WIPs With Friends and A Giveaway

I guess I am a little late today posting, but this am has been crazy busy at work and in my house.

I have been busy trying to finish up the improv "water" I have been working on to 

fill in the spaces in the Folksy Fish baby quilt. 

I can't show the quilt in progress since the mom to be stalks my Facebook and Instagram accounts 

but I will show you an example of the "water" so you will know what I am talking about. 

 The photo isn't the best but you get the idea.  

It is dark in my hallway.

I put my design wall on the hallway wall as it is the largest space I have in my house!!

I am going to link up with Sew Fresh Quilts

Now it is your turn to link up what you have been working on.

I will leave the link open until 1pm tomorrow.

Let's see if we can get up to 20 people to link up!

I will do another giveaway if we do.

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs With Friends And A Giveaway

I have been working on a few things this past weekend. 

 None of which were my Ocean Waves quilt though. 

 I have a shower gift to make and I began working on a Chenille blanket for 

my newest great nephew born last week.

I made the bee block for February.  Isn't it adorable? 

 I'm pretty sure I need to make an entire quilt of strawberries now.  

I finished the oven mitts but can't show them = (  

I have to wait until I can gift those. 

 I did begin working on the chenille blanket I needed to have ready to mail out this week. 

 So many lines of sewing!

If you want to make one too check out my Chenille blanket tutorial.

I managed to get all the lines sewn and then later cut.  Then I just need to bind, wash and mail!

Hubby and I went to the Camper and RV show this past weekend. 

 We are totally in love with these Retro campers.  

We drove by the factory last time we were in Shipshewana (accidently) and discovered them. 

 They make a fifth wheel but there was not a model at the camper show.  

We did speak with someone that is going to try to get us a factory tour and talk about what our options are with a fifth wheel and the cost.  

SQEE!!  

This is one of the things we are planning on doing when I retire.  

TRAVEL!!!  

Can we come and see YOU???  

This is not the interior of the Retro but another one that we liked.  

The show was overwhelming, but it did help us narrow down the things we liked and did NOT like.  He kept on saying, 

"We have to make sure there will be a place for you to set up your sewing machine" 

 Ah, he knows how to make a girl happy!

Last but not least, I am working on a Yeti receiving blanket.  

If I had a brain in my head I would make this into a quilt rather than a receiving blanket,

 but I don't so there you have it! 

 I think I need to change out the lips for a more subtle shade of pink. 

 (she looks more clown/whorish than I like right now).  

So no big deal, but I have to get her stitched around and 

the receiving blanket part done by next week for the baby shower! 

 I'll keep you posted.

Curious about the giveaway? 

 I have a an adorable charm pack to send to you! 

 If you want a chance to win, please tell me one place we should visit on our camping adventure

 in your state and why.  

Giveaway closes Friday February 17 in the morning.
I will announce the winner on Friday.
Please make sure I can contact you via email.
I will go to the next winner if I cannot.

For a second chance link up to our WIPs With Friends so we can all see what you are working on too!  Just use the Inlinkz button to link up.  

I'm linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social

That's it!  Easy peasy!  Good luck and happy stitching!

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

McCall's Guest Blogger, A Giveaway and My Winners

Today, I am a guest blogger over at the McCalls blog. 

 You can find my post right here.  

There is a giveaway over there too.  

You need to leave a comment on their blog (hopefully easier than the other website was).

  They will choose three winners on March 31 to win a copy of the Cozy Calendar by Lori Holt. 

I am talking about the making of my Polka Dot Playground quilt. 

 I hope you will pop over to their blog and leave a comment!

The winners of the McCall's Quick Quilts magazine are:

KaHolly and Ioleen!!  Congratulations ladies.  

Please email me your mailing address so I can put this is the mail to you!

The winners of the Cozy Calendar are Judy in Michigan and Sophie.  

Congratulations ladies! 

 Please send me your mailing address so I may forward it to the FQS.

They will be sending it directly to you.

I am off to a quilt retreat with those DAM girls (Detroit Area Modern Quilt Guild).

