I love the mailman.....

because he brought me this wonderful prize the other day! I won Bagso Charm's giveaway during the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop a few weeks ago. I won this oh-so-pretty journal with hand embroidered cover. It is so pretty and I love it! She also sent me some bath and body lotions as well as 2 bookmarks, one with her kids on it! So cute!

Here is a close up of the embroidery on the journal cover. It's even prettier in person! 

Blog Hop Party Giveaway Winner!

 Judi won the Blog Hop Party Giveaway, so I will be sending these four pretty fabrics plus the Potato Chip pattern to her. I will leave the link up for a bit longer, in case you want to go back and visit some of the great blogs you might've missed the first time.

I almost finished the sampler yesterday, one border left, but no pics yet. Soon....

I will be having another giveaway since I surpassed 200 followers....what should it be? I am open to suggestions!

New blocks and last chance to win!

 I have the blocks finished for my newest sampler. I hope to get it sewn together today. I might have to go shopping for the borders later!

Conrad knows how to relax...sometimes I wish I did too! Seems like I am always rushing to complete the newest project for classes. I thought I was going to have them all finished by the time school started, but not so. I still have one more on the back burner to make for a Nov. class.  Plus this Sampler will begin in Oct. so once it is completed I need to write the patterns for it. Oh well, what would I do if I wasn't quilting?  

The Blog Party Hop giveaway is still open. I will draw a winner at 8 P.M. tonight.  I will ship anywhere, so become a follower and leave a comment on the original post. Since I hit 200 followers, I am going to have another giveaway next week. Stay tuned for that one!  Follow the link in my sidebar to check out more of the Blog Party Hop participants!

Opening day for Cut Up and Quilt!

 It was an exciting day in Council Bluffs, IA yesterday, as we welcomed a new quilt shop to town! Two friends of mine, Becky Ingraham and Kim Scott opened the doors of Cut Up and Quilt!

I wasn't there for the opening of the doors, but I heard there was a crowd of excited ladies there to greet them! In fact, they might have stormed the place!

 There is plenty of room to shop!

 Lots of holiday fabrics and the quilted models to inspire!

 They have the shop decorated in such a cute way, with kits made up for most of the models shown.

 The atmosphere here is friendly and warm. I saw it before they started and it is just amazing what they have done!

 Notions and pattern wall...lots of cute patterns to choose from.

They have many extra wide backing fabrics in a range of colors. Most that I looked at were 108" wide at a very reasonable price. You can see their magnificent computerized quilting machine through the window. It is a beauty and they will begin taking customer quilts next month to work their magic on.

 Of course I had to check out the classroom, where I will be teaching a few classes. They have a large ironing area, as well as design walls.

 My favorite corner....the batiks. They have lots of these, you can tell that Kim is a batik fan!

 I could get lost in those batiks for sure.

 They have the pattern for that cute playhouse that sits on a square folding table! So cute!

 I even loved their bags! They are recyclable and could double as a lunch bag. What's in there, you ask?

Gorgeous! They will be hosting their Grand Opening on Sept. 15. I will be on hand doing a demo using the Flying Geese x 4 ruler, which is my newest favorite ruler. I am not a ruler hound, buying up every ruler in sight, but this one is definitely a winner. I find most people do not love flying geese, and this ruler makes it easier to make them in many sizes.

Eventually they will have an online store as well, but first things first...getting that shop open so we can shop! If you are on Facebook, follow them there for the latest!

I finished another block for the new sampler yesterday, and hope to get the final block done today. More on that tomorrow!

The Blog Party Hop giveaway is still open. I will draw a winner Monday night.  I will ship anywhere, so become a follower and leave a comment on the original post. If I hit 200 followers, I am going to have another giveaway next week. Follow the link in my sidebar to check out more of the Blog Party Hop participants!

Loooong weekend and giveaway

I worked on this block last weekend. I needed some fusible web to finish it, so I got some the other night and will finish it later. I really want to get this sampler finished this weekend.

I am going to Cut Up and Quilt later today for their opening day. I am excited for my friends Kim and Becky and their new endeavor.  I might take my camera along and get a few pix of them in action!  If you live in the Co. Bluffs/Omaha area, you will have to come and visit this new shop. I will be there doing demos during their Grand Opening on Sept. 15. 

The Blog Party Hop giveaway is still open. I will draw a winner Monday night.  I will ship anywhere, so become a follower and leave a comment on the original post. If I hit 200 followers, I am going to have another giveaway next week. Follow the link in my sidebar to check out more of the Blog Party Hop participants!

Lazy night and giveaway

 We had a totally lazy night last night. I came home from work, made dinner and did nothing...all night long....nothing....this is pretty much what I looked like too, except I don't look this cute just sitting around. Hopefully I will have some energy tonight.

The Blog Party Hop giveaway is still open. I will ship anywhere, so become a follower and leave a comment on the original post. If I hit 200 followers, I am going to have another giveaway next week.

A new quilt shop and enter the giveaway!

