"Winner" Birthday Giveaway

And the "Winner is" Pat from A Little of This and a Little of Pat. Thank you Pat for your entry and Birthday wishes. Send me an email with your address and I'll send the package off to you this weekend.

Thank you to all of you bloggers out there who sent Birthday Wishes my way! I've visited most of your blogs and I'm fasinated with all the fabulous projects.

Birthday Giveaway!!

This post will remain at the top of my posts until the giveaway ends.
For current posts please scroll down.

It's time for my first giveaway!!! My birthday is this month so I thought it would be fitting to do it now. To enter, become a follower and leave a comment for your first entry. Mention my giveaway on your blog and leave a comment including a link to your post and get a second entry. If your friends or blog followers mention that they saw my giveaway on your blog I will give you a third entry! Now how's that for easy to get three chances to win this lovely fabric!!

The first item in the giveaway is the fabric in the photo. It has four rose squares that are the same on the other side. My favorite color is green and I love flowers so when I found this fabric I knew right away that this would be a fun item to have in the giveaway. I hope you like it too!
The second item I've added to the giveaway is a charm pack of 40 5" fabric squares from Kaffe Fassett that are just beautiful bright colors that would make a lovely quilt. You never know, I just might add a few more items before the giveaway deadline to add a little element of surprize for the lucky winner!!

The winner will be drawn on September 30th, (my birthday) so the deadline will be midnight on September 29th. Good Luck!!

September Finishes for CGQC

September has been a busy month. I returned to work after having the summer off and I've really had to push myself to get back in the swing of the 9 to 5 work week. Every extra minute I have I try to get to my sewing projects in hopes of getting some of those Christmas gifts done.

Aside from my birthday this month, we also celebrated the birthdays of two of my children. It's been a whirlwind of activity around here. Anyway, here are my September finishes for the Charming Girls Quilt Club.
I finished this quilt at the end of the week. It was really easy quilt to make but it seems like it took me forever to finish it with the little increments of time I had to work on it. But it's done now. It reminds me of some curtains my mom had in the late 60's, it's the floral pattern fabric I guess that takes me back.

Next on my list was to finish these pillow cases I had been wanting to make for quite some time. They came together quickly once I got to working on them.

And last, but not least, is the blanket I finished for my other grandson. It was actually my first finish this month. Poor kid was the last of my three grandsons to get his blanket and boy was he on me every time he came to visit.

I've also been working on my mini quilt for the exchange and on 20 star point Christmas squares for another exchange I'm participating in. I must say that the pressure has been on when I think of all I have to do to make the deadlines. But I can now say that I'm feeling sure now that I can get them all done.

I took tomorrow and Wednesday off to celebrate my Birthday (which I'll probably spend in my sewing room) to just relax and leisurely do whatever I want.

Reflecting

Like almost everyone, when I woke up this morning, I remembered exactly where I was on this day in 2001. On 9/11/01 I was in a hotel in Phoenix, Arizona with my mother and sister-in-law. We had stopped to get some rest on our way to a funeral in El Paso, Texas when we heard the terrible news. As we got dressed and started back on our journey, things around us seemed chaotic and we no longer felt safe. We felt distressed and confused, and wondered if we should just turn around and go back home. We thought we can't do that, (it was my mother's sister who had passed away and she had to be at the funeral) so we just kept traveling.

Today, I spent some time reflecting on just how vulnerable we felt that day and how much I missed my husband and family who were at home worrying about us and our safety. It sure was a scary trip and one I'll never forget.

The loss of so many people that day will forever remain in our hearts and prayers and we will never forget the heroic efforts of those who fought to save the lives of all those who were injured.

September Projects for the Charming Girls Quilt Club

I know this is last minute but I do want to participate in the September Charming Girls Quilt Club this month. Here are some pictures of the projects I hope to finish along with a list of other projects that I didn't take pictures of. We'll see just how much I can get done.

This is a rail fence quilt that I need to get finished for a friend. The only thing complete on this one is the squares. I've got to sew it all together, add the borders, the batting and the back before I can say this project is done.

