... first pumpkin to the leaf..

to see the whole schedule check it out by clicking the picture :)

Let me just start by saying a big THANK YOU to Cherry for hosting this blog hop &
 to  Mdm Samm for everything she does here in blogland :)

October 1st Blogs are:

The Fuzzy Hat Quilter (You are Here)

The Cuddle Quilter

Quilts My Way

Country Cabin Thoughts and Crafts

Dream Quilt Create

Why not Knit

Needled Mom

On the Go Quilting

Sunshine Girl

Pam @ That other Blog

Meadowbrook

I love Fall.. Its my favorite season. It's when it gets cooler,

 we still have our warm days here in Minnesota but it's not melty hot.

 There is a crispness in the air, you can almost feel the chill of winter.

AND my favorite holiday is just around the corner...

How I love curling up with a good book and a cup of hot tea..

Now on to my block...

My block is called.. ".. first pumpkin to the Leaf.."

I designed it myself.. 

I plan on making a few more blocks and making a table runner.. 

When I get the whole project complete I'll post the instructions..

Bear with me.. things around here have been a bit crazy.. 

Our cake artist went on maternity leave last week 

Sew, I haven't had time to sew.. 

Plus... 

I'll have some GREAT news coming hopefully this week sometime

sew, stay tuned..

Now.. On to the Giveaway.. :)

I've included 3 chunks of FALL fabric (2 of which I used in my block)

 and a really cute pack of Mary & co. sticky notes

How to win:

Chance #1: Comment telling me what your favorite memory of fall is?

{Mine is making houses out of the fallen leaves (we'd take the rake to make the rooms.. then make our beds and couches out of the leaves).. when I was younger}

Chance #2: Be a follower  (new or oldie but goodie)

but, let me know please in a separate comment, please..

Gizmo & Rosie will be picking a winner on October 11th.. :)

**If you are a NO-REPLY BLOGGER.. PLEASE leave me your e-mail address**

Didn't realize that the pups have never seen pumpkins.. 

Here's Gizmo checking them out..

Rosie just sat and barked at them..  

Happy Stitches~

and remember...



Quilt Block Challange

I really wonder some days where the Procrastinator Gene came from. Neither of my parents are procrastinators, is it a learned trait?  We got back from Cold Spring last week and lately I haven't felt like doing ANYTHING.. Minus, playing on the computer. My old stand bye include : email, facebook & pinterest.  Tho, I've been playing alot of Sims 3 lately. :)   It wasn't until I was walking through the local Variety Store that inspiration hit. I got in to a conversation with the owner whom I've known for years. It's nice to walk into a store and they know your name. :) She was packaging up the 'Annual Quilt Block Contest' at the Dodge County Fair. It was something I was totally unaware of.. 

The rules are simple: available to the first 20 quilters, you MUST use all 4 fat quarters in the block (DO NOT ADD ANY EXTRA FABRIC) and make one 12 1/2" square. Next year the blocks will be sewn together and auctioned or raffled off.  So, as I walked out to my car with my treasures 'Quilt Block Kit' included.. I now wonder what kind of block I will make.. I'm really partial to 8 pointed stars and I know this REALLY cool way to make 3D flying geese..

Here are the fabrics, I'm wishing there was a cream. I showed my sisters on Sunday and we decided the closes thing to a cream would be the light blue. So, this will be a challenge for me. I love the fabrics tho.. The swirly blue, marblie green and the loon print. They remind me of the Minnesota Shop Hop Fabrics..

Anyone seen my Groove?

Oh Groove where have you gone? I haven't seriously posted or sewed in 3 weeks perhaps its been more than a month. What's wrong with me?? Where has my groove gone?? Most days after I get home from work I end up taking a nap.. We've had such nice weather here lately- regardless of last nights tornado threat.. What's wrong with me?!? 

Rosie after her much needed grooming

We got the puppies groomed a couple weeks ago.. I know your asking yourself 'What does this have to do with quilting' but I need to brag.. They look so much better..   I did start on my Art Teacher's (from HS some 11 yrs ago) Quilt..  Its a half a log cabin block. and they way she displayed them, they look like flying geese to me. And I LOVE  Flying Geese.

I think I'll have to make a quilt like this in the future.. I'm doing feathering in the the white parts and then reversed upside down in the blue parts.. I've always been my own worse critic. I want to impress Ms. F. You know??

I thought with the sewing machine light off you'd be able to see the quilting better.. :)  How does it look? but, I've always favored the back...

I love the back and it seems like my phone isn't doing the quilt justice.. I'm using variegated blues on the back and invisible on the front..  one side left and you know I'm finding that I make much better feathers when I work to the right than I do when I work to the left.. wonder why that is..

I'd gotten this print a little while ago and I need to live by it. Specially the second one 'Complain Less & Doubt Less' 

I'm still going to do a give away of some of the fabrics from the Star Quilt I did at retreat.. So please please please give me your feed back.. I'll draw a name at random when I reach 15 followers.. 

Happy Sewing!

FNSI

Finally, It's FRIDAY!!! Oh, how I've been waiting for you..  and It's my first FNSI.. My sister C has been doing them for months..SEW, I have the weekend off *happy dance* Very excited about the weekend.. maybe its because the weather has been so nice here. Around 75* today and it looks like its going to stay for awhile.  Tomorrow is the Weis/Zappa St. Joesph's Day Celebration. I'd never heard of St. Joesph's Day until I met my husband. more explanation on St. Joesph's Day Hubby's mom Kathy asked me to make aprons for those who make the rice fritters and soup. I was on retreat last weekend with mom, sister C and Kim and well didn't get to Everything I wanted. Such is life, Right? So, tonight was for me to quickly work on the aprons. .I was going to make them mind you using tea towels in the appropriate colors (red,white and green) but, lost misplaced the pattern...

