My first time~~~and I am still a bunch nervous!

I have gazed longingly at other quilters' blogs. I dream of being able to do it to. Tonight I jumped in and attempted my first quilted item on the machine. I put some dark thread on the top with white underneath so I could check out the tension. Last time I do that. I actually began to relax and have fun with it. I switched back to white thread and happily putzed along.

It is the red headed step child of the pot holder world. It is single handedly the UGLIEST thing I have ever seen. But..it's mine. I made it. It's going up in the kitchen in a place of honor right next to a loopy potholder my bff made for me a few weeks back. I am putting the binding on the little sucker tomorrow and that baby is going up! Wahoo, I made it, lol. Now I may need a pork chop in a can before bed. Yep, getting a little hungry.

If you ever decide to try machine quilting for the first time, just try it. It really was run. Later, Elaine

My Etsy shop is open

I just wanted to let everyone know my etsy shop is open now and to come on over and check it out. There are Moda precuts, patterns from tea cozies to aprons to quilts. I'll put fabrics on tomorrow.

When you buy fabric...do you buy fat quarters or like me 1/2 to 1 yard cuts? It seems to run in spurts. I never know.

Have a great week, Elaine

Pay it Forward

I found this button at wishiwasafranciscan.blogspot.com. This is how it works:

Pay It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it forward".

I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange.

All the gifts will be made and posted out 'sometime within the next year'. How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive!



What you need to do in return, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. This Exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs.


I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Pay It Forward recipients.



This a great way to get to know people too. Have a blessed Sunday, Elaine

Happy Easter Everyone

We all had a great day and feel grateful to be able to spend it together. I hope you all had a beautiful day.

I hope you like my little pink Easter egg girl, my sweet little grand dog Jami..



I love holidays. I love my family. I also love it when we get to share holidays with each other. The heavens opened up and spilt over here in east Texas. After Mass this morning my son and his lovely wife came to share our day for fellowship and food.

My dil is the sweetest thing born (after nearly 4 years of marriage to my son she continues to keep him on his pedestal, lol) but doesn't sew. I was thrilled to find out her mother makes EVERYTHING without the benefit of a sewing machine. She made my son a to-die-for kilt for his wedding. The piper wanted to know where he got it because it was so much nicer then his. And it was. She also knits, paints and I don't know what else.

The kids came over yesterday and I snagged the dil to head out to the dollar store so I could get some dish towels, came home and showed her http://erzebat.blogspot.com/ site to show her the towel dresses. She was crazy about them and had to make some. She didn't know how to sew by hand and is a leftie. So I had her sit in front of me to learn how to attach the bias to the neck. She enjoyed making the towel dress and was eager to make more...omg, are we sensing the quilt bug making it's way into her soul? We can only hope!

Sticky chocolate bunny hugs, Elaine

~~Moda Giveaway Winners!

The winners, via random number generator, are:

Gene Black wins the Jelly Cake from Moda.

Sue Cahill wins the new pattern from Bananafana.

lej619 wins the batik quarter yard cuts. (I don't have your email please send me yours)

If you winners email your snail mail addresses I will happily send your prizes out on Monday.

Thanks for playing, stay in touch. I pray everyone has a Happy Easter!

With gratitude for making my first giveaway fun!~~Elaine
I'm off to Dallas to get dh from the airport. If anyone has any questions I will get back to you either tomorrow or Monday.

Giveaway drawing is coming up!

I have been busy unpacking the new goodies and calling my ds. He is helping me with my website. I am just not computer friendly...aaaggggghhhhh! It is very frustrating. At least I can do SOME downloads.



I still haven't figured out how to add buttons to the side of my blog. I have a responsibility to credit the kind artists that are posting tutorials and patterns that I have used and can't because I am download challenged...that sounds sadly like a terminal illness and it is.



Son says next week, we shall see. Don't forget to leave a comment on the original post for the draw and good luck.

Happy quilting, Elaine

Check out these new Moda Marble Jelly Rolls!

I am so excited with these new jelly rolls! I love the Moda marbles and when I found out they were coming out with jelly rolls, well lets just say I am thinking of all sorts of new projects. My Wa state dd called yesterday...we're going to be grandparents again!!! Sounds like a reason to celebrate with a new quilt!



The new jelly rolls are 2 1/2" x wof x 40 per roll. They are priced at $28.99. When they are gone that's it, order early.

Go quilt something...Elaine

The New Jelly Rolls are Awesome!

I was so pleased to receive these from the nice people at Moda! The Moda basic jelly rolls, milk, sugar and oreos are $19.99 each. They are so yummy! I love Moda for making my life easier. Be sure to check out Moda Bake Shop for tons of ideas! Happy quilting~~Elaine The jelly rolls are: pure white, pure cream and pure black. Each roll is 2 1/2" wide x width of fabric x 40 strips in each one, wahooo!! Please email me at yankeebabe_01@hotmail.com if you are interested in any of these. Thanks!

Moda goodies have arrived!

What goes with oreos and milk? ANYTHING!!! I have received this box of goodies, including Arcadia and Patisserie layer cakes, Moda basics jelly rolls in sugar,milk, and oreos. Tranquility charms, jelly rolls and layer cakes have also arrived.

I have to unpack the 3 cases behind these goodies and start grouping some sale fabrics for etsy...hopefully I will get this all done before the other 3 cases of goodies arrive.

I wanted to thank everyone collectively for the wonderful comments they are leaving. I am sooooo busy I can't even seem to do any quilting right now...wahhhhh!

Don't let me kid you, I am having fun with my fabrics. I hope everyone is having a great Friday...do some quilting...Elaine
Perhaps I should take a class or two on photos, eh? lol, sorry about the quality, maybe I should retake a few tomorrow in a better light...that's what happens when you get excited to see the ups man with your packages!

My name says it all!

I received a few emails asking about the soggy bottom of the blog. Have you ever been to East Texas? lol.

We live less then 500 feet above sea level. We also have a rainfall average of 43.68 inches of rain a year. We have lived here long enough to know a few truths about Texas.

1. When you see someone at wally world buying a lawn sprinkler, you laugh and KNOW they ain't from around here!

2, You never wear socks and rubber shoes at the same time...EVER!

3. Should your shoe sink in the barnyard, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE SAID SHOE WHILE STANDING. The barnyard is chemically similar to gorilla glue, you land on your butt in aforementioned gorilla glue/barnyard soup and become one with the glop, hence soggy bottom...my husband added the flats, don't know why.

A few pics of Jenny the guard burro, Dakota the gorgeous paint, little Black Beauty and Billy the Kid.

Stay dry and warm, Elaine~~~this was the rain from last Friday~~~

Blog Giveaway answers

I need to let you know that the blog giveaway will end on 11 April when I draw the winners. Yep, more the merrier I always say.

I have jelly cakes that are perfect for the Candy Bar Road quilt I saw on crazymomquilts blog, so the jelly cake from Moda will be for 1 winner.

I had to get some of the Bananafana and Pink Fig patterns for the shop. The second winner will receive one of those.

The third winner will receive some to dye for (pun intended) batik quarter yards in gorgeous summer hurry up colors.

If lots of people sign up I may have to add more items for prizes! You better tell your friends before my meds kick in!

Have a happy day quilting~~~Elaine

Somedays it just doesn't pay to chew through the restraints!

Huge Moda giveaway!

My Moda salesman came today...good thing my husband, the one who will not have a sense of humor when the UPS guy starts coming on Friday...wait until you see what fun things I am getting in!

Now, the really good news for you guys. HUGE HUGE HUGE SALE!!!

I am going to need some room to put all of this fabric. But where am I going to put all the new sweets from Moda Bake Shop? Oh my goodness...a giveaway! Wahoooooo!!!

Starting tomorrow, or today, if you leave a comment and answer some questions, you will be entered in the giveaway. You won't be disappointed.

#1 Where do you hide your lastest purchase so you won't have to "splain that one Lucy?"

#2 What is your favorite color and why?

#3 What excuse do you use to not keep that really cool quilt you just made?

#4 Last one, I promise. What is the worst experience you have ever had giving a quilt as a gift, and did you get to keep the best of the litter?

I am not going to divulge the prize yet...but it will be fun!

See you tomorrow for some more teasers...Elaine