Happy New Year Giveaway!

Happy New Year everyone!  


As I reflect on 2010, it has been a good year for me with all the Free Giveaways I've won.  AND.....winning the AccuQuilt GO cutter and EQ7 were the absolute best!  So, I decided I'd have a Free Giveaway just for the fun of it.

Hey.....it's my FREE Giveaway, so guess I'll make you work for it a bit.  Get to reading!

If you haven't seen or heard about the AccuQuilt GO cutter go read about it here.   It is the greatest tool/accessory for quilting that has come along since the introduction of the rotary cutter.  It has made my cutting for my quilt projects and my ETSY Store so much easier.  I sell charm squares for quilts and jelly rolls and I've doubled my charm squares & jelly roll colorways since I won the GO.




 

Here's a few of them I've cut with my GO CUTTER.

Okay.....I know you want to know about my FREE Giveaway.  Well, since I won the GO cutter I've been cutting a lot of things and with Valentine's Day coming up soon I thought I'd cut some hearts.  Here's a bunch of LOVE for you;  fabric heart applique's  ranging in size from 2 1/2" to 4 1/2"  already fused with iron on fusible and cut with my GO cutter.  There's 20 of 'em for one lucky winner!  

This one is Easy - Peasy....no hoops to jump through, no websites to visit (although it would be nice if you'd go check out my ETSY store to see if there's anything you'd like to buy..tee hee), no pasting on your blog, no shout out on Facebook (I already did that.) no tweeting to do (I already did that one too.).

All you have to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment here.  A winner will be chosen 1/1/2011 at 4pm and posted here.  Good Luck.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!  

Thanks for visiting.

Giveaway has ended.  Comments are closed.

LUCKY ME! Again......and UFO's......Again.

Thanks to Kelly at I Have A Notion I was the lucky winner of this beautiful book - Threads, the basics & beyond, by Debbie Bates & Liz Kettle on one of her recent giveaways. 

Just to tease you all a bit.....here's an inside page.  And there's 176 of these yummy pages in it.  Boy, am I ever going to have fun playing with some of these ideas.

 If you're not familiar with IHAN, go visit her store now.   She carries all the latest gadgets, notions, & stuff any quilter or sewing enthusiast would want or need.   Thanks sew much, Kelly....you're the best!

Last post I showed you a small wall hanging I was working on.  TA DA!!   It's finished and just in time for Valentine's Day.  It's for sale in my Etsy store.   It sure felt good to cross that off my HUGE ufo list.  There's only 22 more to go.  lol.

Thanks for visiting. 

AM I REALLY GETTING A HEAD START?

My sister challenged me to count my UFO's and try to get them all eliminated somehow; finish them, give them away, sell them, donate them or ???  I'm going to start today and get a head start on them for this next year!

So, as I was straightening up my sewing room (you notice I didn't say cleaning, didn't you?)  I found a UFO here, there and one hiding here, and another one in a box, and another one in a plastic zipper bag with the fabrics for borders, and another one just piled on my cutting table, and lots of them in plastic bins (get the idea I have a lot of them??).....I decided to list them out and put the list right behind my sewing machine on my old design foam board. 

With Christmas activities over, except for enjoying cold turkey sandwiches and cleaning up messes, I took a break, grabbed one of the easiest UFO'S to finish and started........

Can you see the list and how long it is??  Yikes!


Maybe I need to do one of those countdowns on my blog for finishing up UFO's  ????  I can think of lots of excuses for not doing that;  I've got too many, the list is too long, they're old, they're boring, I don't like them anymore........AND I've got so many new ideas swimming around in my head.

This is the time of the year, when we all start to make plans, dreams, ideas for 2011.  Yeah, sure.....fix that, save for that, pay off the credit cards, save for that, buy that, fix that......pay off the credit cards, buy more fabric, fix that, save for that, buy more fabric, finish the ufo's, maybe................maybe. 

Am I really getting a head start?

What about you?



Thanks for visiting.

Merry Christmas Bloggers!

I wish you all Merry Christmas with Joy and Peace surrounding you.

Thanks for visiting!

Surprised and Delighted!

I was informed today that my blog was selected by American Quilters Society facebook team to be the blog of the week. 

Here's the button I get to use on my sidebar now. 

Thanks to everyone at AQS facebook and glad you enjoy my blog.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thanks for visiting!

Another Giveaway.

Am still doing some more baking today and going to wrap some presents.  In the meantime, take a look at this giveaway.



This is a fun one to celebrate Bitty Bits and Pieces 50th Birthday.  She's got some wonderful prizes.  Just click here to go to her blog.


