Here are Anna's (left) and Nathan's (right) pumpkins. Cute!

I made my last three blocks for my Spinning Scraps block of the month. If you're making this quilt and don't recognize the one on the left, I didn't make October's block. I didn't like it (see picture below.) Instead, I replaced it with this one. Hopefully I can get it all put together really soon.

Why don't I like this block? I'm not sure . . .

Sorry for the long time between posts. I was just taking a little computer break!

Take care, Melissa

Halloween Treat

Well, I'm not really into Halloween so much, but when I saw this yellow spiderweb with butterflies fabric, I thought, okay, the girls are getting Halloween dresses. The fabric is by Echino, as is the red with the bats. I'm not sure who made the navy bat fabric, but all three are Japanese, and so fun and cute. Tonight was the Fall Festival at Nathan's school, and this is how the girls went. I also plan for Anna to wear her dress Wednesday for preschool and next Sunday they will wear them for church. We may get in a couple more uses this fall. It's fallish, right?

I made up the pattern for Emilie's dress. Totally from scratch. I'm pretty happy with the outcome!

Anna's dress is the Pink Fig Mia top pattern. It's a shirt, but I made it into a dress by lengthening everything. Then, I made up the cute sleeve because the pattern is short-sleeved. Sort of 70's, isn't it? A bell-bottom sleeve. Is there such a thing? Anyway, it reads cute to me. Love everything about how they came out. Maybe I should be on Project Runway. Ha ha!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

(I woke up with that verse in my head this morning.)

Love, Melissa

Here's a picture I took of our family the other day. I had to run in to get in the picture, so it looks like I'm squishing Anna! And sort of like I'm gigantic, but anyway, here we are. Thought you all might like to see us. I'm not on this side of the camera too often.

I made this bag for my friend Jada for her birthday. It was late, as is my usual way. And the picture of the front was "corrupted." That happens to me a lot. So, you get to see the back and the inside. It has a really cute pocket on the front. It's one of those gigantic bags I make. I think the bottom is 16 inches long by nine inches wide. It can hold pretty much everything. So fun! All the fabric is Jennifer Paganelli.

I won a drawing on another blog last week! It's Praire Flower Farms. Anyway, Linda gave me this curtain she made out of her own fabric. Thanks so much, Linda. It's perfect. How I wish to design fabric!

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way. Psalm 119:37


Love, Melissa

Awesome Giveaway

Hey guys, follow this link for an awesome giveaway. I think it's something like 31 fat quarters of Halloween fabric. It's really pretty. You could make something fall. But you have to have a blog and post about it to enter.
http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/

Here's another great giveaway, from my friend Becky for a pretty bag she made:
http://becky-mccoy.blogspot.com/2009/10/100th-post-giveaway.html?showComment=1256046191684#c1288725888062800349

One more, from Tonya who is in our online quilting group:
http://tonyassewingroom.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-from-me.html

Love, Melissa

Indians in Indiana

I just finished eight new children's aprons and sent them to Destination Kitchen in Norton, Kansas. If you are in the area, check the store out. It is really neat. Plus, I sold them about that many in August and they told me they have sold them all! Wow!

Here are closeups of several, with Anna as my model:

LOVE this one. It really doesn't show, but there is red ruffle rac along the hem.

Marie and I did a little fabric swap and here is what she gave me. Isn't it beautiful? I have loved Tula Pink in secret for awhile now and she gave me my first piece of her. Plus Valori Wells, Lila Tueller, and Anna Maria Horner. I could never argue with those! I'm thinking the three on the left end of the table would make something really neat together. Haven't thought of what quite yet. Marie is in a Dozen Quilters. Thank you!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

Nathan memorizes more than one verse in kindergarten each week and he told me this one tonight. I'm so proud of him. He remembers all of them. I asked him how and he said, "It's all in his big brain." Yesterday, he told me that it's Columbus Day and Columbus named the native people Indians because he thought he had landed in Indiana. I love him so much.

Love, Melissa

and the Winners are . . .

