Yes tomorrow is my birthday - and its a big one. I will be 40. Crikey - how did that happen ?
Anyway I am doing this post now as I'm sure I will be busy tomorrow. I think Jason has booked George Clooney for a couple of hours for me and no doubt afterwards I will be wined and dined - lol ! Actually we have nothing planned except for a nice family meal out - nice and quiet - just how I like it. I have ordered some quilting books from Amazon too.
Last year I started a new quilt on my birthday and I am going to make this a tradition. Here is last years effort just dug out from a dark, dusty drawer.
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Yes as you can see I didn't get very far with this - lol ! After cutting out a zillion melons by hand and drawing the seam allowance in in pencil and then piecing by hand I didn't like it. I could not get the middles to lie flat and it had lost it's charm. I still plan to do something with the bits I have cut - maybe some machine applique. Anyway whilst flicking through a mag late last night I saw something that got me going. Armed with Patricks compass and protractor and a sharp pencil I've been fiddling. This is my template. Keep tuned...
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I've also finished a top but will show you that soon. I've been messing about with felt and made these. Great fun and nice to do in the evenings whilst everyone else is glued to the gogglebox ( as my mum used to call the TV ).
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I have plans for more
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What shall I do with all these ? Well as it's a special birthday tomorrow and I'm feeling generous - not to mention my fabric drawers will no longer shut I'm having a little giveaway.
For the winner I will send one of these pincushions plus this
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2 yards ( 8 fq's ) of autumn colours for the taking. Also 2 other winners will get a pincushion and 3 fat quarters each. Sounds like a plan.
You know the rules - the main one being I must be able to contact you if you win. I will follow the example of Linda who had a giveaway recently. Anyone is welcome to enter but if I recognise you as a regular commenter I will put your name in twice. Fair ?
For a bit of fun and because I'm nosey please tell me which part of quilting you enjoy most. Is it the searching for inspiration, the choosing of fabric or indeed the BUYING of fabric :-) etc.
I will choose winners on Friday 24th October.
Take care xx
78 comments:
Have a very happy birthday! As one well past that milestone I can tell you that my life was good at 40 but it's even better at 48. You have lots to look forward too! Not the least of which is that date with George and and new quilting project!
Happy Happy Birthday! A new quilting project for every birthday sounds like fun. Well, I like picking out fabrics the most, get fustrated at times with my piecing-not so fun, love when the flimsy is done, but hate to do the binding. Guess that covers it.
Have fun with George! LOL!
Happy Birthday! I just turned 40 myself .......... and I don't feel any older. It's all a state of mind. I love love love your pincushions! I think I am going to put felt on my shopping list. They are too cute! And try to get back to the birthday quilt from last year - it looks fabulous! More pincushions??
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Enjoy that date with George! LOL
I love your little pincushions!
I love every aspect of quilting, but I would have to say that piecing and watching the design come alive is my favorite part.
Happy Birthday! I love picking out the fabrics to use in a quilt and then seeing if I chose wisely. Sometimes I am not pleased, but I usually am. What a fun giveaway! Your pincushions are adorable!
My favorite part is piecing. I'm usually zipping fabric through the sewing machine and singing along with a CD...fun times. Have a great birthday! Forty wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, your 40th year will be great!
Happy 40th Andrea, they say 40 is the new 21 - not sure I can remember but there you go :o)) Have a great day with or without George!
Happy birthday for tomorrow! I've beenr eading your blog for a while but haven't commented until now - but I couldn't resist the chance of one of those pincushions. :-)
I'm relatively new to patchwork and quilting (under 1 year) but my favourite part is getting all the lovely fabrics home after I've bought them, spreading them out and envisaging them in the projects I have planned for them... I'm a dreamer at heart. :)
Looking forward to seeing what you make of the pentagram pattern, too. Have a great day!
Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday dear Andrea,
happy birthday to yooooouuuuu!!!
Happy Birthday! I lurk here quite often & just love your projects. My favorite part of quilting is being inspired. It's hard for me to make something without someone in mind. I love making quilts for people. Did that make sense? I hope so!
