Saturday, July 7, 2012

And Let the Journey Begin....

I usually spend a lot of time in December with my journal,
writing about what I've learned the past year,
the mistakes I've made and what I want to do differently 
in the coming year,
recording things that have worked,
ideas  I've come across that I want to try.

Well, seeing yesterday was the big 50,
all week long I spent hours writing about
what I wanted this year to be.

Although I am a 'happy' person,
I wanted to really take time this year to find out what makes me happy,
what makes me unhappy,
and incorporate the good....and delete the bad as much as possible.
I came across this book on my quest!
 
 
Oh my!!
What an incredible read!!
It has helped me to design my own little 'project'.
Ladies, if you don't read any other book this year,
make sure to read this one.
I think it will change your life.

And a biggie....
I want to 'do' more for others!
Again, 
I read another amazing book this year while at BandN
that struck a chord.
 

The author was at a very low point in his life,
where truly it sounds like he had nothing at all to be thankful for.
He decided to write one thank you a day to someone for something....for 1 year~
somehow.
It changed his life.
So I've decided this year,
I am going to write a minimum of 52 Thank You's.
My 'Thank You' list comprises of people who have somehow
helped to shape the person I am today in a positive way.

And another thing,
is once a day,
do something nice for someone.
At least one thing.
And record it in a journal.
Sometimes us as women do DO a lot for others,
but don't give ourselves credit.
So this year for my own benefit
I'm going to write it all down,
and when I'm feeling despondent
go to my list!
I'll keep you posted on how this goes!

There is a book that came out around 17 years ago,
that was life changing for me.
 
I'm sure a lot of you women read it.
If you are of the newer generation and haven't 
you must girls!
I reread it every couple of years.
A few years after this book came out I started writing my own book of essays
called
 "Mornings on the Porch"
I sat out on my porch in the early morning with my hot steaming cup of mocha,
bible, books, pens, papers and notebooks
and wrote a way.
I can't tell you the times I've heard,
"You should write a book!"
So I started!
One of my goals this year is TO FINISH!!
I've thought long and hard about posting about this here on my blog.
A lot of people don't know  I am a writer and that I've studied
the craft for over 15 years.
Now I'm taking myself to task!
I will post some of my essays throughout this coming year for all of your feedback.
You all have become like a family to me,
so this is where I'm going to lay my heart open wide.Screeeeeech....
Ooooouuuucccchhhhh!!!

I also am going to get my Book Proposal
off to American Quilter's Society.
I approached them 3 years ago about an idea I had.
They had never heard of it and were very interested.
The project always seems to get put on the back burner.
So this is the year for that too!

Another goal...
Make My Home A Haven!
I will post my thoughts and ideas on this in a separate blog post,
because there's too much to write about.

And I have a few other ideas,
to work on my 'Attitude'.
That will take awhile for me to work out and research.
A separate post alone coming about that one my friends!

Reading.......is a huge part of my life!
Huge!
Reading about others,
their lives,
their heartaches and troubles,
how they've risen above,
etc
has played a huge part of who I am today.
I have kept 'Reading Lists'
for years and years.
But this year I am going to get more dedicated to this list
and expand on it.
I'm keeping a 'Movie' list,
a "Book on Tape' list,
and an 'Author list'.
This last one....you know how you read a book and love it!
Yet how often do we go and search out other books by that same author?
I do sometimes,
but this year I am making a more concentrated effort.
More later on this....

And last but not least,
Every day....
I mean EVERY DAY....
I am going to spend some time in my sewing room!
Stitching on something of my own!
Not for work!
This might be the toughest one of all!
But if I tell you...
my blog readers....
that I will post pics.....
I will have to!
I might just show you a square being cut out...Ha!!
 

So this is going to be the journey.
If I come across some more
good ideas
I will post as I  incorporate them.

I'm also working on a format to share with you all
that will organize this project better.

Now this is where 'ya'll' come in!
I'm going to ask you guys to comment
about 'your journey'
as we go!
What has helped you,
the books that have inspired you,
the people.
Things you do to get yourself out of a bad mood etc!

I'm still working on a name for this project.
I've always loved that word "Project".
Ever since I started watching Project Runway.
It's probably why I picked up the book,
The Happiness Project 
this last year.
Any ideas on a title for me?????

Stay tuned.....
Let's grow together girls....

With a Heart Laid Wide Open....

Oh....and P.S. I'm going to really try to post several times a week!!
P.S.S.  This is the hardest post to "push" that Publish Button on yet!!


Friday, July 6, 2012

The Big 50 today....and my Mary Jane Farm Magazine Article came out!!

Wow!
A half a century old!
A pic of Tory and I taken a few weeks ago...
I was sitting in Barnes and Noble this morning....
went and picked out a stack of magazines.....
and low and behold as I was reading the new issue of
Mary Jane Farm....
there was  the two page spread on
lil 'ole me!!
I wasn't expecting it to come out until Oct/Nov...
thus the surprise.

Thank you Deb from
for including me!
It's been fun to see it all come together.

I'm unveiling a 'New Journey'
for my 50th year!
I'll start posting about it tomorrow!

I'm determined to have a 'Happy and Productive' year,
and to get some things done that I've put on the back burner 
for awhile now.
I want to include you all!
It will be an "Interacting Journey"
and hopefully
we can all
be a positive influence on each other!!

Just from a lil 'ole 50 year old lady....

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Seeing I'm Turning 50 this week....we are having FREE SHIPPING over at The Scrappy Appleyard

It's my birthday week....
No wait....
seeing it's the big 50....
my birthday month.
(Friday...July 6th)

I just don't think my 'usual' week of celebrating is enough.

Yeah...
I know...
the fam thinks I'm crazy....
but every fam...
has to have one like me ya know!

