Fab Little pin cushion swap

The Fab Little Pin Cushion Swap is underway.
Here is the little pincushion I made for my{secret} partner

I used some scraps from The Modern She Made Swap, added a few new fabrics (solids), made a covered button and used as the base an antique pudding mold. Some contrasting hand stitching and a few cute pins. The bottom of the antique base is weighted so it will not tip over.
It's about 3 X 3" and is a perfect size to sit next to your machine or on your cutting table. It's bright and kind of wonky too (not all the pie shaped pieces are the same size). Partner I hope you like it 'cause it's ready to go into the mail along with a few other little goodies) as soon as we get the OK to send.

The April winner is…...

The April De-stash giveaway winner is Kim who said "OH my---I LOVE the looks of this box of goodies! It combines my favorite hobbies, quilting and scrapbooking! It would look lovely just as it is sitting in my yellow craft room! I do have to admit that apple green....well most shades of green are my favorite color right now! However, I do love yellow--my craft room is that color and I want to repaint our living room that color. It just makes me smile!"


Congratulations Kim! I need you to contact me as the email in 


your blogger profile comes back to me as no longer in use,
  
and I need your mailing information. If I don't hear from you by


the 25th (mailing date) I pick another winner. Please everyone


make sure you email/ contact information is current!!!!!!




Everyone else check back here May first for month number 5 of de-stash giveaways! And good luck!!!

Last day for the April Give away

This is your last chance to get your name in for the April De-Stash Giveaway.

 Go check it out here…….

Modern She Made

The Modern She Made Swap is underway on Flickr and I have now made the finishing touches on my partner's pillow.

I started with the idea of using a traditional block, Jacob's coat, in my partner's requested colors and linen.

(We have to incorporate a circle somewhere in the project, hence the block selection). It was well received, but once I  decided on the size, traced, cut, ironed, turned edges, used glue (yup, a first for me), basted and then hand sewed the pieces to the linen background, it still seemed to be missing something.

So, being someone more daring in my quilting life than in person, I shrunk the petal size by 50%, and repeated the whole process adding a secondary layer to the pattern. I finished the "block" by adding a central hexi and coordinating hand stitching.

Variegated teal embroidery floss
Central hexi

Hand stitching detail

More hand stitching

 By the time I was "done", it didn't feel much like a Jacob (coat or any article of clothing for that matter), to me anymore. It's more like Jacqueline (the feminine of Jacques which is the French form of Jacob). A touch of French influence might also have something to do with the fact that I spent a delightful several hours at the YSL exhibit at the Denver Art Museum with a friend on Friday. Leave it to the French to add drama and a large dose of flair to just about everything.

So, without further adieu……may I present Jacqueline……..

Jacqueline, (modification of Jacob's Coat quilt block)
12 individual quilting cottons in teal, aqua, yellows and greens backed in natural linen
finished size about 20" x 20"

boxed corners

Hand stitching close-up, tres chic.

Central Hexi, with what else…. French knots!

The back
I used the remaining half scale "petals" and did a modified Orange Peel Block (also circular) on the back
The design mimics the fabric, just on a grander scale (oooh la la)
Hand stitching details in the linen portion of the Orange Peel Block

So, partner, I lacked an appropriate pillow form for this beauty BUT a regular rectangular bed pillow stuffed inside makes an adequate substitute. I sure hope you like it. My fingers are sore from all that hand sewing but I sure did have beaucoup fun making it for you!

Some much belated thanks and a belated Congratulations to Leanne

Some months are just beyond your wildest imagination. March 2012, for example. First ( some of this is old news, but an integral part of the story so bear with me), I won the Quilt category in the Tangerine Tango Challenge. Then I enter a giveaway at She Can Quilt  (Leanne won the mini Quilt Category of the Tangerine Tango Challenge)

and win 7 really sweet FQ's from Leanne. (On St. Patrick's day no less- I should be Irish).
Fabric provided by Jennifer at Dragonfly fabric who then……….

………. throws in the FQ of that cute dog/swing and tree, just because she thought the other 7 FQ's might just need some company. Then I win a Riley Blake pattern give away from Amy at During Quirt Time and to end the month, the one that still finds me shaking my head in disbelief………. the very same quilt that won the Tangerine Tango Challenge 

was selected to be part of the Modern Quilt Guild Showcase 2012 during the International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston Texas this coming November. All in one month.
I LOVE March.

Pretty {little} Pouch Swap - spring

Linen, over embroidered for texture, rainbow fabrics and some random buttons. The wrist strap is removable. Hope it suits you partner. You should have it soon by now. (Didn't want to ruin your surprise).

Easter….Spring

Have a most wonderful weekend.

Table Top Swap- napkins with a twist

Who knew an 18" square could be so time consuming……
This is what I learned:
1. reversible napkins are nice, 2 looks for the space of one

2. no matter what, if you're using 100% cotton and 100% linen you will have to iron
3. I am not a matchy- matchy person, but it's nice if the set of napkins "go" together

4. I get into a project if I happen to like the same colors as my partner
5. wash and dryer-dry all your fabrics before you start your project, especially if you are using linen
6. napkins use more fabric than you think (especially if they are reversible)
7. use your imagination- even though they are napkins, you will see them every day!

Hope my partner likes these- they were made in her requested colors and some of my quirky inability to make the exact same thing twice. Bon Appetite!

April De-statsh Giveaway is here!

I can't believe it's April. Thanks for all the lovely comments about what spring flowers and trees are blooming near you. Universally, most people are experiencing an early spring and it was fun to hear what's surprising you in your neck of the woods. For April…...

The box will have a few more Yellow goodies to fill her up, but you get the idea!

This month you need to leave a comment telling me your favorite color ( I may sneak a little something in that color in your box of goodies.)

This month- US mailing only, but everyone, please feel free to tell me your favorite color- who nows I make sneak a small bundle of fabric off to a far away place.

Details for the 2012 Monthly Giveaway:

I will post a photo of the give-away each month during the first week of the month- so check back often, so you don't miss out.

You will have until the 21st of each month to leave a comment.

Leave only one comment per person.

I will pick a winner and get your package in the mail by the 25th of each month (postal holidays and weekends excepted). (Make sure you don't fall in to the no-reply blogger category- if I can't get you I'll pick someone else).

I know some of my followers are outside the USA. Because international postal rates abroad are much more expensive I will be doing international mailings only a few times during the year (these are big packages and costly to send). Please know- I haven't forgotten you and appreciate your following me- I really do. So, I will specifically post whether the monthly destash-give-away is open to international entries on any given month.

Thanks for all your support and good luck in 2012! Remember 9 chances remain to win this year- Go for it!!!