Blog Anniversary Winners!

I am so excited to pick the winners of my little blog anniversary party giveaway!  Thanks everyone for all the well wishes and for your views on my social media conundrum!  So, two prizes, two winners....

OK that is weird...why is the random number generator widget not displaying the numbers it picked?!  UGH!  You will have to take my word that it selected #35 and #44

Kelly YoungSeptember 21, 2013 at 8:40 PM

Congratulations to you, Kathy! I really enjoy reading your blog and enjoyed getting to know you through the blog hop! Your quilts are so beautiful!

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Sandra SewsSeptember 23, 2013 at 6:17 AM

Congratulations on your 100th blog post!! As for social media, I mainly read blogs, but even that takes up quite a lot of time (that I'd also like to spend sewing and writing the odd blog post...) I am wondering if a smart phone would make it easier as you'd be able to check social media more easily. I'd need an upgrade though ;-)

Yeah!   On the social media...you folks have made me feel better about my metered approach to the amount of time I invest in the on-line stuff (say, versus sewing!).  However, I am continuing to learn how to be more efficient and I promise to share on the blog (and maybe in other media!) what I learn!

Hope you are having as lovely a Sunday as we are here in New England!
Kathy

A Lovely Non-Sewing Quilting Weekend

It has been a very nice weekend for many reasons.  The weather here in New England has been lovely.  Fall decorations are beginning to pop up everywhere (and the rain hasn't started to droop the corn stalks).  My son and his wife both have just accepted terrific new jobs in their respective professions.  The Red Sox are moving to post season play and the Patriots are 3 and 0.  AND (not to diminish the value of the above)  I have had a very special non-sewing weekend!

Yesterday I attended two classes with Debby Brown, a Handi-Quilter instructor, hosted by Bits and Pieces in Pelham, NH.  The first class was entitled TNT:  Tension Needles and Threads.  I feel so much better about approaching the tension issues with my new baby as well as experimenting with threads other than 50wt cotton!

The second class was about rulers.  To date, I have focused on free motion quilting, never thinking I would ever be so disciplined to be able to make rulers work in my quilting.  Well...now, I am thinking using rulers might be a fun addition to my quilting!  Debby is a great teacher, so informative and very funny!

And as long as I was at Bits and Pieces, well, I just had to do a little fabric shopping.  

I thought these might work very well with the Great Pumpkin collection:

So much fun!  Linking up with Finding Fifth Sunday Stash!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Kathy

My 100th Post!

It has been just about one year since I started blogging and here I am with post #100.  Amazing.  In my first post I shared the first quilt I had recently finished:

Well, I don't know about you but I have had a great time with this little blog!  My initial goal was to stop being a silent blog reader and become a more interactive participant in the quilting blog community.  Of course, I could (and will!) do more but overall I am very pleased with my progress in the first year of blogging.  Although I don't have a long list of corporate sponsors or book signing deals in the near future, I am A-OK with what I have learned and contributed in this first year.

I am continuing to work on my photographing and photo-editing.

Every time I successfully apply something new in Blogger or with HTML it is cause for celebration!  Is it just me?  Why does a simple thing like numbering your comments require a research project?  Thank you, thank you for all your help out there in google search world!  A special thank you to my almost-DIL for her patience and assistance with my periodic technical quandaries!

As a result of this little blog, I've enjoyed being able to participate in my first blog hop (thanks to Beth at Plum and June!), my first on-line quilt festival (thanks to Amy at AmysCreativeSide) with not one but two entries, and contribute to weekly and periodic linky parties.

I am still trying to find my social media routine.  Not a big Facebook fan...way too much overuse and abuse for me.  However, several of my favorite fabric shops have great FB pages that I do like.   I enjoy viewing pictures on Flickr and the groups thereon, but geez, another place to upload pictures.  Instagram may be the answer but first I need a major upgrade to the barely-smart phone I am using now.  I love Pinterest for keeping track of tutorials and project inspirations (once I figured out the process for pinning on the ipad!) . But seriously, how do you busy quilters/bloggers/parents/grandparents find time to keep all these media active and useful??

I love being able to share fabric acquisitions with you!  For some reason, this just doesn't illicit the same response from my husband and sons as I get from you!

I have learned to follow...many ways...bookmarks, reading lists, Bloglovin to name a few.  AND I have picked up a few followers too!  WOW!  Thank you!  I can't tell you how blown away I am when I get a comment that something I have made has inspired someone!  Before I get all teary eyed about how wonderful you all are out there in blog land...it is time for a celebration!