 I didn't get any sewing done last night. I stopped out at Cut Up and Quilt to deliver my class models and they are looking good! It is really coming together and I couldn't be happier for them. It will be so nice to have a quilt shop in Council Bluffs. They had just gotten in a shipment of batiks....luscious! They have lots of blenders and some beautiful 108" backing fabrics as well. They are opening the doors this Sat. Sept. 1, and the Grand Opening is Sept. 15. If you live in our area,  you will have to stop in and check it out! Becky and Kim would love to hook you up with some fabric!

The Blog Party Hop giveaway is still open. I will ship anywhere, so become a follower and leave a comment on the original post. If I hit 200 followers, I am going to have another giveaway next week.

Sunday stuff and the giveaway

Is there anyone else that thinks this little pile of scraps is pretty? I spent yesterday working on the new sampler, which included squaring up a pile of half square triangles. These are the trimmings. I think they are pretty and look nice in a glass jar (yea, I have one filled with these...maybe I need a new decorator?)

I got block 3 finished except for some applique I want to put on it. I am out of fusible web, so it's on hold until tomorrow when I go in to teach class...I will pick it up then.

 Pretty strips of orangey-pink for the alternate blocks. I love this fabric!

Don't forget to enter my Blog Party Hop giveaway.  I will choose a winner on Sept. 4. You can find the list of participating blog hop giveaways by clicking on the Blog Party Hop button in my sidebar.

Happy Monday!

Enter the Blog Party giveaway, and last day to vote!

I spent yesterday shopping some local thrift stores with my sister-in-law...we had a great time looking around and I found a couple of great new books to read by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman. This is one of them and features a novel by each author, so should be a good chance to see if I like their style.

Don't forget to enter my Blog Party giveaway, please go to the original post to enter! You could win one of my quilt patterns plus 1/2 yd. cuts of this gorgeous fabric! Good luck! Check the list at Quilting Gallery or click on my Blog Party button on my sidebar for the complete list of Party hosts!

Today is the last day to vote in the facebook contest Are you Eleanor's Biggest Fan? My entry, Potato Chip Quilt, Bet Eleanor Can't Make Just One! is here if you would like to vote one more time. Once the voting is over, the entries will be judged and a winner announced on Friday. The prize is a trip to one of Eleanor Burn's quilt retreats....who wouldn't love to win this prize!

Today I need to start work on the rest of the blocks in the new sampler. I have the blocks figured out and am ready to start cutting, so I am excited to get to work this morning! I love the fabrics! I guess that is why I love to quilt!

Quilter's Blog Hop Party with Give-aways!

I am excited to be joining the Blog Hop Party sponsored by Quilting Bloggers this weekend. I had a little trouble deciding what I should give away, though. I have been working on new versions of three of my favorite patterns this summer, so I decided to give one of them away, but which one? (putting my thinking cap on...)

The Circle and Spin is one of my favorite to make, as it is an easier way to make circular patterns in a quilt without a lot of worry. You vary the size of the loops and things don't have to match up exactly, but you get the circular motion. I have made this one out of batiks as well as asian fabrics. It's gorgeous in  any fabric. The pattern makes a queen size quilt.

The Potato Chip Quilt is fun to make as well and very addictive. The blocks go together quickly and showcase 12 fabrics of your choice in this great, graphic design.  The pattern shows you how to make this quilt in several sizes. 

The Peas in a Pod quilt is great for a throw or baby quilt. I like the simplicity of it and you can't go wrong with a piano key border. I have made it larger as well. It's easy enough for a beginner to make, but fun for any quilter. 

                                  

Since I couldn't decide which one to give away, I decided it would be winner's choice. Plus I'm giving away these four 1/2 yd. cuts of fabric to give you a start with whichever pattern you choose.

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment on this post about which pattern you would choose if you win. I will ship this prize anywhere, so good luck! This giveaway is open until Sept. 3!

You can click on the Blog Hop Party Link here or in my sidebar to find the list of blogs participating. Hope you win some goodies!

New Sampler started

 I have been working on the design for a new Sampler for a couple of months, but keep getting distracted by the need to work on other projects. I think I have finalized the design now and have 2 of the blocks finished. I started designing sampler quilts about 8 years ago to teach different quilting techniques to students. It is more challenging each time as I try to come up with a different setting and new blocks to make.

 I am excited about these color choices and now that I have it figured out I can proceed with the sewing!

I am thinking about giving away one of my patterns and a few fabrics to get a start on it as my giveaway prize for the Quilting Gallery's Blog Hop, which begins Saturday. There's the Potato Chip Quilt...the Peas in a Pod Quilt....or maybe the Circle and Spin Quilt? What do you think? Would that entice you to enter a giveaway?

Quilters Blog Hop Party

Michele at Quilting Gallery is hosting a Quilter's Blog Hop Party that begins on Saturday, Aug. 25. She will have a list of participating bloggers so you read your way through from one party to the next. An added bonus is that each blogger will be hosting a giveaway as well, so you can also enter for lots of great giveaways! I am going to participate, but I haven't decided what I will be talking about or giving away. I will make it worth your while to stop by, though....The Blog Hop Party will run through Sept. 3. There is still time to sign up to be a part of this event!

I spent some time last night working on a pattern for a demo I will be doing next month. I need to get back to the Sampler quilt too...sewing time is harder to come by these days! I wonder if they would notice if I brought my machine to school?