Free Shipping at my Etsy shop!

This week only I'm offering FREE SHIPPING at my ETSY SHOP! This is for any US address only. Just enter FSOCT11 in the coupon code box.

Here are a few new items in my shop:

Rag Bag using Moda's Summer House

Reversible Table Runner with Fall on one side, Christmas on the back

Reversible Christmas Table Runner with close up of back

I have a few more items in the process of being completed. There's a Christmas quilt with Moda's Basic Grey Fruitcake fabric, another bag with Moda's Summer House fabric and 2 quilts that are waiting to be quilted. I will add pictures of those soon so check back!

I would love to have you share this special with your friends. Feel free to blog all about it!

Have a blessed day!

Help for Katie's Family

My friend Katie is an amazing woman living with stage 4 gastric cancer. She should "not be alive" now according to the doctors. When she was diagnosed they thought she'd have less than 6 months. In December it will be a year. Less than 2 weeks ago she went into the hospital with her tumor bleeding. Her only "chances" were for the tumor to stop on it's own or for radiation to possibly help IF she could even get radiation. If neither happened, they would be transporting her to the Hospice center and keep her comfortable. We know her situation is still precarious but we also know we have a God who is even more amazing than our dear Katie. Katie is currently AT HOME. The radiation was approved and in working to stop the bleeding.

With this going on for Katie, her husband Kevin, and their 3 sons, life is still managing to happen around them. In the Renz family birthdays seem to happen to the males in the fall. The twin boys will be turning 6 in November and the middle school son will have a birthday in December. I think Kevin's is soon, too. Christmas comes soon after that. We hope and pray that Katie will be here to celebrate all of these. We do know that this year shopping for Birthday and Christmas gifts will be a challenge, so my friend Emily has spearheaded a group to help the family in this area. If you'd like to help, please join the proboards group "Operation Renz Family" at THIS location.  In the near future there will be a way to donate immediately from that site.

Please continue to keep this dear family in your prayers. Thank you!

Swimming for Katie

 Swimming for Katie Blog Hop (click here)

Usually it is exciting to be among the first to know something. There is that joy of excitement and anticipation, as when you know someone is expecting a baby or getting married, before it's made public. Other times, it is an honor, but one with a heavy heart, that you are among the first to learn news. Last December I received an e-mail from a friend who had received Katie Renz' permission to share with me a trial she was facing. There was a possibility that she might have cancer. Katie is one of my dear online stamping friends, and I was all too eager to pray for her. Just weeks before we had said our good-byes and buried my dear friend Linda who lost her battle with cancer, but gained eternal life. The summer of 2010 I sat in the "friend chair" in two infusion centers while two of my best friends received chemotherapy. Learning of Katie's possible cancer was simply surreal, but one I was all too familiar with.

As most of you know, Katie was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer in December. She spent Christmas in the hospital, a time that was supposed to be spent at Disneyland on vacation with her husband and 3 boys. Her cancer was inoperable, but she has been on a steady regimen of chemotherapy. During a break from the chemo her family took that trip to Disney! And to show you a touch of Katie's tenacity, check out this picture:

During another break in her chemo routine, Katie got a motorcycle endorsement! Something Katie & I have in common is husbands with a love for riding fast motorcycles. I guess the "fast" goes without saying when you mention motorcycles. Katie is far braver than I, however, as she also drives a motorcycle!

Katie is fighting this cancer with all she's got, but she also is dealing with this with a big dose of reality. In her last post, she talked about going shopping with her husband. Not for shoes or clothes, but for cemetery plots, coffins and headstones. That's Katie, thinking of things ahead of time so if/when the time comes, Kevin will not have to make those choices. She's not given up hope, though. She still uses the phrase, "short of a miracle," knowing that could happen.

Today a wonderful group of Katie's friends and stamping comrades have posted a blog hop as a way for others to help Katie, Kevin and the boys in a very practical way. Cancer not only takes a toll physically and emotionally, but also financially, even with the best of insurance policies. On this blog hop, you will have the opportunity to donate directly to help the Renz family as well as purchase some "digi stamps" with the cost also going to the family. You will also find Katie's mailing address if you'd like to send a card.

