My Personal Reflections, Lessons Learned & Life's Little Accomplishments for 2010

Thinking over the past year has brought some smiles and tears. The New Year is a good time to

count your blessings, recall your accomplishments and admit your downfalls.

May the reflection bring rejuvenation and redemption to your life.

Here's a few of my random Personal Reflections, Lessons Learned &

Life's Little Accomplishments for 2010. Some of these sound so trivial, but, to me, life is in the small details, not the huge accomplishments and awards.

• encouraged my daughter to overcome her first day fears of High School
• made my friends smile
• laughed more often and more freely
• focused less on finacial wealth/possessions and more on contentment
• practice giving feet to my faith
• enjoyed the simple things in life, like soaking up the spring sunshine with a good book
• slowed down a little more to find the joy of living
• told my family that I appreciate them more often
• creating homemade gifts
• took lots of pictures (ALL digital!!)
• reduced clutter and increased organization
• found that a deep breath followed by a long sigh lowers my stress and increases my patience level
• comforted a dear friend after the loss of a child
• helped the homeless        
• donated to several charities
• learned that small problems should not be allowed to overshadow the big ones
• learned that misunderstanding, anger or fear can cause small issues to escalate into something bigger
• made homemade blackberry jelly and peach jam
• survived a summer without being a Camp Lela sponsor… missed those kids
• survived a youth mission trip as the only female sponsor! HA!
• made new online friends
• created my first online blog site
• lost an uncle to a lifelong battle with lung problems
• with sigh of relief and bit of sadness, we finished the last of a 6 year string of Christmas musicals/Dinner Theater productions
• had a blast being the sponsor with the Berryhill HS Band at BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis
• entered my first children's story writing contest
• LEARNING to be a craft project "finisher", not just a starter
• started and finished two quilted table runners in the same month (for me, that's a BIG thing.)
• designed a few of my own quilt patterns
• learned the hard way that not everyone you think is trustworthy really is
• learned little encouragement notes to a worried person can lift their confidence & spirits
• learning a humble heartfelt "I'm sorry" can quickly heal hurt feelings, improve relationships and change attitudes
• learning that indecisiveness is ultimately a decision not act or take a risk
• caused a friend or family member to have a deep belly laugh at my antics or my clumsiness
• allowed myself the freedom to be me
• lost 30 lbs and gained the motivation to continue
• acted crazy with my daughter and husband
• created fun memories
• scrawled notes on napkins in a packed lunch can make my teenage daughter's day
• trying to see other's points of view a little more
• purchased lots of quilting books!
• strung a set of chili pepper lights on the top of our new flat screen TV for a substitute Christmas tree. (We never put up a tree this year. Time just slipped away. So I jokingly told my daughter that instead of "O Christmas Tree" we could sing "O Big T-V, O Big T-V, O how love your colors." So the night we opened presents, we surprised her and strung up the lights and put the presents on the table underneath our Big TV "tree". We had a big laugh over it... what a fun new memory! LOL!!)
• my hubby, daughter and I picked about 24 gallons of wild blackberries on our farm
• Mistakes can be learning tools. Laughter works better than anger to get through your frustrating mistakes and blunders
• using humor to write/blog/talk about my mistakes and failures allows others the opportunity to laugh with you
• laughter creates a common ground
• made it a full year without pop (soda to some of you.) The cravings were so intense for about 3 months! I'm celebrating my success and determination with a 2 ltr of Dr. Pepper on New Year's Eve!! *Ü*
• helped my parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary

God is Good, All the Time!
Happy New Year to All My Friends and Family!
God Bless You in the New Year!
Julie

Love Quilting Magazines?

Karin at http://quiltfrenzy.blogspot.com/2010/12/love-of-quilting-subscription-giveaway.html#comment-form is giving away a year's subscription to Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. Check it out!

Leona's Last Giveaway.. for 2010

Hey, check out what Leona is giving away. A beautiful book called "Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin" and a couple of handy dandy quilting tools! What a great give-away! Have fun!
http://oneygirl-myquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/2010/12/bloggy-giveaway.html

Reasons for Celebrating

CutToPieces is celebrating her daughter Caitlyn's 1st birthday with a wonderful giveaway... She's such a little cutie! I would want to celebrate too. Check it out at: http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com/2010/12/celebration-and-giveaway.html

PS I Quilt is having a sponsored giveaway a beautiful fat quarter bundle of Kona Fabrics, sponsored by Canton Village Works. Enter to win at PS I Quilt's blog.

