Star Crazy

Yes, I admit it, I am! :-)  I love star blocks and whenever I am given the choice of a block to make~ I choose a star. :-) 

So when I saw a Columbian Star on Diary of a Quilt Maven's blog, I begged for a tutorial.  And I wasn't the only one! LOL  ;-)  Thanks Monica!!

I dug through my bins until I found 5 CW prints that would go together and then I cut and sewed. Since I used FQ's I only got one block, but that just means I can have more variety, right? :-)  Monica's tutorial made it really easy.  My sewing skills didn't. Ummm, next time I will be sure to use my machine with the walking foot. ;-) Yes, there will be a 'next time' and another and another until I have enough blocks for a quilt~ one down, 23 to go! :-))  But I am in no hurry. This is going to be one of those 'long term' projects. ;-)

Hope you are having a little fun sewing too~
Until next time..
Happy stitchin'!!

Uh-Oh I'm In Trouble....

                                                                            :-))


While putting all the things in the Traveling Stash back in the box, I took another look at these Hexagon pieces and thought, "oh, I can try them before sending the box on..."   Well  let me tell you that was a mistake!!  I just cut a few scraps and now I'm hooked! :-o  Now seriously, I am not going to make a whole quilt of these, but maybe enough for a little wall hanging... maybe. :-))

So I thought, I would add a little of my Christmas stash to the box. I cut these FQ's. Notice anything about my Christmas stash?  Yes, it appears I am drawn to green and glitz. :-o  No, they aren't meant to coordinate, but maybe some where along the next stops, someone will need some green Christmas prints. :-)

I did get a bit of sewing done over the weekend. Step 6 of The Crafty Unicorn's mystery quilt along is done. Now I am really wondering how all my pieces are going to go together! :-)

There is still time to get in on the drawing to be the next stop on the Traveling Stash box~ just leave a comment on THIS POST and tell me you'd like to have a chance.

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

The Traveling Stash~~ giveaway

Hello! Sorry it has taken me all week to get back here!  Lots of sewing is still going on, but more about that next time! ;-)

I was lucky and won Monica's drawing to be the next to receive the Traveling Stash box. :-) Monica posted about it here.  There are so many wonderful things in this box! My photo doesn't really do it justice.  Books, tools, fabrics, thread! Oh my!  I am pretty sure the collection of Robin Pandolph fabrics that Monica added will find their new home here. ;-) (on the bottom step)

Loads of goodies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am going to add a collection of vintage sheet FQ's and pieces~ some aren't quite FQ size, sheets don't always cooperate when you cut them up, but they are good size pieces. The book 'A Baker's Dozen',  a few patterns and anything else I find between now and when I mail. ;-)

Now to get in on the fun~   

The rules are really very easy~~ 

1. You must have a blog to participate.
    
2. Due to shipping costs, you must live in the US (a flat rate priority box is the best way to go).  
    
3. And you must agree to host your own giveaway with the Traveling Stash after you have taken what you want from the box and refilled it.
    
   Sound fair? And FUN? :-))
   
   
   Just leave a comment on this post and I will announce the next lucky winner on Thursday the 25th.
   
   
   Until next time~
   Happy Stitchin'!

Catching Up~

Last week was pretty hectic around here. We had lots of 'lasts' as far as appointments etc before taking DS back to college yesterday. He has this week for in-processing and starts classes the following week. Dorms opened today. We beat the rush a bit by going yesterday and since he isn't staying in the dorms this year, it all worked out really well. He is the exact opposite of his sister~ he travels very light. LOL A suitcase, a bag of clothes and a box of books and he was ready. :-)

I did manage to finish a set of red/white blocks for a swap. This pattern is from Quilter's Cache and is called the Braced Star Variation Two.  The pattern has templates, but I chose to  re-work it for rotary cutting.  I made the one first, and then changed my mind on the color scheme. So one of these blocks is not like the others.... ;-)

 

 

 

Braced Star Variation blocks

I am also doing the mystery quilt at The Crafty Unicorn and got myself all caught up (it helped that I stayed off the computer and there was not much on TV in the evenings.). :-)   Step 5 was sewing the strips on the left~ I laid them out the way I think the blocks will be pieced, but I have no idea where the reds and golds will fit in~ maybe Bear's Paws for the reds, but the golds?? No idea. I am doing the mystery in my autumn scraps and I do like how they are looking together. :-)  Step 6 will come out on Thursday~ its not to late to join in the fun!! ;-)

The Crafty Unicorn mystery

Yesterday~ it is a 5 hour drive each way to DS's school~ while riding in the van  I spied a little quilt shop as we were passing thru a small town. Of course neither of the guys wanted to stop, but I did convince DH to do a quick stop on the way home. :-)  I found this pattern in their clearance section!  I love turtles, so of course it had to come home with me. :-)  Now I need to start looking for some green batiks~ shopping!! :-))  I won't be starting it anytime soon, but I can begin collecting. LOL

And then I found this pattern for $2.  It was also in the clearance and was the only one, or I would probably have cleaned them out. LOL I don't necessarily like big bags~ except when traveling~ but it came with everything in the kit~ the floss, some teeny tiny buttons for a couple of the bags, and even a needle!  The blue will wash out after it is stitched.  I started it last night and as I was stitching along I thought that I should color in some of the bags parts~ I should've done that first~  I don't know how it will work now since I put a thin batting behind, but I guess I will find out!   ;-)

I was really good and didn't even look at their fabrics! They had a lot of embroidered shop samples and I saw my Christmas tree pillow as well as a few other things I have embroidered over the years~ now I am wondering what I did with a few of them! ;-)

I hope you are having a great weekend!
I am off to sew on my second set of red/white blocks.
Have a happy day!

Moving Along..

Did you have a good weekend?  Things were busy here, but nothing unusual in that. :-)

I did manage a few finishes...

I've been stitching on this Crabapple Hill pattern in between Birdie Stitches blocks. It is going to be a pillow cover as soon as I get some piping made.  I am just going to love having this out during the Christmas season! :-)

And I got my vintage sheet Simple Things Quilt Along  quilt all quilted, bound and washed. I really like how crinkly it is! I used an all over large swirly design for the quilting. It looks better in person than in the photo's, I think. It has a vintage sheet on the back and I used the same sheet for the binding. It is snuggle-licious! :-)

the sheet back

I was trying for an angle shot of the quilting, but just can't capture it

Finished!! :-)

Today I am working on some swap blocks. Hopefully I will be back to show you those in a day or two. ;-)
Until then~
Happy stitchin'!

A Little Fun~

I swapped out the 5 inch strips and mailed them earlier this week. It was so fun to see the different red and white prints everyone sent in! Now I have 5 inch strips and 5 inch squares and a quilt to make! :-) ...No pattern decided on yet, still thinking. :-)

Yesterday I didn't feel like working on a 'big' project so I made this little wallet. The pattern was really simple and fun.  I can see more of these in my sewing future!  ;-)

I hope you are finding time for a little sewing fun this week too!
Until next time~
Happy stitching!

Quilting Days!

Whoohoo! I've been quilting! :-)

I got my Simple Things Quilt Along vintage sheet top quilted! It is hot off the frame. ;-) I forgot to take a photo of the back, but the binding isn't on yet, so I will once the binding is finished up.  We are having a lovely summer day with a slight breeze... DH was my quilt holder. LOL

I hope you are having a great day too!

More soon! :-)