Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah...Zip-a-dee-ay!

****First a Word of WARNING****: 

This post is extremely long! 

Yessiree Bob! 

Believe it or not...I think this one has to be my longest post! 

And it is cuz I had waited far tooooo long before posting a thank you for all the sweet BLOG HUGS (aka Blog Awards) that have been passed my way.

****End of WARNING!****

(Please continue...)

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day.
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way,
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder,
It's the truth, it's "actch'll"
Everything is "satisfactch'll."
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Wonderful feeling, feeling this way!

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder,
It's the truth, it's "actch'll"
Everything is "satisfactch'll."
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
(Lyrics by Ray Gilbert and Allie Wrubel)

Our daughters are sweet sisters...

& also sorority sisters...part of a wonderful Sorority...

These were taken back in their undergraduate years.

...a close sisterhood...and it is fun to see their friendships that they have formed with their Kappa Delta Sorority sisters.

sooo...this is fun for me to say....

Presenting:

The Bloggerette Sorority!

I'm now a...

I love the cute sorority sisters pictured!  

& Thank you Karen for a fun way 

to connect the world of blogging sisters!

I went to college after our children were in high school. So at my age, I didnt get connected with a college sorority! I would've been the house mom or something like that. haha

I look forward to being a part of this Sorority :o) ...meeting others and creating new friendships.

Go to my sidebar and click on the Bloggerette Sorority Button to find out more about it.

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&

Now...here's "plenty" more "sunshine headin' my way..."

I know that some of you do not "do" awards...just know that I was thinking of ya! 

...but if there are those that will accept them, 

please let me know when you post about them, 

so that I can be sure not to miss it. 

The following "thank yous" have been long overdue!

Thank you for your patience with my delay in posting these awards (AKA blog hugs!)

FEB awards:

Thank you to Dina-Marie @ Dimes 2 Vines.                                                                
She is a sweet blogger...keeping busy with what makes her happy.                                  .
..her hubby, 10 children, beautiful home with a vineyard...

This is special to me, since it was created by our older daughter -Girly~Twirly aka theLuckiestMrs.

& it represents and is a great reminder of some of the things that make us happy :o)
(Girly~Twirly introduced me to the wonderful world of blogging!)

The rules for me accepting this award are:

1. Copy & paste the award on your blog.                                                                      
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog ( or hyperlink)                      
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know!

First...10 that make me happy:

1. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. My hubby - Mr. B

3. Our daughter - Girly~Twirly & our son-in-law

4. Our daughter - Girly~Whirly

5. Our son - Heartbreaker

6. The great health of my family

7. Future grandbabies

8. Great times with family & friends

9. Traveling

10. blogger friends :o) (blogger friends make the blog world go round...)

Now, for the other bloggers...

...with this "blog hug",

 ...a few newer and a few not as new blogger friends.

1. Jenny @ Jenny Matlock Off on my Tangent

2. Karen @ Some Days are Diamonds

3. Maureen @ Mighty Mo's

4. Morgan @The Everett Family in Asia

5. Jenilee @ The Goodwin Family

6. Michelle @ A'etonu Family Adventures

7. Alely @ Oh Sweetlee Me

8. Vicki @ Change in a Bottle

9. Laurie @ Sewnso's Sewing Journal

10. Vivek @ Friend's Kitchen

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Thank you to Rose @ Etcetera, Etcetera.

Rose is a beautiful blogger with a beautiful family. 

As a requirement I have to list 8 things about me. & pass this on to 8 beautiful bloggers.

(I'm trying to think of 7 things I may not have mentioned before).

1.  I love the heat...(I tend to feel colder than any one else in a room).

2.  I love fresh flowers & a garden with lots of blooms & different types of plants...(but I'll dry the roses my hubby will bring home after a couple of days, cuz I don't want them to lose their petals...I love my dried roses).

3.  I would love to sew, smock, craft, quilt, draw, blog, create....as much as I can. (retirement sounds great...but I actuallly just started to contribute to the work force outside our home...so should I be thinking this???)  (...I must say that I do love my patients.)

4.  I would love to get all our photos organized and in albums by year, so that I can find them! (I did our photos from 1990 to 1995 in dated albums...but have the rest...some in albums, some in rubbermaids, some...hm...dont know exactly!)

5.  I love food! I would love to go to some of the places the show called Drive-In, Diners & Dives features on t.v.  I love the cake and food challenge shows... and home decorating/renovating shows...and the show House Hunters.

