Sunday, April 29, 2012

Wiksten Tank and a Win


Ok, I look like a dork posing and seriously need to work on a tan but the point to this post is I have made (almost) a piece of clothing I can wear...yay!!






This is a Wiksten pdf download pattern that I found courtesy of a link from Kerry's site verykerryberry.  Now, of course, she was doing the more difficult (for me) Tova which has *gasp* sleeves but when I saw there was a simple tank pattern there, as well, I immediately thought that would be a way for me to try to make myself a piece of clothing.   Many weeks after downloading...my wonderful mom-in-law Jean took me in hand and helped me get a start.  So good to get a kick in the pants for motivation sometimes ;).  Just need to put the neck and armhole binding on it now.  I had read that this was a pattern that ran big so I went with the small...I think I may try another in a medium next as this one fits but there is no "wiggle" room and since I was in a hurry to begin I failed to prewash...bad, bad, Kris  :).

My other BIG news is this...I won a custom quilting from the very talented Marcia of Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting blog.  Here is what she says I've won...

Kris wins free quilting, free batting and free thread on a little quilt. Free quilting can be over all quilting or detailed free style quilting or thread painting/quilting -- Winner's choice!
Kris can choose to have a small wall hanging quilted, a place mat, a small table runner, or table topper, 4 mug rugs or any little quilt -- no larger than 20" by 20".  Winner provides quilt top and quilt backing and shipping back and forth.

I had so much fun doing Madam Samm's Table Topper Blog Hop and this win just is icing on the cake!
I'm very excited and have an idea of what I want to ask for, more details to come!  Thanks so much Marcia!!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Table Topper Hop Giveaway Winner

Thank you again for all the great comments and support on my first Blog Hop with the wonderful Madame Samm...I had a great time and was so inspired by everyone's posts and projects.

Now, I have some housekeeping.  I have a California Girl Charm pack to be given away to one of the comment makers...



So I used Mr. Random at Random.org to come up with the giveaway winner....and....congratulations Laura!

Cute projects. I especially love the first one.


 I have emailed you, and will mail the charm square pack to you as soon as you send me your address.

Thanks again to everyone who played along!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Bee Blocks and my April Craftsy BOM block done


 It has been really windy here the last few days so bear with me that the picture isn't great of these but below are my blocks for April for Lisa for the Sew.Bee.Create Bee.  She asked for Union Stars and was kind enough to provide the material pre-cut.  This actually worked a bit against me in that I've grown rusty at sewing triangles together and have worked more with sewing them as squares to be cut apart and then trimmed up.  Hopefully they are acceptable to her...I wish all the points had matched up better!

And, this is my April Craftsy BOM hexie block...I know, I know...we are supposed to make two but I wasn't all that impressed with the looks of these so I think I may add another block of my own design later.  I used the machine to top-stitch these down.  The technique was easy, I just think I would prefer hexies all stitched together on their own rather than appliqued onto a background.  It would be a good portable project if I wasn't already doing embroidery projects as my portable go-to right now. 
So, I'll trim her up once I decide for sure she'll be included!

Be sure to visit these wonderful ladies, only two more days for our Table Topper Blog Hop hosted by Madame Samm...

Tuesday  April 24th

Syd 

Wednesday April 25th 


Shanna joining us this day..
Betsy

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Walking on Air

So I have been working on my Silhouette Challenge entry for Edyta Sitar's Laundry Basket Quilts blog (here's a big surprise...it's a table topper!!!  more details to come...)  and I had to stop and write this post because you all are so awesome...

You have spoiled  me so with your kind and generous comments on my Table Topper blog hop post.  Thank you so much for your encouragement!  I had chosen the suggestion for a comment on which topper you preferred mainly because they were so different from one another and I was curious as to which style appealed to my readers.  I surely hadn't counted on everyone making such wonderful compliments...blush...

The one that has received the most votes so far seems to be the red and neutral nine-patch with the Live Laugh Love embroidery a close second.  I was gratified to see that they all received some votes though, lol!



 And, I must say that I really appreciate that so many of you joined as followers.  I will try to make sure I continue forward with posts that you will enjoy...thank you for joining me and taking the time to read.  It is so good to quilt with friends!

If you have not entered my giveaway, there is still time...you can comment on that post until the hop is over on April 25 for an entry. One entry per person though please.

Don't forget  to visit all the other great ladies today and the rest of the hop!  I have really been enjoying all the unique and beautiful toppers these ladies have put together so far and we still have a week to go! 
Oh, and be sure to stop by Madame Samm's blog and say thanks for making this hop a fun experience for us all!

Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

Monday April 16th

Piece Peace * please visit her on Wed April 18th

Tuesday April 17th


Wednesday April 18th


Thursday April 19th


Friday April 20th 



Monday April 23rd

Patty D


Tuesday  April 24th
Syd 

Wednesday April 25th 

Monday, April 16, 2012

So today is my day to be part of the Table Topper Blog Hop that Madame Samm is most generously hosting...


When she offered this opportunity I thought it would be fun to see if I could come up with something to hang in this cute little 12" x 14" stand from Ackfeldwire...

Well, I so enjoyed making these mini quilts and found it addictive enough that I made four instead of the one required!  I will start with my favorite:




This combines my new love of hand embroidery with my well established love of piecing and quilting.  I used Microsoft Word to design the font pattern for this and  then added a bit of strip piecing with batiks in the traditional ROYGBIV way...you can tell what my usual fav color is based on the "thread" coming off the spool!

My second favorite mini is probably this red and neutral simple pieced nine patch.  The individual little squares are 1/2" finished with the nine patch finishing at 1 1/2" and I am dreaming about making a lap size quilt with these same fabrics in this scale.  Unfortunately I don't have enough of this particular red left over so I have been looking for a tiny print in this same red shade that I might substitute.  BTW, the rhubarb is definitely suggesting pie for tonight...lol!


 As I have been doing many embroidery projects lately, this next one is adapted from a fun free pattern from Bird Brain Designs called Live Laugh Love which can be found on the Lecien site.  The pattern actually is about twice the size that I made so I chose to just do one of the panels.  Those birds are so sweet and it was very quick to stitch up.

here is a close up of the stitching:


Lastly, is a red swirly heart that I free-pieced and tried to swirly quilt.  I am nearing the end of the scraps that I have of this red fabric and it has been a favorite go-to of mine.

I really find these mini toppers a quick fun project and the stand holds them in such a way that a very simple hanging sleeve sewn into the binding is all you need...
 

In honor of this being my first blog hop, I am doing a giveaway.  Leave me a comment with which mini you like the best and why and I will enter you in a drawing for a charm pack of Moda Fig Tree &Co.'s California Girl.  You don't need to be a follower but I'd love it if you were :).



I will ship internationally but be sure to include your email address if you are a "no reply blogger" so I can contact you if you are the winner, if I don't have contact information I will draw another!  I will draw on the last day of the hop, April 25th.


Thanks for visiting and be sure to visit all the other great ladies today and the rest of the hop!

Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

Monday April 16th

Piece Peace * please visit her on Wed April 18th

Tuesday April 17th


Wednesday April 18th


Thursday April 19th


Friday April 20th 



Monday April 23rd

Patty D


Tuesday  April 24th
Syd 

Wednesday April 25th