Shop Hop Saturday--New Quilt!

I'm not sure if those who don't quilt know just how much work and time goes in to making a quilt.  Even the simple straight line quilts like I make.
There is first cutting the material--then piecing the material--then getting your middle and backing ready----then pinning it all together---then tying, or quilting it---then getting the binding done, no matter how you choose to do that.
I would love to figure out how to have more sewing time----that would mean giving up a lot of internet time.

I have finished this quilt below.

Flower Fabric Quilt 

 

I have a little start on my next quilt.  I have a start on 2 table runners but a start is just where I am stopped.  I have no idea how to tie or quilt them.

I also finished another set of the double thick crocheted hotpads with matching coasters:

Hot Pad and Coaster Set in Purple 

 

I have gotten a little more caught up on my reviews and blog posts.    However, I keep accepting more items for reviews and giveaways.

 

I think that's it for my report this week.  Thanks to Ruth for hosting----at least it keeps me hopping to keep posting about how things are going with my shops online.

Giveaway! 50 Brochures by UPrinting

One of my lucky blog winners will win a set of 50 custom made brochures courtesy of UPrinting. See full details at the bottom of this post.

I am very happy to be working with UPrinting once again. I have been very satisfied with all the products I already have received from them---stickers, night club flyers and postcards.
I highly recommend UPrinting for the high quality work. I also recommend them for their customer service. I have had great experiences with the customer service. On one order, they called me when my design wasn't going to be right for the product (wrong size). On another occasion I called them for help on making my design the right size. The customer service representative was very helpful, fixed my design and mailed it to me so that I could proceed with my order. Yes, I highly recommend UPrinting for all your printing needs. They have an awesome selection of products.

Prize Information
50 pcs Brochure Printing for One (1) Winner
8.5" x 11"
100lb Paper Gloss
With Folding (Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, Accordion Fold)
Front and Back Printing
2 Business Days Turnaround
*Free shipping
Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only



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Disclaimer: You should assume that the owner of this blog has received free print products in exchange for the post. Any and all reviews posted are based solely on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in making any related purchase decisions.

Frugal Friday Link Up--4 Uses for Mustard

Let's see...what kind of frugal week has it been for me....
I did get a few good deals with coupons. Libby's veggies were on sale for .49 a can and I had a $1/4 coupon so that made them just .24 a can. In Sunday's paper was a coupon for $5 off any size bag of Purina ONE Beyond dog food. I found it at Target marked down to $5.99. Woo hoo! Just .99 for a bag of food the animals love. My mom gave me the coupon from her paper so I'm glad I will be able to get another bag for little money. Also at Target I used the $1 off Market Fresh cheese getting the bag of grated cheese for just $1.59, and used the $1 off any Market Fresh pasta and pasta sauce getting both of those for $1.46.
I also used 3 coupons that were .50/2 Dole fruit. I bought the small cans so with the coupon doubled it made one can for each coupon free. It felt good to feel like I was actually doing some shopping.

I have my work cut out for me getting my coupons in order. Shamefully I hadn't touched my coupons or my binder since the first of December. The store has some great $1 sales this week that I am in hopes of finding coupons to match.

I won a $50 JC Penney card from beezag, so Jasmine and I plan on heading out this afternoon for some shopping! I found a $10 off $50 coupon online to print out, so that will give us even more shopping power. We both plan on buying jeans for sure.

This week I am sharing 4 uses for mustard from the 99 Cent Solutions book:
1. Soothe a chest cold. Did you grandma use an old fashioned mustard plaster? I can honestly say that if my grandma did, it's not one of the things I remember about her. However, you can smear plain old yellow mustard directly on to your chest then cover that with a hand towel wrung out of hot water. They say you will feel the congestion start to break up.

2. Relax your muscles. Add 3/4 cup yellow prepared mustard to a hot bath and mix it in well. Soak for about 15 minutes and you will feel those tense muscles start to unwind.

3. Get then skunk out. Let's hope you don't ever have to try this trick, but if you get sprayed by a skunk wash with tomato juice. That's an old wives tale that is true. However, if you've run a skunk over with your vehicle, which it was dead or alive, you can't splash tomato juice all over your car. Mix 1 cup of dry mustard powder with a gallon of warm water and slosh the mixture all over the tires and underbody. This will get rid of the smell.

4. Freshen a recycled bottle. This is a trick that I must give a try. You can squirt yellow mustard into any bottle, fill the bottle (or jar) half full with warm water, put the lid on and swish the water around. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and rinse and wash. You should smell no scent at all from whatever was previously in the bottle.

Stay tuned next week for 4 uses for oatmeal.

I have 4 giveaways currently here on my blog. I do hope you will check them out. One does end tomorrow. You can always find my giveaways listed on my Giveaways/Reviews page.

Until next week, save a lot of $$ and let's hope we see a lot of sharing in the linky.

Squidoo Hopping--I've Been Hopping All Over The Place......

.......but once again I didn't update or build any new lenses this past week!   As my title states, I have been hopping all over squidoo though.  I am really enjoying the squidoo facebook groups.  As I get to those message notices in my gmail, I do open all lenses.  As with all my other gmail, I am also behind in those too.  