6.  I want to travel, travel, travel! (& it would be awesome to travel with family).

7.  I would love someone to go through my wardrobe and totally up-date it...I like to ask our girls for advice, cuz they have the fashion sense. I had some clothes in my closet from high school! hm...I think I finally got rid of most of them.

8.  I love learning new crafts and new ways to create...in any media.

Here are 8 new beautiful bloggers that added me to their blogs they follow (thank you):

1. Mama's Little Chick

2. Charm of the Carolines

3. Leksi Designs

4. CueJ @ Shroomei

5. The Paint Splash

6. The Thrifty Ba

7. LDH @ With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart

8. Karen @ I made it Through the Rain

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I would like to thank Lea at SSH! Momma's Writing for this.  Lea recently also went into the outside working world and with an 18, 12, 8, and 3 year old! 

I am exhausted when I am done at the end of a work day and it is only me and my hubby at home, now that our children are grown.

& in March Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife also passed this one on to me.

Kathie's regular comments truly make my day...she has been so wonderful at stopping by. She's so creative with her blog and I am impressed with the numerous blog awards that she has designed and passed on. 

The rules are as follows:

• Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
• Pass the award onto 6 bloggers.
• Link the nominees within your post.
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are 6 bloggers that regularly bring me sunshine with their regular visits and the sweetest comments! (I would definitely send this back to you Kathie!!! but since you sent it to me, I am passing this on to the next bloggers who have commented the most):

Xinex @ Christine's Home & Travel Adventures

Debbie @ Heart Choices

Nan @ Mom's the Word

Jamie @ 2003 Beach Bunch

Alicia @ More than Words


& 6 more bloggers (that bring sunshine through their posts) 
since this one was passed to me two times :o)
Katie @ Katie's Nesting Spot
Sandi @ Bearly Sane Blog of a Bear Nut
Melissa @ A Little Loveliness
Cheryl @ Too Many Hats
Nina @ Portugal Bound
& her lovely daughter
Brooklyn @ Portugal Rocks

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MARCH awards:

Thank you Kathie at Just a Happy Housewife for both these awards!

Kathie! You truly have been a blessing! Thank you for thinking of my blog and for answering my multitude of past blog-related questions!

 No rules for the Blogger Buddy award :o)

This Blogger Buddy Award...

I pass on to all those that follow me,

those on my "Blogs I Browse" & 

those that leave a comment on this post. 

Thank you so much for leaving a comment.  

It is always so fun to read what you all have to say.

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For the Stiletto Award

THE RULES!

If you’ve received this award, here’s what you do:

1. Display your Stiletto Badge of Honor on your sidebar! Wear it with pride…

“Heels this high are not meant for clubbing or walking long distances in. They are mainly used for getting from the living room to the bedroom, from the car to the restaurant, or for a short stroll along the catwalk.”

2. BRAG ABOUT IT! -write a post about your award.

3. SAY THANKS! - include a link to the friend who nominated you for the award.

4. SHARE THE LOVE! -nominate 5-10 blogs that you feel deserve the award.

Include links to them in your post -and- leave them a comment to let them know they are nominated.

5. DO WHAT YOU DO! -keep at it. Keep inspiring and encouraging and sharing your life! We love it and we thank you!!!

I am passing this on to my next 10 top commenters:
Nancy @ Bacardi Mama
LV @ Thoughts from Meme's Corner
Heather @ Oswald Cuties
Jenny @ Jenny Matlock...off on my Tangent
Mary Anne @ Starlight Blog
Lea @ My letters to Emily
Kristin @ Bon Bon Rose Girls
Maggi @ Just add Glitter and Stir
Jessica @ Muthering Heights
Our lovely daughter aka the Luckiest Mrs.

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APRIL awards:

Thank you Alely @ Oh, Sweetlee Me

so i need to list 7 things about myself and then pass this blog award to 7 other Lovely ladies!

1. * I love to learn the background/origins/history of words, names, unusual things...
2. * I would love to have a craft/sewing/art room with tons of shelves and everything organized.
3. * I love roses, gardenias, magnolias, orchids, morning glories, hibiscus, hydrangeas, tulips, daffodils, sunflowers...uh...I guess I have to stop and just say...I love flowers!
4. * I love, love, love to draw.
5. * I think it would be awesome to be a children's book illustrator.
6. * I  love listening to my hubby and children sing and create music.
7. * I love to play board or card games...video games can be a bit complicated for me.

now it's time to pass this blogger award on to 7 other Lovely ladies.
Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife...do you have this one yet???

