[Stray Stitches giveaway]

Ooooh, wanna win a fantabulous prize to get your quilting year started off right?!?!

Linda, over at Stray Stitches, is having an amazing giveaway and you should definitely go check it out! I met Linda when we became Inchy Hexagon Swap partners and I have been enjoying Linda's blog ever since! This lady is fun and funny, has lots of great wisdom and excellent quotes and inspiration, and is super gracious!

Go.... check out Stray Stitches!!!

[christmas spirit from retromummy]

Ooooooh. Aaaaaaaah. Drooooool.
Check out this amazing gift-away to her readers!
Make sure you go enter Retro Mummy's Christmas giveaway, k?
Merry Christmas!!!

[stash growing]

I wonder what Madam Sam would think of me?! I am a happy follower of Stash Manicure and love the tips her guest bloggers bring... but... as a new quilter, I just don't have a stash to manicure quite yet!

You might think it silly of me to *want* a stash of my own, but with the Inchy Hexagon Swap underway, I am in need of a variety of colours and prints in quilting cottons. The last two hexagon flowers ended up costing me about $40 each. Yes, $40! Well, really only $8 (FQs are $4 each at my LQS) but who can ever leave the quilt shop without a few extra treats?!?! Not me, that's for sure! LOL

Imagine my happy self doing a little inner happy dancing when I came across a bin of "scraps" all bagged and bundled for only $2 each today!!! It felt like Christmas morning to dump them out in a big pile on the floor and start digging through the bits and piles! I especially love this bit of fairies and the scraps with the PS3 and other gaming fun!
And look, even some pieces of Anna Griffin (swoon!) Christmas fabric already sandwiched and just waiting to be made into ... hmmmm... mug rugs?!?!?! I am super excited and wish my 3rd of 4 possible children hadn't come down with a really bad flu this evening... oh, and my final exam which I really should be studying between bouts of holding flu-child whilst he vomits. Blech.

Back to happy thoughts... I upcycled this ribbons holder from my scrapbooking room (it was just a catch-all space, really) and started laying out the scraps in colour families! How fun is that?!?!?! The scraps were primarily samples and there are many 4"x6" bits from the same fabric lines! I wish I was creative enough to know how to just shmoosh them all into one project...cuz I just love 'em!!!

Hey, do you love my pink Kenmore Mini Ultra?!?! It's actually my daughter's but the foot thingy fell off of mine and it was easier to just use hers than to figure out how to stick that foot thingy back on! lol

Have a great day... and SEASON'S GREETINGS!!!!!!

[victory!]

Hooray! I did it!!!
I am so super-duper pleased with how this turned out!
I loved cutting out each blade!
I loved watching as the circle began to form!
I didn't love making the centre circle quite as much, but thanks to MissouriStarQuiltCo. tutorials I did a do-over and figured it out!
I am soooo pleased!!!!!

Here's my question for those of you who have made these Dresden Plates before:
How pointy do you make your points?!?! Some of the points seemed to need a little nudging from the pointy ends of my closed scissors to get them to sharpen their turned-over tip. But I didn't want them all military precise because it didn't seem as comfy-cozy Grandmother's quilt-ish. You know?!?! And are there supposed to be all those extra thread ends?! I will trim them up before stitching it onto a block... I just don't know if I'm a super messy quilter or what?!


So, I did what I did, but would love to know what you do for your Dresden blade points. And, how big do you make your centre circle? Mine isn't much bigger than the hole in the middle of the blades, is there a general rule on that or do you just wing it?

Thanks for looking!

[Fabric: Basic Grey, Fruitcake]

[gah!]

So I'm creating my first Desden Plate. And I just did all the cuts. And I just did all the chain stitching. And I was just feeling all impressed that I was doing double duty and was ready to iron my points. And I just realized I sewed wrongs together instead of rights and now need to seam rip out an entire chain (40 blades) of incorrect stitching. [sigh]
Ah well. It's kind of funny and I really want to see how this little plate comes together so I shall listen to/oversee my 12 yrs old practice piano as I pull out stitches!
It ain't quilting until your ripping seams, right?!?!?
LOL

While I'm seam-ripping I am also re-watching the MissouriStarQuiltCo tutorial on Dresden Plates. I [heart] MissouriStarQuiltCo!!! Those tutorials have taught me most of what I know about quilting! Thanks, Ladies!!!

