Monday, July 30, 2012

GAAQG Show....

Saturday morning DH and I went to the quilt show in Ann Arbor Michigan.
...one ribbon is awarded for 'Viewers Choice"...

I had originally entered one quilt...it was a UFO. 
I thought it was about 4 years ago but it is more like 7 years ago I started the log cabin blocks.
I knew if I had a dead line I would get it finished and I did!!


About 2 weeks ago I was asked if I had another quilt I could enter.
They were short about 10 quilts....I had just finished Up Up and Away
but it needed a hanging sleeve and a label. 
It was a quilt pattern I had tested for Amanda Jean (Crazymomquilts)
for her new book Sunday Morning Quilts. 
The fabric I used was Lily and Will II by Bunny Hill Designs 
You can read about my quilt HERE.
and then they said they could use another quilt, a small one.
So I added a hanging sleeve and label to 
my twisted log cabin using Sherbet Pips fabric by Aneela Hoey.
Twisted Log Cabin
 I ended up with 3 quilts hanging in the show...

Then another crisis...
three quilts are given away each year to raise money for SafeHouse...
and 2 of the 3 fundraiser quilts had gone astray so to speak.
Hopefully they will be found and can be used for next year's fundraiser quilts.
They are bed size quilts and I was able to came up with one
 that I had made about 6 years ago.
It was quilted and bound so I just had to add a hanging sleeve and a label.
DONE and out the door Friday morning!!
The three donated quilts will help raise a lot of money for a good cause!!!

I guess I should have pressed it or steamed it to 
 make the 6 year fold disappear...it really didn't look that bad hanging at the show...

More pictures to follow of some pretty amazing quilts, but before that
I have to get sewing on my 'Think Christmas' blocks.
There are so many I want to make and I just know I won't get them all finished.
I'm running out of the midnight oil, anybody got some or 
I could use one of those 36 hour days I've been looking for...looking forever for!!
If you found one please, please send one my way, just one will do...
...I'm getting desperate!!

hugs and happy stitching

Pauline





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Day one of the 'Think Christmas' blog hop....



...all aboard the Christmas train...
Your 5 day trip has been extended to 7 days...
there will to LOTS and LOTS of Christmas ideas to see
...10 stops today, sEw lets get this train rolling down the tracks....
the coffee is brewing and will be served shortly...
stay seated and enjoy the first 10 stops!!

July 30
Cotton Addiction
Vroomans Quilts
Kris Loves Fabric
Moosestash Quilting
Paws for Stitching
Threading My Needles
Just Let Me Quilt
Living4quilting
Doodling in my Mind
Quilt Doodle Designs
be prepared to be inspired...
Thank you Santa Lesley and Mme Samm for making
this blog hop possible.
See you all on August 5, when the Christmas train 
stops in Canton Michigan.

hugs and happy hopping 

Pauline

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

I enjoyed 2 classes with Edyta Sitar a week ago....

What a wonderful quilting weekend it was!!
I took 2 classes.... Friday's class was the Broken Star Log Cabin class.
The log cabin blocks finish at 4.5" x 4.5"and are cut from 1" strips.
Edyta said you can make this quilt in 4 days....and after learning her time saving techniques...yes you can.
I finished 16 blocks on Friday.
On Saturday morning Edyta had a lecture called....'Reasons for Quilts'.
Not only is Edyta a talented quilter, fabric designer for Moda, pattern designer,
terrific mother, wife and friend...
she is also a wonderful speaker...funny and entertaining...even brought tears to my eyes.
I was front row, she brought 80 quilts....all were absolutely amazing quilts!!
If you every have the opportunity to take one of her workshops or attend one of her lectures, please take the time to learn from one of the 'best'.
Just have to add the borders on my Broken Star Log Cabin...
I've pulled  the border fabric from my stash.
here it is on the line...and tonight I will add the borders.
After I got home from the lecture last Saturday
I bound my purple log cabin quilt. 
It is hanging at the GAAQG Quilt show in Ann Arbor Michigan this weekend. 
(sorry no picture)...maybe later today. 
I finished another 16 of the Broken Star Log Cabin blocks.
and started the 16 light log cabin blocks.
On Sunday I took Edyta's Stars in Quilts class.
It features 15 different star patterns and is a guild favorite.
  If you get a chance to take it...do, it is an awesome class!!
We worked on the Dresden Star block....and it is super cool to make!

...and here is my block, yep only one so far and I still have the applique to do. 
This is not paper pieced...definitely an awesome block!!

I must say....I had a very busy week sewing..stressful but gratifying.
I burned a lot of midnight oil trying to
 finish quilts,
stitch bindings,
add hanging sleeves and labels
 on 6 different quilts.
My friend Christa and I worked together and by Thursday evening
we had all our quilts ready for the quilt show.
Great teamwork.....thanks for making my labels Christa!!

Now go and get inspired by visiting Edyta at
 Laundry Basket Quilts...she has patterns, books, fabrics...lots of goodies. 
There is lots of info on her website.

hugs and happy stitching

Pauline


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Thursday, July 19, 2012

First let me say THANK YOU....

...so sEw much for stopping by and for your sweet comments on my Red, White and Blue blog hop posting...I luv reading them. A big welcome to my new followers and to all the followers who have found a tutorial, a quilt, tip or some form of inspiration on my blog that keeps you coming back.  Thank you...you make my heart sing!!!. I am participating in the 'Think Christmas' blog hop hosted by Lesley.  I hope you'll be by to visit me again....

...and now for the winners

#47  Cherry's Prairie Primitives

#32 Michele May

I have emailed the winners....they both picked #2 the Bird Brain Designs pattern and the DMC Perle cotton...that's OK, I had ordered 5 patterns from Bird Brain Designs....and it is the cutest pattern..and fun to stitch!!


     

All the stitching is finished on the Christmas Prayer...

Christmas Prayer   Christmas Prayer x 3

Please come back often to visit and see what I am up to...

hugs and happy stitching

Pauline

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Last chance to enter giveaway

...ends tonight.

There are 2 winners
#1

2 Prairie Paisley Charm Packs
includes spool of Aurifil thread 50 wt 

#2

Bird Brain Design's new Halloween pattern
"Witches Hooray Table Runner"
includes spool of DMC Perle cotton 8 wt 


To enter the giveaway 
go HERE to leave your comment...

....I'm going now to do my rain dance and I'm not going to stop until it rains....
don't laugh....this is coming from a wontabe dancer with 2 left feet!!
...have a wonderful day!!


Good Luck and Happy Stitching

Pauline




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Saturday, July 14, 2012

FNSI results...

...I stitched 2 more Great Granny squares....I had only enough background fabric to make 9 blocks.   Since I ran out of background fabric I will have to add corner stones to the outer border....just not enough background fabric...I think it looks OK and I still have to sew the 2.5" outer border to the quilt top.  I would have added a wider border had I had more of the background fabric.  The quilt will finish around 46" x 46".  



In stead of finishing the borders I decided to do some embroidery....Christmas Prayer Redwork by Bird Brain Designs.  




Embroidery from FNSI
I did more stitching on Saturday...I'd say it is more than half stitched now.

I worked on the angel block Friday night, still have
the angel's hair to stitch.

I called it a night just after midnight...my eyes were tired.  Hope everyone got lots of stitching done last night. 


hugs and happy stitching

Pauline

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Red, White, and Blue...and a Give Away...



Welcome and thank you for stopping by...I hope you are enjoying the Red, White and Blue Blog Hop.  Thank you Mdm Samm and Jane for organizing such a great blog hop....you ladies are amazing!!  Ready or not....here is my parade of blocks...

...my first block was designed by Konda Luckau for a quilt-along she hosted last fall.  It measures 12.5" .  The pattern is available on her blog Moose on the Porch.  It was block #1 of the quilt-along with 12 different star blocks by 12 different designers.  The fabric is Moda's Prairie Paisley II by Minick and Simpson.



...the next block combines a little piecing and a little embroidery.  As many of you know I love to embroider...it's so relaxing.  The embroidery in this 12.5" block is a free design at Bird Brain Designs.  The embroidered square is 5.5".  I'm not sure what to call it...kinda like a log cabin block and it's super easy.  The first border is finished at 1/2", followed by a 1" border and the outside border is finished at 2".  I will likely finish this as a mini quilt for my table topper or my wall hanger.

...the Granny Square has been showing up in a lot of blogs since the beginning of the year when Jolene shared her tutorial on her blog Blue Elephant.  As of Monday July 9th I had not made one but when I saw Lori Holt's 12.5" Great Granny Square...I had to make one and once I started I couldn't stop.  You can find it on her blog...Bee In My Bonnet.  I'm planning on making enough blocks to make it lap size....or until I run out of the background fabric.  I think I have enough fabric for 9 blocks and the sashing.  I'm using Prairie Paisley II.


