January Hopping! & giveaway

It is hopping cold and snowy here in central Ohio,
but the hopping I'm speaking of is a Blog Hop!!

Hello and welcome to my day to share on 
the Quilt Doodle Doodles Blog Hop!
My winter-y welcome is appropriate
for the quilt that was made for this hop...

My quilt finished at just 22 inches by 26 inches.
It's machine-pieced, with wool hand-appliqued for snowmen noses, roof snow, door wreath & bow, mug steam and skate blades.

Last year, Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles  
offered this as a free Block Of the Month pattern 
to make a block or row each month.

I jumped right in!
But, not wanting a bed-sized quilt (approx. 70"x82"),
I choose to downsize my blocks 
so I'd end up with a wall-hanging instead.

I do admit that I thought I was half-sizing the pattern, 
but ended up smaller than half 
because my brain kind of does it's own thing sometimes. :)

The patterns that Cindy offered 

had fabric squares cut at 2 1/2 inches, finishing at 2 inches.

So to make half-sized, I should have 

cut my squares at 1 1/2 inches to finish half-sized at 1 inch.

But, oops, 

I cut my squares at half the size of her cut-size, 

so I cut at 1 1/4 inches, to finish at 3/4 inch.

Besides the down-sizing,
I made a couple of other small changes...
One change was to not put in a row of Christmas-y light bulbs.  
I made them, and love them, 
but wanted this little quilt to stay Winter-y looking,
so I could leave it displayed longer than just the Christmas season.

The second change was instead of the light bulb row,
I used the scrap corners leftover from my Snowman row

 and made these cute little pinwheels!:

Yes, each little, eight piece, white pinwheel is 3/4 of an inch!

My final change was that I re-arranged the placement of my rows to space out my light-colored rows.
Then, on to my quilting.
The whole time I was making this little quilt, 
I was thinking I would hand-quilt it.
I even had it pin-basted in preparation of hand-quilting:

Pin-basted from the back.

WRONG!  Funny, funny me.
The little pieces in this quilt are only three-quarters of an inch!!
That means that the 
seam allowances cover most of the back of each little square!
NOT conducive to hand-quilting.
Instead of hand quilting,  I started by doing some stitch-in-the-ditch on my domestic machine.
Then I loaded it onto the long-arm machine
and did a little echo quilting around the snowmen heads and candies across the top, 
with some clouds and windy-swirls thrown in around the house and trees.

I love my little finish, 
and loved the sew-along qualities of the BOM offering from Cindy.
It was fun checking in each month with others making the same pattern, seeing their progress and creativity.

You can visit today's other bloggers on the January Hop, too:

Kathy-Kathy's Quilting Blog

Nicole - quiltinglikeamaniac

Pam - Stitching Between the Lines

Jill - Hosted by Quilt Doodles
Debra - My Life Is A Stitch  (you are here)

My thanks to Cindy for offering this at no cost, for the great patterns, and hosting this Hop to share all the cuter-than-cute finishes.

Thanks to you also for visiting and doing some January Hopping!

PS - Cindy is offering a new B.O.M. for this year, so visit her blog to check it out!!
ALSO, she's having a giveaway, so when you visit her blog - just leave her a comment to enter.

PPS - Leave a comment here for me,
as I'm doing a little giveaway, too!!  
I have an extra, little string of snowmen to share!

Won't you join me on the hop?

I've been invited to join in a blog hop!

 

Last year I did a Block Of the Month
with Cindy at QuiltDoodleDoodles
and ended up with a GREAT finish.
So when Cindy asked me to join in the 
fun of sharing the finished BOM quilt,
I, of course, said yes!

Here is the hop schedule:
January 24th

Mari - The Acedemic Quilter

LeeAnna - Not Afraid of Color

Liz - Hosted by Quilt Doodles

JoAnna - Needle, Thread, Happiness

Sherri - Sushine in the Attic

January 25th

Dee - deesdoings

Nancy D - Hosted by Quilt Doodles 
Sharon - Vroomans Quilts

Leslie - 365 Days of Wonderful Jules - Quilting with Calicos

January 26th

Kathy-Kathy's Quilting Blog

Nicole - quiltinglikeamaniac

Pam - Stitching Between the Lines

Jill - Hosted by Quilt Doodles  

Debra - My Life Is A Stitch 

Hopefully you get a chance to visit the hop participants
this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
to see the cute, wintery projects - blocks or quilts -
that we worked on last year.
P.S. Cindy is offering a new BOM this year, (the patterns are free during each month, or just a nominal fee if you miss one) so visit her to see the new year's project!

