And the Winner Is......

The quickest way to I could think of to come up with a random number was to load an App onto my phone.  I punched in the numbers and the winner is #14.  Lorraine B. is the winner!  Contact me by e-mail and I will arrange to get your batik fat quarters to you.  Thanks to everyone who played along.

Quick and Easy Mug Rugs

Recently I was using some Hometown fabric by Sweetwater.  When I'm down to the last little bit, I cut an 1 1/2" strip to put in my scrap box.  I decided that rather than add my Hometown strips to an overflowing box, I should just make them into something.  Everyone is making Mug Rugs, so I thought I should give it a try.

I had decided I wanted my rugs to be 6" x 9" so I sewed my scrap 1 1/2" pieces into  sets of six.  I had enough scraps to make five strata.

I alternated the pressing so the first set has all seam allowances going up, the next set going down, etc.

I managed to cut six 1 1/2" pieces from each set of strips.  I pieced the first four together.

I used the fifth set as the middle strip, and used the previously pieced sets for either side.  I quilted with a simple orange peel (yes on my regular sewing machine.)  I wanted the rugs to lay flat so I put a single fold small binding on the edge.

For the back I used some of the canvas that is part of the line.  It gives body to the rug, as well as extra absorbency.

Doug has already laid claim to one of the rugs.  Not sure yet what I will do with the other two but I am glad that I found a use for these sweet scraps.

Quilting Inspiration #3

A friend asked me to quilt this beauty with a water theme.  For a little inspiration I looked to the fabric in the quilt.

This fabric had wonderful seaweed and fish on it, so I decided that is the look I was going for.

This is my version of seaweed on the dark outer border.  I placed a wavy vein and then tried to place random leaves coming off.  The good thing about seaweed is that the leaves don't have be the same size, shape or even going in the same direction.

The inner border received some waves.

The body of the quilt has waves and various fish all over.  I used an older pantograph from Linda Taylor to stitch the fish.  I quilted waves till I felt I needed a fish, went to the other side of my Longarm, turned on my laser light and quilted a fish.  For those of you that don't have a longarm, try tracing the design onto a light weight paper such as Golden Threads.  Pin the paper to your quilt, quilt through the paper, then tear the paper away.

I checked Linda's website and couldn't find the Pantograph.  However, click here to check out some of her other great patterns.  As a rule, I don't do pantographs.  However, I often used bits of them, as in this quilt.  When I am stuck for a design idea, I look through several web pages of pantographs to come up with an idea.  I practice a little on paper to get the design right, then free hand it on my machine.

Happy Quilting!

Change is good!

This past Sunday I headed out to the Quilt Shoppe to join Katja and Sonja in an afternoon of quilting.  To my surprise, there was a Show and Shine happening in the parking lot.  So, I grabbed my camera, snapped a few pictures and for a change, here you go.  Cars!!

Now you can tell the men in your life that even quilters have an appreciation for nice cars!  As the show was winding down we were treated to a few burn outs in the parking lot.  Not your average Sunday afternoon at the quilt shoppe.  Remember, change is good.

Eventually I did get around to quilting a little.  Katja is human, believe it or not, she made a mistake and had to rip out a little.  Sonja was as calm as ever, embroidering another wonderful piece!

Now, with all the talk of change, my real job at the post office went through a change on the weekend.  The entire town was reorganized, and on Monday we all had new routes to deliver. On the last day in Brocklehurst I just had to take some fall pictures of the wonderful gardens I enjoyed every day on the route.  I had gotten to know a lot of people over the last 14 years, and I will miss seeing them every day.

I started my new route after a 2 hour training session to be able to use some new equipment. To say the least, I wasn't too thrilled with the change.  I was a little frustrated, and the only thing of interest I saw was this little fellow.

He remained perfectly still hoping I hadn't saw him.  I just had to take a picture.  

I did meet a few of my new customers, and I'm sure as time goes on, I will love my new route. Remember, change is good!  Yikes!!!!

Time for a Giveaway

Well, I've reached 2500 views, so it's time to give something away.  I know for a lot of bloggers, 2500 views is not a big deal, but for me it certainly is.  So to thank everyone, I have dug into my rather large stash and have come up with 6 batik fat quarters.

To win this, you need to leave me a comment.  For those of you that haven't left a comment before, click on the comment at the bottom of the page.  A new page should open up with a comment box.  Type in the box.  Below the box is a line that says comment as: and then gives you a drop down box of options.  If you don't have a g-mail account, you can comment as anonymous.  However, I will need to know who you are to contact you if you win.  So, if you know me personally, just let me know who you are in the comment section.
You will then click on Post Comment.  Another page should come up that wants you to type in a word, so that we know you are a real person, and not a machine.
If you have any problems, go to my profile and e-mail me and I will try to help you.
I will pick a random number on the 30th of September, and notify you then who has won.  Feel free to spread the word!

Now, I just have to show you this quilt I just finished for Christie.

