Can You Spare A Couple Of Minutes: Card Request

This afternoon, I had a request sent by one of my blogging friends, Anne. I am most sure many of you know Anne yourselves....she is a doll and requested my help. In the email she told me about a friend of hers who is struggling right now with breast cancer and having a hard time. Please see email below...

Hi sweet friends of mine:
I hope you ladies will help me out. Our billing rep., at my work place, who lives in Cheyenne WY has breast cancer and she is really having a struggle. I am providing her address and ask if you would spread the word for prayer and a card or letter of encouragement.


I hope you will encourage everyone you know to send a card or letter to Teresa. Her address is here:


Teresa Wood
4077 Cherry Wine Drive
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-8111


She is having some difficulties and I love her like a sister! Please help and spread the word. I am sure she would be tickled to receive lots of great mail!


I love each and every one of you so much and appreciate your generous hearts! A card or letter goes a long way in making someones day. Blessings, Anne.

If you still addressing Christmas cards, take a moment if you would to drop Teresa a line or two and some encouraging words. A simple word does a lot for someone who is struggling with burdens. Even if you have already mailed your cards, maybe a nice note of thoughts and kind words would be wonderful. It only takes a couple of minutes out of your day....and it would mean a lot I am sure. Mine is going in the mail Friday, Anne. Thank you for letting me know!

And Teresa......sending you lots of thoughts and prayers from my little corner of the world.......hang in there girl!!

One Fine Blessing: Cards for Seniors: April Birthdays

March is indeed going out like a lion, and we are very close to the first of April. How in the world did that happen?

I'd like to share with you a couple of Birthday request for April. I will email those who signed up at onefineblessing (at) yahoo (dot) com. But I am hoping there are a few who maybe did not know what to do, so this will make it easier.

The first one, is a request I found while blog hopping. Blackberry Creek home and arts had this request for Birthday cards to be sent to Edna, who has cerebral palsy. Please stop off and visit her post. She shows this lovely lady, and all her cards from last year. I know we can top last years card count. BUT YOU HAVE TO HURRY, her Birthday is April 2 which is fast approaching. I am mailing mine out today. Please take a moment and if you find it in your heart, drop one in the mail too. Such a small gesture, which has a large impact.

Mail cards to:

Ms Edna Quick
P.O. Box 94
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357

There is also a second birthday for a senior this month as well.

Helen will be turning 93 on April 27th. She is recovering from breast cancer surgery but is doing really well. At the present time, she is in a rehab facility until she is well enough to be on her own again. We certainly need to send well wished and encouraging words her way. If you'd like to include a dollar in her Birthday card, that would be great.

Mail cards to Helen at:

Helen Gulickson
c/o Mary Jo Mrdutt - (this is Helen's daughter)
1474 Center Street
Boyceville, WI 54725

I'd like to thank so many ahead of time, because I know many will love this idea and send a card. Remember, if you want to add someone you know to the list, please email me at the above email address for this project.

Together, we can be a blessing to one person at a time.

A Reality Check, A Reminder, A Way To Make A Difference

Sometimes the stress of everyday life really gets the best of me. I get down, upset and frustrated, especially when I absent mindlessly cause the issues. This time of year especially. The holidays are stressful, there it so much to do, and so little time.....and certainly no time for things to break.

This weekend, I fried my new computer.....somehow. Thankfully, it was still under warranty and hope to have it back by the end of the week. But when my computer is not working...I freak. Totally. All my photos are there, and we do have a laptop I can use, but no pictures on that computer thus....stressed over that this week. I will make do. In the big scheme of things.....this is so trivial.

My daughter sent me a link last night, and said if I needed something to blog about this would be good. Was she ever right. She reminded me to really look at what is important. She reminded me how little my troubles really are, and how we can make a small difference in the world we live in and the people in it. Alisha went to private school from kindergarten to 12th grade, in High School, the kids at the school participated in Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child. Alisha, said she was going to do that this year and finding a drop off place in Austin. She made my heart smile.

All you need to be a real blessing is a shoe box, some small toys, some candy, maybe a toothbrush and toothpaste anything small that a child would treasure, a child who never gets anything. And a little time. The time it takes to put this together, would be nothing to the delight on a child's face on Christmas morning. Each box requires a $7.00 donation to cover the shipping expenses. A small price for a smile. What a great activity for the whole family to get involved with...from the very young, to the very old.

Please go to the LINK to see what you can send and what not to send.

Click HERE to see the drop off locations in your area. Many churches participate in this program, so it should be easy to find a drop off location.

But hurry...the deadline is this week....so take a minute and be a blessing to a small child. The website also has links to print a label with a tracking number, Samaritan's Purse emails you and lets you know where your box ended up in our large world. I think that is really neat.

Please take a minute and watch this video, it is short but powerful. It sure served as a reminder to me this day how my problems are really not that important at all....and now, I am off to find a shoebox and some little treasures....please, would you join me?

Operation Christmas Child - A Lot Like Christmas

And the one thing I am so thankful for is the fact we were able to send our children to schools where they learned the value of individuals and how much they can make a difference...we do that at home, but is was nice to have them learn that lesson with their peers as they grew up in school.

Vintage Thingie Thursday : Vintage Quilt and a New Attitude....found at Goodwill!

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This is the second half of my post from Tuesday, if you somehow missed it, click HERE to catch up and know what all this rambling is about......

This past week, my daughter was home and we stopped by a couple of Goodwill stores on half price day.  We were at one store that I hardly ever go to anymore, and we had several things in our hands to pay for. Mostly, home decor items that could be reworked into something wonderful, nothing that was  in the form of a vintage treasure.

In fact, we were finished shopping and were in line waiting to check out. It just so happens that I glanced at a little older lady who was in the next line waiting to pay as well. In her hands was a Sunbonnet Sue Quilt. I could not believe her stroke of luck.

I was stunned because I have never seen a quilt at Goodwill before and more importantly, I could not figure out how I could have possibly missed spotting this.....I guessed it was another example of being at the store a little too late.

Unknowing to me,  I guess the little older lady noticed I was looking at the quilt......looking a little too close from across the isle. I nudged my daughter to look at that.....she asked What? So I pointed out the quilt the lady had in her hands. Again, the lady noticed the two of us staring at the quilt a little too much.

Suddenly, the little older lady asked me if I would like to see the quilt.....rather dumbfounded, I said, oh, yes, I'd love to see it.
 All the while, I thought it was going to be pure torture to actually have a close up look and see it walk away with the little older lady.

As soon as I got over to where the lady stood waiting in line, she held the quilt out and said, "It is all hand quilted....and nicely done too." Oh, I had to agree, it was a real beauty. The quilt was really yellowed from being stored and aged. The lady quickly pointed that out, and I just said, yes it was....never even telling her  how easy it would be to clean it up like new. Shameful.

I was completely taken with the fabrics in the Sunbonnet Sue's....vintage fabrics that were just stunning. I told her she had a great quilt there and how wonderful to have found it and how beautiful it was. I was polite enough to thank her for letting me see it up close.

As I turned to walk back to where my daughter waited, she did something that totally caused my heart to clinch in my chest. I thought surely, I had not heard her correctly.  I must have misunderstood. Completely.

She asked me if I would like to have the quilt. I turned and I am sure looked rather stunned and asked her did she not want it?? She just smiled and said if I wanted it, I could have it....she said she did not need it and she could tell I really was taken with the quilt. She said she did not have the time to try and clean it up and it might not survive the washing.....shamefully, I did not offer her instructions on cleaning it..... I asked her once again, if she was sure and she exclaimed she was. Told me to enjoy it. I hugged her, told her it would have a wonderful home and thank you so much.

Rather quickly, I retreated to the line my daughter was in to pay before she changed her mind. There was a lady in front of us that heard the exchange between myself and the little older lady and she rather loudly exclaimed, if I did not want the quilt, she did....I held on to it a little tighter and gave it to the checker to pay. Remember, it was half price day, and the quilt was $4.99...so half price was $2.49......unbelievable.

My daughter was just as stunned as I was. She said she could not believe that lady just gave me the quilt after she saw us staring at it. She asked me had I ever given anyone anything that was in my buggy like that before.....and that is when it happened.....the guilt of my past actions overcame the joy of this quilt.

I suddenly remembered all the times I got so angry at people for this very thing I did today, staring at someones great find. And I admitted to my daughter no way would I have ever done this in the past. She just looked at me and said did I feel bad?? Feel bad?? I guess I sorta did to a certain degree.....I was thrilled with my quilt, and thrilled that the lady saw fit to give it up, but also, felt pretty shameful for my inappropriate behavior in the past.

I brought this little treasure home, and soaked and washed it in my vintage linen solution and it is white and good as new. There are only two little Sue's that have some fabric damage, but not much. The hand quilting is amazing and the colors stunning. I am in love with the border of this quilt. But aside from all its loveliness, it is also a reminder to play it forward in the future. And I will.....because with my track record at thrift stores, I am sure the situation will present itself. This time, I vow to not let it get my hackles up when someone eyes my buggy with treasures in it. I will try to be as sweet as this little lady was to me.

 But if I am being honest here, I hope the situation does not present itself when I have a buggy full of things I just LOVE....but you know, I have a feeling that is when it will and that is where the lesson and blessing will be.

I wanted to say I so enjoyed reading all the comments from Tuesday's post. You guys really made me feel a little better about my reacting to rude people in general. None the less, there has been a lesson in all of this for myself....and I need to stop reacting and start to act a little more compassionately. Have a great Vintage Thingie Thursday and I hope you enjoyed my vintage quilt today....the story is almost as good as the quilt.

Pay It Forward....Update!!

I know most of you might remember my Pay it forward post, if not, to refresh your memory click HERE. I think I am finally ready to package and ship my pay it forward gifts out. If you have forgotten if you signed up for this or not, below is the list of participants. Remember....you only have to pay it forward to three people...I signed up twice so mine is doubled.

