Plum Patchwork

Garden Party Blog Hop – Topiary Heart Block

Jessica — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:49:36 +0000

When Jennifer over at Sew Hooked put out a call for designers for her Garden Party Blog Hop, I immediately thought of those fabulous topiaries you see lining the paths of elegant gardens. With that in mind, I set about designing a topiary block that I thought reflected my personality.

Now, I have to tell you this is the *very first* paper pieced block I’ve ever designed, so I’ve kept it simple. There’s lots of ways to get creative and mix it up with the heart portion – there’s some great ideas here.

I had lots of fun designing this block, and I think it came out pretty cute for my first try!

You can get the pattern here.

Huge thanks to Jennifer for hosting the blog hop! There are so many amazing blocks and designers being featured this month. I’m honored that I got to join in the fun!

Jessica

Garden Party Blog Hop Starts Today!

Jessica — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:32:20 +0000

Just a quick post to say that the Garden Party Blog Hop over at Sewhooked starts today! Today’s block is super-cute and perfect for the music lover. Hop on over to check it out!

Giveaway Winner

Jessica — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:08:08 +0000

I wanted to say a big thanks to everyone who entered the Not-So-Fugly fabric giveaway. I fully intended to respond to each and every comment, but when they started coming in like crazy, I realized it just wasn’t going to be possible. I will definitely be stopping by everyone’s blog to say hello over the next few weeks!

On to the good stuff!

The winner of the Lost & Found Fat Quarter bundle is:

Mom C!

She said:

Mom C, I’ve sent you an email!

I also wanted to say thank you to Lucy for organizing this – it has been so much fun and I’ve got TONS of new blogs to check out now. Thanks Lucy!

Not-So-Fugly Fabric Giveaway

Jessica — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:12:09 +0000

Update: Entries are now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Hooray! It’s Fugly Fabric Party giveaway day over at Charm About You!

Of course, I went through a MAJOR destash not that long ago and donated all the fabric in my stash that I considered to be Fugly. So instead, I’ll be giving away some super-cute fabric.

Up for grabs today is a Fat Quarter Bundle of Lost & Found by Riley Blake Designs. I thought the pink, red, and black was perfect for the Valentine’s Day season.

Okay, so there’s two ways to win:

1. Post a comment letting me know what you’d do with this fabric if you were the winner.

2. Post a link or the button to the Fugly Fabric Party on your blog so others can get in on the parties. Then come back here and let me know you did!

Easy peasy.

When you’re done with your entries, hop on over the Fugly Fabric Part and check out all the other giveaways!

I will close comments on this giveaway at 8:00 pm on Thursday, February 9th. The winner will be drawn from the comments and will be posted here on Friday.

Ready?

GO!

Randomness

Jessica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:30:54 +0000

In lieu of a real post, here’s a list.

1. I’m participating in the Fugly Fabric Party over at Lily’s Quilts. I pretty much donated all my fugly fabric about a year ago, so I’ll be giving away something cute! There will be lots of other fabric giveaways posted at the party. February 7th – don’t forget!

2. I just signed up for the Gone Quiltin’ bee on Flickr. It’s been a while since I’ve done a bee – I’m excited!

3. I’ve been training Kona to ring a bell on the door when he needs to go outside. So far, he hasn’t voluntarily rung it once when he needs to go to the restroom, but he rings the heck out of it when he sees a cat he’d like to chase!

4. Is anyone going to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival later this month? I’ve been toying with the idea.

5. I don’t think there is any five. Four just seemed like an awfully short list.

Jessica — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:04:11 +0000

I don’t typically like to talk about the shop because I want this blog to be a place to connect with people, not an advertising pitch. But I’m so giddy about this new line of fabric that’s coming out – it has the same effect on me as Hope Valley did two years ago. It’s Verona by Emily Taylor for Riley Blake Designs and it will be available this month. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Is it not gorgeous?

