A Little Reflecting

Have you ever had a day where you just spent the majority of it reflecting on others? I had one of those days today and I'm going to try and explain as best I can. I was thinking today "What is it that makes quilters so unique?"
These are some of the answers/thoughts that came to me.

We share a love of beautiful fabrics, threads, notions, designs, creations, needles and of course quilts, but what struck me the most is the fact that as women with a common love we also have that built in intuition if one of our fellow quilters is in need. Now I wonder if that is just a woman thing or a quilter thing. In the eleven months that I've been blogging, I have found women who are so willing to share their talents, knowledge and love of their craft with so many others. Regardless of ones experience there is always someone to turn to to ask for advice, and one of the wonderful things that springs to mind is that you won't be looked down on or judged, if you are the one asking for the advice.
Perhaps it's because as women we are nurturers, it's something that's inbuilt in all of us. We know how to care for others, to show compassion to offer nonjudgmental advice. But what I've noticed that stands out above all these wonderful things is the fact that quilters are so giving and so generous.
I have been blessed in so many ways, by so many of you, that have offered your hand in friendship, with advice, patterns, magazines, lovely soft mail, prayer and telephone conversations.
It would be wrong of me to try and list each person that has had an impact on my blogging life, which in turn blends into my family life. Apart from which I don't think there would be enough room in one post to list each and everyone of you and I'd hate to leave any one's name out and offend you. You allow me to enter into a small part of your life, by sharing what you're working on, or what's happening in your home. You make me feel welcome, you trust me enough to only leave positive words of encouragement on your blog, and for that I thank you.
Now perhaps you're wondering what brought on all this deep thinking, that this is so not Linda......Actually it is.

All of this started this morning when I went to the letter box to check for today's mail. I had plans of showing you the lovely fabrics that arrived in my letter box that I ordered last week for a swap that Bren and I are doing. But I'd rather share this with you, it just touched my heart so much.
I received a small parcel from Nancy but it also included Peg's name on the envelope. My immediate thought was that Nancy hadn't received Peg's address to send her the prize for the birthday giveaway she had on her blog last week, (and just in case you're still trying to work out how old I am, 51 is the answer). When I opened the envelope this is what I found inside.

(click to enlarge so you can read it)

Along with these beautiful fat quarters.

Thank you so much Nancy for providing the beautiful fat quarters and Peg, thank you for your sweet giving spirit. You have both blessed me today more than you can imagine. I thank the Lord for each and everyone of you, and my prayer for you is that the Lord would pour out Hiss blessings upon each of you, just as you have blessed me.

Happy Stitching.

Out Of The Scrap Bin, Birthday Mail

Before I forget I want to thank everyone for all your lovely comments on my applique and belated birthday wishes. Every time I try to respond to you personally something else pops up. So please accept this as my thank you.
Bren from Acorn Quilt & Gift Company has moved her blog and is having a giveaway for her new book Simple Things, Small Joys.
Ok so now I have that taken care of I can get to the topic of the post. Have to do these things while the memory still allows me to....
A few weeks ago when I wasn't feeling too well, not well enough to sew, but well enough to play with fabric, I decided to go into the sewing room and go through my scrap bin. I thought that perhaps trying to sort out the mess might be a good idea. It seems that a number of quilters are doing this at the moment. So I spent a couple of days sorting, pressing and cutting some of the scraps into usable squares and putting strips into a bin of their own. I thought I'd done quite well, until I looked in the bin only to find I hadn't even made a dent. I think it's going to be a long ongoing process.
I had the fidgets yesterday, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I mean I have a list as long as my arm and then some. So it's not like I didn't have anything to choose from, but nothing jumped out and said finish me... So what's a girl to do? that's right, start a new one....lol.... Now I didn't want to start anything big as I have enough of those on the go at the moment. So I decided to play with a few of the 2 inch squares I'd cut up a few weeks ago. I thought I can make a dent in these.... what a joke. I think I used 48.... but anyway here's what kept me busy yesterday.

Strawberries and cream mini. I think these mini's could become quite addictive.

Do you see that lovely book sitting on the mini? Bren sent it to me for my birthday. Can we say spoilt brat?.... Thank you Bren. It's filled with all sorts of information, paper, graph paper and pouches for projects and fabric samples, a great quilters resource book.

Happy Stitching. I do hope you can find time this weekend to pick up your needle and thread, and thanks for stopping by and visiting with me.

Squishy Mail, Applique

Thank you for all the lovely birthday messages you left for me yesterday. I'm not sure if I should thank Nancy for running the little competition for guessing my age though...lol.. Although there was only one who guessed it right, everyone else made me feel so young, especially Angela . I had a very quiet day, just the pooch and I, spent doing a little gentle applique, and when my "sweetie" came home, he took me out for a lovely seafood dinner.

I finished the first applique cornerstone for the border of the latest quilt. I don't think this is going to be a quick process, but I'm fairly happy with how it turned out, considering it's my first attempt at applique, except for the usual heart practise.

Remember I said I had a nice postman? He came today with another lovely parcel, all the way from Australia.

Two lovely parcels wrapped in fat quarters. A few weeks ago I was asking about kitchen tea towels and Peg very sweetly offered to send me some lovely Aussie tea towels. Well that parcel arrived today, and look what was inside.
Half a dozen lovely tea towels, 2 Aussie magazines and a couple of extremely cute buttonhole applique quilt patterns. Thank you so much Peg, what a treasure you are.

Happy Stitching, and thank you for stopping by to visit with me.

What A Wonderful

What a wonderful way to start my day. Isn't this cupcake pattern cute? and oh that rose fabric is so soft and feminine. Well lucky me I won these this morning, the pattern and 2 yards of this gorgeous fabric from Paris Bebe Fabrics . What a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday.















Now if any of you are interested in winning a little something, then pop on over to Nancy's blog. She's having a little competition to see if you can guess how old I am. Now remember to be kind....lol....
I think I'll spend my day doing some more on the applique. Which reminds me I had a question I wanted to ask all you talented appliquer's. Is there a product that you can put on your finger to stop from pushing the needle through the skin. The finger I use to do this has a hole in it, and I don't feel comfortable wearing my thimble for applique. I tried using a dot band aid but that didn't work too well either.
Happy Stitching, and thanks for taking the time to answer my odd questions.

What A Mess

I like to think of this as a creative mess....lol.... I've been busy prepping for the applique of the borders on the latest quilt.

Thanks for all the responses to my question about bias vines and needles. I decided to go with this method, which resulted in 27 yards of bias tubing...lol... I think I'll have enough to, as Bren put it, tube the State of Oklahoma....


I finished the process using this neat tool.

Now just to prove that I can be messy, Nicole has put out a challenge for us to show our messy work tables and to list 15 items on the table. so here's my mess.

1. Packet of Freezer Paper.
2. Press bars.
3. Rotary cutter.
4. 12 inch ruler.
5. 24 inch ruler.
6. 27 yards of bias tubing.
7. Simple Traditions book.
8. Scissors.
9. Water spray bottle.
10. Cutting mat.
11. Note pad.
12 Iron Water jug.
13. Scissor container.
14. Pen and pencil container.
15. Fabric scraps.

Looking at this mess is enough motivation to get in there and clean it up. Plus I can't stand to work surrounded by mess. So once I have the prep work for the last 2 borders and the corner squares done, that's exactly what I'll do this afternoon.

Happy Stitching and thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with me.

More Yummy Mail

It certainly does pay to treat your postman well. My lovely postman came to the door this morning with three yummy parcels, and of course those horrible window envelopes asking for money.

