Winners and a Finish

I would like to thank everyone

for contributing to the comments on my last post,
"Things My Mother Used to Say".

I got quite a chuckle from some of the responses!

I'd like to add one more from my mom,

something I can hear her telling me several times a day,

"Never leave a room empty handed."

Not being the best housekeeper in the world, 

this little piece of advice keeps me on my toes,
and my house fairly tidy!

The Random Number Generator chose
comment number 37, Lisa Boyer
and comment number 7, Sandi @ Shhh Designs
to each receive 2-20 count Free Spirit Fabrics charm packs.

Congratulations, ladies!
As soon as I receive your addresses, I'll pop them into the mail.

I do have a finish to show you today,
one I am very proud of!

My first real attempt at custom quilting on my Janome Horizon.
I originally blogged about it HERE.

I am going to call this quilt "A Kennebec Wnter".
It is 60" x 60"and took me approximately 30 hours of quilting.

It was a great learning adventure.
I practiced going frontward, sideways, and backwards
and obviously, it's not perfect,
but I gained so much confidence!

Here's a close up.

And a look at it from the back.

I love my Janome and will miss it while I'm away.
I start my annual migration south next Saturday, with my first stop being Boston,
to spend a little time with family and friends,
before making my way to Texas.

Stay safe and warm
as Mother Nature begins to remind us that
yes, it is winter.

~karen

Things My Mother Used to Say Give-away

My mother has been gone an awfully long time,
having passed away at the young age of fifty in 1982,
but I still hear her words every day.
One of the things she used to tell me is,
"If you don't have anything nice to say,
don't say anything at all."

I bring that up now because quite often
I read a blog post about how upset someone is
after receiving a negative, and sometimes abusive, comment.
My impression of the quilting community
is that we are kind and compassionate people.
Let's try to keep it that way!

Although I vowed NOT to start anything new,
I had a Free Spirit fat quarter bundle
of earth colored solids staring me down,
and it won!

I've been on an HST kick all summer,
and when I saw this quilt block on Anja's site,
I said to myself, "That's it, I'm doing this!"
Wanting a 'man quilt', I got right to work.
I have been cutting, sewing, and trimming 5.5" HSTs by the dozen
and having such fun!

I pinned a batting scrap to a wall hanging
for a quick, small design wall.

I'm loving it so much that when I return in the spring,
my intentions are to rearrange furniture
to make a whole wall available!
This wall would be perfect,
except there is a thermostat dead center!
See it?

Working with Free Spirit solids is a dream,
and last month's Free Spirit Fabrics give-away was so much fun,
I though we should do it again.

Now, my mother had a lot to say,
and I'm sure yours did, too!

For an opportunity to win 2-20 count charm packs
of the 'Earth' Free Spirit solids,
please tell me in your comment
something you remember your mother saying to you!

I will let the random number generator help me pick three winners
This give away will  be open for one week.

(This give away is now closed.)

Thanks for visiting!
Enjoy your day,
~karen

Yes, Sir, Yes, Sir, Three Bags...

...finished.

But not full.

Yet.

My niece is expecting baby #2 later this month.

Her precious daughter is 4 years old,

so when I send a quilt for the new baby,

I will also include this little zippered pouch.

I think that when you are 4 years old, 

you need someplace to put your treasures!

This zippered pouch was made

using my 'go to' basic pouch tutorial at Elm Street Quilts.

If you are at all hesitant about making one,

this is the tutorial for you!

When you are finished, you'll ask yourself,

"Why haven't I made these before now?"

And you'll jump right in

and make another.

Bag number two is my second attempt 

at trying Noodlehead's Open Wide Zippered Pouch tutorial,

this time with success!

Was it just last summer

I was participating in a scrappy QAL,

then didn't care for the final project?

Or was it the summer before?

I lose track!

Too often!

Sometimes it's kind of scary.

Anyway, I came across the blocks I'd made,

and they said they wanted to be a bag.

Voila!

I saved the best for last.

Bag number three is a 

Sew Together Bag!

Yay me!

Making it was like pulling teeth!   But I did it!

And, you know what?

When I am wintering in Texas,

I bet I make more.

At least two, to give as gifts.

I'm looking forward to cleaning out the bag I use now,

and transferring it's contents

before I go,

(in just over two weeks....YIKES!).

I am linking up to Elm Street Quilt's -  Bag It!

Join me there to see lots and lots of other bags

that have been made, most in the spirit of giving.

Patty has been posting many new tutorials for

making a myriad of useful gifts!

Check it out!!

Thanks for stopping in.

My next post will be another give-away,

so I hope you'll visit again!

~karen