Two Prizes * Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Time!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!

Hello!!!  Let's have a giveaway!!!  I mean, who doesn't love to throw their hat in for the chance to win something fabulous?!  

Thanks to Sew Mama Sew and their Giveaway Day (or four), everyone has the chance to join the fun!  So what do you say?  Wanna give it a go?!  

Now, of course I would like you to check out me and my blog.  See what I'm about...but I get the frenzy involved in the event!  

Here is just a 'smattering' of me in fabric:

 

I'm going to have TWO prizes.  Twice the fun, right?!  I promise not to make you jump through hoops and give up your first born to enter...no one loves to jump through hoops unless you are a puppy...and the first born thing, well I guess it depends on the day!

First up is a Hand Dyed Fat Quarter Bundle.  Hand dyed by yours truly...me!  These are such a bright and happy batch!  Nearly neon, but not quite!
  

I'll throw in a fat quarter of a hand dyed linen too!  Sweeten the pot...make it worth your while!

For the Handmade Goods part...

Summer is fast approaching and the children will be out of school.  Bored to death after a week most likely!  

A pencil roll-up complete with colored pencils, a matching bookmark (because reading is important) and a mini note pad.  All 'nature' inspired for that little tiny bug of yours!

What do you need to do?   You can be in the drivers seat on this one!  I have two options for you.  

Mandatory Question To Be Entered:

#1)  Why did the chicken cross the road?  Let's not say 'to get to the other side'!

~Extra Entry~

#2)  Follow me via ~ bloglovin, instagram, Google Friends or email  ~ or if you already follow, let me know!

• This giveaway is open to everyone!

• If you’re a “no reply” or an anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment.

• Giveaway ends May 10th at 7pm CST

• I will pick two winners using Random Generator.  I will announce the winner on my blog and notify via email.   

 
So enjoy...have fun and be kind!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!

Me & My Arrow

I have been obsessed with feathers.  I know you couldn't tell...as it seems every other post I do is feather this or feather that!  This is the last one.  I'm moving on. Different colors, fabric and designs.  

This table runner was another one of my experiments.  I wanted to put a twist on the feathers and finally try to make arrow.  Testing...testing...   

15" x 45"

Here's the scoop:

Smaller feathers.  Yep!  I used Anna Maria Horner's pattern.  HERE.  I used up some of the left over pieces from the bigger feathers and had to make a few more strips.  There were a few modifications, but all in all it was the same process as the big feathers.  The feather blocks ended up being 7 1/2" x 10 1/2".  

I tried to make my very own version of an arrow, however it strained my brain and didn't turn out as good as I wanted it to.  Luckily there are others who have shared and mastered the arrow technique!  I ended up finding this perfectly great ARROW tutorial at Grace & Favour.

I shortened the arrow to fit a table runner and to have a better fit with my feathers.  This arrow is 3 1/2" x 13"  

It still needed a little extra.  Some filler.  Chevrons seemed like a very good idea.  I tried a different method for the HST's.  Something different, something new for me!  It sometimes is the little things that excite me!  I have a tutorial in the works!

Piecing together all the elements was pretty easy and straight forward.  The backing is an off-white and the binding is Kona Raffia.  

My favorite 1/2" geometric straight line quilting put the final touches this baby needed.

Next time you see feathers ~ I hope it ends up being in a quilt.  I will be making one.  Just not in the near future!

Total Opposite

It was time to shake it up!  Jump off the deep end!  Have you had enough feathers, stripes and khaki? Yep!  Me too!

How many times have you heard: 
I will not buy more fabric until I use what I have?  
I've had this fabric forever and was waiting for just the right project?  
Look what I found...I totally forgot I had that?! Or, I was wondering where that went too!

We may all be a little guilty of one or two of those statements!  Mine would be I was waiting for just the right project (and having the time).

Two birthdays ago, my dear and lovely sister Debbrah sent this gorgeous pack of goodness to me.  I love the colors, but wasn't sure what to do with them.  I hadn't used pre-cut strips before. 

I finally had enough!  I have decorated around this bundle, moved it from place to place, shelf to shelf.  My first real project of the year was going to involve these.  

As soon as I picked the block I wanted to use, I cut each and every strip.  It was so fun, I knew nothing could really go wrong.  I was safe.  I went with a very simple and perfect block for 2 1/2" strips.

12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

This is the block.  See, so simple.  

So fast.  

I pieced together an amazing back for this top!  Once I get it quilted, binding on and washed I will show it all!  Including a quick tutorial for the block!  I promise.  I have it partially finished right now! 

I used this same block when I made my husbands quilt years ago.  He still loves it and has said many times I should make another one.  The gray's, browns and purples worked so well together!  His I didn't have pre-cut strips.....how I love those for this project!

I feel like you either love or hate batiks.  Am I right?  I don't hate batiks, I just don't use them much.  I think they are gorgeous! 

So, thank you Debbrah for the wonderful gift!  You know what I love and it starts with an 'F'! 

Fabric!

LINKING:

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

WIP WEDNESDAY

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

TGIFF 

New Year ~ New Goals

And its a good thing too!  One of my goals for 2015 is to become more focused.  While I feel I'm that way with my projects, I forget to take time for other things.  Life, blog, me.  It's so easy to push things to the side.  After all there is always tomorrow.   

When you get a groove going, time flies.
Donald Fagen

My groove has gyrated for most of the year and it needs a good old fashioned rest! Maybe a little oil and a little cleaning to boot!

The short version is I plan on taking time to not sew!  Crazy talk, I know!  This is what I would like for 2015:  

I want to design.  I want to get these crazy ideas into pattern form.  I'm thinking this may be a good time to get EQ7.  If it helps...I'm all for it!

Become a better blogger.  More posting.  I want to share processes, tutorials, patterns and ideas.  Acknowledge those who inspire me on a daily basis.

Take a day or two for everyday life.  Smell the roses a little more.

I also would love to start submitting projects/ideas to quilt related magazines.  You just never know!  I was very lucky to have had two magazine features with my pillow designs. I still cannot believe it!  Maybe one day I can get a quilt featured!

I have even thought about hosting a link-up.  I know, I know.  I was thinking about something a little 'out there'.  It would be sewing/quilting/crafty-ish related.  Just different. This will be last on the list, I'm not sure I would be able to wrangle enough interest!  It doesn't hurt to think about it!

Okay, so there it is ~ my little bitty list.  I seriously am hesitant to post this list.  We all know things happen, the best laid plans sometimes go sideways. But I'll give it a go!

My first year of blogging has been amazing!  I have learned so much and as I have said before ...it's time to take the training wheels off... take this baby to the next level! 

Thank you for reading, following, commenting and encouraging.  The support I have had is amazing.  I have made some wonderful friends, met people I never would have had the chance to meet and learned a great deal this year.  If it wasn't for my Etsy shop and customers, I most likely would have never found my creative voice!

~•♥•~

I'm hoping I become a better 'Pilot' in 2015 ~ balancing is an act I'm not the best at!

Now let's welcome the New Year ~ full of things that have never been!