As of today, there are 216 of you officially following.
That's about 211 more than I expected.
And I love it here.
And I love getting to know you all.
And I love fabric.
And I love making things.
I went and visited a very dear friend who recently moved back to this side of the country (where she started) yesterday. I'm making her a quilt (after I finish all 292 of these petals...I'm about 12 down...)
We talked a bit about quilting.
When I was talking with my friend about quilting, I talked about how I think it's a pretty healthy coping mechanism.
It's creative.
It's pretty.
It uses lots of math and problem solving.
It keeps me busy, in the non-drudgery kind of way.
I feel connected (thanks to you all).
It doesn't get UNDONE as soon as it is finished.
I live in the middle of nowhere.
My husband works Lots and lots of hours during the busy season.
Thank you for being my quilty friends.
There are so many of you I'd like to meet in real life.
So, in appreciation.
A little giveaway.
{a Fandango charm pack}
(charm pack purchased from Burgundy Buttons)
*The Guidelines for entering*
- Since this is an appreciation giveaway for my bloggy friends, you must be a follower.
- New followers are of course welcome, but please only follow if you like what you see (no one likes a lemming, right?) ;)
- Leave me a chatty/interactive type comment...I'll reply, even if it takes me a while...(well, that is, as long as you don't have your email blocked.)
- Make sure I can get a hold of you.
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Spray season is winding down (can you hear the angels sing?)
And I'm taking a little break from sewing/blog land to be with the hubs, before the harvester prepping/crawdad fishing starts up.
I'll pick a winner in a week-ish. So you've got some time to come up with a great little chatty type comment.
In the mean time...some of my thoughts.
I've decided to try some embroidery.
All transferred and ready to go! (though I might need to pick up some more floss)
(Pattern here)
My Christmas fabric inspired this:
(I'm hoping it will help me make a decision on my Christmas Bee quilt)
Some summer reading -- thanks for the recommendation Katie!
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Until I see you again (soon I hope) -- thank you for checking in, and good luck with the Fandango!
In the mean time, I'll be having fun with this big guy, and this little guy.
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a P.S.
One of my bloggy friends, "Fuschia," just finished her first quilt after a long break of quilting.
With a little encouragement (I could tell she was dying to get back in to sewing), she whipped this up in four days' time.
And she's giving it to a friend.
Isn't that the way it is with us?
How many of your projects have you actually kept? I still don't have a real-size quilt for myself (though I am planning on remedying that...one of these days.)
Anyway -- go show her some love. I want to keep her
123 comments:
My husband says the same darn thing...He gets so mad when people ask for help to do invitations, creative stuff and I don't charge him....It's hard because some people don't want to pay what it's really worth...everyone wants a "hook-up"....I have four quilts to do by xmas....wish me luck!!
Hi Tracey....I recently began following you on Google Reader and have visited your blog. Quilting keeps me grounded and I can see it does you also. I love fabrics and looking for new patterns.
Love your bird embroidery project...very pretty. Christmas one looks good too!
I'd love to win the Fandango charm pack!
Have fun quilting!
Karen
What a wonderful giveaway! I think your blog is fantastic! And i am loving getting to know you... How far in the middle of no-where do you live? I am a city girl who moved out of the city and it is killing me!!
I went to your friends blog "Fushia" and left a comment. I admire anyone with five children who can find time to quilt. Like all quilters I haven't made one for myself. I even have the fabric but just never get around to it, maybe this will be the year. Love your blog. Sandra
Hey no fake following to get prizes here, I am faithful!! And you will be missed but enjoy the time with the men in your life! Love that pic of the two of them. I think you should make it black and white and blow it up :)
I am an enthusiastic follower of your blog on google reader. It's always so wonderful to see old friends after a long hiatus. So far I have only quilted a wall hanging. It has lots of mistakes, but you can't tell from far away. Now I'm working on piecing a top for a real blanket to quilt as you go. There is such a cathartic rhythm to planning and sewing fabric with pretty designs. Quilters are good people :). It all makes my day! Thanks for a great giveaway!
I have just runaged through 'the stash' looking for fabric for a quilt along. Do i really need to do this quilt along? Not really considering I have plenty of other projects I could do but I found the perfect materials in my stash so am going to plunge in. Its over at Freckled Whimsy. Really excited about it as I had 3 co-ordinating charm packs I can use for it. they have been waiting for such a project. They are printed plaids from Moda from different 3 sisters collections. i also have an April Cornell plaid charm pack. they are a bit darker but think they will be the 'zing' blocks. My solid is white. i even had the forethought a few years earlier to buy enough yardage for this project. gosh it feels great to use it. Thats also why i am excited I think. Who else understands the excitement of a quilt along except another quilter? Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi there, I added your blog to my google reader account about a month ago. I'm really enjoying your posts. I think that you might live very close to a relative of mine - she and her family live about 30 miles south of Chico. Her husband works in the agricultrial field as well. So he is a pretty busy guy this time of year. My daughter and I will be headed that way this Saturday for a family birthday. I actually went to college at Chico and do miss visiting Chico. It is such a special place.
Other reasons why quilting is healthy and a good hobby:
It is easy to set down and pick back up later if you need to go somewhere, or your small child wakes up from a nap.
It costs much less (well, for most of us I hope!) to collect fabric and make stuff with it than it does to regularly buy designer shoes, clothes, bags, etc.
It offers you a wide variety of ways to whip up extra special personalized gifts to those closest to you, for any occasion!
And I should try embroidery sometime. I never have, but I have easily several hundred skeins of DMC embroidery floss handed down to me by my grandmother when her eyesight got too bad to do the hand embroidery, since I was big into cross-stitching at the time. Years later, I have barely put a dent in all of it!
