Two finishes and a win

I apparently am taking this holiday today rather literally.  I have been goofing off all morning enjoying some blog posts and Craftsy videos. It started at Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting. She was blogging about sewalongs starting this month.  So I checked out Lori Holt's Blooms Sewalong and a video showing her making the first block. Then on her sidebar was a link to Julie Herman's blog.  Jaybird Quilts had posted about some cool zipper bags she has made this past year which led me on to watching tutorials on Craftsy.  Those bright colored zippers could be addicting! I found a free video on Craftsy showing a reversible bag and a zipper bag. Both had some extra tips that will be useful. ( look for Kristin Link's Bag Making Basics on Craftsy) 
The rainy weather here in my neck of the woods has been mild and delightful. Perfect weather for tucking in and sewing the days away. I finished the little American Jane quilt and another quilt of batiks using A Quilter's Dream pattern.
This one went to a friend from work. I forgot to take pictures so she texted me some to share with you. 

The quilt measures about 46" x 54". I used American Jane navy blue Pindot fabric for the backing and binding. The top is muslin and 2 AJ Lorraine charm packs .  I quilted it with offwhite Superior Threads SewFine in a freehand allover pattern.
The blocks were fun to sew.

Sewing them all together was 'interesting'. The sashing strips and edge blocks were sewn together and then  just 'whacked' off for a straight edge. It left bias on the edges but fortunately, it all worked out :-)

My next finish is a quilt pattern that I sewed up earlier this year for my sister... or maybe it was for Christmas 2014 (?)  Like my other Quilter's Dream pattern (Half Baked), I seem to be repeating the use of it.

This one is called Right on Target and uses a jelly roll.  I used Hoffman's Sandpiper.  I did make a change again on the outer edge and needed to use part of an extra strip from my stash to finish it. I didn't need to do that the first time I sewed it up for my sister's so I'm not sure what was different here but on both of the them I didn't use the thin pieces that the pattern called for.  I quilted it with a Superior Threads Rainbow and simple randomly spaced straight lines.  This one is going to our neighbor/realtor friend who has helped us with selling two properties over the years.  She is a hard worker!
And yet again, I was the lucky winner of a giveaway! This time from Happy Quilting. I won this copy of 75 Fun Fat-Quarter Quilts. Lots of inspiration. Melissa's quilts are my favorite. It's full of good tips and variations from 14 designers.  Thank you, Melissa and CT Publications!

I have finished another quilt top but am waiting for a roll of batting to arrive. More on that later but today I'm starting a mini version of it to use up the leftovers from the bigger one.  Pics to follow :-)
Off to get busy sewing. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Stitching!

January

Happy New Year y'all! I'm late. I know it. But I have been kind of cocooned up in my house (and neighborhood) the last week enjoying quieter times and some very needed rain. And hopefully more of that today.
I have been stitching :-)  I don't have pictures yet of the last two but will soon as the weather permits an outdoor setting. Today I have the quilt gift I made for my sister. New layer cake, repeat use of pattern by A Quilter's Dream.

This is another Hoffman Bali Cracker set (10"squares) called Sandpiper. I quilted Chocolate Swirl Feather with Superior Threads Rainbows.

On the receiving end :-)
I won a giveaway of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks which included a book I was wishing for called Sweet Tweets. It has some cute patterns of little fat birds with outline quilting.  AND  I also won a giveaway on Instagram :-)
I follow Janet Clare's account and won a copy of her Field Guide book.  I love her fabric and wonderful applique designs. She is currently working on some pieced designs that look mighty interesting.

Thank you Quiltmaker and Janet Clare  :-)

And just for fun :-)  here's a picture of a skirt I found here in our little town of Cambria. It took an octupus to get me to wear a skirt!

That's sweet Sabra helping me model.