Another Giveaway I found! - Dawns Quilt Corner

Dawns Quilt Corner is giving away Dr. Seuss fabric! Great opportunity! Check it out! So many yards!

Stray Stitches Fabulous Giveaway!

To celebrate her 300th follower, and the New Year, Linda at Stray Stitches is having a giveaway. Check it out! Fabulous! About 7 yards + pattern..

More Tips and Things Learned: Part III

1)  Giveaways are a great way to meet new and interesting people!

2)  No matter what happens on the next cut, just remember... it's only fabric.

3)  Things happen at your Design Wall when the overhead fan is turned on high.

4)   Pet animals can be very good company when sewing…..Pet birds…. usually……

5)   Sometimes the simplest is the best.

6)  You get more when you give than when you get......

7)   If/When listing projects to create in your quilting life, stretch the list; add several more than you anticipate finishing.....If you reach for the stars, you might get off the ground...

8)  Almost three-year-olds don't notice the many "oops" in their quilt from G'ma.  They just wrap it around and snuggle.....

9)  The best gift for your quilt is a new washing machine to replace the OLD one with the agitator!

10) It's hard to capture a giggle in a quilt, but some do!

Hiatus

As with others, I find it difficult to continue posting during this holiday season. 

I am taking time off from this blog in order to enjoy Christmas and New Years, work on items I want to, and then WOW you with the results come January.

Also, unless things change, I plan to start my mini-giveaways during the first week of January....be on the lookout for all the details then.

Have a safe and happy Christmas and New Years!!

What can I say? I'm a Joiner,,,,

I just joined Myra's PhD  Challenge.  No pictures here, but go see my 5 (yes, 5!) projects (this date).  The pictures will be familiar...  I guess my DH will be cooking and cleaning for awhile...

Talk to you later..

I Just Couldn't Wait......

I received a package the other day----a giveaway prize from Lana at It Seams to be Sew. 

Since I had opened up the other present I received from Amazon (confession in earlier post), I very carefully put it under our tree(s) (future post) . 

But it kept calling to me......and calling.... that red package refused to say "Stop"...

So, here is what I got......

Sorry the picture is so lousy....I have having issues with my camera....sometimes the picture I knew I took did not come out...it took me 4 pictures and time just to get this....

Anyway, you can see the lovely fabric I received....and a pattern for a sewing machine cover! My Janome will stay warm and cuddly if I hurry and make it!

Thanks, Lana, and have fun with the rest of your 12 days of Christmas Giveaway......

Tips I Have Discovered While Sewing and Quilting- Part II

1) Buy more fabric than needed...if you don't make mistakes, you can always make a scrappy back using the extra.....

2) When downsizing pictures for your quilting blog, do not get rid of the original picture until you are sure the new one is okay.

              2a)  Be sure to rename picture so the original won't be replaced.

3) Cut original squares for HSTs and QSTs a bit bigger than directions; when finished, you can always cut down to correct size.

4)  DON'T make decisions when you are tired.

5)  Use "Shout" Color Catcher when washing cloth/quilt/etc in washing machine...no commercial,,,it really works.

6) Do Not hang your quilts out to dry on a dusty day!

7)  Invariably, the top/flimsy using the new(to you) style fabric you were unsure of,  is the one you love more than anything....spread your horizons....

8) Your labels can be anywhere on the quilt ....be inventive...(I put one on a footprint in the middle of the back once).

9)  Don't use the "leftovers" of your UFO on something else until you finish it!  You may need them for the back or binding. (see #1).

10) The chance of your bobbin running dry will depend on your preparedness and level of awkwardness of replacement.

Odds and Ends Mini-Giveaways - Next Year

Let's be honest here......I am going through my stash closet and cleaning it out,,,slowly,,,trying to arrange it so I can see what I have.

Many of us look through our stash and come across something that we know we will never use.  We know someone somewhere could find a use for it.  In my case, I have several (what I call) non-quilt items, as well as fabric I know I won't use.

 Re: non-quilt items:  I know there might be a limited number of you readers who desire or would be willing to have these, and I hate throw anything away when someone with a little more imagination and creativity could use them.

So....I have decided to start some mini-giveaways....odds and ends that may or may not be quilt fabric...  depending on the viewer's outlook.  I am calling it a mini-giveaway because I don't know how many of you will be interested....which means you will stand a better chance if you are the only one!

At this point I don't know how many I will have or how often...some I know I have not found yet...they are hidden in my stash (closet) and possibly I don't even know I have them...lol... and who knows when I'll find them or how many there are.  Let's just say as I run across something I don't need or don't know how to use, I will have a mini-giveaway for it.

I plan to start this sometime during the first two weeks of January.  I will give you notice before I post one.    I have two, maybe three items in mind, but will usually showcase only one item at a time...and the length of time on the mini-giveaways will be only 2-3 days. Because of this, I am showing you pictures now of items I have chosen so far.  Descriptions will be at the time of the giveaway, but you can get an idea...

Also, if you are not interested, but know someone who is, please refer them to this post or the later giveaway post..... These are poor orphans who need to be needed....

I Opened This Early......

I received a package a couple of days ago.  It was one of those packages that come from the internet and usually have some indication who it is from. This one did not.

Of course, I had to open it......before Christmas.....Shame on me......

And this is what was in it.....(the fabric is just a backdrop..something I am working on)

I love them!  I can tell when I have to measure and trim....cut and piece....and can spend the time sewing!!  BTW.  that word you can't read on the magnet is "space"...the clock is back up and I don't want to take another picture....

Finished both tops of Amy's Quilt-Along.....Finally!

Once upon a time, a long, long, long time ago, I joined a Quilt-Along, decided to do two quilts and finished the first one.

Jump to present...

I just finished the second top of the sampler blocks Amy hosted.....same blocks, different arrangement and fabric(Kaffe design, I think)..... One more thing to mark off my list!

This was the one that was sort of out of my comfort zone.  I had never worked with these designs before in this scale.... but I had bought oodles of fqs....It is really striking.. I like both tops, but the second one is my favorite....

Probably because it surprised me and it has more contrast and bright colors than the other one....however, I am really satisfied with both.

Now they are officially UFOs....for awhile..

12 Sounds of Christmas....

Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming....Sights and sounds of Christmas are all over blogs. 

 Our water/windmill.......

Here is a collection of posts that reminded me of Christmas sounds.....

Use your imagination, Click, Look......and (imagine, in part) Listen....... And then comment on their posts if you want.

1)  Clickity -Clack, Clickity-Clack - from the Happy Cottage Quilter as she knits with lovely yarn. (Her post started me thinking of this idea.....Thanks, Cottage Quilter)

2)   Singing - Need a Little Christmas - from Madame Samm at Sew I Quilt as she negotiates with Hallmark.

3) " Ooooh,  Aaaahhhh" -  Thanksgiving Wrap-Up - (Christmas Lights) - from LuAnn at Loose Threads as we see her outside decorations.

4) Footsteps,,,Walking, Walking, Walking- Flea Market Shopping....for Christmas Presents  from Theodora (in Greece) at Theodora Quilts

5)  Ho-Ho-Ho -  Santa with his pack from Mainer from Meinca

6)  Sneak, Tip-Toe, Lips Locked - hints on how to hide Christmas presents (from a stash hider), told in "100 ways to hide your stash" shown by Grandmarockton at Quilting,Sewing Granny

7)   Slurp, Sip, Gulp - of liquids from mugs sitting on Mug Rugs - many sites and more than can be put here,,,,samples.....Lazy Dog Quilts and More with Judy, and That Girl That Quilt with Jennifer.

8)  The Nutcracker - The Dancer from Chris at Crispy Quilts as we see a dancer in rehearsal.

9)   Cut, Cut, Cut Cut - from Trish at Notes of Sincerity - all those projects!

10)   Sighs of Satisfaction -Finally Done With the ABCs from Arden's Scrap of the Net and others who have finished their quilts and projects in time for Christmas!

11)  Visiting Friends-Door Bell Ringing or Knocking on Door - while admiring Santa, of course, from Polly at Pollys Porch.

12) And finally.......Listen to your own sewing machine whirrling away, creating who-knows-what surprises and joy.  Sounds good, right???

Hope you enjoyed listening......Have fun making your own sounds of Christmas this year...

Sitting at Computer After Wrapping Presents.......

I will be mailing presents tomorrow, if DH can find box(es) for them.  

Am running out of wrapping paper....Decided that I will not buy any next year....what do I have my Christmas fabric stash for if not to wrap presents in!......

Also,  Have any of you noticed that the Scotch tape dispensers start looking like little sleighs about this time of year....

I think I need some coffee.................

Yeah! We Have a Winner

.....Of my Giveaway 

MARCIA!

As soon as she contacts me and tells me where to send the lovely 5 yards of fabric, I will cut and send them! 

Congratulations! Marcia!

And thank all of you who entered.  I enjoyed hearing from you and hope your Christmas and holidays will be happy and fulfilled. 

Down Memory Lane - in more ways than one

Ya'll think back.....way back......

'Member when I was working on the Quilt-Along with Amy at Amy's Creative Side this last summer? If not, you can quickly scroll down the page at the left to refresh your memory....

  At the time I started, I found myself at a point (very seldom) where we have finished several items (or goals) at once and are casting around looking for something else to do.

