A BIG Teeny Tiny Packages

Today, I received this awesome package in the mail all the way from The Netherlands! It is from Simone. This is my prize for the Teeny Tiny Squares Swap. Isn't it awesome????

Here is the precious tiny quilt made with fabric with birds, birdhouses, bees -- it SCREAMS SPRING! I LOVE THIS LITTLE QUILT. Thank you Simone!


The following picture is of the back and the label made by Simone.

In addition to the quilt, I received some charm squares, a candy bar and a lovely card.




AND, I received this little teeny tiny cushion with my name embroidered on it! Isn't it the cutest?

And, last but not least, is the back of the little cushion.



THANK YOU SIMONE!

Bush Fire Project

I have completed four wonky star blocks for the Bush Fire Project that Tia is hosting for the victims of the Australia fires. I made these blocks in honor of my son who is a Fireman with the Houston Fire Department. These blocks will be flying away to Australia tomorrow.

Block #2 Completed!

Block #2 of Gail Pan's BOM is now completed. Come on Block #3 -- these are really fun! Thank you Gail.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Tisket, A Tasket...........

........A Red Little Basket. Here is Block #2 of the A Tisket, A Tasked BOM. I'm not too sure that I'm pleased with it. I'm thinking I have too much red. These are fun blocks to make.

Let's Help!!!!!

As I am sure you are aware, there are terrible, terrible fires over in Australia. There has been over 200 people burned to death, livestock, pets, and homes completely gone.

When there is a crisis, what do quilters do?? We make quilts!!!!! Tia over at Camp Follower Bags is organizing an effort to make quilts for those Victorians who have survived the fires.

Tia is asking for 12.5" unfinished star blocks. Go to her blog and get all the details. It will not take long at all to make a couple of blocks and the postage will not be too much.

As the mother of a fireman, it is only natural that I would want to assist in such an effort. I am asking my fellow bloggers to join the cause. Let's show some good ole USA benevolence and help our fellow men/women over in Australia as they go thru this devastating time in their country.

For our Aussie Friends!

I just want to say to our Aussie friends that I am so sorry for the devastating fires going thru Victoria. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.

What???? I've received an Award!

This is a blogging award that originated in Portugal and this is what it says about the blogs who are given this award....."This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are extremely charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award."

Wow! Zlaty over at Zlaty Sews is so sweet and has given me this award. I feel so honored. Gee, she must think I'm really nice -- hehehehehe. Be sure to go over and visit Zlaty's blog. Now, I am to give this award to 8 more people. I have had this post in "draft" for over a day. There are so many people I can think of to give this award to. When I go to their blogs, a lot of them have already received it. SEW, here's what I'm going to do: All the friends I've met in Blogland are the sweetest and nicest people. I LOVE reading everyone's blogs; in fact I think I'm addicted!!!!! I've decide to present this award to all the lovely quilters in Blogland!!!

Happy House Block Instructions

In an effort to make it easier to access the Happy House Block instructions, I have copied them (with Lurline's permission) from Lurline's blog.


We are hoping that lots of you USA quilters will want to join the fun! Please email me to sign up and then post the swap block on your blog and link back to my blog.

These fun house blocks finish at 7.5" square (before triangle sashings) and are made completely from 2" strips, and scrap, squares!
For each house block you will need:
Roof:
(1) 2" x 8" rectangle
House:
(1) 2" x 8" rectangle
(3) 2" x 3.5" rectangles
(1) 2" square
Door:
(1) 2" x 3.5" rectangle
Window:
(1) 2" square
Chimneys:
(2) 2" squares
Background:
(5) 2" neutral squares
Sashings:
(2) 12.5" x 3.5" rectangles
Allowance for 1/4" seams has been included.
Sew your chimney squares and three of your neutral squares together as shown.

In this pic you can see that I have drawn diagonal lines across the neutral squares that will form the roof and background. It is important that you have one uphill diagonal line and one down hill diagonal line so the angles on your roof will turn out right!

