Dust Off a Quilt Book Blog Hop

Well now...I have Bea to thank, for making me clean up my sewing room.
When she suggested this hop, I was all for it...
until I realized what I mess I had!

Books were piled everywhere and getting to the bookcase,
 was a disaster in the making!

The shelves were a mess...

But after a day of cleaning and sorting...
There's even a path to that bookcase now...let the fun begin.
Quilt Book Roulette!
Round and round and round she goes...where she stops...

Oh, this is a good one.
And, it's been on that shelf for years!

This book has you piece your background, then add appliques on top.
I pulled out my hand dyes, and went to work.
It's a terrible photo...
The colors are much brighter...but I will talk about that later.

Then flowers and leaves...

and these big gorgeous blooms!

Made for a garden that commands attention, from all of the room.
I can't believe this book sat on the shelf for so many years.

 I got to play a little with "thread painting", which was a blast!

I mentioned the color of my background...
and I know you can see a big difference in my photos.

In the midst of this, I bought a light setup.

It makes me laugh, it's so professional looking... for me anyway!

It really is amazing how much difference good lighting can make.

There is going to be a learning curve I'm sure, but I'm liking things so far.

No more playing with the colors in my photo program.

YAY!!

I'm "sew" glad that Bea helped me find this great book in my stash.

It isn't going back on that shelf anytime soon. 

There are some really fun things I just have to try!

NOW...

in that process of cleaning off my shelves...

I am re-homing a few things, I know I won't use again.

The "Creative Expressions" is a Jenny Haskins machine embroidery magazine from Australia. 

It is a complete set from Volume 1-28.

They ranged from $9 to $12 while they were available here in the USA.

If you are interested in this "set" please contact me,

Calicojoan@aol.com 

and we can negotiate.

For the other 2 books...just pay the postage is all I ask.

First come...first serve on these 2.

;-)

I have a feeling this is going to be a use it, or loose it year.

So keep an eye out...you never know when I've got something else,

 that needs a new home.

Up to and including kids, pets, hubby...(just kidding)!

But once I get thru all these books.....

Make sure you visit my fellow blogger, and see what they have to share.

Monday Feb 18^th

Turid at densyendehimmel

Pamela at Pamelaquilts

Joan at Moosestashquilting

Anne at seems like a plan

Susan at Desertsky Quilting

Selina at Selinaquilts

Kathleen at Kathleenmcmusing

Tuesday Feb 19^th

Cindy Stitchin at home

Jennifer at curlicuecreations

Stephanie at stephjacobsondesigns

Kathy at Kathysquilts

Shasta at high road quilter
Theresa at bumbleberrystitches

Wednesday Feb 20^th

Sharon at Vrooman’s quilts

Suzy at Websterquilt

Nancy at patchworkbreeze

Brenda at songbirddesigns

Karrin at karrinscrazyworld

Denise at craftraditions

Thursday Feb 21^st

Anita at Domestic Felicity

Leanne at Devoted Quilter

Jennifer at Dizzyquilter

Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks

Lee Anne at Podunk Pretties

Andree at quiltinglearningcombo

Lyndsey at Sew Many Yarns

Friday Feb 22^nd

Bea at Beaquilter

Barbara at Bejweledquilts

Laura at slice of pi quilts

Sherry Powered By Quilting

Pat at Life in the Scrapatch

Carol at Just let me quilt

Kathy at Kathy's Kwilts and More

Marian at seams to be sew

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

Happy Valentines Day

Won't you be mine?

I'm all puckered up and waiting for you!

And if that doesn't scare the bejeebers out of you, I don't know what will!

LOL!!!!

These sweet little gnomes are from my "Island Batik" scrap bag.

There is nothing I love more, than getting a fun little projects out of my scraps.

The pattern is from Angie's Bits and Pieces

HERE

As for these hilarious Chocolate lip cards...

Well, the are from Palmer Chocolates.

I just couldn't pass them up.

Let's just call them an "impulse" find!

Have a wonderful Valentines day!

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

Announcements...It's Gonna be a Big Year

My Pinterest board has been updated,

which was no easy task for this old mind!

Yes, I can see all the kids out there, rolling their eyes at me!

LOL!!

but I love it, and as you can see...

This new board shows not only my viewers, 

but changes the header with my latest posts. 

Is that just too much fun or what?

You can find the links on the right hand side bar for all my social media accounts.

Join in...lets watch this number climb, as this year is going to be big!

;-)

You've seen my package unveiling...

you've seen my latest "Magnificent Mini"...

Now you just have to meet my fellow ambassadors!

There are 50 in all. 

 That's 50 of the most talented quilters around.

Mark this page...make them your favorites...

