Layer Cake Sampler QAL Progress and a WINNER!

I finally put my mind to finishing my blocks for the Layer Cake Sampler QAL this past week.

They have been staring at me from the corner of the sewing room. I had left off back in

 ((SHHH! ((march))!!)

Yea, I know. . . such a slacker. 

The worst part was that I had left off at the half way point (here) Week 6 and I already had the majority of my half square triangles already cut and ready to piece. 

This morning I decided to retake all the original blocks pictures I had done as well as the remaining blocks.

 I think it was worth getting up before 7 am on a Saturday to get them taken before my

 4 year old woke and would like to "help."

I think part of the road block for me is that I fell out of love with my fabric choices. 

Sad, but true. I love them on their own though!

I tried to use colors that I wouldn't normally pick or put together 

and sometimes it just doesn't vibe for you in the end.

Now I just need to get my sashing strips and quilt it up. This quilt is going to be massive though. 

The blocks alone are 16" finished, once the sashing is added in there it's suppose

 to end up being something like 80"x 98". 

If you want to do your own sampler quilt using HST;

 Material Girls is responsible for leading the way on the QAL here.

I know really y'all just want to know who the wishes giveaway winner is....

Drum Roll Please......

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Congratulations Janie!

Now go check your email:)

My Blogiversary and a Giveaway

Can't believe it's that time again!
I have been blogging for a ((little)) while now and it doesn't really feel like it has been that long.

Looking back through some of my posts I can see how much I've grown as a blogger.
Not really my typing/wording but how much my photographs and sewing has come along.
Let's be real here; I'm not winning a Pulitzer anytime soon.

I thought I would share a few of my favorite and most viewed pages before getting to the giveaway.

Most Viewed

Making a musketeer hat

Followed a close second by my tutorial on
how to make this bag

The Retro Metro Bag

(see those awful photo's I was talking about??)

My favorite things on the blog that I sewed

The whole musketeer ensemble

for Halloween that year.

Something I sewed (and loved) but he only
wore one other time

Greenpoint Cardigan

Now that we've completed our walk down memory lane...

THE GIVEAWAY!!

I am giving away 2 Wishes by Moda charm packs

and 3 spools of my favorite Gutermann threads

in color 20,22 and 102

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And We Have A Winner

 

 

So I had plans of taking all my pictures of my completed KidsClothesWeek projects yesterday...

 

 

but my camera is apparently broken.







 

 

(((I **might** of made one of these faces))
 

 

 

It freezes and every picture is unable to be viewed. So it is time for a new one but like the rest of America we are waiting on tax returns (amiright??) to make that big purchase.

 

I want to get a Cannon this time with the tripod and remote.

LOL AND the Cannon Rebel for Idiots book!!

Anyone have one? What do you think of it??

I thought about a Nikon D-something instead; thoughts?

 

Luckily my brother has a Cannon EOS that he is offering me use of 

so I'll be getting some shots off tomorrow.

 

 

 

So on to what y'all really are interested it-the winner of the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 



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A 100th Post Giveaway and Make Something! Reveal

 

So now it is Week #4 of the Sew can she Its A New Year Sew Along

 

and I've been busy (still) prepping for Kids Clothes Week which starts Monday.

 

I'm done with the Make Something! step for Sew Can She sew along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to do a tote bag with the sewing

 (red and kona bone) log cabins.

 

I am going to use this as my library bag.

 

I read...A LOT and I could really use a bag

 to keep them in so I don't misplace one.

 

I used some scraps to make the bag lining and the straps.

I also used some non-fusible heavyweight interfacing I had left over from the musketeer hat I made A LONG time ago.

 

 

Who doesn't love a scrap-tastic project?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second thing I made was pillow with the other set of logs I did.

On the back of the pillow (I apologize no photo) I did a invisible zip in the center of it.

 

At some point a spot cleaning the pillow just ain't gonna get it done, ya know.

So being able to remove it was a must in my opinion.

I used this FANTASTIC foot-the Invisible Zipper Foot.

 

 

 

I got mine off Amazon DIRT cheap even with shipping.

Totally worth it.

I just can't figure out why in the world did I struggle

for so long installing a zip with out one???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyhow on to the reveal!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

In closing I would like to have a giveaway in honor of my 100th post.

 

 

 

I'm giving away from my own stash a mix of things to replenish your supply after KCW maybe?

