VISIT LOLLISHOPS~NOW OPEN!!

Friends please stop by Lollishops when you can and see the Wonderful Creations made by some of the Most Talented Artisans Today! From Sewing to Cardmaking; Jewelry to Dolls you'll no doubt find Something you LOVE at Lollishops! I'm going back right now---so I'll catch up with you later! So EXCITING! And be sure to stop by and say hello to me at
Sharons Cottage Quilts. Blessings~

~Periwinkle Blue Beach Cottage Pillow~

What a Yummy Color...Periwinkle Blue!! I particularly love to see it matched with Pink! (of course). I am discovering as I age gracefully (smiles), that the simplest things make me happy. A knowing look from my hubby as we share a secret between ourselves, the sweet contentment on my doggy's face when I give her an ear rub, my mom, my champion who always loves everything I create....and color, color makes me happy. I love pink, and try to always have something pink around me, it just cheers me to no end. And this periwinkle blue~it even has an Adorable name, doesn't it? Periwinkle....cute! No friends I haven't lost it, rather I think I am in a continual process of finding it! It is the simple things~the very things that make your day! I am thankful for many things~I am thankful for a God who loves me, and thankfully has a Great sense of humor, my Wonderful Family and Dear Friends and I'm thankful for you! Blessings for a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

A Poodle For Christmas!!!!

When I saw this fabric, it brought to mind the funniest memory of a poodle my mom got when I was a young girl. He was a rescue dog....to give you an idea, his name was "Pepe Le Retardu!" No kidding! My mom was not really a dog lover (then), but she just loved poodles, and her experience with them had been so delightful, she wanted one for our family. A cute, sweet adorable poodle!! Well....Pepe had other plans!! This dog was the most unsociable animal I've ever encountered! He only liked my dad, let me put it another way, he worshipped my dad. As far as Pepe knew, the Good Lord put my dad on this earth for him! If that dog was in another room, down the long hallway in a bedroom, sound asleep...he could hear our footsteps as we approached my dad for a hug. Off the bed and into the hallway in one gigantic leap, barreling down the hall, hitting the living room door, and up into my dads arms growing at us fiercely, before we could take four steps to get to pops!! It was like he knew what we were thinking!! My dad always went to bed early (with Pepe of course following him closely), my mom coming along after all the chores were done. As soon as she crossed the threshold of the bedroom...GRRRRRR...Bark, Bark, Snapping, Showing teeth!!! Bless her heart...he scared her to death! And me too if I went in there! He was just a mess, poor Pepe. Eventually my mom would take a broom to bed with her and as she walked through the doorway, she'd just start swinging!! I'm sure she never hit him, but boy oh boy, when he saw that broom coming he'd just jump off the bed and run underneath!! I guess the whole broom thing worked out well..not much barking and growling at bedtime, and thankfull sweet peace prevailed! Here's to Pepe Le Retardu!

~Christmas Romance~

~Blue & Pink Rhinestone & Pearl Christmas Tree with Jeweled
Topper~

~Pink Roses & Teacups Rag Quilt for Baby~

Teacups & Pink Roses!

*Comfy Baby in Roses*
Fluffy Pink Squiggle Chenille & White Poofy Chenille

This little Elf has been very Busy!!

~Vintage Figurines~

Nothing brings me back to the memories of childhood like vintage figurines! I can recall looking at these fabulous treasures with a twinkle in my eye, and a childs imagination that could take off like a sky rocket at a moments notice! I would have looked at Soda Pop here, and thought how soft and cute she is! I would have loved the little pompadour on top of her head, and kissed here little pink cheeks! Then I would have gazed into her perky little eyes and smiled because she looks like she's ready to play. Yes, I can imagine that I would have loved her, and wished that I had a real pony that looked just like Soda Pop! Just maybe..."Hey mom and dad, do you know what I want for Christmas more than ANYTHING in the WORLD?" "We could keep her in the backyard!" Seeing the world through a childs' eye is a most Awe inspiring experience. Seeing Christmas through a childs' eye.....Priceless!