Here is my first Great Granny Square....
...and my second
...and my third
...and my fourth
...and my fifth
...and I just finished my sixth and seventh block, sorry no pictures...)o:

Lastly I'd like to share two string quilts I recently finished...super easy and stress free.  These quilts were made using a 10.5" block.

Patriotic Hung
Thank you again for stopping by  ♥  ♥  ♥
Be prepared to be inspired as you visit the other guest bloggers scheduled today
Linda's Lines and Loves
QuiltnQueen...you are here
Cherry Blossoms

...and now for the Giveaway
2 winners...2 different prizes

***************
#1
2 Prairie Paisley Charm Packs
includes spool of Aurifil thread 50 wt 
PRAIRIE PAISLEY II Charm Pack by Minick & Simpson for Moda Fabrics

#2
Bird Brain Design's new Halloween pattern
"Witches Hooray Table Runner"
includes spool of DMC Perle cotton 8 wt 
Picture of Witches Hooray Table Runner

to win...
...one comment please and I'll make it real simple
tell me if you would like package #1 or #2  
and be a follower of my blog...
please tell me if you are a new follower or have been
following for ....some time...(o:

I will draw the winners on Wednesday July 18th

Please make sure I have a way to contact you.  
The winner will be sent an email and posted here.
If you are a no reply blogger please include your email in your comment.


GIVEAWAY COMMENTS ARE CLOSED

Hugs and Happy Stitching

Pauline

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Monday, July 2, 2012

Late as usual....


and I haven't even posted about Mdm Samm's blog hop hosted by Jane...
...it's already day 2 of the
Red White and Blue Blog Hop!!
and I haven't started to hop yet but I will visit soon.

Here's the schedule...
July 1st
Hot Pink Peonies
VroomansQuilts
piece peace
The Cuddle Quilter

July 2nd

July 3rd
July 4th


July 5th
Dexter Days
unDeniably Domestic

July 6th
tubakk

July 7th
Why Knot Kwilt?
Creativity Amongst Chaos
Diane P (I will host)

July 9th
Karen ~ Briarside Lane
Quilted Sisca (I will Host)
Connie C

July 11th
Nancy R

July 12th
Linda's LInes and Loves
QuiltnQueen...me and I've lots to do before it is my turn!!
Cherry Blossoms

July 13th
Plum and June
Kathy H (I will host)

July 14th
Diann C  (I will host)
Quilt Monster in my Closet
MoomMist
Susie’s World 

July 15th

July 16th
PolkaDotClassic
Madame Samm

I promise I will be back in blogland...
...after I finish the mitered borders for my purple log cabin quilt.
It is due for a quilt show July 28 and still has to go to the LAQ for some real magic....
and then I have to bind and add a hanging sleeve....it is queen size...ugh!!
  
Since I decided to miter the borders on this quilt I have procrastinated for 5 months
yes 5 months!!!@
I tend to do that when I don't know what I'm doing!!!
I have put mitered borders on only one quilt and that was 5 or 6 years ago and
I had the teacher by my side.
The multiple borders are on and now I'm struggling with the mitering.
I googled "How to miter multiple quilt borders...and yes I got some great tips
from Jay Bird Quilts....  
...one being press the top and bottom borders one way
and press the side borders the opposite way to have the seams nest...
great idea but 
I have a cream border and do not want the purple and green seam showing
on the cream border...and to line up the 3 borders is frustrating.
I'm ripping the corners out again....
how can I get perfect mitered binding corners every time
and struggle so much with my mitered borders corners.
This is a queen size quilt and I will not give up....
I will practice this again and again and again on smaller quilts...say a table runner...
until I master mitered borders....I've said many times before
my least favorite part of quilt making is the border.
I just know the log cabin quilt will look awesome when it is finished.

Thanks for your patience....
I haven't forgot about the chalk board message board tutorial...

I am going to do a tutorial as soon as I finish a few of my commitments with deadlines
Do you ever feel you should practice saying NO! 
I want to help everyone, make everything I see, join every group.
I say I am going to practice saying NO and then
someone says do you want to "....." and it comes out YES.
...does this happen to you????

I'M GOING TO FINISH MY BORDERS NOW!!!!
I'm working under pressure again...
I'm retired....I think I'm doing something wrong!

One more thing...I'm not enjoying this heat one bit.
last Thursday the temperature in Canton MI was 107F (42C)...
and that was without the humidex!!!

Have a wonderful Monday...
hugs and happy stitching

Pauline

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