A Quilted Passion Birthday Giveaway!

Hi All! I'm so excited!  Today A Quilted Passion is 2 yrs old! Who would've guessed I'd still be blogging 2 years later? Definitely not me! But I am, and it's all because of you...my wonderful readers/followers and fellow quilters/bloggers! Thank you!  

As we all know, when there's a birthday, gifts are sure to follow.  So to celebrate my blog turning 2 yrs old...and hopefully attract a few more followers, I'm doing a giveaway!  

When I was deciding what to give away, my eldest son suggested a purse.  I recently made a couple of purses which he thought were super cool. So that's what I did! I made a purse for the give away! Thanks Justin! For the idea and for helping w/the fabric choices!

And here it is.  A 2-Way Purse made by yours truly(me)!

The purse does come w/a  few other goodies too!  A 3" Drunkard's Path Pattern and Template, a Spinning Hexagon pattern and template, 3 spools of Connecting Threads Essential Cotton Thread(my fave!) in Fuchsia, Jade and Lemon, AND a 5 pk of Schmetz Universal needles!

For your chance to win this awesome 2-Way Purse and goodies, follow me via Google Friend Connect ("My Peeps"), Bloglovin' or Instagram (all are in the sidebar to the right, underneath my pic --> --> -->) and leave a comment on this post telling me how you are following.  If you are already a follower, leave a comment on this post telling me how you follow and the name of your favorite purse/bag pattern or tutorial. That's it!

The lucky winner will be randomly chosen using True Random Number Generator on Friday September 4, 2015 @ 9p AZ-MST and announced in a blog post on Saturday, September 5, 2015.  Thank you all for your encouragement and support!

A Thread for Life

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor 4:7-9

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Not Quite an "All" Night Sew w/Sis

It sounded like a good idea at the time...but who am I kidding? I cannot stay up ALL night!...but a few weeks ago, I thought I could and my sis tried to make me.  It was my idea...and the plan was to make 2 of these Big Bucket Tote Bags each.  It wasn't a race, but I, having more experience, finished first. When sis saw just how BIG the Big Bucket Tote finished, she changed her mind about making hers that BIG.  After finishing one each...I was finally able to crawl into bed.  It was 139a!  

Sis' 1st tote, not quite as deep

My 1st tote, 21.5" deep!!

We made our 2nd totes the next day after church and changed things up w/the handles and quilting.

My 2nd tote

Sis'  2nd tote

Thanks for stopping by.  Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life

Broken Vessels by Hillsong

All these pieces, Broken and scattered

In mercy gathered Mended and whole

Empty handed But not forsaken

I've been set free I've been set free

You take our failure You take our weakness

You set Your treasure In jars of clay

So take this heart Lord I'll be Your vessel

The world to see Your love in me

Amazing grace How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost But now I'm found

Was blind but now I see

Oh I can see it now Oh I can see the love in Your eyes

Laying yourself down Raising up the broken to life

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WOW

So I Made A Purse...

I was admiring a fellow quilter's purse at Kids Camp a few weeks ago.  Of course she'd made it herself. (Am I the only quilter who doesn't carry a self-made purse?) Anyway, I became obsessed...like I often do, and kept touching it and saying how awesome it was...even after she'd offered to send me the pattern! I'm a bit much some times.  

Anyway, this is her awesome purse! It's a pattern she or a friend had previously purchased which she made modifications to.

I decided the first one I made would be for my sis. I went to my stash and chose this gorgeous Australian print and coordinating color for the lining. 

And this is what happened!

I used an ultra firm fusible stabilizer on the purse body and décor-bond (firm) on the lining.  I didn't much like my experience w/the ultra firm stabilizer though...but I got 'er done!

There's a deep pocket on one side and a more shallow one on the other.  These,  like the inside pockets can be customized to your needs (the possibilities are endless) but I'm quite fond of them just the way they are.

And then, there's the inside!  This purse doesn't look all that big from the outside...so I was pleasantly surprised w/how roomy it really is inside! I threw a few of my things inside for the pic, but could've added a lot more!

The strap is what pulls the wooden handles together to close the purse. It can be doubled to wear as a shoulder purse or used as a long single strap and worn cross body (if made long enough). I made this one 56" long so it definitely can be worn cross body.  Therefore, I'm calling it the 2-Way Purse!

Here is my sis modeling it both ways.

And then...I made another one! This one is mine!  I love wood and liked the idea of seeing more of the wooden handles, so I changed the loops that holds them. I'm calling this one a 3-Way purse because it can also be used as a large clutch!  I didn't want to fuss w/the ultra firm stabilizer so I used décor-bond (firm) for both lining and purse body.  I also used the same fabric for the lining but did something different on the pockets. And speaking of pockets, I inadvertently lined both the pocket fronts and backings w/décor-bond. but didn't realize it until it was too late...so my pockets are a little stiff. =)

 Here it is before I got the wooden handles

Here's a pic of the inside pockets.

And here I am modeling the 3-Ways to carry it!

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time,  Happy Quilting/Sewing and God Bless!

A Thread for Life

We are not rich by what we posses, but by which we can do without. - Immanuel Kant

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WOW

Another Flimsy, Another Finish, Etc.

I finished another flimsy. This one is modern.  Some of you might be thinking I'm just a flimsy maker, but I'm not. I do finish quilts. I'm just taking a short break from the actual quilting part to make tops.  I'm working on building up inventory for my Etsy shop.  I'd like to take it off "vacation status" by mid October and have at least 20 items to list. I'm also waiting on modifications on the DIY sewing table in order to quilt more comfortably.  

I made me another bag.  It's a LARGE quilt carry bag that stretches to over 45" when full of quilts.   It's a quilt as you go pattern from the book Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott of  The Quilt Room.  I used fabric from the Laurel Burch Jungle Songs collection.  The pattern called for magnetic snaps but me being "Ms. Thrifty", decided to go w/the cheaper option of sew-on snaps.   Needless to say, if I make it again, I'll use the magnetic snaps. I'd also put some batting in the strap and make it longer.   

I added faux buttons to the outside of the bag too.

This is Penelope. A back-up/traveler/loaner I bought for $25 from a coworker whose Aunt (owner) had recently passed away. She runs beautifully.

And this is Oh Suzanna!  I got her for $25 too from the same coworker.  I had no idea how awesome sergers are! I'm happy to add her to my collection.  

Connecting Threads had their Essential Cotton Thread on sale for $1.95/spool. So I bought a few spools.

I pulled the old Black and Decker stand-by out of the closet.  I finally got fed up dealing w/my constantly dripping Rowenta Effective. I cannot for the life of me remember why I put this baby in the closet in the first place. It doesn't drip and it gives me a little warning beep when it's getting ready to shut-off.  I hope to use it until I can get the Panasonic Cordless 360 , which has been on my wish list for quite some time.

I won these adorable magnetic needle minders from a giveaway that Lara B. of Buzzin Bumble had a few weeks ago.  They are from an Etsy shop called YumYumButtons.

My new pen! It's cigar style (fat) and made of Bubinga.

And lastly, I visited Quilt n' Sew Connection in Prescott Valley and practiced a little woodgrain fmq on an awesome, if very expensive machine.  The Bernina Q20 which is a sit-down longarm. Yes! It is now on my wishlist too!

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV

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