Applique Thursday Giveaway

My third goal for this month of February was to finish my Anna's Garden block 5 and I did!  These blocks are only 7" but they have a lot of pieces.  This one was done with hand applique - not needle-turn.  So that makes all three goals done in February. I am so pleased. You can see my other two in the previous post.  My goals for March are to:

1.  Assemble and quilt my Memories of Riverside now that I have all the BOM blocks made.
2. Quilt the twins' baby quilts - have had them made since September. I think now that the girls are almost 6 months old I should get the quilts to them.
3.  Start on DGD Lily's quilt - just have to decide on a pattern.  Her birthday is April 16th.  This will be my NewFO for March and I can't show the fabric as it's a surprise.

That should keep me busy - LOL. And I'll be reporting on Judy's Getting it Done, Carrie's Nothing but UFOs and Shannon's Lovey Year of Finishes. Tomorrow I'll be linking over to Pat Sloan's Show and Tell . Do visit.

I have to write this tonight as I have two board meetings tomorrow, so I'll pick a winner for last week's giveaway then.  The new book (and I should say I'm getting down to the bottom of the pile) is:
I had high hopes for this book - lots of good recipes and lots of wonderful photos.  The quilts are good too, but they're mostly piecing - only one has applique.  So I'm sending it off to a new home.
To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. And for extra chances, tell your friends about this giveaway. If they comment or link and mention you in their comment, you'll automatically get another entry in this giveaway. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - all sorts of eye candy is eligible and very welcome - even projects you finish a while ago - it'll all be new to me.

 

 

February Finishes That I Got Done

Here's my finished UFO - even has hanging sleeve attached - ready to put on my wall to right of computer.
Glad to have this 16 year old UFO done and out of my sewing room!  But I guess it was meant to take that long because it wasn't until last year that I took the free motion quilting challenge and also learned to do feathers at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Next - I have all the blocks of Easy Street done!  I'm doing these in a modified QAYG method, so they won't be assembled until I have the back ready to sandwich with the sections.

I've decided on a white border next to the center and a purple outer border. Should be around 58" square and make a nice lap quilt for our living room.

Last, I finished my third goal for February, but am saving it show you tomorrow (that's still Feb) as that is my Applique Thursday & Giveaway day and it is applique. Come back tomorrow to see it.

How did you do?  I'm linking to Melissa's A Lovely Year of Finishes and Judy's Getting it Done, and also Carrie's Nothing but UFOs.  Check out what others got done.

Wow - Fabric Story

At our guild meeting our BOM queen was talking about the next block and mentioned that the checkerboard border was difficult until another member told her about a trick she knew for 4 patches.  You may know this one and even who came up with it (if you know please let me know so I can give her credit).  You make two sets of your fabrics as photo one. Iron them with the seam to the dark fabric



. Now lay one strip on top of the other - right sides together, so the seams nestle (will look like the second photo- here the top strip is turned back to see what the 4 patch will look like ).
 
Normally now I would cut the strips into sets to then pin and sew together in assembly line. Instead I draw a line on the strip to make the patch the size I want.  In this case 2" .  You see a dotted second line 1/4" to the right of the 2" line  - only needed if you don't have an accurate 1/4" foot.  I do, so I drew only a 2" line to mark my segments. (this is a little different than shown with the block but works for me.)



 I then sewed 1/4" in from the two inch line for a scant 1/4" seam. 
 

 
When I had sewn all the seams on the strip this way, I then began to cut the segments apart at the 2" line I drew.  Pressed the segments open and got 4 patches with a perfect join in the middle.  Love it!

Now off to finish the few four-patches I need doing to finish my Easy Street tomorrow.
I'm linking with Esther's Wow and Connies Free Motion Quilting by the River.  So see their goodies.

Design Wall Monday 2/25/13

I went to a workshop this weekend.  It was for art quilting, specifically jackets.  I opted, like quite a few of us, to make a tote using the same technique.  This is as far as I got:

Now I just have to put the tote together - the tedious part is done.

My Applique Thursday giveaway is still open.  You could win a pattern pack.  Check it out - two posts ago.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs AWAY.  Check them out, too.

Stash Report 2/24/13

First, giveaway still ongoing. Go to the previous Applique Thursday post - nice pattern pack.  Then, off my design wall and ready to go to the next St. Anne's member for sandwiching is this charity quilt top that I had as blocks on my design wall a few posts ago:
 
This top was made using the Disappearing Nine-Patch technique. Now for stashy info - went to a workshop and used 3 yards of fabric for that.  Donated a .34 yards of fabric to the Guild, and used .01 yard to work on my newest Forget Me Not BOM block.  Here are my numbers:
 
This week:  in 0.0 yds.; out 3.35 yds.
Stash YTD: in 3.0 yds., out 13.60 yds.
Donated this week: .34 yds; YTD: 8.09 yds

Net for 2013: out 10.6 yds.  Small increase up - that's good, but I should be nearer to 16 yards by now for my goal, so I'd better make something big soon.  How are you doing?  Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and tell us about your destashing.