Happy Friday and Happy Stitching!

little pieces from a block of the month

I've put together the top from last year's 
Sew-Along with Quilt Doodle Doodles Block Of the month!
It's a cutie, for sure!

My sincere thanks to Cindy for the free pattern each month.
It was such a fun project!

My finish is a little different 
than the QDD2014 sew-along though, as
I made my blocks smaller than half-sized...
[Cindy's original pattern (quilt finishing 70 by 84 inches) 
had each fabric square cut at 2 1/2 inches, finishing at 2 inches.]
I cut my squares at 1 1/4 inches, 
which then finished at 3/4 of an inch,
and my little quilt finished at 22 by 26 inches.

I'm a little goofy, though.
I have the quilt top pin-basted from the back for hand quilting.
And as I was pin-basting, I'm thinking:
hand-quilting is really NOT a good idea for this little piece...

with each square only being 3/4 of an inch, 

that means that the seam allowances 

cover most of the back of each little block.

So, on to the new quilting plan.

Which I've not really decided on yet. :)

I'll start by removing the basting pins from the back.

Oh, and MORE GOOFY me - 
that bottom row of little 3/4 inch pinwheel blocks 

were not part of the original pattern.

Those are waste corners 
from the snowball Snowmen blocks from the top row.
Also, I opted not to add Cindy's row of really cute Christmas bulbs... (which I made and I'll share later; they will be turned into a little wall hanging banner).
By the way - Cindy of Quilt Doodle Doodles has a new  
Block Of the Month for 2015 -
and the first block is available right now and FREE! 
I've added links, above, in pink, 
if you'd like to jump over and visit Cindy or to join in her next fun BOM! 
(Tell her Debra said HI! :)

Hopefully I'll have the quilting done and ready to share in about a week, with the other BOM participants.

month 9 of 10 block of the month

I've been sewing along this year 
with Cindy of Quilt Doodle Doodles 
and her design of a Block Of the Month.

And, surprise, surprise,
even though I changed it up a little (by cutting all my pieces half-sized),
I've kept up! :)
Here's my September block:

Sixty little (3/4" finished) squares in a tree block that measures 5 1/2" by 8 1/2".

One of the reasons I chose to do this BOM sew-along 
was that it was only for 10 months,
January through October.
That means that when that last block comes out for October,
I can have a finished quilt top for THIS WINTER!!
Perfect planning on Cindy's part, wasn't it??

So, one last surprise block to come next month,
and then some embellishment,
And hopefully a finish for this Winter!

Have you joined in any sew-alongs this year?

sew along - month 8 of 10

My half-pint sized August block/row for the ongoing
Quilt Doodle Doodles sew along is DONE 
(and it's not yet midnight on the 31st - lol)!
It another cute block -
a whole row of little wrapped sweets:

mylifeisastitch.blogspot.com
August's row for QuiltDoodleDoodles sew along

Just had to make ten!

mylifeisastitch.blogspot.com
August's row for QuiltDoodleDoodles sew along

(I'm always asked, so here's my disclaimer:
Yes, my blocks are smaller than the original pattern -
each of my squares finishes at 3/4 inch 
because I've cut at one and a quarter inch, 
not the two and a half inch as Cindy's pattern has shown.)

Thanks again Cindy, for another cute pattern!

ahead of the game

I am the just-under-the-wire type of gal...

Instead of acknowledging that I procrastinate,

I tell myself that I work better under pressure

(insert big smile here).

So, by the 2nd of July,

I had sewn my blocks for the Quilt Doodle Doodles 

JULY Block of the Month! 

'Toasty Mugs' by Mylifeisastitch.blogspot

 

This month's finish in the first week of the month?

Unusual for me, I know.

I think it was because I had just finished (TWO days before)

the previous month's block (see? procrastination!),

still had all the fabrics on my sewing desk, 

and was on the *miniature 'roll'.

*Miniaturized because I can not follow a pattern

(I also acknowledge that I have that problem -which I call tweaking, but that's another story).

So for this BOM, 

I've tweaked half-sized the pattern.

Well, I've cut my strips at 11/4 inch - 

 half the size of the original 21/2 inch strips

Which is not really half-sized, if you know what I mean, 

as my blocks finish at 3/4 of an inch not an inch.

I did the cup handles by making scrappy quarter-inch bias

and pinned them into shape then starched them:

I pinned and machine stitched the raw edges into the block seams, 

then hand-whip-stitched them down to the blocks.

I added wool 'steam' to the mugs, and will use Valdani floss to applique.

It's another cute block, for sure.

Thanks, Cindy of Quilt Doodle Doodles!!

just under the wire - again!

My finish for June in Quilt Doodle Doodles blocks of the month:

mylifeisastitch
My 'pint-sized*' version of Northern Hockey Skates
 

Aren't those skates just the cutest blocks???
And done before the end of the month - YAY!
Well, almost done.
I still need to do some hand-stitching and get
those woolen skate blades appliqued down.
But I'm counting it!!
The pattern is from Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles,
in her free Block of the Month Sew Along.
*Cindy's design uses 2 1/2 in squares, but I'm using 1 1/4 inch squares.

Thank you again, Cindy!  It's a fun sew-along.


 
 
 

Lucy; then the happy dance

To start,
thanks for all the thoughts and responses about
my Lucy Boston block dilemma on my last POTC post...
I've decided that I'm leaving it as is. 
It's been that way for so long and I didn't notice it, 
so I'm going to let it stay.
And it wasn't the hard decision that I thought it would be!

******************************

Now on to the happy dance -

Here's my story:

• I live in a rural area
• Neighbors can't see my mailbox unless they are driving by
• I get excited when I find squishy mail in the mailbox
• A gift from Quilt Doodle Doodles arrived

So why is it that when I'm at my mailbox,
there are always neighbors there to witness my
unorthodox flailing/movements Happy Dance?

So, yes, there are witnesses to this week's
response to a very nice, squishy package that came in the mail.

I'm doing the Sew-Along with Cindy
(of Quilt Doodle Doodles),
and each month she puts all the names (of finishes for that month)
in a drawing for a prize, and
lo, and behold,
I won!

Cute, cute, cute - birds and flowers and feathers fabrics:

AND, Cindy threw in one of her patterns!
Even the packaging was pretty - all those little tumbling blocks.
See?  Isn't that enough to make anyone dance by the side of the road???!

Thank you, Cindy!!  I love them!!  You made my day!

The neighbors (yes, multiple!)
evidently got a kick out of seeing my so-called
dancing by the side of the road,
as there were TWO phone messages
by the time I got back to the house!!
(I only knew of one couple driving by;
the second message was another neighbor who saw me dancing up to my house!)

So, Cindy, you also helped me make the day
of a few more people
who called to tell me 'that my happy dance made them smile'. 

I don't think they're laughing AT me.
:)

Happy Friday
and Happy Stitching!

Another fun block

is finished!!

My Quilt Doodle Doodles block

for the month of May:

and I snuck it in
just under the deadline/wire... Again! :)

still April, barely and wise Pooh words

This year is a quarter over already!!!
Time is still flying by - imagine that. :)

Somewhere along the line,
I decided that I could do this,
add that,
and do more of something else...
Why did I think I'd have the time to add even more?

Is this a personal flaw or does everyone do the same?

I'm talking about the adding of another project

into the fullness of life... 

another block of the month,

another quilt project,

adding a baby shower gift,

etc., etc., etc., to the

already overflowing list of "THINGS to DO".

 

I don't think I'm alone here.

If anyone has an answer to this dilemma,

please let me know!

(: but, I won't give up all sleep :)

 

Anyway, since it IS still April,

so just under the wire,

here's my 'half-pint'*

April 'Sparkling Stars' row for 

Quilt Doodle Doodles

Block of the Month:

*I'm doing these blocks at half the size as the pattern,

so instead of using two and a half inch strips/squares,

I'm cutting at one and a quarter inches.

 

Thanks, Cindy, for another cute pattern this month!!

And in just a few days, there will be the May block -

I know...more time!

 

And in the words of the wise Pooh bear:

 

“The main problem with this great obsession

for saving time is very simple: you can't save time.

You can only spend it.

But you can spend it wisely or foolishly.”  

another snowy day: Big Tree block & accumulation!

