Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall2012

This past spring I entered the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side blog with the very First Quilt I ever made.  The contest is here again and I couldn't decide what  quilt to enter.  If you're looking for some Quilt and Artistic inspiration, I advise you to go and visit the contest!  There are so many beautiful quilts and inspirational stories, you are sure to have fun.  I've already been browsing through all the selections and my mouth just drops open with all the talent!  Oh how I love the quilting world.  :)

After much thought, I finally decide to enter my Dresden Baby Quilt.  (after all, Dresdens are my favorite!) I machine pieced and quilted this little beauty on my home machine.  :) I machine and hand sewed the binding.

This little quilt is for my friend, I'll call her Mrs. Pretty (I don't use people's names in my blog except for mine and my hubby).  Actually, Mrs. Pretty is giving this little quilt to her friend who is having a little girl.  Mrs. Pretty's sister and I were best friends in our childhood school days.  We were always playing pranks and tricks on Mrs. Pretty (she's a couple years younger than we are).

One such prank involved a telephone call, a ketchup knife, and me and her sister hiding in the hall closet.  Oh dear, we were so mischievous!  Mrs. Pretty was a good sport, well actually, she threatened us from an inch of our lives!  hahaha I have such wonderful memories of these two ladies.  And when I'm with them, whether it's in person or on FB or blogging, I feel that I'm a young teenager again.  It doesn't matter how much time or space passes between us, I will always love them.  :)

Patchwork backing!  4" squares 

Sweet Little Flea Market!

Quilt Specifics

Size: 42" square

Style: Dresden Plate and Patchwork
Pieced and Quilted by:  Me

Best Category: Baby Quilt, Scrap Quilt, Home Machine Quilted

California Girl for Mama

We celebrated Mama's Birthday today!!  It was a lot of fun.  I made her a patchwork quilt from the California Girl fabric line.  Joanna Figueroa has designed some of my favorite fabrics.  If I ever win the lottery I will buy a piece of fabric from every design she has ever made and hang them on my wall.  That's probably not even possible, but you get the idea.  :)

I love my Mama and I wanted to make her a special quilt.  She walked me down the aisle when I got married.  She traveled 1500 miles to watch me graduate from the military.  She traveled another 3,000 miles to visit me when I was stationed in California.  We traveled to Germany together.  When I was in college and had a night class, she rode with me and then slept/read a book in the car until my class was over - just so I would be safe.  She taught me to cross stitch, crochet, cook, and she tried to teach me to sew (that's another story lol!).

My Mama is a cancer survivor.  She can paint, play the piano, write.  She is open minded to what others think, but firm in what she thinks is right.

She is full of life and laughter and it's no wonder that her nickname is Sunshine.  She can light up a room by just smiling.  She has spent her entire life being a Mama first and I love her.  Happy Birthday Mama.   :)

Back of Quilt

MaoMao loves quilts!

Thank you Mama for being so wonderful and I thank God for letting me be a part of your life.  I love you. -Little Mama Hen.

Sharing @Quilt Story

Grandmama holding all of her little lovies hands. :)

I may be nearly 40 years old, but I'm still Mama's little girl. :)

Dresdens for Baby

I really wish that I knew how to quilt when I was first starting my family!  My sweet little ones would probably have dozens of quilts by now.   :)  But thank goodness for others who are just starting their family or at least still continuing to grow, because I love Baby quilts!  Well, the truth is I love quilts period...

I love each step of the process: picking out the fabric and pattern, cutting and piecing, quilting and binding!

One day I want to hand quilt a quilt.  I think that I'll really enjoy hand quilting, because I enjoy hand binding.

Here is my latest little Dresden Quilt (Dresden's are my favorite!).  A friend of mine custom ordered it and I love it!  I don't know anything better than Dresdens and Patchwork!  :)  I also finished my Mama's Birthday quilt, but I'll have to post about that next week.  We haven't celebrated her birthday yet and I can't risk her reading my blog and seeing her quilt before her party!!  ;)

Sharing over @  Crazy Mom Quilts

who doesn't love a little Flea Market!

Blog Hop Giveaway Results

Wow! That was a fun Blog Hop from Madame Samm's Sew We Quilt and hosted by Cherry Blossoms Quilting.  Oh and if you want to see all the blocks in one place visit Pinterest Here!  What a brilliant idea!  :)

I have met so many new quilters and bloggers!  I've been trying to send emails to thank everyone for participating, but I'm not through my list yet and it's time to announce the giveaway! lol  

I am visiting each of your blogs and becoming a member.  I haven't made it to everyone yet, but I will!  :)

The winner of the Fall and Christmas fabric bundle is Rosa!