I placed an order on Saturday afternoon after we got back from the quilt show with 5bucksayard and that order arrived today. These lovely checks are for the applique project that I've been doing all the prep work for, #7 on this list. Chris gives wonderful service and there's a good selection of fabrics on her site, none over $5 a yard, hence the name of the site. My order from Colonial Crafts also arrived today, hmmm yummy jelly roll.. This range of fabrics is so much prettier in real life, such gorgeous shades of creams, peaches, golds and blues. I already have a quilt pattern picked out for these, I just need to get the 7 yards of background fabric, plus finish some of these other starts first.

Next is the Desk Deli Tote bag, and I just have to blame Kim. She twisted my arm when she showed a couple of amazing finishes using this pattern on her blog just before Christmas and I just had to have it. I'll use this pattern as part of Jenna's Christmas present this year.
Last is this gorgeous pattern also Kim's fault.....lol..... When I saw this I immediately thought of this Christmas and decided that it was something I just had to have....

Only one more order to arrive, and that's my order for Aurifil Thread. Check the link if you enjoy working with the best thread. Nancy has the lowest price on this thread, believe me I've checked just about every store that stocks it and haven't found a lower price.

I'd like to know from those of you who do applique, what sort of needle you use, brand and size. Also how do you prepare your bias vines. Do you cut strips or make a tube and cut the total length?

Ok it's time to go and wash these fabrics and get back into the sewing room and attach a border or two.

Happy Stitching, and thanks so much for taking the time to visit with me.

What's In The Mail

I've had a few emails about the fork pins (see previous post) and a couple of ladies still aren't quite sure how they're used. So in a nutshell they are used for precision pinning when matching intersections. Because the pin has two points it will hold both sides of the seam (butted seams) neatly together while stitching, making sure that, that puppy doesn't move while you're stitching. My suggestion would be, buy a packet and try them out, you'll be pleased you did.

Now on to the mail. Oh I do enjoy soft mail packages. I asked a few posts ago about where you would suggest I buy homespun plaids from, and you all gave me lovely new sites to look at and enjoy. Miss Nancy sent me an email and said there was a parcel on it's way to me.

Lovely soft plaids to go into the *new* quilt. Thank you so much Nancy, they've already been included into the piecing.

Just before Christmas Darlene had a little Word scramble puzzle for her newsletter subscribers with a lovely set of prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I decided to have a go and see if I could unscramble the words. Just after Christmas I received an email from her to say that I'd won 1st prize, and oh look at these lovelies that came in the mail last week.

A lovely fat quarter and four gorgeous stitcheries by Sally Giblin of The Riverdale Collection. Thank you so much Darlene, I'll have many hours of stitching pleasure ahead of me with these patterns. If you haven't checked our Darlene's store use the link to her name. She carries a lot of the lovely Aussie designers patterns.

Now to the last parcel which arrived yesterday. You may remember before Christmas I posted my wish list of quilting books. I didn't expect all of them, but I wanted to give my sweetie something to choose from... and he blessed me with two beautiful books, that I'm still thumbing through and drooling over. One of the books that was on my wish list was Prairie Children and their quilts. A very special friend emailed me after Christmas to ask if I'd received this book. No I hadn't but I was happy to wait until the following year. Oh, my Christmas came much earlier than I ever expected. This beautiful book arrived in my letter box yesterday morning.

Darlene had apparently been watching my blog to see if I'd posted about receiving the book for Christmas. Carol had gifted Darlene with the book, only to discover that she had just purchased it for herself. So this book comes from two extremely generous ladies. Thank you so much Darlene for your sweet and generous spirit and thanks also to Carol for originally gifting the book.

Last photo for the day, this is what I've been doing the last two days.
I've taken over the dining room table for the time being while I get all these pieces turned and pressed. So much easier to sit and do it, than stand at an ironing board all day.

Happy Stitching.

Fork Pins

Several of you were like me and had no idea what a fork pin is or was, and have asked that I show them. So here they are, I think possibly the best invention for those pressed to one side seams that need holding in place when you're nesting the two seams.
So if you're joining patches together that have seams pressed in opposite directions, you'd use these pins to butt the seams up together and hold in place while you stitch, and yes you can sew over these pins.

They retail between $8.50 - $9.50 for a packet of 35 and are made by Clover.

Happy Stitching.

Back From The Show

I'm sure the first thing you're all wondering is, if I came home with a new sewing machine. No, unfortunately I didn't, you had to be present to be able to win it, and I don't think I could have talked my "sweetie" into spending from 11 am until 4 pm in a convention centre full of women and quilts....
I had a lovely time looking at all the beautiful fabrics and all the different notions and gadgets and patterns, but I was well behaved. I even surprise myself. This is all I came home with.
Two sizes of quilt clips to hold all the extra while I machine quilt, a spool of silk thread for hand applique, some press bars for vines, again for applique and a small pkt of glass head pins and a pkt of the most nifty pins I've ever seen. Clover fork pins. I've come to the conclusion that I must live in a world of my own or perhaps under a mushroom. I'm sure most of you have seen these pins before, but I was fascinated. See I live a sheltered life.....lol.... Plus I decided I was happy with what I had at home.

I did collect a few business cards so I could shop in the comfort of my own home and a comfy chair. I found this sweet quilt (terrible photo) hanging on the side of a wall and took a quick pic, after asking if they had the pattern. Oh no was the reply, but we do have the kit, it's only $199.00.... ouch, no thanks I'll make up my own pattern. I wasn't rude enough to say that, but that's what I thought.

These two quilts got my attention out of the many that were there, not quite sure why, maybe it was the colour, or maybe because these seemed to be the only two that hung straight.

It was so nice to get back to the car and sit, poor dh I'm sure his arm must have felt six feet long after having me leaning on it for so long. I don't know how you girls do these big quilt shows.

Happy Stitching.

Quilt Show

First things first, I want to take a moment and thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to keep us in prayer over the last couple of days. Each prayer was very much appreciated and felt. Things have been sorted out and Miss Hollie now has a couple of months of consequences.

So on to the topic of this post. Can you believe that I've never been to a quilt show here in the US? Well I haven't, so I suppose you could say I'm a quilt show v....n..... but all that will change in the morning. My "sweetie" has agreed to take me to the Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show .. I have my list made out of what I'll be looking for and the batteries are charging for the camera. Now wouldn't it be nice if I managed to come home with a new sewing machine? Apparently each day one machine is given away, well yes thank you, you can draw my name for that.....

I've been working today on the new quilt, ssssh don't tell May Britt or Kim, I'm supposed to be working on my ufo list and not creating more to add to the pile.... but it was so much fun, and so different to anything I've ever done before. Definitely not my usual style or colours, really made me step outside of my comfort zone. Nothing to show yet, still needs loads of hours with applique before I'll be ready to show you.


I've been nominated by at least 5 different blogs for the "You Make My Day" award. Thank you ladies I'm happy to know that I can spread just a little joy. Apparently the rules say that I need to nominate at least 10 blogs. So many have already been nominated so what I'd like to do is. If you are new to blogging and you visit with me and have left a comment then please fell free to take the award from me and post it on your blog.
Hope to be back later this weekend with a report and hopefully photo's of the quilt show, oh and of course a shopping report.

Happy Stitching.

Moda Jelly Roll Sale

Just a very quick post, to let you know that http://www.colonialcrafts.com/ is having a three day sale on Moda Jelly Rolls, 20% off. I've just picked up this beauty for $24.

Happy Shopping.

Focus

I can't seem to focus today, but I'll go into that later in the post. I should be working on quilting this quilt, but sssssh don't tell Kim or May Britt, because I've actually been working on.
These blocks, not on my ufo list, but what can I say. I just had to try your method of pressing seams on blocks and what better way to practise than on new blocks for a new quilt... Well you could have knocked me over with a feather, what wonderful results from pressing to one side. I can see that I'll be changing to this method from now on.

I finished the embroidery for the Winter Four Seasons swap a few days ago, all that's needed now is to trim it to size and add the borders and the little extra that I have in mind for it.

