Oops! What budget?

Budget!  What budget?   (as she stares off into space......)   And where do I have room for more fabrics and stuff? 

You know you just can't go on the Bluebonnet Trail Shop Hop   (you can read more about it) .....without blowing your monthly quilting budget.  Trust me, I know this is true! 

And then she walks into the first shop....... "But, I get lots of Free fat quarters......'cause each shop gives me a Free Fat Quarter"...sure!  Those Fat Quarters probably ended up costing me about $10 each......lol


We didn't make it to all 13 shops this year, and probably just as well.  It probably would have cost me about $15 each!   I did get 7 pretty ones, though.

A quilter can never have too many gadgets!   I should have bought 2 more packs of those clips...what was I thinking?

Was thinking Spring and all the flowers......I guess.

A girl can't pass up some pretty batiks for $5.00 a yard, can she?  Again.......that staring off into space..."sure hope I can fit these in my fabric closet with all my other batiks".

Of course....these tightly packaged batik strips don't take up that much room, do they?

These charm packs were my first purchases and started the whole thing!  I'm sure I can find room for four more tiny packages in one of my plastic storage tubs.

It's their (the charm packs) fault (not mine) I bought all this yardage to go with the charm packs... I wonder if I'll be needing more fabric storage space?  There's always the closet in the bathroom.

Can't visit with ya'll anymore, I've got to GO cut and quilt!

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Is it a Hobby, Obsession, Work or a Waste of Time?

When I sat down at the desk to start writing this post, I wondered about the title. ............ maybe you can help me decide.  

I love what I do during the day (and some nights).   Some people call it a hobby, or obsession, and some think it's work and still others think it's a waste of time. 

You might be asking yourself...."what is she talking about this time"?    Why sewing and quilting, naturally.   Is there anything else better to talk about?  Not for me.   Let me explain.

I've been trying to sew up some of this cute flannel that I bought several years ago.  Yes, it was on sale........and I just had to get lots of it!  I think I bought too much....what do you think?  The boxes are overflowing.  Don't believe me?  Here......I'll show you one part of it that I can't even get in my fabric closets.  NO...I'm not showing you the rest of it.  I made good use of one of my AccuQuilt GO boxes too!

After a couple weeks......here's a look/see at what I accomplished with some of that flannel using my rag quilt GO die.

Raggedy Ann & Andy raggy quilt.

Pink Paisley & Butterfly raggy quilt.

Brown and Gold Peace Symbol raggy lap quilt.

Now, GO back and look at that first picture again.........that's 'AFTER' I made these 3 raggy quilts too!   Jeez!  I'd better get to sewing faster, or sleep less.

As most of you know, I have an ETSY Shop...and you can visit it here.   

Keeping it stocked is almost a full time job and keeps me very busy.   But, like I said at the beginning of this post.......I love what I do.

Today I used my GO cutter & cut 3 different fabric colorways into quilt strips for Jelly Rolls; browns, pinks, purples.  That's 180 strips just for today. 

And that doesn't count the 660 fabric charm squares I cut earlier this week. (I didn't take pictures of them at the time 'cause I was on a roll and a cutting frenzy.....but I can show you one of my storage drawers.)

So.....now I ask you.  Is it a hobby, obsession, work, or waste of time?

Thanks for visiting.

Sewing Room Explosion

The other day on Facebook I mentioned it looked like a bomb had gone off in my sewing room.  

Well......I think there's been more than one!

When I'm on a cutting frenzy with my GO cutter, that's exactly what happens, and I ignore the messes while working until the job is done.   Have you ever watched the famous Eleanor Burns and her demos or attended one of her Quilt In a Day Classes?   She's hilarious and doesn't pay any attention to the messes, and actually just throws the scraps on the floor and over her shoulder.   I actually do clean it up in between explosions, but there were several bombs in a row.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.   (besides......it's the only excuse that I have.)

Thought I'd give ya'll a partial visual tour of what I'm talking about.  Now you didn't think I'd show the whole sewing room, did you?  No Way!


