A little organizing and a free bag for someone

So this week has been so hectic! Well, this past month really....You see, my husband is a teacher and he didn't get a summer teaching gig so he's been hanging around the house a lot. I love him and it's been nice to spend so much time together, but he is a work horse! He installed new flooring, which by the way, you can see it HERE. Then after our family reunion trip we got home and began organizing and decluttering. We even had a yard sale. 

He kept mentioning the bags of scraps under my cutting table and wondered aloud if I was going to organize those ever. Well, I am proud to say I have done it! I took all the fancy shoes from my closet and kicked them out of their lovely containers so that I could sort my scraps by color. I was trying to be modest but ended up having to put one color in each bin rather than two. I have a LOT more scraps then I thought for sure!

So, here is the result of about four hours of sorting.....

Looking at it I didn't think I had this much, but I actually have two larger bins of just blues and greens....I think I may be a bit of a scrap hoarder as well. 

Anyway, now to my giveaway!! I have three bags left over that didn't fit in my bins (or I just got tired of sorting them) so I am going to give them away! One large baggy to one person and the two smaller ones to a second person.

All you have to do is leave a comment below...tell me what your scrap situation is all about. 

Good Luck!

I have a blog? Yep.....

I am not sure if there is still anyone out there in my online land left, but I have to fill you all in on a few crazy events that have hit our household! In May, I was scheduled for surgery on my ankle to reconstruct some tendons that I broke while running in January. While waiting in the Pre-Op I was hit with some crazy news! I was told by the nurse that I was pregnant! I think the best way to describe myself and my husband was deer in the headlights! After we were told the surgery would have to wait, we were on our way out to the car in shock! 

Well, fast forward to today, I have been having some serious nausea and haven't felt much like doing anything. I barely have been able to sew my additions to the round robins I'm doing....but the other day I received an email from Jill over at Mom It Forward about a challenge I was to be a part of. I had completely forgotten about this because I never received the fabric.....until today! Check out this lovely stack of fabrics..

Aren't they yummy? They are from the line Millie's Closet by Riley Blake! I have a couple things I want to do with these, but he challenge is to make something that revolves around kids. So, I am going to make a cute little sundress and possibly a hair bow to match! And those of you who know me, I have to make a quilt with the rest of it! I will be working on this project for the next couple days so I can finish it and prepare my blog post for Mom It Forward .....you should check out this site, it is so fun!

Once again, sorry for the lack of posting, but that is going to change....stay tuned for my projects.

Round Robins and such.....

I must tell you that I am super excited for the two Round Robin groups I'm doing this year! You can join too HERE! Anyone is welcome and we will have several ongoing.....come join us.

Anyway, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what I'm considering for the two I have in my hands at the moment.....tell me what you think of the fabric choices...

To start off this is the starter block for the first one....isn't it smashing?

 

Here is some of the fabric I pulled from my stash to add to this starter block. I know the colors are gray and yellow, but we can add what we think would compliment it.....

  

Here is an up close and personal shot of the fabrics..... don't they just say "YES" to you?

Now the next one is from my "free-form" group. These handbags are just CUTE!!! And Jenny said that they would be hanging on the wall in her girls room.....oh the possibilities!

 

So, I pulled some girlie fabrics out and this is what I was thinking....since it's kind of scrappy and all. I may add or take away, I'm just sayin....it's kind of a secret too! 

I love the big bold fabrics....what do you think?

I am making progress, I just pulled these out tonight and will get started this weekend......

End of the Year Giveaway!!!

For the last week of the year I wanted to go out with a BANG! So, I'm giving away 20 Fat Quarters! I'm not sure what line this is from but it was so much fun! Very bright and cheery, just what is in order for these next few cold winter months ahead. Along with the fat quarters I am also going to give the winner a $40 discount on the quilting....if he/she chooses to send it to me to have it quilted. You'll get 20 fat quarters and you'll get the quilt top quilted for the cost of stitching only! This is an incredible savings and I can't wait to see what these beautiful fabrics become!

This giveaway is simple too!

All you have to do is:

Leave me a comment and tell me what you would do with this fabric if you won! 

And...if you want a second chance, you can follow me.....then leave me a comment. 

If you already follow me...then blog about my giveaway.

 

That's it! No long list of to-dos or anything else.

SO....that's it! Also, I will use the random generator to pick the lucky number.  

The number will be picked on January 1st at 10pm PST! I can get it in the mail to you as soon as I get your address. 

Good Luck and Happy Sewing this New Year!! 

DQS11...let the sewing begin!

