Grow Your Blog 2014

Hello!  My name is Angie and I love to quilt, read and garden. Come February 28th, 2014, I will have been blogging for 5 years.  I can't believe it!  You can see my first post here.  I love how blogging has introduced me to so many new friends around the world - Spain, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UK, Germany, of course the US and many more - places I would love to visit but will never get to all of them in one lifetime.  And I have learned so much from the fabulously talented quilters that inhabit blog land.  I love to go to new sites and see what my fellow quilters are up too, see their eye candy, view their sewing studios. So when I came across Vicki's post  - Grow your Blog - I thought what a way to meet more friends out there and discover more fascinating blogs.  Over 500 bloggers signed up for the event. Wow!

So welcome to my blog. I hope you'll stop by now and then to see what I'm up to and comment. Then I can visit your blog/flickr group/email and do the same. Here's one of the projects I'm working on at  present.
I post whatever progress I've made on Fridays as Hexie Weekend and have a Linky Party for it too.  You're invited to link any eye candy you've made, are working on, or dream of starting (it doesn't have to be hexies) to share with us.  There's one going on now - previous post.

Then on Tuesdays, I write an Applique Tuesday post to keep me moving forward with my favorite type of quilting.  Here are four blocks that are waiting to become a wall hanging.  I also post about the family, the garden (or lack thereof in this drought), and charity quilts.  I'm
always looking for simple patterns from which to make 36" quilts for the low income, first time mothers in our parish who need a little help and love.

As a thank you for stopping by, I'm having a giveaway during Vicki's  fabulous event. I'm giving away a $25 gift certificate to one of my favorite online stores:  The Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway is open to anyone. In order to win, leave me a comment and tell me where you are from (please be sure you are not no-reply on Blogger).  For a second chance to win, you can become a follower and leave a comment telling me you have done so. Winner will be chosen on February 15th.  Good Luck! 

PS:  Come Feb 28th - I'll have another giveaway for my blog anniversary - mark it on your calendars.

Hexie Weekend and more.

Lots to share with you, but first, Help!  Look at this black and white copy of a hexie piece.  Is it my imagination or what? The hexies seem to blend together. Is it the that they are the same value?  If you agree with me, what should I do about it?  It's already sewn.  I was thinking maybe outlining each flower with dark green embroidery thread in a blanket stitch to make them stand out. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.  And here's what it looks like in color.  My eye may be deceiving me or the camera  emphasized the flowers. ??  Just not happy with it in real life. This piece was given to me by a friend who knows I love hexies.  They are one inch hexies.

 As to my other hexie projects, I have done a bit, but not ready to show. I'd love to see your project, hexie or not.  Linky below.`

Next I have finished my first UFO for 2014 - completely done. This top was put together in 1997. It's about 35" square and is my first charity quilt for the year, too.

 I free motion quilted the border of this one.  I learned a lot about using a motif that goes out from the corners and doesn't meet together in the side.  One has to measure and space in order to align with the center of the quilt. I didn't realize that until I had already begun FMQ. Hopefully, the baby won't mind.

 Here's a close up of my flowers.

I'm linking up to Crazy Mom's Finish it up Fridays, Richard's Link a Finish Friday, and Leah's FMQ Project.
Oh, and a giveaway starts Saturday, so come on back then for a chance at a $25 certificate from FQS on my Grow your Blog post.  See you then!

Applique Tuesday 1/21/14

Well I got my heart challenge done - that took a good deal of my time. We show them tomorrow at the guild meeting.  And all the blocks for the charity quilt are made and being assembled into rows.  With those out of the way, I had a few minutes to actually decide what to do with my Soupcon block - I'll show that Friday.  And finally had a wee bit of time to devote to LE.  Didn't get far but at least I started with part 5.  I assembled the pattern; had to print it twice, then ran out of ink - sigh.  Will have to dash to Office Max tomorrow. Then I started to audition fabric.

These little flowers look ideal for using beads in the center.  I'll see. Wonder if I have enough for the other side as I tend to want symmetry in my flower arrangements.

Have you made some progress on your projects? Sure would like to visit and see how you're doing.  Leave me a comment and I'll come by for a look in between entertaining Alan tomorrow.  Blessings!