Variety Posting Today Plus A GIVEAWAY!!!!

Are you interested in a Pay It Forward? I posted about this a few post ago and already have my three PIFs. Sherry is in need of just one more participant so I told her I would spread the word on my blog. If you are interested please contact her.

You have been absolutely wonderful sending me fish scraps! They are arriving in the mail now and it looks like I will have a good variety for my fish bowls. I've got lots of bowls to make and have been asking for 8 1/2" squares of scrap. If you can spare a square of fish scrap or even something aquarium related (coral, seahorses, shells) let me know.

Indian Paintbrush is sitting and waiting for backing. *SIGH* In my stash is the perfect backing, all four yards and I need five! Darn it!! Today has been spent making several more stars similiar to the ones in the quilt and using the leftover scraps for a pieced back. I'm nearly down to slivers of scrap from the leftover fabrics. I'm on a mission and will get this quilted!

Are you aware of these Shout Color Catcher sheets? Use them! Do you see the dingy gray in comparison to the crisp white sheets? I tossed three sheets in with this quilt for good measure.

I do not prewash my fabrics unless I have something questionable that I feel will bleed and I certainly wouldn't prewash honey buns, jelly rolls, charm packs, turnovers, etc and so forth. Who does? I think that would be a big mess.

Dawn is giving away a copy of her NEW book!!! I don't really want to tell you because it makes the odds of my winning whittle away. But I do get a couple of points for sharing the news and because Dawn is a sweetie I'll share the news. Oh....if you go over tell her Quilt Hollow says hi (maybe she'll give me extra points!)

Please check my side bar for two more giveaways added today!! I'm ever so grateful if you tell them I sent you over. In addition, it got me thinking for those who do tell them I sent you on these giveaways ... one of you may just get a little surprise from me to say thank you!!

In addition, my friend at Primitive Elegance (listed on my side bar) posted several of her gorgeous tops. Stop in and say hello...she is a new blogger!

It's A Top

This is the one, the quilt that I've been working on for nearly two weeks off and on and between all else. All I had left to do on it when I woke this morning was the borders. But first my morning check in blogland with my morning tea. Uh-oh! What do I see over here? Karen Diane's is also beautiful! I want to give a shout out to Marcie for the awesome pattern, Indian Paintbrush. When I saw it at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show at the Olde Green Cupboard all kitted up and ready, I knew it was meant to be mine! These are the fabrics and colors that are truly my comfort zone even though as of late I seem to stray. I still need to hunt for some backing in the stash closet and then quilt, bind and wash it for that antique crinkle look.

The pattern can be found at Marcie's website Patchalot Patterns in addition to so many more!

Do You Have Fish Scraps?

Well, if you were checking in to see this quilt I have to disappoint in today's post but do promise to show it the very next time around! I've nearly got the top finished, really I do!

Must share my mailbox. Oh I just love the blooms!

I found this quilt somewhere on internet a few years ago and can't remember where. I have to apologize I can't give credit to the person who made it. If somebody recognizes or knows this person please let me know. I've been saving this picture in hopes of someday making this quilt for future grandkids. The little fish bowls are different than "kitchen pantry" jars and the little kitty looking at the aquarium in the middle just makes me smile. It doesn't require large pieces of fish fabric (exception of middle) but rather 8.5" squares is what I would like to use and am looking for fish scraps from other quilters who are willing to part with just one 8.5" square. If you have a square to spare would you contact me for my mailing address? Thanks bunches!

Meowzer Update - never came home.

Online Quilt Festival

Amy of Park City Girl has organized the most wonderful online Quilt Festival! Her idea is for us to share a favorite quilt and give the story behind it and then link to Mr. Linky on her blog. There are oodles of bloggers already linked in hopes of winning a prize from the generous sponsors!

It wasn't long ago that I posted this quilt. My civil war scraps stash is plentiful of just that...scraps from numerous other projects. This was a free pattern on Quilter's Cache that I liked. It was an easy pattern with a pieced nine patch center and paper piece the rest of the block. Soon I had a top that just sat around the room wherever I tossed it. I fell out of love with it and I think it was because I'd seen these fabrics over and over again. They were from my never-ending scraps of civil war afterall. Then Gam my longarm fella arrived. What did I have to lose if I ruined the top from my practicing? Remember, out of love with it? Well, Gam gave it a whole new life and as I stitched out each block I became very fond of this little keeper that now hangs proudly in my quilt studio. I love it!

Kernersville, NC Quilt Show

Thought I'd share a few pictures of a quilt show I attended today. Pictures just don't do them justice. I could easily have taken this one home.

This one caught my eye too! Mrs. Goodneedle was the quilter.....fantastic quilting!!

Ah...then there is this one....oozing with charm.

But this one! OMG!! This was a favorite for sure....again, picture does this no justice! It was simply stunning!

Today was an absolute joy in meeting Mrs. Goodneedle. We live just a hop, skip and jump from each other's doorstep and hope to do some serious stitching together in the very near future!!

Then I met another blog buddy Carrie. You know this blogger....the gorgeous appliquer! It was a pleasure to meet her and perhaps I can learn some things about applique from her since she too is just a short distance up the road from me!

Also today I met up with some guild members who mentioned they read my blog. They don't have one of their own and say they aren't bloggers but love to read mine. I'm laughing here....if your lurking than you wanna be a blogger. (hey there Cathi and Sandi!!)

I've got my three Pay It Forwards....thank you....365 days to accomplish the task. Woo Hoo!! Let me know if you missed out and want to participate....my three will be looking for their three.

Pay It Forward Is New To Me

I have joined my first PIF from Karen's blog. I think this sounds fun and lots of time to do it.

The concept of a PIF occurs when acts of kindness are performed without expecting anything in return and are passed on, trusting that the recipients will do the same and Pay It Forward, resulting in a never ending chain of kindness.

By signing on, my commitment is to make and send a gift to the first 3 friends who post a comment to this post requesting to join this exchange and who promise to Pay It Forward to 3 other persons, and so on.

At this time, I don't know what my 3 gifts will be, but I can promise you a gift made by me and from my heart that I will send to you within the next 365 days. By signing on, what YOU then have to do in return is to Pay It Forward by making the same announcement and commitment on YOUR blog.

I hope you'll join me! Need three of my fellow bloggers! Come on....you know you wanna!

A New Blogger Among Us....Simply Fantastic!!

Rhonda has a new blog! I've posted about her primitive stitchery website in the past. Her stitchery patterns are simply fantastic and I see lots of new ones! I also see that the designs have been digitized for embroidery machines. Go on over, say hello and tell her I sent you!

As for the Meowzer report (thanks to those who still email and ask), I fear the worse since I live in a wooded area with other critters. We've had lots of thunder, lightening and more than our fair share of rain as well. He would have been home on his window ledge in the garage.

I'm holding off showing the top I am piecing until complete. It's a work in progress in between other quilting, cleaning, cooking, and whatever else interrupts my quilting time up the stairs.

Cash Strapped Crafting

Isn't this just the cutest little fabric envelope? This is just one of a bunch of fantastic patterns that are all free! Robby has feverishly been working on a new blog called, Cash Strapped Crafting. I have her posted on the side bar of my blog and she is always on top so I know she is working like a mad woman posting all these wonderful finds.

A Lovely Surprise

Blogging friends have been wonderful to me this past week. Thank you for all who left comments and also email me outside of the blog with regards to my missing Meowzer cat. He still hasn't shown up and I haven't given up because you've given me hope. The stories you shared with me about just how long some of you have had yours gone and then to hear they show up as though nothing happened! Don't they know we worry? I'd love to have a GPS on him. Many, many times a day I go to the front porch "just in case" he is there waiting for me.

I never heard the postman, so today when I went to look for the 20th time there was a box. Oh, can't even tell you how excited and uplifting it was to see such a lovely surprise waiting for me. It was my win from Carrie. I took a photo to show her generosity of fabric, stencil and notepad. This gives me a great start to a Spring quilt! But mostly.....really made my day. Thanks again Carrie....I really needed that.



Then to all my cheerleaders out there.....woo hoo.....your cheers have been just the ticket! I've nearly got all bits ready to start assembling the top in rows! Perhaps a posted top next time here!

Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed Easter.

The Quilter's Cheer

I received a cheer today from fellow blog pal Darlene that I'm sharing as it wouldn't get out of my head while I was stitching!

OK, I'm going to stand on the sidelines and cheer you on! Go, Mary, Go!!!!

