A Quilt Fiesta giveaway

It's time for a Book Fiesta! 

Cheryl Lynch is launching her first book Quilt Fiesta!

 

I am the next stop on her blog book tour. 

I 'met' Cheryl through a link to her blog from another blog site.  I commented on something she wrote about PA where I am orginally from.  We emailed back and forth until she asked me if I would be apart of her tour.  Cheryl has sent me two autographed copies of her book, one for me to keep (yeah!) and one to giveaway!

But before we get to that I want to share my favorite parts of her book.  First there are the photos and history of her journey learning about Mexican tiles.

This was probably my favorite part of the book.  At least until I started reading the patterns!  Each pattern is translated from an actual Mexican tile shown in the book!  Better yet she shows how to use the pattern in alternate settings! 

This book is a wonderful mix of piecing and applique with amazing fabrics and colors! 

 

I wanted to let you learn a little bit aobut Cheryl and she was kind enough to answer a few questions:

Colleen: If you could be any sewing notion what sewing notion would you be and why?

Cheryl:  I think I would choose to be a rotary cutter. It makesdfast work of any job and when there is a sharp blade, it's a sweet thing.

Colleen:  If you could be any type of fabric what type of fabric would you be and why?

Cheryl:  Silk dupioni - It's irregular and I like the way it sounds.

Colleen:  What quilt do you currently have on your bed and why?

Cheryl:   Bue and white scrap basket quilt folded at the end of my bed. It was one of the first quilts I made and it matches my blue and white bedroom.

Colleen:  Last but not least finish this sentence

Cheryl:  I like quilting best when I'm on a creative roll and my favorite tool to use is my brain.

Thanks to Cheryl for this great blog tour!  Don't forget to visit these other sites on the tour!  Each site is giving away an authographed copy of Quilt Fiesta!

 2/22/11 http://pinkadotquilts.blogspot.com/

2/23/11 http://www.quiltsoupblog.com/

2/24/11 http://grandmacocosdesigns.blogspot.com/

2/25/11 http://quiltville.blogspot.com

2/26/11 http://fingerlakesart.blogspot.com  

2/27/11 http://cyarnell.blogspot.com

2/28/11 http://amyscreativeside.com/

3/1/11 http://therootconnection.blogspot.com

3/2/11 http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com

3/3/11 http://CherylLynchQuilts.blogspot.com

To enter the giveaway just comment below.  Winner will be announced Friday.

Keep dreaming...Colleen

 

I will announce the cancer quilt project this week. 
Please come back and support this fundraiser for Relay for Life.



First Hexie

I finished my first hexie today. 

The hexie is inspired by all of the hexies I see in blog land.  Also I recently rediscovered these hexagons my grandmother made.  She was not a quilter and I dont think she ever made a quilt.  Though its her 70's Kenmore that I sew with.

They have some really great vintage fabrics.

The hexie I made will be one of the small blocks the figure will stand on for my dsq10.

Th other block made so far is a small log cabin.  I am trying to use modern fabrics with special touches.

I'm hoping to have the DQS10 top finished this week end as I know the quilting will take me a while to figure out.

I also whipped up this little pinnie that has been sitting in my brain and the fabric on my cutting table for a week.

Im thinking maybe a bee pin topper.  Also I think I would like to create a base and make some more flowers that would velcro to it.  You could have different types of pins in each flower.  Grab the one you need.  Leaves double as needle holders.

Well off to bed.  I've been sick for the last 24 hrs and need to catch up on my chores tomorrow.

Keep dreaming...Colleen



Sneak peek of Jackie's February block in red, whites and black for the Bee.



Amazing Block!

Today I received an amazing surprise in the mail!

My February Block from Jackie at twosistersinstitches is awesome! The fabrics, the colors, the birdies! Look how well it goes with Lana's from January!

  I see a brown, green, red, polka dot, and animal theme in these two blocks. Thanks so much Jackie!! I cant wait to see what comes from my next partner.

Keep dreaming...Colleen



My sis asked me to make a mug rug for her friend who likes rainbow colors.
 So I raided my scrap boxes.  Pray for her she has surgery Friday.



Mug Rug Goodies and fun links

I have been participating in the Quilting Gallery's Mug Rug exchange.  I sent my two mug rugs to Canada over a week ago. 

 I hope she got them. 

Then flying in from over seas...

 I received two beautiful ones and some goodies this week from Margaret Sced in Australia! 

First this sweet mug rug which I love the colors and quilting.  Yummy hot chocolate graphic!

