Grow Your Blog...and A Giveaway

I am participating in the Grow Your Blog 2014 Party organised/hosted by Vicki at 2 Bags Full and I hope to meet many more bloggers from around the world by visiting their blogs and, hopefully, as they come to visit my blog as well.  To participate, I need to tell you something about myself and my blog.

Welcome to my little part of the blogsphere...it is here that I post mainly about my sewing, quilting and crafting...sometimes I will post about family as well...I love to share about what I am up to on the crafty front...

I am married to my very best friend and soul mate, we celebrated 25yrs. this past December...we have three children, with one being married with four children and the youngest two still at home...come this fall both with be off to college and I will be an empty nester...I have two furbabies that are my sweet boys...Riddick who is the more calm and laid back sweetboy and then there is Whizzer who is my add little fellow...he has more energy and gumption than is imaginable...both are lovable and never leave my side...even as I write this post they are sitting right next to me...

I started blogging in 2007 as a way to record my crazy quilting journey...I love to sane or traditional quilt, but my true passion is crazy quilting...I never thought that I would be blogging this long...I enjoy meeting new people and forming friendships through blogging...of course you not only meet wonderful people, but through swaps and such you have a chance of connecting with others of like minds...

Epp scrappy stars...a slow work in progress...

Epp scrappy grandmothers flower garden...slow work in progress....

Postage stamp quilt....slow work in progress....

I am a fourth generation quilter, which I think is awesome...even though I started out young I did not really start to quilt until later in life...always just small items...in 2007 all that changed and I became more involved in quilting...in the last year or so I have fallen in love with epp and have several projects on the go...two scrappy and one which is not scrappy...
Crocheted baby blanket for my dd friend...I also enjoy crocheting very much and have four blankets in progress...one of which is almost finished...

Crocheted pin cushion...

Crocheted frilly scarf...

 Current crocheted blanket in progress....

shawl in progress....

I also love working with laces and fabrics while making fabric books and collages...they are quick and very relaxing to make...
book pages in progress....

Embroidery is another area that I truly enjoy and use a lot in my crazy quilts of course...I do not however like cross stitch as it is for me, too time consuming...and I do not like having to count my stitches...

So, on this blog you will find many areas of the crafty version along with those posts about my furbabies....sometimes I post about my family happenings as family is very important to me...

I do hope you will come again to visit and if you do please leave a comment to let me know that you were here...I love getting comments and then being able to answer them back to those who leave me one...I always try to comment back within a day or so of your leaving a comment...if you would like to become a follower that would be awesome as well...I always love having new followers...
 a sweet collage that I have been working on....

Now for the fun part...a giveaway...I will be giving away a collage ( similar to the one above) that I have made to one of my visitors on this post... just leave a comment below and I will be picking a name on February 15th 2014...you do not have to be a follower to participate in the giveaway...do however make sure you are not a "no reply" blogger or your name will not be entered into the drawing as I will have no way to contact you...this giveaway is open to my international readers as well as those who live in the US...
Wendy

This Friday...

which is tomorrow for those of us in the US is the first FNSI of 2014...I will be there with projects to work on as well as a cuppa and some kind of treat...will you be joining us...you can go here to sign up and be a part of a world wide sew in...see there!

Wendy

Lace, Lace and....

More lace...over the weekend I was gifted with lots of lace, muslin, cotton fabric, sewing notions and other items...my sil's grandmother who is 93 is moving to California to live with her last surviving son...she has been a sewer, quilter all her adult life...she still quilts, but not like she has in the past...I was gifted with some of her treasures and will be using these in some of my projects...some of the lace is old, some vintage and some (not much) is newer...here is the bounty of my haul...there is 20yds of this soft pink rose fabric with lace added to the bottom....

 this crocheted piece is about 20 inches in width and is about 8ft long...so very pretty...

 there is twenty two yds of this one....a very soft cream color...

 30 yds of soft muslin...just out of the wash and still needs to be ironed...

 loving this stack of lacy goodness....

 all this lace is yardage...so very pretty and old...

 a wee crocheted heart to hang.....

 this pic is turned wrong...don't know what is wrong with blogger... ugh...the blue gathered fabric has 22yds...she gathered this herself for making curtains....

I am so happy with my good fortune of being able to take these treasures and add them to my own...knowing a bit about the lovely lady whom they come from is just icing on the cake...there was more fabric for sane quilting as well...there were two rolls of this yellow dots...each roll has around 300yds of fabric and it is 8 tp 10 inches wide...I plan to use some of these for hexies....it is a lovely lemon yellow that I just love....