A Giveaway to raise awareness for Quilt Hope In

Tracy at http://traceyjayquilts.blogspot.com/ has been given the opportunity to giveaway a Go! You can check out the giveaway and enter here. Tracy is a special lady who has started a new charity organization called  Quilt Hope In who will make quilts and sell them to raise money for Heartline Ministries. Check out all three web sites.

FQ Giveaway

Wow! Look at the generous giveaway on http://www.sewuniquecreationsblog.com/. 28 FQ's of beautiful fabric. Go check it out!

Ho-Ho-Holiday Ornament - Finally! - No Peeking Alexis

Ornament designed (check)
Ornament completed (check)
Ornament mailed to my swap partner (check)

Ya-hoo!! One more item to cross of my growing list of projects I need and want to do. I had a difficult time trying to find an ornament pattern that was a "quilting" type of ornament that I liked. Some were too complicated and some were just too plain. I wanted to make something really unique for my partner.

I received this material from one of the other swap partners in my group. She said it's from a collection called "Figgy Pudding" if I remember correctly. The fat quarter was an olive green and she also generously sent a large piece of the coordinating material. The striped fabric's colors of burgundy, white, and olive green decorated the material with peppermints, ornaments, trees, and snowflakes mixed among wavy strips.

This material gave me the inspiration for the Christmas tree design. I tried to incorporate the different colors and designs to make the piece-work look like ornaments. I used some of the darker green for a small trunk. I layered with a small scrap of batting, stitched around it, leaving an opening to turn it. One of the small snowflakes became my tree topper after stuffing it. It looked like a teeny-tiny pillow about 1/2" across. :)

After the assembly, I hand-quilted the ornament, but it still looked a little too plain in my honest opinion. It needed something shiny, some bling-bling to add some pizzazz! What tree would be complete without a string of lights?!! Off to scrounge through my daughter's and my craft supplies.. Ah-ha! Glass seed beads to the rescue!! I think they even twinkle a little bit in the right light. What do you think? A few hand stitches to the back to create a loop for hanging completes this one-of-a-kind project.

I hope my partner will like the ornament, even though it looks a little lopsided. :D

Merry Christmas to all,
Julie

Quilters Unite to Change Lives

Quilters are some of the most caring and giving people (outside of established churches and religious organizations) that I've ever met. Recently, I've met so many amazing new quilting friends in the blogging world. One of my favorite blogging sites had a wonderful idea to raise money for one of my favorite charities, World Vision. Heather and some of her friends came up with the idea to have a raffle to win one of several donated quilts. At last report, they raised over $5,700.00 for this worthy project. You can check out the story at: http://alamodefabric.blogspot.com/

If you have never heard of World Vision, please let me introduce you to this worthy organization. World Vision is a "Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice."

You can help provide immediate needs or help provide a family with sustainable food and future income. Just a few of the many choices are:

• sponsor a child or family,
• help with emergency food and shelter needs,
• help exploited girls and women,
• give farm animals to provide food, income, and clothing
• provide clean, safe drinking water,
• vocational training and education

Please take a moment to view their website and consider including World Vision in your charitable giving this Christmas season.

God Bless You All, as we celebrate the "Reason for the Season", the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Julie

Post Thanksgiving Giveaways

Sarah is celebrating her brand new online quilt shop at Swell Cloth. To celebrate she's hosting a fabulous giveaway at http://stashresolution.blogspot.com/2010/11/stash-resolution-episode-18.html/

Kim at Chatter Box Quilts is in her 3rd week of the Book Giveaways. A beautiful book Pinwheel Party - 12 Fun and Unique Quilts" by Ellen Pahl is up for grabs this week at: http://chatterboxquilts.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-giveaway-week-3.html

Janice and Marcea at Abby Lane Quilts are giving away one of their new quilt books. Check it out. FUN, FUN, Quilt patterns: http://www.abbeylanequilts.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving week - Giveaways

Trish at All Things Crafty is giving away a Hexagon Accuquilt die to celebrate her 325th posting. Check it out and join the fun at: http://www.allthingscrafty.com/2010/11/anniversary-giveaway-accuquilt-hexagon.html

Kim at Chatter Box Quilts is in her 2 week of the Book Giveaways. A delightful book Fast Flirty & Fun is up for grabs this week at http://chatterboxquilts.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-giveaway-week-2.html.

Elaine at Faithful Quilter is having her 2nd Annual Thanksgiving (Quilting) Give-A-Way. What a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving! http://faithfulquilter.blogspot.com/2010/11/2nd-annual-thanksgiving-quilting-give.html

Allie at My Strandz is giving away a CUTE charm pack. She recently finished a quilt using the same fabrics. Check it out at: http://mystrandz.blogspot.com/2010/11/fabric-giveaway.html

Last but certainly not least, Chelsea at Pink Fig Design is giving away two quilts to two lucky winners on Dec. 1st. Her contest is at http://pinkfigdesign.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-giveaway.html Good Luck.

