Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - Welcome Wall Hanging and Giveaway!

Why would you make a "Welcome" wall hanging?  Because you want to welcome your friends and family into your home or place of business.  I needed one for my quilting shop. This was a fun wall hanging to make.  I just had some "free form" fun drawing and cutting out the letters and flowers.

First I chose my center white fabric.  Then I sewed a black and white border fabric around the white fabric.  I cut the black and white fabric askew, to kind of give it an off center look. 

I drew out some letters on the wrong side of lite heat and bond, so they would come out facing the correct way.  Then I ironed the heat and bond to the black fabric and let it cool. Then I cut out each letter, pealed the paper off, and placed the letters on the white fabric.  When they were all in place. I pressed with the iron to adhere them to my fabric. This is a raw edge applique  method.  

I did the same thing with the cornflower.  You could draw any type of flower.  I chose the cornflower, because I can draw it.  Daisies are easy to draw too. I made three flowers in different sizes. I used a black dotted fabric for the centers of the flowers. Picked a place that was eye pleasing and pressed them onto the fabric. Note that the bottom flower overlaps into the border.  This helps the off center look of the whole wall hanging.

When I quilted the wall hanging I used a poly batting, so the cornflowers puffed out a little bit.  It gives it a 3D look when you stitch on the edge of them and stitch a denser stitching in the background.

I added a sleeve on the top when I did the binding.  I pushed a wood dowel thru' the sleeve and used black ric rac to make a hanger with ties hanging down on the sides.

Today's Giveaway is a 4 pack of Fabric and Toes Note Cards. (Value$6.00)

Follow me and leave a comment to enter the drawing.   

Drawing will be Monday, June 20, 2011 at 6pm CST! 

So in conclusion, Welcome to my blog! 

Marcia

There is still time to enter the Double Double Quilting Giveaway .  It ends June15th.






This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!  

Check the Giveaway and May for Me page for the current Giveaways.

Giveaway Winner and Some Other I Spy Ramblings ...

Okay, well, by reading the posts I would say that everyone does indeed sew in the summer -- good to know I'm not alone.  And, without further ado, the winner of the Giveaway for the 40 I Spy squares is ...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

4

Timestamp: 2011-06-08 22:02:31 UTC

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The person who left comment # 4 -- also known as Linda of Stray Stitches.  Congrats!  Linda has a great blog.  I love the format of her posts. 

 In other I Spy news ... I got a few more scraps from a friend, which will be perfect for my next I Spy quilt.  Thanks Tanya!

 And I bought the fabric above -- Little Golden Books.  It will be great for I Spy hexies too as the little animals are very small.  As a side note, I bought the fabric during a trip to Fabricville so that I could pick up some transparent (invisible) polyester thread.  I will say here and now, I will not be buying any more of it.  It was SO annoying to use that it should have come with a warning label "MAY CAUSE EXTREME FRUSTRATION".  It was hard to see, pulled, curled, broke, got stuck and was a tension nightmare ... it was likely just due to my inexperience, but I know I won't have the patience to become more experienced if I have to deal with thread like that ... ;-)

Okay, moving on ... I also bought a 1/4 yard of these eyes for a Halloween idea I have.

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Any finally, just because I am obviously in need of another few hundred I Spy squares I joined this swap today.

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Happy Quilting!

I Spy Quilt Squares: Giveaway!

 In celebration of my 200th post, I thought I'd have a little giveaway ... for 40 I Spy Quilt squares cut from my stash.

These are 5 inch squares.  They are prewashed (there may be an exception or two in there), quilt shop quality fabric and I tried my best to cut them nice and straight. ;-)

These are all fabrics I either used in my current I Spy Quilt (at the quilters now) or plan to use in future I Spy Quilts (yes, I am addicted). 

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Giveaway is open internationally.  Open until Wednesday, June 8 at 7:00 pm AST.

To enter just leave a comment on this post with an answer to the question: Do you sew in the summer?  One comment per person please.  Please be sure your email is either linked to your profile or that you leave it in the comment so I may contact the winner. 

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Good Luck.
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Comments are now closed.

Two Winners Announced from Last Week's Drawing that ended today at 6pmCST

It's June 1st!

  Yippee!

Drawing was at 6pm CST for 

The Double Double Giveaway. 

2 prizes - 2 gift certificates $20.00 off my Machine Quilting Services on a Lap Size Quilt or larger. (approximately 45" X 65")

Additional Bonus:  If you book your quilting date for September 2011, 

you will can get an extra $10.00 off the quilting! 

So that's $30.00 off the quilting on a lap size quilt or larger. 

The certificate is good for one year thru' June 1, 2012.  

Congratulations - The Two May for Me Winners are:

Linda from Stray Stitches

and

Jacqueline Handmade with Love

Linda said: 

Your work is amazing!! I am a regular follower and thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway! 

and I included your giveaway in my blog today:

http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/05/those-three-little-words.html 

and I am so glad to hear that your mother is recouping even if it is ever so slowly :)

Jacqueline said:

I wasn't a follower and stumbled onto your blog via twitter. I will be a follower innate few clicks. Pattern..... Ummmm...... I'd say swirly flowers? Is that even possible??? I'm so new to long arming! Thanks for the giveaway!

Another May for Me Double Double Quilting Giveaway!  Enter thru' June 15th.

Thanks for following!  Marcia

   

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - My Garden Angel and another Double Double May for Me Quilting Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!  

Check the Giveaway and May for Me page for the current Giveaways.

I love these little wall hangings.  I can't seem to stop making them once I start.  I love cutting out all the little pieces and I especially love quilting them.  It's like I am coloring.  This one is called Blanche the Garden Angel from Patch Abilities Wall hangings.   

I call mine "Miss Molly" !  I particularly like the swirly curly hair on my Miss Molly! Her boots remind me of my hiking boots from college. I not only wore them to hike up on Rib Mountain, but I also wore them to class everyday in the winter.  It was very cold in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.   They kept my toes nice and warm.

 Maybe that is what it is about these wall hangings... I see something in them that brings back a fond memory.

Today is the last day of May, so here is another May for Me Giveaway!  It's another Double Double Quilting Giveaway.  It is $20.00 off my Machine Quilting Services on a Lap Size Quilt or larger. (approximately 45" X 65"). 

I am giving away 2 prizes - 2 gift certificates good for one year thru' June 16, 2012.  So two of you will be winners!  Additional Bonus:  If you book your quilting date for September 2011, you will can get an extra $10.00 off the quilting! So that's $30.00 off the quilting on a lap size quilt or larger.

Please leave a comment to enter.  

• First you need to be a follower  - new or old.
•  You will have two chances to win!

#1  What kind of freestyle quilting would you like me to quilt on your quilt if you win? 


#2  If you want a second chance in the drawing - make a separate comment and tell me where you blogged, shared or tweeted about the Double Double Quilting Giveaway and please include the link.


Drawing will be June 15, 2011 at 6pm. The winners will be announced on June 16, 2011. 


Still time to enter last week's drawing thru' 6pm on June 1, 2011. Double Double Quilting Giveaway!


Still looking for Pat from the May17th Giveaway!  .... Anyone know Pat?  I am still holding the prizes for Pat.


So please make sure you include your email address, so I can contact you, if you win, if you are a nonreplyblogger. Thanks!

I really enjoyed the last day of May and I am going to love all the days in June.  

A friend suggested we call it:  "Just do it June!"

Thanks for following!

Marcia

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Winner

Here are your random numbers:

347

Timestamp: 2011-05-25 22:05:03 UTC

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With the help of Random. org, the winner is Commenter #347 Camille from Texas!  Congrats!

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Thanks so much everyone for all the great comments.  So, so many countires were represented, what a fun list to look through! 

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Until next time, Happy Quilting! 

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - On Wednesday??? And a Giveaway - YES!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!  Check the May for Me page for the current Giveaways.
Better late than never!  So this is going to be another Double Double Giveaway combining a two day Post - LATE !  And an update on my Mom at the bottom of this post. 

Monday I posted the winners of the Double Double Giveaway (I  am still looking for Pat).  I didn't do my regular "Up Close with My Quilting" for Monday.  Tuesday is "Hodgepodge Patchwork". So today I am doing "Up Close with My Quilting" and "Hodgepodge Patchwork" and a Double Giveaway!


