Blocks vs Bloglovin'

I've been working on my lovely Simply Color

hourglass blocks.

This pattern is inspired by the lovely craftytammie

You can find the original pattern over on the Moda Bake Shop.

I started this as it would be "so easy"

And now it's a smidgen of a chore.

{It could be I've expanded the pattern to use every last hourglass block}

So I'm plodding along.

I'm pretty proud the sewing of the 4 patch "blocks". 86% of the centers match up like a dream and the other's aren't enough to bother with.

Precision in trimming and finding my 1/4" sewing line makes such a difference!

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Sooooo, during my Sew Mama Sew giveaway that was so successful I asked a question regarding how people read blogs. 

I love the responses and had the idea to create a pie or line chart of the data.

First off, I spent at least 20 minutes trying to remember how to graph data.  I was nearly in tears as years ago this is ALL I DID! How such a simple thing can fall out of the back of my head was just astonishing.  This whole getting older business is terrible!

Second, I just couldn't get through all the responses.  It was just too much for me to get through- I would rather be sewing my hourglass blocks. :)

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What I did learn is that many people are adjusting to the changes being forced upon us by the google overlords and now the  flickr overlords. 

{phrase from Sew Happy Geek}

The vast majority of people are going over to bloglovin' for their reading pleasure. 

I am too.

So let me share a few items I've figured out about this bloglovin' thing:

Good: - you can place blogs into categories!  I don't know if I could have done this in Google Reader but I've transferred many of my blogs into categories such as "Power Bloggers", "Foodie", "Mommy mainly"



So-So: Well every time I wanted to visit a blog I got this *cursing* frame on the top. 

The fix is found in settings.

I've changed the above setting and I'm not angry every time I click to a blog.

The other so-so is the daily emails.  I want these but at the same time I don't.  I won't change this option but usually just trash these things. It is an okay reminder to go and check out my peeps :)

Bad: Bloglovin' only keeps blogs for 2 weeks, unless you like them. Sadly this is not enough time for meeee. 

And there are these "featured posts" that are annoying!
{I sent a request to get rid of these things}

And I can't seem to search for keywords in the blogs I follow.

And I can't seem to re-arrange these to read from the oldest to the newest.

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As you can tell I need to spend more time with this bloglovin' thing.

All in all it's nice to have a reader.  I'll be looking into an ipad as there seems to be a super cool application on that.  Oh darn another toy :)

Well off to sew some hourglass blocks.  See you on the other side.

A Season by Hand ~ So much fun to come

I am so excited to share with you a wonderful blog hop that is already in progress throughout this summer – A Season by Hand with Clover & Violet.
One week is complete but soooo much more to come.

My project will be shared with you at the end of July.  In the mean time look at the amazing blogs that you can visit!

Did I say there will be prizes?!  Yep those too.  Amazing sponsors throughout and this fun series will have a  prizes at the end to share projects you have created.  Make sure to look for those link-ups.

Thanks to Jennie and Clara are the creative minds behind Clover & Violet and they have organized a Season By Hand!

Here's some of the details, and more can be found here:

Schedule:

June 3 - Kick-off
June 4 - Alyce - Blossom Heart Quilts
June 6 - Emily - Mommy's Nap Time
June 7 - Jodi - Pleasant Home
June 10 - Suz - PatchworknPlay
June 11 - Beth - Plum & June
June 13 - Jenniffier - Jenniffier's Sometimes Creative Life
June 14 - Heidi - Fabric Mutt
June 17 - Rachael - Imagine Gnats
June 18 - Elaine - Dashasel Sews
June 20 - Sandie - Crazy 'Bout Quilts
June 21 - Amy - Lots of Pink Here
June 24 - Danny - Mommy for Reals
June 25 - Cindy - Tops to Treasures
June 27 - Leanne - She Can Quilt
June 28 - Melissa - Sew Bittersweet Designs
July 1 - Cindy - Fluffy Sheep Quilting
July 2 - Rhonda - Quilter in the Gap
July 3 - Trish - Notes of Sincerity
July 5 - Erin - Why Not Sew
July 8 - Chrissy - Sew Lux
July 9 - Carrie - A Passion for Applique
July 11 - Katy - The Littlest Thistle
July 12 - Kelley - Casa Crafty
July 15 - Emily - Strawberry Patch
July 16 - Heather and Megan - Quilt Story
July 18 - Annette - My Rose Valley
July 19 - Katy - There & Back
July 22 - Melissa - Lilac Lane
July 23 - Jenelle - Echinops & Aster
July 25 - Shanna - Fiber of All Sorts
July 26 - Jane - Jane's Fabrics and Quilts
Wrap up and Linky running July 26 - August 5, 2013

Share what you're making:

Flickr groupFacebook group
Instagram - #aseasonbyhand

Sponsors:

These lovely shops and pattern designers are sponsoring some amazing giveaways throughout the series, so make sure you stop over and show them some support!

