Announcements, Announcements, A-nnou-ouce-ments. . .

Was this a common song or was my 4th? 5th? grade teacher the only one who sang it:

Announcements, Announcements, A-nnou-ouce-ments. . .
A terrible way to die,
A terrible way to die,
A terrible way to be talked to death,
A terrible way to die.
Announcements, Announcements, A-nnou-ouce-ments!

We had to sing it every day when he had an announcement to make. 

But I digress.  We now have a flickr group for the Layer Cake Quilt Along.  Here's the link:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1527403@N20/

It's ready and waiting for blocks to be posted on Tuesday.  Why do you want to post your block?  To be entered in the prize drawings!  Every two weeks, there will be at least two lucky winners drawn at random from those who have posted blocks in the flickr pool. 

I am just getting ready to schedule the first block to be posted.  I am scheduling it because I will be in Houston at International Quilt Market or "Market"!!!!!

What is Market?  It is frankly the biggest event of the year.  It is a wholesale quilt trade show.  Right after Market is Festival.  Festival is open to anyone and everyone.  It is bigger than Market, but I haven't ever been to Festival.  I have been to Market a couple times to sale my books to shop owners.  Then I hustle home. 

If you are lucky enough to be attending Market, stop by and say hello.  I will be at:

Booth 2302

Also, I am teaching a Make and Take Saturday morning :

#316 Bull's Eye for Beginners

This is one of my favorite blocks made using a new method that is super fast and super fun.  You can sign up when you get to Market!

I will be leaving the house tomorrow just after 5 AM.  Ugh!  I'm not a morning person.  I will be back Tuesday just in time to see all your lovely blocks. 

Can't wait! 

So sign up to be part of the flickr group and get ready to sew!!!

It's that time of year . . .

when sewing machines take a break from sewing quilts and sew strange things like bat wings,

a couple princess capes,

a witch's cape,

and a fleece ninja turtle that hasn't been photographed yet.

What strange things has your sewing machine been sewing lately?

Layer Cake Concern -- or Non Concern

Many have commented that they are worried about the level that this is appropriate for.  I thought the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along was appropriate for beginners.  I have told the designers of this Layer Cake Quilt Along that many doing the quilt along are beginners and to make their patterns accordingly. 

So. . . .

Beginners are welcome!

While I think the best way for a beginner to learn is in a class where an instructor can help one on one, a quilt along is also a fun way to learn.  During the last quilt along, I was so impressed with the feeling of community.  On the flickr group, so many posted encouraging comments.  Others asked questions in the forum of the flickr group that were usually answered by others of you before I even saw the question. 

Please join and be part of the community.  It's a fun group to be part of!

Layer Cake Countdown

Let the countdown to the Layer Cake Quilt Along officially begin NOW!

I just sewed the first block up.  Now to press it and take a picture. I'm going to have it set to automatically load two weeks from today.  But today let me introduce you to the great new cast of designers that are lined up -- in no particular order:

Vickie Eapen -- http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/

Joan Lucchese -- http://www.caliquilter.blogspot.com/

Mary Anne Ciccotelli -- http://www.sewingandbeyond.com/weblog/

Gene Black -- http://artbygene.blogspot.com/

Sherri McConnell -- http://www.aquiltinglife.blogspot.com/

Cara Wilson -- http://www.caraquilts.com/

Celine Perkins -- http://www.perkinsdrygoods.com/blog/
Vanessa Wilson -- http://www.craftygemini.blogspot.com//

Sarah Vanderburgh -- http://sewjoy.blogspot.com/

Toby Lischko -- http://gatewayquiltsnstuff.blogspot.com//

Jovita Goldschmidt -- http://jovitaspatchwork.blogspot.com/

Kari Ramsay-- http://freshcutquilts.blogspot.com//

How do you join the Layer Cake Quilt Along?  CLICK HERE for the official post.  Be sure to comment on the post to be entered in the first drawing!  Two weeks from today, November 2nd, the games will begin! 

Book Thoughts

Read a book the last couple days.  Haven't been doing too much of that lately.  Just picked it up at the library.  I liked the title -- Against All Odds.  (I think I may sadly be taking a temporary hiatus from the library since the two year old just used two library books as coloring books.)

Anyway, one line from the book has been sticking with me. "Ideas are funny things.  They don't work unless you do." 

In other news that I know you can't live without. . . .  while I was sewing, something -- mouse, maybe -- got into the dryer hot air thing-a-majigger.  I got an instant case of the hebbie jebbies.  My husband was at work so my two oldest kids and I tried to help it out by strategically moving the hot air thing-a-majigger.  Somehow it isn't there now.  Don't know quite how it escaped.