1 French Curve

3-14" jacket zippers (Navy, Black and Beige)

1-20" HEAVY duty black reversible zipper

4 Cones of blue Maxilock

4 Cones of white Maxilock

12 Jean tacks (jean buttons-you'll need a hammer to install these)

5-3" jean zippers (Camel, Dark grey, Green, Medium Blue and Brown)

 

Just enter using the rafflecopter and the winner will be emailed

 and given 3 days to respond before I draw another name.

 

 

 

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Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

 

 

I know it was a little while ago but I was lucky enough to actually win two different giveaways that day. One was all the way from Australia!

 

I thought that I would post a BIG thank-you:)

 

 

 

 

 

 First I won these cute earrings from Kiki Verde Handmade.

They are just adorable and perfect because my favorite color is actually blue!

 

You can find her blog here at

www.Kikiverde.com



 

 

 

 

 

The second giveaway I won was this awesome fat quarter set from all the way in Australia.

Thanks to you Jo @ Riddle and Whimsy!

Some nice solids and a few prints

 but I was more excited about the Seam-Fix seam ripper. It has an awesome rubber end on it that helps remove all those little threads after ripping.

Also was a spool of Aurefil thread. I have wanted some Aurefil FOREVER but did not know if it was "worth" it.

 

Once I try it on my next quilt I'll let you know what I think!



Also I wanted to direct you to a post that Jo recently posted on the Pillow Pop Sew along-I just love what she did there. The colors and the circle or curve piecing.

 (Which totally gives me the heebie jeebies)

Anyhow check it out here-- Pillow Pop Sew Along

 

 

 

Insa Skirt and a GIVEAWAY!!

Insa Skirt Review 

 

From the book

"Sew Clothes Kids Love"

By Sabine Pollehn and Nancy Langdon

 


This skirt I sewed up for my niece for her birthday. She is technically off the size chart for this book. However, with the elasticized waist and fuller skirt, it did not matter and made it a perfect fit for this fall birthday girl.  


Pattern Description: Four gore double layered skirt. Yoke with Elasticized waist.

Pattern Sizing: 86/92 - 134-140. Like I said above though, I sized it up for her.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes. There are so many variations and zing you can add on that no two skirts will look exactly alike though.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes. There was nothing that slowed me down.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really like that you can mix and match different fabrics and make it as over the top or subdued as you want. She is a little bit older and I thought would want a solid top and fun pop underskirt.

Fabric Used: The overskirt is a dark brown 21 wale cord and a green 21 wale with sparkles. The underskirt is randoms; 2 prints from Joann's and 2 from Hobby Lobby. As well as a burnt orange rick rack trim on the underskirt.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did not make changes really. I chose to add the vertical elastic gathering to the over skirt though.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I would sew it again and I probably will for Christmas for my two new younger nieces. 

So I promised a giveaway for this book and here it is:

 

 

 

 

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Well not really chicken but a jelly roll!

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I've already sent Donna her winning E-mail. However, like 99% of giveaways if I don't hear back within 2 days another winner will be chosen.

 I look forward to hearing from you Donna!!

Another finish!

I've finished a quilt that I have been dragging my feet on. I always seem to do this. I love to start the quilt tops but hate the actual quilting process.

This one is a present so I can not show the whole thing but here is some snippets!

I decided to go out on a limb here and use a wide double needle for the quilting. It worked just okay. 

This is a picture of the front in the left lower hand and my hand made bias tape. On the top right hand is what the quilt looks like on the back using a double needle. I kinda like the zigzag look there.

For a tutorial on how to make bias tape go HERE.

As much as I drag my feet finishing a quilt I jumped right into another. While my sewing machine cooled down I started using up MY jelly roll to make these.

I used the some of the fabrics that are in my GIVEAWAY . It is only going on for ONE more day and if you were looking for some inspiration....go and enter:) Low entries here so you have a good shot at winning!

I used this VIDEO posted by MissouriQuiltCo. This was made by 3 Dudes Quilting originally though I believe. The only thing that I did differently was that I only used 3 strips vs. their 4.

Giveaway

Who likes a giveaway?

I know I do!

I know I was talking about doing a Jelly Roll Race quilt previously and while I was sitting cutting my 2 1/2" strips I decided, "hey, I bet I have enough to giveaway a 40 strip jelly roll."

So a giveaway was born. 

Up for you viewing pleasure:

40 - 2 1/2 inch strips made up of 6 prints. 

These are prints from my stash and come from various sources. 

This giveaway is for residents of the US only.

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