I use the pages from the many throw-away catalogs I get in the mail to cover my fabrics on the die before rolling through the GO cutter.  It works well, and I end up with perfect quilt squares for my Etsy Shop.

Trash can area.



And with all that cutting, here's my scrap basket that's overflowing; selveges, edges, trimmings, slivers,  etc.  Looks like it's time to make a couple more kitty pillows again and use the scraps for the stuffing.   You can wash & dry them, but last time the pillows got yucky, I just threw them away.

This is just one end of my cutting table with the useable leftovers I need to cut into 2" and 2 1/2" squares.  Ok...I know what you're thinking.  What do the zippers have to do with cutting squares?  I've also been making more zipper bags and just shoved the bin of zippers to the side of the table while I used the GO cutter.

Well......there you have it.  That's what I did over the weekend.


Thanks for visiting.

It's Like Magic!

My mind works kinda weird sometimes and here lately it's been bonkers!  I've been cutting a lot of fabrics! 

How many of you remember Joan Rivers and her famous comedy line....."Can we talk?"  

Well, let's talk a bit about the progression of the quilting and sewing industry. 

When I stop to think and reflect on how many years I've been sewing it rattles my poor little pea-sized brain.  (yes...I think my brain has been shrinking a size or two.  Remember, I'm still on my new eating plan for losing weight).

Let's talk!   What that's you say??   you want pictures??   

Ok, ok, don't nag me.......we'll get to that.   You can go ahead and skip all "this talk" if you want to and just look at pictures....it doesn't matter to me.  You might learn something if you read all of this.  I didn't just type to keep my fingers limber, ya know!  (Boy, I'm feeling a bit sassy today!)

1.  Fabrics - oh my how they've changed; the fiber content, the colors, the prints, the manufactures, artistic designers, fabrics made from recycled plastic, organic??    I remember sewing with cotton (organic)  fabrics that weren't color fast and they faded when you washed them.  Also used left over feed sack scraps for my dolls. 

2.  Patterns - did you know that tissue paper patterns were not always "printed" and there were little holes in them for your markings?  Clothing sizes....you had to really measure and adjust the patterns a lot.  Quilt patterns that were simple compared to what's available for today's busy sewers?  That was yesteryear....for sure! 

3.  Sewing machines - we all know about the treadle machines, right?  I loved sitting on the floor watching my Mom work that floor pedal with her feet.  Yes, I learned to sew on a treadle machine.  Now, we have machines that embroider, cut your threads, have built-in fancy stitches, thread your needles for you....just push a button. (I like my modern sewing machines!)

4.  Threads -  wooden spools, mercerized cotton, boilfast.  mmmmh! now we have every color, kind, fiber, size....even invisible and wash away thread, and we have to have special storage racks and thread bins to hold it all.  (When I used to shorten a store bought skirt or dress, I remember saving the thread from the hem seam to re-sew the shorter hemline....what?)


Do you ever stop and take a look at all your tools and gadgets we have today for our sewing and quilting?   How about your rulers? 

I've been on a "cutting frenzy" the last couple weeks.  I think there needs to be a number 5 on my list up there; rulers and templates.    I don't even use 90% of those rulers in that picture anymore, and forget templates.....yikes!   

Talk about progress in the quilting world?  How about this for Magic? 

Me and my AccuQuilt GO cutter......cranking out 6 fabric strips at a time.... magical progress at its finest!   And it doesn't even use any electricity.

Here's a peek into the Magic my GO cutter does for me.  It can turn yards and yards of fabrics ......

into this..................

Time Saver Kits for  my Etsy Shop.

or this.....

or this........

Or even this......

and this.......

Sorry, I can't "talk with you" anymore.   Gotta GO cut some more fabrics!

Thanks for visiting.

Hey...wanna win a FREE Giveaway??

Since I didn't do a FREE giveaway last month, there will be 3 separate prizes this month.  Why 3?  I don't know........guess I just like that number better.

