Big Plans for May

As I am working on putting sewing back into my routine I made a few decisions.  Ask me again in a week about those decisions and who knows what I will say, but today they are good.

First, do the summer giveaways again this summer.  In my recent cleaning and reclaiming of the sewing room I have come across more than a few things that I don't need and can share.  A giveaway is more fun that bagging it up for donating.

Second, make the effort to do something sewing related Every Day for the Month of May!  I think "sewing related" will keep me on task since there is a wide range of things I can do that are sewing related.  Cleaning up the sewing room is at the top of the list!

May Giveaway

Every now and then one of the local thrift stores has quilt books.  I will usually "splurge" on a new book since they are only $1 to start with and then on the weekends, which is when I go, most things are half off.  But now I have several books I need to decide if I really want to keep or not.  I paged through a few of them last night as I waited for Little S's band concert to start and made a decision.

 I enjoyed looking through this book a few times, but I do not need it anymore.  I liked the crazy quilt on the cover, but will I make it - not likely.

There are some nice designs, but I never made anything from it and it is unlikely that I ever will.  I already got my money's worth out of it!

If you would like to win this book, please leave me a comment telling what your favorite quilt book is.  I will pick a winner at the end of May.  Make sure to include your email in the comment so I can contact you if you win.

Every Day for the Month of May - Day 1

Before

Hmmm.  There are a lot of things I should be doing - updating resume, updating application, grading papers, cleaning the house, cooking dinner - but none of those sounded like fun.  So I decided on this unsewing project to clear off the corner of the sewing table when the remains of the most recent project land.

After

I loved the colors from the Storm at Sea quilt.  I don't really have many more sea glass colors in my stash, so I decided to unsew the edges of the piano key border that got cut off when I made the scalloped edge.  There is also something a little therapeutic about mindless seam ripping.

So my plan is off to a great start.  Hopefully it will continue to be just as successful tomorrow.

August Giveaway Winner

The winner of the leftover hexagons is...

Renee G who said:

 

"I haven't been very adventurous. I have only worked with hexagons."

Well, Renee, here are some more to work with. Have fun with them.  Let us know what you make.

Lots of potential!

Send me your address so I can get these sent off to you.

August Giveaway

I am nearing the end of my hexagon block journey.  This was an idea that Little S saw and liked.  I have worked away at it as Leaders & Enders for about a year now and am winding down.

Brights pinned and ready to quilt.

The bright hexagon quilt just needs a binding.

Tropicals on the design wall.

The tropical hexagon blocks are done.

Pastels waiting for some friends.

The pastel hexagon block layout is in need of a few more, but there are no more in the precut bag that will work with this color scheme.

So I have decided to give away the remaining precut hexagons.  Many are fussy cut for an I Spy quilt.  Some are from the same fabric.  There are approximately 75 hexagons in total.

Variety of Hexagons

Warning: there were cut with scissors about 15-20 years ago and are not uniform.  The winner may want to trim them down to be smaller uniform hexagons or cut them into squares or take your chances like it did!

Approximate size

Just leave a comment telling what is most unusual block shape or tricky combination you have sewn.

As always thank you for participating.  A winner will be chosen at the end of August.

Giveaway Winner for July

And the winner is ....

Moira!

Moira said:
"Love the panel! Favorite state - Arizona would have to be at the top of that list after spending 30+ yrs there. However, I'm currently in TX where the job and my new house is. I do like TX, and also like to visit Massachusetts (love, love, love Boston!). But really anywhere God decides to place me is where I'm happy being."

I am so glad these cute bears are finding a new home.

Bye Bye Bears!

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Check back soon to see the August Giveaway!

July Giveaway

I found these these red, white and blue bears when I was deep cleaning and they just made me think of Red, White & Blue and Independence Day.

Why Oh Why do I keep everything anyone gives me?!?!

If you would like to win this bear "panel" please leave me a comment telling me what your favorite state is and why.  Don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you.

Baby Emma is ready for July 4th - a little early, but so cute!

A winner will be chosen by random on (or about) July 31. 

And the winner is ......

I really, really enjoyed reading the responses to favorite vacations or vacation spots.  A few of the places I had even been to myself - Virgin Islands, Padre Island, St. Petersburg - Florida and Russia!

The original giveaway fabric.

Bonus scrap added later.

The random number machine (Little S with names in a basket!!) chose:

Julie Anne said, "Kansas resident, alone, I flew to Maine, and took a Windjammer cruise in a converted turn of the last century merchant ship. Amazing scenery and food.  Again, from KS, my brother, myself, and a Kowasaki, biked to Padre Island. Two best vacations.  I'd love to be in your fabric drawing.

Congratulations, Julie Anne!  If you send me your mailing address I will get these vacation fabrics out to you in time to sew up something summery.

Thank you to everyone who participated.  Check back tomorrow to see what you could win in the July giveaway.

June Giveaway

June's Giveaway is in honor of a traditional summer vacation place.  It also happens to be the only state my father never visited.  We went all over the United States and into Canada traveling in a converted greyhound bus on our summer vacations.  Then he traveled many places around the world to visit us or just because.  He sure did love to travel.

Large repeating design

This fabric was given to me not too long ago and I cannot imagine how I would ever use it. I am going out on a limb assuming it is Hawaii, since I have never been either.

Does this make it Vintage fabric?!?!

It measures 2 yards 10 inches and is the complete width of fabric for the entire length.  Someone bought it for something and then never used it.

BONUS!!  During my super deep cleaning in mid-June I found some scraps of this fabric that I can add to this vacation giveaway.  Surfers!!  It is approximately half of yard total.

Surf's Up!

Please leave me a favorite vacation memory in the comments.  On (or about!) June 30 a lucky winner will be chosen. 

And the winner is ......

The winner of May's giveaway is SUSAN !!!  She choose the Air Force Fabric and says:

Destined for an American Hero quilt!

I would love to have both, but, not being piggy is a good character trait, so I'm picking the Air Force fabric. It would go perfectly with another service fabric I have, and I'm thinking they would work into on of my American Hero quilts, either as stars or perhaps as stripping, depending on how the amounts work out. Thanks for the chance to win these!

I can't wait to see Susan's American Hero Quilt.  Check out her work over at Desert Sky Quilts.  Susan will indeed get both fabrics since there was no interest in the florals.  It's like my father used to say, "You can't win if you don't try."

Pretty florals

Thanks for playing along.  

I have a fun vacation fabric to giveaway in June, so check back in a few days. 

May Giveaway

For a long time I have been thinking I need to have giveaways for the odd fabrics I end up with that I know I will never use.  You know what I mean.  The random pieces that sneak in inside of a bundle of other fabrics. I have two fabrics that are perfect for May.

In honor of Mother's Day I have a collection of 8 6" x 20" coordinating fabrics to giveaway. I believe the fabric is lawn but I am not sure.  They have been pre-washed. Just leave me a comment mentioning something special about your mother.  A winner will be chosen randomly on May 31.

Aren't they pretty??

In honor or Memorial Day I also have this Air Force fabric to give away.  It is in four pieces each 7" wide.  The lengths are: 23", 36", 44", and 44".  I'm sure it would be great for a QOV, but I know I will not get to it in the near future, so someone else should have it.  Leave me a comment about how you would use it.  A winner will be chosen randomly on May 31.

Air Force Fabric

I am excited.  I can't wait to read your comments and get these fabrics into the hands of someone who will use them.