Me

and mini-me

one

two

three

Many more to go.

Stripping

Hah!  Got your attention, didn't I?

Working on the red blocks.

My brain doesn't want to think today, so no BOM sewing.

There are definitely more ugly than pretty fabrics in the bin.

(If you have no clue what I'm talking about, visit Jodi's blog and join the Sew Scraps Along.)

Making it work

After my initial scrap shock and distaste, I've decided that this is a challenge.

To make these scraps work.

In an attractive way.

To prove that ugly scraps can make pretty quilts.

So...

I sorted them by color.

This is red.

So far, so good.

So what do you do...

...if you hate your scraps?

More Stars (and winners)

Only three blocks to go and I'll have the 12 main stars in the star BOM quilt done.  Each month has three blocks though, so I'm not quite there yet.

I also drew the winners of last week's WW (Win-some Wednesday):

Congratulations Denise and  Jane!

You each won a fat quarter of Flirtations Stripes & Dots fabric.

I'll be contacting you for your mailing addresses.

Win-some Wednesday

Today's giveaway fabric:

Flower Dance from the "Happy" collection by Me & My Sister Designs

Just leave a comment and you can win one of two fat quarters.

The 30's, 40's & 50's inspired collection is slowly growing.

You can see what I have here.

All pink fabric is still 10% off in the store and $1 will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for every yard of fabric purchased.

Project Organization

Since I'm probably going to join in on the Sew Scraps Along over at Pleasant Home and Jodi is already posting wonderful project organization tips, I thought I'd share what I'm using for the block of the month project.

I have to admit that usually WIP projects are scattered all over various shelves and baskets but I figured this one should be more "together".
The container is from Rubbermaid.  I got it at Target.

I'll probably be using these for my Scraps Along projects too.

I've been using them for fabric that isn't on bolts in the store for quite a while and have a couple of extras.
(I have to confess I'm a bit of a storage container junkie.)

Goodbye Ugly Quilt

Remember me referring to the ugly quilt?

Were you confused as to why I would keep working on a quilt I hated?

Here's the answer:

I wanted to figure out the techniques for attaching the triangles and binding to "that quilt" without putting the actual quilt at risk.

So I slapped together something using scraps and absolutely no planning.

Something really unattractive.

Well, I figured out the methods.

And I'm killing the project.

So, alas, you won't have to feast your eyes on the completion of all that unattractiveness.

You're not missing anything.

Trust me.

Want Scraps?

Jodi over at Pleasant Home is hosting a "Sew Scraps Along". During that period she'll share 4 or 5 scrappy projects to help us start using up our scraps.

Since many fairly new quilters do not have a lot of scraps (and some more experienced quilters are scrap-oholics), she asked a few of us to do scrap giveaways. I gladly accepted. I have TONS of scraps.

Today it's my turn.

Here's a little sample...

I will fill a small Flat Rate Box with scraps.

If you'd like an opportunity to win this little box, just leave a comment over here and visit Jodi to sign up for the Scraps Along.

(Entries will close at midnight PDT on October 20th.)

Win-some Wednesday Winners

I promise there will be a "real" post soon.  I'm working on the world's ugliest little quilt.
And another (one-time) giveaway.
And the block-of-the-month.

I've added a "Follower" link in the left sidebar. I received quite a few queries regarding this, so there it is...
I've been hesitant to add this because I'm afraid it will re-awaken the beast. Let's see how it goes.

The winners of last week's "Birdie" fat quarters are:

#46: Robin C

#49: Lee Ann

Congratulations! I will be contacting you for your address details.

(Remember, you still have time to enter this week's drawing.)

Win-some Wednesday

This week's pretty pink fabric:

Flirtations Stripes & Dots

Just leave a comment and you're in.

All pink fabric is still 10% off in the store.
The donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation is growing.
I'm donating $1 for every yard of pink fabric you buy.

And the Win-some Wednesday Winners are...

Lovin' all these W's!

The winners of last week's "Splendid Rhapsody" fat quarters are:

#34: CJ

#7: Kristi Lou

Congratulations!  I will be contacting you for your address details.

(Remember, you still have time to enter this week's drawing.)

