ecopeco!

A few weeks ago, Ecopeco Art offered to send me a few of their cutting mats (affiliate link) to try. In short, I love them! Right off, there are obvious attractions - they come in three sizes (18"x12", 24"x18", and 36"x24"), are self-healing, and are reversible with fresh high-contrast color combinations.

Upon closer inspection, you'll find they are odorless and BPA and PVC-free, made completely of eco-friendly materials.

***Giveaway is now closed. Thank you!***

Would you like a chance to win a mat for yourself and a friend? If so, head on over to Instagram, where Ecopeco Art is sponsoring a giveaway! I'm thinking a new ecopeco mat would be a great addition to your sewing space!

Five Years Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to ALL of you who kindly commented on my Five Years post! You helped make this a really fun week! As promised, I consulted random.org, and the lucky winner of the $50 gift certificate to Fabric Bubb is Arita/[arquilters]. Congratulations, Arita! I've sent you an email. 

And a big thank you to Kristina of Fabric Bubb. Her modern online fabric shop is definitely worth a visit, and I hope you stop by soon, as well as find Fabric Bubb on Instagram.

Again, thank you for following A Quilter's Table. You make it all worth doing.

Still Sketching

After making myself a patchwork sketchbook to take to QuiltCon, I decided to make a few more covered composition books as gifts.

I used the tutorial by Stitched in Color for the basic instructions, and made up the actual patchwork on my own. For the first one shown below, I did use the North West block by hey, let's make stuff.

On one, I just did some improv piecing built around a wonky log cabin block.

On another, I started with a mini version of shecanquilt's Canvas pattern and then did improve from there.

 I tried to make a more masculine version that wasn't quite so patchworky . . .

Then it occurred to me that the cheater-type C+S prints might be fun to try, so I made a couple more covers where 3/4 was made from 1 fat-quarter.

By the way, I did make sure to hunt down composition books that had 4 squares/inch. Mine is already well-used from taking class and lecture notes. Any chance you could use one too? The first 4 shown above have all been gifted, but the final 2 - 1 with a fussy-cut flower and 1 with galloping horses - are up for grabs. If you'd like a chance at one, just leave a comment telling me which you'd rather have. I'll choose 2 random winners over the weekend. This time, U.S. only please. This giveaway is now closed - thank you!

Giveaway Day, Oh Yeah!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

Here we go, with another Giveaway Day from Sew, Mama, Sew! It's a great {and fun!} way to visit lots of bloggers, facebook pages, and Instagram feeds, entering all sorts of giveaways, as well as getting acquainted with lots of creative folks.

My giveaway consists of a 1/2 yard bundle of Katy Jones/i'm a ginger monkey's new Priory Square, containing all 8 prints in the line. Isn't the variety of scale in this bundle a win-win?For a chance to win, just leave a comment on this post sharing one quilting tutorial or pattern found online that you turn to again and again. The giveaway will close Friday, December 12 at 5pm PST, and I will announce a randomly chosen winner before the weekend's over.

***I am happy to ship internationally. Please include an email address in your comment if it is not accessible through your profile. If you win and I can't find your email easily, I won't hesitate to choose another winner.***

Thanks again for stopping by A Quilter's Table! I hope you come again to join in my journey of quilting and sharing around the table. You can also find me on Instagram and facebook - hope to meet you there as well.

Linking to Giveaway Day at Sew, Mama, Sew!

Three Years

Once upon a time I started a blog, solely for the purpose of getting more involved in the online quilting community. I was uncertain yet excited, and as with most journeys, I had no inkling of where blogging would take me. I did not foresee just how varied the experience would be, how meaningful the relationships, how downright motivated I would become.

At One Year and Two Years, I had already stretched and grown, and it isn't any different at three. I tried to come up with some really meaningful words for today, and I found myself cruising through old posts, stopping to read one now and then. And you know what? I find that I am bordering on speechlessness.

I can't seem to find the words to quite express how full life is because of all of you. To say that I find joy in sewing and sharing in this community of ours is in itself an understatement.

The fact that I actually just grabbed a tissue and dabbed my eyes tells, I guess, how much it means to be welcomed, accepted, and affirmed. It means alot. And it encourages me on. Who knows what this next year will bring. But with you in my corner, I can't wait to find out.

*This giveaway is now closed.* Celebrate with me just for a moment, won't you? We'll have a little giveaway . . . Just leave a comment on this post, and on Sunday night, I'll choose a random winner to receive a $40 credit to Knotted Threads, one of my favorite online shops . . . a small token with a heart full of gratitude behind it. So it is.