We've even included Block of the Month sign-ups
for 

and
You will save a whopping $38.50
by signing up this week and getting free shipping every month!

(Also the Block of the Month is available for Pattern Only each month at $8.99 a month
and
you can also just order individual block patterns too!)

The Guitar Man has also been busily loading Yard Cuts of Fabric

He put together two Black and White Whimsy Kits...
first come ..
first serve...

and some new
Meet Me In Paris Kits....


and of course....
if you  have been wanting to order
the Mylar Hexagons....


we have ALL sizes in stock right now while they last!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Stay safe tonight!!

Hugs...

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Lost Soldier Boy Quilt Completed!


And here's Tory's Quilt!!

A big, huge hug to Marla McDermitt
for the beautiful finishing of it.

And a big thank you to all who sent in blocks.

The rest of the quilts are still in the works.

Here's another new update on Tory....

There's a new soldier on the scene....
he has helped her in her grief....
they fell in love....
she's expecting...
in December...
And I see the sparkle back in her eye.
God is good!
Where would we be without all of your prayers???

Oh and by the way....
the new soldier boy...

deployed...

last Saturday.

Sigh....

Praying....

Praying...

Huge Heaps of Love to All of You!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Behind The Scenes....

I've been busy ladies....
Really!!

 The Guitar Man left me in kind of a mess....
so I have been spending 12 hours a day in the shoppe...
getting BOM's caught up.

Certain blocks sometimes take hours to put together...
such as these...
 You build fabric....
upon fabric...
(Notice the Color Chart...this is always done when I am in the process of designing anything.)
upon fabric....
See the labels??
My beloved customers love me for this!
It's a job....
but so much easier for me to do...
than for them to have to figure out.
Especially in one like this...
when there is 16 different fabrics.
And more pieces...
Until finally...
they are packaged up 
and ready to send out!
Then comes pattern making time...
This block had 14 full pages!

So if anything....
I see ..
that 
kinda....
had...
Guitar Man
overloaded!

No wonder he went to look for work elsewhere!!
(Ha!) 

Oh...and some of  you wanted to see the pic of this month's block.
It is actually the 9th month to Buttercream Summer
which is when all of the first 8 blocks are put together with 
checkerboards and fan blade blocks.
 

Happy Stitching!


Saturday, May 19, 2012

I was robbed on Thursday!


Oh boy....
they got my laptop,
my big TV screen that was hooked up to my work computer,
and the computer and keyboard,
the hubbies tools
and our safe.

I'm 49...
and it's never happened to me before.
Guess it was my turn. Sad face.

I really think I came upon them.
When I walked into my house,
I saw the bathroom light was on and I thought
to myself,
"Wow..I'm always getting onto Ken for leaving the
lights on ..
how could I have done that?"

Well all of my jewelry was in there...
and it was left,
as well as Ken's work computer
and my Bose.

Kind of freaky.

And poor Guitar Man....
he's out of town and is having a fit!
Both him and my son are ready to come with 
a trailer and load me up ...
back to Utah. 
It's kinda nice to have boys so protective!

I'm still determined that this is going to be a good year!
 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

It's always exciting for me....
when someone deems my pattern worthy enough
to make for themselves!
This is the class from

I surprised them and showed up with the quilt last Saturday
so they could see what they are making.

Here are some close-ups of the blocks
Kay 
their teacher is making...
Sunshine in the Shadows Block
Friends Are Like Flowers Block
Grandmother's Flower Garden Block
Strawberry-Li-Cious Block
Flowers for Sale Block on top and another one in progress...
It was the highlight of my day stopping in there.
"Can't wait to see your finished quilts ladies!

I have been up to my eyeballs in work,
seeing the Guitar Man is out of town working....
and I'm trying to do both of our jobs here!
 But I'm going to try and get some more posting done 
in the next week to show you what I've been up to!

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!
 

Friday, April 27, 2012

MIA??????


No my friends....
Just busy, busy, busy....
And on the road almost every weekend.

 I head out again early in the morning (4 a.m.)...
My parents have asked me to meet them in Orlando, Florida
for the weekend!
Yippee!

So this is just a quick update!

Someone asked about the soldier boy quilts....
They are being worked on.
I have a dear quilting friend who is helping me finish them up.
(Marla, darling what would my life look like without you??? 
Shudder!!)
We will share pics as soon as they are done.
There was some intense drama with the soldier boy's family...
Tory got really hurt,
and I just couldn't work on them for awhile.
We are cutting way back on our shows too.
That's big news around here.
We're beat to say the least.
Ken is looking for work...
so we shall see what this new chapter brings in our life.
Just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and kicking.
All of my time has been spent working on the last borders
for the Block  of the Months. Whew....what work!
I miss you all!!
Hugs and Love...

Thursday, March 22, 2012

On The Road Again....

Back at it ladies...

The Guitar Man hanging quilts in Naples Florida...
Slowly...but surely....
this is how a booth comes together....
 The other side of the booth...

Just thought you might want to know....
I haven't been sitting at home...
eating my chocolate bon bons...
reading my lusty novels...
and twiddling my thumbs!!

We've been to Freeport IL for a show...
and in less than an hour we are headed out for 
the Smokey Mountain Tennessee Quilt Festival
down by Knoxville!

Back to Naples....
love ... love... love it down there...
We managed to get down by the sea...
 With some coffee of course...
Nice long walk....
Walked around snapping pics of lov-er-ly beach houses...
...I could live here if I had to...I'm sure!
While walking around
we found an 'Artist's Studio Tour' going on...
But seeing we couldn't purchase tickets there...
we had to move along...
(tug at the heart...I love these kind of things!)

Gotta Run....