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Monday, November 29, 2010

Giveaway Winner Announced

It's finally here.   The day I get to announce the Winner of  My First Giveaway. 

Drum Roll//////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


The winning number was picked from this hat by DGS.

#12  MyDearJaneJourney is the winner.  She will receive an email from me today.

Congratulation !!!!!!  WooHoo!!!!!  Confetti falls and the crowd goes wild!!!

Thanks to everyone that left comments and became followers.  I plan a giveaway every three months.  I promise to make the next one bigger and better.  Please check back often.  I was told by Administrator of Quilting Board that I can not say the word giveaway, so I will not be able to remind you of my next one.

I hope those of you that celebrate Thanksgiving, had a wonderful holiday filled with all the things that make you happy.


Friday, November 12, 2010

First Giveaway - CLOSED

I am new to blog land, but I have noticed that other bloggers have Giveaways.  What a great idea!  I plan to have a giveaway once a quarter or every three month.

So, on November 29th, I will give the quilt pattern pictured below to a lucky winner.  All you have to do to enter, is leave a comment on any of my blog entries. ( One comment limit per blog entry, please)  If you are a follower, you earn an extra entry.  Make sure your email address is on your comment or there is a link to your email.  I will only send you an email if you are the winner.

Deadline for entries is November 28th at midnight.

WooHoo!!!  Let's get this started.  Good Luck to each of you.





A paper pieced quilt pattern called "Be Colourful Blooming Tale by Jacqueline de Jonge"






Moon Dance Quilt

Sometimes I just need to sew.  I don't want to figure or think hard, just sew, mindlessly.  This is the perfect quilt pattern for that.  An added bonus is, I get to dive into my container of scraps.

If you want this pattern, it is by Lyn Brown.  She has graciously made the pattern available on her blog.  You can go to MoonDance Swap Quilt to download a pdf of this pattern.  She, also, has a picture of this quilt in Batiks.  We are playing strip poker with Batiks at our next retreat.  Hmmm, sounds like a plan.









Thursday, November 4, 2010

Houston International Quilt Show

WoooHooo, It is finally here.  I have my ticket for Wednesday Premiere Night and all day Friday.  The Ladies and Gents from QuiltingBoard.com are wearing friendship blocks and/or Selvedge with dots.  I hope to see some of the members in person that I have messaged and exchanged squares and blocks with.




I attended Premiere Night and shopped for five hours.  Note to self, most of cash left with vendors at show, go to bank before Friday.  Haven't even looked at Quilts.  They don't go anywhere, but the vendor merchandise does.

I won the wonderful book below at the free raffle by Make It University.  My name was even picked by Pokey Bolton of Quilting Arts.  I watch her show every Saturday on our PBS channel.  I can't wait to try out some of the fabulous ideas for making an art journal quilt.  As a winner, I was asked to sign the Graffiti Wall.  What a Hoot so far!!!




These are the two ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) that I will trade (Friday)  on the wall near Make It University.  You can trade one for one, ATCs, Small Quilts, Inches and Art jewelry.

Mine are fused cloth, seed stitched, buttons and three colors of ribbon whipped around edges.







Monday, October 18, 2010

Halloween Wallhangings

I finished up a Halloween wallhanging that I have been working on for years.  I had fun piecing the background, then I did a little applique and put it away.  My hang up was appliqueing the ghost and finding a skeleton that was the right size to lay in the doorway.  This year, I fused on the ghost and decided that my skeleton would be dancing out of the doorway. Problem solved.

The pattern is called, "Halloween Haunt", by Barb Sawyer.  It is 20" x 23" in size.



Earlier this year, I purchased a pattern called, "Spooky" by Judydidit Designs.  It is part of her Small Celebrations line.  The background is pieced and then the other elements are fused on.  I finished it in two settings.  No applique, Yeah!!!!  It is 21" x 24" in size.


Neither have been quilted and probably won't be for this Halloween, but next year for sure.  They are too cute to stay in the closet.

