Friday Finish ~ A Tisket, A Tasket.....

...some Easter Bunny Baskets :)

To Be Fair, I Needed Almost All of It

I had a lovely time shopping with Miss Bea today :) And boy, can the two of us do some fabric shopping. Neither clouds nor rain nor grumpy chauffeurs (thank you, dad) kept us from our appointed spending.


We hit Joann's first. The NFL fabric is the backing for my next quilt. Thank goodness for 50% off coupons. I really really really wanted that fabric, but did not want to pay full price for it. Turns out half of my bobbins didn't work with my new machine, so I picked up some replacements. I didn't actually need the yard of batik or the novelty FQ's, but, um, they were on sale.

Pixelated Angel ~ Only 1,344 Pieces Left

Up at 3:45 this morning. Seems I'm about a week ahead of Daylight Savings Time. Maybe by
Monday or so I'll start keeping normal, human hours again. But waking up uber-early seems to be working very well for me, as far as this quilt goes.
Managed to finish off three & a half more blocks today. Might have managed more, but the next 5 lines I did I seriously messed up. So I'm done with sewing on it for the night. I may set up the pieces for the next few block sets. I've learned from experience not to work too far ahead. For some reason cats & dogs find well ordered little blocks of fabric completely irresistible.

WiP Wednesday ~ Pixelated Angel

Only 1 square done today :( You'd think, having been awoken at 4:30 am, I'd have gotten more done. Unfortunately, no, that's not how my life works. I think the phone rang every single time I sat down at the sewing machine. Oh, well. 100 more pieces closer to finished; it'll get there.



Lookie what came in the mail for me today! A box of pretties I won from Granma's Charms. She's been destashing & cleaning up her sewing room. Looks like she'll be holding another giveaway in the near future :)


Washed 2 finished quilts today. Am I the only one convinced that they'll disintegrate into rags the minute they hit the water? I'm sure (every time) I'm going to pull a shredded, thready, destroyed quilt out of the washer/dryer. Both quilts made it through just fine, I think it's just a paranoid fear of mine.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced WiP Wednesday.

Some Giveaways & A Few Interesting Links

Giveaways
~ Happy Quilting is having a giveaway to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Intrepid Thread's new Website. Up for grabs is a FQ Bundle of Pat Bravo's Poetica, ends 3/11
~ Stitched in Color is hosting a giveaway for 12 ounce Studio Scrap Pack & A FQ Bundle. Sponsored by JAQS fabrics, winner drawn 3/9 (& also, check out the shop, good prices)
~ Enter to win a copy of Bed Runners & More at Spun Sugar Quilts, ends 3/10
~ Samelia's Mom is having a giveaway for a charm pack of Vintage Modern, ends 3/16
~ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is passing on the Passing It On box, winner announced 3/9
~ We Love Quilting March Giveaway is 50 FQ, ends 3/31 (I assume)


Interesting Links
~ Bonnie Hunter has a tip for getting the stinky out of fabric.
~ Piecemeal Quilts is hosting an Ironworks* Quilt Along

~ Patchouli Moon Studio has a tutorial for making cute little books.
~ Stitched in Color is having a Festival of Scrappiness linky party, March 26-28. Any quilt top finished in 2012 and made mostly from scraps is welcome to take part. There will be prizes :)
~ Quilting Gallery (you should check out that blog, seriously) is hosting a blog hop with giveaways, March 16-23

~ Sew Many Ways... has a tutorial for making an ironing board out of an old table. So need to do this :)
~ Have something crafty you'd like to share? Quilting by the River has a Linky Party Tuesdays :)

~ Or link up at SewHappyGeek's Manic Monday Linky
~ Or even Sew Many Ways... Sew Darn Crafty linky :)
~ Finish up a project in March? Add it to the linky at Such a Sew and Sew A Stitch In Time: March Finishes Linky Party


That's all for now :)

Pixelated :)

I was going to save this til the top was all done, but....OMG! FACE!!! She has a face! Yes, I'm excited. I was concerned that even at 1" square, the face wouldn't show well. It does, yay!

(& obviously, this is not the the Green X quilt. I added a row to it, & the more I add, the more the pattern disappears. So I put it up for now. I'll finish it someday. )

Bea...Bea...Hey, Bea....

My New Machine & This Week's Plans

Sewing machine shopping yesterday. You'd think that would be fun, but with a cranky 6 year old & an even crankier 18 year old along for the ride, not so much. 150 mile round trip, 6 or 7 stops, & I ended up with the sewing machine I originally wanted in the first place. Yeah, it's a beast :) And $50 off, so bonus. Total pass for The Husband for the next week or so, since it was his birthday. Yuppers, gotta love a man that will take you sewing machine shopping on his birthday




















I'm pretty happy with this machine. It's heavy duty, & I *think* even I won't be able to destroy this one for a while ;) I wish the throat were bigger (it's actually a bit smaller than my old one) but I'm pretty sure I can still muscle most of my quilts through there. The other ones I looked at all looked like children's toys; no thank you.



















