A (Secret) Friday Finish

Shhh -- I can show you today's finish, but you have to promise not to tell for whom I made it.  Promise?

It's a pillow top:

The fabric is Madrona Road by Violet Craft for Michael Miller fabrics.  I used the "Ocean" colorway.  The design is a paper-pieced pattern from Nancy Mahoney's book, "Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing."  My niece bought me this book because she saw a quilt made from one of the patterns at Esther's Fabrics in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

I love my niece, but I do not love paper piecing.  Even though I used the "butcher paper" paper-piecing method (I promise a Tuesday tutorial on this, soon), I still hate paper piecing.

I even did a tiny bit of hand-quilting, using three strands of embroidery floss.  Backing the pieced top with lightweight fleece makes the stitching "stand up" very nicely.

Hmm, my gold thread matches so well, even close/close up you can't see it in the photo.

This project is for a challenge in which the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild is participating.  We're making pillows for our projects, so only one block (whew) was needed.

Linking up to Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday, hosted this week by Fiona at Celtic Thistle Stitches, as well as Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Meanwhile, have you commented on this post to enter my giveaway celebrating 400 followers of 52 Quilts?  And how is your #5 UFO for 13 in 2013 coming along?  Less than two weeks to finish!

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday -- Sort Of

"Sort of" means I didn't make much progress on this week's Work-in-Progress!

I need to make 72 blocks to make this quilt the size I want, and so far I have four complete.  I do have most of the 432 Half-Square Triangles sewn.

On a happier note, I was selected to play along with this year's Quiltmaker Magazine's "Scrap Squad!"

The QM Scrap Squad is a select group of seven QM readers.  They take one pattern from each regular issue of Quiltmaker and create their own scrappy versions to inspire you.  The quilts are then featured on the "Quilty Pleasures" blog.

The 2013 Quiltmaker's Scrap Squad includes:

Gina, of Gina Quilts and Knits; Becky, of Becky's Quilt Obsession; Nicole, of Colie's Quilting;  Anne, from QuiltWoman; Christa, of Second Story Quilting; Colette, of My Quilt Place; Carol-no-blog; and me!

The squad has its own Facebook group where we can exchange idea about the scrappy quilts we'll make this year.  My first contribution is due February 22 -- so I'd better get cracking!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced:

Speaking of cracking:  Have you gone to Monday's post to enter the 400 followers giveaway?  Click here to comment and enter!

From the desk of your

Ding! Ding! Ding! 400 Followers Giveaway!

Today is a Red-Letter Day:  52 Quilts in 52 Weeks has reached 400 followers!  Woot, woot!

And didn't your Aunt Marti promise you all a giveaway at the point?  Why yes, yes she did!  And here it is:

A complete kit to make this cute quilt.

Includes all the fabric from the "Farmgirl's Garden" collection by Joined At the Hip Designs for Clothworks Textiles needed for the top and binding -- choose your own backing.  The quilt finishes at 48" square.  Perfect for a baby quilt or "I'm so sick of winter I could scream" cuddle-under quilt.

Here are the giveaway guidelines:

1. Please comment on this post and tell me if you prefer to buy your projects as "kits" or "bit by bit."
2. Since we're celebrating followers, please be a follower of this blog.
3. If you're a no-reply or anonymous commenter, be sure to include your email address in your comment.  Use this format to avoid being spammed:  AuntMarti at 52quilts dot com (fill in your own email address).
4. Giveaway ends next Tuesday, January 22 at Noon MST.
5. Please, one comment per person.
6. Oh yeah, international entries welcome.  Hurry before the postage rates go up!

Good luck, and thank you for following 52 Quilts!

From the desk of your

Almost time for another giveaway!

52 Quilts now has almost 400 followers!  So exciting, I think I need to sponsor another giveaway, don't you? And quick, before the overseas postage rates go up on January 28.

Before I announce the giveaway, let me describe a little problem.  Some of those who comment on this blog are "anonymous" or "no-reply" commenters.  I like to respond to every comment I receive, even if it's only to say "Thank you for your kind comment.  Good luck in the giveaway."

But if you're a no-reply commenter, and your profile page has no email address -- well, I can't find you.  Not only that, your comment goes straight to the Spam folder.

(Image from Talking Identity)

So please, I want you to have an even chance to win the next giveaway. It's easy to fix, just go to this post and update your profile so you are no longer the dread pirate Anonymous!



From the desk of your