We've Made The Move to Idaho! AND A #GIVEAWAY!

 

THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS MARY ANNE FOX. 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Well 2020 has certainly been an interesting year for us. I haven't been blogging too much this year, my plate has been full. As many have been and are currently doing, we have made the move from California to Idaho. It's very different living in a neighborhood again after so many years of living in the forest. We couldn't be happier! We have the most amazing and wonderful neighbors, everyone has been by to introduce themselves with plates of cookies, boxes of donuts, loaves of bread and more. It feels incredible to live in a place where you don't have to worry about a forest fire racing through or the power being arbitrarily being shut off for days at a time. I could go on and on about the multitude of benefits to us living here but nuff said. It was a good move.

We are very close to the Teton's National Park and Yellowstone.

The day trips have been enjoyable and it has been amazing to see the fall colors of the trees.

The move was a lot of work. Packing on the other end, letting go of many things and unpacking on this end. The majority of the boxes on the street level have been unpacked and put away, there are still a few, which I hope to have done this week. The upstairs is another story...LOL. We ordered four bookcases for all my books and I fear we are still in need of another! 

I did get the pantry painted, new hardware installed on the door so it would shut and just yesterday installed a new low profile LED light fixture. It's like daylight in there now! We hung some more pictures in our library yesterday and took down the black drapery rods, pulled the molly bolt fasteners, sanded and spackled up the holes. Today I will touch up the area with paint.  

There is another cold storage area in our basement, so this pantry gets used for everyday stuff.

Today, I am planning on working on my temporary sewing room which I have located upstairs in one of our four bedrooms. We will be finishing the basement with sheetrock and putting in another bathroom (it's already plumbed for one), once that is completed and flooring is in, then that will become my studio. I will have plenty of room for my longarm and all the rest. (oh my gosh, that means I have to move all of this down two flights of stairs!!!)

I lost 15 pounds the first month here, just running up and down the stairs! Imagine that!!! So our first winter in Idaho. We have already experienced a bit of snow, the winds and cold.  I'm great with all of that.  Our truck was totaled the second week we were here (there are some crazy drivers out there, it's like running a gauntlet...if you are from out of state and just moving here, drive very, very, very, defensively. Also, change your license plate the minute you arrive. Just trust me on that. Most folks are very nice but there are some that are not happy with folks relocating here and if they see your plate...well. And one more bit of advice, I don't like to get political on my blog I'll just repeat what was said to us...leave your liberal politics in the state where you left them...they will not be appreciated by anyone up here. Your gonna fit right in! LOL.

Well, that brings you up to date on things here. I'm gonna see if I can make some sense of this sewing room mess today! Wish me luck!!!

And now you know why I haven't been posting much quilting as of late...LOL.

Let's do a #GIVEAWAY! One lucky quilter will receive a surprise box filled with fun and fabric! You don't want to miss this one!

To enter:

1.  Leave a comment below

2.  Like our Facebook or Instagram page or both!

3.  Leave a comment on either of those pages.

4.  for extra entry Upload a photo of a current or past project that you

     are working on to our Facebook page.

There is NEVER anything to purchase, No One will contact you, this is not sponsored by anyone other than us and there are NO Gimmicks. It's just a fun giveaway to encourage a love of quilting.  That's all! Good Luck Quilters!!!

Winner will be drawn at random on December 11th and announced on December 12th here on our blog as well as on our Facebook page and our Instagram page. 

Light The World 2020, One by One, Hope Shines Bright!

#GIVEAWAY - Quilt Pattern and Fat Quarters

Oh my goodness, has it been that long since I have jumped on here to blog? I guess so. Life happens. 2020 and we're half way through. Well, let's start this out with something fun. We are giving away this beautiful pattern Homeward Bound by Cake Stand Quilts Designer Nicola Dodd from the United Kingdom along with 5 random fat quarters! Jump on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SisterOfTheDivide to enter. There is nothing to purchase ever, no gimmicks, no gotchas...this is just for fun and to encourage the love of quilting. Drawing will be held July 3rd and winner announced on our Facebook page on July 4th! Good Luck Quilters!

I will be cutting out the fabric for a Red, White and Blue version of this quilt and will post my progress here for you. These are the fabrics that I have selected from my stash:

I am off to the ironing board and then the cutting mat with these. They will be accompanied by Kona Cotton White for the background. Check back and let's see how this quilt developes!

#GIVEAWAY Signed Copy of "Stitched So Sweet" by Tracy Souza UPDATE!

UPDATE: The WINNER of Tracy Souza's new book, "Stitched So Sweet" is Caitlin Taylor Braun of Philadelphia. Congratulations Caitlin! Be sure to check back frequently, we will have another giveaway soon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Tracy Souza of Plumcute Designs a couple months ago at a get together hosted by Fabric Garden in Sacramento. Tracy is a talented designer who has been creating lovely embroidery designs for years. Her new book published by Martingale has just dropped and she has kindly given us an autographed copy to give away to one lucky person.

Tracy offers simple to stitch, season designs in quick to sew projects that you will absolutely love!

Her designs are whimsical and sweet.They capture the essence of the seasons with springtime flowers and buzzing bees to fall pumpkins and frosty snowmen.

You will find a wealth of ideas for quick projects to pretty up your home decor, to give as gifts and to keep as cherished keepsakes of your handwork. 

Create Mix and Match Pillows, Framed Embroideries, Needle books, A Four Season Quilt, Table Topper or Wall Hanging. Her book will offer you lots of creative ways to display your handwork.

TO ENTER: 

#1. go to www.Facebook.com/SisterofTheDivide and

LIKE OUR PAGE

#2. Leave a COMMENT on the post telling me how you have incorporate embroidery into your quilting or sewing projects.

#3. Tag one of your friends in the comments or Share the post to your Facebook Page. 

There! That was EASY! Nothing to purchase ever. Our giveaways are strictly for fun designed to encourage your creativity and the joy of quilting. I hope you will join us and Good Luck!

The drawing for the winner will be held on February 28, 2019 and the winner will be announced both on our Facebook page and here on our blog, on March 1, 2019. 

Winner of the Brother Sewing Machine Announced

WINNER ANNOUNCED!

UPDATE: The winner of the Brother CS5055PRW Project Runway Limited Edition Sewing Machine is Sandra J. Harris. Congratulations Sandra, it's on it's way to you right now!

                                           * * *
I promised you a special giveaway. We will be giving away one Brand New Brother CS5055PRW Project Runway Limited Edition Sewing Machine. Treat the Designer in you to a range of professional features in the CS5055PRW, a Project Runway™ Limited Edition computerized sewing machine with 50 built-in stitches, including 5 styles of auto-size buttonholes. Use the bright LCD display screen with computerized stitch selection to choose from a range of decorative, quilting or heirloom stitches to embellish your wardrobe. Experience virtually effortless sewing on denim, tweed and other thick fabrics with the exceptional feed system. Complete with an advanced needle threading system that makes threading easy, fast bobbin winding system, Quick-Set™ bobbin and super bright LED-lit work area, the CS5055PRW will help you turn clothing into runway style creations in no time!

Watch the Video below to view the machines features. 

To Enter you must like our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/sisterofthedivide

Comment below telling me why you would love to win this machine. 

Share this post on your Facebook page or on your blog.

Drawing will be held February 1st 2018 and the winner will be announced on our Facebook page on February 2nd 2018.

There is nothing to purchase ever. This is for fun and to encourage quilting and creativity. This Giveaway is restricted to residents of the United States of America. There is no cash value.

Good Luck Quilters!

I am off this month recuperating from carpal tunnel surgery so I will not be posting much this month other than this giveaway. I hope you are enjoying your New Year and dreaming of projects that you would love to create on your very own Brother Project Runway sewing machine!

McCall's Peace Cottage Quilt Along - Lesson 5 and a #Giveaway!

Lesson 5! We are crusing right along!  I hope you are having fun. Have you figured out that this is a row quilt yet? Row quilts are great, they offer variety. If you are one of those people who get bored easily doing a large quilt with the same blocks over and over and over again, well this type of quilt will be right up your alley!

TIP: Value plays a key roll in keeping this part of the quilt interesting.  Select fabrics that are light, medium and dark. Before you stitch them in place, take a picture and see how they look to you.  Taking a photo will give you a perspective that will help you with your placement.

These blocks will go quick for you, stack them next to your machine and chain piece them.

TIP: Make sure that you finger press your piece open first and then press to get that seam open completely.  Take your time when pressing, don't scrub your piece, press it with an up and down motion.  Doing this will help prevent distortion and will give you a nice accurate block.

If you have been following along, you know that I have raced ahead.  We had a pretty large forest fire going here and sewing kept my mind occupied.  The fire is out now and we are all very grateful to the many men and women that worked so hard in the heat and smoke to take care of us!

Tanker 131 on the Trailhead Fire. Photo July 1, 2016 by Matthew Rhodes

Yesterday my friend Brenda Allen and I took a drive out to Grass Valley and visited one of our favorite little quilt shops, Sugar Pine Quilt Shop. They have a great selection of Civil War Repros and that is just what I needed to finish off my quilt borders  They are wonderful, they have lots of fat quarters pre-cut and if you don't see what you want they will cut you a fat quarter right off the bolt, no problem!

This is such a fun little quilt shop, they have several rooms, each one is chock full of incredible fabrics, notions, patterns, books...you name it, they have it.  There is an eclectic mix here, a little bit of everything for everyone. Their fabrics run the gammit from Civil War Repros to Kaffe Fasset, Neutrals, Solids and Batiks to Modern Prints, Soft Pastels to Bold Colors, Orientials, 1930's Repros, Landscapes, Skys, Childrens Prints everything for everyone! 

I spotted an owl print (Brenda loves owls) and when I pointed it out to her she had to have it. It is so cute and of course, they had the perfect colors to blend with it!

I will be working on the piano key borders today. I was successful in finding the bits I needed to complete this quilt. These were my choices, they will blend with some of the fabrics I have left from my construction.

I'm planning to insert the strip piece in the border where she has the two little pieces and then do the piano keys beyond that...I think it will look nice. You can see my audition below.

OKAY!  I promised you a giveaway!  Right now on our Facebook site we are giving away Moda's All in a Row!  Yes! A book that features 24 different Row-by-Row Quilt Designs. Discover the mix and match possibilities for fabulous quilts with row patterns by your favorite Moda designers including Lissa Alexander of Moda Lissa, Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles Quilters, Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms, Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts, Pat Sloan and many more.  

To Enter:

LIKE our Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/SisterOfTheDivide

COMMENT on the giveaway post which is pinned at the top of the page for you.

SHARE that post with your friends on your Facebook page

That's all, there is nothing ever to purchase. My goal is to inspire a next generation of quilters.

Drawing will be held on July 30th and the winner will be announced on our Facebook page on August 1st.

Good Luck Quilters! 

If you are quilting along with us on the Peace Cottage check back next week and we will have another post for Lesson 6. If you missed the previous lessons, you can visit our older posts or go to McCall's website at http://www.mccallsquilting.com/PeaceCottage

Okay, I'm off to get my borders made! Make something beautiful today!

#GIVEAWAY Striking Strip Quilts by Kate Henderson

Lots to catch up on!  Let's start it off with a GIVEAWAY! I've been tripping through the pages of Kate Henderson's book Striking Strip Quilts published by Martingale Books. Do you love working with 2.5" precut strips? This is the book for you! Fresh designs, all using 2.5" strips. Great way to clean up your scrap bin, use up some fabrics and clear the way for new yummies, all the while creating something glorious that you will love! Suitable designs for a multitude of fabric styles, from modern to traditional and everything in between.  I think you will really love this book.

Okay, to ENTER:

LIKE our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/SisterOfTheDivide/

SHARE: post this link to your friends, share on your Facebook page

COMMENT on the post for this giveaway our Facebook page

EXTRA ENTRY:  LIKE the publisher's page at https://www.facebook.com/shopmartingale/?fref=ts

EXTRA EXTRA ENTRY: LIKE the author's page at https://www.facebook.com/TwoLittleBanshees/

There we go, you are all set, Nothing to purchase ever! Drawing will be held on May 30th, 2016 and winner will be notified via Facebook post as well as private messaging via Facebook.  Good Luck Quilters!

Let's catch up...

Finished the Celtic Solstice by Bonnie Hunter.  I did not do the round for the border, it was already plenty big enough for our bed without it. 

For the binding I used a technique called Flanged Binding and I love the finish. Great tutorial for the technique is available online.

Here is a link for the tutorial by Sew Fresh Quilts, I will post this under tutorials as well so we can all refer back to it when we like.

Link: http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2015/01/flanged-binding-tutorial.html

Lots of fun quilts and inspiration have been posted on our Facebook page this month. After you tackle a quilt that has a gazillion pieces, it's fun to take on something light and quick. I am working on a quilt that combines two blocks from two different inspiration quilts. 

The first block is a simple square in a square. Highly suitable for a layer cake. There are lots of tutorials out there on this block so I'm not going into great detail here other than to give you the basics. 

Bock #1  Square in a Square.  I am using Tanya Wheelan fabrics and just mixing it up. 

Start with (2) 10" blocks.

Stacking them, cut a strip off each end measuring 2.5" each. Set those aside. (do not stack more than 4 pieces of fabric for cutting)

From the middle piece that is remaining, cut a strip off the top and the bottom that measure 2.5" each.  

Taking these to your machine, stitch a contrasting outside strip to your center block on both ends to look like this:

Now take your two long strips of your contrasting fabric and stitch them to each side as shown below. You will have some bits hanging over the end, it's okay, don't freak out, that's exactly how it should be. 

Take your ruler and trim these bits up square with your block and you are finished!  Pretty!

Have fun, mix it up, don't be afraid! Here are a few of my blocks.

Block #2 Snowball Block.  

Here is how you make the Snowball Block:

Cut a 9" square from your background fabric and (4) 2.5" squares from your accent or contrast fabric.

Using the marker of your choice, make a line diagonally across each small square, from one corner to the other, as shown above. I used a Clover chalk marker.

Pin one of the small squares in each corner as shown with your line touching the edge of the block as shown. 

Stitch directly on the line you have drawn on each corner piece of your block as shown above.

Take your ruler and rotary cutter, cut just 1/4 inch to the RIGHT of your stitching line. (save your cut bits, they make great leaders and enders)

Your block is all trimmed up and you are ready to press. Press all your seams with your iron to set them and then finger press them open to make sure your seam is open completely before you press it.  

Your finished block should look like the one above. Combine the two blocks and this will be our quilt.  Twin Size 64" x 82". for larger sizes, just add more blocks. Alternate blocks, stitching in rows from left to right. Press your seams to the square in a square blocks on each row. They alternate so when you go to stitch your rows together the seams will nest perfectly. 

Here's a little sneak peek.

Thank you to my husband who is 6'5" tall for holding up his end.

Flimsy is done and ready to quilt! This will be twin bed size and will go up for sale once it is quilted. Make sure you get over to our Facebook page and enter to win the giveaway this month!