It's Quilting Time

As the U.S. suffers from a December blast of cold it's time to pull out the quilt projects!  Put on a pair of fuzzy slippers, make a cup of hot cocoa, then sew away.  Before you know it, you'll have a quilt done and be ready for the next cold spell.  Happy sewing, happy quilting.  Stay warm and be happy!

Announcing a Quilt Raffle to Benefit Mercy Covers

This quilt measures approx. 65" x 75"

Close-up of custom free hand longarm quilting

This one-of-kind quilt has been created for the purpose of raising money for Mercy Covers, an organization started by the St. Bryce Foundation, a non-profit group. The quilt is being raffled as a means to raise money to send sewing machines, fabric, supplies and other needs to the women who are working with Mercy Covers to create sustainable goods such as quilts for the needy and crafts that can be sold as a way these women can support themselves while learning a useful and self-supporting trade in sewing. Shipping even fully donated goods to Costa Rica is astoundingly expensive.

Colleen Connell Mitchell, the founder of Mercy Covers, has created a network of missionaries willing to bring supplies to the organization but it takes money to ship these items to those travelling to Costa Rica. It also take money to repair and make ready machines and other tools that are donated. That is where the quilt comes in. We are working toward raising $5,000 to take us through the next few shipments of goods to Mercy Covers.

Raffle tickets come from your donations. They are $5 for 1 ticket; 3 for $14; 5 for $24; 6 for $28; 8 for $37; 11 for $50; 17 for $75; and 25 for $100. All entries will be entered into the raffle and the prize winner will be drawn on December 31, 2013. Upon verification of winner the quilt will be shipped no later than January 6, 2014. The quilt is valued at $400. Shipping of the quilt to the winner will be free of charge.
To learn more about Mercy Covers, visit their FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/MercyCovers

To purchase a raffle ticket by donate visit:
https://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/quilt-raffle-to-help-mercy-covers-help-others/87822

Counting Blessings

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and this is truly a month we Americans count our blessings.  I keep thinking of all the things I am grateful for:  an incredible family, wonderful friends, a good job, a nice place to live and freedom.  We often don't take the time to sit back and "count our blessings."  As we move through the month I challenge each reader of my blog to find one thing you are grateful for each day through the rest of the month.  If you have the ability to read this blog it's a guarantee that you have many, many blessings in your life.  Count as many as you can find!!  You don't have to be American to be blessed.  It happens around the world.

On a creative note, I am thankful for my ability to create, sew and make QUILTS.  Bringing joy to others is so rewarding and truly a blessing!!

Happy month of blessings and thanksgiving to each of you.

More Giveaways--From McCalls Quilting

When we reach 50,000 fans, we'll be giving away this gorgeous fat quarter pack of 40 fabrics from the Avalon collection by Fig Tree & Co for Moda.

Go to: https://www.facebook.com/McCallsQuilting to see details

Watch & Win Contest 
Each of the FREE Surf & Sand Quilt Along episodes features a word of the week—click here to enter to win! Contest is open from October 25 through November 24, 2013. Three random winners will be selected November 25, 2013, and notified by email.

For more details:  http://www.mccallsquilting.com/contests/Surf_and_Sand_Quilt_Along_Giveaway.html

Happy Halloween

Hope all my readers are having a fun-filled Halloween.  Mine has been spent sewing and studying...my next quilt design.  There's nothing like an evening of sewing to brighten up any holiday, is there?!

If you bagged a bunch of candy or have a lot left over from the ghosties and goblins at your door, please eat responsibility.  Always keep a little of the good stuff set aside to mix with the candy you don't like so you can savor the experience.

ENJOY!

Charity Quilt Done

Here's another quilt done and ready to go.  
This picture is not the best but there will be more.   

The quilt is going to be on a 

fundraising site and people 

will have an opportunity to 

buy chances to win it.  

The money is going to charity. Stay posted if you are 

interested in a chance to win this custom designed and 

quilted piece.

