Monday, February 28, 2011

Make-A-List Monday #36! Spring also means interrupted internet service....

Hi, all!


I love spring - but I hate one thing about it - the wild weather we have here in Middle Tennessee usually means that our internet service is in and out - which is what has been happening all weekend and all day today!  If you've left a comment on a blogpost and I haven't responded, it's not because I don't care - it's because my internet is on the blink!


It's also delayed my list-making for Monday - but now's the time!  Here's how I did on last week's list....



1.  Make a secret gift for someone who shall remain nameless...(because she may be reading my blog!)

Done!  Here's my daughter's birthday present, which was designed by my granddaughter using Legos!  It finished out at about 32" square...


Here's a picture of the label I made using Picnik.com.  I took a picture of the lego creation and added the wording and border...



2.  Quilt a man's quilt with straight line quilting before I move my Juki back to the quilting frame.

Done!  This quilt was delivered last week...



3.  Put the red and white ministry quilt on the frame and quilt it!

Done!  I've got to hand stitch the binding down as soon as I get this posted...



4.  Pull fabrics for two children's quilts for the ministry.


Done!  The first pile is for an I-Spy quilt for a 7-year old boy, and the other is for a quilt for a 10-year old girl.



This week I also pieced together a stack of already-made blocks into a double irish chain top (sorry, no picture yet!), and I quilted this lovely quilt that my friend Tracy made for our youth minister, who is leaving to go work at another church.


The back is the neatest part, though - all the kids in the youth group signed it on Wednesday night, leaving wonderful messages telling Chase how much he meant to them over the years.  And take a look at her pieced border!  Isn't that gorgeous?


I think Chase liked it...  ;-)


So that's what I did last week.  Whew!!

Here's my new list...

1.  Finish the red and white ministry quilt.

2.  Cut kits for the two children's quilts.

3.  Assemble the childrens' quilts, or pass them on to someone else to assemble.

4.  Make bee blocks and get them in the mail.

5.  Piece a back for the double irish chain quilt and get it quilted.

OK - I think that's enough to keep me busy for a while!  

So - - - what are you working on this week??

PS - there's still time to enter the Whoop Whoop Friday giveaway, even if you can't link up any more this week.  Be sure to check it out here - and be ready to link something up this coming Friday!!

Later!

Sarah

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Surfin' Sunday - Giveaway Winners!!


Hi, all!!


It's Sunday again, and I'm sorry for being a little late with this post - our internet service has been really hit and miss this weekend, because of the storms in our area.  I know you're anxious to know who won the patterns from Rebecca at Chasing Cottons, so without further ado.......


Little Miss Random's first choice was #101...


Debbi - who said....I am now a follower of Rebecca's blog, thanks to Judi @ http://karatequilter.blogspot.com




And Little Miss Random's second choice was #33...


Highpitchedbarking - who said...I already follow your blog through Bloglines.

Congratulations, ladies!  We'll be hoping to see the quilts you create from Rebecca's great designs on Can I Get A Whoop Whoop Friday sometime soon!!


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And now, for this week's feature - 
I haven't heard back from the quilting blogger I wanted 
to feature this week (probably because of 
that intermittent internet service - grrrr!)
 but I wanted to clue you in to two websites 
I chanced upon this week!


Have you discovered Picnik.com yet?  If you haven't, you really need to check out this site - you can upload your photos, edit them, add words, frames, effects - it's awesome, and it's free!!  Check out this label I made this week...




It took me all of about ten minutes to upload, edit, add words, border and print!  Awesome!!  (PS I'll be showing the quilt that goes with this label tomorrow...)


The second site is really more of a blog, I guess, but I don't know the blogger.  The name of it is Design Seeds, and here's an example of what they post each day...




Isn't that gorgeous?  And there's loads of these on the blog - just a picture, with a breakdown of the colors - to inspire you with different color combinations for quilts.  If you want some beautiful and inspiring eye candy, this is definitely a link to check out!!


Hopefully next week we'll be back to featuring quilt bloggers - come back and see who's on the dime next time!  Congratulations again to the winners!!


Later!


Sarah


PS: Don't forget, there's still time to link up to participate in the Whoop Whoop Friday giveaway!  Pop over here to find out more...

Friday, February 25, 2011

Can I get a Whoop-Whoop?? It's Giveaway Time!!

Hi, all!


Well, the time has arrived - for our very first Whoop Whoop Friday Giveaway!!  Remember last week I mentioned four good friends....  in the forest....  



                                                  ......worried about lions.....


and tigers...... and bears........OH MY!!


