Monday, November 19, 2012

Design Wall Monday and Pay It Forward

I got a bit of sewing done this weekend and I was able to finish the top of my scrappy version of the Twisted quilt. For more information on this pattern by and others by Amber Johnson of Gigi's Thimble, click HERE.

 
I also made a smaller version in solids. I like the vertical chain on this one! Now if I could just find the time to quilt these...
 
 

Pay it Forward!

While I was participating in the UR Priceless Blog Hop, I came upon the opportunity to Pay It Forward on Greco Mara's blog. I jumped at the chance to participate and hope some of you do too.

*

I would love to Pay It Forward (PIF) and send YOU a crafty gift. So, I'm asking you to sign up by commenting on this post. International quilters are welcome.

1) On Wednesday, November 21st, I will draw three "winners" from the comments on this post. I will make a crafty gift for each of these people and send it to them within the next 45 days. (This little gift is a surprise, and I won't post about what I send until after all have been sent and received.)

2) To sign up to Pay It Forward, you need to commit to the project yourself... so you can pay it forward too! Just post this, or something similar on your blog so others can get involved.

3) You need to have an active blog of your own...{or some other way to post up your PIF info like a flickr, pinterest, or facebook account. Basically you'll need a place to announce your own PIF and to post some pics of the process.}

4) After notification that you have been chosen to play along, post something similar on your blog...so you can spread the Pay It Forward love. I will email you asking for your mailing address {and the online address where you are posting} so I can get your little treat in the mail. {Please make sure that your email address is visible on your profile or leave it in the comment.}

I am so excited about this opportunity and can't wait to send YOU a little gift.

If you're still interested after reading all of these "rules", please leave me a comment telling me your interest and favorite color. I hope to hear from a lot of people to make it more fun, don't you just love paying it forward?

To see what other quilters have on their design walls today,
check out Judy L's Patchwork Times.

Friday, November 16, 2012

UR Priceless Giveaway Winner!

Sorry, life took a quick turn yesterday and I went tumbling! I completely forgot to pick the winner of the Little Black Dress Charm Pack that I gave away during the UR Priceless Blog Hop.


And the winner is...  #21

Joyce said...
I'm like you....cannot make just one! Love your choices, would be happy to win!



Thanks for playing along, everyone! Joyce, I'm sending you an e-mail so you can claim your prize. :-)

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Girls' Night Out Set-Up Day

I spent most of Tuesday setting up for Girls' Night Out, and as usual we had a good time and got a lot done.

Check out the link below to see just a bit of the silent auction items. I'll get more pictures of the actual event and post them tomorrow, including the Bras for a Cause pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=551619631521054&set=a.133429493340072.24972.115772971772391&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

UR Priceless - Last Day

It's the last day of the UR Priceless Blog Hop and that kind of makes me sad. I've really enjoyed seeing all these wonderful creations and it has been so inspiring for me. Of course, I always try to look on the bright side of things and the end of this hop means that another one will be starting soon.

Here are today's participants. Enjoy!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Design Wall Monday *********UR Priceless Hoppers Please Scroll Down to the Previous Post

I finally have something to share that's new and exciting. YEAH!!

Besides the coin purses I've made for the UR Priceless Blog Hop (you've got to check them out by clicking HERE), I started my Twisted quilt using the Bar Harbor Layer Cake I was given a while back.

Update: I forgot to mention that there is a giveaway on my UR Priceless post, so be sure to check it out HERE.)

Here's what I have so far. (I don't know what happened to the picture. Yuck! I guess I'll try to take another one and replace this one as soon as possible. Sorry!)

 
Because I'm using a layer cake, this will be a "controlled scrappy" quilt. Here's a picture of a fat quarter bundle of fabric line so you can get a better idea of what the fabrics look like. I know that the quilt is kind of boring right now but once all the fabrics are done, I think it will be quite pretty.  
                
 
I chose a green for the X because many of the fabrics have a touch of green in them, but there is no fabric in which the green is the focus color.
 
I'm going to make at least one more of these quilts, using solids rather than prints. Check out the lower right corner of the pattern cover to see how it'll look. I'll be using white as my background, just like the picture.
 


 
This is the first time I've used a pattern from Gigi's Thimbles (Amber Johnson) and so far, so good. The directions are written quite clearly and the diagrams, especially the cutting diagrams are self-explanatory. I realy appreciate a well-written pattern! I can easily see more of her patterns in my near future. :-) 
 
Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.
Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.

UR Priceless - My Turn

It's my day to take part in the UR Priceless blog hop. YEAH!!!  I've had a lot of fun making these five purses and I have plans (and the supplies) to make more!

Thank you Madame Samm from Sew We Quilt and Katherine from Sew Me Something Good for organizing and cheering us on for this wonderful (and addictive) project!

 The coin purse pattern can be purchased here!
It includes 40 PHOTOS, which are worth a 1,000 languages :)
 
Be sure to check out the creations of my fellow co-conspirators co-posters for the day.
 


I've never made anything like these little coin purses before and this is a pretty busy time of the year for me, but they were just so darn cute that I simply couldn't resist. (Could you?) Of course I really didn't have to make five of these and have the pieces and parts ready for three more, but they are easy to make and I couldn't stop my brain from thinking about them.  :-)
 
Here's my first attempt. Oh yea, I've decided to name each of my purses, just like I do my quilts. Why not, right?
 