Classy Chassy
3 Sides of Crazy
Mub
April
Country Mouse
Infared googles

I have everyone's address except Infared googles....so, if you would email me your address, I can send your package off.....Now....no set date for sending this out...but it is on the way.....and Mub....sorry I did not get yours off to you while you were in the States....don't worry....yours will be mailed to the Netherlands....promise.

I'm Pullin' out the Stash.....and getting busy!!

I have decided it is about time for me to make good with my Pay it Forward gifts. So for the next couple of days, I hope to get the first part complete for my blog peeps who will be receiving a package from me very soon.....I promise....soon!

Here is a look at some of the fabrics from my stash, and some of these will be used in the project....I love the bright colors, very happy looking and just plain fun.

Once I have cut, folded and ironed the fabric into the desired shape, I am left with something that looks like this.....Can you see some of the vintage fabrics I used as well? So cute, I really hope someone out there has a fondness for vintage fabrics like myself...anyone???

Are you excited now....are you ready for a glimpse of what my pay it forward gift is???.............well.....sorry.......

You will just have to wait....but I'll leave you with these lovely flowers to enjoy. These pretty flowers that were a mother's day gift from my lovely daughter.....sorta looks like my stash of fabrics....right?

Signs of Spring & Pay it Forward Update

My Wisteria is in full bloom, I love the blooms in the Spring...speaking of Spring...I am beginning to see signs of spring everyday more and more. Even in the weather forecast with spring rain and possible storms in the forecast for the week. Let's not talk about that.....


Last week, I received my pay it forward gift in the mail from Elizabeth at Thoughts of an Evil Over Lord. Was I ever excited when I opened the package and saw this adorable Spring garland and lovely handmade note cards from Elizabeth.

I decided to hang this adorable garland over my computer. Not only does it remind me of spring in the air, but also this has a double meaning for me....Bloom.....inside and out.

I have been struggling lately with some issues, one that has really has been a focus of my attention is the fact I sorta feel like I have lost myself somewhere along the way. No...I don't mean I am lost physically...it's just seems that over the years it is almost like I no longer see the real me, but someone else. My life has been filled with so much junk for years that my real self was lost somewhere in this shell of a person.

Life can be a struggle, especially trying to please everyone and trying to be what the people around you want you to be. You can easily lose oneself. I am ridding myself from the junk....slowly but surely....and I am re finding my real self....and it is a good feeling.....

I want to thank Elizabeth for this wonderful garland. I know you had no idea when you made this for me that it would soon be my new mantra....Bloom....just as the flowers bloom in the spring time, I know my real self is blooming once again, slowly but surely. And that is a real joy.

* * * The winner of my Birthday giveaway is:
comment Number 4: Kelli

Please email me at my blog email address, I don't think you have a blog yourself and I can not email you without you contacting me first. Congratulations!

Pay It Forward and a REWARD Being Offered

Have you heard of Pay It Forward going around blog land? If you have not, sit back and get ready this is going to be fun. I signed up under Patty from Pip Stitch and Elizabeth from Thoughts of an Evil Overlord to participate in their Pay it forward. This means that Patty and Elizabeth will send a handmade goodie sometime over the next 365 days to me and two other people. How fun is that?! I am rather excited. What is the catch? No catch...just the fact that I get to pay it forward now!

Would you like to be a part of this? I will send a little handmade something to the first six people who leave me a comment on this post and tell me you would like to participate. Actually, it should be the first three people...but because I signed up twice, that means I need to Pay it forward to 6 others. You don't have to commit to six, only three. By signing up here, you're agreeing to then Pay It Forward to three more people. The goodies you send do not have to be elaborate or expensive. The only rules are that it's handmade by you and must be sent out within the next year. Also, be sure and post about this on your blog and let 3 others join in on the fun. The possibilities are endless....baked goods, cards, tags, ornaments, frame, just about anything goes as long as it is homemade. Fun things!

Remember this will be passed on to the first six who sign up for this Pay it Forward and agree to Pay it Forward to only three others, and that is it.

Now, If I can ask you for a little help....And like I said, I might be willing to pay a small reward for the find. I know there are many bloggers who do a lot of hand work. I am looking for anyone who has the following patterns or if you know how I can get my hands on a copy of this....to try and make....any help would be most appreciated. This was listed on a eBay auction as vintage design, which it may be, but I want to have a set of these so very bad, and I am sure you will guess as to why that is!


I was outbid on eBay on this set of pillowcases and table runner and to be honest the price was more than a full tank of gas back last summer when the gas was at a all time high.


So, I am hoping for find this pattern myself.....so I can try and make this for myself or I may have to pay someone to make it for me!! But will be willing to pay a small reward for the find of this pattern or patterns.

Thanks gals, I am most confident someone will be able to locate this for me in no time! Forget the fact that I have searched and searched for this vintage stitch pattern myself to no avail.