Traveling Stash Box

I recently became the temporary owner of one of the Traveling Stash Boxes! I was super excited to win this box from Jen at Something I Made a few weeks back.

The Traveling Stash Box is a box full of quilting goodness that travels around the US to different bloggers that sign up to be the next in line to receive it. Here’s what was in the box I received.

The idea is that you can take stuff out of the box to keep for yourself but you need to put back in items with equivalent value and of quilting quality. There is so much good stuff in the box – patterns, notions, books, and fabric. Lots and lots of fabric! But I narrowed it down and I took out 12 FQs and a 3/4 yd panel.

I took 4 Fat Quarters of the Hope Chest line from Connecting Threads. My stash is a little light on reds and mustard yellows so these were perfect. I also selected these lovelies.

Now you want to know what I put in, right?

There are some colorful fat quarters, a So Sophie charm pack, a cut of So Sophie striped fabric, a swirly Christmas-like print, those muscle cars, a world map and some florals. Lots of goodness for the next blogger to dive into.

If you would like this box to visit you next then you must follow the rules:

This is open to US mailing addresses only – sorry international guests. 😦

You must be an active blogger (so you can host the ‘giveaway’ on your blog and pass the box on to someone else)

You must be willing to pay the 12 or so dollars to ship to the next person

You must be willing to replace the equivalent value and/or type of product that you took out

To enter the drawing:

Leave a comment on this post stating that you would like to be included in the drawing to receive the box next. Include your email so that you can be contacted if you win.

Multiple comments from the same blogger will not be included in the drawing.

The drawing will be open until FRIDAY JUNE 6th this drawing is closed – and I will announce the winner in a separate post. Winner is In the Boon Docks!

If I am unable to contact them or don’t hear back within 3 days regarding their mailing address then I will select a new winner

Please remember, US mailing addresses ONLY and you have to be willing to send the box along to a new person if you win.

So much fun! Good luck to all those that enter!

Christmas Crafts & Stash Enhancement

This week was filled with work, work, work. Which leaves me with very little available sewing time.

However, I did win a Christmas fabric bundle from Ellison Lane Quilts courtesy of Timeless Treasures. I was so excited. I don’t have it yet but am looking forward to see what comes in the mail. These are the kinds of surprises that I just love.
I had popped over to her blog after searching online for wine bag tutorials. The tutorial she featured was exactly what I was looking for. You can find that tutorial and a few other great ones here.


I added a paper-pieced wonky star on the side of my bag to give it a little personality.

Then I broke down and ordered a big fat quarter box of Free Spirit Fabrics during a recent fabric sale at Craftsy. The deal was a little over $1 per fat quarter. I just couldn’t pass that up.

I did have one small finish. I put together this doll quilt for my niece for Christmas. The butterfly fabric is the same pattern I used for her baby quilt. I backed it with the remaining Minkee from a previous baby quilt I made.

I’m still trying to come up with some small and super cute items for work gifts. Hopefully, I’ll come up with something.

Bloom, Bloom, Pow complete!

I finished quilting the Bloom, Bloom, Pow quilt-a-long quilt designed by Lee at Freshly Pieced.

I used some cool blues as the flowers and a blue/purple blender on the border. I removed my first border quilting (see previous ‘Oops’ post) and continued the interior quilting out. I used a variegated blue thread in the border rather than the neutral that was used on the interior quilt top. I love how it all turned out.

I’ve also been working on some Christmas projects and my brain doesn’t stop thinking of new ones that I just have to make for holiday gift giving. My brain sometimes works faster than the actual time available to complete all these projects. However, all of the big quilts are complete. I’ve got work gifts to make, another stroller size quilt for dolls, and other random small gifts. This is my favorite time of year.
I also recently bought some gifts for me. New Fabric!!!

Both are Robert Kaufman. The bundle on the left is Somerset Spring and the bundle on the right is Grandeur Jewel. They are both shiny and sparkly as well as dripping with beautiful vibrant colors.

I must come up with something wonderful to make with them. I can’t wait to see what my mind comes up with for those gorgeous fabrics.

