Tuesday, April 30, 2013

LIA'S HANDMADES is swapping totes!

Lia's Handmades Blog is sponsoring a TOTE BAG SWAP!!!
It all begins TOMORROW May 1st!

Here's a fun tote I made for a flamingo lover!  
Totes are easy to make and we can always use another one!


Jump on over to Lia's site to see all the swap guidelines, timeline and fun she has lined up for participants.  

Sign-ups begin tomorrow May 1st
Hey, maybe you and I will be secret "tote bag" pals! 



Friday, April 26, 2013

WIP - COMMA.PERIOD.COMMA

Happy Friday!!!

I've been having some great Kwilty Pleasures since retiring!  

 I've made 42 WONKY cross blocks 
using my new COMMA fabric.  Just gotta trim them up.
Will finish the top at a May quilt retreat in Amish country.
Modern meets Amish (wink)

Stacked and salivating!



Now I"m Drooling!


What are you drooling over?  


Sunday, April 21, 2013

Crimson Tate : Modern Quilt Shop

If you ever go to or thru Indianapolis....and you love 
"Modern Quilting" then you really need to stop at 
Crimson Tate!!! 
 It is located at 845 Massachusetts Avenue, in a very fun part of Indy 
that is being revitalized and the shop itself is sew cute.  
Click here to visit the Crimson Tate website.





Owner, Heather Givens, is excited to see you and wants to know all about your quilting passion!
With a smile like this...you know you are in a very friendly place!





Just loved this old library catalog stand being used to hold FQs.



Heather has a flair for the unexpected.  As in...just look at the piece of fencing holding patterns and the suitcase filled with FQs.  Every nook and cranny is filled with fun surprises. 



More fabulous "modern" fabrics and "antique" displays!



Who knew that traveling to the International Quilt Show in Cincinnati, OH 
would take me on a road to Crimson Tate!  
Love those 'road trips'!



Friday, April 19, 2013

BLOG HOPPIN AROUND!


Thanks to Sew We Quilt...I am a blog hop junkie!
Not only do I enjoy participating in the challenges,
but I love give aways...winning AND giving!

The most recent hop
I gave away some  pieces of vinyl "SOAKED" fabric.

.
The random generator winner is comment #131 and Laura has provided her mailing address!  Congrats Laura!






131. lauraluvsloons said...
Love the fabric you chose for this mugrug. My favorite springtime activity is watching the lake thaw and getting my kayak down to the lake to watch the loons.

A huge thanks to all 181 of you who left me a comment.
Your comments are the best prizes of all!

I was thrilled when my SOAKED mug rug made Top 2 for the day.
  

Look for my projects in the following hops!
and



and NOT a blog hop but you should hop on over to check out 
  Christa Quilts Blog...for GREAT weekly giveaways!  

Christa's Year of Giveaways

Here is what Christa is giving away NOW thru 4/24!

 Win one of Christa’s Color Bundles

Blatantly Blue
Blatantly Blue
Boldly Black and White
Boldly Black and White
Granny Green
Granny Apple Green
Have a great weekend!


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sunday Snippet - Paying it Forward in Stitches


James Stitching Sisters (JSS)
began in 2005 and is a group of volunteers who make lap quilts for cancer patients.  Now be warned...it's not your typical group who might get together once in a while to make a Charity quilt.  

NOPE, JSS has hundreds of volunteers working continuously throughout the year to provide "Quilts of Comfort" to patients undergoing treatments for breast, ovarian and lung cancer as well as providing baby quilts for radiation kids at Children's' Hospital.

We recently held the 9th Annual Quilt Day.
Joanne Lester, JSS Program Director, welcomes everyone and a shout out 
of thanks for the continued support of this effort!


Over 300 kits were available to the 200 quilters who showed up to sew 
and share in an inspirational day of quilt making.



And just look at all the DONATIONS for participants.
Everyone wins!!! and wins again!!!


There is a yearly "Quilts of Comfort" contest and 
1300 completed quilts were turned in for 2012!
1 out of every 20 completed quilts (quilter) is eligible for 10 yards of fabric AND this year there were two Baby Lock Sewing Machines donated as grand prizes.  

My friend Pat (who sadly couldn't attend the event this year) was a still a contest winner...10 yards of fabric and although she didn't win the machine, she took home these rainbow fat quarters!


Lunch was free to all participants and served by the girl scouts.  
We had long arm machines setup so folks could give it a try, there was a quilt sandwiching station
 and of course ironing and cutting tables.   

Here are a few pics of my sewing group for the day.
Yep, even husbands can come help out...he made sure we never ran out of drinks or treats!



And here are some of the tops we finished!

 Lucy

Me (Kathy)

Cheryl

Linda

Jackie
Margaret
and I leave you with a smile on my face because I am so proud to be a part of the James Stitching Sisters and "pay it forward" with loving stitches. 


If you live in OHIO or near Columbus, you can be a part of this wonderful group of volunteers. Many cities have guilds who come to the JSS Sewing Center to pick up kits and quilts ready for quilting, take them home to finish and return for entries in the contest!

 The Sewing Center Calendar and all information about this group is on the JSS web site.  

Thursday, April 11, 2013

A "muggy" April Showers blog hop and GIVEAWAY!


This contest is closed.  Congrats to Lauralucsloons and Quilting to.  Random #131 who was the winner of the vinyl fabrics.  

Thanks to all for leaving me such nice comments!  

When I saw the "April Showers" blog hop I couldn't resist
MAKING A SPLASH!  Mdm Samm is always causing us to "puddle" with her fun hops and Erin over at "Sew at Home Mummy" has  that huge "umbrella" open for us all as she cheers us on!  

Check out my tutorial (tab) for step by step photos to make a  
Quilt As You Go Mug Rug....from scraps!  
Great for any season or reason.

Bunnies always show up in my garden in April....
Have they given up the plants for my Bailey's and Coffee?




I used scraps from the Connecting Threads "SOAKED" line.
Center fabric in the mug rug is causing a big splash!


Add some clouds, rain and lightning for the showers!


And some wild and crazy BOOTS for the back!



Yep, it is give away time!
LEAVE ME A COMMENT
and tell me what is your favorite spring time activity.


I'm giving away SEVERAL large scraps of 
"Soaked" VINYL PIECES
(they vary in width but are all approx 40" long)


All rolled up and ready for your creativity!
Wouldn't they make cute "waterproof" pouches?



You don't have to be a follower to enter the contest but you would bring sunshine to my day if you do! 
Contest is open to ALL and closes last day of the hop!



 

Monday, April 8, 2013

KWILT ON!

A retirement gift for my new office!
Thanks Stacey!   



Stayed tuned for a post about my new Kwilty Pleasures office 
aka Sewing Room.

Friday, April 5, 2013

OH HAPPY DAY! ! !

   
AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN!



LOVE THE CAKE


A GIFT FROM THE NATIONWIDE PLAZA QUILTERS


MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS


BRANDED ! ! !
NATIONWIDE "WAS" ON MY SIDE



THE LAST COMMUTE TO WORK
A BEAUTIFUL VIEW!



 MAY WE LIVE HAPPILY EVER TOGETHER RETIRED ! ! !
(which one of us is happier?)


SOMEBODY PINCH ME, PLEASE!