I know, I know...

I only seem to post about giveaways lately - but this one is special. This blogger - Katie - is giving away a quilt to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - a cause near and dear to her because her husband has been battling Lymphoma for three years. Go check it out and make a donation if you can - every little bit adds up!

http://seekatiesew.blogspot.com/2010/09/quilt-giveaway.html

Have a pieceful day!

Mini Swap - rec'd and sent

Swap mini from locodowo
Originally uploaded by piecefulchaos

I received this gorgeous mini from Laurie (locodowo) in a swap on Flickr - the Quilt Swap Boot Camp. It was a swap I ran for new swappers - it was a small group but I think a good time was had by all!

Here is the quilt that I sent to my partner -




Have a pieceful day!

Go Cutter Giveaway

Just a quick post to share that Karrie over at Freckled Whimsy is giving away a Go cutter - so if you want one of these as bas as I do hurry on over and enter. While you are there check out her blog- its fantastic! She has an awesome Quilt a long going on right now!

UPDATE!!!! - Here are some more Go Cutter giveaways for the fellow obsessed!

Heather at A La Mode Fabric

Jackie at Canton Village Quiltworks
and

Paulette at SweetP

Karen at Sew Many Ways

Good luck!

Pincushion Swap

Pincushion from Midland Design
Originally uploaded by piecefulchaos

I participated in a couple of pincushion swaps this summer on Flickr. This is the pincushion I recently received from Midland Design - isn't it adorable? I just love it! I collect pincushions and love all different kinds but animal/whimsical types are my favorite. Now I just need a good place to display all of them!

Oh, and I am trying something new -the Blog This feature on Flickr. I've been neglecting my blog since I really got addicted to Flickr so if this works and maybe I can blog from Flickr I will have no excuse!

My son got engaged!

Here's a picture of the happy couple right after it happened!



We just couldn't be happier! She is a wonderful girl - they've been dating 6 years since high school so we feel like she is already part of the family. To top it off, my son got a job offer this week as well (he just graduated college) so there was lots to celebrate this week!

Have a pieceful day!

No excuses

I have no excuses for being away from my blog for this long. I had stuff to say, just never seemed to get here to say it. The longer you are away, the harder it seems to get back into the swing. So here I am and hopefully I can get back into the swing of it.

I have a bunch to catch up on but I am going to start with the most recent - this weekend was the quilt show for a local guild - I used to belong 20 years ago but they meet during the day so I can't participate anymore. The show was great -and even better I got to meet a friend from one of the swap groups I belong to on Flickr!


This is Andrea (Quiltedoma) and I at the quilt show. It was so cool to meet someone from an internet group in person! Andrea belongs to a local guild that meets at night and invited me to a meeting. She might come to a group I belong to also.

Also today I received my placemat from the placemat swap on flickr. Lori (lollydo) made me this great placemat:




It is double sided! Hexagons and spider web blocks - two of my favorites!

Have a pieceful day!

Giveaway Alert!

Sorry I've been gone awhile - just didn't have the blog mojo working lately. But I do have some things to say so I will be back with a new post as soon as I upload some pictures. In the meantime....

check out the giveaway at Sunflower Quilts - a book, charm packs and a download of the new ezine Fat Quarterly that will be debuting next week - I just heard about this project and it looks awesome!

Have a pieceful day!

Swaps - incoming and outgoing!

I haven't been doing a lot of quilting lately - if it weren't for swaps I wouldn't have done much at all! Here are some of the swap projects that have been coming and going in my mailbox:

first the DQS8 that LauraJ sent me:



I also participated in the Pillow Talk Swap on flickr - here is the pillow I sent to my partner (without the pillow form)-



I also particapated in a Valentines Swap on flickr in February, here are what I received and sent:





It looks a lot more red in the picture - it is actually very pink!

I have a few more swaps and valentines projects to show but I will save them for another post.

Just a note - I turned on comment moderation due to a huge amount of spam lately. Hopefully it will stop and I can turn comment moderation off!

