Handmade Holiday Bloghop Winner

Number 46 has been chosen and Diane has been notified by email.

Thanks to everyone for participating.

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Handmade Holidays Blog Hop & Giveaway

 

Who knew the name of the fabric I'm writing about today would perfectly describe the weather right now here in Minnesota (44 degrees and fog)?

I was lucky enough to receive a bundle of Shades Of Winter by Greta Lynn for Benartex to make something to inspire you to use this beautiful fabric.

And......you can win a bundle too....keep reading.

I made this Firewood Tote:

I was completely inspired by Laura Wilson of the We Wilson blog. You can find access to her tutorial by going HERE. Thank you Laura.

I customized a few things:

First on the outside, I cut and used 2 1/2" strips of Shades Of Winter fabric and used the flip and sew method to attach to a piece of batting. I then reinforced by stitching 1/4" on both sides of each seam.

And the second thing is really just a tip: I used two layers of canvas cut from a drop cloth obtained at a big box store for the lining. I thought that would make it extra sturdy for using to hold cut wood and it cost under $10 with lots left to use on other projects.

And now for the fun part; if you would like to enter into a drawing to win a fat quarter bundle of Shades of Winter, you need to follow my blog (I will be checking) and leave only one comment per person below telling me what good deed your are going to do for another person during the next week.

Drawing will take place Sunday, December 13th & winner will be notified by email. No-reply Blogger's not eligible unless you leave email address in comment.

Sorry, only U.S. addresses for this win.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

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Blogger's Quilt Festival

Wasn't sure I'd have an entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival, but I have not shown this quilt yet and I really like it.

This is Just Four Fun - a free quilt pattern by Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts that you can find here. I tested the pattern for her and used four mini charm packs of April Showers by Bonnie & Camille.

I added 4 3/4" border to my quilt to make it lap size. The beautiful quilting was done by Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side (you might recognize that name)!

I'm entering this in the small quilt category in case you want to vote for it in Viewer's Choice competition and you can find it here for nominating or voting.

 

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Catching up!

I've been sewing almost every day but usually only show finishes, so not a lot to share today.

This improv herringbone block (tutorial by 13 spools) is for Shelly of Prairie Moon Quilts for September Sew Sisters Bee.

This shirt & shorts for Vincent is the Sketchbook pattern by Oliver and S.

And Boo! This vintage chenille 16" ghost is from a kit by Scrapbooks Etc.

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Oakshott Scandinavia Challenge

First of all thank you to Sew Mama Sew and Oakshott for choosing me to participate in the Oakshott Scandinavia Challenge. The fatquarters of Oakshott I received to work with were heavenly!

When I first thought of Scandinavia style, the only thing that came to mind was a red horse decorated in white. That wouldn't work, so I looked through furnishings and accessories at a Scandinavia store and found this great design on a pillow with a knit covering. I set out to design something similar in Oakshott.

I chose the Stockholm color for the border with a Uppsala background and the beautiful Tromso for the appliqué. I wanted plenty of room to work so I decided on a 20" by 26" size.

I spent LOTS of hours hand quilting the entire background section "organicly" in white quilting thread with ~ 3/16" stitches ~ 1/4" apart. I love the texture of the Oakshott quilted this way!

Luckily it quit raining for a limited time photo shoot.

Please click on one of the photos to see the quilting up close.

Stop by and see what the other participants created.

Jessica Skultety from Quilty Habit

Jennifer Fullerton from Never Just Jennifer

Mary Kolb from Mary on Lake Pulaski

Casey York from The Studiolo

Deborah Fisher

Caitlin Topham from Salty Oat

 

Thank you for stopping by. Check out the rest of my blog too.

 

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The Tube

I tested this pattern for Lynn of Lilly Quilts a while ago but I am not able to find the published pattern.

It was fun selecting the coordinating colors all from my stash and only purchasing the black background.

What added incredible texture to this quilt is the amazing quilting by Amy Ellis.

