BlogtoberFest Beginnings

blogtoberfest ~ day 1

Of course, I'm so out of it that I didn't even realize my idea to post everyday in October in order to jumpstart my blog again ALREADY EXISTED. So how great to open my blogroll and find that many great minds have the same idea--post every day in October.

You see, I've been lamenting the absolute boredom on my blog and trying to figure out how to post regularly. The main problem is I wanted a sewing blog but my life has little room for sewing, hence little content. What if I expand it to include, like, I don't know, my life?

So here it goes, blogtoberfest, a nice kick in the pants to just plain share. I'm pretty sure my life isn't quite as boring as my blog has been in the last 6 months. And there will still be a bit of sewing.

Gratitudes

• the blogosphere--I love the swaps and the blogs that make a positive community
• the potential for frost this weekend--and a chance to put away the kleenex
• a quiet morning to myself, even it I'm doing laundry

Yummy Chocolate Pinwheels

DQS9 Received!!

Looky, looky what I found in my mailbox! Quiltmakertg send me this fabulous mini--beautiful, bright pinwheels surrounded by chocolate brown. The setting and quilting are just perfect. I love that I had already made it a "favorite" on the Flickr group before I even received it.

I just love how fabulous a simple, even traditional block can look with the right fabrics and treatment. Really, it's not your grandmother's quilt, but it has a lot of the same elements!

Quiltmakertg also sent a lovely set of fat quarters--I've already got some chocolate Kona cotton to put with them into a simple, coin-like quilt. Thank you so much, Sandra! Your package really made my day--and the orange binding is exactly my style!

Ain't swaps grand!

::Happy Neighbors::

Well, I really didn't mean to fall off the edge of blogland this summer. It just happened that I was rarely home. I didn't have anything to sew show! What a whirlwind we had with kids going to camp, working, blah, blah, blah, blah. . . .

That's why I am super thrilled to finally have a finish for Sew-n-Tell Friday--my Doll Quilt Swap 9 mini sent off to my secret partner this week (just made the deadline!). She should get it today!

And I have to say, I'm even more thrilled with the results. This little baby changed very little from conception to completion. Normally, my quilts evolve to match my idea with my abilities/time/talent/stash. This time, I started with the border fabric and  inspiration from here. Aren't these the cutest little houses? (If the right DH is reading this, a set of these would look so sweet above the sink, and an important birthday is coming near. Hint. Hint.)

I realized to make row houses, I'd have to go with paper piecing. It only took a couple tries to work it out. Then I set them into another house--I couldn't get over my cleverness (lots of giggling while working this out--the men in my house, even the dog, thought I was crazy).



















Ta Da! I'm really happy with this. I wanted to use these soft colors and straight line quilting since my partner is an expert at applique and FMQ. I thought she might appreciate having something different than she might make, yet still fitting in with her tastes.
We'll see what she thinks . . . .

For more great finishes, click on the Sew-n-Tell button on the sidebar. And have a good weekend!

Gratitudes

• Fall weather--I'm ready for a fresh start and long pants.
• Learning to use my mother's sewing machine
• Watching my sons grow into thoughtful young men

DQS9

Yahoo, I got into the new Doll Quilt Swap. As you know, I LOVE these swaps. The Doll Quilt Swap is extra fun because (1) you get to stalk your secret partner, trying to figure out what they might like, and (2) you get a few months to create something new and fun. I love the STUD swap, too, but sometimes 1 month feels a bit rushed.

So secret partner, what do I like? I like so many things, but especially brights, especially orange. I like things a little out of the box AND I like traditional blocks, especially with a modern twist. I love all the birds in quilts lately, zig zags, pinwheels.

I don't like pink much at all, as well as cutesy, nor white in any quantity. But fun, now fun is a different matter all together. A sense of humor is great.


The most important thing to me, however, is that you have some fun making the doll quit. Try something new if you like, use up stash/scraps, whatever you like. And I hope you post something about the process--I try to comment as much as I can :)

Let the fun begin!

Mail Box Boon

Sew & Tell Friday

Here are my May STUD quilts.
Top left, a wonderful sewing machine from Scrapnchick, inspired by my previous post on my mother and her sewing machine. The details are great, as was the letter sent along with it. I just love it!

Top right, SaraSQuilts "Wish You Were Here" mini of her farm in PA. Check out the little cows in front of the barn! The back also has a lovely pieced star. This will look great in my office "gallery"--thank you!


I've been waiting to Sew & Tell my May contributions. On the lower left, my "Wish You Were Here in Iowa." Later in the summer, the goldfinches (Iowa state bird) will flock to our sunflower folly ( a 10 ft circle of sunflowers). Everything in Iowa is surrounded by corn and bean fields, shaded in all kinds of green and golds at one time or another.

On the lower right is my "Anything Goes." Scrapnchick said she loved cherries, and I really wanted to try Oh, Fransson's rick rack block (see older post). Harder than it looks, at least for me to keep straight, so I embraced the wonky!

Check out more Sew & Tell's over at Amylouwho's (click on the sidebar button). Have a great weekend!

Gratitudes

• A good week at state church meetings with a little road trip thrown in--fun to get out of town!
• Starting a new STUD mini
• I'm in the DQS9! I have all summer to let my ideas percolate.