Quilting Secret Blog Hop Day 1 is my Day

DECEMBER 31, 2012..... 

Welcome to the First day of the Quilting Secrets Blog Hop

What a way to Finish off the Year and WELCOME 2013!!!!!!

I am honored to have been asked to share quilting secrets with you!   There are 6 additional wonderful ladies sharing secrets this week, so make sure you check out their blogs too!  Thank you Mrs Pickles for asking me to participate and Thank You to everyone who is stopping by. Make sure you  visit all the other blogs to see what's being shared.  We also have a giveaway today Sponsored by Aurifil... Details at the bottom of the post *wink*

I couldn't think of anything right away... but when Mrs Pickles told me she was uber jealous of my "perfect" points with HST's, I decided that was the best secret I could share. *giggle*  She humbled me with all of her kind and supportive words!!!

I will first say it takes practice and good prep work with pins before you stitch.   I will try and show you the best way I can via pictures as I explain it as well with words.  I am going to share a few things along the way... But the Big Secrets Reveal today will be HST's and Perfect Points

P.S... HST - Half Square Triangle

First little tip/secret... If you are going to be making A LOT of HST's then find a piece of Sandpaper to use to lay your fabric on..it will make drawing those lines for sewing much easier and quicker.. Your fabric won't stretch or move on ya.

I left it in the package for your viewing pleasure..
I use a different sheet and do more triangles at at time normally..*wink*

I tend to make my half square triangles just a tad bit bigger than whatever size they call for...Lots of time you can make two from one square...For example....if you are making 3 1/2 inch squares they call for 3 7/8 square, but I will always cut my square to 4 inches... gives me some play room when trimming and I know my triangles will start off the right size.

Next after stitching, cutting and trimming... your ready to pin those triangles together...I generally always press to the darker side of my fabrics.. so that there is an edge to use.   I am sewing together a row of Triangles to make a coffee table runner... Hoping it will come out something like this..... 

After sewing the Rows together..you'll be ready to line up the points... Again I press to the dark it keeps everything crisp and uniform, and will help line up your edges a bit better.. 

Okay.. Next to line up those points :)   I use a Pin thru the points of each side and 

run the pin all the way thru.

Then I pin along each side of my centering pin and along the way to help keep the 

fabric from shifting too much...

Then I am ready to sew my points together ;)  I keep my pins in place right up to the very end...sometimes if I am using a bit longer stitch I will sew right over the top of the pins... Not too often do I do it, but if I don't pull my pins quick enough..I let it go thru. *wink*..I've accidently sewn my finger tip before..it's painful.. 

Will Look Like this when you're done.. 