Gonna spend most of this week working on the Green X Quilt. 8 squares down, 40 to go. I've actually thought of a better way to do this, & likely will use the massive quantity of blue fabric I have in a similarly constructed quilt.




















I hope to be done with this top by the end of this week. Shouldn't be that hard, if I don't get distracted ;) Hopefully I'll also have time to work on the corner blocks for The Pink Quilt, too. Gonna do a Lady of the Lake Feathered Star block, a Bargello & Round the World blocks, & a Lone Star block, all at about 15".

And I haven't forgotten your quilt, Bea. It's next on the to-do list; I just needed a break from those one inch squares.

Hertford County Cub Quilt Done

I'm a little bit, let's say, particular.



So the quilt I've been trying to finish off this past week has got me feeling a bit stressed.

























At first, I tried to do the right thing. I pulled stitches, I remeasured. My seam ripper got a work-out.

















The I gave up being picky, & decided I could make a few adjustments & make things line up properly.















I developed a case of Quilter's Tourettes,


























but I finished the top.



I wasn't thrilled with it, so I sat it aside for a while :( Trying to finish up UFO's before starting anymore, so I pulled this out last week & started on the quilting & binding. Well, it's finished. It's a disaster, but it IS finished.
This is a simple pattern, using basic techniques. I ought to be able to do this, no worries. However, this is the 3rd (!) time I've tried to make it. The first 2 attempts ended up in the trash halfway through. I began to wonder if the Universe was trying to teach me something. And this is what I came up with :

Sometimes, no matter how precisely we plan or how hard we try, things don't always fit together the way they should. But if we push on through to the end, we may just end up with something functional. It might not be perfect, it might not even be pretty, but it will warm someone's life just the same.



Linking this up to Richard Quilts Link A Finish Friday & Such A Sew & Sew A Stitch In Time: March Finishes Linky Party.

One for the Bin

I love this type of quilt. It's a great way to use up all of those odd-off fabrics that seem to accumulate when you sew & quilt. I have some upholstery samples in this one, some prints that were flawed, even some craft panel instruction pieces ;)
It *may* be that this quilt was started about 14 months ago. It *may* be that it only needed the binding on one side put on to be finished (ahem). It also very well *may* be true that I am easily distracted. Oh, well, it's done now.

Turns out when I did my accounting of projects the other day, I forgot 2. A tooth fairy doll, which will hopefully be done at some point before my daughter gets all of her adult teeth, & The Pink Quilt. Yeah, how in the world did I forget The Pink Quilt?

Linking to Richard Quilts: Link A Finish Friday & Such A Sew & Sew February Finishes, because, hey, 2 finishes in one week for me? Totally brag-worthy :)

Amigurumi Cow?

Woo Hoo! A finish :) Standing not-so-very tall at just under 8", my wee crocheted cow is done. Pretty spring colors just because a brown cow is boring ;)
The pattern is from the July/August 1996 edition of Hooked on Crochet, with a few *Aimee Alterations* thrown in.
Now I only have 5 quilts, 2 crocheted afghans, & a knit baby sweater to get out of the way before I can start on something else. Permission to laugh & say *yeah, right* at my attempt to clear out old projects before starting any new ones ;)

Sew, Mama, Sew May Giveaway Day

Sew, Mama, Sew May Giveaway Day is just around the corner :) Do we want to participate as a blog & hold a giveaway? We have until May 20th to decide. It is a good way to get more exposure, but if none of ya'll care, then we won't bother. Let me know :)
(Sew, Mama, Sew is a massive crafty-type giveaway blog hop. There are several categories of giveaways {hand made items or stuff you can use to make hand made items} & it runs for 3 days. )

Say Hello To My Little Friend :)

Meet my New Best Friend, Nelson Bonesworth Ferguson :) Nelson is on Facebook. Friend him.

Nelson also wanted me to tell you about a Charity Quilt Block Challenge benefiting Quilts of Valor. All of the info is on SewCalGal's blog. Help wounded soldiers & veterans (win) & be in the running for an AccuQuilt GO! Baby (win).