Supplies:

Patterns:

Fabric:

  Can't wait to keep on visiting these blogs to see what they share!
See you back her in July 

   

Tula and Craftsy helps the medicine go down

This past week I was sick, way sick.  

Not sure why the changes of seasons seems to take me down.  

But in my weakened state I was invited, joined, and jumped into (2 spots) a charm square swap being organized by Leona from Leona's Quilting Adventure.

Tula Pink made the sick better!
I {promptly}picked out 4 yards (yeah it's 2 yards per spot) and they are now cut them waiting for me to mail them.

Last I checked there are still openings if your a Tula Pink lover too.

♥

Oh I also found tinkerfrog's Craftsy's class Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags what a FANTASTIC CLASS!

There is the QAYG tutorial which is more than I expected but then there is a flap, clutch, leather tips, and a whole lot of encouragement.


When I wasn't so sick I sat down and practiced what I watched. I actually made a potholder.  It's not perfect but so great for my first QAYG project.

And Craftsy is so fantastic... I can go back and re-watch this class anytime I want.  So much learning it's gleeful!



Here's to lots more healing over this weekend.
Hope everyone is grand!

May Winners ~ A Lovely Year of Finishes

Congrats to everyone finished their goal in May. 

If you didn't make it there is still time to set-up a plan for June.
This month's linky is open til the 7th found here

Let's celebrate with those that won our May prizes.

Thanks to our sponsors who are making this super fun for everyone!

1. Choice of $15 or 2 charm packs from Stitch n’ Giggles

The winner is Izzy from Dizzy Quilts

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2. Mini Dresden Flowers Pattern and Pieces donated from Paper Pieces

The winner is Leslie from Can't Stop Quilting

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3. $25 Gift Certificate from Intrepid Thread

The winner is Suzanne from All The Good Ones Are Taken

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4. A pack of books from a local quilter Solar Threads

Find Becky on her facebook page here

The winner is Kell from Flickr

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5. $20.00 Gift Certificate from the Quilting Lodge

The winner is Bee from Buzzing Around

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6, 7, 8, and 9 Will get one thread pack of Auriful Thread donated from Aurifil

The winners are:
Large Spool package~  Ali M from alimakes
~Jo from CReate the poinT
~Carrie from A Passion for Applique
~Deborah Gunthorpe from Flickr

10. $10.00 Gift Certificate from Contemporary Cloth

The winner is Marla from Sew Hungry

~~
10 winners were chosen by Mr. Random for those that post during the goal setting linky and the wrap-up linky at the end of the month with a completed finish.

Remember that this month's linky is open til the 7th found here

Everyone is doing fantastic keep it up!

June: A Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Goal Setting Party

Seriously how did we get to June?  

My last month was so hard on me.
The weather was perfect in nearly every way yet I traveled way, way, way too much.

Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I have been loving seeing all your projects and actually finishing some of our own.

So I didn't touch my May goal - at all.  Instead I was gleefully distracted with little projects.

This month is a repeat - I can sew do this!  :)

My May  June #ALYoF project is being forced to be small but mighty.

I'm going to piece the back for the quilt top I finished for March's goal.

See. . baby steps will get this beauty finished UP!



~~~

What will you choose to do for June?

You have two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.  

1. Link-up {on this post} the first 7-days of the month

and 

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month.

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.  Make sure you also link back here so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Melissa, so there is no need to enter twice **

For those unsure of how to link up go check out our Q&A Page for A Lovely Year of Finishes - there are instructions on how to link up from a blog and from Flickr.

Grab a button!  Spread the LOVE

<a href="http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/p/lovely-year-of-finishes.html" title="A Lovely Year of Finishes"> <img src="http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/image004.gif" width="180" height="180" alt="A Lovely Year of Finishes" style="border:none;" /></a>

And what's for gabs this month?  Here is what our fantastic sponsors are offering:

June Prizes Include:

 1. Choice of $15 or 2 charm packs from Stitch n’ Giggles

2. Loving Pieces donated from Paper Pieces

3. $20.00 Gift Certificate from the Quilting Lodge

4. A Fat Quarter Bundle from Moda United Notions

5. $15.00 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

6. $25.00 Gift Certificate to Superior Threads

Thanks for joining in!