Idea #2 for DQS11, a photo by HardyPartyof5 on Flickr.

So the Doll Quilt Swap 11 has just begun and I made the cut! Wahoo! I love making these Doll Quilts! For me, I hang them on my wall in my sewing room and I get to enjoy them everyday!

Since I'm busy making 2 commission quilts and setting up my business, I decided that I should do something scrappy! So, I am making a smaller version of my string quilt that I made last year! This is going to be so fun! The harderst part is keeping it under 18 inches.

What do you think?

Via Flickr:
Scrappy strings.....any thoughts?

It's time for SUMMER TIME FUN!

I don't know about you, but around here.....we LOVE Summer Break! And in honor of the coming Summer months, I have decided to have several giveaways! First up are two Charm packs "Summer Breeze" by Sentimental Studios for MODA! Aren't the colors so fresh and fun? I love summer and all the fun colors that come with it.

You can enter to win five times!

1. Leave me a comment and let me know what your plans are with these lovely fabric charms.

2. Like A Desert Quilter on Facebook. ( leave a comment to let me know)

3. Tweet about this giveaway and use the hashtag #adesertquiltersum1 (leave a comment letting me know you did)

4. Become a follower of my blog. (if you already follow, leave a comment too)

5. Blog about it and leave a link so I can check it out! :)

The giveaway will remain open until Wednesday June 15th at 10pm PST.... a winner will be drawn through random generator Thursday Morning June 16th!

To recap, you are not required to enter all five times, I thought I would give several options. I have several giveaways planned...so stay tuned!

Good Luck!

This is pretty amazing!

Okay, so remember this giveaway I mentioned a few days back? Well.....I WON!! I am so shocked! But the coolest part of the whole thing was I instantly thought of the Quilting for Charity group I have and the quilts we're getting assembled this week and quilting and tying them next week. This is such a blessing, because I have already had so much fabric and blocks donated that we are busy cutting them now.  I will be posting pictures of the process and the group of fabulous ladies that get together for the quilting. This is something that just makes my heart warm.....charity is the pure love of Christ and I love seeing so many people being charitable. If you want to join click HERE for more information on our flickr group!

I just love how things work out. Thank you so much Dena!!

Who wants a box of fabric....for FREE??

A fabulous friend.....a sista really...is having a giveaway on her blog! You know that giveaways are fun and we all love them....so head on over to Dena's blog and enter for your chance to win!

CLICK HERE

Looks like a fun box of fabric!

Good Luck!

Lily's quilt along...

i love learning new things and i can't begin to tell you how long i've admired the dresden quilts i've seen and desiring to know how to make them. this morning as i was blog stalking (instead of studying) i came across Lily's new QAL......check it out.....maybe you will do it too! check out the flickr group too!

i'm going to use the fabric below for my dresden and i may add some others too...not sure yet. in any case, i added Lily's button on my sidebar so you can go and check out her info...she has directions and templates to help for every step.  just printed out QAL template 1!  WAHOO!  now, if Cynthia's will call me today and tell me my sewing machine is ready for pick up! ugh.  it's already been 10 days.....i'm having SERIOUS withdrawls. 

oh, and did i mention each person doing the quilt along is entered in a drawing? and can get a discount from simply solids? yeah.....thought i would mention that too!

march is FULL of great giveaways!

i love scraps....and fabric! it's true.....it IS so addicting but i love a chance, any chance to try and add to my stash.....go HERE and you could win these lovely scraps!

i want these scraps!!!

and the WINNER is.......

i put in the numbers 1 through 144 into the random.org generator and one lucky nubmer came up. i tried to post the actual picture of the random.org generator, but was completely unsuccessful.  i need to learn how to use that site in the future because more drawings are coming. the winner is below and the lucky number for the Michael Miller FQ bundle in Red, White and Black is:

                        36

  

             Timestamp: 2011-03-06 05:29:33 UTC



 congratulations heidi! i will email you to get your info so you can receive a lovely package in the mail shortly. here's what heidi said in her comment:

   

36. Digital Misfit said...

"My bedroom/sewing room loft space is decorated in black, gray, red and white, so these FQs are perfect for me!
I would make a minky-backed stole-style quilt to wrap up in while I craft at my table on chilly nights, and to throw over my bed decoratively during the day. Any extra bits would be used for pincushion, needlebook, and other sewing accessories."

march madness GIVEAWAY!!!!

i'm feeling kind of saucy today! it's the first day of March and i am thinking along the lines of "March Madness" here on my blog. i am having my very first giveaway and i think it's a doosey. in the giveaway you have the chance to win 12 Fat Quarters of "Rouge et Noir" by Michael Miller and a 100m spool of red Gutermann thread.

the rules...there are a couple...to be entered into this drawing you can do the following for each chance:

1. leave me a comment and tell me what you would like to do with these FQ's

2. become a follower and leave an additional comment to tell me you did so.(if you already follow...leave me a comment too)

3. blog about my giveaway and leave me a comment with your blog name/post.

simple

i am super excited for one lucky person to receive this bundle and i will use a random generator to pick the lucky number on Sunday. this giveaway closes Saturday night at 9pm (PST).