Win-some Wednesday #2

Because it's October and Breast Cancer Awareness month all giveaway fabrics will be pink this month.
Pink is my favorite color. This will be fun!

This week you can win...

Birdie Small Flowers in Pink & Brown

Just leave a comment and I'll enter you in the drawing. (Entries close at midnight next Tuesday.)

(All pink fabric is 10% off in the store for the month of October.  I'm also donating $1 for every yard of pink fabric purchased to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.)

Edited to add:  Unfortunately I cannot enter anonymous posts in the drawing because I have no way to contact you.

Anticipation!

Look what arrived in the mail!!!

My name tag...

 ...and registration details...

for H-O-U-S-T-O-N!

I'm still "only" going to the Festival and not Market but I'm excited!

Can you tell?

Plugging along

Still plugging along on the BOM.

This is my favorite block so far.

(Gee, am I really back?)

Introducing Win-some Wednesday

Back in June I did a blog post about the pressure blogging and owning a store at the same time were putting on me.  Mostly because I felt I couldn't keep up with all the giveaway craziness out there.
I made the decision to keep this blog about my projects and not as a marketing tool.
And I am still of that conviction.

However, I also feel like I want to share some goodies with you from time to time.
So I bring you... Win-some (like it?) Wednesday.

This will be a low key event.  With small giveaways.
All you have to do is leave a comment on the giveaway post before next Wednesday.
That's it.

Today two readers can win a fat quarter of this fabric:

Because I'm feeling a little nostalgic.

(I've also posted a poll in the sidebar. I'd really appreciate it if you put your two cents in the hat.)

Dear Mom & Dad,

Thank you for raising me right.

I thought this would be a quick BOM to put together for the store.

Buy a couple of patterns.

Choose a couple of fabrics...

But I can't do that.

I have to check to see if the fabrics will look great.

And the pattern is written well.

So...

...it may be a while.

Woohoo!

I did it!

I finally finished my Pinwheel Party quilt.

Months and months after I wrote the instructions.

(I'll post more photos as soon as the weather cooperates.)

Another Beautiful Pinwheel Quilt

Mavi sent me photos of her absolutely stunning version of the Pinwheel Party quilt.

She hand pieced and hand quilted the whole thing!

She's wonderful quilter from Madrid, Spain.

If you'd like to see more of her work, be sure to visit her blog.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful quilt Mavi!

Planning

Trying to pick fabrics for a fabulous block of the month pattern I just bought.

What do you think?

Totally non quilt-related

If you'd like to take a peek at my "baby" and Chara's wonderful photography, hop on over here:
http://charamichelephotography.com/blog/2010/09/seattle-senior-portraits/

P.S. I'm quilting something...

Critter Crazy

Still plugging away at the Pinwheel Party quilt but today I had to tackle the pile of fabric waiting to be added to the store.

I think I've gone a little crazy on woodland creatures the last month or so, but I love them all.

My favorite is Wee Woodland by Keiki for Moda. I can't wait to make something with this fabric.  It's fall-ish but not overly so. I think it'll work anywhere. (the little gift wrapped tortoise kills me. C-u-t-e!)

In the end I ordered some Life's a Hoot fabric from Adornit. I didn't order the large owls.  I agree, they were a little coloring book-ish like some of you had mentioned.  The little ones are really cute though.  And the fabric quality is great.

There are two colorways (green and pink), each with owls, a stripe, and a dot.

To cap it off "What a Hoot!" arrived from Classic Cottons.  I had ordered this child-like fabric months and months ago and didn't have a clue what was in the box at the front door.

Back to the Pinwheel Party...

I'm trying...

...but it's 90 degrees in my sewing room.

Guess What This Is

It's my sewing machine's light.

And guess what? It's ON!

I will sew this weekend!

(And yes, perhaps dust)

Another Pretty Pinwheel Party

I feel like I maybe getting my life back. Slowly. I hope it lasts.

 I still haven't actually made anything though so I'm sharing someone else's creation.

Becky finished her version of the Pinwheel Party quilt. Is it pretty or what?

(All the instructions are still available for free. In the right sidebar. Just scroll down a bit if you don't see them.)

Hoping to be back (for real) soon!

What do you think?

I just discovered a new fabric company.

This is their first line.