 

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Good Neighbors Pincushion Party

First I was thrilled when I found out my friend Amanda Jean (Crazy Mom Quilts) was going to have her very own fabric line with Connecting Threads ........and then she invited me to join her Good Neighbors Pincushion Party! So excited.

I had purchased the papers a few years ago for a paper pieced pincushion and was waiting for just the right fabric. Well, Good Neighbors was IT!!

And I had the perfect antique button for the center and Connecting Threads was kind enough to provide a matching solid in addition to a charm pack.

You can check out the full Good Neighbors collection at Connecting Threads.

And be sure to check out the whole month of stops filled with super awesome pincushions!

9/1/2015 Amanda Jean – Crazy Mom Quilts
9/2/2015 Anna – Noodlehead
9/3/2015 Mary – Mary on Lake Pulaski
9/4/2015 Svetlana – Sotak Handmade
9/5/2015 Debbie – Esch House Quilts
9/6/2015 Holly – Bijou Lovely
9/7/2015 Carla – Grace and Favour
9/8/2015 Faith – Fresh Lemons Quilts
9/9/2015 Vanessa – V and Co.
9/10/2015 Anna – Thimbleanna
9/11/2015 Krista – Poppy Print Creates
9/12/2015 Erin – Why Not Sew
9/13/2015 Lee – May Chappell
9/14/2015 Alex – Tea Ginny Designs
9/15/2015 Cheryl – Nap Time Quilter
9/16/2015 Penny – Sew Take a Hike
9/17/2015 Amy – During Quilt Time
9/18/2015 Debbie – A Quilter’s Table
9/19/2015 Anne – Spring Leaf Studios
9/20/2015 Melissa Corry – Happy Quilting
9/21/2015 Amber – One Shabby Chick
9/22/2015 Nettie – A Quilt is Nice
9/23/2015 Adrianne – Little Bluebell
9/24/2015 Cindy – Live a Colorful Life
9/25/2015 Amy – Diary of a Quilter
9/26/2015 Chase – Quarter Inch Mark
9/27/2015 Rene – Rene Creates
9/28/2015 Erin – House on Hill Road
9/29/2015 Nicole – Modern Handcraft
9/30/2015 Teri – Connecting Threads

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Very Special Quilt

Last year I joined seven other quilter in the Instagram Traveling Quilt Bee #igtqb and it was the greatest experience. Each of us created our inspiration mosaic and also started a journal telling our likes and dislikes for our quilt.

Next we created our starting section for our very own quilt and at the end of the month sent it to the next person on our list. Each one of us secretly added to the quilt that month and again sent it on it's way. At the end we each got our own finished quilt top!

Here is mine after quilting by Amy's Creative Side and binding:

It is one of my very favorite quilts.

P.S. I started my quilt with the five feathers.

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Cultivate Blog Tour

It is finally my day on the Cultivate Blog Tour.

What is Cultivate? Well, it is a new line of fabric by Bonnie Christine of Going Home to Roost for Art Gallery Fabric.

In Bonnie's own words:

"cultivate was inspired by my love for gardening. it’s as pure and simple as digging in the dirt! growing vegetables and cutting fresh flowers from the garden is one of my most favorite pleasures in life. there’s something so special about preparing a meal with food you’ve grown yourself, and arranging a bouquet of flowers fresh from the yard. don’t you think? it’s about the romance of reaping the harvest through and through. it’s filled with floral motifs, garden patches, roots and seeds."

+++++++++

I was lucky enough to sew with a lovely piece of knit in the Row by Row print in Deep from the Cultivate line. Since it is nearly 60" wide, I had lots of ideas going through my head.

I decided on a tank top and skirt for my granddaughter.

 

After looking through my patterns and online tutorials I went with the tank top pattern from Sweet Polly's Playclothes by Izzy & Ivy designs:

..and this Circle Skirt is from the tutorial on the Made blog:

I love how the horizontal stripes in the fabric look on the skirt cut with a complete circle. My only tips on sewing with this or any other knit is a new ballpoint needle.

There are lots more great items to check out on the Cultivate Blog Tour! Yesterday Theresa showed us the cutest gym shorts. If you haven't checked them out yet, her blog can be found HERE. And on Monday see what Amanda makes; her blog can be found HERE.

And the whole list of links for the blog tour can be found HERE.

Cultivate is available in stores now or you can certainly find it online HERE.

Thanks you for stopping by and thank you to Bonnie for having me on the tour!

 

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I love summer!

Summer is crazy busy & my favorite season of the year. We have the whole family over all at once every summer and it is so much fun. Just picture seven children between 18 months old and five years old, add a lake, sun & sand, mix thoroughly & that is what we had!

I made another block for our Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild charity quilt.

I decided on a sixteen patch king size quilt for my precious Katie Jump Rop stash and have a small start - 52 blocks to go!

I made my daughter pillows to go with the Terrain quilt I made for her:

I gave Brandon a little boy haircut after swimming one day.

Have you heard that Amanda (Crazy Mom Quilts) has a new fabrics line with Connecting Threads coming out next month called Good Neighbors? I started a little project using it.

I covered a few hexagon cork bulletin boards for Audrey using Briar Rose to match her quilt and curtains. I also made a few matching push pins.

Brandon needs a tote bag for "school" so I used some vintage fabric to make it unique!

Here are the blocks for Rene' Creates for August Sew Sister's bee.

and here is the block for Mary for August Mid-Century Modern Bee.

Have you been following the Cultivate blog tour?

It is a beautiful line of fabric! I am part of the tour and have already sewn something. I'll be posting next Friday!

http://www.goinghometoroost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dates.jpg

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Winner & new sewing

Here is my winner of the fat quarter stack:

Congratulations Susan! I have your address and will send off the fabric next week.

After looking through last week's post, I noticed I did not include the photo of my Gruber Gals from our retreat:

 

Amanda Jean, Rene', Doris, Me, Michelle, Terri, Cindy, Shelly and Stephanie

They are the BEST group of friends!

This week I finished a quilt top I started at retreat:

I beat the deadline to make a block for Amanda Jean's Birthday quilt organized by Tara Rebmon of Tinkerfrog:

 

 

 

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Who will read my blog when I haven't posted for TWO MONTHS?

Read to the end & see if I can make it worthwhile for one of you!

Here's the story: I had some secret sewing that took ALL my time for 2 1/2 weeks. Then right after, I had my sweet grandson for four days.

Here is the sewing I did between then and now:

Here is a dress I made for Audrey. My sister also made one for her granddaughter at the same time. The style was based on a picture she saw.

I made this bag and key fob for my secret partner ine th Gnome Swap:

I made this block for th Mid-Century Modern Bee in May:

I made these kaleidoscope block pieces for the Sew Sisters Bee in June:

I made this June block for the Mid-Century Modern Bee:

I got a request for a Bella dress for Quilty, the American Girl doll that lives at Grandma's house.

 

I started my Katie Jump Rope quilt for the My Precious QAL:

Then I made a maxi dress for Audrey using Cotton & Steel fabric:

Our annual Gruber's retreat was last week. Each year we make/buy "Happies" for each of our friends.

This is what I made.

They are pincushions made using an eggcup. I EPP the flower in the center using 1/4" hexies out of Liberty of London tana lawn fabric. I then hand appliquéd to another light weight fabric, cut out a circular piece, gathered it, stuffed with fiberfill and glued it into the eggcup.

Here is everything I received from my Gruber Gals:

One thing not sewing related- with all the rain, the raspberries have been especially nice:

And here is the July block for the Mid-Century Modern Bee:

We had a scrap challenge at our Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild that was a lot of fun. We filled a quart bag with our chosen scraps, selected another person's bag and made them something only using one other fabric. I made my partner this mini-quilt only adding the background fabric:

Here is what my partner made me:

It is a 24" pillow and the fabric she added was the green with brown polka dots. I love it!

Whew! Did you see all of that?

So now if you leave a comment by the end of the day Friday, July 24th telling me if you have ever swam in a lake, I will choose a winner and their prize will be a 6 fat quarter bundle from Blank Quilting in great fall colors.

Thanks for stopping back to visit!

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