Birthday Giveaway Winner 2!

Hello hello!  I am super excited to announce the winner of part 2 of my birthday giveaway.  Yes, I am a day late in posting this.  It seems I'm perpetually late these days.  Let's just blame it on my back.  :O)

The lucky winner is....

40. Josie McRazie said...

I am a follower. And if you are like me...(I am married 17 yrs, 3 kids 16, 11, 10) you are of course 26 3/4 and not a day older!! LOL No really that is all the older I will ever be! hehe Happy birthday!

I promise I used Mr. Random...it has nothing to do with her outstanding guess on my age!  Josie is the proud new owner of a Salt Air charm pack and 1/2 yard of coordinating bella solid fabric.  Congrats Josie!

I spent all day Friday finishing the Pink Pepto quilt. 

 And I've decided to rename it the Pink Beast!  This thing finished at 81" x 108."  I'm quite certain it falls into the "What was I Thinking???" category.  But it is beautiful.  Now I have to quilt it.  I don't have any pictures of it because it's ginormous.  I'll snap a few once it's loaded on Roscoe and a bit more manageable.

Happy sewing!
Vicki 

Heat n Bond Lite Iron On Adhesive

Ok, shame on me for not posting until now.  It has been a crazy week around here and it's only Wednesday.  First, I would like to say congratulations to Gwen!  She was the first to guess my age correctly!

Gwen said...I'll guess that you are 37 years old...? :-) Whatever your age is, I hope you had a wonderful day today and that the coming year is very, very happy!!! :-) Thank you for sharing the happiness! :-)

Gwen is the lucky winner of 5 fat quarters!  I'll be letting her decide if she would like batiks or prints.  Congrats again Gwen!

Let's talk Iron On Adhesives.  I'm a Steam a Seam gal through and through.  Granted, I don't do much appliqué but when I do, I always use Lite Steam a Seam 2.  I buy the 9" x 12" sheets sold in packs of 5.

I've recently hatched a plan for a quilt that has tons of appliqué {what was I thinking}.  And for some reason, I designed pieces that are larger than 9" x 12" {again, what was I thinking}.  I wasn't excited about having to piece the Steam a Seam so I decided to try a new product, Heat n Bond Lite.  I found it in sheets of 17" x 1.25 yards.  This was perfect for my project.  It's easy to use and very similar to Steam a Seam.

~Here's how to use it~

Cut a piece of fabric that will become the appliqué piece.  I'm using Amelia by Me & My Sister.

Fabric laying right side down

Heat n Bond on wrong side

Iron Heat n Bond to fabric

Once the Heat n Bond was ironed down I used my cardboard template to trasnfer the appliqué design to the paper backing on the Heat n Bond.

Cardboard template used to mark design

I will cut along the pencil lines

Next Template

Now I have 3 cut lines drawn

Last Template

I now have 4 pieces to cut out

After I get all my templates transferred to the fabric, I'm ready to cut.  For this particular pattern I used my 28mm rotary cutter to cut a small opening for my scissors.    

I used my scissors to finish cutting out the pieces.

After all pieces were cut out I was ready to iron them onto my white blocks, mix & match of course.

I put the pieces on the white block

I decided to add one more piece

Time to iron them down to the white block

Overall, this product is very similar to the Steam a Seam products.  However, I really think I'm still a Steam a Seam gal.  I was a little disappointed when I adhered the pieces to the white blocks.  It seemed to take a long time for the fabric to bond.  And I had one block that was a total pain.  I had to peel two pieces off and start completely over.  They just would not stick.  I've never had that problem with Steam a Seam.  Maybe it's because I used Heat n Bond Lite but I'm not sure.  I was thinking about not sewing around the edges and just using an all over quilt design but I don't think that will be a good idea.  I'm afraid the pieces will peel up if I don't stitch them down.

I can't wait to get the blocks finished and put together to show everyone.  It's going to be a very cool design.

Have you used Heat n Bond?  What did you think?  Please tell me if I'm missing something.  It was my first time using this product.

Happy Sewing!
Vicki

It's My Birthday! Help Me Celebrate!

Hi everyone!  Today is my birthday!  I planned on posting this morning but time just got away from me.  I've actually had a rather busy day.  I started working on another UFO and had to try out an idea I had a couple days ago.  I'm determined to finish up some of these UFOs if it kills me.

