Sunday, March 13, 2022

Time In A Bottle Blog Hop

It is always a great time when there's a blog hop...I get so excited! What is a blog hop? It's like a "show and tell" online or like joining a quilt guild without leaving home. Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks, Joan from Moosestash Quilting, and I host blog hops featuring sewing and quilting.  We post a challenge on our blogs and those who want to join in email us with their blog info. 

This month's blog hop is "Time in a Bottle" which challenged the participants to sew something with an hourglass in it. I love how creative everyone gets with the challenges!


Let the fun begin!

March 14

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Dust Off A Quilt Book Blog Hop

Today is my day for Beaquilter's "Dust Off A Quilt Book" blog hop. I've enjoyed seeing the other books that were used this week. 


When I moved a couple years ago, I threw out/donated almost all my quilt books. I hung on to a few that I thought might come in handy. This was one of them, "3 times the charm!" by Me & My Sister Designs.


It has some great ideas for using those 5" charm packs in quilts. I had one charm pack in my stash that needed to be used.


The pattern was easy to follow and only required one charm pack and fabric for the back and binding...perfect! I was able to pull from my stash for this one.


This will make a great table topper when Christmas rolls around again. It's nice to have something done this far ahead of things!


My helper...he's four. That says it all!


I asked for a "normal" face. Thankfully, he agreed  


Check out all the other bloggers who dusted off their quilt books!


Thanks for stopping by!

The Time In A Bottle Blog Hop Is Coming On March 14th

Time is flying and before you know it, these bloggers will be sharing their extraordinary hourglass block projects. The "Time in a Bottle" challenge was to make something with an hourglass block...what will they make!

Tomorrow is my day in Beaquilter's "Dust Off a Quilt Book" blog hop...come back to check it out!


Joan is ready for you to sign-up for "Wonderful World of Color"...you know you want to!


Joan's blog hop challenge for April:

The sky is the limit. 
Color, world, lets face it anything fits this theme, don't you think?

Joan's contact info:


Check out her blog post for all the info HERE.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Cackling Stitches Creepy Critters BOM - March

"Creepy Critters" officially started on February 1st with the release of our first block, "Rotary Rita." Every month on the first day of the month, we release new blocks. Check out the new blocks on our Facebook page, Cackling Stitches, HERE.

Rotary Rita can be found in my Etsy store, HERE.


The two new blocks for March are by Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks and Joan at Moosestash Quilting.

This is my version of "Creepy Critters" 

 

Here's how the BOM works at Cackling Stitches:

The BOM will run from February 1st to August 30th.

On the 1st day of each month we will release block patterns that will be free until the next block(s) is released.

Once new blocks are released, the previous month's blocks will no longer be free. They will be available in our Etsy stores at a cost of $2.

On September 1st the entire pattern will be combined and sold in our Etsy stores for $10.

We hope you appreciate the time we put into creating the BOM quilt and understand that we are keeping the costs to a minimum. If you're quick to get the patterns during the month they are free, there will be no cost to you.

We'd love to have you join us!

Thursday, February 24, 2022

That Pesky No-Reply Blogger Thing

One of the hardest things for a lot of us bloggers is the NO-REPLY BLOGGER issue. This means that when you comment on our blog, we get a notification of that comment in our email box. If that email shares your comment but not your email address, that means you are a no-reply blogger. Our ability to reply to you is impossible unless we know who you are. 


We aren't ignoring you, we just can't do anything about it. It's so frustrating when someone leaves a comment that needs a reply and we can't do it. Help us out!

If you want to hear back from your favorite bloggers, here's what you can do to fix it. It will only fix your blog from being a no-reply blogger, not other blogs. 

This only applies to people who use Google's Blogger format.

Go to your Blogger Dashboard

On the left, click on "Settings" - Scroll clear to the bottom to “General” - Click on “User Profile” 


Click “Show my email address”
This should allow us to reply to your comment. 

Want to see if it works? Leave a short comment and I'll reply to you. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Whipped Cream For Breakfast

I admit, Bruster and Bella are spoiled because among other things, they get whipped cream for breakfast. They whine at me every morning until I take them to Starbucks for their pup cup or Puppacino of whipped cream. 


Sometimes I play the tough mom and don't go to Starbucks or if I do go, they don't always get whipped cream. I have to at least attempt to show them who's boss!


I've been sewing for blog hops this week, including "Time in a Bottle" and "Wonderful World of Color". The tops are done and are ready for quilting. I love being ahead of the game! A blog hop using books in our stash is happening at Beaquilter's soon, so I'm using some stash fabric for it, including this charm pack.


