LET'S KICK THIS THING!! I'VE WORKED ON IT ALL AFTERNOON! 300 FOLLOWERS? SERIOUSLY?

Spent most of the afternoon on Block 5 of Barbara Brackmans' Civil War Block of the week.  I am trying really hard to keep up with this one.  So far---so good!!  Let me say that this cowgirl cut the pieces of block #4 just as they were posted.  Complete confidence set in and that block went together like a charm.  I had my little fabric pieces starched stiff just like I like them and my 1/4 inch foot in place and things couldn't have gone better-------BUT aaaaarrgggggggggg!  That block was 1/2 inch too small!!!  I could go into all the shoulda, coulda, wouldas with ya but it wouldn't do that block any good.  I threw all my "good sense and "from experience knowin what to do" to the wind.   Like--  figuring what size that center block has to be to make the block the right size and making it happen   kinda stuff so that block is trashed.  I did remake it -cutting the triangles larger than the sizes posted to make room for some error.  You can't make fabric grow, but you can trim it down to fit.  At least that is MY way of thinking  piecing. 
Let me show you a few pics of this days piecing of block 5.  It actually went pretty well.  I have to say that my piecing of Feathered Stars experience really helped me out with this block.
TIPS
1. Starch the pieces as squares, then make the diagonal cuts.  They should feel like paper when you pick them up.
2.  When you can, cut the outside the section or block triangles bigger than posted.  You can trim them down, but you can't grow them (if you don't know what this means, leave a comment and I will try to help you understand.
3.  Press seam allowances of small piece strips open.
4. Trim your block segments to the appropriate size before you sew them to the next segment.

 Here you see the strip segments of a section of one quarter of the block.

 Seams are pressed open.  The triangles on the end and the yellow triangle are cut oversized.

After the segments are sewn together, the section has to be sized.  You can't trim the two sides where the points are, but you trim the diagonal seam--trim 1/4 inch from the points. 

Here you can see where I trimmed.

The unpieced triangle is cut oversized.

 Place right sides together with the pieced section--
See that it is oversized?

 and stitch--slowly--while holding it stable with you left hand as you aid in the feeding of the fabric with your right hand.  I couldn't show you where I put my right hand and take the picture too--sorry!

 The finished section after the left triangle has been trimmed to fit.

The finished Kansas Trouble block

I ask myself why I love blogging so much and my answer is easy.  It's you, the readers, the followers.  Those who enjoy reading what I post.  I now have 300 followers.  I have a feeling it is basically because of the word "free" that comes up from a search.  Gotta love that.  I am the one that benefits from my own posts.  I refer to them regularly to refresh my memory about how I did one thing or another.  My hope is that my methods will help someone else.  The above Western Fat Quarters will be given to a person whose name I draw from the those who comment to this post and tell one other person about the Give Away.  Ask the person you tell to mention your name when they comment.  If your person's  name is drawn, you will get a special surprise.

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!

OK KIDS--the time has come to reveal the winner of my McCall's Magazine Subscription Give Away.  I know I am late in the day getting to it, but hey, sometimes life just gets in the way.  You know how it is.  Forgive me for making you wait and wonder.

This is the October issue of McCalls.  As you can see it is just packed full of wonderful quilty info and pics of great quilts.
I really do hate that there can only be one winner.  I have never received so many wonderful comments from so many wonderful visitors.  Of course most of you were sent here from somewhere else, but hopefully now that you have found me, you will return.  If you like me for me, please Follow Me, if you haven't already.

I wish all of you could win.  I have been trying to think about something I could give each of you.  I have plenty of beautiful Bell and Jalapeno Peppers.  But I couldn't mail those out now could I?
I did decide on a small gift that some of you might like.  With the Halloween season just on hand, how about some designs that you could use for a quick and easy Halloween project?  I spent a little time this evening sketching out these fun pumpkins and wording to go with them.  Maybe  they could be used for applique or embroidery.

Now on to the annoucement.  The winner for this years McCall's Quilting Magazine Subscription is----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cathy M  -the Never Finish Quilter .  Go to her blog and visit.  I am sure she will be blogging about her win.  Cathy--we are all going to be visiting you and encouraging you to finish you quilts.  You are not going to want to disappoint your readers, so you might have to change the name of your blog!!!!  Anyway, girl, you now have a years subscription of McCalls to give you inspiration!!

CONGRATULATIONS CATHY!!! 

Bunny Hill Block of the Month #10--OCTOBER

See bottom of
post or click sidebar button for Magazine Give away info.

Nothing like a little applique block to do during the appropriate month to put you in the mood. My favorite little darling too, Sunbonnet Sue! This is Anne Sutton's Free Block of the Month (for those few who do not know)! See the button on my sidebar. It will take you straight there!! Also see all my blocks in a sidebar slide-show! I have so enjoyed these blocks. I have changed a few of them a little to make me a little happier, but I give Anne all the credit. She is very very creative. Go Here to see my block on Flickr along with the rest of my set. Also see over 300 participant's blocks and the diversity of them. It's fantastic. Anne introduced me to Cosmo's Embroidery Thread this month. A sale on her site encouraged me to try it. It is fantastic. It goes through the fabric like butter. It works up quickly and smoothly. I'm just saying...........
You might want to stop by and C h e c k i t o u t!

I am encouraging you to go HERE and comment for a chance to win a year's subscription to McCall's Quilting Magazine. Yes, it's true!! All you have to do is comment for a chance to win or a little more for 2 or 3 chances to win. I want my visitors back. I have not been posting as regular lately, but than is about to change. I want everyone to get back to visiting my blog. You are all very special!!!

BLOGIVERSARY GIVE-AWAY!!

update--------------AND THE WINNER IS -----PAT--- of A Little of This and A Little of Pat fame. Pat has contributed alot to the quilt blogging world and she has been a loyal fan of mine She is almost always the first to comment on my posts. I really appreciate that and I am proud to call her my blogging friend. CONGRATULATIONS, PAT. Email me your snail mail address and I will order your magazine. God Bless you Pat!

Lulu is happy for Pat too--but mostly she is ready for a nap!


I told LULU my dilema as to what to do for my "Followers" for my Blogiversary. LULU said she really didn't have time to discuss it, but since it was me that she would. After all, I do FEED her! Anyway, she said she would think that anyone would just LOVE one of these gigantic beds like she has and you can see in the background, but if I was not willing to do that then she would go for a magazine subscription. Any girl loves nothing better than to relax with a good zine. So,

HERE IS THE DEAL--for my followers only (but who can stop you from following now!! LOL) Please comment on this post and tell me what you like about my blog (aka why do you follow it--and if you tell me," for a chance to win the magazine subscription"--well--I guess you are an honest person). I want to know what attracts you to my blog.



I will be gone out of town for a few days. When I return I will draw from the commenters and the winner will get a free one year subscription to McCall's Quilting Magazine!

It really is a great magazine. In my opinion, it has improved in the last year. Love the cover this month!! A Mystery quilt starts this month and it shows you blocks made with several different styles of fabrics.

So--let the commenting commence!! Remember I will be out of town until Monday, so don't expect me to reply until then.