1000th Post giveaway Winner!

Yay Ann Marie!!!  I am getting on in years and can't really remember when we "found each other," but I know we have shared many a'posts and comments lately!  And what a fabulous idea about printing the blog eventually!  No kidding!  Doesn't that make sense?  For me, this blog is more than just a communication tool.  I find myself looking back at previous years as a timeframe for my gardening/harvesting.... looking back at the rundown of quilts made (since 2007 anyway) :-)

And yes......'May we finish more projects than we start!!!'  
Therefore, be sure to touch base with me when you are ready for your FREE Panto Quilting!  We can take care of details via email :0)

Thanks for everyone for commenting.

POST 1000!

What a ride!

When I first started my blog (First official post (2/24/08)), I really wasn't 100% certain what this whole blogger.com was all about;  it was simply a website shared by a coworker.  Having been our school's webmaster, I figured I needed to try to 'keep up with the times' and finally jump on the band-wagon with all the blogging world.   

I had just found Bonnie K. Hunter (Quiltville.com) in late 2007 while searching around for some quilting websites;  I had just started getting into quilting as an obsessive hobby, so my first quilty post (4/11/08) included an overview/update of my quilting projects going on at the time (the whole TWO of them- LOL!) - Orange Crush and Carolina Crossroads.  Two Bonnie projects!  And then, a few days later (4/13/08), I updated my weekend accomplishments, which showed a new start (Oklahoma Crossroads), and my life of Startitis and UFOs was begun. :D  Yup, I knew I had Bonnie to blame!

My first comment (Saturday, 4/12/08) was courtesy of AMANDA!!!!, who is still with me as a dedicated(?) blog reader today.  :0)  Right, Amanda?  And then on Wednesday (4/15/08 - OC Update), Kathy (Kathy's Quilts), Linda (Living4Quilting), and Angela (soscrappy) joined my blogging world.

From then, SO MANY of you have commented with great advice, great support, and LOTS of humor! My blog reader has grown and is STILL growing, finding great blogs every week of amazing individuals out in the world.  What an amazing time we live in when we can talk with anyone in the WORLD who has access to technology!

And of course, WHAT is a 1000 post without some form of giveaway?

While thinking about what I wanted to offer, I was reminded of my 2009 Pay it Forward year.  Carol (Cornfield Quilter) paid me forward by offering to quilt my Perkiomen Daydreams quilt.  This was before I had my own quilting frame set up, and her offer was GINORMOUSLY appreciated!  Therefore, I'd like to offer this out to someone too!  

So, my giveaway out to you is to offer my pantograph quilting services for any quilt (100"x100" limit).  You supply the top and backing, and I'll supply the rest.

But then.....I had to included EVERYONE, and since some of my regular blog readers have their own quilting setup, I thought further.....

Who doesn't like fabric, right?????

"Prayer Flag" - by Moda

Therefore, the winner of this giveaway has A CHOICE!!!!  

Either: 

a)  free pantograph quilting (100" x 100" limit) (USA residents only)

you supply the top and backing, I'll supply the rest. This option will open to you for a calendar year, so if you don't have the perfect quilt top finished yet, don't fret!. 

or

b)  Prayer Flag - Moda jelly roll (open to internationals)

The "rules" are very simple;  just leave me a comment with your preference of options.  Plus, I would LOVE to hear from you about your blogging world;  what post # are you on?  Beginner or veteran?  I PROMISE I will visit your part of the blogging world;  it's still summer vacation for me, so I have some time!!! :D

Thanks for reading and GOOD LUCK!  

Winner will be chosen at the close of the Olympics, Sunday evening

Update:

ANN-MARIE #3 was randomly chosen as the winner!!!  :0)

OH! I almost forgot! The winner is......

With 40 commenters, my random number generator chose commenter # 12........


Gari said...
Hi, I am from Alabama. I made 36 placemats for Christmas. They are all done, some are wrapped, and some are ready to be mailed, well almost. I hope to have them on their way Monday. The others will be hand delivered. Merry Christmas and happy 600th.
-December 11, 2010 10:34 PM


Yayyyyyy Gari! Email heading your way.

Thanks for everyone for commenting and making me feel better that there ARE others out there burning the midnight oil working on last minute Christmas gifts!

Happy Sunday!

Giveaway update

This evening, I took a break from all my deadlines and enjoyed simply fondling and tidying my fabrics. I have been keeping my eye on this pattern (Random Reflections), so I sorted and put together 20 fabrics that fit a "girly girl" theme, and then I started cutting two strips from each to create a fun and bright roll to be added to my "going-to-make-some-day" pile. AND, as I was cutting away, I thought......I'm gonna cut an extra strip from all the fabrics that have enough fabric.

16 fabrics ended up going into this mini-roll, which will be part of my giveaway. That's 40 inches of fabric :0) Can you realllllly resist????



The other odds-n-ends that I've put together {{so far}} are two tools and a new pack of pins.


So, if you haven't already done so, head over to the giveaway post and comment ;0)

600th post. How did I get to this point?

Wow, I was just taking a break from my quilting morning and was going to drop in a quick 'update' post, but....lo-n-behold, this is my 600th post!!! I KNEW I was getting close, but...well....tscha....didn't know how fast it was approaching.

So, since I bowed out for my 300th,
and again for my 400th post
and again for my 500th post...

Time to celebrate this one!!!!

I have nothing put together because this just snuck up on me, and I have no clue what I am going to put together because I'm amidst Christmas deadlines as my blog followers well know, but maybe this little promise of 'someffin-someffin' will pull you readers out of lurkdome; at least enough to say "HI!"

Many giveaways have different rules/guidelines/lalala, and I really will keep this easy for you.

So, ONE SIMPLE RULE:  comment & tell me where you live (no addresses please, just city, state and/or country) and you're entered!!! :0)

Having said the simple rule, I do have one additional simple request....since I'm up to my NECK with Christmas deadlines, I'm wondering how many (IF any) home made gifts you have made for others for Christmas. (quilts, stitched towels, mug rugs, etc...) 

AND {more importantly}, if you're still working on yours as I am mine.  

(not required for entry, but would be nice to know I'm not alone).

Since all my deadlines need to be met by next Sunday (12/19/10), I'll keep this open until then.  {{Do you hear me screaming from here???  Next SUNDAY already....holy buckets!!!}}

So, comment away, and one lucky winner can expect to get your own little quilty gift for Christmas (or shortly after depending on crazy Christmas shipping times).

My goal:  stuff a Medium Size Flat Rate box full with whatever quilty-quilty I find :0)  

*******Please be sure I can contact you by having your tools set up where I can reply if you are a fellow blogger (aka:  change your No-Reply status), or leave your email in your comment.  T'would be so sad to win but not allow me to contact you of your winnings******

UPDATE
I've put together PART of the giveaway package....take a peek at that post.

Post 500! Life update

Yes, this is post 500! I must admit that I haven't even thought about putting together a collection for a giveaway......well, not exactly true! I HAVE thought about it, but simply haven't had a chance to put anything together. So, I NEED to follow tradition....therefore, this is a heads-up to stay tuned; something should be coming within the next two weeks.....


Some of you were wondering how I was going to spend my "child-free" weeks. The only reason I have the child-free weeks is because I have two weeks of classes for a Math Grant I'm involved in and didn't want to have for fork over the $$ for daycare. Everyday, from 7:30 - 4:00, I am busy with course work for this math grant; however, we DO get Friday "off." My quilting time is back to minimal, but I THINK I'm okay with that.

So....class is about to start; I'm off to see what everyone else has been up to.
Happy Tuesday!

I want to keep this to myself, but...

Jill is having a 1000th post giveaway!

As badly as I want to just keep this one under wraps, I am always thinking of Kharma!