This is No. 1




This is number 2 prize





This is number 3  prize and she's giving 4 of these.



Be sure and tell her that Sew Fun Quilts sent you. 

Thanks for visiting.

Oven Ready, Set, Bake!

I cleaned my oven yesterday and there was still some burned on gunk on the bottom near the back, so I sprayed it again last night before I went to bed.  Today, after I wipe it out again, I'll be able to use all this stuff that's piled on my counter.

After I went to the store yesterday and bought all this stuff, I couldn't see the purpose of putting it all away in the pantry when I would be bringing it all out again today.  So, here it is waiting for me to use it today.

We'll see what happens, but the plans are to make:

 * Pumpkin Bread w/raisens & nuts
 * Banana nut bread (but might have to wait a couple more days for the bananas to ripen some more)
 * Decorated sugar cookies
 * Raspberry/Almond icing cookies
 * Snickerdoodles (out of the Betty Crocker pkg..tee hee)
 * Lemon Bars
 * See's Fudge (if the mood hits me and still have the energy)

Can't make the Divinity w/pecans as it's too humid the last couple days.

Jeez!  I live alone.  Sure makes me wonder why I'm doing all of this.  I really enjoy doing it, so guess that's reason enough.  Looks like my sister and my neighbors are going to be getting some goodies this year.

What goodies have you made this year??


Thanks for visiting.

Love Those Charm Pack Totes!

I love using  this pattern and  Charm Squares for making totes.   I've made many of them in the past and sold them in my Etsy store.    There's two large pockets in the inside and I attach velcro to them, so your "stuff" stays put.  The little outside pocket is perfect for your keys or cell phone and is  sew handy.

Here's 3 of them I made for a custom order, using different Moda charm packs.  It's interesting how they all look different using the different Charm Pack fabrics.

I enjoyed making these so much, I just might have to make some more of them......come January!  

How about you?  Do you like to make totes/bags/purses?

Thanks for visiting.

NOW..Who doesn't like steak & seafood?

Don'tcha just love surprises?   Both giving them and getting them?   

Well, it's that time of year and here I am on the computer; blogging, checking email, facebook...etc., and I hear loud pounding on the door, and the screen door slam. 

I quickly get up and open the door.......I see the big styrofoam ice chest from Omaha Steaks, and the Fed Ex guy is already going outside the gate.  "Thank You", I yell to him......and he waves back.

YUM!   A Christmas Surprise from my oldest son, Scott.  On the lid of the steak box it says "Prepare to Smile"........clever!  Yes, I was smiling BIG TIME!

And this one is Top Sirloin Steaks and Seafood Combo.......my favorite!  I love fish!

I've had these sirloin steaks before thanks to Scott, and they are so tender......my mouth is watering!   Slurp! 

But.......just look at the seafood selection!  There's salmon, swordfish, halibut & mahi mahi....2 of each!   I don't know if this has anything to do with my likes or dislikes, but my birth sign is Cancer (the sign of the Crab) and I LOVE SEAFOOD....any kind, anywhere, anytime.....fixed anyway you can fix it, and I never, ever get tired of it.

I'm in heaven!  And there's even a special Cookbook included too, with lots of fabulous side dish recipes.  What a wonderful surprise!  Betcha wish you had a surprise like this one, huh? 

If you haven't ever tried Omaha Steaks before........do it, you'll love 'em. 
Thanks, Scott......what a great gift!  I'll think of you everytime I cook one.

Thanks for visiting.


(I'm not affiliated with Omaha Steaks or getting any compensation for blogging about their wonderful food items..........just saying.)

Annual Christmas Party - Tied Together Bee

Our Tied Together Bee and Red Hat Sew Sassy group joined together for our annual Christmast Luncheon/Party last Tuesday.  There were 9 of us this year; lots of food, fun games, and much laughter. 

We had it at Connie's (the lady standing up) this year in her new addition on her home that her husband built.  This room is perfect for our sewing adventures, lots of electrical outlets, plenty of light, ceiling fans when we need them,  separate tables for each of us, cutting table, ironing board........and a BIG screen TV.    We use it for our Red Hat Sew Sassy sewing days too!   This room was a long covered patio, and Connie's husband converted it.  You can see our tables/chairs set up in the background. 

We like to get to the eatin' part right away..lol, then play games for the rest of the time. No hot turkey dinner this year.....easy, peasy finger foods, snacks, desserts!

We each bring a white elephant gift to trade, and 3-4 wrapped gifts; simple things for prizes.  Here's my loot I took home this year!