1.  30 Lime Green Fabrics 5" Squares - (one of the many sets/colors for sale in my ETSY Shop) - These are die cut with my GO cutter.  What??  you didn't think I'd  mention my ETSY Shop??? or my AccuQuilt GO cutter??.....(you gotta be kiddin' me!) 

2.    4 Coordinated Fat Quarters, one with a sewing theme.  I've just got a small amount of this sewing theme fabric left in my stash, so thought I'd share.  I made a lot of different things with it for my sewing buddies as Christmas gifts several years ago and it's no longer available.

 

3.   Paper Backed Fusible Appliques cut with my GO cutter - Fall theme; leaves, acorns, pumpkins & one black cat.  (FYI - in case you don't win this set of appliques, they are available in my ETSY shop too.)

To get a chance to win one of these Giveaway Freebies all you have to do is become a new follower of my blog and leave a comment.   If you are already a follower, then GO tell someone come back here, leave your comment then tell me you did that.  You're on your honor here.....I'm not your mother, ya know? 

Want more than one chance??  GO  (I love my AccuQuilt GO cutter and love to capitalize the word when I use it in my blog!)  tell another person to follow my blog for a chance to win a freebie, then tell another person, another person, AND another person, etc.  Each time you tell someone, come back here and leave a separate comment.  (Posting this on facebook, twitter or on your blog will count too.....just leave a separate comment each time.)  

This giveaway will end at midnight on Tuesday (8/16/11) and the winners will be randomly chosen by number and announced here on Wednesday, August 17th.   Have fun with it and good luck.

Thanks for visiting.

The Giveaway is now closed.  Thanks everyone.

Sometimes.......

Sometimes we just need to sew, sew, sew......and make something simple and easy.  That's what I did with a pack of  "It's a Hoot" Charm Squares from Moda.

The squares in the rows are off-set every other row.

Yes, I used my GO cutter to cut all the white 2 1/2" strips.

What do you do when you just want to sew, sew sew and don't want to make anything complicated??

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Valentine's Giveaway

Let's all have a HAPPY VALENTINE'S day today and have a one-day giveaway!

I think RED is the color of the day!

Just leave a comment on this post and a random number will be drawn and the winner announced tomorrow.  Make sure you leave your email addy so I can contact you.

Oh...that's right....I didn't tell you what the prize will be.  The winner will receive

one of my red charm square sets; 30 red fabric charm squares 5"x5"

Have fun....spread the word.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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.

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. 

QCG (Quilters Corner Group) on EBAY is having a Sale!

There are lots of things listed on Ebay, but the best things are from our QCG (Quilters Corner Group) and our Red Tag Sale that starts today and lasts for 1 week.  There are auctions starting at $.99 and some have free shipping.  Can't beat that! 

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m38.l1313&_nkw=QCG&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Now go buy something!  AND don't forget to place a bid on our Charity quilt for SGK Cancer Research!  Thanks.

PLAY WITH THE BUTTERFLIES!

Today's creation is another patchwork totebag from Moda's "Butterfly Fling" charm packs. The fabrics for this one are just yummy and made me feel Happy & Smiling the whole time I was making it.

It is for sale on auction in Ebay. Just click on the link below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190305184025

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Another good day for Quilting!

Today is another good day for just sewing & quilting all day! Love it!

My sister, Sally, left yesterday to go back home to WY and miss her already. My other sister, Jerre, & I went to our Quilting Bee and sewed from 10:30am until about 3pm. She's working on a pretty pink feminine quilt for a new expected Great Grandaughter, and I worked on another new patchwork tote from Moda charmpacks.

The Ebay group I belong to (Quilters' Corner Group) and the Red Tag Sale we are having on Ebay is going great! We have lots of different items on auction and most of it relates to quilting & sewing...and lots of bidding! Hurray!

Go take a look! Put QCG Red Tag Sale in the search box on Ebay and over 85 items will come up for sale. Do some bidding and help us clean out our sewing rooms!

Have a great Thursday today!