Irish Muses: 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Yet, Another Giveaway and Happy New Year

Nat is having a wonderful giveaway.....lots of very generous gifts, so take a look here and enter. Happy Blog Anniversary Nat!

Also, Happy New Year to you all. May you have only happiness and much blessings in 2010! I am looking forward to continuing the wonderful friendships that I have formed with you all! Much love from Joe, me, and our two boys Rufus and Charlie.

January Star

It is New Year's Eve, and I will be posting this today, as tomorrow, we will be busy.

Barb from Bejewelled Quilts by Barb is my January Star. She lives in the America Samoa, and for three years, she will be living in what I consider a beautiful place. She is a gifted quilter, and she is always willing to share her ideas and techniques. I am proud to have her as my January Star, and if you haven't met her so far, you will be in for a treat. Here is her interview and enjoy it as much as I did.

Interview for January

A Bit About Me: I am a mother of five sons. My husband and I have travelled a lot and are now residing in America Samoa.When my last son turned 12, I had to redefine myself, as he no longer needed me. That is when I became real serious about quilting.My first interest in quilting was when I was given a quilt that my grandmother had made for me (top only). I started to practice my quilting, so I would be able to quilt her quilt in a decent fashion. First, I had to restore some of the frazzled pieces, and then I started making my sons each a quilt( only two pieces of material with batting imbetween and started hand quilting them.) I have not looked back since. I love to do crafts as well, bake, and at one time was teaching myself how to play the piano. This is the first time that I have not worked in 14 years. I am enjoying being a kept woman.You would think that my house would be clean, but it is clean enough, but not like I used to keep it. Go figure.

What Inspires Me: As I shared with you above, my grandmother was my inspiration with the quilt she left me. I remember playing with that quilt as a young girl( Now you know why it was frazzled). My mother and three sisters quilt as well and a few of their daughters. It has gotten to the point that anything I see, I see a quilt. My husband will often ask me when we are travelling, if I am designing a quilt in my head, he can tell by the way I look at pictures, tiles, tiles on the floor, carpet. Once I even ran to him, grabbed a piece of paper and pencil and went back to the bathroom to copy the tiles in the bathroom( pretty bad, huh?). I have loads of pictures from hotel carpets, airport designs, airport tile, and I have bits and pieces of paper with scribbles on them.

Then there are my blogging friends ,who with such wonderful work they put out...so amazing to me. Their kindness and generosity as well.

What I Love to Do the Most Creatively: I love applique. I would love to do needleturn better, but for now, I mostly use my machine and do blanket stitch.

My Favorite Fabric and Designer: I love Thimbleberries...totally love their fabric and designs.

UFO I Intend to Finish First: I have a flying geese quilt that I made for my third son that has been in the making for 5 years...need to quilt it. Then there is a quilt that I inherited from my best friend's mom who died of cancer. She loved my sons, so this one will go to my oldest son. In fact this friend who died....she is the one who has truly inspired me to start quilting and maybe one day, I will be as selfless as she was.

What's on the Design Wall Now: Nothing right now, I am travelling.

Who Would I Love to Meet: I would love to meet all of my blogging friends, go to their homes, see their stash, projects and finishes.

If I Had One Wish: I would wish that everyone had a passion that would make them want to get out of bed every morning and see the beauty the world has to offer.

Plans for the Future: Grandchildren...(Ha!) To do better and be better as a person, a mother, and wife.

What a wonderful interview Barb! Here are some of Barb's works of art. Enjoy the eye candy!

Thanks so much Barb, and wishing everyone a blessed and Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Fabric Giveaway at Oz Material Girls and Another Giveaway at Handmade by Heidi

Oz Material Girls are giving away beautiful fabric from the Beach House Collection by Robyn Pandolph. I love pink fabric, so I had to enter this one. Enjoy this one!

Also, at Handmade by Heidi, Heidi is giving away two neat prizes both of which contain fabric, so there will be two

winners. We all love fabric!

I just found this blog, and it is lovely, so enjoy reading Heidi's posts, as she is just charming! I hope to get to know her, as I know we will hit it off.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Almost at 2010 and Pics of Sheephaven Bay

We are almost at New Year's Eve, and we will be quietly spending ours at home in Blue Heather Cottage. We will be watching the Ne

w Year come in and watch a movie or two.