Jessica @ Chronically Vintage
Regan @ A Day in the Life
Jen @ I believe in Love
Dani Joy @ Taking the Gospel 2 Gijon
Yonca @ Yonca is Cooking
Veronica @ Of Mice and Ramen

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Thankyou Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife! Ok...here is an example of one of the beautiful awards that Kathie has created!  And I love what this one represents: 

This award is just for fun and to say thank you!  Thank you for entertaining, teaching, inspiring and supporting me.  Thank you for all that you contribute to the blogosphere!

The only rule for this award is that if you accept it, please don't keep it to yourself.  Please pass this along to others and share the bling!

I'm passing the bling to a few faithful friends and a few new ones too:

Angela @ Sweet Tea Diaries

Regan @ A Day in the Life
Rose @ Nostalgic Marveling

Noelani @ Lanikee.com

Lynn @ Painting Thyme Needfuls

Keren @ Free Pretty Things for You

Betty @ Day Dreamn World

****WHEW! If you made it to this part...You are amazing!  Truly!!! **** 
Please do let me know when you do post about your award, so that I can be sure not to miss your post.

I am linking up with:

Jenny's

 Alphabe-Thursday,

&

Alicia's 

Friday Photo Flashback,

&
Jenilee's
Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane.

And since this is so long, I will wait til my next post to share some more drawings. But please take a peek around and see some past drawings that I have shared.

Blessings & Aloha!

(Also, since it is still a bit before my 100th post and the giveaways for Personalized Sketches artwork and gift certificates....On Saturday, I hope to post about a giveaway for $40 to be used at the CSN store. Please check back.)

Travels full of Treasures...

These Travel adventures are Treasured experiences.
Serving others...

"...by love serve one another." 

~Galations 5:13~

I have said this before, that it usually takes me a week to get a post together and up, since I do it a little at a time because of my work schedule and wanting to spend time on the weekends with Mr. B, family or friends.  I was already started on this post about our kids' mission trips, so that helped a bit. :o)

So, I am linking up with Jenny's amazing

  Alphabe-Thursday "T".

& Alicia's fantastic 

Friday Photo Flashback.

Thank you to all those on the missions' field all around the world, as well as, serving those in their hometowns.

The time was spent helping others, and yet, Girly~Twirly, Girly~Whirly, Heartbreaker & Mr. B's agree that much was given back into their lives during their trips.

Here are video slideshows of These Treasured Trips in the order of years that they were taken:

2007: Girly~Twirly in Honduras

2008: Heartbreaker in Nicaragua

2009: Girly~Whirly on Roatan Island

~& here is a past video slideshow (I had posted on a previous post) 

of my hubby serving on various Army relief and training missions.
& the little ones he loved meeting.

Thank you to all the military and their service!

"...Inasmuch as you have done it onto the least of my brethern, you have done it unto me."   ~Matthew25:40~

...no matter where we are and what we do, may we do it unto the Lord.

Blessings & Aloha!

...as always, I do enjoy your comments and get over to reply to them, but it may take a while...
Thank you for taking a look around my little corner of the blogger world. :o)

& soon it will be my 100th post and I will have a giveaway for an 8x10 drawing and also giveaways of some gift certificates to be used towards a drawing order.

**********

The following drawing orders were given as thank you gifts for service and support.

(Again...if you are new to my blog (with every post, I try to share some samples of past orders) and the artwork that I do...each drawing is drawn entirely with an individual's name).

This was a thank you ordered by one of her friends.

This one was ordered for this individual who loves lighthouses, by family members.

This was for a firefighter. It was taken from the photo taken in New York after 9/11.

This military one was for a thank you for the unit's commander.

This was drawn for Mrs. Patty Shinseki, when her husband was the Chief of Staff of the Army.

This was for a thank you gift for a special instructor ...of her sweet little pup.

Stitches...at a standstill.

First...here is another past photo of our two daughters...who are 2 Sweet Sisters:

& here's a past photo taken of our daughter Girly~Twirly at one of her Kappa Delta Sorority's get-togethers.

I have said this before..."I try to do at least one post a week...cuz i have a hard time finding time to do one, much less any more than that!" haha

So, this week along with Jenny and her awesome Alphabe-Thursday S. 

& Alicia and her fantastic Friday Photo Flashback.

...this post is linked up with Amy's 3rd sensational Spring Quilt Festival.

It would have been "easy-peasy" for me if I was able to link up my recent "Q" post for the Quilt Festival, since it was about some favorite family quilts and my unfinished ones.

(*side note* I am a novice quilter so love to learn all the time...like blogging...I am always learning something new!)

