All of the Little Decisions - GIVE-AWAY!!!

Up too late, power out in the middle of the night, cranky puppy that would NOT go to sleep and just one too many nights on the couch for the daughter.  Too much paperwork, lost computer files, two too many days on bed rest for the Momma.  Add 'em together and well...we've all been there now, haven't we?  But we managed to get thru it by staying on our own floors of the house and then she left to go to the beach with her BFF, KB.   Suddenly my home got immeasurably bigger and the air was cooler and yes... I think I even heard angels singing.  The hours passed and I got involved in my own work and then "DING"  ... my phone went off; I had a text message.  Well, no.. what I really had was this:

 

Funny how fast things can change, isn't it?  Suddenly that CHILD that I wanted to strangle had once more become the generous and loving young woman that I enjoyed sharing a home with...  Yes, I AM a sap, but I am so very glad that I am.  As Natalie and KB sent me photos from their phones it started all kinds of ideas flowing so hang on tight because you ARE along for the ride!

  Check out where they spent their day:Chicago lakefront   Loyola/Rogers Park

Yeah... hard not to hate, isn't it??? LOL... and it was a THURSDAY! 

Oh, you should meet KB and her special guy, Mike.  

KB and Natalie went to HS together and now both are doing the nursing thing and Mike? Well, he got to escort two tall redheads to the beach today.

Michael is one very happy man....

  Once they sent me the first few pix ... my crazy brain was off and running!  I asked them to send me photos of what they thought was cool at the beach... just to see what I would get back.  Now... stay with me, OK?  I PROMISE a good payoff for your efforts!!  Here is what came back... (thank you, Lord, for camera phones!!!!)

A Dog playing in the waves, and a pretty cool sand sculpture were the first things that came in.  You  know, the obvious "I was at the beach" photos that we all take.

  

  

  And then they started to see things a little differently...
 

And they started to send me shots that they thought I would have some fun with...even if it meant simply changing waves from color to black and white.  Because  I could.

And then there was this cool family shot that begged to be played with

(stay with me...)

And Natalie's feet in the surf...

But the one that topped it all off is this one... 

Why this one?  Out of all the things there are to look at, to experience, to touch and see and smell at the lakefront why was this little shell so fascinating that BOTH girls took photos of it? 

You know, it wasn't until I took the color out of the photograph that it grabbed me and made me look twice. There was just something about the clarity of the shell against her hand and then the graininess of the sand below. I can almost FEEL the sand under my toes when I look at this photo! There is just something about the...exactness...of this photo that just gets my creative juices going.

407 SPOOLS & NOWHERE TO GO

I guess that is what fascinates me about machine embroidery; the exactness of it.  I can take all of my computer skills and my 407 spools of thread (I counted) and stitch this into existence on a quilt, a pillow or whatever it is that someone would like. I get to paint with thread and it is a BLAST!  But... here is where I hit the wall!!!  I TOLD YOU it would be worth your wait!

Let's REALLY get in the "nautical mood" shall we?  CLICK the bar below for some Sailin' music!

03 Vahevala

GIVE-AWAY *** GIVE-AWAY *** GIVE-AWAY

Here is our problem: I have about 120 gorgeous "nautical/east coast/lighthouse/beach/ship" embroidery designs.  I have gorgeous fabric to match each of the above designs... I have been duly inspired by the wonderful photographs that BOTH of my "daughters" took today... BUT I CAN'T make up my freaking mind which to do first! LOL  I'm like a kid in a candy store... SO the HUBS came up with an absolutely GRAND idea - LET YOU PICK!  I like it! Here is the deal:  We're going to give away one of the three options below  (Winner's choice)

A) AN EMBROIDERED THROW PILLOW IN THE WINNING DESIGN, OR

B) A $50 CREDIT TOWARDS A QUILT IN THE WINNING DESIGN, OR

C) A COORDINATING FAT QUARTER FABRIC ASSORTMENT WITH AN EMBROIDERED DESIGN PANEL OF THE WINNING QUILT DESIGN

YOU have to tell us which one you want and why!  SO peek at the fabrics and use YOUR "beach brain" and tell us if it should be:

1. _{LIGHTHOUSES, LIGHTHOUSES & DID I MENTION LIGHTHOUSES? or}
2. _{SHIPS & OLD MAPS, or}
3. _{BEACHES, BAYS & BUOYS}

We'll take your comments/choices until the 15 of August and then... the HUBS will pick!  Can't wait to hear what YOUR ideas are!!!   

WE HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 DUE TO THE RE-LOCATION OF THE BLOG.... HAPPY VOTING!   TELL YOUR FRIENDS!  :-)

Happy imagining!  (Aren't you glad you came along for the ride???)  Pamela

Participants will choose one of the three fabric assortments above: Lighthouses, Ships, or Beaches and tell us why Just Hatched should make their next quilt from that chosen assortment.  Participant will also state which of the following items they would like if they win: an embroidered pillow,  $50 coupon towards the new quilt, or a quilter's package of fabric and embroidery panel in winning design.