Sunday, August 29, 2010

Mystery Drawing Winner

Wow, there were so many entries this week. Amazing what the word "mystery" stirs up!
The prize: all 4 of my ornaments charts. Merry ChristMoose, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Ornaments 2, and the brand new Snowman Ornaments. Charts for 16 different designs in all. That's enough ornament stitching to keep anyone busy this Fall!

I decided to pick 2 winners. Drum roll please-
The winners are Kimberly from GA and Janice from Spokane. Congratulations ladies, I'll be sending you each a package this week.

OK, this next week, it's more pumpkins! The biggest one is a whopper- about 12" across. They are all fabric and from my Pumpkin Patch pattern.

To enter, email me with "WHOPPER" in the subject line by midnight next Saturday night.
And very important- you must put your name and mailing address in the email. If you forget, you won't be considered for the prize. I'll chose one winner next Sunday. I'm thinking September will be pumpkin month so stay tuned. It's going to be fun.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tweeting Nuisance & New Charts

Every time I try to tweet on Twitter, it tells me it is over capacity. SOOO, I haven't tweeted in a LONG time. Good thing I have a BLOG!

I just added 2 new charts on the website. I'll post pictures on here later. When you get a chance, go take a peek-

www.prairiegrovepeddler.com

Look under Cross Stitch.

They'll be shipped to distributors in a few days.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Pumpkin Winner

I had another busy day and ended up with company that put me behind on blogging. I have been ironing for two days and I haven't gotten tired of it yet. I just love applique. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing right now. I have so many new patterns to finish and I'm on a roll so I don't want to lose the momentum!

I went to my local fabric store three times lately and stocked up on yummy fabrics. I have to admit I am in the $500 club now for the week but it's needed for the new patterns. That's how I justify it anyway! I did a quilt series last year that went over very well and I'm working on another right now that is similar and having a blast. I'm also doing some smaller things and it feels good to sew and iron for a change! Next I get to hand embroider the detailing.

We do have a winner today and she actually has a birthday on Halloween! How cool is that? Lisa from FL will receive the three pumpkins from the drawing. I have more pumpkins so stay tuned for another pumpkin drawing before Halloween.

This week, we're having a "Mystery Drawing". I know, you think I already have it picked out but this is the way to have a drawing without preplanning anything! Just lazy this week I guess.

To enter, email me at PGPeddler@aol.com by Saturday midnight with "MYSTERY" in the subject line. Send your name and mailing address. I'll choose a winner on Sunday.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Rose of Sharon

We have had the best weather the last few days- a preview of things to come this Fall. It's been overcast and cool and I just love it. We had 2 months of 90 temps before that so the overcast skies are actually kind of nice for a change!
The Rose of Sharon in my yard is blooming and they are so pretty up close. The tomatoes and cucumbers are producing more than we can eat but not enough to make juice this year. No zucchini on the vine and we have no idea what happened there! A couple of weeks and the tomatoes will be winding down. I must say I am looking forward to Fall but not looking forward to Winter (particularly driving in ice and snow) and one tends to follow the other. I think I'll enjoy my garden for now.
I'm back on my diet again and avoiding my beloved Cinnamon Vanilla creamer. I went a month without it before and I'm sure I can do it again. I've been a yo-yo dieter most of my adult life and I'm not about to quit now! I figure I'll diet for a month at a time and take a break so I don't feel too cheated on all of the good stuff that makes me gain weight to begin with. Hence, the name yo-yo. Maybe I should call my plan the "Over-weight ladies guide to effective yo-yo dieting for a lifetime of ups and downs" so far, so good, anyway!
Don't forget about the pumpkin drawing this weekend!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

We have winners!

There were two winners this week: Sheila from TN and Debbie from VA. WE actually drew a few names this week and believe it or not, there were NO mailing addresses included. What a shame. We ONLY take entries with the mailing address included- lucky for Sheila and and Debbie!
Thanks for entering everyone. We'll be sending out the new charts tomorrow.

