Blog Hop Party and Giveaway!

Edit: My weekly feature, Sunday's Summary will be back next week after the hop! 

I haven't had a giveaway on my blog for some time so I thought that this would be a good time. I joined the Beat the Winter Blues ~ Quilter's Blog Hop Party over at Quilting Gallery. There you can find a list of participants. 

On my last week's Sunday's Summary I showed a little pincushion that I made to adhere to the side of my machine. 

I made it from left over HST from my Giraffe Love baby quilt. It is only 1 1/2" square. I love having it on the side of my machine...a new favorite notion! 

So I made a few more for you!

I will be giving away 2 of these mini pincushions to 2 winners (design...my choice.) I promise that some goodies will also be included. The 1st winner will be chosen by Mr. Random Generator and is open to all. The 2nd winner will be limited to my Google Friends Connect (GFC) followers (also chosen by Mr. Random Generator.)

 Here are the rules:

1. Please only one comment per person. 

2. Tell me your favorite quilting notion.

3. If you are a GFC follower (new or old), tell me in your comment. 

4. If you are a no reply blogger, please leave your email in your comment.

5. I will pick the winners sometime on March 15th. 

Note: the pincushions are stuffed with a combination of crushed walnut shells and polyester fiberfill.

Good Luck and enjoy the Hop!

Playing with Dots and a giveaway!!

Welcome! I hope you all have been following the Dots on Dots Blog Hop which started last week. There have been some terrific projects with more to come. 

It has been a whole lot of fun so if you missed it you can find the complete list of participants at Quilt Taffy here. 

A BIG Thank You goes out to Corrie, our hostess for this hop! She has done a great job of organizing and inspiring all the bloggers and of course to Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt for being the inspiration behind the hop and encouraging us all!

Like many of you, I too have a love of dots! They are so happy and cheerful. I am drawn to anything dotted so I jumped at the chance to play along on the Dots on Dots Hop.

I didn't have any trouble finding dots in my stash and/or scraps. I found pin dots in a rainbow of colors, dots in small, medium, large and extra large sizes, multi colored dots, dots with florals, dots with rings, oval dots, etc. Seems I use dots in many of my quilts and since I do use them...a lot...I'm not exactly hoarding them.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Well, you didn't come by to here me chatter...so on to my projects. 

After examining my stash, I settled with one multi-colored dotted fabric and coordinating mono-colored fabrics. I used the pattern Loving Hugs by Geta over at Geta's Quilting Studio. I had enough of the multi-colored fabric to make 12 ~ 12 1/2" blocks. (left over from the back of this quilt)

The first block was a little tricky since you are working with the bias but I got better at it the more I made. The block is so much fun to make and since I have a few baby quilts to make as special gifts, I thought this would be the perfect start. The blocks are 12" finished and the quilt finished at 38" x 50". 

I found this adorable print in my stash for the backing which I think coordinates well.  What do you all think?

I started on another baby quilt which also includes dots (the yellow is pin dots). I used the Basement Window block found in the book 5500 Quilt Block Designs and some repo 30's fabric from my stash. 

Then one day while reading blogs, I came across this quilt. Carol used 100 different dotted fabrics which got me wondering just how many different dotted fabrics were in my stash and/or scraps. 

So I started cutting 2 pieces from each dotted fabric, a 2 1/2" square and a piece for a 1 1/2" circle. I stopped when I reached 100 which didn't exhaust my supply. YIKES! 

I sewed the squares into a 10 x 10 grid, then took the other small piece and ironed on Steam a Seam II to the back. Using a template, I traced and cut out 100 ~ 1 1/2" circles. 

I randomly laid them out on top of the grid making sure they didn't match.  After I pressed them to the grid, I added a 3" Kona white border. FMQ quilted around each circle and straight lined quilted the border. 

For the backing, I used an extra large dotted fabric and the binding is a dotted stripe, both from my stash. I'm calling this A Study of Dots. 

