My Pillow Made the Cover!

The February issue of The Quilt Pattern Magazine is available now, and I was lucky enough to have one of the patterns I tested published! The selvedge hearts are actually 5 small pockets, and there is also one heart on the back. This is a really fun pattern, and for only $1 per month you can get lots of fun, new patterns at http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com/ (Also, if you DO subscribe and mention my name I will earn a free issue!! Only good until March 15th, I believe it is)

My Pattern Test is Published!

This is my first test pattern for the new online quilting magazine, The Quilt Pattern Magazine! It's called "Framed Hearts" and is really fun to make. I cannot give you the instructions/pattern; however, I can happily invite you to subscribe. It's only $1 per month, and if you order it and aren't pleased with it, you can ask for a refund for the months you don't want!! Tell me another magazine does that! Also, next month there is a chance my test for February just might be on the cover!! If you do subscribe, tell them that "Susan sent you" and I'll get some issues for free! http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com/

A Small Delay

Schools have been closed for 3 days, so of course I had to take it off, too. My little man (now 5) got a snowboard for Christmas. Thanks to the recent snows we've broke it in well! First, he started on the small slope at the front of our townhome. Then, it was on to the BIG hill across the street. Hopefully, I'll learn how to transfer the video(s) so everyone can get a lift for the day/week!

Time for Another Holiday Cyber Retreat!

You are invited to join me for the 2011 New Year's Eve Cyber Sewing Retreat! Just go to: http://www.susanround.com and click on the number to the top right of the post (number of posts). It's going to be great to hear from old friends and new ones after taking a couple of months away from cyberspace! Hope to hear from you, Susan

Crazy Happy, or Happy being Crazy?

I might call this "End of the Donation Scraps!"

It's definitely a crazy quilt, and I just smiled the entire time I put the pieces together. These are all the pieces of string blocks that have either been sent to me or from my projects last year.

Do you recognize any of your block cutoffs?

No Halloween Retreat This Year

It just didn't work out this holiday. Thanks for checking in!

Halloween Mini Totes

These are made from the mini tote pattern available for free at allpeoplequilt.com. Only instead of making each individually, I mass produced them making 3 at a time! Very fast and fun!

To get the pattern for these, go to www.allpeoplequilt.com and in the search box type, "Small Treat Totes." If you are going to make many, instead of cutting each one out individually, I stitched the 3 strips of fabric the width of the fabric then sliced them apart. I even inserted the handles on the one long seam, so all that was left was to stitch down the side and turn it! So fast and fun.

Almost NaNoWriMo!

It's almost National Novel Writing Month! Starting November 1st the goal is to write 50,000 words before November 30th.

Downy's Quilts for Kids Program

I've ordered another quilt kit from Downy for the Quilts for Kids program. This was the first one I made, and posted it again here because it's so bright and colorful (more so than the busty cups, below).

Busty Cups in progress

This is a fuzzy photo of the Busty Cups I'm making for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With the guidance and inispiration of Marguerita in Alaska, I'm having the most fun putting these together. I bought thrift store bras and cut them apart. Once they are finished, I'll post another (more clear) photo.

Is this the ugliest block ever?

THIS is without a doubt THE ugliest string block ever! Good luck, Sue in MN in blending this one in and make it blend!

Ugliest Block?

This HeartString block I purposely tried to make as ugly as possible:

It's Cyber Retreat Time Again!

Can you believe it's Labor Day Weekend again? As always, I will be hosting another holiday cyber retreat and I sure hope you can join me this year. I have LOTS of goals to accomplish before and during this holiday, and I welcome your support! Anyone else want to clean up and organize before continuing with charity work for hibernation this winter?? (Just click on the title of this post to go to the cyber retreat gathering.)

Crumby Color Storage Bags

I made lined crumb blocks and glued them to the front of some "commercial" canvas totes. Without gluing the top, I can use that pocket to quickly stuff in crumbs as I use them--in the appropriate color bag! The purple bag is done, the green crumb pocket is ready to be glued down on the right side. I've tested the glue--it holds beautifully. With small spaces vertical storage is idea. I hang these bags on a coat rack and sometimes just stack them in a corner on top of each other. Larger pieces and scraps go inside the bag. I may dump out all the pieces sometime and use the tote to carry--then replace it as the crumb/scrap bag!

Making Cookies From Crumbs

When I want some mindless and fun creating, I start piecing crumbs together by color. From a lack of what else to call these pieces, I use "cookies." I make 4 or 5 at a time then put them away. When I'm ready to make crumb blocks or bags, I've already got a fun start!

Too much pink area on this block I'm going to fix with a green applique. (See photo below, bottom center block)

Floating Green Crumb

This is how I fixed the too-pink space. I made a green applique the same shape as the space in the original crumb block. I'm going to stitch it down so it looks like either the last piece going into the pink space, or it's falling out!!

Old Goals Reached--New Goals Starting Up

I use this blogsite for sharing photos of sewing and some crafts. I have another site (www.susanround.com) that is more personalized with thoughts, goals, and reflections (rants). I'm thrilled to acknowledge that two major goals of mine have been reached and new avenues await me. If you want to share that with me, just click on the link above!

Successful Retreat!

We had a very productive holiday weekend this retreat. There were about 60 messages sent in of around 50 guests. The next holiday retreat will be in September for Labor Day Weekend. I'm thinking of taking that time to clean up, organize more, and do some stashbusting. Please put that on the back burner and I'll remind you when time is closer. THANKS to all who joined me!

Painting a Toy Box at 2:00am

Don't I look like I've been freehanding stripes for a few hours? lol