I'm A Guest Blogger!

I'm not a guest on any quilty or crafty blog, BUT I do dabble in emergency prep/food storage when I'm not pretending to be crafty. Today's MY DAY to be a guest blogger on an emergency prep website, foodstoragemoms.com, about cooking with my new Sun Oven. I like to use my food storage (not just store it away for a just-in-case moment) and my little solar oven was a fun way to "practice" cooking in case of an attack by zombies. Just so you don't think I'm crazy (or crazier), I don't believe in zombies but this makes me laugh:

My guest post (click here to check it out)

was about using my freeze dried apples,

and cooking them in this

to get this.

They were yummy!

A Little Progress

No star on my forehead for a job-well-done since I'm so behind on just about everything I joined. I have been busy, though, and have gotten this far:

The Red, White, and Blue blocks are piling up (not a huge pile, just a little stack.) I keep changing my mind on which ones I like, which ones I don't like, and which ones need to be given to the dogs to play with. I can't show any of them until July 3rd, MY DAY, over at the Blog Hop at Jane's place. Madame Samm has teased us with her blocks--funny lady--and Jane is flashing just her fabric.

The Zig Zag Quilt Along is coming along and just needs the borders to complete this week's assignment. Not sure the zigging and zagging is as distinct as it should be, but I like the colors (which aren't showing up here as well as I'd like them to. The red is actually more orangy.)

One more block of the month--really slow on this project.

I'm loving how motivational these projects have been!

Charlie Brown?

It wasn't suppose to look like a Charlie Brown quilt, but that's what my husband says it looks like. He's right (just this one time.) Thank goodness for my cheesy design wall, because this thing has made my eyes go crazy trying to keep things going the right direction. It's been slow going (started this in April) with the little squares for this and I've changed them all around dozens of times before starting to put them together. I just want it off my wall so I can move on to other "shiny objects" and all those join-in things I got myself into.

It's getting closer to the finish....whew!

The colors don't photograph to their true color at all--dang!

"Aaaaaand she's off!"

Aaaaaand she's off!
Go Carol go!!

Off my rocker maybe, but anyway....loved the comment by Duff over at Bacon Then Eggs about my starting off on all those "join" thingies I'm trying to do. Made me laugh, which is a good thing.

I'm a little behind starting this one and was a couple days late with the Cutting Your Fabric part of the Quilt Along. I'm using mostly CURIO by Basic Grey--love the colors! The cutting is done and now I wait until next week, which is tough because I'm such an impatient person. I'm also attracted to something new on an hourly basis, so this could actually be good for me.

January Block-Of-The-Month Blocks

I've had this fabric, Moda's Sonnet Collection by April Cornell, sitting in a plastic container for several years. Since I have so much, it will work out perfectly for this block-of-the month practice project. Buried in that stash of fabric was a quilt I'd started, but never finished. Maybe I'll finish that one when I'm done with this BOM project. The fabric has kind of 60ish colors in it like the oranges and browns, which is okay just not my favorite--yet.



The January Block of the Month from Amy Gibson

Wonky Pound Sign Block

The Asterisk Block



I Have "Join" Written On My Forehead

With a deep need to get focused (or because I'm a little or a lot crazy), I signed on to this block-of-the-month at Craftsy.com. It was already in progress, but I'll catch-up......maybe. Amy Gibson makes it fun and easy, plus it's FREE and great for beginners (or people like me who need a little focus in their life or just want something else to add to their already busy sewing table.)

Craftsy Block of the Month

That makes three things I have agreed to take part in. Crazy! A year ago I was scared to death to sign-up for anything, but then I saw something that had to do with Ghastlies on Madame Samm's blog at Sewwequilt.com and I was hooked!

I'm so excited for this one over at janesfabrics.blogspot.com. My day is July 3rd.

This one will be fun, too, and starts with the cutting instructions tomorrow. You can find it over at mommybydaycrafterbynight.com.

I have plenty of fabric to join at least 50 blog hops/quilt alongs/or whatever, so I told myself "why not."

I'm sure there's a reason "why not", but too late---I'M IN!

Focus!

I have a gazillion half started, half finished projects:

Green and black blocks--on design wall; not going anywhere with that one.
Grinch quilt--needs binding
Gold quilt--bindng sewn on, will hand finish (ugh)
Red, White, Blue blocks--a few made, just need to decide what else to do and if I like them.
Ghastlies--several of those in progress at different stages
Valentine quilt--pretty ruffle, but needs quilting

Oh my gosh! That isn't even the beginning of what sits in containers or are scattered here and there. I don't even want to talk about the haven't-even-started-but-I-have-the-fabric projects.

Tomorrow.

Yes, tomorrow I will focus and get organized.

Maybe.

Or not.

Winner, Winner!

The winner of my "Thank You For Being A Follower"
Ghastlie giveaway was the last person to enter before the deadline:

Mhairi

The prize (okay, so I can't keep it a secret) is a little of this:

Thanks everybody for coming back for

another look at my blog AND following it!

New Blogs, New Ideas, New Followers!

Oh my! There were so many entries to my contest--I never get that many visitors in a year (or two, or three)! Love it! This whole blog hopping giveaway with SMS was so fun. I've found new amazing blogs to get ideas from, picked up a few followers  (thanks!), started following LOTS of blogs, and entered so many contests. Whew!

Because I am so excited that

some of you were kind enough to follow me

(I'm easily excited about these types of things),

I'm adding just a little extra giveaway on my simple little blog

 as a way of saying "Thank You!" for following me.

This giveaway is only open for a few days--winner will be chosen on Monday, May 28th, 6 p.m. PST, and announced soon after.

CONTEST IS OVER--THANKS!

Rules for entry:

1. Must be a Follower (which is why I'm doing this in the first place), new or not-so-new, and leave a comment (I like short and sweet ones, like "chocolate truffles"--that one came from the other giveaway and made me laugh)

2. Make sure I can contact you if you're a noreply blogger. Typing out your email address like this helps avoid spammers: iblog at aol dot com.

3. I'll mail the giveaway item anywhere if you win.

4. Only one entry per person.

Wait!

What am I giving away you ask?

Well.....it will be a little Ghastlie surprise package similar to the

one I gave away in that other contest, but not the same.

You'll just have to win to see what you get.

And The Winner Is....#57, Anya!

CONGRATULATIONS, ANYA!

Sun Oven Giveaway!

I know, I know, this isn't anything to do with quilting, crafting, or sewing, BUT it is a really great giveaway (plus the website has lots of emergency prep information.) 

Food Storage Moms is giving away a Global Sun Oven which really works without electricity! So cool!

Click on their logo below to get to their website and enter!