Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Let's Celebrate! Do You Like to Win Fabric??

I sure do!  That's why I'm so excited to announce another giveaway here at Seriously..I think it needs stitches. :)  I recently started working with Skye Reve Fabrics as a sponsor and Natasha generously offered to send this prize to one of my blog friends. Look what you can win..



It's a half-yard bundle,in aqua, of The Simple Life by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake. I love most things Riley Blake, and this is no different.  It's so sweet!  

Here are a few words from Natasha herself.  

"My name is Natasha and I hope that you are as inspired by fabric as I am. I am a freelance fashion designer who has taken up the fabric business full time. I have 2 beautiful daughters whom I adore and cherish! I have a love for fabrics of all kinds, but especially beautiful shabby chic designs." 


New lines in her shop include Gypsy Girl, The Sweetest Thing, Happy Land, and The Simple Life.
Look at how yummy they are:








And I recently ordered this Everything Nice FQ bundle and have plans to make some oven mitts. For Christmas, if I can bear to part with them after they're done. :)  



Go and have a look at Natasha's selection.  Skye Reve has lots of yummy fabric to look at, and great service!

Okay! Tired of reading and just want to know how to enter?  The same old thing.. Giveaway is open to my blog friends, so just let me know that you follow in a comment.  That's it! For extra entries, you can share via tweet, fb, or blogging.  Leave a separate comment for each if you choose to do them.  I'll pick the winner on Saturday, November 10th. (Is it really November already?) 

Happy Halloween!!!
Saturday, October 27, 2012

Friday Night Sew-In Results

Last night was Friday Night Sew-In over at Handmade by Heidi.


Handmade by Heidi

I didn't manage to get a whole lot done, but I did finish the quilting on the Union Jacks, (YEAHHH!!!) and right on schedule.  My friend is moving into her new house this next weekend, and I want it to be ready as a housewarming gift.

I decided to call it Jumbo Jack. I just need to do some touch-ups on the quilting here and there, and get the binding on now.  It's been a beast to quilt, and at times, I've felt like I might cross the fine line between loving it and hating it. Either that, or chuck my little machine out the window.  But I powered through, and even though it has a few small tucks here and there, I think they won't be noticeable after it's washed.  Fingers crossed, anyway. It was a big piece of the quilting pie to take a bite out of for such an inexperienced machine quilter as myself.  That being said, I have LOVED this quilt-along, and Lynne's instructions and pattern were so well written.  I'm glad I pushed myself and did it. :)
  
Lilys Quilts

You're probably all sick of seeing it already, so this is the last photo I am posting of it until it is all done and in the hands of its owner.  (I was playing around on PicMonkey and made a mosaic.) Then it will have its very own post with finished pics, and I'll be doing a happy dance in the street to have it done. :)



That's what I worked on last night. What about you?  Planning on having some fun tomorrow surfing the FNSI links and the Blogger's Quilt Festival links.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!
xo
Friday, October 26, 2012

Time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Amy's Creative Side

It's time again for the Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side! :) I am excited for two reasons.  First, because I can't wait to go and take a look at all the creativity, and second, this is the first time that I have something ready to enter.

I blogged about it earlier in the week, as a WIP, and now it is a Friday Finish and just in time for the festival.

"Fresh Baby"



Size: 37x37 in.
Quilting: Diagonal lines, done at home, by myself. 
Category: Baby Quilts, Quilt Photography
Techniques Used: Raw edge applique of letters and farm animals using zig-zag stitch; Satin blanket binding ruffle edge sewn in using envelope style quilting.





Fabric is Farm Fresh by Riley Blake fat quarter set found at my local Tuesday Morning discount shop.  Seven FQ's for $7! Can you believe that?  I purchased the coordinating gingham for border and dots for backing online, also Farm Fresh. Started sewing charm squares together with no particular plan in mind, and this is where it went. The satin ruffled edge was an afterthought.. I had planned to bind it in red dots.  

Upper right corner has some vintage red ric-rac given to me by my MIL (given to her by her mom, or grandmother). I like how the ruffle plays off of the ric-rac.


And if you're a regular reader, you've probably noticed or heard me say a million times that I LOVE polka dots..


.. In the end, I'm really happy about the ruffle and how the red satin pops against the back. It was definitely something I've never tried before and it wasn't easy but I'm glad I stuck it out.