I have an idea rolling around in my head for a new lens.  I need to get my pictures taken for it first.  No clues, it's going to be a surprise, but I hope it will be well read.

I asked someone in the facebook group, so probably have an answer to this, but are pictures in wikipedia in the public domain?  Not knowing, and all the talk of copyright lately, I've not built any more of my This Day in History lenses.  I so want to get back into those though.  I still have 4 birthdays to do for the year, then want to move on to filling in the other days of the year.


(Something strange just happened----I was typing this and my screen went faded and a message popped up that I had logged out from another location and did I want to log back in?   OMG--please tell me that I've not been hacked!!  Why would I be logged out from another location?  and just what location??)


Since I don't have anything new to share this week, I will share two lenses that are at the bottom of my list and close to being in the red:

Our Homeschool Journey 2010/20...

Homeschooling

 

Thanks to all who take the time to read my blog posts each week.  I do hope to see lots of link ups this week.

 

Gina Zavalis (Self Titled) CD Review and Giveaway

Excerpts from Gina Zavalis' official bio:

A lifelong passion for music and years of singing in a variety of musical styles are behind the success of Gina Zavalis and the recent release of her debut single "In Your Eyes."

Zavalis, a well-seasoned performer, as her faithful fans can vouch, is breaking through industry barriers with the recent release of her debut single, “In Your Eyes.” Now, she is working on her solo music career with producer Doug Beiden, who has worked with artists Jennifer Paige, Michael Sweet (Stryper), Mandisa and TV shows Secret Millionaire (ABC), Suns Of Guns, Flying Wild Alaska (Discovery), Million Dollar Money Drop (FOX) Find My Family (ABC), Coming Home, Celebrity Wife Swap, Picker Sisters. Zavalis works with manager Scott McReynolds, who has developed the career of CCM artist Britt Nicole & consults for Tom Jackson. Zavalis is also collaborating with Los Angeles composer/orchestrator/conductor Bob Barrett, who orchestrates projects for Disney and has scored films such as GARBO IN HOLLYWOOD & ALL OF ME: The Billie Holiday Lester Young Encounters. Barrett has arranged for Diana Ross, Pat Benatar, Joe Cocker, Bill Medley, Chita Rivera, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations & Maureen McGovern.  Zavalis is traveling between New York City, Nashville and Los Angeles to record a number of new songs. Zavalis is also signed with LaFamos PR and Branding in Hollywood.


In a nationally televised event at Yankee Stadium to a sold out crowd, Zavalis sang the National Anthem. Tom Seaver is quoted as saying, “Wow, what a voice, that’s the best we heard all year!”

Zavalis’ self-titled EP is filled with heartfelt lyrics, alongside her intriguing sound and dynamic, powerhouse vocals showcasing her three + octave range. Zavalis is already being compared to Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and Adele.

My review:
Gina Zavalis' self titled album contains just 5 songs:
In Your Eyes
Reach for Me
I am Here
Waiting
As I Give My Heart

I find the music to be what I call easy listening.  The tunes are laid back and mellow.  
She has a wonderful singing voice.  Her tones seemed to be just perfect to my ears.

You can find Gina Zavalis at all of these websites:
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter
Her Official Website
Reverbnation

Would like a chance to win Gina Zavalis' self titled debut album?  Just enter using the rafflecopter form below.  

Disclaimer:  I received the album download from LaFamos and information page for the purpose of this review.  LaFamos is supplying the physical CD for the winner of the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.  

WIP Wednesday 1/18/12

I've really been working away, right on schedule as I planned this past week.

My toothbrush rug is moving right along.  I even found some more fabric to add to the box while looking for other things.  I think this will end up being my biggest rug yet once I get it done.

Yay!  My flower fabric quilt it tied and the binding is pinned, and it will be completed!  I am doing a wrap around binding.  It will be listed for sale in my etsy store this weekend. (along with the purple hot pad and coaster set, which I did just finish this morning.  I haven't picked out the next colors of yarn for the next set.)

 I was going to lay out the materials and get them pinned for my 2 table runners.  Imagine my surprise and delight when I realized I had enough of these materials to make 2 table runners.  Nothing is done past laying them out.  I will do a wrap around binding, but I think I am going to try to hand quilt around the flowers.  I think I could maybe do a free motion quilting with my machine on a table runner, but first I have to learn how to do it.

 I said last week that I would get the material cut for the scrappy quilt and post an update on that.  I hadn't done any work on that until Monday evening.  I found I hadn't brought home enough of the lighter material from church.  I picked more light material while we were at church yesterday.  Last night I then figured out that I also didn't have enough darker material to get all the squares cut.  I went in to my own stash then and now have all of the squares cut!  That is really no easy task.  My  next step is the get the corner to corner lines drawn on the light colored 88-4 7/8 inch squares and 52- 2 7/8 inch light colored squares to be ready to start sewing those.  This is going to be a slow project, but hopefully I will have some sort of progress to update next week on it.