I see something very similar with your choice of reading and your embroidery! I know you probably didn't do that on purpose but it's still funny. And congratulations on having 100+ more followers than you expected. That makes you feel warm and fuzzy huh?
So, since I know you're a quilter, I made a cool calculator recently -this past weekend to be exact- that helps you determine how much fabric you'll need to bind your quilt, how wide to cut your strips and even how long of binding you'll end up with. What's neat is that it's also customizable so if you have an unusually wide or narrow fabric you're cutting it from, you'll get a more reliable number, versus using other ones -that I've come across anyway- because you're able to put in how wide your fabric is, versus having the calculator assume you're using standard width of around 44" wide fabric. There's a link to it on the left sidebar of my blog.. or you can go straight to it at http://www.wamber.com/quilt.php (PS feel free to spread the word, I made this to be used by as many people as possible!)
Officially inspired! I've seen that adorable bird on the branch embroidery several places..but just hadn't taken the time to order. ORDERED!!! i thank you...my husband may not ;)
have a fab summer
p.s. read all the time and enjoy...thanks
Hey Tracey,
I really enjoy your blog and seeing the projects you work on. My favorite post (in the short time that I have been a reader) is your 100ish things about you. It was fun to get to know you more. I agree that quilting is a great outlet for creativity. I love it and can't go very long without making something. Have a great day!
I cannot imagine living in the middle of nowhere myself! I'm a city girl, always have been, always will be. But sometimes I get so envious of people who do live in the country side, the vegetable gardens they have, the flowers, the wild berries, and it sounds so romantic (even though it probably isn't). I started following your blog not too long ago (maybe a couple of months?), but have really enjoyed it so far! Oh yeah, I completely agree, not all addictions are bad, especially when gorgeous fabrics and quilts are involved! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I love the bird embroidery pattern! One of the most cherished things I have from my maternal grandma is a pillowcase she embroidered for me. I was just thinking about trying it myself and teaching my 6 yr old daughter. I'm just not sure about the transferring part of it...
Creating is such a great coping mechanism. Every so often I feel like I HAVE to create something... I just wish I had more time to create...
Thanks for the inspiration and the giveaway. I'm a follower of yours...
It doesn't get UNDONE as soon as it is finished.
Oh so true! I think I understand the early morning working long hours thing. He is working on his dissertation. I am glad he is on vacation so I can now see him, if not in the mornings. Studying At 4:30 in the morning, work and then after school activities, late at night the last few months, really dragged. Especially when the kids didn't get to see him. They work hard. Right?
What do you use as transfer paper? I need to transfer to linen and it is impossible to trace!
A chatty comment, huh? Well we chat all the time now so...um...
How's this: I can't remember how I found your blog, but I do remember most all of our "chats". I don't know how I let you talk me out of my mailing address, but I'll never forget your kindness. I have no idea if I'll ever get to California, or if you'll ever get to Florida (we couldn't be farther apart, could we? lol), but I do know we feel like neighbors.
I love you, girl! Now go kiss those two handsome men. ;)
I love your blog Tracey. I can't wait to see how your Christmas "Bee" is going to turn out. You have me hooked :)
I love that quilting is so mathematical and yet offers you so much freedom. The touch of OCD in me really finds a creative outlet in quilting. Good luck with the embroidery, I detest hand stitching, so I don't see myself picking that up any time soon:)
Oh, and when you mentioned how many quilts you actually keep it got me thinking. I know I have made over 50 now and I think I have one baby quilt and one "I Spy" quilt that I actually made for me. But isn't it just great to see the look on someones face when you give them a quilt you have put your love into. I think is is every bit as good, maybe even better than, having them for yourself.
I have followed you for a while on my google reader, but now offically am a follower. Ok, so my question is how did you already "buy" Fandago from Burgundy Buttons? I looked and I do not see it out yet, if they had it I would jump on it!
I recently found & put your blog in my favorites so today became a "follower". I have recently done a little quilting. I could probably use a better sewing machine but am making do so far. Just finished reading the help about a month ago. It was a great read.
Hi, Tracey! I think it's so cool to see people excited about KarrieLyne's quilt-along - all started by the blocks we've made this month! I may even quilt along with her - good chance to make another Christmas present! I can't wait to see the blocks you made in person - they look great on Flickr!
Your little man Steiger is so cute! How old is he? My granddaughter Lilli is 2 1/2, and she loves our "country living" - we're not really out in the middle of nowhere - shopping is only about ten minutes away - but we're in a rural area kind of off the beaten path. She loves the horses out back, and our friends who have donkeys, and the turkeys that parade through our yard... I bet Steiger loves lots of the same things!
Two things I really agree with from your post - quilting being something that doesn't get UNDONE as soon as it's finished (like laundry!) and about giving away everything you make! My husband is really chapped that we sleep under a store-bought quilt while I've made 26 quilts this year so far - and given all of them away!
Congrats on having more followers than you thought you'd ever have - it doesn't surprise me a bit! You have a really enjoyable blog! Thanks for the chance at a great giveaway - and by the way, I've been a follower for a while..... Later!
I always dreamed of living in the country, but then I came back to CA and my friend moved to the country years later. I came to visit her often and thought about moving thereto be closer to their family but then I just couldn't do it. I can't imagine not being able to go and get what I need when I need it, so we stayed in city and go visit her when we need to get away.
BTW your blog is great! I just found it and the projects you did are beautiful.