If this is your first visit to my blog, welcome!  I hope you'll have a look around, and come back again.  I love to make new blog friends! :)


Thank you Amy for hosting! And thanks to whoever stops by to take a peek. Enjoy the festival.. I can't wait to check out all of the links. :)



October Finishes
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

WIP Progress.. Union Jack and Fresh Baby

After yesterday's i~Donkey post, I thought I'd post a more serious WIP post today and link up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

The two WIPs on my mind lately, and on their way to being finished are Jack Attack and Fresh Baby.

I've managed to quilt a few more lines on the Union Jacks, but it is getting more difficult as I get closer to the center of the quilt b/c my machine throat space is so small.



I'm about halfway into the second Jack.



Then just one more, and it will be quilted.  



Whew! That is one accomplishment I'm looking forward to.  This thing is so big it's been a real challenge.  Doesn't help that my spray basting keeps coming loose, grr.  I've tried pins, and spray, and prior to this quilt, I had better luck with the spray.  I think I just need more practice with both.

The Fresh Baby quilt is almost quilted.  Straight lines for that one, too.. but on the diagonal.  Instead of just quilting it out and using dots for the binding, I tried something new and made a ruffle with satin blanket binding. 



Then I layed the batting on the floor, put the backing on top right side up, and the top on top of that right side down.  



Stitched around, leaving a gap, flipped it right side out, and it worked out pretty well!  No spray or pins this time. 


Just quilting on the diag, and the edges are finished with a ruffle.



I like how the ruffle echoes the ric-rac and adds a sweet touch.



The quilting is about two thirds done, so it should be done soon. Like maybe tonight? I probably just jinxed myself by saying that. ;)

Here is a close up or two of the quilting.  I'm loving straight lines right now. Easy, clean looking.








Hopefully I will have one or the other done and ready to enter into the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side.  

Happy Sewing!! 
xo

Amy's Creative Side


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

i-Donkey Phone Case

When Erin of Missy Mac Creations asked if I wanted to guest post for Donktober 2012, I was afraid to say yes.  I didn't think I could finish Reubenero, Reubenita's boyfriend, up in time to debut him for it.  And I didn't know what else to make.  

Then I saw a cute little donkey key chain on Etsy and was inspired to try something completely new and out of my comfort zone.  So I thought I would try to make a donkey phone case...  Without a pattern. ? I learned that I'm not good at making up my own patterns.. what was I thinking anyway??  

It was a learning experience for sure, and with all of the supplies I burned through, I'm glad I was using the cheapie felt from JoAnns. ;)  Although, if I perfected a pattern, I would definitely use something nicer.  The first attempt, well, it looked okay but in the end didn't fit my phone in it!! Just about a quarter inch too small!  The second attempt, well he didn't look so much like a donkey.. more like a horse and a monkey had a baby.  By the third attempt I was running out of supplies, but it finally fit my phone into it, and it FINALLY looked like a donkey!! 

I give you..

The i~Donkey Phone Case
*disclaimer:  phone used in photos is not an actual iPhone*



Ahahaahahaa~go ahead and laugh.  I know you're laughing with me and not at me. I wish I had time (and the talent) to line it and finish it up a little more before  posting.  He is more of a *prototype*, if you will. ;) In the end though, yes, he is in my purse, and yes, he is carrying my non-iPhone.  And, yes, everytime I see him in there I laugh.  And THAT's a good thing!  

Thanks for inviting me to participate, Erin!  What's that?  You're dying for a tutorial?  Okay, here it is:

1) Draw a rough sketch of a donkey. 

2) Gather way more supplies than you think you'll need.  Well, that is, if you're me.  If you're more talented, just gather what you think you'll need.

3) Wing it. (or buy a pattern!)

The horse/monkey amazingly looks a lot like the above sketch.  I'm much happier with i~Donkey.  In fact, the two of them got into a bit of trouble last night and here is their mug shot..


Happy Donktober 2012!  Hope you had a laugh with my i~Donkey shenanigans. :)


And stay tuned for another sponsored giveaway coming very soon!! :)  Happy Wednesday!!

HeeHaw, donkeys forever!! hehaheha
Friday, October 19, 2012

Fresh Baby Top

A while back I found some Riley Blake Farm Fresh at Tuesday morning.. a discount store here in the states.. I couldn't leave it there.  So it came right home with me.  Even though I didn't really have a plan for it.  One day I just started playing with it.

It turned into a..


               ..baby quilt top.

Because what is a baby, if not fresh?  Brand new, innocent.. 

