Whooping It Up Week! A Give Away to Celebrate!

This week there were a couple of little surprises for me that gave rise to whooping it up!! It wasn't due to anything I did or accomplished much in the way of sewing or quilting because I was steep into taking care of client's stuff, stuff being reports and budgets this past week.

Karen from Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild asked if she could feature the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that I shared during "Share and Tell." Practically jumping up and down I said of course! Want to read more about it you can find the story here by clicking on the button below. 

On the sidebar there are buttons that link to various progress
blog messages about the Rag Dolls.

Woohoo!! I won, I won!

 Lily Pad Quilting hosted Pets On Quilts in August and I was 1 out of 26 who won in their drawing of many sponsored quilting goodies.  

What did I win?

A Stack of 40 precut 10" squares of Bali Crackers - Rum Raisin by Hoffman

Isn't this gorgeous batik fabric?

I am still waiting for delivery. I was contacted earlier in the week by a Hoffman representative letting me know it was being mailed this week.

Maybe today I hope?

This morning I finished the modern Andy Outfits for the 15 inch  and 20" dolls. Below are photos of  the companion clothing for 15" and 20" Raggedy Ann and Andy.

Adorable? Yes!

I managed to add the frames to the star blocks during my busy, busy week! More whooping!

On my dog tired days when I was too tired to sew I pinned an assortment of quilts on display. Inspiration set in. I took a few of the quilts made and displayed across the stair banner. A friend of mine has been asking, "How many quilts have you made? not once but twice. Both times I stated, I don't know I have lost count! Need some ideas on how to display? If so check out my "Quilt Board Display" on Pinterest.

Since it has been a Whooping Up week I thought I would celebrate with a giveaway!

What am I giving away?



Simple Vintage Jellies from JoAnn Fabrics.
There are 20 pieces of pastel florals, stripes and other designs in this roll.

And because it is the reason for the season

 A Bunny Hill Design Pumpkin Pie Pattern
To see the entire pattern go to Bunny Hill Designs

The pattern comes with black and orange checked ribbon, a bunny button and the teeniest tiniest round orange buttons. 

The giveaway begins today September 7th and will run until September 14th.
The drawing will occur on Sunday, September 15th.

So here are 4 opportunities on how to submit your name for the drawing.

• 1. Connect via Bloglovin, Google Connect or your favorite way to follow. Please tell me that you have and how you are going to follow.
• 2. Visit my recently opened "My Etsy Shop." Come back and tell me what you like best.  Please consider following me on My Etsy Shop (this is not a requirement). Since I am so new I need help as to not look so lonely there. :)
• 3. Visit Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild's blog and come back and tell me that you have visited it.
• 4. Answer the 4 simple questions in the survey regarding Raggedy Ann and Andy preferences. Your answers will help guide me. After you have taken the survey please come back and tell me you did take the survey. Click here to take survey

Thanks for visiting and whooping it up with me! 

Linky parties to go to this week. 

Sew Darn Crafty at Sew Many Ways, Anything Goes at Stitch by Stitch, Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do, Freemotion at the River-Linky Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday at QuiltSory, Sew Cute Tuesday at Better Off Threads, Show and Tell Tuesday at I have to Say, WIP at Freshly Pieced, We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado, WIPS on Wednesday at Esther's Blog, Thursday Threads at 627  Handworks, Needle and Threads at My Quilt Infatuation, and 
TGC - The Creative Girl.
Buttons to the linky parties are here.

Craftsy BOM, Garden Pics & More

Craftsy Block of the Month

Finally done! The second Craftsy Block of the Month for March. Yep! I am working to catch up!

It was so wonderful to turn on my sewing machine again. It has been several weeks - seems longer than that.

I love how this block turned out! 

It is a broken spider web block that is foundation pieced - well in the initial stages it is since the only pieces that had a foundation are the strips along the star edge. After the first strip was sewn to the foundation I sewed the remaining strips matching seams together right sides together until the foundation pieced is covered. After covering the foundation piece I trimmed the edges along the lines of the foundation and then trimmed the foundation to reduce bulk.

