Happy New Year!

2011 is at the door!

Remember, life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that made you smile! :)

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

I have been busy baking as you see:

I made sugar cookies, black and white cookies, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and my favorite Bulgarian cookies called "Maslenki". My hubby helped me with the icing and he came up with the idea of the sugar trees.

I received these lovely gifts in the mail:

They are from Robin from www.rsislandcrafts.com I was one of the winners of her Christmas giveaway. I agree with Robin what goes around comes around. She was the winner of my giveaway.

Till next time, stay warm!

Healthy and Easy Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made these "Healthy and easy chocolate chip muffins" today to bring to a friend's house and it turned out it was my surprise baby shower! I had an amazing time, I will post more about it later.

You won't believe how easy and healthy are these muffins. All you need is:

- box of chocolate cake mix,

- 15 oz. can pumpkin puree,

Optional:

- 1 egg

- a hand full of chocolate chips

Mix all of the ingredients and scoop into a muffin tin sprayed with oil. Bake at 350 F for 20 - 25 min or until a tooth pick is inserted and comes out clean. The muffins came out moist and fudgey! If you have to watch your cholesterol you can omit the egg, I just though it needed it. The muffins don't have any oil if you use paper cups, but I didn't have any.

Karen from Sew Many Ways is hosting a Recipe Party, check out all the recipes or share some of yours!

Christmas Quilt Show

I am participating in the Christmas Quilt Show that SewCalGal is organizing again. You can see my entry from last year here.

The "Snowmen quilt" is the next one on the line to be quilted. I love the fabric that looks like it was knitted.

The next quilt I call "Skiing Bears". It's a flannel quilt and it's very soft. I originally made as a backing to the "Snowmen quilt". After all the sewing and measuring I decided it's too pretty to be the backing of a quilt so I am gonna make it into another quilt. I already found backing in my stash for the snowmen quilt, but I have to get some for the "Skiing bears"! :) Have you done that?

Do you make your own Christmas tree ornaments? I try to make one every year. If you have an embroidery machine or you have an interesting fabric you can use my tutorial to make one yourself. I would love to see if you make one! You can see my tutorial here.

I haven't decorated yet for Christmas, but the show is setting the mood for it! :)

Until next time, Happy sewing!

Shop Hop Quilts and more ...

I am very proud to be part of these amazing quilts, that my mother-in-law made for Eastern PA shop hop. She owns "Happy Sewing Room" and she did outstanding job designing the quilts! She made a wall hanging "Spring time Sue" and "Floral Fantasy bed runner". You can read more details for the shop hop here.

I machine quilted both quilts with a panto with butterflies, tulips and flowers.

If you have wonder why I haven't post in while, it's because I have been quite busy. Not the good kind of busy. My blood sugar came out high and they diagnosed me with gestational diabetes. I have to test my blood sugar 7 times a day and take insulin shots before meals. The good news are that the baby is doing well so far and they will be monitoring her very close, so I hope everything will be fine.

Have a great weekend!

Quilts from the Heart of Berks

Two week ago I was at Berks guild quilt show. I finally got around to posting. I saw a lot of pretty quilts and I met one of mine blogging buddies - Gunda from Balefiresquilts.blogspot.com . We had lovely time chatting and I hope we will meet again. She is very nice and very talanted!

Sit back and enjoy the show!

The quilt above is one of my favorite quilts! I love the ocean and the quilter did an excellent job embellishing the quilt.

The quilt above is a part of Pat and Arlan Christ antique exhibit called "Stars and Bars".

I hope you enjoyed the quilt show!

Winnings!

I won Micki's giveaway and the book is here! I was so excited when the package arrived!

Most of you probably know Micki from her blog. She was born in Philadelphia and now she lives in Ireland and I was born in Bulgaria and I was living in Philadelphia also, so that made us close at the beginning. We became blogging friends and she is very kind and wonderful person.

