Busy Springtime and Winner of Giveaway

I am ready for springtime to be over. NO, NO, I am kidding. I love springtime but I have been super busy out in the yard since my last post. We have not put pine needles around in the plant beds for almost 2 years. They were looking pretty bad. We bought 65 bales and I have been busy putting them out in the beds. Just finished this weekend.

In between putting the pine needles in the yard I have attended two quilt groups. This is the next block I need to make from the local $5 quilt BOM.

 These are the next two blocks I will make for Modern Quilt Therapy group.

 I did pick out and cut fabric for flying geese and...

 got some other pieces ready to sew together.

 I also got some fabric and plastic pattern pieces cut out for a workshop I am going to go to tomorrow. Mary Sorensen is speaking to our guild tonight and she will be teaching a needle turn hand applique class tomorrow. I am looking forward to learning new techniques.

Now to announce the winner of the giveaway. First let me say thanks for leaving all the comments. I see some of you like "playing in the dirt" like me. Forgive me for not responding to them all but I am going to visit all of your blogs to see what you have been up to this spring. 

The winner of the giveaway is Robin from Crafty Musings. Congratulations! Robin.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

The month of March

The month of March has flown by for me. I have not been on the computer much so I am way behind on reading all your blogs which I miss. Because I am watching my grandson five days a week again I don't much time for my hobbies. Despite not having much free time I have managed to get some projects made. 

 First off--I finished this quilt just in time for my daughter's birthday.This was the free BOM by Jacquelynne Steves. She will be starting another BOM soon. I won't be doing it though but you might like to do it.

  My friend Laura did the machine quilting for me.  She will do yours too if you need a quilt done.

I made this months block for my local quilt shop BOM. Only one more to go.

 At Modern Quilt therapy group we were given three more blocks for the quilt.

I am way behind on this sew-along by Jeni from the Willow but I did get one more block appliqued.

 I made the second block of the BOM from Buttermilk Basin. The next block is a bee hive which I need to make before next months block is released.

 My applique bee is working on blocks for a raffle quilt for when our guild hosts symposium. All the blocks are orchids. These are the two I made. The plan is to add some embroidery or use paint sticks to add more details to the orchids. All the blocks are being done in batiks.

 I went to applique bee and saw some of the other blocks which aren't quite finished yet. It is going to be a fabulous quilt when it is done. I thought I would share some of the blocks that Patti is working on.

I am still working on this afghan from LookatwhatImade.net. I am three weeks behind but I am not worried about. I am enjoying crocheting every row I add to this afghan. There is a facebook group and every one of the afghans are gorgeous. There are new people joining every day so don't be afraid to join in too.

Way back at Christmas time when we went to the mountains to get our Christmas tree we stopped at an antique store. I found this sewing box. All the spool holders on the side were full of old thread. Some were wooden spools which I kept. Inside the drawers were more spools and few other sewing notions. (This is the before photo.)

Mr. P. sanded some of the bad places down and added a few coats of Tung oil to the wood to spruce it up again. Now it sits near my sewing machine where I can get to some of my threads and favorite tools I use while sewing. (After photo)

With springtime here I have been spending my weekends in the garden planting some cool weather veggies or working out in the yard. Check out the garden shoes my daughter got me for my birthday.

My grandson has started coming outside with me now that some days are warmer. He loves playing in the dirt.

He has been walking for the last month. He will be one year old on Friday. I can't believe how his first year has flown. Every day he does something new.

 Buttermilk Basin was having a blog hop which included different designers. They each shared some really sweet projects. This little needlebook was shared by Crabapple Hill. . I just had to make several of these needle books because they were so cute. Two I have given away.

So if you have gotten down this far on the post you deserve to have a chance at a little springtime giveaway. I will send the winner a needle book and two fat quarters of the springtime fabric.

To be entered in the giveaway just tell me if you like to play in the dirt too. (gardening,planting flowers, container gardens, etc.)

I will announce the winner after Easter sometime. I will not give a certain date because I just don't know when I can get back on the computer again. 

I wish you all a Blessed Easter. 

With Passion,

Carrie P.