Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2016

Welcome to Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2016!

I'm excited to be participating for the second time in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2016 in the Sewing + Craft supplies section.

This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide.  The giveaway starts today, Wednesday, December 7th and runs through Sunday, December 11th and will close at 8pm EST. (The giveaway has ended and winner notified!  Thank you for entering!)

Littly Ruby jelly roll by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics

One lucky winner will received a jelly roll of Little Ruby by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics which includes 40 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 44". You will not be tempted to leave this jelly roll sitting on the shelf as it has already been opened in order to photograph.

Look at the beautiful small scale reds and aquas!

Little Ruby jelly roll strips in aqua and red

And the greens and whites are just as pretty!  

Little Ruby jelly roll strips in greens and whites

Giveaway Details:

1.  Leave a comment. (The giveaway has ended and winner notified!  Thank you for entering!) For a suggested topic...Are you planning to attend QuiltCon East, the Modern Quilt Guild's international conference and quilt show taking place in Savannah, GA in February 2017? If so, I hope to see you there!

2.  Followers, old and new alike, get an additional entry.  Leave a second comment letting me know how you subscribe. Some choices are Bloglovin', Email, or Instagram.

Be sure to include your email address if you are a no-reply blogger.  If I can not contact you, you can not win.

Normally, I love to reply to your comments, but during the giveaway, I may not be able to reply to each and everyone. 

Note:  If shipping is cost prohibitive, I reserve the right to provide a gift certificate of comparable value to a quilt shop in your area in lieu of shipping the giveaway to you.

Thank you for stopping by to enter the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway and I hope you will consider following along with me on this quilting journey!  In the gallery you will find my finished quilts here, quilted projects here and quilt blocks here.

Good Luck!

Vintage Star Block + GIVEAWAY

I am happy to share with you a quilt block I made while reviewing a new pattern, Vintage Star,  for Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs.  The block measures 13" x 13" unfinished and is made from two Bonnie and Camille prints, Red Lollies from Hello Darling and Retro Gray from Ruby.

Vintage Star quilt block, pattern by Cheryl Brickey 

When reviewing patterns for Cheryl, I normally check the math and read through looking at the wording, punctuation, etc.  I just make the blocks and quilts in my head without even touching the rotary cutter but Vintage Star was different.  The trimming of the inner star mid way through the assembly of the block was something that I had not done before and wanted to test it first hand.

Vintage Star quilt block made from two Bonnie and Camille prints

I was very pleased with the sharp points of the inner star.  While I wouldn't consider this a block for a beginner to tackle, Cheryl takes you step by step with easy to follow written instructions.  And her illustrations are the best for you visual learners.

Vintage Star quilt block detail

Vintage star is available in digital format through Etsy and on Craftsy.  The printed version is available on Etsy.

Check Plus is Cheryl's other pattern release this week and you can see the versions made by the pattern testers and find the links where it can be purchased in her blog post here.  Both of patterns are each on sale for $7.50 through Oct. 4th.

This is a Check Plus block I made to go on the back of a baby quilt, Sundae Plus.

Check Plus block to incorporate in the back of Sunday Plus

Vintage Star and Check Plus Pattern Giveaway

I mentioned a giveaway right?  Cheryl has generously allowed my to give away one each of her new patterns.  Two winners will each receive one digital pattern.   The giveaway is now closed and winners notified will be open until Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 8 pm  EST.  Here's how to enter:

1. Leave any comment and tell me which pattern is you favorite if your name is drawn.  The first one drawn gets the first pick.

2.  Followers, old and new alike get a second entry.  Just let me know how you follow, whether it be Bloglovin', Instagram or email.

For more chances to win, enter the giveaways at:
Shauna of Shauna's World
Beth of Cooking Up Quilts
Tish of Tish's Adventures in Wonderland
Stephanie of Quilt'n Party

Cara (sew_colorado on IG)

Linking to Let's Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday and Show It Off Saturday.

Rainbow Mini Swap Round Two: Colorful Cats

I am happy to show you Colorful Cats since my swap partner has received her mini quilt pillow cover for the Rainbow Mini Swap Round Two which took place on Instagram.

Colorful Cats pillow cover by Paige Alexander

Two of my swap partner's favorite fabric designers were Bonnie and Camille and Tasha Noel.  At the time I did not have fabrics by either one in my stash but soon remedied that with a a couple of trips to my local quilt shops.  You can read about my fabric selection of reds, pinks and aquas in this blog post.

Since my swap partner was limited on wall space, she requested a pillow cover instead of a mini quilt.  I found the Cat Block pattern by Elizabeth Hartman offered as a free download from Janome. The pillow finished at 20" x 20" which for a perfect size.

I incorporated some fussy cut elements into some of the blocks using fabrics from Hello Darling and Vintage Market with a few other fabrics added.  I used Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Bright White for the background.  Here are the finished blocks on the design wall.  I was still deciding on the arrangement of the cat blocks.

Cat Blocks made from Elizabeth Hartman's pattern

I decided on crosshatch quilting just like Elizabeth used on her pillow.  I marked the initial two quilting lines with a hera marker.

Quilting lines marked with a hera marker

Here is the quilt after the first two lines in each direction were quilted using the walking foot.

After four lines of quilting on Colorful Cats

Now here is where patience is needed.  You just keep quilting, line after line, until it is finally quilted.

Crosshatch quilting on Colorful Cats

I finished the pillow cover with a traditional binding us a Riley Blake dot fabric.

Traditional binding on Colorful Cats

Pillow Stats:

• Finished size:  20" x 20" pillow with envelope backing
• Pattern:  Cat Block and Pillow by Elizabeth Hartman for Janome
• Binding: 3/8" finished straight grain binding finished by machine using a Riley Blake dot
• Fabrics: Hello Darling by Bonnie and Camille for Moda, Vintage Market by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake and others
• Batting: 100% Cotton Warm & White by the Warm Company
• Thread: Aurifil 2024 White for piecing and quilting
• Quilting:  Crosshatch using the edge of the walking foot as a guide

From looking at the Instagram account of my swap partner, I knew she had a cute little kitten.  Rather than making a little something extra for her, I made a stuffed kitty for daughter.  The pattern for the kitty was from a panel by VIP.  I saw the pattern on blog and wish I could give them credit, but I did find the same panel in this Etsy listing.  This also shows the envelope backing for the pillow cover using a print from Vintage Market.

Calico Kitty made from a vintage VIP panel pattern

Although my pillow is missing a few colors from the rainbow, I tried to make something my swap partner would like.  Close to 500 swappers participated in the #RainbowMiniSwapR2 and I had fun participating. Thanks to Kate @katebasti for organizing  and swap mama Sara @supersara20 for helping with the swap.

Linking up to Finish Up Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Jenn at A Quarter Inch from the Edge hosting Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday this week, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Whoop, There It Is! and Show Off Saturday.