Winner of My Memories Software!

The winner is Susan!

She said: "http://desertskyquilts.livejournal.com/ I blogged about your giveaway in between my advent posts"

Susan, I'll email you with the code to claim your copy of the my memories software shortly =)

 Thanks to those who participated! <3

Just use this promo code at checkout: STMMMS12916

Quilting all the way!

So to keep my sanity in this HD crash disaster I decided to start quilting my Flurry Quilt. Since I can't work for real anyway, apart from when I can borrow Andreas computer and that gives me quite a lot of time to quilt. So every downside have an upside right? After having seen this gorgeous version that Natalia over at Piece N Quilt quilted for one of her clients I got so inspired that I decided to try something that wasn't a fail safe all over design this time =)

So while I'm far away from her amazing result, I'm quite happy with my swirls despite them being anything but perfect (this is a major step for perfectionist me! Am I growing up? ^^) and I'm having a ton of fun planning how to quilt the presents and the border!

So I went off in search for inspiration over at my favourite quilters and after reading this tutorial for a Diamond Sashing over at Green Fairy Quilts I think I might dare to try something with straight lines in it but FMQ, cool right? I was stunned with happiness when I read it! I thought I'd never be able to FMQ straight lines, but the secret was so simple and right in front of me on my cutting table the whole time... Yes I'm a bit embarrassed that I hadn't thought of using a ruler for it it on my own - but now that I know: Wohoo! Here I come straight lines! =D

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If you're looking for the My Memories Suite give away, it can be found here, still 1 day left to enter! =)

Harddrive crash and Ruby

So yesterday was very much a good day turned into a very bad day kind of deal...

My pretty much brand new SSD disk died yesterday. And since Andreas identical disk died a week ago and he just shipped his off for replacement two days ago - we're now officially out of disks to run Windows from as Andreas took my extra disk when his crashed... And mine died hard, I mean completely died, not even recognized by BIOS, darn crappy SSD's from OCZ! They where not even 4 months old!

So I'm currently running Ubuntu from a CD, not ideal at all when you work from your computer, quite a lot of panic in our house today... But at least I can take care of most things until I get a replacement sent (if they ever bother to reply to our request about a new RMA).

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But before that and on a happier  note, I found out that River Fabrics carries Ruby and even have FQ bundles! I was so happy as it's a pain to order from the US here in Malta (you can read about my struggles with customs here). And the owner Janette being the great person she is, gave me a fantastic deal on shipping <3

Soon I'll be touching her, Ruby - the woman of my dreams ;)

Like some of you know I've been dreaming of Ruby since she  was announced and the very day I manage to get my hands on some, Camille announces their next, if possible even more fabulous line - Vintage Modern!

Images borrowed from Simplify - Camilles Blog.

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If you're looking for the My Memories Suite give away, it can be found here, still 2 more days left to enter! =)

Why you should go to bed and not sit down in front of the sewing machine when you've worked for nearly 24 hours...

So, let's just say that this morning when I looked at the photo I took of my finished work from last night, I thought it looked a little weird....

Let's say it looked much more "compact" then I thought it would look...

As it turns out I had forgotten something, namely some white background strips! So I had some serious seam ripping to do today. But tonight I finished and I now have a top looking a bit closer to what I intended =)

Sorry about the crappy photos but they where taken in the middle of the night and my "real" lens is at Sigma being exchanged/fixed as it gave up. I'm by no means a good photographer, but I realize how luxurious I have it with our normal lens (usually at a half automatic setting) when I try to take photos at night with the kit lens =)

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If you're looking for the My Memories Suite give away, it can be found here:

Giveaway! Win the My Memories Suite software!

I'm super happy to be hosting my very first giveaway thanks to the lovely people over at My Memories!

Those of you who know me know I need a new hobby like I need a hole in the head but like you also know, I dabbled a little in digital scrapbooking a while back to make my new header and it was so much fun! But a bit of a hassle doing it in Photoshop... So when I was contacted by My Memories I just jumped at the chance at trying their digital scrapbooking software and also getting the chance to let one of you dear readers, have a chance of winning your very own full version of the My Memories Suite!

After having played a round with it for a little while now I can tell you, there's much fun you can do with this software, especially when it comes to fun gifts. And don't' only think printing  as that's what put me off at first, I'm not the paper photo kind of gal - think digital photo frames! Just save your album as .jpg images and you can make super fun gifts by simply buying a digital picture frame (if the recipient doesn't have one) and a cheap memory card that suits the frame with your album pages in .jpg format and you have a super fun gift (tutorial for this and a ton of other things are available on their webpage)! It's quite easy and logical to use, which is a big bonus if you like me have very limited time and don't want to spend it reading manuals.

If you're a blogger, there's a ton of fun things you can create, like fancy new blog headers:

Or just give your photos adorable frames and designs, like this one of my finances adorable niece Matilda (Or "Tilla" to use her own pronunciation) from when they where visiting us earlier last month, she'd eaten ice cream and was happily playing in the park:

And when we're on the topic of visit from the family, I just have to show you (despite how terrible I look in the photo, had been more or less ill for a month) my favourite part of the day with the kids, and it's when I get to curl up with them all in bed, one in my lap (or at times all three, but it gets a little difficult to read then) and the rest around me reading a storybook. I have such lovely memories of my mother doing that for me and my sister when we where young and storybook time was the best time of the day back then. 

Anyhow, there's a lot of fun stuff you can do with this software.  All of the above is done with what comes included with the My Memories Suite, however,  they have a number of free kits for download and unlimited ones you can buy to increace the possibilities. Ok, so yes - I do realize I sound super silly in all the above commentary but it really is fun to play with this and I'm excited about the opportunity to share it with your all. =)

HOW TO WIN

Finally, we're at the good part! =D

You can do any of the below to get one or more chances to win, please make one comment for each of your entries and make sure you're not a a no reply blogger (hop over to Sew Many Ways  if you're unsure if you are) or include your email if you're a no-reply blogger so I have a way to contact you if you win, otherwise, I'll draw a new name. The giveaway closes in one weeks time so on the 10th of December, the winner will be announced! =)

1. Comment on this post and tell me what you would want to try and make first with the My Memories Suite.

2. Become a follower of my blog, or if you already are, just state that you're a follower.

3. Blog about the giveaway and comment with a link to your post.

4. Twitter/Facebook about the giveaway comment with a link to your post

And to make sure no one feels left out, My Memories are giving all of you readers a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software for those of you who don't win and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store after purchasing the software - $20 value!

Just use this promo code at checkout: STMMMS12916 

Flurry on the way!

I've finished all the blocks for my Flurry with Flurry quilt and here's what I've got.

I've such a major crush on this quilt before it's even done and an even bigger one on this fabric line!

I also had to share with you my silly Diana who had "taken down" my Summer Squares quilt from the edge of the couch cuddled up so cutely for a grooming and napping session which I interrupted with my picture taking, hence the accusatory stare =)

Kind of a Tutorial - Fancy Folded Star Ornament

Like I said ages ago - I was going to show you how to make other things with my Moda Bakeshop Fancy Folded Star Tutorial, however work has been keeping both my hands bound lately but I managed to whip up a little ornament at least. If you haven't read or tried my Fancy Folded Star Tutorial before, I strongly suggest you read it all before you start with your ornament as I'll be referring to that tutorial a lot.

Fancy Folded Star Ornament

Simply follow the tutorial on how to make a Fancy Folded Star above, but instead of using 4 FQs  for the star we use 3, and instead if cutting (16) 3" x 4" rectangles from each FQ, we only cut (8) from each. And we replace the 10" x 10" square base from scrap fabric, with a 5" x 5", so you'll end up with this when you've drawn the lines and ironed down the fold on each of the (24) rectangles.

Then decide your layout and lay out the pieces, I placed them slightly closer together then I did for the pot holder version, but you can do as you wish there, your ornament will be smaller the tighter you place them. I wanted a fairly big one so I didn't place them too close. Pin them down, draw a link with disappearing marker and sew them down, continue all the way around for all 8 sections.

