Blog Hop News 21 and Link Up

Bloggers to visit this week:

Oct 9
         Amy from Sew Incredibly Crazy
         Foster from Foster Reviews It
Oct 11
        Chrissie from madebyChrissieD
        Marit from Sew, love, live


**I just want to again thank everyone who continues to promote and follow along with the blog hop even now at week 21!!!  Please note - there have been a few schedule changes for the next few weeks - the most up to date schedule is here.
 
***Are you wondering why there is not a giveaway in this post?  Come back tomorrow - the Fat Quarter Shop is sponsoring giveaways on all of the Sweet Treats Blog Hop posts - my turn is tomorrow (well, actually I'll be posting tonight since so many of the hoppers are on Australian time!)







Thanks for all the suggestions for what I should suggest you write when the link tool asks for your name - for this week, let's go with a place you want to visit.

Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop

Today is my turn on the Leafs Me Happy blog hop organized by Cherry from Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio and Madame Samm from Sew We Quilt. We were asked to make an unfinished 10.5 or 12.5 block using any fall fabric.  To start, I went through my stash and grabbed all my autumn-y fabrics.

I sat staring at the fabrics waiting for inspiration but since my sewing time is limited to my baby's nap time, I figured I needed to just start something so I went to my old standby and started with a quilt-as-you-go log cabin.

Which I then turned into this little zip pouch.

I then thought that maybe I would make an autumn table runner so I took out some linen and started making HSTs.  Here is what the block would have looked like:

  However, I decided to add a row of sashing between the zig zags since I thought it needed to be wider.

Unfortunately, my seams are totally off and I'm not sure how I feel about the row of sashing.  Now I'm thinking I might want to make three rows of zig zags but I'll need to get more linen before I can do that so for now this is a WIP.  It is probably better for me to put it away for a few days anyway so I can come back with fresh eyes before I start ripping out the seams.

We were also supposed to name our projects- I enlisted my 9 year old and she named the QAYG block - Fall Time Apple Picking since there are a few apple fabrics in the mix and for the zig zag quilt - zig zaggity zig.  So, I'll stick with those! Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the other bloggers posting today for this fun hop and click here to enter the giveaway from Tactile Fabrics for a beautiful fat quarter bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics.
Linking up my small finish (zip pouch) to TGIFF which is being hosted at Better Off Thread this week.

The Recipe Bunny

VroomansQuilts

It's Sew Kiki

PigTales and Quilts

Quilting fiesta

GrammieQ's

Nancy

Just Let Me Quilt

Selina Quilts
The Learning Curve~Quilts and Such

September Fresh Sewing (and crochet)

It is October 1st - time for another fun Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts. 

Also, it is my turn for the Name Game over at Live a Colorful Life today - if you have ever wondered about the deep, dark secret meaning of my blog name, go have a look.  And while you are there, you should definitely take a look around at all of Cindy's amazing quilts!

October is going to be a busy blogging month for me.  I have lots of projects, both finished and in the works, for the 4 blog hops I'm participating in this month.  I'll post more about them throughout the month but here are the links if you are interested:  Leafs Me Happy Hop, Sweet Treats Blog Hop, Tula Pink Sew Along, and The Travelling Picstitch Hop. 

Click here for this week's Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop schedule and Tactile Fabrics Giveaway.

Tactile Fabrics Giveaway plus Blog Hop News 20

I'd like to introduce you to one of my blog's sponsors, Tactile Fabrics.

Tactile Fabrics is a small, independent fabric shop that specializes in modern organic and premium cotton fabrics for sewing, crafting, and quilting.  The shop has a wonderful selection of bundles and yardage including beautiful fabrics from Birch Fabrics, Cloud 9, and Art Gallery.  Jennifer, the owner, comes from a long line of seamstresses and has always loved fabric and sewing. And coming from the corporate world of interior architecture as an Interior Designer, she is inspired by modern art and enjoys the process of designing and creating patterns through modern quilting.

To introduce you to her shop, Jennifer is generously offering my readers 15% off your purchase by entering COUPON15 at checkout.

For today's giveaway, Jennifer will be sending one lucky reader this fantastic fat quarter bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics.

You have 5 chances to win:

1.  Leave a comment on this post - if you'd like a topic, is there a new sewing notion that you are loving?

2.  My followers - old and new- get a second entry (leave a comment saying how you follow)

3.  Visit Tactile Fabrics and come back to leave a comment about one of your favorite items in the shop.

4.  Follow Tactile Fabrics on Facebook. (leave a comment saying you did)

5.  Follow Tactile Fabrics on Twitter.  (leave a comment saying you did)

The giveaway will remain open until Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 8pm EDT and one winner will be chosen at random and announced in next week's blog hop news.  And, please, unless you are sure that you are NOT a no-reply blogger, leave your email address in the comment.

The winner of last week's giveaway from Quilting Lodge is Marcia W. who said:  My best tip is to hold your camera steady when taking a photo (my usual mistake is an unfocused shot).   Congrats Marcia - I just sent you an email.