Give me an M
Give me an A
Give me an R
Give me a Y

What did you spell - MARY!!!!! Go Mary, push 'em back, push 'em back, wayyyyyy back (that's for pushing the fabric under your presser foot to the back of your machine LOL) Work with me, here!!!

Well I did keep on stitching; then lots of pressing and now I have 200 of these little squares to trim. I still have more cutting and haven't even stitched half the pile I cut yesterday. But I'm loving this one!

On another note....Meowzer has gone missing...this is day four. The shelter doesn't have any white cats and I fear the worse this time. You know how sometimes you talk about something or in this case write about it...and it turns itself around? This is what I'm thinking....I wrote this...so hopefully he'll show up.

Something New On The Cutting Table

Today has been spent cutting and I'm not finished cutting yet! Sigh.... but I did take a small break to stitch up just a few bits for my newest project. These fabrics are a reflection of me and my home.

State Fair Swanky Style

Pictures never seem to appear as I want them....all out of order of course! The top one is the back of the quilt using up pieces of "leftover" fabrics.

A close up view of quilting with variegated thread.

This was a Schnibbles pattern called, State Fair. I used Moda's Swanky Fabric all because of the quilt below! After working on this customer quilt....I fell in love with the fresh color and rejuvenating feeling of Spring.

I have no girls, no daughter-in-law, no grand daughter....but do have somebody in mind who will be receiving this as a gift in the future.....cause it doesn't go with a thing in my house yet made with love.

McCall's Quilting Magazine

If you DO NOT receive this magazine and DO leave comments regularly on my blog than I've got a deal for you! How does a years subscription for free sound? First one to contact me THAT I RECOGNIZE AS A REGULAR BLOG PAL gets it!! I need to renew my subscription and my little card says "to the special person".

THIS IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU!!

Giveaway Winners Announced

A bit of a sneak peek. For those who know me well, I bet your wondering about these colors. They don't go with a thing in my house. I'll reveal more later. I can tell you though that working with these spring time colors has been rejuvenating and fun.

The response to the giveaways was overwhelming. There are so many bloggers out there that I wasn't even aware of. I enjoyed being able to go over to your blogs too! Now that the giveaway is over I hope it doesn't keep you from visiting me from time to time. I have more giveaways planned for during the year.

The winner of the Wool Tote Kit & Pattern is: Dawn at Linen Closet Quilts. The deal is to make this tote, send a picture to me and another little prize will be sent. I neglected to give a time frame.....so I'm thinking to be fair by the end of May.

Then I had another giveaway that started over at Barb's blog. My round robin winner is Pat from A Little of This & That Pat. Pat will receive four of Barb's bags, keep one for herself, post a giveaway to her blog with rules and details to keep it going.

Again, thanks to all who left me a comment. Please if you are a no reply blogger I had no way to contact you and also if you put yourself as anonymous....well, you missed out!

Round Robin Giveaway - Yep....Two Giveaways At Once!!

Earlier this month I entered a Round Robin Giveaway over at Barb's blog post March 8th. She made 5 bags. The first winner gets sent all the bags but only keeps one, post the others to her blog for the Round Robin Giveaway. Then that winner picks one of the bags and takes a turn at posting the giveaway and forwarding on the remainder bags and so on. In addition, you may add in a small gift to your winner in addition to the bag. Barb sent me two pieces of fabric! Woo Hoo!! I'm unsure what I will include for my winner just yet. If you are willing to do this giveaway and keep it going please leave a comment and feel free to tell your blogging buds. I'm keeping this one short and sweet and will draw and name Saturday evening with my wool giveaway posted below (be sure to sign up for that one seperately!!!)

No April Fool....It's A Giveaway!

No April Fool's Day joke here at Quilt Hollow. I've got a giveaway for you! The wool bundle makes the wool tote bag you see in the pattern. Yes, that's right wool and pattern kit! What can you do to win? Leave a comment and keep in mind if you are a no-reply blogger I can't contact you! I plan to have one of my guys select a number between 1 and ? on Saturday evening. Of course, I'd appreciate your passing the word on and posting to your blog.

Now here is the kicker for the winner of this little prize....after you win and if you send me a picture of your COMPLETED tote bag from the kit there is an additional prize for you! Good Luck!