The Christmas Blog Hop is Here!!

We are thinking Christmas this week! Now, just how many of you out there have great plans all thru the year, then December arrives and there is just no time?  Now fess up, I can't be the only one, can I?

 I think that's what Madame Samm and Leslie were thinking when they plotted this blog hop! Sneaky girls they are... I just knew that someone had been spying on me!!! LOL!! This is going to be a fun hop, and hopefully we will all be on track with our holiday projects when it's over.

I am told the color scheme is Red, Green and White. Now you know what a renegade I "can" be, and can't seem to make myself follow directions very well at times...  Sorry girls, this is one of those times!  But, I did use those colors too...

For this block, I went to one of my trusty "Quiltmaker 100 Block" magazines. I am sure you have seen them on the magazine rack at the super markets. I just love these em, there are so many fun ideas...

                 I bet you would probably like to "see" the block, huh!!!

This one's called "Picture This" from Sue Marsh at Whistlepig Creek Productions.

If you haven't seen Sues great patterns, be sure to click on her company name, it's linked for you, and check it out. You will find some fun things over there.

I chose this particular block because the 5 1/2" open center gave me a great place to show off some fun Christmas appliques.

Here, is where my color scheme falls apart! 

BUT

Who is more fun at Christmas than this guy?

I just love Mickey Mouse and the entire Disney experience at the holidays! So Mickey, this one is for you!

If your a Disney-holic like I am, nothing is easier than making a Mickey. I pulled out my trusty AccuQuilter GO for the circles, but you can easily do circles without it. 3 circles, 2 sizes and you are on your way to your very own Mickey.

Have I kept you in suspense long enough?

                     Here is my block for you. 12 1/2 inches of Disney Joy!!

And with it being so simple, I couldn't help but make a few more while I was at it!

I'm ready for the Holidays to begin!  How about you?

I am going to share some "fun" with you. One of you will win my single block, all bound and ready for display on "your" table top quilt rack. Sorry, Mickey and Minnie don't come with it!  :-)  So leave me a comment and make sure you follow. Next Sunday August 5th, when our blog hop is over, one of you will be selected. Make sure your not a NO-REPLY blogger, or put your email addy into the comment so I can contact you if your my winner!

Easy as that.

So hop on and enjoy!

I'm waiting to see the projects you come up with, from all the inspiration coming at you the next 7 days!!!!

:-)

Here's the rest of today's line up

July 30

Cotton Addiction

Vroomans Quilts

Kris Loves Fabric

        Moosestash Quilting your here

Paws for Stitching

Threading My Needles

Just Let Me Quilt

Living4quilting

Doodling in my Mind

Quilt Doodle Designs


and for the rest of the hop you will find the schedule here!
http://lesleythecuddlequilter.blogspot.ca/2012/06/think-christmas-blog-hop-schedule.html

Just a few more days till Christmas...

Ahhhhh blog hop I mean. Hope I didn't scare you all too much!! LOL!!!

I have been working my fingers to the bone, getting ready for it. Now, you know I can't show you my project just yet, but I can show you another one. :-)

This little guy is just one block of a quilt I did for a sample for the shop. Unfortunately the pattern is out of print. When they bought out a quilt shop, it was part of the inventory, but the only patterns available are the ones in the shop. You have to admit, it is a rather cute little guy isn't he?

 Hope that "wet your whistle" as they say, and I know I can speak for all, when I say, we are looking forward to seeing you at the blog hop starting next Monday.

Sample Quilts

I have spent my last few days busy making sample quilts for the shop.

This one has to be one of the fastest, most fun quilts I have done in a long time. It's from the Maple Island Quilts  and is called Sidelines. This one is a lap size quilt that took all of a couple of hours to stitch. I used a flannel for this one. Let me tell you when it's 100 degrees outside, working with flannel is a challenge. Oh thank goodness for air conditioning!  :-)  But when I finished the top, I realized that I hadn't bought any backing. Just what was I thinking????  So I checked my stash and came up with the perfect backing..

Until I realized I was about 1/4 yard short. ARRRRRGH!! You all know that 1/4 yard short in a backing is like 1/4 mile in a marathon!  What to do, what to do??


I am not fond of pieced backings using different fabrics. Call me crazy, I've seen some beautiful ones, but it's just not me. So I put on my thinking cap. I did have a coordinating fabric that worked well, and I found my acrylic bear templates, so I made it look like a planned backing. After all, you "can" fool some of the people some of the time, I hear! Heck, I even had a bit of a different attitude towards multi fabric backings when it was done.  Not to mention visions of fun floral backings with a spray of flowers across them, etc etc etc...  The options are endless now!  Sign me up for another multi fabric backing, my mojo is armed and ready for ya!

Quick Panel Quilt

Some times you just need to fill a fix, with a quick and easy quilting project.

That's exactly what I did today.

This cute panel print is called "Jolly Jungle"from the Henley Studio at Makower UK fabrics. You have to admit, just looking at it makes you smile. What made me smile, was the hour and a half it took to complete it. I love sewing on a border, quilting and calling it good to go!  Especially after the marathon piecing event I had previously!  :-)
            

Give a way winner

We have a winner.

                                      from Clipart.com

While for whatever reason, I can't seem to make the randomizer show up correctly on my post, but you can trust me. Our lucky winner when I plugged in numbers #1 thru #23, came back as...


ta-ta-ta-da!!!

#11

OK, so for whatever reason, my comments are not showing numbers anymore either???  But if you count down with me, you will see that the lucky and lovely Linda Coleman,  posted the 11th comment!!  Linda wrote: "My favorite job was as a young teenager on Saturdays and during school holidays I worked on a flower farm and the smell of Hyacinths coming up to Christmas was the best".   Now isn't that just about the greatest thing you can imagine!  Whew!

I have to tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about what everyone has done in their life. When we blog, we come together thru like interests, but you never really know the person at the other end of the keyboard. This gave me an opportunity to learn more about each and every one of you. We come from all different walks of life, and it was fun to learn a bit about each and everyone of you. If you didn't read the comments, you might want to check them out, too! I love the fact that quilting is the tie that binds!!  :-)  Thanks for being such a great bunch of folks!

Sooooooo Linda! I am sending an email to you, to get the mailing information, and your fabric will be on it's way!
Congrats!!! 

And thanks for all of you, who take time out of their busy schedule to read my posts. I will try to make it worth your time all the time!
                                                 or
                                   hopefully, some of the time!
                                                :-)

If any of you know, how I can get my posts numbered again, and would be willing to share that info, I would love you forever!  For the life of my I can't seem to figure it out!