Nelson used to be a sailor ;)

Some Giveaways :)

OK, so this will weekly *ish*

~Shabby Apple :)
~~~Freebie Spot, ends 5/7
~~~La Dolfina, ends 5/4
~~~The Bragging Mommy, 5/11
~~~Nautical by Nature, 5/4
~~~a bit o' shine, 5/3
~~~Our Loonyverse, 5/15

~Pay It Forward $50 Gift Cards (added these cuz it's a chance to help someone else)
~~~Kiddies Corners Deals, 5/15
~~~Love To Shop Mom, 5/8
~~~Just Another New Blog, 5/15
~~~Blaze N Crochet, 5/20
~~~The Divine Miss Mommy, 5/22
~~~Mommy's Wish List, 5/7
~~~To.Be.Thode, 5/5
~~~Dealectible Mommies, 5/4
~~~The Mom Buzz, 5/20
~~~Heck of a Bunch. 5/4
~~~Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports, 5/7

~Quilty Stuff ;)
~~~Thimbleberries Fabric, 1 yd, One More Quilt, 5/3 10:00 AM
~~~Book: A Fine Line : Techniques and Inspirations for Creating the Quilting Design, Inch Worm Fabrics, ???
~~~Cricut Expression 2: Anniversary Edition, Fave Crafts, 5/14
~~~Scraps, FairyFace Designs, 5/6
~~~$25 Gift Certificate to J&O Fabrics, PI of Products, 5/12
~~~Go! Baby Fabric Cutter, Quiltstory, 5/4
~~~GO! Baby Fabric Cutter, Sew Dang Cute, 5/7
~~~10 pc Half Yd bundle set of Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms, Kool Beenz, 5/6
~~~2 Charm Packs, Happy Quilting, 5/6
~~~Book: 100 Blocks, Jaybird Quilts, *End of Week*
~~~Book: Inspired by Zentangle fabric arts, quilting and embroidery, Fort Worth Fabric Studio, drawing 5/5
~~~Fat Quarter set, Creative Chicks, *Sometime Next Week*
~~~Bunch of quilty stuff, The Intrepid Thread, 5/6
~~~Indigenous Prints, Want It Need It Quilt, 5/31
~~~5 Fat Quarters, Jackie's Art Quilts, 5/5


Also, check out this weeks quilty type giveaway linky at (appropriately enough) Quilty Giveaways :) Could be there are some I missed ;)

Quilty Type Giveaways :)

~~~Lilac Lane is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway. For followers only, Twiter, FB, & Blog, 3 FQ sets total. Ends 8:00 AM tomorrow morning, so Quick, Quick like Bunnies :)
~~~Jaybird Quilts is giving away a Treasures & Tidbits FQ Bundles & an Off the Rail pattern. Ends 4/21
~~~Quilting Gallery holds a weekly contest. This week's theme is Easter Quilts & the prize is a Christmas themed FQ bundle. Submit your photo by 4/21
~~~Spun Sugar Quilts is offering up a Fat Sixteenth (9" X 11") Bundle of the new Denyse Schmidt line. Ends 4/23
~~~Jonquils & Ladybugs is celebrating 200 sales & giving away a quilt. Ends 4/22
~~~Sew Fresh Fabrics is giving away a medium Flat Rate Box filled with Fabric. Ends 4/20
~~~Kool Beanz is having a giveaway for a (5) FQ Bundle. Ends 4/22
~~~the confused quilter is celebrating her blogaversary & giving away 5 patterns for some really cute quilts. Ends 4/22
~~~Canton Village Quilt Works is hosting a giveaway for (6) FQs. Ends 4/21
~~~The Traveling Stash is making it's way around the blogosphere. Cheaper Than Therapy is the latest host sending it out on it's way; ends 4/23
~~~1 Choice 4 Quilting (I love her blog) is hosting another giveaway! (BTW, she's really nice, too). The prize this time is a Quilt kit, choice is one of three. For a second chance to win, head over to The Quilting Book Club Blog. Ends 4/24
~~~One More Quilt is celebrating her 1 year Blogaversary. Lots of good quilty stuff (including some Batik remnants); ends 4/25
~~A Quilting Life is hosting a giveaway for a $25 GC for Fashionable Fabrics. Ends 4/21

OK, that's it for the night :) Best of luck, everyone.

Some Quilty Type Giveaways for Everyone :)

I haven't been entering a lot of giveaways lately, but I have found quite a few good ones :) Best of luck!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio is having a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a fabric bundle of the the "Delilah" collection by Tanya Whalen for Free Spirit & one winner will receive a Suzi Purse Insert & More pattern. Winner announced 4/18; check back.

p.s. i quilt is giving away a Modern Workshop Fat Quarter Bundle. Winner drawn Friday, so enter by tomorrow.

Leona's Quilting Adventure is celebrating her move to Western PA with a giveaway. Some neat quilty stuff; ends 4/22; check back (?)

Want It Need It Quilt's April Giveaway is 12 Gypsy Fat Quarters. Runs through the nd of the month.

