Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!!! It's my day to talk about what I love about my fabric/quilting obsession!
First, I want to thank Marian at Seams To Be Sew for sponsoring this Hop.

Marian is a great hostess and has fabulous give-aways each day. All you'll need to do is leave a comment on my blog to participate

Today's give-away is

Aurifil  (Edyta’s Threads – Dancing Umbrella) - Anypattern.com - (Cat with Yarn). More details at the bottom of this post!!

To celebrate International Quilting Day and this wonderful blog hop, I've decided to show some of the things I've created via my sewing experiences. 
Sit back with your cup of coffee or tea and visit with me a little while!
I've been sewing/piecing quilts over 20 years. It's an obsession as I'm sure you can relate. Fabric is "my friend" and I can hardly stop myself from purchasing all the color combination (wink)!
I love developing and sharing my own designs as well as trying out the patterns that I've purchased at my LQS (local quilt shop). 

Let me explain where this fever started. Meet my grandma. She's the reason for my obsession. I remember sitting under her Singer Treadle machine watching her foot pumping. I remember helping her choose threads and the discussion we had about the different colors of fabrics. This was back in the late.....oh, wait a minute. This might give away my age. Oh well, the late 50's. Yes, I'm now sixty and loving it!!!

Now back to the present.

I love participating in some of the online challenges.

This photo is of me at the presentation of our TDA (Texas Department of Agriculture) "Go Texan," Every 'even' year the Texas Ag Commissioner challenges Texas quilter to get involved in a theme driven contest.

If you choose to participate, you sent of a kit for a small fee. The kit contains Texas natural fibers which you must use in addition to a few of your own.

 That year's theme was wildlife in Texas. Me and my wacky girlfriends decided to take the plunge and a couple of our blocks actually won.

I went with the big-mouth bass because my brother and I used to go fishing all the time. To this  day I remember the sounds of our German Shepard splashing in the water going for a frog then climbing out only to shake of the lake water onto us!!!

Another year, I entered the TDA challenge. The theme was Wine Country in Texas.

I went with something simple thinking that it would appear to the judges because of the simpleness of the block. I know very little about wine so that was my main reasoning.

The quilts are kept by the state and are loaned out to any organization in Texas by request. So if one wanted to display the quilts (known as the traveling display) at your quilt show, it can be done just by filling out the proper form. Just click on This link!!

Many years ago, I was thumbing through a magazine or maybe I was surfing the Net. Whatever!! I ran across a competition from Fons and Porter entitled "Done In One." 

It was a weekend project and I was at a lull in my sewing projects so I thought, "why not!" 

It was in my "Texas & Cowboy" phase so I did a type of silhouette shadowing thingy. Sorry I can't explain it any better than that. It measures 23" by 27 1/2" and I named it "Things Texas."

 I got Honorable Mention and was very happy because there were many very talented folks who participated. 

 Here are two more examples of the silhouette method. Above is John Wayne and below is an illusion of a 

woman sitting faced away surrounded by a tree which looks like a bearded man. Can you see it??

This was a quilt where my wacky girlfriends decided to challenge one another in a block exchange. We were to come up with a theme from each gal; give a list of the color we each wanted and the size of each block. Next, we drew names to see who was first, second, etc. We had one month to complete set of blocks then move to the next person's theme. I chose red/cream/blue blocks. At the time I had no clear idea of what to do with them but since I was fourth in the drawing, I knew I would come up with something. Flipping through many magazines, patterns, the Internet and clip art, I decided on the four seals of our Armed Forces, the eagle and the flag to add to the blocks that I would receive. When the quilt was all finished, I was so proud of the way it turned out. I named this one "Patriotic Me."

 Several of my cousins who are Vets wanted the quilt but I just couldn't part with it. I entered it in our State Fair and won Second Place in my category which was applique and machine quilting. The chairman of the show at the Fair said that several Vets saw my quilt and wanted to know how I did it. That made me feel good that they were interested. This quilt is my way of saluting our troops, Vets, and those who have given their lives of us!! 

The following quilts are Block of the Month and I think Block of the Week designs that I personally designed and have shared with everyone. Each design can be found on this blog near the top Page-BOW.

Lazy Hearts was a BOM that I designed because I love hearts and was looking for a way to use hearts throughout the year.

Teapots was a BOM that I designed because obviously, I love teapots. I made two sets of teapot blocks and donated one set to a local guild.