Completed Vintage Sewing Chair

So here it is, the completed vintage sewing chair.  The original was created sometime in the early to mid-1960's. This one is done in Kaffe Fassett fabric.  

This was fun to make and very easy.  Cutting, sewing and assembly can be done in about 2 hours.

Tell me what you think!  

It's Giveaway Wednesday--Here's the Quiltmaker's Treasure Hunt

Lot's of chances to win, amazing prizes.  Over $29,000 in prizes and 29 winners. To enter go to:  http://www.quiltmaker.com/contests/treasure-hunt/index.html

Good luck and I will continue to search for more sewing/quilting giveaways.

Another Giveaway---From Angela Walters

Hey all, it's not always easy to find one giveaway for the week so to find another is like a treasure chest of gold.  This one is from Angela Walters as part of the launch of her new fabric line, Legacy, being shipped to stores. Go to her blog and watch her video then make a comment for a chance to win.  It's really that easy.

To enter:  http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/2013/09/27/legacy-has-shipped/

It's Giveaway Day--Follow the Link and Enter to Win!!

2013 National Sewing Month Giveaway!

I have found another great giveaway.  Prizes include a Babylock sewing machine, threads, fabrics and more. To enter:  http://thesewingloftblog.com/2013/09/22/national-sewing-month-2013-giveaway-time/

Another Giveaway--THREE FAT QUARTER BUNDLES

Triple Bundle Giveaway - Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com Today we're giving our readers an opportunity to score big on not just one or two, but THREE FAT QUARTER BUNDLES of our most recent collections starting with Nördika, Tule, and an exclusive bundle of Legacy, which is yet to...

To Register to Win:
http://artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com/weblog/2013/09/triplebundlegiveaway.html

Good Luck

Part 2, Why Quilts Matter

Why Quilts Matter – Question and Answer with Thomas Knauer, Part 2: http://www.whyquiltsmatter.org/welcome/opinions/why-quilts-matter-question-and-answer-with-thomas-knauer-part-2/

View this Interesting Article--Why Quilts Matter

Why Quilts Matter – Question and Answer with Thomas Knauer, Part 1:  http://www.whyquiltsmatter.org/welcome/discussion-guide-qa-with/why-quilts-matter-question-and-answer-with-thomas-knauer-part-1/

A link to Part 2 will be posted on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Tip of the Week--Choosing the Right Thread for Your Quilt

Ignorance can be bliss, right?  Not in the world of making a quilt that is archive quality.  This Tip of the Week topic is about using the right thread for the right moment when creating a quilt.

Creating the quilt top and piecing things together.  

This is the foundation and primary focus of your quilt project.  When you join seams you potential create ridges from your seaming and the thread that are holding the pieces together.  For this reason a fine thread is appropriate.  A good start would be a 50 weight thread that will blend into the seams when pressed flat.

In a quilt that is archival quality it is important to use 100% cotton thread as this will out last your polyester threads if you are using cotton for your quilt top.  The polyester can potential wear down the cotton fabric and tear through it.

Quilting the pieces together.

When selecting a thread for the quilting (bringing your sandwich of top, batting and backing together) use a heavier weight thread, say a 50 weight, to create strength and durability in your finished piece.  When doing hand quilting the threads made for this are generally coated....in old days women often ran their thread through a cake of beeswax to give the thread strength.  Do not use thread made for hand quilting in your sewing machine.  The coating can potentially gum up your machine, which is not a good thing.

Whether you are machine or hand quilting the selection of color can make a huge difference in the final quilt.  If you want your quilting to blend, use a neutral color like a light grey or something that is a predominate color in the quilt top and back.  If you want high contrast use a complimenting color thread that will stand out and be noticed for the color it adds to the entire quilt.

Regardless of the type of quilt you are creating, take as much time and effort in selecting the right thread type, weight and color to ensure the best results possible.

Another Give-a-way to Enter, Ends tomorrow, September 7, 2013

I've beem searching for giveaways and here's a great giveaway featuring some nice things offered by Quilt Inspiration at http://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/09/welcome-to-september-2013-giveaway.html
Enter for a chance to win.