scrap challenge, round 3

This mini quilt came all the way from England. Anne, who was my round 2 scrap challenge contestant, offered to play with my scraps in return. This is what she made for me. I LOVE it! It's currently hanging on my craft room wall and I smile every time I see it. Thank you, Anne!

That reminds me...

It's time to open up the scrap challenge for round 3!

Here's how the scrap challenge works. One selected reader will send me a small bag of scraps. I will use the scraps, plus additional fabrics of my choice, to make a mini quilt. The mini quilt will be sent back to the scrap sender. I absolutely love this challenge because it gives me a chance to play with fabrics that I may not choose on my own. If you would like to be entered in the draw, leave me a comment on this post. If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see, you can feel free to add them in the comment. I will chose the winner randomly this time.

You can read about how the scrap challenge series first started here.

The results of the first round are here.
And the results of the second round are here.

goodies!

Doris and I arranged a personal swap. We started talking about it in June, we got around to swapping in November. We decided to swap a pillow cover and a mug rug made from scraps.

Here's what she made:

A cute applique pillow (her original design, no less!) that matches my daughter's bed perfectly! Even down to the top of the flower...the blue and pink of the flower helps tie in the blue, pink and red pillowcase that doesn't really match her bed but I can't help but using it anyway. The throw pillow ties the whole room together! We didn't talk specific colors at all, so how wonderful that it matches oh-so-perfectly. I'm tickled pink! (The cute puppy was made by my sweet friend Linda.)

And she made the sweetest mug rug! With my initials embroidered on it and everything. I love that it can be used for a mug rug or as a mini placemat, too. Thanks so much, Doris! I love what you sent!

This is what I sent to Doris. The pillow cover may look slightly familiar. (This was my second of 3 versions...so far!) The mug rug was made using a block pattern from this magazine. (thank you, Tara!) Actually, the block that is shown on the cover. It was fun to experiment with a new to me block. It was an intense little baby to piece. Phew! But fun, nonetheless.

Terri, my fellow Wisconsin sewing pal, sent me a package of Christmas goodies! She is on the ball! I got these a few weeks ago. Right after HER birthday, she's sending me presents. What a good friend!

She made this cute little mini quilt. Again, perfect for a mini placemat...it would be just the perfect size for a bowl of soup.

And she sent a bunch of other treats, too. So much cuteness! Thanks so much, Terri!

Ok, and just for a laugh....

I told my daughter to get dressed this morning. This is what she picked out.

HA! This gave me a good chuckle this morning.

I think she loves color as much as her mama does. :)

thank yous and a giveaway

I get a LOT of great mail. So much so, that my family despises when I get a package in the mail. I don't let it get me down, though. :)

I am (very) behind in thanking the wonderful ladies that sent me goodies, so here goes:

I won a give away awhile back on Glenna's blog. She let me choose one of her patterns, and I loved this one because I can make quilts for both my boys and my girl. It's two patterns in one. Thanks Glenna!

Carolyn sent me a package of fabric months ago. Here is just a portion of it. She is my all time most generous fabric supplier. EVER. Thanks dude. ;)

Today at the Post Office I picked up this fabulous package from Frieda. It's a thank you for doing the quilt along. Look at all those delicious fabrics....

and this super sweet pin cushion. Thanks so much Frieda! I love it all.

Katherine sent me a package for my birthday....wonderful vintage fabric....

and this cute embroidered zip pouch, which happens to match my needlebook. It will become my little portable sewing caddy for when I am hand stitching the binding on my quilts. Katherine, it's a joy to use such beautiful and well made gifts from you.

Here is a wonderful assortment of vintage sheets from Lina as a thank you for helping her with some quilting questions. Lina, you've got great taste and thanks for sharing with me!

Erin sent me this adorable moleskin just for sending her some vintage sheet scraps. I have got to be one of her biggest fans. I love everything she makes. The moleskin is almost too nice to use...but I did (aren't you proud of me?) start filling it with ideas. I love it, Erin. Thank you.

Beth and I did a swap a few weeks ago. She sent me a lot of fabulous scraps, including a bunch of pre-cut triangles (!!!) and I sent her some red fabric. Thanks Beth, for such a fun assortment of fabrics.