The second project that I've been hoping to complete are some pillow cases. I beige fabric is for the case and the gold and burgandy are for the accent trim. I'm making these for my bedroom.

The third project is the quilt I still need to finish for my grandson. The top is done, but I still need to embroider his name on it, add the batting and the back. I hope to get this one done first, actually. I thought the three day weekend would give me the time I needed to finish it but I had a full house of family and friends until just a few hours ago.

I hope you all had a great Labor Day and good luck you CGQC ladies with all your projects. Happy Sewing.

San Diego Quilt Show

This month is the San Diego Quilt Show here in Southern California. There will be three days of absolute fun viewing the quilts and art of some of the most talented quilters around. Click on the site for more information including admission fees, exhibits, displays, quilt entries and general information.

August Charming Girls Club Finishes

The blue quilt top blanket (started back in April or May) was made for one of my grandson and then his little brothers (the twins) asked where their blankets were. They're a year younger and I had planned to make them each one for Christmas but because they were feeling left out I had to go to work on theirs now since they made me feel pretty guilty.

I quickly started on the second one (the green one) and finished it in about three days, complete with his nickname embroidered in the center.

I'm currently working on the last one for the other twin. I don't think I'll get it done till next week, but I'll give it a good try. The front is almost complete but I still need to add the batting and the back. We'll see how far I get. I keep getting side tracked and working on smaller projects.

(Check out the orbit in the picture with my grandson. I've heard of people finding them in their pictures but this is a first for me.)

I'm also finished the red lap quilt for myself. My legs are always cold. I'll get a lot of use out of it when we sit outside in the evening. Thanks to the CGQC I've completed a number of projects that I had put aside.

"Tutorial" Sewing Machine Cover

Sewing Machine Cover made from a pair of used jeans. Follow the instructions below to make one for yourself. Be sure to read all the steps in the instructions before you begin so that you know what will come next and how easily it comes together.

Steps to Follow:

Get yourself a pair of used jeans (I used a size 14 pair of woman's jeans).

1. Cut the legs of the jeans off just below the crouch.2. Make sure the the bottom piece you cut is straight (see above photo) so you can either hem it or add trim later.

3. Stitch a straight line down inside front of the jeans just below the zipper to remove the crouch. Trim off the excess piece. (see photo below.)

4. Measure the waist of the jeans laying flat and add 1.5 inches to that measurement. (My waist measured 16" and I added 1.5 inches which made the total 17.5 inches*)

5. Mark a piece (using the leg of the jean) 5 inches in height by the length you measured *mine was 17.5 inches. (my piece was 5"x17.5") See photos below.

6. After you've cut this out, round off the four corners as shown in the photo below.

7. Make sure your jeans are inside out and pin the cut piece along the back of the waist just below the waist band. Sew along this piece, stitching just below the waist band. Tip: fold piece in half to measure your placement. Place fold on the center below the waist band and pin.

8. Now remove your pins from the back part and pin the front and sides, pinning darts down around the sides to round the corners on both sides. Now sew this part (just below the waist band) and you are done with the top part.

This photo shows it pinned down.

This photo also shows it pinned down with the darts around the corners.

This photo shows it sewn all around with the pins removed.

This photo shows it turned right side out and how it should look. As you can see in the photo, it's sewn below the waistband.

9. Sew the hem or add trim to the bottom edge and your sewing machine cover is complete.

10. Optional: add embroidery or applique to decorate your machine cover as you desire.

This is a really fun project and the pockets on both the front and back of the jeans add storage for your scissors, bobbins, etc. I hope you enjoy making one for yourself.

Machine Cover Challenge "Here's Mine"

What do you think Jenny? Last night I went to bed thinking how can I put together a quick cover for my machine to enter your giveaway and this morning the idea popped into my head the minute I woke up.

Use a pair of those jeans you have stashed away was my thought. Who doesn't like jeans (even my sewing machine could use a nice fitting pair). I have this large stash of jeans that I try to recycle, so I went right to it and picked out a pair of jeans I thought would make a cute cover.

