Show links:

Check out the new podcastThe Quilting Pot

Leah Day’s commentary on dropping your feed dogs

Leah Day’s demo of how to modify a plastic closed-toe darning foot:

Click here to play the podcast!

Here is the couch carcass in it’s current state:

And The Husband showing off his handiwork in our Bonus Room:

So what do you think about swapping out one of the charity quilts (replacing it with a quilt I would make from blocks I already have) so that I can keep it?  Does that break the spirit of the challenge?  Leave me a comment to tell me what you think!

You can listen by clicking here.  Thanks for stopping by!

$4.60 thrifting haul

Birthday booty (or is it bootie? I’m talking about pirate booty not butt booty):

 Have a listen to the show by clicking here.  Thanks for stopping by!

What are your goals for 2011?  Here are a handful of mine:

1. Complete the hand-pieced quilt that I designed (top is done!  woot!)
2. Complete charity quilt that I designed (and give away a kit to a listener so they can make their own)
3. Create a free tutorial/pattern from #2 and post it
4. Sandwich and quilt the Sunburst quilt.  Maybe I’ll have it done for the guild show.
5. Sandwich and quilt the Husband’s quilt made from art drawn by The Boy and The Girl.  If you want to make your own artwork quilt, I’ve posted instructions.
6. Piece and complete another quilt of my own design.  This doesn’t have to be hand-pieced but it would be cool if it was.
7. 14 podcasts.  I can’t seem to do much better than that!  Last year the goal was 18 and I think I hit 15.
8. Host another challenge.  I’m thinking it might relate to finishes, but with a twist.

Check out Material Obsession 2 and Fabric Trends!

Have a listen!

PS – I was not compensated in any form for my comments about either MO2 or FT.

This episode I talk about things that I am grateful for.  What is tops on your list?  I’d love to hear what you are grateful for – quilting or otherwise.

Also – I announced a giveaway!  Enter to win a quilt kit of my design!!  View the fabric line that will make up the kit at Connecting Threads.  When I actually have the top made I’ll post a photo – but it basically consists of strip pieced nine patches with an appliqued owl (or it might turn out to be a rabbit – I doodled two animals) in the center.  The finished top will measure 36 inches by 36 inches, which isn’t very large but is a good nap size for a toddler and is acceptable to Project Linus.

 You can enter in two ways:

1. Leave a comment here telling me what you are thankful for
2. Subscribe to my blog feed in a reader and leave a comment letting me know you have subscribed.

Good luck, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!  I wish you many things for which to be grateful.

Have a listen!

If you want a big book to reference general techniques and topics for quilting, this is the one to have!  This is the book that first got me interested in fabric dying.

 Super-dooper eye candy, informational and top shelf - just like anything else you’d see from Alex and Ricky.  I did mention in the episode though – I saw similarities between it and The Quilt Show.  If you have a limited budget but still want your Alex & Ricky fix, choose the format that suits you best and stick with one or the other.

Frieda’s book has instructions for dying fabric using Procion MX dyes.  She gives you all the basics and also gives some ideas for expanding into more complex experiments.  What is really great about Frieda’s dying method is the colors are technicolor-intense.  If you’ve tried fabric dying and just got so-so colors I think you’ll find that Frieda’s method works better for you.  The book also includes a number of her signature fused projects.

 These were all great and I highly recommend them all.  Please note that I did not receive any compensation for reading/reviewing these items and I also purchased them all myself.  Well the Quilter’s Catalog was a gift but it was a gift from The Husband so I think that still counts as having come from my own pool of money.

Have a listen to the show.  Thanks for stopping by!

Me at the Virginia Quilt Museum

Going inside - wee! Sorry, no pics allowed indoors.

It was *fabulous*!  I saw some amazing examples of historic quilts.

You can check out the book I bought from the museum here at Amazon.

Other places we visited – Luray Caverns – Sandy Point State Park – Massanutten Resort.

Thank  you for listening!

Have a listen!

We’re closing in on the end of May Mayhem!  Keep up the great work, everyone!  I’m so blessed to have dedicated quilters virtually beside me during this challenge.

Check out the Virginia Quilt Museum – I get to visit it this summer!

Have a listen to the show.  Thanks for visiting

Have a listen!