Little Bits of This & That

Birthday Bliss!

Thanks so much to all of you who wished Ashley happy birthday. She had fun reading all your comments.

I had to post one more picture of her...isn't she cute!!! I sure miss those days!

Hope you enjoy the Christmas Memories book cover pattern. It's a great time of year to make them for family and friends....and they don't take too much time! 

Now on to what I know you have been waiting for....and the winner of the Christmas Memories kit and Birchwood Lane book is Terry from

Terry's Treasures. Terry please e-mail me your address and I will pop your goodies in the mail!

Now we are going to make some Christmas cookies. We have been shopping all day at the Mall of America and need a sweet pick-me-up. We decided on Peanut Butter Kisses~Yum!

P.S. I had someone from the UK ask me what "Black Friday" is...it is actually a term that shop owners came up with years ago. It is the day after Thanksgiving when we start our Christmas shopping. Many people head off to the malls and store at 12:00 a.m. to get the best deals....not me, I go about 8:00 a.m. and mostly people watch, maybe getting a few good deals. But I am not a big shopper so I am never out shopping long. Other than that, I'm not too sure. It is just a term the media uses. Anyone else have a good definition for it?

Merry Christmas!

~Sherri

 

Blog Hop Announcement!

Time to announce the winner for our Cross Country Blog Hop! It took us a while to get all the logistics of finding winners together, but now we have names of 3 terrific blog hop participants that religiously commented on every blog. They were pooled out of the highest number of commenters that I have ever seen. So Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for spending the last couple of weeks with us. It has been so rewarding for us to read all your comments about our stories, hear your own stories sparked by what we wrote, see your excitement about the projects and then actually see how many of you have gotten to work and finished many of the hop projects and loaded your photos on the Flickr site.

This is what the winners are getting!!! Isn't this incredible? These are books, patterns, kits, tools and fabrics that all of us have designed or companies that we work with have graciously donated.

 

So here they are.....the big winners:

1st grand prize goes to: Thea M  www.theamccurry.com

2nd grand prize goes to: Arlette from Costa Rica http://arlette0521.blogspot.com/

3rd grand prize goes to: What Comes Next   http://round22.blogspot.com/

Congratulations girls!! Please send Gudrun an e-mail (gudrun@gequiltdesigns.com) with your shipping adress so she can send you those awesome prizes!

The big winner of my project day was Beth. (reilly.t@comcast.net) Congrats to you Beth! Please e-mail me and give me your address so I can pop your fabric and pattern in mail....Thanks so much for hoppin with us!

Another Chance to Win!!

Yes, we are giving you another chance to win some of the prizes in the picture if you post a picture of your finished project on the Flickr site. You will have until Tuesday December 1st to upload your photos. We will then draw a name of one lucky person to receive some goodies. Instructions on how to upload a photo are on the Flickr page. This gives you an extra week to get some of these finished and snap a photo. 

Now....scroll down and check out my post about Sweet 16. The Christmas Memories pattern is posted there and I don't want you to miss it...the Christmas Memories book makes a great Christmas present!

Happy Happy Thanksgiving to you and please stop back often!

~Sherri 

Sweet 16!!

Where has the time gone? 16 years ago today, we were blessed with the cutiest little baby girl! Well, she actually looked like Yoda from Star Wars when she was first born. Ashley Kathryn, was born at 6:29 in morning...weighing 6 lbs, 6 oz. and was 19 inches long. It sure seems like that was just days ago, not 16 years. I have really enjoyed every stage with my kids...good and bad. I enjoy having teens and pre-teens but I would love to go back for just a day and hold my babies again. I think mom's always feel that way.

Now our little sweetie is 16 and it's a wonderful day to celebrate!

To celebrate Ashley's birthday...I am giving you the pattern for the Christmas Memories book cover!

 Click here to download the pattern.

And since gifts are a fun part of birthdays....we will be giving away a kit for the Christmas Memories book cover. We will include everything needed to make it and even the book Birchwood Lane that has the pattern in it....so leave a comment to be entered to win!

Drawing will be on November 27th (Black Friday).

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

~Sherri

 

Sweet Creativity

Today is the last day for our Blog Hop...hope you all enjoyed hopping with us as which as we have enjoyed having you hop! You will have through out the weekend to leave a comment on all the project posts so that you are entered in the grand prize drawings.

Now on to today's topic....favorite holiday craft!
 
Every year for Christmas, my family and I love to decorate gingerbread houses.The Wilton company has the best gingerbread house kits for busy family's. Everything you need is in the box and the house is already to go, so there is no baking and you can get right to the fun of decorating! We get some ideas from the box, but mostly the kids just decorate it as they wish. My job is to mix-up the frosting and make sure the kids don't get too much candy on the floor for the dogs to eat. We have made lots of houses and even a train one year.