I'm thinking of ordering some.

What do you think, my trusted bloggy buddies?

Shop Hop!

On Thursday and yesterday a friend a I "shop hopped".

The Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop is a huge event held every year.

A theme fabric is designed especially for the Shop Hop (usually by In the Beginning Fabrics).
I'm normally not crazy about the fabric, but this year I'm in love!
It was designed by Julie Paschkis who does a lot of children's book illustrating as well.
(Her regular line for ITB is called Folklorica and I'm hoping to get my hands on some of that soon.)

Participating quilt stores have to design a block using the theme fabric and coordinating fabrics. About 50 quilt stores normally participate.
They have to make kits for their blocks with fabric and instructions.
And then we hop!
At each store you collect a free kit and have your "passport" stamped. If you have more than 16 stamps you're entered into a drawing for great prizes.

We visited 22 stores, 18 of them on Thursday!
Phew!

A sight for sore eyes

I've reduced my blog subscriptions from over 250 to less than 140. I think I may now be able to keep up. Yay!
(BTW why does Blogger ruin every picture by resizing it to death? This one was only 40K and I had to use Flickr because uploading it directly was a complete fiasco.)

Pinwheel Party Prettiness

Thank you SO much for all your support on my previous post! I was relieved to see that many other bloggers are of the same mindset as me.
I still don't have anything interesting to blog about, so I thought I'd share with you two of the amazing Pinwheel Party quilts out there. (I'm still working on mine.)


(by faith_hope_love_grace on Flickr)


(by Applique Addict)

(If this is one of your photos and you'd rather I don't use it, please let me know and I will remove it.)

I've also simplified the newsletter signup process for the store. You now don't have to tell me everything but the kitchen sink about yourself to sign up. Just your email address and name.

Food for thought

This morning I read this post by Autum (Creative Little Daisy).

It really expressed what I've been feeling for some time now.

Blogging used to be a fun way to share experiences and creative endeavours with like minded people.

The blogging world has gone completely haywire.

No matter how hard I try, I always feel inadequate.  I can't compete with the "super bloggers".

I'm constantly trying to keep up and failing.

Upset because I'm not getting the glut of comments they're getting.

Not enough "followers" and visitors.

Not enough giveaways and free patterns.

Because I have a store I feel very dependent on my blog readers for business.

This has led me astray.

Away from the orginal purpose of this blog.

I'm done trying.

If you love my store and would like to continue to support me and be informed of the arrival of pretty fabrics and great deals, please "like" the store on Facebook.

Or subscribe to the newsletter.

I really appreciate your support.

I'll keep a link in the sidebar.

But from now on this blog will be what I intended it to be.

About sharing.

Amen.

Merry Christmas!

This is "12 Days of Christmas" by Kate Spain for Moda.

Isn't it lovely?

If you're ready to get an early start on your Holiday gifts and quilts, this is your chance.
"12 Days of Christmas" is 20% off in the store until June 30th.
(Brand new collections don't normally go on sale so this is probably the best price out there right now.)

Back to my crazy life...

Happy Sewing!

I'm still here

My new job is taking over my life I'm afraid, but I need the extra money right now.

I'm still going to try and pop in here as often as I can.

I don't really have time for new projects, but I think I'm going to HAVE to make this one:

It's from the new issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine, which arrived on my doorstep last week. It took me nearly a week to get these in the store.
They're listed over here with some more "sneak peek" photos.
15% off list price as usual.

Two big boxes arrived from Moda. I think it might be the new Christmas fabric! I'm going to try and unpack those before the weekend and there will be a special "Christmas in June" discount so stay tuned.

(BTW I found two copies of the June 2005 American Patchwork & Quilting magazine with the pattern for my Blogger's Quilt Festival quilt. If you're interested in buying one, please email me and we can work out the details.)

New Don't Look Now Patterns!

A little shop talk...

Kellie has two brand new patterns she just unveiled at Quilt Market!

the twiddletails store is now taking pre-orders for these.
I don't have all the pattern details yet, so if you decide to pre-order and change your mind once the patterns arrive I will be happy to refund your pre-order cost.

But gee, how cute are they?

Alphabet Soup:


Worry Dolls:

Happy Sewing!