My Blanny

While unpacking some of the five bajillion (I know, I use that number a lot, but I think it's pretty accurate sometimes...) boxes from our move, I came across a very treasured possession that has been packed away for many years. It is in some serious need of repair.

These are some of the blocks in a baby quilt that my great-grandmother Bessie made for my mom's baby shower for me! So it's almost 45 years old (I'm not quite there yet). This poor thing has been drug through the ringer by me over the years and is in terrible shape. I've hauled it everywhere I've ever lived and I am ashamed that I didn't take care of it as it deserved. My only defense is that:

(1): I am overly fanatical and obsessive about washing my bedding and

(2): I didn't learn to care for fabrics until I had been out on my own for quite a while and it was already pretty trashed.

Anyhow, now that I have finally learned my lesson, I have made it my mission to do something to preserve this heirloom of mine. My great-grandma Bessie was an excellent quilter. These blocks are perfectly pieced and the hand-quilting is amazing. Her stitches are so evenly spaced, it looks like they are machined, but they weren't as she didn't use one. Her color choices were also beautiful. The thing that makes this so amazing is that she was legally blind. Her eyesight was almost non-existent so the love and painstaking care that she must have taken with this quilt is over the top. I can't imagine how many hours she poured into it.

I haven't really decided exactly how I'm going to go about rescuing some of these blocks. I can't decide if I want to take some of the best ones and frame them for the sewing room or if I want to preserve the majority of it as a wall-hanging. Whatever I do, I'd like to make sure that they are protected from abuse like that which I put it through. The material is fairly fragile so it definitely won't be a bed quilt any longer. I'm still quite new to the quilting world so I really don't have any more ideas than that for now.

Do any of you have suggestions on what I should do? I'd appreciate the help.

May Giveaway Day - May 27, 2009

May Giveaway Day

May 27, 2009

Ok, I admit it. I am going to turn into a blogging giveaway junkie. This is just a whole lot of fun for me. It's great to have readers come by and leave their comments and I love checking out all of the participating blogs out there. It is amazing how many super talented people are out in cyberspace just waiting for us to come across their blog and share a bit of their world. The fact that there are prizes to be won floating around in all of this is just icing on the cake!

This fun event is being hosted by SewMamaSew. They will be posting a list today with the links to all of the bloggers participating in this great Giveaway. Click here:May Giveaway Day to go to their page and start surfing some awesome and creative blogs.

Entering my drawing is extremely easy. Just leave a comment on this blog entry telling me a memorable crafting/sewing/creative moment or event in your life. I'm using my tried & true old cowgirl hat to draw the number randomly, what you write won't count for the drawing - it's solely for me because I like to hear other people's stories and inspirations. Please be sure that there is a way for me to contact you if you are a winner. The drawing closes at midnight on May 31st. I will draw my winner the next day and post it here. Good luck and happy blog surfing!

I guess I should tell you what I'm giving away. It will be a surprise package full of crafting/sewing supplies & goodies. I haven't really finished throwing together the box so it a surprise to me what will be in it as well! I have quite the stash that would love a new home with someone who is feeling creative..

BTW, if you want an extra entry into my drawing...become a follower or sign up for my email feeds. Then post another comment on this blog and I will give you another chance to win this unknown surprise box!

Sewn Giveaway & MoonCat Farms Marketplace Grand Opening

SEWN

I am participating in another giveaway by bloggers. This is such a fun way to get to know others from around the world. I made some very nice new friends from the first giveaway I participated in and was excited to be told about this one!

This event has been coordinated around the launch of an exciting new website for sewers called Sewn http://www.sewn.net.au/ . It will be making its debut in June, but the creators have decided to have a Blog Launch Party to get the momentum rolling. Many different bloggers are participating and giving away some great prizes in a drawing on their site. Anyone can enter or be involved. The drawings will take place on June 8th. What a fun way to launch this much-needed website for the sewing community. Please be sure to check them all out and sign up for the launch of Sewn!

To enter my drawing, just leave a comment at the end of this post. If you are an email subscriber or follower, you get a 2nd entry into the drawing! I will draw the winner on June 8th and post the name here. Please be sure that I have a way of contacting you if you are my lucky winner!

Now, what the heck am I giving away?? I will be giving away one of my original Spring Flower Pincushion/Sachets. This little beauty can be used as a practical & pretty pincushion or to scent a closet or drawers with the lovely lavender. It is made using 100% cotton material and is stuffed with ec0-friendly fiberfill and organically grown lavender from right here on our place. I really enjoy making these as they are a bright, happy addition to anyone's sewing box and they smell heavenly! (I do make them unscented as well for those who can't tolerate scents.) This little flower is in shades of purple and lavender.

This whole diatribe leads into my next announcement as these little pincushions are one of my first creations to be offered in my new Etsy shop!

I am so happy to finally be able to announce a date for the Grand Opening of my new online Etsy shop. I have been working on all of the tiny little details and getting some of my items photographed so that I can get it launched. So, on June 15th, my new shop: MoonCat Farms Marketplace will officially be open for business! Yeah, finally!! It has taken some time, but I am hoping it will be worth it. We are starting small, but will be expanding on a regular basis as new creations take shape.

I am planning on another drawing or giveaway to celebrate this great step forward for MoonCat Farms and our new Marketplace.

If you want to be kept current on our progress and the happenings here at MoonCat Farms, please sign up on the right hand side of the page. We have lots of options to choose from and that way you won't miss out on our drawings and more fun stuff that we have in the works!