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Remember to stay off Instagram on Friday in protest.

They are trying to show you posts to your feed based on a algorithms 

rather than in chronological order.  

This is what Face book does and it drives me crazy.  

They show what your friends post based on what they think you want to see.

So avoid Instagram on Friday

See the #silentsewin

Sew on Friday and use the above hashtag to post all about what you did, 

but on Saturday rather than on Friday.

~XOP~

Rustic Rooster is Having a Sale and I'm Doing a Giveaway

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED


One of my sponsors, Rustic Rooster Quilt Shop, is having a fall sale.  

The sale begins October 13 and ends October 19. 

Enter FALL14 at check out you will receive 20% off your entire order!

They carry a lot of great fabrics and have reasonable pricing.  Check out their great selection.

Trina has generously donated 2 charm packs from the Fig Tree line Somerset

And 2 mini charm packs of the same line for the giveaway.  

If you want to be entered into the giveaway you will need to go and"like" the Rustic Rooster Quilt Shop's Facebook page.  Leave me a comment telling me you did this.

AND 

Tell my what you love about this time of year. 

Please make sure I have a way to contact you (ie your email address) or

 I will have to choose another person and that would be sad for you. 

 If you are unsure, just put your email address in the comment.
US only for the giveaway but the discount is open to everyone!

Pretty easy!

I will draw for the giveaway on the 20th after the sale has ended.

Tell your friends about the sale and the giveaway!!

~XOP~

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Quilty Pleasures Giveaway

I received an email from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine and they are having a BIG give away

 of all 8 volumes of their magazine!!

Who wouldn't love to have all eight volumes of this fantastic magazine!!?? 

 All you need to do is to go here and leave them a comment. 

 That's it!  

All you have to do is leave a comment. 

 Now go forth and leave a great comment for a chance to win an entire set of this great magazine!!

I am recovering pretty well and will venture out tonight to a meet and greet at Pink Castle Fabrics. 

 Jeni Baker (In Color Order) , Anna Graham(Noodlehead) and Debbie Grifka (Esch House Quilts)will be there in preparation for their participation at Camp Sitichalot. 

 I am hoping to get some good pictures and maybe even be able to ask them a few questions. 

 I may have forgotten to mention but I am now blogging for Pink Castle Fabrics

so make sure you check out their blog in a few days for some pics of the meet and greet tonight!  

Happy Hump day everyone!!

~XOP~

Welcome to My Newest Sponsor Rustic Rooster Quilt Shop and A Giveaway

I would like to take a moment to welcome my latest sponsor, the Rustic Rooster Quilt shop!  

Trina has lots of wonderful fabric at a reasonable price and I am thrilled to have her on board.  

The customer service is amazing and she has very speedy shipping!  

She is a relatively new shop with plans to expand.
New product is arriving daily!

 Currently you will find some Moda and Riley Blake products available, also

 patterns, thread, books, kits and gifts for your shopping pleasure.

Take a minute and stop over to the Rustic Rooster and check it out.  

She is having a 25% off sale from July 1 - July 6 with the code MS13 

in the coupon box at check out

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Now for the giveaway.  

For the chance to win...

14 Fat Quarters and Two 2.5" square packs of
Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Cammile for Moda

You need to go over to the Rustic Rooster and come back and tell me 

                                    1-one thing from the shop you would like to purchase 

                                    2-one thing you would like to see her carry.  

Leave that in one comment here on my blog. 

Please be sure I can contact you by leaving an email address in your comment.

I will do the drawing on July 8th.

~ Giveaway is open to US residents only ~

The Rustic Rooster will contact the winner for shipping details.

I hope you will all take a minute and welcome Trina and her shop.

~XOP~

More Destashing

I have a few more things to destash.  

You should know the drill by now!  

Send me an email with your address so I can tell you how much shipping will be.  

My email is mamaspark@gmail.com which is also my Pay Pal address.  

If you need an invoice just let me know that too.

Before we get started, I want tell you to stop back on July 1st.

I am picking up a new sponsor and there will be a giveaway!!

