Fiber of All Sorts: December 2012

Sunday, December 30, 2012

The 100 Day Hustle - Final Review

Well we've come to the end! Kelsey Sew's 100 day hustle with the earworm 1975 disco song running through my head.

How did I do?

1. Knitted baby blanket for my friend - NOPE
I just wasn't inspired. The bundle of joy is here but her blanket isn't ready. With this colder weather I so hope it will be something I want to work on soon.

2. Quilt-top for the same friends toddler - YES
Love this finish!
Blogged about here

3. Commission quilt - NOPE
I worked a ton on this and have everything to slap together. It's just taking longer than I anticipated. Oh and I need a new rotary blade!

4. Postage Stamp quilt top - YES
This one was amazing to see my quilting growth.. I really have improved!
I've blogged about this here

5. PJ pants for fella - NOPE (kinda)
I made up a pair from a pattern and it just turned out a totally failure! But I now know what I'm going to do. I'll mocking up another pair from some existing pants. :) Ahhh learning...what a bugger!

6. Quilt top put together from Block Party beemates - NOPE (kinda)
My lovely beemates made me some amazing blocks are found here {I'm too lazy to make a mosaic or snap a photo}. I sat down and QUICKLY zipped these up. But a 60"x60" isn't what I'll be happy with. Sooooo I have 5 to make on my own to make this the size I want but ohhhh it's dreamy! I'm going to love it and squeeze it and call it my own. Especially since it's WHITE and it's Echo. Mine - all MINE.

