Mortally wounded . . .

. . . but still soldiering on. Yes, you came to the right place for the "Bowls Blog Hop" today! (Grin)

Some of you may remember the post that I wrote a few months ago, about Snoodles the Dragonslayer. If you would like to check it out, you can click here and jump over there to see it.

I, Snoodles the Dragonslayer, was mortally wounded this past weekend. How? A vicious attack from the Noskill-ceratops was almost my undoing.

Let me tell you my story . . . here is my completed project using the fantabulous pattern provided by Regina, and so beautifully executed by other bloggers this week:

You see, paper piecing and I have always agreed to disagree. We tolerate each other, and for all practical purposes, have very little to do with each other. 

But I was determined to change all that.  I was feeling gracious and benevolent and opened my arms to embrace paper piecing. I even got some freezer paper from the pantry and devoured Elaines' great tutorial over at SewWeQuilt. Hoooo-weee! I was prepared, ma'am!! 

Or so I thought.

Old Mr. Noskill-ceratops was snarling, and had me so apprehensive that I was jumping from my sewing chair and dashing over to the PC to refer to the tutorial again, and again, and yet again. I tried to follow each step just perfectly.  (And you know, it's not Elaine's fault -- her tutorial really does make perfect sense, and her pictures are clear and helpful.)
I had pictured my bowls in my head --- I was using my favorite Mary Engelbreit fabrics, and I could just "see" them, all stacked up so prettily . . .a dozen or more of them!

Well, I have digressed.  After lots of re-dos and quality time with my friendly seam ripper, and re-drawing the pattern and starting again, I decided that paper piecing and I were going to go back to our old relationship. We'll agree to disagree. We will keep a respectful distance from each other, if you know what I mean. I got ONE BOWL done, albeit wonkily, and so I decided that the smart thing to do was to play in my stash, eat some chocolate, declare victory. 

I wish I had had someone take a picture of me, with one foot on old Noskill-ceratops' head, but I forgot.  I was too busy planning the applique that would finish my project!
I used some of the adorable M.E. scraps that I had, and made some flowers for my bowl:

I did some outline quilting and used a cute stripe for the binding. (Me loves stripey bindings!)
So, my bowl project turned into a mugrug. Not what I had envisioned, but still, I put ole Noskill-ceratops in his place, I did. (Grin)

This one is headed across the United States inside a Pony Express rider's pack, and I have just time enough to show you the back of it, too:

See why I love Mary Engelbreit fabrics? So cute and cheery! Be sure to check out all of the other blogs that are featuring "Bowls" today:

August 17th

Elizabeth

Beate

Marion H.

Sharon-Quilt Sheddy

 Lilypad Quilting

Searching Out Simple

Scrapbook Chick A Doodle

Ark Angel Creations

Polka Dot Classic

PRSD4Tim2

Little Mushroom Cap

I Have A Notion

And if you want the whole list, so you can backtrack and get some of them that you missed, here is a link to the Bowls Blog Hop Head Cheerleader, Carol! She and Madame are doing a super job keeping us busy, aren't they? (Wink)

Enjoy the hop!

Love,

To My Mentors.....Thank You!!

First, here is what I'm thinking of today......can you tell that I need a vacation?!

I'm linking up with Foto Finish today. Go see all the other pictures at Cat Patches. You'll be happy you did!

Now, I really do want to thank the wonderful Lilypadquilting community - I got some great ideas and tips for paper-piecing, and I truly appreciate your help!

Look! I did it! I did it! See?

The picture is a little dark, because I (yawn) finished it at midnight thirty! But I think you can see, this one turned out better than the first one! No pleats, no puckers, and best yet - no stress or gray hairs (at least additional ones).

I appreciate each of you that commented and gave me tips on how to be accurate,and  how to do it more easily.  I am especially grateful for the encouragement you gave me, to try again. I can't say that I love paper piecing, or that I want to do more, right this minute, but at least I have these hearts done, and I have some rudimentary skills in my tool belt. The next time a paper piecing project comes up, I won't start to sweat or make excuses: I'll dig right in and give it a try!

Thanks again,

Peaceful Paper Piecing? NOT!!

Are you looking for our spectacular giveaway hosted by our new sponsor, the Fat Quarter Shop? Just click here!

Are you a late-comer to the Wantobe A Quilter party? You can still click here to be part of the fun, and be eligible for prizes!

Lately I have been inspired to try something that has intimidated me for quite some time.....paper piecing. A show of hands, now - any of you special peeps do that?

Ahem. Well, don't rub it in. 

You see, I just can't seem to get the hang of it. I have gorgeous examples to look at. Sharon at Vrooman's Quilts has posted about some lovely paper pieced blocks she has made, that really do inspire me to try. 

Tonya at Hillbilly Handiworks even wrote a very clear tutorial with pictures and lots of explanations. Currently she is leading a quilt-along of a lovely grist mill from the land of my youth: beautiful Virgina.....but I, the Queen-of-Too-Many-Commitments knew my limitations, and didn't start that one!

Even my sister shows me up - she can paper piece gorgeous blocks! You should check out her blog and her gallery on OleFrogEyes and see!

Isn't that pretty?

I think I know what happened.....she must have gotten all of the paper-piecing talent, and I got none. How, you ask? Well, I envision it this way:

Imagine a tiny cherub in a long line of sweet babes, getting ready to head down to earth (I'm one of 'em). Saint Peter leans over with a smile and says, "Now....for your talents.... do you want to paper piece?" I, hanging over the edge of the cloud, am distracted by the awesome view: "No, I don't want to scrape your geese." I look up and smile brightly at the saint. 

He realizes I misunderstood, and tries to clarify (you know saints are patient, right? That is how they get to be saints!), "One day when you are older, do you want to do paper piecing?" Totally confused now, I resumed my scouting of the earth below me, and replied, " I don't think so; pay-for-greasing sounds like a yucky job to me." Saint Peter probably sighed and muttered something under his breath about this generation and their lack of attention span as he grabbed my diaper and pulled me back from the edge of the cloud. And then I guess he gave my sis a double portion of the paper piecing gene, because she is a whiz at it!

You don't believe me, eh? Take a glance here at my very first attempt....

I believe the ground under the lighthousekeeper's house is sinking!
Or, try this one....this is from a pattern called "Crazee Heart" that Marcia of Crafty Sewing and Quilting provided. 

(Either the block or the photographer was a little catty-whompus there! You did know I was from the south, right?! LOL)
I don't know if you can see it, but on the upper right of the heart, I sewed two pieces of fabric together to cover that portion.... and I have a - well, a rumple, a pleat, I'm not sure what to call it, but I'm thinking about some decorative stitching to hold it down! 

Now, lest you think that I am totally devoid of any talent, one thing I CAN do is "make fabric" from scraps, and then use it for a project. This is a heart that I made for a friend in the blogging community:

Sew, that went much better!

Now, my paper piecing friends.....I know you are there; I saw those hands! I want to try one more time on the Crazee Heart - I need at least one to send to Tonya for the quilt she is making. 

I am counting on you to make my paper piecing more peaceful! Give me some tips that will help me complete this with fewer gray hairs and more fun!!

Love,

PS. If you would like to see another giveaway soon.....I only need 12 more followers to reach 300! (Wink!)