Oldies but Goodies Fabric Giveaway!

Everyday Beautiful is having a fabric give away. She is giving away 2 sets from her designer stash. Go check them out and sign up!

I’m a winner!

I am so excited. I was catching up on blog posts in Google Reader a few minutes ago and came across a post at http://thesimplewife.typepad.com I entered a surprise give away the other day and me and 2 others won! We had to leave a comment telling her where we are from and what we would like for Christmas. I never in a million years thought I would win (not really lucky @ drawings) So what did I win?? No idea…but I can’t wait to find my surprise package waiting for me…I feel like a kid waiting for Santa…LOL

Crazy Give-A-Way!

I think I have come across the craziest give away ever! I think Brenda from Pumpkin Patch Primitives may have lost her mind…so what is the prize??? Two fat quarter bundles and a $100 gift certificate to her store…Not all go to 1 person. She will have 3 winners if there are more than 350 entries. GO on over to http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-happy-halloween-giveaway.html to check it out and enter yourself! Be sure to tell her that Rene form Luv2Kreate sent ya!

CGQC Quilt Along - UPDATE

Guess what was waiting for me in my mail box today? My Quilt Along fabric. I was so happy to see it there. I still need to pick up some background fabric, but at least I am getting there. I haven’t decided if I am going to do a red & white version with a red & white print (saw one I loved @ the quilt store) or red & tan with a tan background. I am so worried that the red it going to fade out on the white, and I am not sure how to treat it to keep it from happening. That would be heart breaking :( Ideas? Suggestion?
 

I also finished my block for Terry’s Quilt. I put it in the mail yesterday afternoon. Here is a picture of it finished.

CGQC Quilt Along

I signed up for the Charming Girls’ Quilt Club Quilt Along, and was suppose to have my fabric pieces cut today awaiting step 2. I don’t have it done…In fact, I ordered my fabric and it isn’t even here yet. It took me a while to decide what fabric I wanted to use, and I kept changing my mind. When my fabric gets here, I will have to play catch up. It should be arriving in a day or two. I am glad that I haven’t started yet, because now I will be able to make this my 1st quilt sewn on my brand new Bernina 820…That’s right, my hubby is getting me the 820 this Saturday. I have talked to the dealer several times this week and it is all ready for me to pick up…I am so excited. I can’t wait to bring her home!

My Block For Terry’s Quilt-Almost Done

I was able to work on my block for Terry’s Quilt this morning. I wanted to go to the quilt store to pick out special fabric to work with, but with everything that has been going on here I just wasn’t able to. I did however find some fabric in my stash from another project that I was working on before the move. I had no idea what kind of block I was going to do. I have always followed patterns. I have never done a project from my imagination.  So this morning when I got out my sewing machine and fabric I had no idea what the block was going to look like finished. The leftover fabric pieces were already cut into 2-1/2 x WOF strips. I just went from there and cut out a center block from some muslin I had bought to practice quilt work. Here is what I came up with. I think I like the way it turned out.
This is the fabric I had to work with…

Here are the pieces I cut from the above fabric and muslin…

Here is the block layout…

Here is the block sewn together…

Now all I have to do is appliqué the heart and send it off!

Just wondering…

I was wondering what type of sewing setup everyone has?

• What machine do you use?
• Do you use or own more than one machine?
• Do you use a long arm to do your quilting? If not what is your method?
• Do you use your machine on a frame when quilting? If so, what frame?
• If you were buying a new machine what one would you buy & why?
• What sewing related item could you not live without?
• How do you go about creating your fabric stash?

Looking forward to reading  everyone's answers. Oh, I would also love to see pictures of your sewing room/area. I am getting ready to set up my sewing room. I have always used a fold up table in the living room, but in my new house, I am going to set up the formal dining room as my new sewing area. I don’t even know where to start!

Have a great weekend,

The past few days…

Thought I would post a few pics to show you what has been happing in my world the past few days. I have been busy!

Pictures of after the old carpet was taken out.

   

Here is the padding being installed on the stairs.

Carpet being installed in the game room.

and here is a picture of my living room with the boxes that still need unpacked.

I have managed to get all the furniture in the house arranged just the way I want it. I have unpacked and put away 27 boxes. There are still 19 boxes to go plus the stuff in the garage. Then there is always the stuff that needs hung on the walls. We have a few things that need fixed & we need to paint so there will be a trip to Lowes & Home Depot…and all this has to be done before next Thursday . My MIL & SIL will be visiting . No pressure! LOL (The painting is going to have to wait a while).

When all is finished I will take more pics of the house and post them.

Charming Girls Quilt Club—Quilt Along

I am so frustrated! I can not decide what fabrics to use on my quilt for the quilt along. I would love to make the lap quilt instead of the smaller quilt, but I can not find any layer cakes or fat quarters that I like. I am new to quilting so I really do not have a stash either. I have found a jelly roll that I LOVE LOVE LOVE…all small print reds that would look beautiful on a white background and just perfect for my living room. I don’t have the pattern as of yet so I am not sure If I would be able to use a couple of the jelly rolls to make it work for the bigger quilt…sigh.