My step mom gave me some blocks that she inherited from a dear friend.  She asked me to make them into a quilt for her and left the design totally up to me.  I looked at these blocks for months.  I just wasn't sure what I was going to do with them.  I finally decided on adding a border of HSTs around each block.  I really like the progress I've made and I think she will like the finished quilt.

Here's a sneak peek...

I know it's very pink but I really like it.  I think the ivory kind of tones down the pink.  The blocks are huge!  Just thought I would share a little work in progress.

The other item I worked on today was an idea I had about a week ago.  I had to enlist the help of my husband to draw the designs since I cannot draw.  Seriously, cannot draw!  I think it will be pretty cool but it's going to go on the back burner for a week or so while I finish my UFO.

Here's a couple blocks I was playing around with today...




I think this will be pretty cool once I get it finished and put together.  I wish I had a clone to help me get things done!  The dark color is purple, not black.  I was having issues getting the color to look right.  I have so much trouble getting good pictures.

Well I submitted my quilt to the Moda Bakeshop this afternoon.  I guess I'll find out soon enough if they like it enough to put it on the Bakeshop Blog.  I'm driving mom crazy with text messages.  I keep texting her and telling her they must not like it because I haven't heard from them.  {I sent the first text an hour after I emailed them}  It's so much fun!  But seriously, I have zero patience!

Here's one more little peek at it.  I just love the finished quilt.  I think it's one of my favorites.  Hopefully they will like it too.  

Well it is my birthday and that's a good enough reason to me to have a little giveaway!  I think we should have a little guessing game.  The first person to comment and guess my age wins something!  I'm not sure what yet, I just might let it be winner's choice.  A couple of hints...I'm older than 18, younger than 75, married and have 2 kids {15 & 8}. 

I realize someone could guess the correct age right away so we'll have a second prize.  I'll draw a random number for prize number two.  I think prize number 2 will be a Salt Air charm pack and a coordinating 1/2 yard of Moda Bella Solid, Porcelain.  And I might just throw something else in for fun!  After all, it is my birthday and you all should get presents too.

 

You must be a follower of our blog to be eligible to win. 
 

~Here's how to enter~

Leave us a comment and tell us your favorite kind of birthday cake

(one entry)

Become a follower of our blog...make sure you leave us a 

comment so we know that you did

(one entry)

 

Find us on facebook and friend us or follow us on Pinterest...make sure you leave us a comment so we know that you did

(one entry) 

The giveaway ends on Thursday, January 26th at 11:59 PM (CST).

The winner will be randomly selected and announced on 

Friday, January 27th.  The winner will be contacted by email.

Please make sure you leave a comment for each entry.  For example, if you friend us on facebook and follow our blog you should leave 2 separate comments.  If you already follow us on facebook or here on our blog...just comment that you currently follow.  Also, it is important that we know who you are.  If you leave an anonymous comment we won't have a way to notify you. 

Vicki

Long Time No Blog

I know it's been awhile since my last post and I really have no good excuse for the absence.  I do have a bit of good news...I've started sewing again and it makes me happy!  Hopefully I will be quilting before long.  I'm just not quite ready.

I did work on my UFOs last week.  Ok, actually I started a new project and now it's a UFO.  {I have a sickness....I love to start new projects.  There should be a support group for people like me}  However, I almost have it pieced and ready to quilt.  I'm very anxious to get it finished because I want to submit the pattern to the Moda Bakeshop.  I have a couple sneak peek pictures for you.  I used one Salt Air charm pack and my favorite Bella Solid, Porcelain.  I just love this quilt!  It makes me happy!

I did have a quilt emergency regarding this little project.  I needed backing!  Road trip!  So, I went to the Moda warehouse in Dallas.  I. Love. Moda.  I have tons of  fun wandering around in all the bolts of fabric.  Not to mention the loads of notions they have.  It's heaven.  I was going to snap a quick picture to show you all but I was having so much fun I forgot!  I managed to find a great fabric for the backing.  Ideally, I wanted one of the fabrics from the collection but they aren't available until March 2012.  I do love what I picked out.  I can't wait to finish it and see what the lovely people at Moda think.  Wish me luck!

