Last Day of Dare to Dresden Blog Hop *Tear*!!!

Oh, my gosh!!  Here it is the final day of the Dare to Dresden Blog Hop
and of course, we saved the last for last!!

Thank you so much to Madame Samm
and our most amazing Cheerleader - Christine of

 Quilt Monster in my Closet for such a(n) scary amazing journey!!!!

I have never made a Dresden Plate, so after looking at lots and lots of Dresden Plates, I had to decide ~ Round, pointed or flat!!                 

  

Hard decision, but finally decided round was my fav!!  After deciding round, I had to decide what fabrics to use.  Now, those of you that visit my little blogland frequently know the answer to that . . .

Kaffe, of course!!
And since Kaffe prints are big and bold, here is what I came up with ~

My friend, Janet over at Rogue Quilter was over yesterday while I was working on my Dresden and she said to be sure to take a picture that gave some perspective as to the size of the design.  Here it is hanging on my armoire (the Dresden measures 32" across) ~

Below is a close-up of the multi-colored thread I used to machine buttonhole stitch around each petal and around the center piece.

And this last picture just shows a close-up of each of the 20 petals around the center.

I have to say, I really enjoyed working on this quilt top!!  But I have a problem that I need all your help with - PLEASE!!! I have NO idea on how I should quilt this piece.

So, I am having a

Double Dare to Dresden

Giveaway!!

You have two chances to win:

1.  Leave a comment and if you would like, I would love to have you join me as a "follower."

2.  Give me your opinion on how I should quilt this piece and please be a little on the specific side so I can follow your directions.  To help with your decision, I am going to hang this piece up in my living room - give it a bit of color!!

You can leave your comment and quilting opinion together in one comment or you can send two comments.

I will pick two winners - one will be made by my buddy, Mr. Random Generator, and the second winner will be my choice on how I am going to quilt this fun project.

Here is what each of the winners will receive:

Thank you so much for visiting!! We all hope you have enjoyed this week of Dresden Plate quilts - I know I have!!  Here are the rest of the blogs you will want to visit!!

Today:

Quilting Prolifically

Patchouli Moon Studio

Mountain Quiltworks

In Ga

Dachsies with Moxie

Color My World

Shepody Mountain Crafter

Christa Quilts

Moosestash Quilting

Lavender Quilts - This is ME!!

Never 2 Many Quilts

Cathy's Chatter

Clothes and Crafts

Madame Samm

Snow and Amaryllis and Dresden Plates

Yesterday we got over 8 inches of this beautiful snow in about 4 hours ~

But this is what I saw from my kitchen window as I watched it snow ~

And this is what I am working on while I watch the snow as it begins to fall today ~

 My turn is on Thursday, January 31st ~ I am so excited!!  And here is a little sneekie peek at what I am working on ~

Hope you will drop by and see what I have been up to!!  :-)

Saturday's Smile and Australia Day!!

Happy Australia Day to all our friends Down Under!!

Woo! Hoo!! A Blog Hop!!

Tomorrow is the BIG Day!!!!!! 

It's going to be A Monster of a Blog Hop. . . 100+ Quilters from all over the world have signed up to showcase Dresden's. . .

January 24^th, 2013

Thimble Mouse & Spouse

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Apple Avenue Quilts

The TreeHouse

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much

Quilts My Way

Buzzing and Bumbling

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Selina Quilts

Quiltscapes

Hill Valley Quilter

Sew Incredibly Crazy

The Raspberry Rabbits

I Like to Quilt Blog

Cherry's Prairie Primitives

Spoilt Dog Quilts

January 25^th, 2013

Gingersnap Quilts

Busy Bee Quilts

She Sews the Blues

Traveling Quilter

Grand Mama's Stories

Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio

Sew at Home Mummy

The Slow Quilter

Pig Tales and Quilts

Annie Oak Design

Jane's Fabrics & Quilts

Tea Time Creations

Mo Broker My Creative Side

Just Let Me Quilt

Words and Stitches

Just Keep Swimming

Sew Many Yarns

Sowing Stitches

Jane's Quilting
My Patchwork Life
2muchfun

Pumpkin Patch Quilter
Quilt Monster in my Closet
January 28^th, 2013

A Reformed Heath'n

Meadowbrook

Rosemary B @ “that Other Blog”

Stitch Duchess' Crazy & Sane Quilting World

Grammie Q’s

Bumbleberry Stitches

Sunshine Girl

Spiral

Butjenter Quilter

Blooming Where I am Planted

Quilting Lodge

The Tilted Quilt

Life in the Scrapatch

Pretty Bobbins
In The Boon Docks

Sew Much and More

Threading My Way
Pink Ribbon Quilts
January 29^th, 2013

A Peach in Stitches

Nancy W @ “that Other Blog”

L3 Designs

Bungalow Bay Quilts

Quilted Delights

Quilt Crossing

Lixie Makes it

A Quilting Sheep

Charlotte's Creations

Quilt-n-Queen
Domesticity and Other Ponderous Things

Sew Much 2 Luv

A Quilt and a Prayer

Amanda Murphy Design

Little Mushroom Cap
Kathy's Quilts

Sandra Kaye Design

January 30^th, 2013

Charlotte H @ “that Other Blog”

Clothes and Crafts

It Seams to be Sew

Merry Gay in Stitches

Water Penny

Granny Good Stuff

Under the Presser Foot

More Stars in Comanche

Sew Me Something Good

The Day Before This Day

Farm Road

Livin' Blue Quilter

I Piece 2 Mary
Kwilty Pleasures
Espritpatch
Nutz4Redwork

January 31^th, 2013

Quilting Prolifically

Patchouli Moon Studio

Mountain Quiltworks

In Ga

Dachsies with Moxie

Color My World

Shepody Mountain Crafter

Christa Quilts

Moosestash Quilting

Lavender Quilts

Never 2 Many Quilts

Cathy's Chatter

Madame Samm

And look close, I am scheduled for January 31, 2013!!  This is going to be interesting as I have never done a Dresden Plate before!!

Saturday's Smile!!

I Love How This Little Project Came Together!!

I finished the embroidery from The Raspberry Rabbits that I started a few days ago and I thought it would be cute bordered with some of the little mini charms from Audra's Iris Garden . . . 

I think I am going to just quilt the charms and add a binding before taking it over to my friend!!  

So, so cute!!  This embroidery stuff is VERY addicting, for sure!!  

And another UFO bites the dust!!  Woo!  Hoo!!

A winner of the Mini Charm Packs . . .

has been chosen!!

But before I reveal the winner, I would like to thank everyone who gave me some really good marketing advise!!  I think I am going to sell them in groups of 3 and give the buyer their choice of designs!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:25Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Raewyn Todd from Down Under!!

Congrats, Raewyn and email me with your address!!

Slow Stitchin' Sunday

Oh, I am in LOOOOOOOVVVVVEEE!!!

I used my new light box today for a darling pattern I got from Shell over at The Raspberry Rabbits just about a year ago.

I have put this project off because of tracing but today I was able to just sit in my big old comfy chair and trace away!!  No blood was displaced and my arms were happy campers!!

I decided to do the stitchery instead of the Wool Applique and it is going to be darling!!  I didn't use Shell's Valdani 3 strand floss this time around, but I think on my next project I might give it a shot.  This is a gift for a friend and I am going to make it into a wallhanging for her kitchen!!

If you would like your own pattern, you can click on the pattern above and it will take you to Shell's shop!!  I love being able to support a fellow artist and wonderful bloggy friend!!

Stopping to smell the flowers - er, dandelions!!

I Chose My Second UFO for January Completion!!

I started this quilt in the summer of 2011 for my Dad's younger sister, Aunt Pat.  It was quilted by September of 2011 by my friend Sue over at Summit Creek Quilts.

Then, when my Dad got his pacemaker in December, 2011, life changed a lot and Aunt Pat's quilt got put away and forgotten.  I pulled it out this afternoon to show a friend how I make my Stripity-Do-Da quilt and I decided right then and there that I would make it my second finish for January in the 2013 -  Year of the Unfinished Project Program.

You can click on the button below to see what others are getting finished this month ~

Look What Came in the Mail . . . .

. . . just in time for an even more exciting package that arrived in today's mail ~

I have been using the excuse that I did not do any of the wonderful embroidery projects out there because I have to stand at the window to trace the pattern while the blood in both of my arms drains out.  So, I decided to bite the bullet and get a light box!!

And the light box came just in time for a darling package from our sweet friend, Shell over at The Raspberry Rabbits.  I love her designs and I purchased this little house pattern!!  It is the cutest thing ever!!

So, now I have NO excuse to work on the absolutely incredable embroidery projects I have been accumulating.  Now, I can't start this until I complete my second UFO for January in the

Those are the rules and for now I am sticking to them!!  ;-)

Hexie flowers - Out of the Cold and Into the Australian Sunshine!!

These are the Flowers I sent to Lara in the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap ~

Lara wanted her flowers in purple and red and she said "the more colorful the better."  Well, ya know you don't have to ask me twice for more colorful!!  Hope she likes them ~ they are quite bold!!

Professional Opinion in Exchange for a Giveaway!!

As some of you know, I have a little Etsy shop and an eBay store where I sell fabric and Aurifil thread to help me meet the expenses of life.  Moda has just started making Mini Charm Packs that are 2-1/2" x 2-1/2".

I ordered some of these cute little Mini Charms in 3 brand new collections ~ Ticklish has just come out and Indigo Crossing and Audra's Iris Garden are coming out in just a few days.

Here is what I would like to know ~ how do I market these little cuties?  One at a time?  In groups?  With a 5" Charm Pack?  How would you most likely purchase these Minis?  And just so you know, to help with your decision, the Minis are retailing for $4.00 each.

If you will leave me a comment ~ WITH ADVISE for marketing, I will give these 3 Minis away on January 13th, when Indigo Crossing and Audra's Iris Garden come on the market!!

Thank you all, I know I will get my answer!!  Now, remember, it is how you would most likely purchase these little guys!!  :-)

Finished and in the mail!!

I did get Leonora's scarf completed and in the mail!!  My first 2013 UFO all finished!!  Woo! Hoo!! Only 500 a few more to go!!  :-)

Saturday's Smile!!