OMG Report

Success!

My July OMGoal was

Put border on 25 patch and doggie quilt.  

Make backing. Quilt top. 

And I finished all of that yesterday.  I'm going to do the binding next month but it won't be my OMG.  I'll have to come up with something else to work on. 

I have taken a few days off from blogging but I did want to let you know that I ran the number generator to find a winner for my Christmas in July giveaway. 

Congratulations to Karen who blogs at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats. I put the package in the mail today so it should be there soon.  I hope you enjoy them Karen.

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the July Finish link up.  Swing by to see whose finished their projects this month. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Back to Drawing and a Baby Quilt

Yes, I'm finally going to announce a new winner for the Mighty Bright Sewing Light drawing.  It's number 5.  Wait, that means nothing.  It's TwynMawrMom and I suppose that means nothing to all but a few of you but I know it is Ashley in Philly. She has adorable twins who I haven't seen in years.  She wrote this in the comments section. 

"I remember when you started the blog! I thought the whole idea sounded so 'high tech' to me and now I'm enjoying blogging as well. Thanks for the inspiration as always. I have two machines, both Singers, one is a serger. I haven't named them (well I have many names for the Serger but none of them fit to print). My "main man" Singer is how I sloperate, so we call it a Singer-Sloperator. It would love a light!! :)"  

So Ashley, I actually have your mail address and I will get this out to you this week.  Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing. And, I apologize for being so late getting this finished.  

Now to share the quilt Jenny and I made for Aimee and Elise Mae.  Jen and I thought it made more sense to make one quilt from the two of us rather than each making a quilt.  So when I was at the June retreat in Maryland I found some elephant fabric at the local shop. Aimee loves elephants.  Being a modern woman (what? who, me?)  I quickly snapped photos of the various pieces and texted them to Jenny so she could help decide on which one we wanted.  She liked the orange and I gathered a few extra pieces to go with it.

We each made some big blocks and then Jenny cut them apart and sewed them back into a quilt.  She dropped the top off to me at some point and I quilted it and did the border using the striped fabric. I found a great elephant panto at Urban Elementz.  I enlarged the elephant a bit and copied and taped it together to use it on the quilt.  

I changed the tail and decided afterward that perhaps the original tail would have been easier to quilt and make it look good.  Too late! 

It seems pretty bright here but in reality I don't think it is quite that bright.  Here's the photo I took at the retreat before I wrapped it.  It was early morning and the sun was shining on it. It doesn't look so bright.  

Aimee was tickled with it.  In addition I made her a custom hospital gown which allows her to nurse without baring all.  I forgot to get a picture of that but here's what the beginning looked like. (More elephants.)

This is a free pattern from Creations Sew Crazy and Lazy Girl Designs.  You can get your own PDF version here. I spoke to my friend Janet who works in a hospital nursery and quizzed her about  some of the instructions on the gown.  First, no I didn't need to make an open shoulder.  And, wouldn't it be fabulous if a mommy could nurse through it without taking half her gown off.  Hum, I've sewn enough clothing to know how to make that happen, kind of.  I basically added two seams to the front -- think of princess style dress.  I added fabric where the breast would come through so I could have it finished rather than raggedy.  I sewed the princess seam leaving the "slit" open to allow easy access to the breast.  I did make the back a bit bigger so there would be enough coverage back there!  Aimee loved it.  She particularly liked the nursing slits.  I hope I can get a photo of her in it when Elise is due -- Monday!  Well, you know babies, they come when they want.  She's a big girl according to all the testing. She might already be a 9 pound girl.  Hum, sounds an awful lot like her daddy! 

Here's Aimee in her cute T-Shirt at her shower. 
It's too bad I didn't get a better picture of her and the darling little sweater someone had knit for her.  Aimee's a scientist and loves all thing scientific.  Check out those bones! We found some fabric with skeletons on it where the bones were accurately labeled. It is in her collection now.  

And here as a funny conclusion to this post is a cake that was made in her honor for her shower. If you are easily offended you might not want to look at the cake picture.  Once I figured it all out I wanted to howl with laughter. In fact I did when I shared it with some of the gals at the retreat when I got back there.  Hi Mom! 

Time to get back to my studio.  Happy Quilting All! 

We Have a Winner

Congratulations to renaekh who said:

I own a Bernina 440QE. She doesn't have a name yet.

Here's the picture of the Random Number Generator I used to find this winner.

I will be getting the Mighty Bright LED Sewing Machine Light in the mail as soon as I hear from renaekh with her mailing address.  Thanks all who entered.  If you want your own Mighty Bright Sewing Machine Light I recommend you sign up for special promotions  from Mighty Bright.  They have sales at various times during the year and you can get the light for a discount.  