Have a pieceful day!

January funk

I know I'm not the only one because I've read it on several other blogs - I've been in a bit of a funk this month when it comes to quilting. I think I am out of it now - I got motivated by working on some possible quilts for Doll Quilt Swap 8. That group always motivates and inspires me! I wish it were continuous.

I did return to the scene of the crime so to speak - my friend Ann and I took a ride to that LQS that is going out of business for some more $3/yd goodness. I got some backing for some donation quilts and a few other one yard pieces but what I was most pleased with was this:



This was a shop sample and it was selling for $60. I thought it was cute and it was something I would never make and could never make for $60.

Other than that the only thing I've done all month is make a makeup bag for my youngest DD -



I have two more to do for my oldest DD and one of her friends - these are quick, easy and fun to make.

I hope the rest of you that were in a funk are finding your way out of it - I know I'm glad to be feeling more productive finally!

Have a pieceful day!

Stash building - 53 yards worth!

Now if you read yesterday's post carefully, you will note that I did NOT say ANYTHING about reducing stash this year - which is a VERY good thing considering my unplanned trip to the LQS today. That would be the LQS that is going out of business - and sent an email this morning that ALL fabric is now $3/yard.



So what's a girl to do when you get an email like that? You call a girlfriend - in this case Florence (better known to those who read the comments on my blog as "Anonymous") and off we went. We got there a 1/2 hour before closing and quickly got down to business. About 45 minutes later we walked out very happy and proud of our purchases.

Now its not for me to tell tales of what Florence bought... so I'll just tell you about mine. The picture above shows the damage - if you enlarge it you can see more detail - its hard to photograph 53 yards of fabric without a wide angle lense! Most of it is 1 yard pieces but there is an 8 1/2 yard piece of flannel for backing, 5 yards each of a pink and a blue flannel for baby items, 2-3 yards each of 3 different black and white fabrics and a lot of 1 yard pieces of various beiges, novelties (for pillowcases, donation quilts, etc) and other "basics".

At the cutting table I told Florence that after this I could not buy any more fabric until the Quilt Fest of NJ in March - the first big quilt show of the year. I told her she would have to hold me to it - her response - "yeah, right."

Have a pieceful day!

Thoughts for the New Year...

I have come to the realization that quilting resolutions or even goals for the new year are just pointless for me. I can start out with great plans but then a class or new technique or something catches my eye and the excitement of that carries me away from my plans - and that's okay, this is a hobby after all! It is supposed to be fun and inspire creativity. So I "resolve" to go in whatever creative direction the wind carries me.

That said, there are a few things I will try to fit in between the creative wind and the inevitable gift and swap projects I will commit to. This year those things revolve around trying to finish projects that create guilt by remaining unfinished (or in some cases unstarted!). Some are flimsies that need to be quilted and some are projects I bought a pattern and fabric for and never began. I have been holding off starting new projects (except small ones) due to the nagging voice reminding me of these projects. The curious thing is they are all projects I still love, it is not that I've lost interest in them, just got sidetracked and never got back to them. So this year I would like to finish them!

On the creative side, I would like to work on improving my machine quilting skills this year. This will require a little more patience than I've had in the past - patience to practice on muslin, not actual projects and patience to take a little more time to do a more involved quilting design instead of something "quick" to get it done. I would also like to work on more "artsy" projects - dolls, art quilts, painting on fabric, embellishments, working with fabrics other than cotton, learning new techniques, etc.

Lastly, though I don't think I can expect to make scrap quilts this year along with all of the above, I would like to start cutting for scrap quilts - Kathie always cuts for more than one quilt at a time and I would like to start doing the same as well as cutting some of my scraps into usable units. Maybe 2011 will be the year of making scrap quilts if 2010 can be the year of cutting for them!

