Monday, January 7, 2013

Fun with FMQ and a Giveaway!

January 1st I started quilting "Hens and Chicks". 
Pinterest had given me the inspiration for a FMQ feather.


Pretty easy peasy, straight forward.  I thought it was something I could do.  So out came my trusty Pilot Frixion pen to draw on the design.


If you have never used one of these before, you're really missing out!  It's a smooth pen suitable for drawing quilting designs on your fabric without staining.  If you make a mistake, use your iron (follow package instructions) and the markings are erased!  It does have a temperature limitation in that at like, about 20 below temps, the markings come back...but I'm hardly ever out when it's that cold, let alone my quilts!  LOL

I started quilting...and endured a horrendous and painful squeaking from my darning foot.  Crap!  Quick call to the local sewing machine store and Mr. Fix It.  Not open.  Why?  Because it was New Year's Day and he had the nerve to want to close shop and spend time with his family.  LOL

Okay.  Call to my LQS.  Also closed.  What was wrong with these people!  I was having a quilting crisis and they weren't there!
Ack!

So, I turned to my two best friends...Hubby and Google.  I oiled the darning foot and while I was in there I cleaned everything again, adjusted the bobbin tension and oiled the wick.

This is what the finished feather looks like.

(backing fabric)

Happy.  Happy.  Happy.
I decided to add a shadow to one side of the feather as I went along.  Bonus!  My stitch length seems to have worked itself out for now.  Woo Hoo!  My machine is purring and quilting like a dream.

Here is the finished table quilt in its new home.


I love the girliness (three boys here) of it all!  I quilted a heart into the center of each larger block's center.

Now for the giveaway!
I meant to do this at 300 posts, but Life got in the way and I totally forgot.
So, here we go!


A sweet little basket using scraps from the "Hens and Chicks" table quilt.  It's four inches high, two inches wide and six inches long.  Perfect for storing scraps, fat quarters for your next project, nail polish, hair doodles, or candy!

There are three chances to win per person.
Leave a comment here for a chance (please put your email in your comment), become a follower for another (or let me know you already are, and blog about the giveaway and let me know here in a comment so I can come visit your blog too!  I will have one of my "little" elves draw a name Sunday the 13th and I'll announce the winner the following Monday.

Linking up a sneak peak of another Pinspired project to Fabric Tuesday, WIP Wednesday, and Finish It Up Friday.

After editing, Angie and Gale, KY quilter will be "upgraded" to having three chances. 
LOL














37 comments:

  1. Your feather is beautiful and the hearts are so cute! Glad you got the darning foot emergency worked out. :)

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  2. Love love love that tablerunner---great job on your feathers. :) And that little basket really wants to come and live at my house. :) badgershipley@gmail.com

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  3. Love your hens and chicks basket.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

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  4. And I'm following as Renee G on GFC
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

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  5. Happy new year Dee! Congratulations on 300+ posts. Love your table runner and scrap basket!

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  6. Dee - Just found your blog and added it to my list two days ago. Even if I don't win the basket, can you share the pattern? Would love to try it if I have enough skill.
    Thanks!
    Rose

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  7. Nice feathers! Someday I will attempt some fancy quilting like that -- I am currently a straight-line quilter! The basket is really nice. Thank you for the chance to win it!

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  8. Dee -- Love the new feather -- you did a great job!!

    Karen

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  9. Nice giveaway - I am sure that little basket is asking to come live in my sewing room and meet some friends ha! Thanks for the opportunity.

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  10. I think I need to try that pattern!! Very nice!! Thx for the giveaway! That basket is lovely!

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  11. Love the free motion feathers on the table quilt. Thanks for the tip about the marking pen. I shall have to look for one of these as I have been looking for a good way to mark for quilting.

    The scrap basket is sew adorable. Thanks for sharing.

    Thanks also for visiting my blog and leaving a lovely comment ... :) Pat

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  12. I am a new follower so I can find my way back for more quilty goodness. Thanks for the chance to win ... :) Pat

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  13. Your feathers look great and that basket would look fab in my quilt room!

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  14. I'm a new follower and look forward to seeing your work~

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  15. Glad I found your blog - can't wait to see more of your projects!

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  16. I am really interested in one of those pens but I live in Australia. Do you think I could buy one online from somewhere? I love how your quilt turned out. Great FMQ and so pretty. Why is it that your machine always breaks or the dog always gets sick or you need a dentist when the LQS or vet or dentist are closed. Grrrr! Thank goodness for google and hubbies!
    Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

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  17. I came here after spying your hens and chicks on Flickr. I LOVE Hens and chicks and adore the fabric you used in yours. How delighted I am to see you have a give away too! Thanks for the chance.

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway as my mother loves chickens of all kinds. It's amazing how your perseverance using the Internet and self-repair paid off so well in fixing your machine problem. The quilting turned out very nice. Congratulations on passing your huge blogging milestone, and here's wishes for another 300 posts! mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. Your feathers are beautiful. And I love your cute basket. Click on my name and it will take you to my profile and email :-)

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  20. I'm a new quilter and appreciate the inspiration! Kristine.w.Clay@gmail.com

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  21. Visiting from Finish It Up Friday -- what a sweet little basket!

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  22. I am now a follower...GLAD to find you!

    Lucy~

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  23. Oh, I would delight in winning that!

    Lucy~

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  24. Great to see the work of a fellow Kiwi! Super fabric, I can see why you wanted to use it!

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  25. Love your machine quilting. Just took a class and love the pattern you used. I will have to adventure past meandor quiting and try your pattern.

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  26. What a cute basket and the size is perfect for holding little trinkets. thanks for the giveaway.

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  27. What a cute basket and the size is perfect for holding little trinkets. thanks for the giveaway.

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  28. I like frixon pens but be wary of using them on batiks as they can leave "bleach" marks. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  29. Glad you fixed your machine, because the feathers are gorgeous!!!

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  30. Thanks for the giveaway! love the colors on the basket

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  31. Nice work getting your darning foot to cooperate! Aren't you resourceful :-) I love that quilting.

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