w.i.p.

Short and sweet this week, 

lots of projects, not a lot of sewing getting accomplished

12 more days of school till summer has a lot to do with that ..

May blocks for do.good stitches BELIEVE circle

The basted quilt top currently on my sewing table to be quilted..

The pile is getting smaller and smaller! 

Which is good because after seeing all those new lines coming out of quilt market.. I can't wait!

I'm linking up with Lee

Also, don't forget to check out the bloggers featured this week on the Blog Hop!

May 29

    Heidi from Fabric Mutt

    Amy from Amy's Crafty Shenanigans

    May 31

    Jodi from Tickle and Hide

    Jennie from Porch Swing Quilts

200th post?!

I just realized that I hit the 200 post milestone! woohoo! Thanks to everyone that supports and reads my ramblings :)

Quick post today with an update to my Halloween ABC sampler (pictures from the weekend sewing aren't completed yet, later this week) I haven't been working as diligently as I should, but the letters H & J have made an appearance!

Making progress..

Only 4 workdays this week and i'm already looking for Friday!

It's definitely summertime!

:)

SMS winner

Alright, so we're back from the weekend and I sat down to (a.) number my comments (b.) determine my winner. I had my sister pick a number this weekend between 1-540 (um, WOW) -- she chose #352 (her horseback riding number), I could have killed her for not choosing something smaller.. oh well.

Luckily, Jenelle has this AMAZING tutorial and I was able to update my comments super quick -- make sure you check it out if you need help!

On to the winner -- no. 352 was..

Anna -i'm emailing you to get your snail mail information

Thanks all, i'll be back with some sewing progress this week 

:)

Summer Blog Hop

I wanted to let you all know about this fabulous blog hop that will be taking place all summer. Beth from Plum and June is the mastermind behind it. The idea is to involve bloggers that have been blogging since 2011-2012 and twice weekly two of these blogs will post a tutorial for you to try!

I was a bit late on the uptake, its been a hectic week.

We started this week Tuesday, May 22 with

 Kelsey from Kelsey Sews

    Erin from Billy Button Designs

and Today, Thursday May 24 is

    Nik from Bold Goods

    Alyssa from Pile O Fabric

Each week on Monday Beth will be posting the schedule of bloggers for that week, she 

is also highlighting events that people are hosting and blog posts that people are linking up. 

If your a newish blogger, or have been blogging for a while, this blog hop is a great way to meet some new bloggers and get some new ideas, so I strongly encourage you checking it out!

Nik has a gorgeous baby blanket tutorial today and Alyssa has a great idea for a kids bag (hmm anyone have kids that are doing a summer reading program at a library? PERFECT for that!)

So go check it out!

Sometime in July I'll be a stop on the blog hop as well 

:)

Are you a No-Reply?

I'm completely blown away by the response to the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day

But i'm also blown away by the number of NO-REPLY bloggers :(

If I can't get in touch with you, i'm going to redraw a winner!

It takes 2 seconds to check 

There are some great tutorials here, and here (this one has pictures)

So please, please check it out, i'd hate to have to redraw a winner on Friday!!

:)

Follower Friday - Katy!

If you're in the US, I hope you're having an enjoyable Holiday weekend,

if you're international, happy weekend!!

We have one of my bloggy friends with us today,

someone who I can always count on for a mocking tone and sarcastic comment

to get me in gear and finish a project :)

Katy!

Specs:

Name:  Katy

Family:  Young, free and single.  Of course if you know any eligible bachelors…

Location:  Glasgow, UK

Blog: http://thelittlestthistlecraftshop.blogspot.com/

Flickr:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16152177@N06/

Twitter:  @littlestthistle

Etsy:  My shop is empty right now, I am trying to rectify that!

Day job:  Software test lead

Dream job:  Running a B&B with craft and photography courses in the Highlands or on the west coast of Ireland

What are you working on now?  Too much!  Retro Flowers QAL, Zakka Style QAL, Purse Palooza, tutorials for a couple of places, and 3 bees to name but a few things…

Favourites:

Place:  The area around Mont Ventoux in Provence, France

Movie:  Sweet Home Alabama

Food:  Totally depends on my mood, but I love Kernel Season’s white cheddar seasoning on air-popped popcorn and a little butter.  You can’t get the seasoning in the UK (I got hooked on flavoured popcorn when I was a high school exchange student in Canada) and I get care packages sent over to my from the US by a network of friends

Way to spend a Friday night:  Out for a few drinks and dinner after work with some friends, then come home and do some relaxing sewing in front of some programmes I’ve recorded earlier in the week, usually crime dramas

Fabric line:  Toss up between Tula Pink’s Prince Charming and Lotta Jansdotter’s Echo (btw have you seen the upcoming Bella line?  WANT!)