Today I've finished my March block
in the Quilt Doodle Doodles sew along.

Here is my half-pint version of the Big Tree,

the third month's block:

The picture sure makes the block look wonky, but it really was close to square :).

And, the fabrics look brighter

than they really are, but I don't know why.

 

I'm calling my blocks 'half-pint', as I'm making them smaller in size

than the pattern that Cindy is offering over at Quilt Doodle Doodles.

My little squares are 3/4 of an inch finished.

 

So, working on this wintry tree block this afternoon,

I turn to look out the window and

it's a blizzard out there!!

Well, not really, but for the last week of March?

Blizzard-like for sure...

I took this picture at about 4 o'clock this afternoon:

That's more than an inch of accumulation in less than half an hour, and it's still coming down!

Even the robins are going under the deck, trying to hide from the snow!

Another snowy day here in central Ohio...

Snowy inside with my wintry, little Big Tree block and
outside with more snowfall predicted for the evening and a wind chill of zero!

Happy Tuesday!

Half-pint, 2nd addition for the neighborhood

With February here,
we are experiencing snow accumulation almost every other day.
And the temps have been not quite so bone-chillingly below zero,
so all in all, 
if you love winter, it' been great so far.

Also, with February here,
the second installment (of 6) of the sew-along with
Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles
is available! 
And it's another cute block, for sure.

I'm making my sew-along project at half the size as the original

(I have problems following instructions, I guess),

so instead of 2 1/2 inch strips, I'm cutting mine at 1 1/4 inches.

Also, I am embellishing each block with some felted wool...

(The first row of snowmen have woolen noses,

and in this house block, the door will have a little woolen wreath that is not part of the pattern.)

I think it is just so cute!:

February, Quilt Doodle Doodles Sew Along

After I got all 74 little squares put together,

I think some of the fabrics are maybe a little too busy/print-y,

but I do like it.

And it's staying in the neighborhood. :)

Like all of you, I have many other quilt-y projects in the works,
and I can not believe I'm thinking this,
but I can hardly wait for
the next/March installment in this sew-along.
And, not because I'm wishing away our Winter,
but because I'm eagerly awaiting the next block for the neighborhood!

Happy Monday Stitching!

half-pints & jumping in

I did it...
jumped in!
Another sew-along is offered,
I see a picture of some cute blocks,
and I'm in.
No second thoughts. 
No hesitation.
So...
here's my first month's block/row:

My half-pints Silly Chilly
(button eyes will be added later)

Thanks, Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles
for the cutest pattern.
I'm putting the blame on you :)
for tempting me to do another quilt project,
'cause of how cute those Chilly Silly Snowmen are.

Now, the particulars...

Chilly Silly is a

2014 Block Of the Month,

free, online offering

by Quilt Doodle Doodles

(Cindy offered a BOM last year, too, but I was able to resist, then).

The projected finish for the 2014 BOM is about twin-sized.
There are great pictures and instructions on the QDD site and
she has a button at the top of her blog -
just go there and click and
you, too, can join in...
(even if you have waaaaay too many other things to do :) !

So, here's my plan:

• Scrappy - 'cause I have LOTS and LOTS of scrap fabric
• Half-sized - I am doing mine at half the size of Cindy's.  (I have problems following the rules:)  I cut my strips at 1 1/4 inches, not 2 1/2.
• Flicker and Pinterest links - to see all the cuteness
• New blocks the 1st of each month
• Finish and link/post by 15th of month and be included in for prizes that are at the end of each month 

Hopefully my half-sized figuring/mathematics are correct.
If not, I'll have some finagling to do later when I connect my blocks!

doing something I said I wouldn't

Are all quilters this way?
Or is it just me??

I saw this:


 January's block: Chilly Silly Snowmen

from Quilt Doodle Doodles (December 31st post)

Even though I said I wouldn't,
I did it anyway.

I joined a Block of the Month group.

Because I have so much extra time :)

Cindy, at Quilt Doodle Doodles,
sucked me right in
when I saw this row of adorable snowmen!

(Here's the link if you have gobs of spare time, too:

quilt doodle doodles)

Yes, you can blame me if you, too, join in.
I have been known to be an instigator.

But doesn't it look like such a fun start?

Happy Saturday!
from the instigator :)