Well, there's nothing to worry about here - because we don't have lions, or tigers, or bears - - - - we've got........






Anyone interested in taking home all these fabulous goodies?  There's two charm packs, 13 fat quarters, four one-yard cuts of fabric, and a brand new, still-in-the-plastic copy of Quiltmaker!  Here's four different ways to enter - use one or all to get as many chances as you want!

1.  Link up to the linky party below showing us what you accomplished this week.  If you're new to the linky party, remember, it doesn't have to be a finish - just something you did a little happy dance about this week!  (You can find out more about Whoop Whoop Fridays by clicking the tab at the top of this blog.)  I'll leave the linky party open until Sunday night at midnight, CST so everyone has a chance to join in!

2.  Become a follower of this blog, then leave me a comment telling me you have, or to let me know you already are a follower!  

3.  If you don't have anything to link up this week, leave a comment on this blog telling what you'd like to work on so you have something to link up next week!

4.  Spread the word! Blog about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a comment with a link to your blogpost for another entry.

And those of you who linked up last week will get an extra entry, as promised!!

Winners will be chosen by Little Miss Random next Thursday, March 3rd and announced on next week's Whoop Whoop Friday post!

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But before you rush off to do all that, here's what I accomplished this week.....

I made a back, quilted and bound this awesome quilt (flimsy made by my friend Connie!) for the quilt ministry.....


All those pinwheels are 3-D - only the long side of the triangle is sewn into the block!  This is just part of the quilt because it was too rainy to take a full shot outside today!

I also made a gift that I won't be able to show off until Monday!  I sure wish I could show you now....  ;-)

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And now it's your chance to link up your accomplishments for the week - what made you do a happy dance?  Pump your fist in the air?  Cheer out loud?  Share it with us! We'll cheer with you!!  And hopefully next Friday, you'll have another reason to cheer - free fabric goodies!!

I can't wait to see what you all share!! 

Sarah

Monday, February 21, 2011

Make-A-List Monday #35! Spring is peeking out at me.....


Hi, all!


Well, it's  grey day here in Tennessee, but look what was peeking out at me this morning....(the gnome is being VERY anti-social, what can I say, I wouldn't let him go see Gnomeo and Juliet this weekend...)  but at least it's a sign of spring coming!  Here's another sign, too...




This is what happened when I tried to take a picture outside today, shortly before the quilt blew off the clothesline altogether!  So some of my pics today had to be taken indoors....


Let's take a look at progress (hah!) on last week's list...



1.  Finish piecing the commission quilt. 
AND
2.  Quilt the commission quilt.

Done!  This is finished, delivered, gifted and well-loved!!  You've put up with teasers for so long, here are some pictures of the finished quilt... 
(taken on Saturday, before the wind!)





I'm so happy with the way this quilt came out - and in case you missed the shout-out earlier, it was inspired by this quilt made by Ashley over at Film In The Fridge.  

3.  Quilt the red and white ministry quilt.

Not done - the memory quilt took longer than planned!

4.  Quilt another ministry quilt.

Also not done - for the same reason!

5.  Finish hand stitching the binding on some of Saturday's mug rugs.

I've done some of these, but not all - so partially done, I guess!

In my defense, though, I did bind this quilt for the quilt ministry, which was pieced and quilted by my friend Marsha.  Isn't it pretty?





OK, time to regroup.....  here's the list for this week!

1.  Make a secret gift for someone who shall remain nameless...
 (because she may be reading my blog!)

2.  Quilt a man's quilt with straight line quilting before I move my Juki back to the quilting frame.

3.  Put the red and white ministry quilt on the frame and quilt it!

4.  Pull fabrics for two children's quilts for the ministry.

I think that's going to be it for this week, because I've got some other things to do that I can't write about here....  and they might keep me from getting to much more than this!

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And a quick reminder - if you haven't already entered, be sure to check out my Surfin' Sunday post, featuring Rebecca Johnson from Chasing Cottons.  Rebecca has offered up a giveaway, and there will be two winners!  You still have time - the winners will be drawn next Saturday, February 26th.

So now, the only question is - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Later!

Sarah

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Surfin' Sunday - Featuring Chasing Cottons - and a Giveaway!


Hi, all!


It's Sunday again - and today I'd like to introduce you to Rebecca, the wonderful creative mind behind Chasing Cottons!  She's one of the most inspiring bloggers I know - she has a very special and touching story behind her passion that you can read in her own words here.




Rebecca creates and blogs from the Central Coast of Australia, and she has the most marvelous creations!  Not only does she design quilts (I'll show you those in a minute!) but take a look at these....


