Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tiny Tuesday 1.31.12

Here's my seven houses for the week for Tiny Tuesday:

Here's the whole village.  I really like the houses with the plain windows better!  Can't wait to see them with the tiny sashing and cornerstone blocks.  That's a long long ways away from now.



************************************GIVEAWAYS*********************************

Check out this week's giveaway at KoolBeenz.  You could win a $25 credit to The Quilted Castle!
 Win a $25 store credit at The Quilted Castle at Kool Beenz blog  http://koolbeenz-blog.blogspot.com/


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Monday, January 30, 2012

In Color Order HST Block - January

Here's another block to add to my monochromatic color scheme blocks.  It's the January block from Jenni at the In Color Order blog.  http://incolororder.blogspot.com/2012/01/hst-block-of-month-january.html  She is doing a block of the month with each block using half square triangles.  I really like the colors I picked for this one.



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 Win a Bali Pop!  Giveaway ends February 3, 2012.  Check it out!


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Sunday, January 29, 2012

We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler Block 24 - Curved 9-Patch

The last block in the curved skill builder is Block #24, Curved 9-Patch.  I thought this block was easy!  The points came out really nice, and it's flat as a pancake.

Here are my three We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler blocks plus one bonus circle block for this segment.


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Lily Pad Quilting: Got thread? (A Giveaway): Yes, that's right, a giveaway over at Lily Pad Quilting!  There will be two winners.  Each will get three charm packs and some Superior Thread.  Check it out!

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Friday, January 27, 2012

We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler - Bonus Block #25

Again we were challenged with more curves.  This one was a little more difficult for me, but I think I got it.  This block should show off some of the FMQ I am also learning.  Here's block #25, the bonus circle block:

Leila at Sewn is also having a drawing for those who made all of the applique blocks.  Here are my three:



BWS tips button


Thursday, January 26, 2012

Block Swap Adventure - January '12 Block

Here's the block I made for January's Block Swap Adventure.  It is for Susan in MD.  Susan likes 9-patch blocks, so I made her the 9-Patch Variation from Quilter's Cache.


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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

WIP Wednesday 2.25.12

January's Block Lotto involved curves!  We were supposed to make a 9.5" block with a dark color as a base and a light color as the curve.  We could submit nine chances or the Lotto.  Have you checked out the Block Lotto yet?  Just click the button on my right side bar.  It's a lot of fun.  Here's what I did this week:



I also turned in my two charity quilts to our local guild last night.  Here's the X's and O's quilt:


I participated in the Friday Night Sew In this weekend.  LOVE!  can't believe I got this whole quilt top done:



Here's the links to the scrap bustin' blogs!

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2012/01/scrap-attack-quilt-along.html

Bust Yo Scraps!Handmade by Heidi

Whohoo!  I know I'm on a fabric diet, but I finally made it in to one of CraftBud's swaps.  This one is a polka dot swap.  I chose Metro Living Circles - Orange


Metro Living Circles in Orange- Half Yard

Hurry!  There may be a spot or two left!


LSbutton-125


Completed Projects --  4

9 Eclipse blocks for the January Block Lotto
House blocks complete this week - 7
Bust Yo Scraps/Scrap Attack quilt top done
Completed the January Block Swap Adventure block for my swap partner

Currently in Progress:  9

Chasing Chevrons (need to make the pieced back--organized fabric and ready to cut)
Dutchman's Puzzle (made decision on border and ready to cut)
Orca Bay (piecing together the last step)
Bluepatch Quilter Mystery Quiltalong (need two stars and one braid)
Victorianna Fabric Party Quiltalong (need two rows to catch up two rows)
Summer Series Quiltalong (stilll need 3 more random blocks)
We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler (need to do one block from 1/20/12)
30"x30" Quilt for the June 2012 quilt show -- Secretly started working on this again!

Quilt Tops to be quilted:  5
Jelly Roll Race - Lap quilt
Oh Susannah! Mystery Quiltalong - California King
Kaleidoscope Quiltalong
X's and O's baby quilt -- Back on my radar


Projects on Hold: 6
Flower Basket Quilt
Charity Quilt for our local quilt guild (2 cut)
May Block Lotto Pineapple Blocks to be put together
August Block Lotto African Violets baby quilt to be put together
Crumb Along with Jo's Country Junction (still making crumbs)
Drunkard's Path Quiltalong

Stop by and see who else has what else going on with Lee at Freshly Pieced!
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tiny Tuesday 1.24.12

Here's my seven little houses for the week.  I LOVE these Civil War Crossing by Moda scraps in the top six houses!  Remember, these are only 3.5" square.


