Bailey Island Hobo &......

Sometime last year when I participated in one of the Doll Quilt Swaps, along with the quilt I received from Cara at Cara Quilts was a beautiful Bali Pop! I know, how generous! Well, I'd never had a Bali Pop before and wasn't sure what I'd use it for.

Then I came across the Baily Island Hobo pattern by Auntie Two and socked it away with the Bali Pop. I packed them both up when we headed to FL along with 42 strips 2 1/2" X 45" of batting (pre-cut at home), a magnatic snap and LOTS of thread. I have to say that when I was sorting the pops into the color order I wanted, I pulled a few out and went to the LQS to purchase a little piece to replace them and make the binding and straps.

Well, here is my finish:

It is about 16" X 15" X 6". Here is a close-up of what it looks like:

Such fun to make! I work on the dining table here at the condo so I can see Charlotte Harbor or the TV.

I just know you want to see those little ones that visited us:

Vincent learned how to roll over here and Audrey wanted Grandma to braid her hair every day. She "needed" her finger and toe nails polished too! What fun.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Modern Basics II Book Blitz & Giveaway!

Have you seen Amy Ellis' new book Modern Basics II? Most of you probably know Amy from her blog Amy's Creative Side. Here is the cover:

One of my favorites in the book is:

This is Modern Cross-Stitch. It looks great in all solids but would be equally beautiful in some saturated prints. Or how about a print background with solid X's in all one color? I think the sky is the limit on how many ways you could use this one pattern from Amy's book.

One thing I find that is very helpful when I am starting a new project is to change the blade in my rotary cutter and put a new needle in my sewing machine. I know most of you know that already, so this is just a reminder in order to avoid some frustration when cutting and sewing that beautiful new fabric!

A lot of Amy's other friends are sharing information and pictures about Modern Basics II today and will also be giving away an ebook so visit them too:

Emily Herrick http://crazyoldladiesquilts.blogspot.com/
Amy Newbold http://sukiedontyaknow.com/
Dana Bolyard http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/
Amy Webb http://www.amylouwhosews.com/
Martingale http://blog.shopmartingale.com/
Victoria Findlay Wolfe http://www.bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
Katie Blakesley Www.swimbikequilt.com
Chelsey K www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com
Terri Harlan http://sew-fantastic.blogspot.com/
Mary Kolb http://maryonlakepulaski.blogspot.com/
Pat Sloan http://blog.patsloan.com
Natalia Bonner http://www.pieceandquilt.com/
Candy Glendening http://www.candiedfabrics.com/
Vicki Christensen http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/

Here is how you enter the giveaway for an ebook:

Fill out this form to win! You might find a hint in each of the above blogs.

If you can't wait to see if you won, you can get your own copy here:

Amazon
Autographed copies in Amy's Bookshop

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Happy Town by Jacquelynne Steves - fabric giveaway and contest

ETA: Giveaway is closed and the winners are #5 Samantha (1st prize) and #29 Amy (2nd prize). I will email both of you.

I posted HERE that I would be having a fabric giveaway to help you get started on either a Quilt For Kids Contest quilt that will be donated to Quilts For Kids or a quilt for a kid you love!

Here is the fabric you can win:

There is 1\2 yard of the yellow cats, 1\2 yard of the blue cats and a one yard panel all from Happy Town by Jacquelynne Steves for Henry Glass & Co.

The second person will win 1/2 yard of the yellow cats and 1/2 yard of the blue cats.

Remember if you go to your local quilt shop or Fat Quarter Shop to purchase Happy Town fabric for your project or to make your quilt for the contest, all royalties from the sales of this fabric line will be donated to Quilts for Kids (QuiltsForKids.org). Also, any quilts entered in the contest will be donated to hospitalized children through Quilts for Kids, and the winning quilts will be displayed at International Quilt Market in Portland, Oregon in May. The top prize is $500 cash, second prize is $250 cash, and there is a special category for quilters under age 16.

Here are the solids in the line:

Aren't these stripes and the border print striking?

Look at these double dots!

Here are the transportation vehicles:

And now for the giveaway. One comment per person and be sure to include your email address if you are a no reply blogger. Your comment must indicate how you most recently went out of your way to help another person. Comments will close on Friday February 28th at midnight wherever I happen to be and I will draw two random numbers soon after.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Essex Linen/Cotton HST's

These were left over pieces from another project and I decided to make them into HST's. They each ended up being 4 inch blocks finished so it is 40" X 48".

I sewed them together as they came out of of the bag. I originally thought to sort them, but that didn't work. Should I put a border on it before I quilt it?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Madrona Road challenge quilt

I belong to the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild and our March challenge is a quilt out of a fat quarter pack of Madrona Road by Violet Craft for Michael Miller.

Here is what I came up with:

This is a pattern called Rainbows End by Villa Rosa Designs and I thought it was perfect to show off this pretty fabric. I left the yellow and white solids out for the quilt front. I may use them on the back.

Here is a photo taken inside. Notice how different the colors look:

Little Vince is coming to visit us in Florida and needs something to keep the sun out of his eyes and off his face; so of course, Grandma made him both a hat and a cap:

Can not wait to see Vince and Audrey!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Happy Town! Fabric & Contest for a special cause I support!

There is a great new contest that I wanted all my readers to know about. The contest deadline is April 15 so I want everyone to have plenty of time to work on their quilts. Here is the link to the contest rules.

The fabric is Happy Town by Jacquelynne Steves of The Noble Wife.

You will see that the royalties from the sales of Happy Town will be donated to Quilts for Kids (QuiltsForKids.org). Also, any quilts entered in the contest will be donated to hospitalized children through Quilts for Kids, and the winning quilts will be displayed at International Quilt Market in Portland, Oregon in May. The top prize is $500 cash, second prize is $250 cash, and there is a special category for quilters under age 16.

Here is a link to the whole line of fabric and you will want to see ALL of it!

Here is the link to the free patterns for this line if you need some inspiration! 

Also, the fabric is available for purchase now at the Fat Quarter Shop as well as other online retailers and of course, your favorite Local Quilt Shop!  

Check back next week for a fabric giveaway to maybe get you started!  This is a win/win contest!

Stars Over Fort Sumter

Longest WIP that I own! I finished the top for Stars Over Fort Sumter this week here in Florida. I have to confess I purchased this kit years ago while my daughter and son-in-law were living in Charleston SC. They've been back in MN for nearly three years if that tells you anything.

Stars Over Fort Sumter pattern is a Civil War Inspired Quilt by Bonnie Blue Quilts (nothing I've done much of) but this pattern and fabric grabbed me.

I had all the blocks pieced and sewn together and just needed to add the borders.

This size is 81" X 81" and I think it will be pretty cool once it is quilted. I'll leave that to an expert...it exceeds my ability and the size is too large to quilt on my domestic machine.

'

 

Posted with Blogsy

Accordion Bag by Sew Sweetness

I tested a pattern for Sara of Sew Sweetness a few weeks ago. It is called the Accordion Bag:

I used a slice of the entire rainbow of Pezz prints for the flap, yard died Essex Linen\cotton in black for the body and strap and Kona in black for the piping.

You can find Sara's blog post about her new pattern here (including a photo of MY bag) and a link to her shop to purchase the pattern.
The pattern is very well written, lots of photos to accompany the steps and the bag is a perfect size.

Posted with Blogsy

I'm a Finalist : Your Andover!!

Remember this quilt I made for Abby using Savanah Bop by Thomas Knauer for Andover Fabrics?

I am a Finalist in the Your Andover Contest!

If you simply click on this link: https://pinterest.com/andoverfabrics/your-andover-finalists/ and either "LIKE" or "REPIN" I have a chance to win!

Thank you to all my followers and readers for two clicks of your mouse!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Peace Pattern Winner and February Mid-Century Modern Bee Blocks

The winner of my drawing for Rene' of Rene' Creates new Peace Pattern is:

Suz of Patchwork and Play blog - Rene' will be in touch with you!

I finished two blocks for Cindy in the Mid-Century Modern Quilt Bee. Cindy chose the Winged Square block in this tutorial and it is fun one to make. Here is the first one I made:

Then I read the instructions that the "wings" were supposed to be scrappy. (Why is that photo all scrunched up??)

So I grabbed some fabric from my stash quickly before we headed to FL and made this one once we arrived:

These will both be sent off to you Cindy - you can choose or use both!

 

Posted with Blogsy