Happy Birthday! I had to stop and read instead of just skimming, because the first quilt in the post is one I have just started cutting out! I'm sorry it's giving you such troubles. I hope mine goes better.
I think my favorite part is piecing the quilt top together. That could be because I've just finished binding one quilt (now in the washer) and begun piecing the next. The one just finished is for my 11 yo son, the one just started is for my 16 yo daughter, because I told them at current prices, we'll be using very little heat this winter!
Happy Birthday again! I've been 40 for 6 years now, and it has been pretty good!
Happy Birthday! I wish you have a great day.
I would love to be entered in your giveaway! My favorite part of quilting is searching for the pattern to try; books, magazines the internet...so many choices!
My dear Andrea, happy birthday tomorrow, say hi to George from me. My favorite part of the quilting process is picking the pattern and assembling the top. The pincushions are beautiful, please count me in, is it possible that you would add my name 3 or 4 times? *LOL*
Hope you have a great day. Life is just beginning for you, so they say, whoever they are!
Since you ask, I enjoy the dreaming about quilts part! I love surfing google images and reading blogs getting tons of ideas and inspiration for quilts that will only ever be made in my dreams. Lately I have enjoyed working in hand with real fabric and an all too real needle.
Happy 40 years young! It's not so bad, really. When I started quilting, I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed making blocks. I could piece all day - much more fun than the actual quilting.
Happy birthday. Hope you will have a lovely day.
Happy 40th Birthday to you, Andrea! I wish you many, many more! My favorite part of quilting is starting a project which would explain all of the UFOs around my house. Say hi to George!
Happy Birthday to you! I love your pincushions, they are really cute.
I think the best part of quilting for me is picking out the fabrics and seeing them come together in the design of the blocks.
Huggs,
Cleary
Hi, I think my favourite part is planning and choosing the fabric.
Happy birthday!
A very happy birthday to you!! I hope you enjoy your quiet celebration, and your new quilt project!
Since you asked, I think my favorite part of quilting is the initial cutting and piecing of the first few units - seeing the idea begin to come to life. Yes, it's the STARTING of the projects that I love, which is probably why I always have so many projects going. It's all fun though.
Happy Birthday! I made some major changes in my life at 40...one was getting a longarm and starting a business. I also got a kitten of my own. (We have 3, but none were mine!) I hope you do something memorable for your birthday as well! (I love those melons, the colors are gorgeous!)
Happy, Happy Birthday.
Oh sorry you don't like that quilt anymore, have to admit I have done that too...better to stop working on it then dreading it!
oh Love your star, can't wait to see what that will be....
LOVE the pincushions..
adorable
Kathie
Have a happy Happy Birthday. I have been a lurker for some time and just love reading yuour posts and seeing your lovely quilts. Don't give up on the melon pieces. I have just finished piecing a quilt I started 10 (yes 10!!) years ago. It's now ready to put together and quilt. I love your little pincusions.
First of all Happy 40th Birthday!!!
I remember my 40th - it is a very important one as I remember so long ago.....
I think starting a new quilt for your birthday is a great idea - something you can finish in a year and every year you could start a new quilt :)))
Happy Birthday!!
Andrea, I hope that you have a wonderful relaxing birthday tomorrow!! Happy happy day!! Welcome to the ranks of the 40's!! Woo hoo... believe me it only gets better!! (especially if George Clooney is involve LOL). I love what you started last year and you definitely need to finish that one. The pincushions are darling and I just know one would be very happy in my home. I have to say I love ALL aspects of quilting. Yes, all. Some are more relaxing than others but all are so satisfying to me.
Happy birthday - hope you have a wonderful day
Mary
HAPPY 40....I have you beat by 20!!! LOL For me, the fabric selection and buying is the most fun, but I actually also enjoy doing the hand-sewing of the binding (I know...weird)....probably because it means I'm nearly done! I'd love to be entered in your giveaway.
Happy birthday! I like the part when all the cutting is done and I just have to put the top together.
Happy Birthday.
I'm older by 5 years, and I thought I'd let you know that life in your 40's is the BEST YET!!!!
I like the browsing for ideas, (that's how I found your batik quilt that I adapted for my internet quilt) and the actual piecing. Someone else mentioned singing along to cds while zipping fabric through the machine.... that's me too!
(I'm not too fond of the maths that goes into working out how to do patterns. That's why I'm an English teacher!)
Happy Bday. 40 is a good age and 50 is even better - so you see, you have something to look forward to (LOL). My favorite part of quilting is making the blocks and displaying them side by side on my design board. Selecting fabric is the worst part for me, because the fabric choice plays such a large role in the final look of the quilt; so if you get it wrong, you're stuck with it.
Happy Birthday...hope yo have a very special day.
Love the fabrics in your giveaway...I could find something nice to do with them ;o)
As for the favourite part of quilting...for me it's when the finished quilt comes out of the dryer all crinkly and nice.
Have a nice birthday! Congratulations!
I like every part of quilting but there are a couple of highlights... Looking and buying all those beautiful fabrics, of course! And I like to touch and feel the finished quilt under my hands. You can feel the quilt and think - hey, I have made this.
Happy Birthday! The pincushions are darling. I think the best part of quilting for me is when I sign the back with my name and date!
Happy Birthday. I enjoy picking out the fabrics the best. There are soooo many cute fabrics out there!
Wishing you a Happy Birthday. Love the quilt you started on your last B'day. I had to think a bit as to what I love most about quilting, because I enjoy the whole process. But my absolute favorite would be when it is all finished and I see the joy on the face of the person I give it to.
Congrats on #40...this is a good thing....closer to retirement, the best years of your later life. You'll see...I'm 53 and loving it. I still have lots of things I want to do.
Take care and have a great birthday! You've earned it.
Hi there, Those are adorable pin cushions. I love the white with the blue flower. (yes, I am a man and choose the blue true to my gender)
I love the finish of a project. That magic time when the creation is alive and ready to make its debut.
I hope you recognise me as a regular....I always read you but I don't always comment unless I have something to say. (yep-man thing again!)
Oh, I hit 50 the end of September and life only gets better after 40 so keep going my love!
Peace
Gene
Happy birthday to you, AND to me!! Except I'm 50, so I'm exactly ten years older. None the wiser though.I like the idea of starting a new quilt on every birthday, I'll have to see if I can find time to cut some fabrics today.
I like everything about quilting, but the one thing I never get sick of or put off is pieceing. I love sitting down and feeding piles of fabric through the machine, so productive, so hypnotic, so therapeutic. This is why I have so many piles of blocks waiting to be set together, I suppose.
Have a wonderful day, I haven't got anything planned except a visit to Keryn to finally get a present she's been teasing me with, and hopefully to finish a customer top that I'm pieceing. Enjoy being spoilt by hubby, won't you?
Have the happiest of birthdays!
I barely remember 40, oh well, at least I'm still here quilting. My forties were great, I'm sure you will love yours too.
My favorite part of quilting is the binding, then I'm done, yeah!!!
Thanks for sharing your birthday with us.
Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)
Happy Birthday!! What cute pincushions, and such a simple idea, one you could teach the kids. My favourite part - well I think I'm addicted to quilt shop shopping - books, well you can browse through them 100's of times and not get sick of them. I like starting on a project with gusto - then finishing it proudly. Sometimes it lags a bit somewhere in the middle though. Too many starts and not enough finishes! Have a great day!!
Have a happy birthday!
Your pincushions are darling. My favorite part about quilting.....hmmm... I love the whole process, but I must admit those last few stitches on a binding are the most satisfying to me!:)
Happy birthday, and I am so jealous that your hubby could secure you a date with GEORGE!!! Drool!
Isn't it frustrating to have a grungy WIP that never quite sits right? I have a (should be) beautiful Lone star quilt in Japanese fabrics that I have stalled on due to innacurate piecing....but I'm not dead yet (my favourite motto)
My favourite parts of quilting are many. I love the coalescing of a fabric stash into the range for a new quilt. Lately, with less time for quilting, I have been enjoying sharing my stash with others, and of the three times I have barely noticed the dent in the stash (blush).
My other favourite bit is stitching the binding on because it is FINISHED! I feel such a sense of achievment.
What a GREAT giveaway. I work at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts and buying fabric happens a LOT... I have a stash that I'm embarrassed to show as it's about 30 tubs out in the bonus room. I am trying to use some of it up and now I have 2 nieces wanting to learn to sew and quilt so I'm "starting" their stashes for Christmas this year. Boxes of FQ's to get them started and may look at a couple beginner quilt books to go with it.
Becky in SC
Happy Birthday!! You are really just a youngin though. Thanks for the generous give away too. I hope you receive many blessings for your birthday. As for my favorite part of quilting, I love to choose the colors and begin a new project, I love to piece and I love to finish!
Oh Happy Birthday Andrea!
It looks like I got my internet connection back just in time!
I have to say I love the planning and piecing the most, and binding last, which is why my nieces quilt will get the binding finishedtomorrow ready to be delivered on Sunday! LOL!
Have a great birthday, and some fun with George LOL. I have to say that I love the whole part of quilting, especially the look on my hubbies face when all those bits of fabric have been placed together. He looks so shocked at how they come together so well. The bit I don't like is not having enough time to do it. Maybe Baby H will let me have my machine out for a while without pressing all the buttons. He has switched it of a few times when It is about 95% complete. That can be frustrating... LOL Have a good day
Wishing you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Hope you have a great day, even if George Clooney doesn't arrive in time!!
Don't worry about entering me in the draw, just wanted to wish you a happy day :)
Congrats on the big 4 0! It's not as bad as some make out and definately not over the hill.
I like browsing the mags for ideas, selecting fabrics and piecing. Probably my least fav part is basting, then I'm happy quilting and binding.
Bloody hell that birthday snuck up and I wasn't ready!!! Sorry that I missed my chance to reward your kindness with a birthday present on the day. I shall have to think of a belated something!
Have a very Happy 40th!!! Keep stitching and having quilty birthdays with great ideas - I love your new template!!!!!
As for me, I love piecing, but I don't like cutting, I love hand stitching, handquilting..., but I hate basting and of course I love a finish!!
Happy birthday, Andrea.
I have turned forty also earlier this year and it did not hurt one bit (as you will have found out by now).
The thing I like most about quilting? Well, just about everything, depending on the mood I'm in. The only thing I do not like is crawling over the floor, basting the sandwich together.
Yipee.....40 years young. Happy Birthday Andrea. I'd sing but you'd run away and hide...vbg. Hope the day is wonderful and you are thoroughly spoilt.
As for what quilting I like - the searching for inspiration - it pops up everywhere....lol. Then the fabric choosing/buying....cause lets face it we can never have too much fabric and then and only then comes the making of the quilt. Throw in a bit of quilting, and finally the binding and I'm satisfied....lol. I love every aspect of it....does that make me weird I wonder???? Nahhh!!!!
Happy birthday! Can you send me George Cloony for my birthday, it´s in July but just tell him in advance so he won´t be engaged by then.
The thing I enjoyed most is to pick fabric up. I like buying fabric without thinking about any special project. When I want to start something new I take all the fabrics out of my wardrobe and I start to choose the suitable ones.
Have fun on your birthday.
Hi!
Love the cats by the way!
Hmmm, lets see. I like to go through my mom's fabric stash...."Mom, do you need this fabric?" She is trying to unload some of her stuff, but she is 12 hours away.....so alas, I have to shop in real stores.
My birthday was last Monday. I'm on the other end of 40...lets just say I'm way closer to 50 than I am 40!
Hippo Birdy Two Ewes!
yogawithgaileee at gmail dot com
Happy Birthday.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday shared with your family and friends and that they spoil you.
I love those pincushions, is it your own design?
My favourite part of the quilting process is sewing the binding, I get such satisfaction from it. I enjoy the pattern selection and fabric and making but the binding is the best. Fait accompli!
Happy Birthday!
Your pin cushions are fantastic! Love them.
My favourite part of quilting is hand piecing. Love set-in seams and lots of continuous stitching.
Happy Birthday to you! The pincushions are adorable! That's one of those things I keep thinking I have to make but then never get around to doing it so you're a step (or three) ahead of me!
I hit 30 this year and it wasn't the horrifying, agonizing ordeal I thought it was going to be-(aka I didn't instantly get oooooollllld.) Lol-hope your day is great!
Becca
Happy happy birthday!!! I love those little pincushions...I am so a pincushion junkie!! My favorite part of the process is actually hand quilting when I get the chance to. Second favorite peicing the blocks.
Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!
Happy Birthday and please do count me in the drawing. Those pincushions are just so cute and I do love the FQ's!
Mazel Tov! I hope you have a wonderful 40th!!
I'm headed toward 41 in mid-January myself. It has been a very good year though.
Molly
Andrea,
Happy birthday to you. I hope this will be a fabulous year for you. My favorite part of making a quilt is the hand quilting. I love to sit in my rocker in front of the tv every evening and quilt away. I am an empty nest mama, so have lots of time on my hands. You are having a great give away. Please put my name in the drawing.
Winona
Happy Birthday! 40's are the best years.
I enjoy piecing the most and hand quilting.
Belated Happy Birthday from me. I hope you had a wonderful, memorable time.
40 was a very long time ago for me. I started playing tennis again when I was 40 and gave up at 50. I wasn't a quilter back then so life changes and good things are undoubtedly in store for you in the next 40 years. You are my bucket bag inspiration friend. I am still making them and just love that pattern.
I like almost all the steps of making a quilt. Of course I love planning and buying the fabric. I love learning. Perhaps it would be quicker to say my least favourite part is basting or pinning the quilt sandwich - getting it completely wrinkle free on both sides.
I love making quilty things ( bags ) for others and I enjoy being in a group project making quilts for a worthy cause. I love the FRIENDSHIP OF QUILTING!
Even without the giveaway I would have had to comment on these cute pincushions! Where is the patter from because if I don't win one I want to make one! The part of quilting I like the most is the piecing...I love mystery quilts and the challenge of them and the suprise of how they come out...and comparing all the different endings that people come up with due to fabric choices!
Andee in AZ
You know, I read this yesterday and woke up thinking about my answer. My favorite part is the variety of piecing techniques you go for. I'm into that so I like the inspiration and I think ...hmmm, maybe I'll do that. I dig it. Piece and Love, *karendianne.
Happy 40th birthday!
Millie
I love starting new projects, I have them all over the house, I recently pulled out a a UFO piecing project too. It may turn into a table topper.
A lovely give away you are offering, Thank You.
Welcome to 40...ive been there since June, and its not so bad :)
i dont need to be entered into the giveaway, though your items are lovely...just wanted to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I really want to qin these. They are wonderful. I think I like it all except the boarders and basting. I hope you have a wonderful birhtday, the fourties are truly the best for me so far.
happy birthday, life begins a forty. been there, done that.
very nice pincushion, nice little projects in-between.
lovely stash of fabric. I like the choosing and buying of the fabric and the actual making and hoping that I will get the pattern right.......
Happy Birthday! Congrats on the big 40!
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a very fun day.
How very pretty! Love your UFO project. And your applique! You are just a young thing still...
Happy Birthday! It's your birthday and your blog readers get the fabric gift???? Well, but you get George and you're not sharing him!!
I mostly love dreaming about quilts I plan to make. I especially love falling asleep planning new quilts, colour combinations, quilting designs!
My latest falling asleep idea is a 60 degree quilt using only gold fabrics and inspired by "The Secret Life of Bees"...don't tell anyone, it's a secret!
Happy Birthday :)
Oh, Happy BD and you are just a baby!
For those melons and the centers, what if you applique a circle in the center and then cut out the excess in the back? I recently made a block for a swap and the centers would not lie flat either and that is what I did and it changed the whole look of the block.
Wow look at you and all the comments. Lovely .
Happy Birthday...I am a bit behind with my feeds, and I am not quite sure how I ended up here today...I think a friend to whom I passed on a feed.
What do I love best about quilting?
Choosing the fabric, buying the fabric, opening it and maybe getting around to filing it in the correct bunny hole and even sometimes using it.
I like that pincushion idea.
I do have a crate with felt in it!!! It is only a small one. But it does need some use.
I'm late -- behind in my blogs. So sorry I missed your birthday!! Hope it was happy! Lovely quilt Kate sent you (and you have a lovely one for her!).
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