Since this has to be a new post for the Quilt Festival, I thought I would focus on my unfinished ladybug quilts.

(*Side note*: I have always loved the Grandmother's Flower Garden quit pattern... Here is a beautiful vintage one that I found on the search engine: bing.com

"...the flower garden pattern is also known as grandmother's flower garden or french rose garden." & "i did a little research and this pattern was revived in the 1920's from the hexagon mosaic pattern from the 1830's. in the late 1920's there was an american quilt revival which incorporated a new color palette of pastel prints. quilts made from these fabrics are sometimes referred to as depression quilts. the flower garden quilt pattern is supposedly still the most popular quilt pattern today."  -Julie King- 


I was able to hear from Julie and ask if she wouldn't mind me sharing her grandmother's lovely quilt. I love the little hexagon Shaped... Scrappy fabric prints that are Stitched together to form the Stunning flowers.) I've heard that hese hexagon shapes are often put together as "paper-pieced", but never learned what that meant.  I didn't cut paper into hexagons for my quilt, but just cut the fabric into hexagon shapes, and sewed them together edge to edge.

Well, when Girly~Twirly became a Kappa Delta in her first year of college (Fall of 2001) and I learned about their chapter's ladybug mascot...I thought how cute would it be to make a quilt for her with ladybugs. And I pictured in my mind... little hexagon pieces of red and black stitched together like a Grandmother's Flower garden, but instead of flowers... into ladybugs.

I showed a few photos of that progress in a slideshow on this recent post, which is also about some family quilts that are special to me.

I had so much fun buying small strips of red and black fabric, whenever I would go to a fabric store (which was pretty frequent!). My goal was to have this quilt pieced and quilted by the time she started her 2nd year of undergrad ...um that would have been in the Fall of 2002....

Here is another picture taken, when my hubby was in Iraq and Girly~Whirly, Heartbreaker and I went up to see her at one of her sorority functions in 2003.  ...and still her quilt was not finished.

And then in the Fall of 2004, our other daughter Girly~Whirly also became a Kappa Delta girl!

So, I started cutting out hexagon pieces for a ladybug quilt for her too...

They are supposed to be twin size quilts. But so in the hopes of completing them faster, I had entertained the thought of maybe appliquing the ladybugs that I do have onto a solid background (...but I really like my initial plan of separating and joining the ladybugs with a variety of white on white patterned hexagons.)

So, my goal is that I will get these ladybug quilts completed...  Although, instead of a twin size...I have thought of crib size quilts from these ladybugs for each of the girls' first babies (I have a blue and white one started for Heartbreaker is also unfinished(!), so it may turn into one for his first baby. The blue and white one was my very first attempt at piecing...).  (My hubby did bring up the fact that I will have to have a quilt for all of our future grandchildren. But, I actually have quite a number of quilts started...enough for grandbabies of each of our children-Girly~Twirly, Girly~Whirly, and Heartbreaker!

These are white fabrics that I am using for the "linking hexagons" between each of the ladybugs....and with the odd excess scraps, I have started another "scrappy" crazy quilt as I go.

Ah...so, here it is 2010 and this is the Story of Stitches...at a standstill...
just a couple out of the many other unfinished ones and so many others I would love to do! I am such a novice at quilting, so I would love to get back into a guild so that I can learn from those that have so much experience!)

So a Sincere "thank you!" to all of you who have Stopped by...and for your understanding of my joining in with more than one awesome meme.

Blessings & Aloha!

Here are some ladybug drawings...

EDITED* added on June 1st*
(I realized that some are new to by blog, and after an email from another blogger...I should have explained about the drawings :o) Every drawing that I do is drawn entirely with a person's name. The whole image is with a name. I appreciate your interest and please do contact me for info or ordering any image...using any name. :o)

This was from a photo of the original, so the image was not as bright as it actually is.

This is a photo of the same image after I added color. Since it's a photo, it also looks like the mat was not straight, but it is a fishbowl distortion from the lens.

...and this one was one of the quilt-related drawings that I had on my previous "Q"post (Quintessential Quilts and Quilting Quandary)...

***Oh! Here's a favor to ask...If you are a quilter or seamstress, please let me know what type of sewing machine you use... I gave my sewing machine to our daughter Girly~Twirly and am looking for another...I would like to find one that also does monograms...and is "user-friendly" :o)***

***also...it is hard to believe, but I am coming up on my 100th post...please check back, since I will be having a giveaway on that post for a Personalized Sketches artwork and a special discount. I just noticed that this is my 92nd post.*** Thank you to all those that have stopped by and it is so fun meeting you :o)