50 Free Crochet Patterns

Love to Crochet?   Looking for a new free pattern?   Visit Online Degree for 50 free Crochet Patterns.
Here is a sample of some of the free patterns.

Simple Water Bottle Cover Pattern to Knit

Elly at Green Olive Designs

Shares her free pattern with all of us.   Visit her site for the free knitting pattern.

50 Free Knitting Patterns

Love to Knit?   Looking for a fun new pattern that's FREE?   Visit On Line Degree for 50 knitting patterns to download for FREE!
Here is a sample of some of the patterns-

last one . . .

I've noted this several times already, but it's the last day of the year and bears pondering again. Where did this year GO???! I can hardly believe this is my last entry of 2010. Wow.

I'm not making any new year's resolutions. I am considering making some life changes. There's a subtle difference. More on that later in the coming week.

Last night, I took my poor little Princess Buttercup (my yellow PT Cruiser) in for a *much* needed bath! I did take pictures, but I won't post them. I'm so silly! But she drives so much better when she's clean and sparkly!! Plus, she was driving us through the Galaxy of Lights, and I wanted her to look sharp!

Todd, Jason, Joc & I were going to go to dinner and then through the light show. Unfortunately, Todd's been battling a terrible sinus battle, and he was miserable. But because it was the second-to-last night of the show, it was now or never. So I met Joc & Jason and the three of us ate and headed over to the Botanical Gardens.

We met for dinner early (5ish), and then headed over to the Gardens, so the traffic wasn't too backed up when we got there.

Joc noted as we drove up, that there was an odd lack of "be ready to pay" signage. I joked that it was because it was "free!" We knew it wasn't, but I had a comp card for free entry, so we didn't know how much it was. It blew my mind when we pulled up to the money taker and she asked for $20!! I looked at her with a straight face and said, "You mean it isn't free?" You should have seen her poor face!! I quickly grinned and handed her my little freebie ticket, and the relief on her face was noticeable!

There were lots and LOTS of fun light displays. According to the program you can tune to on your radio as you do the tour, about half the light displays are the same every year. It's a fairly long drive through the Garden -- two and a half miles long, to be exact.

Both the above and below Christmas-y scenes were new this year. Love the Santa in his sleigh!

I couldn't see this one without singing it!

I don't recall seeing the Nativity Scene there before, but Todd said he though it was.

There were lots of singing groups!

This one, of the pumpkin carriage traveling to the palace, has always been a favorite of mine.

Huntsville is, after all, the Rocket City!

Evidently, we're also the "dinosaur city". Who knew?!?

These owls were new this year. Joc, who's fallen in love with owls this year, noted them right away.

Followed by Todd's favorite woodpecker . . .

Then my favorite cardinal . . .

And every one's favorite clown, the blue jay!

What? No wren?? What do these people know, anyway? LOL!

There was a fairly decent trail of cars. At some points we were driving bumper to bumper. I tried to keep it a little more spaced out, as did the guy behind me. That made it very nice!

This was the final shot before heading out of the Garden. When we pulled back out onto the main road, we could see that the line to get in was WAAAAAY backed up! Glad we got there when we did!

It was a nice night. The weather was pleasant and the night was clear, so we were able to open windows (and the sun roof) to take good pictures. One year I'd like to do the walking tour, which they offer at the beginning of the season (it opens in November). I think it would be pretty to walk through all the fun lights and take as long as I wanted to "ooooh" and "aaaaah!"

I really enjoy the Botanical Gardens. I've often thought about getting a membership; now that I have grandbabies, I may look into that -- they do offer grandparent packages. So much for the two adult grandparents and then it includes each of your grandchildren under 18! Pretty nifty!

I have to share this. In all the Kindle advertising and instructional material, it refers over and over to the "reading experience" and wanting readers to "lose themselves in the story" or to "give themselves over to the pages". I was reading in bed this afternoon (a brief foray before I napped, preparing myself for a late night of babysitting). I'm just reading and reading away, when all of a sudden, I realized I'd reached my fingers up to turn the page!! LOL! I'd say I'd definitely lost myself in the story -- way to go, Kindle!!!

Todd was to be on shift tonight, and I'd agreed to spend the evening with my darling cherub. If I couldn't spend the evening with my hubby, Sawyer was my second choice!! Poor Todd - he still wasn't feeling well this morning, so he called in. Now he'll be home alone, but I imagine he'll be tucked in bed shortly after I leave.

As I noted on my facebook page earlier . . . the joys and blessings of this year have far outweighed the trials it's presented. A toast to 2010! You ushered in a precious new grandson and the promise of another. Family and friends blessed us with their love in lavish and wonderful ways! We were commissioned as missionaries -- something I wouldn't have even dreamed possible at the beginning of the year. Our ministry in Camp MACOBA and with the Madison Baptist Association has flourished. We celebrated a special, golden anniversary of my mom & dad. I had lots of quilting firsts, retreats and finishes. We remained relatively unscathed by the sluggish economy. We've watched the marriages of both our children grow strong, blossom and mature. And I spent it in the company of my best friend in the whole world, my darling, selfless, loving husband. Here's to you, 2010!

