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

Saturday Stash

Elder Son is so smart.  When he made a mistake in his 4-H project quilt, he would say, "Can you see it from the back of a galloping horse?"  When we went fabric shopping, he would say, "It's OK to buy it just because you think it's pretty."  Plus, he can cook.  He is going to make an excellent husband one day.

In a classic "It's OK to buy it just because you think it's pretty" purchase, I present this week's "Saturday Stash."

First, as a result of a really-too-good-to-pass-up sale at Stash modern fabric, "Kingdom" by Jessica Levitt for Windham Fabrics:

The complete collection.  Plus enough for a border.  No, I don't have a pattern in mind.

Next, because "everyone is using it and what if it is all sold out when I need to make another quilt because a sailor on My Little Sailor's ship got his Navy Warfare Badge?" I present, Salt Water, by Tula Pink:

 Another spectacularly good deal, this time from Westwood Acres.

Now this one is not just a good buy, but a gift from Hueisei, who won the giveaway awhile back.  I sent her the EZ Angle rulers because she was making Bonnie Hunter's "Easy Street," and well, they don't have JoAnn's in Malaysia.  And she gifted me the gift certificate she had won to Marie-Madeline Studio!  Isn't that the sweetest thing?  So of course, I bought:

 
Sugar Hill!  By Tanya Whelan for Free Spirit Fabrics!  Just because I think it's pretty . . . . 

And the best deal of all, this stack of Northcott Solids, from Ruth's Stitchery:

Because I think Ginny just wants to see what I will do with them!


From the desk of your

A Friday Finish

Before I introduce today's finish, remember when I wrote about washing the February Jelly Roll Party sample here?

Believe it or not, the red didn't run.  Not one bit.  The Color Catcher Sheets didn't even turn the least pink!

I know the hearts are kind of cliche', but I love a red and white quilt!  We'll be making this one at Ruth's Stitchery for the February 1st Jelly Roll Party.  If you're in the area, come join us.  If you're not, you can call Ruth's and order the pattern.

Most of my sewing this week has been sample-sewing for 100 Blocks Magazine and assorted block parties. So I can't show my work!  (Always my nemesis in math class.)

However, I did finish the March Jelly Roll Party sample!

This is "Lucky Charms," another Cozy Quilts pattern.  I used the Tonga Treasures Tonga Treats batik jelly roll "Gumdrops."  Yes, I bought mine at Ruth's!  The borders are green prints from the same collection, with an inner border of black and white stripe from my "stripey binding" bin.  Rather than use the white background for the pinwheel blocks recommended in the pattern, I used fat quarters of black on white prints. Once again, taking a photo shows how the colors do (or don't!) show up against the background.  I'm taking this one to my favorite long-armer, Ann, to do a shamrock-panto quilt design.

Linking up to Richard and Tanya's "Link a Finish Friday" and "Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday," hosted this week by Diane at "From Blank Pages."

Speaking of finishes -- My Little Sailor, and blog co-author, has some time off this weekend.  Maybe he'll get a button loaded for the 13 in 2013 challenge!

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday: UFO Update

Remember when I announced the "13 in 2013 UFO Challenge," here?  Have you started on your #5 UFO?

I have mine pieced!  It is Dot Dot Dash from "Skip the Borders" by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts. If you don't have a Local Quilt Shop, you can order your copy here.

Here is my version:

An important announcement:  YOU decide what is "finished" for this challenge!  For years, I considered a quilt "finished" when it was ready to go to the long-arm quilter.  By that rule, this UFO is "Finished!"  Woot woot!

Rather than host a link-up, or a Flickr group, I decided to go with the same method Sinta and Sherri used for "Another Year of Schnibbles."

When your January UFO is "finished" to your standard, send me an email with a photo attached.  Email to Aunt Marti at 52quilts dot com, attach your photo and I'll edit it for size.

January 31 at midnight Mountain Standard Time is the deadline to enter your photo.  February 1, when I announce the February UFO number, I'll also show a "parade" of all the January finishes.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday, guest hosted this week by Heidi at Buttons and Butterflies.

Yes, I've been collecting prizes! AND I've been nagging my tech editor and co-author about designing a button you can post on your own blog!

From the desk of your