Three Years, 250 Posts and a Giveaway

Yes, this is going to be the giveaway prize,
but first you have to suffer though some rambling and self introspection.  :)
Just keep scrolling down and down and down.

This is my 250th post!  And my first post was three years ago this month so it is time to celebrate with a giveaway!.    It seems bizarre that five years ago I didn't even know there were such things as quilting blogs and now, for better or worse, this blog and other quilt blogs are a significant part of my life.  I have spent a lot of time recently wondering if I am putting too much time into this quilting/blog thing.  Am a keeping a good family/quilt balance?  Am I driving my husband nuts with all the fabric strewn all over the house?  ;)

As I put together this post I realized the highlights of my blogging journey were when I was sharing and teaching.  I like to teach.  I love teaching "live" classes and I enjoy blogging and sharing how I make stuff.  It is extremely rewarding for me to have someone make something I wrote a tutorial for or say in a comment that they learned something.  I believe that teaching, sharing and connecting with others is a worthy thing, so I will keep piling fabric around the house.  :)

Humor me for a moment as we go on a trip down memory lane...

About 5 months after my first post I wrote my first tutorial for the Diamond Quilt.  I love the Diamond Quilt and I am currently using the tutorial to make a tree skirt.  (I've got to get sewing!)

A year later, I did several tutorials for The Moda Bake Shop.  (Amish Braid, Simple Drawstring Bag, Charming Christmas Ornaments and a Reversible Child's Apron.)  In the same spirit of sharing I wrote a post about the experience of becoming a "Moda Chef."  I had been pretty clueless/intimidated about the process and hoped by posting about my experience other people would feel more comfortable taking the plunge and applying to be a chef.

The most significant thing I have done on this blog is host the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler.  Over a year of quilt block tutorials - 36 in all!  I have to admit that there were some weeks I thought "why am I doing this?" but it was totally worth it.  I learned Tons and I loved seeing everyone's blocks on our flicker group.   And the group is still active!  There are some people who recently found the sampler and are posting pictures of their blocks.  Yea!!

Blogging is all about sharing something you love with others who have the same passion.  Thank you so much for reading!  I love this space and the quilting community!

So at last, to celebrate 3 years and 250 posts I would like to share 10 fat quarters of some of my favorite prints - a rainbow assortment and some neutrals.  I even threw in some brown, a nod to Alison and her tireless promotion of brown.  ;)

1. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment.
2. If you follow the blog (thank you!), leave a second comment suggesting a good recipe.  I have been in a cooking rut recently.  I have a ton of ground pork/sausage in my freezer.  Any ideas?

I will ship anywhere and will pick a winner a week from today on the 6th of November.

Thanks again!

Giveaway Closed....

My Tree Quilt

I posted a quick picture of this quilt in July before I rushed it to the fair but it is past time that it got it's own official post.  I think I have a thing with improvisationally pieced tree quilts.  This is #4. 

Here are three others that I have made.  The one on the top left and the one with the green border were made from bee blocks that I received in 2011.  Looking at all the quilts all together makes me realize that I really like the thin brown border - I think I should have added one to this quilt too - oh, well...

It wasn't all same-o-same-o though.  There were a few new things that I tried with this quilt.  First, the blocks aren't arranged in a grid like in the other quilts.  It made it a bit more of a challenging to piece, but I think I like the look.

maple

leila

I also quilted it with the names of trees.  I marked horizontal lines three inches apart on the quilt and then just started "writing."  It takes a lot of tree names to fill up a quilt!  My husband came up with trees that I didn't even know existed.

By the end I totally ran out of tree names and wrote the names of my children on one line.

I also used quilting to label my quilt.  On the very bottom, I quilted "made by leila gardunia july 2013 h____ iowa."  I think I may label all of my quilts this way from now on.  It's not super easy to read, but a quilt historian would be able to figure it out.  Plus I wouldn't have to worry about making a label.  :)

Poplars

Pine

Some of my favorite blocks.  Although I am rather fond of the cut down tree too.  :)

On our walk back from the photo shoot we saw plenty of other pretty trees.  I love fall.

I am linking up with the Blogger's Quilt Festival and entering My Tree Quilt in the throw quilt category.  Head on over to see lots of cool quilts!

PS. My next post is my 250th and I have been blogging for 3 years this month!  You may want to check in later this week.  ;)

Do You Ever Wonder...

...if you should have a home decor/diy type of blog?  I wonder if I would get more done around the house if I was motivated to finish painting/peeling wallpaper/organizing closets/washing dishes so I could post cool before and after pictures about it.  ;)  Instead I sit and work on English paper piecing in the evenings.  I am working on a bunch of Christmas pillows right now - way more relaxing than peeling wallpaper.  I never wonder if I should have a "kid" blog.  Blogs are breaks from kids.

...how people seem to do "everything?"  I know they don't, but I always seem to be biting off more than I can chew and then wondering why I am making myself stressed.

Case in point, my "does-anyone-want to-sew-along-and-make-a-tree-skirt-post".   I don't know what I was smoking when I wrote that.   A "real" quilt along would be way more than I could handle at this time, but at the same time I would LOVE to sew along with other people.  So here is a happy medium idea: if you would like to follow the original instructions for the Diamond Quilt and post pictures in my new-fancy-dancy Sewn By... flickr group then we could all cheer each other on and I could answer any questions you might have about the quilt.  And it could all be done without having a nervous breakdown.  :)

Linking up!  Hop on over to see some great EPP projects!

Tote Swap Reveal

A few months ago I signed up for a tote swap with my local quilt guild.  All the participants made inspiration mosaics and we were given a secret partner to make a tote for.  At this weeks meeting, we gave the totes to our partners.  Can I just say that the gals in the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild rock!?!  Each tote was a work of art and all the participants totally [get it, tote-ally? :) ] nailed their partner's style.   (Click for more pics of the totes.)

Melissa made the beautiful tote pictured above for me.  I am in LOVE.  She used a variety of American Jane fabrics - we both love American Jane! - and captured the scrappy bright look I like.  I have used it all weekend and couldn't be happier.

Only one partner was really lame and forgot to bring their partner's tote....me.  Seriously, I think I am brain dead.  So sorry Doris!  Here are pictures of your tote and I will get it to you as soon as possible!

Doris said she liked (among other things) all things British and I got the feeling from her mosaic that she liked a combo of black and bright colors.  So I decided to use a piece of black Echino fabric printed with bright London landmarks as my inspiration fabric.  I started by making a wonky log cabin quilt as you go panel for one side of the bag.  I didn't like it - seriously, I almost threw it away.  But I couldn't tell if I didn't like it because it was ugly as sin or just not my style.  I pressed on and made another panel with a simplified Union Jack.  I was sure she would like that.

I decided to make the bag reversible so that if she wasn't a fan of the first panel she could turn it inside out.  I used a larger piece of the black Echino as one panel of the interior.  I added three pockets (triple zip style), each lined with fun bright fabric.  I love those pops of color!

When it all came together I was pleased as punch.  I even like the first panel now that it is in the bag!  I hope you like it too Doris!

Christmas in October

Today, I am finally over my cold!  There is nothing like being sick to make you remember how wonderful it is to be well. 

 This Christmas I am bound and determined not to have piece of fabric wrapped around my tree.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I have had this quilt in my mind for over 2 years and this year it is going to happen.  I cut out all the diamonds last month and today I laid them all out.  I Love it!

When it is all done, the points will be cut off and it will look like this pink and yellow quilt  I made for my niece.  Before binding I will cut a hole in the middle and a slit in one side so it can fit around the Christmas tree.

Would anyone be interested in making it along with me?  Let me know.  I would be more likely to get it done if others were sewing along with me!  ;)

I also have plans to make a bunch of Christmas pillows for family gifts this year.  I am really digging those gnomes.    Here's to Christmas in October!  :)

The AQS Show

On Wednesday I went to the AQS Quilt Show in Des Moines.  The highlight of the show was seeing Marlene's We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler on display.  Not only was it on display, but it won 2nd place in the bed quilt category!!!!  It know it is all her work, but I do have to admit to a feeling of pride and a quite a bit of "Hey, look!  That quilt is from my quilt along!"  :)

Here are Marlene and I in front of the quilt.  It was great to meet her and see all of the quilt details up close.  

Pick me up mom!  She later crawled up and down the aisles.

Our time together was interrupted as my darling children spilled a bunch of pretzels on the floor.  Good times.  I didn't stay at the show for long, but I did decide one thing as I looked at all of the quilts.  I want to use more color in my background fabrics.  I was really drawn to quilts with bright backgrounds.

White is my go-to safe choice and looks fresh and clean, but what about yellow?

 Or green?

 Or Red?

More yummy yellow?

Or Orange?

I think it is time to say, "I can do it!" and mix things up with new background colors.  What is your favorite background color?  What was the most crazy background color you have ever used?  I think mine is the scrappy black backgrounds in my Star Flowers quilt.  Yeah, I'm not very daring.  ;)

Charity Quilt Link Up and Giveaway

I can't believe that it is the first of October (and that our congressmen are such ____ )!   During September I've shared different ideas about how to make Quick & Easy Charity Quilts.

two Fabric Blankets

orphan blocks & negative space

super-size it

applique 

quilt as you go

Goodness knows that there are tons of other great easy quilting ideas out there, so I also started the Quick & Easy Quilt Library.  If you find a great tutorial for a quick and easy quilt, please link it up there!  We already have quite a few.  Check it out!

A big thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop and Lisa Orgler Designs for sponsoring this charity quilt month.  If you have made a charity quilt this month, link up a picture of it here and you will be entered to win a package of super cute owl notecards and a $20 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.  I will close the linky and pick a winner on Saturday.

Thanks for helping spread a bit of love and warmth!

Sherry, you are our winner!  I will give you an email.