Snowman, chickens, Halloween and a giveaway!

This is what I've been up to of late.

A challenge with my Mixed Media Studio Group,

Frosty on skis!

Gift of the Week, also with my group!

These chickens can be pin cushions and/or Christmas decorations.

I added miniscule pom poms and felt leaves for holly and ivy.

A reminder this is day 17 of 

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Giveaway!

click to see what Santa Nancy has for us today.

Finally. a salute to Halloween (yes I know it's all said and done for 2014) however,

I wanted to share my first, and by no means last, pin keep on a bedspring with you. I had a blast making this from the construction of the top hat to the bat pins. My guys think it's pretty awesome too!

Don't miss out on BLOGATHON CANADA BY SEW SISTERS there are many giveaways!

AND 

THE FINAL DAY OF TWAS THE NIGHT HOP/SWAP

WITH MARLENE AND MADAME SAMM.

HAPPY STITCHING :)

Easy Christmas Gift

or anytime gift. Really!

My friend, Kathie of  Beyond The Storybook has a tutorial up for these 

easy and quick (we like that) coasters. Ideal for a hostess gift.

Perfect for a stocking stuffer tucked in a cup maybe with  some packages of hot chocolate.

An office gift swap or for your child's teacher.

They're definitely worth a peek!

HAPPY STITCHING  :)

New List February's To ~ Do's

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UPDATE HERE  for January's accomplishments :)

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Why not throw your hat in the ring as well?

Pig Tales and Quilts is hosting this motivational event.

See what you can finish or what continues to elude you!

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RSC2013 is in the PINK

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Finally something to show!

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Boy, oh boy, it's been a bit of a haul to get to this point with my

Northwinds blocks.  This pattern may seem easy and probably is, when you don't have 

umpteen dozen  other issues  floating around in my head at the same time.

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 So Scrappy's Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013 is proving to be just that, challenging, indeed.

But that's a good thing because spending time getting my brain out of neutral,

 and then out of reverse

(there's a reason I don't  get  driving a standard transmission)

and into drive has got my mind off other family matters for a little while.

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I know they don't look like much right now but when I've placed them together

I can see the Northwinds (also known as Corn and Beans)

coming together, and I like it!

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I played around with some other pink pieces and ended up with this block

but I'm not sure whether to keep it for the back of this quilt or make this

and more scrappy, one colour placemats. We'll have to see!

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Sew whatcha doing with your scraps?

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I've Shown You Mine...UPDATE ADDED

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I've shown you mine,

now show me yours! (If you want) ;D

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It's a To - Do List, It's A Linky Party, It's Going To Be Down Right Fun!

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***"UPDATE HERE!"***

Don't laugh too much but, for the second month now I've finished up my DQS,

packaged and labelled it and popped it in the mail,

and forgot to take a picture!

I'm hoping that when it arrives at it's destination (which should be any day now)

I can get a pic (I'm such a Homer (SIMPSON)!

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 January blocks for my Northwinds quilt brought to you by the 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013 (RSC2013).

These make up some good size blocks, 12 1/2" , so this should come together

fairly quick, I hope all going well!

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Below is another block for the RSC2013 but just for kicks,

I may make this into a pillow.

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This is also some fiddling about that could find life on the back of my Northwinds

or on the table as the start to placemats for my crew.

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As my fingers fly stumble across the keyboard to have this post up,

I'm telling myself that I will get Mill House Inn quilted today come hell or high water!

Or in our case...

come the second "-43C, way to friggin' cold for the school bus to even start" day followed by

a teacher's day tomorrow!

My darlings have a 5 day weekend! 

So without further ado, I'm off to quilt and, all going well, I'll be able to add

this to the finished pile!

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The last thing on my list was to organize a pincushion swap.

I've seen quite a few of these going on, so for now I think I'll shelf this idea for the time being.

I'm not completely sure of how to go about putting a swap together,

any suggestions would be appreciated.

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I guess I didn't do too bad and I did finish some things that were not on my list.

February will be better! :)

Until the 28th of February then,

HAPPY STITCHING!

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Thearica over at Pig Tales and Quilts  

is going to keep the motivated from the get go!

What will you gain?

The accountability to yourself to get those pesky things done and start something new,

maybe challenge yourself to jump in with both feet and try that project you've been tempted to do but have held back. Well now's the time to give it a shot

I'm not quite as adventurous as Thearica with 5 but I think 4 projects is doable for me.

Sew...what about you? Are you up for a personal challenge? This is so much easier

than some of those new years resolutions I've tried and failed at over the years!!

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NEWFO 2013 WISH TO - DO LIST

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Cat Patches Linky Party for 2013 Wish to - do List

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This is the kick off  to 2013 Newfo Challenge brought to you by

Cat Patches!

(isn't this button the cutest)?

Once again, Barb is hosting this fun challenge to all quilters. If your a quilter

that loves to start and not necessarily finish projects then this is THE place to be!

WHY?

"Starting" is the entire idea driving this challenge and the  best part is 

you don't have to finish a thing! Zip! Nada! Zilch!

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This tear I'm going to try to focus on a few key projects with something completely

new to me. For instance, 

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I'd like to try a Cathedral Windows Quilt or something with curves.

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I've just finished reading The Devil's Puzzle by Clare O'Donohue and in the book there 

is reference to this quilt design, 

The Devil's Puzzle

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Next on my list (in my head) is something modern, circles or a geometric design.

I need to find some ideas for this one yet.

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After seeing some of the most beautiful hand stitching by my blogging buddy Susan,

who is the  Canadian Abroad, I am wanting to give this a try as well this year.

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Susan's stitching is amazing!

Look at the back of this piece...exquisite!

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I'm going to be sorting my scraps for Rainbow Scrap Challenge @ So Scrappy

starting in the new year!

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So that's the start of my 2013 "Wish to - do List" but first I really should try to get

my Laundry Day Quilt quilted, (tomorrow may be promising for that). I haven't finished

a quilt around here for a while and the Mr. has been asking when am I getting another quilt done 

for our bed since it's been so flippin' cold and damp here on the Canadian prairies!

Hey! I'm game and since he did ask so nicely  ;)

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50 down/ 50 to go

Can you believe it's been 50 days since signing up to Kelsey's 

100 Day Hustle?

Can you believe there's only 50 days left in 2012?!

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Here's a montage of what I've accomplished thus far!

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Quilt for Charity "DONE"

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Grandson's Quilt (late addition to list)  "DONE and DELIVERED"

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blocks sewn together  for flimsy

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another pic of charity quilt

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Granddaughter's quilt (late addition) "DONE and DELIVERED"

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SEW, MOM, SEW!!! 

woof, woof, woof!!!

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Laundry Day top sewn together for flimsy

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label for charity quilt (heading to the hospital)

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some of the free motion quilting of butterflies and flowers on the charity quilt.

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I also finished blocks for the Wicked Blog Hop.

I am waiting impatiently for my purse frames for the UR Priceless Blog Hop

my coin purses are finished though :)

I'm also working on my Holiday Lane Pillow Blog Hop project

Today I'm hoping to get the pillow finished and get to quilting one of the flimsies(?)

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So far sew good, I think.

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Sew, Watcha doin' let's say,

Saturday morning?

How about using this opportunity  that 

Sew ~ Stitch ~ Create!

is handing us (on a silver platter no less) to break away from the mundane "chores"

and tell the family,

"Sorry, but I'm sewing!"

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I mean, with Christmas fast approaching (Thanksgiving for our friends south of the border),

we really need all the poking, prodding and just down right pushing to get er done. 

Right?! So how about making this the place to be this Saturday AM.

I hope to see you there!

NewFOs for September

My  NEWFOs  for the month of September are a little sparse

but that's due to the fact that I need  to get some p.i.g.s

just plain finished!

However, this months offerings are

Archie and all his friends are destine for my hubby's lap,

now I'm not the only one working on this, in fact I'm more of the background noise,

my 8 year old is tackling this for his Dad's birthday, December 1st!

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I'm stitching up a few paper piece blocks to use in a couple of projects for the

upcoming month.

Designs for these 2 blocks can be found at

SONJA CALLAGHAN @ ARTISANIA

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Lastly, this quilt which I won the pattern during the Dots On Dots Blog Hop

from the ever so wonderful

CINDY @ QUILT DOODLE DESIGNS

This quilt design is called 

"LAUNDRY DAY"

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Sew there you have it, my September lineup for the

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I'm also putting feelers out for any interest in a

PIN CUSHION SWAP

(start date probably January 2013)

if you think you may want to join in just let me know.

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HAPPY STITCHING  :O)

I'm Doing The HUSTLE...R U? UPDATED!!

I'm heading back to the 70's/80's to do the hustle!

Kelsey's Kinda Hustle!!

She's going to be our fearless leader in this 100 day sewing

*EXTRAVAGANZA*

Why not join our batch of unfinished quilters and crafters, with their wips and pigs in hand,

and make a pledge that you will make as much of a dent in your bundles as humanly possible

by DECEMBER 31, 2012?

All you need to do is make a list,

check it twice,

link to Kelsey's post tomorrow

and you're in!

Midway through we'll post our progress ( or lack thereof )

and then on December 31 another post of what we've accomplished.

Easy Peasy, right? Right!

Oh, by the way...

I heard on the QT (not really, Kelsey told us)

she's going to have

PRIZES!!!

How's that for a little extra motivation?

Prizes and completed projects, a cleared sewing table ready for the New Year, Hmmmm?

Here's my list of P.I.G.'s (projects in grocerybags)

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First up,

I've had this on the go for at least 4 years now.

Next,

the binding and label.

Not sure what's been taking so long with this.

Archiekins!

My little guy needs a hand getting this quilt sewn up for Dad's birthday, Dec. 1.

CJ has picked all the fabrics and started sewing it together but got a little bogged down when he went back to school.

Now these have been in this state for the past 3 (or 4) Christmases.

They need to be finished!

I made such a great start and actually had the top finished in a short time but then I stalled out.

I need to get er done, winter's a comin'!

WHEW!!

Keep going!

This is another P.I.G. that's been in the bag waaay too long.

I can't even remember when I started this Whirlygiggle.

This 9 Patch is even older than the Whirlygiggle,

I'm sew embarrassed.

Last but not least, I'm sure, (ya right!!) 

is this bag.

I've had the pattern for more than a year

and the bag I am using is pathetic.

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Just to make things a little more interesting I'll add a few gifties for the Holidays,

let's see there's the teachers for all 4 of my kiddos,

one or two are expecting from what I'm told,

a couple of friends that go above and beyond...

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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 22nd

I WON!!!

Yep, I won Cindy's Dots On Dots Giveaway!

I'm now the proud owner of this pattern

"LAUNDRY DAY"

I'm going to add it to my list because it's sew darn cute,

I can't resist!

Thank you Cindy & Wilson!

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So that's my line up for the

100 DAY HUSTLE!

How's your list looking?

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