A little update...I have not quilted since my husband's death from suicide 5 years ago. But I just recently felt the tinges of the quilting bug again (although it still may be some time before I can start quilting again).  The past 5 years I have been attending college.  This fall I was hired as a Special Education teacher for 4th grade and Kindergarten students. I feel like I have made a difference in helping them with their learning difficulties.  I have also been going to graduate school while being a first year teacher and it has been overwhelming.  In between earning my Bachelor's degree and being hired as a teacher I meet someone very special.  We were married in May 2015.  He is the most caring, generous and loving person I have ever met.  I am so internally grateful to have found him and he is the love of my life.  He is so supportive and I am not sure if would have been able to accept this teaching job and continue in graduate school without his support.  He is a part time songwriter and performer and he has written several songs since we meet.  Recently he wrote a song which is very inspirational to me especially when I think about the journey I have been on the past 5 years.  We also sadly loss my father this past September and my mom is having a tough time. This song was very inspirational to her.  I hope it may touch others as it has touched us.

I hope once I graduate with my Master's degree in Special Education and have my first year of teacher under my belt I will be able to get back to quilting and continue to update my Quilting Blog ahttp://niftyfiftyquilters.blogspot.com/

Hugs,

Teresa

I have not posted on my blog since December 2011. My quilting always has given me the strength to get through the tough times in my life which included living with my husband who was suffering from depression.  On December 13, 2011 his struggle with depression came to an end through suicide.  I have been living in a dark tunnel of grief since this time and I have not been able to quilt or write on my blog since then.  Someone recently left a positive comment on one of my posts and encouraged me to keep posting.  This has given me the courage to come back and post about losing a loved one to suicide.   So my first post is this video which has helped me understand my own husband's depression...."This kid Thinks We Could Save So Many Lives If Only It Was OK to Say 4 Words".....
http://www.upworthy.com/this-kid-thinks-we-could-save-so-many-lives-if-only-it-was-okay-to-say-4-words?g=2&c=ufb1
I hope it will bring awareness for others who are suffering from depression or know of someone suffering.

Winner!!!!

I would like to announce the winner of my Dishcloth Give away and it is Sandie Anne!!! 

Breast Cancer Ribbon Washcloth Give-Away

This is the first give-away on my blog.  I thought it was an interesting idea when I first read about the Blog Hop Party on the Quilting Gallery.

I love knitting washcloths or dishcloths!!  They are easy and fast to work up.   There is a great website called Knitting Pattern Central that has free patterns for Dishcloths. This website has patterns to suit anyone's interest including hobbies, sports, holidays, animals and houses.


These are 100% cotton knitted cloths which can be used as either washcloths for the bath or dishcloths.  I make them every year for my Mom for Christmas.  She uses them as dishcloths.  She loves them especially since you can place a dirty one on the top rack of her dishwasher and they come out sparkling clean.


 My sister lost her mother-in-law Madeline to Breast Cancer in 2010.  My sister was very close to her and I chose to make her one of my favorite patterns which was an Angel washcloth to comfort her during her loss.  One of the things that Madeline always told her grandchildren was to take comfort from the beautiful sunshine whenever you are feeling down.  So I chose to make them the yellow Sunshine washcloth. This pattern can be found on another great free pattern website called Designs by Emily.  This website has another one of my favorite patterns which is a Heart.  There are so many patterns to fit any occasion.  My son is being commissioned in the Army this spring and I made him the Army Eagle one.  

So I have decided to give-away a couple of my hand knitted dishcloths.  I decided that since our Nifty Fifty Quilting websites support Breast Cancer Awareness that I would knit up a Breast Cancer Ribbon for my give-away.  I tried finding a pattern for the ribbon everywhere online and was unsuccessful.  So I designed a pattern myself.  Here are photos of the Breast Cancer Ribbon Washcloth/Dishcloths that will be given away.

Variegated Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Washcloth

All Pink Breast Cancer Ribbon Washcloth

 Anyone who comments on my blog will be entered in the give-away.  The drawing will take place on December 18th.  I will be giving away the Variegated Washcloth and the All Pink Washcloth.  So please mention your preference in your comment.


I love hand made gifts and it would be nice to share ideas this time of year.  Please feel free to comment on your quilting, knitting or crochet projects that you make for gifts.  And if you are not making any gifts this year then you can comment on one of your favorite handmade gifts that you have received in the past.  Actually any crafty related comment will get you in the drawing.  :) 


A copy of my free pattern for the Breast Cancer Ribbon Washcloth/Dishcloth can be found on my Breast Cancer Charity Site.

More Amish Quilt Blocks arrive and My First Give-away is Coming

 More sample Amish blocks are arriving at my house for our Nifty Fifty 30 Swap.  We are getting a great variety of patterns and colors.  This will be a very unique Amish quilt.

 As these blocks arrive I measure them to make sure they are 9 1/2 inches, take photos of them for the rest of our swappers to enjoy and then place them in a safe place.

I should start sewing our Nifty Fifty Breast Cancer Charity quilt as these blocks arrive but  I have been too busy trying to get some Christmas presents finished before the big day arrives.    I think I will start sewing them together in January.

 This year  I have decided to participate in the Quilter's Blog Hop Party and do my first giveaway on my blog.   I do a lot of knitting, quilting and crochet this time of year for Christmas presents.

This week I will be working on the item that I will be giving away on my blog.  So check back on December 10th to take part in my free give-away.  A hint.....it will be a handmade item.

Fall and Amish Quilt Blocks

Nothing like the beautiful Fall trees to motivate one to start quilting.  

 

I am hosting the Nifty Fifty 30 Quilt Swap.  Our group is swapping Amish Quilt Blocks. The Fall weather and the beautiful trees have motivated me to get started on my sample blocks. We are swapping 9 inch Amish Quilt Blocks.  I just finished my three sample blocks. I am representing Virginia, Massachusetts and Maine.   

Virginia Amish Quilt Block

Massachusetts Amish Quilt Block

Maine Amish Quilt Block

I chose a colorful one for my home state of Virginia. The more color the better especially to represent the beautiful Fall trees.  My dad is from Massachusetts and loves the snow. The block I chose reminds me of a twirling snowflake.  I chose the color blue to represent the cold. 




I love the state of Maine and all the beautiful evergreens.  My quilt block reminds of the evergreens. One of my favorite trips to Maine was viisting  Acadia National Park.











Judy from Michigan also sent in her sample blocks this week.  Judy is representing Florida, Michigan and Mississippi.  She chose Pink for her Florida block to represent the Pink Flamingos where she spends her Winters.  Judy has done her homestate in blue to represent the Water Wonderland of Michigan.

Florida Amish Quilt Block

Michigan Amish Quilt Block

Mississippi Amish Quilt Block

I am looking forward to receiving all the Amish Quilt blocks from our swappers this month.

Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirts

 I just came across the article about the Cheerleaders at Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Ariz., raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness and that they were banned from selling their t-shirts because they were inappropriate. 

All I can say is if one person can be saved by the message on their t-shirts that state “Feel for lumps, save your bumps,” then it is well worth it.  They are doing a great thing making these t-shirts and should not be denied raising money for this cause.  Anything that promotes Breast Cancer Awareness should be accepted! If just one person can be saved from this disease by checking for "lumps" than it is all worth it!!   What do you think??  You can leave comments at:
 http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/cheerleaders-chastised-inappropriate-breast-cancer-t-shirts-222837009.html