Applique Thursday

So this is what I'm working on: At last I'm back to my Forget Me Not blocks.  Working on the morning glories - haven't gotten that far - these are not on the background I'm using.  I have to print out the pattern sheet on the right side so that I can use the light box, but you get the idea.  Color is all wrong - that's what happens when one takes a photo at night with flash.  The base of the flowers is really a blush of pink, and the base of the flowers are really green - not black.  Took me an hour to find what I wanted in my stash - phew.  The green bits are actually from the pieces of fused fabric I saved from previous flowers I made in this set - a real time saver.  I finished the charity top and the other applique block. I have one more block of Easy Street to finish and I'll be ready to start sandwiching that quilt for FMQ

I'm happy to report that the winner of last week's quilting history book is Beth :
"I hadn't heard of this book, but it sounds like a book that would be interesting and inspiring.  I'll send an email to Beth later today.

Here is the pattern pack for this week's giveaway.  I was going to save this for me to do as it has lots of applique - but I've grown away from this style of wall hanging -I'd rather do flowers.  I'm sure some of you will want it - they really are cute and I thought they would make great banners.
 
To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. And for extra chances, tell your friends about this giveaway. If they comment or link and mention you in their comment, you'll automatically get another entry in this giveaway. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - all sorts of eye candy is eligible and very welcome - even projects you finish a while ago - it'll all be new to me.
 
I'm linking over to Esther's WoW post and her beautiful flowers and Pat Sloan's Show and Tell . Do visit.  And Pat - I too, have a ton of projects to start, finish or donate.  PS: buttons are the sidebar, too.
 


Design Wall Monday 2/18/13

Coming off my design wall is that charity Disappearing Nine Patch from last week.  You can see the flimsy here.  I'm going to work on my Easy Street this week.   Have two blocks and a side triangle to finish. I only made 1/4 the units Bonnie said to make at each step.  I only want a square lap quilt not a bed quilt.  Not sure what to do for borders yet.

What's on your design wall?  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away to enjoy the eye candy there.

6th Stash Report 2/17/13

Still on my patio
I can't believe how long these paper whites have bloomed!
I'm binding that UFO, so that used a 1/4 yards and I culled 5 yards from my stash for the guild Thrifty corner. The .25 yard in was two pieces of solids I picked up at the Quilt Show I attended yesterday. And that's it for last week's destashing.  Here are my numbers:

This week:  in 0.5 yds.; out 5.25 yds.
Stash YTD: in 3.0 yds., out 10.25 yds.
Donated this week: 5.00 yds; YTD: 7.75  yds

Net for 2013: out 7.25 yds. The donations moved me closer to where I should be.   How are you doing?  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times to see what others are up to. 

Oh and the giveaway is still open!  If you'd like to win go to my last Applique Thursday post.  Good luck!

Mid Month February

Time to report on Lovely Finishes. I'm half way done with the binding on my cottage UFO. The color is all off on this photo. ??? but you can see the FMQ on this back.

So go on over to Lovely Finishes   and see where others are in their endeavor for February.

Applique Thursday 2/14/13 & Giveaway

I'm working on a prayer flag.  I'm not finished - need to add words and knots on the red berets. I'm sure you can tell what's been on my mind.  It does have applique, so I think it qualifies for this post.

What are you working on? I'd love to see your eye candy - applique or not - current or one from a while ago.  It'll all be new to me. Please share.

Alrighty! We had 31 links/comments for last week's applique pattern package. And the winner is Billie! That lucky mojo of hers is at it again. I'll be emailing Billie later. Thank you all for your participation. Next AT's book on offer as a giveaway is Hearts And Hands - The Influence of Women & Quilts on American Society. This is a historical book (no projects) but it has beautiful photos of antique quilts and is a fascinating story sharing a vital part of American History. I'm running out of time. I'll post a photo tomorrow after I come back from the St. Anne's Sewdality meeting.

Back from meeting - here is the promised photo.

To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. And for extra chances, tell your friends about this giveaway. If they comment or link and mention you in their comment, you'll automatically get another entry in this giveaway. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) - all sorts of eye candy is eligible.

I'm linking to Pat Sloan's Show and Tell Thursdays. Go on over and see some wonderful projects.

Design Wall Monday 2/11/13

Up on my design wall is a new charity quilt.  These are units from disappearing nine patches that I will use to make the quilt.  The four embroidered blocks will be in it somewhere - I have one more large nine patch to sew and then I can play with them before I make the flimsy.  I love the cute birdie print from Urban Zoologie by Robert Kaufman that was donated to St. Anne's.  Thank you, Deanna!

What are you working on?  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times  and Lyn's BOMs Away to see what goodies others have. I find a lot of neat new-to-me blogs that way.

5th Stash Report 2/10/13


Just wanted to show you about the only thing that is blooming right now.  Gail gave us some paperwhite bulbs for Christmas and they are blooming away right now.  Thank you, Gail!

Not much progress in destashing last week, but that was because I was working on ufos and a charity quilt (none of which required fabric - at least not my stash fabric).  I did use about a 3x3" square of batik for my applique - that's just too tiny to count.  Wait, I'm going to see what fabric I can donate - hold on..........................................................................