Modern Quilt Blocks from Members of the 

Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild

These wonderful and amazing blocks are for the Quiltcon Challenge. Check out their website to see some WOW! quilts.  I missed the April CLTMQG meeting and missed out on the opportunity to participate.

An Afternoon in the Garden

I was looking out my sliding glass doors and noticed how the birds were lining up to take a bath. I had filled the bird bath to full yesterday morning and the birds came. I ran upstairs to grab my camera to grab a picture of what looked like an airport with with flights waiting to land. I opened the door and they all flew away. So I thought I would sit on the garden bench to see if they would return so I could get a picture of them. One did!

While sitting on my bench I looked up and noticed my sweet Cassie staring out at the door wanting to come out and sit with me on the bench, something she loves doing. She was getting quite persistent about wanting to come out, barking and pawing at the door. I ran to let her out as I was concerned she would awaken my napping hubby. 

Aren't you glad I came out to help make your flower look pretty?

As we sat on the bench Cassie was talkng in all the critters. There is a new bird that has been visiting us. I'm not sure what it is but it has a beautiful song. While Cassie looks for the critters I was looking for pretty things in the garden. I love my garden bunny. I picked it up on the way home from vacation one summer.

 The gardenias are blooming and giving off their wonderful scent.

A potted plant brimmed full with color!

It has been a good day! It ended a bit different than usual though. Hubby and I made a difficult decision to move his autistic son to another group home after having lived there for 14 years. In the last year we took measures to wean Jason from high power medications that was causing him to be listless, not enjoying life, and sleeping all the time. He was so drugged! We wanted Jason back! Well Jason is back! Now that he has returned he doesn't fit in with the other residents because they are satisfied with doing nothing. Not only that staff had been instructed not to talk to them. All the residents are not able to speak, but that doesn't mean that don't want people to talk to them. They used to be an active group home going bowling, skating, swimming, beach trips, outings in the community and etc. This is no more or so reduced that Jason is bored out of his mind. 

If you know anything about autism you know that they do not like changes!! I should add more exclamation points because changes are big adjustments that can set them off. The plan was to keep him in the same work shelter to keep something in place that is familiar. Well that is not to be because the organization that owns the group home also owns the work shelter and they are forcing Jason out of it because of our decision to pull him out of the group home. We have found a wonderful work shelter for him! We feel as though God handed us an amazing blessing as we didn't know that we would find something that offers so many choices and flexibility. It is operated with smiling staff members who love what they do. The facility is bright and cheerful in the Uptown area of Charlotte. 

In an effort for transitioning Jason, Jason spent an afternoon with the guys from his new group home. Jason will officially be a part of them on May 31st. They went out to dinner. Jason had such a good time that when the van from his current group home came to pick him up he wouldn't get on it! No! No! No! he proclaimed and no bribing him with food that usually works would work to change his mind. Mike had to go and pick him up which is clear across town and let me tell you Charlotte is a sprawling town. When Mike drove up to the group home Jason refused. After a couple of hours Jason finally cooperated. Though this may sound like a frustrating event we actually are rejoicing because we are so thrilled that Jason is going to love his new life. We don't know what adjustments he will endure but we are hopeful that it will go beyond our wildest dreams for him.

Wishing all a Happy Memorial Day!

Look What I Won!

I love the blocks! I can't believe I actually won them. The picture of the fabric palette didn't begin to justify the colors of this fabric. 
The pumpkin orange is my favorite!

Remember the blocks I made from Echo by Lotta Jansdotter?  Well if you don't click to take a quick peek of the blocks I made. My original understanding was we were making these blocks for a general swap 2 for the 2 we each made. It ended up being a random drawing for two people and I was one of two winners this evening at the Charlotte Modern Quilters Guild! Not only did I win the 14 blocks (there are a couple of outstanding blocks so 16 blocks total) I also won 5 companion fabric fat quarters.

Okay Now I need Help!

What do you think will make these blocks work into a fantastic quilt?

Looking forward to all your comments or thoughts,

Stars in My Eyes

Any quilting or sewing this weekend? The answer for me is a resounding "Yes!"

I made two star blocks from a fat quarter of Echo - Lotta Jansdotter received at the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild for a swap. The top block is "Shooting Star" and the bottom block is "Martha Washington Star".

Isn't Martha Washington a cool block with the windmill in the center?

Hmmm I wonder which blocks made with one of the companion fabrics I will receive in the swap?

Do these companion fabrics talk to you?

Finishing up the latter part of my time at the Sew-In I sewed the Jungle Jungle charms together for another tote. The center of each block is a lined pocket for a cell phone. I can't wait until this bag is finished. The fabric is just too cute!

Things to be grateful for today: 

• My husband who had a Sunday off so we could go to church together.
• Fun day with quilting friends from the guild yesterday.
• Wonderful friends that gather together last evening for dinner and games.
• Warm house as the temperature continues to drop with rain that is pouring and possibly turning to flurries this evening.

A Little of Everything!

In one of my earlier posts I posted pictures of jewelry cinch bags that I made for a fundraiser. The recipient of the proceeds is the Autism Society of North Carolina. I also made a few for some wonderful friends of mine. This week I received two emails leading me to a copy of an article that appeared in our local newspaper, the Charlotte Observer News - Lake Norman Edition, about the fundraiser. The founder of the fundraiser is Elizabeth Phillippi, a quilter, that I met at Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild. Her goal is to raise $10,000 and she is going to succeed! She has already raised $5,400. Not only does Elizabeth and I share the love of quilting but we both have sons that have autism, mine is actually a stepson. Anyone having a heart to help with this effort can do so by leaving a comment below stating that you are interested and I will email you a pdf version of the 
instructions. 

Charlotte Observer Picture

Goals for 2012
It has been interesting and fun reading blogger's quilting goals for 2012. Mine have been floating in my head for several days. Getting them written down leads to greater success. I will have to pop back to this message to keep me on target. You know how hard it if for us quilters when we see something new that we want to add to our "I want to do list". Originally I had planned to finish my existing numerous works in progress only but that does get a bit boring. I have expanded my list already and it is only January 4th!

• Finish a minimum of 3 quilt tops out of 6. Anything above that is a kudos to me!
• Keep up with the monthly FMQ Challenge

 

• Keep up with Craftsy' Block of the Month

• Participate in the Itty Bitty Scrap Swap
  

 

•  In the evenings do RedWork while watching some of my hubby's and my favorite shows such as The Mentalist, The Closer and Rizzoli and Isles. 
• Book Club
• Begin Judy Niemeyer's Mariner's Star - A gift from a fellow quilter! Ohh thank you so much I can't wait to begin!

• Participate in making charity quilts, an Eons Quilters Passion Project

• Make this Modern Quilt - more information about this in my previous blog message 
• Make cinch bags 

Please wish me well in this ambitious list for 2012!

More About the Itty Bitty Swap

One of the members of the Eons Quilters Passion Group came up with a project to help us keep connected without it being a mammoth size project. When she suggested it I was all over it since I had participated in something very similar at the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild's version of the swap. In the Itty Bitty Swap, Storystitcher, her screen name will pair each of us up with another person who we will send a fat quarter. The person receiving my fat quarter will then come up with some small item to give back to me from the fat quarter sent. 

This is what I received from my little stash that I gave to someone, actually that person happens to be Elizabeth Phillippi who is mentioned above about the cinch bags.

I was so tickled with the little clutch bag and kleenex pouch! I use them both often!

My gift made from another quilter's stash was a Modern looking pillow! She happens to be the founder of the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild - Jennifer Crisp. You may know her as the blogger at Ellison Lane Quilts.

I have a busy day planned, a day just to keep warm since the temperature has dropped quite low for Charlotte. Wishing all my quilting friends a wonderful and blessed day.

Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path. - Psalm 27:11