New tools!

Don't forget our sponsored giveaway! Click on this link and then come back to join the fun!

Y'all might remember my post about needing a new rotary cutter and mat combo.....I solicited suggestions from you special Lilypadquilting peeps, and I want to thank you!!

(Throwing flowers)

You are the greatest!

You gave great comments and tips for choosing my new tools. 

So, I want to show you my new toys!

This is my new cutting mat. I decided to go with an Olfa self-healing mat. I really like the green color, and the back can be used, too -- effectively doubling the life of my mat. I like the markings on this one, as well.

My new Omnigrip ruler:

It is a 6 x 24 inch ruler, and it really lives up to its name -- it does NOT slip on top of the fabrics!

Here is my pride and joy:

My new Martelli rotary cutter. I was intrigued by the comments that spoke of this cutter, and the videos won me over . . . it really IS easier on my hands and fingers.

Pay no attention to that ancient looking hand there -- the rest of me looks like a super-model.

Yep.

Uh huh.

Back to my story. This cutter is awesome. I have been having more trouble with arthritis lately, and this is making my prep work go much more easily. You may want to consider it if you are looking for a new cutter -- you might find it helpful, too!
They're telling the truth about it on those videos . . .it truly is much easier to grasp and to naturally exert the pressure needed to smoothly cut many layers of fabric all at once!

It has helped me make quick work of these half square triangles (building blocks for my next Swoon block).

Hope to show you more quilting fun soon!

Love,

Review and Sponsored Giveaway!

This giveaway is closed now, but thank you for your interest!

(You don't want to miss this one!)

Hi, Snoodles here, and let me tell you, I never know what might be happening here at the Lilypad on some mornings when I stumble in with my cuppa. (Grin)

There are some mornings that I find the crew surfing the web. Recently they've been perusing the inventory at FabricsNQuilts, and inspiring me to design new projects!

But this is what I saw yesterday morning over the rim of my cup of the Elixir of Life:

What are the boyz up to?

Ahhh, I know, they've opened that tantalizing box that arrived from the Buckaloo View Etsy shop!
What fun! Let's see what the boyz found . . .

(A quick side note here -- as a self-employed person myself, I want to encourage and purchase from Etsy shops and other individuals. I know that many of you Lilypad peeps have shops and businesses of your own, and we here at the Lilypad salute you!)

Buckaloo View Woodshop is an Etsy store that I discovered by reading one of my favorite blogs: Liesl Made. (Her blog is full of lovely photos, pressed flower journaling, and more.) The shop is her dad's outlet for his finely crafted products.

What you see DragonDrop inspecting below is a wonderful item -- toast tongs! Lovingly made and ready to save my fingers from burning when I want to grab my toast out of the toaster, and slather on the butter! OK, fine, if you are my doctor and you're reading my blog, I really am slathering on the lowfat stuff you told me to use. (Wink) Yeah, right!

DragonDrop is a connoisseur of wood (after all, he does breathe fire sometimes when he is angry, and he singes the occasional tree or two...) and he heartily approves of this lovely cherry wood.

It's wiped with a food-safe oil to preserve and beautify the wood.

DragonDrop! Quit pretending you are a knight, and put that lance, er, tongs down!

There are walnut and cherry tongs available in the shop, and they each have a rare earth magnet embedded in the back, so that you can store your tongs conveniently. They'll be handy for retrieving your bagel or bread slice without burning your wee digits and interrupting your morning peacefulness! They'll work just as great for grasping your breakfast from the toaster-oven.

I like that beveled edge so that I can grab my English muffin without tearing it! Sweet!

Now let's see what Padsworth is checking out . . .

Oooh, pretty! A bobbin holder -- and what a holder! I love this!

Edgar crafts these from oak, and uses hardwood dowels . . . these are ready for the long haul. They are sturdy and will last for years! (Love the grain in that wood; it's just gorgeous!)

They are versatile, too. They are made so that you can sit them on your sewing table, or you can hang them on the wall, using the smoothly finished hole you see there.
The bobbin holders are wiped with a fine Danish oil to protect and preserve them. I wish you could feel this finish! Unfortunately, we don't have that option on blogger yet!

The dowels are tall enough to stack two bobbins on, so this holder will store thirty bobbins, ready for your inspired sewing.

