Juicy Bits

109: no restraint

I can't help myself.  I remember being younger and being amazed how much fabric my Aunt could buy before using all her other stuff...but now I'm just the same.

Anyway, I was working on a project recently and wanted a little bit of a solid fabric to go with it, and I discovered I really don't have any.  Literally, I had like 6 different pieces of solid color cotton and considering how I have hundreds of prints...that was just a shame.

So when another blogger posted about Kona solids at Fabricshack.com for $3.99, I decided the time had come.  And I ordered a whole palette.  Apparently I kinda focused on blue.  I'll have to balance it more later.  

It's so fun to look at all the colors and to know when I go looking for something, I might actually have something usable in my stash.

Some of the colors were strange...which, of course, I expected.  I think my least favorite is "pistachio".  And I must say "denim" is not remotely denim colored (although it's a pretty enough blue).  The lovely people at Fabric Shack were kinda enough to label all the colors as I had requested.  Coal, teal blue, chartreuse, and squash are just yummy!

JT

108: thirteenth try's a charm

Yup, that's how many times I had to try my little giveaway winner choosing scheme before I got an actual winner.  I wasn't anticipating quite so much work...

A couple of observations:

1.  There seem to be a lot of Jessicas who read my blog.  I know there are a ton of us out there, but at least 3 times a Jessica was chosen but they hadn't entered the giveaway.  I had to double check all the Jessicas who DID enter the giveaway to make sure they weren't the same person.

2.  I think I scared a lot of would-be enterers away with my fancy scheme.  More people de-lurked and said hello in post #103 than entered the giveaway.  And several times a name came up of a regular commenter that I recognized, but they hadn't entered.  :(  I won't mention who it was so you don't feel bad.  And next time, I guess I'll do the giveaway the regular way....

OK so without any further ado...dum dah dah dum....

The grand prize winner is Doris at Threads of Conversation.  Doris has be a loyal reader and commenter for quite some time, so while I wish I could send a quilt to all you nice people, at least I know this one will have a good home.  Doris said: " love it...esp. with the frayed edges!  I would have liked to see you buying the extra big jeans...it paints a great picture!"

The two runners up are:

Tiffany from the giveaway post #107.  Tiffany said: " Great idea for a quilt - I'm gonna look at my goodwill for huge jeans too!  They already think I'm crazy so I'll just add to the mystery :)  How fun!"

and

Karen from the gearing up for giveaway post #103.  Karen said: " found your blog last December when looking for a pattern for felt crowns and found your tutorial.  I made a whole 5th birthday party full of them--8 in all.  I have enjoyed reading your posts ever since!

Thanks!"

So congrats to you three winners.  I'll be emailing you for your snail mail addresses.

Sorry for the picture-less post.  I didn't want to wait to post this and I need to get my act together with more pictures I haven't processed yet.

JT

107: here come the goodies

That's right....finally the giveaway post.

And here's the quilt in all it's glory.

Several people guessed what the pattern would be.  I saw it at this tutorial.  I didn't particularly follow the directions, but used the general idea.  It has no batting and is made from circles of recycled jeans with fabric inset.

Not MY jeans mind you...but someone's.  I didn't want to do very small squares because of time limitations, so I had to go to the thrift store and buy the biggest jeans I could find.  The sales people though I was crazy as I could literally fit in one leg of some of them.  But I didn't want to pull off pockets and such and have them have changes in color.

The instructions recommended zig-zagging the edges but I really wanted the frayed denim edges.  That means this quilt is by no means a study in perfect sewing.  I washed it again after I was finished sewing and had to go back and re-sew the edges that frayed a little too much.  I suspect the new owner may have to do that as well during it's lifetime.  

But I like the rough-around-the-edges look.  It feels like a great picnic blanket.  And I think it will get better with age.  Sorry I can't get it to your for possible 4th of July picnics.  :(

So, "how do I win such a beauty?", you ask.  Well, if you've never before commented on my site, you can't.  Sorry to new readers!  I'm not doing it that way to be elitist, but since it's a whole quilt I wanted it to be somebody who's not just passing through for a giveaway.  Hopefully whoever gets it will really love it and use it.

But don't fret if you are a lurker.  I have consolation prizes.  There are two sets that come with: handmade zippered pouch, three fun, bright fat quarters, six 8 1/2" squares of recycled denim, and a little flower I crocheted (I didn't attach them to the pouches but that certainly might be cute).  I will be givng one of these prizes randomly to someone who leaves a comment on this post and one to someone who has already left a comment on this previous post where I drew out all the lurkers.

My method for the grand prize selection is this: 

1. Randomly pick a number between 1 and 106 (the number of posts before this)

2. Randomly pick a number between 1 and the number of comments on that post (comments left after now won't count)

3. Check to see if that commenter also entered by leaving a comment on THIS post

4. Repeat as necessary to find a winner

So, you have to leave a comment here to win.  I won't be overly picky about what you say.  If you want to be fun, you can send me your favorite cookie recipe.  I'm particularly interested in finding a good shortbread-like sugar cookie recipe for big, thick cutouts.  I bought the most amazing ones for Easter with a slightly lemon frosting that I'm hoping to re-create.  I'll leave the contest open until Tuesday at midnight, just in case some of you are too occupied with the holiday.