Then Press open to the dark sides again :)  and you'll have Perfect Points *giggle*

~~~~~~~~

I Love how my new coffee table runner turned out :)  

 Make sure you visit all the other wonderful sites this Blog Hop

***updated*** Click on the DATE to go to the
 Quilting Secret Posting or the Name to go to each Blog Home page..****

Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet - December 31st 

Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling - January 1st

Barbara @ Cat Patches - January 2nd

Melissa @ Bitter Sweet Designs  - January 3rd

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts -  January 4th

Sue @ Quilt Times  January 5th

Hayley @ Mrs Pickles Garden - January 6th

**added this to Link With Crazy Mom Quilts....Finish it Friday.....

 I love my mini Table Runner...

Blog Hopping Along....

I am SEW Excited... Tomorrow is my day in the Quilting Secrets Blog Hop hosted by Mrs Pickle's from Mrs Pickles Garden.. Make sure you stop by tomorrow to check out the Secret that I am revealing.... The hop shares ideas from 6 other wonderful ladies.  We are all sharing Quilting Secrets this week. 

 FUN FUN FUN!!!

AND..............

I am excited to announce that I'll be the CHEERLEADER for one of Madam Samm's BLOG HOPs... Have you ever been DAREd to Try Something NEW????   Well I've Never done a DRESDEN Block of any kind before and when I told the "Quilt Monster in my Closet" that I was thinking of helping with a Blog Hop... That darn Monster DARED me to do a DRESDEN... SO....
 Dare to Dresden was born!!  I can't let that Monster push me around...*Giggle*

So if' you'd like to join... We still have ROOM... We have 43 participants as of today and I will keep you up to date.   IF you'd like to participate..
PLEASE send me an EMAIL at  Jeepgirl300@gmail.com
Need your name and blog address.  Will keep this open for signups until the 6th of January...

If you'd like even more details... here's a Link to Announcement from Sew We Quilt..
CLICK HERE

Hugs and Happy New Year... This year is starting off super exciting!!!

Just a Few More Days before a Secret Hop Starts

Just a Reminder about an upcoming Hop... If you're new to quilting or just want to know how someone gets something done... you might want to hop around this blog hop... Quilting Secrets are being shared...
Mrs Pickles is wanting our Secrets of Successful Quilting and has asked us to share *wink*
We Have 7 Stops in 7 Days....  Hope you can make it by and learn a thing or two.... 

She's got lots of fun giveaway's scheduled too!  

Christine @ Quilt Monter in my Closet December 31st ->>Me Me ME :)

Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling  January 1st

Barbara @ Cat Patches January 2nd
Melissa @ Bitter Sweet Designs   January 3rd

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts  January 4th

Sue @ Quilt Times  January 5th

Hayley @ Mrs Pickles Garden January 6th

Hope to see you back in just a few days *wink*

Wish you all a Very Merry Merry!!

WISHING YOU and Your Families A WONDERFUL Christmas This Year!!!

  I hope you are all enjoying your Holiday Season.

Some of you know I don't do the big Christmas decorations or go crazy for the holidays....

 TOOO many Years Working Retail killed it for me... But there are a few things I do, to decorate....

  I put out my Christmas Quilt...  

and Christmas MINI... now resides on my Table

 and my TINY TINY Christmas Tree...

This Year we didn't necessarily SWAP gifts.. Instead we bought new Living Room Furniture!  I am SEW in Love with it!   We were in desperate need of new furniture too :)  Plus we needed more seating... 

So here's some shots of our new Living Room :)  

New Sofa.. that reclines on each end...(properly decorated for Christmas...*wink*)

New Love Seat with two Recliners and a Rocker~Recliner.  

Love THEM all and a NEW Area Rug that I think is Fabulous!!!

Our day was spent with friends and family.... My puppy loves her new Bed too... she doesn't like the furniture anymore..*giggle*... the Leather isn't her cup of tea...So Santa brought her a new Bed.

She likes it...and she has a roommate..Mr Giraffe.. :)

Baby quilt in the making and Wonky Blocks

I have been so busy at work... Haven't had lots of time to sew, but this past Friday night I started this little quilt..and I have to share..Super easy to make and QUICK.... I will post a tutorial shortly.....I am Off to Joann's to buy backing flannel right after I share this pix with you...I have all the blocks sewn together, but my camera battery died... So...will post more SOON very SOON....shortly after recharging.. *giggle*.

Isn't it going to turn out cute! 

I also have to share some more of my wonderful wonky blocks... I received blocks from Bea yesterday. :)
Here they are....

AND I couldn't resist playing a bit on the design wall... Here's a little grouping of what I have so far...I AM IN LOVE!!!!  I am so excited!! I can't wait to get the rest of these blocks... I really love how bright and cheerful it is... especially after all the rain we've been having!! 

Placement isn't official until I get more blocks.. but I LOVE how Wonky this is going to be!!!

 

My Wonky Blocks are arriving!!!!!

I have waited all year long for my Wonky Month in the Wonky Bee 2012 Virtual Quilting Bee.  My Sister in law and I hosted, her month was January...and I've watched all kinds of wonderfully WONKY blocks come and go for a WHOLE year! I have made some new friendships that I hope grow even more over the years. The ladies I have got to meet are all SEW very Talented!!!  Here's a picture all the different blocks I made for a WONDERFULLY WONKY group of LADIES!!!

Each Month I hmmm'd and hawwd over so many different blocks to try and find my block...and finally found a pattern to use...I modified it just a bit... to put some flair to it...I chose the Moda Fabric Line called Sassy... I loved the color combinations together and decided to send everyone kits including different outer borders and center blocks to inspire.....Here' are some examples of blocks I made to share with the ladies for inspiration...

They all have their kits and the blocks are arriving Daily.. I get excited after a busy day at work to find a fun package waiting for me...and to see what they come up with...  

Yesterday I received Laurel's Wonderful Wonky Blocks...

and Today I received Jodi's Blocks...

BOTH sets are SOOOOO WONDERFUL!!!!  Thank you ladies and I look forward to more blocks to arrive in my box all month. :)   Will keep you posted as I get them in the mail.

Hugs and Happy Quilting....