Joe took some wonderful pics of Sheephaven Bay, which flows into the sea from alongside our village of Dunfanaghy. Linda from Fabrications asked us to take pics with the tide in, so here they are. I have to give all the credit for the pics to Joe, as he is the photographer in the family.

I will be back to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Enjoy your day!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Finally Arrived, My Last Advent Gift, and Our Dogs

It is freezing as usual today.BRRRRRR... As it is officially Christmas day, "Merry Christmas to all!" Santa did come to our house, as the cookies were gone.
(Don't forget to click on Santa's pic, as we caught him actually eating the cookies.)

Frosty the Snowman also came to Dunfanaghy. There was a layer of frost on the ground, lawn, hills...well everywhere.

Needless to say, with all the stores and everything closed, we decided to stay snug in our cottage and not to venture outdoors, except to take the dogs out, as it is very slippy, and knowing myself as I do, I would fall.

My last Advent gift was a gorgeous wallhanging with Skippy the Kangaroo on it all hand stitched with the words "Hoppy Christmas"...Cute, huh? Rachelle, my Christmas holiday was made so special by all your gifts, and I do thank you!

Here is a pic that Joe just took of our dogs Rufus and Charlie. It is rare that Charlie lets Rufus lean his h

ead like that on his back. Too cute for words!

Have a joyous day everyone and enjoy all the good food!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas Day, and from our wee cottage in Dunfanaghy, Ireland, Joe and I and our two boys Rufus and Charlie would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas!
As of this post, Santa is in Cambodia as you can see by the Norad Santa Tracker. He has a while to go till he comes to Ireland. Thank God, we have a chimney....Hope he can fit!

Looks like he has been eating a lot of cookies. Merry Christmas to all and Ho, Ho, Ho!
PS: Hit the videos link on the Norad site and you will see Santa travelling around the world.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Giveaway Winner and Another Advent Gift

I am thrilled to announce my winner of the Christmas Irish Giveaway. It is Sue from

Alderwood Quilts. Congrats to Sue! I wanted to thank everyone for entering the giveaway. More importantly, I wanted to say that I am so grateful to have made such wonderful friends through our blogs. As a result of the giveaway, I met new friends, and that is such a blessing. I also wanted to wish you all a Happy Holiday!

Here is another Advent gift that I received from my partner Rachelle. it is a beautiful Christmas table runner. I have it on top of a chest that I have in front of the Stanley. Funny enough, it was a perfect fit. Thanks again so much! I will cherish everything!

It is still frigid here. We were at minus 8 degrees last night, and I ventured out a bit, but it was so slippy, that we only made it into town, dropped off a gift at a friend's house, and then we scurried home.

Happy Holiday! Tomorrow, is Christmas Eve. Amazing! I can't wait! Here is a favorite Christmas song in Ireland called

"Christmas In Killarney" sung by The Irish Rovers, but my all time favorite Christmas song is "Ding Dong Merrily On High" which I heard the first time in the original movie of "Little Women"...I could listen to this song a million times. Enjoy them both and Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Another Neat Giveaway and Great Sale

I love Jennifer Chiaverini, so I had to enter this giveaway. Alderwood Quilts is having a wonderful giveaway. She is giving colorful fat quarters away and the book The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer, which I am dying to read.

Also, she has a great sale on Strips and Curves Templates ....check that out too. Here is a pic of a quilt th

at will give you an idea of what you can do with the Strips and Curves technique.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Some Siggies, Another Advent Gift and Block Lotto

I received three siggies in the mail. One siggy was from Monique who lives in Belgium, and she gave me a siggy with the cutest little girl in the centre of the block. The second siggy was from Marjolein who is from The Netherlands, and isn't that squirrel just so cute? Last, Chris from Belgium also put a smiling little girl in the centre. Thanks so much!

My 21st Advent gift was three gorgeous tree ornaments made out of beading. They are perfect for a smaller tree, which is what we usually get. A large tree just doesn't fit into a cottage.LOL Thank you so much again Rachelle! I am tickled pink with all the gifts!