Hi TraceyJay! I first learned of you on modabakeshop.com. I loved, and still love, your Bricks in Bloom quilt and will make it one day! Then I was excited and somewhat intimidated that you were also in Bee Splendid! I am a novice quilter so I was quite nervous to be making blocks for others, especially someone with a quilt on modabakeshop.com!!! But one thing I have realized is that this online quilting community is so helpful, so friendly and so encouraging. It has been fun to read your blog and see your your beautiful blocks and quilts. I really identify with your idea that quilting is a healthy coping mechanism. I totally agree! I have had a tough year and a half dealing with the loss of my Mom to cancer and trying to raise my very active toddlers without any family nearby. Quilting has been a way for me to get MY time back into my life. I love the math and problem solving in it that I used to get at work before I became a SAHM. And I LOVE that it does not get undone! As you know with little ones it does not take long for everything in the home to get undone! So I certainly appreciate and identify with the reasons you enjoy quilting! I look forward to keeping up with your blog to see your beautiful work and I will see you over at Bee Splendid!
Hi Tracey, I just found your blog about a month ago and I have really been inspired by your quilts. I learned to sew about a year ago and I just love it. It is something I always saw my grandmother do and she loved it and I think it might just be in my blood. It is very thearpeutic for me. The only problem is I have 3 boys ages 12, 8 and 5. YES my BABY starts Kindergarten in just a few weeks! So not much sewing going on right now....just enjoying my time with him and my other two. My time for sewing will come in a few more weeks when they all start back to school. What in the world am I going to do with myself?? I have been a stay at home mom for 12 YEARS....I am a little sad about this transition but trying to look in a pocitive way so that I am not a basket case. I hope it will be a time to do things/home improvement projects
that I havent had the time to do while they were little.
Anyway, thanks so much for the chance to win the charm pack....I LOVE THEM! I am starting up my fabric stash so they would well used! :)
Oh and p.s. pray for me come August 6th (the first day of school)...I am sure I will be the one mom crying in her car after drop off! :)How do they grow up so quickly?
I really shouldn't enter this giveaway because you know how I am with giveaways. I win a lot and then I have totally weird, totally crappy days. Seriously, I don't know what is with my luck. It's like the Karma Fairy (didn't you know there was a Karma Fairy?) likes to play cruel tricks on me. Ha ha ha, let Kelly win a giveaway and then, ha ha ha, let her son vomit all over her bare feet. Hysterical. Oh well. I really love this line and I really want it! I'm halfway hoping I win and halfway hoping I don't. I think I'll be happy either way. :) Thanks for the giveaway!
Hey Tracy,
I've been following anonymously for about 9 months or so now. I love seeing the things you make, I like the way you use colors. Love your Stars from your last MBS project. I've got a bunch of that Michael Miller Christmas fabric, too! It is so darn cute! I have a pattern picked out with paper pieced trees. So far I've decided where all the colors will go and have printed the papers out, but haven't quite had the courage to get it going. You seem to have conquered paper piecing now! That is such a great pattern! Thanks for sharing your talents and enthusiasms!
What a great give away. I love charm packs, any one. I have been a follower of your blog for a while, and I drop in frequently and enjoy it.
Elaine
I am now a follower. I visit your blog often and don't know why I wasn't a follower already. BTW - one of the cutest babies!!! Reminds me so much of my son when he was a baby. :D
LOVE that quilt you are making. I looked at it long and hard but decided it would be too time consuming.
I have only kept the very first quilt I made (26 years ago!). Now they fly out the door just as soon as I finish them. I am going to remedy that soon. Going to visit your friend's blog too.
I'd love to win some Fandango!
Tracey,
I became a follower back in May for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway - and I've loved keeping up wiht what you're doing. Though I don't know why I haven't commented more - I'll have to be better about that. ;) I love your quilts - they really are artwork.
And good luck with the embroidery - I think you'll love it! :)
PS - Thanks for the chance to win the charm pack. I love Fandango!!!
I adore fandango!!!! I'd love to use it on my bee blocks, it's seriously tempting to stray from the blue/aqua I had planned...decisions decisions!!!
Hi Tracey...I am a new follower and also new to quilting. I started quilting memory quilts for a friend of mine who lost her son and wanted something special done with his clothes. We found a simple, but very cute pattern through sew, mama,sew which worked out great. It is actually a charm square pattern which this fandango pack would work great for! I have made three quilts using this pattern and love it. Thanks for the chance to win and for your great tutorials!
Hello from the hottest city in the US on Tuesday. That's right Frederick MD at 106 made the record book. Hope you and your family are beating the heat. Your blog post was so welcoming, I couldn't help but comment on it. I'm a newbie to your blog and found you through Jaybird Quilts. I have a two year old son, and it seems that craft therapy is good for both of us. I'm fairly new to the quilting realm, but love how you've encouraged your readers to write more about themselves. You have a wonderful blog, where it is interesting to learn about your readers (as well as you) through the comment section too. Thank you for the generous giveaway. Should my number be picked. Please give it to Katie Bishop (commentor #3). She is our minister's wife and a wonderful minister herself, and a great mother! Can I do that, or will the blog police take my needle and thread???
And don't worry about your husband not having a handmade full size quilt yet. Rumor has it, the watchmakers's wife didn't have a watch either.....
I love the embroidery that you are starting. When I get frustrated by my other sewing/crafting projects I always turn to my embroidery for a little peace. The thing I like most about embroidery (unlike crossstitching) is that I don't end up ripping it out.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the sweet giveaway! I'm only a week (more or less) away from giving birth to my first baby. We're so excited, but my hands are so swollen my crafting has been cut down significantly! hehehe I want to make a couple of quilts for Christmas and baby gifts. Any suggestions on quick, fun quilt patterns? Thanks!
Been too hot for sewing this week.... but I have to agree about the blogger community. They are wonderful!
The encouragement, support, assistance, help and just plain fun that I get from everyone never ceases to amaze me.