I couple years ago I discovered Patch Abilities Wall hangings.  I love them!  Julie, the designer and creator of Patch Abilities has the coolest wall hanging patterns. When I make them I feel like a kid again.  Cutting out the little pieces of fabric and then pressing them on the background fabric is such a delight.  But my favorite part is where I thread paint on the raw edge appliqué.  It's like coloring!  


Previously to finding Patch Abilities, I had taken a thread painting class form Terry White.  She doesn't thread paint on fabric.  But I like to thread paint on the raw edge appliqué that way I don't have to stitch as heavy, because the colors of the fabrics are there too.  It gives it a different dimensional look.


Remember, I have said before, I like to learn and then do it my own way...  It's just the way I am.


Patch Abilities Wall hangings are sold as patterns and patterns and kits.  This is one of my favorites: Butterfly Haven.

Here is a view of the back side of the wall hanging.  Lots of stitching! Remember I stitch them on the long arm machine.  Julie from Patch Abilities suggests hand stitching them with embroidery stitches, which is really neat too.  I choose to do it my way, stitching on the long arm machine - doing my own kind of thread painting.  




Update on my Mom:  She is getting better and is recovering at a Sub Acute Section of her local Hospital.  She will be there for 5 days to two weeks.  On Monday and Tuesday I was getting her all settled in.  She will get all sorts of Physical Therapy to help her get her strength back.  They told us Pancreatitis is not like the flu, it takes a long time to recover from it's ill effects.  Again thank your for all of your kind thoughts and prayers...

Today's Double Double Giveaway is $20.00 off my Machine Quilting Services on a Lap Size Quilt or larger. (approximately 45" X 65") 

I am giving away 2 prizes - 2 gift certificates good for one year thru' June 1, 2012.  So two of you will be winners!  Additional Bonus:  If you book your quilting date for September 2011, you will can get an extra $10.00 off the quilting! So that's $30.00 off the quilting on a lap size quilt or larger.


Leave a comment to enter.  #1  Tell me if you are a follower or a new follower.  #2 What kind of freestyle quilting would you like me to quilt on your quilt if you win? #3 If you want a second chance in the drawing - make a separate comment and tell me where you blogged, shared or tweeted about the giveaway and include the link.


Drawing will be June 1, 2011 at 6pm. The winners will be announced on June 2, 2011.

Thanks for following me and Good Luck in the drawing.
Another giveaway next Tuesday!


Enjoying May one day at a time! Marcia

 I was not paid or compensated in any way from Patch Abilities or Terry White.  I just want of give both of them credit for inspiring me. Thanks!

How About a Chance to Win Some Pretty Fabric?

Okay, here we go ... It's Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and here's what I'm giving away ...

Eight Jennifer Paganelli Free Spirit fat quarters ... from older, harder to find lines, some are out of print ... all eight to one lucky winner.

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International entries are welcome and encouraged.  Just one entry per person please.

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To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling me where you're surfing in from.  If you've been by the blog before, you probably know my son likes geography and likes reading the names of all the different places.  During past giveaways, we've had fun looking up spots on the map!

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Please be sure your email address is either attached to your profile or you leave it in the comment.  I need to be able to email the winner.  Winner will be chosen by random draw.  Giveaway is open until May 25 at 7:00 PM AST.  Good luck!

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And now, if you want to go to the master list of all the other giveaways going on today, just click here.

Thanks Everyone!  Comments are now closed.  Winner will be announced tomorrow, Thursday, May 26!

Feature and Upcoming Giveaway

The lovely AnneMarie at Gen X Quilters is featuring me today.  Click the button above and head on over if you've got a second.  She has a great site. 
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Also, coming up on Monday, I'll be participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day.  I've got some pretty, pretty fabric to give away.
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Have a great weekend.  We have a long weekend here in Canada.  Lots of outdoor fun ahead!!!

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - My Mom and Baskets and a Double Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!  

Check the May for Me page for the current Giveaways.

Anyone remember last years' post called "When I am not Quilting... I am Sewing... and I am Weaving" ?  My Mom and I made 16 woven baskets!


Today's Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday is in honor of my Mom.  If you read last week's Thursday's Thoughts you will know that my Mom inspired me to craft!  My cousin put up on Facebook that my Mom inspired her to weave.  Many of you comment and email about your Moms and those people who inspired you to craft, sew, and quilt.  


Today I am sitting in a hospital room with my Mom in her home town of Fort Atkinson.  After numerous tests it has been determined that she has pancreatitis.  This was probably caused by gall stones--a few small ones and one large one.  We met with her doctor and a surgeon and the determined her gall bladder needs to be removed.  So tomorrow morning, Wednesday, she will have surgery to have it removed.  This all came on very suddenly and I rushed over to be with her.  We are in a good place and they are taking good care of my Mom.  


The first photo above it of us is from when we made the passage quilt for hospice.  My nephew, Alex was taking the picture and was making us laugh!


Here we are at Barb's Quilt Retreat last November. We were weaving, weaving, weaving... Mom is in the striped sweater on the left side of the picture. 

We kept busy the whole weekend just weaving the days away!  


Well you can see Mom was working, but I think at this point in the retreat I was running around taking pictures.  I could have been talking and laughing, as I tend to do a lot of that.


When we got home to my house, we set up our little sweat shop in my dinning and living room and made more baskets.  I quilted on customer's quilts in the mornings and then we would weave away the afternoon....

I don't cook anyway, so who needs a dining room table?

Pattern information on other post.

So thank all the people in your life for inspiring you to craft, sew, and quilt!


Today's May for Me Giveaway is simple, as it needs to be for me, because I am not at home...but I have my laptop with me!


It's a Double-double Prize!  I will draw two winners on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 6pm.  Two winners to represent the one who inspired you and one for you!  Each winner will receive a set of May for Me Note Cards and The Easy To Sew Quilt Pattern.   Two prizes each!


So 2 things to do:   Please tell me if you are a follower or a new follower and tell me "Who inspired you to craft, sew, or quilt?"

Remember to enjoy each day in May!


Marcia

Announcing the Winner of the Orange Flowers Note Cards

The Giveaway from Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday's Winner is Heather from Heather's Custom Sewing. 


Congratulations Heather!  


Heather won the Orange Flowers Note Cards!



Heather is a follower of my blog.  On Tuesday's I simply ask that you tell me if you are a follower or a new follower for your entry into the drawing.  You don't have to do anything else.  If you would like to post it on your blog, tweet it, or share it on Facebook I would love it!


More May for Me Celebration Giveaways every Tuesday for Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday's Posts.  So stop by and enter every Tuesday in May - on the 17th, 24th, and 31st.  There will be more May for Me Giveaways in May - to be announced.  

Enjoying May one day at a time!


Marcia

Congratulations --- 3 Winners from the May for Me Team Up Giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter the May for Me Giveaway.  You all left such nice comments and I wish you all could win, but there were only 6 winners.  Three winners here and three winners on Chris' Blog. Thanks for sharing the giveaway on your Facebook pages, tweeting it, and posting it on your blogs.  I appreciate it so much!  

More May for Me Celebration Giveaways every Tuesday for Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday's Posts.  So stop by and enter every Tuesday in May - on the 17th, 24th, and 31st.  There may be other giveaways in May - to be announced.

Winner # 1 is Megan McCowan.  Megan wins the May for Me Note Cards.  She said, "Wow this stuff is so pretty and springy.  Love the bright colors!"   Congratulations Megan!

 

Winner # 2 is Lisa T. of Lisa T's Blog.  Lisa wins The Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern.  She said: " What cheerful cards and pattern! Great for summer!"  Lisa shared the giveaway on Twitter and on her Giveaway page on her blog at Lisa T's Blog.  Thanks for helping us spread the word.  Congratulations Lisa!

Winner # 3 is Linda Gilli of Stray Stitches.  She wins the Dye Candy Fabric from Chris at Dye Candy Fabrics.  She said, "Thanks for the opportunity to enter your wonderful giveaway!"  Linda posted the giveaway on her blog at  Stray Stitches.   Thanks for helping us spread the word.  Congratulations Linda!

