Connecting Threads

What do this quilt...

and this quilt....
have in common?

Well they're not quilts at all!

well, not yet anyway!!

Have you ever visited Connecting Threads??
you should!

Both of these quilts are designs that I made using their on site Kit Builder and both quilts made honourable mentions in their most recent Kit Builder Quilt Contest!!

Their fabrics are affordable, beautiful and quality cottons!

They offer sampler packs in fat quarters, stacks (10" squares), and charms (5"squares) as well as yardage in solids and prints, funky and traditional.

They also have thread, quilting tools and this amazing option of the Kit Builder on their site.

You just download a pattern, and it lets you pick and choose how to make that design with any of their fabrics and then calculates fabric amounts and puts it right into your shopping cart if you choose!

Both of these quilts were free downloads but they are now adding quilt designs by designers!!!

so cool!

Connecting Threads is sending me a fabric stack (10"squares) of their entire solid collection.

OOOOOOOOOH I cannot wait!!

Thank you Connecting Threads!

Hi

Hi there,
and welcome to my blog makeover...
what do you think?
Pretty sharp, eh?

I won a giveaway waaaaaaaaay back from B's Blog Boutique and put things off for a bit 'cause,
well...
I just didn't know what I wanted.

Well, Bailey took the bull (me) by the horns, so to speak,
and helped me come up with a strategy.

I LOVE IT!
She's got a fabulous blog and is SUPER helpful!
She doesn't even make you feel dumb for being so boring with your choices or for not wanting something she suggests.

She just wants you to be happy!
and I am!

my header has a pic of me when I was little with my daddy.
Then the middle is a pic of the blanket that I made for my dad when he was ill.
and the last frame is a pic of my pumpkin with my dad a year or so before he passed.

The header alone is very precious to me.
thanks Bailey for all your hard work!

I entered the Ruffle Your Stuff contest!

yep I entered!have you been on any ruffle-y crafty adventures lately?If not, get to it!the prizes are AMAZING!!!Remember these aprons?yep. Ruffles.Enter HERE for your chance to win!

Happy New Year!

I don't think a New Year could get much happier!
In the fabric department, anyway!

Want to find out more?
Visit Hillary Ann at Designing Happy...

and Happy New Year!
Early....

Dear Santa,

"I've been awfully good this year..."

Isn't that how everyone starts their letters to you??

It must make you crazy!

okay so here's the truth...

-this year I have spent way too much $$$ on fabric (without my hubby knowing)...

-this year I have spent way too much time on the computer gleaning ideas and not doing anything with them...

-this year I ate most of my kids Halloween candy all by myself and told my husband the kids must have eaten it all...

-this year I dinged the fender on our van because I don't know how to parallell park (I hit a light pole)...

-this year I have lost weight by cutting back on portions and then gained it back by eating those portions I'd missed out on!

So as you can see I don't have a stellar record but I'm hoping if you have time to look at your "B" list, that you'll consider me...

I heard through the grapevine that the Fat Quarter Shop has your direct line so I thought I might have a better shot if I sent my list through them...

Because we all know that they have been really good this year!

It's a small list, really :)

_______________________________________

1. Figgy Pudding

--I'll take anything I can get Santa!

But 2 Jelly rolls and some 1/2 or yard cuts would be GREAT!

I'll make it easy and you can pick--i love it all!

2. Simple Abundance

-- I know it's practically extinct already but Santa, I must have it!!!

2 Jelly rolls and 1/2 or yard cuts in anything I can get would make my Christmas...

I know you're not a miracle worker, but I just had to ask....

3. Winter Parade Bundle

--'nuff said!

4. Authentic Quilt Kit

I know, I know... I sound greedy--and truly Santa, I am!

I'd love it all--but really I just figure by the time you get to me you might be out of something so really I'm just giving you options...

I know you're a busy guy, So Merry Christmas!

Love Kelly

P.S. If my readers were interested in sending you a letter via the Fat Quarter Shop, you wouldn't mind would you?

I didn't think so...

Joy in the New Year

I have signed up for the Joy in the New Year Challenge

I am new to quilting/crafting

however as I have said before...

I have Crafter's A.D.D.

It is being run by Jacquie of Tallgrass Prairie Studio fame.

The goal is to finish as many of your UFO's

(un-finished objects--also known as started projects not finished)

as possible before the New Year...

If you're interested, you can still get in on the action

click here

I decided to stick to the projects that I have actually cut into and want to finish off...

so that equals 4

even though I have a loooong list to begin and finish before Christmas as gifts!

1. my mother's birthday gift-

-which I'd like to show you but she reads my blog

Hi mom!

2. a fall quilt for myself using the pumpkins gone wild line-

-more on this later...

as it may include a giveaway

*hint hint*

3. a thrifted wool sweater blanket for Bubby similar to Pumpkin's

4. 2 swap blocks using some of this fabulous damask fabric!

Yes. I've signed up to be part of a swap group.
12 women + 12 months x 2 blocks = 12 quilts

My month isn't until November of next year but in the meantime I'm going to be busy working hard for these special ladies on their special quilt blocks.

This is a big step for me but I'm up to the challenge and ready to dig in!

I can't wait to finish up these blocks and show them to you for finish #1!!

I'd better get started...

Thanks are in order...

Man!

I have been delinquent in saying thank you to those who have

gifted me with some LOVELY treasures!

I have been a lucky girl lately
but in my procrastinating ways I've not sent

out my special thank you's.

I was giddy when I received this from Hillary of Designing Happy...

She called it broken breakfast!

Isn't it fabulous!!
(there's a tutorial too

It's about the size of a placemat and is perfect for hanging.

Pumpkin claimed it right away--but I'm keeping those

FQ's for myself until I find just the right project!

LOVE Jenean Morrison!

Thank you Hillary!

I cannot say enough about her creativity!
She's one talented lady and an extremely entertaining blogger.

Take my word for it!

Here is my next prize in use at my computer.

Yes, this is where all the blogging magic happens folks!

and now my Tim Hortons hot apple cider stays nice and warm
through the writing of an entire blog post!

Thanks to my real life and bloggin' buddy Heather.

She hand felted this leaf on to this

thrifted wool sweater cozy!

Heather has been my inspiration to begin the journey of crafting and blogging!

I also won a giveaway for a gift certificate over at Jodi's blog Pleasant Home

from a wonderful online shop called

Folkart Gatherings

I have always wanted a tin star and this one is a whopping 24 inches!!

I might add that shipping was super reasonable!

I can't wait to see my mom at Christmas

I will get it from her as I had it sent to her home!

I'm very excited!

Lastly and my personal favourite

(I'm sure you'll understand why)

from FINKI!

A big thank you to both Finki and Sandra at Pepperberry & Co.

for sending me this treasure.

There is a card and 4 notepads that have a

vintage sci fi image on them.

Kind of like old comic books or sci fi books

this SCREAMS my father in every way!

He was an avid sci fi/medical science reader,

sci fi tv watcher, (the cornier the better)

He had a vast comic book collection.

and he always carried a notepad.

I don't know if Finki actually expects me to use these treasures. I haven't yet. but I will. Maybe with special thoughts of dad.

So there you have it!

I think I had grand plans of beautifully scripted and layed out posts for each of these special thank you's but...

ummm...

yeah...

I'm me--so it didn't happen.

But my intentions were good.

*sheepish grin*

Winner Winner Winner!

yes.

it's true.

I won.

I know.

I can't believe it either!

Saving my pennies...

I {heart} the grey.

My dad's favourite colour was grey.

Possibly because he was colour blind...

but still,

since his passing grey has a special place in my heart.

The polka dots make my heart race!

Fabulous!

If this is the future it will be worth the wait!!
Make Life... by Sweetwater

Take a peek!
You can win some too!

Felt Artistic

My real life friend Heather is awesome!

She was the inspiration to get back into crafting

and she encouraged me to start a blog.

She also inspires me daily with her creativity

and she's a fabric shopping buddy :)

So she's all around FABULOUS!

She also has a fabulous ETSY shop!

Felt Artistic

Heather is celebrating 50 sales in her shop

and is giving away lots of fabulous felted goodies!
See?

And a pair of her oh so cozy Fingerless Gloves

in your choice of colours!

She's so talented....

So do you wanna' win?

Go check out Heather's blog!

FINISHED!!!

Finally!!!

whew!

Just in time to send it to school with Pumpkin....

She needed to take a blanket or towel for quiet/reading time

and me being me, I couldn't bring myself to give her

a store bought blankie...

nope...

I wanted it to be special

My inspiration came, believe it or not, from this...

the ceramic tile in our entry way.

I've always loved how this tile was laid

and I knew that I could incorporate something like this

with felted wool as I could stretch and pull as need be.

I cut up 4 different thrifted wool sweaters.

the mauve ribbed was pure cashmere

the pink and dark purple were a cashmere/wool blend

the red was a wool/angora blend

and the stripe was pure wool

they all felted beautifully

and considering all the squares I cut it came together really quickly

Especially using my 5 and 10 inch "square it ups"

from Jodi's Etsy shop

Pumpkin is so happy with it

I think it made her first day at school really special.

p.s. speaking of Jodi and her blog Pleasant Home.com

Help me, help you...

she's doing a giveaway for a "Gobble Gobble" Layer cake--

so do me a favour

come on,

pretend you like me,

and go visit her blog

HERE

and in your comment let her know I sent you

then we'll both be entered!!

thanks

and good luck!

What do

one apron book,

2 1/2 yards of your choice of fabric,

6 half yards of Christmas fabric,

10 fat quarters,

and one yet to be revealed fabric goodie

have in COMMON?

How about these 4 fabulous fabric shops?

Give up?

go to

but before you do,

do yourself a favour and

take your socks off...

Otherwise those suckers are gonna'

blow right off your feet!

It'll be like losing them in the dryer but

worth it!

Do you know where "Simply This or That" went?

You know....

My favouritest blog in the whole Bloggerverse?!

Simply This, That and the Other?

Well she moved!

I know--I was shocked!!!

Well actually I kinda' knew...
*giggle*

Now she has a new home that's better than ever!

It's a sweet home,

a lovely home,
an inspirational home,

A

click away!

you'll be glad you did!

Especially if you like this guy!

He's from a shop called Folkart Gatherings

he's the prize for a GIVEAWAY!

Giveaway!

Beautiful!

Need a place to rest your jewelry?

go here and enter to win!

Random Generator says...

#2

Ariane, that's YOU!

Ariane has won the transportation banner and fabric

Would all my winners,

please email me (top right hand corner button)

and let me know where to send your prize.

Thanks for playing everyone.

Now I'm off to veg...

it was a very big day for us at Storybook Gardens

Whew!

I'm beat!

NOTE: Giveaway hiding at the bottom of this post

I have done like 60 something posts and have felt honoured that someone

out there is reading them.

Although, for me,

blogging is alot like talking...

Just because you're not listening,

doesn't mean I stop talking...

hee hee

(those who truly know me just peed themselves laughing)

But it feels good to have an audience

and I don't want to take you for granted

so I put together a little "somethin somethin"

for my peeps....

seriously always wanted to say "peeps"

--now I just need a "posse" and I'm all set!

Ahem.

I digress.

Oh. Um. the point.

So anyways,

I have 20 super duper people who have

made the astout choice to follow my little ol' blog...

And a random draw says

Flat Foot Floosy

is going to get a new bookmark!

But wait...

I also LOVE comments!

(and I have 2 bookmarks)

and so I went back through to see who has made the most comments thus far and Tanya from

Miller Racing Family

wins a bookmark as well!

Thank you all for stopping by

and I hope you continue!

--------------------------------------
And remember that banner I made for Bubby's birthday?

Well I would like to do a giveaway!

Would you like that?

A transportation banner and

I think I'll even throw in some extra fabric.

this is how we'll do it:

1 entry for commenting on this post

an extra entry for becoming or already being a follower

5 extra entries for blogging about this giveaway

Please make a separate comment for each on this post so I can easily keep track.

I'll keep the giveaway open until midnight Sunday

(August 2nd)

"Canadian" time

and will do the draw on Monday.

**This giveaway is open to anyone, international included

Thanks for dropping by!

Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway

I don't think I need to say much more here

except maybe...

RACHEL ROCKS!

and not just because of this giveaway...but in a

I wish we could shop together,

quilt together,

eat nachos together,

because she's totally awesome

and crafty and

cool

kind of way.

Yeah. I really like her blog.

you would too.

check it out here.

Giant Pincushion Giveaway

I happen to LOVE pincushions!

And these are no exception.

Julie from Jaybird Quilts is a marvel!

I don't know how she comes up with her ideas!

If I had even an ounce of the creativity this woman possesses

in her baby finger,

on her left hand, no less,

then...

well...

You'd just be AMAZED!

If you'd like to enter to win,

first check out the MBS blog,

then head over to Jaybird Quilts.

Good luck!

My friend Jodi of

Simply This, That and the Other is having a giveaway.

It's not just ANY giveaway

It's a MODA BAKE SHOP GIVEAWAY!

Yes she is the brainchild behind this fabulous set.

And yes she's not keeping it

but giving it away to little ol' ME!

What's that?

You want a chance to win it?

But then I might not!

Oh fine then.

Have it your way.

Go to MBS and make a comment then.

What's that?

No....there's no more ways to win....

WHAT! Who told you that??

you could get 2 more chances to win??

Oh fine then.

Be that way!

Go to Simply this, that and the other.

Comment.

Comment away!

HMPH!

Oh sure go ahead and blog about it too.

Sure...

let's let everyone in on this great giveaway

--it's not like I want to win or anything!

Okay.

If you win would you do me a favour?

Give it to me?

No?

NO!

well fine then,

Can I at least come over and look at it on your table and lay on your couch using your pillow?

thanks.

Honestly,

I hope you win.

You deserve it.

really.

*fingers crossed*

Thank you QuiltHome.com!

Have you ever been there?

Where??

QuiltHome.com

I never had.

*blush*

But I will now!

Terri at Sew Fantastic was sharing her gift certificate

to QuiltHome.com with one of her readers.

Soooo generous.

That's the kind of girl she is!

And so

like any other self respecting,

fabric hungry,

scrap hoarding,

addicted crafter....

I entered.

That's just the kind of girl I AM!

Well...

I didn't win.

but then...

I DID!!

My choice of 1/2 yard of fabric!

hmmm....

(decisions, decisions)

FIGGY PUDDING please!

Thank you QuiltHome.com!

And thank you Terri!