Pillow talk swap...check.

• If you're here for the Garden Stars and Stripes Memorial Day Auction, go here.  (Closes Tuesday)
• If you're here for the Layer cake Giveaway, go here

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It's finished!

Fits a 24" pillow form.  Made using the template from this pattern, by Amber.  Being sent to its new home Tuesday (Mailbox is closed Monday).

What I love about this pillow:

- The interplay of focal prints and negative space.

- The way the coal grounds the corners

- The design shape

- The fact that it represents 7 different fabric collections, plus 3 solids (4 if you count the back)

- The fussy cutting

- That, in my opinion, taking a risk paid off

- The fact that I can't decide which is my favorite block.  

What I don't love about this pillow

- A couple of my seams didn't line up.

- In order to make it fit nicely on the 24" pillow form, I had to add extra seam allowance on the outside... which cuts off some of the medallion

That's about all I don't love about this pillow.  

Oh, that and the fact that I don't get to keep it.  (But I've started on one for my house already).

Oh, here's something else I don't love.  I am not very spatially intelligent (some might say I could get lost in my driveway...) and though I got my fussy-cutting in the right spot, and in the right direction... my envelope flap closes from the bottom... Hope my partner doesn't mind. I think the little strip of Hope Valley more than makes up for it.

What do you all think?  

It's coming. :)

• If you're here for the Garden Stars and Stripes Memorial Day Auction, go here.
• If you're here for the Layer cake Giveaway, go here.

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OK, for those who stuck around, I wanted to show you Kristen's pillow she won  -- before it goes in the mail today.  

It's coming Kristen!  I promise! :)

The pillow fits on an 18" pillow form (maybe a little too tightly...but it fits!)

I stippled around the Dresden plate, but left the Little Folks unquilted... it was already lying so nicely... I just let it lie... so to speak.  

The back uses the same linen blend as the front, with a small quilted band.   

Kristen... may it bring you much of this...

(Oh, and Kristen, I am so joining you in your Dresden Plate Party)

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(If you're inquiring as to the sign -- I got it here.)

To remember -- a quilt auction -- Closed

(If you're looking for the giveaway, scroll down or click here)


It's Memorial Day weekend, and while for some of us that means a trip to the lake, time to pull out the white capris and flip-flops, a very needed and appreciated day off, or a chance to light up the BBQ, for others it has a much deeper significance.  

Operation Family Fund is an organization whose mission (from their website) is to "assist the injured and families of the those who have been injured or killed as a part of the Global War on Terrorism, whether domestic or abroad, military or civilian, with financial grants for transitioning to their new circumstances and achieving financial self-sufficiency" (www.operationfamilyfund.org)  


They are staffed by volunteers, with low overhead -- All donations go directly to the families needing help.  


Because I made two "Garden Stars and Stripes" runners, I am blog-auctioning one of them, and asking my fellow quilt and fabric-lovers to consider donating to this organization.  


To sign up for the auction -- let me know which runner you would like (Option 1 - pieced border or Option 2 - woven border), and your bid amount.  You can also leave a comment if you leave a donation to the site (it's easy -- they even take paypal).

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and a big thank you to all our Veterans, Soldiers, and Warrior Families!  

I'm starting the bid at $50.

Auction closes at 6:oo PM PST on Tuesday, June 1.

(Make sure I have a way to get a hold of you)

Happy Memorial Day!

(If you'd like to see the tutorial for this quilt, it's over in the Bake shop...

and show off your finishes here at Amy's Sew & Tell)

Garden Stars Layer Cake Giveaway! - closed

I've got a new Bake Shop Quilt...


Meet Garden Stars and Stripes. 


(If you're looking for the Auction, go here.)

To celebrate, Leah, at Burgundy Buttons, is sponsoring a giveaway for you all!  

If you saw my guest blogger write-up, you know that I have quite a crush on Burgundy Buttons.  I can't help it really... The home page to Leah's store says "Where Every Day is a Sale Day," and that is no exaggeration.  She keeps her prices 15-30% lower than most other places... and she still offers discounts on top of that!  (Use code "traceyjay" on sales through Tuesday, June 1 for an additional 10% off).  


Her selection is great, and if you ask her about a particular something you've just got to have, she will email you as soon as she lists it... 


Up for grabs today is a Rural Jardin layer cake!  

*The Layer Cake is the only part of the giveaway.

This is the pre-cut featured in my Garden Stars and Stripes quilts, posted over on the Moda Bake Shop.  

Here's how to enter: 

 (Leave a separate comment on this post for each entry)

1) Sign up to follow Leah's blog, and let me know!

2) Sign up for Leah's newsletter (it's in the left column). 

3) Make a bid on Garden Stars Auction quilt, or make a donation of $5 or more to Operation Family Fund, and let me know!

4) Blog about the Garden Stars Quilt Auction, and leave me a link.  

5) Last -- IF you like my blog, follow me too.  And leave me a comment to let me know.  

Thanks for playing, good luck, and make sure I have a way to get a hold of you!

Don't forget, use code "traceyjay" for an extra 10% off at Burgundy Buttons!

A winner will be chosen randomly on Tuesday, June 1!  Enjoy your holiday weekend!  (I'm hoping the hubs will get the day off...it's rather wishful thinking this time of year, but I'm hoping nonetheless)

Crazy Hunky Dory

I'm a guest blogger today!  Yahoo!

A long time ago, Leah over at Burgundy Buttons, sent out a call to quilters to send in our designs.

I had to take her up on the offer (store credit is hard to pass up)... and here is my first little featurette.

Hope you enjoy. :)

This quilt is for sale if you love it and don't want to make your own.  

The binding is Nicey Jane.  I'm working on a tutorial for continuous bias binding (the only way I've been making binding lately)... in the mean time, you can use this one. 

An out-take. 

Every time... EVERY TIME... I put a quilt or fabric on the ground, Steiger crawls, (or walks now) over, gets on it, spins brodies, picks it up, turns it over, throws it around... whatever.  Maybe he has his mama's love of fabric???  (Shhhhh....don't tell his dad). ;)

(ignore the random duster/kettlebell/baby lotion/lego in the background...Leah did warn you I was crazy, after all)

Pillow progress

I began the quilting last night.  Even though I should have been working on something else (Come back this Wednesday).

I'm having too much fun with these pillows.

I used the template from this pattern (Mod Medallions by Gigi 's Thimble), and then modified it a bit.

These fabrics were completely not something I'd normally choose (and a few of them were new additions), but I am thrilled with how it is turning out.  This pillow will be hard to part with... but part with it I will, as it was so personalized for its recipient.

My favorite block is that corner one with the Hope Valley and Woodland Bloom.

Steiger likes it too.

The tree is my other favorite block.  

And the center one.

And those Freebird eggs on Hope Valley.

Bloggers' Quilt Festival!

It's time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival! :)

This is Steiger... on Steiger's quilt.  (You can also see his cuteness in my header).

You've seen this before.  

And can see some of the process here.

The sashing is Kona Chocolate.  The Fabrics are mostly by Amy Schimler (Animal Party and Forest Fun).

I picked some random tonals to complement the focal fabrics. 

Natalia quilted circles all over it... (I was too afraid of the minky backing)

The blocks were modified from a pattern called "Box Step"  (which I can't find a link to at the moment)

Here he is on his birthday... checking it out...

And walking away...

This is a picture of him I took yesterday!  I can't believe he's getting so big!

*sigh*  I wish we were all going to Market...

#215 -- You're the winner!

Congratulations Kristen! :)  


(You can find Kristen here)




 Kristen said...

This Little folks Dresden is fabulous! An linen would be an amazing match! I love Dresden plates

May 19, 2010 12:45 PM

 Kristen said...

I just became a follower. You have an amazing taste in fabric and project styles.

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*blushing*


 And for the record, it was Mr. Random Generator that picked her... not the fact that she thinks I have good taste. ;)

Give me about a week.

And to the rest of y'all... Thank you for coming by!  Please continue to leave comments and links back to your blogs... I blog so I can share my hobby with the outside world (let's face it... farmers and fabric just don't mix... though the hubs did get my very first real completed quilt, and he does *try* to act interested...)  

Thank you all again! :)

- Tracey

WIP Wednesday... yep...another pillow

Pillows are making me happy lately.

They're a small project where you can try something new and really be creative, yet not invest too much time, money, or precious stash.

Because the fabric I ordered as the rest of my birthday present finally showed up this morning after a delay (I will be buying the insurance next time), I'm back to work on my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap.

The fabrics are not a typical choice for me, but I think it's going to work.  A bit off-beat, but I hope still harmonious enough to make my partner happy.

(Here's a bit closer of a sneak-peek)

And if you haven't entered my giveaway yet, you have until tomorrow to do so!  Thanks for all the pillow love. :)

May Giveaway Day! -- closed

Sew Mama Sew is sponsoring Giveaway Day, and we're taking part!

If you're familiar with this place, you know I've been busy working for the Pillow Talk Swap.

It inspired me, and I'm giving away a Dresden plate pillow cover! 

Here's one I'm currently working on (you can ask for this one if you're the winner... It's made in Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voile, on a linen-blend base)

Here's another one I recently completed, (for sale here), showing what can be done with a more limited palette.  

For this giveaway... you get some say...Hooray!  

(yes, I'm a poet and a quilter)

How to enter:

1)  Leave a comment answering the following questions:

- Little folks Dresden or custom?

- Color(s)?

- Base color? (can be linen)

- A little piece of chit-chat:

2)  If, (and only if), you like what you see here, become a follower.  Let me know in a separate comment that you're following, and something here you liked (even if it's just my cute hubby son).  

3)  If you buy something from my new shop, I'll give you 10 entries...but you don't need to leave me an extra comment... trust me, I'll know.

Simple as that.

I will choose a winner randomly on May 20.  

Good luck!

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Disclaimers:

- If you ask for a custom pillow, it will take a bit longer to get to you than the one pictured above which I already have nearly complete

- If the boy doesn't take good naps, it could take even a little bit longer than that... he just broke 2 new teeth through (making 10), so we *should* be good for a while

- I plan to use fabric from my stash, and don't have a lot of purple, so you might not want to pick purple

- You can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

A pillow in green

I signed up for the pillow talk swap, and wanted to make a practice pillow first. 

I bought a Dresden plate ruler last week, and also wanted to practice with it. 

A great match, methinks

I quilted circles in the center, around each blade, and vertical lines on the base fabric.

Here's the back -- an envelope closure with a small quilted band

And on the sofa (where you can really see the quilting)

(This pillow cover is for sale if you're interested)

And my cute boy who likes wearing Daddy's hats (he put this on himself).

And here he is again.

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Don't forget to come back Monday for a giveaway!

Come back Monday!

It's Giveaway Day at Sew, Mama Sew!

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(I've got a couple finishes to show you too)

And I promised some pictures of Steiger's hair-cut... these aren't the greatest...so I s'pose I'll have to post more later.