I have been on ironing detail- literally all weekend long (except for church). I'm working on a few quilts- all quick fuse applique- and I'm surprised my iron hasn't burned itself out. I love applique though. I use Steam-A-Seam 2 fusible web and personally love it. I have done needle turn applique but I don't consider myself experienced enough to photograph any such quilt for a quilt cover. Once I get these originals done, I may try my hand at it again for a second quilt. Any tips are appreciated!

This week I thought I might offer something different in a drawing.
Pumpkins. Three finished fabric pumpkins. It's almost fall and fall decorating is just around the corner, after all! These three finished pumpkins are from my #163 Pumpkin Patch pattern from 1998. It was a great pattern (oh, the memories!)

My husband had cut grapevine in our woods for the stems. Keepsake Quilting carried this pattern back then and even offered the cut grapevine for sale in their catalog. One week alone they called three days in a row and ordered 400-500 patterns each day. My husband was crazy trying to cut enough grapevine for the orders and it also had to be dried! I was trying to keep up with the patterns. Ahhh, the good ole' days! I still have a good sized box of gnarly grapevine stems to use.

To enter the drawing, email me at PGPeddler@aol.com, by midnight Saturday night, 8/21, with your name and MAILING ADDRESS included -please don't forget that part. I'll choose one name next Sunday and post it here.

Ok, back to my ironing board!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Tomato Recipes

Susan in Colorado emailed me a great recipe today for tomatoes (from her daughter) and got me to thinking. I wonder just how many other great garden recipes are out there that I don't even know about? If you have a recipe that you love, please feel free to share it. I'm thinking I might send a newsletter (which I seldom do any more) and include the recipes.

My birthday was this week and I had such a great day.
My kids and grand kids took me out to Chevy's (Tex-Mex) for dinner.
I endured the Happy Birthday song and the sombrero on my head and ended up with the free dessert so it was a good time had by all. I did share the dessert with 3 yr. old Grace and 2 yr. old Nathan. Our 11 month old grand baby Patrick had been very sick for the last 5 weeks and lost a lot of weight, weighing in at just 17 lbs now. They finally got a diagnosis of an intestinal blockage and he's now on the road to recovery. It's so good to have three happy babies again.

Don't forget about the drawing this week. Enter by tomorrow night. I'll be drawing two names on Sunday for the new charts.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Is it Fall Yet?

Man, it is so hot. We are having yet one more week of 95+ temps and heat indexes of over 105. Does it ever end? This has been such a hot summer for the Midwest. It is helping the tomatoes as we have an abundance of them now. I bought more bacon today for BLT's. I also bought another gallon of milk for home made ice cream. Yum. Can we ever really get enough? I think not. I am going to try peach ice cream this week, and maybe lime. I always like to experiment.


I gave in tonight and had coffee with Cinnamon Vanilla creamer. It's been four weeks since I had any so I think it's safe to say I am not addicted anymore. It sure was yummy but I think I'll drink it sparingly. I'm pulling a late night tonight as I do so often. I'm on a roll, as I like to say.

I went down to Memphis this past weekend to visit my mom and her sister and I took Sarah and Grace with me again. I just love it when they go. I tell you, Grace is such a good traveler. You'd think being 3 years old that she would have issue of being in a vehicle for 8 hours but she does so good. Normally the trip would take 6-1/2 but traveling with a 3 year old makes for a lot of stops! Other than many potty breaks, she pretty much plays, sings songs and naps the entire trip, each time we go.

We visited the duck pond again. I think it's Grace's favorite thing to do in Memphis. She feels like she has the duckies trained. She calls and they come running! It doesn't hurt that she has food to share also.

I decided to do a giveaway this week. I know it's been a while. Email me with your name and mailing address by Saturday at midnight and put the word "Memphis" in the title. I'll draw two names on Sunday. The winners will each get both of my new cross stitch charts.