Celebrate With Me!!

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to celebrate the New Year in style!! To my faithful readers and customers, I am offering 25% off my ENTIRE site!!! Yes, everything!! There have been lots of new things added, Batiks, Australian Aboriginals, Kona Solids, Kaffe Fassett, Philip Jacobs, Feedsacks, Amy Butler, and Art Gallery... just to name a few!

So just click HERE to start shopping, but be sure to do so before midnight 1/2/11 as the sale will be over. Don't forget to use the cod yearend25 to receive your discount!

Happy Shopping and Happy New Year!

Until Next Time...

Celebrate With Me!!

Kitty Cat Christmas Antics

Hello Everyone,

I know many of you are cat lovers and I wanted to share some of the antics of my kitties on Christmas morning!

We have a tradition of just throwing the wrappings on the floor because the kitties just love to romp around in them. Here you can see Rolo looking for Pavi inside the pile of wrappings.

The cats seem to love going under the tree. Must be a comforting place.

Pavi inside the piles.

Beanie just sitting pretty!

Pavi pretty contented under the tree!

I would love to hear some of your funny Christmas kitty antics!

Make sure you come back on Thursday for something special.

Until Next Time...

Kitty Cat Christmas Antics

Hunter's Star Quilt Has Been Gifted!!

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day! We did, it was very quiet and we just kind of did whatever we wanted to do... all day long! We definitely don't get days like that too often.

One of the main things that I wanted to share with you was the Hunter's Star (a.k.a. Hot Flash) was given to my daughter!! It is quilted and the binding is applied by machine on the one side. Only the hand sewing remains.

Here is my sweet daughter with her new quilt. She loved it! I am so glad too.

Here is the back. I pieced it with more black and white fabrics and four different blue and teal fabrics. In the middle of the backing you can see the label that I pieced right into the backing. This way it will always be there.

This took a team to hold up for a full shot. Here are the details:

~the quilt measures 91 X 91

~I used Quilter's Dream White Cotton Supreme batting.

~I quilted it with an edge to edge design with hearts and swirls and white thread.

~the pattern is Hot Flash and can be found here

~tools used were Petite Rapid Fire Hunter's Star Ruler and the Tucker Trimmer which can be found here.

~I will finish the binding over the next week so that it can go on her bed. More pictures to come then.

Until Next Time...

Hunter's Star Quilt Has Been Gifted!!

Christmas Tidings!!

Hello Everyone,

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and share some of our Christmas decorations from our home.

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend with friends and family!

Until Next Time...

Christmas Tidings!!

Another Project In The Works

Hello Everyone,

First, I wanted to update you on the Hunter's Star quilt. It is quilted!! I WILL be giving it to my daughter for Christmas, so stay tuned for photos of the finished quilt.

But in the meantime, yes, I have begun another project before Christmas. This one is a special quilt and needs to be done by mid-January.

These are the fabrics that have been chosen. They have been washed and the cutting has begun. I even have some pieces on the design wall. But I can't show you just yet. I assure you, it is going to be good... at least I am pretty sure.

I will be back one more time before Christmas with some holiday photos of our decorations. I hope you are all starting to finish up your holiday preparations. See you in a couple of days!

Until Next Time...

Another Project In The Works

Naptime!

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I think I can use a nap! But there is definitely nothing more sweet than a sleeping baby, right? Well, maybe a sleeping baby under a quilt!

This particular sleeping baby is my one year old nephew and trust me he is just too cute. He is modeling a small wall quilt that I made years ago for my brother.

At the time, my brother was into cooking with lots of spicy things. So, I wanted to make him a modern sort of quilt with this wonderful chili pepper fabric. Some of you may remember this from "back in the day". I think it was in the early '90's. I would have to look at the label on the quilt to see when I made it exactly.

Here you can see the whole quilt, with my sweet little nephew all snuggled up. I am so happy that it is now being put to good use. I think that the solids were also Kona. I tried to do a gradated effect with the colors too!

Off for my nap now... not really! Just cookie making!

Until Next Time...

***Don't forget all Westminster Fabrics are 25% off through tomorrow. Use the code west25***

Naptime!

Holiday Goodness

Hello Everyone,

Within the last week I was a very lucky gal! Two of my quilty friends, Victoria and Stephanie sent me some holiday goodness in the mail.

Victoria sent me these beautiful notecards that she made complete with her own photography. Undoubtedly, they were made with her spiffy new camera! Thanks so much, V, I love them!!

Stephanie sent me a really wonderful box chock full of handmade goodness!! As her blog states... "because handmade is best!" I am sure that some of you have seen some of the things she sent in the making on her blog. I can't wait to use them all! A terrific recipe for Black Bean Chicken Chili, which I just can't wait to make. Thank you so much, Stephanie!

A little more holiday goodness for you! I am having a BIG sale on Westminster Fabrics for 4 days only. You can take 25% off ALL Westminster through 12/21 using the code west25 at checkout. Stock up on all those Kaffe's that you have been longing for... Happy Shopping!! Just click here to begin.

Until Next Time...

Holiday Goodness

A New Gig, Pure Randomness and... WINNERS!!

Hello Everyone,

Yes, definitely an odd title for a post. I just couldn't come up with something more creative... it is late.

