November: A Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Mid-month link-up

Being gone for a week has taken a lot out of me.  

I loved my trip.

I ate.
I learned about a whole new area.
I went to Sew Expo.
I visited and talked for 2 days straight with a high school girlfriend I haven't seen in 19 years.

I'm starting to catch up. 

~ ~

The question of the day is how's your November project coming along?

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the optional linky party below, open til the 21st.   

Please grab a button or link back to Melissa and I so other people can join in the fun!

<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>

Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at 

Melissa, so there is no need to enter twice **





Here's a shout out to our fantastic November sponsors.

 Intrepid Thread
Fat Quarter Shop

 Sew BitterSweet Designs

Stitch n’ Giggles

Paper Pieces

 Aurifil
Quilting Lodge

Go weekend sewing!

Oh and by the way if you are a shop owner we would love to have you as a sponsor next year.

October Winners ~ A Lovely Year of Finishes

How fantastic to watch everyone finish their projects. 

It doesn't matter if it's speedy or if you are sewing and posting til the last moment. 

 

  

 

October Prizes Include:

1. A Fat Quarter Bundle from Moda United Notions

The winner is Lisa Marie - Flickr
 

2, 3. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern

from Sew BitterSweet Designs – that’s our very own Melissa!

($10 value)

The winners are:
Heather - Quilts in the Queue
and

Moneik from Moneik Quilts http://moneik.blogspot.com

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

The winner is Patty - A Stitch in Time
 

5. A Paper Piecing Kit from Paper Pieces

The winner is Lisa L. Flickr
 

6. $25.00 Gift Certificate to Superior Threads

The winner is Kris - Sew Sunshine

7. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

The winner is Tammy - Karamat Sews

Don't forget to link up for 10 prizes for November. 



November: Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Goal Setting Party

How are we already in November?

Well 2 months in a row I've not met my goal.

I'm not giving up.  I've actually accomplished a lot - just not what I've set out to do.

Because I'm gone traveling for the first whole week, my goal will be small.

I want to finish up my Noodlehead Super Tote.

