R/W/B Winner & Milestone(s) Give Away

First, I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful comments on my Celebrate Red,White, & Blue post. There were a lot of requests for the Eagle Block pattern - so a tutorial is in the works and I hope to have that ready by Thursday. Also, for the Bird House Block which I will have ready for the following week.

The winner of the Red Rooster QOV fabric bundle is 'Quiltma' of  Sue's Quilting Haven. She had stated "A friend of mine is having a Quilt of Valor mini retreat in Sept. That would be great for that." Congratulations Sue - I will send a personal e-mail to obtain mailing information.

Now, for all those milestones in blogging :  300 posts, 90,000 page visits, and 500 followers.  I have three Jelly Rolls to give away - Petite Odile, Trade Winds, and  Coquette.  You must be a follower and list your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice - I will try to fill the best I can once the names are pulled.  I will leave comments open until Sunday, July 15 (midnight EST)  and announce the winners on Monday's (16) post.  Thank you all for making me smile, create, and blog.  I will ship international!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Dolls and Santa

I gave this sneak peek on the Monthly Doll Quilt Swap group site.  Our July theme was 'Patriotic'.  I was certainly in the mood while making blocks for the R/W/B Blog Hop.

This was the quilt and dolly I sent to my swap mate Kim.  1.5" squares for the red/white/lites tile center - simple cross hatch quilting.  And a blue/white 'bars' border with  corner 9-patches stitched in the ditch.

Here they are residing at Kim's home - love that white wicker and bead board setting for them.

And I used this cute 'gardian angels' fabric for the back.  Every little girl and her dolly needs an Angel to watch over them.

The Monthly Doll Quilt Swap group is open to new members and you can feel free to 'sit-out' if  a month is too busy.  I have so enjoyed this group and all the lovely quilts I have received.
**linking up to Sarah's WHOOP WHOOP **

And this lovely package arrived the other day.  My Santa Sack from my swap mate Debbie.  Just the most gorgeous bag and amazed at the tied bow - I can't tie a bow.  One of the gifts was to be opened 'now' - which held a replaceable tie of the most wonderful patriotic fabric and the left over fabric.  A little snowman bag of mints and my two gifties - that have been shook.  I can see this lovely bag used a lot and love the idea that the tie can be changed for the season.  BUT for now , it will hang waiting for each month's packages to arrive - and having everyone green with envy.

REMINDERS

See that cute Reindeer Button on the side bar?  Well, with all the Christmas in July events (also inspiration on those other buttons) and a peek at a doll quilt - consider Debbie's Mrs. Claus doll quilt charity.  I know I have it marked on my calendar for a side project TO-DO when the next Christmas Quilt Along (July 14th) comes up.

Temecula Quilt Company is starting a new Summer Star sew along - new button added.  Little star blocks with a new 'center' each Friday - July-August.

Crafter's Campfire is fast approaching.  Saturday, July 21st - a day of sharing your camp craft, recipes, games and fun.  There will be a linky party - remember, those that link up that day are entered for the Bearenstain Bears layer cake give away.  I will be posting, but also blog hopping, too.
If you aren't sure what this is - check out my last year's Crafter's Campfire post HERE.

ALSO - if you haven't heard of the MalWare Monday shutdown threat see HERE - just a local blip, but I am sure you can find more information on-line.  If you haven't updated your security or run your virus program - do it now.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"An onion can make people cry but there's never been a vegetable that can make people laugh."
- Will Rogers 
I don't know - kid's spitting watermelon seeds fills the yard with giggles, watching the neighbor try to load his 400+ pound pumkin in the back of the pickup to enter the largest pumkin contest made us laugh, and watching the reaction and faces of a baby eating his(her) first tomato can really give you a hoot! 

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon  

Summer Scents

I love these 'Chocolate' hollyhocks - not only for their color, but the scent just fills the yard.  It is a perfect accent to the welcome chimes.  And since this photo was taken a few weeks ago, this one has grown to an estimated 15 feet and all its' blossoms are out in full spendor. 

This was my Sliced Apples Quilt Along - I used 'Birchbark Lodge' and naming this one 'Bears in the Woods'.  Yes, we have a lot of welcome signs.  Remember the Pets on Quilts Parade is coming in August.

Oh, that chain-saw bear is heavy!  But, I thought this flimsie needed to be photo'ed in the woods.  So off I trekked with my two furries following but not too helpful - they are in amongst the trees - hunting.  I'm waiting for my long armer to return from vacation - I want a panto that has bears and pines for the quilting.

And being home for the 'celebration' day - tending the shop and keeping an eye on the homestead while everyone else was away - I needed to play with some new fabric.  'Bungle Jungle' by tim&beck is so fun and colorful.  I have all my semi-blocks made and laid out, but my SIL has a super eye and I think I will let her 'shuffle' them around before I sew them together for my July  "Let Me See Your Jelly Roll" piece.

Remember the R/W/B Blog Hop - the full schedule can be found at Jane's HERE. 

 Also, I realize I have passed my 300th post (with May For Me), so waited for the 70,00 visit and that is now over 90,000, and now I see I am one follower away from 500.  So on Monday (July 9th) I will be posting a give away (and announce the R/W/B winner)

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains..."
- Diane Ackerman

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Design Wall Monday

A dear friend gifted me Bonnie Hunter's lovely book 'Shirttails' and I immediately fell in love with this pattern.  Also. an overflowing box of my two sons' shirts just needed taming.  This is going to make a great man's quilt.  Then I noticed my 'two inch' barrel (snack container) was really getting full again and thought I better get some more blocks stitched up for a postage stamp in the works.  Boy that looks good on the cheddar; now I'm thinking sahing!

Please take the time to see what everyone is playing with over at http://www.patchworktimes.com/ and get some great inspiration

This was my sneak peek for the 'Monthly Doll Quilt Swap' group - a  swap mate tease as I know she follows my blog.  This month's theme was 'Patriotic'.  The group is always accepting members - button on the side bar - check it out.  I have been really enjoying this group. 

I already have my materials pulled, and a sketched plan for the next month's theme 'Sunny & Warm' as I am using the Color Challenge and the Dresdan Challenge with this, also.  Maybe even the FMQ Challenge will get added too. 

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon