Liebster Blog Award

How sweet the wonderful Jennifer at Patchwork Mummy has nominated me for this "discover new blogs" award.

I accept :)
 


1. Why did you start blogging?

I started to keep track of my doings- trips, crafts, recipes and to share them with others.


2. What is something this year that you are really looking forward to?

A family trip with the 2 little's this summer. Hoping for Lego land or Busch Gardens


3. What is your favorite thing to do to unwind?

Curl up in a quilt with a nightcap and watch a "mommy" show (Burn Notice, Criminal Minds, NCIS etc)

4. Photo's say a thousand words so share a photo that means the most to you. Why is that picture important to you?

I thought of putting up a family picture, I really did, I know though that my family is most important.

What I want to share is where I'm from, how bitter sweet it is to look at what was my home and how far I've come and grown since leaving there 15 years ago. It truly is beautiful, I love to see pictures of it, but I left, have not gone back and if I ever do it will be in many many years from now.

If you care to see more images here's a link. 

5. What quote inspires you the most?

You must do the thing you think you cannot do ~ Eleanor Roosevelt


6. Name a quilting tool you can’t live without & why?

Seam ripper, because pulling those threads out without it just wouldn't be fun.


7. Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Coast of anywhere. Sand and Salt Water is all I need.


8. What is your favorite blog?

 I don't have a favorite, I follow way to many all for different reasons.


9. What is your favorite way to work out?

Work out? I don't.


10. Where do you like to shop?

Local & stand alone stores. I don't do Malls.


11. What's the best advice you've ever been given?

 Eat to live not live to eat. Real food doesn't have nor need labels.


12. What is your favorite blog post you've written?

 To my Husband

I nominate the following three

CeLynn

Debbe

Kevin

NICU Quilts (mini's)

I'm sewing along with Hopeful Threads & Sew BitterSweet Designs this month

I finished up two minis to send along. I used this XO tutorial as my inspiration for these two.

The girl one finished in at 30x30 and is made from 1/2 a jelly roll.

The boy one finished in at 22x22 and I started with 6.5 cuts.

Linking up to

Linky Tuesday

Penny Patch QAL progress

Penny Patch: A Beginners Quilt Along over at Stitched in Color -

So far so good- I am happy with how the quilt is coming together

I am using vintage sheets for my Throw Size Penny Patch Quilt

My colors: A- Pink, B-Yellow, C- Blue, N- Brown, low volume is a full sheet

 I did run into an issue that I didnt have enough pieces to make the required squares even though I started with the right amount pieces and cut as directed....

 I was lucky to have on hand a few more pinks & yellows to use I also made a few 4 patches to fill in the blocks I didn't have pieces for

 A happy mistake since I do like the play on pink & yellow tones in the lay out.

Linking to:
Penny Patch QAL link party at Stitched in Color
Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River

a piece for me

Just a few days ago I came across this fun tutorial.

Then today I notice this on my desk.

So of course I just had to pull out some scraps and go to town on my very own Halloween (quilt as you go) mug rug.

Some pictures along the way.......

Am I a quilter?

I'm not to sure....
Am I a sewist? Yes- I love sewing as a whole.
Am I a quilter? I have been self teaching how to quilt over the last year and a half, I have a few finished pieces, I have swapped and gifted quilted items- But does this make me a quilter?
I do believe I fall under quilter as a catagory, Newbie one at that.
Hows that sound? I am a Newbie quilter :)

Good enough to link to this post by Lily Pad Quilting?

Here are some pictures from around my house

Finished Quilted pieces needing to find new homes.

(Left) Currently on my design wall- 2 from a swap 1 I made

(Right) a wonderful piece that was gifted to me by Pieces to love

 Quilt rack that's first seen as you enter the living room from the stairs

these are mixed pieces- passed down, made new and gifted and made by me.

 My kitchen/dining as of this morning.

I love Halloween!

 The piece on the wall was a panel I got last year, I quilted around each scene and framed here and there using fun little spiders and such throughout.

The table runner I received in a swap.

Framed Fairies

Just a few days ago my friend Melissa @ Sew BitterSweet Designs launched her new pattern All Framed Up and I jumped at it. 

I fell in love with this when she debuted it as a block and was hoping she'd make a quilt pattern out of it.

For my quilt I used fabrics from my stash.

Alphabet Fairies. Flower Fairies by Michael
Miller, the green was left over from another project from last fall, the background fabric with dandelions is a piece of Japanese cotton my mom brought back for me, the back is a natural cream.

This took me a few nights to work on but it went together quickly.