I bought prem-ade aprons in red & green.. some ric rac and puff paint... Here's what I did..

For Auntie Barb

the one for me..

the one for Beth

the one for my mother in law- I think its my favorite..

And remember I'll be giving away some fabric that I used in the Star Quilt I did at retreat.. All you have to do is follow me and let me know what I can do change/better.. :) I want your opinion!!!

**Giveaway**

In honor of me getting the star quilt top done.. I'm doing a giveaway! All you have to do is follow me. Let me know what you think about my blog. Call it constructive criticism or sorts.. In about a week I'll draw names from those who comment.. What you'll win? How about the a few fat quarters? (I'll unload a picture soon)

 The puppies and I look forward to hearing your opinions!

Tweaking...

When I find a quilt pattern I like.. I will admit there are times I tweak the pattern.. This is one of those times.. When I got the *Simply Triangles* book I also got Kim Schaefer's *Skinny Quilts* I fell in love with the black & white one with the jack (I think they look like enmities)

I had gotten some black and whites from doing the Minnesota Shop Hop 2010. This is perfect only I did what I do best.. I tweaked.. The original plan was to make 3 different black and white background panels.. :)

Well that's not what happened..

I ended up cutting some 4 1/2" squares and sewing them between the panels.. :) I haven't yet decided if I'll do the applique on it yet.. maybe If I do It will just be a few...

What do you think? Let me know..

I need to add black borders yes.. but, I have to make a little trip to the fabric store.. 

Ta Da!!!

I still need to add black borders to it.. but I'm SO happy..  Don't stress about the angles..

I HIGHLY suggest this book.. you can find it on amazon.com

Quilt Retreat March 2012 Part1

So this year at retreat I didnt get as much done as I thought I would.. I remember in past years that I could stay up much later than I can now before my eyes would go double and heavy. I blame this on old age. I got to working on the "Simply Stars'' pattern.

 I really thought at first glace that I would be harder than It acctually was.. Funny how you can be sew intimadated in something but really REALLY its so much easier than meets the eye.. Funny..

First, I started by sewing my strips.. The pattern had it greens,purples, red, darker red, blue and tan.. I sometimes *not all the time* will follow the pattern colors.. This isnt one of those times.. I chose pink, blue, green and purples. I love bright vibrant colors- jewel tones.  Then, I cut templates (you can find the template fabric at like Michaels or Hobby Lobby- I would guess that Joanns would have it as well)

I sewed 6 of each color only because I was switching it up and only doing 4 colors and black borders.

The blocks themselves are sewing Y seams.. Its really not as hard as you think and don't pych yourself you, IT WILL TURN OUT.. And if it doesn't pull Jack the Ripper out and Start over..

They reminds me of paper airplanes..

The quilt is sewn on point at a diagional.. I rarely if ever put things on Point.. I may love a quilt or pattern but won't make it if its on point. (I made this one to prove to myself that YES! I CAN make it!! Mostly because T wants it.. and I needed to KNOW I could!!  I didn't use the template for the borders- didnt think that far- but cut a 4'' strip of fabric and winged it like I always do...

Yay!! Finally a WEEKEND off!!!!

Finally, after one hell of a week at the JOB.. I get a weekend off.. Oh what to do...

Day 28 of the Drop and give me 20 quilting challenge I got a little side tracked.. not by something sparkly but by an idea I'd had seen on pinterest.. Oh how I can spend hours on pinterest..   I went to the local 5&dime after work Thursday to pick out the border fabric for the Horse quilt.. The little lady who helped me was SO nice.. Armed with my fabric I headed towards the front to then get side tracked with the felt.. I saw these cute little heart bookmarks on Pinterest and thought ''I'm here, I should get this'' So...

 I made myself a little template out of some cardboard and away I went..  I don't know who I'll give them too.. I know a few people who still read actual books.. not just nooks. :)  I even hand embroidered them.. something I rarely do..  They are so so cute..              

Sew.. On day 27 of the Drop and give me 20 quilt challenge.. I was sitting in my sewing room in a bit of a funk.. You know what 'funk' you get into when you have things you SHOULD be doing but don't want to do them but yet don't really know what you WANT to work on???

Sew.. I went through my UFO box and found this wall hanging kit I've had FOREVER.. At first I wasn't really fond of the colors because they aren't colors that I would do.. you know? I switch out the drab purple they had in the kit for a more purple that I liked..  and started to sew, applique and quilt..

By 10ish I was done.. I even embellished it.. :) I have no idea where I'm going to put it or if it will be a gift but I got it done!!! I'm so proud of myself!! I even have a little hanger for it..

Now what to do today.. :-P I have the WHOLE day off.. Hubby it here too.. We don't have plans until this evening when we will go to T's for dinner.. I have a french silk pie to make.. if it works the Hubby will get one for his birthday coming up.. ;)

Happy sewing!!

Day 29 ...

I'm doing a count down for this month.. Today, is day 29 of the 'Drop and Give Me Challenge '   I did it.. Sewed for 30+ minutes this afternoon. I worked on the horse quilt. Its a total stash buster- 5 yards of fabrics.

 I love this pattern. I still have boarders to put on it but, my rows are put together. I am so cheating and using this quilt as my February project too.. Mostly because I have  NO IDEA what do for the month of February..

I have a great idea to share tho.. When you receive those fragrance gift boxes for Christmas or birthdays (or maybe you bought one for yourself at goodwill time..) Save the boxes (or mail them to me) and use them for your next project. They work great as a keeper of all those quilt top pieces. I use them ALOT when I go on quilt retreats or when I'm doing multiple projects at one time..

So yay! Tomorrow I get to start on something new.. after I figure out the borders on the horse quilt.. That shouldn't take long tho..