Happy New Year 2011

Wishing all a wonderful New Year! Hugs Mary

New years brings excitement for new quilt ideas

Hello all my fellow blog friends..................

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your Holiday's. Hubby and I are on vacation and are enjoying some much needed down time together. We are just taking it easy and taking note on what we want to get done in the new year to come.................I am just about done quilting my last quilt and had a idea come to my head on what I want to do next.....................that's how it works for me. I have a real passion for the material line from FIG TREE QUILTS (by Moda). This new lap size throw will be made with DANDELION GIRL..............................this is what I have started so far. I will keep you posted on my progress......................Have a great evening. HUGS MARY

Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail: My Gift of Joy

Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail: My Gift of Joy: "I suppose you could call this a 'Christmas Ohio Star,' since it's red and green. But for me, it's so much more. What may seem a somewhat h..."

#25 matchbox

Here it is, my last matchbox, let me first start by saying this was fun to be a part of and the wonderful craftman ship that I have seen in these little jewels, it has been so heart warming..............I will cherish all of these for many years to come.................................I am looking for ward to the next swap. NOW TO MY 25.............it comes from Molly Pearce.........of  NC. I like how she gave a part of her state..........I would love to visit the shores in NC, I understand it is beautiful. This was a very thoughtful choice................Thanks Molly. HUGS MARY

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE!!!!!!

It's a Wonderful Life - Hark the Herald and Auld Lang Syne

#24 MATCHBOX SWAP

Happy Christmas Eve, here is my #24,  looking so festive and pretty, and just like #23 I did not get a name tag with this one so if you are the great crafter of this beautiful item please let me know so I can thank you the proper way, NOW to this beautiful matchbox I love the color choice she used, I never knew how much red works well with purple..............and here is proof it does.........The red button really adds to the personal likes of this crafter and to myself. The bottom of the box opens up like a little drawer and lined like you would any drawer. Inside there was a pair of lovely earrings...........

Thanks so much secret crafter. Merry Christmas, Hugs Mary

HERE IS A REVISION TO THIS POST......................I was looking over my name tags of the swap crafters and did find my #24........SORRY for giving you credit at the end of the post................this wonderfull one was made by LINDA GATES @ http://countrypickins,blogspot.com/.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE

Hope everyone is enjoying there day! Lots of unfinished things to do. Enjoy the moment with your loved ones. HUGS MARY

#23 MATCHBOX

#23, here it is, we are almost to the end of this swap. This beautiful golden color matchbox has been made by ?  Sorry to say I did not get a name tag with this one, and my #24 as well, so if you reconized this one as being yours will you please let me know so I can thank you the proper way. Now to talk about the box, the material used gives it a very elegant feel. I like how she carried it inside the box as well, it can be it's own ornament as well. Inside the box is a cute stocking with red and green sparkles........I truely like the craftmans ship and would like to thank the swapper that made this, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HUGS MARY

#22 matchbox

Hello all, how are we doing on the countdown for the big day!!!! I am all done but wrapping and buying dinner for X-MAS EVE, my wonderful husband and daughter were ok with a spiral ham and cheesey potatoes...........now how easy is that.................so now to my #22 MATCHBOX, it was made by Bonnie Linhart @ http://bonnielass1.blogspot.com/
Oh Bonnie, this is so darn cute, it looks like something from the 50's to me...............The music paper looks old, and the little singing children appliqued on top look like something from a Dick and Jane book. I like how you signed your ornament, very thoughtful. Love your holder, very clever. Inside this little gem is a cute handmade felted red and white ornament...................I am going to treasure this for many years to come.....Merry Christmas Bonnie. HUGS MARY

#21 MATCHBOX COUNTDOWN

Can you believe we are down to #21 ALREADY. #21 was made by JIll Doyle
@ http://file-under-misc.blogspot.com/

Let me just start out by saying how darn cute is this one...........this is every bit in the Christmas theme........I love the contrast of the red and white stripes to the red and green dots. The little green ball trim keeps the contrast interesing as well. I like how the patterns with their different colors keep things interesting. I also like how she appliqued the tree on the box, it makes the dots stand out. This box looks like a little drawer, when opened I found a paper clip that has a fabric button with poka dot print. just another good choice to keep all patterns in sinc. Thank you Jill, I will always enjoy this for years to come and this beauty will go on my tree. Merry Christmas. Hugs Mary 

A peek at my one of my glass cloche

I just wanted to share a little of my decorating tonight. I did not want to do to much this year and I really don't know why, but I did manage to do some in all rooms that get company. After I got done it made me more festive. I had a lot of renovating going on this year so maybe that had something to do with it. You just can not throw Christmas up in one day. I hope you are doing well with your Christmas decorating. HUGS MARY

#20 matchbook

Here is my #20 matchbook all silvered up for the holidays. This lovely one comes from Freda Butler @

http://sewwhatsnew-fredab.blogspot.com/. This box brings in the new year to me with all this silver sparkle. I like all the silver against the music paper and then the seasons greetings words give it a old world look. I think a tree with all these ornaments and lights would look fabulous. Thanks for the wonderful job Freda. Now inside this box she had this lovely grass that 'sparkels in the light, inside laid a cute snowman ornament that I am hanging on my tree. I will truely love this ornament for years to come. Hugs Mary