Thankfully it is gone. 

I don't know if I am ready to sew again yet.  There may have been a couple screams during the escapade though I won't say who they came from.  I'm sure I will be able to sew again tomorrow.

Quilt Dreams

Okay, this seems really odd to me, but I HAVE to share a dream I had last night.  Of course it was quilt related.  First I saw two hexagon quilts.  These weren't like the hexagon quilts over at the Great Hexagon Quilt Along.

One of them was a nine patch quilt, but the middle horizontal row was hexagons instead of squares.  I don't know how it was done, but it was cool. 

The second hexagon quilt was even cooler.  And whoever made it was giving it to me -- except it was only 3/4 of the way finished, so I was hesitant to take it.  This quilt was a scoop of mint ice cream in a sundae dish with chocolate and something else sprinklish or cherryish on top.  Some how the piecing in the quilt was larger hexagons. 

The next thing I saw wasn't a quilt, it was a pair of socks.  (I went to a local yarn shop yesterday, so I'm pretty sure that's where this one came from.)  Anyway, the socks were bar codes. 

Yes, that kind of bar code.  The numbers were around the top of the sock, and then there were vertical black strips on the ankle of a white sock.  How's that for whimsical.

The last scene I witnessed while sleeping was a show and tell.  I only saw one quilt.  It was a family tree quilt of sorts.  The lady had several children.  There was one fruit (apple, peach, etc) shaped quilt for each child about the size of a 12" quilt block.  Up near the stem where the leaves would be was a cluster of small appliqued circles.  On each circle was a picture of a member of the child's family.  The separate pieces of fruit (each child's quilt) were then sewn together at the edges to create a table runner linking the families together. 

How's that for random?  Feel free to take any of those ideas and run with them.  I sure won't be.  Way too complicated! 

Cloth Shoe Cutie

Finally got around to making these cloth baby shoes.  I made some for my now two year old.  She wore them so much that they started to show some wear.  They also have her footprint worn into the sole of the shoe, so they have achieved heirloom status in my mind.

 The shoes are a free pattern from Stardust Shoes.  It's a great pattern.  HERE is the link.

I grabbed some scraps and voila!  No, it wasn't that quick, but they weren't too painful.  Really.

But look at these legs!  Oh my!  This picture makes me smile!

The pattern says it's for 3-6 months.  My baby will be a year old soon, but she is small for her age.  The shoes fit perfect.  Just in time for the cooler temps when I need her cute, cubby feet to not freeze.

Is it raining cats and dogs?

This week it has been raining off and on all week.  I am actually happy about this.  Evidently we didn't have a lot of water this year so our irrigation water got turned off a little early.  With the rain, I didn't have to worry about some of my plants that still needed some watering.  Then, when it wasn't raining, we have had absolutely gorgeous fall days.  Just gorgeous! 

Anyway, my Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting came in the mail today, and these two quilts caught my eye. 

They are Bonus Quilts online.  I have noticed that many of the quilt magazines have been adding extra patterns to their websites.  Anyway, I am not really an animal person, but I know lots of people are.  While I don't love cats and dogs, I can appreciate a good quilt.  These are some great quilts! 

HERE is the link to the patterns.

I like the two cats that are sideways.  You can see one of them on the picture.  The dogs ears are dimensional.  I don't know what's up with the turquoise in the corners.  It seems a little bright, but it probably isn't too bad on the actual quilt.

Have a good weekend!

Eagle Scout Project

Chances are many of you know about becoming an Eagle Scout.  Chances are some of you have helped out with an Eagle Scout project.  I know I have helped (gladly) with quite a few over the years.

Boys who have to participated in the scouting program have the opportunity to receive the highest rank in scouting, the Eagle Scout.  To become an Eagle Scout, one of the requirements is to do a large service project.  A friend of mine has a son who is becoming an Eagle Scout.  For his project, he is helping people in Kiribati.  His grandparents are missionaries there. 

When his project mentioned fabric, I thought I could mention it here.  One of the things they are asking for is lightweight fabric in 1 or more yard lengths for clothing.  

There are other things they are collecting. 

HERE IS THE LINK for the website with more information. 

There are so many good projects out there.  I would guess that all of you are involved in one charity or another because I know quilters are very giving people.  If you feel so inclined, here is one of those good ways to help people in need and help a boy learn about responsibility.