Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM - Finishing it up!!!

Sew..... Today is the day all of the QAL hostesses are showing off our finishes for the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM designed by talented Jacquelynne Steves!  

 

If you signed up to sew along on this fun BOM, you should be receiving your border and finishing instructions today :*)  Are you fired up to finish your quilt???  We are showing off our finishes to help inspire you and encourage you to get your quilts assembled and bordered and finished!  (You'll be glad you did too - stay tuned for a teaser about an exciting contest at the end of this post :*)

Please ignore all the strings on my design wall LOL!!!

I spent hours this past week trying to decide how these blocks wanted to be set into a quilt.  I've only done the four main blocks, and had just about decided to keep it at the four and make a small wall quilt.  Since I have limited wall space, the smaller the better for me.

However, after awhile it became apparent that inspiration had deserted me, so I decided this was an excellent opportunity to link up with Sharon Vrooman's "Let's Book It" linky party and pulled down a few books from my shelf.  (Yes, really, I actually USED one of my books!!!)  This book proved particularly helpful .....

This layout was very appealing to me - simple but effective.   My blocks are bold and bright, so they don't need a lot of fussy details surrounding them.  I wanted something clean and neat and linear.  With a little effort, I was able to envision how this setting would look using my blocks and fabrics ....

..... using only the four blocks, it would look something like this -

Black in the background of course, and using the bright oranges, pinks and golds in the cross bars, with the purples and blues in the cornerstones.  As I've mentioned before, one of the blocks has a black corner piece, while the other three have a bright color in the corners, which poses a problem.

For this layout to work, I would need to change the corner sections on three of the blocks to black to get that nice joining effect.  Not a big deal, but I wanted to be sure of my plans before I tore those blocks apart!

And the more I thought about it, the more I decided I really want to make it bigger and use all the fun kitties left in this panel!

I mean, really now, how could I not include these sweet kitties in the quilt?

Jacquelynne has already planned a new BOM for next summer, so I've decided to put these blocks away and then add to them with the new blocks she designs for the SSS #2.

I have to tell you, I'm SEW happy about that decision!!!  It does mean that I don't have a finish to show you all today, but if you want to see some beautiful finishes, all you have to do is go to Jacquelynne's blog, The Art of Home, HERE - and you will find links to some really wonderful finishes by my fellow QAL hostesses :*)

Of course, DON'T GO AWAY before you leave a comment and get in on the GIVEAWAY !!!  What is Jacquelynne giving away this month?

This really cute e-Book with SEW MANY cute ideas inside!  There are projects, yummy recipes, and loads of fun projects that kids can do!  Don't you just want to hug the stuffed dog and cat???  And I know you may not believe it - I'm having a hard time myself - but Summer is going to get here faster than you think!  This wonderful e-Book has some really great ideas for ways to keep those kiddos happy and creative during their summer vacation :*)

To win, you simply need to leave me a comment letting me know that you would love to have a copy of this sweet e-Book!  No hoops or helicopters or anything scary like that LOL!!!  I love comments, so you'll be making my day :*)  The giveaway will be open until midnight Sunday, March 1, and anyone is eligible to win!

After you've left your comment here to win the e-Book, hop on over to Jacquelynne's blog HERE to enter to win her BIG GRAND PRIZE!!!  Here is what you could win....

Wow!!!  

You know you want that prize package!!!  

Heck, I want that prize package!!!

So many great items!  Just in case you haven't yet tried any of Jaquelynne's cards which feature her own lovely art designs, I have several sets and love them!  I often send them out to brighten someone's day :)  They are the highest quality and you can't beat the beautiful designs.

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Now, as if that weren't enough .... Jacquelynne has decided to hold a CONTEST for finished projects!  She'll be giving away TWO prizes - a fabric bundle, and a KIT for the next BOM!!!  She is using some really yummy fabrics in that next BOM, so you want to be sure to get your name in the pot for this contest!  Get those projects finished folks!!!  Remember, this doesn't have to be a quilt - you can use your blocks to make a table runner, or a tote bag ... the possibilities are endless.  You can find the rules on her website tomorrow, so hurry over and find out how you can WIN!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Sew Sweet Simplicity QAL and GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm excited to share with you my newest 
Sew Sweet Simplicity Block!

Block #4

I didn't get to play along on Catching Up Day a few weeks ago, because that was the weekend I was at the hospital with my mom.  But I did peek in a few times and it looked like you were all having a great time.  I especially loved seeing Jacquelynne dancing!!!

It felt good to get home and finally be able to work on my Block #4 :*)  This little Laurel Burch kitty has a little bit of a sad face, don't you think?

But I fell in love with her colors, and she kept telling me she wanted to be surrounded by bright pink.  Now everyone knows that when a cat tells you something it wants, you listen and obey.  Period.  So I did.

...... and I think she already looks happier, don't you?  I'm pretty sure Gypsy would be proud of me =^..^=  

And speaking of Gypsy, the other day I went outside to pick up the mail and saw our neighbor's white cat sitting smack dab in the middle of our rose garden - right on top of our sweet Gypsy's resting place.  I asked her if she was visiting Gypsy, and she calmly sat there looking at me as if to say, "Well, of course.  Duh!  What else would I be doing sitting in the middle of your rose garden?"  Yes, she had that look on her face that all cats wear signifying their universal opinion of our poor human intelligence :*)

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So ....... Even though this is the last block in Jacquelynne's fun QAL, I still have Bonus Blocks #1 and #2 to be done.  I want six blocks at least for this quilt, so I'll be working on those soon.  Next month we are supposed to be sharing our finishes with you, so I better get crackin' don't you think?  Yep, me too!!!

But before I can start on them, I have to make a decision.  If you look at my design wall below, you can see the four completed SSS blocks all together on the bottom right.....

Do you notice what I see?  The block on the bottom left really does not fit with the others!  The corner squares are black instead of a color like the others.  Hmmmmm....

So, I have a few choices here.  I've already decided to redo the center section with the cat, taking out the color bands around her.  It just takes away from her sweet face too much, and I think having just the black around it, like the other blocks, will bring it out visually.  Then I can either redo the corners of the block and call it good, or I can make at least one of the Bonus Blocks have black corners as well.  *cue Final Jeopardy music*  Tune in friends to find out the conclusion of this nail-biting mystery !!!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!  As with each of our previous three Sew Sweet Simplicity QAL events, Jacquelynne is offering another wonderful PDF package of her patterns for a giveaway to one lucky reader!!!

I just love both of these patterns!  Jacquelynne has such a wonderful sense of design, so sweet and feminine, but with lots of color and visual impact!  If you'd like to win this package, just leave a comment on this post telling me if you have ever done wool applique and whether or not you like it.  Easy-peasy!!!  The giveaway is open to all readers, domestic and international, and will be open until midnight on Monday, February 2, 2015.  BE SURE I HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!!!

If you are sewing along with us, please share your blocks on Jacquelynne's Facebook page HERE.  You can also share on Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #sewsweetsimplicity.  We all want to see them so we can oooooohh and aaaaahhhh, right?

Have a lovely week my friends!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Sew Sweet Simplicity - Block #3

It's time for another Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM block!!!  Are you ready?  

I really had to get busy and get this block done in time for you all today :)

Sometimes I wonder if I would ever get anything done without a deadline!

This Laurel Burch cat looks to me almost as though it has a halo, which of course reminded me of Gypsy, so that was naturally the one I chose from the panel print for this month's block =^..^=

I got off to a great start.  I knew exactly the fabrics I wanted to use. This purple is one I picked up while on my Thanksgiving travels - YUM!  It is from the same line as the blue I used in an earlier block.  (Shimmer by Timeless Treasures)  You can see the difference here..... aren't they beautiful???

And I wanted to put a nice gold in as well - this Laurel Burch fabric seemed perfect!  This picture is not quite true - it is brighter, and there are actually little punches of orangey-gold in this fabric where you see the darker brownish color patches.  You can see it better in the next photo I took earlier in the day.  I only have a small treasured piece of this!

And in referring back to my first two blocks, I realized that orange seems to be a recurring color, so I added a fun orange too :)

Before long, however, this block proved to be a little bit of a challenge for me.  Not the pattern of course - it was perfectly written and very easy to follow, as always :)  No, I had trouble deciding where to put each fabric in the block - not a common problem for me.  For some reason, I just couldn't visualize how they would look in different places in the block.  So this is how I auditioned them .....

After quite a bit of dilly-dallying (fun word huh?), I finally decided the gold would look like a crown around the cat, and I would save the purple for the outer sawtooth points....

I moved along pretty well after making these decisions, and here is the completed block!

I have to admit, I'm still not completely satisfied with it.  I'm thinking maybe those colorful strips around the cat cause it to fade away a little?  And that bright gold demands a lot of attention so perhaps the cat needs the stark outline of the black in order to shine as well?  I don't know what it is, but it's bothering me.

I'm keeping open the possibility of going back and removing those colorful strips and just framing the cat in black at a later date.  I want to be sure these beautiful felines are the focal point of the quilt!

So now that you've seen my block and listened to my whining, how about I share some fun news!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Yep, once again Jacquelynne is offering up one of her amazing pattern bundle prize packages as a Giveaway this month!  I just love that Sun Blossom Tote bag!  And the sand dollar quilt - ooooo, it makes me yearn for Summer!!!

You can win this fun PDF Patterns Package designed by Jacquelynne Steves simply by leaving a comment here on this post - perhaps let me know if you're loving Winter or you would rather Summer hurry up and get here (like me :)

Since this is the busy time of year, we will leave the Giveaway open through January 2, 2015.  But why not go ahead a leave us a fun comment now so you don't forget :*)  It is open to all US and International readers :)  
BE SURE I HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!!!!

I think Jacquelynne is a little jealous that her blogger buddies are having all the fun giving away fun prizes, so she's decided to do a little GIVEAWAY on her blog today too!

You'll want to hop over to her blog (here) and get in on the chance to win one of her "mini-kits" of pre-cut fabrics to make one of these fun Sew Sweet Simplicity blocks out of her own fabric line, Cottage Charm.  All the pieces will be already cut for you, just arrange and sew - how easy is that?

That's not all Jacquelynne is offering FREE right now either!  If you sign up for her FREE e-magazine (here), she will send you a PDF of this lovely Red and White quilt.....

One other note to put on your calendar, we will be hosting a "Catch Up" day for the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM in January.  So if you haven't been able to play along - maybe the holidays have just been too busy? - or maybe you're all caught up but you'd like to make extra blocks?  Well, get your things together and get ready to sew along with us on "Catch Up" day!  Watch for more details to come soon :)

 We are looking forward to some children and grandchildren who will be traveling "over the river and through the woods to Grandma and Grandpa's house" :*) ♥♥♥  I probably won't have time to blog much between now and New Year's, so I wish you all a lovely Christmas week!!! 

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Linking up with 
Freemotion by the River for the
Tuesday Linky Party!

Playing in Fabric ......

It may not be cheaper than therapy anymore, but it sure is easier and definitely more fun!!!

Photo found on Pinterest

I want thank all of you for your sweet and loving comments about our loss of sweet Gypsy.  

Gypsy on my lap her last morning with us .....
I had to go pick her up and bring her upstairs with me
because she couldn't walk on her own anymore,
but I will always be glad that I did ....

I have to confess that I haven't been able to respond to each and every one of your comments - I get all choked up and upset all over again each time I sit down to the computer to answer those wonderful emails.  I hope you will understand and forgive me for not responding to you individually.  Please know that your compassion and caring lifted my spirits and gave me many reasons to smile through my tears the last few days :)  And I prayed for quite a few of you who shared your own pain at losing a beloved pet.  Praying for others is another thing that lifts me up out of the pit :)  Does it you too?

Today was a better day.  My Guy and I puttered around the house and tried to get back to what passes for normal around here.  I finally began to feel the urge to do some sewing again, and there were a few projects demanding attention.  Playing with fabric is usually a sure thing to take my mind off what ails me, and it didn't fail me today.  I pulled fabrics to my heart's content!

Aren't these luscious??? 

Rainbow version?

I'm really beginning to love working with solids - they have such impact!

Or how about these???

Sunset version?

Tone-on-Tone prints in bright, hot colors!

Hmmmm - how do I choose??? 

I know - You're wondering, "What is she up to now???"  LOL!!!  Well, there are few things that can yank me out of a deep hole better than pulling lots of gorgeous, color-drenched fabrics off the stash shelves and planning a new project!  So that's what I did today :)

I've decided I absolutely HAVE to make the Arcadia Avenue quilt by Shayla and Kristy Wolf of Sassafras Lane!  I'm sure you've seen this quilt, right?  It's been all over the Internet for months now :)  I went over to Sassafras Lane and bought the book the first day it became available - I knew the minute I saw it I would have to make it :*)  I do love to paper-piece and haven't had a good PP project in the works for quite a while - it's time!!!

The above picture shows it in beautiful Dear Stella dot fabrics and a light background .... (Psst....Canton Village Quilt Works has a limited number of kits available in this colorway if you're interested!)

Of course, I'm drawn to the darker background, and I really want to use that gorgeous shade of aqua in my pictures above.  (I know it looks more blue in the picture, but trust me - it is a perfect aqua!)  I've challenged myself to pull all the fabrics from my stash, although I will allow the purchase of one or two small pieces to complete the set if needed.   I already know I will have to buy a light and a medium constant.  I'm sure more of the fabrics in my pictures above will be subbed out for others.  A few are just there to audition the colors I think I might want to use, even though I know it is not the particular fabric I want to use.  Make sense?

My biggest problem right now is in deciding which color way!  I love the Rainbow version I've pulled together - YUM!!!  But I also love those sun-loving yellows, oranges and pinks in my Sunset version!  I may have to toss a coin - but I'm leaning toward the Sunset :) 

And just a reminder - Shayla Wolf is also the talented designer of the cute little Hootie owls I've been sharing with you!  She's super talented, isn't she?  I interviewed browns for the tree limbs today since I wasn't totally sold on the original choice of the chocolate brown (the one in the background between the Hooties).....

I think I've finally decided to go with these fabrics ....

I'm thinking most tree trunks and limbs are not really a dark chocolate brown, but rather have a lot more gray in them.  I kinda liked the touch of green in the top left batik and plan to work it in as the tree top somehow.  This project is on schedule to get lots of love next week :)  Since I've also worked these owls one block each month, I'm linking up with Lyn at What a Hoot! for her BOMs Away Party.  Did you see that she graduated?  That is such an accomplishment and I am so proud of her!!!!  I'm hoping this means we will begin seeing more of her lovely quilts in progress :)

But ..... before I did any of these things, I had to get my #3 Sew Sweet Simplicity block done and a post ready for you for Monday morning!

I hope you'll come check out all the fun blocks - and get inspired to make your own.  This month, there is a Bonus Block included, and there's another GIVEAWAY too!  Jacquelynne is just so generous to us, isn't she???

Now, I plan to get back to my therapy session - relax and pull some fabrics for my next Patchwork of the Crosses block!  Here is the start of my current block...

I'll be Slow Sunday Stitching on this, and hopefully start another, while watching football with My Guy tomorrow.  Why not pick up a slow stitching project and join the fun by linking up with Kathy's Quilts!

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

See you Monday morning, bright and early :)

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Sew Sweet Simplicity Block #2 - and a GIVEAWAY!

Have you signed up for the Sew Sweet Simplicty Block-of-the-Month yet?  

If not, what are you waiting for????  

Jacquelynne says there's still time, so go HERE to get your FREE blocks!

I just couldn't wait to share my Block #2 with you!  

I'm having so much fun playing with this Laurel Burch panel of cat prints!!!  

I think this month's cat is very enigmatic, don't you?

Perhaps he was a Pharoah's cat?

I think he knows things mere mortals like you and I just couldn't possibly know.....

Like whether the chicken or the egg came first....

I think he'd say "Neither - the CAT always comes first!!!"

Can I just say that using all these bold and vibrant prints makes me a very happy girl?  (But you all knew that, didn't you?  LOL!!!)  My favorite fabric in the block is this awesome offbeat orange/black dot, with splashes of light here and there .... oh my!!!

I think it plays well with the orange background in the panel block, and somehow it just says BIG CAT to me.  It certainly dominates the block, doesn't it?  I couldn't resist adding in that luscious, sparkly blue again, with just a touch of purples for the star points ... YUM!!!  

Once again, Jacquelynne's instructions for this block were spot on!  I breezed right though it :)  
However, I did choose to make a change in the color values suggested in Jacquelynne's block, keeping the color running diagonally out to each corner instead of having the neutral in the corner block.  



I wanted the eye to be drawn to the awesome cat in the center, and I think it worked :)  So don't be afraid to play around with color values and how you want your block to be viewed.  There are so many opportunities to make this fun, versatile block your own!

SEW - once again, here are both of the blocks I've done so far - Block #2.....

And Block #1...... (you can read more about this block HERE)

Aren't these designs fun?  Jacquelynne has done a beautiful job in designing them!  If you haven't visited her blog, Jacquelynne Steves - The Art of Home, I suggest you visit her today!  She always has yummy stuff on her blog - quilts, crafts, decorating ideas, recipes - she's sure to get your creative juices jumping!

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Now, don't go away too quickly!

As promised in the title to this post, we've got another awesome chance at a great GIVEAWAY prize for you!!!!  Jacquelynne is graciously offering another PDF Pattern Package containing TWO of her lovely patterns to one lucky winner here!

How can you win?  Chance #1 - Simply leave a comment ON THIS POST and tell me if you would make the cherries or the pears in your version of the Grandma's Pantry quilt - or maybe something else altogether?  

 But wait - there's more!!!  .... Chance #2 - if you are a follower of my blog, you may leave a second comment telling me how you follow, and I'll put your name in the hat for a second chance to win!  How easy is that?

Remember - PLEASE be sure to leave me a valid email address!!!  If I cannot contact you, I will have to choose another name, and that would be a shame!  I was really surprised at how many No-Reply Bloggers left comments on the last giveaway.  PLEASE make sure you are not a No-Reply Blogger, or leave your email in your comments if you're not sure.

The giveaway is for all readers, domestic and international, 

and will end at midnight EST on December 1, 2014.
Due to the Holidays....
EXTENDED to midnight Wednesday, December 3!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM - Block #1!!!

It's finally here!!!!
The Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM starts today!!!

 Are you as excited as I am?  I hope so!  

I love a BOM, and I especially love one that is fun and simple to make - 

and Jacquelynne has made sure these blocks are all of that!

(Our first hint is the word "Simplicity" in the name LOL!)

(If you're new, you can go HERE to find out all about the BOM )

Here is my Block #1

Since Jacquelynne used her lovely Cottage Charm fabrics to make her blocks (go HERE if you'd like to see her Block #1), I decided I would go with something totally different.  One of her suggested examples showed a black background and lots of bright solids to give it an Amish look - and you know I loved that!  I pulled all my solids out - I even bought a few more!

I had really been on the fence about how I was going to handle the center snowball in each block.... applique? ..... embroidery? ..... leave it blank and do some fancy quilting in there? .....

But then ..... I stumbled across this gorgeous Laurel Burch cats panel while digging for potential Patchwork of the Crosses fabrics - and inspiration struck!

What if I put a cat in the center of each one?!?

And then surround it with black, then lots of bright colors?.......

Not solids of course, but fun prints to emphasize the cats......

All my pieces cut out and ready to stitch.... the center panel already has it's black border and cut down to the required 6-1/2" square size.

Although I am totally in love with this idea, it is proving to be a little tricky because those center snowballs are only 6-1/2" square, and most of these cat blocks are going to be very close to that, leaving little space for a black border around them.  I may have to get very creative!!!

I love the way Jacquelynne makes her Flying Geese units!  I had never done them that way before.  I found it to be a very easy method, and my units were perfect!  Look at those points!  *polishing shoulder LOL!!!*

I have to admit, I just had to save the corners that were cut off - they made the cutest little 1-1/4" half-square triangles!  I simply sewed again a little less than 1/2" away from the first stitching and cut them off.  No messing with bias seams for me!

This is a little trick I learned from Bonnie Hunter, although she actually measures where she sews that second seam so she doesn't even have to square up the resulting hst unit!  That Bonnie is one smart cookie!!!!

For my half-square triangle units, I used a silver metallic gel pen to mark the diagonal center of my black squares.  This mark didn't matter because we don't sew on it; we sew a scan 1/4" inch away on both sides, then cut on that marked line.  But for my colored squares I knew I would actually be sewing on that line and it may show later, so I used a Frixion iron-away pen for them.....

I played with leaving the snowball corners out and making the center a square since the black was so narrow around the cat, but I just didn't like the orange star points just jutting out there all by themselves.....

I decided I would have to sacrifice some of the black border and make the snowball corners in orange so the star would connect all the way around.  I think it was the right decision :)

Sew..... are you sewing along?

If you're signed up, your email with the pattern is waiting for you now!  

What fabrics are you using?  

And what are you planning for the center blocks?

Yes - I want to know everything!!!!

  

Share photos of your blocks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 

using the hashtag #SewSweetSimplicity.

 

Also linking up with:
Patchwork Times - Design Wall Monday
Freemotion by the River - Tuesday Linky Party
What a Hoot - BOM's Away!
Cat Patches - October NewFO Challenge

Hugs & Blessings!
Teresa
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