Christie had me mark a wave border, then told by to do my thing!  It is such a bright and cheery quilt.  It will look stunning on her bed.

It's Wednesday Already

The time certainly does fly.  Here it is Wednesday, and I don't feel like I'm accomplishing very much this week.  A little longarming, a little piecing, and a whole lot of tomatoes to freeze.

My garden is overflowing with tomatoes.  After two different people commented that I had better get to work, Doug and I spent the evening blanching and freezing fourteen bags of tomatoes.  I despise doing them, but love eating them in the winter.  So.......

Back to quilting.  Recently I finished a pillow as a gift for a friend.  The pattern is from Moda Bake Shop.  I just happened to have a little of the fabric the designer had used in her samples. The pillow form I had was larger than the one used in the original pattern, so I adjusted the pattern a little.

I love the corner ties on this pillow.  It solves the problem of trying to square the corners. Check out the pattern and give it a whirl.

A Glorious Day

Today was the MS Rona Bike Tour that I raise funds for all year long.  This year I raised $284 dollars from my Info Sheets that are available at Katja's, as well as from the Westwold quilting ladies who used my Mystery Wheel Pattern.  Thanks to everyone who helped.  A great big thank you to Doug who let me draft off of him most of the way, allowing me to complete the 54 km. ride

The morning started at Riverside Park.  The weather was perfect, still a little cool when we started at 9, but warmed up real quick on the ride.

Barbara and Kevin were among the many well wishers along the route.  With their encouragement and support, I just had to keep riding.  People living with MS are the real heroes!

And when you think the day couldn't get any better, it did.  I went out to Katja's Shoppe for an afternoon of quilting with some wonderful friends.  Joanne and Sue were hosting a quilt day with an awesome Chili for lunch, and Brownies from a secret family recipe.  Noeline had dropped off a few fabric goodies just to sweeten the day a little.

Joanne kept us on the straight and narrow!

Sue inspired us with a couple of tops that she had recently finished.

Katja found a little time to do some piecing.

Carla and Sharon were both deep in thought!

And Sonja, a never ending inspiration to me, was busy as always.

I hope you had a wonderful day too.

Garden Stars featuring Pom Pom de Paris by French General

Garden Stars is made by English Paper Piecing kits shapes to make a star.  The star is appliqued to a feature fabric, then the completed star is appliqued to a background square. The blocks are then set on point with the feature fabric as the inset triangle and outer border. This quilt is an original design by yours truly.  I hope you enjoy it!

The fabric requirements are 2m. of feature fabric, 1m. of background (cream) fabric, .3m. inner border fabric, 1 charm pack (or assorted scraps) and 1 pack of 2 1/2" kite paper pieces. The kite paper pieces are available at Katja's or contact Paperpieces for a retailer near you.

The feature fabric is directional so you must cut your borders and insets first, then use the remainder for the inside of your stars.  Cut two pieces 5 1/2" by width of fabric for the top and bottom borders.  Cut five pieces 2 1/2" by width of fabric for binding.  Cut two pieces 5 1/2" by 47" lengthwise for the side borders.  Cut two 16" squares and two 12" squares for the insets and corners.

For the inside of your stars fussy cut eight 6" squares from the remaining feature fabric.

Lay four of your kite shapes on a charm square.  Cut the fabric with a generous 1/4" around each kite.

Baste the cut kite shapes onto the paper pieces by folding the seam allowance over the paper and baste with large stitches.  When basting the sharp point, let the tail "wag".  When appliqueing  you will tuck the tail in, giving you a sharper point.  For each square you will need twelve kites, times eight blocks, ninety six kites.

From the back, whip stitch the kites together as shown.  Twelve kites join together to make your star.

Pin the kite star onto a 6" feature square.  Applique in place.  Cut the excess fabric away from the back.

Cut eight 12" background squares.  Applique the star onto the background square, keeping in mind that it will be set on point in the quilt. . The feature fabric needs to have a corner as the "up" side.  Remove the basting and paper pieces as you go.  Make eight blocks in total, trying to set the stars in the same position on each background square.  Once the applique is complete, trim the square to 10 1/2".

I used little pieces of tape to mark placement of the star tips, so I could have all the blocks the same.

Cut the 16" squares diagonally twice.  These will by your side inset pieces.

Cut one of your 12" pieces in half diagonally from upper right to lower left.  Cut the second 12" piece in half diagonally from upper left to lower right.  This is necessary as this is a directional fabric, and you don't want your elegant ladies standing on their head.

Sew your blocks together in a diagonal set, using the picture at the top of the blog as a guide.  You will need to trim the insets and corners to 1/4" past the corner of the blocks.
Add a 1 1/2" inner border.  Cut your outer border pieces to fit the quilt.

I quilted the blocks with small swirls in the background fabric, in the ditch the kites and outlined the people in the centre feature block.  The insets and outer border were quilted with a simple ribbon pattern.
After quilting and binding, the quilt should by about 40" x 54".