Sunshine Award

What a treat! I've been nominated by Linda who blogs at Stray Stitches for a Sunshine Award. Here are the guidelines:

1.  Save the image above and post it on your own blog.

2.  Pass the award on to 12 follow bloggers

3.  Link the nominees.

4.  Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blog

5.  Share the love and link to the person you received this award from.

Here are the 12 bloggers that I have nominated. It was hard to choose 12 because of the awesome bloggers out there. Pass it on!

1. Brenda - The Quilting Cowgirl

2. Julie - JulieKQuilts

3. Teresa - Stitchin' Friends 

4. Pat - Silver Thimble Talk

5. Joan - Ouvrages d'une acadienne

6. Jan - Prytz Family

7. Thelma - Cupcakes 'n Daisies

8. Darlene - Quilting Daze

9. Terry - Terry's Treasures

10. Diane - Joyful Reader

11. Nedra - Cactus Needle Quilts

12. Gretchen - Stella Bella Quilts

These are the bloggers who have added Sunshine and happiness to my life.   I hope  you'll take a few minutes and visit their blogs.  Thank you, again, to Linda at Stray Stitches for tagging me with this award!

Intown Quilters

In the Metro Atlanta area, we are blessed with an abundance of top-notch quilt shops, quilt teachers, quilting activities and other quilting resources. On Saturday, I treated myself to a visit to Intown Quilters in Decatur, GA. The shop is about 20 minutes from my home. At my school retirement party, friends surprised me with  special gifts. A generous gift-certificate to spend at Intown Quilters (refered to as Intown by local quilters) was one such gift. Saturday was my day to "spend" the gift-certificate.

On the Intown  website, Sarah Phillips, owner of the shop describes it as "your fun, funky fabric shop." I totally agree with Sarah. The shop is filled with a riot of colors. If you like bright fabrics, this the shop for you!

 Intown carries most Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabrics as well as Heather Bailey fabrics and Lakehouse fabrics. This is the place to shop for bright, colorful fabrics including batiks, orientals, '30's, black and white and novelty fabrics.

 The Cat in the Hat fabric was in stock, but flying off the shelves.

 There were many samples of children's clothing, patterns, fabrics, toys and other items throughout the shop.

It was a pleasure meeting local designer Mary Abreu. Mary designs patterns for children's clothing especially little girls. Her daughter was wearing one of her "twirly" designs. 

Mary's book Little Girls, big style: Sew a Boutique Wardrobe from 4 Easy Patterns will be released by C & T Publishing in November of this year.  Mary will be at Quilt Market in Houston in November. Intown Quilters will have lots of copies available to purchase. As the mother of boys and no grandchildren on the horizon, I might have to purchase a copy for my SIL who has a granddaughter. Mary's website is Confessions of a Craft Addict. (Don't you just love that name:)

 One of Mary's designs hanging in the shop window.

My stack of goodies purchased with my gift certificate. The Christmas fabrics were on sale. I'm planning to stitch several table runners. Fabric for Christmas and winter table runners for me and MIL's new digs:) Visit Intown to add lots of color to your life:)

Design Wall Monday

Last night, I put the completed blocks for my brown and neutral version of Tic Tacs by Pat of Silver Thimble Quilt Company on my design wall. This is one of the projects that I would like to complete at Quilt Camp. I've moved things around a bit and still it hasn't clicked.  It does seem to help looking at a digital image instead of looking at the real thing. Any suggestions? Click over to Judy's blog at Patchwork Times to see what other quilters have on their design wall today.

100 Followers and a Giveaway!

A milestone has been reached! Officially, there are 100 followers signed up to receive postings of my blog. How awesome! I love blogging and following blogs myself. Thrilled that all of you are following my posts. Thank you for becoming my blogging friends! Thank you, Sue of Alderwood Quilts  for commenting on  a post that you were officially the 100th follower. Since that time, I've been thinking of doing another giveaway. These past days as I've been sorting in my sewing palace, I've been looking for treasures that I am willing to share. I've been super lucky with giveaways:) I so appreciate the bloggers and shops who have so generously shared their goodies with me. I loved the concept from the book and movie of Paying It Forward . (If you haven't read the book, it's one I highly recommend) Here goes my attempt to pay it forward.

Charm Packs

Three charm packs of Apron Springs by Moda, '30's prints.

Three charm packs of Quilt Pink ( breast cancer awareness) - all charms are pink and white

Three charm packs of Hydrangea Garden by Lakehouse Dry Goods.

I know there are only 2 charm packs in each photo, but I do have 3 of each to share. I love all three of these fabric lines, but after several years on the shelf, they deserve to become quilts:) There will be 3 winners. Each winner will receive 3 charm packs of one fabric line.

How to enter the giveaway

1. Post a comment on this blog post. Tell me something about you my blogging friends. Anything you'd like to share. Also,please indicate which charm pack that you would like to win. This equals one entry.

2. For a second entry, follow my blog. Please tell me in a separate post that you are already a follower, a new follower or that you follow me in Google Reader or some other blog reader.

3. I love meeting new blogging friends and welcome new visitors. Please blog about my giveaway, that will add another chance to win.

I will be away from Thursday to Sunday. (quilting retreat!!!)  Let's have the giveaway end Sunday, September 19th at 6:00 pm Eastern time.  I'll notify the  3 winners on Monday, September 20th.

Thanks again for reading and following my blog! Your friendship and comments have enriched my life.