And last but not least, Jodie sent me this adorable little bird cage for her retrospective give away. It cost a pretty penny to send the little package, but I appreciate it so much. My kids asked if they could have it and I politely declined. Thanks Jodie!

Thanks so much, to each and every one of you very kind and generous ladies!

Now, on to the rest of the reason I am so happy today. My daughter (2 yrs and 4 months) started potty training on her own this week! After almost 8 years of constant diapering in this house (and 2 in diapers at one time for about a year of that) we are seeing the end!!!! YIPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!There's been a lot of yelling and carrying on (in the best possible way) when she is successful. Good times. Good times.

So in honor of all the good mail and all the potty training excitement I'd like to give away a bundle of fabric. Between my new purchases and my generous friends, I have plenty to share. Leave me a comment stating your favorite color or color combination and I'll put your name in a virtual hat. I'll draw a name on Saturday. And thanks so much for reading my little blog. I appreciate it sooooooooo much.

gifts for me (and my girl)

It's a big mail week here. I have been preparing many packages to send out, (it seems like these things happen in waves) and unlike Kristen, preparing packages is not my favorite thing to do. I don't want to spoil any surprises, so I will show you what I have received lately, instead.

Heather made this bag for a friend who custom ordered a pink and brown bag. This friend thought it was a little too pink (which I totally can't comprehend), but it worked out well for me, because this bag is now mine. I LOVE it. A pink and brown purse has been on my list of things to make forever, so that is one thing I can cross off my list. Hurray.

My friend Rhonda, in Michigan, (who is blogless) made this sweet little hat for my daughter. Isn't it adorable??? My daughter and I both love it an awful lot. It fits perfectly, too. I'm so impressed, she just whips up these hats, so she says. Yes, very impressive.

Jacquie sent me this sweet teacup quilt as a thank you for the quilt along. You can read more about it and see her fabulous quilts in this post. She is generously sharing her pattern for the teacup quilt on her blog. Once I paint my walls, this is going to hang right outside the door of my studio. It is fabulous, Jacquie. Thanks so much.

making me happy

I am suffering from the winter blahs. I know, I know, everyone is. yesterday was particularly bad. I haven't even felt like quilting (much), so you know it's got to be bad! I have a bunch of nearly finished projects, but nothing complete, and nothing is grabbing my attention. I keep telling myself that it has to get better. it has to, right?

here are a few things that are cheering me up this week....

a thank you package from Marcia for hosting the quilt-a-long. the piece on the left is the sweetest alphabet panel. I can't wait to make it into a quilt. and she sent coordinating fabrics. best of all, it's in my all time favorite color scheme-pink+yellow+ green! thanks Marcia!!!

thrifted sheet for $1. I think it will become a quilt back at some point. (the thrifting is great in these parts, I tell you.) or maybe it will become some lounge pants.

and...50% off 30's prints at my local quilt shop. how timely for me! the red fabric on the right is the binding on my quilt-a-long quilt. I am half done hand stitching on the binding. hopefully I will have finished pictures tomorrow.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite links from yesterday...

have you seen this seriously cute bag? oh, my, i love it!

and this little dress up outfit made me swoon

and I thought these boats were adorable

happy thursday to you all!

7 random things + fabulous gifts in the mail

I have been tagged several times now for the 7 random things meme. (I LOVE to read other people's lists. It's much more fun than writing my own.)

1. I am left handed.

2. I bake nearly all of my own bread (with the help of my bread machine).


organizer pouch from Sarah P.


3. I worry about nonsense things like: what will I do when I fill up my quilt cupboard?

My husband also teases me about worrying about paint coming off the walls.

4. I have become quite the homebody. I like to think that I am adapting very well to my current situation of being a stay at home mom. :)


bracelet from Katie.

5. I have made about 60 quilts baby size or larger. This summer will mark 8 years of quilting for me. Many thanks to Nancy for teaching me.

"Dot" from Linda, for my 5 year old.

6. I have reoccurring dreams that I am a runner and that I enjoy it. I'm not sure what that means. I think running is torture, so I admire those who do run. (susan, erin) I also have reoccurring dreams that I am a smoker. (I am not.) I don't get that one either.

Mitts from Carolyn, made just for me!!!

7. I have not had a blogger meet up yet. I tried meeting up with Carolyn a few times, but it hasn't worked out. I know several bloggers in real life though.

(oh, my, that was difficult.)

Care to join in? I am not going to tag anyone specifically.

Thanks, ladies, for all the wonderful mail!

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I am planning on working on this this weekend. I am sure my husband will be thrilled. ha!

combating blogger guilt

I received a lot of fabulous (blogger) mail lately and for some reason I have a hard time posting it on my blog. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful to each person who sends me a package and I love the contents, but for some reason when it comes time to blog about it, I hesitate. We all know how much I like bragging, so I don't know where this issue stems from. :) It must come down to the fact I have a hard time expressing my gratitude in words. The guilt that I have been feeling about this finally got to me, so here is all my gratitude wrapped up in one post.

My thanks goes out to each of these extremely generous and talented ladies.

Lera

Carolyn

Roxanne



Anina

Linda

Veronica (no blog)

Kristen

Amy Jo

Thank you to my real life friends and to the friends that I have never met.

fabric

I flubbed up the NaBloPoMo thing, so I decided to take a few days off...I am feeling quite burnt out when it comes to just about everything right now. Any one else right there with me?

But you know what cheers a girl up?
Fabric in the mail!

Lovely Lera sent me a box FULL of fabric scraps and other goodies. I was grinning from ear to ear when I left the post office. Thank you Lera! I love it all. Again, I feel quite spoiled. :)

That left my husband pondering why on earth I would still need to buy more fabric this weekend. I guess I didn't NEED to. But I got some lovely additions for the stash.

I found the cutest little quilt shop ever. I gasped several times as I was discovering gorgeous bolts of fabric. The store is crammed full of fabric and vintage linens, gifts and antiques, so the shopping experience becomes like a treasure hunt. It was FUN! The owner's taste in fabric is simply wonderful. I was there an hour past closing...it was that good. There was a fabulous quilt sample in the shop, so I will be starting another quilt this week, most likely. It's a good thing that I am almost done with this one. And this one, too.

wow

Susan said she was sending me a housewarming gift, but I didn't expect THIS! Amy Butler's Midwest Modern book is beautiful and inspiring. And the earrings that she sent (love them!) match the cover. :)

These earrings are fantastic. I am so excited to add more earrings to my fabulous sulu collection. woo-hoo! The blue and red ones will look fab with the shirt that I am wearing today, don't you think?

Man, I feel spoiled. Thanks soooo much Susan! You are a gem of a blogger friend.

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and one more wow...I can't believe how many of you are joining in the quilt-a-long! Thanks for such a positive response.

mail

I've been getting some lovely mail. I am still laughing at Linda's comment from the last time I posted about mail.

I won Chara Michele's 200th post giveaway and here is what she sent me.

Headbands (it turns out I do have enough hair to wear these, yay!) book marks, tags and some of her cards. Thanks, Chara, for the great package. :)

Roxanne and I planned a little fabric swap shortly after we both hit the fabric jackpot.
And she also included this fun pincushion.

I can't wait to use those scraps! And the pincushion is already in use.
Thanks, Roxy.

I have my own parcels to send, but I often have a hard time finding a box to send it in. I got this fantastic idea from Roxanne...turn your box inside out. Unfold it along the seams, flip it around, tape it back together and...

Viola! You have a box that is ready to ship that needs no wrapping.
Why didn't I think of that?

Another idea for using what you have. (or in my case using what Hjordi had.) Thanks to all of you who left comments on my last post on this subject. It was fun to get some new ideas.

Today my daughter has pigtails in her hair for the very first time and she looks like little Cindy Lou Who. It cracks me up.

Hope you are having a great Monday!

I've got mail...

My dear friend Amy Jo sent me a fabulous package today.
Lots of fabric samples that she got from her work place. I am giddy dreaming of the possibilities!
I definitely will be making more of these.

She also sent some vinyl!

And buttons!

This beauty is already on my wall above my work table for inspiration.
I have to make a quilt like this.

Thank you so much, Amy.

Earlier this week, Susan sent me fun package of beads from her stash.
Again, I am giddy dreaming of all the things that I can make with these beautiful little gems. I hope that I can make something half as wonderful as she creates.

Thanks so much, Susan, I can't wait to use them.

I tell ya', I have the best friends.