Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Fun, Fun Giveaway Gift Came in the Mail today!!

On February 21st I entered a giveaway by Deanna over at Wedding Dress Blue.  It was perfect for me as it was a Guild pin from Utah with a beehive on it.  If any of you have seen my International Siggie Swap block


you know that it has a beehive in the center, which is the nickname for the state of Utah.  Well, that cute Deanna chose my name and the pin came in the mail today ~


Along with the pin was a hand-crafted needlekeeper that Deanna had made and a really neat note inviting me to come visit her if I ever got to the top of the state!!


Thank you Deanna, these are very special gifts for me!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Finished a Kaffe Wallhanging

Yesterday my Dad was not feeling too good so he slept most of the day and I took the opportunity to work on a project.  I probably should have been working on one of my swap projects but I decided I needed bright and cheery.  Just got the borders on tonight.  The center is a Carol Doak design.


It measures 24-1/2 by 24-1/2 unfinished.  It always feels so good to get a project completed, doesn't it!!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Saturday's Smile!!

For Quilters Only!!

Friday, February 24, 2012

My First String Quilt Block!!

Now, this is really fun!!  And I am going to use some of my hand-dyed fabric for the middle string.  Plus, I paper-pieced the four blocks before I sewed them together!!


Ok, back to the sewing machine!!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Snow in the Mountains, Rain in the Desert

I live in the desert in Southern Utah near Zion's National Park.  We don't get a lot of moisture but when we do, the air is so clean and crisp.  And it is especially fun when we get snow in the mountains that surround us, so I thought I would share ~


It's so fun to see this snow because we already have green golf courses and temeratures in the 60s.


You can see the mesa in the foreground here and see how we usually look.


The red rocks are characteristic of the surrounding area.


And the snow on the mountains make me homesick for Colorado Springs!!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

I Don't Think It's Still Wednesday But I am Going to Pretend That It Is

because I just completed my One Flower Wednesday Hexagon Flower this evening!!
But, I did make two just to make up for lost time!!


Also, I received another wonderful Siggie Block from Arianne Doornhein who lives in the Netherlands. Arianne hand sewed this Siggie.  I am always impressed with hand quilting because it is something I have never tried and am scared to death to try!! Thank you Arianne, I love it!!


To see all the other International Siggies I have received in this fun swap, click HERE.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

There is This Darling Young Gal, Kelli . . .

who I have been keeping an eye on for months now and she is having a fabulous giveaway!!

It's in celebration of a pact she made with her friend Rebecca, before the start of the year, to have a drama free 2012.  She is giving away a Layer Cake of Aneela Hoey's Little Apples in honor of all things healthy, happy and drama free!!  Click on the Layer Cake to go to Kelli's post to see what you need to do to get chances to win this wonderful goodie!!!
Also, check out the Drama Free button on my sidebar!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Multi-Tasking Day!!

As fast as life seems to be running by me right now, I am trying to do as much as I can each day.  So, today, I had to spend a couple of hours listening to a continuing education class.  So, since I don't need my ears to work on a quilting project, I made this little cutie for a friend while listening away!!


Back of pincushion ~


And it was so fun working with this gorgeous fabric!!  Ok, now I have to make me one!!  :-))  And, it's so nice to get some sewing in!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

February Goodies From My Dear Jane Secret Pal!!

My cute Dear Jane Secret Pal calls herself Suzzanne and has a friend of her's mail the packages to me so I don't know where she lives!!  Ha!!  Ha!!  Like I want to spoil the fun and find out who she really is!!  Gee, I'm not sure I would even know how to do that!!

Well, here are all the goodies she sent ~


Suzzanne made the darling card and the very cool little lipstick holder in front of the socks that she filled with Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm.  Look at the beautiful detail work Suzzanne put on this little holder!!


Then there were actually three pairs of socks in the pack but one pair went on my feet the minute I opened my package!!


Thank you Suzzanne!!  I LOVE everything!!


Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Ok, Where Did the Weekend Go?

I was supposed to pick a winner of my Schnibbles pattern giveaway Friday night but I lost the entire weekend!!

Anyway, the winner of the Schnibbles pattern


is ~


True Random Number Generator  5Powered by RANDOM.ORG


Jen over at The Quilty Home!!
Congrats, Jen!!  Email me with your snail mail address!!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

My First Block in the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

I have joined Donna over at Brynwwood Needleworks for her Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Quiltalong.  I just went back to look at her blog on day one of the QAL and already I am not playing by the rules!!  No wonder the other kids in the playground couldn't get along with me!!

In her February 1st post, Donna sets out what blocks were to be made this month.  Well instead, I started out with Block #1 - Attic Windows.


I fussy cut the middle piece so I have two little birds hanging out in my Attic's window.  I'll try to play nicer on the next one I make, Donna!!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Today is the Mailing Deadline and All 4 Blocks are Ready to Go!!

These are the blocks I finished for Beth over at her blog Eva Paige Quilt Designs for her Scrappy New Year Group Project.  This was a fun group of blocks to make because I made each block one at a time.  Even though all 4 blocks use the same 5 fabrics, I cut the fabrics for each block seperately and at a different time and so it's interesting how unique each of the blocks turned out!!


Above are all 4 blocks together and below are the 4 blocks seperately.





Now they go into the mail today and 3 swap blocks will come back to me.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Small Giveaway for Participants in the Another Year of Schnibbles Party

or anyone else that would like to make this darling quilt!!


As you know this is the pattern we are making this month so I will pick a name on this Friday the 10th so it has time to get to you and you have time to get it made!!  Just leave a comment - I love hearing from ya!!

And if you would like to see what all the fun is about, click on the Button below ~


and see some of the wonderful "Full House" quilts that were made in January!!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Oh My Goodness - I Have Been Commissioned to Make . . .

36 of these 10-1/2 inch blocks!!!


A lady from Church came over last week and asked if I would piece some blocks for a quilt for her son.  She wants to put the quilt together and hand-quilt it.  And she wants to pay me!!  Wouldn't let me do it unless I promised to charge her a fair price.  Amazing how prayers are answered, isn't!!

She brought me a picture from an old, old, old quilting book and I made a template so I could paper-piece these blocks.  We chose the fabrics from my stash - she wanted navy blue and gold as the main colors and then we got a premium coordinating muslin to use as the background.

This block will only be the mock-up as my trusty old sewing machine decided to have a senior moment and the  tension messed up.  Bad enough that I could just pull on the end of the seam and it would just pull right through!!

Now, she just has to look at the block and see if it works for her!!  Then I will be working on ANOTHER project!!  Woo! Hoo!!

Everyone enjoy your Friday!!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Another Fun Swap in the Works!!

I joined Beth over at her blog Eva Paige Quilt Designs for her Scrappy New Year Group Project.  We are each supposed to make 4 blocks from a pattern she designed on Electric Quilt and then we will get back three blocks and she will use the 4th block for a group quilt.  This is a way for us to use up some scraps!!


These are my blocks.  I chose 4 old FQs of "Paris Flea Market" by 3 Sisters that have been sitting around for years.


I decided to paper-piece the blocks, so I made a template of 1/4th of the block and then


they will get sewn together to make a really cute block.  I am always amazed at how many blocks can be paper-pieced and how much easier it is for me to do the piecing!!

I am not sure if all 4 finished blocks will be the same fabric or if I am really going to go into my stash to find more fabrics!!  I'll let you know!!