Blogiversary Giveaway!

January 8th will be one year since I started blogging. I've been averaging a little more than one post per week. Maybe I could do better than that for the second year.


When I renewed my membership to The Quilt Show, they sent me a gift certificate to give to a friend for a free six month membership. If you'd like one chance to win that membership all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post sharing any quilty tidbit about yourself (how long you've been quilting or what type of quilts you like to make or anything else at all that you would like to write.)


Important note: Please pay attention! If your comment does not have your profile set to show your email address, you must include your email address in your comment. If the Random Number Generator chooses a comment that has no way for me to contact the commenter, I will immediately tell it to choose another number. It's also nice to be able to reply to your comments.You can go to this recent post by Park City Girl where she explains how to change your profile. 

You can have two more chances to enter, but the first one above is required. For a second chance, become a follower (click on Follow in the sidebar) and write another comment telling me that you did so, or that you have been a follower already.


For a third chance, write about my giveaway in one of your own blog posts. Again, write another comment telling me you did so. All three entries must be made with separate comments.

The drawing will take place after midnight, U.S. EST, at the end of Sunday, January 10. 


I don't like blog posts with no photos, so I'll leave you with a photo of my second ever quilt, made in 1995. It was my own design and was totally hand pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted! (click to enlarge)

Stay tuned for another giveaway the last week of January. I plan to participate in the One World One Heart blog event. It will be my second year. You can also click on the button in my sidebar.

Good luck!

Debbie

The 4th night of Chanukah

I made my Chanukah quilt in 1999. It's been hanging in our living room and every year since then, when the others are lighting their real menorahs, I add a fabric flame to my quilt. It hangs all year with all the flames and right before Chanukah I take them all off to add them back on once a day. 

The custom is to place the chanukiah (Chanukah menorah) in a public place, in order to publicize the miracle. Some actually place theirs outdoors. Some place it in a window for passersby to see. The background of my wall hanging is meant to resemble a window.

 

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My friend and fellow hexagon junkie, Mary Anne, is celebrating her birthday on her newly designed website, Sewing and Beyond, with the most fun giveaway contest I've ever seen. You must go to her website to play!

The final two - 8 and 9

Here are the last two Journal Quilts that I made in the 2003 series. Next I have to find the images I have for the 2006 Journal Quilts.

 

Between spending time doing some paperwork, I've been alternating between knitting the second sock of the first pair of socks I've ever knitted and an unusually shaped scarf. The scarf should be done within the next few days and I'll take a picture. I hope these will finally satisfy the knitting urge and I'll be able to get back to my quilting!


Geta of Geta's Quilting Studio is giving away another one of her beautiful little trapunto style quilts. I just gotta win that hexagon quilt! You have until December 6 to enter. Geta is participating in the Sew Mama Sew big giveaway.


Shazzabeth of Shazzabeth Creations is destashing and is putting together a package of various beads and jewellery findings and a tutorial to giveaway. You have until the end of December to enter.

Stephanie of A Ditchin' Time Quilts is giving away this cute little antique doll quilt. You have until December 8 to enter.

 

Debbie

Numbers 6 and 7

It's about time I showed you the next couple of Journal Quilts. Here's numbers six and seven. Most of the fabric and embellishments on all these little quilts came from my stash. Many of the beads were collected during the process through purchases on Ebay.

Giveaways I've entered today:


Vickie over at Spun Sugar Quilts is celebrating having written over 400 posts. She's giving away five different  prizes of beautiful sets of fabric. You have until December 5 to enter.


Cathy of Crazy by Design has put together SIX prize packages to giveaway as a thanks to her readers. Cathy will be drawing for the winners after December 5. Here's a peek at the package for quilters.

Enjoy,

Debbie

2003's Journal Quilt Number 5

Here's the center Journal Quilt number 5, in my 2003 series. Clicking on this link for Journal Quilts will take you to all my posts on Journal Quilts.

A little history. The Journal Quilt concept was started by Jeanne Williamson, author of The Uncommon Quilter, in 1999. Jeanne documented all those quilts on her webite. In 2002, Karey Bresenhan, director of International Quilt Festivals, started the Journal Quilt Project, calling on quilt artists all over the world to make one 8 1/2 x 11 quilt per month, for nine months, in time to show them at the Houston Quilt Festival in the fall. 