Zakka Along 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please ~ The Schedule + A Giveaway

Oh yeah! Zakka Along 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please, the sew along using the new book, Patchwork, Please!: Colorful Zakka Projects to Stitch and Give by Ayumi Takahashi, is right around the corner! Here's the project schedule:

June 3: Bell Pepper Coasters

June 10: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Towels

June 17: Lettered Tea Cozy and Teabag Pouch

June 24: The Polka-Dot-Cafe Apron

July 1: Diamond Patchwork Placemat

July 8: Yum-Yum Apple Bib

July 15: Dino-Mite Hat

July 22: Book-for-Baby Quilt

July 29: My Scrappy Box

August 5: Swedish Bloom-Time Lap Quilt

August 12: You've-Got-Mail Wall Pocket

August 19: Happy Hexagon Trivet

August 26: Piece-of-Cake Shopping Bag

September 2: Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch

September 9: Vintage Pencil Case

September 16: I-Love-My-iPad Quilted Cover

September 23: Handy Market Tote

September 30: Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch

October 7: Prettified Pincushion 

Ambitious? You bet! But bound to be a whole lot of fun! My cohost Lindsey of LRstitched will be posting a supply list shortly, and I'll add a link on the Zakka Along page right here on A Quilter's Table (see tab just under my blog name). I'll be keeping a running list there throughout the sew along, so the info and projects are always easy to find.

*This giveaway is now closed. Thank you!*

Meanwhile, Jenn of Knotted Thread has graciously offered a giveaway to help you get ready for the sew along - a $30 gift certificate to her shop! So comment on this post and I'll choose one random winner next Monday. But you really are all winners, as Jenn has also offered a 10% discount to all sew along participants for the duration of the sew along (code: ZAKKA10). Thank you Jennifer!

While you are gathering supplies, be inspired by the projects from Patchwork, Please! that are showing up in the sew along's flickr group, the Pinterest board, and Instagram (hashtag #patchworkplease). There's lots to be excited about!

Zakka 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please! + A Giveaway

There's been some activity behind the scenes and it's a bit of a relief to finally announce Zakka 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please!

You may remember how much I enjoyed the Zakka Style Sew Along last year {enough to make every project!} so when I heard about the new book by Ayumi Takahashi of Pink Penguin fame, I was pretty excited. And then when Lindsey of LRstitched invited me to cohost a sew along through Patchwork, Please!, I hopped at the chance. My copy of  the book just arrived, and honestly now I'm even more excited to get stitching! Here's a glimpse between the covers!

This new Zakka sew along is set to begin June 3, when we'll sew a new project each week with a delightful line up of contributors:

Leila Beasley, Where the Orchids Grow

Amber Carillo, One Shabby Chick

Maureen Cracknell, Maureen Cracknell Handmade

Krista Fleckenstein, Spotted Stone Studio

Amy Friend, During Quiet Time

Anna Graham, Noodlehead

•••

Kerry Green, Very Kerry Berry + Sew Ichigo

Lynn Goldsworthy, Lily’s Quilts

Krista Hennebury, Poppyprint

Lori Holt, Bee in my Bonnet

Debbie Jeske, A Quilter’s Table

Penny Laymen, Sew Take a Hike

Jennifer Mathis, Ellison Lane Quilts

•••

Amy Newbold, Sukie, Don’t Ya Know

Tamiko Percell, Patchwork Notes

Angela Pingel, Cut to Pieces

Lindsey Rhodes, LRstitched

Monica Solorio, Happy Zombie

Svetlana Sotak, Sotak Handmade

Each Monday one of them will be posting about their project, and we'll all have a week to sew and link up our projects by the next Sunday. Then a prize winner will be announced the following Monday along with the new weeks project. Check out Lindsey's link, here, for some more specifics and a list of our awesome sponsors so far.

Be sure and join the flickr group if you haven't already! You can also keep tabs on Zakka 2.0 via facebook, Threadbias, Pinterest, and on Instagram, using the hashtag #patchworkplease. 

*** This giveaway is now closed. Thank you! ***

And about that giveaway! I have a copy of Patchwork, Please! to give away! The book will ship directly from Interweave and is only open to US readers.  (So sorry International readers!) Just leave a comment below and I’ll choose a random winner on Tuesday, April 9. Meanwhile, stay tuned and before you know it we'll be stitching up a storm in Zakka fashion!

A Winning Thank You

Thank you all for your kind comments on my Two Years post this week! I really appreciated every single one, and your presence at A Quilter's Table each day is what makes it so enjoyable!

And about that giveaway!

Congratulations to Margaret of A Sampler of Stitches!

