I'm Late, I'm Late

For a very important date!

I promised to pick my 2 winners yesterday, and as luck would have it, I was stuck up in Alaska, and didn't get home in time.  I am so sorry.

Without further ado...  these 2 lovely ladies have won my give a way.

#54 Mary Pat

#6 Marla

I've sent each of you an email and have your packages ready to go!

Thanks to all who played along in our hop and to those who took the time to read our posts. We love you all!  Ohhhhhh, and another hop is just around the corner. Yippee!

I don't know about you, but I am "Rushing" around to get ready!

:-)

See You in September...

 

I didn't think September would ever come...

and I'm so glad to see all of you and your fabulous projects.

The sewing machine in the Moosestash has been working overtime this summer.

Here are my 3 projects.

First off with my Riley Blake gingham, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Never mind that 90 degree mark on the thermometer when this was taken.

 Ho ho ho!

These "Art to Heart" Santa chair covers, are just the ticket to making the holidays bright.

 

I think some cushion covers will be in the works before the holidays too!

 

I played with a couple of different quilting designs on them.

You know, kind of shake things up a bit!

LOL!!

But my table needed that finishing touch...

 

 To make things truly merry and bright.

 

After all, every one needs a little Santa and peppermint swirl in their lives!

 

Project #2

It's still feeling like Christmas...

 

When Rudolph and the gang come to visit.

This was one of Angies Bit's and Pieces  Christmas in July patterns.

She had a new design every day of July. Now that's the way to jumpstart our holiday projects!

 

A layer of high loft batting makes these reindeer jump off the table runner!

And the backing, well is just right!

;-)

Project #3

Yes, I actually put away the Christmas for a bit.

Remember I told you the "Quilt Show" reeled me in this summer?

They hooked me good. 

This is my version of the "Becolourful Quilt".

All 24 colors, are my hand dyes. I have to say, I am just tickled with it.

Having been a long time fan of Jacqueline de Jonge,  I never dreamt that I would ever be able to stitch one of her designs. The video she put together on the Quilt Show was so outstanding, that stitching this up was quite easy. She has a wonderful way of teaching, and you might just see me try out one of her other fabulous designs real soon.

 

 

They kind of take your breath away don't they?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you have enjoyed my trip thru my summer stitching projects.

I know, I have been enjoying yours and can hardly wait to see those to come.

Thank you, thank you Madame Samm for bringing us all back together again.

I missed my blogging buddies.

And for the lovely Ms. Shari, we couldn't have done it without you.

Your our ray of sunshine!

Make sure you visit the rest of my fellow bloggers today.

Friday, September 12

Sunshine-quilting
Sew Peace to Peace
                  MoosestashQuilting  (Your here)

More Stars in Comanche

                                             Living With Purpose

Oh, and I almost forgot...it's been so long, but I bet your up for a give a way...

With the holidays approaching, I have a yard of Thanksgiving fabric to give away.

(and a little surprise or two)

(I'll let you in on a secret...)

I bought it to give away last year, but lost it in my sewing room.

Don't laugh, I know  you've all been there...

:-)

Actually, I've missed my blogging buddies so much, I am going to give a yard away to 2 of my fabulous followers.  Leave me a comment telling me what you might do with it, and it could be yours! 

You can see how I used it  HERE

 I will pick my 2 lucky winners on Tues Sept. 16th.

Happy hoppin!

Around the World Blog Hop

I'm not too sure just who it was who came up with the Around the World Blog hop, but what a fabulous idea it is. Have you ever looked at the Stats on your blog to see just who was reading your posts? It kind of amazes me that we can all connect with those of similar interested across the globe, with just a few key strokes.

A big thanks to Amy over at "Sew Incredibly Crazy". Not only has she asked me to participate, but she also has had me do some pattern testing for her wonderful patterns. Heck we just figured out after all this time, that we are neighbors. We actually live in the same city. Now that's really a small world.

My name is Joan, and I am a Quilt-a-holic....oops wrong meeting!   LOL!!! Just kidding about that!
                     Well, I am a quilt-a-holic now that I think about it.

 

Here's a peek into one of my hiding places. In my defense, it's not all finished quilts. There are a lot of supplies that I "had to have". I'm storing for a rainy day!
tee hee

1. What am I working on?

In the name of cleaning up my sewing area, I actually pulled all my UFO's out and put them in totes. The theory was that if they were in the middle of my sewing room, so I would fall over em, it would motivate me to finish them. Well, I have to tell you, I've become an excellent long jumper. I can run and jump right over them, like they weren't even there. So there is my daily exercise regiment, and we all know we need to have one of them.  ;-)

Here are a few things that are on the top of the pile anyway...

 

Alphabet blocks for my Quilt show BOM and blocks for my Pat Speth's (the Nickel Quilt lady) Sunny Lanes quilt (below) What a great stash buster.

 

My Bonnie Hunter Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt from last year.

Just needs the borders pieced before I can quilt it.

This beauty just needs quilted. It's from Carol Seeley over at FunThreads Designs.

This is her Heart Flowers quilt. You can find the pattern for this for a very nominal fee at Craftsy.

Click HERE for the link.