She said:

RosaOctober 8, 2012 1:46 PM

Wonderful block and fabrics and the sunset.Thanks for sharing!!I`m a new follower.

And since just one giveaway wasn't enough.  I'm also giving away 1/2 yard of vintage fabric.  This fabric is by Thomas Strahan and was printed in the 70s!!  so Lovely!

This fabric goes to Jeanne Gwin!

Jeanne GwinOctober 9, 2012 7:49 PM

GFC follower #100 how about thst! Woot. Love what you did and love your giveaway. thanks for sharing.

And the winner of a sweet little ring/coin keychain is Gina!

GinaOctober 8, 2012 7:39 PM

Fantastic block, I love the colors! I'm a follower! Thanks for participating in the blog tour and inspiring us today! Also thanks for your generous giveaway offer and the chance to win!!

Have a wonderful Thursday!!  Now go find someone you love and Kiss'em!!!  Life is sweet.  :)

-Little Mama Hen

Boy Quilt Finish

 I just finished a quilt for a friend of mine that is having a boy in February.  She wanted Navy, Orange, and Grey.  I had been wanting to try a zig zag quilt pattern and this seemed perfect for her.  I also also wanted to do a silhouette on the back.  The silhouettes were fun to make and I can't wait to try this technique again.

back of quilt

I LOVE the little fish!

 Of course, while I was taking pictures I became aware of someone that was very curious about what Mommy was doing.

Can Mommy see me?

Those beautiful black marble eyes melt my heart.  

No matter what you are doing, take time to 'notice' those little curious ones.  Following Mommy or Daddy around is the greatest compliment a little one can give.  :)  Have a great week! -Little Mama Hen.

Sharing over at
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Crazy Mom Quilts
Freshly Pieced

Florida Fall and a Giveaway!!

It's Blog Hop time!  Giveaway below!  I'm participating in the Leaves Me Happy Blog Hop!  Dozens of talented quilters are making Fall blocks to inspire us all!  You can find a full schedule at Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio!

My block is inspired by Florida's bright blue fall skies, brilliant orange sunsets, and dark and lovely nights!  I used McCall's Star Burst Pattern.  Isn't it a beautiful design.  My block is 12.5" and I'll probably add a little border and make a nice center piece block for my kitchen table.   :)

Florida's sunrise/sunset are brilliant this time of year.

I also have a giveaway!!!  I  have 2 - half yards of Christmas fabric and 2 - fat quarters of some lovely fall fabric.  Want a chance to win?  Just leave a comment and be a follower.  Make sure I have a way to contact  you.  I will announce the winner on October 11th, the blog hop ends October 10th.   Have a wonderful Fall!!! -Little Mama Hen. :)

Check out the other Participants for today.

Monday 8

Feathered Nest Studio

Grandmama's Stories

From This to That

Little Mama Hen

Quilt Monster in my Closet

Kathy

in stitches & seams

Buzzing and Bumbling

Nunu's Quilt World

Quilts And Dogs

Briarside Lane 

Tiny Square Quilt

I have her pieced!  She's only a 32" square, but she is so darn pretty.  :)  I'm think of adding some border, but I'll need to purchase some more of Amy Butler's midwest modern.  I'm thinking the lighter dot one.  For now, I'll have to fold her up and tuck her away; I have several other projects that are pressing and that need to be completed.  My mind can rest now that she's pieced.  :)  Tiny Square Charity Quilt

 We've gotten a lot of rain these last few days.  Fall/Autumn  clouds are dark and glorious!

Happy Quilting!  For now I'm sitting here with Little Man.  He's watching a 'scary' movie (for a 3 year old) and he has his arm locked around my arm.  My heart is happy. :)  -Little Mama Hen

Tiny Square Charity

 I'm starting another Charity Quilt.  This will be full of tiny 2.5" squares.  I think these tiny squares are being called 'Candy'.  So appropriate.  :)  This quilt attacked my mind just like my Dresden Charity Quilt.  When I say 'attack' I mean that I just can't stop thinking about it.  I'm not even sure what the design or how it will turn out or how big or small it will be, I just had to start cutting 2.5" squares.  When I started my Dresden Charity Quilt, the same thing happened; I just started cutting petals.  :)  -Happy Quilting! -Little Mama Hen.

My little princess and her little lovey in the Sunday  morning light.  :)  

Sometimes Mao Mao approves of looking at things from a different perspective.  Especially when it involves scratching his chin.  :)