I've been busy working on two projects on my weekly goals.  Bumble Bee and Flowers is just stitching down the binding by hand.  The peach one is well in hand.  

That's it for tonight.  Thanks to all who entered.  On to the next five years! 

Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Monday 9-23-13

Here we are at Monday again.  Do you think the month is flying by or is it just me?  I'm getting things done but wow time flies when you are having fun! 

I've been working on blocks to send off to various people.  First up are my blocks for Alycia's Quilt of Valor Big Blowout Block Drive.  You can still make some of these blocks and send them in to be in her drawing.  Check out the directions here.  Deadline is October 31.  Yep, plenty of time to use up some of your stash.  I had to cut fat quarters for the bigger star sections but the strings all came from stash.  Yahoo! 

Directions for block 2 of the Big Blowout Block Drive are here.  I had to cut some of the yellow/golds but the rest were from my collection of 2.5" strips.  Yippee! This block is so effective. (someone clue me in if I'm suppose to be writing affective.  You'd think I would have learned that one by now!  I need a quick test for that and don't tell me affective means action ... it doesn't always work for me!) 

These will be going in the mail either today or tomorrow.  Along with other blocks I've made recently. These blocks go to Amanda of the Quilting Bee group.  She is making a nautical flags quilt.  I have to admit I chose easy blocks but boy did they make up fast.  Can you guess what I wrote here?  I'll tell you at the bottom of the post... You can find the pattern for these blocks here. 

And my last batch of blocks are for the block of the month lotto drawing at Faithful Circle Quilters.  It is from Quiltville.com and is called Crayon Box.  Click on the name to go to the directions. I've got several more in the works so I need to finish them today to get them in the mail with my membership renewal.  Loved that all this fabric came from my 2.5" strip drawer. This will be a very scrappy quilt when done. 

I've also been sewing the blocks of the shaded 9 patch together, the orange peel and the crazy little triangle quilt. No pictures of those yet although I did finish sewing all the little triangles together.  On to my weekly goals... 

Week of September 16, 2013

Bind Bumble Bees & Flowers quilt um, the binding is ready….

Make last 3 QOV blocks and mail to Colorado√

Get peach quilt on Ruthie and start quilting backing is loaded, the panto is prepared

Finish sewing orange peel blocks together well, progress has been made

Use 4 patches from demo to make a baby quilt I’ve made some more blocks but I haven’t any space on the design wall to lay it out.

Continue sewing the mini triangles together√

Week of September 23, 2013

Trim Bumble Bee & Flowers Quilt

Sew the binding on Bumble Bee & Flowers

Finish sewing Orange Peels together into a top

Finish loading peach quilt and quilt it

Make binding for the peach quilt

Make pillow cases with Kay and friends for nursing home

Finish sewing blocks into rows for shaded 9 patch

And, the Tea Group will be meeting this week.  I'm looking forward to hosting the gals making the pillow cases in my new studio.  So I do need to vacuum, dust, clear off the various sewing and cutting spaces, and set up a couple of more sewing machines.  Yep, isn't that great.  I can probably have 4 or 5 sewing machines set up and running in this wonderful studio. 

Saturday was my 5 year anniversary of blogging.  Check Saturday's blog for information on my giveaway.  You have until Thursday, midnight EST to sign up for your chance to win.  

And don't forget to visit Patchwork Times to find links to blogs sharing Design Wall Monday with you.  The flags above are PBS -- one of my favorite tv stations and hubby and my initials. 

Happy Quilting All! 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! And a Giveaway

Five years ago I started my blog.  And I've been blogging on and off ever since.  Here's what's up today.

For a while I've been receiving some wonderful 1/2 yard stacks of fabrics from Pink Castle as a gift from Kevin and Aimee. Every month I received 6 half yard pieces based on the color wheel.  You can read about it by clicking on the link above.  I liked it as a gift so much that I've continued it as a gift to myself.  I am planning on going through the one year cycle.  It's so much fun to open an envelope each month and have glorious fabric fall out.  Here's September's selection.  And, just a note, if you are looking for traditional fabric or historical fabric, this isn't the place for you.  

September fabric from Pink Castle's Stash Stack Club. 

And, now with no further ado, on to my giveaway.  I recently bought several Mighty Bright LED Sewing Machine Lights.  Here's what it says about this light on the Mighty Bright web page. 

"This one's designed with the sewing aficionado in mind. The immensely popular Sewing Machine Light is a versatile, energy-efficient and cool-to-the-touch LED light for use in sewing, embroidery, and detail-intensive projects. We listened to our avid sewing friends, and created a light to meet all your needs. Cordless? Check. Flexible? Check. Detachable? Check. The Sewing Machine Light provides bright white pinpoint illumination in hard to see work areas. Compact with an adjustable 5.5” bendable neck, it comes with a unique adhesive base can be affixed onto any sewing machine surface—providing essential lighting for poorly lit machines, especially near needle or seam ripping areas. The detachable LED light can be moved between bases (two included) for optimum lighting flexibility."

So here's the deal.  To win this light with 2 bases just leave a comment on today's post and tell me which sewing machine you own needs a new light.  I've named most of my machines so I'd be happy to hear what you've named yours.  The drawing will be next Friday, Sept. 27.  And, make sure you have left an email address for me to contact if you are an anonymous poster.  I won't mess with numbers of entries, as in post to your blog get another entry,  but feel free to spread the word.   And, to be eligible for the drawing you must live in the US, sorry international folks I don't want to have to find out if it is legal to ship these to other countries. Last requirement is you must post a comment on this post to be eligible.  **All comments must be posted by midnight, Thursday Sept 26, EST.** Just added this to make life a little easier.  

I leave you with one of my little knickknacks that hang around in the studio with me.  

Happy Quilting All! 

A New Winner

Since I didn't hear from Lorraine I have named the next person on the list as the winner of the book Strata Various. So, Nancy at Patchwork Penguin congratulations!  Send me your snail mail and I will send your book out.  (I am thinking of this as de-cluttering... the book has been sitting on a table in the great room for a couple of weeks now!)  

Raggs had his first visit to our vet today.  He was calm and cool.  He got a little tense when the vet was actually in the room but overall, he was great.  Only one shot and lots of medicine -- heartworm, ring worm, ear cleaner... etc. We'll get him at 100% soon.  

He still weighs less than 27 pounds.  And, we're not all that sure that he really is an English Springer Spaniel -- he might be one of the cocker breeds -- American or English.  But, we do know he is a super dog.  Very cuddly and is learning his commands well.  

Yesterday I pulled out a pineapple quilt that I made the main blocks years ago.  (Hum, probably around 15 years ago.)  I pull this piece out every couple of years and get a little more done on it.  Last time I prepared angels to applique on the outside border.  Yesterday I laid out the pineapple part, the white borders and the green angels I had cut.  Looking at it I realized the angels are way out of proportion for the size of the logs (1/2" finished!) While at my regular Wednesday group I reviewed the book Pieced Borders The Complete Resource by Judy Martin and Marsha McCloskey. I came up with an alternate border from the book. Today I made up two different sized borders.   Tomorrow I will post the two sample pieces I did with the center to see what you all think.  (too dark tonight to take a decent picture.)  I did the pineapple piecing using Christmas fabrics that were already many years old when I pieced it.  Then it took me a couple of years to find a green fabric that would match what I already had going. I really have no excuse.  The top should at least be finished this year. And, heavens knows,  I'll be happy to finish the top. (And, eventually quilted.) 

Happy Quilting All 

Drum Roll Please . . . .

Thanks to all who commented on my blog and entered the Strata Various book give away.  And here is the generated number.  There were 22 people who responded.  And, lucky number 7 was the winner.  And you ask, who was number 7?  

Lorraine from Blueys Beach Australia wins the Strata Various book.  Lorraine does not have a blog and didn't leave an email address. So Lorraine, if I don't here from you by Monday, May 11th I will give the book to the next person on the list.   

And, the second place prize of a couple of hand dyed fat quarters goes to Jane at QuiltSmiles. 

Lorraine and Jane send me your addresses and I will get prizes in the mail shortly.  (Remember I have to get this crazy sweet dog a crate before I can go out during the day!)  I'll try to remember to post a picture of the hand dyed fabric that will be sent.  

I spent quite a bit of today actually sewing in the studio.  I was able to get all the borders on the wonky 9 patch.  Wow!  I like it. (This is duller than it is in person...)   After I finished the borders I started refolding and putting away the fabrics from that quilt.  As I was doing that I auditioned borders for the strip X quilt cause I wanted to use batiks.  The sun was almost down so I will need to verify tomorrow that I like what I picked.  Hum, maybe I can get those borders on tomorrow.  

I started making more blocks for the Million Pieces quilt.  I have 25 blocks but I think I want 35 so will do more of them while I work on other blocks.  I've also been sewing some 4 patch blocks together. (hum, that sounds like I am making the 4 patch blocks.  No, I've already made them so I am making 16 patches from them.) I've found a pattern I like and will slowly work toward getting it done.  (This doesn't count as a new quilt as I had the 4 patches made and sitting around.)  So parts of quilts are being done.  What isn't being done is the dog blocks. Remember them? They are all different sizes -- I would have to think about those! (Some day, just seems too much like work right now.)  

Remember the Lint Bowl Challenge?  Today I refilled my bobbin using Connecting Thread's Essential cotton thread.  I cleaned out the bobbin area and under the throat plate before I put the refilled bobbin in.  I'll take pictures of the dust/lint after I finish this bobbin.  We'll see how it looks.  And, then I'll try it with a different thread... don't know which one but I'll let you know. (Assuming I know what the thread is!) I spent some time trying to decide how I would determine equality of sewing time.  Duh, with a newly filled bobbin.  Sounds like that will work.  

Now, it is off to bed.  Raggs rambled into bed without me.  Springers are known as Velcro dogs.  They stick with their owners.  Since I am home all day, Raggs sticks to me so I am surprised he went to his bed without me.  Maybe he was hinting that it is time for me to go to bed! 

Sleep tight all and Happy Quilting!  

Give Away! -- Last Day

Have you commented to be eligible to receive the book Strata Various?  Are you having a hard time commenting?  If you are, feel free to email me (brsinstitches@gmail.com) to be signed up for the book.   Evidently books don't motivate sign ups the way fabric does.  But, could I really give away any of my fabric?  Maybe, maybe not.  

This cheery fellow was at the deli we went to in Lancaster when we met gals from Fabricholics Annonymous in April.  And, since I don't I have too much in the way of quilt pictures to share -- he's being shared.  I smile when I look at him.  

Yesterday I finished the streak of lightning quilt.  And, two sides of the border are on the wonky 9 patch.  Raggs and I went outside at least 4 times yesterday for walk abouts.  (Have you ever known a boy dog who doesn't hit every tree, bush, pile of dirt? -- me either but Raggs isn't very good at that part of going outside.) 

I've noticed some of the people who have commented on the giveaway page don't have emails available on their profiles.  I'll post the winner here tomorrow some time.  If I can't find your email I'll hope for you to email me.  Big thanks to Chris for posting the info on her blog.  

 Happy Quilting All! 

Give Away!

I had planned (mentally) a give away around my 10,000 visitor.  But, I think Raggs came up plus a mention on Kim's Big Quilting Adventure which garnered a huge number of hits so I am way over 10,000 hits, actually well on my way to 11,000.  So, today, I begin my give away.  

The prize is this copy of StrataVarious by Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover.  It has some wonderful quilts in it.  My DD ended up with the copy I gave her at Christmas and one from her brother.  I'll borrow hers if I want to do any of the quilts. But, heck, I have a hundred quilts from my own books still to be made! I haven't decided if there will be a second prize or not.  I'll be snooping through the studio to see if there is anything.  Maybe a fat quarter or two of my hand dyed fabrics.  

Here's the plan.  Leave a comment on my blog.   If you do not have a blog that lists a way to email you, make sure you leave your email with your comment.  Let me know what your current project is -- you don't have to write a book.  You'll get an additional entry if you post a link with information about the give away on your blog.  The cut off will be based on the time stamp on the comment -- 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 5/6/09.  

Raggs Update

Saturday we decided to give Raggs some alone time.  We left him in our bedroom which is about the only room we can close up on the ground floor.  We were gone, maybe an hour.  He was soooo lonely.  By the time we were back he had tried to grab my pillow off the bed and in doing so he had pushed around some things on my night stand.  And, of course, I had forgotten about the glass of water on the night stand which was all over the floor, a little rug, a library book, some papers, etc., etc.  It wasn't all that horrible -- he didn't chew on anything. And no accident.  Yea!  Water mops up pretty fast.  The book was a paper back.... 

So today, we were going to church and Raggs was going to be by himself for about 5 hours.  We moved most of the stuff he could get to off my night stand.  We moved the big basket off the floor.  We moved the stuff off the phone table.  You get the picture.  Five hours later we come back.  Raggs had moved his water dish from the hardwood floor on to the carpet without spilling a drop -- don't ask me how as it was a heavy bowl!  But he decided to try for my pillow again but without much luck.  He did pull tufts of fur off a rug I had on the floor.  Oh well.  But there was no other damage.  And, he must have exhausted himself as he's been asleep for the last hour.   Until yesterday Raggs didn't jump up on his hind legs at all -- or at least not that we had ever seen.  Rescue thinks he had been hit by a car before he was found.  He had surgery on his leg and hadn't been using it much. He is now using it more especially when we take him for his walks.  So, the jumping up on the hind legs was a big surprise!  I've got your number Mr. Ragg Man! 

Time to hit the studio and sew!  I have to sew the rows together on the wonky 9 patch and then decide about borders.  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie