Another post about those bonus HSTs...

Remember those bonus blocks that I got whilst working on my Blossom quilt? I have received some sweet comments from some rookie quilters -- they've told me that they appreciate the series of posts I've been writing. 
I'm trying to make sure that they can avoid some of the obstacles that really threw me for a loop!

(Remember? Your first line of stitching is for the quilt block, but you stitch again just a little ways over, and cut between the two lines of stitches.)

Just a quick note here, rookies: when you slice off those half square triangle blocks, and you are ready to square them up?  Don't use steam!!  Not at first, anyway.

When your block looks like this, use a dry iron (turn off the steam) and press it flat, first. Then open it out and press the seam (I usually press toward the darker fabric, so it doesn't show as much) without pulling on it. You can really distort it, and get it severely wonkified if you are not careful.  (Ask me how I know.  Or take pity on me and don't ask.  Just nod, knowingly, and pat my hand.)

After you get it nice and flat, if you want to you can use a bit of steam to coax it into submission, er, make sure it stays flat!

Then you square it up, like we did in this post.

Now you are ready to have fun!  I mean it! This is so much fun . . . there are so many things you can do with these bonus blocks.

Look, here is option number one:

Pinwheels! There's a classic for you. Lots of movement when you put those as a border. You can see that Padsworth loves his HST blocks. . . he's hugging them, whilst he tells me how to arrange them.

Next, you can line them up this way:

Or this way:

Or even this way:

You can even arrange them this way:

Now do you see why I say they are a lot of fun? Of course, my studio cat was not as excited as Padsworth was, with all of these options . . . Moses was suddenly overcome with the urge to nap. 

I'm not quite sure which way I'll use mine, but I am certain that I like how my Blossom quilt is coming along.  Click here to go to the gallery and check it out!

Do you like the colors you saw there for the lattice and the intersection blocks? Or do you like it better with this color option?  (This is a super easy switch with the OleFrogEyes software!)

Tell me what you think!  

Me? I hafta go and coax Padsworth into letting go of my HST blocks!!

Come back here, you rascal!!

Love,

Here's our winner!

Actually, here is Padsworth to announce our winner.  Let him catch his breath, now....with over five hundred entries, the lil guy had a hard time counting and making sure we got it right!

Mr. Random Number Generator chose the winner of the two charm packs from the Intrepid Thread!

He chose # 257!!   

And that was . . . yes, Padsworth, that is your cue!

Congratulations!  We'll be sending your information to Julie at the Intrepid Thread  -- and those charm packs will be winging their way to you!  I'll be contacting you to get your info, Gwen!

Thank you, everyone, for participating in our giveaway!

We have some fun posts coming up -- and more giveaways!! Ya never know what is going to happen here at the Lilypad!

Love,

One more day to enter! Pets on Quilts update!

Just a friendly reminder that today is the final day to enter our exciting sponsored giveaway. . . The Intrepid Thread is providing our winner with two charm packs of lovely Coquette, by Chez Moi for Moda!

Feast your peepers on this:

You can click here to jump through hyper-space (can you tell I've been watching sci-fi?) and enter to win!

Here's the Pets On Quilts Show update:  yet another way to earn an entry for the cavalcade of prizes from our awesome sponsors!

Click here to go to my personal file cabinet over at Google docs, and you can print out a flyer for the show. Print out more than one if you like! You can give this to a quilt guild buddy, or leave it at your local quilt shop --- you will advance through the ranks and achieve PR Angel status more quickly! (Grin)

You can also just download it and then email to some of your buddies . . . either way you are helping to spread the word and make our show even better!

You should already know by now, that you can grab our badge from the right-hand side bar, and post it on your blog for one entry in the giveaway in August, so be sure to do that, too! It's painless. It's easy. And it might get you some really neato prizes. (Neato. That is a word I haven't used in a while. It just popped out. Bear with me, OK?)


So, help us spread the word, be working on a quilt featuring an animal, or be posing your furbabies on a quilt and snapping photos! Then you'll be ready for our show in August!

(Mumbling) Neato. I can't believe I said that one.


Love,

I Know You Want Some Charm Packs! Sponsored Giveaway!

(This giveaway is now closed....thank you for your interest!)

Would you like to win two charm packs from our fabulous sponsor, the Intrepid Thread?

I heard all of you squealing!!

(Nodding) I know. I know.

These will be packs of Coquette, by Chez Moi for Moda . . . Want to see a picture? Here you go! (You so need a drool wiper handy, I'm just warning you!)

Aw, you want to see more of what is in the charm packs? OK, Padsworth and I will help you out:

Aren't these fabrics adorable? Julie at the Intrepid Thread stocks the most sought-after, absolute best in designer quilting fabrics, and she has super prices, too! You'll be so excited when your order arrives (very swiftly, too), all wrapped up like a present, complete with a hand-crafted card!

OK, now let's get down to the business of how you can win . . . 

You do NOT have to jump through all of these hoops -- however, if you would like to increase your chances of winning, you can do each and every one of them! (Grin)

         1. Do you follow Lilypadquilting? Tell me so.

         2. Do you receive the Intrepid Thread newsletter? Tell me!

         3. Do you have a favorite in the "Coming Soon" section

             of Julie's Store? Tell me that!

         4. You can spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, or a

             post on your blog, and tell me you did!

We'll leave this open until next Tuesday night (June 12), at midnight, and if Padsworth will help me, I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, OK?

Good luck to everyone!  Thanks, Intrepid Thread!!

Love,

Bingo Grand Prize Winner!!

We had lots of winners in Bingo, and today Padsworth is here to announce our winner of the Tend the Earth jelly roll, sponsored by our wonderful blog sponsor, Green Fairy Quilts!!

  
(We're taking a day off from our series for quilting rookies, to make this announcement!)
 

Take it away, Padsworth!!

Our winner is Mhairi!!

Congratulations, and we hope that you will show us what you make with this fabric yumminess!!

We hope that everyone had a blast with the Bingo games, and please be sure to tell Tonya how great a job she did --- she'll be taking a break now that it's over! (Grin)

Be sure to continue taking "May for Me" moments for you in your day --- find some time to do what energizes you, and makes your heart sing!!

Love,