Colour:  Blue

Designer: Lotta Jansdotter

Project completed by you: I’m loving my Retro Flowers quilt

Project when you need a quick finish:  No particular favourite, but I’m loving the Zakka Style book, and can see myself grabbing it often in the future for a variety of wee gifts

Least Favourites:

Colour:  Sludge colours

Fabric line:  I’m not really a fan of civil war prints, batiks and Kaffe Fasset stuff

Project completed by you: OMG, I’ve created thousands of things over the years, and I like to think I improve with each new thing (which loosely translates as, ‘I wouldn’t like to narrow it down’ lol)

Big plans for 2012?  Not really, although I’d like to get my act together and get some patterns up for sale

Swooooooninggg

Swoon, swoon, swoon. I've made LOTS of swoon blocks since getting the pattern last year.. but still no finished Swoon quilt. Yeh, story of my life. To recap..

Bright and cheerful... and one short :(

Well, my mom saw these blocks coming together and demanded asked nicely

if I would make one for our beach house

OF COURSE!

Mom's favorite color is blue and dad's is yellow..

And this is how they sat.. 

UNTIL

this weekend!

Completed quilt top!

I'm even happier to report that its basted and pinned

and i'm 1/3 of the way through the quilting!!

That pile is getting smaller and smaller :)

I'm linking up with Quilt story, Sew What Monday

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Don't forget to head over to Amy's blog to nominate your favorites in the Bloggers Quilt Festival!

I'm no. 366 just in case you were wondering :)

Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day!!

If this is your first time here, welcome!

Hope you come back!

If you have no idea what i'm talking about

Check out Sew, Mama, Sew because today is 

GIVEAWAY DAY!!

Everyone's linking up in their respective categories

which means LOTS of chances to win supplies, homemade goods, etc. etc.

Today, i'm in the fabric/supplies category

From R-L

Innocent Crush by AMH (9.5" x WOF)

Loulouthi by AMH (7.5" x WOF)

Freshcut by Heather Bailey (FQ)

Freshcut by Heather Bailey (FQ)

To enter:
Mandatory entry (1 entry)
Tell me about your favorite summer drink (alcoholic or not) - I need some new ideas :)

optional extra entry (1 entry)
Let me know if you're a follower (old or new) and HOW you follow (GFC, Bloglovin, etc.)

That's it, possible two entries per person.
Make sure I have a way to contact you either in the comments or through your account.
Giveaway open until May 25 - 8pm EST

Have a great day and good luck!!

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Amy's at it again with the Blogger's Quilt Festival and its in full swing! I started too look back at my quilts and try to decide which I wanted to enter.. and I decided on one of my most recent finishes.

Sorry to everyone thats getting tired of seeing it!

This quilt pushed me beyond my comfort zone with curves, with the sheer size and my quilting.

It's a quilt I made using my favorite line (DS Hope Valley) 

My previous posts on it are here and here

if this is your first time seeing it.

Make sure you go check out everyone else's quilts!!

Have a great weekend,

I'll be back Monday with some more reveals 

:)

Follower Friday

Friday's here again!

Everyone ready for the weekend??

Today with us is..

Kelsey!

Specs:

Name: Kelsey

Family: My husband Thomas

Location: Northeastern Ohio           

Blog: www.kelseysews.blogspot.com

Flickr: kelseysews

Twitter: @kelseysews

Little Tidbit – We got married on the 4^th of July!

Day job: Admin Assistant for an insurance agent

Dream job: Stay at home mom/quilt maker/farmer

What are you working on now?  I don’t have any pictures, but I just started a double wedding ring quilt from all of my scraps and I love it so far!

Favorites:

Place: Home or camping in the woods

Movie: The Blues Brothers

Food: Popcorn

Way to spend a Friday night: Playing cards at my husband’s cousin’s house (We really do do this every Friday!)

Fabric line: Ruby

Color: Green

Designer: Bonnie & Camille

Project completed by you:  My most recent finish happens to be my favorite, and I donated it to be auctioned for charity.

Project when you need a quick finish: Quilt Blocks!  Whenever I just want to get something done I get working on my bee blocks for the month.

Least Favorites:

Color: Pink

Fabric line:  Batiks – does that count?!

Project completed by you: Hmmm not sure

Big plans for 2012?

There are lots of big house projects on the list for this summer like updating our kitchen.  I’m also going to be running my third marathon!

Thanks for participating Kelsey!

I've been following Kelsey for a longgg time, she's amazingly talented!

As always, if your interested in being featured

email me at

knot.threads@gmail.com

Call for Help

Two of my friends are asking for help, both for great causes - I'm mentioning both because though they are both looking for bags, they are a bit different.

