Giving away my cross stitch supplies . . .

Hey, don't forget the Embellishment Party post, linked up here, and the giveaway that Jackie is hosting at her blog --- some of her yummy hand-dyed fabrics are up for grabs, so click here to be whisked away to enter! Sunni will be posting the next Party Post next week!

And you special peeps can help me out here, too --- if I can make it over 600 followers, I have a wonderful giveaway planned . . . just sayin' . . . so help me spread the word! 

I'm de-stashing my cross stitch supplies that have been languishing in the craft closet and have been neglected for far too long --- time to pass them along to someone (several someones) who will give them a good home! I just don't have the time to work with these supplies, and with my quilting, knitting, and crochet projects.

Let me tell you how this will work: I'll post pictures and descriptions, along with numbers to label each group. You tell me in a comment which one(s) you want, and I will email you to confirm. I'll package them for shipping and use the most economical shipping method that I can --- then I'll send you a paypal invoice for the shipping costs, and we'll both be happy!  It will be first come, first served, and anything that isn't claimed will go to the local thrift store of my choice, for them to sell.

If you see a red print word "CLAIMED" on the listing, it is already claimed and on its way to a new home!

Ready? Then away we go!

Group One: CLAIMED Remember these? In medieval times (grin) we would use our floss and small pieces of cross stitch fabric to create Christmas stitcheries, and then pop them into these to hang on the tree. The rings are plastic, as are the clear front covers for the cross stitched designs. The adhesive on the cardboard is shot, but you can use your own method of adhering them to the cardboard, then snap them into the rings. Eight red, and ten green, complete.

Group Two:  CLAIMED I broke this out to handle separately, since someone might just want the patterns, but this would be a nice tag-along to Group One. There are patterns here for the little ornaments above, as well as a piece of cross stitch cloth (please don't ask me the name or count on this - I have no clue!), over a yard long, and 15 inches wide.

Group Three:  CLAIMED Two pillowcases, with kittens sleeping stamped on them, and the pattern (color chart) to finish them. I started on these so you might feel led to remove my stitches, or maybe not! There is one small stain on one kitten....looks like I might have had a needle there years ago. (The hoop stays here!)

Group Four: CLAIMED I started on one of the two fingertip towels here, but you could easily remove those stitches and create your own heirlooms. Two towels with fringe.

Group Five: CLAIMED Four blank canvases for you to create upon! First, the one called Zweigart is Lugana 25 count, and is 12" x 18" in a soft sage color. Next the two flat packages of Charles Craft are both Aida 18 count, and are both 12 x 18. The Charles Craft in the tube (I'll remove it from the tube to ship it) is called "wheat" color, and is 15 x 18.

Item Six: Two pictures of this one, so that you can see it well. It is a kit by Bucilla, for a Christmas goose project. Everything is there - the floss, the hoop, the fabric for the ruffle, everything.

Item Seven:  CLAIMED Now we're into books and patterns . . . This one is childrens' sweaters, vests, etc.

Item Eight: CLAIMED Pattern leaflet for cross stitch projects with childrens' theme.

Item Nine: Pattern book called "The Potties in Pastels Collection" for kids' bathroom-themed stitcheries. Don't ask me why I purchased this, just take me out of my misery, OK?

Item Ten:  CLAIMED A really sweet sampler pattern, just for you!

Item Eleven: CLAIMED A leaflet with a selection of kitchen-themed projects.

Item Twelve:  CLAIMED In the mood for some funky slippers? These animal slippers to crochet may be for you!

Item Thirteen:  CLAIMED If you click and embiggen the picture, you can see that the cross stitch portion of this project is pretty small....the rest is the print and the embossed mat for framing - yes, they are still in the booklet!

Item Fourteen: Booklet with nine scripture-themed projects.

Item Fifteen: CLAIMED Leaflet pattern for a cross stitch picture of the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, affectionately called "America's Castle."

Item Sixteen: CLAIMED Cross stitch with a quilting theme . . . I'm tempted on this one. Get it quick!

Item Seventeen:  CLAIMED Another of the booklets with an embossed mat for framing, along with the cross stitch pattern.

Item Eighteen:  CLAIMED Remember when we wanted to tie knots in everything and anything? We called the craft macrame, and here's a booklet full of projects for you.

Item Nineteen: CLAIMED Here's another one - macrame book, I mean.

Item Twenty:  CLAIMED Booklet with basic knitting instructions, and projects as well.

Item Twenty-one: CLAIMED Booklet with baby blankie patterns to knit

Item Twenty-two: Did I make and wear one of these? I plead the fifth.

Item Twenty-three: CLAIMED This is one that I'll admit to making . . . the piglet was adorable!

Item Twenty-four: CLAIMED Leaflet with Christmas project ideas to crochet

Item Twenty-five: CLAIMED Crochet a quilt, instead of piecing one!

So, if you would like any of these, leave me a comment. If you would like several, just say so. When you leave your comment, please do both of us a favor, and check the previous comments to see if your desired item is still unclaimed. I hope that these will go to happy homes!

Love,

Embellishment Party Week 1 + a giveaway!

Linking up this week with the Shady Porch's Rock and Share Linky Party! Click to jump over there and join in the fun!

Pssssst! Hey, Lilypad quilters!!  It's time to party . . . and look who's here for our first project! It's Jackie, all the way from Ontario, and Jackie's Art Quilts!

Hi Everyone!

I am so thrilled to be here.  I was over the moon when Jacque invited me to guest post on her blog.  She really rocks, and I have been a follower of hers forever.  

A little about me.  I am a quilter of all sorts, but love doing art quilts, and every single art quilt I do has 3D embellishing on it.   I don’t mean like a bit of fabric sticks out of the surface, either.  I do 3D in a big way.   Check out my gallery on my blog to see my 3D art quilts.

I thought it would be fun to make one of my favorite flowers, the Scrap ‘n’ Slash.  You can use this flower anywhere.   On a quilt, corner of a mug rug, or even on a purse.   Since I love to recycle, I picked up a cute leather handbag for a dollar at a local rummage sale.   You can find recycled purses at your local second hand store, church rummage sales and bazaars.  

Supplies

3 assorted colors of fat quarters

Hot glue gun

Rotary cutter and mat

1 recycled purse

Instructions

Cut 2- 2 ½” strips off the long side of each fat quarter.  You will end up with 6 strips

Take a strip and glue along the long edge.   I usually do sections at a time as the glue dries quickly.
 

Make little slits in the folded side of the fabric about ½” apart from one end to the other, be careful not to cut all the way through.

Decide which strip you want to be the centre and roll up, putting dabs of glue near the bottom as you go.  Continue putting a bit of glue down to secure.  When you finish with one strip, pick up another one and continue until the flower is the size you desire.

Trace the base of the flower onto a piece of matching fabric. 

Put 2 pieces of fabric right sides together and stitch along that tracing line.  Cut circle out and make a slit in one side. 

Turn right side out, pushing all the seams out.  Press.

Glue the flower to the base with the slit side glued to the base.

Glue the base to the purse.

Here's another view of the purse with its new embellishment -- a little closer!

And here is another example of the flowers you can make with this technique:

You can make a whole bouquet!

Editor's note: And they won't wilt or fade, and ya don't hafta water them! Yay! I love these 3D embellishments, and I would love for all of you special peeps to take a peek at one of the ways that Jackie has used these in her art quilts:

Aren't they awesome?  OK, I'll shut up now and let you listen to Jackie again! 

Now here comes the fun part.   If you decide to check out my blog and like it enough to follow.  Leave a comment on my blog telling me you  are now a follower, and I will put all those names in a draw for a bundle of my hand dyed fat quarters. 

                                                    *******************************

Pssstt! It's me again! Snoodles, that is! You don't want to miss Jackie's hand-dyed fabrics . . . they are absolutely beautiful! So hop on over there, and check it out! And while you are there, be sure to click and look around at her quilt gallery --- and don't you dare leave until you gaze at her "Bye Gram, I Love You" quilt. It brought tears to my eyes when I read the story behind the quilt. You can read it right here.  

Well, Lilypadquilters, the fun is only just beginning! This is Part I of our Embellishment Party! Be sure to stop back by, when Sunni shows us her 3D embellishment project next week!

Love,

Peppermint Popper Table Topper Finish!!

I'm linking up today with the One Thing One Week Challenge at Amy's Creative Side! I challenged myself to finish this table topper, and it's done!

At this moment, the Peppermint Popper table topper is flying across the United States. No, it is not a magic carpet . . . it is in a box with other gifties that is headed from one coast to the other! I was really pleased with how it turned out, and I wanted to show you!