I won't say I am addicted..... but if I can't check in I start to miss you all! :) :)
Thanks for the great fabric give away. I love Kate Spain and her fabric. She is also SO very nice, I have been lucky enough to chat with her a bit here in blog land.
I love your blog, and I am glad you are having fun with it!
SheilaC
HI Tracey,
I have been a follower and had you on my blog list for a while now.
Quilting is a great hobby/ passion/ addiction - you choose the word that matches you LOL For me it is probably all three of those things and more- Can you ever collect too much fabric and make too many quilts.
Your new embroidery project looks beautiful- I have not done any stitchery projects for a long time- perhaps one day soon. MY mom did lots of beautiful embroidery pieces over time. Unfortunately her hands are not able to manage such tasks any longer. She did beautiful work.
You can find my blog here:
http://quiltmomsjourney.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the chance to win such a pretty charm pack.
Regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
Anna
I follow your blog usually checking it on a nightly basis. I love everything you make and often feel I can relate to you as I grew up in the middle of no where also. I'm very glad that I finally figured out how to follow your blog, and thanks for the give away!
Thank you for the amazing talent that inspires us all! I am a new follower and LOVE LOVE you blog. I check my blog every day to see who have new posts on their blogs. That has become my morning ritual and I am loving your posts. Right now I am doing a lot more looking and drooling over ideas and talent people share. I thought once summer came I would have so much time on my hands to play and sew but it is actually the opposite!
I am cleaning dishes and then an hour later it is time for another meal. It is a never ending battle with 4 boys and one almost a teenager! They are eating me out of house and home!
One of these days I will be back to the sewing table punching out a few projects. But for now, my kids need me to clean up their messes! Ü I love them and will regret one day for ever being upset after cleaning up the flour all over the kitchen tile while watching a 2 year old sliding in it giggling.
May I be back to quilting soon thanks to your inspiration and talent! Thanks!
Hi Tracy! As you are going to get about 216 comments... don't worry about not answering!! I reckon you will have a BIG task ahead if you do! Love Fandango so please put my name in the pool. And, as you know, I am allready a follower (and commenter). Love following you and your cutiepie son!
Already follow you! I'd love to win!
I'm sure your quilt is going to look stunning. But I am not sure whether I will ever be able to do such a one which would need lots of patience and concentration.
I loooooooooove Snow flakes, can't wait to see your finished embroidery projects.
Hi! I check in with you everyday. I am a follower. I am just learning how to quilt. I find blogs give me encouragement to keep learning. I have learned alot from tutorials and tips from everyone. I love seeing all the designs and color combos that I would never think of. It's funny that you want to start embroidery. I haven't done it since I was a kid and my grandma was sitting beside me showing me all the stitches. I have been seeing so many cute embroidery ideas and wondering if it would come back to me. I haven't tried it yet. Keep us up to date on how it is going! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
Hey Tracey,
I love reading your blog and I am definitely inspired by your creativity. By the way, "The Help, is a GREAT book!
Hi Tracey - I have only made two quilts and I love following some blogs as it helps me as I am new to quilting. Thanks for your lovely giveaway and your friends quilt is lovely. I will leave her a comment too.
I am a new follower - Thanks Colleen
Guess I'd have to say embroidery was my first love--my great grandmother taught me. I've got some beautiful hand dyed threads I got from Zarina (a blogger/etsy seller in Malaysia) that I want to use. Embroidery is so soothing, and I love that it can be done while chatting with friends or watching TV. Combining (no not the harvest kind) needle art with applique is the best of two worlds don't you think ;D Gonna check out those links from your post now--have fun with your little bird project.
I've been a follower and I was intrigued by your bio from one world traveling crafter to another. Do you still get any time to travel? And are you enjoying "The Help"? I just finished a book and I need a new one.
Just to say, you are a terible influence! I spent the past day shopping at Fabricshack.com after your Christmas fabric post. I always found thier menus too complicated and difficult, but I think I wadded through thier entire stock over the course of a day.... my cart is full and I am trying to decide to press the buy button or wait till I get back next week.... though it would be nice to come home to a nice package :)
Oh, enjoy your little break! I hope you like The Help. :)
I've been drooling over the Fandango and need to get my hands on some soon, one way or another!
Your blog is one of my favorites. I always look forward to your posts. Thanks for the inspiration!
I've been following a few months now. If i do not sew I get cranky, this is the busiest time of year for me (exception of Christmas) work, birthdays, other stuff and sewing keeps me sane and makes life easier for everyone else as a result. You make so much! I am impressed.
Fandango is such a cheerful fabric line. I read The Help a few weeks ago and loved it. I was raised in a small southern town so could relate. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
My quilts that I am making for myself never seem to get anywhere, there is always another one for someone else that needs to be finished. I love what you said about quilting, it is really my life, I use it as an outlet, I love what I make and what a great stress reliever. I quilt every spare second, before I leave for the day, while dinner is cooking (sometimes, that's not a good idea), and the best weekends are when I have hours. My life is hectic, but thank goodness for my quilting.
Hi! New follower, a friend of Kelly's.....I told her to quit entering these things and let someone else have a chance! LOL! It just leads to bad days for her anyway but she will endure anything to feed her fabric addiction :-)
I agree with you about quilting's benefits....I could be addicted to far worse things. I had a lady at my LQS tell me that it might cost as much as drugs and it takes up far more space....but at least you can stay pretty and produce something and not many drug addicts can do that :-)So fabric is my drug of choice and I am tweeking for a fabric fix! So, off I go today... to quiltshops faraway.... to satisfy THE NEED!