~Pink Chenille Patchwork Scarf~

~It's Crisp, Clean and Oh So Cold Outside!! But...the sun is shining and God is Good!! In honor of this first really, really cold day I made a Soft Pink Chenille Scarf with Vintage Hand Crochet Trim. Is it Warm you say?? Not in the least bit! But just look how sweet it is!! A Darling Pink Rose to accentuate the Snowy White Cabin Crafts Chenille! Sometimes it's just FUN to be Playful & Impractical isn't it? The older I get...the more I like pink! And at this Wonderfully Sweet time in my life...I'm totally in Love with it :-) What is that anyway? I meet more women my age that just cannot get enough pink in their lives. I've sold so many Shabby Pink Rag Quilts to ladies of a certain age, (smiles) that I can't even count anymore! Could it be.......menopink!!!??? Oh well, whatever, I need to run out and get a Darling Pink Hat!!! Blessings~

...A Little About Organization...

Whoa! Have a look at this organized grouping! I don't know why it is that I cannot keep my sewing room together! It's maddening! It seems that I am Always cleaning, rearranging, putting stuff in neat little stacks, which by the way, I can never find afterward. My sewing cabinets are stuffed to the brim with the most gorgeous fabric on the market today, yet I can never find that one particular piece that I need to use right now! (smiles)
It won't be long until organization resumes in my life...my mom will soon be here to visit! She is the BEST at organizing things!! She comes a couple of times a year for visits, and always helps me with my quilts, cutting them out, putting fabrics together beautifully, and even cooks dinner while I sew!! But even more importantly...she organizes my fabric! Mom!! Where are you?? Help!!!!!
Have a look at my lace! This is actually a tiny portion of lace that I have carefully gathered for many years. (the rest is lost in the fabric cabinets) In fact, this is just lace I've used in the last couple of months for different projects, and left on my pastry stand! (laughing) Can you see the pastry stand? No way! I was looking for it the other day to display some cupcakes I made...tore the entire kitchen and pantry apart looking for it! Today while I was opening the drapes in my sewing room, my eye caught the foot of the pastry stand, and believe it or not....I recognized it for what it was! Alas, the cupcakes are gone...But I Found My Pastry Stand!!!! It's a GREAT DAY!! Hugs~

~Shabby Cottage Rag Quilt~

Busy sewing up a storm this cold and gray day here in Illinois. Doesn't this little "Sweetie" make you just want to crawl underneath it, eat popcorn and watched a good movie? These colors are my favorites, minty green & pink. If you have taken a look at my other photos, you can see that I'm not kidding!! (smiles). I'm just a Pinky through and through! This Lovely Quilt will be offered in my Lollishops store on Nov. 28th. I'm so excited!! Which is another reason I am sewing up a storm~getting ready for the grand opening! I should have the Sweetest, Most Adorable Toddler Quilt done for you to see tomorrow evening~~Until Then......
Blessings~

Shabby Rag Rug

Thank the Lord I'm done!! I've been working on this Rag Rug since last Christmas!! (smiles) Today I completed this Adorable~Thick~Soft~Frou-Frou Rug! Using my scraps leftover from Quiltmaking...a Great Project for Scraps of Fabric. I've made a few of these rugs over the years, and listed them on Ebay....the very same lady bought them..years apart! They are so durable, and Chic I just Love them myself! Well, that's all for today, I've got a quilt almost done and need to get with it. Blessings~

Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jingling Ring Ting Tingling Too!!

Okay, I know I'm a little early with my trees this year, but it's been so cold I'm just in the mood! So, I have created these Pretty & Petite Tulle Teacup Christmas Trees! Decked out with Ribbon and Ornies, Roses and Vintage Glass Beads, Even Rhinestones! And of course....Pink! Each little tree made its home in a Vintage Teacup & Saucer. Just look at the Pink Polka-Dot Bow, we love that! I'm dreaming of a Pink Christmas (:-)! Blessings Friends~

Thank You Jeni from Pnkgeeni!!!!