This continued for five years. For the year 2007, the format changed. Karey called for quilters to make one 17 x 22 (the size of 4 letter size pages) using techniques found in the book Creative Quilting, The Journal Quilt Project. In 2006, Karey chose over 400 journal quilts from the first five years of the project and compiled them into the Creative Quilting book. For the last year of the project, 2008, the quilts were juried. I wrote about mine in this blog post. Go to the Quiltart site and scroll down for links to each year of the Journal Quilts.
I also had a Journal Quilt in the 2007 exhibit and made a series for the 2006 exhibit, one of which is in the Creative Quilting book. More about those little quilts in future blog posts.

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Look at all the wonderful things that SewCalGal is giving away in her Thanks-giveaway! The drawing will take place on Thanksgiving Day. There are five different ways to enter.

Number 3 and 4

Here are numbers three and four of my 2003 Journal quilts. Clicking on this link for Journal quilts will take you to all my posts on Journal quilts.

Numbers 2 through 9 all have one triangle covered with a piece of tulle or netting which covers scraps of fibers saved from embroidery and quilting projects.

Here’s a giveaway for today:

Chris of Dye Candy is giving away your choice of prize from many of her gorgeous products. You have until the 22nd to enter. Here’s a taste.

Enjoy,

Debbie

First two of the nine journal quilts

Here’s the first two of the journal quilts I showed you in my last post on quilts from the past. Each quilt, left to right, has a number on it, usually in felt, with embellishments. Number one is gold, number two is violet. Don’t forget to click on the images to see more detail. BTW, for those who may not be familiar with journal quilts, it’s a page size quilt. More about how they got started in another post.

Now you can check out the giveaways that I have entered today: 

Sivje of Goosegirl Sews is celebrating her 100th post. She is giving away a very stylish apron of her own design.  You have until the 21st to enter.

Elaine of Faithful Quilter: Elaine’s Journey is having a giveaway for Thanksgiving and the drawing is on Thanksgiving Day.  All we know is that it’s something quilty!

Karina and Maria of Karma Quilt are giving away 3 batik Fat quarters and coordinating embroidery threads to celebrate the opening of their BOM blog. Here is the google translation of their giveaway post. You have until the 24th to enter.

LeKaQuilt is giving away adorable little purses and a quilt book. The blog is mostly in Norwegian, but the info about the giveaway is in English. You have until the 23rd to enter.

Geta of Geta's Quilting Studio is giving away another one of her gorgeous little quilts in her November Quilt Giveaway. You have to see her quilts! The drawing is on the 23rd.


Debbie

More quilts from the past

We recently had some painting done in the house, which included the kitchen. I made my first quilt 15 years ago and it’s been hanging on the kitchen wall since then. When we put all the things back up on the walls, I decided to raise that quilt and add the row below it of the journal quilts that I made for the 2003 Houston show. My plan is to share close-ups of one or two of the quilts every couple of days.

In the meantime, check out these giveaways:

Henya of Chicken Stitches is having a giveaway contest to choose a name for her sheep stitch markers.  You have until Wednesday to enter.

Sachiko of Tea Rose Home is have a Thanksgiving giveaway. She’s giving away a Moda charm pack, a Little Girl’s Handbag, and a Doll Quilt. You have until the beginning of next week to enter.

Inchworm fabrics is having a giveaway to celebrate the opening of their new online fabric shop. They’re giving away a Moda honeybun and turnover.

Have fun!

Debbie

About the banner + Geta’s giveaway to enter

I just realized that it’s already been two weeks since I posted! Too long. I don’t have any progress to show on anything from the past few weeks, so I dug around and decided to show you the quilt where my banner comes from.
In 2005, I took the Firework’s workshop with Helen Marshall at Quilt University. I made a smaller version of the class project, with the intention of using it as the center of a round robin in the IJQ quilting group that I belong to.
Every year Quilt University has a virtual quilt show of students’ works made from QU classes that they took. I entered this quilt in 2007 and it won an Honorable Mention in it’s category.

Title: Celebrate!               Size: 40"  by 40"                                                        

Round 1: (from the center): Rita in NV (now in CO)                     

Round 2: Ellen in MA                                                                                 

Round 3: the late Carole Zelcer from England 

You must check out Geta’s beautiful work at Geta’s Quilting Studio and sign up to win the wonderful little quilt that she is giving away!

Enjoy!

Debbie

Giveaway winner!

And the winner of my birthday giveaway is:

Susan suzymc44

Congratulations, Susan! Please send me your address so I may send you the pattern, yarns and batik charms.