A beautiful Quilt Kit (my white elephant triumphant win...wait til you see this one in the next picture), big cone of gold embroidery thread, Red Hat can cozy, a Vanilla candle tin, a purse light clip, a fat quarter, and an embroidered lace tree ornament.

Isn't that fabric just yummy?  It's a Michael Miller print from a few years ago, and was in a kit.  Boy, that's a super White Elephant prize, and I went home with a big smile on my face!   Don't know if I'll use it like the quilt kit pattern picture or not.   I'd like to show off that fabric.....maybe pillows?  What do you think?

Thanks for visiting. 

mmmmh Giveaway Times.

Great Giveaway over at Fabrics'nQuilts blog.   I love this Sugar Pop Fat Quarter set in the Chartreuse colorway.  It's mine, it's mine! 

Hey..I'm not being selfish, 'cause there's other things in her giveaway for ya'll to win.  Go see!






Another Giveaway over at
Canton Village Quiltworks...mmmmh! Kona Cotton Solids Bundle



AND........just for the fun of it.....one more at Patsy Thompson's Blog....BATIKS!  She's been celebrating her 54th Birthday and having an 8 day countdown.  What fun!




That ought to keep everyone busy and out of trouble for a while, don'tcha think?

Thanks for visiting!

I'M BACK and I'm a Winner!

Yup!  Ya'll  thought you got rid of me once and for all, didn't you? Fooled you!   I'M BACK. 

Well, it's been pretty busy and hectic for this old gal and I had to take a brief respite from all the blogging computer time.  (Yes...I know, I did sneak into Facebook a few times.)  I had  to do lots of  cutting, sewing, embroidering and running to the Post Office for my ETSY Holiday orders.  What wonderful buyers and repeat customers I have.  Thank you!

Yesterday I got an email from Kelly from IHAN  who told me I won the book Threads, The Basics and Beyond by Debbie Bates, and Liz Kettle from her blog giveaway.    If you don't follow IHAN's blog or visit her website, now's the time....just click IHAN. 


Thanks sew much, Kelly.  Can hardly wait to get it and do some serious thread playing come January.



I hope everyone is enjoying all the hustle, bustle of this glorious time of year!   Today, I'm going to put up my Christmas tree.......better late than never! 

Thanks for visiting!

The KING is ruling again!

This KING of mine (Braveheart) is really ruling the house again!  He knows how to put everyone in their place and remind us  that he's the KING!

Cats can be very demanding when it comes to drinking, eating....who gets the most petting, who gets the first treat, who gets to lay in Mom Cat's chair, etc.

Several months ago when I was in Pet Co, I bought this drinking fountain called DrinkWell thinking it would solve some of the squabbling amongst my 3 cats;   Braveheart (the KING), Princess (his litter sister) and Roxie (the adopted).  It's so convenient, very quiet, filters the water, constant flow and sits next to their food area.  I use the water from my Brita water pitcher too....so it's filtered twice!  In the hot summer months, sometimes I toss a few ice cubes in there too.......they love it cold.  All the cat experts out there tell us to encourage our indoor cats to drink lots of water.  Ok.........check that.  Done.

Well.....Braveheart (the KING) has decided my bathroom is his domain and he's even sleeping on top of the clothes hamper in there or the soft fluffy purple rug I keep on the side of the bathtub.  Everytime he wants a drink of water, he comes to me MEOWING very loudly and is very persistant.  For those of you who do not have a cat, let me tell you......persistant loud meowing with no let up.....gets action!  AND....he meows very loud and......he's very demanding!  mmmmmmh???  male cat... I should have named him KING!

Why did I spend $50 on the drinking fountain instead of spending it on fabric??  'Cause the girls drink from it.  But NOT the KING!

I hope he's not teaching his sister, Princess.  She is watching him very intently!

I need a hidden video camera aimed at the DrinkWell fountain for when I'm gone all day long.  I wonder if he drinks from it when I'm not home?

What do you think?

JOINING THE Black Friday FUN!

I'm joining the Black Friday fun today and hope you will too! 

I decided to have my own Black Friday sale in my Etsy store.   


Have you ever used some of my pre-cut Charm Squares in one of my Time Saver Kits?  Now's your chance to try them, and since there's many colors available, I'm sure you'll find just what you need for that next project.   

My lace icicles, snowflakes & angels ornaments are just the thing for that special doorway or window. 

or maybe you know  a little girl who needs a special Christmas quilt for her dolly.

Ok...time for the nitty gritty.........

For every reader of my blog who places an order in my Etsy store and uses the code blogblackfriday when they check out,   they will receive 15% off their entire order.  This savings code is good starting today and will last through midnight on Friday.   

