Sunday Snippet - A Madrona Road Challenge

The Columbus Modern QG participated in the Michael Miller Madrona Road fabric challenge.  

We added another layer to the challenge asking the project to reflect "Stars and Stripes".

This years theme for NQA show held in Columbus, OH
 is "Stars and Stripes" 

If they accept our request we will have our projects in the show.

Those who participated were given 1 FQ and 6 F8s.  
The only thing we could add was more of the MM MR fabrics or solid fabrics.

Sometimes if we just "let the process happen" vs "thinking it to death" 
we come out well ahead of the game.  

This was so simple it was crazy.  

I used the solid yellow FQ for the back cutting it and re-sewing it to make it longer,  cut random pieces of the F8s for the "stripes".  Layed those pieces across the yellow background 
and zig zagged them down.

 I cut random pieces for the wonky
"star" points and matched the center square with the stripe it was resting on -zig then zag.

 A close up of the organic straight line quilting. 

Here are the two "solid" fabrics I added.  

Gray for the backing and a black binding.

AND a better look at the quilting.

Oh yeah, I had some scraps so I made a

Lazy Girl Design 'Run Around Bag".  

This is my favorite bag to take to quilt shows for hands free shopping!

Front

Back

Here is the link to the Modern Quilt Guild - Madrona Road FLICKR site to see oodles of fun projects all made with the challenge fabrics (two color waves).

.  

Tell me if you enjoy a fabric "challenge" and why or why not?  

No Reply Bloggers loose out...

I recently won this wonderful bundle of fabric from Erin at the 
"Meet My Machine" blog hop because 

the first 6 random drawn names (from comments) were 

NO REPLY BLOGGERS

I have also noticed when I have a "give away" right here on 
Kwilty Pleasures,  there are always a dozen or so of you who are 

NO REPLY BLOGGERS!

CLICK HERE to see Erin's excellent screen shots
and instructions to 
fix the NO REPLY BLOGGER settings!

Please check your settings and fix if needed, so you can 
WIN GIVE AWAYS 
and get responses from the blog owners!  

SUNDAY SNIPPET - Spring FORWARD?

Has anyone seen my SPRING?
 OHIO is under a winter storm watch (again)!

I do know SPRING will arrive and with it will come some fun   BLOG HOPS sponsored 

by Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt

Yep...you'll have to come back and see what I am making!!!

I'll be playing in the "April Showers" blog hop with Erin over at "Sew at home Mummy"  
Can you say "mug rugs?"

In May I'll catch up with Mary to get my "bird brain" projects ready to show you at  I Piece 2 - Mary

Staking a claim for BlogLovin

 <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4280599/?claim=2vyxy8gbnau">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>


Staking my "claim" to Blog Lovin....

Lucky Me!!!

I must be living my life right as I have been very lucky recently.

I follow a lot of blogs or get newsletters and so I do enter some of the "giveaways".   

McCall's had a recent giveaway for those who signed up for their newsletters.  
I was 1 of 4 lucky quilters who won from Rowan Fabrics,  180, 2 1/2" squares.
  

Lee from Lalas Lovelys Quilting blogspot gave away 2 pouches

Calico Joan at Moose Stash Quilting  gave this fun pattern.

 Gilly Makes Blogspot offered this lovely fabric bundle

"Cabbage and Roses"  

And just last night my blogging friend Jan (Janarama), recemtly won Scrapbooking Software that she is not going to use.  She asked if I would like it and so there you go....another lucky me! 

SEWCALGAL and ME

SewCalGal Blog invited us to join in a VIRTUAL sew-cial for " 
National Quilting Day"


For those who have not been to my blog, please take a moment to poke around.  Check out my tutorials and gardens.

I have been quilting for 20 years mostly traditional but enjoy art quilting and embellishments.  Modern Quilting has sparked some serious interest.  I love seeing traditional blocks rejuvenated with a new and fresh perspective and enjoy the impromptu designs. 

In the spirit of today's Sew-cial I had a great time finishing... 

Six "Run-around" bags by Lazy Girl designs.
Great to have on hand for "gifts" and "giveaways"

...and look what's on my design wall!!!

I'm lovin the FABRIC and COLORS for this toddler quilt.
Prints are from Woodland in Home Sweet Home from Lecien Fabrics
My stash solids in red, gray, yellow/gold
Pattern is "Perfect 10" by Swirly Girl Designs. 

And I finished binding on this purple "mile-a-minute" scrap quilt.  This will be donated to Project Linus.

Click here to see the links of the participants and what they worked on today.

Click here to find out who joins me in my sewing room, 

every time I'm sewing!

 Come back soon!

Meet My Machines!!!

Happy National Quilting Day!!!  
 I will be celebrating today with 3 very good friends.
My sewing machines. 



Of this you can be sure...

A good sewing machine can be the best friend you will ever have.  She won't gossip, bitch, or cause you drama. She not a flirt trying to get attention.  She doesn't know everything and if she did, she would never say so.  She never has PMS and understands when you do! You can curse, sing, cry, laugh, or never say a word and know she will never repeat what she hears. She can be temperamental,  skip stitches, knot bobbins and break needles. Show her a little TLC and she will bring you hours of enjoyment!  

So Meet My Machines!   

Berninee...my Bernina, Aurora 440 

She is my second Bernina and I wish I had held on to the first one.
I was lucky to buy Berninee when she was only a year old,  from a friend, at half the cost of a new one.  Love her to "pieces".  She comes with lots of feet, stitches and of course, Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR)

The BSR is why I had to have her...and believe me it is worth every penny.  I use it for my FMQ..keeps the stitches so nice and even.  Another favorite thing is knee bar that "lifts" the presser foot making easy work of applique & moving around fabric.     

