Quilting Recap 2010......!

Allow me to share with you a quilt I made in December 2010.

I've never been a fan of the use of fusible web for a quilt. I decided it was time I took the opportunity to justify my opinion by making a raw edge applique lap quilt using Stream a Seam lite 2.

Using one of the contemporary line from the Shoppe, I made this pattern:

Make Life go Round by Sweetwater.

However, I call this quilt Ruffled Feathers!

Why you asked? Because I used this quilt to practice my freehand feathers and some are, let's say, ruffled! lol

Although I feel that fusible web has its place in the quilting world, it's not for me. For one thing, it increases the cost of making a quilt. Would you believe I used over 4.5 yards of fusible; that's the cost of a couple of yards of cotton fabric!

To my surprise, the circles are soft and pliable. I somehow expected the quilt to be stiff!

Not sure it cuts back on the time it take to make the quilt. I still had to stitch around the outer and inner edge of the circles.

Another down fall, I had lots of odd size pieces of the fusible web. Sigh!

Given that I am not a scrap collector, less so of fusible, I had to do something with all those odd pieces....

So I made this cute little table topper!

The pattern is from Sweetwater and is called, Heart Table Mat.

Perfect for Valentine's day!

I now have my fill of fusible projects! lol Onward to something else. lol

I did mention in a prior blog entry that I would publish the winner of the quilt kit, so..... First, I want to take the opportunity to again thank all those who partook in the auction to benefit Queensland Flood Relief. You gals are great!

Drum roll please ........ The winner of the Civil War Chronicle kit is Donna from Chookyblue blog. Thank you Donna for your generous contribution.

Off to work on a quilting project! Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitude, thank yous..........!

I want to thank all of my friends who helped me get the word out regarding the auction to benefit Queensland Flood Relief. I know that I have been neglectful of my blog and I am truly grateful that you helped me get the word out. Thank you so much! You cannot imagine what this means to me. I could not have done it without you.

The winner of the Civil War Chronicle kit has been contacted. Once everything is in order, I will publish the winner. Thank you to all those who participated in this auction.

For those who were unable to bid and would still like to help, you can make a donation to the disaster relief appeal here. Every little bit counts!

Thank you again!

Queenlands Flood Appeal Auction..... please!

Hello everyone!

Quilters are amazing people, always there to help when in need. I have made some wonderful friend across the globe, many of whom are in Australia.

I am sure you have read about the devastation in Australia. It is now my turn to give back. Please help me raise money for this cause.

I am auctioning a Civil War Chronicle kit. The newest block of the month designed by Dolores Smith and Sarah Maxwell.

The kit will include the patterns (which have been written by professional pattern writers) and all of the fabrics to make this top including the binding. It will come in a beautiful canvas bag designed specifically for this quilt. Retail Value apprx $320 US.

Funds will be in Australian dollars and is open to everyone across this beautiful planet earth. If anyone in outer galaxies are following my blog, you may also bid and we'll figure out the delivery logistics! ;o)

Auction ends on January 24th, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.

How this auction works:

1. Bidding is in Australian dollars.
2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.
3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone.
5. The auction begins NOW and will END at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Monday 24th January 2011.
6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner via e-mail. The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your Civil War Chronicle kit.

Thank you so much for helping to raise funds!

Happy bidding!

Quilting Recap of 2010 ......Part 1!

Last year was a busy year for me in terms of completing projects. I must admit, one of the positive perks of owning a quilt Shoppe is the motivation to finish projects, as they become displays for the Shoppe! A draw back, if there can be such a thing as a quilt Shoppe owner, is the lack of time to complete the projects started prior to my ownership! Although I have the opportunity to work with new fabrics all the time, the stash sits there patiently waiting for their time to be a star in a project! Sigh! Somehow, I think I can live with that, for now anyway! ;o)

I have mentioned that I had been a stitchin' fool in 2010 and it does not appear to be letting up! lol I have lots of new hand embroidery projects that I want to share with you, but first, allow me to catch up with 2010.

This cute little quilt is from a pattern designed by Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin called Cold Nose Warm Heart.

I made this quilt for a Secret Santa swap! I belong to a primitive Folk Art group and we had a gift exchange!

I just love Stacy West's patterns. They are just right for my prim taste! ;o)

I used some homespuns for the border and binding. It had been a while since I played with homespuns!

I just love them! Guess what is now expanding at the shoppe? lol Yea, the homespun collections! lol

I must blame this new expansion on Linda from Plain and Simple blog. lol When we met last year, she began re-igniting my passion for homespuns. Thanks Linda! ;o)

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you a wonderful day! Cheers!

Is there anybody out there..........?

Did you listen to Pink Floyd in your youth? Well I did, as a matter of fact, I went to their Animal concert.... I'm dating myself again! lol Anyway, the line is from The Wall album. It's an album that must be listened as a whole to be understood. I mean, they did have a few single hits off of it but it really was a story presented in the form of music. Okay, enough about music in the 80's! lol

On the quilting front, I have been extremely busy. I do want to apologize for the deficiency of posts. It's really not for lack of projects to blog about, but more about taking the time to write.

On my last quilting post, I mentioned a list that I keep of the projects I start each year. Well, according to my 2010 list, I started 26 quilting projects and have finished 20. Of the 6 (six) left, I hope to get those finished soon! All that to say, stay tune for future post on what I've been up too! ;o)

Last year I participated in 2 (two) gift exchanges, one of which was the annual SSCS organized by Donna of Chookyblue. I've been participating in that swap since I first started blogging and have always been pleased with my Secret Santas. This year is no different!

My Secret Santa was Bec, an Australian, from Oh Sew Busy blog! As you can see, she made me this beautiful lap quilt that already has a place in my living room. I just love the fabrics she used.

She also included a quilting kit and a tea towel made in Australia.

There was also a cute wool ornament, but it has been put away before I had a chance to take a picture. This year, DH took the tree down way too early for my taste. sigh!

Thankfully, you can see it on Bec's blog as she did post a picture! Thank you again Bec, the quilt is gorgeous!

The other swap is from a primitive group I belong too. This is my second year swapping with that group. My Secret Santa was Debborah from Woollen Sails.

Unlike with Bec's gift, which sat under the tree for what seemed an eternity, I cheated with Debbie's gift and opened it as soon as I received it! lol

This is what Debbie made for me! Aren't they sweet! She has that "prim look" so well done!

One of the ornaments is an original pattern that she has offered as a freebie on her blog. You may check it out here!

I you can see, I have just been spoiled again! Thank you again Bec and Debbie for the lovely gifts!

As for a New Year's resolution, I will resolve to post more often! I love blogging and I have made such wonderful friends! There is no excuse for the neglect!

Thanks for stopping by my little corner in cyberspace! Cheers!