May your Halloween be full of treats.



Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Fall Decorations

My favorite season is Fall.  The fabrics come out with acorns, pumpkins and leaves in orange, yellow and red.  In Texas, the daily temperatures drop into the 80s, if we are lucky and 70s, if we are blessed.  There is a light, cool breeze in the air and I just feel renewed and inspired.

I have a lot of Fall items since I entertained a group of crafty Ladies for many years.  We met in a different home each week and it was fun to decoration for each month.  It made us feel special and pampered.  My children are grown and I work full-time now, so less is more these days.  There is a wreath and flowers at the front door and my DS likes to add some Halloween spooks to the front of the house.  I prefer a few of my favorites to lift my spirits and please the Grandkids.

 This Pumpkin Wallhanging was made in 1998 according to the date on back.  I remember that one of the ladies bought a newspaper pattern to share.  It was from an old magazine.  It is a pumpkin, a stem and a leaf in two sizes.  Mine is batting, front fabric RS up and back fabric RS down.  I drew around the pattern and stitched on the lines.  I cut about 1/4" outside of the line.  I carefully separated the two fabrics and cut a small slit in the outside fabric to turn the pieces through.  On the pumpkin, I fused a piece of the same fabric over the slit, but the slits on the other pieces are hidden by the pumpkin.  I added a little straight stitching to the pieces in matching thread.  I used Aleene's Tacky glue to attach the pieces and it has held for 12 years.  I do store it in a closet (not in the garage or attic).




This is a fabric panel that I purchased at Hancock Fabrics many years ago.  Each letter is a little pocket that can hold treats.  Mine holds a little box, that came in cereal one Halloween, that is light activated.  Light causes a scary, high pitched moaning sound.  Each year I expect it to stop working, but it performed again today.



One year, we got on a pumpkin making kick.  I have these in several fabrics and sizes.  A large circle, gathered like a fabric yo-yo and stuffed with fiberfill. Two rectangles sewn, turned and stuffed, then glued in the hole on top for a stem.  Leaves cut out of  two pieces of fabric fused together and a few pieces of raffia tied around the stem.



I made this when the jar quilts were all the rage.  This piece is about 6" x 12".  I constructed it as a flip and sew after I pieced the jar blocks in miniature.  I made a full size Jar Quilt for my MIL, but I have yet to complete the two planned for my DS and myself.  Perhaps you'll see them in a later blog as completed UFOs.



And one time, Yes, We made corn.  The bottom is fabric, stuffed with fiberfill.  The husk is tea dyed muslin and a stiffener of some sort.  This was a time consuming, messy project, but I do love my fall basket of corn.  I, even, found Indian Corn fabric (second from top).

Friday, October 8, 2010

Make a Friendship Braid Quilt Using the Binding Tool


You have to click on the YouTube on the bottom right corner to watch video.

I purchased the binding tool at the AAQG Show to make this quilt.  Check out all of the videos that Missouri Star Quilt Co.  puts out.  They are wonderful and full of ideas for using all of those Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs that you purchased and don't know what to do with.



I made a few more purchases as you can see below.


$2 Batik FQs, a lighted seam ripper, a little screwdriver that I have already used, a lining pattern for some baskets that I purchased a few years ago, a Horned Toad pattern (can't wait to make these), and a flexible light.


A sewing machine cover, thread catcher and a machine pad with pockets.  


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

AAQG Show Part 3

More pictures from the Austin Area Quilt Guild Show, Sept. 17-19, 2010, in Austin, TX.












The quilting really made this quilt special.



Lots of comments about this quilt.  It is made of Yo-Yos.  I know, that is exactly what we all were saying. LOL  The top was folded, it says East...West...Home Is...Best.



















I hope one of these quilts has given you a new idea for one of your future quilts.  I like to go to shows and notice details.  I may not be excited about the colors or the quilt as a whole, but I always feel inspired to try a new border or technique or fabric combination.