March Giveaway and Spring Fever

I really should be thinking about getting my taxes done, but I'd much rather think about the fact that the first day of spring is 2 1/2 weeks away. So, in order to get my mind off of the inevitable day when I must submit my tax returns, I decided to give away this lovely 

Hoffman Spring Medley.

Not only will you receive 6 fat quaters of fabric that will bring thoughts of spring to your stash, but I'm also throwing in a sweet packet of Teavanna's Youthberry & Wild Orange Blossom Blend with German Rock Sugar.

So, sit back with a hot cup of tea and ponder what you will create with these beautiful fabrics.

Now, for a moment, step back two seasons. It's fall. The autumn is noted for its blaze of rich, fiery colors. This quilt, made for a dear friend, was made with fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett's autumn prints in a chevron pattern.

For the back, I chose one of my very favorite Kaffe patterns (if there is such a thing).

I call this quilt "Goodnight, Earth."

So the seasons go...round and round. Now it's time to wake up again.

If you want to wake up to this lovely Hoffman medley, simply leave a comment. 

Tell me what you like most about the seasons. Do you have a favorite?

Mr. Random will choose a winner on
Sunday, March 10th.

Indian Summer...

January is quickly coming to an end, and we are finally getting some winter weather in SE Pennsylvania with temperatures in the teens and the prospect of a bit of snow tomorrow. 

Days like this make me long for a fireplace.

Yesterday, as I was trying to finish up this Kaffe zig-zag quilt, I discovered that I had misaligned one of the borders. I spent most of last evening with my trusted friend, the seam ripper, correcting the problem.

Today the quilt top was completed, and I will attempt a better picture when the weather warms up a bit.

I have named it "Indian Summer."

This block for the Autumn Color Project 2012 is now finished and on its way to the

Republic of Moldova.

I am making progress on my CQJP 2013 project. I now have two of these mirror blocks and have started stitching the block that will sit in-between them. 

I went out bead shopping the other day, successfully gathering some new beads and ornaments that might make their way onto this wall hanging.

Tomorrow, I will let you know who will receive the jelly roll set of batiks. 

Until then, stay warm!

Ah...December

So December is here, and I am already reflecting on many things: 

all that has transpired this year, how I want to do things differently next year,

and those dreaded New Year's resolutions that I am so tempted to make

even though they slip away so easily.

I'm absolutely sure that I have more unfinished projects now than I did at this time last year despite my resolution to do the opposite. Before the end of this year, hopefully before the holiday crazies set in,

I am going to finish this quilt. 

Great earthy Kaffe fabrics and wonderful dark chocolate paisley background.

I've already planned some projects for next year.

I am participating in the CQJP 2013.

This is the set of fabric I picked for the first few blocks. I really like choosing at least one

fabric with a bold design that I can mimic in my stitching. This palette is 

cheerful and will brighten up the coming cold winter days.

                       A dear friend and I, although we live on opposite sides of the ocean, have decided to each 
                                                                             make this quilt in 2013.

I think I have finally landed on my first color palette. As of this moment, I have

absolutely no idea what my second one will be...

any ideas?

Feel free to chime in.

Don't forget that there is only a week and a half before we draw the winner of the quilt donated to raise money for BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) research. 

Because this is a very personal issue for me, it is not so much about the quilt but about raising money to help find a desperately needed  cure. Nathaniel was diagnosed at age eleven and took his own life in his early twenties.

"Phillips & Menard (2006) found the completed-suicide rate in patients with BDD to be 45 times higher than that of the general United States population. This rate is more than double that of those with clinical depression and three times as high as that of those with bipolar disorder. Suicidal ideation is also found in around 80% of people with BDD." 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder

I can't even begin, not even for a second, to conceive of the pain of losing a child, let alone the pain that Nathaniel endured during his short life. I continue to hope that people's hearts will be moved to donate at

http://walkingwithnathaniel.org/

You can see more pictures of the quilt here...

http://spillingenergy.blogspot.com/2012/11/quilt-raffle.html

I am so very grateful to all who have supported my endeavors to help!

Oh! Crazy love....

Maybe it's silly, but when I look at this quilt top, I hear Van Morrison singing Crazy Love. 

How could I not give it that name?

So, here is the Crazy Love quilt.

Feels fitting...I love color, I love Kaffe fabrics, I love my crazy life, and it all makes me smile.

Well, some good things you have to wait for. This quilt top began in the fall of 2011 and is now done.

I named it "Holding the World."

And......I finished stitching my 3rd crazy quilt block! My dear friend, Masha, and I swapped blocks and stitched for each other. She sent me the block, thread, and beads....and the rest was up to me. I had so much fun with this. The colors brought constant cheer to me.

Enjoy, Masha :) It will be in the mail on Monday wrapped in love and

best wishes.

Here is the lovely block that Masha stitched for me.

A deeply felt thank you....

Did I hear Kaffe??

Seriously, whenever I hear the name Kaffe, I smile. 

Why? 

Because his fabric designs simply make me happy. The graphics are bold, and the colors are saturated. Just love them!!!

I'm working with 16 different fabrics from Kaffe Fassett's fall 2012 collection.

Lucky me :)

Here's my October block for the Block Swap Adventure...

and...

I finally finished my second crazy quilt block. Because I'm such a newbie at this, a block feels like it takes me forever. I think when I have learned a lot more stitches and the design elements flow more freely, I won't be so slow. However, I have the rest of my life to work on it.

Thankful for every moment I can spend with fabric and thread...