Quilted Journeys is celebrating her one year blogging anniversary by giving away a red, white & black FQ bundle. Comments accepted until 6:00 PM EST 4/15.

Cyndi from Bluebird's Wings had a great time at the International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati & hosting a giveaway to share some of her loot. There are 8 prizes ups for grabs :) Last day to enter is 4/17.

Like Bandana Fabric? KoolBeenz is hosting a giveaway for 12 FQs of Michael Miller's Gypsy Bandana by Pillow & Maxfield. Ends 4/15

Ardea's Nest has a tutorial for a cute little quilt & a giveaway for (4) 1/2 yard cuts. Ends 4/15

Handmade Crafts Done While RVing is giving away a $20 JoAnn's GC & Showing off her husband's quiting skills :) Ends May 31.

Sandy's Sewing Circle is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway! Enter to win a bag pattern, embroidery floss & a FQ. Ends 4/14

Sometimes I really wish I was on Facebook. McCall's Quilting Blog is giving away a FQ Bundle from Moda’s Authentic collection. Winner will be chosen from those who leave a comment on their FB page before May 31. Sigh.

Fabric Seeds is having a Welcome Giveaway. Up for grabs is at least one Chrysalis charm pack. Ends 4/15

We Love Quilting's April giveaway is a "Surprise Box" Runs through the end of this month.

Kontant Kaos is giving away a copy of the book "i heart patchwork" ends 4/14

Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop is having an April Giveaway for a Montego Batiks Fat Quarter Bundle. Ends 4/30.


Saved the Best for Last 8}

Rachelle's Writing Spot & 9 other bloggers are each giving away a Giant Cutting Mat. Cool, right? But, wait, there's more. If you are 1 of the winners of the cutting mat (you can win more than one) your name goes into the hat for this beautiful little lovely:


The Sewing Box
Is it the prettiest thing you ever saw? Are you drooling yet? Running to tell the hubbies *I NEED this!* Yeah, me too.

No, this won't be a daily thing, I promise, but I might make it a weekly feature :) Wishing you the best of luck & hope you win something lovely.

Some New Blocks Done ~ Including Flying Swallows!!!!!

I made a Flying Swallows Block!!! Holy Moly Ravioli! (It's the bottom one) Should have used a different fabric for the outside, no doubt, & it's not perfect ~BUT~ I MADE A FLYING SWALLOWS BLOCK!!!!
That. Is. Awesome. :)

More Squishy Awesomeness :)

Another squishy package in the mail today.


Hmm. What Could It Be?


Moda & Hoffman & Marble, Oh, My!

Yup, my order from Thousands of Bolts came already!



So I Cut Up the Red & Cream...



And Made My First Block for Just One Star.

It seems huge, but that may only be because I've been working with the wee 6 1/2" blocks.

I Will Love Him & Pet Him & Call Him George

First, I would like to point out that I am obviously not the only person to remember this cartoon :)


But since Bea asked, here's the answer. Enjoy :)

Mail Call :)

Looky what was waiting for me when I got home today

A nice, squishy package.
Do you know what comes in nice, squishy packages?


FABRIC!!!
More specifically, the lovely Sunkissed by Sweetwater for Moda that I won from 1 Choice 4 Quilting :) {Their prices are pretty decent, too, just FYI}


A Closer Look
I want to pet it & love it & call it George :) I think it would be perfect for a pinwheel quilt, very pretty.

I also wanted to point out a few things of interest. If you don't follow Sew We Quilt, you really should. She has the most amazing guest bloggers, a banner change every month (love it) & there's a massive giveaway going on right now with all sorts of quilty goodness. And if any of you win, you're totally giving me that pink fat quarter bundle, just so you know. I know where you live. Just sayin' :) The winner is being drawn on Saturday, so...

Also, you guys should totally check out Thousands of Bolts...and Only One Nut. I will be buying my Batiks & Marbles from them from now on. And, oh, the Stonehenge Fabrics! Drool, dra-ool. I should be getting my order from them around the beginning of next week.

Spun Sugar Quilts is the one doing the $50 Fat Quarter Shop Gift Card giveaway. This ends on the 17th & you have to check back to see if you've won.

~~~I need a name for The Pink Quilt. It's really not appropriate to name it what I'm calling it in my head at this point. Think, gals, think. I'm open to suggestions.~~~

Just One Star ~ Make & Donate a Quilt Square

If you have some blue/red and cream fabrics lying about, you may want to go check out this blog post. Moda has put together a challenge to piece, quilt and bind 100 quilts in 100 days using the
Flag of Valor pattern by Minick and Simpson. These quilts will be given to wounded soldiers & their families. I can get behind this & will be making a few blocks.