National Quilters Day

"National Quilting Day
I wanted to remind you that tomorrow, March 21, is National Quilting Day, according to the National Quilting Association. They have devoted this day to the home. They are sharing a nice pattern for a block called Welcome Home, which is sporting a pieced house in the block's center surrounded by a star and Four-Patch design. To get a printable copy of the pattern, go to www.nqaquilts.org/NatQuiltDay.php .
The NQA recommends this pattern be used by groups to make quilts to help those who are suffering due to the national economic and home crisis. Many people are in danger of losing their homes during these financial hard times. If you don't have special plans, maybe you'd like to start one of these quilts yourself or with a few of your quilting friends. "

The above quoted paragraphs came from Quilter's World Newsletter. While I am not much of a quilter (I can do simple quilted projects and for some reason can quilt well on very small sections like clothing) I am always looking for ways to turn my beloved fabric into something that helps someone. Since I have more of a fabric stash than most shops and more UFO's (unfinished objects of fabric art) I need to find ways to utilize the stash and my talents. I think I may just give this pattern and this project a try. Join me!

Pictures of Teacher's aprons--one of my favorite products!

New Products At Handmade Heaven

The weather may be cold, but the crafting and sewing studios of Handmade Heaven are warm and popping with new crafters and new products! Sandy has designed and almost has listed a new line of teacher aprons with pocket embroidery for the K-5th grade teachers such as "Yeah First Grade", "Second Grade Rocks" as well as the old standby with the teacher's name embroidered on the pocket. We haven't forgotten the middle school and high school teachers--I have finished an apron for "I Teach Science (with beakers)", I Teach French (the Eiffel Tower) or most any subject you can imagine. Email me for any questions or to request your favorite apron.

We have a new craftperson, Lisa Greer Barbour who makes those adorable hairbows that are all the rage. This young lady is very dear to me, I taught her in high school, and I feel like I have a member of the family working with me. Check out her work on the web site-Shop Online-Hairbows.

I am also delighted to introduce for the first time on my site custom made bags by Tanaya Ewell of Couture Ewell. She is a business partner and dear friend and a very talented lady as well. Check out her bags on the web site: www.Handmade-Heaven.com. Choose Shop Online-Handbags and Totes.

It's a great start to 2009. Coastal North Carolina had a snowfall which is very unusual for this area and I think it's a sign of wonderful things to come!

Happy stitching,

Sandy
Handmade Heaven
www.handmade-heaven.com
sandythebigwheel@roadrunner.com

BRRRRRR it's Cold Outside!

Well friends, it's 25 degrees here in sunny North Carolina--at the coast no less--only 45 miles from the Outer Banks! Yes, it's a cold snap, the likes of which we haven't seen according to Mr. Weatherman for 3 years. Yep, it's really cold, it's heavy coat, gloves, hat, and scarf cold; things we southerners only bring out a few times a year. Want to guess what I dreamed out last night? My puppies and I were boarding a cruise ship. Walking up the gang plank. I had on linen Bermuda shorts and a tan short sleeved top and could hear the sail away band already playing as I stepped on board. There were my best girlfriends Linda and Sandra waving to me from the pool area where they already had a gorgeous drink of the day. Heaven! Then I felt something cold and wet in my face; and I woke up with Button giving me a morning puppy nuzzle.

Crickies! I couldn't go back to sleep, my only consolation was to hit the brochure rack in my office and plan my next cruise. By the way, pets are not allowed on board, but I bet you knew that already.

Ok, why do I love to cruise so much? Well, I am a tad obsessive compulsive when it comes to finding things. I Google the location, I print out a MapQuest, I ask everybody I know the best way to get there, program my GPS, and then worry about getting there. Mind you I can usually find what I need, I just worry about it. I am directionally challenged, OK? Or maybe I just fret about being directionally challenged.

On a cruise, all I have to do is fly to Fort Lauderdale, New York, Charleston or other departure city and with those wonderful prearranged transfers somebody that knows where they are going takes me right to the ship. I go through a line that is clearly marked and even I can't get lost in and viola I board the ship. Once on board I sit back while my floating hotel room takes me from place to gorgeous place. No repacking, no getting lost, no arguingwith my husband about turning right instead of left. There are oodles of reasons I love cruising, but I gotta get back downstairs where it's warmer! We'll talk more later--I have lots to tell you about two great upcoming cruises!

Chicks at Sea Have a New Place to Hang out!

Hello! Sandy Wheeler here with the latest news on our Chicks at Sea ladies cruise group. Our spokeschick and world traveler, Chicklet, has developed a new group over on Facebook. As of this morning, she has 20 ladies in her discussion group, but would love to have you as well. Right now we are discussing our favorite vacation memories as well as anxiously awaiting the drawing for a custom made purse and checkbook cover to be given away on October 31, 2008. Come on over and join. It's fun, it's free and you just might meet a new friend or win a great prize!

Being One of Jerry's Kids

Labor Day is a holiday with mixed emotions at my house. Certainly it's great to have a final Monday off before beginning the school year. Of course, the idea of celebrating the spirit of the American worker and the freedom to succeed that have made our country a land of opportunity is significant. But, for me, the Labor Day weekend means the Muscular Dystrophy telethon hosted by one of my favorite people on the planet, Jerry Lewis.

I remember as a tween loving Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movies. Could anything be more hilarious? Little did I know that I would grow up to put Jerry Lewis on a pedestal because of his work on my behalf. Yes, I am one of Jerry's kids. Diagnoised at age 33 with a wierd condition called myasthenia gravis, I have lived for 20 years with an incurable autoimmune disease. MG is not a form of muscular dystrophy, but is a "relative" if you will. It's incurable and can be deadly. It can also be controlled and can even go into remission and stay that way for a long period of time. It's not degenerative and it's not something that I passed along to my children--two things I am really grateful for.

Still, every year during the telethon I watch and cry. I don't want to, sometimes it's late into the 21 1/2 hour telethon that I even allow myself to turn it on. Sometimes, I don't know what I am crying about--is it joy because I am doing so well or some years so poorly; angry tears for the suffering the disease has caused; tears of relief that I am in better shape than some of the patients being interviewed; sadness at what my children have had to endure? And every year I have hope. As the tally goes higher and higher I think--this may be our year! The year that a cure is found. A year that I and so many others stop having to plan their lives around their disease. This may be the year that muscular dystrophy and all it's related autoimmune diseases go the way of polio and tuberculosis.

So, if you can--watch the telethon. Listen and learn. Pray for the people you see interviewed and for the researchers working to find a cure. Reach into your pocket and pledge. Last year, we raised a record 63.8 million dollars, but it wasn't enough. Another year has passed and we are still hoping.

An addition to our Chicks at Sea activities!

This year (2009) we have an additional opportunity that you don't want to miss. Due to popular request, we will be organizing a one or two day stay in the city of New Orleans after the cruise. More details are coming, so stay tuned.