While trying to decide what to do today I sat for 15 minutes and put the last stitches into the third block of Fantasy Garden. I didn't think I was ever going to come to the end of this block. In total it took 40 1/2 hours to stitch up.

Because I can't seem to focus on anything today, I think I'll sit and do some more redwork, there's not too much concentration involved and perhaps the block will take me off into another world.

That's the end of the quilt related post, so if you're not interested in "life" then read no further and thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit with me.

If however you're still here I have a small request of those of you whom pray. Could you please lift our family up over the next 30 hours. We received a late phone call from Hollie's school last night and received some upsetting news, that will be talked about tomorrow evening in a phone conference. Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom and grace to deal with the situation.

Happy Stitching and thank you for your visit and your prayers.

First Finishes For The Month

What a wonderful feeling it is to have a finish or two so early in the year. These two were finished this week. They both still need a label on them to call them totally completed, but that will happen some time this weekend.
The Christmas wall hanging was in one of my Australian magazines that I started a few days after Christmas. Quick, easy and small, resulting in a quick finish. The second you've seen before in flimsy form. It's Kimberly's lovely pattern Sassy Sixteen, which I've renamed Illinois Chills, there's a story behind that, that hopefully I'll be able to tell you about later in the year.















If you look closely you'll see that it's draped over a half finished rocking chair... Still needs the new wicker in it, which we had big plans of doing last weekend, only to discover we didn't have enough wicker. So I'll need to place another order for more, then we can get it finally finished.
I decided to go to the guild meeting on Thursday evening as I hadn't been in over a year, that's the problem when your DH works odd hours and you depend on him for transport. I'd forgotten how much fun it was, renewed my membership and drooled over all the lovely fq's they had for sale. Note to self take extra cash next month. Yesterday and today are rather blah days, I don't know if it was something I ate at the meeting or just a nasty bug going around but I feel like I've been run over by a mac truck and dragged in the backdoor by the scruff of my neck. So needless to say yesterday and today was and will be quiet days. I had big plans of quilting my appliqued hearts quilt, but I'm just not feeling up to it. So instead I think I'll go into the sewing room and play with scraps and cut them into usable squares. I like the idea of a totally scrappy quilt, so a little prep work will feed my need for fabric fondling without using the brain too much.
Thanks for all the links for the homespun plaids and kitchen towels and as for the picnic quilt I think Kim came up with a great suggestion that I think I'll use.

Happy Stitching.

Apron Giveaway

If you're into aprons then you need to toddle over to the apronista blog. They are having a giveaway of an apron and what looks like a wonderful autographed book. I imagine it's filled with loads of inspiration for those who want to make aprons.

Happy Stitching.

Question Time

I feel a little like Darlene with my list of questions, but who better to ask than the community of quilting friends here in blogging.
1. Can you recommend an online store where I can find and purchase a good range of homespun plaids?
2. I'm looking for good quality tea towels (kitchen towels) that I can either embroider or applique. I'm not wanting that waffle weave, but don't mind a check or a stripe, and I'm happy to shop online....lol...
3. Last question. I mentioned in my 2008 Goal post that I wanted to make a picnic tote and picnic quilt for Jenna. After thinking about it I thought it might be a good idea to apply something to the back of the quilt that would keep it waterproof. Any suggestions?

Happy Stitching and thanks so much for taking the time to help me out.

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Newish blogger http://wendy-kirby.blogspot.com/

January's Focus

With all the excitement from both Kim and May Britt about finishing up ufo's and slow wip's I decided to join in for the month of January. So here's my little pile that I'd like to make a dent in this month.

They are.

1.Christmas applique wall hanging, in the works at the moment.
2.Pink and brown quilt, layer and quilt.
3.Pink and brown table topper, quilt - started.
4.Black hour a day quilt, finish and quilt.
5.Sassy Sixteen, quilt.
6.Heart appliqued lap quilt, finish piecing and quilt.
7.Autumn wall hanging, fabrics purchased.

Hopefully by the end of the week I can report a couple of finishes.

Happy Stitching.