News Flash and a win

First -the win:
Over at the Sew Sweetness blog, I won a nice Pellon assortment.

Uh....I borrowed her picture of this, I hope you don't mind Sara. 

There are two 16" square pillow forms (just asking to be covered in quilty goodness - I have a plan!)
There is a nice bag of cluster fiber - think doll babies or maybe creatively shaped pillows.
Some Fabric Magic that will texturize fabric for fun textured effects.
Some cheese cloth that is food grade so if I don't use it for something else, I can use it to strain food. (always handy to have!)
And finally some 300 thread count white fabric. It is made of a soft long staple cotton.
Thanks to Sara and to Pellon for this great giveaway!


Now for the News Flash!
Tomorrow,  Saturday the 15th, I will be guest blogging at Color Me Quilty. It is QED that is Quilty Embellishment Day and I will be showing some simple beading on a finished art quilt. Come here first though and see the quilt I have been keeping in hiding.  It is all about embellishment.
See ya tomorrow.

Oh yes, I do have this quilt top finished for the Beginner's Quilt Along!

Mug Rug 2 - and giveaways!

I couldn't resist making another INH (in the hoop) Mug Rug.  So I played with it again. These are just FUN to make.  The great part is that if you have an embroidery machine with a 6" by 8" (or larger) hoop, you can make one of your own.   Marjorie is offering the file as a free project on her blog -Marjorie's Quilting Bee.  You can get the file with just the bird design to use in a smaller hoop. (I haven't tested it but I know it would work in a 5 by 7 and MAYBE a 4 x4 hoop)
However, if you dont' have a machine to make your own. I have a giveaway going here.  And today I am changing it to have TWO winners.

The second winner will get this mug rug.  I went with different colors and also used a Sharpie marker to color in the bird - and to recolor his legs and feet since the thread I used almost vanished on this fabric.
So if you aren't going to make your own - or if you just want to have one that I made - go to my Mug Rug Giveaway  (US only - sorry my international friends) post and enter   (US only - sorry my international friends).  But be sure to comment on this post too.  You never know when a comment could get you a surprise later.

Remember go to the Giveaway post to enter - comments on this post do NOT enter you to win either mug rug.

Embroidered Mug Rug

On Saturday I got an adorable embroidery file.  It makes a mug rug in the hoop.  The mug rug is 5" by 7" so it takes a larger hoop than five by seven.  Luckily I have a larger hoop. Now I confess that I tried one time and messed up big -because I didn't read the instructions. Ha. I know, typical man.  I will say in my defense that I usually DO read the instructions first on most things.
So the second one is missing the fabric die cut that should make the bird's body.  I think it is still just as cute as it can be.

My top stitching is a bit lacking on this, but isn't the design just as cute as can be?  I got it from a friend who is an embroidery digitizer.  When it is available to the public, I will let you know about it.

Meanwhile,  suppose I say I am giving this one away? At some point in the last week I hit 375 followers. I would love to have at least 500.   So here is the deal:
You must be a follower to win - make a comment and tell me you are a follower - I will check.
For an extra entry - have my blog badge on your blog. Tell me so in a second comment.
For a third entry - Follow my Facebook page  Tell me so in a another comment. (I added a LIKE button on the right sidebar)
For a fourth entry - blog about this - Tell me so in a another comment and tell me where so I can see it.

I will probably not reply to all the comments.

End date: September 22nd.

I will leave this open for a week - My apologies, but I must make this US mailing addresses only so I don't have to spend a lot of time at the post office (I work when they are open!)  All you non-US addresses, I do appreciate you also.  I am trying to think of a cool digital giveaway I can do just for you.  (I will take suggestions!)

I hope you are having a lovely week.

UPDATE:  There will be two winners - the second one will get this Songbird Mug Rug.

Giveaway closed Winners posted HERE

Rolling Along

Since I showed you the Thangles, I thought it only fair to show you the Triangles on a Roll too.  This is yet another way to make Half Square Triangles (HSTs.)
What you do is cut two pieces of cloth ten inches wide. (I cut mine a little bigger and then trim afterwards) put them right sides together. (this is important but please don't ask me how I know!) Pin down the paper and sew on the lines following the arrows.  Then cut them apart.  Sorry I forgot to take the picture of when it was solid but sewn.

 Then you go to the iron and press them open.  I leave on the paper for this as it helps to stabilize the  edges.

Then all you have to do is sit and pull off the papers. That is a great job to save for TV or movie time.
You can cut the paper as long as you want but I would say not over 6 sections wide as it becomes cumbersome to sew. (and those pins will stick you!)
I am thinking these pieces may end up in Mom's headboard cover.

Also I had two absolutely delightful wins (yes again!)  From Richard and Tanya Quilts  I got several fat quarters of Ghastlies fabric.  And from Ribbon Candy Quilt Company I won two packs of Aurifil Thread.  Each of the packs has some Aurifil wool that I love to use for a different texture in my handwork art pieces. There is also some  number 12 cotton that is great for hand work.  So I am a very lucky boy! (okay okay OLD boy - LOL)

Now I have to decide what to do with the Ghastlies.  I am sure I need to make something for ME with some of it.  I find little Prudence and her Hammer to be so funny.  Maybe I will make myself a new mug rug with her on it!

Have a great weekend my friends.