Remember these shots from a few posts ago?



Yesterday, I got the borders on, and it looked a little plain so I started adding things.  

And now it's a top.  



It has some ric-rac that I found in my stash of inherited goodies sewn into one corner.. this ric-rac came from my MIL, it was her mother's or grandmother's.  Look at how much it cost back in the day!  25 cents!!!


I cut out some animals for the top border..









And now it needs to be quilted.  (AFTER the Jacks.  I need to get back to those ASAP!)  



I think I'll back it with the same dots that I used for the letters, and bind it in the same red dots that I used for Swoon.  IF there's enough left after also using them to make the binding for the Jacks.  Good thing I had way too much of those red dots.  They are coming in handy!

It has otherwise been the busiest week ever, and working on this yesterday was the only sewing I've accomplished this week.  VIP week at school for my son, his birthday, my hubs multiple dental appointments for a cracked tooth, helping parent day at school, teacher conference, field trip today, and harvest festival tonight, along with a couple of other scattered appointments in there somewhere.  UGH.  I am so looking forward to some sleeping in tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!
xoxo

p.s. Thanks for entering the giveaway at my previous post.  The winner is Sue who blogs over at My Quilting Addiction. :D  Congratulations, Sue! Have fun with your prize!
Friday, October 12, 2012

A Pink Chalk Giveaway..

..to celebrate 500 followers!  I still can't quite wrap my brain around the fact that one person ever found and followed my blog, (go say hi to Sunny--the person who's followed the longest.)  So I want to say thank you to all who follow along--for stopping by, reading and/or commenting and for generally even caring about my sometimes boring posts.  And tolerating my less than stellar photos.  It's been so much fun, this blogging thing, and I've met so many great blog friends and you're all so wonderful and creative and I've loved being inspired by you all.  Thank you also for tolerating my run-on sentences. :)

Sooo..  I will shut up and get to the good stuff... Pink Chalk Fabrics is helping me celebrate and thank you all by sponsoring a giveaway of a twenty dollar gift certificate to their shop.  



It's full of gorgeous fabrics, notions, patterns, and they even have this AMH laminated cotton on SALE right now.  



Or you might like one of these FQ sets.. 



(perfectly perched or quiltcon solids)


I will draw the winner next Thursday, October 18. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment letting me know you follow.  If you want extra entries, you can share the giveaway via tweet, FB or blog and leave me a comment for each one, but that's not required.

I'll leave you with a tease.. this is what I'll hopefully be working on, if I get the fabric I need to finish it this next week. :)



And I'll still be working on quilting the Jacks.  Have one of the three flags done, so I'm one third of the way through. I like how the quilting is looking, if I can only finish it the rest of the way w/o any huge tucks in it..












Oh, one more bit of happy news.. little Reubenita the Fashionista is turning into the little donkey that could.  Today she was featured at Sew Happy Geek.  Who knew that a little dotty donkey would get so much love?!? Thank you Jenna!!

Have a great weekend everyone, and don't forget to enter the giveaway! :) You all are the BEST!

xoxo
Thursday, October 11, 2012

It's About Time!!


It's been a WIP since it was started in February, and now eight months later, it is finally a finish!  Whew.  What a weight lifted off.  Figuratively and literally.  I think it's an even bigger beast than the Jacks.  It took most of the afternoon to get it bound.  And that was doing it by machine.  It would take me forever to finish it by hand.



No one here to hold it up for me so had to bust out the ladder, get some hangers and hang it on some tree branches. After the dog was safely secured in the garage. ;)




  • Swoon by Thimble Blossoms
  • Friends and Flowers fabric line by Mary Engelbreit
  • 80x80 in. (Mine is slightly bigger b/c I goofed and cut the sashing a little wider than it said to.)
  • Backing and binding are Welcome to Bear Country red polka dots.
  • Quilted by Top Stitchers in Sonoma, CA.




I'm so relieved to have it done.  Now it just needs a label.  And it will be ready to be wrapped up for Christmas.


Glad to be linking this one up as a Friday Finish!  Have a great weekend!

xoxo

*finish it up fridaymanic monday @ sewhappygeek, tgiff,  sew & tell fridaycan i get a whoop whoop, laffcraftionary, crafty soiree, ladybird lane, oneshetwosheproject queen, do something crafty, strut your stuff, sunday showcasethe dedicated house, anything blue friday*
October Finishes

p.s. Pink Chalk Gift Certificate giveaway here.

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