A Sweetheart of a Winner!

Mr. Random Number Generator has selected a winner!

Darlene of Quilting Daze.

 Darlene said...

Wow, Cheryl, what a delightful giveaway! I'd love to win and have been a follower for a long time. :-)

And that is true.  She is one of my earliest followers.

Contact me by email with your snail mail info, Darlene, and your little package of goodies will be on it's way.  Thank you everyone for your interest in this little quilt.

And my applique marathon is done!

This picture will accompany the quilt show form and get posted today, 5 days before the deadline!

Not bad for an avid procrastinator.

I have to the end of the month to get the pieced, yes PIECED, borders on.

I don't think I will be doing any hand work for awhile!

Next Saturday I will be posting the 4th block in my 1880 Sampler Quilt.

Satu has sent me a photo of her first 3.

She is using Julie Hendrickson miniatures and Judie Rothermel fabrics.

Her favorite block, so far, is the Tudor Rose.

I would love to see and share pictures of your blocks as you make them!

Have a great week!

My Favorite Day of the Month

Today was our monthly meeting of my small scale quilt group.

I could not ask for a better group of quilters to share with, and garner ideas from, than these ladies.

The first one to share was Kristine.

This is her 'Three Barns' designed by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.

There are something like 600 HST's in this quilt!

Kristine never ceases to amaze and thrill me with her quilts.

Her sense of color and her piecing skills are exemplary!

Surprisingly, that was all she got done since our meeting in December.

Duh!

Merumo was next, and you can see all her work here.

Do go check her out for some real eye candy!

I showed off my meager accomplishments next.

Now Lin has fallen under the spell of Lisa Bongean's technique for making nine patches.

Everyone sighed when they saw these little guys.

Could they be any cuter?

I have my eye on the little 'negative' one!!

The rest of the afternoon was occupied with sewing the binding on the following quilt.

Her 'Mourning Quilt' designed by Kathleen Tracy.

It will be a gift for a family friend who has endured several losses this last year.

Kathy spent most of November and December making a quilt for each member of her family as Christmas gifts!  That was a fete, but she has given them all away!

Now all she wants is to finish something for herself.

She designed this quilt from a book inherited from her mother.

What a special commemorative quilt! 

Kathy believes it was one her mother had earmarked to make for herself.

 Pauline wanted a quilt for her bed and a queen size is never large enough to cover the thick mattresses we own today, so...

she made this.

She had a fat quarter bundle of Daiwo fabrics (hope I spelled that correctly) and this is what she did with them.

Stunning is all I have to say.

Can you blame me for looking forward to these meetings?

Such inspiration!

North Star and Be Mine!

North Star--the second block in Barbara Brackman's Civil War series.

If you want to sew along, the link is on my sidebar.

And now, my follower appreciation gift. 

'Be Mine'

Be a follower of mine and leave a comment.

Included is the pattern, material, including binding, a Quilt in a Day ruler for squaring up triangles, and a few other sweet treats.

I will draw the winner Monday at 5am.

Thank you again for the great reception I have received since starting my blog last summer.

It has be a fun ride!

P.S.-no need to mention this on your blog.  Just keeping it simple.

Remember, I have to have some way to contact you.  If you are a non-reply commenter, please include an email address where I can reach you if you win!

Over 100 followers!

Last night I reached, then exceeded 100 followers.  A few weeks ago, I posted for the 100th time, although that wasn't hard for me.  I have to exercise some personal restraint or I would blab blog all the time!

In keeping with blogland etiquette, I will be hosting a follower appreciation giveaway.  Just a little pressured to meet some deadlines and my teaching schedule goes full steam this coming week, so I will be back next week with my little giveaway.  I have an idea for it.

Involves Hearts... for my heartfelt appreciation of the warm and encouraging comments I receive from my blog followers.

 

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Catch Me If You Can-

the first block in Barbara Brackman's Civil War series.

It is so hard to decide which of the many new projects offered in blogland to do!

I've joined Christine's doll quilt exchange and look forward to getting assigned my exchange partner soon.

Next choice is Lori's doll quilt sew along and it is small, just like I like em!

Then there is Madame Samm's mug rug contest, and it has prizes!

Of course, there are all the other ongoing projects out there as well. 

Just too many quilts and sew little time!

So after the last affront to my dignity I could stand today...

which is worse??--mammogram, pap smear or the annual all over skin check by a dermatologist with magnifying glasses on!...

all of which I have put myself through this last month...

I made a decision.

I will only add the Civil War Quilts project to my commitments.

It is 52 blocks over 52 weeks.

I think I can handle that.

And besides, I have a use for the end product.

I have been wanting to make a donation quilt for the Quilts of Valor, and this will be perfect for it.

So my colors are chosen--red, grey/white, and blue.

I may decide to join Lori once I get a handle on all the things I have cooking right now.

Her little quilt is so darn cute and a reproduction of an antique!

Finally called the machine quilter today to get my place in her queue.

She is in high demand around quilt show time.

I was secretly hoping she would not have room to fit me in, but alas, I am scheduled the first week in February.  Can't use that one as my excuse and now have a second deadline to meet!

She did call me last minute Miller, though.

My fingers are screaming STOP! They are so sore from the frantic hand appliqueing I am putting them through.  I use a straw needle and it punctures the skin every once in awhile.

My quilt entry form is due Jan. 15th, accompanied by a picture of the quilt.

Off to the quilt shoppe to get something to protect my finger!

1st new project of 2011

Phew! I succeeded in repacking all the Christmas decorations this weekend and cleaning up all the remnants of the holidays, including the dust! However, it left my home looking drab and dreary!

One of the things I miss most is the little quilt I made using Kathie's recipe, so I decided to make a replacement that I can leave out year round!

I had previously made two quilts using this border fabric from Jo Morton and had just the right amount leftover to whip up this little mat. 

This is the coordinating table topper that rests on top of my dining table year round.  The little mat will be on my antique sideboard.

Then there is this Kathleen Tracy designed quilt from Remembering Adelia that will hang on the wall when I retrieve it from display at TOWQS.

It is challenging to incorporate my quilts in my southwest, territorial home!

I don't particularly like southwest fabrics nor quilt designs, but love to display quilts.

However, my home is so eclectic! I have a mix of French and American oak antiques mixed in with carved Spanish Colonial pieces and wrought iron. 

After all it is a home, not a decorator's showcase.

Today, my challenge, after I have the dreaded mammogram, is to find a threesome to create a nice vignette on top of the new addition.  I am thinking wrought iron candlesticks or the like.

Joined a doll quilt exchange over at Christine's blog.

I just love to visit her just to see the quilts in her header photo!

Found someone who adores doll quilts and makes them faster than I do!

Visit Monique over at Only Doll Quilts.

She is planning to make her own version of the 'Welcome Wagon' small quilt.

My goal for this week is to finish my Kim Diehl applique quilt!

Then you will not have to hear about it anymore!

Posting of Patterns for 1880 Sampler Quilt

It is January 1st, 2011!  Can you believe how fast 2010 went?

  Saturday will the day of the week that I will post the patterns for the 1880 sampler quilt.

Remember, this will not be a historically accurate reproduction.  My quilt will have fewer blocks that are 5" finished, instead of Ms. Snyder's 4 1/2" size.  However, the colors and setting will be in keeping with her original quilt. 

 Since the first two patterns have been posted for quite some time, I have given you a new one today.

I will wait 2 weeks before posting the next one and promise not to post more than one for each Saturday this month.

The link to the blog containing the patterns is on my sidebar. 

Enjoy and keep me updated with pictures of your blocks as you sew along!

Barbara Brackman has started a new blog to commemorate the start of the Civil War.

She will post a total of 52 block patterns that are 8" in size.

I will sew along with her and you can too.

Check it out here.

And like all things she does, there is some history and stories thrown in as well!

I may use a lovely fat quarter bundle of Julie Hendrickson's fabrics that I received as a Christmas gift! And then, maybe I will draft them to 4 1/2" in size, in keeping with the miniature nature of the fabrics.

Just a thought!

The mind is always buzzing.  Wish the hands could keep up!