Please pray for this dear lady and her family. We are all still hoping for that miracle.

Fall Projects

With a new school year started, time has been slipping away. Along with our typical homeschooling at home, we also are part of a homeschool co-op where parents take turns teaching classes, as well as a Girl Scout troop (with girls from Kindergarten through high school). My projects have taken a back seat, but it's time to get them finished, so I've been busy this week getting everything to the point of quilting.

Here are a few of the things I'm working on:

Maple Leaf Table Runner (2 of these, slightly different variations)

Patchwork Table Runner (2 of these). These will have scalloped edges!

 From Mary Engelbreit's fabric collection, "The Caroler." 

I would like opinions here. I started with 2 panels and had the "turnovers" (triangles) in the same fabric line already. I used those to border the panel. To me, this could be a finished piece (with a border, quilting and binding) OR I could add several wide borders to make it a lap quilt. Currently these are about 20" x 30". What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Items listed and Quilt Tops finished!

Today I listed the patriotic rag quilt on Etsy along with a set of hot pads/trivets. I have a few more sets to list of those.

Front

Back

I also finished a quilt top and took pictures of another quilt top I finished the other day. This is the one that I did a "mock up" of in Photoshop several months ago. I finally got it all put together. I think it needs a border before I quilt it. I don't think I have more of the fabric I used for sashing, though.

Do you love the little netbook on top of the ironing board? We are such nerds that we often have it on while watching a movie because inevitably someone will ask, "Who is playing that part?" The hunt begins and leads down a winding road of all sorts of useless info!

I'm almost done with a 3rd. Now the fun part begins: Quilting!

Natalie thinks she might want this one for her new bedspread. I do know whether she does or doesn't I'll be keeping this one with the Amy Butler fabrics in it.

Now to feed my family. I decided to cook 3 types of meat at once tonight so I only had to have the oven on once this week. Should be enough to last all week & then some. Thank the Lord for food to eat when our pennies are pinched way too tight!

Ta ta for now!

New items to list on Etsy

Here are some quick shots of the things I need to list on Etsy. Need to take good pics of the quilt & edit the ones of the hot pads/trivets.

Will update when I have them on Etsy!

Pink Bags!

Last year when I started making things for my craft fairs, I found some Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon fabric to use. I made a few things with it and had quite a bit still in my stash. My dear friend Kathy was right in the middle of chemo for her breast cancer, following surgery, so we were totally absorbed in all things PINK! When I looked through a book by  Amy Butler called Style Stitches, a book full of patterns and how-to's for making bags, I wanted to try this Teardrop style bag. The little key keeper bag is a similar style, so I decided to make both sizes of purses and a little coin bag to go with them.

Both of the purses have long handles. When I find my over the door hanger I'll take some better pics showing the handles. There is a large slip pocket inside of each bag, too. The purses have a magnetic snap top. The large one will have either a bow or rosette on the front. That's because my iron got a little heat happy and smudged a bit where the magnets are. UGH! It doesn't effect the strength of the fabric, just the looks. So, the purse will get an extra detail! The little bag has a tiny loop on it so you could use a latch or split key ring to attach your keys or attach the little bag to a bigger one. It also has a slip pocket on the inside.

While I used the same main fabric on all 3, each of the coordinating pink colors is slightly different. The small purse (with the strap), has a mottled bright pink fabric as the handle and band. The large purse and the key keeper each have a solid pink, but slightly different in shade, as the band (and handle on the purse). The 3 shades of pink do still coordinate so this could be given as a set.

With October coming quickly, a month when we remember those with breast cancer and make an effort to find more ways to end this horrible disease, maybe you know someone who might be cheered up with a purse reminding her that we are fighting for her life! I'll be adding these to my Etsy store soon, but if you are interested in purchasing one before that, let me know.

Have a super day!