Feeling the love from Samoa

Warning: picture heavy post ahead.

First, before I get to the good stuff, I know I've been absent from blogging for a couple of weeks. Lately I've been dealing with kids who have been sick and recovering, doctor's appointments, dentist appointments and general "mom/housewife duties". Sewing and blogging have been pretty low on my list of priorities lately, but now that everyone in my family seems to be well I'll be back at it again regularly.

Now the good stuff:

One thing I love about the internet is "meeting" great people. Barb over at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb is one of the greatest. A couple of weeks ago we started emailing each other regularly and decided to swap fabric. She'd send me a large flat rate priority box full of Samoan fabric and I'd send her the same size box full of Japanese fabric. What could be more fun? I could combine three of my favorite things; friendship, fabric and shopping. I had such a great time shopping for fabric for Barb. I really hope she likes all I sent!

Today I received my box from her. In just one word: FABULOUS! I am so lucky. The fabrics are beautiful. Want to see them? Of course you do! :)

Note: None of the pictures are really true to color. The fabrics are much more vibrant and beautiful in real life!


I love this lavender fabric. I immediately thought of my daughter when I saw it. I think she may be getting a new sundress for summer.



How great are these? I especially love the black and brown one. It really has a great print on it.



Mmmm...more yummy, floral goodness! I am a lucky girl! They are all so wonderful!



Wonderful fabric with Samoa written on it!




Ooh! Ahh! Pretty, pretty, pretty!




She sent some beautiful batiks as well. I love batiks!



Yes, even more delicious fabric. Did I say I was lucky to know Barb, and how wonderful she's been to me?



This one is my favorite. I love green and those little sea turtles are adorable. This fabric will definitely be used in something for me!



She also sent this cute magnet that is already on my refrigerator.




A nice roomy tote that will be perfect to take to the beach as well as a cute little cosmetic bag I can use to hopefully keep track of my lip balms and lotion that seem to get lost in my purse.

Thank you Barb! You are amazing! I love everything! I am so lucky to have found a friend like you!

Another block swap

Did you notice I have another "Rainbow block swap" button in my sidebar? That is because I've joined the swap that Jane's Fabrics and Quilts is hosting. It is the same type of swap. You pick one of the 9 colors available, pick out a 12" block and make 9 of them. In the end you'll end up with 9 blocks, each a different color and pattern to use in a sampler quilt. I enjoyed making the blocks for the other swap over at Reannalilly Designs so I decided to do this one as well. Since it is the same type of swap, once I get the blocks back from both of them I'll have enough to make a good sized quilt.

My color is purple, and I'll be making this block from the Quilters Cache website.

It looks like there are still a few openings left over at Jane's blog so if you're interested click here or the button in my sidebar to get all of the information.

That thread cutter thing

First let me ask, how do you handle your thread ends when you're quilting something? I know there are a lot of different ways to take care of them.

When I started quilting I was taught to leave a long tail of thread at each start and stop point, then after all the quilting is done to use a hand needle and knot each thread individually then bury the knot in between the layers. It is time consuming and tedious, but it's not too bad as long as the quilt is small with out a lot of ends.

Not this project though:



That is a little wall hanging I finished in December. It had over 225 thread ends on the front only! It had the same amount on the back. (Uh, yea, I didn't really think the quilting out on that one.) I had to thread each one onto a needle, then knot it and then bury that knot in the batting. UGHH! It was a miserable, terrible, horrible job that seemed to suck the quilting joy right out of me.

My husband bought me a great sewing machine that has a lot of features I love. I've noticed the little button with the pair of scissors on it before, but I assumed it was to be used with the embroidery part of this machine, which I will admit to hardly using, (as in, I've only used it once)

(see the button with the scissors on it?)


Today while quilting on something that is more of a practice piece, (I'll have pics of it later) I thought, "Why not try using that thread cutter thing on your machine? In fact, why not push the fix button first to knot the thread, then use the scissors button?" Since I was just practicing it wouldn't be a big deal if it looked terrible.

WOW! It can now be called the "little scissors button that has saved my quilting joy and sanity!" Now when I first push the "fix" button, then the scissors button my machine automatically knots the threads, then pulls the top thread down to the back, and cuts both the bobbin thread and the top thread!

As soon as I realized what my machine could do, I had visions of running around the neighborhood yelling, "My sewing machine will knot the threads, and cut them!" However, being known as "that crazy quilt lady" is not something I'd be fond of, so I controlled myself...LOL! Seriously though, this was a HUGE discovery for me! It is going to save me so much time.

So, how long have I had this wondrous machine? TWO YEARS! For two years that little button has been right in front of my face mocking me. Never telling me what it can do for me.
Well, the manual says it, I'm sure, but honestly who actually reads past the part telling you how to thread your machine? Never mind, don't answer that!

I feel liberated! No more tedious "thread pulling" (that's what I call it).

I love my sewing machine!

I really should thank my husband again for buying it for me, so...

Thank you Stud Muffin!

Thank you for loving me! Thank you for spoiling me! Thank you for tolerating my fabric buying, thread every where, always sewing, quilty craziness!

As much as I love my sewing machine, I love you much, much, more!

A favorite

I have been sewing some, but I'm no where near having anything complete enough to take pictures. Maybe this weekend.

So instead of telling you what I'm working on now, I'm going to tell you about my favorite quilt.



My daughter made this for me almost 3 years ago when she was 9 years old. A friend of mine helped her piece it, but the applique she did all by herself (by hand). She also did the quilting. She worked so hard on it, and was so proud, that she ended up giving it to me a couple of days before my birthday. :)

I really love the label on the back.



If you look closely you can see her hand stitches.


It hangs proudly in my kitchen where I can look at it daily.


I will forever cherish this little quilt. She put so much thought and work into it. I am very lucky to have such a sweet girl in my life!

Playing with Photoshop

I haven't really done any sewing lately, but as you can see, I've been playing around with Photoshop making a new background. I used pictures of some of my fabric.

I'm not completely happy with how it's turned out, but I really think the pigs with clovers fabric is perfect since it's so close to St. Patrick's day. I love that fabric so much that I don't really want to cut into it and use it!

Hopefully I'll get to sewing this week and will have pictures to share. Until then, here is a picture of our dog.


Her name is Angel. Isn't she cute? She is what people here on Okinawa call an Oki-mix. She is one of the sweetest dog's I've ever been around, and smart too! (When she wants to be.) She does a lot of tricks, but one of the best things she does is talks to us. She'll start howling and growling at us like she's trying to have a conversation. It's so funny!

Japanese fabric winner!

First I'd like to say,"Thank you" to everyone who participated in my give away. I've had a lot of fun going to all of your blogs. I've added you all to my google reader so I'll be visiting often.

After assigning everyone numbers based on comments, then links, and then followers, there were a total of 68 entries. I used the random number generator over at random.org which picked lucky number 6. Number 6 was assigned to Barb, (she made the 6th comment) over at Bejeweled quilts by Barb. I'll need your mailing address Barb and I'll get it into the mail for you!

Speaking of Barb, you should really go over there and check out the Round Robin give away she is hosting. It sounds like a lot of fun!

Make sure you check back here often as I've decided to do a give away once a month. I realize how lucky I am to be here in Japan where there are so many beautiful fabrics, and great notions so I'd like the share them with others.

Thanks again everyone for participating, and congratulations Barb!

Japanese fabric anyone?

Living here in Okinawa, Japan affords me a wonderful opportunity to collect beautiful Japanese fabric.

I have a lot of it!

Would you like some? I'm giving some away!

There are 22 8" by 8" squares, and 1 one meter piece.




Here's how to win it:

Leave a comment here and get one entry.

Post about it on your blog with a link back to here and get another entry. (Just make sure to let me know you did.)

And stealing an idea from Barb over at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb, follow me and you'll get another entry. (For those of you already following me you'll get two entries. Just let me know that you want to be in the running.)

Easy huh?

I'll pick a winner Saturday, March 7th, (Friday evening for all of you in the U.S.)

Good luck!

Done, Baby, Done!

I finished the quilt I was making for my daughter and I must say I am very pleased with the results!





I absolutely love the way the quilting made it crinkle and ripple after washing.




I really enjoyed making this from start to finish. I was so worried about attempting free motion quilting, but I actually enjoyed doing it! I know I'll be doing it a lot more in the future.


Here's a close up of my favorite block, and the quilting.



I used a black and white print for the binding.



My daughter seems to love it if the squealing, jumping and clapping her hands are any indication.

I am a proud and happy mom right now!

Off to do a "Happy, Quilting Mama Dance"!