Thanks to all for the good wishes and nice comments.

Debbie

Blogger’s Quilt Festival II

Today is the start of the Blogger’s Quilt Festival. Amy of Park City Girl started it last spring to coincide with the Chicago Quilt Market and Festival event. This one coincides with the Houston Quilt Market and Festival.

Blogger’s participating are sharing the story of one of their favorite quilts. Last time I shared this one. Here’s the one I’d like to show you this time.

It’s a mini quilt that I made using one of the foundation paper piecing blocks that Carol Doak designs especially for the members of her yahoogroup, the CarolDoakQuiltingGroup. The quilt is 12 x 12 and it’s my own design. A couple of years ago, Carol was writing an article for Quilter’s Newsletter and mentioned that the magazine was looking for photos of quilts made using her block designs. Carol collected and sent to QNM the photos that some of us sent her and they chose mine as one of the quilts for the article. The quilt is called “Compass Celebration” and the article is in the September/October 2008 issue of Quilter’s Newsletter.

Thanks for coming and enjoy!

Debbie

Giveaway extended

I will be participating in Park City Girl's Blogger Quilt Festival from October 9-16. See button in my sidebar. To give a chance to some of the people visiting from there to enter my giveaway, I am extending it until midnight, Tuesday, the 13th. I also added a photo of the batik charms that I cut.

Birthday giveaways

Comments on this post are now closed. Thanks to all who entered. 

First, I just want to prove to you that I am working on the second sock, so here’s a photo.

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I also started yet another project, but put it away for the meantime, after making six test blocks. It’s from the Lion Brand blog’s hexagon crochet-a-long. I just couldn’t resist the hexagons!

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My friend Marie is having a giveaway to celebrate her birthday on October 1. She is doing the drawing on October 4, so you still have several days to enter.

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Marie mentions that she is honoring a late friend, Nora Creeach (the founding editor of CQMagOnline,) who used to do a giveaway on her mailing lists every year on her birthday. I actually won something from Nora once! But, I don’t remember what it was. :) I also was privileged to be Nora’s swap partner on one of the mailing lists and received a fantastic tassel from her. It is nine years since the swap and the tassel is still hanging from the lamp on the worktable in my sewing room.

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And now to MY giveaway!

 It’s been a long time since I had a giveaway and I’ve been itching to do another one. I’m lucky to have two birthdays. The one according to the Gregorian calendar was last week and the one according to the Jewish calendar falls out, this year, on next Wednesday, October 7.  

The gift package will include: One Carol Doak foundation paper piecing pattern, her Summer’s Welcome scenic pattern, plus a bunch of over thirty different fancy yarns, in two yard lengths, that are great for embellishments plus an assortment of 20 5” charms of batik fabrics from my stash.

I will use random.org to do the drawing after 6:00 am, my time zone, on October 7. That means you have until midnight, U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, Tuesday, the 6th of October, to enter. 

To give a chance to the bloggers visiting from the Blogger's Quilt Festival (see button in my sidebar), I am extending the giveaway until midnight, Tuesday, October 13.

There are three  different ways to enter, with separate comments for each entry, on this post only.

For your first entry, just leave any comment or choose one of the items that you will be receiving if you win and tell me how you think you may like use it.

For your second entry, scroll down my sidebar until you reach my followers and add yourself as a follower.
For you third entry, mention, and link to, my giveaway on your blog.

Please make sure that your profile, with your email address and link to your blog, is linked to the header of your comments. If your email address is not in your profile, or you post anonymous comments, you MUST leave your email address in your comment. That's the only way I can contact you.


Good luck!

Debbie

One of my quilts from the past

Be sure to read about Mary Anne’s giveaway below.

I haven’t had much current work to share lately, so I’ll show you a quilt from a couple of years ago. It’s using my favorite shape and I made it for the Grab Bag Quilt Challenge run by Tomme of the Quiltart list. Each participant mailed a baggie full of fabric and supplies to Tomme and she mixed them up and sent them out again. No one knew who they were making the quilt for until after they were all finished and mailed back to Tomme. Here is the quilt that I made for Elizabeth in Ohio. Click on the images to see details of the embellishments.

Yet another giveaway from my friend and fellow hexagon junkie, Mary Anne! I won the last one! This time she’s giving away a copy of her turkey quilt pattern. You can read about her process of designing the pattern on her blog. There are several different chances to enter.

