Tetris Fun

I didn't participate in the charm swap for this, but I have so much fabric to play with and this is one of my favorite games!  I am using 2.5" squares instead of the 5" charms.  You still have time to join in; rules and basic instructions can be found here at Happy Quilting with Melissa.

The first block was July 17 - found HERE.  I printed the grid provided by Melissa, colored in my 'playing pieces', and then I used the 'web or 'mesh' method to sew my little blocks together.  Tutorial found HERE  on my Bingo Card instructions.  I did change around my red and green play pieces - better distribution of color. 

Hope you join in on a fun new concept - can't wait for the next block,

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

May For Me - Day 21

This weeks challenge for Clover & Violet's Summertime Adventures was childrens' toys. I found this cute tutorial at Just Another HangUp for a rice filled 'boo-boo' ice pack. I changed them into a version of 'Angry Birds' bean bags to take to my grandson's up coming 5th Birthday party. Being there will be little ones from 2-5 yrs. old (most throw backwards), I filled them half with fiberfill and half cup of plastic 'doll' pellets. I put them in a cup while filling to catch any loose pellets. Then put a bit of fiber fill to hold pellets while I stitched the opening closed. Made a little mesh bag to hold those birds when not in play and I drug out my old hula hoop - Yes, still have it. Now they can play a safe game of tossing the birds into the hula hoop.

BINGO CALL WORDS

I - BOWLING PIN(S)
G - BADGE(S)
I - GRAPE(S)
O - BUNNY or RABBIT or BUNNY RABBIT
O - FARM
B - BALLOON(S)
I - DEVIL
N - WHALE
O - TIGER
O - FISH

If you get a BINGO contact Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks.
Some of you are getting discouraged - Don't - I gave up on a quilt bingo once and had I stayed with it, I would have had the 'black-out' and grand prize.

***PLEASE*** CHECK THE PRIZE/WINNER PAGES ON TONYA'S AND MARCIA'S BLOGS - THERE ARE BINGOS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED/WON AND THEREFORE DONE - ONLY CALL A BINGO FOR THOSE STILL OPEN THANK YOU***

REMINDERS

Sew MaMa Sew Give Away Day is today !!!

Hands2Help - Sarah has a post up with all the sponsors and give aways. Final linkup for finished quilts is May 28th **All quilts should be in place of chosen charity BY June 8th**

Traveling Stash - click that suitcase button - Cherise has updated

IT'S BIRTHDAY WEEK GIVE AWAY TIME

Yes, my Birthday is this week - the 23rd to be exact. Thank you all for helping me celebrate so far this month. SO a special week, a special give away::::

A jelly roll for each day!!!!! Moda Marbles, 'Puttin' on the Ritz by BunnyHill (blue), 'Little Rascal' by Chloe's Closet, 'Etchings' by 3 Sisters, and Grand Finale by Sandy Gevais. What do you have to do? Well be a follower - this party is for you .(NO THIS IS NOT IN THE SEWMAMASEW GIVE AWAY) I will ship international. Answer this question to enter:

If you could, as a May For Me treat to yourself, have any one designer or teacher come to your home for a personal 'one-on-one' class - who would it be and why? (This was our behind the scenes conversation) I would love to have Bonnie Hunter come and play along in my scraps - she has been in NY state twice recently and I couldn't get in the classes.

Comments will be open until Saturday, May 26 8PM and I will announce by 9PM (EST)

CLOSING THOUGHT

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

May For Me - Day 10

A reminder that this Saturday, May 12th, is the next Christmas Quilt Along - and I am host. Tomorrow I will share a recipe that might give you some ME time for the day or for Mother's Day. I have a quick tutorial project planned for that day, too. So if you could join us with the quilt along or even for the little quick project, a linky will be set up.

I'd like to share another blogger who is enjoying May For Me - Kathy's Quilts.

Thank you for all the well wishes. For those not 'familiar' with me, I suffered a work accident that involved 2 brain surgeries and short coma. Then 2 near-death car accidents within a year of each other. So though I am 're-built', I am no bionic woman and extreme weather changes affect me. Thunderstorms leave me feeling like I spent some time in the micro-wave. My furry medicine pets are a great comfort and things are slowly getting back to norm. I even sewed a little today as well as some organization.

BINGO CALL WORDS

G - LINES
N - FLOWER(S)
O - PINCUSHION
N - TRACTOR
N - BIRD(S)
I - BALLOON(S)
I - NET
N - ELMO
B - BAT(S)
B - BONE(S)

Remember to visit Marcia, Tonya, and Snoodles for their words as well as what they may share for May For Me.

If you get a BINGO contact Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks.
Need a refresher on the BINGO Information and Rules click HERE.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Don't knock the weather: nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while."
- Kin Hubbard

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

May For Me - Day 9

Unfortunately the weather and my body just did not see eye-to-eye and my ME time was canceled out with 'couch' time. But I would love to share a couple of blogs - their May For Me certainly needs to be shared.

Judy of Shadetree Quilting had a moving post on 'Life Lessons - and with her permission, I am sharing with you. Please be sure to read thru the whole thing, so fitting not only for our May, but to treasure always.

Sheila of Sew Cook & Travel has shared some very interesting twists on the Jelly Roll Race quilt HERE and HERE; as well as a nice tutorial on painter's tape HERE

BINGO CALL WORDS

B - TRACTOR
B - SUPERMAN
I - FISH
I - OVALS
N - KENTUCKY
N - DOT(S) or POLKA DOTS
G - ZEBRA
G - VINES
O - WORM
O - DORA

Remember we all have different lists and this week we call 10 items each, so check in with Marcia, Tonya, and Snoodles for their words as well as what they may share for May For Me.

If you get a BINGO contact Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks.
Need a refresher on the BINGO Information and Rules click HERE.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom."
- Audra Foveo

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Whistling

Do you whistle while you work - oh, remember that song from 'Snow White'? Do you hum, amp the tunes, or work in silence? I have seen bloggers into the "clearing, destashing, organizing, time line crunches" STRESS - that I can here the teeth gnashing. There are some unhappy and un-mojo'ed people out there right now. Time to slow down, time to re-cap, time to breath, time to whistle.

I can relate with you all as I have been re-organizing (that's not going too fast), having time crunches (well - I get things done way ahead thank heavens, but they all come at once!), and a little teeth gnashing. My first - yes first - stab at this month's Schnibble did not go well. Things did not come out to size and very wonky AND I can make geese. So breath and re-focus and lots of time. It was off to the dust bin. Yes, without thought, it was Good Bye!! I rarely do a thing like that, but rather than stress - I regrouped and started new, and actually the NEW is almost done.

This was a little bit of ME time fun and a bit of a breather from it all. This was the next little tutorial from Sew Lux to use some of those orphan charms. I had some 'Coming Home' charms left from an earlier Schnibble project. So fun to frame the roosters, sheep, and apples with the barn siding.

And this is the back - some of the flower print charms from that pack with the opposite framing. Although she gives a wonderful tutorial so you can bind with your backing , I chose to use a standard binding so I can use this reversed. **will link up with Sew Lux 'Stitch & Share'**

MAY FOR ME

I have a lot of new followers - thank you - so you may not understand the May For Me. Last year Tonya, Marcia and I teamed up for a month of ME - learn to take time for yourself. Whether a special project, relaxation, a recipe you want to try, a trip - just something for you. We so neglect ourselves. Yes, the Bingo (one day left to link up)is a fun part of it, but we each (oh, my can't forget - Snoodles is with us this year)will be sharing with you to help you have some ME time. I already treated myself to a ME - I couldn't pass up the 40% off, so bought this new extra large cutting mat - as you can see, I really needed to treat myself as that magenta mat is non-usable and the blue is warped and has hot glue all over it! I think that is why those blasted geese came out wrong.

Another early ME time - my first class. Yes, attending a class on the Rapid Fire Hunter Star this Saturday. So excited and just 2 miles up the road, so easy travel. I probably will be singing at this one as some of our quilt guild ladies get into that 'show tune' mode that sometimes is a little hard to control.