I decided this quilt-along was a good thing, so why not double the fun?  I was foolish brave enough to try to work on two quilts at once.  It was a good thing.  I really tried (after starting 3 weeks late) and caught up, and stayed up with the group until.....the last couple of weeks.  I did finish one of the quilt tops (Quilt B), but lacked 2 blocks in Quilt A. 

All this background laid so that I can tell you one simple thing......

I finished ONE of the two blocks in Quilt A.  Yea!  Hurray!

  I am ready to work on the second block, but Christmas, etc, keeps getting in the way.  Just a couple of days alone with nothing else to do and I could get the top finished....

But then my grandkids wouldn't get their Christmas box before Christmas, and my DH wouldn't have dinner a couple of times (hurts especially since we just spent a wad for groceries!), and I wouldn't get a batch of plum jam made (plum makings in the freezer since the first of the summer).

Now to the other trip down memory lane....or lack of memory. 

I mentioned in making DHs Crazy Quilt that I had some muslin for the backing of the blocks, but would need to buy more (which I did,,,,about $40 or $50 worth!). 

Weeeellllllllll,,,,,, I was rummaging around for fabric for my Giveaway (see last post).........and looked in a plastic container, which happened to be.....on the floor behind me next to my table where I work......yep....

There is a LOT there!  It's in a 'wad" because it was the remainder of a bolt I bought a long time ago.  I groan every time I think of what that $40 or $50 could have bought! 

Do you see why I need to continue working on my sewing room???? 

So now it looks like this......

Still stuffed, but at least in it's own apartment.....with label (index card). 

No telling how much I am going to save next year as I continue to work on my stash!

100th Post GiveAway - What A Novelty!

Welcome to my 100th post!  I started this blog to showcase what I do, and it (and I) have slowly been  evolving into what?  Who knows, but it is fun, whatever it is.  I have opened the door to the world and who knows who will come through (Do you remember Mr. Rogers and Dean Martin, among others, who opened their doors on TV and no one knew who or what you would see next.....Well, There You Go)....

Now I am to sponsor a Give-Away, but what kind?  

   I put my thinking cap on (quilted, of course) and decided.......

 I am going to let one of you into my sewing room closet (so to speak) to SHOP MY STASH.....



You will be able to pick and choose what and how much to win.... Feel free to rummage through the pictures below and decide what you want to have.  You can have a 1/2 yard of this and that, a yard of "oohh, yes" , and even 2 yards of  "specially specials". Up to an overall total of 5 yards.

You see, some of these I bought and have not cut, some I have just "collected" and some I have used and still have oodles of. Some are LQS quality and some I bought when I was first learning to quilt (about 5 years ago), some fabric I have had for a longer time than others, but all are decent, useable stash.

I have chosen mainly Novelty fabrics.  Most will be the normal width sold in stores.  If different, it will be mentioned with the picture.

1)  Time Frame -------not long, only until December 5 at 12:00AM (CST) (midnight)

2)  Overall total yardage to be given away -  5 yards of stash   

3)  Increments:  1/2 yard, 1 yard, 1 1/2 yards, with maximum of any fabric being 2 yards  (if available, of course).

4)  To enter, just leave a comment on this post and mention the Giveaway on your blog, or wherever. Hopefully you will become a follower if you aren't one already, but it's not necessary.

5) I will announce the winner within 24 hours after the giveaway closes.  The old fashioned name in a bowl will be the method, assisted by (drum roll....) my DH.

5) Please make sure that I have some way to reach you!  If your name is drawn and you cannot be reached, then you can't win and another winner will be picked.  If you are a "no-reply blogger", then leave me your e-mail.  If you do win, you have 2 days to give me your "order".   It will take a couple of days to cut the fabric and then it will be on the way to its' new home. 

Each picture will have an identifying name and/or code above each picture to help in the ordering. 

   Have fun shopping !



Click on pictures for a larger view... 

1)  Planets - 3 fabrics

1a (only 1 yard  available)

                               

1b (1 panel - 1 yard)

1c



2)  chef's special - 1 fabric

2

3)  License Plate - 1 fabric

3



4) Musical Instruments/Black background - 1 fabric

4



5) Musical Instruments/Cream background - 1 fabric

5



6) Various John Deer Fabric- 6 fabrics

6a

6b

6c

6d

6e

6f



7) Christmas Apron/Pot Holder Panel- 2 panels (1 panel = 1 yard)

7

8) Christmas Patriotic Santa Stars

8

9) Large Christmas Stars (Thimbleberry brand) - must take all, little over 1 yard so count 1 yard

9

10) Christmas Scarf Fabric (Silky feel, must take all - count 1 yard)

10



 Have fun choosing.  I'll have my order pad ready.