Saturday, December 10, 2011

What a Life It Has Become!

If I had known 20 years ago that I would be where I am right now, there might have been a few things along the way I would have not done or at least done differently.  Twenty years ago, I was a freshman in high school and my boyfriend of three years was in his senior year.  I was wavering between becoming a teacher or a nurse, and dreaming of a big house with a white picket fence.  The world was wide open and the options seemed endless.

If I had known then what I know now, I would have studied harder in Microbiology in college and stayed put instead of leaving Glenville when I missed the “C” by one point.  Then again, if I HAD become the nurse I wanted to be, I might not be where I am now.  I might not have my two loving, wonderful children, I probably would not have opened my fabric shop (www.heavenlyhillsfabrics.com), applied for the Judge Certification Program with the NQA and definitely would not have taught my first quilting class last Saturday.

Not only that, I would not have met and made so many terrific friends that I now enjoy.  Life is full of choices ~ each one a step on our life’s path.  Sometimes we jump forward, sometimes we fall back.  The trick is to always be moving, never be stagnant, never be content with just what IS ~ always be looking forward to what COULD be.

So in that regard, my giveaway for the Quilting Gallery’s Blog Hop Party is a group of products that can be used as building blocks for you to create – to express yourself through this glorious craft we call quilting.

  1. Fons & Porter Hand Quilting Needles – 20 count
  2. “Royal Crown” pattern by Marjorie Rhine of Quilt Design Northwest
  3. 4 1/2” Easy Angle ruler (same type of ruler used by Bonnie Hunter of www.quiltville.com)
  4. “The Quilting Answer Book” by Barbara Weiland Talbert
  5. Yardage Bundle of assorted neutrals – 4 one yard pieces

DSC_1173FAB-TT-TCLBCMFAB-RR-NCCFFAB-SSI-WIBPHTFAB-TT-TCPFBGBK-BWT-TQABPT-QDN-RCNT-FP-BQNDLRL-EA4.5

This package is worth nearly $60 at retail and you can win it for free by doing the following:

  1. Become a new follower of my blog
  2. If you have a blog, post about the Blog Hop Party to help spread the word.
  3. Tell me about it – make ONE comment (just one!) and tell me that you’re a new follower and that you’ve blogged about the giveaway party.  Wrap up your post by telling me one, single, solitary thing you’ll do in 2012 to express yourself creatively – how will YOU move forward??

The giveaway will stay open until next Saturday, December 17th at midnight.  I will announce the winner of the random drawing on the morning of Sunday, December 18th.

I apologize for not getting this posted sooner in the day – comments on this post only will be considered for the drawing.  I will be sending emails to those who commented on yesterday’s post so that they may revisit and enter for a chance to win.

Have a wonderful day and a very productive 2012!  I’m looking forward to hearing from you!!

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Reactions: 

68 comments:

  1. I am a new follower. Making quilts and bags are how I express myself creatively.

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  2. I am a new follower. I am hoping to get more time to sew in 2012 but with two small children I doubt it.
    I love your reflections above, how interesting it would be to see what would have happened if you made one small change in your life's path back in high school.
    Like you I would never have met my husband, had my two gorgeous children or lead the life that I do. Amazing to think about but even better to reflect on how blessed I am with the way my life has turned out. Thank you for making me realise how lucky I am.

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  3. I hope to be a new follower! I don't do blogs much - work full time and try really, really hard to sew a little, sometimes only a little in the morning before heading to work, but have big dreams of great things to do in 2012 and beyond! I have been challenged by my local guild to complete UFOs. If I could do just one - that would be wonderful!

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  4. Hello and Merry Christmas!

    I think we all wonder "what if" at some point in our life but if I had everything to do over again, who is to say I would not do everything the same exact way... I am where I belong.

    I am participating in the blog hop so it is live on my blog.

    Challenge for 2012 is to enter a quilt in a major quilting venue. and to lose this dreaded weight.

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  5. New follower here. I want to make a hand appliquéd bed quilt in 2012.

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  6. I'm already a follower....does that count? lol

    It's so funny, my hubby and I were just talking about 'the fork in the road' decisions we've made, and how our life could have been so different. We realized how happy, and lucky, we are just where we're at! I think that contentment plays a huge part in our lives, but that could be because we're older. For us, moving forward just means finding more time to do the things we like (like quilting and traveling). We've realized if we don't make the time for it, it doesn't magically happen. Darn it! lol

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  7. I am a follower and I have the post about the blog hop on my blog. You must be reading my secret wish list with what your giving away. I have been wanting an easy angle ruler and need new needles and gosh, my stash is running so low... I could use all these things. Great giveaway.
    in 2012 I hope to keep learning, working outside my comfort zone and sharing what I make with others. Thanks you so much.

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  8. Came from Quilting Gallery...

    I'm a new follower, I blog and I am participating in the giveaway as well... And I plan to start designing in 2012...

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Paul
    www.OutnumberedQuilter.com

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  9. I am a new follower of yours. Great blog!!!

