Using My Stash The Flannel Charm Edition

 What do you do with left over fabrics?  

You know, the ones you cut off from other projects?  

I cut mine into usable pieces, usually. 

 I have made SO many flannel things and have tons of left over bits. 

 I have been cutting them into 5" squares.  

Well, my bag of flannel charms is now 2 bags and both are FULL.

I decided that I needed to see if I could use some up.

I laid out a boy and a girl version but don't like to repeat fabrics.

This means I was a little short.

If anyone is interested in swapping or sending flannel, 5" squares please message me!

This is what I have for the "boy" version.

These are the "girl" flannels I have.  

I repeated some of these in both quilt batches.

Lets swap!

I got some fabulous pull on jeans but noticed a snag. 

 I decided to cut the pull off and made a hole.

I got out my embroidery floss and put a flower over the hole!

When jeans give you holes, put a flower on it!!

I also wanted to share my new water bottle with you all.

It is now the boss of me!

It tells me how much and when to drink!

I need to stay hydrated for my radiation therapy so this keeps me on track.

Find it here on Amazon. (not affiliated, just a fan)

Going to leave you here.

If you want to swap please send me an email at

mamaspark@gmail.com

~XOP~

AAMQG Meeting And Pin Cushion Swap

We had our monthly meeting last night and our pin cushion swap. 

 If you remember I made a circle of geese as my swap pin cushion.

I loved this so much that I am making another one to keep for myself!

Then you all saw the bra block that I made for my friend at the DAMQG in my last post. 

 I decided to see if I could make a teeny, tiny one into a pin cushion for her.  

I think it came out pretty cute too. 

 It took me about 2 hours from start to finish.  

Not too bad!

We did our pin cushion Yankee swap style so there was stealing! 

There were so many beautiful ones it was difficult not to want them all!!

Of course the "Marie" cat one was my absolute favorite.  

You all know how nuts I am about my cats!

We have five of our own!!  

That mouse was pretty darned cute as well!

My friend Vicky made this amazing doggie one. 

 If you remember, she made me a similar one but with a little cat figurine on top of it.

Apparently I was not the only one that thought "Marie" was stunning.

  She was stolen 2 times before it was my turn.  

If I stole her she would stay with me as 3 steals are all that were allowed. 

 She was with another avid cat lover but I just could not resist her!!  

(Sorry Emily) 

 So now Marie (made by Marie) is now living with me!!!

Seriously could she be any cuter???

This is one super talented group of women. 

 I am so happy to be a part of all this positive, creative energy!!!

When I got home I was babbling on and on to hubby about her.  

He has been gone most of the week and he was like "whatever" but I felt like I won gold!!

Of course you know it was not long before the "inspector" was over to check her out.

 "It's ok, mom.  She can stay."  

Thanks for the approval Aiden!

I so look forward to these monthly meetings!  

I also got to talk with my friend Kathy that is long arming my next Color Inspirations Quilt.  

Can't wait to see it! 

 I actually gave some suggestions for the quilting on this and she totally expanded on them.  

It should be incredible!!

How was your night?

~XOP~

Tula Pink Fabric Swap

I forgot to mention that I have also been playing swap mama for 

7 rounds of Tula Pink fabric swapping! 

 The last round (4/5) we received 56 different fabrics!  

All the fabrics in rounds 1-5 and NO repeated fabrics!! 

 We are currently on rounds 6/7 and will receive 36 fabrics 

with none being repeated from the previous rounds.  

How fun is that?

 We are even getting some of the more HTF fabrics too.  

Some people have been asking about this pattern.  

She is a designer from Michigan.  

Here is the pattern.  

You can find it on the Pineapple Press site here, 

if you would like to join me in making some paper dolls!

It is a beautiful, sunny, warm day here today.  

I hope you are enjoying your day too!

~XOP~

Swaps and Stash

Just a quick little post to show you my latest swap.  

She even sent more of the swimming sisters then we had agreed on, so sweet!  

And did you notice the card above it?  

Yep, it's a card!

  

Clever girl, she had it made at Shutterfly. 

 I know what I will be doing in the future!!  

I love learning about new things like this!!!

 If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you know about my obsession with the Mendo line above and the Sweet and Swell line from Moda. 

 I saw this destash on IG and could NOT help myself. 

 IG sure can be tough on the pocketbook 

(thanks Mary!)

I do have some photos to share with you that show the flooding in Grand Rapids from when I was there last Friday.  

It was quite something to see. 

 I will try to post those later today or tomorrow.

Off to go and finish my genotyping.  

Busy day here in the lab!

