Custom Quilt and Bag Pattern Giveaways

This beautiful quilt and the story behind it are here on The Handmade Quilt-er. The custom part is if you win, you can pick your favorite color.

Also, visit Hanne's Quilt Corner to sign up for her bag pattern giveaway. It's a beauty.

Turning Twenty (12) 4 X 4 and Giveaway

This is the result of my leftover 8 blocks to Turning Twisting Twenty (12). I added 4 more blocks which were mostly pink and brown, and used another variation, the Turning Twenty 4 X 4. It is like a Disappearing Nine Patch, but with the Turning Twenty block. The colors aren't real true, the border is a pink paisley with a lot of green. Next on the agenda is basting and quilting the 4 tops that I have finished. I'm hoping by the end I'll be an ok if not accomplished free motion quilter. We can all dream. Of course, I am really good at procrastinating and I also have Thanksgiving dinner to worry about, so I may be a little slow in the doing.
My DH is getting a new computer for his Christmas present, and don't you know that it was due to get here the day we left on our little mini vacation. It all worked out though, as my daughter, who we were taking with us, got sick and the trip got cancelled for now. She just has a cold, but DH has a low immune system, and we didn't want to take the chance of him catching it. He keeps them forever and gets sicker than most people. Maybe next year. After all the stress of what are we to do, the computer came today, a day early. I hope that he likes it, it is Vista and neither of us are familiar with it. We did get a book yesterday, and hopefully all will be well.



P.S. Christine of Once upon a Quilt.... is having a one year giveaway check out her blog.

Twisting Turning Twenty (Twelve)

One more top done. I never thought I would have any surplus of tops, but now that I am planning to quilt them myself, I have three. This is my Twisting Turning Twelve, and since I have 8 blocks left, I've decided to do another one from the same book, but different than I had decided on before. I wanted a different look, so I am adding 4 blocks that are predominantly pink and brown based, and then am going to do the pattern where the blocks are cut into fours and put 'artfully' (I hope) back together. Sort of like a Disappearing 9 patch, but with the Turning Twenty block instead. Then I will have 4 tops and my plan is to baste them using the Sharon Schamber method using the boards, and quilt them on my Juki. So far I have quilted one small quilt, and maybe when I finish these 4, I will be more confident and proud of my results. I've pretty much given up on the thought of doing any quilts for Christmas gifts, instead I will finish the ones I had planned and just give them as I finish them. Not ideal, but less pressure.
This quilt is about half oriental fabrics, and I was trying to think of a name for it that would reflect that, but so far no light bulbs. It may just have to keep it's generic name of Twisting Turning Twelve.
The weather here is beautiful. We are having unseasonably cool weather, and it is sunny and mild and such a nice change from hot. It will be ideal for any trick or treaters who make it out. Last year we only had about a handful, and had lots of candy left so this year we just bought one big bag. Hope we don't get a surprise and have lots of them this year and not enough candy.
Happy Halloween, everyone!

I Won a Giveaway

Recently, I won second place in Lyn's (Welcome to Bluebird Quilts, My Quilting Journey) "Fall into Fall Quilter's Blog Giveaway". It was so exciting to receive mail all the way from Australia, and as you can see she made it even more exciting by having everything wrapped individually in really nice heavy crinkly cellophane paper. The orange that the gifts are sitting on is more of the same cellophane that was on the bottom and top of the box.

Opening each gift was really fun, and as you can see there is quite a variety of quilty, crafty things. The pumpkin is so charming and seasonal, and will of course have a place of honor from now on in my fall and Thanksgiving decor. There was also DMC floss, fabric, buttons, a wonderful book with colorful pictures on creating stars, and a little cinnamon bunch and birdhouse which will be displayed, and then will end up on my Christmas tree. I love the homey folksy decorations.

Twisting Turning Twelve

My Twisting Turning Twenty is now going to be a Twisting Turning Twelve. I decided that I'd rather a lap sized, and so I only used 12 of my 20 blocks. As you can see, I only had enough room on my design board for 9 of the 12 blocks. I think I'm going to like it when it's finished and I think that I'll add another 4 blocks and do a version of the Turning Twenty into Diamonds. Here's a picture in the left hand top corner.

They are both from the same book by Tricia Cribbs, Turning Twenty just got better. I'm working up my courage for Bonnie Hunter's Old Tobacco Road.

Projects

I haven't been too productive, but I have been working on a few things in the past week. The first picture is my Thanksgiving hand towels and napkins. I've done 8 of the gold napkins and 12 white napkins for the kids, and when I finished my DH got a brainstorm. Why not put everyone's name on their napkin. I guess that I'll be doing that.