Finally!  My granny square a day challenge as of today, 1/18/12.   I've decided to go on out sewing squares together to the width I want the blanket to be.  This way I can go ahead and get a start on the crocheted edging too.  Ignore all the white yarn...I'm leaving long pieces on so that all I have to do it put my needle back on it as I put the squares together.  You can follow along with others progress by clicking the button below my photo.

 


I am still working on the cross magnets and block squares with plastic canvas, in fact I am finishing up a purple cross that is on my lap.  I am ready to put together one of the blocks.  I admit to have a few granny squares made ahead.  I am just sewing one on each day.

I better stop with my rambling here, get back to work, and also check out what others are up to as well.  I am linking up with the following blogs:

Win One of 4 Amazon Gift Cards with Dnbuster and Pals Valentines Day Giveaway!!

Hi ya'll!

Welcome to the

"Dnbuster and Pals"

Valentines Day Giveaway!

Below is a list of all participating blogs:


1. Dnbuster's Place (Hostess with the mostest!) ~ http://dnbustersplace.blogspot.com

2.Freebies Galore And A Whole Lot More http://tpankuch.blogspot.com/

3. Lessons Learned http://www.reflectionsonlessonslearned.com

4. Save Green Being Green http://savegreenbeinggreen.blogspot.com/

5. St Augustine Qpon Posse ~ http://staugustineqponposse.com

6. Baby James mommy http://babyjamesmommy.blogspot.com/

7. Marsha's Spot http://marshasspot.blogspot.com

8. Dutch girls Favorite things http://dutchgirlsfavoritethings.com

9. Freebees N more http://freebeesnmore.blogspot.com/

10. Sweeping the USA http://sweepingtheusa.org/



This giveaway will have 4 different winners!



The prizes are


1~$50 Amazon E-gift card,


1~$25 Amazon E-Gift card


and 2~$10 Amazon E-Gift cards



To enter the giveaway ~complete the Raffle Copter

entry form below.



There is only one mandatory entry~

Enter the NAME of the Blog you are entering from

You are entering from "Marsha's Spot"

(There is a prize for the blog that refers the most entrants!)



Only entries made thru the raffle copter form will count

since this is a multi blog giveaway.

However a comment is always welcome to let

the blogger know you stopped in:)



Giveaway ends Feb. 14th at 12:01AM

winners will be contacted by noon on the 14th!

Good Luck!

Thanks to Dn for hosting this great giveaway and the chance to participate  :)

Homeschool Journal--Great Week!

Ah ha!  Jasmine and I finally had a great week last week with schoolwork.  An excellent week in fact.

The good week was attributed mostly to her friend.  They wanted to spend time hanging out most of the week.  This meant Jasmine knew that before she could go hang out, or before her friend could come over here, she had to have her school work done.  Her friend called her early every morning to make sure she was getting out of bed.  It was great actually!

Tuesday was my sewing club day at church.  Jasmine still attends Bible study upstairs until about noon.  Once study is over she comes downstairs, has her lunch, then works on school work until 2:30 or so when we start cleaning up for the day.  I snuck in this shot of her working.....you should have seen the look she gave me afterwards!  You can see some of our projects laying all around her. 

 We made a trip to the library and checked out several books on England.  We still had 2 books we didn't get read about Greece, but we will get back to those.  I think it's a lot more important right now for her to learn about England since she is make a trip there in March.  Everything is looking good so far for the trip.  They had a Papa John's fundraiser this last weekend.  On the 27th they are doing an Indian Taco supper fundraiser.  I think that is the last that they have planned.  They have worked hard for over a year to earn their money to go.

School work otherwise last week, we made good progress in all the subjects.  Yesterday was a holiday, as you know.  I let Jasmine have a friend overnight, so she was here through supper yesterday.  I also had let my grandson spend the night with us since he didn't have school.  I took him home late afternoon.   Had the 2 of them not been over, we would have done some book work.  I do hope to have another successful week---as well as each week throughout the "end" of the school year.

Shop Hop--Good Year So Far

A day late----always a dollar short  LOL
It wasn't until late last night that I realized I didn't do this post and it was Saturday.
I spent Saturday jumping back and forth between my "paid to clicks" and working in gather.  It was the first time in a very long time that I actually did all sites in my paid to clicks favorites list.

I am doing what I can to earn amazon and cash (paypal) in order to first replace my daughter's laptop.  Her's completely went out a couple months ago.  She only has my husbands to use now.  We are in hopes of being able to get her stories and pictures off the hard drive.

I have lots of crafts projects going all at once.  If you seen my WIP Wednesday blog post you seen most of them.  I am on the last steps of completing a quilt to get listed in my etsy shop.  Once I get it tied and ready to sew I will be laying out 2 simple table runners ready for sewing.  I also have another quilt in mind.  I have to lay the backing out to see how big I can make it.

Here are this week's 2 new etsy listings:

Cross Magnets--Lot of 3 

 

Hot Pad and Coaster Set in Yellows 

 

I must get busy moving expired items on etsy over to my zibbet store....I sure keep saying that and not getting it done.

I also still have reviews to get caught up here on my blog.  They are late and it's to the point of I don't  know which to start with....does this happen to anyone else?

 

I'm going to stop here for this week so that I can work on some other things.  Hopefully one of my 2 new listings next week will be the quilt.  :)