Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Quick Hand-Makes for Anytime Gifts

My most popular pattern to date is my Easy Reversible Microwave Cozy.

https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/patterns/easy-reversible-microwave-cozy-reg-size/263517

A few years ago I made one for all my coworkers, church family and friends.


I finally got around to making a set for my own home.  I used one of my Pampered Chef bowls as inspiration for my set of four. 



What makes my pattern different?  It does not require a lot of marking like most of the others I've come across. 

You can purchase my pattern on Craftsy for $1.50.  

I also sell a combo pack which includes instructions for medium and large size cozies for $3,


If you are looking to make quick, quilted gifts, look no further!  Your peeps are gonna love these! I guarantee it!

Until next time, God bless and happy stitchin'!

A Thread for Life
In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should,  but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. Romans 8:26





Monday, November 7, 2016

2nd Annual Chili Cook-off

It's been 5 years since our last chili cook-off at work, but it is our 2nd one,  so I believe "2nd annual" still works.

In 2011,  I entered my white chicken chili in the cook-off and won!  Look how skinny I was!


Before 2006 I didn't even know there was such a thing as white chicken chili. I had it for the 1st time at a church potluck, compliments of my dear friend Kelly. The following weekend I tried my hand at it, and I've been improving it ever since.




So much so, that I won again!  Yay me!



A Thread for Life
Image result for winner winner chicken dinner

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Shop Hoppin'!

I had a blast participating in my very first shop hop!  It was the Rally in the Valley Shop Hop Tour 2016 and included 11 stores in the Phoenix Metro Area from October 7 - 15, 2016.

Me and my friends, Teresa and Kelly, hopped on Mon & Tue Oct 10 & 11.

Of the 11 stores participating in the hop, I'd only been to one prior and that was 3 Dudes.

Here is how we hopped.

Monday
3 Dudes Quilting - Phoenix, AZ
Cutting Edge Quilts - Chandler, AZ
Quilters Ranch - Tempe, AZ
Mad B's Quilt and Sew - Mesa, AZ
A Quilter's Oasis - Mesa, AZ
BERNINA Connection - Phoenix, AZ
Bonus stop SAS Fabrics Phoenix, AZ

Tuesday
The Olde World Quilt Shoppe - Cave Creek, AZ
The Other Quilt Shop - Phoeniz, AZ
You Can Quilt - Peoria, AZ
Arizona Quilts - Surprise, AZ
Sun Valley Quilts - Sun City, AZ
Bonus stop 35th Ave Sew & Vac Phoenix, AZ

I had a great experience and bought a few goodies...


...and a little bit of fabric.

Here's a better view of my lovelies!

The only thing that would've made it better is if I was spending someone else's money!

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time, God Bless.

Linking up at:
Show Off Saturday
Main Crush Monday

A Thread for Life
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139-23-24 HCSB


Thursday, October 13, 2016

Works In Progress - Nines and Attic Windows

I currently have several works in progress, but am only sharing two today.

The first is a quilt I'm making for my newest grand Cali, who was born on August 8th.


The pattern is a Disappearing Nine Patch and the fabric collection is Hashmark for Michael Miller. Cali's quilt will be finished soon!


Me and some friends sew together the 3rd Saturday of each month.  Most of the time we work on our own projects, but occasionally we plan to make the same project.  Last month we decided on an Attic Window quilt inspired by the Missouri Star Quilter's Attic Window Tutorial.  The tutorial called for a panel, but I didn't think any of my panels would look good as an Attic Window.


So instead I chose to use this older Springs Industries fabric that I've dubbed Flowers in the Meadow.  I think it works perfectly! Don't you agree?  I'll be adding borders and hopefully have this finished soon as well.

Until next time, God bless and happy stitichin'!

Linking up at:
Midweek Makers
Let's Bee Social

A Thread for Life
There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. - Soren Kierkegaard



Friday, October 7, 2016

The Party's Over

Last week I got an Account Expiration Notification email from InLinkz,  saying my subscription would soon expire.  I was surprised to learn it had already been a year since I started my WHOOOMP There IT Is Linky Party! The notice said my options were to extend my account (pay) to create image linkups or use for free as a text-only linkup.  I opted for neither, and so the party has come to an end.


