Seasons of the Heart November and December blocks..

I love the colors in this block...........

This year in Minnesota our fall colors weren't nearly so vibrant as those in the block above. Cold weather and rain quickly turned the usually pretty fall colors to damp leaves that dropped quickly from the trees. It was surprising to me how quickly the leaves fell to the ground! Oh, well, last year was colorful so if I need to be reminded, I can just look back at photos taken last fall.

This is a time of year when we think of "counting our blessings" and giving thanks. I have much to be thankful for even when some days seem like there are too many challenges. I remind myself that there is always someone struggling far more than I am and so, I, count my blessings!!

The block for December is a gift. You can use your imagination and wonder what is inside. The gift block also allows someone to do it in different colors for those who celebrate Hannukah or Kwanza.

Whatever the gift that is inside this box, I know that it is a "gift of love". Most gifts are given with love and Christmas is a special time when we can share gifts with our family and our friends. Some of the best gifts given are those that go to kids and families that are served by Toys for Tots and other organizations.

Note........pdf files of my patterns are posted in my Yahoo Seasons group. Just click on the Snowman on the sidebar and join the group!

"Christmas is for Kids" as the saying goes but kids come in all ages and sizes. I'm my mother's "kid" but I'm 60 years old. I love Christmas. My grandson is just ten and he is hopeful for a certain gift that is on his list. Christmas is a time of hope and giving, love and living. Sometimes things challenge us and the hope and giving, love and living are hard to find. I have a little chance for you to share a bit of that hope and love. My blogging friend, Janice, learned of a little boy who has cancer and wants to get as many Christmas cards as possible this year. You can send him a card by going to this link and you'll see that the story is true and you'll see the address of where to send the card. Mine is going in the mail in the morning. Make it a season for this little boy to "count the blessings" he'll find in those Christmas cards and the gift others will have given him just by mailing those cards. :-)
Night all.
Sandi

October blocks are here!

I love October! You already know I love Fall so it was easy to do the designs for this month. Some of you may not want a Jack-O-Lantern, so all you have to do is skip the eyes, nose and mouth and add a pumpkin vine and more leaves and you'll have a Fall pumpkin design!

When it came to the design for the Snowman for this month, all I did was recall my daughter and all the times that she dressed up as a witch when she was a little girl. And when she was really little, she was a black cat at Halloween. All I did was add ears and a tail to the little black fur coat and snowpants that I had sewn for her (this was the early 70's).

If you don't want a "Snow Witch", try this........... use another hat design from a past pattern, turn the broom into a rake, use plaid for the cape, add some swirling leaves around the cat, and skip the Jack-O-Lantern Trick-or-Treat container.

Hope you have fun with these designs! There are only two more to go! In case you want to get the designs finished before Christmas, I will post the November designs at the end of October and I'll post the December designs in mid-November. I've had a number of committments combined with some health issues that have made it a challenge to keep up sometimes but just watch my blog and you'll see them soon. My class/volunteer activities all wrap up at the end of October. I will be taking those first weeks in November to finalize my block lay-out and share the info with you when I post in mid November. At that time, I will also have a preview of the blocks that I'll share in 2010!

It's been a rainy day here in Minnesota, positively excellent weather if you were a duck! This weekend, the weatherman says there could be a few snowflakes! Yikes! My beautiful fall weather has been hi-jacked by Mother Nature!!!

That's all for tonight. I'll be back next post with more of those Round Robin projects from the Clear Lake Quilt Guild. I think I'd like to try a Round Robin someday. Hmmmmm, just checked my "to do" list and I think I can get to it in 2015. hee hee hee!

Have a good day!

Sandi

Just a reminder........If you want pdf files of the above pattern pages, you'll need to join my Yahoo group. Just click on the Snowman button on my sidebar and click on "Join this group".

Back-to-School Time!

This morning in Minnesota, kids all over the state are returning to school. It's also first day of classes for many colleges and universities. I am just glad I do not have to be in traffic this day!! I had my time when the kiddies were in school and also when I worked full-time so I have served my time in traffic. :-) I am happy just be here blogging and tending to that long list of "to do" quilting and embroidery projects. Labor Day weekend is over and I finally got some labor done......so here are the September blocks!!!

Sorry I didn't get these posted last week. I loved having my grandson visit and we did lots of fun things. That meant that I didn't get to some of my own things when he was here. And after he left I had to clean and regroup and then rest! That's life, I guess.

Hope you enjoy September's designs. I drew inspiration for the chalkboard block from memories of writing on thechalkboard when I was in school. The Snowman for this month was inspired by memories of football my senior year in high school. It was the first year that our school had a football team. I was a cheerleader and we were excited. However, the team never gave us any tips on what cheers to yell when they were making plays. So, imagine our shame when we started yelling "Block that kick"and it was our team kicking. Oh, boy, you can bet the team gave us some pointers on what to yell after that one! LOL!

The remaining blocks for the applique series are finished and all the designs for the snowmen are complete. Now it's back to work on stitching the blocks. If you want PDF files of each of these designs, just click on the snowman button on the sidebar and join my Yahoo group. You'll find all the patterns there!! I will be keeping them posted through January of 2010 and then will remove them from the group. I'll be starting a new BOM in January, too.

Now that the blocks are posted, I'll either post photos of our fabric dyeing fun or of the State Fair in my next post.

Sandi

Seasons BOM for July and August

Here you go! Blocks for July and August..............There's watermelon for the hot days of July............

and then come August, the apples are ready to be picked!

Enjoy making these blocks! And remember, if you want to access these patterns in pdf format, just click on the Snowman on my sidebar and you'll link to my Yahoo Seasons BOM group. I am posting seasonal blocks for each month plus a snowman design for each month. Plenty to keep you busy!!!

That's all for tonight!

Sandi

I love spring but.........

I made the mistake of walking Kaiser in the tall grass in the vacant lots and I ended up with some bug bites that are driving me crazy. It all started yesterday when I walked him at noon and there did seem to be lots of buglies flying about but it was sort of warm and windy. Thought nothing of it. Got upstairs and realized - wow! why are my legs, just above the ankle so warm and sort of stingy. Looked down and sure enough - bug bites, four good ones. They could be chigger bites or sand flea bites. All I know is they itch, they were red and they were hot. I tried alcohol, benadryl creme and even made a quick trip to the grocery store for Calamine lotion but nothing really helped. Finally, some aspirin and the passing of time have eased the itch and only one bite is still warm. I never had these kind of bites til we moved out here so I am not sure what little buglie is causing me grief but I do not like him (or her) one bit.
Now the good thing about this day is that the Yahoo group that I set up for my Seasons BOM and Snowman designs has really taken off! I am excited to do the blocks in the group format because there is interaction within the group and not just me posting a block. This is going to work really well. Thanks to all of you that said you read my blog regularly and then came along and joined the BOM group. I am having so much fun with this that it could almost make me forget those bug bites at times! LOL!
That's all for tonight! Good night, sleep tight and keep those bedbugs outa sight!
Sandi

Is there snow in the forecast?

No, but there is wind and rain expected in Minnesota today but it's not going to turn to snow. So, if it's snow you're looking for then you'll find it in this month's Snowman block. Actually, it's a Snowlady.

She's wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day and I think she's me. :-) One of the favorite things I used to bake was chocolate chip cookies (read about it on my blog http://teastitches.blogspot.com/) and sometimes, I'd tie my hair back with a scarf when I was cooking or cleaning. I wore aprons in my early years and still have the half dozen or so I made back then. Not one of them fits anymore and I wonder "where did that slip of a girl go to"? Why I know..........she ate too many chocolate chip cookies!" LOL!!!