Have a great weekend,

Debbie

I’ve officially knitted my first sock

I really finished this last week but just got around to photographing it. I’m hoping to start the next one sometime this week, just to prove that I don’t have second sock syndrome. I really plan to wear these in the winter. (Just around the house.)

I spent some time this week doing paperwork, so I don’t have anything creative to share. On Sunday, we’re going to the Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention. I hope to learn more about how to be a good blogger and get to meet a bunch of people whose blogs I read.

Lastly, in July I wrote about meeting Annie Smith of podcast fame (and she’s a popular California quilting teacher.) In her recent podcast she talks a little about our meeting, towards the end of the podcast. There are a few minor inaccuracies (we really didn’t have much time to talk leisurely, so some things may have been misunderstood) but I must correct one thing! So far, I have two grandchildren and not five. Hopefully, I will have many, many more. Just nothing on the horizon yet, that I know of.

Have a good weekend!

Debbie

A little doodling

Be sure to read about the giveaways I’ve entered, at the end of this post.

First about the sock. I finished it and am now in the process of undoing the binding because it is too tight! I tried to do it loosely, but I guess it wasn’t loose enough. I’m going to use larger needles when I do it again. Only problem is, I suspect it won’t be tight enough this time and the socks will fall down my leg!

Several years ago I took a course at Quilt University by Raymond Houston on his Symmetry design techniques. Recently he started a new blog for his work and a new mailing list, called NGQ Tile Addicts, for people who like to play with his symmetry design tiles. He gives you a set of his tiles to print out in regular and mirror image. Join the group to see what it’s all about. It’s really fun.

Here is something I came up with using the tiles.

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My fellow hexagon junkie, Mary Ann, is having a giveaway on her blog. She’s giving away a set of her Bean Bag Critter kits. You have until this Friday to enter. Here is one of the critters in the set.

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Kellie in Australia is having a giveaway on her blog to celebrate her 100th post You should see that gorgeous quilt she’s giving away! She’s also giving away some of her patterns. I love her style. You have until September 2, Australian time, to enter.

Have fun!

Debbie

Progress (or lack of)

I’m up to the ribbing on my sock! But, I don’t have time right now to work on it. I need to do the next round on the RRBloggers round robin so that I could mail it on time. It still bothers me that we can’t share photos of progress, but those are the rules. Most of the members want it to be a surprise.

Last week I received my winnings from Susan Purney Mark’s little contest that she had on her blog. Here is the crisp looking fat quarter that Susan sent me. Thank you, Susan!

And now you can check out some of the giveaways I’ve entered recently.

Regena, of Quilt N Quilt Things, is offering a huge giveaway to celebrate her one year blog anniversary AND her 100th post. But, hurry, you have until tomorrow night to enter! Even the quilt in the background of the photo is included!

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Heather, of Trends and Traditions, is also celebrating her first blog anniversary with a giveaway. Three different prizes with the first and second being whole quilts! You have three different ways to enter.

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Bonnie, of Calamity Jane’s Cottage, is celebrating becoming a rep for Superior’s Texture Magic and is giving away some Texture Magic, Moda Fabrics, magazines and patterns. She will be announcing the winner on September 3, in time for her birthday!

Have fun!

Debbie

Sock progress

My slow progress on the socks is keeping me from working on any of my other projects. I really have to get back to the redwork baby quilt, while my granddaughter is still a baby. So, here’s the sock, so far.

Did you really think I was going to show you a side view of the sock? Maybe the second one, if it will look any better than this one. I just hope I don’t come down with Second Sock Syndrome!

Rachel Griffith, on her P.S. I Quilt blog, is giving away a $50. gift certificate to The Quilt Shoppe. There are five different ways to enter. She’s announcing the winner on Sunday the 23rd. Check it out.

Good luck,

Debbie

Seven, Eight, Nine

In most of the world, today is 07-08-09.

I didn’t get enough done on my sock this week to take another photo. When I finish turning the heel, I’ll take a photo and post it.

In the meantime, here ‘s another giveaway for you to enter:

Jenny from Elefantz is giving away a vintage reproduction tin filled with a wonderful selection of some of her goodies. Here’s her giveaway post.

Have a great weekend,

Debbie

I’m knitting socks! +more giveaways to enter

Be sure to read about the giveaways I’ve entered, at the end of this post.

I wrote here about the yarn I bought to make socks. I finally got them started and am up to starting the heel on the first sock. I’m doing them toe up. Here’s how it looks so far:

Here’s some more giveaways for you to enter:

Mama Spark’s World is having a great giveaway. It’s a $50. gift certificate offered by Bunny Hill Designs. You have until August 13th to enter. Go do it now!

Amy at Park City Girl just published her Boxy Tote Pattern and is giving away two copies. But, hurry, you only have until tomorrow to sign up! Go see what else she sells in her Etsy shop.

I just signed up for a new online quilt magazine called Quiltposium. The first issue is coming out on September 1st. Go sign up now.

Happy Sunday,

Debbie

How do you hold your yarn?

Be sure to read about the giveaways I’ve entered, at the end of this post.

Recently, Ann, of the Bella Crochet blog, had a post discussing how people hold their yarn or thread when they are crocheting. I do it differently than Ann and thought I’d share a photo of my hand, just like she did. It would be interesting to see how others do it.

I learned to knit and crochet from my grandmother when I was about six or seven years old. I am right handed and I hold it the same for crocheting and for knitting. Some people may do it differently for each.

I recently saw a video on youtube that, if I remember correctly, showed this way of holding the yarn and holding the needle(s) the same way that I do. The demonstrator said that this puts the least stress on the hands and fingers of all the different methods.  Unfortunately, I didn’t save that youtube URL and there are so many knitting videos on youtube!

I’ve also entered a few giveaways today. Here’s the details on them:

QuiltingB29’ Quilt Life is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100th post. She’s giving away eight fat quarters, a book by Marti Michell and a Quilt Journal. Go on over and enter!

Julie of Jaybird Quilts is giving away two giant pincushions to celebrate her newest moda bake shop tutorial. You can have a total of six chances to win!

Kim of Bitty Bits and Pieces is giving away a Charmed Gift Bag like the one she made for her newest moda bake shop tutorial. I have to make some of these bags! If you follow her so very organized point system, you can have up to 22 chances to win!

Have Fun!

Debbie

The Big Catchup – Where I’ve been, who I’ve met – Part 2

Continuing from Part 1, that same day I had also been to M & J Trimming on 6th Ave., the best trimmings store in the world. I bought a 1/2 yard piece of a wide machine embroidered ribbon that I think is amazing. I also bought a yard each of one inch wide metallic bias tape. I loved the colors!

On Friday of that week, June 19th, Annie Smith and I had made up to meet before the class she was teaching at the Aardvark Quilt Shop in New Jersey . It was a thrill to meet her and we had a very nice little talk . Then, of course, I had to buy some fabric! Here’s Annie and me and the fabric I bought.

The next several days were taken up with family stuff and travelling (down to Miami Beach), but on Wednesday, the 24th, I met up with Judy Momenzadeh, who I met through the Quiltart mailing list. She works very part-time at The Quilt Scene quilt shop and that’s where we met. Judy is one of the members of the group that had the exhibit I went to see on my last trip to Miami in March. She wasn’t working that day, but she graciously cut my fabric choices for me. We had a lovely time getting to know each other while walking around the quilt shop. She brought her fantastic, most recently finished, art quilt to show me. I brought the only thing I had with me on vacation, the redwork blocks, and I stole my grandson’s quilt for the day to show, too. Here’s Judy and me and the fabrics that I bought.

The next week was spent with more family. A wedding in Miami Beach and more travelling to get to another wedding in Los Angeles. We were in California for just three days before heading home, one day in L.A. and two in Irvine. So, there was no time for quilt shops. But, while in Irvine we spent an afternoon with family at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach. There wasn’t much in the way of textiles, though. There were a few booths with clothing related items. One booth did have lovely quilted jackets. I took one photo of a piece of artwork. It grabbed me because it has the look of applique, but it’s glass! The Festival continues until August 30.

Still trying to catch up, I’m way behind in reading emails and blogs. Quilting related, all I managed to get done were blocks for the Block Lotto blog and hexagons for the Pot Luck of The Great Hexagon Quilt Along blog. As of this writing, I have not had the chance to post my entries on those blogs, so I’ll show them here. They’re both traditional, relaxing type, quilting projects, which is what I needed right now.

That’s it for today!

Debbie

Miri’s Giveaway

I’m still trying to catch up and forgot to tell you about Miri’s Giveaway to celebrate her 100th post on her blog! You have until tomorrow, the 30th, to enter. Miri is giving away one of her mini quilts.