For her 1000th post, she is NOT HOLDING BACK! The prizes go on and on.

Stash Manicure's montly giveaway

Just a quick lil' post...

stashmanicure blog is having their monthly drawing. Linda (living4quilting) posted about it and sent me over. Maybe some of her luck will rub off!!!! ;0)

It's Friday of a holiday weekend in the USA. I'll be heading out-of-town sometime today, but I'll "let the wind carry me" as it will today. I know i need some time in the garden to water everything; I want to get SOME time downstairs. I took most of the day off yesterday! I DID work on my Carolina Christmas for about an hour, and I think I have one more hour ahead of me to finish off the top!!! Would love to give you a pic before heading out.

Okay---now that my day has some direction; I'm off!

A Book Giveaway

JillQuilts is having a book giveaway. Head over if you'd like a chance to get a free book :0)

AWESOME Giveaway...

Gahhh!!!! I suppose I can let you in on this lil' giveaway! Afterall, there's something called Kharma out there right????

Awesome Giveaway @ GreenFairyQuilts.

{{Just be sure to grab a cup of tea and some munchies before sitting down with THIS blog/website!!!}}

Giveaway winners...

Strings Winner: Karen @ Stitching Circle (thanks to her 5 entries for her oath to the QOV!) ;0)














Crumb winner: Gerrie Carlisle, who didn't have a blog link, but supplied an email address.










Thank you all who tried your luck at the giveaway. Really---for me, the crumbs would just have been tossed :0(, and the strings...well....the drawer never would have shut again.

Happy Sunday!

"Another Person's Trash" giveaway: Crumbs

yup---perfect name!!!!

Most of my blog followers know (and idolize??) the name Bonnie K. Hunter. The woman is amazing and her Scrap User's System, Leaders-n-Enders, and all the other tips, patterns and suggestions on her Quiltville website have taken my quilting to a COMPLETE new level (back in 2008!!!!)

So.......
Cookie crumbs
Bar crumbs
and even bread crumbs.....
love 'em all!

I had HOPED to fall in love with Fabric Crumbs too, but.....this is one relationship that just wasn't meant to be.


I have dutifully been tossing all my "crumbs" into this tattered ol' shoe box for one distant day in the future when the relationship would finally be consumated.

Ummmmm........
ain't happening!

I have all shapes and sizes in here. MUCH of the bottom half consists of pieces smaller than 1.5" square, but bigger than 1/2" pieces. {{{The smallest pieces that I keep are 1.5" squares, anything smaller----into the box it goes!}}}
BUT, for about the last half year, I've gotten lazy! I haven't been cutting down some of my larger scraps...
...so there is probably half of this box filled with larger scraps (NOT what I would consider crumbs}


"One person's trash is another person's treasure"....
....if this is your treasure, let me know!

The rules are simple----just leave me a comment!

I'll draw Sunday evening. Please be sure I have a way to contact you! ;0)

Be sure to check out my String Giveaway.

"Another Person's Trash" giveaway: Strings

yup---perfect name!!!!

Most of my blog followers know (and idolize??) the name Bonnie K. Hunter. The woman is amazing and her Scrap User's System, Leaders-n-Enders, and all the other tips, patterns and suggestions on her Quiltville website have taken my quilting to a COMPLETE new level (back in 2008!!!!)

I made ONE string quilt {{Grandma and Me}} when my string drawer reached the point of bursting. Welllllll--it ONCE again CAN NOT BE CLOSED!!!!!! I do not foresee ANY plans for a string quilt in the future, so----who wants in??? No silly rules, just leave me a simple comment!!!



To enhance this pot, I'm throwing in these eight (8) Red, White, & Blue string blocks I pieced last year with HOPES of making a dent in my string-stash. Tscha! Didn't happen. But.....

