New Quilt Bloggers Unite!

It was so refreshing to read Marcia's blog today at Crafty Sewing  & Quilting.  She wrote about her blog that she began in January 2011.

She said she felt like she kept writing and blogging and posting and felt like no one was reading. But she kept sharing and learning and having fun with it, and now she has a regular group of followers who look forward to her posts (me included!)

And bless her heart, she believes there may be others like her out here - new bloggers that are testing the waters and just not giving up.  To help them out, she has started a New Blogger Linky Party, and you can join in!

 

http://networkedblogs.com/wgTYO

If you are a blogger with less than 50 followers, just link up your blog and join the fun. Who knows, maybe we'll get some new followers, meet new people, and share this love of quilting that we have.

See you over there!

Wonky Pastel Summer Quilt

My new thing this week is putting together a great Wonky Quilt using a variety of pastels in pinks and greens and blues.  I basically followed the pattern called Off Your Rocker by Carolina Patchworks.

Talk about fun!  To make a wonky quilt, you can stack and whack and cut your strips just about any way you like.  It's a like a carousel that goes up and down, circles around, and comes back to the starting point.

This calls for 20 fat quarters - talk about a fabric spree - an open opportunity to grab and mix and match - so much fun!

 And these colors are just right to lift my spirits to get in the mood for spring. Our snow is finally melted off the valley floor. Another few weeks and we'll have daffodils popping up (being in the mountains, our growing season severely lags from most everyone else!)

I do know that this quilt makes me happy! And I had so much fun making it.  If a quilt can put a smile on your face, isn't it worth it?

Barb
P.S.  Linking up with TNT at





and

Sew a little, quilt a little, sew a little, quilt a little, pick out a few stitches, quilt a little more

After a hectic week last week, and company through Tuesday, I was finally able to dig in and get some projects done. Such a great feeling! I decided to see how long it would take me, start to finish, to cut out, piece, and quilt a small quilt, about 50 x 50.  Result? With hand stitching the binding to the back, I'm right at 6 hours.

Am I slow? Doesn't seem like it should take that long. But I'm still very slow at loading my quilts on the long arm, so I could probably reduce that by 30 minutes if I felt confident in that regard.  But overall, it's a great way to spend a rainy day.

I had this little baby quilt already pieced and got it quilted. I love it! I am stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to mix and match colors that I wouldn't normally combine.  Some little boy would love to tote this quilt around with him, I'm certain.

This is my start-to-finish quilt for a little girl.  I put the Minkee backing on it and it's so soft. Love this one, too.

 Oh, my. Can you tell I really need a grandchild in our family?

Barb

Be sure to Link Up your projects this week at Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting.

Blog Hop Linky Party

Everyone likes a party, right?  For folks who use WordPress as their blogging platform, they can no longer receive followers through Google Friend Connect.  But there is a new way to gain followers, and that's through Linky Followers. 

Just in time for the weekend, join in the Linky Follower Party Hop!  I decided to join the party, and you can, too - it's a great way to gain followers and find new blogs.

LINKY FOLLOWER PARTY HOP

RULES:

1. You MUST have the LINKY FOLLOWERS tool on your site to participate.

If you see that your link has been deleted you need to add the LINKY FOLLOWER tool to your site and then come back over and re-enter your link
{You can have both the LINKY FOLLOWERS & GFC on your site but you must have the LINKY FOLLOWERS tool to participate in this party hop.}

2. You MUST follow the person who has the party on their site as a thank you.

3. Just add your blog button to the LINKY PARTY below.

4.Then grab the BLOG HOP code

You will find the code right under the Linky Party where it says CLICK HERE TO ENTER–
just under that it says: WHAT IS A BLOG HOP? GET THE CODE HERE
Click on GET THE CODE HERE and enter it into a post on your site.
You can grab the party button code in the FOOTER at Its So Very Cheri
You can grab info from my post if it helps you with your post.

5. Then you follow other bloggers–(as many as you want)
–leave each one of the blogs that you follow a comment letting them know you are following them and ask them to follow you back.

If you want to add the BLOG HOP to your own site you will get lots of new followers–(see rule #2)

GO! Baby Giveaway

How neat for AccuQuilt to donate a GO! Baby for this giveaway sponsored by Annies Ruby Slipperz!  I must admit I have gotten a twinge of jealousy when I read blogs or tutorials and learn the pieces were cut in a snap with one of the AccuQuilt products.  I have this on my Wish List for my birthday or Christmas.

The good news is, this week you can sign up for a drawing to get one for yourself. Now! No waiting for a birthday or Christmas.

All you have to do is cruise through the AccuQuilt site and decide on three of your three favorite templates.  My three favorites would have to be: GO! Strip Cutter-2 1/2" Item 55017; GO! Mix and Match 12" Block Die Set Item 55902; and since I love Autumn, the GO! Pumpkins Item 55323.

What are you waiting for?  Hop on over to Annies Ruby Slipperz to sign up today. Good luck!

Long arm Lessons

Yahoo! I made the five-hour drive to Salt Lake City yesterday through wind and rain and snow and fog and heavy traffic.  That alone is a testament to my intense desire to learn how to quilt on my long arm machine.

I've had my Gammill for about 10 weeks, but in that time, I've been traveling for two weeks and so it feels like I'm always behind. I've practiced and practiced, and only found time to quilt one large quilt,  a baby quilt, and one table runner.  That's just enough to know that there is a heck of lot more to know about becoming 'good' at long arm quilting.  That's why I'm so excited to be here.  For two days!

I will keep you posted.  Hopefully the weather will be much calmer for the drive home.

 (Disclaimer: this is an older photo and not exactly indicative of the snow yesterday. It's just a cold, cold picture that scream, "Come on Spring!")

Oh - I really think it's time to change my profile picture and stash that winter coat. Isn't it spring in a day or two?

Peach Cobbler

It's snowing here this week, and just doesn't feel like spring, so I baked up this little peach cobbler last night and it was delicious!  If you are on a diet, this isn't a great choice - but oh, my goodness, is it GREAT!  Sorry no photo - we ate it too quickly.

Peach Cobbler

1/2 cup butter

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

4 cups sweetened or 1 quart peaches, juice and all (I use a 29-ounce can of sliced peaches)

Melt butter in 8x10 inch pan. Mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder together in large bowl. Stir in milk and blend until smooth. Pour batter over butter - do not mix or stir!  Spread fruit on top of batter - do not mix or stir! 

Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees.  When baked, the cake will rise to the top. Excellent served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.

Here's a photo of the snow at Galena Lodge further upstream from us. Lots of snow for March 13!