Sew on pencil marks as shown!

Clip off the 'dog ear' corners, and press the background triangles out from the roof piece.

Use pic above illustrating how to assemble other pieces!

Sew units together and press neatly - now you have your little house, measuring 7.5" square.
You are now ready to add the topsy-turvy triangles! This is a little tricky as your houses will go 'uphill' and 'downhill' alternately, according to the block setting.

First place both 12.5" x 3.5" rectangles both right side up on top of each other. For the 'uphill' houses you want to place your ruler so that it runs DOWN HILL from upper left to lower right across your two rectangles. Use your rotary cutter to slice from lower right to upper left, corner to corner, through the rectangles.

For 'downhill' houses it is going to be the opposite. Still place both your rectangles right side up on top of each other. Place your ruler the opposite way from lower left to upper right ... your ruler is going 'uphill' but the triangles will turn your houses opposite, it will be going 'down hill' by the time you sew the triangles to the block.

Lay your triangles as shown above - it is important to have the straight grain of the triangles laid against the block!

You can see I have sewn the side triangles first and snipped off the ends! Notice how the straight grain of the fabric is against the block and the 'not quite bias' is on the outside edge. I sew the two side triangles on to the block first.

Now, this is how your blocks will be posted to me and we will accurately trim them to 10" square!

Your blocks will be returned to you, as above - all ready to be joined together as you so desire! There will be 1/4" float around the joined houses, so you will have all your lovely litle corners intact - I would rather a float than a corner cut off - do you agree!

Have a trial run and see how you go - once you do the first block it is easy-peasy!
As I said, please email me if you have any questions - Lurline and I look forward to a lot of Aussie and USA girls signing up. It is an easy block and will make a really cute little quilt.

T.G.I.F.

Happy House Block Swap

Hey you USA Qulters, are you up for a "Happy House Block Swap". Lurline over at Lurline's Place is hosting this swap, BUT, it was only open to the Aussie Quilters due to the postage. Well, well, the USA girls want to play too!!! Sew, you are invited to come to my Happy House and lets swap bocks. I will be your USA hostess on behalf of Lurline.

Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville is the designer of the block and has given Lurline permission to use the pattern. Isn't it just too cute....up the hill....down the hill....and over to Grandma's House we go. Oh, I'm sorry....got a little carried away with the singing. The following is a picture of a little quilt Lurline made. Isn't it just toooo cute??????

These little blocks measure out to be 10" finished and are quite easy to make. You may find the instructions here over at Lurlines. It is suggested that you make 9-12 blocks. You will receive back the same number of blocks you send. You will mail the blocks to me (along with a pre-paid postage return envelope) way down in good ole Texas no later than April 30th and I'll swap them out and send them back to you.

If you would like to join the fun and build your own Happy Houses, please send your name, email addy, snail mail addy, and blog addy to me at kearley75860 (at) yahoo (dot) come. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Chookyblue was so nice to create the following swap button for you to put on your blog.

Sew, come on folks, get out those building tools and let's build some Happy Houses!

Blessings -- Part II

I have completed the Blessings mini. I came in from work today went straight to the studio! I put on the borders, quilted it, made binding and I just got finished. Awwwww......quilting......the best therapy there can be!!!!!! A February finish! 2009 is off to a good start!

Blessings

Here is a little something that I did this weekend. I have really "gotten into" this embroidery. This block is going to be the center of a small wallhanging. I decided to combine some applique and embroidery together. All of it is stitched by hand. Now, I have to add the borders. Is this for someone you ask? Nope, just playing around. It is a bit out of my "comfort zone" with the bright colors, but it is a fun project. You see, my studio is a separate building from my house. My hubby is not feeling well and I'm trying to spend time with him since he is in "lock-down" (meaning it is very unusual for him to not have any energy to do anything) AND it keeps me busy while watching TV .

Stay tuned for the final product.