When Nature Calls was a BOM that I designed because I remember when I was very small, my grandparents had an outhouse out back. We had plumbing and a bathroom but my grandma said that they kept it because her dad always used it. Now that I'm old enough to understand that, grandma's father was my great-grandfather who was born in circa 1860. So I can see why he preferred the outhouse to the "new fangled contraption" the toilet....LOL!

Leafing Through The Year was a hand embroidery project that I designed. As most of you know who follow me, I don't like hand embroidery!!! So why did I design this, you ask? I was an elementary science teacher and remember having the kids collect leaves to study during the fall. I recall their amazement at the structure of each leaf, the shapes and colors. So that inspired me to do it.

This quilt, "A is for Aardvark" came from my desperate need to keep myself busy during my mom's stay in the hospital and her home care time the other year. As I stayed at her home to care for her, I was at a loss as to keeping my mind positive and filled. So out came the hand needles again. My granddaughter was not yet in kindergarten so I thought to make her something to help with learning the alphabet and to add interest, get familiar with some strange and well known animals.

A lady from my old high school called and asked if I could make a quilt using some of the band uniforms. I was honored that she asked but, band fabric is not something I wanted to tackle but I took a look at a couple of uniforms and came up with a plan of action. Our colors were Orange and White so I pulled fabrics from my stash, added some blacks and browns to lend interest, then pulled out my sketch pad.

I knew I had to make blocks that reflected the band but I added sports as well. A couple of my blogging buddies gave me that idea. I used a few pieces of band uniform in some of the blocks and was pleased with the outcome. This is a great idea for earning funds for band trips. Auctioning off a quilt!!

This is an apron I made for an apron exchange. The letters on the pockets are initials of the recipient. 

This quilt is a combination of two books from Bea Oglesby. I just love her designs and had a great time digging through my stash to come up with just the right fabrics. I did an Attic Window around each block to make things pop.

These two quilts are fractured stars. At least that's what I named them. It's a design I came up with totally by accident. It amazed me how different each looked just by changing fabrics and enlarging the quilt by adding more blocks. I've made about ten of these in all kinds of colors and sizes.

 My love for barns led to the making of this quilt. I had plenty help from my family and my blogging friends. 

I love to garden and do a bit of canning in the summer.

That's watermelon jelly in the mason jars. It is so tasty during those long winter months.

 I like to use my scraps to make quilts to give away. These two quilts (above and below) are a couple of ways to use up scraps.

 I have five grands but am slow in making them quilts. Here are the two that I've gotten done....sigh!!

Yard Birds is a funny little spin on my life as a farm girl. I remember feeding the chickens each day and looking for the eggs. I made mud pies our of them until Grandma caught me. Needless to say, that did not end well for me!!

We run a farm and ranch. Some of you my remember "Buzzard Bait." I'm happy to say that Mr. Cowboy said that she's well and has had her second calf. For those who follow me regularly, Mr. Cowboy sold her while my back was turned. Not to worry, the blogging friends and I had scolded him most severely and he did apologize.

No, that's not me on the bulldozer. Mr. Cowboy won't allow me to touch "the machine." Why you ask? It may be that I kind of got the gears stuck. Hey, there are a lot of gears and sticks in that thing. Who knew what all those clutches were for ;-]

 Lately, I've been into mini quilts, which means each is no bigger than 20 inches. I love the process and the smallness. Why more easy to store!!

Finally, if you really want to have a load of fun, try a quilting cruise with friends. That's what me and my wacky girlfriends did a few years ago. We had a blast!!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little sharing moment. I love piecing and sharing with everyone!!!

Remember to leave a comment to participate in the give away.

I will be using the "Random Picker" on my sidebar to choose winners who will be announced at the end of today!!!

1. Aurifil  (Edyta’s Threads – Dancing Umbrella) Mini collection (sorry about the photo)

2. Aurifil (Edyta's Threads - Dancing Unbrella's Thread Colors

3.  Anypattern.com - (Cat with Yarn) is the prize!!!

As a final surprise 

FQS (Fat Quarter Shop) is hosting a 10% off coupon when you shop using the following code

seamstobe316

Also visit the following blogs to get in on their give aways!!

Meadowbrook

QuiltShop Gal

TeaTime Creations

After you leave comments on the above blogs, please stop by Marian's blog below to enter more great things!!!

Marian