    I have never followed a patter to make a quilt, so I think I will give it a try, but for 2012, I will start showing my creations and see where that leades me.

    Thank you for your generosity.

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  10. I'm a new follower!
    Next year I'm hoping to explore new techniques - starting with screen printing!

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  11. I am a new follower. I am a brand-new quilter. I made my first quilt last month and am just finishing my 2nd quilt. In the interest of growth in my quilting, I will make my 3rd quilt a different pattern than the first two. (I only had one pattern :( I am hoping this blog hop will help me change that as well as build me a stash)
    Thank you for your generosity.

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  12. I have explored your little shop to my little heart's extent and I am so impresssed with you. I have become a new follower and have told all my fellow friends about this exciting and upcoming blog. Your gift of the group of products thatr can be used as building blocks for me to create is phenomenal. Who wouldn't want a chance to win this? As far as 2012, I want to keep making lap-sized or queen-sized quilts for my loved ones. Have a Merry Christmas.

    Sandi T.
    sandit1@sbcglobal.net

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  13. I am a new follower, and I blogged about the giveaway Here:

    http://her-house.blogspot.com/2011/12/quilters-giveaway.html

    My creative thing for next year is quilting :) Quilting is a new venture for me, and so far I am loving it!

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  14. New to blogging. Love your giveaways. For 2012, I want to do more scrap quilts.

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  15. i added you to my google reader - and in order to stretch myself creatively this year, i am going to conquer FMQ!

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  16. I'm a new follower and I'm also in the blog hop...come take a look and enter my daily drawing. I'm a newby to blogging and need more followers!
    Next year, I hope to blog more often to share my creativity! Have a blessed Christmas.

    Brenda...the Farmer's Dotter

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  17. I'm a new follower who came here from the blog hop. I plan on making quilts for at least 2 of grandchildren next year. I have the pattern and fabric for 1 and some feature fabric for the other so this should be easily do-able.

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  18. I am a new follower! Thanks for the giveaway chance!
    Linda

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  19. I am a new follower to your blog via the blog hop. Love your giveaway - very generous of you. I really would like to learn how to FMQ. Those little puzzle pieces or fingers and I just don't seem to get along well.

    lsandes@comcast.net

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  20. I am an new follower!
    In 2012 I hope to learn how to gulp ~hand applique~ .
    You have some nice items to give away!

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  21. Such a generous giveaway. I'm a new follower, but I don't have a blog, at least not yet. Next year I plan to get over my fear of FMQ and just let it flow. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  22. I am a follower. I do not have a blog..but if I did, I would gladly blog about your giveaway : ) Next year, I hope to just plain have more time to quilt. Thanks so much for offering this

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  23. New GFC follower: nicolesender
    Great giveaway! My hope is to do a lot more sewing this coming year and finish a couple of quilts that I have been procrastinating over for a long time!
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. I'm new follower. I wanted to make a girl dress next year, great challenge.
    Thanks for the generous giveaway!

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  25. I blogged, I followed and I want to try an art quilt in 2012.

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  26. I'm a new follower. For 2012 I want to keep trying new things in quilting, and perhaps join a few quilt alongs! I've blogged too.

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  27. New follower here. I hope in the new year to try and do a scrap quilt for me. I've only made 2 other quilts and have given them both away to family.

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  28. Follower. I don't have a blog, sorry. My sewing/quilting goal for 2012 is to use up my stash of fabric that is more than 1 yard. I have tons of 3 and 4 yd pieces that I've started making into pillowcases and pillowcase dresses. I really want to get the fabric into something usable and give it away. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  30. Hi Barbara, Jeanne from the center of the USA, Missouri. See me waving? I am your 90th follower, you aren't far from 100 now. I love what you are giving away, in particular, well wait, okay all the things you are giving away. Thanks for the op and if you haven't been over to The Learning Curve~Quilts and Such, come on over, I too am in the blog party I posted your QBHParty on my Facebook. Have a great week. Jeanne

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  31. I am a new follower of your blog...

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  33. I'm a new GFC follower- Kylie C. kcarlson1152[at]hotmail.com

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  34. I'm a new follower, 2012 will be the year I finish some quilt tops and learn to machine quilt. Thanks for the giveaway, love to win Bonnie's ruler.

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  35. Im a follower, I've blogged about it and Im going to get my kingsize quilt, started, quilted and finished in 2012 !!!

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  36. I am a new follower. In 2012 I plan on designing and making my own 20 block sampler quilt. I made one from a book but really want to design my own. I have already designed the quilt in EQ7 with just a few tweaks left.

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  37. Ok...I am following you and so glad I am...such a generous give-a-way. I want to make a dent in my quilt stash and make quilts for everyone who makes my life so wonderful. Merry Christmas.

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  38. I am a new follower and I also have a giveaway on my blog! In 2012 I want to get more daring with my colors and designs, thanks for the great giveaway!

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  39. I'm follower 101. Your story reminds me of that saying "God laughs when we tell him our plans". Merry Christmas

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  40. I am new follower. I take part to Blog Hop Party too. in 2012 I would like to finish many UFOs I have. hugs

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  41. I am a new follower. Very nice giveaway. Thanks for the chance. In the new year I want to try some quilting using pantograms.

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  42. I am a new follower - thank you for a very wonderful giveaway. I have blogged about the blog hop party - I want to make things I want to next year instead of what everyone else thinks I should make so I will be making smaller quilts. Judy C in NC

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  43. Hello, Im a new follower and I put link of your giveaway to my sidebar. Not sure about next year - I have 2 small boys so just trying to do something when I have a little bit free time...Thank you!

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  44. New follower, Merry Christmas and thank you for the giveaway, demoncori@aol.com

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  45. New follower of your blog. Would like to finish cleaning up my sewing room once and for all.

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  46. Hi! I am a new follower of your blog! In 2012, I plan to get more organized and disciplined in all aspects of my life. I plan to eat better, exercise more, get better rest, work harder... As for my sewing, I want to get caught up on all those UFO's that have been stacking up over the past couple years-- finish them up and give to to the people in my life who really matter... :) Thank you for the chance to win your great prize pack!! There are so many super nice things that you're gifting!:-)

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  47. I am a new follower on your blog! I am in the process of clearing out the clutter & organizing my sewing room for some serious quilting time with my daughter this year. She is 14 & it will be great fun. Our GScout troop made 45 blankets for charity last year & it was so much fun we plan to do more on our own. Thank you for this opportunity, love the neutrals!

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  48. new follower, & the party has been blogged about! For 2012, my hope is to keep learning more techniques, & improving my skills....I'll have to think about the what if's later.....

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  49. I am a regular follower. Next year I am going to take time to play, and will do alot of small (maximum of 9 inches by 9 inches) pieces and experiment like crazy.

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  50. Hello! Thanks for a great giveaway! I'm a new follower! I've already blogged about it as I'm participating too! I plan to do lots of quilting in the new year! Happy Holidays! :)

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  51. I just became a follower of your blog, and have posted about the blog hop party on mine: www.thecowgirlinthecity.com.

    Next year, I'm going to make time for quilting. No more locking myself away from my family in my office alone with my sewing machine. I'll hang out in the living room, Bernina on a small table, and spend time with my family while quilting.

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  52. blog follower

    I would like to sew something for myself-- I always sew for my daughter :)

    Desi
    weeshareblog@gmail.com

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  53. Hello. I'd really love to win these things, so I'm a follower of this blog. And I tell you, the first blog I've ever followed. My technical skills are not the best ones, but now I managed.

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  54. A newbie to follow and put my hat in the pot.

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  55. I am a new follower and I love to make gifts for my family.

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  56. I'm a new follower. I posted about the blog party but I did not put the little widget thingy on the blog. Only linked to Quilting Gallery. Next year I'll try to plunge into hand dyed fabric. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  57. I'm a new follower. I don't blog, yet. I just read soooo many. Next year I plan on making MORE time for sewing. Thanks for the generos giveaway! ;->

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  58. New follower, but don't have a blog yet. -sad- I don't do enough fast enough to credit having one. Next year, I want to finish more sewing projects and my WIP that has been a WIP for 4 years. Thanks for the giveaway!
    kessilari(at)gmail(dot) com

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  59. This is a wonderful post. I like the way you expressed your thoughts. It has made me think of the path I have taken as well. thank you for hosting a giveaway. It sure would be nice to win those fabrics.

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  60. I followed and blogged! In 2012, I will concentrate on making some patterns out of dolls I have designed.

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  61. I am now a follower of your blog. Thanks for the opportunity to win your giveaway.

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  62. I am a follower. I have posted the BlogHop Party on my own blog. I plan to just do more quilting. Thanks for a chance to win your giveaway.

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  63. I am a new follower!
    WOW great gifts for the giveaway!
    Thanks for the chance to win

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  64. I'm resolving to write more in 2012. Tell me, are you anywhere near Huntington, WV? That's where my mom is from (we live in MA now). I still have family in Huntington, and would love to visit sometime. Merry Christmas!

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  65. First of all... Love your blog and now follow; yes, I have advertised the blog hop. Now, what new thing will I do to express myself. I want my landscape art quilts to become bigger and better. I also want to do an art quilt of our house. I did make a painted quilt block (like you see on barns) to show off our house numbers. (you can see it on my blog.) I want to do more of those.
    Hugs to you and thanks for the give-away
    Mary

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  66. I'm a new follower. I didn't blog about the giveaway because I'm squeaking in on the end here, but I did tweet about it - http://twitter.com/#!/JudiBoyce/status/147929913356328960 Hope that works for you! Next year, I'm determined to try hand quilting for the first time - and I'm determined to finish a quilt that way!

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  67. I am a new follower. My new year resolution is to start my own blog. Seems a bit scary, but you all are having too much fun on the other side of the fence, for me NOT to at least try it :)
    Have a wonderful holiday season and thank you for participating in the blog hop!

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  68. I'm a new follower. In 2012 i would create bags and many gift for family and friends.

    alba.calamar@gmail.com

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