Put a border on it!

Remember this?

I just felt like something was missing . . . couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Played with fabric, doodled on my sketch pad, and then decided the simple things are often the best!

Just a simple whack-some-layer-cake-squares-in-half border!

Whatcha think?

Better?

Here are some closeups so you can see the pretty Hoffman batiks:

Love these Sparrow colorway fabrics!

Anyway, I'm pretty happy with it. It's sandwiched and basted and I'm hand-quilting like mad, trying to get it ready for Christmas!

Wish me luck! (Grin)

Love,

October Cozy Afternoon Winner

Congratulations to Suzanne! She is our winner of the pattern giveaway!

We are all winners, those of us who are having a great time making the Cozy Afternoon quilt . . . I hope that if you haven't started, you will right now! Quick! Hurry over to Jacquelynne's and sign up!

Love,

Cozy Afternoon - Borders and a giveaway!

I put that picture there, because there still is time to jump in and complete this cute block of the month pattern. The blocks are so well explained in the pattern, and they work up fast! Here is the link to jump over there!

Today is the day for me to show you how my borders and setting triangles worked out. This was the most fun of all, so far, to see the rows coming together!

I was able to use this adorable tossed teacup fabric from Jacquelynne's "Peaceful Pastimes" fabric collection for the large squares; isn't it cute?

The sun was playing hide and seek with me on the day that I had time to photograph my quilt top, so some of these look different. I took this one to show you how that teacup print plays with the other fabrics - awesome!

I ran short of the navy polka dot that I was using for the narrow strips, so I pulled a remnant of dark blue from my stash. Here is one of the places that I alternated the strips; I really like a scrappy quilt, so I'm loving how these play together!

I alternated them so there would be some of that "new" navy on several spots, because the final edge on this quilt will be that same navy, used as the binding.

Isn't that center "star" pretty? I had a blast making those applique block centers!

The setting triangles are another of Jacquelynne Steves' wonderful fabrics - it's a pretty blue from the "Happy Town" line. (You might want to hop over and see if any of her fabrics would work for your own quilt top . . . here is the link: just click here.)

Really liking the polka dots and the tea cups!

When you receive the email today with the borders and triangles instructions, you will see that your floral is used one more time in that border.

Another shot of the middle of the top . . .

I played with Paint.net and fixed this so you can see how that blue binding will finish off the quilt!

One more shot of an applique block with the tossed teacup squares . . . putting all of these on point just makes it that much more interesting!

I neglected to take photos of the process, but I want to mention one thing: when you get the rows put together, you may "freak out" because the triangles and edges just don't look quite right. You might be telling yourself, "That triangle is just too little," or "those edges just don't look like I did it right!"

Never fear!  Jacquelynne's instructions tell us to expect that, and then a step or two later, you'll be trimming the edges for the border, and you will breathe a sigh of relief! It will all work out just fine, you'll see!

This month we have a really sweet giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive the Hugs and Kisses quilt pattern, and also the pattern to make those adorable wool flower pins! Wouldn't they look great on your vest or blazer this fall? Or maybe make great gifts for your quilting and crafting friends!

Leave a comment here and tell me what you like best -- a one-piece backing, or a scrappy backing for your quilts? (Sometimes I like the backs of my quilts just as much as the fronts, when I piece them!)
Followers may leave another comment, for another chance to win! Please, please, either check your settings or leave your email as part of your comment . . . last time Mr. Random got a workout, since the first four or five chosen were no-reply! Something about Google plus is crazy, too, because I have trouble tracking y'all down! Leave your address this way: person(at)email(dot)com and then the bots won't find you, OK?

Please be sure to hop over to Jacquelynne Steves' blog too! Here is the linkie: click here!

Good luck in the drawing! And I hope you are working on your very own Cozy Afternoon quilt! Check out the other bloggers to see how they are doing, and you will have more chances to win those patterns!

                             Heidi at Red Letter Quilts

                           Julie at The Crafty Quilter

                        Teresa at A Quilt and a Prayer

                            Kathryn at Kathy's Quilts

                            Bev at 44th Street Fabric

Giveaway will stay open for a week, and then we'll announce our winner.

Love,

I'm calling her "Nora"

I have a new playmate!

She's actually older than me.

Since my previous playmates were dinosaurs, that makes her older than the dirt, right? (Grin)

Check her out!

She's been in the family for years, but not been used for about forty of those.....just sittin' and waitin' for me!

Nora is from just one of many companies that made similar machines in that era. Apparently they are real workhorses and with loving care, will "sew forever"!

Love the decorations . . .

She has a few scratches, but what a pretty face!

I have a friend who loves the old machines (none of that plastic stuff, now!) and he oiled her up and checked her out for me.  He was thrilled to do it, because he bought his wife one of these in the late forties . . . so I guess that is how old Nora is.  He was so proud of the beautiful stitches she was producing, and I have to admit, I am loving them, too!

She came to me in the original cabinet, with the original box of accessories, so we are vintage all the way here!

Don't know what some of these do..... maybe I'll experiment later. Right now, Nora and I are pedal to the metal chain piecing some squares!

Nora isn't new, but she's new to me, and I'm passionate about sewing with her, so I'm linking up with Jan's "Sew Simple Saturday" party over at Sew and Sow Farm!  Hop over there and check out all the fun blog posts and tips!

Here's my tip for the day . . . be sure to clean your machine frequently! Get into all the nooks and crannies with a little soft brush or maybe even the fancy-schmancy air tool like you use on computer keyboards!

Get the lint out, and little pieces of thread. You wouldn't believe all that was in Nora .  .  . after napping for forty years, she needed a good spiffing up! Check your booklet to see the spots to oil, if it's an older machine like her. Change your needle, too. 

You'll be sew glad that you did! Your machine will purr happily and you'll love how well it stitches!

Love,