New Giveaways on the Blogs

Well, we have another UK blogger allowed the pleasure to give away a Go!Cutter. Her name is Mandy at http://madewithlovebymandy.blogspot.com/2010/11/accuquilt-go-giveaway.html Join us in the fun!

The Give-Aways are back!

Here a few contests for today:

JayBird Quilts is giving away TWENTY fat quarters from Above All Fabrics. The contest is available at http://giveaways.jaybirdquilts.com/2010/11/sponsored-giveaway-featuring-above-all.html. Check out the fabulous fabric!

Lavendar Ridge has been given the opportunity to giveaway a Go! Cutter! Check it out at http://lavenderridge.blogspot.com/

Everyday Beautiful is giving away some beautiful fabrics also! She is giving up to 7 chances to enter!
http://everydaybeautiful.typepad.com/everyday_beautiful/2010/11/its-a-big-fabric-shoppe-giveaway-.html

Have fun!
Julie

Stray Stitches is Celebrating

My new blogging friend, Linda, at Stray Stitches is celebrating her 80th post with a fantastic giveaway. Check out her blog. She always has some interesting posts and is a nice lady to boot. :D

http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2010/11/80th-post-celebration-giveaway.html

Happy Fall, Y'all!!
Julie

Another GO! from Irish Muses

Would you like to win a GO? I sure would! Here's your chance at:
http://thedote.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-time-for-accuquilt-go-giveaway.html

Ends 11/05/10

Winner - Fall Into Fall Giveaway!!

Thanks to all who participated in my giveaway! I've truly enjoyed reading all your comments and words of encouragement! I hope to have all the comments compiled by category and posted in the next few weeks. :)

Congratulations to Jen from http://thequiltyhome.blogspot.com/

Jen said...
"I guess my favorite quilting tool is blogs! Inspiration, stories, techniques, videos, and tutorials. It doesn't get any better than that! Truthfully, it's the quilting tool I use most often!"

Thanks again to all of you and I hope you will enjoy following my blog or pop in from time to time.

Take a Look at this one!

Long address, but great prizes for the giveaway!! :)

http://hobbieswithalittlebiteoflife.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-fall-free-give-away.html

Bliss Giveaway

Look at the great prize on the Fall into Fall Giveaway. This is one of the business sponsors. http://crazyquiltgirlfabricshop.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-fall-giveaway.html

Sew Happy is Celebrating

SewHappy is celebrating her followers with a magazine subscription giveaways.
http://sewhappy10000.blogspot.com/2010/09/october-magazine-give-away.html

600th-post-giveaway

Look who is celebrating her 600th Post!! She is having a giveaway to share with her readers. Check out her giveaway and wonderful tutorials. http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/2010/10/600th-post-giveaway.html

Another Go! Cutter!

If you are interested in winning a Go!Cutter head on over to: http://alderwoodquilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/alderwood-quilts-october-giveaway.html

Fall into Fall Bloggers Giveaway is HERE finally!!

Comments are now closed.. We have a winner!! See the post from today 10/18/10 for the information.

Part of the fun of blog giveaways is seeing what the hosting blogger wants you to do to enter. You will have several chances to enter which will help ME too! Telling you how this project developed for me will allow me to gain some valuable insights from my readers. I hope you will find some humor in my mistakes as a novice.

When I first signed up to be a part of the bloggers giveaway, I thought how fun this would be! I like to create gifts and enjoy "meeting" new people. Then reality set-in... I realized I had to have my giveaway ready by Oct. 1st and that was only a week to get something together. YIKES!! Getting the "big eye" is always a challenge for me. I think I can do more in less time than it actually takes. Working full time and commuting 3 hours a day doesn't leave much playtime, but this is something I REALLY wanted to do. So, being stubborn as I am, I went full steam ahead.

While I realize this is a "Fall" giveaway, cooler weather always makes me start thinking of the coming months of snow & Christmas. Being a big fan of everything Christmas and snowmen, my fabric stash is mostly Christmas related. So I thought, why not make something for Christmas?

While searching for ideas, I spied a snowman applique pattern for three mini quilts that was just adorable. I had all the fabrics, but I didn't have the fusing or any experience!! :O I've always wanted to try my hand at applique, but never had the nerve. But I wanted to be bold and take the chance.. (Feel free to insert foreboding music here.)