***********************************GIVEAWAYS***********************************
For a chance to win a lazy angle ruler and a layer cake of Prairie Paisley II,  go to Sew BitterSweet Designs

 http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/?p=1406#comment-10575   Good luck!

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Eclipse blocks for January Block Lotto

Here are four eclipse blocks for the January Block Lotto.  Five more to go.  I love these blocks.  They are fun!  Soooooo happy I have learned how to do curves.  This gives me a lot more options.


Join me on the Block Lotto Blog

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Bust Yo Scraps QA and Scrap Attack

Couldn't sleep... again.  Got up and did a little sewing and this happened:


I like this picture, but my photography really needs some help!  I like the way the sun is shining through the quilt... but I don't know how to flip it right-side up.

Here's another...  It was just hard to find a little sun here in Ohio in my usual spots.



Here's the links to the scrap bustin' blogs!

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2012/01/scrap-attack-quilt-along.html

Bust Yo Scraps!Handmade by Heidi

Another great thing about this quilt is that it was entirely made from my stash!  Whohoo!  Check out other items made from stash at the blog From The Blue Chair.  http://www.fromthebluechair.com/2012/01/slash-stash-january-edition.html


Saturday, January 21, 2012

FNSI Results for January

For the Friday Night Sew In I started a new project.  Surprised?  LOL.  I started another baby quilt.  It's from the Bust Yo Scraps QA at http://justabitfrayed.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/bust-yo-scraps-quilt-along/

It also goes hand in hand with the Scrap Attach QA.  I'm telling you...  2012 is the year for FMQ and busting my scraps.  I got all 18 of the snowball blocks done, half of the flying geese done, and all of the pieces cut.  (Many of the pieces were already cut and leftovers from my Orca Bay Mystery Quilt.)  Hopefully I'll get back to piecing Orca Bay as early as Tuesday next week.

Here FNSI results and my colors:

I'm sure I have about $4 in this whole thing...

Bust Yo Scraps!Handmade by Heidi

Friday, January 20, 2012

X's & O's Baby Quilt Finish!

Woot woot!  Another 2012 finish!  It almost looks like I got my inspriration colors from the snowy background.  I'm so happy how this finished.  It will be my charity quilt for our local guild.


Nothing too fancy on the back.  The lines look pretty straight...  But I'm so excited that there aren't any big puckers and that the FMQ went exceptionally great!  Funny thing is that here's what I tried differently:

        I used a jean needle instead of a quilting needle for FMQ.  I only broke one needle total quilt!

        I used $2 cone of polyester thread that you get on the end of the value rack at JoAnns!  On sale
        times I think you can get it for $1.  Really?  $2 thread in a huge cone?  It comes in tons of colors.

I'd also like to thank  Judy at Patchwork Times for having a UFO challege for 2012.  I'm in it.  This is right up my ally for my 2012 goal.  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012-ufo-challenge/  This month's challenge was to work on #5 on the list which was this X's & O's baby quilt.  (You can see my other picks for the year on the tab on the top of my blog.)  It was so much fun having a finish that I may start working on one of the others right away...  Or start somthing else new now that I have an empty bin from this quilt.

Another great thing about this quilt is that it was entirely made from my stash!  Whohoo!  Check out other items made from stash at the blog From The Blue Chair.  http://www.fromthebluechair.com/2012/01/slash-stash-january-edition.html



***********************************GIVEAWAYS**********************************

Check out the blog "My Sister Made Me Do It".  There's a One-Month-Before-My-Blogiversary giveaway there.  You could win an assortment of nice quilty things -- including six fat quarters from Connecting Threads.  This giveaway ends on 1/27/12.

http://mysismademe.blogspot.com/2012/01/official-month-before-my-blogiversary.html

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Check out the birthday giveaway at http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-birthday-giveaway.html  One of the prizes is $140 in gift cards at Michaels!  ...just sayin'.  This giveaway ends 2/1/12.

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January Block Swap Adventure

Here's the cute block I received this week from Susan in MD.  LOVE the yellow and orange!!!

Thank you, Susan!


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Thursday, January 19, 2012

We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler - Block 21 - Applique

Block 21 of the We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler focused on applique.  I chose a pattern from Free-Quilting dot com.  It's called Folk-Art Tulips.  For the stems I just pressed under 1/4" on each edge.  To turn the rest of the pieces I used a light fusible interfacing that I got from the remnant rack at JoAnn Fabrics.  $2 of interfacing from the remnant rack goes a long way!  Here it is:


Now I only need one more block (#22 Flowering Snowball) to get all caught up with this QA!  Whohoo!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WIP Wednesday 1.18.12

It's been a productive week!  Whohoo!  Here's what I've been up to: 

Today I started a new little quilt along with Faith at http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1550  These blocks will be perfect to add to the ones I did with the Summer Sampler Series!



Here's today's block.  It's called Ribbon Star.



Doesn't it go great with my others just waiting on more friends?  This UFO is back on the radar!



I completed this little quilt.  Hopefully it's big enough for our local quilt guild's charity.


Here's the three blocks I caught up this week for the We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler:



Here's my seven little houses for the week:


Over at Jo's Country Junction we are also linking up with Waste Not Wednesdays. 
Check out what the others have to share at

I am going to make Jo's crockpot recipe for scalloped potatoes and ham tomorrow in my crockpot!

Here's my info about onions.  I no longer put onions in a baggie and save them for something the next day.  Use them or lose them! 

Don't know how much of this is fact but it's interesting reading!  Makes you wonder how much is true!!   
  
ONIONS! I had never heard this!!! 
  
PLEASE READ TO THE END: IMPORTANT
In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor whovisited many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu.  Many of the farmers and their families had contracted the flu and many had died.  

The doctor came upon this one farmer and, to his surprise, all were very healthy. When the doctor asked the farmer what he was doing that was different, the wife replied she placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe what he heard.  He asked the farmer if he could have one of the onions to place under the microscope.  The farmer’s wife gave him an onion and when he placed it under the microscope, he did find the flu virus in the onion.  It obviously had absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard the following story from my hairdresser.  She said several years ago, many of her employees were coming down with the flu, and also many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls, containing onions, around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick.  It must work. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never took the flu.
Many times when we have stomach problems we don't know what to blame.  Maybe it's the onions that are to blame. The reason onions are so good at preventing us from getting colds, and flu, is that onions absorb bacteria.  This is also the reason we should not eat an onion that has sat for a time after it’s been cut open.   I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, makers of mayonnaise.  Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.  
LEFT  OVER  ONIONS  ARE  POISONOUS

Ed, who was our tour guide, is a food chemistry whiz.  During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise.  People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil.  Ed's answer will surprise you.  Ed said all commercially made mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't have to be refrigerated.  Although there’s no harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment.  He then talked about the summer picnic with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table, and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says when food poisoning is reported; the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?).  Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors.  It's probably the ONIONS, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.  He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and place it in your refrigerator.  It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open.  And can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you
put on your hotdogs at the baseball park!).  Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble.  In a potato salad both the onions, and the moist potato, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will.

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.  Please remember: it is dangerous to cut an onion and plan to cook it the next day.  The onion becomes highly poisonous, even after a single night, and creates toxic bacteria.  These bacteria may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

Please pass this on to all you love and care about. 

Now there is a P. S. to this:  I sent the information about onions to a friend in Oregon – a friend who regularly sends material to me on health issues. She replied with a most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder.  I don't know about the farmer's story, but I do know that I contacted pneumonia, and, needless to say, I was very ill.  I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion; place it in an empty jar; and place the jar next to the sick patient at night.  It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs.  Sure enough it happened
Just like that!  The onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

Completed Projects --  13 -- whohoo!!!!
Victoriana Quilt Designs Row 12
Ribbon Star - Block 1 of Solstice Stars
House blocks complete this week - 7
We Can Do It Skill Builder Blocks 21, 22, & 23!!!
Completed flying geese baby quilt 


Currently in Progress:  9

Chasing Chevrons (need to make the pieced back--organized fabric and ready to cut)
Dutchman's Puzzle (made decision on border and ready to cut)
Orca Bay (piecing together the last step)
Bluepatch Quilter Mystery Quiltalong (need two stars and one braid)
Victorianna Fabric Party Quiltalong (need two rows to catch up -- did one row this week)
Summer Series Quiltalong (stilll need 3 more random blocks)
We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler (currently caught up!)
30"x30" Quilt for the June 2012 quilt show -- Secretly started working on this again!
Need to make a block for my Block Swap Adventure January partner

Quilt Tops to be quilted:  5
Jelly Roll Race - Lap quilt
Oh Susannah! Mystery Quiltalong - California King
Kaleidoscope Quiltalong
X's and O's baby quilt -- Back on my radar


Projects on Hold: 6
Flower Basket Quilt
Charity Quilt for our local quilt guild (2 cut)
May Block Lotto Pineapple Blocks to be put together
August Block Lotto African Violets baby quilt to be put together
Crumb Along with Jo's Country Junction (still making crumbs)
Drunkard's Path Quiltalong

Stop by and see who else has what else going on with Lee at Freshly Pieced!
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced