"My 100th Post"......

Good Morning to You All, It is Wednesday, July 30th, 2008. Today marks 100 posts here on my blog..."Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly"! I simply cannot believe it?....It wasn't that long ago that I decided to begin this blog....in fact to be totally honest, I really wasn't even sure what exactly a "blog" was?......One day when pulling up Martha Stewart's website, I noticed hers. I read it that day,... & then the next... & then the next. I loved reading about her day to day activities. Then I noticed she had her favorite blogs listed to one side of her page, & I noticed Jenn Docherty's at "Oh Happy Day". Well long story short, I started reading Jenn's & loved her simple posts. Then I started reading "her" favorites & so the story goes. Within a few days I was asking my daughter Holly to help me set up a blog! Oh mercy I was teased!!!...Here was a woman who was no whiz at the computer....sure I could e-mail & shop, but that was about the extent of it......now she wanted to "blog"???....Well Holly reluctantly helped me, quite skeptical about this new venture....and then low & behold!, a few days later, Miss Skepical was starting a blog too,.... "mommyholly", which I am proud to say is a delightful readl!...
Since that time a few months ago, I have to say, that starting my blog has been one of the most rewarding & enjoyable things I have ever taken on. To say I have met wonderful people from all over the world would be an understatement.....Yes I have met wonderful people from all over the world, but they are no longer just "people", they are "friends".....Dear friends who I chat with on a very regular basis, ....ones who I have so much in common with. These friends, even though far away, are very "real" indeed. We share about our lives, our families, our joys & sorrows. It is a "family"..... one that I am very thankful for....& very proud to be a part of. Thank you all for coming into my life......
As this is my 100th post, I would love to celebrate with a "giveaway"! I am giving away three things as my way of saying "thank you" for making my blogging experience such a joy! All I am asking is that you leave a comment on my page either today (July 30th) or tomorrow (July 31st). And then out of all the comments I will randomly select three winners on Saturday August 1st....The first one will receive my "Fairfield Striped Quilt" in taupe/white.....the second, one of my new Christmas quilted runners in red/white with jingle bells and the third, my "Summer in the Country" pillow in blue/cream awning stripe! All three of these pieces are listed at my etsy store,... heididevlin.etsy.com, with the runners being added soon. I so hope you will join me in celebrating this special day! Thank you all again, for adding so much to my life! I so appreciate it!..... love you all!......Heidi xo


*"Fairfield Striped Quilt"...this is an heirloom quality piece in a lovely simple design...(taupe/white)......

One of my new Christmas "quilted runners".....8 feet long, adorned with jingle bells!!!!.......(red/white) My "Summer in the Country" pillow in awning stripes......(blue/cream.....hand-printed with words of summer....example: swimming hole, watermelon, daydream, relax, sweet corn, etc.)

Read more...

My "Anna" Fabric Arrived Today!.......

Hi Friends, How exciting!...Today, my Anna Maria Horner fabrics arrived!.....A few weeks ago I happened to be one of three lucky ladies to win some of Anna's new "Garden Party" prints! Well I received them today, all wrapped in teal colored tissue, sealed with a lovely sticker. Anna sent us each our favorite ( the top one is mine), along with a few other spectacular designs, all from the new collection. I am just delighted!...Now what to make??...I think I may be sewing a new top for Fall, using an assortment of all the fabrics....one of the longer, empire waist styles I think!...would be so cute over jeans & with a new pair of "smashing flats"!....Anyway....thank you again Anna!....I will keep you all posted & will blog about it when my "Garden Party project" is completed!!.....happy sewing!....Heidi XO

Read more...

"News & Updates for the Week Ahead".....

All my "Simple Woman's Swap" treasures........ Good Monday Morning!.....Today I am posting about all kinds of "odds & ends" that have or will be going on. It seems I have let lots of little things pile up, thinking each day I will include them in my post...so today is the day for all the important little things that have been going on around here!
First of all, I participated in the "Simple Woman's Summer Swap". Peggy thought it would be fun to each swap 3 items, one new, one "gently-used" & one from thrifting. We were each paired up with a partner & then got started! I was fortunate enough to be given Kim at "Simple Needs" as my partner & had a wonderful time putting together all her surprises! Well, I too received a lovely box full of the sweetest treasures! Thank you so much Kim!!!...Included in the box (photo above) was some bulbs for the garden, a wonderful glass jar with small blue stars candles to melt down for a candle, a darling little earthenware dish, a hand-made "scubbie" for dishes, a "heart" cookie cutter, lovely journal & the cutest primitive "flower doll"!!!.... Kim, you made up the nicest box for me! So fun to get & open!! Being "swap partners" & getting to know you has been & will continue to be a pleasure!
**********************************************************************

Also, wanted to let EVERYONE know, that on WEDNESDAY I will be writing my "100th post"!! I cannot believe it!... Starting my blog, meeting fellow bloggers & then having them turn into some of my dearest friends has been incredible!....To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to have a "Giveaway"!.....I will be giving away one of my "Fairfield quilts" (maybe two!),... one of my quilted "Fairfield table runners".... & one of my darling "Summer pillows"!.....Of course these are all pieces I designed & LOVE!...& I so hope you do too! Please visit my blog on Wednesday, July 30th, leave a comment & your name will be added to the list of names I will be randomly choosing from!!....I so hope you will be here helping me celebrate!.....See you Wednesday!!!

********************************************************************
Yesterday was also 1 week since I started my "healthier lifestyle"...very pleased to announce the loss of 4 lbs. this week!....I ate much better,... lots of salads, lots of WATER, & was fairly active....Tried to give up my "Diet Coke" or "Diet Rite", but just couldn't do it completely!!!....In the late afternoon I would give in...& did that drink taste good!.....Am looking forward to another successful week!.....

********************************************************************

Thank you to you all for visiting & leaving such wonderfully "heartfelt comments" on my "Pink Saturday" post. As you are all probably aware, Kari & Kijsa's father sadly passed away this last weekend. Their brother at "Son of Whale" continues to write each day....simple, beautiful posts about their dad, their feelings & how they are all coping.....Wishing all my support to their family.....
********************************************************************
O.K. Friends...I think I am all caught up!...Enjoy this last week of July!.....Your friend, Heidi XO

Read more...

"Pink Churches" for "Pink Saturday"

Sitting high on a "flower flecked" hill, this lovely "pink" church just beckons for worshippers to come inside..... "Pink Saturday" is once again here. Who knew when our friend Beverly at "How Sweet The Sound" thought this day up, that it would have become this big in only a few short weeks!.... Congratulations Beverly....wonderful idea!!!

The "juxtaposition" of "tradional" & "hot pink".........come together in this charming church......
On a more serious note.....two of our blogging friends are going through a terrifically difficult time at the moment..... many of you are familiar with Kari & Kijsa from the blog of the same name. Their beloved father was rushed to Beth Israel Hospital for emergency surgery, when he collapsed at a family gathering last Sunday evening. Their brother has been writing updates about their father's condition all week, along with wonderfully poignant stories about their dad & their family. As of this writing, his condition is truly in God's hands. Your prayers are being asked, for their father & family.
Therefore, I thought it appropriate to post "pink churches" as a small tribute to what sounds like a "most amazing man". I hope you agree.....
Another "House of God".....looking peaceful & pretty......& "pink".......
The architecture of this "pink" church is pure "folly".....but inside the message is very real.....always "believe & trust in God"............Heidi XO

Read more...

"A BABY SHOWER" for Heather & baby Cali.......

Hello "Sweet Morning"....today is the day! It is today that we gather for a "lovely little shower" for baby Cali & her mother Heather. It is early, but all is being readied for quite the "party"...a "party" of the very best kind...one to welcome a new, tiny being into the world!....
" Sunbeams" will guide us to a wee house in the glen......
Look closely.....what lies within?.......Are their "festivities" awaiting?....I so hope so, don't you!

" Flowers" are scattered in wee crystal cups..... ....."banners" are hung from doorways & such....

Oh!.... The confections, don't they smell fine!.... all fancily frosted & looking "devine".....
The guests are all here,... greeting & chatting, "Heather is beaming", surrounded by packages!.....Oh!...Look at the gifts for "baby Cali"!.....Soft crocheted blankets, sweetly-done sweaters.......
.....all made with "love" for this nearly here "infant"......

As each little dress makes it's debut from it's box...You hear the ladies "oohhing & aahing" over fabrics & trims!........"tiny antique treasures"....who wore them & when....
The "party" continues till mid-afternoon....family & guests delighted by the upcoming event!...... Then as the last cupcakes are eaten, & guests start to depart......
....Heather & family return to their home....feeling contented & happy for their special afternoon. We all wish you "love" and can't wait till the day........when "wee tiny Cali" decides it's "HER" day! Congratulations to Heather, her husband & their children!........wishing you all the best!