Until next time,
Wendy

Peacock Splendor

Remember this mini crazy quilt...well it is almost ready to finish, just a few more seams to do and it will be ready to put the border on...trying to decide what type of border to make...a crazy border or just a really pretty solid silk with stitching around the outer edges...I guess I will let that percolate for the next few days and then decide...stay tuned for the upcoming finish...
wendy

Mini Crazy Quilt....

I have pulled this mini crazy quilt back out and hope to finish it over the next couple of months...I have put it off long enough...I have two more that I will be posting about in the next few days...this one was pieced and I started the stitching and lost interest in the theme I had chosen for it...hopefully I will be re-inspired so I can get this finished...I am really trying to get some of my ufo's finished up.
Wendy

MMSC...

Today is the start of the MMSC that Jessica is hosting again this year...I have already shown the hexagon quilt I am working on...but I have also pulled out my stars to start working on them again...so here we go again, wish me luck and I will see you next week with more stars...

wendy

A Finish and A Giveaway....

I finished two table runners for St. Patrick's day celebration...I know Valentines day is the next holiday, but I really wanted to make these since before Christmas when I was making all the Christmas ones (12 total)...a couple of closeups of the runners....

I love how easy these are to make...just two pieces of fabric and some stitching on the sewing machine and wa-la, you have a great little table runner for your table in ten minutes...you can find a video tut here:I have a feeling that I am going to be overrun with table runners before I tire of making these...so easy peasy you can make them for any celebration or season or just because you like the fabric....these would be good as dresser scarves as well...yep, see some of those in my future also...they also make great hostess gifts or a quick gift if your gift box is empty...

it has been a while since I have had a giveaway and I wanted to thank all of my followers for coming by and leaving comments...please don't advertise this giveaway as it is for those of you who stop by and leave comments on my blog regularly...just my way of saying thank you...so if you would like one of these table runners leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner at the end of the month...that way I can mail it out and you can have it in time to enjoy before the holiday...
Wendy

Working On...

This wisp has been hanging out for a while until my repetitive motion injury healed...now is the time to bring it back out and hopefully finish it soon...Jessica has decided to run Monday Morning Star Count again this year, so hopefully all these projects I have languishing will be added to or finished...is there a wisp that you are working on and hoping to finish soon....I will be back on Monday to show my progress...here is how this one is kitted out for on the go use...

Wendy

FNWF....

Remember this crocheted blanket I started back in 2013...well I have the first row put together...I decided to use the flat braid join to put this lovely rose blanket together with...I really like how this join makes the overall blanket look...it adds a nice lacy effect to the sides as well as to the joins....I just love it...

A closeup of the joins....and it lays so flat and looks like it took forever and a day to do, but it is so very easy...

This is what I worked on for the FNWF tonight...go here to see what everyone else has been working on...

We Have a Winner

Let me just say that the temps here today are much better...in the 40's and I finally feel warm for the first time in over a week! Glad I had a good supply of hot tea to drink! I did want to post a pic of my quilty adventures today, but I have had a sinus headache all day and then the first part of the day my sweet gd who is three was here, so no work done in the sewing room...I will have something quilty to show hopefully tomorrow...I guess everyone wants to know who the winner of the stash box is...we will get to that in a moment...and I did add these as well...

just a few pics first...Whizzer...he is very high strung but so very lovable....

 I just wanted to post a couple pics of my sweet boys...are they not just the sweetest sweet boys ever! ok enough of that...

the winner of the stash box is Terry from Terrys Treasures....congrats Terry and if you will email me your addy I will get this box into the mail to you over the weekend...

Riddick has the sweetest disposition and loves to give kisses and hugs to you....he does love his quilt I made him when he was a puppy...

I hope you are having a wonderful day where ever you may live!

Wendy

So Cold Here...

 I have found my new favorite tea to drink hot...this is the best tea, with a nice subtle flavor and so very good...been drinking plenty of this over the last couple of days due to the extremely cold weather here...I also made a batch of peppermint sugar cookies...yum...