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Megan is asking for help with Beads for Courage which is an organization where Bead artisans from all over the world are making and donating magnificent beads to hospitals that treat children. Whenever the children have to go through any of their treatments, they are gifted one of these incredible beads. As they progress through whatever treatment is necessary for their illness, they gather these beads to incorporate in a string of small beads signifying their milestones. It keeps helps keep them motivated, inspired, and encouraged.

Megan's post with all the details is here - she will be setting up a flickr group and coordinating to get this going. If you can spare some time, it definitely sounds like a fun, different idea!

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My other fabulous friend Danny is asking for bags to help with a camp for kids in the foster care system. She's asking for people to make wither zippered pouches or drawstring ones. Danny says 

"This summer, we are joining forces with a new camp geared toward teenagers; a new camp that will give these kids and others a chance to experience the love and acceptance we strive for with RFKC. Teen Reach Adventure Camp (aka TRAC) is a three day single gender camp for kids ages 12-15 providing a fun-filled, outdoors experience with safe loving adults to help provide an experience that brings hope and encouragement to these hurting teens.

Every child who attends RFKC with us gets a quilt handmade by some generous donors in and around the Valley (where I live). We would like to do something similar for the TRAC kids and have come up with a few small items that we really feel will make a difference. The kids attending these camps come with next to nothing. We give them clothes and toiletries, and since the TRAC kids are teenagers, we've decided to make them bags to hold their toiletries."

If this is something you feel you can help with you can check out her blog post here - Danny is asking for people to sign up by leaving her a comment in her comments section and she will need the bags by June 18th. 

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 For the 30-60 min it might take to make a bag or two, think about how special that child is going to feel knowing that someone made this.. for them. If you can and you have the time, please try to help these exceptional ladies help others. 

:)

Wordless W.i.P.

The Final Reveal!

I worked my butt off this weekend, basting and pinning, quilting and binding.. and I did it.. it's done!
I couldn't be more happy with how my Retro Flowers quilt came out!!

I went with a pieced backing

As a lot of you suggested, I echo quilted the flowers and did a stippling on the borders

Okay, one more for good measure :)

I couldn't stop taking pictures of this quilt, i'm sure my neighbors think i'm crazy!

There you have it

and A WEEK before the link party opens! 

What?? I'm never done early!

I'm linking up with Manic Monday, Sew What Monday, Canoe Ridge Creations

and Quilt Story

More to show later this week, I've been attacking the stack of quilt tops I have with a vengeance!

:)

Mother's Day Quilt

Some of you may remember when I was making Granny Squares? Here's a refresher..

We'll i've been turning them into a quilt for my mom whose a crocheter

When I saw these blocks they seemed so appropriate!

My mom's the first person that taught me to use a sewing machine,

she made me my first quilt and helped me make another when my favorite color 

changed from pink to blue. I'm fortunate enough to be close with my mom, 

she supports me and takes an interest in things that I do.. so much so that she's accompanying me to Sewing Summit in October (even though she hasn't quilted in year!)

So this quilt is for one of the most selfless woman I know as well as one of the 

kindest, nicest and most genuine..

Here's the completed quilt!

For the quilting I kept it simple and just outlined each of the granny squares

I decided to stay completely with Domestic Bliss for this one

Even the binding!

So, Happy Mother's Day Mom!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there.. enjoy your day!

Quilt Specs:

Pattern - Granny Squares 

Fabric: Domestic Bliss

Follower Friday

Woohoo! We're back in action, my plea for help post last week for volunteers was met with many of you rising to the challenge! Thank you!

This week, we have

Deborah!

Specs: 

Name: Deborah

Family: Married with a daughter and son.

Location: Clovis, California

Blog: Simply Miss Luella

Flickr: Miss Luella

What are you working on now? I'm currently working on a quilt using Happy Mochi Yum Yum fabric. I've finished the top but I still need to quilt it.

Favorites:

Movie: Can I choose a tv show instead? I'm one of the many fans of Downton Abbey.

Food: Cheesecake

Way to spend a Friday night: A perfect Friday night would include watching Masterpiece Theater munching on a favorite snack.

Fabric line: Echo is one of my favorite lines.

Color: I love combinations with red, turquoise and orange.

Designer: Lotta Jansdotter

Project completed by you: 

Project when you need a quick finish: I enjoy making pouches or pincushions.

 

Least Favorites:

Color: I like most colors as long as they're used in a palatable  combination. But mauve is a color I don't like as a stand alone.

Fabric line:  I'm struggling to think of one. I give up.

Big plans for 2012? A friend and I have already reserved rooms for Quilt Con in Austin. I would say that's a pretty big plan!