May For Me Mystery Quilt and I Love Cards

I have been working to stay caught up on this fun Mystery Quilt that Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks has designed and been posting directions for twice a week.

Here are the pinwheel blocks I made last week, they were fun and new for me.

Below is this weeks embroidery.  I had planned to use satin stitch around the windows but it wasn't looking to great so I switched to another stitch.  When I completed the stitching I soaked the fabric to remove my washable marker lines and the thread I used faded all over the fabric.  I was able to wash out most of the fade lines but some remain.

I am looking forward to Tonya's post tomorrow to tell me what to do next.

The following is a repeat of the post that disappeared last week while blogger was experiencing difficulties.

I love getting cards, all kinds of cards.  Cards on holidays, birthdays, postcards from travelers, note cards with special messages.  Once I receive a card it sticks around, I have a couple of special boxes for them.

This is a handmade Mother's Day card from my daughter Julie

This card of buttons I won in Karen's giveaway at The Painted Quilt. 

This post card came with the buttons, check out the beautiful Incomparable Buttons made in South Africa at Button Mad.

Who doesn't love getting a note card from a friend.  These beautiful cards were created by Marcia at

 Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting.

Have you sent a card to someone lately?

White Orchid

              A Mother's Day gift from my son and daughter in law.

May For Me thought

Slow down and enjoy the beauty around you.

Joining with White Wednesday #99 at Faded Charm

Mystery Quilt Progress

I was able to get caught up with my May For Me - Mystery Quilt Stitch along.  It is not too late to join in, visit Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks and see whats up.  First I had to separate several squares from my charm pack.

 Then I made these cute little blocks with several of the blocks left in the charm pack.  I wasn't too sure about the red squares but used them anyway and I think they will work fine.  I completed the second embroidery also but I may have to redo part of her because the color on her arms and face doesn't show up too well.

Tonya should be posting the next step some time today so it is good that I am caught up, that is unless I decide to redo part of the embroidery. 

I hope you are having a great May.

A Blessing From A Friend

On Easter Sunday a friend at church left this white chocolate tulip for me along with a card.

I like what the card says on the outside New Life, new hope, new joy.

What she wrote on the inside meant even more to me.

Cheryl wrote

"Tulips remind me of new life in the spring.  Just as Jesus gives new life to those who put their faith and trust in what He as done for us.  The color white is a reminder of the forgiveness that He paid for, making us pure and clean."

Thank you Cheryl for the card, the chocolate tulip and the message.

This colorful bird is preparing to fly to a new home and I am sure that my blogging friend Donna in Texas will provide a great home for it.

May For Me Mystery Quilt

Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks is sharing a Mystery Quilt this month.  She told us what fabrics to purchase or gather from our stash and then last week gave us the design for the first block to embroider.  She has since shared the steps for piecing some blocks but I have not had the chance to get to that yet.

I bought fabric that I love, this project I plan to keep.

The first block has not been cut to size, I tried something new and used some color, using crayons before doing the stitching.

Come back later this week and I will show you my pieced blocks.
Or visit Tonya and see how her quilt is coming along.  It is not too late to join in.

Don't forget my Cottage Charm Giveaway, link on my sidebar.

Cottage Charm Giveaway

I have been blogging for a little over a year now and have had a wonderful time with it.  I had planned to do an anniversary giveaway and here it is.  I am joining with the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway at Twice Remembered Cottage.  I had fun preparing these items for this giveaway.  I have learned so many new things and "met" so many wonderful people in the world of blogging.

This says "Cottage Charm" to me.

This bird on the spool was inspired by a project I saw in a spring Crafts n Things magazine

I embroidered the pillow and made pockets in the front with the toile, it is backed with toile.

The pincushion is made with an old metal mold and edged with seam binding.

My giveaway is open to anyone.

Just leave a comment and you will be entered.

The giveaway will end on May 29 and I will post the winner that morning.

Be sure to let me know how to get in touch with you if you do not have a blog.

Be sure to visit Twice Remembered Cottage and join in on the other "Cottage Charm Giveaways."

May For Me!

A blogging friend named Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks and her friend Marcia at Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting had this idea for what they call May for Me!

Tonya wrote "I have found with many of us that we give, give, give ---and never take time for us!"

Marcia and Tonya will be posting helpful tips, projects and ideas.

Tonya is sharing a Mystery Quilt Stitch-a-long which I plan to participate in.

Marcia has a giveaway, beautiful note cards on her May for Me post here.

 Marcia describes May for Me this way, she says

Take a break

Enjoy quiet moments

Smell the roses

Sew stuff you want to sew

Take time for yourself

She calls them "Minutes for Me!"

My plans for May include

1. Finish sewing our living room curtains.

2. Sew and complete Tonya's Mystery Quilt.

3. Keep up with the Block of the Month projects

4.  Keep working to eat better and exercise more,

Emmy (our dog) and I are going to make our walks longer.

5.  Complete cross-stitch project I began in March while on vacation.

6. I would love to weed all of my flower beds, the weather must cooperate because I don't want to freeze while doing this.

I have several other ideas in my mind but I think I should keep the list reasonable, don't you?