A Cover Up and a Giveaway!

Bernie Bernina was already needing a cover up when Shea, from Empty Bobbin, asked me to test her new pattern "Cover Up" a few weeks ago. The truth is that Bernie had been standing around naked most of the time, so this cover up idea came none too soon!

 Isn't it cute? The best thing about this great new pattern is that it can be made to fit any sewing machine out there. Shea gives specific directions for measuring your machine before you begin to insure a perfect fit. Now, you may notice something added to Bernie's cover that is not shown in the pattern....a ruffle! That's because, in testing we discovered a change that needed to be made, so my cover turned out a tad too short. (Isn't it wonderful to know that a designer wants to make sure that her pattern is perfect before she publishes it!) I simply added a little ruffle to the bottom and now it's just the right length...and feminine, too. (Bernie likes everyone to know that she's a girl.)

My mailman has been really busy making deliveries to my house over the last few days! There are around 40 participating in the I Spy Swap and the charm squares are coming in....so fun! If you haven't entered the swap yet and would like to, there is still time. You can find the specifics here. 

Mr. Mailman also delivered an extra Cover Up pattern from Shea. She was so nice to want to include you in her latest creative endeavor. If you would like to win this pattern for yourself, just leave me a comment telling me if your sewing machine usually stands naked like mine  or what she wears to keep warm and dust free. One comment with an email address  = one valid entry!  I'll draw a winner on Wednesday afternoon.

Either way, I'm sure she would love a new outfit!
#A winner has been chosen and the give away is now closed. The Cover Up pattern is available on line from the Fat Quarterly Shop here.

Moda Bake Shop

Today is a big day!

 I'm excited to have you see my debut creation for the Moda Bake Shop, 

 Love Beads.

I hope that you will hop on over to the Moda Bake Shop blog to see the pattern

 and say "hi" in the comments. Pretty please!

 The fabric is Oh, My! by Sanae and Moda Bella solid in butter. It's pretty wild fabric, which works really well for the 1970's inspired idea of love beads which were popular in that decade...(ask me how I know!)

 It  takes two charm packs to make this lap size quilt. The cutting and piecing is easy, making the pattern suitable for a beginner but fun for any quilter.

 I used the leftover beads and some selvage on the backing of my sample quilt. Don't you love that wild large print!

I have two extra Oh, My! charm packs ( enough to make Love Beads) to give away.

If you would like to win these,

 visit the Bake Shop blog and take a look around.

Come on back here and leave me a comment telling me that you saw my quilt.

For a second chance to win, be a follower of Lollyquiltz and tell me so in a separate comment. I'll leave the giveaway open until Saturday. Make sure that I can contact you by email if your name is drawn.

Thanks for stopping by!

Please note: the giveaway is now closed.

A Colorful Life Giveaway!

Hello!  Welcome again to my week of special posts and giveaways in celebration of one year as a blogger! You all are the best and have kept me smiling all week long! Today you are in for another treat. I hope that your heart can handle the palpitations from looking at more pretty quilts, but don't say I didn't warn you if you suddenly faint or something! I'm cuckoo for cocoa puffs over Cindy's blog,  Live A Colorful Life, and want to share her talent with you.

Cindy professes to have a fascination with color, fabric and selvages. The quilt above is one she's making in collaboration with her daughter-in-law who appears to have lots of talent herself...it knocks my socks off! Cindy shares her creativity as well as her heart with her readers. I love that!

Cindy and I feel like we may have been twins separated at birth somehow, as we have similar tastes in fabric and quilts, were born the same year, have been married the same number of years and both even have red hair!  The wonderful quilt above is one Cindy is designing based on an antique.  It just so happens that I am also working on a similar pattern. What are the chances?! Must be those quilting genes!

I get really excited at seeing the lovely handwork and detail that she adds to her quilts. I feel like a spool quilt may be in my future after following Cindy create this beauty!

Not only does Cindy use selvages in her quilts but she also makes and sells darling pin cushions made from saved selvage....you may have seen her tutorial in the International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene magazine on how to make them. Cindy tells me she is very particular when it comes to organizing her selvages. That's another way that we are alike...here's how I organize mine!......................................  LOL!

I know that you will want to visit Live a Colorful Life, so click on over there now and see what  projects she's working on and enter the giveaway she is sponsoring to win this adorable Four Seasons themed selvage pin cushion. Isn't it so cute! Go on. Off with ya! Bye now.

Oh, and there's still time to enter the jelly roll giveaway contest from yesterday, if you haven't yet. Visit Pinkadot Quilts for the rundown. 

First Anniversary Giveaway

Daffodils are my favorite spring flower. I probably have 10 different varieties in my yard, planted by the previous owners.  When the slender leaves begin poking up their heads, I know that Spring is just around the corner! 

Hip, hip, horray!

The fabric above with the sweet daffodils is actually from a vintage sheet. Doesn't it just shout fresh beginnings! In celebration of one year of blogging and the fun I have had making new friends around the world through this awesome media, I would like to give this fat quarter and nine other vintage sheet fq's to one lucky reader.

I chose 10 fabrics with a similar color wave from my collection of vintage sheet fq's. Together, they would make a sweet quilt top for spring, perhaps.

To enter this giveaway, just leave me a comment telling me about your favorite spring flower. For a second entry, become a new follower or tell me that you already are one in a second comment. Two comments equal two chances! (Be sure that you have an email address listed in your profile to be eligible to win.) International entries are welcome.

I will choose a random winner on Wednesday morning.

Thank you, my lovely readers, for visiting my blog and reading about my passion for quilts and life.

You are the best!

*The giveaway is now closed and a winner has been picked.

100th Post Give-Away

Today's post is a milestone for me and Lollyquiltz...........number 100! I've enjoyed the last nine months of blogging tremendously and have made some very nice invisible friends....some have even become real flesh and blood quilting friends! To celebrate, I've got a Fat Quarter Fabric Pack, donated by OldCountryStoreFabrics.com , to give away.

 I used a Fat Quarter Pack just like this to make this Disappearlng Nine Patch quilt top. The Pack contains eight fat quarters of Moda's Happy, by Me and My Sister Designs. I added 1/3 yard of black and white polka dots as the 9th fabric in the nine patch blocks. (It was the center square, in case you are interested....why didn't I take a picture before I cut it up?!)

For a chance to win the Happy Fat Quarter Fabric Pack, leave a comment telling me if you have made a disappearing nine patch quilt. Become a follower (and tell me in a separate comment) for a second chance to win. The winner will be chosen on Monday, December 13. Be sure that your email address is listed on your profile so that I can contact you if you win.  Happy # 100!!