HEART FOR A DEAR FRIEND

My dear friend Mary Anne's (from SBS, DJ, and my small block swap group) husband suffered a major cardio-pulmonary event last week. Our little group is sending off 6" hearts to her. Bob was in WWII and has had asbestos exposure issues ever since. I'm so proud of our military and all that they sacrifice for us. I know Mary Anne and Bob are very close. Mary Anne is also very close to her quilting community members, so I know she'll find some comfort and support in these blocks.

AND THE WINNER IS................

ME! I won! No, not on the Good Egg Hop, but the March Block Lotto! I will have 24 sets (48 blocks) coming my way! Yippee! Now, how to set 48 wonky log cabin blocks. What fun. I will share pictures with you as they arrive.


Since I finished mine early (before the last week of the month) I got the sneak peak at April blocks. Shoo-Fly! I love this block. I'd love to win and make a "Shoo-Fly, Don't Bother Me' quilt. Here's my 9. I'm loving this 'Wonky' year of blocks. I took a wonky stars class with Gwen Marsten last year, and this is just her kind of stuff! Oh, how I'd love to visit her on Beaver Island, MI! It is such a refreshing change to do wonky, when I usually do DJ or SBS blocks! So tiny, so precise. These are anything but precise. Don't you love the green one, middle row of the right hand column. She seems to be skipping and waving all at once!

AND THE WINNER IS.....................

And the winner of my blog hop prize, chosen by random.org, is ........................

JULIE IN WA!!!

Julie was a good egg and left her email, so I was able to contact her for her snail addy. Thank you everyone who played along. Hope you had fun, and come back and visit often.

I'm sorry, but there's no way to respond to each comment personally this time. Thanks for all the compliments on my blog and header. It is my take on a pattern by Amy Bradley, Spool Flowers, and is the starter row that I made for a row swap.

Happy Easter, everyone.

GOOD EGG BLOG HOP

The Good Egg Blog Hop has begun! We are celebrating and sharing our blogs with you. Click here for a list of all participating blogs. Be sure to read the message from our generous organizer, Sandi, while you're there. Also take some time to check out the blogs as you hop.

I'll be giving away the 4-Patch Stacked Posie pattern shown (all the blocks are made from just one fabric!), as well as the little bunny applique and the Beatrix Potter FQ with bunnies that they are displayed on. To receive my give away, please leave a comment on this post.

My prize is open to all, whether you have a blog, read blogs, are a blog hop participant, no matter where you live, etc. Just leave a comment on this post between now and March 28. I'll choose the winner by a random number generator on March 29 and post the winner here. Be sure to leave a contact in your message, or come back here the 29th to see if you won, and then email me your contact info. If you win, you can email me you snail addy. Don't publish it in your post!

Good luck, and happy hopping!

SBS, F-7, BIG-T

The Sylvia's Bridal Sampler BOW, is F-7, Big T. I'm happy with how it turned out. This is the 225 post to my blog! Be sure to check back tomorrow, for the Good Egg Blog Hop, as we hop down the bunny trail!

MORE BLOCK LOTTO BLOCKS

I finished up three more sets of Liberated Log Cabin blocks for Block Lotto, so that brings me to five sets, the maximum you can enter. These were quick, easy, fun, and sure used up lots of left overs.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Of course I celebrate St. Patrick's Day, considering my name. Click here
http://www.thegift.com/blog/category/thegiftcom/st-patricks-day/
to read all about St. Patrick.

SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER BOW

The SBS BOW is A-4, Posies Around the Square. I love this block. While parts can be done with curved piecing, I chose to applique this entire block.

LIBERATED LOG CABINS

For Block Lotto this month, we are making Liberated Log Cabins, from the cool side of the color wheel, with black and white thrown in. In addition to being liberated, each set of two must have one upward-slanting block, and one downward-slanting block. They were very quick and easy to make and I used up a lot of strips from the scrap basket.