...The blocks have been trimmed to 5.5". I sure would like to see them made into a QOV quilt!!!! But, I jes ain't gonna git it done! Okay, okay...I know I said "no silly rules", BUT....if you make an oath that you will make a QOV top out of them, I'll throw your name in FIVE TIMES for this giveaway :0)
Update
Some of have commented that they don't know what a QOV is.....
"Quilt of Valor". A quilt for wounded American soldiers. I just realized that not all of my blog followers are Americans, but I will still stand by my nation and offer FIVE votes for the QOV oath. Alycia heads up some QOV challenges and is the person who I send all of my QOV donations to.

"One person's trash is another person's treasure"....
....if this is your treasure, let me know!

I'll draw Sunday evening. Please be sure I have a way to contact you! ;0)


Be sure to check out my Crumb Giveaway

WOW--hate to share, but.....

An AMAZING 1000+ (that's ONE THOUSAND PLUS) post Giveaway:
Suzanne's Great BIG Giveaway and Sale!!!!!.

Trust me, I would rather keep this one hush-hush, but to all my lovely follower's who are often reluctant---I REALLY don't think you want to pass this one up!

And the winner is....

Using MathGoodies Random Number generator, number EIGHT (8) was chosen.
Using the comments posted (ignoring the fact that I had to "fix" the edit of post #1), this means our 8th posting came from....

Kerry from Forever Friday who said...
Hi Amy,
Your quilt is really lovely and your father must be thrilled to have arranged such a prize.
My favourite is my rotary cutter, the big scissors hardly get used anymore.
Hope you raise heaps with the raffle.


Congrats to Kerry!
(*CHUCKLE*)
If you go check out her blog, it appears she has been ROLLING in the luck! Her past few entries have been..."I won this"...."I won that...."
Kerry---rub some of that luck off on us, huh?!?!!?

Happy Monday everyone!

Julie's having a give-away

Julie is celebrating her 100th post (actually, her 105th post!). As always, I deliberate with the two little people on my shoulders on whether to post about someone else's giveaway (ya know---to better MY chances of winning OR to be the kind one to giver others a chance to win too). *wink*

The giveaway is this ADORABLE valentine-themed fabric. Be sure to enter and congratulate her on being 100!



Also---I'll take this opportunity to remind everyone of my "Cathedral Stars Completion Celebration" giveaway. If you haven't already done so, be sure to head there and leave a post for a chance to win this "jelly-roll" of 10 jewel-toned strips. I'm drawing this Sunday.

Ta-Da!!!! Let's celebrate with a Giveaway!

Presenting Cathedral Stars. Quilted, binded, and ALMOST labeled. It will be delivered next weekend to my Dad, who requested me to make a quilt for his VFW's (Veteran's of Foreign Wars) raffle at the end of the month. (Is it bad to want to win the raffle yourself?!?!?) *snicker*





The binding was sewn on last night and finished with hand-sewing this morning; the label will be added tomorrow once it's made. So, what better than to celebrate with a tiny giveaway?!?!! When cleaning up today, I came across a pile of extra 2" strips I used for the 4-patches.
To be given away: 10 2" strips of jewel-toned fabric. Simple rules: leave me a comment on this post telling me what your favorite "sewing gadget" is. Drawing date: Sunday, January 11th, 9:00 PM (Central time zone; Chicago)


Here are all of the rulers I own; my favorite purple handled scissors, and my lovely yellow OLFA rotary cutter. Quilting now-a-days; it's a given that just about everyone uses a rotary cutter. My FAVORITE tool: THE EASY ANGLE RULER! Since Bonnie (quiltville.com) introduced it to me with Carolina Crossroads, I have used it for MANY of my quilts! It mades HST's SOOO easy! (hence the name, huh?)



Back to family now.......
After putting the last quilting stitch in last night and trimming off the excess, I decided it was time to have some fun with Cassie. She has been begging and pleading since Wednesday to put together her "Build-a-Bear" puppy that she got from Julie.
She unpacked it all, and got everything ready; she cut her own string, measuring it out on the cutting mat; she sewed using a straight-stitch to piece the front/back together. The pattern was quite easy for her to follow since there were pre-"punched" holes along the edge for her to sew through. Do any of you remember those cardboard sewing "forms"?...they had holes along the edge and then you used colored (or plain) shoestrings to "sew" up/down through the holes....they usually were in the shapes of animals. Anyway, this reminded me of those.
Being a "sew-mom" (get it??? kinda like "soccer-mom"??? HA!) (okay, stupid, I know....)
Anyway....being a sew-mom, I reinforced the stitches by zipping it under the sewing machine before turning it right-side-out and stuffing it.
In the end, it turned about darn cute! She hasn't let it leave her side since we finished it! She even took it fishing with her today when she, Candace and DH went ice fishing.

Today, after finishing CS, I headed to the LQS to show it off to Deb, owner. I purchased many 1/4 yard cuts of the jewel fabrics, so I wanted her to see it finished. What a DREAM job---Working in a quilt shop! When I arrived, she was working on another store sampler to hang. The shop was quiet. We chatted, talked about Bonnie's site (I'm still trying to convince her to look at Quiltville.com----afterall, just LOOK at what can be accomplished...*pointing to the top pic!!!) :0)
Anyway, I was very good today and only walked away with 2 half-yard cuts of fabrics; both intended for DoubleDelight. HOWEVER, I am YET AGAIN deliberating on when / IF I'll be doing the mystery. (chuckle).
After leaving the Quiltshop, I had 100% intentions of getting home, and digging right in to DD! But, I first decided to tidy up a bit (hence, when I found the giveaway strips), and a little bit more tidying...then I figured I set the timer for 30 minutes of "scrap-busting" to tackle the piles of scraps on the floor (1st photo) and in the basket on the floor (2nd photo). Afterall, I DID set a New Years Resolution to "tidy" the sewing room. Well...30 minutes turned into 60...90...120...240...360!!!! YES! SIX HOURS of "tidying" and "scrap-busting!" Caitlyn was enjoying a couple of Barbie movies downstairs with me and the other two were fishing with DH, so.....!

Yeah...*GASP*! I KNOW! And sadly-----I STILL have some more to go! The basket has been emptied and everything nicely ironed and folded amongst the stash. The fat-quarter bin has moved into its 2nd drawer! :0) And.......I CAN SEE THE FLOOR! Caitlyn even said..."Mom, why is it so clean in here?" *giggle!*

I don't know if I'll feel motivated to finish up the "tidying" tomorrow. No biggy, if not. BUT, I'm still thinking that rather than start the mystery (now), I want to cross off Oklahoma Backroads OR Scrappy Irish Chain off my WIP list.

OH! That just reminded me! I can write in my FIRST finish of 2009 (even though half of it was done in 2008.)

Okay---I suppose, time to pay some attention to DH (even though he's watching the FB game--it went to overtime!) Colts vs. Chargers: I'm not partial to either one more than the other.

And the winner is......

FIRST, PLEASE don't shoot me for drawing 30 minutes early!!! We were home earlier from Volleyball than expected, and I'm ready to hit the hay as to get up bright and early tomorrow for a run.......

Anyway----on with it, right........

As emails/comments were coming in, I tracked them on an excel spreadsheet; 1-entry for a comment and a 2nd-entry for a link to the photo (or blog containing photo). My favorite number is "4," so I decided that the FOURTH random number that was generated (using Mathgoodies.com) would be deemed the winner. ( I kept track of the first three numbers, too, if you are wondering what they were.......56, 29, 41).....and then the fourth was #2.

And.........believe it or not......#2 pointed out Angela (Soscrappy) as the winner!!!! Yeah, yeah, yeah! Angela was the very first to comment on the giveaway, and her post to her quilt memory became the 2nd entry on the spreadsheet.





FYI---behind the scenes, Angela also shared the following (sorry for any mis-quotes---I have already deleted the email):

I look at the quilt and have sometimes struggled with having cut up my beloved race shirts, but the quilt is such a memory of the road to the marathons that it was worth it.