FLASHBACK - I found a post in my journal from February 2012 about the first mini quilt I ever made. It was for a blog hop and I'd never made a quilt this small.


May your day be the best it can be!
FYI - Starting with whipped cream might help.

Monday, February 21, 2022

Can You Blog Or Journal Everyday?

There was a time when I wrote in my journal books almost everyday. Then I switched to writing or sharing on my private blog daily. Now that my blog is mostly about quilting, I'm lucky if I blog three or four times a month. I wonder if I can blog everyday like I used to and not always about quilting. I'm really not sure! Can you or do you blog almost everyday?

All of this started in my head after an email conversation with Mary at Needled Mom. We've blogged together for years (I love her blog), but we've both tapered off a lot. We're busy and wonder where the time goes. So, where the heck does it go! 

My old private blog is packed with memories! I opened it to a post I made on February 21, 1999. It wasn't much of anything, but it brought back a happy time I'd totally forgotten about.

Up On The Hill
Linda and I climbed out of her car and walked to this point overlooking St. George just 
so we could take a picture. We were exhausted from the hike! 

When I we first bought a house in Utah, my sister (Linda) and I would go on adventures during the weekends we'd get together. In 1999 we'd taken a hike, which was really not that big of a hike, but we had so much fun. Two old ladies walking up the little mountain took a lot out of us!

Photos make blogging memories so much easier. Here's a few I took over the last couple of days.

The newest Monkey Baby...I could stare at her all day.


The youngest Monkey Boy with powdered sugar on his nose.
He makes me smile all the time!


I bought a Juki in December and just sewed on it for the first time the other day.
I love it, but I also love my Bernina. 
That project is for the "Time in a Bottle" blog hop coming next month. 


I met Jackie Chan in 2008 or 2009 when he came to the office I worked at. I love his shoes! That's me on his right in a black suit and looking rather slim...those were the days! All of us were dressed in animal prints for some reason. Wish I'd written down the reason for that!

I love his "diary" quote: "My schedule goes: wake up, running, exercise, downstairs, running shoes off, then to the shower. That's the Jackie Chan diary." - Jackie Chan


There's a group of ladies that join LeeAnna at "Not Afraid of Color" and post things they like every Thursday. Some of them are incredibly faithful about posting. I tried to do it, but I failed. It's really fun to read their "likes"!

I can't make a promise to myself or anyone else that I'll blog more, even though I know it's good for the soul to record our memories. But maybe, just maybe I can do better. You all know I'll be here for sure once a month for the blog hops!

March Blog Hop Coming And New Blog Hop Sign-Up Alert

The March blog hop is not far off and you can still sign-up if you want to play along, There are so many amazing bloggers on the list and Id love to add your name. The more the merrier!


The challenge is to add an hourglass block to your project. email me if you want to play along.


I love the excitement of a new blog hop coming and this one, hosted by Joan at Moosestash Quilting, is going to be so fun! I take turns hosting the blog hops with Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks and Joan. This opens up a whole world of creative challenges!

Joan is ready for you to sign-up for "Wonderful World of Color" so hurry and go snatch your spot on her list! 


Joan's blog hop challenge for April:

The sky is the limit. 
Color, world, lets face it anything fits this theme, don't you think?

Joan's contact info:


Check out her blog post for all the info HERE.

Sunday, February 13, 2022

A "Tickled Pink" Blog Hop Starts Today - My Day Too

I have so many reasons to feel "Tickled Pink" this month, including this amazing blog hop hosted by the always incredible Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks! Thanks for this pink challenge!


Last October I learned there was a new Monkey Baby coming and it was a girl. Shocking! With six brothers, this sweetie will be so spoiled and protected! Since I was in Utah at Garden of Quilts, I managed to find time to shop for PINK fabric. Found some!


I went with an easy pattern because it took me until January to sew it. and
Monkey Baby was due in February (yikes!)



A little minky on the back so the little princess will be comfy.


She arrived on February 9th and I can't seem to stop staring at her.
Once I learned the new Monkey Baby's name, a new quilt was created!


Of course it had lots of DOTS, a ruffle and minky on the back!



Check out all the other Tickled Pinks!

Dresden Carnival Goes To Sweden

 I love Dresden quilts and this one was even more fun with a 48" center. Dresden Carnival 76" x 76" My friend in Sweden, Brit...