Stroller Symphony

This week contained many projects finished, started, worked on, and designed. It started on Sunday with the design and start of the Stroller Symphony stroller blanket. I went with a large log cabin design and decided to border and back it with some Minkee fabric.

I’d never worked with the Minkee fabric before so I did a little research and found a lot of tips to get the best out of the experience:
1. Cut with a rotary cutter to decrease shedding.
2. Pin and pin and pin and pin and pin and pin to avoid slipping while sewing.
3. Sew with the Minkee down so the feed dogs can grab it and pull it evenly.
4. If you must iron then put a towel over it so that it won’t melt (it is polyester and will melt with direct heat).
5. Keep a lint roller handy and do a clean sweep of all your implements after sewing the Minkee to de-fuzz your equipment and work area.
I pinned in a cross-hatch pattern so that it was pinned in both directions and would not move.

After using all the tips, I didn’t have any trouble with the fabric at all. The blanket turned out so cute.

I definitely won’t be wary of using that fabric in other projects. It is so soft and cuddly. It will be perfect for the musical family that gets this blanket at this weekend’s shower.

Fabric Galore

There has not been much, okay any, progress made on the Halloween quilt for Mom. But, I have bunches of new fabric to show.
I bought some Charm Packs of Simply Style for a quilt top that I’m going to start soon. I don’t know when I’ll get to it but I can tell that I am about to start cutting.

I have these scraps left from the Bloom, Bloom, Pow QAL at Freshly Pieced. I’m planning on incorporating them into the backing but I keep changing my mind on exactly how I want to do that.

The fabric for my niece’s newest quilt just pops! And I love it:

And, I have newly acquired Giggles by Me & my Sister designs for Moda. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it but I love it!

I’ve completed my fabric pulls for the next blocks in the 2 Block of the Months that I am working on. The red/black/white combo is for the Sugar Block Club by Amy Gibson. And the purple/green/blue combo is for the Virtual Quilting Bee at Diary of a Quilter. They are both going to be really great in two completely different ways. I’ve already got some ideas on block placement for the VQB that, in my head, could be pretty cool looking.

Change is in the Air

Well, the fabric choice of my border did not work out. Let’s just say that my seam ripper was put to work. It distracted the eye from the main fabric in the quilt. I still love this spider fabric and I will use it on the back. I’m thinking of some kind of modern pieced backing using that fabric and some of the scraps from the Costume Clubhouse line.

So I was able to finish the top with a halloweenish polka dot fabric that really sets off the blocks well. Time to piece together a backing. I found some really cute Halloween word fabric but it’s all glittery and I know, based on previous experience, that glitter comes off on my machine and everywhere else. So, I will most likely piece together the spider fabric, the polka dots, and remaining fabric from the Riley Blake bundle. I’ve yet to get started on that.

I’ve been working on a new Craftsy workshop taught by Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock. It’s a basic pattern but I’ve already learned an easier way to piece some things together. I didn’t buy enough fabric so I’m waiting for another layer cake to arrive on my doorstep. I’m using Santa’s Workshop by Doodlebug Designs for Riley Blake.

Here’s a pic of it halfway sewn and laid out.

A lot of stitching to do…

Well, today I have in the works about 4 different quilt tops. I’m excited about each of them in their own way. One is for my mom, another for a wall hanging in my spare room, a third also for me – I think.

There is a quilt using Puppy Park by Riley Blake designs that I’m pretty close on finishing. But, I’m thinking of adding some interior diagonal sashing to bring in a bit more contrast. I’ll have post that once I decide.
The wall hanging will be using some blue and brown scraps and fat quarters that I have in my stash. I’m doing the Craftsy BOM for 2013 for that one.
The third is the Sugar Block Club by Amy Gibson. That one is in reds, blacks, and a tiny bit of white. I’m really enjoying working on it.

Next week, I will be starting the Virtual Quilting Bee by Amy Smart. I can’t wait to see what she has to show us! I still have to choose fabric. I guess it’s time to bring out my stash and see what I can come up with. Hmmmm….