And DragonDrop is such a darling, he showed me that my favorite Aurifil threads can sit on my holder, too, since the dowels are so nice and tall!

(That close up is for you, Mhairi!)
Oh! And the boyz wanted me to be sure to show you these:

These might just be the niftiest part of this holder - sheer inspiration when these were added . . .
Little "feet" that keep it from scooting around (or off) your sewing table! I especially love this, as my old bobbin holder kept walking off my table! (Grin)

Awesome!

Buckaloo View has other wonderful things for you to drool over . . .
There are also larger bobbin holders -- how about one that holds sixty-six bobbins? Take a peek!

Buckaloo View offers gorgeous ruler organizers made with the same care and attention to detail that you see in that bobbin holder. These are lovely wood items that will make your sewing space more beautiful.

These oak ruler holders will keep your collection of quilting rulers neatly organized, visible, and within reach. The slots are wide enough to accommodate most acrylic rulers and templates. 

The slots run either lengthwise or across the board (your choice). The boards are finished with a light Danish oil. They measure approx 6" x 10" in size, and they have those neat, no-slippy feet that you saw on my bobbin holder!

Because each piece is handmade the wood grain pattern or color may vary slightly. 

 

I hope that many of you will consider purchasing a bobbin holder or ruler organizer from the shop . . . I am confident that you will be thrilled with the quality and the craftsmanship that you see in these items. I have shopped for these before, and the Buckaloo hand-crafted items are head and shoulders above what I have seen in the stores -- and the prices are quite attractive, too!

Now, here is the question: would any of you Lilypadquilters like to win a hand-crafted ruler organizer from Buckaloo View?  Padsworth and DragonDrop are going to put in a sample pack of Aurifil thread for the winner, too!

I know, I know, I see lots of you jumping up and down and waving......hold on to your keyboards now, and I will tell you how to enter the giveaway! (You don't HAVE to do them all, but you can if you want to!) The first one is a must-do-to-win.....

1. Hop over to Buckaloo View Fine Woodshop on Etsy and look around; come back and tell me this -- what other items did you see in Edgar's shop? 
2. If you are a member of the Etsy community, add Buckaloo View to your favorites, and tell me in a comment.
3. "Like" Buckaloo View's Facebook page, and tell me you did.
4. Spread the word via Twitter, Facebook, or your blog for another entry!
5. Because we love our followers, if you follow at Lilypadquilting, you may have one more entry!

We'll leave this giveaway open for a full week (till July 2), and announce our winner shortly thereafter! Let the commenting begin! (Please be aware that I may not be able to answer every comment on a giveaway, but read them and I love you all!)

Love,

Envelope, please!

Hi, It's Padsworth again, and I'm here to announce the winning shelter --- they will receive a case of twenty-five Scratchers from "The Scratcher Lady," Joan Laisney!

She's the smart cookie that developed these neat items to help kitties in shelters . . .

Let's see who Mr. Random says is the winner!

Envelope, please!

Mr. Random chose #13, Linda!

She said . . .

So, congratulations to Linda, and to the Castaway Cats Shelter in Bear, Delaware! Your scratchers will arrive soon!

Don't forget that if you would like to donate some of these great scratchers to your local shelter, there is a code to use all the way until August 31....just add the code 10 OFF to your order, and get your discount!

Many thanks to all of you who entered, and to our wonderful sponsor, Joan Laisney, from Stretch and Scratch! 
Be sure to tune in again --- another fab giveaway is in the works! (And I hope to show you some more quilting progress soon....the operative word there is "hope"!!)

Love,

Oh nooooooooooooo!

For all of you that had images of a tiny, brightly colored figure named Mr. Bill in your minds as you read that, consider yourself "tagged." You are officially an oldster, like me. (Grin)

But that's what I find myself saying, as I read the news that Google is following through on their threatened, er promised changes . . .

Google Reader will be going away in a few days... For all of you who follow me through Google Reader, please consider clicking the button on the right of this page that allows you to follow me through Bloglovin --- then you can receive my posts as soon as I write them!

Hope you will do that . . . we have a lot of fun things planned here at the Lilypad!

Love,

FabricsNQuilts - Our newest Show sponsor!

