Samplermakers Stash Swap

Hello Friends!

I hope you are all keeping cool! I am loving this weather!

I wanted to share the items I received in a couple of swaps with you .I participated in a Stash Swap on the Samplermakers forum www.samplermakers.ning.com  Kriss from Kountry Porch Primitives  was my swap partner. I was so lucky to have Kriss as a partner! She has designed her first cross stitch pattern and I was honored to receive the first one! She is one talented gal! The new pattern is Simple Peacock Sampler Pillow. LOVE IT!  She also sent me the sweetest notions box (that she handmade) with a stitched sampler top and inside was the fabric and floss to complete the pillow and a darling pinkeep and a needle holder. She also sent a beautiful handmade card with the cutest prim girl on the front! I have the notions box sitting on my table next to my stitching chair...it looks perfect there! You can check out her blog here www.kountryporchprimitives.blogspot.com

I don't know why the bottom photo is not horizontal! I can't get it to flip...guess you will have to look at it side- ways! lol

The next swap I participated in was the Red and White Swap on the Sew Many Ways blog www.sewmanyways.blogspot.com We had to send 125 , 5 inch square blocks of  fabric ( had to be red and white|) and we received back 125 different red and white blocks! There were 125 participants from the US and several other countries and I was thrilled with the blocks I got back. I have looked through them several times and there are only a couple of duplicates. I can't believe how many red and white fabrics are out there! I was in Lancaster and went to several quilt shops before I found a truly red and white fabric!I finally found one I like at The Old Country Store in  Intercourse. www.theoldcountrystore.com If you are ever in Lancaster, this shop is well worth stopping in! I have spent a small fortune in there, I love their fabrics! Now the real headache comes when I have to decide what quilt top to make using them!
Anyway here is what they look like.

 I am really glad I participated in these swaps. I was a little hesitant at first. I haven't done an online swap for about 8 years. I got burned several times by bad swap partners. But not this time! WHOO HOO! I may just participate in some more!

Well that's all I have for today. I will share my junking trip with my BFF'S from last weekend maybe tomorrow. Then I will start sharing some Cades Cove photos. I am still trying to get them organized.

Have a great evening!

Wanda

Remember This ?

Hello Friends!

Hey, anyone remember this?

This is one of the last snows we had in February.....YUK! All my co-workers are whinning about the heat and humidity, "NOT ME"! I'll take the heat any day over this snow and cold!I am  a summer lover! I know there are a ton of people who love the snow and cold, so just wait...you will get your turn soon enough! Meanwhile  I am enjoying... as our local weather man says "the air you can wear"!lol I'm heading to the beach the end of the month and I truly will be in heaven then.

 I promised some pics of our trip to the Smokies in May so I will share a few now and more later. I think I told you before that we have not been to the Smokies for about 30 years. I was really shocked when we arrived in Gatlinburg at our hotel.What I remembered of Pigeon Forge (the little town before you get into Gatlinburg) was a little two lane road  with lots of junk , I mean souvenir shops  and tourist type things like a black bear that drank Dr. Pepper. Now, the road is under construction and it will be 6 lanes of traffic with a red light every 50 feet! It took forever to get through there and on to Gatlinburg. Once we were settled into our room, we took a walk through town.What a major disappointment! Nothing but T-shirt shops, knife and hookah pipe shops .(they were bongs in my day!)When we were there years ago, they still had tons of souvenir shops, but they also had some unique shops with local handmade items. Indian jewelry and quilts and handmade baskets etc.The one shop that did have "handmade" quilts and gift items ....all "handmade" in CHINA!  Needless to say, I didn't spend any money in Gatlinburg, and I had no desire to stop in Pigeon Forge for anything either!The only thing I bought the whole trip was a Cades Cove t-shirt at the visitor center.

There was a new aquarium  in Gatlinburg. This thing was absolutely wonderful! If you have kids, they would love it! Hubby and I were in there for about 4 hours. We have been to the aquarium in Baltimore, and I tell you this one puts it to shame! It is beautiful, clean and the soothing music they play is fantastic!  It has an amazing people mover that winds around forever through glass tunnels with all the fish swimming aound over your head.I took about a million pictures there, I won't bore you with all of them ...only a couple!

This thing looked like a piece of seaweed. It is actually a creature related to a seahorse. It was from the coast of Australia.I was facinated with the whole display these things were in.

Some Jellyfish. Another very interesting display.. I could go on and on about the aquarium, but you would be bored to tears.Lets just say that it was well worth the admission price. I think it was about $22.00 for each of us.

Well I think I will continue with Cades Cove next time. I took tons of pictures of the cabins and I am in love with that area! I think you may enjoy seeing some really prim cabins.

Try to say cool!

Wanda