Have fun shopping!  Tell your friends too!

Thanks for visiting my blog. 

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS??

Accuquilt's Black Friday Sale starts tomorrow, Wednesday - November 24th.  Wow!  Check this out!    This company continues to amaze me!

AccuQuilt is offering the lowest prices ever on some of their most popular items plus special Daily Deals you don’t want to miss! AccuQuilt’s Black Friday sale begins on Wednesday, November 24th and ends on Cyber Monday, November 29th! Don’t miss out – visit accuquilt.com starting Wednesday to place your order!

AccuQuilt is giving its blogger friends a sneak peek of their upcoming Black Friday sale! As you all know, Black Friday has become a great shopping tradition among Americans everywhere. However, a majority of consumers now prefer to shop online to escape the dangers of stampede and the hassles of long lines at stores. If you can’t find the items you want, it’s easy to hop from one store website to the next without being disappointed. Savvy online shoppers know how to get the most out of Black Friday sales by utilizing blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and other websites to get the inside track on tremendous sales.

Me and my GO cutter will be checking this one out, for sure.  How about you?


Thanks for visiting.

What to do with all those T-Shirts!

Most of us have heard or seen some of the T-Shirt quilt ideas out there.  But, this gal ..Fabricartist 21.. (my sister) does the most wonderful one of a kind T-Shirt quilts for her customers.  She really is a Fabricartist as NO TWO ARE ALIKE and she has a great eye for color combinations.    She meets with each of her customers and visits with them for a while to get a feel for their personality and what they want to do with their finished quilt.  Then she shops for the special sashing/backing fabrics that will work well with the special T-Shirts for this particular customer.

Here are some of the results: 

Avid Soccer player.

 

Another one she did for a traveler......(one of my favorites).  She used Japanese fabrics for the sashings and backing. 



She doesn't tie them, or just stitch around the squares, she does an all over quilting pattern on them.  They are very useable, sturdy, washable and will last for years and years.   

















This Texas Longhorns and Tennis quilt colors worked well, with the grey and touch of the rusty orange on the border.  She chooses wisely and individually when making these custom quilts.  If you are interested in her doing one for you or a loved one, just click here and it will take you to her Etsy store.

She makes special custom quilts too, and this  one was for a University of Texas dorm room.

To see some of her own personal quilts, click here. 

I'm enjoying sharing other quilter's work and one of a kind quilts, and hope you're enjoying them too. 

Thanks for visiting!

SHARING the love.

A friend of mine is making these adorable Baby Clothes Memory quilts and I just had to share them with you.    She does this on a custom order basis.  These are so cute, and make such a cherished memory for the MOM's out there.   This is one clever lady.  Beautiful sewing!

If you want to see more, here's the link:   


http://www.etsy.com/listing/58862254/custom-memory-rag-quilt-from-your-baby

She also has a blog:   http://grandma-barbara.blogspot.com


Thanks for stopping by.

LEFTOVERS from yesterday.

Leftovers from yesterday........and NO, I'm not talking about food. 

I'm talking about UFO's and what I took to our UFO party and talked about  yesterday.  When I grabbed up this bin to take to our UFO party to share with my sister and my niece, I didn't realize how close this one was to being finished.  It's a "LEFTOVER" that definitely needs to be completed. 

This is just not the time of year for me to be working on UFO's, 'cause  like most quilters/sellers on ETSY.   I have lots of  Christmas quilting/sewing gifts for family to finish up, and custom orders for customers, more jelly rolls and charm squares to cut, Kitty and Snowmen embroidered dish towels, AND the big push for the Holiday Season is in full swing.

But, I did start a list of "to do" projects for next year and put this  # 1 on the page in my notebook.   Oh...it's so close......

do you think.....



just maybe.....



I could squeeze it in now.......???

Let's take a closer look at it and re-consider.......

It is a "quilt as you go" blue and yellow quilt..........

12 Sampler blocks.....blocks are already joined together in rows, with the quilting finished on them.

Even the row dividers are quilted........

Sure hope the blue marks wash out ........

It's oh so close to being finished......but the time right now is just not there.  Ok, I reconsidered it and  this one stays #1 on the list for 2011.

Take a look at this "surprise" UFO stored for 6 years......it's another story.   I was sure into Batiks at that time.  What in the world was I thinking??  All those little pieces??    Didn't have my GO cutter, that's for sure!  It will go on the list too..........well, maybe.....?  I could always cut up the pieces with my GO cutter for the scrappy box.  

The UFO saga continues................................

until another time.


Thanks for visiting.