I do count it all joy!

:)

Hello, My Dear Quilting Friends,

                                                                 Happy New Year  To Everyone!


                                                                      Hugs Morgan oxoxoxoxoox

End of 2010 and another Mystery

It's almost over - another year, that is. Time flies so quickly these days. And it doesn't slow down much even if I'm sitting at the computer reading blogs instead of posting :)

And the end of another year also means the end of another Mystery Quilt. This one -

the Miami Valley Album Quilt is is in France right now and the patterns will be in my book published by Quiltmania next spring. I didn't have time before it left but when it gets home I'll embroider names on the blocks - that will be fun. We do have a few kits left so if you want one now you can still order one.

Meanwhile I'm multitasking today. Cullin and Quinn are here for the weekend and I'm refinishing my mother's twin bed for Cullin. Then there are curtains to make. And of course, stitching on blocks for next year's Mystery Quilt.

Have a good New Year's Eve Day. Be sure to watch the blog and your email tomorrow. The women in this family are football fans so tomorrow promises a big pot of chili and football games. But Tara and Kelly got together and cooked up something quilty for those of you that aren't.

Happy quilting.

Hello, 2011: A New Year's Tribute

Originally from Venezuela and now from sunny Florida, Valentina Ramos brings her playful yet elegant world of fantasy art to cloth.  Valentina began her career as a graphic artist and has now expanded into designing her own creations, such as this gorgeous, exuberant, fat-quarter size tea-towel calendar for 2011.

Hello 2011,  Tea towel calendar, 21 x 18, by Valentina Ramos



Many of Valentina's designs are based on objects in the animal and plant world, such as flowers, leaves, and birds. She often works with Rapidograph pens to carefully embellish shapes with fanciful, intricate ornamentation.  You can learn more about Valentina and her extensive background in graphic art at her website, Valentina Design.  Also, you can read about the creation of 'Hello, 2011' on Valentina's blog.

El Canario Tea Towel Calendar,  21 x 18, by Valentina Ramos

Here's another wonderful calendar design, where a whimsical canary hops onto a branch in a cheerful New Year's greeting.  Notice how the orderly arrangement of the calendar and written fonts contrasts in a delightful manner with the curved, rounded shapes of the canary, flowers, and leaves. Shades of chartreuse and rose pink provide this calendar with lots of visual impact, a welcome addition to any room in the house.  Spoonflower Fabric offers this pattern of Valentina's in linen, quilting weight cotton, crepe de chine, and cotton voile, among other fabrics.

Valentina writes, "Self healing and positive energy are the motivating concepts which ignite my passion to create.  Through my work I hope to inspire and help others follow their dreams."  We are thrilled to feature dynamic, innovative artists such as Valentina Ramos, whose work provides so much encouragement to all of us who are fascinated with the world of arts and crafts. 

And finally, from Valentina's Etsy Shop, here's a design which sums up our approach to living in 2011 with courage, confidence, and hope:

Image credits:  Images are the copyright of Valentina Ramos and are shown with permission. At her web site, Valentina Design, you can find pillows, napkins, place mats, fabrics and iPhone cases featuring her art.

My Final Quilt Finish of 2010

This is my No Rhyme Nor Reason quilt. I love how it turned out. I do not love these photos of it (I think the clouds raced in the second I got out of the car with my camera). But I really wanted to post about it before the end of the year. Anyway, take my word for it, the quilt is about 100 times more vibrant "in person."
I made this quilt for my husband for Christmas. Somehow even the kids kept it secret from him! I had made the squares earlier in the year, but they had been packed away until I decided to put it all together in mid-December. It is for our queen-sized bed. I think my Yeti-sized Selvage Snowman quilt top may be slightly larger than this one, but otherwise it's the biggest quilt I've made.
-
It's the first time I've used sashing in a quilt because these squares were just so wild and busy they really needed to be separated. I won't be rushing to use sashing again any time soon. In my opinion, sashing is just another thing for me to accidentally get crooked.

This quilt has pretty much every fabric from my stash in it. There are lots of fun squares in it for the kids to find. It works a little as an I-Spy quilt.
-
It is my own design. The tutorial I wrote to make the blocks for this quilt is here.

So I'll see you in 2011. Wow! Thanks so much to everyone who has stopped by and said 'Hi' in 2010. Happy New Year!

Do you think Kathleen will like this?

I am working on the machine quilting for Kathleens' final quilt for the McCalls Quilt Design Star Challenge. Kathleen really likes feathers and lots of detail. So, here is a little sneak peak of what I've done so far.

Do you think she will like it?

Don't miss our sale @ Piece N Quilt!
For more fun updates sign up for Piece N Quilts newsletter.
Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you.
~Natalia

{Connect with us}