This year we found a gingerbread village. There are 5 houses, so we are each going to decorate our own. Even Paul will be trying his hand at decorating this year.....I will let you know how it goings!

 Here are my kiddo's back in 2003 with their finished gingerbread house. When the holidays are over, we put peanut butter on the roof, then top it with bird seed and put the house on the deck so that the birds can enjoy it. (We do take the candies off first.)

Thanks so much for hopping with us all....hope you have enjoyed it and have gotten some Christmas projects done for gifts or even yourself to enjoy!

If you didn't leave a comment on tuesday on my post, be sure to do so, so that you are entered in the Grand Prize drawings!

Remember to leave a comment (tell me about your favorite Christmas craft) to have your name put in the drawing for all the wonderful prizes we have in store you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way soon! 

I will let you in on a secret....stop back on Tuesday, November 23rd...I will be celebrating my daughter, Ashley's, 16th birthday with a free pattern (It's going to the Christmas Memories book cover!) and a drawing for a prize. So, be sure to stop back!

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

~Sherri

Comfort and Joy!

Quilts...where do I begin? I definately love quilts, that is no secret. But which one is my favorite Christmas one? well, For the last few years I have been doing a book with the Holly Taylor Christmas fabric. It is so much fun to play with her fabric and create quilts that I love to use during the holidays. (I have already seen her new line of Christmas fabric for 2010....it is awesome!!!) But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be "Frosted Memories".

 I love this quilt with it's soft colors of cream and caramel. The back has flannel on it which makes it even better...nothing better than a winter quilt with a flannel backing!

I love to decorate the house with quilts all year round but especially at Christmas time. It makes the house feel extra cozy!

I remember when I made one of my first quilts and for years we didn't have a tree skirt (not sure why!?!?!) so we used the quilt to draped it around the bottom of the tree. I loved that! Quilts are such treasures...not just for the time and love that goes into making one for someone special, but for all the memories we put into them. Memories can be as simple as being curled up in a quilt on the sofa, snuggling with my kiddo, watching a favorite Christmas movie and eating popcorn.....that is when life is good!

If you didn't leave a comment on tuesday on my post, be sure to do so, so that you are entered in the Grand Prize drawings!

Remember to leave a comment (tell me about your favorite Christmas quilt) to have your name put in the drawing for all the wonderful prizes we have in store you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!

Now hop on over to Roseann's Blog and see what project she has in store for you today!

Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com

Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart : http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/

Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures : http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/    

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com

One of my favorite things....

I really want to thank you all for all the kind comments you left for me this week and mostly yesterday! I am glad you like the candle mat and hope you enjoy making it. Thanks so much for hopping with us all. It has been really fun share our fun and memories with you. But we aren't done yet, so.....

Today is the day to tell you about a favorite gift we received from a child. I have received many special gifts from my kids over the years. I really love the hand print projects. It is so fun to see how they have grown and how big their hands are getting. (Makes me kinda sad too.....wishing they would stay little just a bit longer!)

The last few years my daughter Ashley has been making me a calendar from pictures and scrapbooking paper. It is a big favorite of mine to have the special calendar to hang and enjoy for a whole year. 

Ashley makes the pages from pictures of the kids at all ages.

 

She puts pictures of my husband and I on June (our anniversary month) and February. It is also nice that she marks the birthdays and anniversarys for me....helps me remember those special dates!

How cute is February! 

Ashley even added wonderful quotes to some of the pages that are a great reminder of what is important in life.
"It is the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all"~Laura Ingles Wilder 

Well, we are almost done with our hop...only a few days left!

If you didn't leave a comment yesterday on my post, be sure to do so, so that you are entered in the Grand Prize drawings!

Remember to leave a comment (tell me about your favorite gift give by a child) to have your name put in the drawing for all the wonderful prizes we have in store you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!

Now hop on over to Carrie's blog and see what project she has in store for you today!

Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com

Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart : http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/

Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures : http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/    

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com
  

Today is the day....

Today is the day I get to share a project with you, kind of like show and tell. I loved show and tell when I was in school! But since some of you have never been here before, I thought I would share a little about myself with you.

 

I am Sherri Falls and I have been married to my best friend Paul for 18 years...where did the time go? We met at the very first football game of my freshman year in high school, boy that was awhile ago!

We have 3 cute kiddo's, Ashley is going to 16 in 9 days, Sara is 12 and Ryan is 9. We also have 2 English bulldogs, 2 hamsters and 2 tree frogs. Never a dull moment in our house!

