Faves and Winners of English Paper Pieces Giveaway

This week's favorite find is: The Take Along Sewing Pouch at Sew Mama Sew. Hmm, maybe I will make a hexagon piece for the outside?

Runners up are:
A lovely tote bag at My Patchwork (derived from the Moda Bake Shop tutorial)
A fabric basket (for storing fabric? or WIPs?) at Pink Penguin

GIVEAWAY WINNERS -- Today I emailed the two winners, Tonya and Nancy Sue ~ Congratulations!! Please send me your mailing address by Friday, June 24 and I will send your package. Instructions are included in your packet. Also, a tutorial with nice graphics showing how to do English paper piecing is here. In step 4, where Cia recommends basting only the corners of the fabrics, I prefer to baste the fabric to the paper template. Hope you love it too.

Happy sewing!
~~Lisa

Hexagons and Flag Day Giveaway

Lately I have been sewing English paper pieced hexagons from equilateral triangles in 19th century reproduction fabrics. I worked on them quite a bit while watching television programs about the Civil War over the Memorial Day weekend. If you have not tried English paper piecing, give it a go. It's really simple to do and a great way to use scraps. For example, one 2.5 inch square (say, leftovers from a strip bundle) is the right size for a one inch hexagon (the measurement of one side of the hexagon). It's also keeps you sewing when you're away from your machine or you'd otherwise be waiting (for your medical appointment, your vehicle to be repaired or any number of things). You will be surprised how fast you whip up a little table topper.

So, who wants to try English paper piecing? Comment on this post by Friday, June 17 (a few days beyond Flag Day which is Tuesday, June 14 in the United States) and I will select one winner (okay, maybe two if there are two comments!) sometime Saturday, June 18. I will mail you a little pack of pieces so you can try this wonderful technique (and other goodies too). If the winner does not reply to my 'congratulations' email by Friday, June 24 I will select another winner. (I will be out of town for a bit, so there may be a short delay in response.)

**Giveaway is closed and winners were selected**

Did you know the Just One Star project really took off? Read the Minick and Simpson blog about the latest on it! Wonderful news.

My favorite find this week is here. Read the post and at the end you will find a link to the pattern. What a generous gift ~ a great quilt pattern! There were a lot of goodies I saw that I really liked, so here are two more: a tote and a vintage bow tie quilt at McCall's Quilting (if you have not been to that site in a while there are quite a few goodies there).

Happy Stitching!

~~Lisa

It's June??

Central Coast Quilt Shop Tour passport and ribbons

Tour purchases: sweet florals, neutral tone on tones,
30's and civil war fabrics and a patriotic panel

Last weekend was the Central Coast Quilt Shop Tour - the tenth anniversary. It was my third year to tour. Because it was raining (pouring!) I left my camera in the car and dashed into shops. All I have to show is the evidence of the tour: my purchases, my stamped 'passport' and the ribbons given to each participant (a commemoration of your visit to the shop). The ribbons are sort of a badge to tie on your car antenna. One woman put them all on her glasses but I opted to tie them to a safety pin and wear it on my blouse. Those who visit every shop (evidenced by a completed passport) turn in the passport for a chance to win generous prizes. Folks come from quite a distance to participate. You should check it out in 2012!

Now I look forward to the Templeton Outdoor Quilt Show which is June 18 from 9:00am to 4:00pm in downtown Templeton, CA, USA. I just love that show, there is just something about all the quilts hung outside, swaying in the breeze. Some of the quilts are available for purchase. I will update you on that show...or you could go and see it in person!


Recently I made a little needlebook and small pinkeep for a dear friend. She loved it. Thought you might like to see it too! It's nice to have pretty little sewing notions, don't you think?

Lastly, I look forward to my trip to Quilt in a Day to attend the teacher's training certification seminar later this month. Sooo excited. I signed up last year and it's just amazing that it's time to go in just a couple of weeks. Darlene at Sew Cal Gal attended the training earlier this year and she blogged about it here. Sounds like a lot of fun to me!

Happy stitching,
~~Lisa