Wildlife!

Some arrived at my door wrapped with holiday cheer!

this sweet polar bear traveled from Australia...to live on my Christmas tree!  Thank you, Susan!

The other wildlife...became pillows!  hehe!  

Using reverse applique...

a new class...in the new year!

 hope you all had a very merry christmas!

mary

 

Flight!

As the end of the year approaches, I have my last finish of the year to share!

 I call this quilt Flight....

 The grey is a new fabric from Studio E....it is a Peppered Cotton in a dark charcoal color.

The Geese are paper foundation pieced.  Two Geese per block with a finished block size of 6 inches square.

   

I felt the design of this quilt lent itself to machine quilting rather than pick stitch.

So I went with a large loopy motif....easy to do and not at all perfect in appearance.  Call me crazy, but I prefer my quilts to look less than perfect...more homemade and lived-in.

I used Aurifil thread for the piecing and the quilting.

     

The backing is this fabulous fabric from Anna Maria Horner's Dowry Collection...AMAZING!!!

 

This quilt is about 42" X 54"....perfect for a lap or a baby....

You can see this one at Sew To Speak....

it will be a class in the New Year!

  Happy Thursday!

mary 

Giveaway Winner!!!!

Thank you to everyone who commented and welcome new followers!

It was very interesting reading how many of you use or don't use pins and the type of pins you use.  Clearly, the majority use flat head pins!!!  Me too! 

For the Peppermint Pincushion Giveaway....we have a winner...

#86

	Enter a lower limit:
Enter an upper limit:
Random Number:

The winner is Barb G.!!!

Barb will win a Peppermint Pincushion!

In addition, she will receive a couple of packs of pins....Clover Flower Flat Head and a pack of Button Flat Head pins {just cuz they are so darn cute}AND a pack of my favorite quilting needles...Fons and Porter Utility Needles!!!

Congrats Barb!

I will be sending you an email!!!!

 xo mary    

A Peppermint Tute and a Little Giveaway!

In case you missed it....I had a little tutorial for my Peppermint Pincushion on Skip To My Lou....you can find the tutorial here!

  

in my instructions you can enlarge or reduce the template....
{you should be able to click on this swirl to print it}

it takes 12 swirls, English Paper Pieced, to complete one Pincushion top...that may seem like a good deal of stitching, but it goes together fairly quickly....

I have made a few, hehe!

the green one is actually machine pieced.
BUT!!!
If you don't have time work on your own, I would like to share one with you! You will have two chances to win a Peppermint Pincushion and a few other stitchy extras.
1. Leave a comment and tell me if you use pins when piecing and which are your favorite.
2. Leave a second comment telling me you have become a follower or you are a follower.

Be sure you are not a "no-reply" Blogger or, please, leave an email address in your comment!
I will leave the comments open until Wednesday {12/18/13}  morning 

And if you decide to follow the Tutorial and make a pincushion of your own, you may want to check out Clare's tutorial on English Paper Piecing!  She is the master!

I haven't had a giveaway of my own in quite some time....but I have been fortunate enough to be spoiled with fun packages from my friend Clare.

How I love getting happy mail!

This heart is amazing! You can read more about Kantha Quilting here.

she knows me well...

yum!

Good luck and Glad Tidings!
xo mary
 
   
     

Simple Sewing 30 Fast and Easy Projects

I have been so eager to share a very special book with you!

Simple Sewing is by Katie Lewis of The Red Kitchen....

   

It is my good fortune to know Katie!  In fact, she lives very close to me!  I am star-struck!

Simple Sewing is a great book for beginners to sewing.  Not only does it include 30 fast and easy projects, but basic sewing terms and information beginners will find helpful.

  

the book is divided into chapters which relate to our everyday lives...for instance, projects for the baby and projects for celebrations!

The pictures and instructions are clear and detailed....I would almost bet that Katie had been a teacher in a former life!

   

Having taught quite a few beginning quilters, I can usually anticipate questions that may come up.  As I read through this book, I realized what a great resource it is for those new to sewing. I think Katie has done a great job anticipating the questions....and I know she has chosen projects which are fun to make and leave you feeling delighted to have made it on your own!

As part of the fun on this book tour, I received a copy of the book and made a couple Journal Covers and a Pencil Pouch.

Katie's projects allow considerable latitude in customizing the projects to fit your own 'style'.  So in Molly Flanders fashion....I made my own fabric using the apple core motif.  And with Katie's instructions for the Journal Cover....I made my own book cover for a favorite book.

      

I used some of my favorite fabrics and stitched it with a big stitch and perle cotton.  But I couldn't just stop there!  I decided to do a little reverse applique and make a cover for my journal....

and then I used her pencil pouch instructions to sew up a handy pouch for all my marking tools.

Clearly, I am smitten with the book and with Katie!  If you know someone or have someone on your Christmas list that has expressed an interest in learning to sew....I would suggest this book.  It would be a great gift!

you can find the book at :

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books and Things     

A couple more things, before you go....I want to invite you all to visit my dear friend Rachel's blog....Family Ever After and see what she has made from Katie's book!  If you haven't visited Rachel's blog before you will love it!  What a talented girl!    

NOW!!!

I have saved the best for last!

you have a chance to win your own copy of Simple Sewing by visiting the Rafflecopter!

Good luck!  And have a wonderful weekend!
mary
**Please note...under the terms and conditions the giveaway is open to U.S. shipping address only.
  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Reverse Applique on a Wordless Wednesday.....

what does the bunny say?

Hi everyone!  I will be over at Skip To My Lou today sharing a tutorial for my Peppermint Pincushion.

Be sure to see the information below to enter into the fantastic giveaway!  

Have a wonderful weekend!

mary
 

Skip To My Lou Handmade Holidays and a HUGE Giveaway!!!

I am over at Skip to my Lou guest posting today for the Holiday Bake Craft Sew Along. I get to treat you to a SEW Amazing giveaway as part of our crafty series.

This is one AMAZING giveaway!

We are giving away a fabulous Prize Package worth more than $1000!

One lucky winner will receive...

$600 JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores This will get your sewing room stocked and ready to create! Can you imagine?

Singer Professional Serger

This singer professional serger will bring your sewing to a whole new level. True to SINGER you will enjoy...

• 2-3-4-5 stitch capability-provides more stitch variety
• 1,300 stitches per minute-professional speed for faster results
• Fully automatic self-adjusting tension system-keeps stitches balanced and even
• Easy threading diagram-easy threading saves time
• Stitch width adjustment-keep seams strong and prevent bunching on any type of fabric.

Simplicity Deluxe Felting Machine Simplicity 12 Needle Deluxe Felting Machine creates felting with ease. Removable needles & foot pedal allow felting with greater speed and precision. Includes: power supply w/ foot pedal, 2 allen wenches, needle shaft with 12 needles inserted (sz 38 needles), 3 replacement needles, tweezers, lint brush, needle guard, instruction book. So cool!

Simply wait for RaffleCopter to load and enter there!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the fabulous sewing projects shared this month for this Holiday Bake Craft Sew series going on all month long!

 

Red and White...

Candy Canes, Christmas Lights, Peppermints...

stitching and planning for the end of the week...Thanksgiving celebrations!

working out some fun log cabin variations...

Please, be sure to come back at the end of the week...I have a great surprise!  You won't want to miss it!

happy monday!

mary

Wordless Wednesday....

A Chance To Win!

Karen, at "...laugh yourself into Stitches"

is having a giveaway!

Everyone loves a giveaway....but you are really going to love this one!

Karen is an amazing longarm quilter and, now, she can add pattern designer to her list of accomplishments!

So to celebrate she is giving away copies of her two new patterns....

 Stars for every Season
Who doesn't love stars? The checkerboard center is so much fun!

And....

Poppa's Tree Farm!
Isn't this perfect for Christmas?! I love the trees and the pinwheels!

So here is what you need to do to win.
To enter the giveaway...become a follower of Karen's blog...here
Leave a comment and let Karen know which pattern you would like to win!

If you would like a chance to win both patterns, be a follower of Karen's blog and a follower of either her Craftsy Pattern Store or her Etsy Shop!  In your comment, just say both!

Hop over to "....laugh yourself into Stitches" 

I can't wait to see who wins!
mary         

A Place for Everything and Everything In It's Place

In my own life...I wish this was true....

My hexagons were stuffed and crammed into a zip lock back...

Then I saw a plain cardboard lunch box at Target.

I did a little stitching...

   

and some gluing...

And now I have a proper place for my hexies!

mary :)

Can you feel it?

Christmas is coming!  

Here is a look at Christmas past....a little inspiration!

 

Can you feel it?

Now go sew!

mary

Friends....

It began as an informal class for a tight group of friends...

I was honored that they would ask me to guide them in their quilt making.  And soon it was clear that this was more than just a little informal class.  

A group of friends, coming together to share their life and everyday experiences...and a little quilt making.

No pressure...we don't have a time limit. We can plan around a friend who moved away and now has to fly in for sewing sessions!

Life is good...stitching friends!

 

 pincushion pattern from the fabulous book....Patchwork Please! 

mary

 

   

Sewing Succotash!

There is some sewing going on...

it has just been focused in a million different directions.

Because I sew in my kitchen...it looks like a fabric bomb went off in my house!

I will spare you from gruesome photo's!

All these 'parts' have a purpose that will be revealed later...

but for now I have a sneak peek...

  

a little EPP...with a gentle curve...spin!

 

I am enjoying hand stitching...

this bit of apple peeling!

I will share more of these later in the Fall...

and speaking of Fall, we have had gorgeous Fall weather.  A lovely October!  

so in honor of October...some pumpkin bread...yum!

 

   mary :)  

A Block To Remember....

I have enjoyed all the photo's of the Steam Punk Quilt popping up on blogs and IG.  

Steam Punk reminds me of a few blocks with a similar feel that I have long loved...

 

 

this one is from a book I have had for several years....Link To The 30's.  Full of great 30's era quilts.

 

Apparently, this block was originally known as Bulls Eye...

 

I have enlarged the pattern, but I need to tweak the templates a bit...

 

 

The piecing would be perfect for hand piecing.  It is a bit challenging to piece by machine...

but definitely a block to remember...

 

 

happy monday!

mary