See the neat label she printed and put on the back of each one?

Then there is this one with beautiful embroidery! 

I wish I could embroider that nicely.  She also sent this adorable bookmark! 

 Did I tell her I was a librarian and have a book mark collection?  She also included these photos of where she lived. 

 I love to collect these little photo books of different places.

I also want to remind you that Cheryl Lynch's new book Quilt Fiesta!  blog tour starts tomorrow. 

 

Check out her website for the tour details.  Every site will be giving away a book!  My day will be on the 27th!

Last but not least...Pin Toppers!

I have started a new Pin Topper group on flickr.  It will be a place to discuss and share photos and videos of pin toppers, how they are made, and the pin cushions crafted to display them.  Come and join today!  Tell your friends!

Keep dreaming...Colleen



Civil war block #8.  'Richmond'



I've been playing...

I think I finally found my polymer clay niche.  I have been trying to create with polymer clay for several years.  I thought it was a perfect fit for my jewelry making.  I thought it would be good practice for working with precious metal clay... it wasn't, for me.  But now...

I've been playing again with pin toppers!

Fruit was a natural and a pear and apple appeared in my brain but I had no red or yellow. So...a trip yesterday to AC Moore, a 50% coupon, 10% teacher discount, AND a $10 reward certificate got me the colors I needed.  I made these last night.  But...I realized I had no brown for the stems so I mixed a little pink and green and...pears!

 

I stopped at Joann's today to get some white, brown and black.  So a 40% coupon, $5 off anything!, 15% teacher discount, and after dinner out with coworkers... I made an apple,

a bird's nest,

and this darling red bird on a branch.

 Oh, and this little mushroom.

 I even created this display pincushion in one of my vintage parfait dishes.  (Don't look too close I haven't sewn it closed yet.)

 I write this blog both to share my new obsession creative endeaver and to warn others...pin toppers are addictive!

Keep dreaming...Colleen



This is a pic of my fav activity -kayaking -
in my fav place-Gull Lake, Ontario Canada.
Can't wait to go back!



Scrappy pin cushion

I had a sewin tonight and made my scrappy pincushion for the Flickr groups swap.

It is two sided.  I dug into my special scraps to make this.

I even added a needle holder.  I hate when pincushions don't have these.  And then the pins get lost in the cushion.

I also tried a little experimentation with some polymer clay and made some pin toppers!

They turned out better then I could hope. 

 Good enough to include three with the pincushion.

And I also rolled up some great scraps so my swap partner could make some more scrappy goodness.

I added a few vintage sewing supplies-a 10cent rick rack and spool of thread.

I may add a few more goodies before I mail this.

Keep dreaming...Colleen



A duck filled raffle basket that raised $45 for Relay last year.
Included a baby quilt, stuffed quilt, and lots of rubber ducks!



Quilt Blocks for Cancer

As you know I am a five year Stage 4 uterine cancer survivor.  I have had a desire to give back to those who suffer since I was cured.  I cut my hair last week to donate!

 I also started a Relay for Life team called the Lucky Ducks two years ago. 

Friends and mostly family have helped me to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  I still have Lucky Duck tshirts for sale in my etsy store and on my blog, all the money goes to Relay. 

 This year we will be unable to participate due to a family event.  I would still like to raise money and would like my Blog family to participate as well.



My Lucky Duck duck pond is always a big hit!



I was thinking about asking you, my blog friends to send me quilt blocks to assemble together to make a quilt to raffle off.  The quilt block could be a memorial, in honor of, or just a celebration of life.  Any pattern, 12.5"(or should they be smaller ?) unfinished.  If you would also like to just send a 5" square to use for a border with a message of hope written on it.

My just live bracelets have peach beads for Uterine cancer. 
The cards tells you to just live every day to fullest.

This should not be just a pink quilt.  I want to honor all cancers.  Peach is the color of my cancer.  The mother of one of my students died this year from ovarian cancer and I would like to use teal and create a block in memory of her.  Here is a link to other colors for other cancers.  I would like to collect the blocks through March 31st.  Assemble and find someone to quilt it for me in April and raffle it in May.

Tell me in the comments below if you think this is something you would like to participate in and you know someone who would help me out with quilting this as well.

BTW I had my yearly cancer check up Friday and my doctor who is AWESOME, said I am doing great!

Keep dreaming and living...Colleen



If you have never been to a Relay one of the most moving moments is when the luminaries are lit.
 Each one represents a lost life or a survivor. 
They line the track and are arranged on a hill spelling out HOPE.