Note: Will be mailing a little something in the morning!

Note: This entire "shower" idea for Heather was thought up by her friend, Rhonda at "Scooterblu's Whimsy"..She thought it would be a lovely thing to do, & invited us all to come too! Thank you so much Rhonda!...It was the best of ideas!

Read more...

"The Yellow House"....Whimsical & Happy"

Note: Tomorrow, July 25th, Rhonda at "Scooterblu's Whimsy" is throwing a lovely virtual "baby shower" for Heather at "Hopscotch and Hydrangeas"! Heather has had a very difficult pregnancy, so Rhonda thought a "party" was exactly what she needed!.....You are all invited! Please visit Rhonda's blog to find out all the details!...See you there! I cannot express to you how I feel about this photo!....."pure Enchantment"?...yes that's it!

Hi Friends, If you have been reading my blog, you know I am going through my entire house & garden,... & cleaning, & reorganizing & rearranging!.... And I must say, I am having a wonderful time!...Who knew straightening everything up would make me so content!....Anyway, during the last week & even today, while "thinning out the basil"...I was thinking about the color "yellow". For some reason, I am so into the color yellow! I have no idea why?....maybe it's bright, happy & carefree, a bit like "Summer".... but then again, I like yellow's softer side as well, the muted shades of aged "Tuscan plaster" or even it's pastel shades similar to "early morning sunlight". For whatever reason, it is my "color of the moment"!......As many of you also know,...I have an incurable "love affair with houses".....Always hunting for my favorites. So this afternoon while taking a much need break, I went searching for "yellow houses"!...& did I find some "beauties"! I can't even pick a favorite...I love them all! ...Thought maybe you would enjoy them too! "Yellow", stately, & so European......
"Summer" personified......
A yellow house..."nice"...a yellow house with a "yellow striped awning"......"REALLY NICE"!!!!!
This "yellow" is right out of the pages of "Grimm's Fairy Tales"......

A little "yellow" cottage" ....... Overgrown with pink roses!
Simple & lovely.....
The "magic" of a yellow house dusted with snow......
Bright & beautiful!......
And finally, this lovely "yellow house" shyly hiding it's classic lines & architecture, behind a screen of green.....Amamzing!........

Read more...

My "clean" Sewing Room......

Coming up the stairs to our "sewing room".....I have a "mis-mash" of furniture, which I like!.... Hi Friends, I have been so busy with projects in the last few months that my sewing room had gotten to a point of no return! It was a HORRIBLE MESS!....With each project, I cleaned off just enough space to work on that particular piece, but never actually picked up anything more than I absolutely had to?....I kept telling myself I would clean up after each project, but it just didn't happen!!! I even tried to talk myself into the idea that "creative people are artistic, not necessarily organized"!???...What crazy logic!....Anyway, I finally decided to stop procrastinating & clean up! It has taken me about 5 days....I have gone through every drawer... folded every piece of fabric, organized each notion,... dusted, washed & vacumned. And here it is.....My "clean" sewing room!!.....Look quick!!...can't guarantee it will be this neat for long! A pair of long, skinny "Ballard Design" tables.... set "end to end" they make the perfect place to spread out a project & sew..... Love this arrangement, since as you work you have a full view of the neighborhhood!..... O.K., I am a bit "nosey"!
Antique green French cupboard houses our "T.V."( behind the glass doors), tissue paper, glue guns, quilting templates, rubber stamps, etc.......Next to it is another Ballard Design piece, filled with somewhat "pretty things"...ribbons, sequins, millinery flowers, tiny boxes, etc....& of course our cutting table.....
This is the "fabric closet" that holds all of our fabric, ribbons, pieced quilt-tops (waiting to be quilted) & projects for clients.......Remember it's not just my things, but my two daughters as well!
Another view looking across the room....I truly LOVE this space!!! Before this house, I was always sewing in the basement, so this is quite a treat for the girls & I!.....Happy sewing & crafting all!!!.....LOve, Heidi

Note: My "100th post" is quickly approaching!...should happen within the next few days! Since you all have become so special to me over the last few months, I have decided to have a "giveaway"! I am asking you to please leave a comment that day & your name will go in the drawing! The first name randomly chosen, will be sent one of my "Fairfield" striped quilts, the second a Fairfield quilted striped "runner" & the third one of my "Summer" pillows! I so hope you will vist that day!!...see you there!

Read more...