I'm back.  I found some white on whites I'm going to donate.  I've decided they are too thin - I can almost see my hand.  Does someone know a fabric company that make a better white on white? There's a hole in my stash that needs to be filled.

Here are my numbers:
This week:  in 0.0 yds.; out 1.75 yds.
Stash YTD: in 2.5 yds., out 5.00 yds.
Donated this week: 1.75 yds; YTD: 2.75  yds

Net for 2013: out 2.5 yds. The donations helped me along.   How are you doing?  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times to see what others are up to.  Probably a lot better than I - LOL.

Oh and the giveaway is still open!  If you'd like to win a great applique pattern go to my last Applique Thursday post.  Good luck!

Friday Favorite - FMQ

 
 
My Friday favorite is some free motion quilting on my UFO.  I finished the border and also pebbled the walkway.  I like that - it made the flower shrubs stand out and look three dimensional. The border too was easy with using the freezer paper.  I tried to do some grass on the green expanse - that didn't work too well, but I'm not taking it out.  Last to do is blanket stitch around my kitty in black so he'll stand out.  Are you quilting?  See what others are doing at Leah's Free Motion Quilting Friday.

Applique Thursday 2/7/13 & a Giveaway

This is why I started Applique Thursday.  I love applique, but with Life and other commitments, I never seem to get around to it.  AT makes me stop and do some - even if it's only a little progress. And that's what we have today:

The last pieces of block 5 of Anna's Garden are now prepped.  I just have to turn under the seam allowance and start stitching.  I use Linda Cantrell's method of tracing the right side of the piece.  I then iron the freezer paper to the right side and cut it out with my micro-serrated scissors.  Then I baste around the tips.  Once the basting is in, I place the piece with the dull side touching the back of the fabric - or shiny side showing on the back.  I then press over the seam allowance onto the shiny side and use a toothpick to get some nice points (as Becky Goldsmith taught me on her blog).  Then I'll be ready to watch Person of Interest tonight on TV.

                           Now for the giveaway.  Remember this?  I picked a winner, but she was no reply.  I hoped she still read my blog or was signed up for email notice of new post to my blog, however I never heard from her.  So then my so busy two months happened and recently I picked another winner.  I emailed her but after two weeks have not heard from her either.  So..., it's up for grabs again.  Please, please be sure there is a way for me to contact you if you are no-reply on blogger.  And so your email won't be harvested do use this format:  areader at gmail dot com   Okay?

 To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. And for extra chances, tell your friends about this giveaway. If they comment or link and mention you in their comment, you'll automatically get another entry in this giveaway. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique (that you share that is) -  all sorts of eye candy is eligible.

A Lovely Year...

To not lose my incentive to get this UFO done, I'm linking to Melissa and Shanna's A Lovely Year of Finishes.  I need all the encouragement I can get - it's so easy to get distracted by other projects calling to me.  I mean, 1997 was a long time ago!  They're only asking me to work on one finish a month.  I may just be able to do that.  And maybe even win a prize at the end of the month for my finish!  Click on the button to learn more.
My Button
PS: 2/8/13 - I've finished the border and need to look for binding strips! Think I'll link up with Pat Sloan's Show and Tell.

Design Wall Monday 2/4/13

I'm ready to post something.  After spending the best part of last week trying to get my new computer to resemble a more equivalent of what I had on the old one, I think I am close.  I will have to keep learning how to do things on Windows 8  - and it's a rather steep learning curve - but at last I know how to upload, correct and resize photos so I can post them.  Phew!  Moral of story - wait until the first service pack comes out on a new operating system.  I knew that, but did I wait? - Nooooo!

On my design wall is that 1997 UFO being readied to quilt the borders.  I found a motif by Mary Covey that I am going to use. 
 
I really like this product - this is the third motif I have used from this group. It's a pattern packet, not a book.  I'm going to be on the lookout for volumes one and two.  I did some free motion quilting in the center square.  The borders will be quilted using the freezer paper method
 
 
I laid freezer paper over the template and traced the feather onto the freezer paper.  I cut it out. I'm using the 3 1/2" border template.  Here it is pressed onto the border.
 
 
I'm linking over to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's BOMs Away.  Go on over and see what others are going to be working on this week.
 



4th Stash Report for 2013

Another busy week has ended, but I got a few more minutes in for quilting - yeah!  I sent off a flimsie with the backing I pulled to use up 1.5 yards of stash.  I also used a 1/4 yard for binding my first charity quilt for 2013 - another yeah!  This is a VA lap quilt - simple and quick, but it's been waiting for me to bind since Nov.  My friend Carol quilted it.  It measures 36" by 45"
Here are my numbers:
This week:  in 0.0 yds.; out 1.75yds.
Stash YTD: in 2.5 yds., out 3.75 yds.
Donated this week: 0.0 yds; YTD: 1.0 yds

Net for 2013: out 1.25. I'm in the green!   How are you doing?  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.  Probably a lot better than I - LOL.

SAHRR Round 5 and 6

  Ready to show rounds 5 and 6. Actually, the prompt for 5 was make 4 of something. So I chose four patch, and actually since that made my q...