~XOP~

Tula Pink 10 " Square Swap

I recently organized a Tula Pink 10" square swap on Flickr. 

 Each person bought 2 yards of fabric and cut out 28 ten inch squares and 

sent them to me along with a SASE. 

 I made 28 piles of 28 different fabrics, packaged them back up and

 they will be off in the mail tomorrow.

 I brought them to quilting tonight and Pauline and Stacey helped me sort them all out and package them all up.

I thought you might like a peek at what that looked like!

Swaps can be good and bad at the same time. 

 While most of the people were wonderful.  

There was one group that didn't get their squares to me 

until a month after they were supposed to be to me. 

 I felt bad for everyone that got their squares to me on time.  

Pauline and Stacey helped me sort and then package up all the squares to send out tomorrow. 

 Thanks you guys!!

Pauline and Cori will help me get them all to the post office tomorrow.

Thanks you guys!

Hopefully everyone that participated is excited to *finally* be getting their package!!

Have a wonderful, stitchy day!!

~XOP~

Swapping and Friends

I decided to bite the bullet and bought some of the Crafty Chloe fabric. 

 My friend Cori at Crazy Quilt Girl has some for sale if you are looking 

and she ships internationally! 

I have to say that I love the creepy monkey fabric even more in person 

than I did when I saw it online. 

 Those pin people are pretty cute too!!  

You just might "need" some!!

I received some fabric in the mail from my friend Yolanda recently too. 

 Some was swap and some was because she is my friend! 

 Thought I would share some photos with you too.

Munki Munki and Mendocino

Laurie Wisburn's Jack and Jenny donkeys! 

Some little Red, and some Tula and Jay too.

Sweet, sweet KJR as well. 

 I feel so blessed!!

 

I am working on a new quilt but again was asked not to share. 

 Sure makes some boring posts = (

I am going to show you a sneak of one block though, just for you so shhhhh, ok?

I leave you with a photo of Fatty McFatty "trying" to lay on the couch near me.

See how she depresses the couch??  

HAHA, oh Aiden! 

 I hope you are all being productive!!  

I finished binding a quilt but it was too dark for a picture but hopefully soon.

I have to take my BFF Jack to the vet after work today.  

He has been losing a lot of weight lately and I am worried about him. 

 Please keep him/us in your prayers!!

~XOP~

Vintage Sheet Swap

I participated in a vintage sheet swap recently.  I sent 27 of the VS FQ's I had at home and received 27 different  ones in return.  This is what I received.

I have been getting ready for our BIG Halloween party on Saturday. My sewing room has been totally picked up and everything put away. That took a long time! I will take a picture of it on the day of the party. I now have to go and finish the rest of the shopping for the party today too. I have already baked 8 dozen cookies! I hope it doesn't rain the night of the party.

A few weeks ago my DH came home with a little gift for me. I LOVE Halloween and he found the neatest Jack-o-Lantern.

It is painted pottery. Very unique, I love it!!  You put a candle inside so it will light up!!

I don't know if I will have anything to blog about until after the party so if not, have a great weekend and we will talk soon! ~XOP~

More Swapping and Shopping

I told you that I did another swap recently didn't I?  Well I did.  I am becoming totally addicted to swapping.  What a great way to change up your stash, right?  Well, that being said, this is the little bundle I swapped for. Just the cutest little Neptune bundle ever! All tied up with a Denyse Schmidt selvage!

I have a layer cake of this line and a square signed by none other than Tula Pink herself (from spring market). I will have to hoard save this amazing fabric until the right quilt comes along to use it in. Have any of you made Neptune quilts? Maybe you can point me in the direction of pictures of them so I can get some ideas.

I went to the Sally Ann last weekend (I really need to stay OUT of that shop) and found some more vintage sheet goodness. Who could resist, really when everything that was white tagged was 50% off?? Not me that's who! Here's the score.

I think the one in the lower right corner is sooooo much like a cross between these 2 fabrics in the Dream On line by Moda.

Funny how old is new again isn't it? So let me know if you have any Neptune quilts and also if you have done any neat Vintage Sheet quilts. I'm always looking for inspiration. I love the Vintage Sheets blog, but maybe you guys have some additional quilts for me to view!!  ~XOP~

What I Have Been Up To Recently

I have managed to finish 2 more blocks.  One is for the second time around in the Jellyroll QAL and the other one is for the Layer Cake QAL.  I didn't particularly car for the block 11 in the LCQAL so I decided to look for a substitute block.  We have a basket and a flower and so this is what I came up with for my block 11.  I'd like to know what you think of it.  I used some Presencia perle cotton size 12 for the embroidery.  It is the first time I have worked with this thread.  I had to use a much larger needle than I usually use for embroidery, and even

I found the block pattern on the Quilter's Cache website.  If you have not discovered them yet you should go and take a look.  Their patterns are great!