Finally, I joined Block Lotto, and we are making Polka Dot blocks to put in the pot for the month of December. A name will be picked each month, and that person will get all the blocks. You don't have to join in every month, so that was good to know. I am making 9 blocks, and today, I made my first three. It was all needleturn applique, and I enjoyed the hand sewing. I will make three more tomorrow, and then finish the last three on Wednesday. At some point, I hope to win, and then I can make a quilt from the blocks....all great fun!

Thanks to everyone who joined in on the giveaway. I can't wait to pick the winner on Wednesday!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Advent Gifts 19 and 20 and Cold, Icy Weather

Here are my next two Advent gifts. #19 is lovely Australian fabric, which I adore, and #20 is a large pincushion which is already sitting on top of my sewing table near my sewing machine. Rachelle, they are both beautiful and thank you so much!!!!!

As to the weather, it is rather icy cold here in Donegal. We got a light sprinkling of snow on the grass and hills, but mostly icy conditions and very cold weather. What can I say? It is cold, cold, cold!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

My Irish Christmas Giveaway

It's finally here...My Irish Christmas Giveaway..In Gaelic, we say, "Nollaig Shonna Duit", which means Happy Christmas to you! I am so lucky to have met so many wonderful people through my blog and to have made some very special friendships.
In my giveaway, you can win the following:

1. A Belleek China Santa...If you want to see the Beleek Living site, click here to show you all the beautiful china made in Ireland.

2. Odd Irish socks with shamrocks

3. Butlers Irish Cream Truffle Chocolate.....Here is the link to our very tasty handmade Irish chocolate.

4. Irish Colleen Doll with shamrocks too....How cute is she!

5. Christmas copy of The Irish Quilting Magazine

6. A lovely postcard which I will write something special on which shows pics of the thatched cottages in Ireland.... There are thatched cottages all over Ireland, but Adare has the most in its pretty, wee village...If you come here, you will have to see this village.

This Colleen will have the drawing on Wednesday, December 23rd , and then I will mail the package to the lucky winner.

Here is how you get entries:

a. If you comment on this post, you will get one entry.

b. If you are a follower of my blog, you will get three entries more.

c. Lastly, if you post about my giveaway on your blog, you will get an additional 5 entries.

Please tell me in your comment if you are a follower and if you intend to post it on your blog.

Enjoy the giveaway!!!!!!!

Here is a pic of a thatched cottage....Isn't it a dream?

Friday, December 18, 2009

Advent #17 and 18 Gifts and I Fell In Love With A Quilt at the Fat Quarter Shop

Here are my 17th and 18th gifts from my Advent Swap! I got a wonderful magazine from Rachelle called Down Under Quilts which is from Australia. It is just incredible! I got some great ideas from it, and projects that I might do in the future.

My other gift was a large tea towel that had a map of Australia on it. How neat to see all the different states! I have so many good friends from there, and it was so nice to see where they lived! Thanks again Rachelle!!!! I have read through the magazine and the tea towel is on the table where my embroidery machine will be when it arrives on Monday, as it was only shipped out on Thursday.

As you know, many of us are writing Dear Santa letters because of the giveaway given by The Fat Quarter Shop. While I was looking for what I wanted Santa to get me, I found this incredible quilt that is coming out in February. I immediately wrote Kimberly Jolly, and asked her about it. I am definitely getting that kit. It will look spectacular on our bed in our newly painted bedroom. Here it is , and isn't it incredibly pretty? If you want to see the details, check it out here. I am in love with it! Kimberly will be notifying me when the kit arrives, and I can't wait!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Two More Advent Gifts #15 and 16

Here are Advent gifts #15 and 16....Isn't that tea towel extra special and cute? Told you so!!!!! Glad that the flash worked finally...all charged up now. Advent Gift #16 is a black recyled bag....I am using it to store things and keep it under my larger sewing table. Thanks again Rachelle!

Dear Santa.....A Jolly Jabber Giveaway

There is a wonderful giveaway happening at Jolly Jabber. All you have to do is pick out something that you want and then write a letter to Santa asking for it. I can do that!

