Mystery Progress & Giveaway Winner

Mystery Step 2 units awaiting trimming

Is everyone who is sewing along enjoying the Quiltville mystery? I sure am anticipating each 'clue' as it's revealed and capitalizing on the enthusiasm in between steps to get some other sewing done. Based on the last few lines in clue #2 I am not sure there will be much extra time to anticipate following clue #3...as Bonnie notes, "you never know what whammies might be next" so I am prepared for some serious sewing on Saturday and the days to follow (I'm working Friday)! I just hope I can keep up.

And without further ado, I consulted random.org and #14 Sarah B was selected. Congratulations Sarah B! Please contact me by Saturday, December 4 at midnight PST with your mailing address so I may send you the magazine.

~~Lisa

Elaine's Civil War Birthday Giveaway

Elaine's birthday is December 3 and she wants to celebrate with us by giving us a chance to win civil war fabrics.

Go here and leave a comment to enter. Let's all send our good wishes her way for a nice birthday!

~~Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving. May you have a moment to appreciate all you're grateful for this holiday.


This runner is two Ozark Maple Leaf blocks, which tessellate when placed together (do you see the leaves in the background fabric as well as the red, green, orange and brown?). Here is a pattern for the block.


I like to see the backs of quilts, maybe you do too...here is the back!

Happy Thanksgiving

~~Lisa

Charm Square Giveaway

Allison at Strandz is giving away charm squares from a lovely variety of fabric lines. She will select a winner on Monday, November 29 so stop over here soon and enter to win.

~~Lisa

Charlevoix, Mystery Quilt, Giveaways

I love that "I won" feeling! Earlier this month

Minick & Simpson hosted a giveaway and I won the t-shirt (signed by request). Laurie also sent a sample of Charlevoix in the envelope and I am so happy to see the yellows in this line in person ~~ gorgeous!! Also, 2.5 inch squares are the perfect size for 1 inch hexagons. So, am tempted to sew them into a little something. Thank you Laurie and Polly!



Speaking of giveaways, there is still time to enter to win the current issue of American Patchwork and Quilting here. You must comment on that post by November 26th (or early on the 27th if you want to press your luck!) and answer the question posted to be eligible to win. If you already have the magazine, just note that in your comment and I will send you a different prize if you are selected...and re-draw for the magazine.


Elaine at Faithful Quilter is hosting a Thanksgiving (Quilting) Give-A-Way! Comment on her blog for a chance to win. Winner will be selected November 25th.


I have kept busy since Friday after work trimming, pressing and sewing scraps for the Quiltville mystery 'Roll Roll Cotton Boll!'. When scraps are used it surely takes more time getting them prepared to sew together, but I am resolute on using them up...so I happily process and prepare them for sewing (wash, press, trim, sew, repeat!).

Here are a few of my step one units. They're so scrappy! (using tan instead of pink)

As you can see my quilt will be very scrappy, as prescribed. I am pleased to be able to cut some of my less lovely fabrics into small pieces and get them into a quilt. Some true uglies are here, and some that I thought were just awful are less so when diluted amongst those I like more. As more steps are done, these will be even less noticeable! I think I have enough fabrics gathered to make two of these quilts...and the quilt will be a generous 87"x102" so that's saying something.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Lisa

'Quilting Through the Ages' Antique Quilt Exhibit, Part 2

I'd like to share a few more photos from the antique quilt exhibit I attended last month:

Exhibitor Janice Edwards.
"Won by my mother at a church raffle in the 1940's"

1930's Yo Yo quilt

Exhibitor Amy Hermann
Quilt was made in 1890's by the exhibitor's great great grandmother,
Laura Ellen Davis Coffman, who lived in Salem, Indiana.

This still life was photographed through the case it was in so there is some glare.
"This [sewing] kit was secondhand when given to Grace Davison in 1910."

New York Beauty

Exhibitor Sally Macfadyen

"1850, rare. Hand pieced with early sewing machine quilting. Red turkey work
pointed fans have machine embroidered flowers with stems and leaves.
White background is done in a machine quilted diagonal grid.
Beige sashing (might have been green at one time) has a
running snail design. This is hard to do on an old treadle machine."

I hope you enjoyed seeing these beautiful quilts. I sure did!

~~Lisa

Quilt Mysteries - Do you or don't you?

**UPDATE: Winner has been selected.**

Bonnie K. Hunter's 'Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll Mystery!' is scheduled to make its debut one week from today on November 19. I am anticipating the first clue and have selected fabrics: chocolate, moss, tan, white and pumpkin. Kind of an autumn look, I suppose. I happened to have a lot of these available and no plans for them...perfect for this mystery it seems.

Bonnie's fabrics are green, brown, pink, red and neutral and mine are
green, brown, tan, pumpkin and neutral.
Brown = brown; Green = green; Pink = tan; Red = pumpkin; Neutral = neutral

This time I will watch it evolve before I dive in. Primarily because I will be at work on Friday, November 19.

So, have you ever participated in a mystery?

If you have, did you enjoy it? What was it like for you? What mystery was it? Will you do it again?

If you have not, is it too much to 'give in' to the process? Perhaps since you don't know what the fabric placement is, you find it difficult to choose fabrics?

I have to say - before I did a Quiltville mystery I would anguish over fabrics. Giving in to the mystery process has been freeing for me and allowed me to enjoy sewing even more than I did before.

Leave me a comment and let me know how you like mysteries for a chance to win the current issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.

For a second chance to win the magazine follow this blog and leave a second comment. If you're already a follower just leave a second comment and let me know.

I will select one winner on November 27!

Good luck in the giveaway. If you're joining the mystery I hope you love what you sew!

~~Lisa

P.S. ~ If I draw your name and you have commented you already have the magazine I will send you something else (maybe a couple of FQs?) and re-draw for the magazine. Sound good?

Birthday Giveaway Winners

First, thank you for the kind birthday wishes. I enjoyed reading each comment.

Yes, Brigitte, I had cake!

I took two days off work to sew!

It was a lovely birthday.

Now...for the two winners!

The winner of the 'Strawberry' grouping is LINDA James-Linda

The winner of the 'Pears' grouping is SUE quiltma

Congratulations to the two winners!

I will contact each of you by email as well. Please send me your mailing address. If I am not contacted by Saturday, November 13 at 12:00am I will re-draw for that giveaway grouping.

UPDATE: Both winners have made contact.

Come back to visit soon...I love giveaways!


~~Lisa