The Post In Which I Beg For Your Input

Jessica — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:55:35 +0000

Okay, so at work they’re having a “Company Cutie” pet contest to benefit a local community organization. Of course, the company wasn’t willing to assume the liability of having an actual pet parade on the premises, so it’s basically a cutest pet photo contest. You pay your money, submit a photo of your pet, and the top three cutest pets win a Petsmart gift card. Or something. I assume there’s a prize anyway.

I have a competitive streak that’s only about a quarter inch wide, but it runs very deep, so I. Have. To. Win.

Besides, I’m told that when they were debating whether to hold this contest, some people were worried that nobody would enter. Apparently, my name was brought up because “oh my gosh, she dresses her dog up!”

Clearly, I’m expected to bring my A-game.

And so, dear friends, I’m begging for your help here. I have so many pictures of Kona, and being his mama, I think every single one of them is adorable. I need your help deciding which one to submit. I’ve narrowed it down to these:

What do you vote?

Solstice Stars Blocks 1 & 2

Jessica — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:27:41 +0000

I haven’t accomplished much in the past week, except for barely keeping up with school and work obligations, but I did get a chance to make a couple of blocks over the weekend. I’ve joined up with the other quilters making the Solstice Star blocks over at Fresh Lemons Quilts.

I finished the Ribbon Star

I also managed to finish the Whirling Star block – I love this one!

I apologize that this blog seems to be the all Hope Valley, all the time channel lately. I can’t help it – I just love this line!

Other than that, Kona and I have had a great weekend - he had a doggie playdate with my friend’s new dog yesterday, and I had a delicious brunch this morning with a group of really fun ladies. I hope your weekend has been great too!

Note: This project may be linked up at some or all of the following parties, depending on my caffeine intake. Either way, you should definitely stop by!

Monday: Sew Modern Monday @ Canoe Ridge Creations

Tuesday: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story

Wednesday: WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

January Inspiration

Jessica — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:21:56 +0000

As I predicted, life has become super busy, which I’m sure you could see when I blogged about my vitamins. Or maybe you just thought I was weird. Anyway, not the point.

The point is, I don’t have anything new to write about unless you want to see photos of a bunch of Craigslist furniture disassembled and in the process of being sanded.

Didn’t think so.

So, I figure the best way to distract people from the fact that I haven’t done anything is to point them in the direction of folks who have done something, and hope that somehow reflects upon me. Right?

So here we go:

First, you should totally check out Megan at Crooked Seams. Not only is she totally adorable and a super gifted quilter, she’s also got a wicked sense of humor. Plus, she designed and made this NCSU quilt, which kind makes her my hero.

Quilt by Megan of Crooked Seams

What can I say? Go Pack!

This Is Easily My Most Random Post To Date

Jessica — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:53:28 +0000

So, I still take gummy vitamins. Like a four year old.

Yeah….

See, I take my vitamins in the morning while I’m fixing my coffee and at that unholy hour, I just can’t bear the idea of choking down that big old vitamin pill with the funky One-A-Day taste. But with the gummies, I’m all Peter Griffin in family guy – “Ooh, Piece a Candy!” and I actually take them. Of course, I don’t remember to take them unless they’re right there on the counter beside the coffee machine, which leads me to the point of this post:

Kinda tacky, yes? Plus, it announces to everyone who sets foot in my kitchen that I still take gummy vitamins. Like a four year old.

It finally got to me last night as I was cleaning the countertops and I decided I had to do something about it. Right. Now. I took a couple of canning jars, spray painted the rings with oil rubbed bronze paint, and put my vitamins inside. The shiny gold lids got covered with scrapbook paper circles that I cut out with my Silhouette.

Yes, I realize I could have just cut them with scissors, but when you give a Manufacturing Engineer a Computer Numerically Controlled paper cutter, naturally she’s going to use it for everything. I’d use it to trim my toenails if I could.

Anyway. Here’s what I ended up with.

It’s an improvement anyway.

And this concludes my most random post ever.