Check out the tutorial for this innovative wall hanging here...


There's a tutorial for these great pot-holders here....
And she'll even show you how to do curved seams in her 
Sew Mama Sew tutorial for this fabulous birdcage pillow!


There's even a tutorial on her blog for how to pin-baste a quilt - something that can come in really handy when you're trying to work it out for yourself!


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But I have to say that my favorite designs are her quilts!  Check these out....


Sand Castle - my personal favorite!
Rolling Meadows - simple yet striking!

Star Jewels - I love the way this just glows!


Diamond Bouquet- published in Quilters Companion last month!!


Curlicue Crush - lots of curves - and she makes them easy!
Eden's Garden - more beautiful curves!
(An update - be sure to hop over to this blog post to see her newest creation - made with Sherbet Pips!)

And now, the best news of all - Rebecca is offering four of her great quilt patterns for a giveaway!!  To spread the wealth a little, I think we'll have two winners - each will get to choose two of Rebecca's patterns for her very own!  So what can you do to get in on a chance at this great loot?

*1*

Hop over to Rebecca's shop, then come back here and 
leave a comment telling me what your favorite pattern is!

*2*

While you're over at Rebecca's, 
you might want to follow her blog.  
If you do, leave a second comment letting me know 
for another entry!

*3*

If you become a follower of my blog, 
or if you are already a follower, 
leave another comment letting me know for a third entry!

*4*

If you blog about this giveaway, 
leave a comment with a link to your blogpost 
for a fourth and final entry!

Do as many or as few of these as you want - 
you can win with only one entry, you know!  
But you've got to enter to win!!

The giveaway will remain open until Saturday, 
February 26th at 5 p.m. CST.  
The winners will be announced on next week's 
Surfin' Sunday post!

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I hope you enjoy Rebecca's blog as much as I do!  Thanks for dropping by, and be sure to check back next Sunday to see who gets to pick out two new quilt patterns!!

Later!

Sarah

Friday, February 18, 2011

Can I get a Whoop-Whoop?? Nearing the Finish Line....And A Giveaway?


Hi, all!

It's that time again - are you ready to get (and give) your whoop whoops?  I hope you're planning to link up this week - because I've got a really good reason for you to do it!  Next week, February 25th, there'll be a giveaway (whoop whoop!!!) and if you link up this week, you'll get an extra entry next week!  Spread the word this week about the giveaway next Friday, and you'll get another entry!  Plus you'll get one when you link up next week - so three chances at some really great loot!  I don't have any pictures of the giveaway items to show you, but I will give you a little hint - remember the scene in the forest in the Wizard of Oz?  Imagine if Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow were saying, "Yardage and fat quarters and charms, oh my!"




(((I did have one person ask this week if putting the button on their blog was what I meant by linking up - so if you're new to linky parties, here's the skinny - to link up, you write a blog post or post a picture to flickr of your week's accomplishment.  If it's a blog post, click on the title of the post, then copy the url address in the internet browser.  If it's a flickr pic, click on the pic, then copy the url address from the internet browser.  Come over to the linky party, and at the end of my blog post, it will say something like "You're Next" - click on that, and enter your information in the blanks.  It will also ask you to choose a picture to put on the linky party, and you can choose one from your blog post or your flickr pic.  If any of this doesn't work, e-mail me and I'll try to help you.  And remember, the linky party is open from Friday at 12:01 a.m CST until Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST - so you have two full days to link up!)))


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Most of this week, I've been working on the commission quilt - - and as of Thursday evening, it's close to being a finished flimsy....

Once again, blurry - but I promise
nice clear pictures next week!!

But I also made two pillows for my husband for Valentine's Day, so the week wasn't a total wash!


This one is called Jazz Nights in the City - named for the outer border fabric, which features lots of instruments and the word "jazz" on it.  The patch pieces in the center are architectural prints, so it just seemed to go well with the jazz fabric!  My husband's dearest desire is to go to a jazz club in NYC!


And this pillow is called Rock and Roll at the Orange Bowl - growing up in Miami, my hubby was a huge Dolphins fan (their colors are teal and orange!) back when they played in the Orange Bowl - and he once participated in a rock and roll half-time show there!  

So those are my accomplishments for the week - - - can I get a whoop whoop??

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And now it's your turn - show us what you did this week!!  
And don't forget - spread the word about next Friday's giveaway and plan to link up next week, too!

And one more thing - come back here on Sunday to see who's being featured on Surfin' Sunday - it's a great blog, and guess what?  The blogger is offering some goodies to give away!!  You won't want to miss this one!!

Later!

Sarah