 I played a bit by adding in the corner pieces to the back as well as trying out different quilting stitches my machine offers. For the binding I used my backing a tutorial Melissa offers.

I am so happy with MY quilt! 

Yes MINE, this lovely lady with take center stage on my couch.

If you ever make anything that Melissa offers stop on by the Sew BitterSweet Designs Flickr group, I'd love to see your creations.

Crib Quilt

Just finished this cute little quilt, its small but perfect for a car seat/stroller/crib topper. 

Pattern is Sleepy Jean Crib Quilt

 

I worked it up in Reunion by Sweetwater for Moda

 I followed a couple great tutorials for this little guy

Melissa @ SewBitterSweetDesigns showed how to bind a quilt with its backing

 and a neat way on how to label your quilt on its binding

HST BOM progress

I've been following along over at In Color Order for Jens HST BOM 

I don't always get my block done as soon as she posted the tutorial but I am catching up now, 

pictured below is Jan - Aug, Sept is on the table. 

Jens tutorials are very clear and easy to follow. 

Theres also a Flickr group to post projects made with her tutorials or patterns.

Remember September...Sew Along

Over at SewBitterSweetDesigns & HopefulThreads, they have gotten together and came up with a project for this month.

 Remember Service Men & Women, Creating a Handmade Holiday 

to those serving overseas this coming Holiday Season. 

They are linking and providing tutorials and patterns for Pillowcases and eReader cases (of all shapes and sizes) on blogs, shops, even Pintrest.

I will be contributing to this project, as a Military Family, Hubby is Active Duty Army, my father and grandfather both served along with a few uncles. I feel very close to this cause, I lost count how many Holidays my husband has missed in his 13 yrs of service.

Just typing this up I have chills, I can't even imagine what its like to be away from family and friends, while on a deployment, during the Holidays.

Check out the projects and if you can sew up a few things, theres a Flickr group to post to, all would love to see your finished items.

Heres some great FREE tuts and patterns

Here are some measurements HopefulThreads posted:

Here are dimensions for some popular e-readers. If you can, it would be super great if you labeled whichever style you sew your cover for if specific.

More details about this September Monthly Project on the blog here, http://hopefulthreads.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-monthly-project-announcement.html

blackberry playbook is 5" x 7.5" and is 3/8" wide

Kindle Fire and it is 7.5" x 4.7" x .45" (thickness)

Kindle: 6.5 x 4.5 x 0.34 inches

Kindle Touch: 6.8 x 4.7 x 0.40 inches

Kindle Touch 3g: 6.8 x 4.7 x 0.40 inches

Nook Simple Touch: 6.5" x 5.0" x 0.47"

Nook Color: 8.1" x 5.0" x 0.48"

Nook Tablet: 8.1" x 5.0" x 0.48"

Kindle DX: 10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38"

Sony: 6.61 x 4.68 x 0.38 inches

Nook 1st Ed: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches  

Kobo: 7.2 × 4.7 × 0.4 in

Kobo Touch: 6.5 × 4.5 × 0.4 in

iPad :First Generation = 9.56×7.47×0.528 in (243×190×13.4 mm) 

Second Generation = 9.5×7.31×0.346 in (240×186×8.8 mm) 

Third Generation (newest) = 9.5×7.31×0.37 in (240×186×9.4 mm)

Please feel free to add others! Thanks for all your help!!!

10 dresses

Pillowcase style ranging from size 1 to 4.

I had these all precut and stashed away from about 5 years ago. The 4 on the left were to be for my now 5.5yr old daughter. (eecckk) I guess I got to busy to finish them for her.

These will be going to Dress a Girl at the end of the month, Check out the Flickr Group, we are up to 100 or more as of today.

Care to sew one with me? enter in the previous post for a chance to win the supplies to make one.

Army Mom ACU Masako Doll

Pictured here is a new set- Doll & her Quilt- the mini quilt is one from the Fresh Squeezed SewAlong.
Available now.
jessica.noguchidesigns@gmail.com

Mini Quilt = Pillow

One of the finished Mini Quilts from the SewAlong over at Fresh Squeezed
I ended up turning it into a throw pillow, it also was my first PIF suprise of the year.
I just busted out three things at once- new block practice, first pillow, first PIF.
Not to bad for the first 2 weeks of the year

Pic 1 the top, its the courthouse steps block - with my own twist, the last two rows became the borders.

Pic 2 here it is sandwiched & quilted

Pic 3 the pillow insert, made of muslin & stuffed with fabric scraps (to small to do anything with, odds & ends of thread etc. ) such a great way to use them up- something I learned from the Sassy Blog
the back is a thicker canvas

Pic 4 All done & ready to gift