Long-Term Project

Oh, baby, is that an understatement! I have begun to make a king-sized quilt for our bed--the one we bought three years ago. It is using the Baby Honu pattern by Lisa Boyer that DS and DDIL brought back from their honeymoon in Hawaii (four years ago). They also brought back a three-yard piece of a gorgeous navy, purple, and green batik with sea turtles in the pattern, which will make a perfect border.

After years of producing kid quilts for Project Linus, this big quilt is a little daunting. I've deviated from the pattern to appease my preferences in quiltmaking. I'm doing the turtles in hand applique--not the 3D way that Lisa suggests on the sewing machine. I'm not paper piecing the wave blocks, because I can't bear that technique, but have figured out the sizes to cut triangles and assemble them the square-in-a-square way. Methods aside, the quilter side of myself is arguing with the critic side of myself about the color combinations, which are much different than Lisa's picture on the pattern!

Critic Sheryl: Those waves don't look like any water I've ever seen!

Quilter Sheryl: The fabrics are to give the impression of water.

Critic Sheryl: Don't the waves swirl in a counterclockwise manner on the pattern?

Quilter Sheryl: Well, yes, but I made the first two blocks the wrong way and decided not to look back!

Critic Sheryl: Still...some of them are awfully dark!

Quilter Sheryl: Ocean water looks pretty dark from the deck of a cruise ship after sunset. Don't you remember wanting to stand back from the rail and all the suspicious glances you gave DH?

Critic Sheryl: But that bright green? Where does that come from?

Quilter Sheryl: Algae?

Critic Sheryl: I don't get the red, either.

Quilter Sheryl: Shark-infested waters?

Critic Sheryl: I still don't think it looks like water.

Quilter Sheryl: Haven't you ever heard of Impressionism?

There...I feel better! No, I don't have multiple personalities...just a little conflicting self-talk now and then! Now I can proceed to make about 25 more turtle blocks and about 20 more wave blocks so I can assemble this monster and start the hand quilting. (Yes, you read that right!)

Giveaway Drawing Today!

It's here--the day when all of the bloggers participating in the Fall into Fall Giveaway will be drawing the names of the lucky prize winners! DH and I are ready to choose the winner of my pack of I Spy squares.

We're doing this the old-fashioned way--everyone's name is on a slip of paper in a Wal-Mart bag! Drum roll please.....the winner is Beth of The Jury is Still Out! I just went to your blog, Beth, and found out a little bit about you. Could these squares become a quilt for the Dyl Pickle? That would be cool! (Coincidentally, my daughter's name is Beth, but DH couldn't see that when he closed his eyes and drew your name out of the bag.) Congrats to Beth, and thanks to everyone for entering. I got some great recipes and menu ideas from this drawing!

I will email Beth right away so she can send me her snail mail address.

Delivered three more quilts

These are the last three quilts I delivered to the Pediatrics floor. With their delivery, I celebrated my 98th, 99th, and 100th quilts to this hospital by ordering some fabric!

Lots of Entries!

What fun to receive so many entries in my giveaway, even though I started late! My DH is amazed that so many quilters have blogs and that so many found my little offering. He will be picking the winner on October 15, so be sure to enter by commenting on the previous post. Tell me what you like to cook in the fall. I already have two wonderful recipes from this!

From reading the comments, I gather that there is a lot of chili and apple crisp being consumed this time of year. I think I'll be making them soon, too!

Fall into Fall Giveaway

I am happy to be joining (a little late) Debi's Fall into Fall Giveaway. I will be drawing on October 15 from among all of the people who leave a comment on this post. There are only two requirements to be entered into my drawing:
1) You must answer the question: What is your favorite thing to cook or bake in the fall? (I might want the recipe!)
2) If you do not have a blog, you must leave your email address for me to use in contacting you if you win.

If any messages don't meet these requirements, I will have to delete them. Sorry!

Anyway, here is what you can win! (the best part) I am offering a collection of 35 I Spy squares. Each is 6 1/2" square. These are perfect for a quilt for a boy in your life or for making a quilt to donate to Project Linus. They include sports, animals, dinosaurs, astronauts, and many kinds of foods that kids love.

Here's my inspiration for offering this as a prize: I recently donated a boy's I Spy quilt to our local hospital. I got the most wonderful feedback! It was given to an 8-year-old boy who was there for a surgery connected with his Cerebral Palsy. He cannot speak well but has a very active mind, and he and his parents thoroughly enjoyed playing games with his new quilt. They would ask a question, and he would point to the answer. He left the hospital with the quilt over his lap in the wheelchair and a big grin on his face!

Please enter my drawing! Maybe you can make an I Spy quilt for a special kid in your life. Also, click on the scarecrow link at the right to find a list of other blogs having fall giveaway drawings.