Jennee, my Janome  

I found Jennee in Paducah, KY at the 
2009 AQS 25th Anniversary Quilt Show



She is a mid-size machine with lots of bells and whistles that her big sisters have... FMQ, walking foot and an extension table.  Unlike me, Jennee watches her diet and weights only 11 lbs. 

She rests in a rolling case and is ready to be "mobile" anytime I hit the road.  
Classes, retreats and yep, even vacations.   

Dixie, my Singer Featherweight 221

The latest arrival, but oldest friend was born in 1942
She belonged to someones Grandma and the daughters/granddaughters did now sew. LUCKY ME!
  I couldn't wait to meet her and when I sat her in my sewing room, she was as happy as me.  Check out the beautiful filigree face plate...what a smile! 

I only had to replace the cord for her foot pedal.
Sweetie is my lean, mean piecing machine. The blue painters tape marks my 1/4' seam.  Sweetie is like history at my fingertips! I wonder what sewn, maybe some feed sacks moved across her throat and who were the lucky recipients?  I know if "Grandma" is looking down she is smiling cause, 
Sweetie has found a home that cherishes her!

I also have 2 antique treadle machines that I don't use. One serves as a night stand in the guest room and the other holds my life support system (TV and DVR) in my sewing room.  




Tomorrow, March 17th begins a different March Madness
 "Meet my Machine" Blog Hop



Erin  @ Sew At Home Mummy and Stacey @the Tilted Quilt have coordinated this fun hop AND  there is a "linky party" at The Tilted Quilt, where others, like me, will share our machine madness!    

What kinda machine is your best friend?  

GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!

The winner of my giveaway for the Quilt Gallery "Beat the Winter Blues" is

85. Nanbon44 said...

I am a follower, and I love the flowers...

March 11, 2013 at 11:38 PM 

Thanks to EVERY one who stopped by and the 112 comments you left.

You definitely chased away my winter blues.  

And the winner of my giveaway from the

 "It's All About Me" Blog Hop is 

 Kathy Gentry out of Chicago

I sent her 4 orange and blue FQs cause

"The Bears" her favorite sport team.  

A MAGICAL WAY TO CHASE THE BLUES AWAY!

This contest is now closed.

Welcome to my BLOG.  I hope you take some time to 
see the passion I have for kwilting and gardening!
When I'm not fondling fabric, I'm playing in the dirt!

Today, there's something magical going on here.
First some FABRIC MAGIC with my
cute little garden friends that will cetainly take you
 right into the garden AND chase away your BLUES...

My giveaway includes
"Flowers are My Favorite Things" Panel 
by Northcott (approximately 41" square)
and 3 coordinating Batik FQs  

Left-Panel (full view)  Right Side Top (Panel and 3 FQs) Right Side Bottom (close up view)

To chase away my BLUES

Please "FOLLOW ME" and leave me 
a magical comment saying that you do!

If you are a no reply blogger (or don't know if you are)

please leave your email address in your comment.

Otherwise you will be BLUE and the magic disappears cause 

I won't be able to contact you if you win!

This giveaway is open to EVERYONE cause I know 

the BLUES can hit anyone, anywhere, anytime.

My giveaway will close on March 14th and

a random winner selected. 

And now some GARDEN MAGIC!
I

Click here to see my Faerie Gardens! 
I know the faeries are giggling, dancing and preparing 
for spring and summer mischief!
Click here to see my other garden photos!

Click here to see all the

fabulous giveaways offered during this

blog hop hosted by Michelle over at the...

Please come back soon.  
My Kwilty Pleasures are sure to include 
fabric and gardening surprises!

Sunday Snippet - SewCalGal goes PINK

Recently I entered a giveaway for some pretty pink FQs 
on SewCalGal's blog 

My entry comment said...

"A charm-ing giveaway. I make quilts for breast cancer patients here at the James Cancer Clinic in Columbus, Ohio. Pink is perfect! Thanks"

A response came back quickly... 

Kathy,

I have some large quilt blocks that have the pink ribbon design in the pieced block.  I've made oodles of quilts for breast cancer patients, as well as for fundraisers for Komen, but haven't found time to finish piecing these last blocks into another quilt.  Would you like them ?  If so, send me your mailing address and I'll get them off to you.

The package arrived this week.
PINK & WHITE manna from heaven!

4 blocks shashed...just add borders to size it up.
Quilt #1

27 individual ribbon blocks ready to put into tops.  

I'll be pulling pinks fabrics at the 
James Stitching Sisters Sewing Center 

for solid pink blocks to use with these pieced blocks. 

Also, I'll add fabric for borders, backing and binding.

 Quilts #2,3,4,5,6

and just take a look at all the pieces cut and 

ready to play with  (half of the HST are already sewn)

Hey Columbus Modern Guild...Joanne from JSS
talked to us last just week about the Charity quilts....
if you like to playwith HST just let me know - 
they are yours to put your MODERN MAGIC to work!   

"PAYING IT FORWARD IN PINK...
FROM CALIFORNIA TO OHIO"

  

A multitude of thanks to SewCalGal!

click here to visit her wonderful blog.   

Click here to visit the James Stitching Sisters website to
find out about this wonderful Charity and volunteer program.

Since 2005 the JSS volunteer group has provided

over 6,000 quilts to cancer patients.  

Click here for information and details about the upcoming 

Annual Quilt Day on Saturday, April 6, 2013

200+ quilters will gather for an inspirational day of 
making lap quilts for cancer patients.  
Free lunch to attendees. 

No need to register - just show up.

On behalf of the James Stitching Sisters 
Program Director, Joanne Lester...

If you have a door prize you would like to donate

 for the upcoming Annual Quilt Day...

your Kwilty Pleasures would be so appreciated

Please contact me (Kathy Gordon) to coordinate.