Do you know the saying "what goes around comes around"? Micky won a GO cutter and one to give away, so check her blog often for the giveaway that is coming!

The book is called "Miniatures in minites". It has a lot of cute projects that I can't wait to try! I have done paper piecing but not miniatures, so I am excited to try that!

Micki surprised me with one of her gorgeous handmade cards! I have been admiring her journals and cards that I have seen on her blog. Now I have my own!

Thank you Micki!

Speaking about winning giveaways ... the winner of my giveaway - Robin made the "Candy Table Runner" from the kit that she won! My LQS carries the kits and you can find it here.

I was surprised she made it so fast because she is recovering from a shoulder surgery.

You can see her post here.

She used the leftovers from the kit to make a scrappy backing. Well done Robin!

Until next time, Happy sewing! :)

Halloween quilt!

It's time to decorate for Halloween! I put up my Halloween quilt that I finishes last year but it was after Halloween and I didn't show it on the blog. I don't like scary stuff so this panel spoke to me. It was an easy project to do. Just added 2 borders. I think it looks pretty on the wall!

Here is a close up of the quilting. I didn't put a label, yet. That what blogs are for, right!? :)

On a recent trip to Philadelphia I spotted this flag. Isn't it cute? The store was sold out of it!

How do you like the Autumn weather where you live (if it's Fall where you live) ?

I am loving it! The pregnancy makes me feel so warm and the cool weather is appreciated! :)

Till next time, Happy sewing!

Autumn Quilted Pillow Sham and more...

I am very excited to use this new comfy pillow! I used panel in the middle and then I added the borders. I only had so much of the pretty leaves print and I added the four patches in the corners. It's still wasn't big enough so I added another border. I did some free motion stippling and the pillow sham was a perfect size to practice on my domestic sewing machine. Good job Baby Lock!

Here is the back of the sham. I used quilted fabric that I had from practicing quilting on my frame.

Here is a view of the pieces of the shams if you would like to make one for yourself. You just stitch all around and turn it inside out! I serged all around the pieces to prevent fraying when washing.

I quilted this quilt for my friend Leisa. She made the quilt for her brother's wedding. Aren't those birds so cute!

I laid the quilt on my bed to take a picture! I think it fits very nice, too bad it's not mine! ;) I do have the same panels and the patterns, so it's on my long list of quilts to make!

She used plain muslin for backing! You can really see the quilting!

Have a great day!

Thank You!

I feel so blessed and I have the best blogging friends! Karen from Sew Many Ways is doing a virtual baby shower for me! You can see her blog post here. We became friends through our blogs. Most of you probably already know her from her TTT - Tool Time Tuesday that she publish every Tuesday! Karen is one of the most giving and generous people I have met on blogland! I won one of her giveaways, too!

Thank you to Karen and all the people that have signed for the virtual baby shower!

Aren't blogging friends the best!!!

Here is the bib that I made for the baby. I just had to buy that fabric.

Scot helped me to put the snap on. I debated what kind a closure to use. I didn't want to make a button hole and a button in case it comes out lose. Do you think velcro would work better?

Here is a Autumn pillow case I am working on. I will show you the finished pillow in my next post!

Thank you and have a great day!

Thank You and Show and Tell

Thank you to all the wonderful wishes for our sweat little pea! We are so blessed! I am working on the baby's first bib and I will share a picture when it's done. Thank you!

I made this orange and green version of my "Candy Table Runner" when I was testing the pattern and my instructions. I made it in the favorite colors of me and my husband. When I showed it to Barb she said, "Oh, that is perfect for Halloween!" I never thought that but I guess I should finish it and use it in my Autumn decorations.

Last week I had my first quilting class as a teacher and Barb made the "Candy table runner" using Christmas colors. I love the way it turn out! She started at home and had the center pieced. She said my directions were clear and easy to understand. Thank you Barb! She didn't follow my directions for ironing and when I showed her the orange and green unfinished version she wished she did. She was very creative and made a little pinwheel on the sides. She also had the idea to make little fabric 3D candies to add the the side on the table runner! That is so creative, Barb! She used iron-on batting which worked great and she didn't have to pin the quilt to start quilting. I hope she sends me a picture of the finished table runner to share with you. We had so much fun!

NOTE: I put the "Candy table runner" on my Etsy store. I am selling only the PDF version there and on blog for $5.99 for a limited time. The paper version is $7.99 and is only available on my blog. I offer free shipping in the USA. You can see BUY NOW link on the right side bar of the blog.

Thank you for visiting and happy sewing!

I am Expecting a Bundle of Joy!

Free Baby Shower Games
I am happy to announce that me and my husband will be having our first baby!
We feel so blessed! We found out we are expecting a baby girl! She is due in January on my late dad's birthday. I know he would have been very proud to be a grandfather and I know he would watch over us from heaven!
I hope everything goes well and I can't wait to meet her!
We are busy preparing for her arrival! As first time parents it will be a learning experience! I will still keep you posted with my sewing creations, but just a warning that you might see more baby stuff! :)
Life is Good! :)

Table Runner- Finishes and Classes

I made another " Easy Stripe Table Runner" . I am addicted to making these table runners! They go so fast using a 60 degree triangle ruler. The fabric I used is called "Days to remember" designed by Mary Koval.

This cute table topper is made out of the leftover triangles you have from cutting 2 runners. I told you I am addicted to making these! :) Isn't it fun table topper! I didn't quilt it yet ...

I will be teaching a class on the Easy Stripe Table Runner at Happy Sewing Room Store in Hamburg, PA. The classes are scheduled on Wed., Sept. 15; 10:00-2:00

and Sat., Sept. 25; 10:00-2:00

The backing fabric I used is from the same line Days to remember by Mary Koval.

I will also be teaching a class on the Candy Table Runner that I designed. The classes as scheduled on Sat., Sept. 11; 10:00-2:00 Or Wed., Sept. 22; 10:00-2:00.

If these dates for either class don't work for you find a friend, who would like to take the class with you and I can set up a class just for you two or more at a time convenient for you!

I hope everybody is having a great weekend! Here on the East coast of US is 75 F and it feels nice!

And the Winner is...

Thank you very much to everyone who participate in my first giveaway!

It was a lot of fun reading all your comments!

I used random number generator. From all 96 entries,

Drum roll please ... the winner is comment #78.

My husband was a witness to my drawing! :)

Congratulations to Robin from rsislandcrafts.com

Robin, I will send you the prize as soon as you email me your address!

If you would like to purchase my pattern use the Buy Now button on the right side. You can get is as a papper version with free shipping to US or as PDF version that I will email you.

The pattern is easy to make and it will be a great gift to any candy lover! :)

If you would like to purchase the kit you can find it at Happy Sewing Room. I am very excited they are the first shop to carry my pattern!

Thank you for all the nice compliments on my design!

Candy Table Runner, it's GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

I am proud to present to you my first original quilt pattern! It's called

"Candy Table Runner".

People that know me won't be surprised by it, because they know I have a sweet tooth! :)

What better way to celebrate then having a giveaway!

What are you going to win? You will win a kit to make a "Candy Table Runner"!

That includes all the fabric for the quilt top + binding and the pattern!

Here are the rules:

• Leave a comment on this post for one entry
• If you are a follower on my blog leave another comment for second chance to win
• If you would like to become a follower, click the follow button and come back and leave another comment for second chance to win
• If you do a post about this giveaway on your blog, leave another comment for a third chance to win

I will randomly pick a winner on September 2nd 2010 at 12 p.m. Make you sure you come back to my blog to check back if you won!

Good Luck and Thank You for stopping by!

Cobblestone Lane

Here is my next block of my Cobblestone Lane BOM. I already have 8 blocks! I just love the colors I am using!