Thursday, May 23, 2013

Featured: moda's Bakeshop - "Bubbles" Mod-Improv Lap Quilt

Hi all!

Today I am featured over at Moda's Bakeshop blog, with my latest project for them!
.... and those are set-in circles, people! VERY exciting...head on over and check out my tutorial for their May Color-POP! challenge!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

this is cute!

I had to share this - just got an email from Chrissy at SewLux fabrics and she's got this super-cute 4th of July Bundle she created. It's so cute and festive - love it!
Love those red, white and blues. And I'm a Canadian (living in the States) lol. How cute would a table runner bee in these? Maybe pinwheel pattern? Drunkard's? Ooh...the creativity is flowing today, lol.

I will have a curated bundle and tutorial coming up soon through Chrissy's store and blog. Sometime in early June. It's a cute, simple bundle and a cool tutorial. Stay tuned!

Monday, May 20, 2013

...another Bee block done, and some progress on my next quilt....

So I have officially checked off every Bee block for May's assignments; as of Sunday, my last one was back in the mail, completed, and off to its rightful owner.
Get Your Hex On! Bee: May - "Butterfly" block
This was a cute block, and I had a lot of fun with it.

I unfortunately missed my Guild's meeting on Sunday due to my baby being sick; she's okay now, but I think getting her pre-molars has really done a number on her. She's super happy baby one minute, and the next, she's been replaced by an angry little human.

Anywho.

I have managed to continue working on an UFO; a quilt that was started back in February for me by my Simply Solids bee sisters.
21.5" square; one of five color combinations
By my calculations I only have 5 blocks left to complete... but they're big blocks. Then it's off to the longarmer - finally.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Bee blocks galore

I've been in a mad rush to try and finish all of my bee blocks for this month (and truth be told, one from last) *blushes*

As I've slowly but surely started to feel a bit better I've been checking things off of the to-do list.

I'm starting to realize that 4 Bees and a quilt-along is too much; I don't have any time to sew for myself, which, has really got me down.

I've decided to tone it down a notch when all of these bees start ending. The Simply Solids Bee I organize is massive - 109 people, 9 groups, 6 countries - and it's starting to become a little more work than I had anticipated what with participant's going awol and medical issues that have arisen (both for some of the participants and for myself).

Before February rears its head again I'll have to reassess what I'll be doing with this Bee for 2014. I think we may have to pare it back a bit.

Anywho.

Here are some pics of the blocks I've been up to as of late. None for me, unfortunately. All for others. :)

Happy Saturday.
Color Bee Shocked! Bee: May

Color Bee Shocked! Bee: April

Simply Solids Bee, Gamboge Group, May: Part Block #1

Simply Solids Bee Gamboge Group, May: Block #2

Over the Rainbow Charm Swap: "Terrain" by Kate Spain for Moda
56 charms, cut and ready to be mailed
do.Good Stitches {a charity bee}, FAITH circle: May Blocks # 1 & 2
do.Good Stitches {a charity bee} FAITH circle: May Blocks # 3 & 4
Get Your Hex On! Bee: April Block

Saturday, May 11, 2013

A Rainbow Charm Swap! & catch-up...

Hi all!

My dear friend Stacey at The Tilted Quilt is running a Rainbow Charm Swap! 
Each person participating submits 56 charms of an assigned color, and in return receives 56 charms back in a rainbow of colors!

Head on over HERE to sign up - she's over half full already, so don't delay!

In other news, I've been a little delinquent in my posting here at Sew at Home Mummy. Truth be told, I haven't been doing a lot of sewing as of late - I've still been quite ill. I do have a moda project I'm almost finished will which will be featured with them at some point this month.

As well, I'll be writing a review of a new Craftsy class at some point in the near future - make sure to check back as I have a 50% off coupon code for all of my readers which I'll post in my review.

I wish I had more to report, but I just haven't been well enough to sew - I apologize profusely!

More in the coming days,

Monday, April 29, 2013

Featured: Cutting Corners College, Riley Blake Designs:

Hi all!
Wanna learn how to make oven mitts and hot pads for your kitchen, or perhaps for a lovely gift (get a jump-start on Christmas, maybe?)

Today I have just the tutorial for you!

I've been featured as a Course Instructor for Cutting Corners College on Riley Blake Designs' blog today!

So, head on over there and read up on my tutorial. These are really easy to make, and a lot of fun, too!
Cutting Corners with Riley Blake Designs 
It was an absolute pleasure working with RBD's fabrics - really gorgeous!!


Sunday, April 28, 2013

you make me soooo sad :'(

I LOVE YOU!!

I *love* that so many of you follow my shenanigans on GFC and Bloglovin'.

I *love* that so many of you go out of your way to leave me comments! THANK YOU!

But sometimes...I get sad...

Why?

Because when YOU follow ME on Bloglovin', I want to follow YOU back!

and...

when YOU leave ME comments, I want to reply to YOU - but a lot of you are no-reply bloggers ! (if you leave comments on other people's blogs but never receive a response from them, you're probably a 'no-reply blogger' :) )

So sad...........................

Do you want to know how to fix these problems?? I would love for you to fix them and then come back here and comment so that I can search for your blog on Lovin' and/or reply to your new non-no-reply status :)

I've written tutorials on how to fix both if you're interested:

How to claim your Blog on BLOGLOVIN' (and gain more followers there!!)

How to fix a "No-Reply Blogger" status (and how to check if you are a no-reply blogger)


In other news - no sewing to report...we're still drying out from the flood, trying to clean the carpets again. I've yet to turn on my vintage machine, but my computerized Singer is working, thank goodness (I lie - I have sewn - I had to darn a pair of socks for hubby and fix a dog toy for Orson).

On to Bee blocks tomorrow. Wish me luck.

xo

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Winner: April Showers Blog Hop Giveaway - and all sewing: stalled!

I'm happy to announce the winner from my most recent giveaway, sponsored by the lovely Linh at LiMa Sews!

Using random number generator, #143 was the winner....

Cathi, check your email, I've sent you a nice message!

A HUGE thank you to Linh for sponsoring yet another GORGEOUS giveaway! And if you didn't see my TGIFF this past week, you should see the quilt she long-armed for me!

In other very unfortunate news - we were hit here in Chicago with some pretty major flash floods, and, our basement didn't come out unscathed.

Unfortunately, I sew in the basement. And store all of my fabrics there (luckily, most of them in plastic bins - but not all).

As we dry out here from a water-logged state, all sewing projects are on stand-by. Still waiting for my vintage Brother to dry out before I plug her in again, praying all the while she still works.

My apologies to those whom I owe bee blocks - I'll be contacting you soon...I'm going to be a little late this month, I'm so sorry.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

TGIFF is Here!

Hi all, and welcome to

I'm honored to be hosting TGIFF this week!

And, truth be told, a little relieved to finally be done this project.

I started this "Quick Quilts" snowball quilt back in October, I believe. My mum saw it in the magazine while visiting my house and asked me to make it for her.

We then perused color schemes and fabrics, and she fell in love with Joel Dewberry's Aviary2 Line (in the Granite palette).
Image courtesy of JoelDewberry.com
We decided to jazz it up a bit, and combine another popular yellow-and-grey line, Dear Stella's Maasai Mara in Gray:
Image courtesy of Dear Stella.com
The solids in the quilt are grey (Kona) and creme (Connecting Threads).

I pieced the back, both for a stylish look and, truth be told, out of necessity. I ran out of the Kona Grey and had to improvise last minute. But, I'm actually really happy with how it turned out - I almost like the funky-improv back better than the front!

This was my very first:
- queen size
- long-armed quilt

... and I love the way it turned out. My mum hasn't seen it yet, but I'm sure she'll like it.

For the long arming, I used my sister-bee mate (for Simply Solids Bee), Linh at LiMa Sews. She is FANTASTIC. I LOVE how the quilt turned out.

Linh uses pantographs when she quilts; she's still building her library, so if there's a pattern or style that you want, she's super open to adding a new pattern to her library, which is great!

Her turn-around was AWESOME! I think for me from the time the package left to receiving it back was like 10 days??? YA! And her prices are really reasonable.

I'm really glad I went with her for this project. I would have taken more than 10 days myself to straight-line quilt it on my home machine, IF I could have gotten all of that quilt through my narrow throat space!

And, I loved that she sent me teaser pics of the quilt before I received it - it got me all excited again about the project.... here are some of the teasers she sent me:


And, without further adieu, I give you the finished product:
Sorry it's laying on a bed - I don't have anywhere to hang it, and it was pouring rain on photograph day!
And the pieced backing:

The improv-pieced backing. I really like how it turned out with the black and creme contrasting!
And a close up of the binding, which I love - it's the Woodgrain print from Dewberry's Aviary2 line:

So! It's DONE!! WAHOO!! Time to party. Tee hee. Can't wait to bundle it up in a nice bow and hand it off to my mum - who has already commissioned ANOTHER quilt.

(I'm one busy lady, I guess!)

Time to start the next project (Or - what a concept - how about finishing another WIP? haha)

And now, I can proudly display this!






Wednesday, April 17, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop - Day 9!

Good morning everyone!

This is the last day in our April Showers Mug Rug Hop! I hope you've been having as much fun as I have on this hop!

