"STITCHING MENDS MY SOUL"

Thursday, September 30, 2010

CHRISTMAS STARS


I just finished the last of 25 star blocks for the swap I'm in. We could use any 6" star pattern. I chose a 4-point rolling star pattern. Colors were to be red/green/tan/gold. I think they turned out fine, and am looking forward to getting them back. They will be used with blocks from other swaps I've done, in a larger quilt. At least that's the current plan, LOL!

I'M HONORED



Joan over at Moose Stash Quilting has honored me with the Sunshine Award. It is given to bloggers who have influenced you with their creativity and positive attitude.

It's a wonderful way to connect with inspiring blogs. When you receive the award you are supposed to pass it on to 12 other blogs. I'm suggesting you visit my blogs I follow on my sidebar. They are all inspiring, and wonderful! I gain so much from them. They are listed in order of most recent post, so it's easy to see when there's something new to check out.

This whole world of online quilting and quilt blogging has brought so much sunshine into my life. I'm happy if I can pass that on to others too.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

NEW FREE BOW


Esther Aliu (Red Delicious and In the Pink) is launching a new Block of the Week. Yes, BOW. A new block will be posted each Wednesday. A complete project in 6 weeks! Just in time for Christmas. Find it here.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

FINAL LIBERATED HOUSES


Here are my last three houses for Block Lotto for Sept. I have my fingers crossed to win this month, because I think these will make a super quilt.

And here's a real-life liberated house. We walk by it on our beach walks. It reminds me of Noah's Ark, perhaps left high on a Lake Superior dune, LOL! The builders were certainly liberated in their thinking, and here, in the UP of MI, it sort of fits right in! Many things are quirky here.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

ANOTHER TYPE HOUSE



House blocks seem to be everywhere this month. Block Lotto blocks this month are wonky houses. These are very fun, but I think a bit harder than just following a pattern, like the Christmas Cottages. I have 6 blocks done, but would love to finish 3 more, for the maximum of 9, to increase my chances of winning!

Friday, September 24, 2010

FALL-O-WEEN HOP


There's going to be another great designer blog hop! Remember the one last year when they talked about Christmas memories, and gave away great prizes? It's the same gals cooking up this one. I'm adding a link to the hop on my side bar, as well as here.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

CHRISTMAS COTTAGES



These are my first two cottages for the Christmas Cottages Swap. It's a nice opportunity to get creative, as we can add embellishments in any way, or not, to make these look Christmasy.

Does the snowman in the window of one, and the Santa and reindeer flying on the roof of the other look familiar? They are from my DJSS, in my last post. They were perfect for this project!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

DJSS SEPT. GIFT


My Dear Jane Secret Sister sent another wow gift this month. Again she sent a chatty letter and DJ block (always the best parts). Also I received 3 Christmas fat quarters, some perle cotton (to use making the shashiko bags I talked about the past couple months), and felt autumn leaf Favorite Findings. I've already started using the Christmas fabric, and will post about that project soon.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

GIVEAWAY

Jeanneke is having a give away of some of her doll quilt patterns. Check it out here.

Monday, September 13, 2010

INTERNATIONAL SIGGY SWAP


This adorable cat siggy arrived in my mail from Mary in the Netherlands. DH was most impressed that I'm already getting international mail sent up here, in the UP.

I love her corner fabric, and the cat is all hand embroidered. Very nice!

Mary and I are both in The International Siggy Swap group, which you can learn about by scrolling down on the left.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

I WON!!!


Well, I didn't win this exact $10, but a gift certificate to Quilt in a Day for $10. I've completed the Fab Shop Hop, you know where you hunt bunnies in on-line shops, maybe 4 or 5 times. I've never won a thing, nor have I ever known anyone who did. But in the July Hop I won this.

I love the Quilt in a Day site and can probably get 3 yards of sale fabric for the $10, or one of Eleanor's books, or.....................

It's not a new sewing machine, or $100's in fabric or the like that the top prizes are, but hey, winning at all is nice!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

EXCITING FINDS

We recently sold our house in FL, and of course that means going through everything. Every time we move (quite a bit!), I seem to find some treasure, long forgotten. Well, this one is really long forgotten. Like for over 40 years.

For a long time I've kept a bag that I made in high school, with macrame on the front and handles. For years it lived at my grandmother's house (I lived with her from 7th grade on) but when she died I took the bag and contents. Well I knew it contained my Girl Scout Cadet uniform, souvenirs from my junior year trip to Mexico, and some papers. But what I didn't know, or forgot was what the papers were. That is until I found it last month, and emptied it to give the bag to my DGD.

While living with Grandma, I became interested in quilting, but she didn't quilt. Some other relatives did, but she mainly embroidered and crocheted. But she found some old patterns in her house, gave them to me, and I kept them all these years.


This one is called "Quilts" and the copyright is 1945 by The Spool Cotton Company. The price in the red corner is 10 cents.

Inside are the patterns for many quilts commonly made today -- Storm at Sea, Irish Chain, Basket of Flowers, Red Cross, Hearts and Gizzards, etc.

The introduction gives a brief history of quilting in America and strongly encourages women to "Cherish and promote this art steeped in tradition." Next are two pages of general directions. How to trace and cut your cardboard templates, etc., all the way through putting your quilt on a frame and hand quilting it, which says is done with a straight up and straight down stitch (no needle loading) is "the only correct way." Quilt Police must have been alive and well in the 40's, LOL!

This book is really an interesting read. A true treasure found! More on this topic later.