For the Jelly roll QAL block, I loved making this block the first time and loved it just as much the second time.  I am super pleased with how the block came out too.  It was so easy and looks so great!


 I joined a group on Flickr that swaps designer fabrics.  I needed some Heather Ross fabric for a block I am making for another group I am in and I didn't happen to have any.  So a new friend of mine on Flickr sent me these in the mail.  Wasn't that sweet of her?


I really need to work on the two HR blocks so I may not go to quilting tomorrow and go instead to QQ's house since she needs to do the same 2 blocks for the same 2 projects.  Then I could finish laying out the tumbler quilt (and maybe take some photos of that too).  I would like to work on my Dreamy Stars and finish that top too, if not this week, then maybe this weekend.  We only have 1 more block to go in the LCQAL and then I can begin putting those 2 quilts together.  I need one of them by the end of May!  Sooo much to do.

I hope you enjoyed the post about making buttons for your blog that I posted yesterday.  I was able to do the whole thing using Flickr instead of Photobucket too just in case some of you would rather use your Flickr account.  I know that's what I will be using in the future.

I still have 3 things available for purchase from 2 days ago.  The patterns, the brown fabrics and the fabric and pattern, and bag sides for May, all in Thimbleberries fabric.  If you are interested let me know.   Well, back to work.  Have a great Tuesday and we'll talk soon.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you are up to too.  ~XOP~

DP 9 Patch's for swap...check!

I hope everyone in the US had a good Labor Day holiday today. I was kind of a slug really. Yesterday I got half of my 9 patches finished and so I finished the other half today and then I cut them into quarters. Here is what 4 of the blocks look like together. I really need to get them on their way to Jane.



Remember, if you want to join in the swap goodness just go over to Jane's blog and sign up. You can click the image on my side bar and it will take you to her blog. C'mon, you know you want to! It didn't take very long at all to have them all finished and ready to go.

I think I am going to take this Friday off from work. I *tried* to take last Friday off but it didn't work. I had something I needed to have a person from work do part of on Thursday so I could take it to my boss to have to work on all weekend. Well, this person went golfing! Now that's OK, but it meant I had to go in on Friday. At which time I realized the boss would only be around until noon. So I prodded the other person to get his part to me and he finally did by around 11:30. So I put it into the document I needed to put it in and then I needed to print. Noooooo, the document (in the slowest program ever) would not allow me to view or print. I worked on it for 20 minutes. Finally, it was ready to print. So I printed it and raced to the boss's office. Nooooooo again. He was in a meeting. So I waited. And waited.....and waited. Finally I went back to the lab and called him. Oh, he would be out of his meeting around 1. Great, and I didn't bring a lunch. Ok deep breath. Go back at 1 an wait. Until 1:15, when they leave his office and he is going to walk the person out. FINE. Wait some more. He comes back with a woman looking for a department that is not even in our building, and he has volunteered me to get her to where she needs to go. FINE, sit down and when we are finished I will help you. 15 minutes later, I go to get Sunshine but need to go back to the lab to email some things to the boss. Get my stuff and take Sunshine to where she needs to go (3 buildings over from ours). Then walk to my car. Finally, I can go home, oh, it's only 2:30. So much for taking Friday off!! Hopefully this time will be better.

I want to go on a shop hop on the way up to see DD2 on Friday. I asked my friend Pauline, to go with me. So we will see how that goes.

Disappearing 9 Patch Swap

I guess you should all know by now that I am addicted to swaps. I love doing them. Maybe because I feel less like I am starting a new project, but I really am, kinda, and that feels great. Does that make any sense at all?? The fabulous Jane over at Jane's Fabric, is hosting another swap. This time it is a disappearing 9 patch in aqua and red. (We got to vote on the block and the colors). I think there is still room so if you want to join go on over and check it out. I think these are the fabrics I am going to use. I need to sew 25 of these and then cut them into quarters.

Well, I'm off to IKEA with DH (I'd rather be here) to shop for stuff for DS's room. Let me know what you think of the fabrics.

Doll Swap

I have decided to join in on the doll swap that I heard about from Amy at Thecalicocat.blogspot.com
If you are interested in joining you can find the information on her blog. I am trying to figure out how to put the inof in my sidebar but not very successfully yet! If anyone knows how to do this please email me.

http://dollquiltswap.wordpress.com/