Here's the link to the tutorials: http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com/

[contest]

Go here... try and win... if you don't want it... I totally would love to have my own Accuquilt GO!!!

http://madewithlovebymandy.blogspot.com/2010/11/accuquilt-go-giveaway.html?showComment=1289755276961_AIe9_BE_5f_DZS6cDIsDL_4EnwCzR5UKrNO_E1j3cKV4WcBxif3Am27_08AEJC2q3eboSwtx0xclsj757aoMabk6E2fhidp_Q7N7AB1O7IuWhs6PaxslaadtarPuGKMs66XdGmWGtPVx0ENBzocGwd-JuqwMywDFqQ3PUJdayw2zSw8Wn5N1zgsOON5o3nYYqW8W6IXV8scbOw_vZy0Jc-vg0sAZwPnkEVEJDXRoeBkCXI8-mMRtkp8T7m-LoofgA88hJO-t-CxQig9RaZfLpUfTEbfgpQoqR4QfD3spsLOufjmbxD6SjIqlHBVYqlTLwRrdO4oXrlKgp508MF0Uj4e3EjEvz-v9NssL8LAENrH-pIMbIAzPW90valA_SSPSRzikeP_XAyI9Ict8RuyceMLYVqmuABszbKInggNLZlYxY6slFwLuQZ1zkeHy3TmzmvOB1kQ3S50abzfkLCXAx9mvuDDXjhumBVKRgb036lgloRfhsNM0ISPiOV_jccir8KjE0Hu8DEXac9bhGl8sMm29yrWrZPqwj1Cwm_jtTZDecvChEG-2ipS23mp6-xrhrbAUTBgPPyOrcTeKwuQacakLSwkTDN5VNoNF7zaTMStja7qNQIimsTr5tADx1y6aHJoU0fCjsu7L0bSyIT53Eb0HgKF7AMYKI8cggSg9tX4wVTF8KEiYPd0-x0NEQ6i1_WywcMWxQ427#c1802998027557116123

[lively-cozy yumminess]

So this little beauty has been keeping me company around the house these many days! You may recall that I won this jelly roll during the fall quilt blog hop from waaaaay over in Australia!!! As it is my very first jelly roll ever I have been pondering what to shape it into as far as a quilt pattern/design. But... I kinda like how it looks all pretty rolled up in its little bun and am enjoying it as the work of art it already is!!! You can see I unwrapped it to take a better look at the fabrics... it still looked so pretty in it's roll but fanned out it started getting me all thinking about cuts and shapes and such... and I have an idea perculating!!!! I can't wait to get working on it because I really want to show Jane what I have done with her generous prize!!! So far, Jane, the joy has been in the connecting with a new friend and the lively-cozey colours of my jelly roll greeting me at the computer each morning!

Check out Jane's blog and new quilt shop: http://www.quiltjane.blogspot.com/

[win]

Ooooh, prizes and giveaways and yummy new fabrics up for winning!!! RetroMummy is a favourite blog of mine... go check it out and enter to win!!!

http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/11/sweet-broderie-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Retromummy+%28retromummy%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

[new store: undercover quilts]

Happy Anniversary to me.. er, us!!!! My dear husband of 16 years took me away last weekend for a wonderful, kid-free time of sleeping in, wandering aimlessly, and amazing meals. One of our favourite places to go for a quick weekend is Seattle, Washington. We especially love going to the Pike Place Market for coffee from the original Starbucks, yumminess from Piroshky Piroshky, and to watch the fish mongers throw salmon (it's part of the Pike Market experience!).


As Dear Husband was wandering through the sports cards and memorabilia store I decided to see if I could find the quilt store I had discovered via Yelp... and I was giddy like a kid-entering-Disneyland when I found the shop!!! Undercover Quilts was jam-packed, amazing, fun, surprising, and super well-stocked! There are bins with baggies of large coordinating scraps, there a shelves with FQ (fat quarters) to choose from, there was another shelf full of 1/2 yards (which is 2 FQs) randoms, and there were bolt upon bolt upon bolt of the most amazing fabrics, the likes of which I've only seen online! They also have a huge selection of Batiks (kind of water-colour looking fabrics) and use them in a lot of Northwest and Native inspired quilting... one quilt in the window was a beautiful orca jumping from a blue Batik ocean! Amazing! Check out that lovely piece of brown/pink/green fabric above, that was a fabric designed for the Washington (see the WA in the print?) Quilt Shop Hop last year! I missed the Hop but it's still fun to have a special little piece of the fun!

I worked really really hard to shop quickly (Husband would be finding me soon enough even though I was down a twisty-turny Diagonal Alley -like hallway) so as to not detract from my anniversary weekend time with my man! And just look what I found... I love these FQs and am super excited about them. How adorable are those little motorhomes and rvs?!?!?! I pulled those together myself and I think they are going to look great once I figure out a pattern!

This panel was in the 1/2 yards bin and I can't wait to turn it into a wall hanging or table topper... something quick and simple is my plan! The fabric is "Have a Sheri Berry Holiday" and is funky corals and teals and limes in a washed-out-but-still-cheery sort of way that just called to me! The lime green with white dots sort of feels snowball-like to me so my plan is to back the wall hanging with that. Perhaps that will be my today project... I really really really have need to get into my newly acquired fabrics and just play today!