Jeni, owner and artist of "Pnkgeeni" had a blog Giveaway! Guess What?? I won!!! Just look at these Magnificent handmade cards! Each one Perfectly created with an Artists' eye and a surgeons hands! Every card has an Adorable coordinating envelope. Oh Jeni you just made my week!! They're Lovely, and I will cherish them! (It will be very difficult to give them away....:-) Thank you & Big Hugs to you across the ocean in New Zealand! Here's a link to Jeni's Store on Lollishops opening Nov. 28
http://www.lollishops.com/pnkgeeni

What a Blessing!

I'd like to share this wonderful life story with you! I grew up in San Diego, California. When I was 3 years old I met a Sweet, Shy Little 3 year old named Kathy. We became friends immediately! We were inseparable throughout our youth, as our homes were just 3 houses apart. This year is our 50th Anniversary of Friendship! My, where has the time gone? She came to Illinois to visit a few weeks ago, and we celebrated our Friendship together. We hiked, and shopped (of course), we enjoyed wonderful meals together, and we made two rag quilts while she was here. One for her Adorable granddaughter Alyssa, and one for her baby grandson who will be born in February.
It is so special how two lifelong friends, who don't see each other often, can come together and pick up right where they left off! It is almost as though time isn't a factor! I think that must be one of the miracles of friendship. We are 50 years older, but I don't see Kathy as getting older, I see her as a timeless beauty, on the outside as well as the inside. This little picture is Kathy's granddaughter holding the quilt that her grandmother and I made especially for her during that visit. It was made with 100 years of love (50 from Kathy; 50 from myself). Her daughter sent this picture to me just a few minutes ago, and I just couldn't wait to share it with you. She is a Precious little Beauty, isn't she? So much like her dear grandmother, they have the same soulful eyes. And I must say, she is a little like me too! She LOVES Pink!! I wish you the miracle of friendship, and laughter and lots of love. Blessings~

It's A New Day!

It's a new day! As I awoke this morning and opened the drapes I looked at my yard, that I had so painstakingly raked, mowed and manicured yesterday, only to find piles of leaves and tree limbs, utter chaos everywhere!! I sat at the kitchen table thinking, "Well, my day is set out for me, I'll start all over again with the rake and the mower." Work, work, work. With aching muscles, I started downstairs with my little dog (who is a Great helper), to get the garbage out and survey the damage further. As I opened the garage door, I was met with this spectactular site! This little tree is in the yard by the front door, and I realized that I had completely missed the beauty of this little tree yesterday as I labored for a tidy yard. I almost missed the unique colors of change, as I worried and dreaded the work involved in the change. Silly isn't it?
So, in my stocking feet on this cool fall day, I grabbed my camera and took pictures of this magnificent site to share with you. Today, I will rake and mow and cut back, all of the natural fall activities of yard work....but I'll do it with a new eye; an eye of anticipation, and admiration for change. An eye for beauty and grace that captures the particular jerky floating movements a leaf makes when it is leaving its branch and falling to the ground. Today is a New Day! I will rejoice and embrace the changes that are to come.

http://lollishops.blogspot.com

I invite you to attend the Grand Opening of Lollishops on November 28th. Prepare yourself for a most spectacular shopping experience! You'll find the links for Lollishops on my blog! Come Visit...(you won't want to leave!)

French Cottage Blue Rag Quilt!

It is rare that I make a quilt with anything but

Pink...but I guess I must have been feeling like

branching out! (smile) A Sweet little Cottage Blue!

Happy day after Halloween! Okay here's the story....my wonderful~helpful husband bought several BIG bags of Chocolate Candy a week ago, so I'm thinking...okay, Halloween is taken care of. NOT! We ate every single piece of chocolate in those humongous bags!! Oh my gosh! It's truly been a sweet week here..and a fast one too! :-) So yesterday, I ran up to the store and bought 5 bags of candy (not chocolate though), and was all ready to pass it out....7 kids showed up! That's right 7 tiny little children came to the door trick or treating! What???? We usually have about 60 or 70 kids...7???So here it is, the day after Halloween and my Wonderful Husband & I are hangin' out, eating candy! I'm not even going near a scale for a month!! Ha!! Seven kids...I can't believe it...wait till next year! Think they'd like year old candy? (as if it would last around this house for a year.) Here's hoping that you were all long on treats...and short on tricks!! Blessings~