This is "My Contribution to the National Debt." The little circles and swirls all over the fabrics made me think of the fireworks on July 4th so I'll store a bit of money for the government coffers here. Notice I've used the green stuff and not coins here. I'm being realistic, not wishful.  :-)
 
 
 Here's my "Mad Money" purse.
 

 
I'll use this to set aside money for when the grandkids are here. The colors just remind me of fun, girly stuff.
 
 
I know it won't last long, but I think I can get by with just saving coins to entertain the kids.
 
 
Well, I had to make a purse to help me save up for all those Christmas presents I need to buy, now didn't I? I've named this one "You Can't Buy Happiness, But I'm Going To Try Anyway" Do you notice there is no money with this purse yet? I really am not ready to think about shopping yet, so I'm going to ignore it as long as possible. I know it won't work, but I'm going to try anyway. :-)
 
 
 
Instead of shopping for Christmas, I'd rather be thinking about saving for some really exciting trip. I know Jack loves to travel, so maybe I should give him this "On The Road Again" purse so he can start saving.
 

 This final purse today is probably my favorite. At least it's the one that is truly most dear to my heart and probably the one which will see the most action. Introducing "Stash".
 
 
All the side are from patchwork pieces that I sewed together using scraps.
 
 
Even the inside (lining) is patchwork.
 
 
I think we can all relate to the money pictured here. Coins just won't cut it, will they?
 
 
As I said before, these were a lot of fun and pretty easy but I have to admit that like many others have said, the handles were the most challenging thing for me. I found it really helpful to use my Clover Wonderclips to hold the handles in place while I hand stitched them, and I'm please with the results.
 






Thanks for reading this very long post. As a reward, I'm having a little giveaway.  :-) 
Just like these coin purses, every woman needs at least one little black dress and here's your chance to win one. Don't worry, it's a one-size-fits-all.



For your chance to win this cute little charm pack, just leave me a message here on this post. You don't have to be a follower, but I'd be pleased if you decided to become one.  :-)

The winner will be randomly selected and announced in the evening on November 15th, which is a couple of days after the hop ends. That should give everyone a chance to read the posts and enter the giveaway.

I think I'll go back and make another purse.... :-)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Bittersweet Days

Today is one of those bittersweet days that I know we all have, but often don't like to admit.

Today is Lynn and John's birthday.

I miss John every day and I still can't believe he's been gone five years. (I was trying to add a picture to this post, but I don't have a good picture in this computer to upload and that made me feel even worse! I'm going to keep trying.)

Today is also Lynn's birthday. She and John often exchanged special birthday gifts and it was always so fun to watch them do that. I miss that!

Perhaps Lynn's recent marriage has had an affect on my feelings about this year's birthday, but I'm really "feeling" it today.

 
Jack and I will have the opportunity to spend a bit of time with Lynn and Ty this afternoon and I'm really glad for that. Perhaps that will make me feel better.
 


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Vintage

I finished the Vintage top and have the backing ready. Now, if I could just find some extra time to quilt it.......

UR Pricelss - Day 4

It's day four of the UR Priceless Blog Hop and just like the other ones, these are so much fun to view!

as sweet as peaches
Deborah B 
Birgit H
Fish Creek Studio
A Quilter's Table
Lily Patch Quilts
Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio
Mary F
Rose Prairie Quilts and Farm
The Desert Rat Chronicles
Sally K
Paris at a Certain Age
From Blank Pages 
Quilt Taffy
Barb H

I really will post something else soon. I promise I will.  :-)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

UR Priceless - Day 2


Day 2 of the UR Priceless Blog Hop! Check out these awesome creations.

                                                        Jane's Fabric and Quilts
                                                                    Rosemary B
                                                               Why-Knot-Kwilt
                                                     Random Thoughts..do or "di"
                                                                        Mary T.
                                                         Supermom No Cape
                                                             Lily Pad Quilting
                                                                .Quiltscapes.
                                                        Stitch, Stitch, Stitch
                                                           Rose Creations
                                                          The Treehouse
                                                       Gracie Oliver Arts
                                                       Quilting Prolifically
                                                                     Stekje
                                                       Grammie Q's

Monday, November 5, 2012

UR Priceless Blog Hop

It's day 1 of the UR Priceless Blog Hop. YEAH!!

I've made a number of these coin purses because they are so much fun and pretty darn easy. I don't post my purse(s) until next week (the 12th), but here's the list of today's posters. Enjoy the eye candy!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Extra Hour?

Can anyone tell me what happened to that hour we gained last night? I seem to have lost it and I'd really like it back!! I've been busy today, but unfortunately don't think I will succeed in getting everything done that I had hoped. I guess I miscalculated how much I could achieve with that extra hour.  :-(

Check out our Bras for a Cause display at the Sandusky Mall. The bras will remain on display until Tuesday, November 13th when we take them to put up at the Girls' Night Out venue.  We will be at the mall Friday night and all day Saturday (11/9 - 11/10) accepting early votes.