It's made from the home decor material 

I seriously love this bag already!

~~~

So now it's your turn!

What one item will you choose to do for November?

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.
Please grab a button or link back to Melissa  and I 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 from my sidebar and spread the LOVE!

Oh yeah and there are prizes this month (as always!), here is what our fantastic sponsors are offering.

<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>

November Prizes Include:


1.A Prize from The Intrepid Thread




2. A $15.00 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

3, 4. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern
from Sew BitterSweet Designs 
($10 value)




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

6. A Paper Piecing Kit from Paper Pieces

7, 8, & 9. One Thread Chart & 2 Thread Packs from Aurifil Threads

10. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

Make sure to go visit 2 other people who have linked up before you so that we can cheer each other on!

Fall 2013 Blogger’s Quilt Festival:: Mini Quilt

Hello Hello!

 

If you're clicking over from Amy's Creative Side, welcome.

 

I'm Shanna {like Banana}. You can find me on any of the many Internet venues I dabble in through the buttons just to the left.

<--------------------------

 

I'm also the co-host of the monthly Finishes Party - A Lovely Year of Finishes.

Check out info at the top of this page and with Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs.

 



~~

 

This is my entry for the Mini Quilt category.

I made this mini quilt that is currently a pillow cover for the Sew Mama Sew Pillow Challenge.

I'm calling it Stile Stars.

Quilt Stats:

Name: Stile Stars

Size: approx. 17.5" x 17.5"

Fabrics: Liberty Stile Collection from Sew Mama Sew Challenge

Pattern: My own design from flickr inspirations + bloc loc rulers

Quilting: Hand quilted by me and Machine quilted by me on my Pfaff Performance 2058

Started : September 1, 2013

Completed: September 8, 2013

I got these fabrics around the same time I got some bloc loc rulers. And it just seemed perfect to add my new tool with my old favorite...stars. 
Oh I'm just so predicable.  Hee hee.

These colors were so fun to work with.  I wanted to add as many of the fabrics as I could and I adore all of them.

My stepdaughter helped inspire what would be the backing as she claimed this would be hers, but right now it's being loved by all.

More details about this can be found here. 
With some links of the tutorials I used and how I macgyvered the insert.

Thanks for checking out my mini quilt.  My other entry is found here.

 

Fall 2013 Blogger’s Quilt Festival:: Wall Hanging

Hello Hello!

 

If you're clicking over from Amy's Creative Side, welcome.

 

I'm Shanna {like Banana}. You can find me on any of the many Internet venues I dabble in through the buttons just to the left.

<--------------------------

 

I'm also the co-host of the monthly Finishes Party - A Lovely Year of Finishes.

Check out info at the top of this page and with Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs.

 



~~

 

This is my entry for the Wall Hanging category

This is my Radioactive Love

Quilt Stats:

Name: Radioactive Love

Size: approx. 20" x 20"

Fabrics: Stash fabrics

Pattern: Inspired by Steam Punk Pattern by Jen Kingwell Designs

Quilting: Machine quilted by me on my Pfaff Performance 2058

Started : June 2013

Completed: July 2013

This is some super lovely backing fabric that I just couldn't see going anywhere else.

And some voile binding.  It works well there!

 And each block is unique with my crazy FMQ.  Yep this is me learning as I go.
You can see all the blocks in detail in this post or by clicking on the photo below to be taken to my flickr photos.

 

 

For some reason this crazy pattern is something that I HAD to do.  I find it amazing that I could roll with this idea and pull fabrics that I normally wouldn't put together.

And to me.. this totally works! 

 

It reminds me that I need to break out of my own head and comfort level. And there is nothing bad breaking out of the mold of patterns or color pallets.

 

I'm so happy to see this each day in my bedroom. 

I'm loving that I have my own work on the walls. 

 

Thanks for checking out my wall hanging and my other entry is found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2013 Blogger’s Quilt Festival

I've been reminded it's Quilt Market by my flooding of lovely photos from Instagram.

 

This year I seem to be following more people that are booth participants and it's super inspiring to see.  I can't wait to participate sometime soon.

While other's go check out things, this is what I've been working on... 

 

 

It's for the awesome Melissa

it's also my

A Lovely Year of Finishes Goal.

 

Yep..snap snap..I'm working near the deadline.

For those that are way more on the ball, the finishes party is going on here!

 

In the meantime there's another awesome party going on!

 

You know it.

Oh and did you see that there is a pretty sweet giveaway?  Yeah Amy is offering a a Baby Lock Melody, new from Baby Lock!
You can enter yourself by visiting Amy's blog.

Yeah I need a new machine like another hole in my head. 

But I would love to own this beauty.
Since I'll be looking for something soon. .this would be a diverse with all the machines in my house.  Gotta try them all ya know.

In the meantime...remember to go checkout the 2 quilts (wall hanging & a mini quilt) I have entered into the show. 

Check out all the talent all over the globe!

 

 

 



October: : A Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Finishes Party

Hello beauties!

 

How are you? 

 

Remember just a mere 3 weeks ago...that one item will you choose to finish in the month of October?

 

Yep, let's do a finishing party of those lovelies.

 

There are  two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

1. Link-up {found here} the first 7-days of the month

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month {this post}.

To make it easy on Melissa and I (and easier on you), please link back to the goal setting post or photo. We have a few people that missed out on prizes as we couldn't verify if they entered in the beginning post. We also are having a hard time as many of you are listing more than one goal.

Please make it easy for us to verify your entry. As then it's easy for us to say you're a winner.

Please check out our Q&A page if you have questions.

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Melissa  and I 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 **

Please take a minute or two and visit a few other people who have linked up to cheer on one another. You all are just amazing talented.

 

Grab a button from my sidebar and spread the LOVE!

Oh yeah and there are prizes this month (as always!), here is what our fantastic sponsors are offering.

<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>

October Prizes Include:

1. A Fat Quarter Bundle from Moda United Notions

How about the lovely Glamping

2, 3.  TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern

from Sew BitterSweet Designs – that’s our very own Melissa!

($10 value)

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

5. A Paper Piecing Kit from Paper Pieces

6. $25.00 Gift Certificate to Superior Threads

7. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

.

Super Seminar

You know. .

It helps that I'm lucky!

I have some fantastic quilting stores around me. . Stash!!!
Go check out their on-line store.  You'll see why I adore them! 
{They stock tons of Tula Pink.} 

In September I was on a winning streak! 
The ladies at Stash were giving away a ticket by random to the Ricky Tims Seminar

And I WON.

First off... was on the road suuuuuper early


I'm NOT a morning person.

I spent 2 and a half days with 380 women and 3 men all without a sewing machine, learning about quilting. 

These people were dedicated that even 50 minutes before the show started people were there in droves! {As you can see, I was one of them}

 

I have to say, I was soooo impressed!
Those Ricky Tims, Alex Anderson, and Melinda Bula are some funny peeps.

While all their fabric choices aren't my style. 
Maybe their techniques aren't ones I want to do now.
Pfft that didn't mater one iota!

It was the passion they bring to this quilting experience. 

How real they are and able to show their quilting experiences.
Totally inspirational.

Having someone remind me that I'm awesome and can try these "hard" things, show me any new techniques, share their fast tips. 

Ahhh that's what quilting is about.

Thanks dearest Stash! 
I might actually try a kaleidoscope someday soon.

 

Craftsy ~ Helping me learn my craft{s}

I live in a rural community.  That's one reason why blogging has just opened my world. The Internet is awesome and my pocketbook sometimes can cry from all my wants. . but that's another story.

I found Craftsy a little over a year ago.  And no looking back.  I get to take some fantastic classes (free ones too) and get to watch, watch, and re-watch them.  The free ones are what got me hooked.  Then I've dived into some topics I'm wanting to improve on, sewing with knits, quilting, spinning yarn, even making pizza and now croissants. {I bought all these classes and more}

I love to watch Jacquie Gering's class Online Quilting Class: Improvisational Piecing, Modern Design just for fun.  I'm sure I've watched this class 14 times. Loooove it.

I just broke down and also bought Angela Walters - Quilting Negative Space after seeing the results in a local quilt show.  It was stunning.  I'm well on my way to tackle machine quilting on my home machine.  No fears baby!

Their words are:

What is Craftsy? Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, and more. Why should I take a class online? Online education isn’t just for schools and universities anymore. Craftsy courses provide you the convenience of a world-class instructor in your home, whenever you want to learn. Online education, no matter what subject, is a great alternative to in-person classes for a number of reasons. With many online learning opportunities being on-demand, you are able to learn at your own pace, anytime. Online learning is a fantastic alternative to in-store craft classes for people with busy schedules or who have difficulty leaving the house. It also allows you to watch a troubling section over-and-over again, so you can see exactly how a technique is carried out, or refer back to your class for relevant concepts before beginning any new projects.

My words are:

Craftsy is awesome. 

I get to watch classes when I'm tired or sick but just can't make it to the sewing machine.  Just hearing people sew is comforting.  {yes,  you can roll your eyes but it's true}

My classes don't expire go away and I can't lose them.  Yes you can find a lot of this on-line in other ways. But I love all of them in one location.

They are sponsors of A Lovely Year of Finishes that Melissa and I are running.

And pfft. . it's cat approved! What more do I need.

These are affiliated links and the opinions stated are my own.

And since I'm back on the mend - I'll be sharing some of my work soon.  Yeah for being healthy!!