 And to be honest, I'm not sad about it. I enjoyed hosting the linky, which started out as a weekly party, and later became a monthly one, but something about me and deadlines...  After experiencing both sides; host and linky-upper, I like being the linky-upper better.

Alas, a huge thank you to all who linked up and partied w/me along the way.


Moving right along...

I had a fairly productive month and have a few things to share w/you today to prove it.

One night I was jonesing for a finish. It felt like it had been forever since I'd finished a quilt.  I needed to make one and I needed to make it fast! I dug out some blocks that were given to me. Originally there were seven and they measured approximately 16" x 19". I used six of them to make this scrappy little number.  I used the quick turn/envelope/birthing method (no binding), and a combo of stitch-in-the-ditch and other straight line quilting.  And Tada! I got my fix!


I had used the 7th block a few months ago to make a pillow for Moe. This is usually where he is when I'm sewing.



This is Zebrina. A fun applique quilt from Heidi Pridemore of The Whimsical Workshop.  My grandson says Zebra's are only supposed to be black and white not "grey". He was not impressed w/mine. She's not grey though, She's made w/Sarah Watts' Shibuya in linen, from the Tokyo Train Ride collection.


I just have to add some quilting to the sky, and then she'll be hanging on the wall in my sewing room.

Oh! I also finished Scrappy Litter Blox a pattern by Lillyella. I pattern tested this before it was released in the June Stash Builder Box.



The Scrappy Litter Blox  pattern will soon be available directly from Lillyella.



And here it is in crinkly splendor after warshing and drying. I used a lot of Alison Glass' Sun Prints in this quilt.  I even got fancy and did FMQ meandering in the borders!


By the way, Stash Builder Box has been nominated for a Brassy award, which could mean $10,000 for their business if they are one of the winners. They have a great quilty box subscription program, and 20% of the proceeds go towards providing quilts for children in need.  They also have great ways for others to join in the giving - you can apply to be an Ambassador and help promote the program, or you can sign up to be a HeartBuilder and actually help create the quilts that are given out!  Go to www.voteforsbb.com to vote - you can vote once per day from now until Sunday, 10/9.
Vote now!

My last finish is from my UFO Challenge 2016 list.  It's a wall hanging for my grand-daughter and has been a wip for 1-2 years.


It'll make the perfect gift for her 6th birthday next month as it has 6 tulips on it. I wish I could say that was the plan all along, but it's simply coincidence.



The pattern is called Tiny Tulips by Quilting in the Rain. I won the pink fabric I used for the tulips from a QITR giveaway on IG! I got a little fancy w/the quilting on this one too. Anytime I say I did "fancy quilting", I mean I did FMQ in the form of meandering or a back & forth I learned in an Angela Walter's Craftsy Class. I also did my fave Faux Piped Binding.

That's all I've got today for finishes.  But I do want to mention that I'm super duper excited Katy of KatyQuilts will be spending several months in AZ!  I have all kinds of sew days and such planned for us. She's a talented and prolific quilter/blogger who inspires me immensely. Thanks Katy!

Linking up at:
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?
Finished or Not Friday
Fabric Frenzy Friday

A Thread for Life


Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2016 - Gossamer



I love gifts. I love receiving them, and I really love giving them, especially quilty ones!   Last year I wanted to give a good friend an awesome gift. And of course it had to be quilted.  After brainstorming for awhile and looking online, I came up w/the idea for the best gift ever!

I came across Janeen at Quilt Art Designs who makes fabulous paper pieced patterns. I sent her a photo and asked if she could turn it into a  paper pieced pattern.  She absolutely could, and did! 

This is the photo I sent.  It's a pic of my friend's beloved classic bronco, whom he dubbed Gossamer.


This is the pattern she made.
Now all I had left to do was learn the fine art of paper piecing.  

I enlisted the help of my good friend and paper-piecer extraordinaire, Sue!  And for the next 5 weeks, I spent approximately 5 hrs each Thursday making Gossamer. You can read about in this post

And this is Gossamer!


I was so very pleased w/how he turned out so you can imagine how I felt when I found out he got an award at the Arizona Quilters Guild Quilt Show!  Yep! He got Honorable Mention! AND it was my first time entering an actual show! Can you say ECSTATIC?! You can read all about it in this post

Gossamer measures 22" x 22" and  is entered in the Small Quilt Category.  If he tickles your fancy as much as he tickles mine, I'd be over the moon if you vote for him!  Thank you!

This is my second time participating in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.  My first time was Fall of 2014. You can read about that in this post. A big shout out to Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side for putting this lovely festival together! And huge thanks to the sponsors too for the fabulous prizes!


Linking up at:


Sew Fresh Quilts



A Thread for Life

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Winner Winner!



And the lucky winner of my AQP Turns 3! blog giveaway ...


 Congratulations CathieJ! Send me your address via email and this fabulous prize will be heading your way on Monday!

Thank you all for visiting, commenting, and following! 

I appreciate you!  



Friday, September 2, 2016

WHOOMP There IT Is! #33 - AQP turns 3 Giveaway!

There are a few things I'm super excited about and want to share today.

The first being, on August 29, 2016, A Quilted Passion turned a whopping 3 yrs! In some ways it seems like it was just yesterday that I started blogging and in others it seems as if it's been forever! Regardless, it's because of my wonderful followers and friends that this blog is still around.  In appreciation, I will be doing a giveaway at the end of this post, so stick around.


Something else that has me all kinds of excited is, I met the sweet and talented Katy of Katy Quilts in real life!  It turns out her kids live in AZ and one of them is right around the corner from me! We met at Tropical Smoothie, which is a fave of both of ours, and then she came and visited me in my sewing room!
She even brought me a gift! This lovely modern quilt (lower right) made w/fabric dyed by her own hand! Thank you Katy!
 I wouldn't have been so eager for Katy to visit in my home had I not just had new floors installed!  But they were! Yep. This happened a couple of weeks ago and I love, love, love them!  What do you think? Can you spot my furbabies?

\

I think now is a good time for the giveaway!  I'm giving away the kit to make this stunning modern quilt top.
It consists of the Reflections quilt pattern by Nancy J. Smith,  2 Benartex Jelly Rolls and a 2 yard cut for the borders and binding.  It makes a quilt top that measures approximately 56" x 63". I've also thrown in That Purple Thang and a spool of Essential Vareigated Thread by Connecting Threads; color is Ocean Jewels.
For your chance to win this fabulous prize, simply leave a comment on this post telling me how you follow A Quilted Passion (bloglovin', Instagram, Google Followers (see sidebar ->->->).

I will randomly choose and announce a winner here on the blog on Saturday, September 10, 2016.  If you are a No-Reply blogger, please include your email address in your comment.

**This giveaway is for US residents only**

Oh, I almost forgot! I'm also doing a 2nd giveaway on Instagram! Be sure to enter there too!




Thank you for visiting/following and good luck in the giveaway!

Last but not least, my 1st Friday WHOOMP There IT Is! linky party!   Please link up whatever it is you've been doin'/stitchin'!




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Thank the Host
Everyone likes to hear "thank you" and know their effort is appreciated.
Spread the Love
The more love you give, the more you get. Pick a number (mine is 5) and commit to visiting and commenting on that many link-ups. Let them know where you're visiting from and ask them to visit you. (This works well for me!)
Direct Link
Use a direct link to a specific post, not your main blog.
Link Back
In your blog post, include a link back to my post/blog and/or grab the WHOOMP There IT Is! button above and put in your post or sidebar. Thanks for spreading the love.
Follow Me ;)
Of course I would love for all you linky-uppers to be followers, but it's NOT required.







I'm linking up at:
Can I Get Whoop Whoop?
Let's Bee Social



Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts


A Thread for Life
What is impossible with man is possible with God. Luke 18:27