 

Ohhh, and my new Sunbonnet Sue package has just arrived. Bet you can't wait to see what this one is all about!

And I have 2 top secret patterns to test right now too!

:-)

2. How does my work differ from others of this genre?  That's a tough one. I am a fusible applique junkie. I love being able to put together scenes with fusible. It's fast and easy. I love dropping those feed dogs and stitching at warp speed!   LOL!!  I'm always on the look out for things with humor. Nothing cracks me up more than something with an outrageous sense of humor to it...

 Like this one that hung over my dining room table for years, to my families dismay!

:-)

I know you remember these girls!

3. Why do I create?  That's easy. Stress relief. I have worked in the airline industry for 20+ years now. There is nothing more stressful for folks than traveling, and employees tend to get the blame for everything and anything that goes wrong. I'm able to put anything a long hard day can dish out, behind me at my sewing machine. I even get a little "crazy" myself, if I don't get that chance to stitch. Know what I mean?

4. Now the really tough question...How does my creative process work? I so wish I could tell you I have this amazing ability to see things or sit down and scrawl out some fabulous design. I can't. I don't have the artistic ability of a gnat!  The girls above were about as artistic as I get, and they were off shoots of Amy Bradleys design for our "All About Me" blog hop. Amy has to get all the credit (although she is probably horrified at what I did to her lovely design)!  I struggle with my own ideas. I can sure whip up anything that others create, but there is just this blank space in my mind when it comes to creating myself.  Oh I wish I had taken an art class and had the ability to doodle. I've taken some fabulous long arm classes. Each and every one tells us to doodle daily. Sit me down with a piece of paper and a pencil, and I get this blank stare. Even my stick figures look pretty sad!     :-(       All of you that can design are a real inspiration to me!

So there you have it. A little about me. Now on to the really interesting stuff. Next Monday Sept 22nd, you can visit these fabulous bloggers...

I've invited Karen over at Sunburnt Quilts, to play along. Karen is my Aussie friend who does the most incredible stitching and quilting. She is a master with ribbon and has designed some fabulous patterns using it. Make sure you stop in and visit her, her stitching is sure to make you smile!

Also Selina over at SelinaQuilts. I have known "Tinks mom" for a very long time thru our blog hops at Sew We Quilt. She is one talented lady. I'm  always intrigued every time I visit her. Maybe it's cause we have much of the same things in our stash. I almost fell over when I read about her "Little People Pals book" by Xavier Roberts. AKA Cabbage Patch Kids. I have that same book and all the doll parts safely stashed away under my stairs. LOL!

Make sure you visit these wonderful gals next Monday Sept 22nd. I know they will have a lot to share with you!

Patchwork Star

Yes, I have been doing more pattern testing.

Amy over at Sew Incredibly Crazy asked me to test this pattern for her.

 

Amy sent her quilt off to the Hand to Help Charity Quilt Challenge. 

This one went to "Happy Chemo" 

It's always fun to pattern test. I usually try to shop my stash first, then purchase additional fabrics that might be needed.

Here's what I came up with...and I am delighted to say it's all stash!

While looking for a background solid, I stumbled on this wild piece of waffle weave fabric. It's been in my stash for many many years. I have no idea what I bought it for??? I contemplated, but what the heck, waffle weave is 100% cotton, why not give it a try.

 

 I had a very small amount of this print.

Not too sure where this came from, but the colors were perfect.

No where near enough to do much with...

But I was able to get 4 pieces out of it for the centers of the 9 patch blocks. 

That told me, my contrasting star was going to have to be lime greens.

Yep, sometimes your fabrics tell you just what they want.

LOL!!

This quilt pattern is  perfect for a beginner. 

You'll have it pieced and quilted before you know it.

You can purchase the pattern right HERE at Amy's Craftsy shop.

Hurry over, it's one you won't want to miss.

Never did I imagine that  waffle weave would work so well.

I love the weight of the quilt.

Wonder if you can even find this stuff anymore?

Looks like I have to start surfing the web and see!

;-)

Speaking of seeing, did you see Lyndsey's version over at "Sew Many Yarns"? (It's linked for you)
She also, was one of the pattern testers and posted it on her "See You in September" blog hop post.
I am loving her combination. It's got my mind swimming with ideas for recycling denim jeans!

                   And a big THANKS to Amy for letting me play! Your the best!

Enchanted Lavender Clearing

I have never claimed to be an art quilter, but this piece pushed me towards the proverbial light, so to speak.  I racked my brain to figure out where the pattern came from, and finally found it in my sewing room. It came from www.Ericas.com, but I see it is no longer on her site. Could it be that is because I finished this project in 2008.  

The embroideries are a Sue Box design, called Enchanted Fairy Treasures.
http://www.suebox.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=20

I can tell you,  there are many different elements to this quilt. Embroidery, fabric painting, ribbon work, free motion quilting... So very much to play with. The green ground and tree is actually cheese cloth that was fabric painted and stitched down. It gives a wonderful visual texture to it.

Erica is the designer of this treasure, and I have to wonder if she would consider getting it out of her archive if there was enough interest??? It wouldn't hurt to ask if your interested!

          This was a gift for my dear friend and Fairy Fanatic, Kelly.

                                                           :-)