Make-A-List Monday - Pedal to the Metal Time!!

Hi, all!

Can you believe it's May already???  The months seem to go by so fast - but at least it's warm and green outside, instead of snowy and cold! Spring and summer always makes me want to pull out the brighter colors in my stash and play - how about you?

I'm grateful this week to finally have time to do some playing with fabric - last week I had the little girls all week, so not much got done.  Let's see how the week went...

1.  Finalize a design for the stained glass quilt and start quilting.

Done!  I did the straight line quilting on my Juki over the weekend, then loaded it on the frame and started the FMQ this morning.  

Small random meandering in the framing areas...

...and this flame design between the log cabin blocks.

Next up is the graffiti quilting in the big negative space corners!

2.  Keep working on the antique quilt repair.

Still in progress!

3.  Sew the label on Nathanael's quilt before Friday night.

Done - and of course, I didn't take a pic!

4.  Write Friday's blogpost promoting Shannon's new site.

Done!  And there's a giveaway, and you've still got time to enter!!  Hop over to this post and see all about her new site and throw your hat in the ring to win a gift certificate and some other great things!

5.   Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that arise.

Done!  It was a quiet week - just two quilts...

This one went to a very young woman diagnosed with inoperable ovarian cancer...

...and this one went to a man who had a heart attack and then an acute autoimmune reaction.

I did have a lot of fun spending time with this little scamp...

One of my friends captioned this picture, 

"My parents are coming home WHEN???"

And we had some fun times with this crazy girl as well!  

For those of you interested, the newly expanded family is doing well.  Nathanael is adjusting to having sisters, and the girls are just fascinated with their brother!  

OK, so now let's see what's on tap for the first week of May!

1.  Finish quilting the stained glass quilt.

2.  Keep working on repairing the antique quilt.

3.  Work on the pennant quilt tutorial.

(My niece told me about a great FREE drafting program that may help me do some of the needed diagrams for this tutorial - I can't wait to give it a try!)

4.  Keep up with any ministry needs that come up.

A short list again this week because I really need to get the stained glass quilt off the quilt frame!  I want to do something really special with the quilting, but that means that the frame is tied up for working on anything else.  Pedal to the metal quilting for the next few days!

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

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help - Meet This Week's Guest Blogger, Sharon!!

Hi, all!

It's Sunday again, time for Hands2Help and another installment from this year's guest bloggers!  Today we're lucky to get a post  by my friend Sharon, who has the greatest address EVER!!  She's got a pretty great blog, too, called Vrooman's Quilts, where she shares all of her fabulous scrap quilting efforts to inspire us.  

So without further ado, here's Sharon!!

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Welcome to Vroomans Quilts on Quilt Lane - yes, I live on Quilt Lane.  I began my quilting journey as a scrap quilter back in 2009 while recovering from an accident.  Handed a box of scrap fabrics and using a very old beat up machine, and the wonders of the internet - I learned to quilt.  And I still love getting those boxes and baggies of someone else's treasured scraps and turning them into blocks and quilts.

I found (and sure you have too) very quickly that scraps multiply FAST.  Now how do you manage them?  More importantly, how do you manage them so you USE THEM?  My intro to scrap management was from the Queen of Scraps - Bonnie Hunter - and you can visit her system HERE.  But just as we are all different quilters, we need a system that works for us.  So I offer some basic tips that will help you find a system that works for you.

1.  What Kind of Quilter are You?

No, I don't mean are you a traditional, modern, applique, fiber artist - I mean .....

Do you use large pieces of fabric?  Do you prefer large blocks?  If so, you are going to want to keep your scraps in large pieces.  ** this is a free pattern you can find HERE

Or do you prefer tiny blocks?  Or are your large blocks made up of small units?  This all breaks down how you will maintain and store your scraps - HOW YOU USE THEM.

2.  Storage

 Now we need to break old habits - or keep those starting with  a small pile of scraps from forming habits.  It is so tempting to just stash those scraps into a baggy or box or tote.  

BUT IT GROWS and then we are overwhelmed!  Where do we start?  If you have used #1 to analyze how you use those fabrics, now you can sort down those scraps.  I don't recommend cutting down unless that is how you really want to use them.  Sometimes having that extra fabric or long strip is more useful.

  

  

Storage units depend on you - shelving, totes, bins, rolling carts - it is what fits you and your space.  I always 'shop' my kitchen first as you can see my snack barrels and desert tubs. And I still have that bad habit of cute baskets - but I think the key thing I hope you can see - is you CAN SEE what you have to use.  If it is visible, you will be more apt to use it.

Yes, I have large piece storage because there are times I need those larger pieces - and these are the only storage I separate into color. I have small piece storage - I love to work tiny blocks.  And I have 'go to' blocks and patterns that I know will use up those small pieces. If you have looked at your quilting style - you will see what your 'go to' block and patterns are.  OR you can search that wonderful internet for them. 

3.  Maintainance

Where to start?  If you are just starting with that sorting and storage, it should work up quickly.  BUT if you have been 'stock piling' those scraps, take it in baby steps.  You just won't tackle it in a day!  FIRST - take out the largest pieces and put them away.  You will see immediate light of day.  Then work your way down the fabric food chain you have chosen.  Be it strips, squares, triangles - have a place for it and put it in its place.

 And keep that system going.  After each project or work session, put things in their place immediately - DON'T STASH THEM.  I think that is most quilters' down fall - it's easier to clean up by just 'shoveling' it all into a bin or tote to deal with later and later doesn't come.

I always use the clean up into my fabric food chain.  Large pieces put away first, smaller units may be stored or cut down into useable size (my snack barrels).

Even those little cut off triangles from a project.  Don't tuck them into a baggy for later.  Stitch them right up, square them right up, and store them so you can SEE them.  They are handy little units to have at the ready.

AND, there is no shame in passing fabrics along - if it doesn't fit your style or use - give it to someone who will love to use it.  Yes, you can pry that fabric from your grip!  I rather see fabric used rather stored out of sight. 

I hope this has helped you in getting a plan for your scrap management. Remember, it is as easy as 1,2,3:

1.  What type of quilter are you?

2.  Storage to meet your quilting style and your space

3.  Maintainance 

And if you need more insight to management - I only wish this was mine!
Teresa of  Fabric Therapy had this wonderful post HERE

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

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Oh, how I wish I had those minions right now to use all these great tips to organize my scraps!  Sharon is absolutely right when she says to deal with them as they happen - they can take over your sewing space in a hurry! 

My own personal scrap stash of shame - it doesn't look this good right now!

Thanks so much, Sharon, for sharing your proven methods for dealing with scraps. As prolific as you are at making blocks, it obviously works!!

Keep working on those H2H quilts, and I'll see you next week!

Hugs!

Sarah

PS - By the way, it's been a big weekend here, and here's a pic to prove it....

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop - For Fabrics N Quilts? Giveaway too!

Hi, all!

Well, it's Friday again, and time to get our whoop whoop on!  Today I have a very special whoop whoop for you.  I'm going to be whooping it up with and for my friend Shannon of Fabrics N Quilts, because she has a new and improved website!  And you're going to be whooping it up to, because she's throwing in some stuff for a GREAT giveaway!!!

Just in case you've never met her, Shannon is the one on the left.  This was taken at her booth at the quilt show in Paducah last weekend, which was filled with all sorts of yumminess - so much, in fact, that I got distracted and forgot to take any pictures of the booth!  But I did take a picture of my favorite loot from Paducah, all of which came from Shannon's shop...

Can you tell I'm a sucker for cute signs?

Well, one day recently I woke up, found that I needed Kona Snow and decided to drive two hours to Shannon's shop in Jamestown, TN (because I knew from her website that she had ten yards of Kona Snow on hand, and who knew what I'd find at any of the local quilt shops!)  I've been meaning to make this trip for several years now, but just hadn't had a day without toddlers before.

Her shop is jam-packed with all kinds of great fabric, notions, patterns, thread, and other stuff, but this was my favorite thing - isn't that a cute way to display thread?  Makes me wish I hadn't gotten rid of that antique ironing board I used to have...