AND....if you can be the first to tell me where I can buy PEACH colored raffia, I will make a special prize just for you.  It has to be peach, not coral, or orange, or terra cotta, which I already have.

**** UPDATE: I should have mentioned I'm looking for synthetic raffia!

So good luck to you all.

You should know I appreciate all my readers so much.  When I started this all a year ago I never knew how much fulfillment I would get from sharing with you and getting to know you too.  A whole year....wow.

JT

106: doing things backwards

So I realized this new obsession with crochet is causing me to do things a little backwards.  I probably shouldn't be crocheting hats and scarves in this gorgeous summer weather.  I should be focusing on things like a light airy pillowcase dress (coming soon).

But, I've completed the companion scarf to the one I made for Aurora.  It didn't really come out any wider even though I added a row, because I think I was just crocheting way to tight.  Oh well.  I did make it quite a bit longer than the original so I can wrap it around a few more times.

Then I made a hat to go with it.  But, sadly I didn't have quite enough yarn.  I'm going to buy some more and make a matching one for Aurora too.  I used this pattern.  But it is no where near "deep" enough so I have to keep adding a few more rows.  And I plan on adding a green flower to make it go with the scarf.

Next up, a blanket!

Oh, do any of you readers out there live here in NJ?  If you're interested, I'm teaching a quilting/sewing workshop on July 10.  Basically it's a work-on-whatever-you-want day.  Some students will be working on a log cabin quilt, but it's open to any kind of sewing that you want to work on or need help with.  It will be a fun day to hang out, so check out www.jointure.org if you are interested.  I'd love to meet you...

jess

105: washed out

Hey all.

I'm back from a little family camping trip.  I'll try not to bore you all with too many cutsie family pix, but hey, this is what's going on with me right now.  :)

So we headed out for 4 nights of camping fun with a 4 1/2 year old and 2 year old.  We were feeling adventurous.  And it could have been quite nice were it not for the unrelenting rain.  As it is, camping with small kids is pretty messy, but the mud...oh, the mud.

Not to be negative...we did actually have a really great time.  The first two nights we did the tent thing.  

And the kids were pretty happy even if they had to stay inside it a lot.

  The rain let up every once rain while and we were able to have a campfire and stuff.  And one day was even sunny enough for the beach.

Plenty of sand and surf fun.  (We were at Cape May, NJ)

Aurora made sand angels.  At least they had showers at the campground.

I'm glad we squeezed in all the camping stuff we could, because night 3 was just a no go.  One of the tents was sitting in a 3 inch deep puddle.  It may have been possible to survive and not be totally miserable, but we opted for a hotel.  It was sad for Aurora who wasn't ready to say goodbye to the adventure (neither was I), but the indoor pool was a big hit and really useful before summer swimming lessons.

And while it was rainy or cloudy almost the whole time there, some of the breaks were long enough to enjoy fun things like the Wildwood Boardwalk. 

This is a view 

from this ferris wheel.

This is how we spent Father's Day...which I hope Dad and Pops enjoyed.

Of course with all the activity we were all feeling a bit like this by the end.

And now we're glad to be home.

JT

104: gotcha

Ha!  I knew I would draw out all you lurkers.  Yay!  And please don't think I have any problem with lurking.  I do it all the time.  Who has time to leave comments everywhere they go?  But if you don't say "hi" once in awhile, how will I know you're there?  And how can I check out YOUR blog?  (If you have one...not required, if course)

Anyhoo, I promise that all of you who spoke up, now officially have a shot at the quilt.  That is, if I get it done.  I'm trying, but really just haven't had much time.  We're going away camping for a few days, but hopefully when I get back I can really get cracking.  Do check back at the end of the month...

So, I did indeed go shopping a yarn store.  Boy was THAT overwhelming!  I really needed to have gone in there with much more of a plan.  I have grand ideas of trying a blanket, but wasn't even sure what material or weight of yarn I wanted.  I ended up just buying some stuff that "called" to me (or rather, that I couldn't stop petting) and hope to sort of audition some of them for the blanket.  

Without checking myself, I would have walked out of there with skeins in a dozen different shades of green. 

Speaking of which, do you know "skein" is pronounced.  I didn't.  Well, until Martha told me, that is.  I think it is seriously the only episode of her show I've ever seen.  Tivo somehow miraculously knew I would be interested in her "yarn" episode a week or so ago.  Um, yes.

The best part to me was when someone was show Martha her Amigurumi stuff and she had a super-cute cupcake with a face and Martha said, "So it doesn't make any sense, but it's cute?"  Too funny.

Well, the yarn store just happens to be next to one of my favorite quilt stores., Pennington Quilt Works.  I was terrible at resisting there too.