Tracey, thank you for your Fandango giveaway. Have visited your blog before and now follow. The bird on a dogwood branch embroidery is striking. Understand what you mean about farm work. We live on my brother's cattle farm and saw the coolest thing - deer were in the horse pasture eating alongside of the horses! mlwright29 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Hello... I discovered your blog a few weeks ago and became a follower since I liked your style. Thank you for the great giveaway - I have really enjoyed playing with her Verna line.
Chris
P.S. I'm reading The Help as well right now...
I love quilting also. My hubby works alot too and quilting keeps me busy while he's not around. Well I guess my four year old keeps me pretty busy but she likes quilting with me so that makes it even better. I love being able to share my passion with her and her enjoying it! In fact she 'made' her first quilt this week. She collected some squares in a shop hop we did recently and wanted to make a quilt with them. I let her pick fabrics from my stash to border the blocks and after I cut 2 1/2" strips of it she sewed them to her blocks. Well she sewed about half the blocks before she got bored and wanted me to finish it but I think thats pretty impressive for a four year old. We have the top put together now and she is so proud of it. I am going to let her free motion quilt it today, that should be fun. :-)
I have been a follower--thanks for this giveaway!
I've only been following you for a couple months, but I've loved reading over some of you past posts before I saw your first quilt on Moda Bake Shop.
I really love how everyone in the quilting/sewing blog world are always so generous and right there to lend a hand with encouragement, ideas, and help.
I love seeing the quilts you make and I especially love the quilt your son is laying on in your header. The colors are FANTASTIC!
I have not officially been a follower until now, but your blog has been on my favorites list and I have been reading. thanks for the giveaway.
lbroadstreet@tds.net
Thanks for the giveaway!! Ok, I have been wondering what the green vegetation is that you often take your pictures on? Silly question I know, but I really want to know :)
Thank you for the giveaway! I gave away my first two quilts also. I'm making a third one and plan on keeping this one for myself!! :)
Hi,
I love the little bird! I really need to spend more time emboroidering things. I was recently given a whole box of vintage embroidered goods my Aunt and Grandmother made. They are so inspiring.
Amber
You are so very sweet Tracey - thank you for this lovely giveway! I feel the same way about all of my internet friends, who are really strangers, who take time to visit my blog and stop a sec to chat. I enjoy your thoughts and your projects and wish I lived in the middle of nowhere, too, so we could have tea together (or maybe coffee...see, I don't know you that well yet!!) and do some embroidery. The designs you've chosen are great - hope you enjoy it! I LOVE embroidering, especially in summer when it's too hot for larger lap projects.
Have a great holiday with your boys!
Fabulous giveaway! Love this line! I really hope I win. Although I don't need to. I was on a fabric buying freeze for almost a year. I only bought what was necessary for any custom orders or what I had to have to finish a project. Then... I went a bit nutty. Ok, quite nutty. I decided I wanted to get some Katie Jump Rope. It's pretty hard to find. I have been scouring the internet for KJR and some other fabrics I'd like. And, in the course of a few weeks, I spent all of the cash I had hoarded from Christmas & birthday.
This would be fine if we had a huge addition on our house where I could store my fabric. But, I don't. We live in a 900 square foot apartment with two toddlers. Hah! I think my fabric stash takes up more room than my toddlers toys. Now I have to quit buying and start sewing.
I agree with you that not all addictions are bad.
The good thing coming out of this: I'm making a HUGE list of every stinkin' fabric shop out there (big and small) so the next time I'm going on a hunt for some random fabric, I'll have a giant list. One day I'll have to post it on my blog.
Thanks for a great blog! I'll quit lurking and start commenting. :)
I had to chuckle when I saw that you are working on some embroidery as I, too have started to dabble some in that area. I have joined an ornament exchange for this month through Andi @ Laundry on the Line. I started seeing all these really, really intricate and beautiful designed ornaments and decided I HAD TO DO THIS!!! What kind of marker did you use to transfer your design? Did you see all the possible stitches there are in embroidery--it's truly amazing. The few blogs that I have dove into the last week or so said that you can get addicted quickly and I think I am already:)
I see you found my blog; I have been writing pretty much to myself. It's like a journal for me.
I like what you said here about the benefits of quilting. Perhaps is the the math challenges I like about it. I have done several artsy things over the years, taking photography this last semester for example. But so many obvious shapes and patterns in my pictures. At least with this art, shapes and patterns are expected!
I already left a comment, but then realized that my email was blocked. Sorry - I am a newbie to this whole blog/google account thing!
I love your stuff. I live in farmland too and love it. I love looking out my front window and seeing the cows in the neighbors pasture. Today, my little one and I watched a crop duster together out the window... I love quilts too and that's what I do for fun and therapy. :) Thanks for a fun give away.
I've been a follower for a while. I'm afraid the fingers aren't working so well so a real chatty comment isn't possible!
I've been loving your blog for quite a while in reader. I enjoy your quilt designs and the affection you show for your family. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the giveaway! Your little boy is so cute! I don't have any kids, just my nephews and niece, but I love them tons!!! They are all turning one this year! I made one birthday quilt so far, two to go! :)
They do grow up too fast sometimes don't they? My little boys are 6 & 8 now! My hubby has been gone for most of the past 4 months with only 30 some hour visits home. YUCK
Some days I can't tell if I'm coming or going and some days I feel like I need a good cry! sigh.
What do you do to be kind to yourself?
I hope you enjoy the embroidery, I look forward to seeing the end result!
Carolyn
What a fun giveaway! I looked up that fabric line and it is just GORGEOUS. I loves it. Also, I love love your big rainbow dresden. So pretty, it's totally going on my sewing bucket list.
Hi Tracey. I just started following your blog. I love it! I have been scrapbooking and card making for a long time but have just now decided that I NEED to start quilting. It always looked so difficult but the more I look around the more it seems like something I might be able to handle. What do you think?
I would love to start off with an easy quilt but I love that surfer one with the circles you are making. I just might have to start something like that.
Thanks for all your great ideas and tutorials!
Julie
Hi,
I have been a follower for a while. I loved looking at the pictures of your little guy. What a cutie!
I've been following your blog for awhile. Love your new blog banner. I adore that Fandago fabric. I consider myself a newbie quilter although I have been quilting on/off for the last 4 years. Over the last year I have really got the quilt bug. I presently have 4 quilts on the go and a bunch of smaller quilty projects. I enjoy reading your blog and your Steiger is so adorable!
Hi Tracey! I subscribed to your blog awhile ago on my google reader. I don't have a clue where I found you, maybe on Moda Bake Shop. Anyways, I'm a 20 something accountant by day and a beginning quilter in those elusive spare moments. I don't have anyone in my life that sews, let alone quilts, so I discovered that the online quilting community is a great resource to turn to. Thanks for doing what you do! :-)
A chatty comment? Are you really sure?! LOL. Don't get me going or I won't stop.
Let's see, we share a love of all things fabric and I really appreciate the comments that you've left on my blog lately. I'm just starting to really get into blogging and it's hard with all the time it takes. But I'm trying to balance that with blogging, checking out others' blogs, actually sewing and doing something worth blogging about...oh yeah and spending time with my family. My little girl turned 7 months old 2 days ago and I love every day more and more...even though she's teething right now and not always her chipper self. :(
Hmmm...chatty enough. I'll come back if you really want to hear more from me. ;)
Hi, Tracey! I recently found your blog only last week through the Moda Bakery and your color block (?) quilt has inspired me to take a quilting class and rekindle my passion for creating! I love your blog and quilts and stories about your baby (who is SO cute). I have 2 little ones myself (girl & boy) and can't wait to get started making quilts for them :) I hope I'm not too late for the Fandango giveaway...I have a small obsession with fabrics and if I don't win this I will stalk down every last shred of it :) Thanks for sharing your passion and ideas with us!
Ooh, I would love to win that charm pack, it's so pretty!
I am a follower of yours through my Google Reader. I found your blog after admiring your Hunky Dory baby quilt on Flickr. It's inspired me to make one of my own with my treasured Hunky Dory layer cake!
And I love that embroidery you are planning on doing. I really want to do some myself!
So, I just found your blog and giveaway via the new Flickr Giveaway Group and I just have to say that your blog is super lovely. I noticed that y'all are a farming family and was curious to know what part of the country and what type of farming you do? I partly grew up in Central Northern Cali which is a big farming area and was wondering if that was near where you all farmed. I know, that's a totally random question but there is something about farms and farming that makes me think of home. We now live in Vegas so I miss all the wonderful Farmer's Markets, trees and fields. Anywho, enjoy your time with your two guys!
Have a WONDERFUL Day!
~Mary Carole Dolce
I love your fabric choice for your Christmas bee. And I would be totally inspired by that card too and would want a quilt of ornaments and snowflakes to go with it. I love the tree skirt you designed for Moda Bake Shop. I need a new tree skirt because apparently my cat does not like mine. She's peed on it 3 out of 4 years - I thought at first it was a fluke because my dad accidentally closed her bathroom but then she did it again the next year. Now I think it's personal. I just need to convince the hubby that Sparkle All the Way by Robert Kaufman is needed for a tree skirt but I don't know that he'll agree that our tree skirt should include hot pink. How do you conivnce husbands that if you make it, they should just go with your fabric choices?
Also, I'm loving the snowflake and bird embroideries!
How are you enjoying embroidery? I really want to try it, but have been too nervous. Love the look of it though. How do you get so much quilting done? I try and the house falls apart. The house is clean and no sewing gets done? Its so hard to find a balance.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi there!! I am visiting from the new fun flickr group that Heather started - but - I promise I am joining because I want to, not because I want to win your giveaway :) (although I wouldn't complain one little bit if I did). I live in a farming community too - although, not on a farm. I am shy when I first meet people, but this blogging world has made me venture out of my comfort zone!! I just love reading blogs, getting ideas and making new friends. I will be back!!
I love this new line, thank you for giving some it away. I am with you, I absolutely love to cut up fabric and sew it back together again. My family thinks I am a magical fabric ganius!!! I go to my "room" with a bag of fabric and emerge with something special and beautiful. :) I enjoy your blog. It's great to know that their are others out there like me. I teach math, I love to sew, I adore my family and I take on way too much, but you only get one time around so someday I'll sleep.
wow, the fabric you are giving away is so fresh and pretty. I haven't seen it before, thanks so much for the chance to win some!
What a pretty blog you have and you seem to be blessed with gobs of talent and creativity!
Hi Tracey!! thank you for this gorgeous giveaway!
love that fabric :)), and as lately my love for textiles quadrupled:))) I seem to have plenty of ideas for using these fabrics!
love the patern of embroidery, the lovely birds:))
Embroidery was one thing that always made from tiny, first cross point for many years and lately all kinds of embroidery, love it!
a big kiss from Portugal
Isabel
hey! i have actually been reading your blog for a while. i found it through the moda bake shop site. but i just became an official follower. it's just that i don't really know a lot about computers and so i haven't signed up to follow many blogs, even though i visit them regularly. i'm trying to get better at that! anyway, i am a fairly new quilter and i have fallen head over heels in love with it! i am working on a christmas quilt for myself right now. i LOVE decorating for christmas and i use lime greens, fire engine reds and bright whites all over my house. so i chose the 12 days of christmas line by kate spain to do my quilt. i'm so excited by the process of picking or creating a pattern and seeing it all come together. oh, and i love seeing your posts about your little one! how adorable is he?! ... ok, hopefully that wasn't TOO chatty! I love your blog! :)
I Tracey I have been popping over now and again from hulie's blog but now am a follower. I have been quilting a while but in the last year have wandered into the Modern Quilt (or contemporary as Cherri House says) world. Its been really sparking my creativity! Thanks for the give away.