I have This & That pattern company. The name seemed to fit because I have always loved to do anything and everything creative. My lastest thing I am learning is knitting....love it! I started designing patterns and books about 5 1/2 years ago when I met Eileen Taylor, designer of the the Holly Taylor fabric line by Moda, when she had asked me to design a quilt when her newest fabric. I have had lots of fun "playing" with her fabrics ever since. And she is one sweet lady!

Here is Eileen and I at fall market in Houston this year....aren't we sexy ladies! We just couldn't resist getting our picture taken in the Me and My Sister booth.

Besides having a love of playing with the Holly Taylor fabrics, I also love to make projects from Moda's charm packs. I have designed a line of patterns called Little Scraps that use charm squares and make a variety of things from bags to note pad covers. Most of them can be done in an afternoon or day. I love projects that are fun, easy, and don't take too much time.

The project that I have for you today is a candle mat/table topper called "Christmas Eve Blessings".

Click Here

 to download and print the PDF of the pattern.

I hope you enjoy the candle mat! Please feel free to post a picture of your finished projects on our Flicker Page. We would love to see your finished projects!

Be sure to leave a comment here today to be entered in a drawing. The goodies the winner will receive is a fat 1/4 bundle of Lakeside Resort fabric (Newest Holly Taylor fabric due in stores in March, but you will get your bundle now!) Plus my 8 newest Little Scrap patterns from fall market.

 

Thanks so much for hopping by today...best of luck to you!
 Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!

Our very first.....

Our first Christmas with our very first child was in 1993. Ashley was born 2 days before Thanksgiving. It was such a wonderful gift to have a baby born just before the holidays. Definitely the best gift for us! We started so many traditions that year.

Here we are at my Mom's house Christmas day. Ashley was 1 month old on Christmas. The most memorable gift Ashley received that year was a hand-knitted sweater from Great-Grandma Daisy. I always received hand-knitted sweaters for Christmas from Grandma while growing up, and she thought she should continue the tradition with Ashley.

Here she is with her new sweater....isn't she a cutie! She was the very first grand-baby. It was always so fun to have a baby to snuggle with around the holidays.

 
All our kids are growing up and now Christmas day at Grandma's is very rowdy and loud but so much fun. Here are all the kiddo's getting ready to go outside and play in the snow. Three of them are mine...can you tell which ones?

Remember to leave a comment (tell me about your first Christmas) to have your name put in the drawing for all the wonderful prizes we have in store you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!

Now hop on over to Terri's Blog and see what project she has in store for you today!

Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com

Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart : http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/

Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures : http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/    

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com
 

Book of Blessings

When we start decorating the house for Christmas, it is so fun to go through all the boxes of decorations and remember when we made them or who gave them to us. A few years ago, I made a simple cover for a composition book. It was made out of some of my favorite Christmas fabric and has a cute little tag stitched to the front cover that says "Christmas Memories".

 

Every year when we decorate, we set out the book on the coffee table and through out the month of December, we all take turns writing in it things we felt made that Holiday season special. We write about everything from the weather to favorite gifts we gave or received. I love to sit and read what the kids wrote in their own words. It is so fun to read/see the holidays from their prospective. It will be very fun to read this book when they are all grown up.

Remember to leave a comment (tell me about your favorite decoration) to have your name put in the drawing for all the wonderful prizes we have in store you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!

Now hop on over to Kari's blog and see what project she has in store for you today!

Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com

Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart : http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/

Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures : http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/    

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com

Traditions

 

Traditions is the topic of the day...but when I think of the Holiday season, just about everything we do seems to be a tradition. One of our favorite tradition is to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Now, I know that alot of people say that is crazy but alot of you are out there with me too! (Come on...admit it!) Our favorite place to shop is MOA or the "Mega Mall" if your from Minnie-sooo-ta! (Also called Mall of America .)

 
  
  I know it sounds crazy but it is really the best place to go on Black Friday! Everyone is off getting the great deals at all the smaller malls and MOA is almost vacant. But here is the secret to our success for shopping that day....get to the mall early and leave after lunch when the crowd arrives.

 
  
  
We really only go to have fun and watch the hustle and bustle of everyone. If we get alittle shopping done that is always good, but if we don't find too much that is o.k. too. I did make the mistake of going to Sears one year and the belt sander Paul wanted was on sale (Black friday sale-WOO HOO!) So I had to buy it, but then I ended up carrying it all day through that big ol' mall...not too fun, learned my lesson! 

Remember to leave a comment (tell me about your favorite tradition) to have your name put in the drawing for all the wonderful prizes we have in store you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!

Now hop on over to PKM (Pam Kitty Morning) and see what project she has in store for you today!

 

Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com

Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart : http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/

Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures : http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/    

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com