Noodle Swapping

Last month I joined a Swap-Bot noodle swap - aka - 5 inch strip of fabric swap and I just wanted to share what i've been receiving the past several weeks. I joined two swaps and each of them I was assigned 5 swap partners to send noodles to, both national and international. I love it! I love receiving packages from all over the world and I love sending things all over the world too! Today, I received a wonderful package from Holland that was beautifully wrapped in polka-dot paper and tied with ribbons and inside, what a great noodle.

Don't ya just love the fun fabric in black, white and hints of red!

This is what I've received over the last two swaps so far, still more noodles to come for November's swap but I jut love the variety. I already have plans to make some simple coasters with some of the christmas fabrics received and some swappers even send some minie blocks put together - that's ambitious but gives me an idea for the next swap too! If your'e interested in joining in on the fun, go on over to Swap-Bot and look for the 5 inch Noodle Swaps - they are coordinated by Ryan, another guy quilter like me!

Binding on a roll

I recently acquired via the wonderful world of Ebay several old wooden textile bobbins/spools and they not only have that great vintage appeal, they are utilitarian as well. The first purpose I have found is to roll my quilt and project binding on them to store until i'm ready to attach the binding to my project. I just keep them on the roll and set the roll in a box on the floor and it just unwinds as I attach the binding. Great! I am going to acquire a few more of these in smaller sizes and use them to store ribbons and ric-rak and such. Loving it!

Great Give-Away

Vickie over at Spun Sugar Quilts is having a giveaway on her blog -- go check it out and be sure to enter to win!

A new Welcome sign in time

I was able to finish machine quilting and bind a new Welcome hanging just in time before guests arrived today for drinks and dinner. I started working on this project last month with embroidering the fall-letters on the yellow fabric and last weekend I pieced everything together. It's about 70 inches in lenght and 12 inches in width. I just did some free-hand machine quilting with varigated brown/tone thread.

Home is Where the Heart Is - Update

The other day I was able to get my log cabin blocks stitched together and added to my quilt. I have to cut and attach the borders yet but I will make the December 15th deadline to complete this top! Yeah! Now, If I can also get the mini version of this quilt finished too then I'll be able to have two entries into the Bernina machine drawing - not sure what machine will be given away yet but any of them will do just fine! Another prize is to have your quilt machine quilted for free! That's a great prize too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Home is Where the Heart Is BOM progress

OK so I actually do make quilts! I joined a BOM program at my local quilt shop earlier this year and although this should have been a 12-month program, it got condensed down to about 9 months so this is as close to giving birth as I'll ever get - LOL -- OK that was probably bad comedy but oh well -- So we are just about finished with the quilt tops - we have until December 15th to complete them the tops so we can have a chance at winning a Bernina sewing machine! I have my center done - that was a monthly progress you see on the bed. I have to add the log cabin blocks and the border this week and I'll be done with the top. YEAH!!! I bought my background fabric and some extra fabric from the line to make a couple pillow cases or shams, not sure which i'll make. This is a bit more country than I usually would like but it was a great exercise for a beginning quilter like me!