Grayson David Holliday, My Nephew!

My brother just sent me pictures of my adorable little nephew Grayson David Holliday! Here he is with his Mother Gay and his Dad Gary. Fortunately for him he is already a Cardinals fan so he is going to know what it's like to be a winner from the beginning! For those who track my blog who don't watch football, they are going to be in the Super Bowl.

My brother and his family live in Arizona so I haven't had the opportunity to see my "bundle of joy" yet but I sure hope it doesn't take long before I do.

Gary says Grayson is such a good baby. He is always so happy and hardly cries. I think he gets that from me.

We are all so excited for Gary and Gay! This is their first baby and they are having the time of their lives with him. I can't wait to have my time too.

Now I have to go..there is a baby quilt to make!!!!!!!

Butch by David King for Bigfork Bay Cotton Co.

Shelly, my daughter, and I finished two Butch quilts for Trunk Shows for Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/. Butch is designed by the Artist David King and is the companion of Sundance which I finished earlier. Shelly drew the pieces to the Wonder Under Fusible Web, cut them out, and fused the pieces into a quilt top. All I had to do was quilt the top, bind and put on a hanging sleeve. Shelly has been such a great help to me.

This quilt is so adorable! My son Randy has a black lab named Buck who looks so much like Butch. As soon as Randy saw Butch he asked me if I would make him one. How can I resist?

The fabrics used in the kits, which can be ordered directly from Bigfork Bay Cotton Co., are all by Batik Textiles. They are by far my favorite Batik company and anyone who knows me and how much I LOVE my batiks knows that is a big deal. Batik Textiles keep coming out with more wonderful colors and designs all the time.

Plumeria and Hibiscus Quilt Patterns

These are the new Plumeria and Hibiscus Quilt Patterns by Brenda Yirsa for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. I absolutely LOVE all three of her new designs so much. They look like they are so hard but seriously they are not! These quilts, like the Bird of Paradise below, are quilted by Carol Rockwell. I saw no reason to photograph the three I just finished for trunk shows when Carol did such a great job of taking the pictures to send so that I could see how she quilted them. I was so impressed with her quilting that it is how I chose to quilt the trunk shows I have done.

Be sure to see these and other new designs at http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ You can order the kits or patterns by calling Toll Free 1-866·245·5718. Don't forget that they also have the thread kits available for each design as well!

Bigfork Bay Cotton Co Bird of Paradise

This is the new Bird of Paradise pattern, designed by Brenda Yirsa. This particular quilt was photographed and quilted by Carol Rockwell. She was gracious enough to send me photographs so that I could quilt my trunk shows as closely as possible to hers. I love her quilting style so much. Usually when you see a pattern by Bigfork Bay Cotton Company it is her quilting on the cover!

Kits and patterns are available as always at http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ or you can order by calling Toll Free 1-866·245·5718.

Thanksgiving

This morning I woke up early to start preparations for our family dinner later on today. I try to be grateful every day for the many blessings in my life but this day always makes me look at the big picture.
Today I am grateful that when I woke up there were no bombs going off in the distance. I didn't have to wonder if I was safe. I just assume that I am. My biggest fear outside my home has never been of war but only of the weather. I have a huge fear of a tornado. I'm sure it's the after effects of watching The Wizard of OZ my entire childhood.
I am grateful that my children have never had sickness or injury. I don't mean the flu or skinned knees. We have never dealt with something as horrible as cancer or automobile accidents that were serious.
I am grateful for my children. They have grown up into loving, caring, intelligent, productive adults and I am proud they are mine.
I am grateful for my grandchildren. My daughters have given me two of the most amazing gifts I could have ever wanted. Jenny even died and was brought back to life trying to have another one. I thank God she won that battle. Now, even though she can never have another child, she and Mike are fostering children. That is a blessing for so many too.
I am grateful that when I woke up it was in a house that I love. I am not homeless and I have never been homeless. My heart goes out to those that are. I can't even begin to image how that must feel.
I am grateful not only for my children and grandchildren, but for my husband, who even though he drives me nuts sometimes, okay, a lot, I love him and I thank God for his love and companionship, and support.
I am grateful for my dogs. They bark and drive everyone who walks in the door crazy but when I am alone I know they will bark and protect me from harm. Any time I turn my head I can always find one dog beside me. Nikki is 14 years old now and she has been a great companion and bird dog. They just make me happy.
I am grateful for my job. I work with the most amazing people. They are not only talented beyond belief, but they are all caring and giving.
I am grateful for my friends. I am finally at a point in my life where I am surrounded by genuine, loving, caring people.
I am grateful that I wake up in the mornings to my family, in my house, and email my friends, with my dogs by my side, and I know that in my own little world all is good. There is tragedy in other parts of the world, and there might be some pain in mine, but I thank God for all He has given me.

Vince's 2nd Birthday

Vince turns 2 years old on the 20th but Shelly and Pony had his party today. There were 18 people who attended, including his great grandparents on Pony's side. I love the fact that our families can join together as one. He is very lucky to be loved by so many.

The theme of the party was Cars the movie. Vince LOVES the movie and I made him a Cars quilt for his Cars bed with Cars sheets and the works. He does like other things too but Lightening McQueen is at the top of the list. Mater is my favorite.. the tow truck Tow Mater. He just cracks me up!

It seems like yesterday that I watched Vince come into this World. At times it's hard to believe it's been two years and yet at other times it seems like it was so long ago. I feel so blessed that I have a job which allows me to work at home so that I can spend two days a week with Vince. They are very special days for me. I know how quickly they will go and if I blink I will be sitting at his graduation. It is nice to slow down as we age in order to appreciate the little things more. I am very grateful for this day and I am blessed to have the opportunity to spend it with such a wonderful family. Thank You God.

Rock Star, Free Pattern by Bigfork Bay Cotton Co.

We ALL love free patterns and this is a great design called Rock Star by Lynn Stalowy, owner of Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. You can download the directions right off the website at http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ The quilt uses fabulous batiks by Batik Textiles.

You can order the kits for this quilt right off the website, it's on page 10, or you can call Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. 866·245·5718 and talk with one of the ladies. You can't believe how reasonable the price of the kit is! I'm getting one for me!

Be sure you look at all the great kits available while you are there. They have other designs besides their own but I know when you see the fabulous patterns by the various artists who design for Bigfork Bay you will be amazed!

Don't forget the Aurifil Thread and the giant size pressing sheet by Bear Threads Designs while you are there!