If you want PDF files for this block or any of the past months, you'll need to join my Seasons BOM Yahoo group (click on this link ........ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SeasonsBOM/ and then click on "join") to continue to receive the free blocks. I will be sending an e-mail to those of you that joined in January and February and will send you the blocks and ask that you please join the group. This change will make it far easier for me to load and provide the blocks to all of you. Thanks for your patience with this.

Sandi

Seasons of the Heart BOM Info

Dear Blogging Friends, Followers and Block of the Month Collectors,
As noted, I am going to make a change in how I offer my Seasons of the Heart BOM patterns. I have set up a Yahoo group where all the PDF files will be posted each month and they will remain there throughout the coming year. If you wish to access these PDF files you will need to join that group. Go here - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SeasonsBOM and click on join to become a part of the group. If you have questions, you can e-mail them to seasonsbom@yahoo.com .
The response to my BOM was far more than I anticipated and by March I couldn't keep it organized any longer. Sorry for that but it got really confusing when requests came it to send previous files from January and February and pretty soon, I completely lost track of who I had sent what to!!! I offer this BOM because I love to design and enjoy sharing my patterns and seeing how others use their creativity to make these blocks.
There is no obligation for you in joining this group. It's free as are all Yahoo groups. I currently have another Yahoo group for my wool projects called Wooly Buddies and that works very well for posting patterns, exchanging ideas and getting to know others who enjoy working with wool. This group will work in a similar manner. Here is the information you will see if you decide to join the group........

All patterns that have been posted on my blog can be found as PDF files in the Files section of this group. Just look to the left and click on "Files" and you will see the folders for each month. I have not yet loaded the files for May as I am still working on the Snowman design. This group is for those who wish to collect the patterns for this series that I designed and you may be making the blocks now or plan to make them later. There's no pressure here to make the blocks. This group simply allows me an organized way to post the blocks as well as other patterns that I design and might want to share. A couple of items...... Each month I will have a drawing for a prize or two. There will be no swaps or exchanges in this group. There will be a challenge or two but it's all about making something for you or a family member or friend and just showing us pictures so we can see your creativity. Pictures posted must belong to you. No copyrighted materials may be posted without permission of the copyright holder. In this group forum, we can discuss techniques, exchange ideas and share what works for us and what doesn't. We can keep each other up-to-date on products and on local shops and quilt shows. Patterns that I share are copyrighted and are for your personal use only not for distribution to friends or other groups. You may make as many as you want of any pattern I post. Go for it! Just don't go into mass production! That's all the rules for now. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at seasonsbom@yahoo.com . Thanks so much and I look forward to sharing lots of fun sewing and quilting time with all of you! Sandi

I hope that this option will work for all of you that want to receive the PDF files. I will still post a photo of the block design on my blog each month and jpg files of the pattern pages for those who are able to copy and save to their computers. I have a BOM that is ready to go for 2010, one for 2011 and one for 2012, so if you are looking for a long-term quilting relationship, you'll find it in my Seasons of the Heart BOM Yahoo group!!
Now, I am still working on the Snowman design for May and having a hard time coming up with something other than a melted pile of snow but it will come to me yet. There are two ideas floating around in my head and both involve having May and June blocks revolve around a theme of Mother's Day and Father's Day. I think that by Monday, I will have a Snowman design to share with you.
On Saturday, I will post the May Seasons of the Heart block which features a Hexagon design based on the one in the little runner/wall quilt I designed and made in 2000.


As a treat for joining, I will provide the pattern for this little quilt and will post it to the Seasons BOM group on May 16th.
I was going to post some more photos from the last two weeks adventures but dear old Kaiser has "upset my apple cart" as he is still having tummy trouble and I'm just plain tired! Imagine that! We got rain though, a lovely grass-growing rain and I enjoyed listening to the drops on the roof as I typed this evening. Life is good as a fellow blogger noted. Sometimes I complain but I shouldn't for I am blessed and yes, life is good!
Sleep tight tonight and don't let the bedbugs bite!
Sandi the Nightowl