I'm a new follower although I've visited your blog after seeing some of your moda bake shop tutorials. Quilting is so relaxing...I just need to stop buying fabric faster than I can cut it up for quilts, otherwise I'll break the bank soon.
Oh my goodness - I'm amazed by the breadth of your creative skills! I'm a follower through Google Reader and I love your blog!
LOVE Fandango! Nice to find your blog. I'd like to know how you like The Help- it's on my list of books to check out.
I'm loving fandango :) My sister's birthday is tomorrow and I'm way behind on her presnet. Well I got her a couple of Stieg Larsson books but I'm also making her a bag and you can imagine which part I'm behind on. Maybe if I work efficiently today I'll have time tonight to get going on the bday present...
Hi Tracey! I'm a (brand) new follower; but not as a lemming! LOL! I found your through Julie, at jaybird quilts, and I'm glad, because I like your blog! Happy quilting! :)
I've become a follower. I enjoy reading your blog...I grew up on a farm & I am now a retired teacher. I taught Exceptional Children (middle sch) English & math. The embroidery reminds me of my grandmother. I have many dresser scarfs & pillowcases that were made by her. I love them, they bring such good memories of her to mind. My mother taught me to embroider also..at present I am doing a redwork Sunbonnet Sue quilt blocks. I am into too many crafts!!
I am now following you. I am new to quilting - very new and I find your blog and many others very inspiring. I would have never thought that I could have taught myself to quilt or sew then enter in blogs, tutorials youtube sewing videos, etc. I can't believe what I have already be able to do because of folks like yourself taking the time to put info into your blog.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU from a rookie!
Hi Tracey!
Hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer!
I am the daughter of a Kansas wheat farmer, now living in Montana, near more wheat country!
Country/Farm life is the Best! My husband is an electrician(we are both retired now)and though we are not farmers, we live in the country and love it!
I am new to quilting and have just found your inspiring Blog! I have become a Follower! My interest is mostly in small wall hangings. I have done lots of crib quilts though,for our 'Unwed Moms' group through our Church.I love to do both hand and machine quilting. Probably will do more machine work in the future. I love hand embroidery too and admire yours as well.It is so informative to read of your ideas-Thank you for sharing,Love Linda
jldouglas@wispwest.net
Hi Tracey!
Are you loving "The Help"? It is quite possibly one of the best books I've ever read, I totally love it. I just found you through this giveaway, but I'm glad I did, I really like the look of your blog and your writing style too! And I'm in the midst of making my first real quilt for myself at the moment, just a simple scrappy 9-patch. What an awesome giveaway, too! I love Kate Spain! :)
What a very nice giveaway! I have seen you all over the place! And so I am now glad I found you and will add you to my blog roll! I want to make that type of quilt you are making, the clemenitines or something. Did you make your own leaves or did you use a pattern? That is on my todo list soon.
Hi Tracy! I just started following your blog. I thought I already was but I guess not. I love your embroidery patterns your working on.
thanks for hosting the giveaway. the birdie embroidery look like it'll take out pretty. i have been wanting to start a quilt for a long long time, or just a miniquilt i can use as table runner, or even a tiny one for a potholder, hopefully i can get one done before this year ends. your son is adorable :D any halloween costume ideas?
You know what? I think quilting saved my sanity too. 3 weeks before my baby was born we moved away from our family and friends for my fellas work. I work from home so, There I was, home with the baby all day every day. new town, no friends. Going a little bit more insane each day. I started a quilting class of a monday evening and now, LOTS of new friends, a hobby that has taken over (in a good way) and the endless encouragment from the internet!
I am alot more happier and emotionally healthy now for sure!
I understand how you must feel with your little fella in the middle of nowhere.
Lucky there is the Blogiverse!
I just signed up as an official follower but I have been lurking for some time now!! I love all your quilts and of course the kid pictures!! I am a grandma wanna-be!! I love quilting and blogging for different reasons than you...I now have an empty nest..I couldn't imagine living my life without my girls but... what can I say...they have flown the coop!! YIKES! Quilting and my blogging pals have gotten me over the empty-nester ho-hums and into the Quilting HI HOs!! LOVE it!! So I look forward to following you and your busy life on a daily basis!! Take care!
Paulette
I am new but I looked around as you suggested and I do like what I see. I particularly like your "about me", it made me smile. What sort of farm is your family on?
I also wanted to throw in that I havent seen this particular charm set before but I love the name. One of the ferret shows that I show my two boys in is called the "Ferret Fandango"
I love quilting and seem to always have multiple projects going on. Why is it we can't just do one and get it done? I loved reading your blog. It's so 'comfortable'. Sounds crazy? I just like being there. Thanks for letting me in.
I've been reading your blog for a while now and look forward to it. You make living in the country seem comfortable. I left he country many years ago and never looked back but enjoy seeing it through your eyes. Quilting is the one thing that unites us all no matter where we live. I really enjoy seeing what you're making and reading your tutorials. Oh and I'd love to win the charm pack!
Hi Tracey! When I told my mom about our Bee Splendid bee and all the multiple names she laughed. When I told her the other Tracey also had an e in it she said, "Her mom must be smart too!" Love folling your blog and I'm looking forward to getting to know you better over then next year and a half of Bee Splendid. I'm thinking about using Fandango in Karrie's QAL to get a few Christmas presents finished early.
