Grow Your Blog

I'm so happy to welcome "Grow Your Blog" party goers and wish to thank Vicki at 2 Bags Full   for hosting this great event. I'm starting off with my give-aways this year. I have TWO prize packages. The first one is pictured above: it includes a fun vintage valentine print tote that I just found at an antique mall, two hand appliqued kitchen towels and two hot pad that I have made for you and five of my "flossies" which are little dress shaped embroidery floss holders. Due to the valentine theme of this prize, I will hold the drawing on Feb. 7th.

This is the second prize package. It includes a rare, vintage Pyrex bowl in a peachy pink, two hand embroidered kitchen towels, a package containing some ribbons and trims and a little notebook for your handbag. The drawing for this prize will be on Feb. 15th.  All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment. You will be entered in the drawings for both prizes. It's that easy.

I will tell you a bit about my blog. I started it 3 years ago and it is a place for me to share ideas, projects and a lot more. It is primarily a quilting blog. This is a quilt I finished earlier this year.

This is a quilt I did a few years ago, displayed in a little vintage shop that I am involved with.

I enjoy making aprons (it's one way to use some of the fabric I've stockpiled). This is a set I made this summer for a Mom and her little boy and girl. I enjoy designing them and embellishing them with hand applique.

I do quite a bit of handwork...it gives me something to do in front of the TV in between quilts.

You will also find on this blog that I share pics of my adventures in shopping and traveling in and around the northwest (this was at a local lilac festival).

This gorgeous garden cottage in actually in the backyard of a friend. I love sharing special places I find.

You may wonder how my blog got it's name. Well, I do love ribbon and glitter and gift wrapping, but I love so much more and would like to share it with you. I hope you have enjoyed your visit and will want to come again. I love visiting other blogs and look forward to meeting you.  -Derrith

January Quilt Group Offerings

We met last night at the home of our newest member, Dorothy. I thought I would show you a bit of her work first. This Heron stitchery/applique/fiber art? wall hanging was so dramatic and striking!

This paper pieced quilt was stunning as well.

She was actually wearing some of her work, so we made her turn around so we could get a pic. So pretty!

Dorothy was almost done with this by the end of the meeting. See a close up below.

Don't you love this?!

Anita made this pillow top by actually weaving fabric tubes. It was really cool.

She also made this graphic baby quilt for a friend's new baby boy .

Darlene brought a few of her latest fabulous creations, starting with this gorgeous table topper.

She can do pretty much ANYTHING with her embroidery machine. Check out these cute hot pads.

Her daughter requested a Cinderella stocking, so she digitized a picture and created this darling stocking!

Margy made this beautiful medallion for her Table top.

She also made this fun mesh bag.

She showed us about 6 of these darling vintage looking redwork blocks that she has already finished.

I cant wait to see them all in a quilt!

Here we were last month at full strength. Since then, our much beloved Loralie has moved to Texas. We were willing to try laying down in their path to prevent them from leaving, but we had to accept the inevitable. We miss you, Lorali!! Thank you, visitors for being willing to take a peek at our "show and tell". I hope you will come again soon. Love, Derrith

Sleighbelle Rides Again

I thought I would take a break from my quilt I am trying to get done this week and post this picture. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride. I haven't always lived in a place where it snowed in the winter, so I wasn't able to fulfill my dream until a few years ago. This picture was taken in Leavenworth Washington, which is a town in the Cascade mountains that has adopted a Bavarian theme and is very charming.  I made arrangements for the sleigh ride and my darling elderly parents who were both in their mid-nineties wanted to join us.

At first, I will admit I was a little disappointed because I have always thought of a sleigh ride as a very romantic thing to do with my sweetheart (as a matter of fact, I always pictured it with both of us in full Victorian regalia-Gary in a top hat and me in my red velvet cape!) . Now that both of my parents are gone however, this picture is all the more special to me. The driver stepped out of the sleigh to take our picture and it isn't super clear because it was snowing, and you can't see the horse, but I love this picture and treasure the memory. For those who have never emailed me, my address is sleighbelle2@comcast.net, thus the title of this post. Thank you for indulging this little flashback and thank you for visiting my little world. Love, Derrith

Putting It All Away

Today's the day...get the boxes and tissue out and start putting all the Christmas fun away.  I'm never very eager to do this. Christmas never lasts long enough for me.

I love these little Ice Skates I found at Goodwill and embellished with white fur and velvet ribbon.

Time for the Christmas quilt to come down and the Valentines Day quilt to go up.

My "North Pole Village" will go back up north...

...in spite of the fact that the elves worked far into the night before the big day.

Bambi and his mom go back in the box...

...and the tree comes down.

This sentiment remains true all year long, for our Savior lives! The happiest of New Years to all of you and I hope you visit again soon in 2014.  Love, Derrith