And because I hate a post without a picture, here is a cute pic I snapped of DS and our dog Dooley. DS and his girlfriend are here for Christmas break from college and sleeping on the pull out sofa - after his girlfriend got up to go to work, Dooley jumped in her spot - I texted her and told her "you've been replaced"

SSCS sent and rec'd

First, here is a pic of the awesome table runner that Kerry sent me in the SSCS:







Here is some detail:







These are the present and goodies I sent to my partner, Lurline:









Another great SSCS! Thanks to Kerry and to Donna for organizing this wonderful swap!

Have a pieceful day!

Where is the time going????

I've been meaning to post for sooo long! It isn't even a lack of things to post about - just a lack of time and energy. The cold I had around Thanksgiving is hanging around and combining with allergies to wipe me out!

I want to show you my SSCS package - here is the ornament that Kerry from Forever Friday sent me:



and here is the package (that we are not allowed to open until Christmas - although my willpower is weakening!) Thanks Kerry - I can't wait to open it.



Its pretty cool - Kerry was the partner that I sent to in a bag swap last year and now are paths have crossed again with her sending to me!

I've got more to show and tell but I am going to try to do it in small bits each day.

Have a pieceful day!

I'm Exhausted!

or I was anyway! My son came home from college for Thanksgiving and brought his girlfriend and 3 friends with him. So we had 4 houseguests for the long weekend. They went to the parade in NYC on Thanksgiving and then came back for dinner - twelve of us total. The next day we went to our cousins' for a family dinner and the next night DH and I had a dinner to go to. By the time DS and his friends left on Sunday I was exhausted. I am just now recovering!

I wanted to show you a few pictures before all the Christmas prep starts- I know its already started for most of you - but not here! Knowing I was going to have that many houseguests showering in our one bathroom, which is being remodeled so there are no towel holders or hooks up - I made each guest (and DS) a towel with his or her name embroidered on it and bought one of those old fashioned drying racks. They were instructed to hang up their towel and reuse it!



They all seemed happy with their little "favors" and it did keep my bathroom and laundry a LOT more organized.

My friend Karen who is very Martha-like made us this wonderful Cornucopia out of refrigerated breadsticks:



Isn't it awesome? The little pilgrims on either side I made years ago and lost them. This summer I was cleaning out the attic and found them in a box tucked in corner. I was so thrilled! I love these little things! Here is a closer look -


Okay, Thanksgiving officially over - let the Christmas festivities begin!

Cards, tree, shopping, baking...... where do I start?????!!!!

Have a pieceful day!

Funny Story!

I have a funny husband story to tell but first I need to show you my latest finish. This is a sewing organizer that I made from a tutorial by FlossieBlossoms.



I won the fat quarter of retro NYC fabric at the Brownstone Guild Quilt Show a few weeks ago. It was donated by City Quilter in NYC who has a whole line of NYC themed fabrics. While they are very pretty they are not practical for a lot of things because this is a large print so its not a fabric to cut into small pieces - much better for a bag - or a sewing organizer! Here are some pics of the inside - it has a little needlecase that snaps closed, a holder for scissors both while traveling and while using the organizer on the couch, thread holders, pocket, trash baggie and tool holder.





On her blog, FlossieBlossoms tells how she created this organizer to keep pins and needles and other unsafe sewing items from the paws and mouth of her cat - whose name is NoseyParker. She advises that it would be good for keeping these items out of the hands of young children as well. Enter the funny story....

So I am showing DH the finished organizer last night - after he very generously installed the snaps for me when I was having some issues - a fact I add only to point out what a terrible wife I am for what I am about to share with the world - but it was just too funny not to....

so DH is looking at the finished product, opens it up, looks at the needlecase part and sticks his finder INTO the closed needlecase asking "what's this for?" as I am at the same time starting to say "be careful, there's a needle in there" - before I could even get the words out, he lets out a loud "OUCH" and I fall to the floor laughing hysterically as any terrible wife would! As soon as I could pick myself up and compose myself I told him "that is definitely going on the blog!" So my advice is if you have nosey cats or nosey toddlers they are probably safe but if you have a nosey husband you might want to add an additional layer of security to your sewing organizer!