This giveaway is closed.  The winner is Jane from T




Fun blogs to visit this week:
Oct 2
         Martha from Weekend Doings
         Melissa from Sew Bittersweet Designs

Oct 4
         Catherine from My Life in Binding
         Patricia from Quilting Lines



And for this week, again link up your recent sewing and quilting posts, visit each other, promote the link up with a text link or the button on my sidebar and when the link tool asks for your name - I'm really running out of ideas for this so how about a suggestion for what I should suggest for next week.

Crazy Quilt

I wrote about this quilt in several WIP posts over the summer but never posted the finish.  Probably because the second it was finished, my oldest daughter whisked it away and I haven't seen it since!  Well, she was the intended recipient.  

I was thinking about it today so I ventured up to her attic bedroom and took it out for some photos.    I used the crazy nine patch square from Oh Fransson using two squares of essex linen for each set.

I hand-quilted it using various shades of blue (basically what I had in my stash)  BUT I only quilted it to the batting - I really don't know what I was thinking.  Well, actually I was thinking that I wouldn't have to bury a bunch of knots but I obviously didn't think it through to the next step.

I ultimately decided to hand-tie the quilt using perle cotton and so it all worked out in the end.

This was a fun quilt to make plus it was actually quick and easy but I think if I were to make it again, I would limit my color pattern (like Elizabeth did in hers).  I mean, I know it is called crazy nine patch but I think with all these colors it might be a bit too crazy.  Luckily, as I have written many times before, the recipient, my oldest daughter, loves it and told me she wouldn't change a thing.  Hope those  rose-colored glasses she sees all my quilts through don't break anytime soon.

Linking to TGIFF which is at Quiet Play this week, Crazy Mom Quilts, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Lots to Report

1.  I finished the ballerina bag for my daughter using my block from the Dots Hop.  I decided to try something different and added a drawstring top (needed to put something crafty in this post!)

2.  Alyce from Blossom Hearts Quilts has organized the Sweet Treats Blog Hop where six of us will be  making projects using the new Moda Mini Charm Packs which are 2.5" squares.  The hop is sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop and we'll all be having giveaways on our dates.  My date is October 8th and I'm really excited about the project I made.  Visit Alyce's post for all the details and to see my hop partners.


3.  Later that week on October 11th is my turn on the Sew Sweetness Tula Pink Sew Along.  Visit Sara's blog for all the details as well as information about the sew along contest. 

4.  But wait, there's more!  The Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop - looks like there might be a few October spots available in this fun hop.  My date is October 29th and this requires EPP so I better get started!

5.  Realizing that there are 100 days left in 2012, Kelsey has started a "work-along" called The 100 Day Hustle encouraging us to write a list of what we want to do, craft-wise, for the rest of the year - here are the details.  This fits nicely in with this post today since the above blog hops are all definitely on my list.  Aside from those, I also want to (1) make a quilt for my middle daughter who has been patiently waiting; (2) make some toy buckets for my baby's room; (3) make a stroller blanket that attaches to the stroller; (4) get a variety of pouches, journal covers and other similar items made so I'm not doing so last minute for birthday parties; (5) make a table runner for a present for a specific person; (6) oh, buy a sewing machine so that I can stop using my kid's little one!!! - that should probably be number one on my list but . . . ; and (7) make some more floor pillows for us all to use when playing in my baby's room - hm, I think that is about it for now.  I'm sure I'll add to this list many times between now and the end of the year.



 

Blog Hop 19 with Advice from Bijou Lovely and a Giveaway

                                                                                                                                                                       Image from Bijou Lovely

Today's advice is by Holly from Bijou Lovely.  Have you been on her blog?  If so, you must have noticed her beautiful photography.  And so I am excited that she has written a wonderful post for the advice series all about how to take better photos for your blog.  The post is packed with valuable and informative advice and she explains it all with before and after photo examples.  Be sure to check it out here!



Blogs to visit this week: 

Sep 25
        Amanda from Material Girl Quilts
        Amanda from Fabric Engineer
    
Sep 27
        Vicky from Vicky K Creating
         Francine from Mocha Wild Child

Today's giveaway is sponsored by Vicki from the Quilting Lodge.  One lucky winner will win a Lazy Angle Ruler and a Jaybird Quilts pattern that uses the ruler.  

You have five possible entries: 1.  Leave a comment (any comment) but if you would like a topic - what about your blog photography tips.
2.  My followers - old and new- get a second entry.  Leave an additional comment saying "following."
3.  For a third entry, visit Quilting Lodge and come back here to leave a comment about one of your favorite items in their shop.
4.  For a fourth entry, follow the Quilting Lodge Blog and leave a comment saying that you did.  Vicki is also participating in the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop.
4.  And for a fifth entry, promote this giveaway on the social media of your choice and leave a comment (please do not leave a link to the actual promotion, just say how.)
This giveaway will remain open until Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 8pm EDT and a winner will be chosen at random and announced in next week's blog hop news.  And please, unless you are sure that you are NOT a no-reply blogger, leave your email address in your comment. The winner of the Marmalade Fabrics giveaway is #7 which was lynaeveSeptember 16, 2012 9:43 AM.  Congrats.  I'm sending you an email.



And for this week, again link up your recent sewing and quilting posts, visit each other, promote the link up with a text link or the button on my sidebar and when the link tool asks for your name, what about favorite fall vegetable?!?