Tuesday, July 9, 2013

You know it's going to be one of those days . . .

. . . when you get going on your chain piecing for half square triangles; you're zipping along with the pedal to the metal; you're thinking to yourself that "this block is going to go together so quickly!" . . .


. . . and then you realize that your bobbin thread ran out eight or ten squares ago.

Can I get an "Amen" here?  Does this happen to you?

Love,



Friday, July 5, 2013

Swoon block number 7!

I just have time for a quick update on my swoon quilt . . .

Here is block number 7!


Ah, blue always makes me happy!

See you again soon!

Love,



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Buckaloo View winner!



We're announcing our Buckaloo View winner today!

Our winner will receive this beautifully crafted and finished rack for organizing the rulers in their quilting space! Also, Padsworth and DragonDrop wanted to add an Aurifil thread pack to the loot, so our winner will get one of these sample packs of thread, as well!


First, I'd like to thank Edgar and Liesl, for their generous prize for the giveaway -- the hand-crafted items at the Buckaloo View shop are so gorgeous, and so reasonably priced . . . 



. . . I sure hope that some of you Lilypadquilting peeps will hop on over there and order from the shop!  
I've been so pleased with my bobbin holder, and I know of another quilter who has special ordered an item that will be perfect for her sewing space!

Many of you noted that the toaster tongs would be invaluable to you -- after all, it's hard to sew and quilt if your fingers are singed from grabbing your treats from the toaster! (Grin) 


So, hop over there and get your very own set of toaster tongs, complete with magnet for convenient storage!

Now, we put Mr. Random to work choosing our winner, and he chose:


Yay! The ruler rack and the Aurifil thread will be going to Katie, who blogs over at Katie's Salt Marsh Path and would love to have you enter her giveaway, which is going on right now! See, aren't you glad you were still reading this? (Wink)

Katie told us:

We appreciate our followers and the folks who help to spread the word about the fun things happening over here at the Lilypad!

Congratulations to Katie, and a big thank you to Buckaloo View Woodshop!

Love,



Friday, June 28, 2013

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,



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

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,