FNSI results and Giveaway Winner

Did you have a productive FNSI? Follow the link to see what other quilters were doing last night, I usually find some great blogs to follow!

Since it's the second half of the month, I worked on my current BOMs. I made a boot for Boot Bash BOM. I like this boot a lot but wish I would have used more blue. Blue outline stitching on the boot would have looked really nice. But I'm not about to change it!

Look at them all together!

I really love this quilt!

Next I cut the pieces and stitched this guy from Jewel in the Crown BOM:

This little bugger did not want to go together correctly. I had to rip stitches and starch the crap out it. Some of the squares have their points cut off, but otherwise, I'm happy!

And this Civil War block came together as a Leader and Ender:

I'm happy with my FNSI!

And now to choose a winner for my 100 followers Giveaway:

Margaret!

From

Check out Margaret's blog. She is having a Giveaway for her followers, too! She's giving away a darling Dresden block Clock. Congrats Margaret!

Thanks for Folllowing and Have a Quilty Weekend!

Cowboy Boots and a Quilty Husband

I’ve been catching up on my Boot Bash BOM blocks this month. And I still haven't found my camera, so these are taken with my iphone. Sorry!

This is my least favorite. It’s just kinda boring compared to my other boots. I did a raw-edge appliqué in the hope that it would fuzz after I wash it. Give the block a little texture.

I’m loving this one. I found a good size zig-zag stitch that I was very comfortable with. Not too small that my shoulders ache and not too big that looks like a kindergartener did it. I love the cactus too.

This little cutie is one of my favorites. I was worried that it looked flat, so I put some batting in it. It made such a difference! I had a blonde moment with the spur. I cut it out and it was the size of a softball. LOL. My husband came to the rescue and fixed it for me. He’s more artsy than he thinks, and has infinite patience with my quilting.

This is why my husband is amazing about quilting:

1. He listens as I drone on and on about my tension, paper-piecing vs traditional, modern vs traditional, why I think a pink fabric would look better than a purple one here, or bias edges.

2. He helps me sandwich my quilts. When I say my whole body is sore from sandwiching a few quilts, he says “I know honey. That is hard work. Of course you’re sore. Why don’t you relax tonight and take it easy?”

3. When I ask him his opinion about my color choices he seriously considers and gives me good feedback. He has a great eye for design and is much better than I at choosing a layout.

4.He will drive across town to take me to a quilt shop. It doesn’t matter if I buy anything or not. When I do spend an obscene amount of money on fabric he says: “You deserve it, baby.” When we drive around and he passes a fabric or quilt shop he asks if I want to go in.

5.He is very good about keeping himself busy when I sew. He actually LOVES it that I have a hobby of my own. He hardly ever whines that I sew too much.

6.He doesn’t complain when I take forever looking at quilts at a quilt show or antique store. Even if I walk through the quilt show 3 times, which I’ve been known to do.

7.He calls my fabric “Stash.” Once I showed him a picture of an awesome fabric storage closet and he said “Wow, look at that stash!” He walked in to my sewing room the other night and said “Who dumped all this stash?” He’s funny like that.

Yup, I’m a lucky girl!

Decompressing

Hello Bloggers! I’ve missed you! Being away for 3 whole days really takes a toll on me, lol! We had a great camping trip: lots of ATV-riding, shooting, sunning, swimming, cooking, and eating! Lots and lots of eating, actually! Corn-on-the-cob cooked in an open fire, beef jerky, potato chips, watermelon, salmon…you name it; we pigged out on it! My mom decided to leave a day early, and like the lemmings we are, we all followed her.

Since I got home a day early, I decided it was only fair to go back to work a day early.

NOT!!

Haha, almost had you there! Of course I didn’t go to work. Instead I spent the day lounging around the house, doing a zillion loads of laundry from camping and playing in my sewing room! What a great way to end a vacation. I think I’ll try to end every vacation that way from now on. A quiet little decompression at my sewing machine.

I finished my Jewel in the Crown BOM block for July. I mostly like this block, except the dot fabric and the pink blend too well together. And I messed up on my paper piecing. I started in the wrong place. There was a lot of cutting and pasting and finagling and crossing my fingers and holding my breath to get the pieces to look right. Luckily, I’m very experienced in covering up mistakes, so it looks fine!

Then I finished my Boot Bash BOM for April. I was afraid it would be too much purple, but it looks really cute in person. The small, dark purple pieces were cut from a Crown Royal bag. I added some pink stitching to it. Now I’m only 3 months behind. I need to get cracking on these!

Any plans for the weekend? I am playing in the Friday Night Sew In ! Woo-Hooo! I’ll also be linking up at the UFO Weekend Party at Pigtales and Quilts and will be working on a UFO. That’s two chances to win on Friday night! Great motivation to convince you to stay home and work on a UFO. I pulled a new UFO out last night, but don’t know if I’m ready to dive in quilting it just yet. I guess you will see tomorrow!

Boot Bashing

Yesterday I mentioned how I've been working on cathing up with my BOM's. Here are my super-cute Boot Bash blocks:

I used the satin stitch on this one. I don't know why I always think satin stitch is so hard. I am afraid of it. But whenever I do satin stitch I always think: "That wasn't so hard!"

This one I tried a blanket stitch. I think I was very successful!

I am totally loving this BOM. I can't wait to see the finished quilt!