7. Matching sock to a lone sock - NOPE
Does it count I have been kicking the yarn around on the floor! Bahaha.

Here's to the disco hustle song!

~~~

Lists like these are awesome for sure. With only a 29% passing rate I'm going to try something else.

I'm going to have only one finish per month. Only ONE!

Why not join Melissa and I while we do a month by month finish along for 2013.

More information on the Lovely Year of Finishes page

or over with Melissa found here.

Make sure to check out our flickr group

Grab our button:

The link-up with one project to start and finish January 1! Eeep super exciting!
I still have to choose my ONE finish - lalalala

Tutorial - Add my button to your blog post

While typing a new blog post you can add fancy items like buttons!

Like this one

But ... HOW?

Other platforms is not included in this post. If you are working through WordPress Melissa over at Sew BitterSweet Designs has a tut for you.

#1. Find post with a "grab my button" box under it. . . .

like this one

Now you have to highlight ALL the text in the box. Sometimes it's difficult but just copy all of it. I usually use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl-C.

#2. Now for the fancy part.

Go to your created blog post and hit the HTML button

Yep, that one.

You'll be transported into goobly goop world. Just a precaution, don't delete things while you are in HTML world, it's programming and you can super mess things up if you aren't careful.

I like to generally find where I'm typing in the post, just so I don't have to move it later, and paste the text from the previous step. I usually use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl-V.

Then to save your sanity go back to the normal world by hitting the compose button.

Voila - button {that is if you got the whole text from grab my button box} should be in your post. Now you can move the button where you wish.

You see that "grab my button" code not only has a pointer to the image but also has a link to a web page that once it's clicked . . it will whisk you to the page associated with it.

There you have it!

Melissa and I will had a tutorial for adding our button to your blog sidebar yesterday, make sure to check that out if you missed it.

For much more uber cool information about blogger go see Jenelle over at Echinops and Aster. She's my technical hero with this whole series of awesome information, I still refer to this series monthly!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Tutorial - Add my button to the sidebar of your blog

How do you get my fancy button on the sidebar of your blog?

This is for blogger. Other platforms is not included in this post. If you are working through WordPress Melissa over at Sew BitterSweet Designs has a tut for you.

#1. Find post with a "grab my button" box under it. . . .

like this one

Now you have to highlight ALL the text in the box. Sometimes it's difficult but just copy all of it. I usually use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl-C.

#2. Now for the fancy part.

Go to the layout section of your blog.

Now Click on the little "Add a Gadget" in the area you want to add a button. In my example my side bar is on the left, yours may be different depending on the template you are using.

A new window will come up, with many options. Find and choose HTML/Java Script

A new box will come up

Paste the text from the previous 'grab my button' box. I usually use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl-V.

If you choose you can add a title, but it will also show up on your blog. It will also be easier to find if you want to move it up or down.

This will show up on top, and you can drag and drop it where you want.

Voila - button should be in your sidebar. You can see if you got the entire code in preview.

You see that "grab my button" code not only has a pointer to the image but also has a link to a web page that once it's clicked . . it will whisk you to the page associated with it.

There you have it.

Melissa and I will have a tutorial for adding our button to your blog posts tomorrow.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

While the teen is gone I'm just sewing away

My step-daughter is gone for a week and I'm taking full advantage of the kitchen table and time to sew. Who needs to have full blown meals at a table!

In preparation of the 2013 ~ A Lovely Year of Finishes being co-hosted by Melissa and myself, I'm starting to dig through my piles of blocks.

Some of the lovely ladies in the flickr group have actually counted their Works in Progress (WIP). That feels just like a guilt-trip, I may do that at the beginning of the year. Sigh!

I have been slowly organizing and taking inventory of all I have just to know what I could finish this next year. I found blocks from my Sew.Happy.Quilt Quilt Along with Jenna over at Sew Happy Geek.

Don't judge if you see the date of this QAL as this isn't my oldest WIP!

Here's a peek of what I'm making it into!

I'm growing little by little beyond white sashing.

The center is a block from Happy Quilting where Melissa is doing a QAL just on this block in 2013.

I loved the idea I had to make one just for my quilt top!

Love it.

So two QAL's = 1 quilt top for me

I'll share when I finish this up - I'm thinking sooner than later!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Winner of fabric love from Fat Quarter Shop

I've never had such a time giving away fabric!

~~First, Second, Third,~~ Forth time is a charm! I contacted three people and they didn't respond at all. I'm thinking the holidays are here.

But I finally got an email back! The awesome Tangerine Textured Basics sponsored by the wonderful Fat Quarter Shop

Joyce M entry 388 of 490

Thanks again for entering this giveaway.
And for having so much fun on facebook with me.

It's super exciting to have so many new followers and new flickr contacts as well {thank you new Instagram policies}.

Speaking of which will you be closing your Instagram account down?

Here's possibly one of my last photos from me on that app.

You saw that Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are hosting a new link up for 2013.

You aren't required to link up every month but a valid entry is to link-up twice in one month. And then you could get some prizes from some fantastic sponsors.

