Just Saying...You Inspire Me

In case I haven't mentioned it lately, you inspire me.

I'm grateful for that!

Your blog posts have kept me going through good times and bad.

You're funny, creative, and a pleasure to have in my life.

But, there is always another season of life.

It's been a very hard decision, but Joan and I have talked extensively and decided 

that it is time to pull the plug on blog hops. We have both seen the trend in readership dropping

 over the past few years. There just doesn't seem to be the traffic to our posts or interaction with

 comments that we saw a few years back. Life changes and we get it. 

Blog hops are about the only thing I post anymore and I don't have the time to read other blogs, either. 

It's been a joy hosting the hops with all of you and working with Joan has been a blast.

 Hopefully someone will host a hop from time to time that I can jump in and play.  

I will still post my projects on here, my Facebook page, Instagram, and Cackling Stitches.

The last three blog hops...

October - Something Wicked - hosted by me

November - Gnome For Thanksgiving - hosted by Joan 

December - Virtual Cookie Christmas Exchange - hosted by me

Happening now -  Boo-Along on Facebook Cackling Stitches

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316208272831675

Scared Silly Boo-Along Row 4 And Row 5

It's time for the "Scared Silly" Boo-Along ROW 4 AND ROW 5!

FYI: A "Boo-Along" is like a row-along, but it's for quilters who are crazy about Halloween.

ROW 5 - HALLOWEEN LETTERS AND BATS

You can find ROW 5 HERE.

ROW 4 - FLYING BLOOD SUCKING BATS

You can find ROW 4 HERE.

My versions of ROW 5 and ROW 4 using Benartex Superior Solids 

and Glow-O-Ween by Kanvas Studios

ROW 3 - RUPULSIVE RAVENS, MOONS, AND HOURGLASSES

You can find ROW 3 in my Etsy store HERE. 

ROW 2 - STRIPS AND FOUR PATCH BLOCKS

You can find ROW 2 in my Etsy store HERE. 

My versions of ROW 3 and ROW 2 using Benartex Superior Solids 

and Glow-O-Ween by Kanvas Studios

ROW 1 - PETRIFYING PUMPKINS

You can purchase ROW 1 in my Etsy store HERE. 

My version of ROW 1 using Benartex Superior Solids and Glow-O-Ween by Kanvas Studios.

You can find the whole quilt fabric requirements HERE.

(The rows are great for those Halloween scraps of fabric hiding in your stash.)

THE FREAKY FACTS:

Starting August 1st, one or two rows will be shared each month.

There will be 12 rows of applique and/or piecing.

They will be a mystery until they get released on the first of each month.

The row(s) will be free the month they are released and then they will

mysteriously disappear and magically appear in my Etsy store for a small fee.

We have a Facebook page called "Cackling Stitches" where we share Halloween projects.

"Scared Silly" rows will be shared on my blog and on FB so be sure to follow one to get updates.

Just Let Me Quilt

Cackling Stitches

Please share photos of your rows/blocks on Cackling Stitches or send them to me

and I'll share them for you (sewswift6@gmail.com).

Grab your broom and let's get sewing!

What's Happening Here

 Where did the last nine months go! Of course, I'm ready for Halloween,

but Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming way too soon!

We can help you get ready for all those holidays with inspiring blog hops!

There are three blog hops left in 2023.

Let us know if you want to play along and we'll add your blog, Facebook, or Instagram to our list.

October - Something Wicked - hosted by me

November - Gnome For Thanksgiving - hosted by Joan 

December - Virtual Cookie Christmas Exchange - hosted by me

Happening now -  Boo-Along on Facebook Cackling Stitches

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316208272831675

Bee Kind Blog Hop Spreads The Love

Joan's choice of a challenge is another fabulous blog hop!

BEE KIND!

The Challenge:

September is the time to remember that a little kindness goes a long way. 

Share your “kind” projects. Your favorite charity project, a free online pattern 

or anything that shows you spread a little kindness, everywhere you go. 

But that's not all, anything with a bee on it fits this challenge! 

I knew right away how I was going to meet Joan's challenge.

My best friend since junior high has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

With the help of the internet and friends, I found a few things I could make

to help a little with her recovery time.

With a closet full of Shannon minky, I found a heart pattern for mastectomy recovery.

There's a video HERE to help sew one and a pattern HERE.

It was really easy to make!

One of my other best friends who had breast cancer told me that rice bags from the

freezer were just the best for the pain she was having after surgery. 

I made three of them so they could be switched out as needed.

My friend is tiny in size so I made her rice bags 5" x 10" and filled them with two cups of rice.

A backscratcher was suppose to be really helpful, too. I found this pink one on Amazon.

A quilt to snuggle under was another gift to my friend.

My twirly quilt with Shannon black minky on the back was perfect for her.

I added a notebook/pen and a shirt that snaps up the sides and at the shoulder for ease

of getting on and off. My friend was really happy with her gift bag.

It's such a scary time for those going through it, so prayers and hugs were also included.

Years ago I made a quilt using Riley Blakes Bee fabric. I'm going to "Bee Kind" and

share the pattern with you for free! Download it HERE.