Homespun Magazine???

Does anyone know where I can get a subscription to Australian Homespun Magazine here in the US? I wouldn’t mind purchasing a few back issues either. I looked on Amazon and the subscription was around $250 and I believe that was for just 6 issues…my eyes just about popped out of my head! There is no way I am paying that amount. I know there has got to be a way for me to get my hands on that magazine without going broke.

Charming Girls Quilt Club

I am not getting to participate again this month as we still do not have our stuff. The truck is suppose to deliver it all on Tuesday. I can’t wait, but then I have the daunting task of putting it all away… I will be setting up my machine quickly so I can piece my block for Terry’s quilt, but after that I will have to focus on getting the house put together. We will be having our first official house guests Oct 15-19. Doesn’t give me much time. I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s projects this month…have fun. I can’t wait to join you all again!

This is a test…

I redirected my blog to my own domain and use Windows live writer to publish my posts. This is a test to make sure that everything is working…please ignore!

New sewing machine??

I am convinced that I need a new sewing machine. I have a simple singer 7436 ingenuity. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have the Bernina 820. If you have one I would love to know what you think about it and about how much you paid for it. I am not quite ready to see a dealer (for one I haven’t quite convinced hubby that I need one, although I am warming him up to the idea of a new machine). I know the 820 is going to be a stretch for him as far as prices go (not because we can’t afford it, but because it isn’t HIS hobby! LOL). I am also interested in information about any other machine that you may have that you absolutely love and would suggest to a friend. I looked at the Pfaff Quilt Expression 4 today at a local quilt shop, but it doesn’t seem as wonderful as the Bernina. I want to buy a machine and be happy with it for a long long time. I would hate to buy an upscale machine and then in a few years wish I had something better…

From what I see about the Bernina 820 that I really like is the 12 x 5 arm for quilting. I thought I might want a Bailey long arm machine to just do my machine quilting on and still piece my tops with the singer, but after looking at all these wonderful machines I really want a new sewing/quilting machine, not one with just a straight stitch.

Help Please…

I am needing some help. I am relatively new to quilting. I have created some things but they were all created strictly following a pattern. I am needing to create some 9-1/2 square inch blocks (unfinished) for Terry’s quilt. I am at a blank…I could really use some ideas or help…PLEASE! I am trying to figure out my block(s) and decide on fabric so I will be ready to get them pieced as soon as my sewing machine gets here next week. I think the deadline to have the blocks turned in is Oct 28th.

Closed on the house!!!

Great news, we finally closed on the house yesterday…what a pain in the rear this move has been. I had a slight emotional breakdown Sunday, and my hubby thought I had lot my mind. I feel silly now, but man almost 2 months of this has been insane. I was relieved when we made arrangements to rent the house until closing (I was about to pull out my hair living in the RV, which we are selling now, btw!), but living in a house that is completely empty for 2 weeks has been pretty trying too. I am just so relieved that it is finally going to come to an end. We had the house measured for carpet yesterday afternoon and they will be laying it Saturday or Monday, then Bring on the boxes!!!!

One of the other challenges for me in this move has been the loneliness. Scott gets up and goes to work and the kids go to school and I am here alone, and they don’t “get it”…don’t get me wrong, I love being home. I believe that I am blessed with the greatest job there is, but when you move to a new city and you’re home alone all day, there really are not too many ways to meet people. I feel socially retarded. I don’t even have the first clue as to how to go about making friends here…and then to top it off I don’t have my usual places I like to go…so, I think here in a little while I am going to get in the car and plug a few addresses into the GPS and try to find a few quilt stores. If anyone lives in the Houston area and knows of any great little quilt shops/groups/classes I would love to know about them! I live in League City and haven’t gotten brave enough to drive into the City alone yet, so I really would like to find some close to home :)

Prayer for a Friend….

My long-time online buddy Terry of Terry’s Treasures could really use your prayers. Her husband was in a horrible accident earlier this week. He is in the hospital and looking at a very long recovery. Terry has 2 kids and I know this is going to be a very tough time for all of them. Please, please, please keep them in your prayers. Her husbands name is John for those wondering. For the past few days I have been trying to figure out something to do for her to show her my support. She said she has had many volunteer to help with food and the such. I don’t live near her so I have been at a loss as what to do. I was pleased this morning to find out that there are some out there that are going to be contributing blocks for a Friendship/Love quilt for Terry and her family. I love this idea, and as soon as my stuff gets here next week and I can get my sewing machine set up I will be creating a block or two to add to the quilt. If you are interested in contributing to Terry’s quilt head over to A Yankee Quilter @ http://ayankeequilter.blogspot.com/ to find out all the details. The link will take you directly to the post.
Oh yes, Laurie from http://ayankeequilter.blogspot.com/ will be giving away a jelly roll to one lucky person. You don’t have to be a quilter to be eligible, just help spread the word.