Here's some random fabrics I bought.

And here's a peek at fabrics I'm already gathering for Aurora's 5th birthday (in September).  I'm going with a peaches and cream theme.

JT

103: gearing up for a giveaway

This is a just a little peek at what's coming for my 1 year blogiversay in a few weeks.

Well, that's IF I get it done in time.  But I'm trying.  I never really thought I'd giveaway a whole quilt...but, yup, I am.

And I mentioned it before, but if you lurk and you think you're gonna want in, you'd better start leaving me love notes now.  I've devised a little plan on how to pick the winner, and only those who've previously commented on my blog have a shot.

Well, I'm sure I'll make some runner up prizes for those that just find me that post.  I think part of giveaways is supposed to be about getting new readers, but I really want to give the quilt to someone who actually reads my blog...not just someone passing through.  However, it will still be somewhat random, so I won't be playing favorites...

These colors make me all happy and sunshiny, even on a rainy day!

JT

102: the first step is admitting you have a problem

OK, first off, thanx for all your wonderful support.  I'm so happy you're all looking forward to the fabric nearly as much as I am!

Now, I mentioned recently that I started crocheting.  It's becoming a problem.  A serious one.

BUT, I am making progress.  So that's good.

What's not so good is sitting in the car for 5 more minutes before I go in the house to sneak in a few stitches.  Or staying up 'til 2:30 am to finish one more flower.  Or convincing my daughter what a fun game it is for her to snip off my yarn ends.

But, then again it's not so bad.

And, look how pretty!  I love these flowers and they're really not that hard to do.  My least favorite part is weaving in the ends.  I sense a ton of unfinished objects in my future...

Anyhoo...this is a little peak at how I'm doing so far on that pillow.  And, yes, she does have a pattern on her blog that you too can follow.

Now, this week I'm planning on hitting an actual yarn shop (not just Michaels).  This is where I could get into trouble.  Like I need another stash to start building.  :)

JT

101: Quilt Market part 5: shopping, quilts, and big news

This is the last installment in my Quilt Market adventures.  Just some little loose ends to cover.

I'll start with the "big" news.  I've signed with Windham Fabrics to produce my first line of fabric, Timber.  To me this news is just HUGE!  It was a long process to get it all together for Quilt Market and I'm so happy to be moving forward.  I had  tough time deciding which company to work with because really every single person I met with at market was super nice and I could imagine working with them.  But I went with Windham, and I couldn't be happier.  I wish I had more to show you on the topic, but it will be a while longer.  Bear with me...soon I promise...

Anway, the rest of the loose ends are about Quilt Market itself.  Like how I went vintage fabric shopping with Heather Bailey.  OK, OK, maybe not some much "with" as "near".  We just both happened to browsing on of the few booths actually selling fabric at the same time.  Some seriously cool vintage feed sacks and the like.  She was, of course, lovely as we rummaged through the piles together.

These 4 pieces/sacks are what I landed on.  I have plans to make a pillowcase dress for Aurora out of the bottom one.

Anyway, there were several quilt shows (and even a costume/fashion one) on display.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Spring in Japan - by Akiko Kawata

Grandmother's Quilt - A Cathedral Window - by Manon B. Gagliardi

The Kiss: An Homage to Kilmt - Mary Barry

Cinda's Circles - Karen Pharr

When Sun Departs - Laura Stauffer

Winter to Spring - Kathy York

Blue Ridge Springtime - Sandra Werlich

Sedona Dream - Janet Lasher

English Garden Romance - Tracy Anna Bader

Guys, thanx so much for all the well wishes about my Market endeavors and such.  I mean it!

JT

100: distraction addiction

Help.  I can't stop.  Since I got back from Quilt Market, I've taught myself to crochet.  Are there other much more productive things I should be doing?  Absolutely.  But I saw these pillows.  I mean, come on.  The gorgeousness is overwhelming. 

So I felt I simply HAD to learn.  And I love it.  For some reason I really jibe with it, more than knitting.  I think those poor gloves have been abandoned forever.

It's clear that I did start it as an escape.  I need to be doing something, but wasn't ready to face all the "real" work I should be doing.  But, now since it's so darned portable, I may be losing a good chunk of time to this new-to-me craft.  Ah well.

The first pix are just little test patches I practiced.  I was so impressed with the circle.  And then I made a scarf.  It's a very simple pattern from The Happy Hooker book.  I'm disappointed that it's not a little wider and much longer.  I think I may be doing everything a little too tight.  But Aurora already told me she wants it, so I'll make a matching one fore me... And I'm working on getting the flower thing down, so I know you'll see some of those soon.

In other news, did you note that this is 100 posts for me?  Yay!  I know a giveaway is in order, but my blogiversary is only a month away, so I may be waiting for that.  This way I'll be able to make it something really good.  But here's the catch, if you're a regular lurker, you may want to leave a comment soon, because I think I'm going to do some kind of kooky giveaway that rewards those who have left comments in the past.  

Ciao.

JT