I cut the legs off, cut out a piece to cover the top inside the waist band, added some trim to the bottom and embroidered "Love 2 Sew" on the bottom. The pockets in the front and back add storage for scissors, bobbins, etc.

I took pictures along the way and I'm going to put a tutorial together. When I finished I thought this is a quick and easy way to turn those old jeans into a cute skirt too.

Thanks for the challenge. I now have a machine cover for my Brother C-6000.

Check out the post below for more info on the challenge and giveaway - it ends 8/31.

Here's an awesome Challenge.

Jenny over at Elefantz blog has a Sewing Machine Cover Challenge that ends on the 31st.

Stop by her blog and check it out! The prizes are great. One is pictured in the photo and the other is a great magazine. Visit her blog for more details and to view her finished cover.

I need a machine and a serger cover so If I have time this weekend I'm going to try to get one done.

Really Feeling Lucky

Can you believe that I won this cute Abbey Bag from Michelle's Quilts and Stuff for her 150th post! I am feeling so lucky these days. When I first saw this cute, and very useful tool to have in my sewing room, I thought I'm going to have to make myself one.

Then, while blog surfing, I came across Michelle's giveaway and silently said to myself, "maybe I'll be the lucky one" and low and behold I won. Thank you Michelle, you can be sure I will use it, cherish it and always think of you when I'm at my sewing table.

You have a great blog and I encourage everyone to stop by for a visit. Click here to view the creativity over on her blog.

I Love My Tea Towel!

Thanks Joan for the great tea towel! The design is so creative. You're awesome!

I am thankful to The Charming Girls Quilt Club for your friendship. Being relatively new to blogging, I had no idea that it would be so much fun and that I would develop connections and friendship with such nice and talented people who love and share the same hobbies from all over the world.

My husband and family have been amazed too at everyone's talents and the creativity we share. I hope that we can continue to share ideas and exchange projects. And you Kelly, (from the Charming Girls blog site), should be proud of the connections you've made possible through your club. I'm positive that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I'd like to share that 5 years ago I moved 100 miles from my friends and family and had to give up the groups and classes I participated in. Little did I know that blogging would bring that all back for me.

Blog Award and Tag Your It

I've been tagged by dear Glenna over at Your Fabric Place to share 10 tidbits about myself with all of you. The TAG requires me to bestow this award and task on 10 other fabulous bloggers.

I suppose this is how we get to know one another and share our personal feelings and history to help form those friendships we make through our internet conversations.

No yawns please....




1. I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we're still inseparable.

2. Make me laugh and you'll see me cry too. Somehow the two go hand in hand with me.

3. I'm extremely sentimental. I tear up when I hear a sad story or a lovely song -- go figure??

4. At age 11 my mother taught me how to sew and I began making my own clothes and patterns out of newspaper (when your body is tiny the patterns don't have to be perfect to fit, but it's another story when you develop all those curves).

5. Shoes...I love shoes. Because I have a small foot (size 5), if I find a shoe I like and it fits, I buy it. This stems from needing a pair of shoes to match a dress for a special event and not being able to find it in my size when I need it. So now I always have a pair that will work perfectly in a pinch.

6. Dieting is out of the question since I can't pass up a piece of chocolate.

7. Gardening is another one of my hobbies.

8. I love to watch Disney movies with my grand kids and play a card game called "speed" with my oldest grand-daughter.

9. I love all types of music. My husband and I can pretty much listen to anything from the oldest stuff to the most current. Even the grand kids come to us sometimes to see if we have a song they want recorded.

10. When I was younger, I wanted to change my first name to a more popular one. A phase I guess.

Hey...I know some of you were yawning out there.

I'm really just a home body that enjoys quiet time, family and friends and doing what I enjoy.

If you've been tagged, post the award on your blog and tag 10 others. Oh come on...it's not that painful.

Tag Your It....

1. I Purr-furr To Craft

2. Sew Fun Quilts

3. Ouvrages d'une

4. My Favorite Things

5. Julies Open Window

6. Quilty Mama

7. Carenaraujo

8. Stitchin with Spike

9. Erin Learns To Quilt

10. Sew Perfectly Bagged

God Bless!!