"Tie One On" Day

I just LOVE this idea !!!  I came across "Tie One On Day" on the blog of the apron queen herself  EllynAnne Geisel

Today, on Thanksgiving Eve, "simply wrap a loaf of bread or baked good in an apron and tuck an encouraging note or prayer into the pocket; then present your offering to a neighbor, friend or person in your community who could benefit from your gesture of kindness. Tie One On – and put the “give” back into Thanksgiving."

Zip on over to EllynAnne's blog to read all about it ......and she's also having a pretty great give away !!!  ......and PASS IT ON !!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Sharing......... (pass it on !)

     Thanksgiving is just a few days away.   Both of my boys are home (one is home from college and the older one is home from his new job many states away from us).  I am happy and thankful to have my boys home !!!  I am happy and thankful to be having Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year with family and friends ...... happy and thankful that we have a nice home in a wonderful small town ...... happy and thankful that my younger son is a very talented and creative chef who is more than willing to swap  my boxes of  instant stuffing,  jars of  gravy, and cranberry sauce shaped like a can  for the real home made stuff !!! (all my instant stuff will go into the local food bank).
Natural disasters and any type of hardships or illnesses affecting people and families are difficult no matter when it happens,  but I would imagine that it's even more difficult during the holiday season .   Faith over on her blog Fresh Lemons Quilts

has a special Community Giving page listing how quilters can help various groups (including the people affected by the recent devastating tornadoes in Illinois).  So, zip on over there and see the list .... then pass it on !!!!

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Eight Little Acorns All in Row ......well, 2 rows .....

OK ... I KNOW Halloween is over ....which seems to signify the IMMEDIATE start to the Christmas season ..........HOWEVER,  in an attempt to take one holiday at a time,  I am DETERMINED to make/finish a fall/Thanksgiving table runner FIRST !!!    Poor Thanksgiving ........ it's already shoved to a shelf  or half a shelf along with the left over Halloween stuff at Walmart, etc.    AND how about all those Christmas movies on TV  back to back already !!!   They can't wait until after Thanksgiving ???

 So,  in my Grinch-like revolt on too much Christmas too soon,  I'm having fun playing with a Sandy Gervais autumn charm pack from a couple of years ago .  This  ADORABLE  pack of acorn stickers from the scrap booking dept was my inspiration.  HOW CUTE ARE THEY !!!!!!

Well, if I want this to be finished for Thanksgiving, I should get back at it ...., it needs some backing, batting quilting, binding .......

Be back soon!

Toodles,

Mary Anne (aka Mare)

More on the Blogger's Quilt Festival

Hello again Blogger's Quilt Festival people !!!    Since there are so many different categories to participate in  over at http://amyscreativeside.com/bloggers-quilt-festival/  , ........

...I decided to add my "Holly Jolly"  table runner/table topper to.......

......the wall hanging  category since my family is WAY too sloppy for anything to be sitting on a table (except food) .... so it has been transformed into a wall hanging !!!

 I designed this table topper/table runner/wall hanging a couple of years ago and submitted it to McCall's Quilting Magazine ......and I was THRILLED out of my socks when they published it in their November/December 2012 issue !!!!    You can read about it here  http://moonbeamsinajar.blogspot.com/2012/09/published-in-mccalls-quilting-magazine.html.

Now don't forget to zip on over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival to see all the great quilts !!!
                                     


Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

It's Blogger's Quilt Festival Time !!!

Its Blogger's Quilt Festival Time !!!  Twice a year Amy from http://amyscreativeside.com/bloggers-quilt-festival/

 hosts an online quilt festival for quilt bloggers.   This is to keep us all entertained while the big gigantic Quilt Market is going on that we all apparently are NOT attending .....   Anyway,   there are alot of categories and alot of beautiful quilts to see !!!  Quilts will be "displayed" from Oct 25 through Oct 31st;  then voting for favorites will be from Nov 1st through Nov 7th.  (with GREAT PRIZES !!!!!)

  So,  since I recently finished this baby quilt "Wynken , Blynken , and Nod" for my first great nephew, I thought I'd enter it in the http://amyscreativeside.com/2013/10/25/bloggers-quilt-festival-baby-quilts-2/  "Baby Quilt" category.

.....I loved designing this baby quilt for a now ADORABLE 2 month old little guy named Easton !  I machine quilted it by sewing ALOT of stars all over the blue background (including the little dipper).

.....and the white with blue polka dot binding is the perfect finish !  (at least me and Easton think so !)

So,  make sure you zip on over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival to get your daily dose of ooohing and aaahhing  over the many GREAT quilts !!! 

Be back soon!

Toodles,

Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival

Every October , for the first 3 weekends, our little town of Jim Thorpe, Pa puts on the "Fall Foliage Festival".   This is an extremely popular and well attended event.   Since today was the very last day of this year's festival,  and being the Queen of Last Minute, I decided to get some last minute pictures before it was over.  Much of the activity is in the park at the train station .  There are craft and food vendors and train rides.

  Mauch Chunk ...... the original name of our town ..... now known as Jim Thorpe.     

  As you walk up Broadway,  there are some really beautiful old Victorian homes (now shops and restaurants).  

  LOVE this colorful little garden !!!!!

 ...... LOOK !!! There's my ride !!!  After all , I am the Queen of Last Minute (aka the Queen of Procrastination) ..... I just have to dig around in my purse for my spare tiara so they know I'm the queen  and they'll give me a ride .......  HEY WAIT !!!!!   RATS !!!  I guess I just have to keep walking......

.......OK, well anyhow,  isn't this a BEAUTIFUL old house !!!! This is the Dimmick house , built in 1857 and it's FOR SALE !!!

..... more fun shops along Broadway.

......not quite Victorian, but the Mauch Chunk 5 & 10 is left over from another era and is a VERY popular stop for tourists and locals .......  kind of like the original Walmart.......I always find all sorts of fun and practical stuff in there!

.....and here's a quick view of some of the shops and restaurants along Race Street.  Looks like a street in Europe somewhere doesn't it?  (I've never been to Europe , so I wouldn't really know .... but that's what I've heard when eaves dropping on other people's conversations ......)

Hope you enjoyed that very quick visit at the very last minute !!!!  Before you know it, the pumpkins and fall decorations will be coming down, and as soon as you swallow your Thanksgiving turkey, the town will be all decked out for "Old Time Christmas" .   (Which is just BEAUTIFUL !!!!  ).

Be back soon!

Toodles,

Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Autumn Sunset

Autumn is without a doubt, my favorite season .

 .......and Autumn in Pennsylvania is my favorite place to enjoy it !

......and sunset is my favorite time of day to enjoy it !

......there's just something about the light at this time of day that just seems ...... magical !!!   ..... as if it's under a witch's spell.......

Be back soon!

Toodles,

Mary Anne (aka Mare)