Have a pieceful day!

Just when I thought it was safe...

DH and my two DDs have all been sick recently - congested, cough, sore throat. Up until now I had escaped it because they've been better for a few weeks and I never caught it. Until today. So I am sitting on the couch doing some handwork and watching t.v. I worked on some hedgehog pincushions -



The one on the right is a work in progress - this is actually the prototype - I have a different fabric in mind and a few adjustments but I think he came out pretty cute! When I feel better I'll make another.

Last week one of the local guild's had their quilt show. It was a nice show and I was lucky enough to win a mini quilt in the mini quilt auction!



Have a pieceful day!

Halloween Witch Doll

I've been meaning to post these pics for awhile now and if I don't do it soon Halloween will be long gone - actually it seems long gone already - everywhere I turn someone insists on telling me how many weeks or days there are until Christmas! Anyway - last month DD and I stopped into this store and I saw this awesome doll and the store was giving a class on how to make it! Only problem was we were there on Monday afternoon and the 2nd class was that Wednesday night so I was already behind and didn't have a lot of time to catch up. But since I've made dolls before I figured I should be able to do the initial stuff without any guidance. There were two more classes and I just love the way everyone's doll came out.

My doll is not finished yet. I still want to accessorize her a bit and with time crunch I didn't have time to collect everything I wanted. Here she is:



I also want to redo her hair. I really was not happy with the way it turned out. But all in all I am very happy with her and I love the class. I was ecstatic to learn how to do sculpted faces. I am hoping the store does more doll classes soon. The owner is an incredible dollmaker - very talented. Here is a pic of everyone's dolls together:



The one on the right is the teacher's doll - isn't she incredible?

I have one other little autumn project to show. I finished this little pillow this week despite it giving me total fits! I hate it when an "easy" project just becomes more trouble than its worth and that almost happened with this one for various reasons not worth going into. But its done!



Have a pieceful day!

I have a few more swap pictures to show. Ariane of Arianescrafts received my placemats today from the placemat swap2 on flickr. They are made of flannel. I've had the kit for these for about 4 years and they've been on my to do list for just as long. When the placemat swap came along and Ariane told me she uses placemats on her table I decided these would be perfect.



My partner in another Flickr swap received the mini quilt I sent her last week - the theme was Woodland World.



I have one more swap package on its way to my partner - my last Stitcher's Angel package. Hopefully it will arrive soon and then I can show that one.

Have a pieceful day!

It's Done!!!!

I did it! I managed to get the Halloween quilt from the swap done before Halloween was gone. I finished it about 4:30 this afternoon and had it hanging in the kitchen by 5pm. Normally I would take all my Halloween stuff down tomorrow but I think this will have to stay up for awhile longer - maybe till Thanksgiving! This really has me in the mood to get the Christmas swap blocks together this year too. I had told myself I wouldn't have time before Christmas this year but I might have to try to find a couple of days to knock it out.

Have a pieceful day - and Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to you!



This is my youngest DD in her halloween costume last night. She wanted to be Alice in Wonderland but every costume in the stores was too "slut-y" She said you couldn't even tell they were Alice in Wonderland. So she went to Walmart, bought fabric and a pattern and asked me to help her. I've never been a clothes sewer, other than doll clothes and halloween costumes. She took 2 years of Fashion Construction in high school but kept claiming not to know how to do it. So she cut it out and I did most of the rest with her assistance. Then we got to the zipper. I said "I think we need to call Florence for help, I have no idea how to put a zipper in a dress and the pattern directions sound like Greek to me" she said "oh, its easy, you just do this, this and this..." and promptly taught me how to put a zipper in a dress.

I think I've been hoodwinked! Seriously though I am just thrilled that it came out okay (if you look closely there are a ton of flaws, but it is only a halloween costume) and more importantly that it fit! I had these horrible visions of spending all these hours on it and it not fitting when we were done and then rushing to the store to buy one of the slut-y costumes anyway!

Have a pieceful day!