Here's my first attempt. Unexperience in this applique world, I made a "fatal" mistake. I bought the wrong fusing.. the no-sew kind.. So, yeah, you guessed it. My pieces were all cut, assembled and layered "just so" cute. With the pieces ironed in place, I head to my sewing machine only to find You really CAN'T sew it.. it's rather impossible and leaves large needle holes.. Lesson learned the hard way.. Strike One..

Attempt Two: Get the Heat-n-Bond LIGHT and start again. This time I modified the original design to make one bigger wall hanging. I also added some snow and made some other changes. This second attempt is looking awfully cute!

However, my brand-new quilting machine does not have a zigzag, so I thought hand stitching would be nice. Normally, I can hand stitch pretty well, but for whatever reason, it was NOT working. Maybe the stress of the deadline?? So I attempt to stitch on the machine. A no-go there too. It wasn't looking good!! Ugh! Strike TWO!! What to do now?

It's Tuesday evening and panic is beginning to set in.. The snowman project idea is totally scrapped and a new project emerges. A Christmas table runner!! This time I tried to keep it simple for time's sake. After cutting my squares and sewing the blocks together (the first time) I didn't like the arrangment. Too much green and not enough red. The rows were partially disassembled and more fabric was added. I like this result much better. After a late night of stitching until 2 AM this morning, the little runner is "nearly" complete. I'll finish stitching the binding on the back today.




Hurried stitching doesn't make for perfection, but it's cute and soft. I call the design "Bows & Boxes"... When viewed from an angle, the little pairs of smaller squares look like bows perched on top of a gift. (The winner may choose the runner or 4 fat quarters of the same material.)







I hope you enjoyed a giggle or two with my mistakes. Enough of my ramblings onto the the fun!!

You may choose to enter by completing as few or as many of the options below. Be sure to include your email if you have your settings at "No-Reply". (If you are unsure of your settings, SewCalGal has a wonderful tutorial on her page: http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html just scroll down about halfway.)
Additional prizes may be given to most original &/or helpful comments. *Ü* Leave your comments HERE at THIS POST to be entered to win. Here you go 10 chances to WIN.

1. Be a follower of my blog and leave a comment that you are.
2. Post a comment & link on your blog about my giveaway and leave a link to the post here.
3. Share your ideas/tips on the following. Each comment/post should contain only one subject and therefore will be a different entry. After the closing of the contest, I hope to compile the best comments on each subject and share with the group.
- I've read many books, websites, magazines and find conflicting information on pressing seams. Some say to the darker fabric and some say always open/flat. Which do you prefer and why or when (in certain circumstances).
- What is your favorite applique technique and why?
- Besides the Accuquilt cutters and dies that we are ALL trying to win, what is your favorite new quilting tool and why.
- Share an idea for uses of everyday items recycled for quilting/sewing function.
- Some quilters prefer to prewash all the fabrics before and some do not. What is your preference and why?
- Cotton or Polyester batting and why?
- Explain the "One Block Wonder" technique. I've searched for it online, but no luck.

Good luck to all of you. I'll be "seeing" you on the other blogs, too! Click on the scarecrow on the right to visit all list of participants.

Happy Blog Hopping!

Attention: Blog Hoppers - great giveaways

Look what's happening...come hop over to http://cottoncocktails.blogspot.com/2010/09/go-round-flower-die.html and enter the give away....

Accuquilt Themed Blog Hops & Tutorials

SewCalGal has a great tip on her tutorial on http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2010/09/accuquilt-theme-blog-hop-tips-tutorials.html

Millie's Quilting is Go! Giver!!

Check out the tutorial and GO! Cutter Giveaway at:
http://milliesquilting.blogspot.com/2010/09/accuquilt-go-cutter-giveaway.html

Jane's Fabrics got a GO! Giveaway

Another GO! Cutter is a giveaway.. Whoo-Hoo! She also has a wonderful blog.. So bright and cheery... check out her blog at:
http://janesfabrics.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-go-for-giveaway.html

Fall into Fall Giveaway

Have you heard the news? A new Giveaway is beginning Oct. 1 and you can have a chance to win numerous prizes. Some business and quilting bloggers have joined together to give various prizes away. Come back on Oct. 1st and join the fun and excitement. For a list of participating businesses and bloggers, please go to:
www.fall-into-fall.blogspot.com.

Come back here and enter my giveaway, too.