But today, I'm whooping it up with Shannon because she has a fresh new look for her on-line shop!

And not only does she have a fresh new look, she's added some pretty cool features...

You can now shop by COLOR!!

(You can also shop by Designer, Collection, Style, and Brand.)

You can buy by the 1/4 yard - no more having to buy extra fabric you don't need!

Faster navigation to search by designer, brand, collection or style!

Gift certificates in any dollar amount, the purchaser can send a personal message to the recipient, AND it's available to be used immediately after purchase (this would be a good one to tell your hubby, for the next time he forgets an important event!)

and my personal favorite...

FREE U.S. Shipping - all day, every day, no minimum, no limit, no coupon - NO HASSLE!  Plus great international rates, including the first pound to Canada is free (which would include an order of up to 2 yards of fabric).

But wait - - - there's more!!

You can try your fabric choices out in a quilt block before you buy!  Here's an example of one I did...

All you have to do is load yardage in your cart, then go to the cart. At the top of the page, there's a button that says 

"Preview Fabric In Block".  Easy peasy, and so useful!

There are several different block designs to try out.

Pattern downloads and more Fabrics N Quilts patterns

 are coming soon!

There's a Gallery - a virtual "show and tell" of customer quilts and Shannon's own quilts!  What a great place for a little inspiration!

And if that's not enough, there's a tab at the top of the page labeled Coming Soon.  Now, I'm sure you've seen Coming Soon sections before - but Shannon's added a great incentive!  You can sign up for an email alert so she'll let you know when a particular fabric arrives.  When Shannon emails you, you'll also receive a 5% coupon code to use to purchase your new fabric!  No payment in advance, and no obligation to buy simply because you requested notification of the fabric's arrival.  You get first crack at the fabric you like and save money too!!

And did I say something about a GIVEAWAY????

Yes, I did!!

...How about a $35.00 gift certificate plus a goodie bag that will include an American Made Brand FQ bundle of 18 fat quarters and a few other things to be determined as she packs the order.  (A little birdie told me there might be a spool of Aurifil in and amongst all that loot!)

And what might you spend that $35 on?  Well, in addition to fabric, there are some great notions...

...or you might pick this cute baby quilt pattern...

(which is currently making its way to my house!)

The possibilities are endless!!

So how do you enter?  Take your choice of any or all of the following...

1.  Go check out Fabrics N Quilts' new site, and pick your favorite item for sale or new feature!

2.  Follow Fabrics N Quilts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or Google+.  If you look at the left side-bar on her website, below the precuts you'll see buttons to click to follow her on any or all of these social media outlets.    (Note:  On Facebook, be sure to pull down the "Liked" menu box and click "Get Notifications" and "Following" to receive all the posts that Shannon puts up!)  

3.  You get an entry if you are a follower of Shannon's blog.

4.  If you are a follower of my blog, that's good for another entry!

5.  And finally, if you took a selfie with Shannon at Paducah last weekend, that's good for a bonus entry!!  

6.  Now leave one comment telling which of the above you did, and please leave me your email address!  I'm seeing more and more no-reply bloggers - sometimes through no fault of your own, as Yahoo and Wordpress seem to be problematic on Blogger.  I'd hate to draw a no-reply blogger and be unable to reach you!  

I hope this makes things easier for you - lots of ways to enter, but you only have to leave one comment.  I'll total up all the different entries on my end!  The giveaway entries will close 

Thursday, May 7th at noon, and I'll announce the winner on 

next Friday's whoop-whoop post!

So - - - let's give Shannon a BIG whoop whoop!!

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And now it's your turn!

What are you whooping about this week?

What's got you dancing the happy dance?

Share - we want to dance right along with you!

And remember, it doesn't have to be a finish - 

just something you're happy about this week!

The party closes at midnight Sunday -

Hope to see you there!!

Hugs!

Sarah

PS - There are also giveaways related to Shannon's new shop on these websites - no reason you shouldn't increase your odds of winning!  Check them out:  Pat over at Life in The Scrapatch, Maryellen of Mary Mack Made Mine, and Darlene from QuiltShopGal.