In honor of my 100th post and first year of blogging, I want to give something to you!  How about this jelly roll of Mama Said Sew from Sweetwater?

I used this lovely line to make a wedding gift for my BFF from high school days:

And because I really love you guys, how about another little fun pile of FQ's?

Just comment to this post and I will use the fancy random number generator thingy on Sunday, September 29 to select two winners!  If you are wondering what to say in your comment, I would welcome any social media management advice!  If you are a "no-reply blogger" please leave your email address in your comment or email me separately as I will have no way of getting in touch with you if you win!

Speaking of linky parties that have been a big part of the fun and frivolity of my first year blogging...I am linking up with AmandaJean's Finish It Up Friday.  Thanks to all of you who visit from her link-up!

Now, off to work on the next 100 posts!  Have a wonderful weekend!
Kathy

PS  The Worldwide Quilt Shop Tour is heading to Orlando, Florida next week.  Any suggestions??

Some Simple Fun

You know, in life you can make things complex...or you can make things simple.  I have opted for simple fun with these two!  Let the fabrics tell the story...

As the mother of three sons, I found myself unable to control the urge to buy Spiderman and Star Wars fabric when on sale recently at Joann Fabric.  But my sons are now adults and, although exceedingly patient with their mother's new addiction, they aren't knocking my door down for character quilts.  I know, hard to believe.  Lucky me, I have some buddies who might appreciate these!

Happy Wednesday!  Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday!

PS  Did you happen to notice what number post this is for KayakQuilting?  You might want to stop back in on Friday for THE NEXT POST.

Yes, More Peanuts

So, for those of you who have been hanging around my little blog for a while (thank you), the little addiction our family has with Peanuts is no surprise.  I had a lot of fun last Christmas with Charlie Brown Christmas fabric and I gave my #1 Charlie Brown fan a Peanuts quilt for Valentines Day.

Needless to say, this fabric had to come home with me.

Four of the five of these fabrics are paying homage to the classic "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."   I am staring at this fabric for inspiration.  Spiderweb table runner?  Table topper with coasters?  Mini-quilt?  Off to do some research!

Birthday Bag Finished!

My little sister is "at the stage of the game" (as our mother would say) where she has three active, busy kids and is working more than full time.  I've been there, many of you are there now...so we can visualize what life is like running around, trying to feed, clothe and keep everyone in the family happy or at least not complaining too much!  It is easy to overlook taking care of yourself!  Right?

For example, she carries all the essentials (and more!) that she needs for a day in a well-loved handbag.  As part of her birthday gift, I made her this bag:

The pattern, of course, is Anna's Super Tote pattern.  I have had very good luck working with all of Noodlehead's patterns; her instructions are always clear and well illustrated.  The size of this bag should be a good choice for my sister as it is larger than the average purse but not a super sized tote.

The exterior fabric is Essex Linen and a home dec fabric that I purchased for my sewing room.  I interfaced the exterior and the handles with iron on fleece to add even more structure.  Otherwise, I followed the directions quite literally.

You may recognize these little houses from Summersville.

My sister is sometimes a little taken aback (being polite here) by my bright color choices so I tried not to go too crazy on this bag...but I had to sneak in a little extra color inside:

I love the golds and oranges in the 2wenty Thr3e line. 

To further help with her organization, here is a Noodlehead Wide Open Pouch to help with her organization:

These are so much fun to make, particularly with a little quilt as you go.

Happy Birthday little Sister!  I love you!

Linking up with Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Saturday  Friday!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Kathy

The Obvious Block

What took me so long?  Thank you Elven Garden for this pattern!  Just the beginning of many kayak blocks...yeah!

Linking up with Lee's Wednesday party at Freshly Pieced.  

A Christmas Quilt Top Finish

I am happy to share a completed quilt top!  It has been too long!   Primarily comprised of fabric from the Holiday Spirit line, I used the quilt tutorial from Christa Quilts Jolly Jelly Roll.   

Adding this to my pile of quilts to be quilted!  I am going to be busy this fall!  

Linking up with crazy mom Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  No sewing for me...family reunion weekend!  

Kathy

A Distraction Project

I am convinced that life would be simpler if we had less things in our lives.  Things that can break.  UGH.  In the last week we have had electrical issues requiring multiple visits with our electrician, the washing machine died, my car developed a very loud noise (ball bearing issue?) and the laptop had a hard drive failure.  UGH.

BUT I am happy to say my sewing machine is doing very well.  Thank you.

I have started a little project to distract me from all my mechanical issues.

Fabric selection, cutting, sewing....just what the doctor ordered!  Happy,happy, happy!

Linking up with: