200 - Really this is it.

This is my two hundredth post. Golly, where did I find so much to say and show?
This blogging journey has been great so far and I intend to ride for a while longer. I have made great friends, had great fun and even won great prizes.


Prizes? Did someone say "Prizes" ? Hmmmmm...is 200 worthy of a giveaway?


Okay, Okay, I know. I KNOW! I promised. heheheheehhe

As you know this is only for people who have commented here before. If this is your first time, well, I am sorry but you are not eligible. Please DON'T blog about this. Please DO comment if you have commented before AND if you want what I am offering.

First up, my own handiwork, and you get a choice. You can choose either of these two pendants. (the other one will go in my Etsy store when the winner chooses) These are pendants that I create with polymer clay and imprint with stamps that I have carved. Each one is an original work of art. I hope you like them. I will be adding some jewelry to my Etsy store




I will also add some type of fabric item, either something I make OR some fabric for YOU to make your own bliss. If I make something for you, I will ask questions about colors etc. Okay?

I may add something else to the package, I haven't decided yet. Since we are heading into the Independence Day weekend here in the USA, I will wait to draw until..........hmmmmmm.......

Let me think. (calendar, please) July 8th. Yes, I like that idea 7-8-09.

Pillowcases

Pillowcases
Originally uploaded by GeneBlack

Thanks to Barb (Bejeweled Quilts by Barb) I was prompted to make the pillowcases for my bed.
I had made one pair with some fabric I won. They go so well with a painting in my bedroom. If you click the link you will see my painting (yes I painted that) and the pillowcase.

This time I bought fabric for the project. I didn't buy the yellow fabric for the accent for the project, I cheated and grabbed a couple of strips out of a jelly roll. They don't match, but they go well together. I love sleeping on the pillowcaes I made before. So to have a pair for using on alternate washings, I made a second pair. I love them.
I don't fret that the pillowcases don't match the sheets. In case you haven't noticed I am not a person that matches things up and uses all one line of fabric in every quilt I make. Oh no. I mix it up. I like to add a little extra ZIP with a contrast. I must say that these will go wonderfully with my quilt. They are bright and cheerful and most of all FUN.

I used the "burrito" method to make these. I got the pattern from Quilted Forest.
I didn't think the instructions were real clear. Or maybe it is me, I don't generally do patterns, remember. I had seen this elsewhere on the internet and didn't quite get it. The "burrito" part had me confused before. Anyway, this time I figured it out and got them made. The first pair I did has exposed seams and they do string out some in the wash. These have all totally encased seams. yaay! I highly recommend making your own pillowcases.

Mail Call!

Another day, another delightful package. I almost feel like it is my birthday. You see, my friend, Serena (aka Young Appalachian Quilter) sent me yet another package of possibilities. (You know, you call them "scraps.")

I opened it up, having a modest idea what it contained, but not REALLY knowing. WOW, look at the goodness. (well, you can't because I spent the evening painting, sewing and watching a movie, instead of taking a picture - sorry!)

Serena had mentioned that she was sending me some scraps of Asian Fabric. But there is a bit of batik, some fine floral fabrics, some magnificent metallic prints, oh my!
I saw two fish fabrics that pleased my eye. More than I can remember at this point.

I am a happy camper this evening. Did I mention that in the sewing this evening I have all the top of my quilt in big pieces. I have 3 sections left to quilt, then I join it all. Then I may add a scrappy border, I can't decide! All that will be left after that is the binding! Woo woo!

This is post one hundred ninety eight. Suggestions for what to use as the giveaway are certainly welcomed. At this point I don't know - it may be a surprise to ALL of us. LOL.

Post 197 -Fair warning

Hi guys and gals. As you know i am nearing post 200. I am planning a giveaway at that point. Here is the deal. I want to give to someone who reads my blog. I don't want someone to swoop in, register and never come back.

So, if you read my blog regularly. Leave a comment to this post. If you have left a comment in the past, I will most likely remember you. But leave one here at this post anyway.

If you read me, but don't normally comment, please speak up. According to my stats, there are more readers than commenters. I want to know who you are. Anyone how has never commented before the 200th post is ineligible.

Okay...let the comments begin.

More Scrappy Blocks

Last night I figured out how many more blocks I need to finish the quilt top. So I did some piecing this evening after work. I confess that some of these were already done. Some I finished last night ---and yes, I have a few more to make. And since I am doing this one quilt as you go, I have part of it already quilted. Yaaay!

The real joy in making the newest ones was having the scraps from Barb to add to my own stuff. Wow! It worked so well together. I rambled on last night so tonight I will cut it short and show you. Do notice that I did some of the blocks at wonkedy angles just for fun.

Post 195 -Edging toward a big one

Folks I had a pretty creative night. I don't have any pictures to show right now. So I am just going to tell you what I did. I started out with a new painting. I am ashamed to say that I have gotten so caught up in quilting and sewing that I have neglected my painting.

Tonight I got my groove back, just call me Stella! Ha ha! Yes, I started a full sheet painting. (That means a full sheet of watercolor paper which is 22 by 30 inches.) I am painting in acrylic. I would love to show it to you, but sometimes with non-objective painting we hit an "ugly ducking" stage. I got there tonight. I will confess that I am not sure where the painting will go. I am hoping it talks to me in the next few days and I see a path to follow it down. Now, should I be worried about that? Not in the least. This is a process that is normal for me.

So after the first big layer of paint was down - and needed to dry. I washed up, cause painting like I do is M-E-S-S-Y, oh yes. Besides the first bottle of paint I opened spattered my left hand quite a bit. Anyway. after the wash-up, I pulled out the parts of the quilt that are sewn together.

I took the big pieces and laid them on the bed. WOW. I am getting excitedhappyjoyousthirlled and a few other good emotions. Once it was all laid out, it looked like a quilt! A nice, scrappy, happy, snuggly quilt.

I almost laid down on it to luxuriate. But I didn't. I saw that I have another set of 4 BIG blocks to make. (remember each big block is made of four of the 9.5 blocks)
So I started digging. I found some already made blocks and partial blocks from last weekend. I found some Scrapibilities that I got in the mail yesterday. I started some ironing and sewing. Finally I got a bit tired.

So back to the painting to add just a bit more. Then, wash the brushes. Finally I came here to post this big old rambling post.

I apologize for being all over the place with this one. But at least you get an idea of what is going on with me. (and that when the muse hits me, I jump if I can)

Peace to y'all.

Scrap-ibilities

Scrap-ibilities
Originally uploaded by GeneBlack

I got a lovely package in the mail today from Barb - Bejeweled Quilts by Barb She also has a fabric shop at Artfire

Well in the picture do you see scraps? I confess I don't I see POSSIBILITIES. Now it doesn't look like a lot in that picture, but the size of the board it is laying on is at least 22 by 30 inches. And you can't really tell it in the picture but there are layers of pieces. This came in a priority mail envelope that was stuffed FULL. As a matter of fact, it was so full there wasn't even room for a note inside.

The down side to this joy is this: Since there was so much scrappy goodness stuffed into the envelope, I will be spending s good bit of time ironing it --no not all at once, but as I use it. The truth is, I stuff my scraps into gallon plastic bags and they get wrinkled too.

So the true down side to this -- there isn't one! I am doing a happy dance!

Thanks Barb, look for your scraps in a blog post near you! hehehee

Always something - And a giveaway too

Seems like I am always busy and things slip up on me. Does that happen to you? If not you are truly blessed.

Today I started to do laundry. My bottle of laundry detergent was empty. Not a problem. I just went to get the big gallon jug and refill it. YIKES, the gallon was empty too. Now you probably don't know this but I make my own laundry detergent. It is easy and saves money. Another big plus is the lack of dyes or artificial fragrances - well mostly. One of the ingredients is a bar of laundry soap. Actually with the big bar I buy, a third is enough. I got a nice bar in Mexico last year. Since I already had an open bar at the time, this bar was still there. I kinda looked at the ingredients and there is some fragrance in there. Oh well.

Instead of sewing a lot, I made detergent. It won't be ready till tomorrow. BUT I had a jug of bought detergent so I just used that this time. The laundry got done anyway.

But about the making detergent; there are instructions on the internet lots of places. Here is a link to one recipe. Now, I stress that I use a bar of LAUNDRY SOAP for mine. I got the Zote in Sav-A-Lot discount grocery. If you have a little Mexican grocery, you may find it there. (or one of the other brands.) Personally I would not use bath soap, although some people do.

So anyway, I didn't take any pictures but my laundry detergent should be ready to use tomorrow....although all my laundry is clean right now!


What? Oh, I did mention a giveaway didn't I?

Quilt Qua is having a tell a friend giveaway. There I told all my quilty friends. Go enter for yourself. The prize is a Frosted Memories Fat Quarter Bundle by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics !

Adding to my Etsy Store

I have added a new journal to my Etsy store.
I made it just this morning.

You can go there and look. (I wish you would)

But I will post a picture here too. There are additional views on Etsy.



You might recognize that I took one of the blocks from this post And added to it to make the cover.

Something New

I have added something new. In the sidebar on the right there is a nice little "web thingy" with my new Etsy Store. It links right to my store.
But if you want to go directly to the storefront --and more importantly if you want to share the link - it is http://geneblack.etsy.com

Post 190 - A giveaway At Tonya's

Hi y'all, there is a giveaway at Tonya's Sewing Room

Tonya is looking for Followers to her blog. But you can get an entry just by commenting. Still, why wouldn't you follow? Tonya does some fun posts. This is her 100 post giveaway. Oh yeah, tell her that Gene sent you!

Me? This is my post 190 ---hey getting closer to 200 huh?

Wonkedy squares

wonkedy squares
Originally uploaded by GeneBlack

Here is a picture of a few more "wonkedy squares" that I have made for the quilt I am working on. I did these on Saturday. I really need to get back to work on the quilt.

Quilted Goodness - An update

This bit of quilted goodness shows what I have accomplished thus far on the quilt project.

First a big confession: I was trying to keep this a secret. In doing that I sort of adjusted the truth. This quilt is for my friend, Dave, who at least KNOWS that I blog here. He has on occasion looked at my blog. So when I was posting earlier, I said "she' to throw him off the track. Well, now he KNOWS it is for him so the secret is out.
((lesson for you- I can't keep my own secrets, so maybe you shouldn't tell me yours. ha ha))

The two big sections ARE separate. they will be joined in a quilt as you go manner. It is just easier for me to quilt in sections and then join. I don't have a long arm and the throat on my machine isn't big enough for me to feel comfortable quilting an entire queensize quilt on it.

I am loving this scrappy quilt. However, until I put the string blocks with it, I am not sure how it will work together. This may turn into TWO quilts. Now wouldn't that be a pity?

PS. Click on the picture to see the full view on Flickr. My layout here cuts it off a bit. Fixing that is a project for another day.

See Jane Run, Run win Fabric

Over at See Jane Run, Go Jane Go She is having a giveaway. This lovely bundle of fabric by Moda. If I were you, I would go enter so you can win and save me from increasing my stash.

No wait, maybe I don't want you to do that. Oh okay, it is up to you!