Padsworth, here, and I'm so hoppy (couldn't resist saying that) to announce our newest sponsor for the Pets on Quilts Show!

It's the fabulous Fabrics N Quilts online store! Ribbit!

DragonDrop and I are both loving what we see at this great quilting store!
And by the way, this is the best of both worlds -- a physical store you can shop in AND an online store!

So, if your travels take you through Tennessee, you need to stop in and say, "Howdy!" to Shannon! And you should add her to your list of great places to shop, online!

She has lots of gorgeous fabrics to show you, and she also carries kits and notions of ALL kinds!

I love the Snap Sack kits she has --  bags with everything you need to make the project! Woot!

She's sponsoring a fabric prize for our Pet Show in August . . .wanna see? Aww, you know you do!

This adorable bundle will go to a lucky winner of the prize drawings! It's half yard cuts of those cute fabrics . . . I can hear the gears turning as some of you are thinking of what you can make with those! (Grin)

Ribbit! Welcome, FabricsNQuilts! We're thrilled to have you on board! 

Love,

Earn a free entry in the Pet Show prize drawings!

The Pet Show is coming! The Pet Show is coming! And thanks to our friend Sharon, at Fabrics and Flowers blog, we have a button for you to grab!

Sharon was a sweetheart and provided code for my new button -- now you can grab it and put it on your blog, or anywhere else you'd like to spread the word!

Those of you that are PR Angels and help us to get the word out about the upcoming show will receive extra entries in the prize drawings!

This is how it will work:

1. Post our button on your blog, using the code provided. It will automatically link to Lilypadquilting, and folks can click on the Pet Show page to see all the news!

2. Write a blog post about the upcoming show, and you'll get another entry!

In August, when we have our show, you will be able to comment and tell me what you did, and provide the URL for your blog post or Facebook post or Twitter talk (can you do that for Twitter?). You'll get those entries counted in our prize drawings!

So, what are you waiting for? Help us spread the word, and it will be the best show ever!

Love,

Name your shelter! Sponsored Giveaway!

NOTE: This giveaway is closed now; thank you for your interest!

We've got a great giveaway today -- this will benefit your favorite shelter!

You will have a chance to win a great product that will ship directly to the shelter that you name, and you will be mentioned as the person who nominated them to receive the product!

What is it? It's the Stretch and Scratch, from our good friend, Joan Laisney, "The Scratcher Lady"!!

Check this out:



Scratchers fill many needs for the kitties in adoption centers and shelters . . .cats can relieve stress by using them, and they get a good stretch when the scratchers are installed high on the cage wall or door. 

 
Here is what their creator, Joan Laisney says:

As a shelter volunteer, I saw lots of scratch marks on cage walls where cats tried to perform natural behaviors: stretching muscles, cleaning nails &  scent marking with their paws.  After months of testing, I created Stretch & Scratch pads.  Easy to install & affordable, big enough for a good scratch & small enough to see into the cages, shelter cats can get the cage enrichment they need while waiting for adoption.

You can help your local shelters by giving them a heads up: tell them to add these to their wish list -- link their request from their site to the Scratcher site, and donors can order them to be sent directly to the shelters!

Joan is offering a case of twenty-five Scratchers to one shelter, randomly chosen from those nominated here on this post. She's also offering a discount for those who would like to order some Scratchers for the shelter or adoption center of their choice -- just use the promo code 10OFF and you will receive a ten percent discount on your purchase price!

Here at the Lilypad, we have a special place in our hearts for rescue pups and kitties . . . even now we have a little femme fatale who needs a home; we all are trying valiantly to find Bertie a furever home!

Moses (The Studio Cat), Padsworth and DragonDrop have put their heads together and Snoodles has helped, too, but so far, we haven't found a place for her. If all else fails, we'll take her to the no-kill shelter near us, and they will find a home for her; she is so little, and so affectionate -- someone will fall in love with her! See?

Now, let's get down to where the litter hits the box (sorry) and tell you how to enter this giveaway!

Leave a comment on this blog post nominating your favorite shelter or adoption center to receive the Scratchers. Tell us the name and location . . . Easy peasy!  We'll leave the giveaway open for a week, and then ask Mr. Random to choose our winner.....but the discount code lasts till the end of August! Thanks, Joan!

Love,