Happy Zombie

It’s just about time.  Just a little bit longer.  One last spin.  It’s almost ready…

Oh nevermind.  I suck at hype, plus I’m wishing I was here.  Keep your eyes peeled on Holly’s blog.  I’d say when - but I think I’m not supposed to announce it yet that it’s Friday, December 4th that you should be marking your calenders.  I suck at following instructions.  Oh look, a butterfly. 

LITTLE did I know when asked what everyone was having for dinner on the previous post… that I would actually MAKE someone’s dish.  I was all settled in after treating my hubby out to a fine Kosher meal (the Costco hot dog stand), reading all the wonderful comments left for me… and then I read Vanessa’s.  She was taunting me to go see what she made for dinner.  Vanessa’s version of ding-dong-ditch.  Ding-comment-ditch.  SHE GOT ME!

I went.
I saw.
I HAD to make.

I think I said ohhemmgee about 20 times when I first saw it.  If you’re ohhemmgeeing too… hurry.  That little craft-minx Vanessa is dangling the fabric carrot for only a limited time - so order her pattern NOW.

I added a few potatoes to mine. Just a 6” circle stitched yo-yo style and then stuffed.  The carrots and potatoes were a good TV time project.  Though I should have paid better attention to what I was doing… I accidentally took a bite out of the Thanksfabrigiving turkey.  And now I’m stuffed.

Supersizeme’d Thanksfabrigiving photo 1 & photo 2.

Thank you all for the sweet comments on the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks giveaway. I wish I could have responded to them all - so group hug and thank you!   It was fun to see what was for dinner and what people’s fave color combos are at the moment.  Ramble, ramble, ramble… the meat and potatoes of it all (or turkey and potatoes) is that random.org picked Dorothy of Doki Quilts.  Congratulations, Dorothy!

Also on the pattern front - my “Two Happy” freebie-4-youbie pattern for Lecien, featuring Lecien’s ADORABLE new “Old New Fabric Collection 30’s” fabric… is now available on Lecien’s website on their FREE PATTERNS page.

One pattern. Two Quilts. One for Momma, one for Baby.

So… what’s for dessert?

There’s only one thing more fun then being in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks issue… and that’s being featured with lots of friends and rock-star quilters - and I’m so honored to be amongst them!   I kind of fudged a little… I’m using the alternate cover image that features Camille, Laurie, Elizabeth, Pat, Pam and me AND ME!

You can follow along on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour, and even have a chance to win prizes and an issue. Tomorrow (9/13) is my day on the tour, so leave me a comment - and for jollies tell me your favorite 2-color combo. Or tell me whatcha makin’ for dinner.  I’ll draw a name from all the entries posted by 12:01am PST Nov. 14th, 2009 (that’s right, mmmm-hmmmm… I’m not messin’ around with Friday the 13th), and the winner will be sent a copy from the nice folks at Quiltmaker.  It’ll be so fresh off the press you’ll be able to sniff it like a ditto.

Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block (#90) and my block (#89) use the same fabrics (Sweet, by our pals the Urban Chicks)? Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block and my block are great companion blocks and look Sew Happy Together?

Only time will tell.  It’s very possible we’ve been cookin’ somethin’ up.
Yup.
It’s possible.

Howard Marcus’ Collection for a Cause Collections for a Cause - Legacy by Moda

It’s so hard to think of words as I bask in the afterglow of the most amazing quilt retreat ever. Our hostess Karen set up the most amazing retreat in what can only be called paradise. Our retreat was at the Falls Creek Conference Center near Raymond, WA.   Sarah, Sarah’s mom Kirsty and I set up shop in the center of the gym. The center of the quilting universe.

Falls Creek is an amazing place and our hosts could not have been more wonderful and accommodating. Great food, great lodging and great kindness. Having four days of the ultimate quilting weather (rain, hail, thunder and lightening) wasn’t too shabby either. The best part was being among such wonderful and amazing ladies - creating wonderful and amazing works of art. It was great to finally meet Michelle of Busy Bee Quilt Designs (who I’ve always referred to as “Hip to Be Square Michelle”). We also got to meet fellow bloggers Robin of Crafty Musings and Evelyn of Use the Loot (and her killer peanut butter cup cookies). And being among my friends like Carol-O, Judy, Robin & Mary, Laura & Susan, Mary & Teresa and Jane & Joan… that was gravy.

There were over 60 of us, but we were in a huge gym and we each had our own table - so there was plenty of elbow room. Sarah, Sarah’s adorable mom (aka MommaAnyoneCanQuilt) and I were in our own little table “pod”. Between Sarah’s imitations of Herbert from the Family Guy and my attempts to imitate Wendy Williams doin’ her “How You Doin’?“… it was far more a laughing retreat then a quilting retreat for us. There was also the My Little Pony drinking incident - but we’re trying to keep that hush-hush. Sarah’s got the scoop on it all.

Sarah’s mom looks on as her little girl and her little friend play with their toys.

After most went to bed… in the wee, wee hours… after way too much candy and coffee… it was then that Sarah spotted the roller skates. And then it happened:

(Works best if you pause it, let it load, and then play it. If the video does not appear, click here.)

As I mentioned in my previous post, Karen asked me to do a quilt-as-you-go demo since I’d done some QAYGing in the past (my Roly Poly quilt’s center). My demo was a mess - but it’s not like Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno were judging me. I don’t know who the genius is who thought up the QAYG method. I wish I did… so I could apologize for butchering his/her trick.

Quilt As You Go:
1.  For my 4-block quilt, I used two 1¾” strips (then folded) and two 1⅛” strips - the length of the backed and quilted block to make my rows.  To join my rows, I have one long 1¾” strip (then folded) and one 1⅛” strip.   After I measure my completed rows I will cut the strips to that length.

2.  Join a 1⅛” strip, rights sides together on top of the block and the 1¾” folded strip the back of the block (raw edge to raw edge). Join by stitching a ¼” seam.

3.  Flip top strip over. Press.

4.  With right sides together, I join the next block to the top strip.

5.  Raw edges together, join by stitching a ¼” seam.  Flip block over and press.

6.  On back side of row, flip over folded strip and stitch with a slip-stitch.  If you love stitching binding down… you will love this.  The technique is the same.

7.  Join your rows in the same manner as joining the blocks into rows.

8.  Press front.

9.  Flip back over and repeat step 6.

Bind it… and tah-dah - it’s done!

Well, it’s DONE if you quilted ALL of your blocks.

I’ve been asked by Karen to do a demo at her quilt retreat this weekend - and I thought I’d be a smarty and post a tutorial ahead of time.  I have a tendency to teach/demo in Can’t-you-read-my-mind-glish. This way in case anyone forgets to bring their English to Can’t-you-read-my-mind-glish translator… there will be a reference here for all those words and sentences I forgot to say.

And… that was my plan. I’m trying very hard to crack the whip and get all I need to do to get done. Packing half my studio. Half my wardrobe. Snacks to buy. Fabrics to organize. My head is spinning. So thinking I have plenty of time… I decide I’d embellish my little project with some stitchery.

Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches has some ADORABLE free projects on her blog (check out her sidebar), and I took some liberties with her Sweet & Spotty Needle Wallet birdie (ie, I only used partial of the drawing for the sake of time).  So cute are Natalie’s drawings I couldn’t make just one.  No… I had to make four.  FOUR.  What the freckle was I thinking - I don’t have time!

So time got me again.  It’s like I’ve put myself in boots and I’m sloshing through the mud… and my boots are filled with mud… and I’m getting no where fast.  Now feel like I’m doing some freaky time travel post into the future.   Back to the future.   Hopping back to the past.  And now back in the now again.  If you’ve come to this post because I’ve sent you here to look at my tutorial…  it’ll be up later once the WIP has been cracked.  And I get myself into the future. Ahhhh the future… where Chex Mix comes only with Chex - none of that filler stuff I always have to pluck out.