Midweek Random Review

I wanted to do a collage this week of the different quilts that I have made as samples

for Fat Quarter Shop.

I had been feeling very unproductive lately...

I lost a little steam.

So looking back... this made me feel a little bit better.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make this into a collage for some 

reason... so it will just be a photo tour instead!

These are all kits that are still available... however there are

a couple that have just one or two kits left.

I know this is not as good as being at Market and seeing what is 

hot off the press but maybe it will pacify us until we start seeing

what is going on at Market!

This is the same quilt that is the Peach Blossom kit above.

Made with Sherri's pattern Shine. 

I had taught a class and Cathy got hers finished and now quilted...

so I had to share it with you! (thanks Cathy)

Here is another quilt...

from a class I taught. Dianne made this and shared it 

yesterday! I love this Churn Dash.

It had been a project from Missouri Star Quilt Co. video on You Tube.

Dianne used a bunch of her older Fig Tree fabrics... I just love it!

I know I have a bunch of FT fabrics in my stash I could use to make one of my own!

Let's see... oh yeah, last week I was in a car accident (without injury)

and it has left me pretty shook up. Over the weekend I wouldn't even

answer the phone. I picked up the phone once but I just didn't say 

anything... and then finally I hung up. 

Thankfully it was Mother's Day on Sunday and I

had a little family & friend time... 

which always helps me feel 

balanced. 

Here is a little something I started.

This morning.

Maybe starting a little easy project will help me get back into a "groove".

I also have to admit that I am really upset with myself for not being good at answering

comments. I read them (usually always while I am at work) and I enjoy connecting

with you but I am just darn bad at writing back because I try to do that later.

Do you ever feel like that?

Midweek Mosaic: Simple Appeal

(photos by Brent Kane for Martingale)

One of my all time favorite designers is Kim Diehl.

She has a wonderful style! 

It is possible that I own every one of her books...

and her new one is a must have too!

It is packed with at least 14 projects and is full of

helpful hints and ideas for you too.

It's called Simple Appeal.

Published by That Patchwork Place.

I love the quilts that are in the collage!

Especially the penny rug and the one in the bottom left corner.

Her scrappy fabrics combined with applique make 

up into sweet and charming quilts.

If you have never tried one of her patterns before I am sure 

you will enjoy them. 

In Simple Appeal,

Kim will teach you traditional techniques along with

 invisible machine applique, and

also wool applique on cotton backgrounds.

I have never taken a class from her

 but I have one friend who did and loved it.

To get a glimpse into her world you might

want to watch a

 a 3 part interview on Fons and Porter 

Quilting with the Stars series. 

If you watch the video what a sweet person she is...

and what a fun approach she has to making her quilts.

I have a little confession...

her books can be found  more often in my bedroom than in my sewing room.

I just love to look a the quilts and the photography as I turn in for the night!

That's a great endorsement isn't it?

You can find a copy at Martingale or also at Amazon.

and um, well, Connecting Threads has it too... and for 33% off!

Mini Winners and A New Quilt Along Shout Out

Mini winners?

No, you are all big winners!

I hope everyone enjoyed the fun little parade.

I really loved seeing what everyone did with the

pattern(s) they picked!

If you didn't already know... Sherri does these mini's as a

monthly parade on her blog, A Quilting Life.

I haven't played along yet and if you haven't I hope this little

parade caught your interest and hopefully you will

give it a try! Camille seems to be on a roll producing 

these sweet little mini's!

So let's find out who the randomly chosen prize winners are!

From Sherri's parade:

Carol is the winner of a special prize pak from Camille!

From my parade the special prize pak will go to...

Mary... Needled Mom!

Congratulations ladies! Send me an Email with your addresses so

I can forward them on to Camille!

Next winner is from my parade... and

it is: Peggy at Stitchin with Peg blog.

Sherri has  special giveaway goodies for you!

Mindy won a prize from me here at Pink Pincushion.

I am sending her a perfect little sewing lamp like the one

Carrie uses!

I had to give it a try so

I bought two of them... one for me and one to share!

Isn't it a fun little lamp?

(photo swiped from Carrie's blog where she writes about it)

Now, there is a new little sew along that is going to be starting and Tilda

at Huckleberry Stitches blog

asked me to share the information for it with you...

It will be going on through the summer...

and she has picked patterns from Prairie Children and Their Quilts

by Kathleen Tracy.

This first project will be a log cabin.

They are beautiful small quilts... easy enough to fit 

into your summer schedule right?

Hop on over to Tilda's blog today... 

she will be explaining more about it.

Saffron Safari

She is finished! 

Star Blossoms by Thimble Blossoms has the outside border on now!

I am pretty happy about this quilt!

I am actually calling it the Saffron Safari.

My son's in-laws went on a very magical trip to India this year and

that was the name of their group. It was no ordinary tour I assure

you... so the amazing stories they had shared 

of the trip kept running through my head as I 

worked on this quilt.

Similarly it has been a fun journey in itself 

working on this quilt

with Thelma at Cupcake n Daisies.

It started out with a barter... which led to a project...

and even though we say we worked on this "together", 

it has been more or less a game of tag.

She went out of town... I started prepping and cutting my 

fabrics... then I went out of town... and she was back in her sewing room...

I had a setback... 

 this went on and on like that and

amazingly, we are able to share our finished quilts with you at

the same time! Thelma is posting about her sweet Star Blossoms

quilt today too! 

I was inspired by the elephants that I heard about

 and that is how I decided to turn my 

"mistake" (reversed geese) into the border to

 represent the decorated elephants... 

marching around the quilt.

I found this photo just now that resembles the picture I had in my head.