Check out the other "Bee Kind" blog hoppers who met the challenge:

Monday Sept 23

MooseStashQuilting

Words & Stitches

Selina Qullts

Just  Sew  Quilter

Scrapdash

Tuesday Sept 24

Patchouli Moon Studio

Quilted Snail

Quilt Schmilt

Quilted Delights

Hazels Daughter

Wednesday Sept 25

BeaQuilter

Karrin's Crazy World

That Fabric Feeling

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilting Between the Rails

Thursday Sept 26^th

Just Let Me Quilt

Ms P Designs USA

Quilting Gail

Songbird Designs

You can find the "Bee Kind" Pinterest page HERE.

It Is Bee Kind Day All Week

 Joan at Moosestash Quilting is hosting this week's blog hop challenge, "Bee Kind"...

BEE KIND!

The Challenge:

September is the time to remember that a little kindness goes a long way. 

Share your “kind” projects. Your favorite charity project, a free online pattern 

or anything that shows you spread a little kindness, everywhere you go. 

But that's not all, anything with a bee on it fits this challenge! 

Monday Sept 23

MooseStashQuilting

Words & Stitches

Selina Qullts

Just  Sew  Quilter

Scrapdash

Tuesday Sept 24

Patchouli Moon Studio

Quilted Snail

Quilt Schmilt

Quilted Delights

Hazels Daughter

Wednesday Sept 25

BeaQuilter

Karrin's Crazy World

That Fabric Feeling

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilting Between the Rails

Thursday Sept 26^th

Just Let Me Quilt

Ms P Designs USA

Quilting Gail

Songbird Designs

Scared Silly Boo-Along Row 2 And Row 3

It's time for the "Scared Silly" Boo-Along ROW 2 AND ROW 3!

FYI: A "Boo-Along" is like a row-along, but it's for quilters who are crazy about Halloween.

ROW 3 - RUPULSIVE RAVENS, MOONS, AND HOURGLASSES

You can find ROW 3 HERE.

ROW 2 - STRIPS AND FOUR PATCH BLOCKS

You can find ROW 2 HERE.

My versions of ROW 3 and ROW 2 using Benartex Superior Solids 

and Glow-O-Ween by Kanvas Studios

ROW 1 - PETRIFYING PUMPKINS

You can purchase ROW 1 in my Etsy store HERE. 

My version of ROW 1 using Benartex Superior Solids and Glow-O-Ween by Kanvas Studios

You can find the whole quilt fabric requirements HERE.

(The rows are great for those Halloween scraps of fabric hiding in your stash.)

THE FREAKY FACTS:

Starting August 1st, one or two rows will be shared each month.

There will be 12 rows of applique and/or piecing.

They will be a mystery until they get released on the first of each month.

The row(s) will be free the month they are released and then they will

mysteriously disappear and magically appear in my Etsy store for a small fee.

We have a Facebook page called "Cackling Stitches" where we share Halloween projects.

"Scared Silly" rows will be shared on my blog and on FB so be sure to follow one to get updates.

Just Let Me Quilt

Cackling Stitches

Please share photos of your rows/blocks on Cackling Stitches or send them to me

and I'll share them for you (sewswift6@gmail.com).

Grab your broom and let's get sewing!

It's A Jungle Out There

 There are days when I leave my house to run errands and it really feels like

"It's A Jungle" out there! With my "angry knee" still bugging me, I move so slow 

and worry about being trampled by elephants and giraffes at the grocery store.

Okay, it only feels like there are elephants and giraffes in my stores when I'm limping along.

Thank goodness Joan's blog hop challenge isn't really out there in a jungle,

but her challenge is just my speed!

The Challenge: Animals, plants, trees…what’s in your jungle?

For some of us, it might even be our sewing rooms.

The Benartex fabric in this quilt is "Starlight Safari" by Lorraine Turner.

The lion panel is surrounded by the beautiful prints in this fabric line.

I love the blue fabric!

I'm working on getting my angry knee to let me stand long enough to quilt this flimsy.

My pile of need-to-be-quilted projects are getting out of control.

It's a jungle of flimsy's!

Check out the rest of the jungle crew!

Monday August 19

MooseStashQuilting

Ms P Designs USA

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilting Between the Rails

High Road Quilter

 

Tuesday August 20

Patchouli Moon Studio

Karrins Crazy World

Quilting Gail

Quilted Delights

 

Wednesday August 21

A Quiltery

Quilted Snail

Selina Quilts

Hazel’s Daughter

 

Thursday August 22

Just Let Me Quilt - ME!

Scrapdash

BeaQuilter

That Fabric Feeling

"Bee Kind" is all Joan's in September!

The Challenge: September is the time to remember that a little kindness goes a long way. 

Share your “kind” projects. Your favorite charity project, a free online pattern or anything

 that shows you spread a little kindness, everywhere you go. The Bee's are an important part

 of life as well, and we all need to be kind to them too! 

That makes this hop the perfect place to share your Bee Quilts!

Contact Joan if you want to play along in "It's A Jungle" and or "Bee Kind".

"Something Wicked" is hosted by ME in October.

The Challenge: I think this is self-explanatory, don't you.

Let me know if you want to jump on your broom for "Something Wicked."