Have fun!
Julie

Stray Stiches Giveaway

Linda at Stray Stiches is giving away a beautiful set of fabrics. Come join the fun at http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2010/09/thank-you-for-being-my-friend-and.html

A Fall Blog Hop

10 designers lined up for a fun "Fall-O-Ween" themed hop. Each day will bring you a great project and 10 themed blog posts.
http://gudrun.typepad.com/my_weblog/blog-hop/

another fabric giveaway

Whoo-hoo!! Big thumbs up for Green Fairy Quilts and Jaybird Quilts... We have another giveaway!!
http://giveaways.jaybirdquilts.com/

Fabric & Mini Quilt Giveaway

Ariane is celebrating her 300th blog with a giveaway... check it out.
http://arianescrafts.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-my-300th-post-giveaway.html

Fabric Exchange - Brown Bag Contest

Here's a picture of the fabrics I'm sending to my Brown Bag partner. I'm sending a 1/2 yard of each of the prints you see in the picture. The green solid is just an "extra" I'm throwing in for the fun of it. The green was a 1/3 yard, but has a 10" x 7" rectangle cut out of both side.

I'm so excited to see what I will receive. Keep looking for the updates.

Julie

Quilting Book Giveaway from Cut to Pieces

Hey all, check out the book giveaway.. Looks like a great book. I really like CutToPieces blog.
http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaway-day.html

Quilt Block Bible Study - Meanings (Part 2)

"Prophecy of Hope" - God's word to the Prophets filled the people with Hope. Notice the light in the center. The Prophecy was a light to the people but it was shrouded in darkness. Then when Christ came, the prophecy broke through the darkness into the blackest nights.


"Morning Star" - this respresent's Christ's birth. One of Jesus's names in the Bible is the Bright & Morning Star. See the radiance of the star shining in the dark night?



"The Palms" - As a new quilter, this block was very difficult for me to get the angles correct, but it was worth it. This block actually has dual meaning. The first meaning represents the crowd as they waved palm branchs in the triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The second meaning of the palms is to represent our hands.. each side of the palm branch has 5 points reprenting our fingers. As Christians we are to reach out and serve others.

Brown Bag Swap

I'm so excited to be in my very first fabric swap and contest. The Little Red Hen Quilts at http://thelittleredhenquilts.blogspot.com posted a wonderful swap contest. I'll post a pic of my new swapped fabric when I receive them and pictures of the progress... Now to go home and go through my stacks of material.

Fabric & Pattern giveaway

Hey, check out the generosity of Debi at http://debiquilts.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-about-giveaway.html

Fabric Giveaway

Look a the giveaway at http://giveaways.jaybirdquilts.com/ from @jaybirdquilts and @robertkaufman

Quilt Block Bible Study: The meaning (Part 1)

Sorry if the pictures are not very clear. These are taken with the quilt top draped across my couch. I should have ironed it first. ;D Please also remember this was my very FIRST quilting attempt and not all the edges are straight or the points exact. But I loved the classes and the learning experience. I will try to update the link with the designer's name and the scripture references when I get a chance. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy.



"The Garden of Eden" - this block represents the beginning/creation of the world. The blue stripes in the center represent the 4 rivers that met in the Garden of Eden.


"The Ten Commandments" - this block shows 4 squares of strips representing 2 sets of stone tablets. Each tablet has 5 stripes (times 2 tablets), one for each of the 10 commandments given to Moses. There are two sets of tablets because Moses broke the first set in anger. God had him make another set.


"Storms of Life" - this block represents the storms that come in our lives. Due to the sin in the world we are driven deeper and deeper into despair. But God had a plan to save us.

A Quilting Life is a Go-Giver

Hey, Check out the new Go! Giveaway!!
http://aquiltinglife.blogspot.com/2010/08/hexagons-and-go-giveaway.html

Wish me luck! I really Need a GO!

Another GO! Giveaway!

Another great Accuquilt GO Cutter & Die Giveaway. Be prepared to be wow'd at Ryan's site.
http://www.ryanwalshquilts.com/2010/08/accuquilt-go-review-and-giveaway-were.html

Wow! Who would believe another Go! Cutter Giveaway??!!

I'm hoping to win a brand new GO!Cutter at http://www.freckledwhimsy.com/2010/08/its-giveaway-time.html

How about you? You should check out her site!

Win a Go! Cutter!!

Another Go! Cutter giveaway contest. Thank you Accuquilt and Ala Mode Fabric.

http://alamodefabric.blogspot.com/

Another Go!Cutter Contest by SweetP-Paulette

Want to win a Go! Cutter? Then check out this web site. http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-go-time-good-luck.html

Go!Cutter Contest by Canton Village Quilt Works

Hey, everyone! Come check out the Go!Cutter contest at Canton Village Quilt Works. What an awesome offer! Here's the link: http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-go-giveaway.html