Blogger's Quilt Festival - Post 1

Well, it is Spring International Quilt Market time.  And since many of us are unable to attend the lovely  Amy of Amy's Creative Side   hosts the wonderful Blogger's Quilt Festival, so we get a chance to strut our stuff.

Doll/Mini Quilt Entry

This is the Monthly Doll Quilt Swap piece made for the theme in March 2013 'Animals' . These bow tie kitties are from an adaptation of a pattern found in the book "Christmas Cats & Dogs' by Janet Kime with Martingale co.  It is measures 18" x 22" and I quilted on my home machine using swirls, loops and little paw prints. 

I always make a matching little dollie to go with the quilt - from the scraps of the little quilt.  And I always use buttons - tiny buttons!

Please be sure to visit all the entries - you will be inspired.

Sewingly yours,

Sharon

Bloggers's Quilt Festival - Post 2

Well, it is Spring International Quilt Market time. And since many of us are unable to attend the lovely Amy of Amy's Creative Side hosts the wonderful Blogger's Quilt Festival, so we get a chance to strut our stuff.

Bed Quilt Entry

I made this quilt during the "How Far Will Your Go" quilt along hosted by Jess at The ElvenGarden .  I was gifted a FQ bundle of 'Summer Breeze II' and had kept it shelved for just the right pattern,  I wanted something fresh, fun, and a touch of French Country Cottage to it.  A sampler quilt with many techniques used made for a delightful quilt of my own.

Finished size is 64" x 86" and I quilted it with a simple meander on my home machine using a light blue thread top and bottom.  I used the scraps from the quilt to make a coordinating pillow.

Please be sure to visit all the entrants for some real inspiration.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Thursday May For Me

My ME time was a nice long hot shower, feet up with two furry friends, a shopping trip with my SIL, and enjoying the personal best of my SIL - her largest quilt yet ALL done (off to the long armer tomorrow). 

And just to prove it - that mess got cleaned up!!  The items on top of the large shelves will be 'housed' in some clear totes soon.  Let's hope I can keep it this way.

TIP

  
Tools of the trade.  Not all rulers are equal - every company and ruler designer has their own dimensions, type of materials used, lined, etc....   I don't use specialty rulers - my trusty two 6.5" (one is 13.5" and the other 24" long) have a 45 degree and 60 degree mark line that is all I need.  I have a series of the Olfa squares - 3.5" right up to 16.5"  The Easy Rule and the Olfa are true to each other's cuts - and they are made in the USA.  And they have all those 'odd' cutting sizes marked on them.

You may notice the little brown dots on the smaller ruler - they are sticky sand paper dots - you can get them thru most quilty shops, but mine came from the hardware store.  I have them stragically placed so they have a hold whether cutting  a tiny 1.5"  square or 6.5" strip - any size will have a grip to the fabric preventing it from slipping. The Olfa squares have a gridded bottom that holds fabric and ruler.

I have tried other rulers, but these two brands are 'true' measurements and work well together for ME.  And yes, I have three different cutting mats - each one's rule markings ARE different - I rarely use them as my cutting marks.

So check your rulers and your cutting mat(s) to see how accurate they are and if they match in cutting - could make all the difference in your quilting.


RECIPE

QUICK CORN BREAD DEEP DISH PIZZA 

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Prepare one (8.5 oz. ) box of Jiffy Corn Bread Muffin mix using 1 egg and 1/2 cup of milk. (Note: this amount of milk is different from what's called for in the package directions.) Add 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese , then spread the batter evenly across the bottom of the pan.
• Heat one Tsp of oil in a large skillet, then sauté one large chopped onion and one minced garlic clove  until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add one (26 oz) jar of your favorite pasta sauce, 1/2 tsp of oregano,  salt and pepper. Cook the sauce until it thickens, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Have fun with toppings - bacons bits, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, sliced olives.  Scatter half on cornmeal batter, cover with sauce and add the other half of toppings.  Bake for 15 minutes, then top with your choice of cheese and bake until the cheese is bubbling, about 10 minutes. Cut into slices and serve. Makes 6 servings.

Linking up with Marcia's May For Me

REMINDER

Link up for the Blogger's Quilt Festival (see side bar button) is May 17th.  You need a seperate post for your entry(s) - you can enter two catagories but each must have it's own post.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Monday May For Me

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day as well as found some ME time.  I got my day of total ME - everyone else had somewhere to be and I stayed to hold down the fort.  Spent the day re-folding fabrics and straightening shelves.  I just have the books to go thru now.  I did try to 'un-plug' for Sunday, but took a little hop on - luckily to handle some urgent e-mail - then un-plugged again.

I received my lovely 'blue' package for the Colour Swap - from Siri - all the way from Norway!  Something 'smelly' - lovely soap and some lotions.  Something edible - look at the size of that candy bar!  Something for room decor - I couldn't manage to get the full runner in the photo - just lovely stars with beautiful applique flowers.

AND something personal (at least one item had to be handmade - lucky me I got two) - this lovely project case.  A zip pocket with lots of room, elastic for holding items, needle case, and look at that wonderful blue fabric!  I actually received the package on Friday, but saved it for Mother's Day - Thank you so much Siri - love it all.

And this just delightful character - my SIL came across him and knew I had to have him.  Early B'Day gift.  Right now he is hanging inside as we turned into some bad weather very quickly from morning til right after lunch.  Even had to cover all the flower beds are we are to have frost - maybe snow!

The winner of her choice of the Double Charm Bundle Give Away is:

ROMA  - Life@Roma's - I will send her  a personal e-mail for choice and mailing information.

SO WHAT DO I HAVE THIS WEEK?? How about some Panels with whimsy, for the kids (or grands), just for fun!

Whether it's the little boys or the big boys - how fun!  Farmall tractors with three FQs 

The Cat In the Hat with three FQs - now who can't love this trouble maker!

A book panel of Dick & Jane - oh, I remember reading this myself as well as to my kids.  And 3 FQs to play with it.

And that loveable fluff of a character - The Lorax with three coordinating FQs.

Winner will have choice of panel/FQ set - leave me a comment on what your favorite childhood storybook was.  Mine was 'Black Beauty' - I was such a horse nut.  This is for all my followers and I will ship international - comments open until Sunday, May 19th 10pm (est) with winner announced with the next Monday May For Me.  

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon