Charity Quilts from one tragedy to another

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I had volunteered to be a team leader through The Quilting Gallery.  What that meant was I would collect blocks, piece them together, quilt and bind. The blocks started trickling in at the end of Dec. By the end of February, I still hadn't received quite a few even though I sent a reminder out.   I decided to make the remaining blocks myself to get these quilts completed.

Eventually, I reached out to the eQuilter Initiative (the group collecting and distributing the quilts) and asked if I should still send the quilts along once I finish them.  I think my email must have been overlooked and then I'll be honest, time ran away with me and I didn't follow up. I saw the quilts sitting there a few short weeks ago and decided I'd send them along should another need arise.  I knew that, unfortunately, there would be another natural disaster or the like. It's the sad constant of our lives, isn't it.  

I suspect these quilts will come in handy sooner rather than later now and in anticipation of a drive being organized in our quilting community, I wanted to show you these quilts.   It's amazing to me how scrappy fabrics and colors can all, eventually work together.

Quilt 1, one solid binding choice.

Quilt 2, scrappy binding.

May God bless, heal and provide strength to those who need it in Oklahoma, today. If you have a top that's in the WiP pile & without a purpose, maybe you will be able to complete it & donate when the call comes?

Becky

Swooning into the Blogger's Quilt Festival - May 2013!

Amy is at it again. I love that woman. Just in time to come back to the blog after a short break after the SMS Giveaways, Amy hosts the festival.

The main page to the festival is linked HERE.  On this main page, the individual categories will be linked since there are often so many entries.  The other bonus to that, in my opinion, is that it's more organized to see and link around to the sponsors. I love visiting and shopping at the sponsor sites, even if my wallet doesn't!

I have decided to enter one quilt in the festival and that is the Swoon throw quilt I completed late last year and measures about 54" square.  The original post on this Swoon can be found here but I can reiterate some fun facts just for this festival entry.

This pattern, Swoon, by Camille Roskelly, is a great little pattern. I enjoyed making it, I even had a brainstorm on how to simultaneously sew the HSTs for pinwheel blocks that can be used on the quilt as a partial border.

I chose the purple, blue and white fabrics first and then, searched for a background which was different but awesome. This green completely does it for me. I tested the waters a bit and quilted the various sections in different ways. I am so happy with the result!
What I'm most proud of, however, is that most corners in this quilt are as good as this one or pretty darn close.

Lastly, I choose a navy blue to anchor the whole quilt together and because this was a throw, I backed it with a lavender minkee for comfort. Isn't it neat to see all the quilting on the back? It almost looks like it was embossed.
Shortly after this was completed and mentioned my step-son's mom stopped over for a visit & mentioned she was participating in a fundraiser for her sister's support organization. It was a cancer support organization and I'm sorry to say I cannot remember which but I mentioned I just finished a quilt I could donate. When I pulled it out, it turned out the colors were the representative colors for the particular cancer support.  I would have loved to keep this Swoon but I'm much happier knowing it has helped someone who needs it.  I love quilting.

I hope you like it and if you do, please consider giving it a nomination nod. It'd be great to have it recognized but with so many beautiful quilts, I can certainly appreciate it may be a difficult decision. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the festival.

Cheers!
Beck

SMS Giveaway Winners!

Short and sweet, a big thank you to all of you who popped by and entered my giveaways. I was surprised to see such a response and I had a blast going to many other blogs and entering, even though I didn't win anything, I'm happy to have found several new blogs to read.

ETA: I need to edit this and say I did win over at Quiltbarn's giveaway! YAY, love Notworthy prints.

You know, because I have all the extra time for it. LOL

So, on to the winners.


The winner of my first giveway, for various patterns and books is
Dortha!
"dortha said...

I had a boiled egg. Nice give away."


The winner of the second giveaway, a small zip pouch with a few goodies is
Sarah!
"Sarah Macdonald said...

I love to crochet, but I'm getting more and more into sewing these days!"


CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!  

Cheers!
Becky

I should be ashamed of myself

Look to the right on the informatoin bar. Do you see that section which says "Want to, WiPs and Completed Quilts 2013"?  

I have not been adding to it. I think I completed a couple of quilts since Jan. now that I think about it so that's good and I should add them but that original list? Not a single movement has been made with it other than blocks for SIL's quilt. 

Shameful

execpt

I have just had too much fun starting new projects! Now you know why I should be, but am not, ashamed of myself. :-)

Cheers!
Beck

Stash Bash Fun! (Better late than never.)

It's been a little over a month since I attended the 1st annual Stash Bash (at least I hope it's the 1st annual Stash Bash).

I can't believe it's been that long. I came home intending to blog within a week. Clearly, my intentions are worthless. However, I am blogging now and most of this post will be photos for your enjoyment.

First a big thank you to the sponsors. I had a great time and it was so much fun trying new products.  A few of which have officially made it into my must have pile. Go check out the links, do a little shopping, do a little blog reading... it's def. worth your time.

• Oliso - oh, my lovely, lovely new iron to be!
• Stash Fabrics - Beth brought FQs for partipants to purchase & at her offered prices, I couldn't pass up an FQ from almost every fabric in the Notting Hill line! Beth doesn't yet know how much I fell in love with her for bringing those FQs.
• Pink Castle Chalk Fabrics
• Fat Quarter Shop
• Art Gallery Fabrics - Oh, oh, oh lovely fabric. Super soft and smooth. I'm a new fan!
• Our Epoch 
• The Craft Junky
• Jacey
• Karamat

Second, a thank you to the Calvin Center in GA. This was a beautiful retreat location & the staff was friendly and accommodating.

Great food, too, by this guy, Brian. Great personality, great smile & a great chef... a keeper for someone, that's for sure!

Last, thank you to Chris of Frecklemama who took the time to put this together.  The idea was a place where a large group could gather, wear PJs, sew, and chat.  It was a big success as far as I am concerned! I met some new people, learned a couple new sewing tricks (like how to sew HSTs in an another manner), saw some fabulous projects and was able to pick up all the Joel Dewberry Notting Hill prints my heart had been desiring.

While I'm at it, I should note that I drove from VA to GA. I swung by and picked up Amy of Amylouwhosews and we spent a total of 16 hrs in a car together. We knew enough of each other to feel we could manage the drive but by the end of, oh, the first hour in the car, it became apparent we would do better than manage. We gabbed, and gabbed, and gabbed.  She good naturedly grumbled b/c I asked her to bring veggies for lunch instead of chips (she made me egg salad, too!).  Of course, by hour 6, she and I were ready to admit defeat and stopped at the gas station to pick up our travelling junk food staples. I believe she's a peanut butter M&M person and some sort of large soda, I can't remember. I blocked all her drink habits out when I  experienced the worse guilt trip ever received b/c I threw out her Sonic cup (the styrofoam on, I might add!).    -sigh- I can't talk about it, it's still too stressful. If you want to know, please... go ask her.

Anyway... in pictures (many under the #thestashbash tag in Instagram as are many other participant photos) the trip went something like this!

 5am departure

 9pm arrival and Amy (center) wastes no time setting up her sewing station. Hi Chris (L) and Heather (R) and Jill (background).

I made a couple pillow cases for me and for Katie.  She made me an awesome fabric covered clipboard which I don't have a picture of b/c it's in use.

Below: Great projects have begun.

 Jill's large chevrons.

 Amanda's constellation quilt came along beautifully!

 Ali's big blocks. I am in love.

 My quilt which you will see soon but see me testing that Oliso? Yep, I'm a convert.

Laurel's bento box in bright colors.  Check out her blog for the version with the borders. Gorgeous!

There were mini instructional workshops, a trip to the fabric store, and a FQ swap game.

I also managed to get my exercising in while there and not eat too much junk. To help me, I packed my Shakeology and blender and brought protein bars, etc. I'm glad I did. I wanted to be good over the weekend but still allow myself to indulge. I think I succeeded.

It helped that my room mate is also a fitness buddy of mine and a Beachbody coach.  Meet Cherie:

She even did my workout with me on Sat. which was quite helpful in me being motivated to do it.

One more of my projects, which will have its own blog post of their own very soon. The heart is a 12" or 14" block which I spent a great deal of time doing the math for.  Now that it's done, I love it and will be writing a tutorial.

I'll cap off by showing you a full circle view of the room on the last day. We were all busy and happy little bees!

What a wonderful weekend.

Here's a list of blog posts, if you'd like to see/read about others' experiences. There may be others but I just haven't seen them yet.

1. kelbysews
2. a.squared.w
3. Drowning In Fabric. part 1, part 2, part 3
4. don't call me betsy
5. Katie's Korner - ps, here is a picture of the clipboard she made me. I have the lovely feather one now!
6. Sew Hungry
7. Throw a wrench in the works

Cheers!
Beck

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day - Giveaway 2

This giveaway is now closed. Winner will be announced soon.

I'm joining the giveaway day again. I have missed out the last couple so I decided to host two giveaways. This is the second giveaway.

This giveaway is for a handmade key fob and a zippered pouch, which I've recently learned to make and love for the quick satisfaction.  Inside the pouch, I've added some goodies, a 2in pack of Moda Bella Solids, a spool of Superior's NiteLite glow in the dark thread, the Celebrate Dreams pattern by Tweetle Dee, and most of, if not all, of a charm pack by Moda (I'm sorry, I don't remember the name but it's sweet pink, red, and white colors.)

To enter, please leave me a comment telling me what your favorite sewing or crafting activity is (i.e., do you prefer to sew clothes, kids toys, quilts, scrapbook, designing, etc.)

One entry per person and good luck! This giveaway is open to international participants and will close for all on May 10 at 5 p.m. PST. Winners drawn randomly using the random number generator.

ETA: If you are a no comment blogger or an anonymous commenter, please leave me your email. If you win and i have no way of reaching you, I will choose another winner.

 Please take a look at Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day post for hundreds of more wonderful giveaways!

Cheers!

Beck

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day - Giveaway Day 1

This giveaway is now closed. Winner will be announced soon.

I'm joining the giveaway day again. I have missed out the last couple so I decided to host two giveaways. This is the first giveaway. 

These are quilting pattern books and clothing and sewing patterns I haven't used and don't think I will.  Also included are a few fat quarters from JoAnn's that I cannot remember what I bought it for. Maybe to line a soccer bag for son #2, I'm not sure. Let's see if I can list it for you:

• Garden Lattice Quilts by Eleanor Burns
• Quilt it Yourself Booklet by Simplicity
• American Patchwork Quilting Magazine Pattern insert
• Trip Around the World by Eleanor Burns
• Irish Chain in a Day by Eleanor Burns
• Quilts for Kids to Love by American School of Needlework
• Quilts for Baby by That Patchwork Place
• Pillow Trio by ModKid
• Kitschy Corset Apron by Brassy Apple
• Ruthie's Romper by Izzy& Ivy
• Long Live Vintage Pattern book by AdornIt
• Stars & Stripes pattern and templates by Teri Henderson Tope
• Fons & Porters Printed Treasures Label Kit

Anyway, short and sweet post. If you would like, please post a comment and tell me what the healthiest thing you've eaten or will eat today is. (I like to come up with random ideas for these giveaway comments. hehe)

One entry per person and good luck!  One entry per person and good luck! This giveaway is open to international participants and will close for all on May 10 at 5 p.m. PST. Winners drawn randomly using the random number generator.

ETA: If you are a no comment blogger or an anonymous commenter, please leave me your email. If you win and I have no way of reaching you, I will choose another winner.

Please take a look at Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day post for hundreds of more wonderful giveaways!

Cheers!

Beck