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl most of the time, but we won't talk about some of the times when I have been a bit naughty.Santa, first of all, I would die for this Beri Bali Bop all in my favorite colours of pinks and blues. Doesn't it put a rosy glow on your fat little cheeks? I also wouldn't mind having the pattern that g

oes perfectly with this Bop, which is the Berry Bliss Quilt Pattern. Does it give me extra brownie points that I shop at The Fat Quarter Shop all the time online? It should Santa,and Kimberly could vouch for that.

Santa, I do hope that you make a stop at our wee village of Dunfanaghy in the wilds of Donegal, Ireland. Just tell Rudolph to make a sharp turn Northwest, and he will get there. So, just harness up your reindeer to your sleigh Dear Santa, and I will have a hot toddy

waiting.

Thanks so much Santa and a " Jolly" Ho Ho Ho!

Hugs, Micki

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Oops No Flash and A Great Online Shop

Ooops....no Flash!....Joe was about to take a pic of my 15th Advent gift, when the flash would not go off. We are charging it overnight, and I will post a pic tomorrow with the 16th Advent gift. I will tell you what it was... a lovely tea towel with a gorgeous Santa on it. I have it hanging on the rod of the Stanley oven. You will have to see this one...It is so cute!

Also, I wanted to tell you about Khris's online shop called The Fabric Cafe. It is wonderful, and I hope that you visit the shop to see a really wide range of fabrics at incredible prices! I have to say that I have a passion for fabrics, and I am always thrilled to find a new place online to shop. Here in Ireland, the prices can be high, so I normally shop online to find the best buys. Good luck Khris with the shop! Also, visit her blog called Sew Prim Khris. You are going to meet one classy lady.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Short but Sweet

This is a quick post to tell you about my 14th Advent Gift....It may be short, but it is sweet. I got the cutest handmade bag from Rachelle. She stitched," Happy is the heart that believes in Angels." Boy, does that suit me to a tee! Thanks so much Rachelle for being my angel and for a lovely gift!

The Block Keeper Bag Finally Finished, A Great Giveaway to Enter and I Won a Quilt

I finally finished my block keeper bag, and it is now hanging on my chair that I use when I am sewing. My siggies were all ironed and are now happily placed in the bag. It really is such a cute idea, and thanks again to Joy for making such a wonderful pattern!

Also, at Fabricartist, there is a Christmas giveaway . There will be one gift a day for 12 days, so enter and have some fun with it.

I was lucky enough to win a beautiful doll quilt that Christine generously offered for her giveaaway. It is just so adorable,and as you can see here, I was the winner. I am giving it to a good friend's daughter for Christmas who had Swine flu and is just getting over it. She has been keeping her favorite dolly in bed with her, and I know she would love this quilt for the doll.

Also,I am making three PIFs....I decided on some really cute pincushions. and I will get them off this week.

Some of you are showing snow where you live....None here, but boy is it cold! Here you see our beach in the distance called Killahoey, and the tide is out. You can see the houses there by the beach, and you will understand why we love living here.

Don't forget that my giveaway is next week. Look for my wee Irish giveaway of gifts and good luck!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Sue's Giveaway and Advent #13

Sue from Charlotte's Cottage is having a wonderful giveaway to celebrate her 100th post...Stop by and join in.

I am also adding the Advent #13 gift here...I got wonderful Australian fabric from Rachelle. It was delightful to get fabric from her country, and I just love the colours and the flowery design. Thanks Rachelle! I will put it to good use...I will have to put my thinking cap on and

come up with a perfect project for it.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Magical Disney Sunday: Belle

My most beloved Disney female character is Belle from "Beauty and the Beast". Belle is beautiful, kind, sweet, and intelligent. She is everything rolled up into one person...someone who totally represents to me "inner beauty". Belle's outward beauty is never the real focus, but her personality and intelligence truly are. My goodness, she loves to read just as much as I do, and her smile could melt anyone's heart! She is a true

dreamer, and she yearns for her Prince, adventure,and true love, but she doesn't care about appearances and looks deep into the person's heart. Enjoy this video clip of Belle and you will surely smile.