I didn't realize I wasn't following before--problem fixed! I'm thinking that I need to start hand embroidery now :) You know, to complement the quilting!
Hi Tracey,
I'm new to your blog, since I just found it online. I like your quilts and as an appliquer I just took a peek at your applique tutorial. I belong to a small applique group and even though we all do things a bit different, it's fun to learn from one another. I'll enjoy looking at your blog and getting inspired.
I love your blog...I quilt but the only connection i have ever had with it is with my mother in law...it is so great to find other moms with young kids who still find time to quilt and enjoy it...but still have a very busy life. Thank you for all your inspirations...love it! Any ideas on fabric for a boy quilt...I have a new nephew coming in October...and I am stumped???
I just found your blog today, but I really like what I'm seeing. :) What made you decide to do the Etsy shop? I have been considering it, but I don't know if anyone would find it or buy anything, LOL. I guess I just need to post the few things I have to test the waters. I've sold a few things locally through a little consignment shop, but not much.
I'm a new follower. I love the inspiration I get from reading blogs ...and yours is verrry inspiring!
Thanks for the chance at a great giveaway!
Hi, I really like your work. I quilt and embroider as well. thanks for the giveaway!
Loving what I see here - no fake "follower." Until recently, I didn't even know that I had to click on something to be a true follower of a blog! Does that show my age? I just pop in regularly to see what's new.
I have so many projects on my sewing table, UFOs in my closet, and designs in my head and on paper I could do it full time. Unfortunately, my family needs some sort of financial support, as does my fabric habit.
I'm excited about the Fandango charm pack. Pink has not historically been one of my favorites (I know, take away my girl card), but the brighter, less girly and more in-your-face shades are really growing on me. This will be just the thing to play with!
I love the little birdie. I find it sew hard to pick colors for my embroidery pieces then to actually figure out what I am going to do with them when I finish. I have made pillows and door hangings and quilt blocks too, i have some that I have done recently that I have yet to complete. I love your creations and would love to quit work too!
I love your work a lot!And this giveaway is great! Here in Brasil we don't have a lot of chance to find MOda fabric or any other american and when we do,they're really expensive. The Brazilian ones are not as beautiful.You can see what I do at flickr.com/coisasdalaura.
Hi Tracey...I love your work! You have a wonderful blog and give so many people inspiration for new projects! So far I've only made 3 quilts (all by hand..even the piecing)...all for my nieces/nephews so I don't have any in my house. My MIL made me learn by hand before she would teach me how to use the machine...I've graduated to piecing with the machine, but I will continue to quilt by hand because I love that part! I work full time, have two kids, love to scrapbook, make cakes, and quilt among other things so my quilting goes on a off. But this year I started a block of the month club with a gal at work and am back into quilting on a regular basis. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I got back into it. Thanks for the inspiration...and you son is absolutely adorable!! Take care...I'll be checking often :)
Following away.....I dont live in the middle of nowhere but I love reading blogs because none of my friends are quilters. I love being able to see what other people are doing and sharing my little projects. Its like having your own personal community...people to turn to when your projects are failing and people to show off you favourite creations to!
Hi Tracey - you're my first "followed" blog. I check in with lots, but took the plunge to become an official followerer with you - couldn't pass up the chance to snag that awesome charm pack. I've been quilting for years and love it as a way to be creative and make things for people I care about. Your recent post about the pillow you made as a wedding gift has inspired me to try my hand at half square triangles. I've yet to use any of the precuts from Moda, would love to get started on my 1/2 square triangles with a charm pack. Love checking in with you and seeing all your great projects and watching your boy grow up.
Hey - Tracey
LOVE the giveaway for the charm pack. I just became a follower - as I am a little slow in blogland keeping up with everyone in our Bee Splendid group. I just got back from a great weekend in Sister's - loved seeing all of the quilts & the shopping of course. I am getting ready to leave for Houston on Sunday & your embroidery projects reminded me that I should take my Leann's House project with me to work on. I have a 4 or 5 hr layover in Seattle - major yuck! Thats what I get for living in a small town. Enjoy your break with your family - I think they are starting harvest Aug 1st around here. Fun fun....
I completely agree about quilting being a great healthy coping mechanism. And the blog community has made it a social connection again. Quilting, sewing hexagons and reading quilt blogs are my favorite ways to bust stress or feel productive.
Have fun with your guys!
I have heard about you multiple times, and figured that I would go ahead and give you a visit. Lucky me that my first visit would bring me an encounter with a giveaway!
You have a wonderful blog. And the embroidery in this post is gorgeous! I love embroidered birds and animals. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)
I will say that I've been through some trauma these past few months, and quilting has kept me in this 'world' and not in my head greiving. Quilting is a great tool in comfort and soothing the sould.
I would love to hear how you like that book, "The Help". I just grabbed the audio version from the library, but I don't know if I want to invest the time into listening to it.
Hi! I'm giving this a shot because I don't see a winner up yet. Just found your blog via Jaybird quilts and just getting around to visiting all her giveaways!! I'm a quilter who has a lot of different quilts in the works and love working on them. I've just had major surgery and was out of commission the month of June/July. It will be good to get back to normal. I'm planning our 30th wedding anniversary trip for next month and am VERY excited. I hope I'm well enough to travel! Thanks for the Fandango giveaway; love the fabric!
Oh, so pretty! I love your blog - I'm a follower now :) I would love to find more time for quilting/sewing, but the full-time job makes that a little hard sometimes, plus the 2 rugrats, lol! Best wishes!
I'm just getting back into quilting, so lately it's been making for specific things, but I'm working on a double Irish chain right now which is all for me!
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