Snowman Quilt & Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I hope everyone has a wonderful day and a safe holiday weekend.

This year will be especially hard for my family without Amber here with us.  I am thankful for so many things and the years we did have with our sweet Amber.

This is a quilt I wanted to share with you that Amber loved!

Amber always loved snowmen.  She saw this quilt in a quilt shop while on vacation in Tennessee and had to have it.  She asked me if I would make it for her and of course I said yes!

We purchased the kit and the fun began!  There is a snowman for each month.  It was a lot of fun to sew. I love to machine applique.  I am not an expert quilter but I love to try to quilt.  The borders to each snowman block are all different sizes and that was the most challenging thing to me... keeping each border size in the correct position.

This little snowman is too cute with his Christmas tree and little lights!

This one is called Bikini Betty.  I had never seen a snowman with a bikini!  Amber and I thought this was the funniest one.

Farmer Frosty is decked out in his overalls.

Rudolph is too cute with his red pom pom nose.

An Angel snow woman for Amber.

Ike Skater is going skating with his "paper clip" skates.

This is the label I embroidered for the back of the quilt.  I included the names of all of the snowmen or snow women.  It doesn't seem like it was 2005 when I made this quilt.  My how time flies!  That's why we should all date our quilts. 

Amber adored this quilt and of course I will cherish it as long as I live.

The snowman fabric I found was perfect for the backing.  I think the backing should be as pretty as the top.

Thanks for visiting and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings and Hugs,

Donna

Christmas Open House

A couple of weeks ago I went to a Christmas Open House in Birmingham to help raise money for missionaires.  This house was incredible without the Christmas decorations...but was fabulous with the Christmas decor!  I was in awe as soon as I entered the home.

One of many trees in the house.  This one was decorated with Victorian ornaments and dolls.

These candles were about 4 feet tall.  I have never seen such huge candles. 

Of course they were beautifully decorated.

This powder room was incredible.  The walls shimmered.

This is not the greatest pic, however look at these windows.

The master suite was in gold and whites. 

I love the tea set on the bed and all the beautiful pillows.

Another beautiful mirror decked out. 

I had never thought of decorating the mirrors in a powder room.

This mantle was in the master bedroom.

Beautiful night stand in the master bedroom.

This is the master bath.  A tree was setup in the shower!  I could spend all day in here.

I will post the kitchen tomorrow.  It was the largest kitchen I have ever seen in my life!

Needless to say... I could live in this house if someone just "made me". 

Of course I would need a maid!  : )

Blessings,

Donna

A Sister's Love

I have been away on a trip with my husband and I asked my daughter, Jennifer to visit Amber's gravesite while I was gone. I feel the need to go to her gravesite every day - once maybe twice a day.  I feel like I need to still take care of her.  I called Jennifer on Monday and she was in tears...she was sitting next to Amber's gravesite talking to her.
When I was checking blogs a few minutes ago upon returning home, I saw where Jennifer had written on her blog: http://weddingbellsandfairytales.blogspot.com/ about how it is to lose a sister and the grief she feels.  My heart is broken for Jennifer and the loss of our sweet Amber.  Please go to Jennifer's blog and read how she feels about losing her sister.  It has touched my heart and hopefully it will touch yours.
Blessings and Hugs,
Donna

Amber and Karen Kingsbury

Amber had never been much of a reader.  All through school she did not like to read the books that were required reading.  I had to make her read them!  : )

When I was hospitalized in 2001 for about a month in ICU she began to read again - after all my family spent all day in the waiting room for visiting hours to come around and the hospital was out of town.

 So she began reading and fell instantly in love with Karen Kingsbury's books.  She is a NY Times bestselling christian fiction author and the sweetest christian lady you will ever meet.  She and Amber beame friends over the past several years.  My entire family loves her.  Karen always took extra time with Amber and made her feel special!  Amber always looked forward to seeing her each visit when she was anywhere in the Southeast.

Karen has written over 30 books and has signed all of Amber's books with a special Bible verse in each for Amber. 

They kept in touch through emails, etc.

Amber and Karen Kingsbury this past May in Birmingham at the EWomen's Conference.  Amber was given "special treatment".  She had a special prayer for Amber in May.  It was so emotional to me and so heartwarming.  Who knew it would be the last booksigning Amber would attend.

At another booksigning in Tennessee a couple of years ago.

We have been all over the south to see Karen at booksignings.

Amber decided she wanted to make a scrapbook album with her meetings with Karen. The scrapbook is amazing! We spent so much time on the scrapbook.

Here is the front of the scrapbook.  It is overflowing at this point and I have more pics to add from the May event!

Amber came up with every creative idea in the scrapbook! 

This is just one page of the scrapbook!

Karen wrote this inside the album.

After Amber passed away in July, I emailed Karen and told her what had happened and she had a special tribute on her website for a week just for Amber!  It was so sweet! 

Amber would have been thrilled!

Karen even sent a huge basket of plants and flowers to our house after the funeral.  I have the plants all over the house and they are very special to my family.

I know Amber is looking down from Heaven and knows how much she meant to so many people.  She touched so many hearts with her attitude about her disability.

These are the latest two books Karen has written and I will visit Karen when she is back in the south and have her sign them just for Amber.  Amber had just finished reading Take Two before she passed away.  I always read the books after Amber read them.  They are wonderful reads if you enjoy Christian fiction.

I am taking the time to read this weekend. I may get tear-eyed at times but I will read these two new books!

 I will think of every page that Amber turned and read as I read Take Two.

Hopefully if you like to read and like Christian books you will read one of Karen's books.

Blessings,

Donna

Quilt Project and Too Many Hobbies?

Can you have too many hobbies?  I sometimes wonder if I do.  I like to sew, quilt, scrapbook, cross-stitch, garden, bake, decorate, read and of course SHOP (especially for fabrics)!

Somedays I can't decide what to work on. 

It's too hard to scrapbook right now... too many pictures of Amber.  I love looking at them - I have them all over the house, but she and I scrapbooked together :( 

Maybe after Christmas I can put together her birthday celebration scrapbook I posted about earlier.

Here is one of the quilt tops I have been working on.

Around here as soon as you get a quilt top out to take a picture Flip one of two cats we have in the house appears to have her picture taken with it!  She is too funny!

This was published in McCalls Quilting magazine last year and I bought the kit.  I need to add another border and the quilt top will be finished.  It doesn't go with a thing in my house!  I just love the colors and it makes me smile with the bright colors.  The fabrics are Lakehouse fabrics.   It is so girly!

How many hobbies do you have?  Do I have too many?

Blessings,

Donna

Kreativ Blogger Award

I have been given this award from Linda of  http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

I am honored she thinks I am creative!  This is my first blog award.  Thank you Linda for passing on this award to me.

The rules are: Tell 7 things about yourself and pass this award on to 7 other bloggers.

I have been married for 32 years to my husband and best friend.

I have 2 daughters... Jennifer (a pharmacist and recently engaged) and Amber in Heaven who passed away on July 24 of this year.

I like to quilt, sew and scrapbook.

I have 2 brothers and 1 sister.

I love to read, especially Karen Kingsbury books.

I have lived in the same area for 50 years.

I am a "miracle".

 I nearly passed away in 2001 due to complications from "minor" surgery.  I was on a ventilator in ICU for 3 weeks. I feel like God chose to let me live to take care of Amber.

And here are the "official' rules of the Kreativ Blogger award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Blogs.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each.

Here are the bloggers I am passing this on to:
Thelma - http://cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com/
Susan -  http://blackberrycreek.typepad.com/blackberry_creek/
Janie - http://southernlagniappe.blogspot.com/
Lynne - http://lynnesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
Jennifer - http://weddingbellsandfairytales.blogspot.com/
Misha - http://frommyfrontporchinthemountains.blogspot.com/
http://sweetbeecottage.blogspot.com/

Thank you Linda,
Donna

My First Tablescape Thursday

I have always looked forward to Susan's Tablescape Thursdays.  She has gorgeous ideas and she is so inspiring!   I got my dishes out  this week and put together a table for two with my fall decor.

Please visit Susan and other great ideas at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I purchased the fabric for the tablecloth at my local quilt shop.

I love the colors!

This is a soup tureen I purchased at Homegoods which I used as the centerpiece.

The plates are Butler's Pantry Gourmet.  I love my Bulter's Pantry!

The green salad plates are Bordallo and the pumpkins are from Dollar Tree.

I love roosters!  These are salt and pepper shakers I purchased in a gift shop at the Biltmore House.

The flatware is Reed and Barton.  Very traditional!  I use it everyday. 

The napkins I found on sale at Tuesday Morning.

The large green sunflowers I found at my favorite store Hobby Lobby on sale.  I love a sale!

I love all the fall colors in the tablecloth.

Tealight holders are from Cracker Barrel. 

I collect teapots and when I saw this one at the same gift shop at the Biltmore House I had to have it!

I hope you have enjoyed my first attempt at putting together and photographing a tablescape. 

 It was a lot of fun.  I hope to do several Christmas tablescapes.

Thanks for visiting,

Donna

Outdoor Wednesday - Smoky Mountains

This week I am participating in Outdoor Wednesday.

This is a weekly event hosted by Susan at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

I thought I would share a few pictures of our trip last fall to the Smoky Mountains.

This is Cades Cove at Sundown.  It is part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the most serene place.  We love to go every time we visit the mountains and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

It is an eleven mile loop around the foothills of the mountains.

As you can tell in this picture the mountains are very smoky.  They are beautiful in the fall.  The leaves had not reached their full fall color.

The deer are roaming everywhere. 

In this picture there is a fawn with its mother. 

So sweet!

The deer come right up to your cars.

Another view of the Smoky Mountains.  It is such a peaceful place to visit.

This is a huge scarecrow in Pigeon Forge.  He is as big as the house he "sits" in front of.

I think he is adorable!

Here is picture of Amber, Jennifer and myself in downtown Gatlinburg. 

If I had only known this would be the last fall we would go to the mountains together.

We have many wonderful memories of visiting the mountains. 

I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse of the Smoky Mountains if you have never visited.

Thanks for visiting,

Donna

Yankee Candle Meltdown

I was so touched when I received a call today from  my youngest daughter Jennifer. I cried with her when I heard what happened.  She misses her sissy so much!  Jennifer had gone to the Galleria near her house and went into the Yankee Candle store.  Amber always loved her Yankee Candles.  She ALWAYS  had one burning in her room.  I light a candle every night in memory of Amber.  I am burning the Spiced Pumpkin candle right now that Jennifer bought today for me in honor of Amber.
Please go to Jennifer's blog http://weddingbellsandfairytales.blogspot.com/  and read about her meltdown in the Yankee Candle store.  It touched my heart. I hope it touches yours.  I miss my sweet Amber so much and I know it would be hard to lose your one and only sister so young in life.  Please pray for my family as the holiday season approaches us.  I don't know how we will handle the holidays without Amber but I do know God and Amber is watching over us.
Blessings,
Donna