Winners from the Dye Candy Blog:

#1 Artfully Caroline --- Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern
#2 Robin Who is Quilty as Charged --- Marcia's  Note Cards
#3 Joyce of J's Quilting Blog --- Hand Dyed Fabric

Thanks for joining in the fun of the May for Me Giveaways!  Spread the word about enjoying each day in May.  Take time to smell the roses, your fabric, and anything else that you enjoy!  

Enjoy May one day at time!

Marcia

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - Wind Sock Planter Cozy

I need color.... Until today there were no flowers in my hanging planters.  It has been too cold in Wisconsin, to put the plants outside, but starting today it was warmer (HOT).  Monday got up in the low 60's and it was suppose to be 82 today.  This morning it was cold! We ended up hitting 89 here!  

Get those plants out!  Let's add some color to your planters....  Make a wind sock planter cozy!  

Note: I  chose fabrics with too much color for a tutorial, but it will have to do!  I need color!

Follow the photos and directions for making your own Windsock Hanging Planter Cozy.


These are very relaxed directions as you don't have to worry about sewing perfectly.  We are also going to leave some raw edges.  You may only use it for a season or two.  So don't put a lot of time into it. Just make it for fun to add some quick color to your garden!

Cut a piece of colorful cotton fabric 34" by 25". You can piece together squares to make it look like at quilt or just use one piece of fabric.  I pieced some squares and it wasn't big enough so added borders.

34" will be what goes around the planter and overlaps in the back with a velcro closure. Measure your planter to make sure you have enough.  

25" will be the length and we will turn it under to make a casing on the top, so if you want it longer cut a longer piece of fabric.

Press under three sides of the fabric about a 1/2 inch and straight stitch it (or zig zag it). The side that you will leave raw is the bottom edge of the fabric - the length 34". In the photo it is the edge on the left side.

Then turn down the top edge about 3 inches to form a casing for a fabric drawsting to go thru' it. I stitched it with a zig zag stitch, but it can be a straight stitch.  It doesn't matter.

 

Velcro should be stitched in one strip or cut the strip into sections, if you don't have enough for the side.  See the photo. Velcro should start at the casing edge, down the sides leaving about 10 inches at the bottom  open.    

Cut a strip 45" by 4 inches for the drawstring strip.  I just folded it in half and stitched it leaving the raw edges to the outside.

Feed it thru' the casing using a safety pin.

Pull the drawstring so you have equal amount on both ends so you can tie is around the planter and around one hanging wire on your planter.

Cut the bottom edge like the photo about 6 inches up from the bottom.  The width of the strip should be about  2".

Tie the windsock planter cozy around the planter and wrap it around the hanging wire so it stays in place.  

Close the velcro around the planter.

I put flowers in the planter today!  Yes it is finally spring!

When I went to the greenhouse I asked for a flower that was good for full sun.  She suggested Verbena.  It blooms all summer.  I picked Obsession Mix and Obsession Scarlet.  I think Obsession is perfect for me as I am obsessed with sewing and quilting!  

I planted a few other plants and flowers.  We are suppose to get storms tonight and tomorrow, so I kept the rest in the house until I know they will be safe.  

Last year I had planters all along the deck on the south and west side. My dear husband didn't like all the pots and the plants, so he built me these cool triangular steps on both sides of the stairs. 

 A couple years ago he built the archway that leads my customers around to the back of the house to my business entrance. This year I planted morning glory flowers on both sides of the archway.  Later in the summer I will share photos when everything is in full bloom.

My sign for my business is the wooden quilt.  A friend made this wooden quilt several years ago.  I didn't want a sign - just a symbol.  

This year I am going to have hanging planters all the way along the south side of our house for my tomatoes and strawberries.  See the red hanging planter  - that one is for my strawberries.  I am going to make a windsock cozy for that one too.  It has plant openings on all the sides. 

The yellow one is for the tomatoes and the tutorial to make that cozy is in the photo gallery. 

I guess I am obsessed with sewing, I even want quilts in my garden!

Thanks for following me....

What a beautiful May day!

Marcia

P.S.  Do you follow me?  If not, be a follower....  Please leave a comment and tell me if you are a follower or if you are a new follower.....  If you want to win a set of 3 Orange Flower Note Cards! Thanks for following!

Drawing Sunday 6pm CST 
May 15, 2011.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!  Check the May for Me page for the current Giveaways.