Here is the hopper's schedule for today!
Thursday April 18
Merry Gay @ Merry Gay in Stitches
Mary @ Sew Maybe I Can
Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling
Mary @ NeedledMom
Sherry @ Peanuts Patchwork
Fredrika @ Feltfree pÃ¥ Ã…sly 
Shauna @ Welcome to Shauna's World
Sharon @ Dancing thru Threads
Madame Samm @ !Sew WE Quilt!


I'd just like to thank everyone for hopping along with us - it has been a lot of fun, and there sure were a lot of mug rugs made! Coffee tables everywhere are rejoicing!!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

April Showers Blog Hop - Day 8!


Hi All!

I hope you're all having as much fun as I am, hopping around from post to post on this wet & rainy hop!

There have been some very creative mug rugs made - you should check them out!

Today's schedule:

Monday, April 15, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Hop - Day 7!

Hi all!

Happy Tuesday. I hope everyone is having a creative week so far!

As "The Other Blog" (the blog where those creators whom have no blog can post their creations) has closed down, I've agreed to 'host' a guest post for Eleni today!

Here is her post:


Hello everyone!
This is day no7 of the Apring Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop!! Thanks to Madame Samm (Sew we quilt) and Erin Davis (Sew at home mum), we get to create some wonderful mug rugs and share them with each other.
This is my first blog hop - had no idea what it was, but wanted to join in anyways - and since im fairly new to sewing and quilting, i tried my best. I ended up hand-stitching my applique pieces with blanket stich  - since i prefer this stitch for this kind of work, but my machine does not have it, i have to do it by hand! and finally i hand-quilted around the flowers and the rooster, plus the sun and its rays to add some more texture.
So, here it is! I am from Greece and I live in Chania, Crete, in a small suburb close to the city. The house i rent is situated between some plots of land with olive, lemon and orange trees, some goats and lambs, chickens and roosters etc... Now that spring is finally here, the roosters are highly active -in general- and all day long all they do is eat, chase the chickens around and cock-a-doodle-do (in english) or kikirikou (in greek)...i believe you can see the picture here!



So this is dedicated to the roosters with a funky twist!!!
The image i used to trace my applique is taken from artedalucimar in her FB page, whom i thank again for letting me use her image.
So, hope you like my mug rug - which apparently became quite large but i still like it- as much as i liked making it!!!
Have fun hopping over to the other fab blogs as well!!!



Thank you Eleni - very beautiful mug rug - I love that rooster!

Here is the schedule for today's hoppers:

TUESDAY, APRIL 16th
Cathi @ Quilt Obsession
Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts
Heidi @ Nutz4Redwork
Cherry @ Cherry'sPrairiePrimatives
Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet
Vickie @ More Stars in Comanche
Pauline @ Stekje
Jan @ Jan's Art Friendzy
Nissa @ Nissa Made Stuff
Robin @ As Sweet As Peaches
Lyndsey @ Sew Many Yarns
Eleni - Guest Post @ Sew at Home Mummy - HERE!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

April Showers Blog Hop - Day 6!

Happy Monday everyone!

Here are the hoppers for today! We've had some magnificent mug rugs so far!

MONDAY, APRIL 15th
Cathy @ Cate's Linens
Nicola @ Sunshine Reflections
Martina @ Sunshinequilting
Judith @ Frimart
Anita @ Anita's quilts en handwerken
Linda @ Sew Nicely
Kris @ krislovesfabric
Laura Ann @ The Fuzzy Hat Quilter
Carol @ Just let me Quilt
Selina @ Selina Quilts
Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts
Marisa @ Passion et Couture



Friday, April 12, 2013

April Showers Blog Hop - Day 5!

The schedule for today's hop!

FRIDAY, APRIL 12th
Bobbie @ From This to That
Leslie @ Les Quilts
Kristen @ Meadowbrook
Lavonna @ ZellerWear
Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse
Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy
Martha @ Living Life
Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones
Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!
Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop - Day 4!!


Hi all!

Welcome to Day 4 of the April Showers Mug Rug Hop!

Make sure to stop in at everyone's blogs on the list during the hop - I hear that many are having giveaways to celebrate spring's arrival!

Also, make sure to leave a comment on each blog as you are our cheerleaders, and even the cheerleaders have a chance to win a prize from Mdm Samm's blog with all of their great comments on each of the participant's sites!

Without further adieu, today's schedule! (Entire schedule found HERE).

THURSDAY, APRIL 11th
Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures
Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts
Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter
Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts
Marsha @ Quilter in Motion
Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch
Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter
Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts
Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life
Gwen @ Get More Done...Today
Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!



Tuesday, April 9, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Hop - Day 3!!


Hi all!

Today is Day 3 of the April Showers Mug Rug Hop!

Make sure to stop in at everyone's blogs on the list during the hop - I hear that many are having giveaways to celebrate spring's arrival!