Fold them just like you do on the pot holder, stitch down the top two like we did on the pot holder, but don't stitch the last two in place, just pin it.

When all is pinned, replace your pins like this to allow you to draw a circle (I used a suitable small glass bowl with a 5" diameter to trace around) and stitch around it. Before I did this through I added a small button dressed in the sold fabric to the middle of the star and added batting and backing to get a little body in my ornament. Instead of backing fabric you could always add another Fancy Folded star to the back to make your ornament two sided and thereby suitable for the Christmas tree or a window.

After you've stitched all layers in place, cut out your circle with a scant 1/4" seam allowance to the seam, make bias binding and bind your little circle ornament. I added a small hanger fastened in the binding seam on the backside out of white rubber band.

Tada! You're done, your very own Fancy Folded Star Ornament!

If you make your own Fancy Folded Star ornament or any pattern of mine - I'd love if you add it to my flickr group and thereby share it with me and the world so we all can enjoy it and be inspired by it: Not Only Quilts - Share Your Creations <3

On my "design wall" - Test block for Flurry

Last night I made a test block with my cut up Flurry pieces and decided that this was a quilt I had to do and  have done before December, seriously - look how cute the block is! 

So I ordered some backing (and some bleach white Bella solid as I was nearly completely out of white, something that always make me feel a little stressed out) from a place I haven't tried before: 

JB Quilting Fabrics

They where super quick and got back to me at 23 at night on a Sunday as they had a little less of the fabric then I'd ordered so they wanted to know what I wanted to do. Seems like an excellent store and the service so far is amazing, I keep my fingers crossed everything will go as smoothly and that I'll have a new place in the EU to shop for Moda fabrics, yay! =)

Anyhow, I decided to go with Snowfall in Snowdrift for the backing: 

Home sewing is easy!

Yesterday I got an adorable packet from my mother, it contained about half a yard of this amazing fabric "Home sewing is easy" by Alexander Henry. Thanks a lot mum! <3

I really hope I will feel the same way as this lady does about making dresses when it's time for me and Tova, my "sewing student" to make clothes for her class later this month. =)

I'm thinking it will become a bag, but I'm not sure, I really want to let the cool print speak for itself... Any ideas are much appreciated =)

Other then that I've been cutting up some Flurry because I really hope I'll have time to make a Flurry Christmas Quilt before December has come and gone, namely this one:

 

Finally! A finish!

I've finally had some quality time with my beloved Horizon! Who by the way this month will be getting some much needed TLC from a guy from Janome Sweden who comes to Malta for vacation and is kind enough to take a look at my love when he's here on holiday <3 Which is very lucky as no one services Janome (or any slightly computerized machine) here and he's in much need of some help.

Anyhow, I've finally finished my "Thinking of You" pillow! The pattern for it is from Kellie over at Don't Look Now and I was lucky enough to win it earlier this year. I'm the first one to admit that it was not a good idea to attempt a for me very complicated and never before tried FMQ pattern after not having sewn anything at all for months... Despite this I'm quite happy with the result, the pattern was a lot of fun but it took a lot of time to make when you're not used to this kind of work and you only get like 20 minutes of sewing time at the time with weeks in between...

However, the satisfaction when  you're done make it worth every minute and I'll absolutely make more of the pillows in the pattern when I've gathered enough scraps. =)

The eye of the bird is my very first ever french knot BTW, this was really "a pillow of firsts" for me ^^

And while I was at it with the craziness I figured I might as well face all my fears and put in my very first invisible zipper at the back. It was super easy after reading this tutorial over at Sew4Home. Despite me only having a normal zipper foot, I'm very happy with my first try and will absolutely continue to make pillow backs this way! So quick, simple and stylish!

And when I tried to take a picture of it in its place on the couch, of course Diana had to jump in between, start rolling around to get attention and be in the photo too ^^

It feels GREAT to be back to sewing! Now however I'll be entertaining guests for 10 days, Andreas sister,  husband and 3 kids are staying with us so I'm guessing there won't be much sewing done, but you never know. =)