It Is MY Month... YAY!! Come and Get Your FREE Aurifil Block of the Month!!

Hello Everyone,

I am so excited it is MY month for the Aurifil Block of the Month!!

I created a special block from Art Gallery's fabric line Rock and Romance using Aurifil Thread, just for you!!

But you also have the opportunity to get to know me a little better...

Nope this isn't the block, it is actually the very first quilt I made.  Yup that is right... take a look at those calico fabrics.  Whew, so glad that we are past those.  Although, they really did serve a purpose.  I no longer own this quilt.  I gave it to my college roommate after I made it.

How many of you still own your first quilt?

I bet you are wondering what this has to do with the Block of The Month?

Well, Pat Sloan interviewed me with some fun questions and I answered them all!  There are some great photos too.  You just have to pop on over to the Aurifil blog to grab the PDF for the Block of the Month and you can read the interview too.

You can also read about how Pat and I first met... face to face... funny!  

But the best part is grabbing the Block!  I named it Rock Around the Clock.  

I hope you like it...  You must watch the video too!  Classic!

Just click here to read the interview and grab the PDF.

Until Next Time...

It Is MY Month... YAY!! Come and Get Your FREE Aurifil Block of the Month!!

On Air With Pat Sloan

Hello Everyone,

Today is the day!  I will chatting it up with my friend Pat Sloan!! I am so excited to be talking with her today.

We will be chatting about a ton of things including a few things that are very near and dear to my heart!

I will be in good company today too! She will also be speaking with Marilu Henner and my friend Monica Solorio-Snow A.K.A The Happy Zombie.

So come and listen in at 4:00 PM EDT.  

To listen in just click here.  

Until Next Time...

On Air With Pat Sloan

Aurifil Blog Hop Day 4... ME!! The Guest Judge

Hello Everyone,

As you may remember from my post on Tuesday, my friend Pat asked me to be a guest judge for the Aurifil Blog Hop Quilt. What fun to decide on how this quilt will look and the design options.

Hop on over to Pat's and see what we have chosen so far. Make sure you leave a comment there to enter the giveaway for the Aurifil Thread below.

But you can also have a second entry by following the link below. I am also going to do a little giveaway here too.

This lovely pack of Kona Solids is up for grabs. Wouldn't these look wonderful with the Aurifil threads?

So to enter for a second chance on the threads and to enter for the Kona Solids...

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

If you would like more chances to win, you can visit the other bloggers too!! Some are also doing additional giveaways as well. Here is the list:

Nikki

Michelle

Erin

Anna

Kathy

Lizzie B

Also, don't forget to visit Aurifil for the patterns!

Until Next Time...

Aurifil Blog Hop Day 4... ME!! The Guest Judge

Aurifil "Make The Quilt Challenge" Blog Hop

Hello Everyone,

Here is something new! My friend Pat Sloan is doing a wonderful "Make The Quilt Challenge" in conjunction with Aurifil Threads. She has asked me to be part of the final judging and blog hop!

Lots of fun and I am quite honored. Anyway, here is the scoop:

Nine Bloggers, The Word 'Aurifil', 2 different fabrics created Nine unique Quilt blocks during the Aurifil Blog hop a few months ago. But wait.. there's more! Starting today and ending Friday... 7 bloggers will 'judge' the setting fabric options and build the quilt at Pat Sloan's blog.

And because Aurifil is such a FUN company.. they are giving away a box of Pat's 40wt thread to a lucky person that comments on any of the blogs from July 5 to the evening of July 10.

The action is at Pat's blog.

The blocks are at the Aurifil blog -and look each day.. as some of the judges are doing a giveaway too... Pat will list their blogs Tues – Friday!

So make sure you leave a comment on each blog, everyday for your chance to win this wonderful thread package!

And guess what I am the GUEST judge. So stop back here on Friday!!

Until Next Time...

Aurifil "Make The Quilt Challenge" Blog Hop

Tour Ireland Book Winners

Hello Everyone,

I thought you might like to know who won this wonderful book!!

The two winners from my blog are:

Barb from Bejeweled Quilts By Barb

And

Kim from Pokeytown Kim

Congratulations, ladies!! Just send me your addresses so that the books can be sent to you!

Remember if you didn't win, there is still time to get this lovely book for 25% off by clicking here.

Until Next Time...

Tour Ireland Book Winners

Let's Get Our Green On, Tour Ireland, and Have a Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! Although I am not Irish, I sure could use a little green around here!! When my friend, Pat Sloan asked me if I wanted to review her newest book, I couldn't wait. This book is the perfect thing to whisk you away on a trip to Ireland. Very green too!! Not to mention the fact that there are wonderful projects from Pat in this book.

By the way, St. Patrick's day gives you a great excuse to turn some of your food green with food coloring and also start a new green sewing project! Dive into your green fabrics now and show us a little luck of the Irish.

So, let's take a little look at this book.

First off, it is sort of like a travel guide and project book all rolled into one. By the time you are done reading all about the stops that Pat and her group of quilter's made on their trip to Ireland, you really want to sit down and work on one of her projects. But more so, you want to go visit Ireland.... with Pat!

The book is fabulously written with gorgeous pictures and a day by day journal of the places that they visited and activities that they participated. The photos are fabulous!! Don't you just want to kiss the Blarney stone now! So, Pat did you kiss the Blarney stone?

Just look at the beautiful landscapes of Ireland, the buildings, flora, and fauna are well documented.

And they even had time to photograph Pat's quilt projects right there along their route in Ireland. How cool is that?

Don't you just love some of the projects?

But that is not all... Pat has two videos that you can watch about her trip!! Just click here and here to see all the fun!

I hope you have enjoyed your little peek into Pat's fabulous trip and have gotten a little green today! But that is not all!! There will be TWO winners of her book here and on every other blog that is featuring her book today. The giveaways will be open through Saturday when we will ALL draw 2 winners each.

So if you would like a copy, leave a comment here for your chance to win and then visit all my other blogging friends and leave comments there for additional chances. Here is the list:

Leisure Arts Blog

Pat Sloan

A la Mode Fabric

Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts

Me

The Happy Zombie

Crazy Mom Quilts

Pam Kitty Morning

Enjoy hopping around and good luck in the drawing!

Also, if you don't win this wonderful book, Leisure Arts is offering 25% off through the end of March. So now you have no excuse to put off that trip to Ireland!!

Just click here to go to their site!

***This giveaway is now CLOSED! Thank you to all who entered***

Until Next Time...

Let's Get Our Green On, Tour Ireland, and Have a Giveaway!

Fabulous... Binding Complete

Hello Everyone,

Remember this post the other day when I was lamenting my choice of binding? Well, I completed it and I am okay with the choice. I am in love with the quilt though.

Thank you all for your encouragement and many of you requested to see the entire quilt to really see how the binding looked. So let's take a peek.

First the quilt. Don't you just love the colors? The hot pink is my favorite and the purples and yellows just make it sparkle.

A close up of the quilting. I did an edge to edge design on this quilt. The reasoning behind this is that usually on busy fabrics or quilts it is more difficult to see any type of custom quilting. And also, this quilt will get used and won't just hang on a wall.

Here is a peek at the binding on the front of the quilt. I was trying to achieve a look where the binding just blended in with the top. Possibly, I could have gone with more of a HOT pink color. But this works... okay.

Here is the entire quilt, named Fabulous. From afar, the binding really does seem to blend, so I can live with that. I really just love the entire quilt. The pattern is from 4th and 6th Designs.

Here you can see the binding on the back of the quilt. I like the contrast here.

The fun backing really makes a statement. Shameless plug here... the backing fabric can be found in the Clearance Section of my website for $4.25 per yard!! It is Kimono by Melissa Averinos from her Sugar Snap line.

A close up of the binding against the backing. This really does work well with the quilt. Again, thank you all for your wonderful ideas and compliments on the last post.

Don't forget to enter Pat Sloan's Ruler giveaway on this post. Plus, I am giving away a fat quarter pack too! Just click here to enter!

P.S. Who is going to be my 1000th follower??

Until Next Time...

Fabulous... Binding Complete

I Have Been On The EDGE... For A Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to Pat Sloan's Edge Ruler Blog Hop!! I have been so excited to post about her new rulers, but you will have to humor me just a little and take a look at a few things.

First and foremost... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!! I LOVE YOU!!

Now do you have a cup of tea or coffee? Go ahead and get one, I'll wait. So glad you are back!!

I wanted to share with you my very first finished quilt!! As luck may have it, I had a photo and scanned it to show you. I gave this away to my wonderful college roommate, so it is no longer in my possession.

This quilt is the Star Log Cabin and was done in a class in which we used Eleanor Burns' Quilt in A Day book! I was hooked. But look at those fabrics... calicoes mostly. Boy, have my tastes changed!

Prior to this quilt, I had taken a class and the teacher wanted to teach us the "old school" way, scissors and cardboard templates. What a turn off. Boy, I could have used one of these...

Yes, a rotary cutter and an EDGE ruler from Sullivan's and Pat Sloan. This ruler sharpens your rotary blade as you cut. Genius! You can see the diamond powder edge, just enlarge the photo. The best thing is they come in all different sizes and they are also NON-Skid too and it works like a charm. To learn more, just click here.

So I bet now that you have your coffee or tea you need something to go with that right?

