Summer Funk??

Is anyone is a Summer funk when it comes to sewing? Too much lazing around enjoying the sun and water? Well, come join us on Saturday the 31st. Hop on to the forum and join in the virtual quilting bee.

There are a few members of our forum that have the Summer blues big time, so we are all going to gather round our computers and hop up to our sewing machines, back and forth...back and forth...and "make-something-for-yourself".

I have recently done up a nice, cozy curtain for one of our bedroom windows. We live in snow country now, we will need something to help keep the heat in, and cold out. Isn't it bright and cheerful??


So I'll be making another one this Saturday, for our other window. It wont be just like this one, but same colors, similar style.

We are starting to come to an end in our Round Robin swap. I'm so excited! I'm a non-peeker, I haven't looked at my round robin since I sent off the medallion. So I have no idea what it looks like, I just know it's going to be awesome though!

Our Summer table runner swap is nearing the finish date too. We have some lovely runners already made and sent to swap partners. You can view them here:

http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/forums/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=103

I have my partner's runner all finished, just need to pop it in the mail. It's going to Australia, so I want to get it out as soon as I can. I can't wait to see what my partner has made me!

If you missed last weeks Summer Mystery, head over to the Q&N store and buy it! It's another cute, lovely mystery pattern from Jess.

OH, and Jess is holding a sale this weekend! You don't want to miss that. Head over to the Q&N store, and see what goodies she has at 25% off all fabric and kits! including sale stuff that is already reduced!!! WoOHOO!

Have a great day all, hope to see some of you at the forum!

Till next time...

Dorian

WINNER ANNOUNCED!

YAY!!!! Congrats to Delia of New Hampshire! Sammy Joe drew her name as the winner of the Summer Mystery Quilt Pattern contest. Delia has already chosen her fabrics to use when she receives her prize pattern!

Here is Delia's tip that she posted on our Quilt and Needle Forum:
"My tip is to use large, plastic paper clips to hold your binding in place for hand-stitching. They clamp down nicely, don't hurt or stain the fabric, can be easily moved along out of your way, and won't prick your fingers. Oh, and they're cheap. Love 'em"

Thanks for the great tip, Delia!

CONTEST! Win a 2010 Summer Mystery Pattern!

Jess and I have decided to host a little contest! The prize is a free copy of Jess' new 2010 Summer Mystery pattern for the upcoming Mystery Weekend on July 17th & 18th!

For the next two weeks, all you have to do is leave a comment stating your favorite tip or trick about quilting! Only ONE tip or trick per comment but you may comment as many times as you like to this blog posting as well as to the Quilt and Needle Forum thread and our Facebook status - however, you can only win once!

So get your thinking caps on and get your favorite quilty tips and tricks posted by midnight CDT (that's central daylight time) July 9th! Jess and I will draw the winner's name from all comment entries and let y'all know on Saturday, July 10th. We will contact the winner on July 10th to get their email address to send their prize on the Mystery Quilt Weekend.

We are looking forward to the wealth of your quilty experiences!

By the way, if the chosen winner has already purchased this 2010 Summer Mystery pattern, the winner may select one of the previously published patterns from the Quilt & Needle webstore.
Cindy

Summertime!

Well Summertime has arrived! I am really enjoying our new place. No more hot, hot summers for 4 or 5 months. We'll get some heat later in the Summer, but right now it's warm and sunny with some breezes. Just perfect in my opinion!

I've really been enjoying all the creative blogs out there. It helps to keep the inspiration up and find new and fun things to make. My 1930s swap fabric has been calling to me. At first, I was going to match it up with some nice, bright white and do a Irish chain pattern. But I don't keep white in the house, only buy it if I need it for some charity blocks or baby blocks. So I couldn't wait to go buy some white, and just decided to do something different with the 30s fabrics....I wished I would of waited. I use some of the fabric in a pinwheels pattern, and have decided that it's just too 'busy'. I should of used some solid, either for the pinwheels or the background...so it's back to the drawing board. I'll have to get some solids to use, or go with white.

We're gearing up for Summer at the Q&N too. We have a table runner swap in progress right now. Gilly from Australia is my swap partner. I had fun coming up with a pattern for her, to fit her octagonal kitchen table. Can't show it to you yet though, as it's a surprise and I don't want to Gilly to see it.

We also have a mystery weekend coming up next month. I'll give you a positive date on that soon. That will be super, as always! Jess makes awesome mystery quilts.

What are you doing with your Summer? Any vacation plans? My summer will be full of getting our new place in shape. And getting ready for the cold winter months.

Stop by the Q&N, and see what we're up to. We have lots and lots of albums full of inspiration for you!

Till next time...

Dorian

Awww, Spring again...

At least it is for me. My family and I have moved into a dream spot for us. We are up out of the valley now, into the pines of the mtns. At 3500 ft in elevation, it's just perfect. The kids and I get the snow we love to play in, and Daddy still gets a decent growing season for our veggies.

So I am getting Spring weather all over again. Which is fine with me, I love Spring. All the beautiful flowers are starting to bloom. I have purple and yellow Iris's and lots of red rose bushes. These were already planted here. So now I get the fun of finding more flowers to go with all these.

Planting flowers is kind of like putting together a patchwork quilt. LOL. You pick your colors that go well together, and put them in a pleasing pattern. So Spring flowers always make me want to choose lovely Spring colors and flowers for my quilts and things that I make.

Lately I have got the bag 'bug'. I just love making bags! Hand bags, tote bags, grocery bags...there are so many beautiful patterns out there. Here is my laptop bag. I used the gorgeous Roses Fabrics from Jackie Robinson, of Maywood.



Her fabrics are so lushish!! I just love roses.

Speaking of Jackie Robinson, are any of you doing her quilt block challenge? That was what I was working on last month. I am so excited!! Thanks to Jess and her Mom, Connie, here at the Q&N, I have found my inner self who has been just dying to make my own patterns. Thank you Jess and Connie!!! (Wish me lucky everyone, please!) Here is Jackie's contest:

http://www.animasquilts.com/SplitStripe.html

Ok, bag to the bags...
On the Q&N yesterday we had a Saturday Special. That's where Cindy will decide upon a theme, or maybe share a pattern, and we all do it and share pictures, etc. Yesterday's theme was handbags. Here is the link to that thread:

http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1577&posts=57&start=1

I shared a bag that I made a pattern for. It was just a sample bag, now I have to work out the kinks and remake it. I love my black leather purse, but it is showing signs of wear. So I am trying to copy it a bit, not exactly, but close. Here it is:


It's still missing it's strap, but I was too busy with sick kids yesterday to finish it.

We are also gearing up for next months Mystery quilt. So hope on over and join us, Jess's mysteries are wonderful! And it's only $9.95 to do one!!

Hope to see you soon!!

Dorian