You can see my static page here and Melissa's here.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Announcing a lovely year of finishes

When I say I have projects almost ready to finish. . I really do mean it!

This past weekend I was determined to get a project off my list.

I not only finished my triangle toddler quilt - eeep!

I also finished this baby quilt I made from a layer cake.

How amazing to actually finish these projects.

I have to say that I have so many projects sitting around needing some attention. You can see that from the many, many, {sigh}many lists I make.

Well, I'm a list maker but I'm in for something different this next year. How about finishes and a few of them. The only thing is - one at a time. No more overwhelming lists for this girl!

This is the idea Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I have taken on and are running with. To help encourage other's to join us we're lining up some fantastic sponsors to not only get people a finish but also some extra goodies to play with.

So go check out my 2013 ~ A lovely year of Finishes page and Melissa's page for all the details.

Make sure to grab a button

and go join the Flickr Group
for

A Year of Lovely Finishes.

I can't wait for 2013!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Stripping with a punch

Being part of a strip club is everything that I've hoped for!

I am being pushed beyond my comfort level to make more than just one block in one month.
I have to make 5 blocks in two months. SO much better - le'sigh!

But it does rock, I make an entire ROW in colors I'm not used to working with, for someone that I totally admire and adore.

This is officially the first row that I had to create for someone else and there are four more rounds to go - eeep!

The first stripper I got to strip for is Shelley. She doesn't have a blog but she posts some of her projects on her flickr photostream. I've had the privilege to sew with Shelley because her friend Mary keeps dragging her into these groups. I have to admit that Mary is an enabler! I'm lucky I don't live near her {although I would adore it}

I made the top row from Shelley's inspirational foundation row on the bottom.

Shelley asked for whatever hit my fancy in her 'punchy' color choices.

She wanted black with punches of color fuchsia, orange, red, magenta, purple, and a splash of limey green or grey. Ohhh okay!

Since I'm totally in love with the Quick Curved Ruler . . . I used it for every block but the center. But as you can see even that is a circle - yeah baby!

I'll talk a little in depth about some of these blocks in later posts. . . when I'm dying trying to figure out my next row for Mary - sigh.

Go check out the other strippers and their first row progress can be found at our flickr group or on some of these blogs:

Strip on ladies!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Fabric Love from Fat Quarter Shop

Giveaway is now closed

I've used a few internet fabric shops.

I'm kinda partial to those that have amazing shipping times but also great customer service.
Good prices also factor in people!

I only have great things to say about the Fat Quarter Shop. If you walked into my sewing area, you could see as I have a few bags from them that I've accumulated over the years. . lalalala

The Fat Quarter Shop carries some great lines in pre-cuts but also yardage. {see it even says it in their logo}

I've been especially lucky to find some "past" lines {those more than 6 months old} in yardage to finish up a quilt back or binding and at amazing prices.

The Fat Quarter Shop has some amazing patterns and I always check out their notion of the month!

Have you seen some of their coming soon fabric lines.

What first caught my eye is Textured Basics by Patty Young of MODKID

And ohhh in tangerine - love it!

Go look at an interview of Patty Young HERE. Love hearing about how these lines are created.

Would you like to play with some of it yourself?

Well you've come to the right blog post! The Fat Quarter Shop has generously sponsored a bundle of 7 fat quarters to be sent to one winner.

How exciting this line has just hit the shelf!

HOW TO ENTER

I am using the rafflecopter widget so all entries must be logged in with this widget.

Go check out Fat Quarter Shop and come back and leave a comment about what fabric line(s) you're drooling over and if you so feel inclined, tell me what pattern you would use.

I am requiring you be a follower of mine in some social media outlet.

{See stage left for the buttons of all the following options}

This is an international giveaway - so all are welcome.

Such pretty fabric LOVE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to use an email you regularly check because I'll be contacting the winner via email. If I don't hear back within 48 hours from the first person, I'll draw a new winner.

Thanks for joining in!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Where does your inspiration come from?

I have found some amazing artists and oh man have I learned a lot.

Being able to just flip through photos and images. . It's where I glean most of the items I want to try. Most of the time it's 'ohhh I want to do this' or 'yep .. SO going to do this'.

I had one of those moments hit me while I was stripping.

You know with my strippers.

I was working through the blocks for the amazing Shelley, who is blog-less but she has an amazing flickr photos found here.

I created this block . . .

From THIS mini quilt inspiration from the Bee a {modern} Swapper flickr group.

This is from Karen who blogs over at Laughter in Quilts

But here's the deal. . . she got her inspiration, of sorts, from here.

It's just funny how this quilting community works.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Monday, December 10, 2012

A lovely ride . .

Wow what a ride it has been.

The Sew Mama Sew Giveaway ~~day~~ week was super exciting. I am now following so many people via blogger, twitter, and facebook {oh my}

If anyone knows a better way to get instagram followers please drop me a line. It's a bit more difficult {for me} to follow people there.

I've also gleaned a bunch of new followers - HELLO

The winner of the Simply Color jelly roll I had offered up is going to wing it's way up into Canada. The winner is Kim @ TatjanaGrace she blogs over Tatjana Grace at she responded to my email within 48 hours. . whoop!

I can't wait to see what she makes of this lovely fabric.
~~~