Since Margaret happened to mention the triple zipper and we are in the middle of the Triple-Zip Along, you might as well admire the darling one she made late last year.

Her attention to detail - the zipper pulls, the little tags, and even the fabrics all together make a terrific little pouch!

So thanks to you all, and Margaret, I'm emailing you!

Two Years

Two years ago today, I took a deep breath, and created A Quilter's Table. At One Year, I shared about my blogging journey through that first year, and of course, the journey has continued and expanded.

What I love about a journey is that no matter how well you plan, there are usually elements of surprise, new experiences you could not have anticipated, and often growth in unexpected ways. And this last year has held all of that for me.

The first block swap hosted by A Quilter's Table was a roaring success, and as overwhelming as it was at times, totally fun. And now I'm in the midst of the Triple-Zip Along, which is proving to be equally enjoyable, and honestly, the whole side-trip with the Triple-Zip has been one of those "who would have thought" experiences that continues to reap rewards.

 

When I began blogging, I never could have imagined the great friendships that would be forged, and to actually meet many of those friends this past year has been a pleasure beyond words.

 

I still find surprise around every corner, it seems. Whether it's the month's batch of bee blocks, a sew-along that pops up, new techniques I find to try, or sweet comments that just make my day. All of that is just so gratifying.

 

Thank you for being part of this last year's journey. You know darned well we're in this together, and it all wouldn't be so wonderful without our individual contributions. The community we've built is an amazing thing, and I'm honored to be a part of it with all of you.

 

So again Thank You! I'd love to mark this occasion at A Quilter's Table with a little giveaway. Considering fabric is never far from my mind, and probably yours too, I thought a gift certificate would be appropriate. So celebrate with me by leaving a comment on this post, and on Saturday, I'll choose a random winner to receive a $40 gift certificate to Pink Chalk Fabrics. ***This giveaway is now closed. Thank you!***

 

Have a great day, and savor the journey.

Tuesday at the Table

I promise I won't post donuts every week this month. But the fact is, I did make them twice more in the last week, one so my son home for the weekend could try my new obsession, and two, because I was just so curious about the different flavors.

First up were Maple Cinnamon Donuts, which were mighty fine, but didn't really taste much of maple. Considering that's a favorite flavor in our family, I really wanted them to. It helped to dip them in maple syrup rather than butter before also dipping in cinnamon-sugar.

Second were Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Syrup Frosting. The donuts were just the right mix of pumpkin and spice! Again, the maple flavor was understated, and the frosting way too runny. But definitely worth tinkering with another time.

For those of you who've had enough of my donut baking, feel free to flash back to last year when I shared my recipe for Italian Tomato and Sausage Soup, which also was enjoyed this weekend due to mom's special request. Love those recipes that have become family favorites over the years.

What do you have to share from your table this week?  I'm sure you'll want a chance at winning the stack of Notting Hill fat-quarters that Jennifer of Knotted Thread has generously donated for one randomly-chosen linker. Check out the giveaway details here, and link up here any day this month! Early in December, I'll choose that lucky winner!

Another Look and A Giveaway

I can't resist giving you another peek at the skirt I made grandgirl. This time, she is actually wearing it!

SO cute on her!

As for the giveaway, Jennifer of knotted thread has generously offered a fat-quarter bundle(!) of Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill  in one of the colorways! That's 12 FQ's! I'll choose a random winner from the Tuesday at the Table link-ups for November, and the winner can choose the colorway of their choice -  poppy, teal, or magenta.

Pretty cool, huh? So join in and link up here by midnight PST on November 30 - a recipe, an experience in the kitchen, a project for your table or kitchen - you name it! And be sure and check out Jennifer's knotted thread etsy shop to see these fabrics in more detail, as well as her other offerings. Thanks, Jennifer!!

Linking up with Owen's Olivia.

Tuesday at the Table

There was a wedding in our family last weekend. It was small and short and simple, but the most important bits were there. What I really want to tell you about, though, is the table. As a way of celebrating the new union, as folks often do, we gathered around the table and shared a meal. Two things struck me about this. One was that though there were only about 15 of us at the celebration, no one knew everyone else in attendance except the groom. And I was reminded what a fine thing it is to gather strangers around the table. How it helps put folks at ease and gives them a familiar ritual to take part in, helping them then, to reach out to each other. The other thing was how the meal came together. That the groom's best friends prepared the food, that his sister provided flowers to decorate the tables, that his daughter made the delicious and Pinterest-pretty cherry-chip wedding cake. It was people who cared about him most that provided for him on his special day. And that touched my heart.