Cause this year is going to be BIG

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Gene Black ~ Gene Black

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Connie K Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River

Anja Clyke ~ Anja Quilts

Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs

Becca Fenstermaker ~Pretty Piney

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Barbara Gaddy ~ Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Dione Gardner-Stephen ~ Clever Chameleon

Sarah Goer ~ Sarah Goer Quilts

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Lori Haase ~ Dakota City Quilter II

Joanne Hart ~ Unicornharts

Mania (Magdalini) Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Creatin’ in the Sticks

Stephanie Jacobson ~ Steph Jacobson Designs

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Joan Kawano ~ Moosestash Quilting

Kim Lapacek ~ Persimon Dreams

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Leanne Parsons ~ Devoted Quilter

Bea Lee ~ BeaQuilter

Toby Lischko ~ Gateway Quilts & Stuff

Bill Locke ~ Studio Bill Locke

Denise Looney ~ For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack's Blog

Kathleen McCormick ~ Kathleen McMusing

Carol Moellers ~ Carol Moellers Designs

Karen Neary ~ Sew Karen-ly Created

Lisa Nielsen ~ Lisa Lisa and the Quilt Jam

Jackie O’Brien ~ If These Threads Could Talk

Laura Piland ~ Slice of Pi Quilts

Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde

Vicki Schlimmer ~ Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Sherry Shish ~ Powered by Quilting

Anita Skjellanger ~ Quilt in a not-Shell

Laticia "Tish" Stemple ~ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

Jennifer Strauser ~ Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations

Terri Vanden Bosch ~ Lizard Creek Quilts

Alison Vermilya ~ Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~ mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~ Adventurous Applique and Quilting

(Debora) Anne Wiens ~ Seams like a Plan

Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living Water Quilter

Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin' 

 

Magnificent Minis with Island Batik

Note: This blog post may contain "affiliate links". 

Please read my disclosure for more information.

Thank you for stopping by today.

We are kicking off our new year with Magnificent Minis.

With Valentines day approaching...

"Love is in the air"

This little mini started out with 3 paper pieced hearts and my "love" of finding 

the perfect "font", to turn into an applique.

Did you know you can use your computer fonts in a "word" program?

Click and drag them to the size your looking for.

It's a fun way to play with lettering.

Looking for more fonts to play with?

Font Bundles is a great web site. Their fonts give you "premier license",

 that allows you to use them for commercial and personal uses. 

You can also sign up for their newsletter and download

free fonts weekly!

Check them out

HERE

My little hearts needed a place to "hang"...

;-)

...and I've fallen in love with my "ric-rac" die cutter from

It's fun way to throw a little spunk, into any project!

You can check it out 

HERE

Keeping with that theme...

Gold ric-rac, seemed the perfect way to suspend these mini hearts.

I like to use machine embroidery threads for stitching down my appliques.

The little sheen they have, just brightens things up.

Metallic thread really packs a big punch!

but nothing beats 

for piecing and machine quilting.

I have long been a fan of "Thermore" batting.

It's a very thin polyester batting that is perfect for wall hangings,

 as it lies very flat. It's also great for garments, 

when you don't want the added bulk of a standard batting.

There's little extra bonus with this batting as well.

It "grabs" your fabric much better than a standard batting.

Making for less shifting as you quilt. 

What? No more backings that have bunched up while quilting.

Well OK...I'm happy with that!

You'll still need to pin of course, but you will see what I mean if you try it.

"Sew" there you have it...the kick off of our new year.

I do hope I've inspired you, to dig thru your scraps

 and make up a little mini of your own.

They are quick little projects and perfect stash/scrap busters.

Have a technique your wanting to try?

Turn it into a mini...like this little guy!
;-)

til next time...

Let the Cat out of the Bag!

There was a knock at the door 

and a package I see.

it said it was fragile...Oh what could it be?

It looks like it must have taken a tumble.

Nothing was broken, but things were a jumble!

As I opened the box it was hard to believe...

The beautiful fabrics that I did receive!

Batiks were abound in black, white and grey!

...and 5 yards of Whip Cream that just wanted to play!

There was rayon, beautiful rayon and a scarf in there too.

Stash builders and "Aurifil" thread!

What's a girl to do?

(first that is)

:-)

The treasures are plenty, but we are not just quite done...

They threw in some sunshine, just for the fun!

Then "Hobbs" went and spoiled us with their treasure trove...

But I alas, I found there was more gold!

This one I can't share...

cause it's hot off the press...

or Bali I should say, and it is their best.

Not available for sale just yet you see, 

so I have time to work on this project with glee!

You would think we are done, but there was one more box!

This one that came, was quite a shock!

It's nothing I ordered, oh what do I do?

Then I danced with joy, when I hear "Accuquilt" sent out a few!

There are 50 ambassadors this year, who all made this haul.

Monthly challenges, 2 big blog hops, our orders are tall.

Inspiration a plenty we promise we'll run.

So you can see the new fabrics and get in on the fun.

I really am speechless, all the treasures I see.

It's hard to believe, they are all just for me!

So many to thank, I don't know where to start.

Just know, you all have every piece of my heart.

We are kicking things off with a bang this year.

I will see you as soon as I get it in gear.

(Tomorrow that is)

LOL!!

A huge "humble" thanks to all our sponsors.

Your generosity is overwhelming and so appreciated!

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'