Double Snowman Treat!

There's not a drop of snow on the ground here in Minnesota right now but I managed to conjure up the last of the Snowmen for you and here they are.............

This November Snowman is best buddies with this little deer that lives in the woods in our backyard (or so I imagine). He knows just how important friends are and what a blessing they are in our lives! Wouldn't you agree? I was inspired to draw this design by the real deer that wander across our backyard and the "not so real" deer that graced the front yard where my parents used to live. They loved those deer and when the time came to sell their house and downsize, the deer were transported to a friend's yard where my mom can still drive by and see them. Nice, huh?

Inspiration for this Santa snowman was easy. As so many of you do, I have wonderful memories of Christmas when I was a child and when my kid's were small. There was lots of Christmas joy when we awoke in the morning and got a peek under the tree. There was always some special thing we really wanted and the stockings always held a sweet surprise or two. :-)

This pair are the last two snowmen for this year. If you want pdf files of the pattern pages, you'll find them on file in my Yahoo BOM group. Just click on the Snowman on the sidebar and join the group. Hope you have enjoyed these guys and gals! I'm working up another series that will be suitable for Redwork or traditional embroidery and will post more info on that at the end of December. I will be gone in early December and that is why I posted both blocks for you at this time.

In my next post, I'll share the Seasons BOM Applique block designs and patterns, also for both November and December. That's all for tonight!

Have a good Friday!!!

Sandi

"Sweet Summer Fun!"

I can hardly believe it but June and July are history and it's August already. That means only 31 official days of summer are left! Summer in Minnesota is so short and so it's important to enjoy every minute. In spite of the fact that I lost not just minutes but hours and days to my back problems, I have had a good summer. It's actually been a great summer with visits with friends and family, beautiful summer days and nights, lots of things to be thankful for. And that includes the much needed rain we received tonight. I know that some of you are tired of rain and storms or heat and humidity but the rain we received was really needed. As I told a couple of friends.....my husband has only had to mow the lawn once in four weeks because the grass isn't growing. Instead it's more like straw for a lawn. I know that some of you are in worse drought conditions than we are here so I hope that perhaps you, too, received rain that was needed.

The Snowman for August is here to greet you with a little "Sweet Summer Fun" that you can embroider or do in fusible fabrics (patterns for that will be posted tonight). Inspiration for this months design was easy........I thought of my kids and all the snowmen they built over the years. Then I recalled a visit from their cousins in Iowa and a watermelon seed-spitting contest off our back deck.......Bingo! I had my design for August. Toss in a sunflower like a couple of really big ones that grew in my garden and this guy is really ready for some "Sweet Summer Fun". You can also see he's a little bit "melty" due to the summer heat. He'll get his shape back come September when the fall winds blow in some more Snowman fun. I just love drawing these designs and hope you enjoy my sketches and my silly sense of humor. :-)
That's all for now. I'll be back later with the pattern pages for this snowman and the one for July. Then on Sunday, I'll post the other Seasons blocks. I am beginning to feel a bit "caught up" but it will take me a few more days to "digest" all the messages in yahoo groups and then I will feel like I am back to normal (if there is such a thing!). Also, I am slowly going back through my blog and labeling posts so that you can find all the blocks related to this series. I wish I'd know what labeling was when I first started posting. It would have made my blog so much more organized and much easier for all of you, too!
Have a good Saturday!
Sandi

Edit: Here is the pattern page for the August snowman. If you want to be able to access the pattern files in pdf format, then please join my Yahoo group for my "Seasons of the Heart BOM" projects. Just click on the Snowman in my sidebar and the group will pop up and you can join! It's free and fun and no obligation. I provide the patterns for your enjoyment but they are not to be used for commercial purposes. :-)

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!!

Since I started blogging a little over a year ago, I have been fairly regular at it. Once I started blogging, it quickly became a part of my day. Occasionally, I went a couple days in a row without blogging but soon was right back at it. Unfortunately, this little journey of back and sciatica pain that I am on, has made it almost impossible to blog or even think about posting. As noted in my previous post, I am slowly doing better. I was actually doing pretty well and then had some issues arise with side effects from the drugs I am on. I decided no more pain pills and so I am back in a "rough patch". It's not as bad as it was at first, so I know I'm getting better and my leg and heel have almost regained normal feeling. I only waited a couple days before going to the doctor but I will give you this advice. If you have pain that is "over the top", get to the doctor. Even if it's not something serious, your recovery will be quicker the sooner you start treatment!

Now, I couldn't let tomorrow pass by and not post my snowman for this month. I like him so much and even if you are not from the United States, you can substitute the flag of your country for the U.S. flag he is holding. I'm only sharing the drawing right now and will provide pattern pieces for doing him in fusibles later next week. I'll also post the other Seasons block then. I have already been sitting in this chair too long so I need to go lay down on the couch for a bit. Here, though, before I go, is my snowman for July.............


Happy Independence Day!! Have wonderful 4th of July wherever you are!!

Sandi

*****

Edit: Here is the pattern page for the July Snowman. When I think about it, it's kind of silly to draw a snowman for July but then again it's kinda cool, too. :-) You can change the flag in this design and the words so that they reflect your state or country. Have fun!

Snowmen and Stars! 2009 BOM blocks!

Last month, I was thinking of Mother's Day when I drew the snowlady who had just baked cookies. I was thinking of me as I sketched her and my own mother, too. We both baked good cookies and chocolate was the favorite. Yum! I could use some right now!! No time to bake today, so will have to wait til Teatime later today for my snack. Anyway, this month I was thinking of my dad and my husband. I recently saw a report that said women do most of the cooking but men do the barbecueing. That's true in most cases but not at our house. My dad never grilled and I'm not sure he did much cooking. I remember that my mother had to be gone somewher and I had to cook and he did teach me how to cook a hamburger. My husband liked tuna noodle casserole and goulash and taught me to cook them as he likes them but says he can't recall he ever did that! I do most of the cooking but at least now I can get him to get the fire going if we want to cook hotdogs or brats outside. And so, in tribute, to all those men who grill and those who don't, I offer you this little smile of a snowman..............

Note: This is the design you can use for doing embroidery. I still need to cut my pieces for the fusible/wool block and will post that pattern page this weekend when I get to it. :-)

My block for June in the "Seasons of the Heart" series is three stars. I chose stars in honor of the U.S. flag. My dad was born on June 14th so it was a double celebration day for him.

I chose three stars to represent the three branches of our government.

If you want a more "Folk-art look", you can use the alternate star pattern on the page below.

PDF files of all these pages are now posted on my "Seasons BOM Yahoo Group". If you want to join so that you may access these blocks, please go to SeasonsBOM and click on the "Join this group" button. Have fun with these designs!

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