Also, I really had intended to share a recipe with you today. I haven't been able to get these Apple Cider Doughnuts out of my mind ever since I saw them on Pinterest last week. I bought the ingredients on Saturday and had big plans. But after checking five(!) stores for a doughnut pan, I had to resort to ordering from Amazon, so I'll be trying these out later in the week instead.

Source: tastykitchen.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Luckily, I did get a chance to unpack my Sewing Summit swag though, and packed up a box for the random winner of this month's Tuesday at the Table linky party.

I guess I indulged in more neutral fqs than anything else while shop hopping in Utah, but we all need those too of course. So I'm sharing 8, plus a fq of my stashed Heather Ross snails just for fun and color. There will be some other miscellaneous notions in the box as well as some really good reading.

So feel free to link up through Wednesday night, October 31! Do you have a seasonal project to share, some pumpkin or other Halloween-y treats, or by chance any Apple Cider Doughnuts?? ;-) Really, the criteria's pretty loose! Just link up here!

The Long Weekend Blog Hop

If you missed the kick-off of The Long Weekend Blog Hop hosted by Fabric Mutt and Lori H. Designs, do check it out here or here. It's all about making Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag. And if you've ever even slightly considered it, now is the time. What better idea than to make it along with others. Watch The Long Weekend flickr group for fabric choices, bag progress, and tips along the way.

I had just finished my own Weekender when Heidi asked me to join the blog hop and share my experience. You can read my reveal post here, where I share all about the construction, but since using my bag, I've come up with a few more things for you to think about:

• Add a label. If you have them to add to your quilts, for sure add one to your bag.

• Add a zipper pull. This bag has one long zip, and a pull just makes sense.

• About that zipper length - I've read some complaints that it's too long. It does go down into the end pockets a bit, which I really don't mind as the bag is intended for travel. But just the same, it's good to know before you start and is something to consider.

• I made a patchwork version of the bag, as you can see, layering quilting cotton on batt on duck and using the quilt-as-you-go method. So for the lining, I naturally used quilting cotton, and in reality, it seems quite light-weight and a tad baggy. "Next time" (totally hypothetical!) I would definitely consider using fusible interfacing on the lining.
• Lastly, and this is a biggy for me, I experienced a strap fail. This is a big bag, which means it holds plenty. I found the straps too skinny and 'lightweight' when I actually used the bag. Some threads even popped. If you read my Oh, My Weekender! post, you'll know I added to the length of the straps, but I'd also definitely make them wider, interface them heavier, and maybe even use polyester thread for some 'give.'

Well, I think that's plenty to contemplate for today! I hope some of it is helpful! Meanwhile, I'm pleased to host a giveaway as you gather supplies, do all the cutting (and cutting), and begin to construct your bag!

*** This giveaway is now closed! ***

Here's a beautiful fat-quarter stack of Amy Butler's Cameo from sew fresh fabrics!

 

Just leave a comment on this post by Thursday night and I'll choose a random winner on Friday! If you'd like, share your plans for your bag, your biggest apprehension, or any adaptations you are planning on making. I can't wait to follow your progress and see your bag come to life!

Oh, those Polaroids!

Just look at these pillows made by Sewmama123! The second photo below is actually the back of the large pillow in the top photo. What a lovely use of Polaroid blocks, isn't it?

1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51109548@N08/7828343668/in/pool-1843503@N22/">Perfect Polaroid Picture pillows</a>, 2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51109548@N08/7828349604/in/pool-1843503@N22/">Envelope back</a>

And I had to try just a small project myself . . .

A drawstring Snack Bag using Jeni's pattern, with a little Polaroid pieced into the front panel. Honestly, I need more practice with bordering and trimming the blocks - I had intended on this little block being wonky, but trimmed everything wrong. And too close. So I'll be perfecting my technique, but for a first try, I'm quite happy with it. Fabric-wise, I used Essex Linen for the main bag, Michael Miller dots for the accent, and Painter's Canvas for the lime lining.

There's lots more sewing fun in store for all of us who swapped Polaroids, but meanwhile let's give away those six packs of blocks. According to the random generator, the winners are:

#49 ~ Karen of Lintonville.com

#21 ~ Candice of Sunshine, Handmade

#19 ~ Yzo of Chez Roo

#45 ~ Jayme of finding sweetland

#50 ~ Jennie of Jennie's Threads

#37 ~ Teje of Nero's Post and Patch

Congrats to you winners - I am emailing you all! And thanks again to everyone who participated and made the *Picture-Perfect* Polaroid Swap a rousing success!

Linking up with sew & tell, {sew} Modern Monday, and Fabric Tuesday.