I also found some great solids while I was there.  And a couple prints that appealed to me because of the bright colors.

  

Needless to say, I'm beat.  Riding in the car for almost 5 hours and shopping for almost 2 was a bit much for my back.  But I survived and have a bunch of new goodies to share.  I'm currently devising a giveaway for this week to celebrate my birthday!  I'm getting old and you're going to benefit! 

Vicki

So Many Projects So Little Time

I had to do my least favorite thing today...clean up my sewing area.  I wanted to sew but I couldn't find my sewing machine.  It was buried under papers and fabric and rulers and scraps.  After two hours and a little help from my lovely daughter, I finally found my machine!  I might actually be able to sew tomorrow. I'm so excited I can barley stand it.  I haven't been able to sew since before my surgery.  I hope I remember how. 

While I was cleaning I came to a very sad conclusion...I have more fabric than I know what to do with.  More started projects than I care to count.  And more ideas than I can seem to get down on paper.  Will I ever accomplish anything other than starting new projects?  I'm not so sure.  When I think of a new pattern I can't wait to try it out.  I ripped open one of the Salt Air charm packs yesterday and I cannot wait to make something.  I was really on the fence about this collection but I have to say.  I love it!  Here's a little sneak peek.  The picture is not the greatest but I was afraid to climb up on the stool like I usually do.  I had visions of falling to the floor and injuring my new back.

Believe me the picture does not do justice.  This fabric is awesome!

So I've decided to join Quilter in the Gap's 2012 Finish-a-Long.  Maybe this will help me finish some of my UFO's.

I'm going to put three things on my list of things to finish in the first quarter of 2012.

1. Make something with my lovely Salt Air charm pack
2. Finish my dear step mom's quilt I started months ago
3. Quilt a customer's quilt

UFO1	UFO 2	UFO 3

Other non-quilt related items would include blogging more, continue to organize our blog, designing more patterns, and start making video tutorials.  Boy my list is long.  I feel overwhelmed.  I think I better take it one day at a time.

How about everyone else?  Do you have a huge list of things you need to get finished?  Surely I'm not the only quilter who can't keep up with myself.

One more thing before I go.  I've been following the 100 Days of Modern Quilting and they have a great tutorial posted today.  How to make half rectangle triangles {HRT}.  They look so cool!  I can't wait to try that out now!  Check it out...especially if you love modern quilts.

I can't wait to sew tomorrow!  Can you see me doing my happy dance?

Vicki

How Do You Like Our New Look?

You may have noticed big changes here at our blog.  I've been learning how to tweak html codes as I recover from my back surgery.  I had to have something to keep me busy since I'm not quite ready to start sewing.  I'm doing great but my back still tires very easily.  I hope you like the new design and layout.  Mom and I think it's a nice refreshing look.

I don't have any projects to share today since I haven't been sewing but we did get the new 4th Generation Hoffman Bali Pops in stock last week!  I'm so excited I can't wait to tear into the Key Lime.  It's full of greens and blues and is simply gorgeous!  Check out our website Quilting Lodge for more details. 

I guess I should have started by saying I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Ours was pretty quiet.  We couldn't go to Missouri because of my surgery so it was just the four of us here.  We've been fortunate to spend Christmas with our families the previous 4 years and being away from our family in 2011 was particularly hard.  I was quickly reminded that we're a military family and spending Christmas with loved ones is a rare and wonderful thing.  But, I did get my Christmas wish...a new back and I'm truly grateful.  I must share a picture of our sad little make shift Christmas tree.  Don't judge!  We weren't planning on being here and I did have surgery a week before Christmas.  We had to improvise...  

I cracked up when I saw that my son actually put ornaments on it!  It's actually quite comical.  It's our version of a Charlie Brown tree.  And the best part is we didn't have any clean up.   

The great news is I should be sewing again soon.  I can't wait.  I have so many projects swimming around in my head and I can't wait to share them with you!  I would like to say thank you to everyone for being patient while I'm recovering.  I know we haven't been very active on the blog but that will soon change!  I'm feeling 100 times better than I was 4 weeks ago!

I think that's it for now...I hope you enjoy our new look. 

Vicki