First prize goes to Marie who wrote:
Marie said...
Fabric giveaways are the best!!!I was going to ask if that was the sewing machine that was Grandma Eunice's- she always had nice machines. Take care,Marie
October 11, 2009 11:11 PM
And yes, Marie, it is Grandma Eunice's machine! Marie wins a half yard of Jenny Byers fabric and a large piece of Denyse Schmidt home dec weight fabric.

Second prize goes to Carmen (didn't you win last time, you lucky girl?)
She won because she's a follower. Here blog site is It's a Wonderful Life. Carmen wins a partial scrap bag of some newer Moda Fabrics.

Third prize goes to Linda of Prairie Flower Farms who wrote:
Linda said...
Count me in!!!!!!!! How fun! I love giveaways!!!Thank you friend!!!!!Blessings, Linda

It's just hilarious that Linda won because I just won her drawing for kitchen curtains! Linda gets a big envelope of scraps.

That's all for now, and since I have all your addresses (they're all in my online quilt group, a Dozen Quilters), just be watching your mail!

Love, Melissa

a Blog Party

Don't forget to scroll down and enter my fabric giveaway! Ends Sunday!

I'm participating in a mini blog party. It only runs through tomorrow night, so if you want to sign up make sure you do it right away! Here is the address: http://shelookethwell.blogspot.com/

I'm supposed to introduce myself. Does anyone else have trouble doing that? I'm a wife to a wonderful husband who care more about us than himself. And I'm a mommy to that "us" I just mentioned. Three sweet little kids. The youngest, age 2, reduced me to tears today when she said, "I love you Mommy." The oldest, age 5, just started kindergarten. He got all A's for the first quarter -- my hubby thought maybe we should try for a college scholarship. And sweet little middle child, age 4, who is so shy but has such big ambitions and funny thoughts.

My college degree was doctor of pharmacy, but I rarely do that anymore. And to tell you the truth, I didn't want to do it in college, but (close your eyes Mom) my parents really wanted me to. And in all fairness, it pays really well when I substitute a day here and there. I definitely don't define myself by it.

I love to sew and cook and arrange flowers. Oh and decorate my house and paint. So this blog is about all of that and everything else I do every day.

Above all, I serve my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

Until next time Love, Melissa

Quilting Friends (and Mom) are the BEST!

Would you like to win some fabric? If so, click here for my current giveaway! I have so many thank yous to put out here!

Mom let me use her Bernina since I have so many custom orders. It's old, maybe from the 70s, but what a solid machine! I am so impressed with it. And so very thankful for its use.


My friend and cousin Marie, who also quilts and is part of A Dozen Quilters, found this quilt in a building they own and GAVE it to me. Wasn't that so sweet? She said she thought of me because of the little dogs. We have had three different Westies over the years, currently Starla. It's beautifully made and hand quilted. Thank you Marie. I would have kept it, but you are always so generous.

My friend Jenny, also part of A Dozen Quilters, and I did a little fabric exchange. Here is what she sent me. Does she think I like pink? Well I do. I couldn't even fit it all in one picture. Thanks so much Jenny. I love it.

Since my mom lent me her machine, I got a couple of custom orders finished. One was for a coloring bag in lime green, the limier the better.

Another is for the Henny Penny apron.

I have lots more to go. But I'm so happy to have a machine again. Thanks everyone, for everything.

Love, Melissa

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. Proverbs 31:13

80th Post and a Giveaway!

Here's my family before school this morning.

It's fall and it feels like giveaway time. My sewing machine is broken, so this is a fabric giveaway. Leave a comment for one chance to win. Become a follower for another chance to win. (those of you who already follow me get an automatic entry) And, blog about this contest on your blog for a third chance to win. The contest closes this Sunday, October 12 at midnight CST. Good luck!

First prize: 1/2 yard of Jenny Byers fabric and the better part of a half yard of Denyse Schmidt's fabric. Denyse's is home dec weight.

2nd prize: What's left of a scrap bag recently bought of Moda fabrics.

Third prize: an envelope full of scraps out of my scrap basket. Some are pretty small but all are good quality fabric.

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:23

Love, Melissa