MMMM.... yummy homemade granola cereal. It is delicious, here is the recipe for you:

Mom’s Own Cereal

compliments of Shirley Swenson my sister in law!

4 cups rolled oats

2 ½ cups wheat germ (20 oz. = 4 ½ cups)

1 tsp. cinnamon

2-3 Tbsp. brown or raw sugar

¾ cup honey

1/3 cup salad oil

1 tsp. vanilla

Chopped dates, raisins, dried cranberries and nuts about 3/4 cup each

Mix the oats, wheat germ, cinnamon, and sugar together. Add the honey and mix well (with your hands if necessary). Add the salad oil and vanilla, and mix again with your hands. Add the chopped dates, nuts, raisins, and any other toppings as desired. Spread in two baking pans (such as 9” x 13” pans), and bake in 325 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Serve with milk. Keeps well. Store in a Tupperware type container.

I promise you, you will love this cereal and the ruler!!

Now the info on the giveaway of a COMPLETE SET of these wonderful rulers!!

Isn't Pat cute? And that ruler that she is holding is NOT included in the prize... ahem, it is enlarged to show detail...

But here is what ONE lucky winner will receive.

WOW!! Who can't use a good set of rotary rulers? All you will need to do is place a comment on EACH one of the blogs that are on the blog hop. But make sure it is on the blog post for the rulers and that you have a way for us to contact you (e-mail). Everyone who has commented on EACH blog will be entered into the drawing and Pat will draw the winner on Monday, October 4.

You will be able to comment on EACH blog through Sunday night!! So make sure you visit everyone on the list below:

September 27

Pat Sloan - Pat Sloan's Blog

Kelly - I Have A Notion

September 28

Amy - Amy's Creative Side

Jackie (me) - Canton Village Quilt Works

September 29

Julie - Jaybird Quilts

AmandaJean - Crazy Mom Quilts

September 30

Monica - The Happy Zombie

Amy - Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts

Pam - Pam Kitty Morning

October 1

Carrie - La Vie En Rosie

Polly and Laurie - Minnick and Simpson

Cheryl - Naptime Quilter

October 2

Michele - The Quilting Gallery

Pat - Pat Sloan's Blog

And if that wasn't enough, I will be giving away a fat quarter bundle of 7 of Jill Gordon's Cottage Garden line from my online shop! Everyone who has entered a comment on this post will be entered in the draw and the winner will be announced next week.

Isn't it a beauty!! So, if you are excited, place a comment, blog about it, tweet it, Facebook it, follow it... shout from the roof tops... okay well, that is taking it too far. But enjoy and collect all the yummy recipes too!!

Until Next Time...

I Have Been On The EDGE... For A Giveaway!

Spikes, Smiles, and Other Silly Saturday Happenings!

Hello Everyone,

Remember this post, just a few days ago. Well, my heart just couldn't take it, neither could my mind. So all week, in preparation for my Saturday Sew A Thon with my friend Karen, I gathered and measured and with all my design senses at attention, I was ready to go!!!

Here is a peek into our absolutely fabulous day!!

I started with my arcs and spikes. These were all paper pieced according to the templates in Quilts With A Spin. Great book! And they were ALL done with scraps. Do you see a little Kaffe in there??

My Whirly Gig circle was not done from the book. The book called for reverse applique. If I can find a way to machine piece it, I will! I used the template, shown in the photo, to rotary cut them. But I did have to trim the circle smaller so the arcs would fit. The template was from the Sue Ross BOM, but I know that John Flynn has similar templates available, just click here.

Yay!! All four spikes segments completed! LOVE it!!

Karen was working on a Kim McClean pattern and chose to do hers in repros. Karen loves primitives and is also a very talented rug hooker!!

Here she is happily sewing away. Don't you just love the Sue Spargo block behind her?

Karen has two dogs who kept us company throughout the day, but little old Rocky here is definitely a fabric lover. Karen likes to spread all her fabric choices out on the floor, but she can't see them all, because Rocky jumps right on into his new soft bed!

Karen decides to take a break with Rocky. Whew! Sewing really can tire you out. See the brightly colored rug Karen hooked in the upper left corner... I love it! Now hold on for the BIG finish...

TA DA!! Yes, I was able to complete two blocks and start a third. You can see that each whirly gig will be a different bright color and my backgrounds are all different black and white fabrics.

And look at Karen's finishes for the day. She is truly an applique queen both needle turn and machine applique. Karen has them down pat. She also began prepping her next block.

So that was our Saturday... F. U. N!!

Tomorrow, don't forget to come back here for Pat Sloan's Ruler Blog Hop. You could be the lucky winner of this...

a COMPLETE SET of her new Cutting Edge rulers and possibly a prize from me too!

See you then!

Until Next Time...

Spikes, Smiles, and Other Silly Saturday Happenings!