Holiday sewing

I've not had a lot of time for sewing/quilting lately, but yesterday I managed to pull off a few hours at the machine.

Thimbleberries pattern - Oak Leaf Cuddly

Working on the center blocks.

Don't you just hate to waste those HST?? So this time I just sewed up a seam as I cut them off of each block.

It only took a few extra minutes to sew the seams together.

And before you know it, I had a string of HSTs.

First set of blocks complete.

HSTs ready for a new project :-)

Guess I will have to wait for another holiday before I can tackle the rest of this quilt!

Now if you would love to win an Accuquilt GO!, be sure to pop over to Bejeweled Quilts by Barb. She is giving away a GO!!! You see we have to help Barb out. She can't sleep or eat or anything until she gives this Accuquilt Go! away. BUT please be sure to tell her that I sent you over :-)

Happy Quilting!

Thank You............

"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day.

I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. "

~Benjamin Harrison

In memory and honor of those who have fought and died to keep our country free.

Sew and Tell Friday

Not much sewing going on this month. But I did get my Designer Block of the Month done.

I really love how these blocks are turning out.

amylouwho is moving this week but she has a hero stepping to rescue Sew and Tell.

Happy Quilting!

What a week!

This week has been a busy one for the designers and fabric royalty. I really missed jaybirds weekly giveaway line up. So when I heard about these blogs, I thought I would share :-)

traceyjay quilts is auctioning off a beautiful "Garden Stars and Stripes" tablerunner to benefit Operation Family Fund. 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". Tracey is also having a giveaway that is sponsored by Burgundy Buttons. You can sign up here.

And while we're at it, my friend Pat over at Quilting Can Be Fun! is also hosting a Yard Sale Giveaway. It's really a fun giveaway and Pat always has some great quilting insights. Be sure to stop over and sign up.

You can also find a very lovely giveaway over at Jenny of Elefantz! Jenny is an incredible designer from Australia, and always has the most beautiful patterns available. Now if you sign up for Jenny's giveaway, mention that Happy Cottage Quilter sent you! I've always enjoyed getting Frequent Flyer miles ;-) Check it out!

AND check out "What's in the Bag" at Stash Manicure! If you are not following this blog, you are missing out on some great stash busting ideas.

Happy Quilting!

Strings Block

Most of the string quilts that I have seen are sewn on the diagonal. Last week I thought I would try sewing scrap strings into a block pattern. Over the weekend I finished quilting it. This is how it turned out.

It was fun using scraps of fabric for this wall hanging. Do you sometimes remember the other projects you've made with the fabrics?

I have been making my way through the Bloggers Quilt Festival. It's a slow process, but WOW what incredible quilts! Be sure to take a tour of all the wonderful quilting blogs.

And an update on my SMS giveaway. The winner of my Machine Quilting prize was Nicole C. from Southport NC. Nicole does not have a blog, and is a fairly new quilter. She has two little ones with number three on the way :-) So congratulations to Nicole. Your package is already in the mail.


I am joining Tea Rose Home Link party. Stop by and join the party!

Happy Quilting!

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Today starts the Bloggers Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. A fun way to visit lots of blogs and see some wonderful quilts. This is my third time participating in the Quilt Festival.

"Matthew's Quilt" was started back around 1986. I was a new quilter and had taken a quilting class at the local craft store. Back then we were taught how to cut out the pieces with scissors and used cardboard templates. Towards the end of the class, our teacher showed us a tool that looked like a pizza cutter. She told us this was a Rotary Cutter and would speed cutting time. Of course we all laughed and said it could not take the place of scissors! HA!

About that same time, my sister in law took a class at a quilt shop. She learned Eleanor Burns Quilt in A Day pattern for the Log Cabin. She quickly shared with me how quick and easy it was to use this method. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

I purchased these 100% cotton fabrics at the quilt shop. My plan was to make a quilt for my then toddler son. We worked on the Log Cabin pattern, and I completed the top. It was my goal to hand quilt this quilt.

So I started working on it, but did not make very speedy progress. As a matter of fact it was not completed until 2004!

This is one of my favorite quilts. It was fun to work on, and I love how the colors all worked together. I am very honored to have this quilt listed in the Online Quilt Museum. It is under the Cabin Fever category.

Enjoy your walk through the Bloggers Quilt Festival! I am sure we will all be amazed at the incredibly creative and gorgeous quilts that are being shown this time.

Thanks Amy!

How do they do it??

Well we are closing in on the last few hours of Sew, Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day. And it really makes me stop and wonder HOW do they do it? Not only is SMS very organized and on time, but Amy at Amy's Creative Side is hosting another online Blogger's Quilt Festival starting on Friday. She birthed this idea for a lot of us who are not able or can't go to "market" or the national Quilt shows. Still, it takes time and organizing to make these fabulous projects happen.

So I join in with my other blogger friends and send Roses to these gals who take time out of their own busy lives to make these activities happen for us. Thanks to them we can enjoy some fun and exciting quilting/crafting shows and giveaways.

If you are here looking for my Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway, please check here. My giveaway ends tomorrow evening. And be sure to stop back by on Friday as I participate in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.

Happy Quilting!