Sew Sweet Simplicity Giveaway and Block #2

How are you enjoying the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM so far? I've been having such a good time with it, and it's especially fun to be one of the first quilters to get the pattern so I can put together a sample block to give you some ideas for yours!

Jacquelynne Steves is releasing her pattern for the second block today, and to celebrate, I'm having another giveaway! But more on that later.

Here is Block #2 pieced in the fabrics I chose, Soho Chic.  Winter has decended upon us and we've been dealing with snow and poor weather, and so I apologize for the low light in this photo. It really looks so much better in person!

I have chosen to leave the center blank rather than embroider inside. One I get all six blocks constructed and pieced together, I'm going to come up with a nice free motion quilting design inside. I have no idea what that will be just yet,  but I still have time to think about it.

Here is how Block 1 and 2 look together. Pretty sharp when they are put together, eh?

Fun, fun!  I've taken a look at some of the blocks that you participants are posting on the Pinterest Group Board for the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM, and they are fabulous! I love all the different fabrics being used, and how that affects the way the blocks look. This is what makes quilting so much fun - so much variety and creativity come together!  Take a look yourself at http://www.pinterest.com/jacquelynnes/free-sew-sweet-simplicity-bom/.  You can also check blocks out on Jacquelynne's Facebook page.  If you do post your block, be sure to use #SewSweetSimplicity so we can find you!

And if you'd like to hop on board this BOM - did I mention it's FREE? - it's not too late.  We're just starting with the second block. You have options to do four or six blocks - whatever you have time for.  When you sign up you'll receive a welcome email from Jacquelynne with the previous month's pattern, so you can still participate, and even forward/share the patterns with your friends.

Hmmm....can't forget about the giveaway!

The winner of this giveaway will receive the Wool Snowflake Penny Rug Pattern and Grandma's Pantry Quilt Pattern.  International entries are welcome as these patterns are downloaded as pdf files. Awesome, right?

There are two ways to enter:
1.  Leave a comment and let me know if you take time to make some type of Christmas decoration for yourself in December, or if you are too busy making gifts for everyone else.
2.  For a second entry, let me know if you follow along on my Facebook page, Instagram, or my Blog.  I love reading other quilters' blogs, and I'd hope you might like to follow me along as well!

Most importantly, make certain I have a way to contact you if Mr. Random draws your name.  Leave me your email address in the comment, or make certain you are NOT a No-Reply Blogger.  I was astounded at how many comments last month were from no-reply bloggers, which doesn't give me any way to reply to you or contact you should you win!

The contest is open through midnight Mountain Time on Sunday, November 30   extending the deadline to Dec. 3rd!  And for a chance to look at what the other guest bloggers have made for Block 2, I've included links to their blogs below. They're having giveaways, too! Can you believe how many 'Barb's' are in the list?  And two Sandy/Sandie's.

Snoodles ~ Lily Pad Quilting
Teresa ~ A Quilt and a Prayer
Sandy ~ Upstairs Hobby Room
Deonn ~ Quiltscapes
Barb ~ Bejeweled Quilts
Sandie ~ Crazy ‘Bout Quilts
Deanna ~ Wedding Dress Blue
Barb ~ Mountain Quiltworks - this one is me!
Barb ~ Garden Path Quilts

Good luck, and I can't wait to see your blocks.

Quilting with a smile,
Barb

Pillow Pizzazz

My goodness. I am SO glad that we are nearing the end of November. It's a very hectic time of year for my Day Job and I'm always glad to see Thanksgiving on the horizon.

This year was a special treat because after I finished hosting my accounting seminars in Boise, I hopped on a plane and flew up to Seattle to spend a few days of quality Girl Time with my daughter.  And since I didn't want to go empty handed, and since her birthday is next week, I rushed around and whipped up a couple of pillows to add some color to her apartment.  Plus, I squeezed them into my carry-on bag so I wouldn't have to pay postage or checked bag fees. What a clever person I am, eh? Of course, my suitcase literally flew open when unzipped, but that just added to the surprise.

In June we were together in Redmond, Oregon, and so of course we had to make a trip up to Sisters to browse the quilt shop there. Jessica had recently moved into her new apartment and so we she picked out fabrics for some pillows.

I told her to pick out 6 of her favorite fabrics and I'd worry about patterns later (time was crucial as the boys were waiting outside for us).  OMG, this is what she came up with.  She designs fine jewelry and has a good eye for color, but this was such an eclectic array! How was I going to use all these prints, flannels and linens together?

I have wanted to make her something since forever, but she had that leariness about mom making things for her. So this is the first thing I've made for her. And with these colors/prints/designs to work with, I was stymied.  This stack of fabric has been sitting on my cutting table all summer and fall. Staring at me. Taunting me to come up with a plan. Finally, with her birthday coming up, I just dove in and created something.

And she loved them!  She has a bright pink couch, and so the colors in the fabrics tone it down some.  The first pillow I made was the Deer Pillow.  I found a pattern online at Sew Homegrown. It's inspired by a pillow the blogger saw at Anthropologie with an amazing price tag. Of course you can make your own for a fraction of the cost.

The background fabric is Gloxinia by Phillip Jacobs and I simply satin stitched the deer silhouette which was cut from a solid Kona fabric.  The envelope backing is a neutral linen. No quilting involved on this one!

For the second pillow, I pulled some fabric from my stash from the Pretty Potent line by Anna Marie Horner and blended it with some from Moonshine by Tula Pink. The arrow flannel on the side is a fabric she chose, as well as the other flannel on the back. I did some easy straight stitching on the side and top and bottom of the deer panel. To add the true Quilty feel that she was looking for, I loaded the pillow on my long arm, used a teal green thread and outline stitched the deer and filled it in with swirls and echoes.  You can't really see the quilting in this photo - taken with my cell phone camera on the fly!

All in all, a great visit.  Here's a pic of me without my sunglasses on as we were having breakfast one chilly morning at a nearby cafe.

And here's the most cutest, most adorable Grandkitty you will ever see, and she's all mine! She's a very animated kitty, and if you'd like to see more of her and her clever daily quips, she has her own Instagram account over at Copper_Kitty. She's a sweetheart!

So glad to be back and have some time to catch up with my quilting clients and to do some quilting of my own. Life is good!

Quilting again with a smile,
Barb

Linking up with Show Off Saturday