Quiltmaker's 100 Block, Volume 7 winner

Thank you to all of you who stopped at my blog on for the Quiltmaker's 100 Block Volume blog tour. It was a great turn out.  I am so glad that you enjoyed seeing my block, Patches.

The winner of a free magazine randomly selected from comments left on my blog is:  Bonnie Thiem.

Quiltmaker's 100 Block magazine, Volume 7

I have a block in the Quiltmaker's 100 Block magazine that will be coming out in early May.  Today, May 2 is my blog hop day where I can introduce you to my block.  Prizes will be given away so follow the event and see how lucky you will be.

Magazines will be released soon at news stands and at your favorite quilt store.  My block is number 601 on page 22.  I machine appliqued Patches, a cute teddy bear.  The method that I like using has the freezer paper ironed on the right or top side of the fabric and then the edges are turned under using a glue stick.  I prefer Elmer's school glue-glue stick as it doesn't dry fast and that gives you time to smooth out the edges.  This is the same method that I used when I made my pattern Miss Ellie Soleil, a delightful elephant.

Here is an example of a quilt that could be made using this darling bear and alphabet blocks.

Please leave a comment on my blog for your chance to win a free Quiltmaker's 100 Block magazine, please leave email information so that I can contact you for mailing instructions, and if you go to my website and sign up for the newsletter and you will have a chance to win a free pattern.  If I can not contact the chosen recipient or do not get mailing instructions another lucky number will be drawn.  Now please go back to Quiltmaker to continue on with the blog tour and visit the other great blocks that are featured today.

Tropically Orchid

The next in my Tropically series is done.  This one is Tropically orchid.  First I will show you a picture of the orchid that I was going for.  This was on a neighbors plant and it had very large gorgeous flowers on it.

Fabrics that matched the color did not seem to be in my stash so I tried lavender at first and ruled that out since it seemed want to look blue in a picture.  And I just didn't like it.  So then I found the following picture of a yellow orchid and said that is where I want to go.

The yellow that I used were not quite as brilliant as this picture shows but they make a lovely yellow cattylea orchid. 

There are now four Tropically done in this series.  You can combine them to make a variety of wall hangings.  Thery are all the same width.  Here is a computer generated example putting the four of them together.

Putting one square on and one long one together would look nice also.  Enjoy my touch of tropical spring.

Tropically Red Ginger

Flowers for spring and we had a beautiful rain yesterday to help with the blossoms. 

This week I released the third in my Tropically series and this one is Tropically Red Ginger.  It is another easy design for those that like hand applique.  Of course, if you are a fuser that doesn't leave you out at all.  As I always say: applique is applique is applique.  One method is not better than another, just do the one that you enjoy with the pattern that you like.  Lecture over!!  We have red gingers growing in our yard and their bright hot color is always a joy to see.   This can be put together with the Tropically Hibiscus for a nice small wall hanging. 

This is the same size as Tropically Bamboo.  The next in the series will be a small square the size of Tropically Hibiscus.  The next one is causing me some problems.  I have appliqued it twice in two sizes and I am still not pleased with it.  Is it the color, size, flower or what?  The Hawaiians say if there are bad or uncomfortable feelings while working on a quilt put it away and forget it.  Maybe that is exactly what I should do-BUT I want to finish this series so you can put the four together in your own Tropically quilt.  Time to reflect and enjoy the pretty sunshiney morning we are having.

Winners-Beat the Winter Blues Blog Hop 2013

What a wonderful turnout for the Winter Blues Blog Hop hosted by Quilting Gallery.  It was very interesting seeing all the participating blogs and reading what everyone had to say. 

My two randomly drawn winners of fabric bundles are:  The Orphan Quilter and Fiesta.  Emails have been sent to tell them about their winning.

Thank you all for participating.  For another chance to win - sign up for my newsletter on my website to enter your name in a drawing to win a pattern.

Beat the Winter Blues-Blog Hop Party 2013

Quilting Gallery is having another Blog Hop and you are invited to visit at 207 blogs from fifteen different countries starting late afternoon on March 8th.  Give aways of all types can be found.  How fun is that??    When I make my Hawaiian applique kits I end up with some nice size pieces of fabric that are accumulating.  So for this Winter Blues Blog Hop Party I will give away a pack of ten batik fabrics at least 7" x 16" to two participants.  Please leave a comment telling me what your favortie type of quilting is and what your favorite color is.  Please leave an email address so I can reach you if your name is drawn. I will ship internationally.  Below are some examples of fabric packs that I have available.  On March 15th I will announce the winners.   Now return to Quilting Gallery to continue on to other blogs.  Good luck and beat those winter blues.

 

Today in Hawaii

We have a group of wild turkeys who routinely go through the yard.  In this small group there are about seven hens and three males.  The males certainly are vying for position.  Here is a picture of two of them strutting their stuff.

 The next picture is one of the pineapples that we have growing this year.  Notice the purple flowers that come out of the eyes of the pineapple as it grows.  At this stage of grown the pineapple sort of looks like a thistle.  Look at the bottom of the picture, do you see the green gecko peeking out at me as I take the picture.