{ i am able to make a good throw size quilt top with 12 FQ's }

good luck and let's have some fun in March!

all i want to do is sew...

i'm trying to get in the mood, for the fourth time today, to read through my biology lessons. ugh. i tell you, there is a reason i am into english, writing and art. 

anyhow, i am starting today with two new challenges.  this is my first day of the dottie angel challenge, where i pledge to only buy handmade or thrifted items for my house and my closet.  i did have a spectacular find today at a local thrift store....

these were new and still in the box....the best part of it all was it only cost me .99 cents!  now....i'm in search for another set or two...time to change out the old dishes and get something new and fresh, with smaller portion sizes. i love that these bowls and plates are smaller so we won't fill up the plates to capacity each time and over eat.

the next challenge is a craft a day in february.  i decided to do this because i have my dqs10 quilt to finish up, my last two bees that are being neglected tremendously, my old red barn quilt along 9, my urban home goods swap, a quilt that needs to be quilted and three others that need assembling and finishing off. and to top it off, i need to finish assembling my tutorial quilt. **phew** just makes me tired thinking about it.

my three neglected quilts that need assembly.

my dqs10 ready to quilt.

my gorgeous OZ pinwheel quilt waiting for quilting. still not sure if i want to keep the backing fabric to make a skirt and just do a kona solid for the back. decisions decisions..probably why it's not quilted yet.

the rest of my orbc round 9 waiting for the finishing touches.

these two combos will be for my urban home swap..i'm going to make little storage bins...the tutorial is here. aren't they cute?

this beauty is for my tutorial for this quilt that i promised to make.

on top of it all...i have to study for biology and political science...the last of my generals before the fun stuff! wish me luck.  what are you up to this month? and this year?

Urban Home Goods Swap

I discovered this really cool flickr group called { Urban } HOME Goods - a modern swap where we make useful items for the home or person with modern fabrics.  These two pictures are some of the fabrics I'm throwing around and thinking of using.....wonder what my partner thinks of these?

Scraps glorious scraps!

I received a treat in the mail the other day!  Greta had an excess of scraps that she just couldn't bare to look at anymore and asked if anyone wanted some!  The first three peeps to respond got a big bag of scraps sent to them!  How cool is that! Look at all these lovely "fresh" scraps! Thank you Greta!

ORBC Round 9 started....

Sewing my Ticker Tape Quilt Along quilt!

Finished the first section. 

Getting ready to sew section two.  I think that instead of one big quilt, I'm going to make two small/baby size quilts.  I have two sections with stars (above) and two with just solid Kona White.  I'm going to do that because I think it would be more fun!  Besides, they will always come in handy as gifts, or if they turn out good enough, I'll put them up on my etsy shop.  Anyway, how is your ticker tape quilt coming along?



DQS10 Ideas.....

 This is where I'm starting with my fabric choices....what other colors should I do?

I am thinking this is way cute!  I might even change it up a bit....I think I'm going to sketch some more and see what I can come up with...What do you think?

ORBC Round 9 cut, sandwiched and ready to SEW!

I have my four sections ready to start sewing!  I have two tops with stars and two with solid white.  This quilt is supposed to be scrappy, so I used what I had only and didn't buy a thing.  Even some of my batting is pieced together from left over scraps.  I am super excited to start sewing this project.  I think it's going to turn out pretty cool! Have you started yours?

DQS10 Here I come!!

Wahoo!!! I'm just a little excited!  Can you tell?  I made it in this round!  The Doll Quilt Swap 10 is going to be so much fun!  I was in round 9 and had such a great time stalking all the quilts, fabric and partners in question that I am super charged to do it again! 

Here is my mosaic of inspiration....

I keep thinking scrappy and straight lines.....I may change, but this is where I'm starting.....

Gypsy by Felicity Miller...

Gypsy by Felicity Miller for Free Spirit

I'm working on a project and I'm making the pattern to go with it....this is a sneak peak at the fabric I'm using. This is going to be fabulous!