"My Time"......

It's Sunday morning,... not my traditional day to start dieting & exercising...but I am starting today none-the-less!.....I told myself, going into summer that I was going to "lose weight"...have I?...NO!....I told myself I was going to start cooking & eating healthy...have I?...NO!....& I told myself I was going to start "exercising"...have I?...No!..........Well, the time has come! No more procrastinating!!!.....I signed up for WeightWatchers (on-line), had my husband buy a terrific treadmill & have stocked the house with healthy food.

From this Sunday on, I will be posting my progress....my weight loss per week, delicious low-cal recipes & my exercise for the week.....I will not be posting my starting weight however, since I am just not that "brave"!!....Let's just say I am a very "chubby", 50 year old lady!,... who needs to loose a lot of weight!....I am just so tired of "weight" being such an issue in my life!...Don't get me wrong...I am a very happy, confident person, who is surrounded by a wonderful family & very supportive "in-shape" friends!... friends & family that love me & that think I'm beautiful, no matter what the scale says.

With all that said though, I know this is something I need to do for myself & nobody but me can do it!....So this, "Sunday morning" is "My Time".....my time to start becoming the fit person I know I can be!......Here's to a healthy week for us all!......Love, Heidi

Note: Donna at Donna's-In The Attic is having a "Yo-Yo Challenge" tomorrow.....visit her site for all the details!....see you there!

Read more...

"PINK SHUTTERS" for Pink Saturday.....

Old-fashioned, "pink" & pretty...... "Pink Saturday" is here once again, & this week I am posting yet another "architectural detail" in our favorite color,..."PINK"!.....Last week I spotlighted "pink doors" which I thought would be hard to top,... however, I then dicovered "pink shutters"!...... And Oh My!!, they are just the "prettiest little ornamentation" to any house!.....Remember, our homes are very similar to ourselves,.... they possess a "heart & soul".....and a " viewpoint", that is very personal....."Details", such as shutters, (especially "pink" ones) are the "final words" spoken of that viewpoint. Listen to your home?....What is it saying to you?......Is it possibly asking for a bit of "pink"? Hot "pink" against weathered wood!......"beautiful juxtaposition"......
Adding elaborate "hardware" against the "pink" shutters,.... as charming as you can get!
Simple.... & striking.....&...."pink".....
Ordinary house...extraordinary "pink" shutters!!.....

Note: Beverly at "How Sweet The Sound" is responsible for our "Pink Saturday" posts!!! Originally she felt that after a week of blogging, she was somewhat at a loss for new ideas, so she created "Pink Saturday"! You can post about anything you wish as long as it is "pink" It has become increasingly popular, with new bloggers joining every week! Thank you Beverly for thinking up such a lovely idea!!...Our Saturday's will forever be "pink"!

Read more...

"ANNA MARIA HORNER" & her Bright & Beautiful World!

Some of Anna Maria's fabrics from her new line...."Garden party"

Happy Thursday to You all!....I had just sat down to my computer this morning, ready to check a few e-mails & blog posts. One of the first blogs I happened to visit was Anna's at "Anna Maria Horner". I'm sure most of you are familiar with Anna. She is a mother of 5, has an incredibly pretty blog & just happens to be a fabulous textile designer! Her fabrics are contemporary, with just a bit of "nostalgic charm" thrown in.... colors are "vibrant" & patterns "intrically bold"!... If you haven't already, you must vist her blog & on-line shop!
* "Bouquet Rug"....available at her on-line shop!

Anyway, Anna recently posted her new "Garden Party"designs, asking for all of us to let her know our favorites!...Four lucky comments would to be chosen.......being awarded with fabric from her new line!...Among all these enchanting prints, I chose "Social Climber" ( in teal!) & added my comment to the 600+ comments already listed. (Anna, you are just a tad popular, my friend!)...Well, as I was checking her post this morning I delightfully learned I was one of the four chosen!!!! I am just "tickled pink"!!!! I have spent the last few days upstairs, re-organizing & cleaning my sewing room, so this feels like somehow I have beem rewarded for all my hard work!!!.....Thank you so much Anna!
*Anna's "bright & beautiful" studio...brimming over with fabrics, color & creativity!!
One of Anna's lovely "quilt designs" she offers on her blog....if you are in need of a bit of "inspiration"...please visit "Anna Maria Horner".....You can visit, shop & will come away with ideas galore!!!!...........Enjoy your day!........Love, Heidi xo

Read more...