As the title states, I have a bit of a new gig!! I am excited about the fact that I will be a regular blogger, about once every 3 weeks, on dotCanton.com. If you haven't visited, please do, today is my first post there. It is a sort of local e-newspaper. Steve Wilder, who is the creator, asked me if I would like to be a contributor. I love the idea of me being a local gal contributing to a local blog.

So if you would like to know a little more about my small corner of the world, please visit, leave a comment and say hi!!

Anyway, onto more randomness...

Say hello to Henrietta! At least I think that is what her name is... please correct me Karen if I am wrong. Anyway, my talented friend, Karen, whom I have blogged about on many an occasion, not only quilts but she rug hooks!! And she made Henrietta!

She is quite talented and I really enjoy her and her company. In fact, I haven't seen her in a little while and really need another sew-a-thon Saturday really soon... hint, hint!! Miss you, my friend.

I had the honor of meeting Henrietta at one of our all day sewing events....

Isn't she just gorgeous!! The attention to detail is unbelievable. I so admire this work and am lucky enough to own one of Karen's pieces (a different piece than Henrietta). It is proudly hanging on my studio wall. Oh no, I will not ever, ever, put it on the floor. Although, I would love Henrietta on my wall too. Thank you so much Karen for being part of my life and a constant inspiration.

Now onto the winners of the Sarah Fielke "From Little Things" Fat quarters...

The lucky winner of the above fat quarter bundle is ...

Moe West!! Congratulations!! Remember to e-mail me your snail mail address.

The winner of this wonderful bundle is...

Mimi!! Mimi, you did not leave an e-mail address and it is not enabled in your blogger profile, so I could not contact you. Please send me an e-mail with your snail mail address. If I don't hear from you within a week, I will pick a new winner. So hurry!!

Congrats to both winners!!

Oh, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a wonderful Kona Bundle here.

****Don't forget everything in the shop is 15% off with the discount code all15 through tomorrow.***

Until Next Time...

A New Gig, Pure Randomness and... WINNERS!!

Would You Like To Win This???

Hello Everyone,

As many of you know, I have TONS of Kona Cotton Solids in my online store and I am adding more this week! I thought it might be nice to share a little sampling of them with you. When I was at Quilt Market in Houston, I picked up this pretty little bundle and thought this would be perfect!!

If you would like a chance to win this pretty bundle, just hop on over to see Rachel at PS I Quilt and she will tell you all of the details. Then when the winner is drawn, I will promptly ship it off to the lucky person!!

Good Luck!!

****This giveaway is closed****

Until Next Time...

Would You Like To Win This???

Whirlygig Tutorial... Part 3

Hello Everyone,

First I wanted to thank everyone who took part in the giveaway! I will have results later this week. So be sure to check back. Also, a friendly reminder that everything in my online store is 15% off with the code all15 through 12/17.

Now onto the final part in the Whirlygig tutorial!! Thank you all for your patience. This took me a little longer than I thought. But I hope you like it and I would love to see some of your own Whirlygigs!! Please e-mail me photos if you are making them I would love to do a post with them.

You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

First up here is a blown out photo of the parts that you should have now. The black and white corners where cut from a template from Quilts With A Spin.

Take one of your corners and find the center by pressing to mark.

Here you can see the center on the right side of the fabric. The center is found on the curved side of the corner.

Now find the center of the paper pieced arc. There is a marking on the paper side. Pin them right sides together at the center.

Now pin each side of the corners to the ends of the arc.

Then pin in between each pin. You will now sew a 1/4" seam with the corner side down next to the feed dogs. This will allow the corner fabric to feed properly.

Sorry for the yucky ironing board photo. But this is what the arc and the corner will look like before it is pressed.

Press the seam towards the corner, not the arc. Pretty, huh?

Repeat 3 more times until you have four corner blocks sewn. Now to join them.

Take two of your corners and line up the ends and seams. Pin and sew a 1/4" seam.

It will look like this.

Now rip the paper away from just inside the seam allowance on both sides.

Press the seams open. Repeat this three more times until all four corners and arcs are joined together. You will have a hole in the center. This is where the Whirlygig comes in...

Now take your Whirlygig center and you are going to press it in half to find the side centers. Then you will fold it in half the other way to find the other side centers. So you will have 4 creases at each quarter of the Whirlygig.

Now we will take the four corners and match up the center points on each arc with the creases we just made on the Whirlygig.

Once you have done that you will remove the paper from the center curve of each arc. That will help you to pin the arcs to the Whirlygig with more ease. They will be more pliable.

It will look like this when it is all pinned. Yes, it is a little scary looking but don't fret. When you sew it remember... slow and steady wins the race!

This is what the back side will look like all pinned. Now you will sew with a 1/4" seam with the arc side on top and the Whirlygig next to the feed dogs. Again, remember... slow and steady.

Once it is sewn together, this is what the back will look like. The seam will get pressed towards the Whirlygig.

Turn it over and... Voila!... you have your Whirlygig block. The last thing that you need to do is attach you center circle as shown in Part 1 of the tutorial.

I hope you have enjoyed this Whirlygig series! I have and I will continue making them in the New Year. Not to sure when the quilt will be done, but I know I will love it!

Make sure you stop back tomorrow for something special!

Until Next Time...

Whirlygig Tutorial... Part 3