Hootie Races to the Finish Line!

My poor little Hootie quilt has been quite neglected lately -

Hootie?  Are you a little stressed there, sweetheart?????

As most of you know, Hootie is one of my 2014 Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, sponsored by Angela at SoScrappy blog.

I've made one cute little owl block each month, using fabrics in the color Angela announced at the first of each month.  Last month was dark neutrals (blacks/browns/grays), and this month is light blue - none of which worked for this project - so I've been taking a little break from it in order to concentrate on some much needed planning and pattern writing for upcoming classes.

But this past week I was able to clear my schedule a little and got back on track with these fun little guys!  As I shared earlier HERE, I was very unhappy with the mushy look to Red Hootie, and decided to change out his feathers.  Here is the new, improved version....

Yes!  I'm much happier, and I think Red Hootie is too :*)

Then, as I was on a roll, I quickly pulled fabrics and dressed Orange Hootie in his feathers too....

Isn't he just simply adorbs????  

(Is that even a word?  If not, it should be!)

I just LOVE that wings fabric!!!

I've also begun stitching down the applique - FINALLY.....

I have to wait on the bottom layers because the little feet need to be added in under there when I get the limb applied for them to sit on.  And I'll do all the eyes and noses together so I don't have to keep changing threads :)

I gave quite a lot of thought about the color for the ninth Hootie.  Gray was just too boring with all the other colors.  Browns didn't work for me either.  Some suggested emerald green, but I didn't have enough of those fabrics to make one that I liked.

And then finally it hit me!!!  What if I made the last one ............ But no, I'm afraid you're going to have to wait to see the finish!  Oh, I know - I'm SO MEAN!!!!  At least I gave you a hint in the first picture, right?  Believe me, it will be worth the wait :*)

As I've shared before in the early stages of this quilt, the Hootie block is a design by Shayla Wolf of Sassafras Lane Designs - one of my favorite designers!!!  She designed this block for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks #7, and I was lucky enough to win her giveaway copy of the magazine that year!  (See her block for this year HERE)

I'm delighted to share that I won a copy of this year's Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks #10 from Teresa at Fabric Therapy!  You'll want to be sure to go over and see Teresa's block - she does some amazing things with applique and hearts :*)

Thanks so much Teresa!!!  I am absolutely thrilled to win and can't wait to drool over all the wonderful blocks inside!  This is one magazine I never miss - 100 great blocks in each issue and each one is an original, designed by some of the most creative quilters in the business today!  

Quiltmaker is hosting a Blog Party with lots of giveaways RIGHT NOW!  You could win your very own copy of this super magazine, plus a lot of other prizes too :)  Go check it out now at Quiltmaker's Quilty Pleasures Blog!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Playing in Pinks for February!

I really haven't finished with the January BLUES yet for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, but February snuck up on me, so I had to start pulling out the PINKS as well :*)  My PINK stash is pretty slim, and the scraps are even slimmer, but I finally managed to pull together some fabrics for Hootie and Soul Searching.

It will be very interesting to see if these come together to make a few decent blocks!  

I traced off the fusible shapes for the February Hootie last night while watching TV....

I still need to dig into these crumb jars and whittle them down.....

Just look at all those yummy little scraps just waiting to become a gorgeous little quilt!!!

I have a few ideas of what I might like to do with them, but I probably won't decide for sure until I sit down and start playing :)

And after I finished tracing the Hootie pieces last night, I sat back and relaxed with some knitting.  Before I knew it, Wingspan was DONE - WOOHOO!!!

There are supposed to be 8 "wings" but as you can see from the tiny ball of yarn remaining, I didn't have enough for another wing.  I think this will be fine, though, since I'm built rather small - at least from the waist up LOL!!!  This still needs to be blocked, but all the ends are worked in and it is ready to go!  This will knock 400 yards off my stash yardage :*)

So what's in the works for me today?  First, I'm excited to show you the February Bertie wall hanging that I finished embroidering this week....

Isn't this just too darn cute?  

The white edging embroidery stitches took FOREVER and were not easy to keep uniform, so don't look too closely :)  Today, I plan to sandwich and quilt it and get it up on the wall so we can enjoy it all month.  The January Bertie only got two weeks' wall time, which is a shame because I love it so!!!

One last peek!!!!

Later on, I will be joining Kathy's Quilts doing some Slow Sunday Stitching on my little hand-applique Miniature Heart Blooms while watching the Super Bowl!

You can tell from the red hearts on the left that this was an early attempt at hand applique!  I was trying to do them by needleturn, but they are not very smooth.  I may end up taking them out and redoing them..... but then again, maybe not.  From past experience, I've learned that sometimes it doesn't really show that much when looking at a completed quilt.  Since this will be for my own personal enjoyment, I may decide to leave it as is :*)

I'm also hoping to get a few of these pieces for Rose Medallion prepped with the luscious oriental fabrics - I'm really anxious to see how that's going to look!!!  It's been quite a while since I played with the orientals - a task that I enjoy way too much LOL!!!

Also linking up with Judy's Design Wall Monday & Connie's Tuesday Linky Party :)

I wish a lovely week for you all!!!

Hugs & Blessings,

Teresa

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Rainbows and Winners!

This time of year is always so BUSY!!!  

I know you all know what I mean, right?  Getting ready for loved ones and grandbabies coming to visit.... putting up the tree and decorations.... Christmas parties and pot-luck luncheons with friends and guilds.... shopping for the perfect gifts.... putting the last stitch in this year's newest Christmas quilt... the list is endless.

It's a lot like babysitting the grandbabies - I love it, and it's always fun, but I'm always glad when it's over too :)  Frankly, at my stage of life, fun can be exhausting!

Of course, quilters cannot live by family and responsibilities alone, but by every stitch they can sneak in when no one is looking!  Am I right?  And I seem to remember that I did promise you the 9th Hootie recently, didn't I?

Well, wait no more......

Introducing Rainbow Hootie 

and boy, does he have ATTITUDE!!!!

If the sun ever comes out, I'll get some better pics!

Rainbow Hootie is the Hippee Flower Child of his family LOL!!  I've decided to name this quilt, "Whooooo's Your Daddy?"  I mean, can you see all of the other owls looking anywhere but at Rainbow?  No one wants to claim him as family LOL!!!  Not that it seems to bother him any - he's chillin' and sportin' that whole "Make Love, Not War" attitude :*)  He's just happy to be hanging out with the crowd and doing his own thing!

I'm almost finished sewing all the feathers down, and next I will assemble the "limb" sashing strips and the tree trunk on the left.  I'm having second thoughts about the brown - it makes the whole quilt look dark I think.  I hate to say it, but I just may have to go shopping!!!!  Eeeek!!!!

I have no idea right now how I will quilt it, but I just can't wait to finish it now that I'm this close!  Everyone doing the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over at SoScrappy this year is trying to finish up our projects for the end of the year, and this will be my second finish if I can pull it off.

And speaking of finishes, did you notice my Partridge in a Pear Tree table-topper in the blog header???

Oh, I really love how this turned out!

It dresses up the fireplace area nicely, and adds a pop of color :)

I think the partridge turned out really nice!  The striped batik worked perfectly for his wing.  I re-designed the black striping around his face from the original pattern design (you can see the original pattern picture here if you are interested).

 And the pears cut "broderie perse"-style also worked perfectly.  I used this fabric....

Ironed light fusible on the back, and then cut out the pears and fused them to the background.  Then I just did a simple straight stitch around all the edges.

I even used some of the leaves from the fabric (the ones with gold in them), as well as the ones I cut from my own green scraps.

Don't you just love that red print for the border???  To me, it looks like bright red Christmas bulbs :)

I'm very happy with it and look forward to many years of enjoying it during the holiday season!

♥♥♥♥♥

And now to take care of a little business .... 

I really want to thank everyone who came over to visit during the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day :)  So many lovely comments!  And I have some new followers too - Yay!!!  Welcome aboard :)

And so, without further ado.....

    ♥  The WINNER of the 100 Blocks Volume 4 issue from my Giveaway Day with Sew Mama Sew is - Cathy who blogs over at A Quilting Chick!!!  You should pop over and visit her blog - she is making Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion mystery quilt and I just LOVE her colors and fabrics!!!!


    ♥  and - I realized I have never officially announced the WINNER of the Sew Sweet Simplicity Giveaway (my bad!)  Congratulations to - Kathy E!  Kathy blogs over at Sparkles, Sprinkles and Everyday Crap - cute name huh?!?  She's a fairly new quilter and has challenged herself to make the SSS blocks - and doing a great job of it too!  Kathy has already received her pattern package from Jacquelynne Steves :)

Now don't despair if you didn't win - there will be several more prize packages to come in this fun BOM before it's over!  Be sure to go to Jacquelynne's blog to sign up for the free patterns if you haven't already HERE!

And I know you want to grab a copy of the Christmas Edition of her E-magazine!  I just received mine the other day in my email inbox - wow!!!  Such lovely inspiration!!!!  You don't want to miss out on that either, so while you're there, sign up for the FREE e-magazine too HERE :)

And for those of you who act fast, Jacquelynne is giving away a FREE PATTERN right now on her blog HERE for this oh-so-cute and classic Red and White quilt...

Photo courtesy of Jacquelynne Steves Facebook

Now I'm going to watch some football with My Guy 

and play with my Patchwork of the Crosses blocks for a while.

Today is Slow Sunday Stitching with Kathy's Quilts after all :)

Also linking up with the Tuesday Linky Party at

Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Hooray It's Giveaway Day!!!!

I have to admit, Giveaway Day almost slipped up on me!

Thanks so much to Sew Mama Sew 

for sponsoring this fun blog hop once again!

I am so happy to join in on the fun!

And you will be too when you see what I'm giving away :)

How about a really nice copy of Volume 4 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks?  These are SO HARD to find once they are off the shelves!   Volume 4 came out in Winter of 2011, and the only copy I found online was digital.  Somehow, I ended up with two copies of this one (and none of some of the others - that's how it goes sometimes, right?).  This copy is in great condition, very clean, unread, and all patterns are intact :)

If you're not familiar with the 100 Blocks issues, they come out about twice a year, and they contain 100 original blocks by some of the most exciting designers out there today!  This issue has blocks by Bonnie Hunter, Crabapple Hill, Kaffe Fassett, Kim Diehl, Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr, Jan Krentz, Pam Kitty Morning, Camille Roskelley, Denise Russart - and so many more!

The upper right block in this photo is Bonnie Hunter's block, and look at that adorable Lil' Monkey block by Sonja Callaghan!

Here's a closer pic of some of the others that are shown on the front cover....

I'd love to share my bounty with you, so if you'd like to win, just leave me a comment on this post telling me which quilting magazine is your current favorite.  I have to admit, I love Quiltmaker!  I also usually enjoy McCalls, especially their Christmas issue :)

No hoops to jump through to win!  You don't have to follow, but if you are a follower, thank you!  You may leave a second message letting me know that you follow, and I'll put your name in for a second chance to win!  Now, remember - I MUST have an email address in order to award the winner.  This giveaway is open to both domestic and international readers, and I will keep it open until midnight Friday, December 12, 2014.

BEFORE YOU GO .... you might like to see what I've been working on lately :)  I'd love to have your encouragement and input as I work on these fun projects!

My favorite current project is finishing up my Hootie quilt!

This is a block that I got from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 7, and it is designed by the very talented Shayla Wolf of Sassafras Lane Designs.  I made one of these blocks each month along with the Rainbow Scrap Challege hosted by SoScrappy.  I eventually decided against the gray Hootie in the bottom right - and went with just a little different look for the 9th Hootie - here's a peek....

Today I spent a good part of the day preparing pieces for my newest project, Patchwork of the Crosses - these are my "slow down and relax as I piece by hand" blocks :)  Here are the blocks I have finished ....

And this one is in process....

During my Thanksgiving travel, I picked up a few pieces that I thought might work for this design.  Here are a few of them ...

.... and I think they are going to work very well ....

Oh yes, I'm excited!!!!

I hope you'll come back after you have visited all the other fun blogs during Giveaway Day.  You just never know what we might get up to here at A Quilt and A Prayer =^..^=

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Also linking up with:

Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

Design Wall Monday

Tuesday Linky Party

Hootie and Slow Stitching :)

With so little time at home this month, I haven't had much time to play in my AQUA scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  But I did want to be sure to get my Hootie owl block fused down and ready for stitching ....

Ain't he cute????

And here he is with his two siblings so far....

Hootie - Designed by Shayla Wolf
in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 7

I'm having fun positioning the eyes for each to be looking in different directions :*) These are just such fun, quick little blocks!

And since it's been a month since I showed it, here is my AQUA Soul Searching block once again ....

I'll be sorry to see my favorite color AQUA go, but it's always fun getting a new color from Angela on the first of each month.... wonder what our color will be for April???

One thing I did get to do a lot of while traveling was hand stitching!

I really got behind this month, so I took my Bertie's Year BOM blocks for March and April with me to retreat and sttiched on them while we watched Downton Abbey in the evenings.  Can you think of a better way to spend an evening?  Me neither!!!!  The March block got very little love early in the month, so the poor thing won't get to be displayed at all this year because it will be April before it is completely done.  But I did finally get it all stitched with the hand-stitching embellishments, and it is ready to be layered & quilted.

As always, I'm in love with the whimsical nature of these blocks!  Here Bertie is up to her curious ways again, making friends with her fellow creatures :*)  I wonder if she realizes that cute little bee is not as sweet and harmless as it looks LOL!!!

And I finished the stitching on April's Bertie block too!

Working the embellishments on these eggs was a lot of fun :*)  

And I love the bunny ears on Miss Bertie!!!

Each month, the blocks have a "border" stitch that frames the stitchery in the center.  This block called for a really fun stitch and I just love the playful look of it in the block - perfect mood for Spring!!!

I also finished up the latest Winter Wonderland stitchery block, but taking pictures of that at night is a lost cause.  I'll try to get one tomorrow if the sun comes out :*)

I'm linking up with SoScrappy's Rainbow Scrap Challenge 

and Kathy's Quilts Slow Stitching Sunday 

Come on over and see what all the fuss is about :*)

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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