using the old Blogger "stuff". I tried to change my template and my colors and can't seem to get to anything that will let me do that. (I'm thinking it's because I didn't change to the new blogger when some of you did...and now I am stuck in "Nowhere Land"...unable to change background or font colors or template....and can't make the photo at the top of my blog appear larger like I used to be able to do.) Can anyone offer any suggestions?

As it turns out, I don't have a lot of time to fool with it this week, either, as I'm getting the house ready for our house-sitter to arrive. Hubby and I are going on a roadtrip and there is lots to get ready in addition to making the house comfy for the sitter. BUT...I really hate to go off with my blog looking so dull and lifeless.

So...if any of you have any ideas of what I might be able to do quickly and easily over the next couple of days, I'd be interested to hear about it. Thanks (in advance).

NOTE: Edited to add: I did click on Design and then Designer Templates. That is how I've changed things in the past, but....now I get a gray screen and there is an empty box that says "Live Blog". There are NO template options presented to me. There are words on the left side such as Background, Layout, and Advanced. I can click on each of them but get no options with any of them, either. It seems as if my blog is permanently stuck and no changes are able to be made now. It is so discouraging that I am half tempted to close my blog down...which I really don't want to do, but I can't just leave it unchanged...especially since I don't like the way it looks now. I did have the new version of Blogger for about two days several months ago, but then I changed back to the old version. I am wondering if Blogger has, somehow, put a "lock" on those of us who never went to the new version?

Our little quilts have flown home.....

Those of you who follow my blog know that my quilting partner, Kathy, and I had two designs that are in the current (Feb./March) issue of McCall's Quick Quilts. These little quilts...after having been away from us for months....have now flown home from spending time in Colorado with the nice folks at Creative Crafts Group (who publish that magazine). They are pictured here along with the magazine in which they are featured. If any of you are interested in getting the magazine, at least you will know what the cover looks like....I find that a help sometimes. (You can probably double click on the photo to see it up close.) I get it by subscription and I know not every store carries this magazine. I have been told it's available at most Joann's...but I've not been to our Joann's (40+ miles away) to check it out since the magazine hit the stands. Thanks to those of you who have gotten the magazine and contacted me with favorable comments!

2011 is nearly upon us....

As we bid goodbye to 2010 and welcome 2011, my wish is for a gentle, kind year for all....filled with good health, happiness, a kinder economic climate, and peace in the hearts of all people so that, perhaps, we can start to work on peace for the whole world. Thanks to all my blogging friends for their support and encouragement over the past year and I look forward to many more shared projects and events in 2011....AND to meeting a few more of you in person this year, too!

Thinking spring and summer!!!

Most of you know I despise cold weather and snow, so......I have been trying to make something that screams spring and summer. A blogging friend, JACKIE, was kind enough to loan me (via the mail) her Lil Twister ruler and I made a small table topper. They tell you to use a bunch of 5" squares and just sew them together in rows. Well....I'm not crazy about the way it turned out. I think I'd be much happier limiting my colors to maybe 2 or 3 fabrics....and trying to get a more "organized" look for the pinwheels that are the end result instead of this rather crazy look I got this time. Oh, well...it was fun to work with that ruler and I'll finish the topper before the summer and use it. Thanks, Jackie, for loaning me the ruler AND I'm still hoping to return it to you in person soon!!!