#19 matchbox swap

Can you believe we are on #19.....................this one came from Kelly Baxter @ http://cherrykingdom.blogspot.com/, I like how it was mailed, it was packaged so nicely as you can see from the photo. Kelly's art work is so stunning in this little gem. I like all the little embelishments she used to create this. All the extra's make this one of my favorites. Look how she even took time to make the inside of the box look like a ornament as well. Inside this box she placed a small sheet of tiny x-mas paper dolls and a tiny x-mas sleigh..........I want to thank Kelly for her work and will add this to the rest and treasure this one along with the rest for years to come. Hugs Mary

#17 & #18 matchbox swap

Goodmorning to all. Here I want to share my #17 and 18 matchbox swap..................the first one is made by Vanessa Seeholzer @ http://vanessa-blogspot.com/  Let me just start by saying this one is surely to me a real ornament...............This box to me has been so cleaverly crafted. I can look at it and see all the time and thought that went into making this. I love all the true to x-mas colors..........I like that she made this box bigger so she could tuck the little mouse in. I also like that it is hanging sideways. Because I am a quilter this one appeals to my applique style. Thanks Vanessa this ornament will be treasured for years to come. Now for #18.....................This very beautiful matchbox comes all the way from the UK. My heart just was overwhelmed by this one. This was made by Sherry Edwards @ http://www.sherrysimpleblog.blogspot.com/

To start off with she wrapped this one so pretty, she took extra time to provide her name, blog name and the number of the matchbox...........so now once I got past the wrapping I was feeling the love that went into this one. This matchbox is very angle like to me, the warm color of the gray and gold give this a very old fashioned look. When I opened the box up and saw the lovely ornament I was just stuned at it's beauty. I hope my photo's show ok cause this beauty is just that (BEAUTIFUL) . Thanks Sherry...........I will always treasure this............Have a wonderful Christmas Vanessa and Sherry. Hugs Mary

#16 matchbox swap

Hi everyone, here is my #16 MATCHBOX, what do you think? This has been so much fun...............all the talent from all the swappers has made this something I will never forget. This lovely one was made by Ashley Cox of  http://the/ tatteredquiltcottage.blogspot.com

This little gem has the traditional x-mas green, but all the little goodies she added give this one a real treat to the eyes. All the little trims make this beautiful. Did you catch the little gingerbread man with the #16 on it...............these are the little extra touches I like about this one. Now looking inside the box you see she placed some lovely paper in it with some glitter glue.............the bottom of the box is a ornament in it's self...............Now to talk about the little beaded snowman ornament, is this just cute or what!!!! Ashley I will treasure this always. ...........I also wanted to mentioned the little felt present she made to go ontop of the tissue paper she wrapped the box in, Thanks Ashley. Marry Christmas.

#15 matchbox swap

Hello and hope all is going well with getting your holidays in order. Thanks for stopping by and seeing my #15 matchbox swap. This one has mouth watering pretty candy colors...............I love the texture of this box, the artist is Sherry Wescott @ http://ificouldsetmysoulfree.blogspot.com/.  from New York. Inside this box she had it coated in some sort of white sparkel stuff, it almost looks like surgar and the little candy ornaments looked so real you almost want to put them in your mouth. Great job! I will cherish this always. Merry Christmas Sherry.

#14 matchbox swap

Hello bloggers. Hope El Nino is being kind in your area...............The one bad thing about all this rain is I do not have enough rain barrels to hold the water!!  I want to share with you my #14 MATCHBOX swap. This one was made by Amy Duff @ http://www.papertrailsleaver.blogspot.com/. I love the colors Amy used. The soft green and pink are soothing. All her little paper treatments go great together. The pink bow ties it all togeher. Inside this cutie she left a little tag with a joy wooden charm attatched. I love this little cuttie, it is a cute embellishment........to use on my little swap x-mas tree.....................This little charm could be used for a tag on a gift. Thanks Amy your art work is lovely. Merry Christmas. HUGS MARY

#13 Matchbox swap

Hello and hope everyone is enjoying the end of there winter weekend, it appears most of the nation is having some sort of winter time storm weather. However you are spending your time I hope you are warm, safe, and with those that love you! Hugs Mary.........................Now to my #13 MATCHBOX SWAP. This very festive box was made by Jenny Sellars http://www.theredbulletinboard.blogspot.com/

This box is bigger than all that I have gotten so far. I love the size. I love all the green and red festive colors. My favorite part is the little wreath in the center. I like how the number 13 is carried on with the glitter star inside. Thanks for the wonderful art work and gift I will treasure this one with all the others. Thanks again Jenny, Merry Christmas. Hugs Mary

#12 MATCHBOX SWAP

Hello blogger friends. Here you see my #12 matchbox swap. This one was made by JoAnne Balaz @ http://vintagedragonfly.blogspot.com/

Don't you just love the x-mas print yo-yo. I do, I am a avid quilter so the yo-yo is a wonderful symbol. The paper she used to wrap the box has that vintage look that I like. I like how she layed the tissue paper inside and elements to makeing a small ornament.. I put mine together and took a photo of the finished product on my vintage bottle. Thank you JoAnne for your art work, this will go on my swap tree with the others and I will appreciate it always. Merry Christmas. HUGS MARY