EASTER BASKET SWAP

I had just sent out my Easter Basket swap, when the next day mine arrived from Angela. Everything is soooooooooo nice! For the 'made' part, Angela made me an Easter basket pincushion. Soooo cute! Stuck in the cushion are pins holding flower buttons. She is so clever! Also 'made' are two crocheted wash clothes. I always am fond of the homemade ones over the commercial. There are 2 little chocolate Hershey bunnies (in tact, as it's not hot in Florida yet), a set of two ceramic birdhouse buttons, Easter dimensional stickers, itty-bitty flower/leaf beads, an image for fabric transfer (I've never done that, so it will something new to learn), and a small notepad, and on each page half says in big letters, "I will do one thing today." and then in tiny letters "thing" with the rest of the page free to write. Organization -- I can sure use that! Humor too! Wow! This has been so fun! I love these little one-on-one swaps! Thank you, thank you, Angela!

EASTER SWAP

My Easter Basket swap is going in the mail today to .........................?????????????????????

For the handmade item I whipped up another pincushion. I couldn't part with the other one once Carol spotted the piggy in her. Now that's all I can see from that angle too. Plus the new one isn't wonky. So I'll keep the wonky piggy cupcake, and send the new one with the flower on top.

I'm actually including a real basket in the swap (not a requirement), bunny tissues, Jelly Bellys, a bobble-head bunny, and an exercise ball for hands that says "When life gives you scraps" on one side and "make a quilt" on the other.

Hope the receiver likes everything.

CUP CAKES

I've been making, or sewing, cupcakes this week. Doesn't this one look nice on my 'good' china saucer. But of course they're not for eating, they're pincushions. I've had the pattern, fabric, and crushed walnut stuffing for quite a while, sitting on the shelf. Since cupcakes are so popular right now, thought it was time to do it.

COMING SOON............

I'm one of the 'Good Eggs' participating in the 'Good Egg Giveaway'. Be sure to come back to my blog on March 24th for all the details about this blog hop and a chance to win.

PRIMITIVE BUNNY

I've been feeling under the weather, but really wanted to sew today. Couldn't do the accuracy needed for patchwork, so what to work on? Then I remembered the bunny contest that was posted on a blog and has come and gone. It was from Nee Nee: http://primpatternsnhandmades.blogspot.com/2010/02/freebie-bunny-pattern.html The bunny was just a line drawing of the body pieces, no directions, no clothing, etc.

It was perfect to work on today. Primitive doesn't have to be exact or perfect. Primitive is primitive. So here's the results of my effort. She doesn't have a name yet, but please tell me what you think she should be called in comments. Her bucket/basket is empty, but I'll work on that. Her pocket is empty too, but I really think she needs something neat in it. Any ideas?

DEAR JANE SECRET SISTER GIFT

My March gift from my Dear Jane Secret Sister arrived yesterday. She sent me quilter's masking tape, a lovely dark blue Fusion FQ, a lighted un-sewer, and yet another lovely DJ block that she made. Along with this was a lovely, long, letter. She is just the best. It sure made my day. Thank you out there, whoever you are, LOL!

LOVE IS..............

Paula Stoddard is offering a block a month called, Love is. I just added a link on my side bar to this free BOM in redwork. I believe she posts two blocks a month, one in words and one in flowers. You can link to this BOM by clicking on the button in my side bar, scrolling down on the left.

ON THE DESIGN WALL

After finally stitching together the spool blocks, I was able to get out my Pink/Brown and Blue/Brown SBS swap blocks. Well only one set fit, but I do plan to mix them in my quilt. Possible fabrics for sashing, etc. are below.

There's lots to do before I get to this project, but I love walking by them on the wall. It helps with ideas spinning in my head for how to set the blocks and which fabrics to best show them off with.

CHURN DASH BLOCKS FINISHED

This week I finished 16 nine-inch Churn Dash blocks for the Amish Swap. I think it took almost as long to make and tack on the fabric labels, one for each, as it did to sew the blocks. Can't wait to see the blocks everyone is making!

SIGGY ARRIVES

A lovely siggy arrived all the way from the Netherlands. Dorine used a machine-applique fleur de lis for her center. It represents the French lily, because of the town she lives in, Lelystad. I love the bright, perky orange.

My stack of siggies to send out is getting low, and I think I'd better get busy and sew a batch of 10 or so.