On a side note, my youngest daughter Bliss has set up a new blog for all her crocheting...if you would like to go take a look see and welcome her to the wonderful world of blogging you can go here...I know she would appreciate all visitors...will be back tomorrow with some fabric goodness to show...until then keep those needles stitching and for those in the cold, please try and stay warm...
Wendy

Mood Blanket 2014

I am working on a new crochet blanket for the year called the mood blanket...the idea is to pull yarn and pick a color to suit your mood each day of the year...I have pulled my colors which are all bright and happy of course! I am only doing a simple closed granny square as I have other projects to work on as well...so far I have them all up to date...hopefully I can keep up with them...I think I will post about these on Sunday's each week with a rundown of why I chose the color for that particular day...a stack of lovely color to be sure...I may start joining these together soon in batches...first I need to decide on how I will be joining them together...you can google Crocheted Mood Blanket and get all kinds info about this crochet along...it has went viral all over the net...and there is even a group on facebook that you can join...

Lovely stack of color...each block measures five inches...
Wendy

First Finish Of 2014

This is my first finish of 2014...a cardinal table runner for my mom...she loves these birds and I plan to make a set of napkins to go with the runner...closeup of the birds...it has been overcast and grey all day today, so the pic is not the best...

Wendy

Traveling Stash Box #3

I have finally gone through the box and looked at all the fabric inside...with that said I still have not made up my mind what to take and put back in...the box has some notions as well as a few patterns, but I did not take a pic of them as my battery is running low...here is what I am keeping...some fat quarters and a mini charm pack...

this is what I am putting back into the box...a jellyroll from Moda...

and some fat quarters...I may put some notions in as well, but am not sure as of yet...

 if you want to be in the draw for this box to visit your house all you need to do is leave a comment and I will be drawing a winner on Thursday of this coming week and post it off to the winner on Friday...you must have an active blog and also live in the US due to the postage rates...for all the rules concerning the Traveling Stash boxes you can go here...but here is an overview of them:

Rules and Guidelines 

• Be an active blogger -- post about receiving the box and the giveaway in a timely manner 
• Update the travel log in the box to let others know where the box has been.
• There is a list of rules and guidelines in the box -- be sure to follow these to keep the box full of quality items and the experience positive for everyone. 
• You may take any items from the box just be sure that you are replacing them with quality and comparable items. (Guidelines for fabric below) 
• Ship box to the next person timely -- and communicate tracking information with recipient.
• Shipping is within the US only  

Fabric and other item Guidelines 

• Fabric should be quilt shop quality and in new condition. Do not include items smaller than a fat quarter unless it falls into one of the other categories and these should be packaged together. 
• Jelly Roll -- 2.5 inch strips (typically 40 strips per set)
• Honey Buns -- 1.5 inch strips (typically 40 strips per set) 
• Desert Roll -- 10 strips 5 inches wide cut the length of the fabric 
• Turnovers -- 80 (6 inch) triangles
• Candy Squares  -- 2.5 inch squares (typically 45 squares per set) 
• Charms -- 5 inch squares (typically 40 squares per set)
• Layer Cake -- 10 inch squares (typically 40 squares per set)
• Patterns / Books should be in new or nearly new condition and should be kept to a minimum as this adds bulk and weight. 
• Other items should be new or gently used condition and should be packaged as necessary to ensure that all parts remain together. 

Important Things to Remember

• Please ensure that items in the box are quality. If items in the box are poor quality they should be removed. Items that are being removed can be offered for optional inclusion to the next recipient. Poor quality items can be discarded but this should be done with discretion. 
• Only include items that you would be proud to own -- this is not a dumping ground for outdated or worn items
• Items should be free of smoke, odors  and pet hair 
• You must replace all items that you take with items of equal value and replacing with more than you take is welcome. 

DJ Start....

maybe...I am so discouraged with this block...this is my practice block...between the drawing of the block, cutting out pattern, ironing to fabric, then cutting fabric with scant quarter inch seam allowances and then trying to sew this together...let me say I have a huge and horrible headache...I don't know why this block is being so hard for me to get it right...not only is it super time consuming working on this block, but it is very fiddly as well...it only has 28 pieces to it, so surely I could get it right...not going to happen today...can you tell I am frustrated with this...I am so frustrated and my head hurts so much I am thinking about ditching this quilt before it even gets started...especially since the dry run practice block is being a pain...no wonder it takes forever and a day to make one of these...I am thinking about selling mine to someone who wants to make a Rainbow Jane...it was a bom and I have all the fabric for it as well as the book...fabric has not been touched...my plan was to make a practice block to get a feel for each block and then use the bom fabrics...like I said it. gave. me. a. headache.!!!! Maybe things will look better in the morning...who knows...I may try again, but doubt it...

For those who are checking on the "Traveling Stash Box" come by tomorrow for that post...
Wendy