I also wanted to share a project that I completed with two of my favorite quilters, Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and Jenna from Sew Happy Geek. Also, we {being Melissa} enlisted Jaye from Art Quiltmaker to assist with the delivery.

Susan from History Quilter shared months ago the loss of her father. Oh how deeply that struck me as I still miss my father who passed over 2 years ago. We came up with the stunning idea to make a quilt! Jenna made the quilt design of the Navy Star that she adapted to be huge! And we all pitched in to creating a whole quilt. Thanks to Melissa to finishing the entire project machine quilting,binding, and all.

Here are the efforts of a quilt tribe. . .

Photo by Susan - History Quilter

I'm so happy to help make this quilt for such a lovely lady. Go check out the more photos and Susan's reaction of the finished product here.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. . I'm off to drink some more water and feel better. Sewing is on the top of my list when I can think about opening the sewing room door.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Super duper!

I'm overwhelmed with all the bloggy giveaway love.
I've been getting such awesome comments on my giveaway. Everyone is so creative!

Entries into my Sew Mama Sew giveaway are open til Friday December 7th.

The other 250+ other bloggers being a part of this week long event.

I'm only halfway {if that} through all the "new" blogs. I follow a lot of people already but finding new bloggers takes time, for me at least and it feels like there are a ton I haven't know about before.

A lot of people have responded to my question 'what would you make with a jelly roll' with the answers

postage stamp

or

a jelly roll race quilt

I've done these!

I'm super loving the other suggestions. I'm may have 2 or 3 other jelly rolls decorating my sewing room.

~~~

I wanted to again thank Julie at Intrepid Thread for the sponsored giveaway from November 30th.

~The winner is Ali that blogs over at Ali Makes ~

Congrats Ali, I've emailed you!

~~~

I wanted to say welcome to my new followers via google friend connect, email, rss, or my fancy new facebook page.

I'm trying to follow back people on Google+, flickr, twitter, pinterest, and instagram. If I haven't added you back and you want to follow you please ping me and tell me to pay attention :)

Monday, December 3, 2012

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2012

~Giveaway now closed~

The winner is

Kim @ TatjanaGrace

Welcome to my corner of the crafting blogging world.

How grand to be participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day that is really a week. In the past I've always been excited as it's all about a giveaway but it's also where I get to meet so many new people.

A little introduction to me~~~
I started this blog a little over 2 years ago.

Participated in an avalanche of on-line flickr bees.

Now I've sworn off bee's so I can focus on the 20 + WIPS {Works in Progress} I have going.

I still throw in a swap or two a year to still feel connected.

~Please check out my past blog posts
~ Subscribe to follow me in the future
~Like my facebook page
~Follow my other social media loves:

I would totally adore if you would become a follower

So some of my own fabric love first,
I fell in love with the line Simply Color by V & Co.
I instantly snapped up 2 charm packs and started worked them into hourglass blocks.

As you can see these are still being worked on in-between my many other projects.
I love working on these each time I pull them out!
Ohh pretty colors!

You love this line too? Sooo glad your here!

So to share the love, I'm offering up a
jelly roll of
Simply Color by V & Co.
{International friends welcome}

To Enter

One Comment Per Person

Tell me your favorite jelly roll pattern or idea.

Fine Print

*You must put a pattern or jot down an idea or your entry will be deleted...an answer of "I don't know this is great" just won't be accepted*

This is not a sponsored giveaway - this is from me me me.

Giveaway will run til Friday, December 7 at 5 p.m. PST.

Because of my terrible luck with spam I do not accept anonymous comments and I moderate all entries.So beware your comment will NOT show up right away. Don't worry this is the way I can get your email and respond back to you and tell you how awesome you are for entering my giveaway.

One comment per person, duplicate entries will be deleted.

Mr. Random will help me choose a winner.

I will inform the winner by email no later than Sunday, December 9. An email within 48 hours is required to claim this prize.

This will not be shipped in a roll but opened up for flatter & cheaper shipping purposes.

*Please please please verify you are not a no-reply blogger or just in case include your email in your comment with {at} {dot}.**

Here are a few tutorials HERE, HERE or HERE to verify if you are the dreaded no-reply blogger. Google+ is messing things up again so check yourself out.

~~~

I think that's it!
Please go check out the other awesome giveaways around the bloggy world
at Sew Mama Sew.

Remember there are 5 different categories - wowzers

~~And my other giveaway is still open. . check it out here.~~

Thanks for stopping by!

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