I told you they were extra large ☺

Hope you don't mind, Carol...after all "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Thanks for being the inspiration. 

Do you know what you are left with after cutting all those small pieces? A bin full of even smaller pieces.

I had been wanting to make a Ticker Tape Quilt so I cut some 12 1/2" squares from some grey fabric and started arranging those little pieces. I FMQ around the raw edges using the quilt as you go method. 

I don't know how many I'll make or when but I really like the results. What I do know is that I'm not short of scraps to make many more. 

I did mention a giveaway, didn't I? 

Well, since so many of you commented on this pattern when I gave you a peek earlier, I am so excited to tell you that Geta is offering her Loving Hugs pattern to 2 of my visitors. This pattern is in PDF format and will be sent to you from Geta once I receive your email. 

Please hop over to Geta's Studio and take a look at her fabulous patterns!

To have a chance to win, all you need to do is leave a sweet comment on this post for an entry. For a second chance, be a follower of my blog through Google Friend Connect and leave a separate comment telling me so. If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email in the comment. I must be able to contact you if you are one of the winners otherwise Mr. Random Generator and I will draw again. I will hold the giveaway open until Sunday, Sept 23rd at 10:00pm CST. 

 I hope you enjoyed my Dots on Dots projects! Please be sure to visit the other Dots on Dots participants on today's hop. I'm sharing today with:

janesfabrics

The Learning Curve~Quilts and Such

quiltingbydawn (me)

Moose Stash Quilting

Quilty DooDads

Hill Valley Quilter

Quilt Monster in my Closet

The Raspberry Rabbits

Regina Grewe: In English  In German

Thank you and please come again!

Some Sewing and a Giveaway

It has been some time since I've posted any sewing news but I have been busy...sewing and life in general. I have been keeping up with the blog hops over at Sew We Quilt even though I didn't get signed up. I'm just lovin' the Stacks of Bowls! If you haven't seen them, you can take a peek at the schedule of hoppers here.

Any who...you ask what I've been doing? Well, I finished this new table runner and placemat set (the table runner has been finished for a while but the placemats were waiting to be made.)

The fabric is Hometown by Sweetwater. I just love this line! It is so much fun to look for names of cities/towns from all over. My DH and I have even looked up a few on google maps.

I love the giant rick rack detail.

The pattern is called Riff~Raff by Silk Road Creations. 

I also caught up on my BOM quilting! Here is the August block for BOM with Quilt Story. The theme for August is fussy cut which was a little challenging for me because only one fabric that I am using is able to be fussy cut. The rest are blenders. 

Here are the blocks all together: hour glass, fussy cut, rounded, flying geese, 9-patch, HST

And here are the July and August blocks for the Craftsy BOM with Amy Gibson. 

July blocks: Dresdens

traditional

modern

August blocks: stars

I also made 2 blocks for the Quilting for Kids charity group on Flickr. 

These string blocks were fun to make!

I have a few more projects that I have been working on but you'll have to wait to see them. Here is just a peek...

They are for the Dots on Dots Blog Hop coming in September!

Now did someone mention a giveaway? Yep I did! 

During the Red White and Blue Blog Hop, I was elated to see that I reached over 200 followers! This did not go unnoticed...love the encouragement from my followers! So as a thanks to my followers, I have this giveaway made from my Hometown collection.

A mug rug (mug not included)

A coaster set (mug not included)

Here are the details:

1. You must be a follower of my blog or become one (all are welcome to join). Tell me in your comment.

2. Tell me which gift you would prefer if you should be chosen ~ the mug rug or the coaster set. (1st drawn will get their 1st choice)

3. If you are a no~reply blogger, you must leave your email in your comment or I'll redraw.

4. Giveaway is open to all and will end on Friday, August 24th at 10pm CST. Winners will be chosen by Mr. Random Generator. 

I'm a guest blogger and a giveaway!

Today I am a guest over at Sew We Quilt as part of Madame Samm's 

Comfort & Joy tutorials! 

My tutorial is for mittens made from repurposed felted sweaters.  For those of you coming over from Sew We Quilt, welcome! I hope you take a little time to enjoy my blog. 

If you want to read my tutorial for making a pair of these mittens, hop over here. 

The mittens 2nd from the right were made during the tutorial.

The mittens are fleece lined so they are very warm. I design these several years ago after my daughter came home from college with her friend's mittens and asked if I could make her some. I sketched out the shape and headed to the thrift store for some wool sweaters to felt. After a few minor adjustments, the rest is history. 

Sew today I am having a giveaway here for the mittens I made while making the tutorial (see 1st picture above.) They fit an adult female. This giveaway is open to all my followers! Please leave a comment on this post to be entered into the draw.  I would like it if you would share how you will be celebrating the New Year! I will pick a winner on New Year's Day by random.

A campaign and a giveaway!

While I've been away for my daughter's wedding ~ more on that later ~ so many things need catching up on.  

First up is the Wantobe Quilter Campaign over at Sew We Quilt.  Here is a little about it.

"Hello friends and followers, I would love to welcome you

to a Wantobe Quilters Campaign over here. ( http://stashmanicure.blogspot.com)

 They are having quilting supplies to giveaway 5 x a week for 12 weeks. 

Supplies that will have you quilting

before you know it...From sewing machines to irons, to die cutters,

to mats, to rotary cutters, sewing baskets, scissors, batting, needles,

rolled sewing machine bags, patterns, books, magazines...everything

you could imagine to assist you in being a NEW Quilter. 

Even if you are already part of this community you can win

quilting stuff too...Tuesday and Thursday are days for us..

All you have to do is give me your name and phone number 

and email sew I can submit this to the organizer, because if you win

anything I can win something too. 

All you have to do is be my follower and a follower

over at Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure....

That is all! There are over 49 Sponsors involved.

I am pretty excited to be part of this, sew should you.

I love being a QUILTER! 

( p.s you will not be eligible to win anything if you do not register

with a blogger where you see this message)

So if you wantobe a quilter, email me and I will get you in the running for some great prizes.  The campaign starts on August 1st so get your name in soon. This will prove to be an exciting campaign! Check out the button on my side bar.

Second set of business is the giveaway over at Aunt Polly's Porch.  It is for a Go Baby!  Become a follower of her blog and get a chance to win! 

I'll be back with updates and pictures soon! In the meantime...

My Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday and I spent a lovely evening with my family downtown Chicago at Millenium Park. We had a picnic dinner, some wine and enjoyed the concert.  More about it and pictures later.  

Now if you are a regular reader, you may remember that my birthday was the closing date of my giveaway.  Thank you all for visiting.  So without making you wait any further...the lucky winner is #34...Peach Rainbow...she was born in January!  Congratulations!! I will send you an email shortly but should you see this first, email me your address and I'll get your package out promptly.

I will close this post with a few pictures of things I been working on...

Finished Dresden plate pillow...read more here.

Have you tried this?  It is actually quite relaxing to do and they look pretty cool!!

   These are pretty simple designs. They can get quite complicated.

I'm joining...

the Simple Things Quilt Along over at Charming Chatter.  

I have decided to join in even though my summer is packed full of wedding activities. Last summer's quilt along was so much fun that I just don't want to miss it. Kelly has assured me that the quilt along will go at a slower pace so I should be able to keep up.  I'm hopeful even though I haven't had anytime recently to sew/craft anything other than for the wedding.  Here is a peek of one of the things I've been working on. I've made well over 30 of them. 

More on these later.

So I have decided to do the smaller version of the quilt due to my time constraints. Here is Kelly's...isn't it pretty.

Carol over at Brown Quilts is offering a larger version of the quilt.  Here is Carol's quilt...so lovely in its patriotic colors!

So last week we were to pick out our fabrics and today we got the cutting instructions.  I have chosen to use the lovely Charlevoix fabric line by Minick & Simpson for Moda. I fell in love with this fabric when it was introduced and I think this quilt will be perfect for it.  I will be using Bella white for the background and a red & white dot from my stash.  Take a look!

Perfect don't you think?

Note: There is still time to join my giveaway.  Just scroll down to the previous post or click here. It is open until my birthday, June 20th!

Also, next Friday night, June 17th is the FNSI. Click on the button on my sidebar to join in on the fun.  

Giveaway and Taking Care of Business

As we move closer to the wedding date, everything seems to be moving so fast!  We are very busy and I haven't had time to post...yet, so much is happening.  Last Sunday was my daughter's bridal shower...a beautiful celebration given by our dearest friends and her sisters. 

I also want to send some overdue thanks to Andrea over at KnittyBitties.  

I won a beautiful handmade pair of rose earrings in the Spring Board Creative Collaboration.  I have been remiss in posting my thanks.  

How cute is the packaging! See the roses on the allora card...rose earrings on the end of stems.  How clever is that!  Check out her store for some very cute things.

There is so much more that I could share...the wedding of my daughter's BFF, the Baptism of my nephew's daughter and much more wedding things...but I'll save them for another day.  

Now, if you recall, I mentioned that my 100th post was the very same post as my post for Giveaway Days hosted by Sew Mama Sew.  I didn't want my 100th post giveaway to be the same so I postponed it until after the Giveaway Days were over.  Then I received some HAPPY news from Madame Samm over at Sew We Quilt that my daughter's wedding quilt was chosen to be on the June banner. So I posted about that here and let that amazing news sink in before...

I'm hosting my 100th post giveaway! 

I have put together a few things that I hope you will like.  

There is a Schnibbles pattern (Hot Cross), a fat quarter of this cute polka dotted fabric, some coordinating ricrac, a pair of cute buttons, 3 skeins of embroidery thread, and a teacup pin cushion.  

If you would like to win my giveaway...

leave me a comment on this post.  Since June is my birthday month, tell me your birthday month in your comment.  

If you would like a second chance to win, become a follower of my blog and leave me a separate comment.  If you are already a follower, tell me so in your second comment.  

I really appreciate all your comments and encouragement.

I will leave this giveaway open until Monday, June 20th...my birthday!

(10pm my local time) Then I will randomly select a winner.

Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you should you win.  If I can not contact you, I will need to select a new winner. Good Luck!

I feel so special...

when I get packages in the mail!  

Today the mailman delivered not 1 but 2 packages addresses to me!!!

First was a sweet package from my Pin Cushion Swap partner, Kelly!  I 'met' Kelly through the Charming Girls Quilt Club which she organizes and runs! I have so much respect for all she does. She pays attention to all the details...even wraps with fabric and pretty ribbons! 

Look at all the goodies she sent! I absolutely love, love, love the pin cushions! Beautiful fabrics and beautifully made! 

Kelly also sent 2 charms of Lovely by Sandy Gervais 

{I really love Sandy Gervais' fabric designs}, 

2 Schnibble patterns...Joy Luck and Jacks by the ever popular Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, 

and a bag of extra fine glass head pins! I will put these to very good use!  

Thank you so much Kelly!!! 

A thanks to Kris at Dandelion Quilts for organizing the swap 

{even if I didn't do such a good job at keeping the dates correctly in my head}.   

The second package of goodies came from Susan at Super Mom - No Cape!

On March 12th, she was celebrating her third blog anniversary with a give away and I won!  She made this lovely little gift bag and said that she would fill it with goodies! 

Oh boy! Did she ever! 

And she customized the goodies to things she found on my blog!

I had recently posted about my love of buttons...and she included a little fabric bag of lovely buttons! She took note that I enjoy stitchery and included several skeins of embroidery floss.  She made a lovely scissor and needle holder...with my Word for the Year...JOY! She also included a journal and matching magnetic pad of paper, and 2 boxes of chocolates {one with raspberries my all time favorite!}

 Thank you so much, Susan!

I do feel special today!