INTERNATIONAL SIGGIE SWAP

Two siggies from Germany arrived in my mail the other day. Both are just beautiful. The top one is a hand embroidered goat, from Anne. I think that has to do with her life, but the letter was from Sylvia. Her nick-name is "Fliederhexe" which translates to "Lilac Witch", the good kind she assures. Her lilac fabric and embroidered witch surely reflect that.

HARRIET HARGRAVE

Continuing my post about my quilt retreat with Harriet Hargrave, this is her newest book, just out. It's the first of 4 in her Quilter's Academy series, Freshman Year. It's all about the basics of quilt making. It's for anyone just starting out, and for anyone wondering why their blocks aren't perfect every time. Why is it a tad short, wide, or wonky? While there are patterns in this book, it's really a skill builder, step-by-step.

She wrote the book with her daughter, Carrie, a new quilter. Carrie was the first guinea pig, and they did change some things as Carrie worked her way through, editing the book.

How fun to be doing a mother-daughter project like this!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

This is my February DJ SS gift. What a wonderful secret sister I have this year. She send me two Dear Jane blocks, a 4 Patch Posie pattern, a magnet, the new wide Tiger Tape, lip balm and chocolates, as well as the yummy pink FQ it is all spread on. Then closer to Valentine's she sent the hand-stamped card. I make Stampin' Up cards too, so it was really fun to be on the receiving end this time, LOL!

HARRIET HARGRAVE

These are the books we used at retreat. Several of you have asked for tidbits of what we learned. Well..........

• There's no correct batting for all quilts - each has unique needs.
• Thread for piecing needs to be 100% cotton, thin, and strong.
• Blocks need to be starched, pressed, measured each step of the way. Starch, not Best Press or sizing. You are going to finish the top, quilt the top while it's nice and stiff, and then wash it all in short order. No worry about bugs.
• It's impossible to do nice quilting unless the top was perfectly pieced.
• No, you don't need a long arm.
• No, you don't need a stitch regulator.
• You don't need a larger area to the right of the needle on your machine, but it does make it easier to machine quilt.
• You'd be better off putting your $ into a proper fitting sewing table, cutting table, chair, good lighting, etc. than continuing to buy FQs or jelly rolls. Yes the good stuff is expensive, but look what we put into more and more stash and kits, etc. It adds up too.
• More quilting in the quilt makes goofs show up less, yet beginners often quilt as far apart as possible.
• Use pins to baste, not spray baste. Then anchor it all with some ditch quilting. Remove pins as you can, and do more intricate quilting.
• Invisible thread is good for quilting, but you need the right brands.
• Don't wear shoes while you do patchwork. You can't feel the machine as well.
• Become good friends with your machine. You should be able to feel and hear how it's going.
• Before buying thread, bobbins, etc., do some research. Who came out with it and why? If it's an art quilter, and you make baby quilts, what works for them won't work for you, etc.
• Some of the older machines are the best. You don't need the bells and whistles. The fewer the better.
• Harriet's daughter, Carrie, is doing the first ever comparative study on thread for her Master's Degree. She is using equipment to simulate aging, judge strength, ability to hide in the fabric, etc. Some of the thread companies aren't too happy about it. Others are all for it.

I could go on forever. Three days of straight information and guidance. If ever you have a chance to take classes with Harriet Hargrave, go for it. She is the one who invented quilting on your home sewing machine. Her applique is wonderful too. She truly does create and teach how to create heirloom quilts made by machine and all by you (in case you're like me and must do the entire quilt yourself -- not just the top!).

If you can't take classes with her, her books are excellent. Very step-by-step details, super photos, etc. They are older and can be harder to find. But the information is still current and she thinks it would be nuts to reprint them.

She does have one new book out, called "Freshman Year." More on that later.

FAREWELL BRUNCH

Here we are at the brunch on Sunday. I'm on the left and Carol is on the right. Everyone brings what they've worked on to show off, there are drawings and winners of various things, like the block lotto and challenge quilt. It marks the end of a very tiring, but fun, and super-educational long week-end. Next year's theme is Quiltopoly, as in the game.

I'll post about what I learned soon.

VALENTINE SWAP

Carol brought my Valentine Swap gift to Honeybee, to give to me. She made the Humbug Bag, back - left, and included socks, a love bug, notecards, and a heart-shaped box. The bag it all came in (back) is neat too! Thanks Carol. Very fun!