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Tribute to Nancy Zieman

I can't even imagine where I would be without all the help I have received from Nancy.  No matter what the problem, I could always find helpful information about how to rectify it.  Be it through her blog, her books or the many videos, she always offered new and exciting information along with helpful tips for all kinds of sewing problems. I started watching Sewing With Nancy in the early 1980's.  I never missed a Saturday morning  (my children did not appreciate the fact they were missing some of their beloved cartoons).With coffee and pencil and paper in hand, I was in do- not- disturb mode for thirty wonderful minutes!    The information she could cover in that short amount of time was amazing and I quickly found myself living for each new episode. I am still a fan and pray they do not replace her show, but continue to show reruns for a very long time.  She was by far the best. All the present and future beginner sewist are going to miss out on so much. So here is to you

Machine Embroidery, Oh What Fun!

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What fun, what fun, what fun!  I have been working on my machine embroidery and machine applique skills and man have I had fun! So many wonderful designs are online and most can be downloaded at just the touch of the "download now" button!  One of my favorite sites is  Amazing Designs , they not only offer design collections and individual designs but also offer wonderful software for editing designs just the way you want them.  I have had such fun creating my own designs using an image from one collection and adding text to it. All of their products are very reasonable and they are also having a great sale now until June 30.   Another great site to buy and download collections or individual designs is  Embroidables , they have darling designs.   Happy Applique  has some of the cutest machine appliques I have ever seen!  Their individual designs are very inexpensive and download in a matter of seconds.   Nancy's Notions  also has some great designs.  If you are into

Counting Blessings

The last few months have been grueling and I am ready for a new year and hopefully a good year!  My husband has been ill and is slowly recovering, it has been a very long process.  He spent 16 days in the hospital last October and 8 of those days were spent in Intensive Care Units.  The two main arteries going to his intestines were blocked and it took the doctors what seemed like forever to discover what was going on.  I almost lost him, my world almost crumbled, but with God's help he survived and is on his way to a slow but complete recovery. On top of my husband's illness, my daughter was in ICU a couple of weeks ago.  Her son found her unconscious and having seizures.  Turns out her doctor had her on meds that should not be taken together.  It was a very intense time until she regained consciousness and was able to be moved out of ICU and into her own room.  I am happy to say she is recovering and getting stronger and healthier every day.  There was some fear that her he

Korker Fun

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Korker ribbon is a fun project for a weekend afternoon!  True it is time consuming, but it is also very rewarding!  With just a little patience and a lot of ribbon you can make quite a mound of korkers!  It is like Christmas when I open my oven and see all those wonderful Korker Ribbons! I know one thing for sure, I am going to invest in a wood burning tool.  Using the cigarette lighter to seal the edges begins to hurt my thumb after a while and with the wood burning tool you can cut and seal all at the same time! To make korker ribbons you will need ribbon ( I use 1/8 or 3/8 but you can use any size you choose) wooden dowels  ( I use quarter inch, but play around and choose your size) clothespins baking pan oven, timer, scissors or rotary cutter. something to seal the edges (lighter, woodburning tool, or seam sealant). Begin by setting your oven to 275.  I use an oven thermometer just to double check my temp.   Begin wrapping the ribbon onto a quarter inch d

Baby Shower Fun

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Have you ever had one of those days when you just wanted to kick yourself?  Well I had one of those last weekend!  I had made a darling Tennessee Vol set encluding a  dress made of Tennesse Vol fabric, an orange and white Korker ribbon elastic headband, and a Tennessee Vols plush blanket for my grand-daughter's baby shower and forgot to take a picture of it before I wrapped it.  I was so angry with myself, but I decided I could just take a picture when she opened it.  Well, what is the saying about best laid plans?  I didn't want to just take a photo of my gift so I was busy taking all kinds of photos and before she was able to open my gift my camera's battery died.  So..there you have it, really wanted to kick myself in the butt! The shower was awesome tho and I did get some great photos.  She received so many beautiful and useful things and she and her husband, plus the two grands and the one Great Grand..me,  were very happy and excited. Tina, my stepdaughter and

Monday Quiz About Me 8-13-2012

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Hello and it is once again time for Monday Quiz About Me! Yep it is all about me, well and you too!  Heather at  Acting Balanced  has this great MeMe every Monday.  She list 4 questions everyone that is participating answers and then we each add our own question for number 5.  It is loads of fun and if you would like to join us, just click the link above and sign up! Here are this weeks questions: 1. How was your weekend? 2. What is your favorite kind of candy? 3. If I say the word 'high' what do you think? 4. What are you most looking forward to about Autumn? And my question for number  5.   Do you use a laptop or a desktop computer? And my answers: 1.  My weekend was wonderful just way too short, but it always is!  I did get a lot of sewing finished and had some fantastic news.  (More on that at a later date). 2.  Well I used to love the candy bar Mr. Goodbar until I bought one several years ago at a small market.  As I was eating

All Things Baby..Great Grand That Is!

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I have had a really busy weekend. I have not had much time to sew for my  Etsy  because I have a more personal reason for sewing this weekend. As most of you know I had a sweet little Grand born in June, but the little bundle of joy I am sewing for this weekend will be here in late September and she will be my first Great Grand!  I know I can't believe I will be a Great Grandmother either, but I am very excited and can hardly wait to meet Little Miss Mackenzie. Her shower is August 19th, so I have been getting a few things ready.  I have a few more things to make and hope to finish up this coming week. This little dress is all about traveling turtles!  It is completely lined and ties on the shoulders.  It is a newborn size, fits up to 13 pounds.  Sure hope Miss Mackenzie is not too big! I made this sweet little elastic headband to match.  It has a satin rose that matches some of the turtles on the dress and the super soft, super wide elastic should be extra easy on