big news!

Ok, so... wow for all the comments/entries on my giveaway! I had quite the task yesterday sifting through my flooded email box, but enjoyed it so much! Thanks to everyone who has entered... good luck to you! And since the draw won't happen until Sunday, you still have lots of time to enter by clicking here.

And did you notice the title of my post? Yep, there's big news to share! Tomorrow my

"Grandma's {Playtime} Buntings Quilt"

will be featured over on Moda Bake Shop. It's my second project in the Moda kitchen and I had a blast putting it together. Here's another quick little peek to hopefully get you interested... see you tomorrow!

it's GIVEAWAY time!

February is almost over, and Spring is just around the corner. For me and my girls, a big part of Spring is the start of the craft and farmers market season. We're planning on having tables again this year at a local event, and to see that we're ready, I'm always looking for affordable fabrics to create with. And that's why I really love shopping with Green Fairy Quilts. I posted recently on quilting with a budget and I can honestly say that all of my precuts come from Green Fairy Quilts. Their prices are amazing and they are so friendly to work with.

I'm very excited today to be offering my first sponsored giveaway with Green Fairy Quilts, and I know for sure that the prize will help get you in the mood for Spring... 

...it's a wonderful Farmers Market Fat Eighth Bundle!

Here's how you can enter to win this amazing prize!

1. Become a follower of my blog for one entry... let me know in a comment that you've become a follower (I will check!)
2. Mention this giveaway on your blog for another entry

3. Sign up for Green Fairy Quilts' newsletter here for a third entry... again, let me know in a comment for a third entry

4. Tell me what you'd create with this gorgeous bundle of fabrics for a fourth entry. (Personally, I'd start with a new market tote and go from there, but that's just me)

Please be sure to leave your email if you are a no-reply blogger... if I can't contact you, then you can't win!

I want to say a huge thank you to Green Fairy Quilts for this generous giveaway... what a wonderful way to help us look forward to Spring!

I'll draw the winner on Sunday, Feb 26th... good luck!

my Tuesday timeout...

...was a little quieter than usual since my usual sewing buddy had to take a sick day... and so did my sometimes sewing buddy.  But I stuck to the day's plan all by myself and got a start on my Granny Square Quilt.

Have you seen the wonderful tutorial over on Blue Elephant Stitches' blog? Go have a peek, and then start granny squarin'. You won't be sorry.

signs, sealed and delivered...

Every time I finish off a custom order, I breathe a little easier. I love the work, but always worry until the project has been delivered. This was a set of custom signs for a local counselor who needed to update her exterior signage. Our wet weather had really done a number on her old signs. Anyway, after a little back and forth legwork to get the colors and finish just right, I'm happy to say that she was happy with my work! And that makes for a great start to my week!

Debbie, thank you for your business! I really appreciate it!

goodbye, Su Hyeon!

So this morning, bright and early, we sent our little Su Hyeon on her way, back home to Korea. {Her "Canadian" name is Jenny, but I'm sure we could have handled Su Hyeon!}

We had a fun 7 weeks with this little cutie, despite the mountains of homework she had. And when I say "she had", I really mean "we had". She loved our cats, playing games, doing art projects with our girls, and especially dinnertime. I think I should have weighed her upon arrival and then again this morning!

She was definately a bright spot in a rather blah time of year. Here are a few quick pics to share... and yes, she really was that tiny!

We'll be getting a grade 10 Japanese girl in 10 days to finish out the school year... it just gives us enough time to renovate our basement again. Us, lead a quiet life? Are you kidding?

budget quilting - it can be done!

Precuts containing an entire line of fabric? Amazingly genius, but potentially very expensive.

I am a quilter on a very tight budget and I don't think I've ever spent on the 'whole package' when it comes to making a quilt... meaning that my projects are usually based on something I truely love paired with something I've found that works with it. I'm a believer that name brand does not necessarily a beautiful quilt make.

I took a little fieldtrip south of the border yesterday with a couple of girlfriends. It just made a regular Joann's run more fun. I brought my Reunion jelly roll along for the ride, in the hopes that I could find some affordable yardage to work with it. I love the new Denyse Schmidt print that I ended up with (on sale!) and I have big plans in place for this combination... now I just need the time!

Here's another bit of yardage to blend with my Hometown jelly roll and charm pack... a couple of fabulous pindots that are the perfect counterpart... I bought them at 50% off from Fabricland. Now I just have to work up the nerve to cut into them... oh, how I love me some Hometown!

And this is a FQ bundle I found at Walmart of all places. It cost less than a game of bowling, which fit the budget just fine. I need to take it with me next time I'm bargain hunting... I'm sure the perfect yardage is out there somewhere, and hopefully on sale. Then, I'll just need a little inspiration to strike.. sorry, bad joke, I know.

How do you feel about mixing your precuts with outside fabrics? Are you a bargain hunter like me, taking something as your starting point and going from there? Or do you prefer to build your quilts from a complete family of fabrics? 'Cause inquiring minds want to know, you know.

happy Valentine's day...

Are special things happening in your house today? Since we're in for another crazy day here it looks like it'll be business as usual. Oh, there'll be a little giftie or two for the girls this evening, and Robyn made a pan of cream cheese french toast to pop in the oven for dinner, but there hasn't really been time for much else. Emily is home sick. Julianna has basketball tournaments all day. I'll catch one of her games this morning and then head for my Tuesday timeout. Robyn's working from home, starting a reno on our basement to build another bedroom since it looks like we're in the homestay way for the long haul. Our Korean student Jenny will likely be buried in homework. Valentine's Day? Not a huge priority. But that's ok. We love each other, and we know we are loved in return.

Yesterday, I did manage to get this little cutie to the binding stage and I'm so pleased with it. It was made with some of the Japanese fabrics I received before Christmas from one of our homestay girls. I'll finish it today and it will be all the Valentine's decorating that will happen this year. But like I said, we love each other, and we know we are loved in return. And that's enough.

(And have you ever tried quilting with slippery fabrics like these--yikes!)

she's all finished...

...I'll let you know when she's about to appear in the Bake Shop.

(As if I could keep a secret.)