Unfortuntaly, THIS is what awaits me:
Homework. Yes, I am an adult. Yes, I am a mother to four young kids. Yes, I am working through university programming to become (eventually) a Librarian. Yes, I am shaking my head at myself and tsk tsk-ing! But, if the kitchen is the heart of the home, the dining room table is the office... and this home has a full heart and a busy office and is always on the go!

The plan is to quickly toss all that coursework (that is ONE course represented!!!) and start working on this:


Remembrance Day is today. My children are singing at our City's Remembrance Day ceremony and then we have a quiet day planned at home. I find the weight of Remembrance Day and remembering/honouring our soldiers weighs heavily on my heart. Will see if I take the time to sew yet today or not.

"Peace comes at a price. Lest we forget."

[concert inchy]

Sorry for the bad photo but just look at the fun inchies I made at the Jeremy Camp concert in Seattle last weekend?!?! My husband did a mond0-big eye roll when I pulled out my little sewing kit! I sure wish I had noted the quilter/blogger who gave me this fantastic idea because I sure would like to thank her!!! Leave me a comment if you know where this came from!? I saw it on YouTube, I'm sure of it!!!

What I did was to take some cut inchy papers, wind a length of thread on a slip of cardstock, tuck scrap of fabric into the money section of the wallet and tuck my fancy-awesome stork scissors (thank you Mayleen, I love them!) into the credit card pockets. Oh yes, and the needle came from the hotel sewing kit! Once we found our seats, I pulled out my hexy kit and started stitching for the hour and a half wait til the concert started!! I ended up finishing inchies enough for two flowers! Awesome!!!

[halloween quilt 2010]

Check it out! My very first 'real' quilt... you know, the kind where you buy big pieces of fabric and then cut them into tiny pieces of fabric, piece them in a new way and sew them back up!?!?! I seriously had so much fun working from fat quarters to little strips to creating the blocks to sewing the rows! You probably can't see it, but I even got a bit experimental and created some rag quilt detail on the border and around the center blocks! I can't wait to get this backed and quilted and ragged!!!!

And the best part?!?!? I am waaaaaay ahead of the game cuz it's only November 3rd and Halloween is a whole year away! LOL

[one small inch for Kristin...]

[...one inchy flower for quiltkind]

Check it out! As the kids were having their slow start Sunday morning, this Momma was making her first inchy hexagon and then completing her first hexagon flower! Totally going to be addictive, I think! I loved the hand stitching though was wishing I had a Ma or Auntie sitting next to me on the bench, guiding me through the steps... "are the stitches too close together"..."do I knot or not knot that first stitch"...???

I started by cutting the hexagons (1" length on each side) on my Cricut Expression. THAT was a way better way for me than handcutting which would have totally sent me for a loop to Crazy Town!

Next I started folding and basting stitching the little bits of fabric around the little bits of paper! Thanks to [blog I have to find the name of] for suggesting punching holes into the papers for ease of removal.

.
And soon... my first inchy hexagon flower! I shall name it Inchy and it will be my Inchy!
(Finding Nemo)

Things I have learned from my first flower:
Don't be too cheap, cut the fabric hexagons a bit more generous.
Thread colour DOES matter, don't use a light thread on a dark fabric.

Any other hints you'd like to leave?! I am happy to read them!!!

[rag quilt for my littlest]

So here is the project that started it all!
I had stumbled upon a quilt blog. I decided to give "rag quilting" a try.
I loved it. My 3 yrs old loved it. I was hooked!
The quilt is done now but is tucked away to be a birthday gift for my Littlest. Didn't my 3 yrs old son do a great job choosing fabrics? He did all the choosing himself, I wouldn't have purchased if they didn't work together, but it was super fun that his fabric choices worked!

Lap quilt: 5" squares.
(Sorry for the distorted picture)

[first "quilt" quilt]

Look how fun these colours are as my blocks get put together?!?! The quilting bug bit me in September, and now here I am early October putting together a Halloween lap quilt (hopefully) to be ready for Halloween decorating! The first fabric I bought to back it just isn't sitting right so I did go and buy a second plaid (black, orange, white, silver thread) which I love... now to figure out backing the thing! I think I'll try my hand at doing the scwiggling stitching quilting part, too!

[inchy hexagon swap]

Guess what I'm doing!?!?!
If you guessed "Joining your first quilting swap" you are correct!!!
My husband tried to dissuade me, suggested my time could be better spent raising the kids or doing my university coursework... but I didn't offer him a vote, so here I am!
Learning something new and fun and people-connecting like QuiltJane's Inchy Flower Swap!
I've been scouring the WWW and watching tutorials and have cut my hexagon templates on the Cricut... now to grab some scraps and make my first flower!
Wish me luck!!!