50th Birthday Giveaway

For those of you who have been following me since the beginning of my blog in 2012 (thank you!), you all know that I've done a birthday giveaway each year, and this year I turned the big 5-0, so a giveaway is definitely happening! 

I know I've been a little absent from my blog lately, and I'll just blame that on Instagram.  If you haven't checked out all the quilty fun on Instagram, you might just have to give it a whirl. You can blame me if you get addicted because I blame Caroline (http://trilliumdesign.blogspot.com/) since she introduced me to it last year.  If you're not sure about Instagram, just check it out.   It's free.  It's easy.  And you can just look around without joining.  You just won't be able to participate in any of the fun unless you join.  

Here's a little of what I've been working on. If you've already seen these pics on IG, then you can skip down to the part about the giveaway.  If not, then you need to look at all my pics first!  ha ha! 

This is my Aviatrix Medallion quilt.  Pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman.  I still have two more borders to go, and it will be 80x80 when it's all done! This is such a fun quilt to make!!

I've been practicing my free-motion quilting daily.  OK, not daily....I've missed a few days.  I really, really, really want to quilt with something other than straight lines.  I love the straight lines, but....

Here's another reason to get on Instagram - When you practice your daily FMQ, post it, and use the hashtag #dailyFMQ, there are prizes to be won! Now get on your phone and sign up for an IG account! 

OK.....now for what you've all been waiting for!  I'm giving away a FQ bundle of Gleeful by SewCaroline AND a $20 gift certificate to Winter Creek Cloth! 

There will be ONE winner who will receive both items. The rules are pretty simple.  Just leave a comment about birthdays.  That's it.  You can tell me what you like to do on your birthday, what you do for others on their birthdays, what you want for your birthday, what you received on your birthday.  You get the idea. You'll have TWO chances to win -- by leaving a comment here and by leaving a comment on my Instagram post. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, September 2nd at 7 PM PST.  Giveaway is open to everyone! 

*******THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED*****

Birthday Quilt for My Dude

I've made quite a few quilts since I started quilting about 6 years ago. I've made quilts for some pretty special people, but I hadn't made one for the most special person in my life - my husband, aka my dude. What's up with that? He has actually mentioned on more than one occasion that he might be interested in designing a quilt for himself, so I guess I was waiting for that to happen. I finally decided to just start one myself.  I started it in time to give to him for Valentine's Day this year. But I started way too late, just like I always do. Then I messed up horribly on my quilting and had to set it aside for awhile while I decided what to do next.  I spent the next few months, off and on, unpicking row after row after row of stitching, all while trying to keep this a secret.  I thought I might finish it in time for Father's Day, but had another quilt that I needed to finish. Then I thought I might finish it for our 31st anniversary on July 2nd. Geez! Couldn't make that deadline either! I didn't think I'd ever finish it!!  Well, his birthday was on July 10th, and I finished it just in time ...... at 10 PM the night before his birthday.  I not only missed all these special occasions this year, but for the last several years.  My husband is my rock.  He should've received my very first quilt, and most definitely should've received a quilt before now. 

I knew I had to make the XO quilt using the Canoe Ridge Creations tutorial because Eric and I have been signing our texts and emails with an XO for years.  But the XO quilt is pretty small, and Eric is 6'2" and needs more than just a width-of-fabric quilt (42-44" for all you nonquilters reading this). So I used the XO quilt pattern and just added to it. 

And I also wanted to add a heart, and found this really cute one here

I didn't think I would ever be done with it.  I'll never ever quilt like this again. Just look at all that stitching - about 1/2" apart.  I must be insane. 

I remembered a post that I had seen about matched binding and just knew it would be perfect for this! If you haven't seen this, check it out at A Quilter's Table

I used Modern Solids by Jason Yenter for In the Beginning Fabrics.  I purchased these at www.wintercreekcloth.com, and even earned some reward points while shopping ;) 

I used Dogma Red Ikat Plaid for the back, which by the way hides all kinds of mistakes, just FYI :)  You're welcome. I got this at Winter Creek Cloth, too - even more reward points! Woo hoo! 

I finished it off with a label.  I used Amanda Jean's label tutorial.  Eric and I have this plan to grow old together, something we've always planned to do but this really impacted us when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.  It was our "plan A" and there wasn't a plan B.  

And of course it has to be tested by Giacomo, as always.  Check out that tongue! I think he approves. 

Eric absolutely loved his quilt.  It's the perfect size.  When he's in his recliner, it actually hangs down to the floor.  I just realized as I'm posting this at 10:15 PM that I don't have a pic of him with his quilt, so I'll do a follow-up post because he's sleeping right now and I don't think he'd be very happy if I woke him up for a pic.