TRAVELING STASH UPDATE

Box 1 - 16 Muddy Feet comments open until May 5th

Box 2 - Richard Quilts comments open until April 22

Box 3 - moving to Cindy at Spin the Bobbin

Box 4 - moving to Lynn at K&S DesignGirls

Box 5 - moving to Angie at Sew Scrappy Quilts

Box 6 - Leap Year Box wont move until 29th

**Please note - this is the last Traveling Stash Update I will be doing. May will be busy for me and then into June - marks a year and half since the first box - time to breath, re-group, whistle, move on. I want to bring back my Squared Up segment. So if someone else would like to keep all those stash followers up to date, please feel free**

CLOSING THOUGHT

'If the pressure is getting to you, whistle. In a barely audible way. It's the best way I know of to let go of tension. Music gets your mind off the situation, and the act of whistling melts the tension out of your body.'
- Fuzzy Zoeller

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Updates

The month of April will be tutorials for items for the kitchen. I will be a guest blogger Weds. April 4th so please stop by and give a shout out.

I am still catching glimps of Bingo Cards here and there - the tutorial can be found here. Don't stress over the color, or whether you have juvenile fussy prints - think your stash. We all have florals, dots, circles, shapes. Those fall prints have leaves, pumpkins, acorns, scarecrows and crows. Halloween prints have an array of items. Christmas prints offer many wonders.

April 15-22--The Linky party opens. You have until April 22 to link your post showing your Bingo card and a Master list of what each space means. The list is VERY IMPORTANT and a necessary part of the game. After April 22 we will not accept any new entries. So you MUST link up by that date.

See more on the rules and prizes here with Tonya.

Even though the early sign up with prizes is done you can still participate with the Hands2Help project. Please visit Sarah here for all the information. Consider donating at least one quilt - and there are lots of prizes for completed/donated quilts. Hey - don't have time to make a NEW quilt - pull one of those UFOs and finish it, donate it. Sarah also has a line up of friends who will be sharing quick and easy quilts patterns for inspiration.

And lots of new buttons on the side bar - tried to keep the April activities to the top.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

TIME

I hope you all remembered Day Light Savings Time. I have all but one clock that are computer/auto re-sets. My battery kitchen clock is a little high, so will wait for son to visit for that to be changed - as well as to climb the step stool to change the batteries in all the smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.

It hasn't been the time change that is a bother, but our funny weather. One day it is 20, the next 50, the next 30, the next 60 , etc.... AND so nice that it freakishly snowed on Christmas Quilt Along! I rather it stayed a little cold for a bit, I don't want flowers and fruit trees to bud out too early and then Mother Nature throw a 'laugh' at us and lose them.

TIME FOR BLOCKS

This is my New York Beauty (NYB) block - block #0 with the quilt along. Even if you don't want to join the quilt along the site has free blocks that might inspire even a single block wonder. Ula's beauty blocks and she has other patterns.

The next little basket block with Temecula Quilt Co's "Blessing Baskets". Yes, they are tiny pieces - just go slowly. They are just so sweet!

I finished up the last few string blocks for SewLux Scrap Attack Strings Quilt Along and put them into a quilt top. You won't see the finished quilt here as it has been sent with some other goodies to Sarah's ministry group.

I did up all the Court House blocks in prep for Clover and Violet's Garden Steps quilt. The first little stitchery is available, but I have a few other items to finish up - then I can stitch. *also linking up with PatchworkTimes 'On The Wall'

I haven't seen these on other blogs? Yes, the flicker group, but not blogs. They are the first two blocks for Schell's "Harrington & Hannah" BOM over at The Raspberry Rabbits. I have to work on them a little at a time - oops, so forgot why I had to give up making Mohair Bears - allergic to wool. Yes, my flower pot is crooked - happens when you are placing/fusing when a furry wants your attention.

WINS, SWAPS

I didn't want to forget - this is the cute little bundle and pattern that I won from SewLux for last month's link-up with all my string blocks. I already have fabric pulled for the pattern and the FQs are ear-marked for a small project.

And I got a delightful e-mail from Linda at Stray Stitches that I had won this beautiful cross stitch stocking kit. DUH me totally forgot about this give away, such a pleasant surprise and can't wait for it to come.

OH MY - a wonderful package arrive Saturday morning. Love my FALL swap from Sherry. A disappearing 4-patch table topper and the most fantastic ceramic pumpkin. I actually have it sitting out. I want to enjoy it now.

BINGO

Tonya has posted a very discriptive rule listing as well as answered some questions - please visit. And her site will be the one to post further questions. ALSO, please visit Sheila at Sew Cook and Travel and Blinda at The Seamrippers for some inspirational Bingo Cards. It's been fun seeing these popping up and thank you ladies for helping with a little promo. The tutorial for the Bingo Card is here but feel free to make this your OWN card - have fun with it.

***I will update the Traveling Stash on Tuesday***
***Please visit Sarah with updated info on Hands2Help -click on button***

CLOSING THOUGHT

“What comes first, the compass or the clock? Before one can truly manage time (the clock), it is important to know where you are going, what your priorities and goals are, in which direction you are headed (the compass). Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.”
*source unknown*

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

B - I - N - GO

Did you guess it? Did you find the clues? For those that did, thank you for keeping it to yourself. But, YES, we are planning a BINGO game for our 2012 MAY FOR ME. And the reason we are starting early - you are going to make your own BINGO card. Yep - that's what you heard. I know it is a ways to May, but we want you to have time to make your card, and then there will be a period to link your card up with us as an entry. Time will fly. And I am going to share a tutorial on how to make your card - of course, you are free to add your own personality and creativity - but this will help you along.

TUTORIAL

You are going to need twenty five (25) 2.5" squares. B is going to be Blue, I is going to be Yellow, N is going to be Red with the black center, G is going to be Green, and O is going to be Purple. Now don't fret if you don't have a lot of fussy cut prints - use your imagination. I had a yellow duck - even though on green background, I am using him as my yellow. Stars are good, but use them in only one color choice. A Paisley, a dot, or a stripe will work, but again, use them in only one color choice. You have lots of time to find your squares - jot down what they are - you will see why later.

I am going to show you a way to sew small squares into a block with a technique called 'webbing'. Match your column one (blue) with your column two (yellow) squares and chain thru your machine - DO NOT CUT THREADS.

Now match up column three (red with black center) to your yellow and chain thru again - DO NOT CUT THREADS.

Yup - match that next column - # 4 is the greens and chain thru your machine - DO NOT CUT THREADS>

And then your last column - the purples - chain thru and DO NOT CUT THREADS. You now have your BINGO card block in a web.

You can use your iron to press the rows in opposite directions or finger press ( which is what I did) and then match up your seams, pin, and sew. Repeat with each row. The 'web' structure helps with the matching up. Then press your completed BINGO card block.

We are going to make a mini-quilt sandwich. And you can finish off your card how ever you like. I added a skinny black sash. Then stitched 5 scrap lite squares and used my perma pen to write B - I - N- G - O. This is your card - this is only a helpful suggestion, but complete this as you desire. A backing, batt (use up those scraps) and quilt stitch in the ditch or what ever your fancy. Leave raw edge, pink edge, rick rack, or binding to finish. This is your card.

Remember I said to keep a list of what each block represented? This is why - we need a printed sheet with your list just like I show here. This is not only to help you remember when it comes time to play, but when you link up, it will help Tonya make the master list for when we pull BINGO names. So yes, we need it large enough to read it when posted with your card. As you can see, I pinned mine right to my card for safe keeping. Hey - my card has been made and hanging since right after Christmas! So when your card is made, hang it up and admire.

And this is how you are going to mark your card - BUTTONS. Now if you don't have a dozen button tins like I do, there is time to gather. I am actually up-cycling some shirts and removing their buttons - they are small and have a textural color/look, so I am going to use these. And if you have never sewn on a button - time to learn. And this is for fun, no stress!!!! After we are done playing BINGO, I will be offering a tutorial on how to turn your card into a mini wallhanging to keep and cherish - or gift.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to check out my co-conspirators - they made their own cards (and I haven't seen them yet either so going to visit them) :

Tonya of HillBilly Handiworks - she may be sharing some rules, too.......

Marcia of Marcia's CraftySewing - she has lots of good ideas for inspiration in finishing and quilting....

Snoodles of LilyPad Quilting - she just learned about fussy cuts and can share on a first hand experience.....

We all are here to help if you have questions and will pop in to remind you of progress...... Looking forward to MAY FOR ME and BINGO!!!! And if you were with us last year, you know there were lots of give aways - hey, May is my Birth Month - and I share my celebration all month long!!!!

Sincerely Yours,
Sharon