The second picture is the next two blocks of my State Flower quilt. I still have to put the frames on them, and now I'm already behind again, as Florida and Georgia are out now. A woman's work is never done.
The last two messy pictures are the fabrics for my Twisting Turning Twenty quilt. The first is the lights with the dark swatches on top, and the second is the darks with the light swatches on top. I hope there is enough contrast. This evening I got the 20 blocks sewn together, and now hopefully tomorrow, I'll be sewing the lights and darks together and then cutting them apart into two blocks. I'm anxious to get that step done, and then see how my stripes will look. Here is a picture of Donna's from Donna's in the Attic.

I'm getting excited for the holidays. I haven't done any decorating for the past few years, and this year will plan to do a bit of it. I plan on having Thanksgiving at my house this year, although I don't know yet who all will be able to make it. I will have anywhere from 9 to in the 20's. Somehow, our family has a problem with commitment, and they usually aren't sure until it is almost here.

Quilt Giveaway

Elizabeth from Pigtails and Snails is giving away a beautiful quilt that she designed herself. You have until Friday Oct. 17th at
7PM MST to make your comment.

Carolina Straightaway and Hancock's of Paducah Order

I finally got my rear in gear and finished my Carolina Straightaway top. I was going to do the star blocks in each corner, but when I saw that I had made enough extras to do 4 of the ring blocks I couldn't stop myself, I used them instead and took the easy way out. I still plan on doing some of the star blocks and using them in something.

I'm not a very good quilt shop customer. I would love to just go to my local quilt shop and nearby quilt shops and help myself to whatever appeals without having to worry about price, but that wouldn't work out too well for my budget. I love the nicer fabrics, but have to look for bargains. I usually either shop at Thousands of Bolts, Connecting Threads, or the clearance department of such as Fabric Depot or Hancock's of Paducah. I was very happy with my order from Hancock's that I received a day or two ago. Most of the fabric was $2.98 a yard, and I got 8 yards of assorted prints for $25.34. They also were having free shipping.

Needless to say, I was a happy camper.

I unfortunately have gotten a little behind in my state flower quilt. I need to catch up 2 states, which means 4 blocks, and then I think I am going to work on the Twisting Turning Twenty with Donna from DONNA'S - In The Attic, I think that will be fun, and I'll be part of her quilt show. She is planning to eventually do all the quilts in the book "Turning Twenty Just Got Better" by Tricia Cribbs. Donna does beautiful quilts and quilting, and has lots of good recipes, too.

Giveaway and Award and New Blogger

The charming picture is a picture of the giveaway prize from Raggedy Angel's giveaway celebrating her birthday and her 50th post. It is very unique, and just my style. I hope you win almost as much as I hope that I win.








"Megan decided to create a new award. "Something to honor any blogger who crafts, sews, quilts - you know, makes stuff - no matter how crappy (or how good). A way to say - I like your blog, like your stuff, and I'm pretty sure you have a good sense of humor."
"Her creation was... "I love your ugly mug" Award! In her words: "Now, all the lovely people whom I have had the pleasure to meet through this humble blog are all very talented and not the least bit ugly, but I am sure they will all take this award in the spirit intended." The recipients are supposed to pass it on, but only HAVE to pick 3 people to give it to. :)Here are my choices for their wonderful crafts, sewing, quilting, and for the Wonderful people that they are!!
Linda from Just a Quiet Place to Be nominated me, and it is a nomination that I am comfortable with. I like my quilts, and other crafts that I try, and I don't have false modesty about them, but I know that they are not masterpieces, they are for using, and that's ok with me. I love the masterpieces, but I don't have the skills or patience or desire, and this is a comfy award. I'm not real comfortable with superlatives, and this award takes in the full range bad to good in a humerous way. The hard part is trying to narrow it down to 3 nominees, and since I haven't been able to do it, I am taking the chicken way out, and nominating any and all of the wonderful people who read my blog. Let's support Megan, and if you read this please consider yourself a winner of the "I love your ugly mug" award and either nominate 3 others, or if you are chicken and indecisive like me, nominate everyone.

P.S. I changed my mind (it's ok, I'm a woman) I am going to nominate one person for the award. She has a brand new blog as of today, but I know from exchanging emails with her for the past few months that she meets all the criteria of the award, and that her blog is going to be one of everyone's favorites. Her name is Billye and here is her blog. I hope you'll add the award proudly to your blog, Billye.

Egg on My Face

Here I am back already, with egg on my face, and my hat in my hand. I was feeling overwhelmed with the holidays coming and life in general, and thought that I could unstress life a little by being on the fringes of blogging. I guess I thought that I could keep one foot in and still enjoy blogs and commenting, but not have mine to keep up with. It hasn't worked. I missed everyone and being part of the excitement of sharing and taking part.
Twice this week I got interesting packages, one from Hancock's of Paducah, and one from Thousands of Bolts, and I didn't even take pictures, as I had no one to share it with.
There is a saying in Florida that people get sand in their shoes and have to come back, and I guess that blogging is kind of that way, too. After taking part, it is hard to stop. You miss everyone too much.