I must admit that the latest comments from tonight have not all been looked at, but I PROMISE to view them and respond to each of your beautiful memories! There were some absolute Jaw-dropping moments viewing these comments. And I just HAVE to share this one posted by "T" of her most impressive quilt. How ABSOLUTELY beautiful-----and I could NOT imagine having the sincere patience to accomplish such a masterpiece!


This has been a truly, truly INSPIRING week of reading and looking over all your quilts. Thank you so much for playing, and PLEASE do not be so humble about the love and heart and passion that you have put into your quilts!

Happy Quilting!

It's arrived! 100th post...

For those of my frequent readers, you know I've been counting down to my 100th post, and after my pesky allergy post this morning, I have now reached ONE HUNDRED.

As tradition goes, a give-away is planned. Included in this give-away:

• 3 fat-eighths
  
• 6 fat-quarters
  
• 18 piece 6" charm pack
  
• 1 half-yard
  
• Dresden pillow pannel
  
• Cute, bright bag to use for whatever...(JUST finished 30 minutes ago, using left-overs from one I had made earlier this summer)
  

Some individuals have had stipulations with their give-aways. I've been thinking about this, and have my own idea in mind....

My stipulation: I'd LOVE to hear from all of you about your favorite quilt, whether made by yourself or given to you from someone else.

1. Comment left sharing favorite quilt memory = 1 entry
   
2. Within comment: A link created to photo (or blog entry) of your favorite quilt mentioned = a 2nd entry added
   

As always, please be sure to give permission for others to read your profile so that I can access your email in the event you are a winner. Or, if you would rather, you can also simply include your email within your comment.

Give-away drawing date: Wednesday, August 27, 11:00 PM USA Central time (12:00 PM Thursday for Beijing, China---I'm sure we all know our own time compared to Beijing by now :0) )

My goal is to hear from the winner by MY Thursday or Friday so I can get the package shipped out. School starts the following week, so getting to the Post Office will be much more difficult.

Happy quilting.

I won!

Not to rub it in, folks, but....

I won
I won
I won

Wooo-hooooo! Amanda's 100th post give-away drawing came and went, with ME being chosen as the random winner. Amanda still is keeping it a mystery, not even posting a picture of it on her blog yet until it arrives. *oooo----the excitement builds*

I hope Amanda doesn't mind me sharing a comment from her email to me.....

"It was lovely to meet new people who came to visit when they heard about the give away, but I was so pleased that the winner was someone I knew."

I feel the same, Amanda, and still find it so amazing that we've met each other and keep tabs on each other half a world away from each other. We are so blessed with this amazing technology!!! I also can't wait to see all the comments that will come flying into my lil 'ol blog in a couple of days when I reach 100. This is officially post #98, so only two more to go.

Ooooooooo----------on a different note: I've been kicking back, logged in, and watching a replay of the USA vs. Brazil Women's VBall gold medal game. Tis sad the USA lost, but Brazil dominated brilliantly. BUT----I can't wait for another hour and a half-----MEN'S MARATHON!!!!! It goes without saying that I would love to see nothing other than Ryan Hall bring home the gold, however this is a terrific field of athletes!




Speaking of running, I didn't make it out the door yesterday for my 4 miles---it was CRAZILY WINDY around here!!! However, I did hit the road this morning for a 13.9 miler (22.37km). It wiped me out, to say the least. Running that far is ONE thing, but the HILLLLLLLS that are on that course are beasts! So, why not choose an easier course? Good question----but I have a hilly race coming up in 4 weeks, so it's great preparation. My total climb over the run was 1441 ft

So, with that note, I am going to head outside to see what #1 and #2 are up to. They've been outside all afternoon, while #3 and DH have been napping since 2:00 (a-hem....it's 5:00 right now and both are STILL "napping").....hmmm....is it REALLY still considered "napping" if it's been THREE HOURS?!?!?!? *grin*