Friday, January 30, 2015

Mary Jo's

Quilters never pass up an opportunity to shop in a well known quilt shop- Mary Jo's in Gastonia, North Carolina.
My favorite part? Hearing the greeting with a Southern drawl. It just sounds so sincere and sweet.
We all found a few bits and pieces. Bonnie's friend from Buck Mountain, Mona,  fit right in this week and it has been a pleasure to get to know her! 
I love this photo, but look behind them! This store is ginormous!
We went to a few antique malls and this green block stole the show for the most HUMBLE! I love it!

Bonnie brings me to Charlotte today where I will do handwork in the hotel and catch a morning flight. This has been a memorable week and a wonderful way to start 2015!

Love to you all.



Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Heritage Stars Quilt

 Since I put this in my header this month, I've received more questions about it. I call mine Heritage Stars.
 I made it after seeing this wonderful antique quilt from New Jersey. If you want the directions of how I did it you can find them HERE.


I got these photos this week from Donna who used my directions but made her zig zags scrappy. 


I love it! Thanks for sharing it with us, Donna!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tuesday, Tuesday!


We are sewing up a storm! For those of you that have asked we are away from the snow storm bearing down on the east coast. Stay safe dear friends if you are affected.

 My baskets and Blooms top is together! I kept it simple and love the setting.
Here are the jewel box blocks I made from Jill's stash. I made as many as I could with the blue I had. See something missing? 


I was ONE block short! Made me cry actually thinking that Jill is no longer with us and I feel one block short without her! I thought it was very appropriate to work on this quilt with good quilting friends.
So, I have a favor......
 Is there any chance someone has a 2 1/2" x 15" strip of the blue that they would send me? 
After reading the terrific and thoughtful comments I have decided to make a rogue block using similar color but different fabric. Thank you to those who have offered the Lancaster fabric.
We have also been able to enjoy some fresh mountain air complete with waterfall!

I've loved reading your blessings comments on the magazine giveaway. Please understand that I am retreating and will only be answering emails intermittently. 
You can follow me on instagram and see more of what is going on here in 
North Carolina Quilt Villa.

If you are in the way of the snow storm- stay safe! We are fine.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Basket of Blessings- Magazine Giveaway


I got an extra magazine sent to me so I thought I'd do a giveaway. Here's my spread. The directions look so long, but it isn't complicated at all, it just has lots of different colors and prints in it.



I made this quilt before so many deaths in 2014 but I still feel blessed. 
My blessings are not based on my circumstances.  Leave a comment telling me about a blessing in your life and you'll be entered to win. I'll draw a name after my trip on February 2nd. (February 1st we are having a Superbowl party at our house)
Good Luck!

I'll be posting from Bonnie's Buck Mtn Cabin on Instagram if you want to keep up with me!

Comments are closed for this giveaway. Thank you to all those who entered!




Friday, January 23, 2015

Flags of American Revolution

If you are in your sewing room and want to do a bit of piecing on the blocks we have completed, you should!
Your center eagle needs to measure 30 1/2". This was the only one I hadn't trimmed. 

Add your sawtooth stars to the left of these blocks.  (seriously terrible photo!, sorry!)
You can add these to the sides of these blocks. The bottom left doesn't look right this way, but it will be on the left of the eagle center, so it will be right.

Kim and I were ON IT when we ordered the Flags of American Revolution buttons from Jan Patek.

But neither of us know how to sew on buttons that have no holes!! My options are: have my hubby drill two little holes in them or sew them on by wrapping the thread across the stars, which I do not think will look that good. Any ideas? They are pretty small so am not sure we could get 2 holes in them....... hmmmmmm. Kim wrote to Jan and as far as I know she has not gotten a response.

I will be having a magazine giveaway on Monday. Stay tuned and have a fantastic weekend!!


Thursday, January 22, 2015

Can You Help a Fellow Quilter?


I got an urgent text this morning with my friend, Laurie looking for 3 yards of this fabric. Any chance someone recognizes this as something in their stash and would like to sell/trade? If you don't have 3 yards but only a half, maybe that would help too.

Thanks for checking!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

One more project

A friend, who I met through blogging, Sharon @ Grassroots Quilting, has asked me to do a trunk show and workshop at her guild in Washington! I'm excited and need more small pieces for the workshop. Can you believe 1 1/2" squares? That is what I just sent away to the Cascadia quiltalong winner. 

Good reason to meander through my scraps. 

Here's my small pile of 1 1/2" squares. I thought it would be fun to have extras to share at class, so I'll keep cutting.


Here is the other project I mailed ahead. 

 The amount of blue I have from Jill's stash and two other quilt pals who sent me what they had, will determine the size of the quilt.
That little square is all I have uncut.

Three more sleeps until my trip to Quiltvilla in North Carolina! 

Monday, January 19, 2015

Wool Applique

 I've got all the pieces cut for this wonderful wool applique piece. I'll take several of the pieces traveling with me. (btw, I don't leave until next weekend) It is called "It's a Crock" by Primitive Pieces by Lynda. My background is matka silk and am thrilled with it.
Here is another super portable hand work piece designed by Maggie Bonanomi.

I'm on a wool applique group on Facebook and this year we are doing an OOM- Ornament of the Month. This is January's.

Have a terrific Monday!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Joyful Friday

Being able to help this family so far away brings me so much joy! Thank you to those who have sent money so I can continue to bless them throughout the year.  Francisco mentioned he thought they would need warmer clothing for the winter so that is what he brought them this week. 

There is no toilet paper, so I guess it is too much to ask for a kleenex. LOL





Sweat pants and jackets for all nine children!

PS, look at those melons!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

If you've followed this blog long you may recognize these blocks.
I've worked on these very now and then the last year or so.  I love the fabric but am not used to working with such matchy fabrics. These are from 2 lines. (the same 2 I used for Basket of Blessings on Monday's post)
Getting organized to send a box off to meet me in NC. Cannot run out of projects! (Bonnie told me she would NOT let that happen!!) 
Here's the border of Benjamin Biggs. I'll add the three leaf flower after appliqueing the swags down. 

I'll start with these two sides, then do the math for the other two sides and configure the corners. It was a little tricky. I may end up trimming it up so there isn't so much dead space outside of the swags, but will plan on the 10" for now.

Thank you all for your super wonderful positive comments on my Basket of Blessings quilt. I'm overwhelmed at all your encouraging words. Thank you! Thank you!

Monday, January 12, 2015

Basket of Blessings

If you subscribe to Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine you may have received the Spring 2015 issue in your mail this past week.  I hope you'll consider making the primitive spring basket I designed when you get your magazine! I do not have my magazine yet and hopefully I'll have an extra to give away. I'm thrilled to have my second quilt published in this wonderful magazine.
Happy Monday!

Friday, January 9, 2015

Sewing this Week and Looking for Suggestions

I actually got in my sewing room this week and it feels good! 
 When blocks get moved from here to there for several months, pieces come up missing! Aargh!
 Remember I am machine appliqueing, so I can get them done faster. I finished the center and right bottom blocks. I got the swag pattern template drawn out last night.
I rearranged them and this will be my setting. 

Look at this lovely linen piece I purchased the other day. I love it! I have a few ideas of what to do with it, but am wondering what your ideas would be. It measures approx 40x23.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay warm!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Benjmain Biggs Applique


 I've got two more blocks to applique then I'm calling the center DONE!
As much as a fan that I am for red and green quilts I'm glad I changed it up and did red and blue.

photo from Gay at Sentimental Stitches
I plan on doing the scallops. That is what makes this quilt so special!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Baskets Galore and Cascadia Mystery Winner

The new year brings back fresh enthusiasm for quilts I've set aside. The baskets galore from 
Legend and Lace is one of them.  Wendy opted to set hers with sashing. You can see it HERE. It is beautiful!

 I played around with that strategy an decided not to do it that way. Having shirtings against shirtings it a little unusual and I think that is why I like it. It is unpredictable! I can see it quilted with an all over fan pattern. (maybe!)
 Before I could get them ready I needed to applique these three final blocks.  DONE!
 I have the blocks all packaged up with my diagram to take on my quilt retreat later this month. I may add an additional border, but I've got everything ready to sew up to this point. Yay! That feels good.

I always do a drawing for those who sewalong with my small quilts and totally spaced it out when we had the Linky party. I try and make the prize reflect something or some color of the quiltalong. There were 34 people who linked up their tops. Thank you so much! I couldn't be more thrilled! See them HERE!
I've drawn a name and hopefully the winner will like a bag of my 1 1/2" squares. (with a few short strips thrown in) 

The winner is number 14- Barbara of Quilts, Gravestones, and Elusive Ancestors.  Please send me your mailing address Barbara and I'll get the package in the mail. Congratulations!

PS, Jodybird, you mentioned you'd like to help my adopted family in Guatemala, but you are "No-reply" so I cannot contact you, Please send me an email if you'd still like to help. Thanks!