 Now here we go:

Fresh Cotton's FQ Bundle  $98 plus shipping

 2 yards Fresh Cottons yardage $18 plus shipping

 Fresh Cottons yardage 1 yard cuts $9.00 each yard plus shipping

 Fresh Cottons yardage half yard cuts $4.50 each plus shipping

 12 Days of Christmas kit, Includes panel, yardage, pattern and bag $30 plus shipping

 Denyse Schmidt Greenfield Hill one yard cuts $8 each plus shipping 

(The black rose print is sold)

 12 Days of Christmas Panel by Kate Spain $10 plus shipping

This weekend I went to see my dad and sister and it was a particularly LONG day.  

We left their house around 5 and drove for another hour to visit with my in-laws.  

We went to dinner with them and had a very nice time.  

We spent the night there and drove to Shipshewana in the morning on Saturday.  

It was nice to get away from all the every day stuff for a short bit of time 

and have some fun with hubby.  

I only bought a little fabric, like 2 yards and it is for a project I am working on. 

Thank you to everyone that keeps asking he is doing well.  

He told me that he feels like his eyesight is almost back to normal already! 

I did manage to get a little sewing done and will share more later.

How was your weekend?

~XOP~

My Current Sewing Space

Thanks to everyone that stopped by on the Holiday Lane Blog Hop and left me such nice comments!  

I love reading what you have to say and it is the best form of encouragement!

I am in the process of moving my current sewing space from the middle of my living room 

to the recently vacated upstairs bedroom. 

 It has been an uphill battle with my hubby as he wanted to make it into a "guest" room. 

 We have not had overnight guests in the entire time we have been married, almost 30 years! 

 So I told him I didn't think that was a good plan. 

 Then there is a twin bed and 2 dressers in there.  

He wanted to keep the bed and use the dressers and the closet for rotating his clothes by season.  

Nope, not going to happen. 

 It will just become a crap hole.  

You know it will. 

 I know it will and now he knows it will. 

 So, DD1, who just recently moved out, took the bed, but left the trundle portion.  

**Sigh**

 I am going to let him keep that until after Christmas 

so that when DD2 comes home she will have a bed.  

After that it's a blow up mattress baby!  

I decided to keep the dressers, but I need to empty them out so I can use them for storage. 

 I also cleared out the closet. 

 I have steam cleaned most of the carpet

 just have one small spot to do now that one of the dressers is moved to it's new place in the room.  

I know you are dying to see my current messy room so here you go.

My sewing space in all it's messy glory!

This weekend I need to move all this stuff to it's new home and reclaim my living room!

I have sooooo much more fabric and stuff in bins in the basement too.  

 I am going to let you in on my plan for that stuff. 

 I am going to have my big, strong son carry some of the bins to the new sewing room.

 He will have to do this several times!

There are a LOT of bins.

 I will go through said bins and sort out stuff I want to keep.  

The stuff I don't want/need anymore will go through a process.  

First I will be listing it for sale here on my blog every week 

(and this will probably go on for many months).  

It's true, I am a fabric horder! 

You probably already suspected but now I am out of the basement!

 I think I will choose a day of the week and 

do it on the same day every week until I finish going through the bins.  

What doesn't sell in a week will go over to my ETSY shop for a few months. 

 Whatever doesn't sell there will get listed as destash/swap or donated.  

This way I will have what I want to work with and clear out the clutter. 

 Will you guys hold me to this plan please?  

LOL 

 I have been carrying the bolts of fabric I have upstairs first.

This is the first stack to go to the new room!

(yes there are more)

I plan to get several tall book cases to put my fabric into so I can see it. 

 I am hoping that will be a huge inspiration to my sewing too. 

 How have you organized your sewing space? 

 Any tips on things to do or probably more importantly not to do?

  I would be eternally greatful!

I have put the following (in yardage) up for sale in my ETSY shop if anyone is interested.

Oh rest assured I am keeping some too!  

I just thought I would share the wealth!!

Last but not least I want to let you know that I have joined Pinterest.   

If you are there too, stop by, follow me and let me know what you think of my "pins". 

 It is taking me a long time to learn new things but I am getting there. 

 I learned how to use Google Drive the other day and was pretty proud of myself!

Now I know how to host a PDF using it.

All this moving makes me want to take a nap.

No rest for the wicked!!! 

tee hee

OK, send me those suggestions and I will have a giveaway to the person's suggestion I like the best!

Now, aren't you glad you read all the way to the end?

Please make sure I can contact you in case you are the lucky winner.

If there are more than one suggestions I love there may be a second winner.

That one will be a surprise!

~XOP~

I'll let you know next Friday (December 7th)

It's My Day For The Mini Blog Tour!!

Comments are now closed.  Winner will be posted August 4th Saturday.

It's *finally* my day to blog about Konda's new Simply Charming Mini quilt book!! 

 YEAH!!

 This is one great book!  Konda's directions are so easy to follow and I can't wait to make one or two or more of the quilts in this book!!

 I was riding home from work with DD1 and was telling her about the tour and

 that Konda wanted us to talk about what you can do with a mini quilt. 

 It's kind of a thing, this response, but she said, "What can't you do with a mini quilt?"  

And we laughed! 

 It is kind of true though, they are very versatile.  

This began the following (sorry)

You can use it to decorate your dog  (a mini quilt I made for DD1)

Or use it for catoflauge  (I just made that word up!!)

Can you just see how they blend into their surroundings??

Or for real you can do what I do which is switch them out in my bathroom as wall decorations.

I trade them out seasonally.

Honestly, I think that a LONG time ago I saw this photo and it totally began my obsession with mini quilts.

This photo is from the Sentimental quilter. 

 When I saw this wall of mini quilts I just flipped!!  

Isn't it amazing? 

 What a great way to decorate a room!

I also love this photo, it's similar, from Hillary Lang

I hope you have enjoyed this post about "What can't you do with a mini quilt?" as much as I have!

Now for the details about winning a copy of Konda's book. 

 Leave me a comment and I will  do the drawing next week sometime.  

I will draw a name, but I need to have a way to contact you! 

 If you are a no-reply blogger I will draw again. 

 Leave your email in the comment if you are unsure, trust me you do NOT want to miss out on this book!!!

~XOP~

Quilter's Blog Hop GIVEAWAY!!

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED, THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING!

Today is giveaway day!!! 

 The very wonderful and amazingly generous Cori of Crazy Quilt Girl's online fabric shop 

donated these 2 adorable charm packs, both by Aneela Hoey, for my giveaway.    

There is A Walk in the Woods and Little Apples. 

 Both great lines. 

If you need anything additional to go with them when you win them,

 please stop over to Cori's shop and place an order.  Her customer service is the BEST!  She is also participating in the blog hop and has a layer cake and pattern for her giveaway over on her blog.

This giveaway is a part of the Quilter's Blog Hop party over here. 

 So be sure to stop over to the Quilter's blog Hop page

on Saturday for a list with links to all the giveaways going on.

Now for the fine print, you knew there would be conditions right?

 First, I need to tell you I will ship internationally, 

so if you don't live in the US you can still play along.

I will draw a winner using the Random number generator on March 23rd.

 I will notify the winner via email so if you are a "no reply" blogger 

and don't answer my email I will have to draw another winner.

 So if you are unsure, put your email in your comment.

Here's what I want you to do for a chance to win the charm packs:

Leave me one comment telling me what you would like to see more of here on this blog.

 That's it, one simple thing.

 If you are struggling, you could tell me something you really like about my blog.

 I'm always looking for ways to improve my blog so now's your time to tell me!!

 Be as specific or general as you want.

 Have you seen something I made and you want a tutorial? 

Tell me.

 You want more funny cat photos? (You know you do)

 Tell me. 

Quilt-A-Long? 

 Stitcheries?

 Travels?

 Whatever it is?

 Tell me!!

Oh and don't forget to go over and visit Cori too!!

~XOP~

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED, THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING!