Giant Granny Square Afghan Finish

I've taken some time out from working on my Halloween pinwheel quilt the last couple of days to finish my Giant Granny Square Afghan that I started as part of Sucrette's Giant Granny CAL. 

Here is my afghan on our king sized bed. 

I used a variety of worsted weight yarn in about 30 different colors. 

The border was round #70, and it took almost an entire 3.5 oz. skein of yarn for that outside round.  The border is called Ole-Ole, and the chart is on Sucrette's blog.

It was fun doing this afghan with a group, but it was especially nice to get to know Cattinka, Cyn and Elly better since we all started the crochet along at about the same time. 

Thanks for stopping by today!    I hope you are doing some stitching this evening!

Halloween Quilting and A New Camera

This afternoon I opened the bag of Halloween fabrics I've been collecting and decided that maybe it was time that I made something for Halloween.  Here is the fabric:

I've even collected some pumpkin buttons and orange, brown and cream variegated thread so that I can machine quilt whenever the project is finished.

But before I could sew anything I had to play with my new camera.  The one I've been using is one my husband bought to use for work.  I borrowed it, tossed it in my purse, and the view finder has been scratched since that day.  No amount of soft scrub or toothpaste would remove those scratches.  So I'm being extra careful with my new one.

It's a Samsung - 16 megapixel, and our TVs and blu ray players are Samsung so we decided why not a camera.  So far I'm happy with it.  The manual is on CD and is 127 pages so I've only waded through part of it.  But here is a feature that I accidentally found.

It has different frames you can use.  You can center a photo in the middle of the T-shirt drying on the line. 

You can put a photo in the TV set in the old fashioned living room.

Here's a photo on the billboard at the train station.

Here's a photo on the side of a building. 

In spite of taking a lot of photos today, I did get some sewing done.  Here is what I've made so far from the Halloween fabrics.

I think the pumpkin has his own thing going and needs to be in a different quilt than the rest of the blocks on my design wall.

Here is a bit closer photo of the stitchery in the center.  That is a design by Gay from Sentimental Stitches.  She had a survey on her blog awhile back, and for taking the time to answer a few questions she sent me the PDF of the little witch stitchery.  I think she will make a cute center block. 

I think this is what I'll work with tomorrow unless I come up with another idea over night. 

Next post I'm going to tell you how I make pinwheel blocks.  Until then......you can see what others have on their design walls by visiting Judy here. 

I hope you are taking time to do some stitching today. 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! 

Good Mail from Germany

It has been a great week for mail here.  I entered a giveaway/contest over at Roswitha's blog and won.  She posted a photo with spools of thread that were strung into large rings somehow, and there were several of these rings.  Then all of the rings were hung over the back of a chair.  The one who guessed closest to the number of spools in the photo had their choice of chains that Roswitha makes, and I chose gingerbread men.  I just love this chain that she made for me.  When I decorate for Christmas these will go up on my mantel with a string of lights and some greenery.  In the meantime, I plan to enjoy them year round in my sewing room.

Just look at this little guy.  Each heart and gingerbread man has ribbon that says God Jul (Merry Christmas).   They were neatly packaged in a bag with polar bears on it that Roswitha also made.

And as a bonus, Roswitha made me the purple bag with the rose decoration on front.  There are two pockets in the lining to hold small items.  I think I'll use the bag to hold a stitchery project, and my thread and floss will go in the pockets.  And, she sent me a German magazine.  What fun!  I don't read German, but I just love looking through the magazine just the same.  The card she sent has a drawing of a village near where she lives.

Thank you Roswitha for the fun package and for all of the work you have put into these things.  I will treasure them.  I hope you will go visit Roswitha's blog, Blauraute.  She is a very dear lady. 

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you have a good mail day and find some time for stitching, too.

Goodies from Australia

Awhile back I left a comment on Leanne's blog.  Leanne lives in Australia and posted a picture of Romantic Homes magazine that she had just bought.  She was excited because it is published here in the US, and she found it there in Australia.  I had just bought the next issue of the same magazine.  After exchanging a few emails, we decided to send an envelope with a magazine or things from our country to the other.  Here is what was in the envelope that I received from Leanne.

She sent a lot of fun stitchery patterns for me to do, and I love the pretty thread and the fabrics.  The buttons are cute.  Here is a close up:

The bird buttons are pretty, but I am in love with the kangaroo button and will find a special project to put him in.   Thanks Leanne for a fun trade.

I hope you are finding some time to stitch. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Duck...Duck....Quilt???

This is my Garden Fence quilt, and it was on my design wall until I finished sewing the top together.  When I look at it all I see is yellow....like a big yellow duck.   I wanted this quilt for on the twin bed in our spare room so in order to make the quilt larger in addition to the borders (to be added later), I put 2 inch wide sashing in between the blocks and rows.    I think the yellow overwhelms the fabrics (Lovely by Moda).  Every other Garden Fence quilt I have seen has either used white or off white.  I just thought the yellow would be something different.  Well it's different but different isn't necessarily always good.

Here are my options:

I could take the whole quilt apart and substitute white or off white for the yellow. This would take longer than cutting out another quilt and sewing it together.

OR

I could cut the 2 inch sashing down to 1 inch and add the borders.

OR

I could put the borders on this one, donate it and move on. 

What to do? I would appreciate any input. 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!  And, thanks to Judy Laquidara at http://www.patchworktimes.com for sponsoring Design Wall Monday. 

I hope you are finding some time to stitch today! 

Flurry Fabric Giveaway Winner Is..........

The winner of my 200th post giveaway is comment number 4: Janet O. I have emailed Janet and will send off her Flurry charm packs and Kona fabrics this coming week. Thanks to everyone for entering and for all of your wonderful comments.   

Enter a lower limit:
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Random Number:

200th Post Giveaway

To No Reply Bloggers

I have had several of you leave a comment who are no-reply bloggers so I have no way to contact you.

Go to your Dashboard page.
Under your photo click Edit Profile.
Check the second box on that page that says "show my email address".
Scroll down to the bottom and click the save profile button. 

Then come back and leave another comment. 

Some people have written that don't have a blog so there isn't even a way for me to go to their blog and leave a comment there.  Another option is to include your email address in your comment.  I always feel bad when someone asks me a question or makes a comment that I'd like to respond to, and there is simply no way for me to reach them. 
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I can't believe that I've posted 200 times on this blog.  I really appreciate all of you stopping by to read my ramblings and look at my photos.  I love blogging because it motivates me to keep going on my current projects and to try new things.  I have also made many friends and love all of your emails.

As a thank you to all of my readers, I'm having a giveaway.  

Since I received such a positive response to my Christmas Present Wall Hanging, I'm giving away enough fabric for you to make one for yourself with enough to make a second project or to make whatever you want.  The giveaway includes 1 1/2 yards of Kona White, 1/2 yard each Kona Red and Green, and 2 Flurry charm packs.

To be entered in my giveaway, just leave a comment.  I'll close the giveaway on Friday evening and post the name of the winner on Saturday.  Good luck!

Hope you are doing some stitching today! 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!