Also, make sure to leave a comment on each blog as you are our cheerleaders, and even the cheerleaders have a chance to win a prize from Mdm Samm's blog with all of their great comments on each of the participant's sites!

Without further adieu, today's schedule! (Entire schedule found HERE)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th
Hayley @ Mrs. Pickles
Karen @ Sew Much 2 Luv
Mélanie @ Les passions de Cliodana
Cindy @ Quilt Doodle Doodles
Jamie @ Busy Bee Quilts
Regena @ The Distracted Domestic
Amy @ Domesticity and other Ponderous Things
Denise @ My Whittle Adventures
Heather @ a Reformed Heath'n
Marica @ ~Englating~



Monday, April 8, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop - Day 2!

Hi all!

Today is Day 2 of the April Showers Mug Rug Hop!

Make sure to stop in at everyone's blogs on the list during the hop - I hear that many are having giveaways to celebrate spring's arrival!

Also, make sure to leave a comment on each blog as you are our cheerleaders, and even the cheerleaders have a chance to win a prize from Mdm Samm's blog with all of their great comments on each of the participant's sites!

Without further adieu, le schedule!

MONDAY, APRIL 8:
Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy
 Patty @ A Stitch in Time
Jenny @ Squawk That
Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt
Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio
Lisa @ In The Boon Docks
Julie @ Jolie Maxtin: the project girl
Beluah @ Sowing Stitches
Karen @ Bungalow Bay Quilts
DeAnna @ Georgia Girl Quilter
TUESDAY, APRIL 9th
Gina @ Sew Much and More
Sharon @ Vroomans Quilts
Theresa @ Bumbleberry Stitches
Jennet @ The Feathered Nest Studio
Patti @ A Yankee in Queen Liz's Court
Gene @ Gene Black - Alabama Artist
Susan @ Susan's Scrappy Domain
Bente @ I Like to Quiltblog
Deb @ Quilting & Other Craft Therapy
Megan @ AnnieOak Designs  
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th
Hayley @ Mrs. Pickles
Karen @ Sew Much 2 Luv
Mélanie @ Les passions de Cliodana
Cindy @ Quilt Doodle Doodles
Jamie @ Busy Bee Quilts
Judy @ That Other Blog
Regena @ The Distracted Domestic
Amy @ Domesticity and other Ponderous Things
Denise @ My Whittle Adventures
Heather @ a Reformed Heath'n
Marica @ ~Englating~
THURSDAY, APRIL 11th
Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures
Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts
Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter
Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts
Marsha @ Quilter in Motion
Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch
Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter
Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts
Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life
Gwen @ Get More Done...Today
Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!
FRIDAY, APRIL 12th
Bobbie @ From This to That
Leslie @ Les Quilts
Kristen @ Meadowbrook
Lavonna @ ZellerWear
Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse
Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy
Martha @ Living Life
Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones
Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!
Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger
MONDAY, APRIL 15th
Cathy @ Cate's Linens
Nicola @ Sunshine Reflections
Martina @ Sunshinequilting
Judith @ Frimart
Anita @ Anita's quilts en handwerken
Linda @ Sew Nicely
Kris @ krislovesfabric
Laura Ann @ The Fuzzy Hat Quilter
Carol @ Just let me Quilt
Selina @ Selina Quilts
Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts
Marisa @ Passion et Couture
TUESDAY, APRIL 16th
Cathi @ Quilt Obsession
Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts
Heidi @ Nutz4Redwork
Cherry @ Cherry'sPrairiePrimatives
Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet
Vickie @ More Stars in Comanche
Pauline @ Stekje
Jan @ Jan's Art Friendzy
Nissa @ Nissa Made Stuff
Robin @ As Sweet As Peaches
Lyndsey @ Sew Many Yarns
Eleni @ That Other Blog
Wednesday, April 17
Jen @ Quilter in the Closet
Marjorie @ Marjorie's Busy Corner
Elita @ A Pieceful Perspective
Green @ So Sew Green
Mara @ Greco Mara
Wendy @ Why Knot Kwilt?
Gmama Jane @ GrandMama's Stories
Debby @ Debby Kratovil Quilts
Britt-Inger @ Hill Valley Quilter
Connie @ Freemotion by the River
Beth @ Words and Stitches
Kathy @ iHeartSquishy
Thursday April 18
Merry Gay @ Merry Gay in Stitches
Mary @ Sew Maybe I Can
Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling
Mary @ NeedledMom
Sherry @ Peanuts Patchwork
Fredrika @ Feltfree pÃ¥ Ã…sly 
Shauna @ Welcome to Shauna's World
Sharon @ Dancing thru Threads
Madame Samm @ !Sew WE Quilt!