You may recall that this table topper was designed by yours truly, using my Accuquilt Go! Baby and the versatile chisel die. I used only red and white fabrics in it, and after I sandwiched it, I decided to utilize the leftover chisels. (Hey, necessity is the mother of invention, right? I couldn't find any red and white striped fabric in my stash!)

So this is what I did --- I lined up the 2.5 inch mark on my ruler and whacked those bad boys into parallelograms . . . See?

Then when I had sliced all of them (this is not all of them, just a few!) . . .

I began to join them. Then I sliced that long chain into two pieces, and used it as my binding. Here is the result:

I kinda like it. In fact, I like it a lot. Would you like to see it again? I know I would!

Then I started adding some "bling" to the snowflakes that I had embroidered on there, using my Presencia Finca thread. (That's what I used to hand quilt the zigzags, too.)
Here are some of the snowflakes:

Here is the finished table topper --- binding, bling, and all!

I liked this project so much that I might try it again, but in blue and white, instead --- but I'll have to come up with a different name!

Love,

McCall's Quilting - Loot !

One of the special things that my sister does is that every year she gifts me with a wonderful subscription to McCall's Quilting. Actually she does a lot of special things; because she is a very special person. And I am not at all prejudiced. This is the truth, and you can take it to the bank. (Grin)
She is also an awesome quilter, and you can see some of her gorgeous quilt blocks on her blog, and over at OleFrogEyes, too.
Anyway, I really enjoy the magazine, and I was floored by a recent email that said I had won this prize package:

Lots of loot! I mean, I feel like I should be saying "Aargghh" and "Shiver me timbers" and things like that --- there's a lot of booty here, and I feel like a pirate!

In addition to the lovely queen-size batting, there are two cool tools: a circle rotary cutter, and a thread picker, too! And you know how I love cool tools!

There are lots of pieces and rolls and charm packs of fabric here --- I'm very intrigued by the Katagami  fabric, and there are pieces of Scribble, and What's Cookin, and oh, can you tell I'm pretty excited about this?

Y'all will have to excuse me . . . I am busy playing with my loot, and I'll talk to you some more another time. Aarrrggghhhh! (Wink)

Oh, and I'm linking up today with Katherine's Corner and Alderberry Hill, for the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop! I'm just a teensy bit late to the party! LOL

Love,

Gilding Lilies . . .

Recently I quoted from the ATeam TV show, and today I'm giving a nod to Shakespeare --- I think that may be going from the ridiculous to the sublime, eh? (Grin)

Gilding the lily has always referred to placing more ornamentation on something that was already quite nice. Let me explain where I am going here . . . I've seen all over blogland, that quilters and sewists are creating bags, totes and purses. Lovely creations from stellar fabric lines, and the patterns are all over the place, from simple chic to positively elegant.

But have you ever looked at your tote or purse and wanted to add just a little something? A little "wow" or a little "zing"?? Personally, I find that my taste is becoming a little more flamboyant now --- soon I may be the little silver-haired lady with the red pants and orange jacket, accessorized by gold shoes and a green bag. Well, no, on second thought. I don't think so. But I do love me a bag with personality!

So we are going to have a party! An embellishment party! Whoa . . .a three dimensional embellishment event! We are going to have two guest posters on Lilypadquilting, and I am so excited that they have agreed to participate --- you will love 'em!

First we'll hear from Jackie, a talented Canadian that I hope to meet in person some day! She is a quilt artist who blogs at Jackies Art Quilts and her works have been accepted in several juried shows. She writes a humorous column for a Canadian quilting magazine, and if you would like a chuckle, you should check out her articles here. We'll tell you more about her on Tuesday, the 17th, when she guest posts here.

Our second guest will be from the US of A, and many of you know her -- Sunni of Love Affair with my Brother!  I know I'm not the only one who clicked through the very first time, just because of the quirky title! You can read here how she came up with her blog name -- it's just as creative and fun as the quilts and projects that she designs! I know when you meet her, you'll want to add her blog to your "daily" list, for sure. Sunni will be with us on Tuesday, January 24th.

Lastly, I'll end our embellishment party with my post on Thursday, January 26th. I hope that you are intrigued by our party, and that you come back to the Lilypad on those dates, and enjoy our three dimensional antics! (I hear there will be some giveaways.....just sayin'!!)

I'm linking up with Rebecca Lynne's Thursday Think Tank today -- be sure to check out the linky party! This is one way to cut the drama in 2012....just have some fun!

Love,