One-Flower Wednesday & Giveaway Time

Encouraging words of the day -

.We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. ~ Proverbs 16:1, NLT

Once again it’s One Flower Wednesday  where Karen (over at Journey of a Quilter) has organized One Flower Wednesday and provides a linky for all of to share our hexagon flowers. 

This looks a little different but I have a plan.  Really. . .

If you would like to see more flowers out there in blogland, just click HERE.

The celebration of my birthday continues.  We visited my parents who live in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico.  My Mother had made this beautiful quilt for me.  Don’t you  just love it, with all the quilting we do, when someone actually makes a quilt for you?  Not that my Mother hasn’t made other quilts for me.  She’s the one that got me started quilting and has presented me with other quilts throughout the years when I didn’t quilt.  So saying, ta da, here it is.  Mama still makes gorgeous quilts at 90 years of age.  Thanks, Mama.

I’ve spent most of the blog hopping at the  "Leap Day Blog Hop Giveaway" that Elizabeth of "Such a Sew and Sew"   is hosting today.  It’s been a lot of fun.  I have a Leap Day Giveaway myself.  Check it out HERE.  Ends today.

Also, don’t forget my "Birthday - Ready For Spring Giveaway.  This ends March 2nd.

That is all.

Leap Day Blog Hop Giveaway

Encouraging words of the day -

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. ~ Proverbs 16:1, NLT

Elizabeth of "Such a Sew and Sew"   is hosting "Leap Day Blog Hop Giveaway" today and has a “linky” on her page so you can visit the blogs of everyone participating.  

You have only One Day to Enter to Win.   All giveaways are posted on February 29th and will end on  February 29th.  The linky will open at noon MST on February 28^th and close at 10:00 am MST on March 1^st, to allow for people in different time zones to participate.

You will only have one day to enter all the Giveaways! 

Fine then.  Here’s my giveaway:

I have spent the last two days cutting out charms from my stash so what I have to offer are 33 assorted charms.  There are flowers of course, umbrellas, snowmen, tennis shoes, puzzle pieces, stripes, dinosaurs, bugs etc.  Why 33 you ask?  I got tired of cutting and quit at 33.  I used the AccuQuilt Go Cutter for some of them.  I don’t know if anyone else has used the 5-inch square die.  I’m not really happy with it.  First of all, for some reason, you put the fabric in at an odd angle so there’s a lot of fabric loss.  I wonder why they didn’t make it where you put in a rectangle a little larger  than the die, rather than at that weird angle?  By the time you cut the fabric down to the size of the die, you may as well just cut it out with your rotary cutter. Anyway, I digress.  Here’s a picture of the charms I’m giving away.

All you have to do is be a follower of my blog.  Just comment  and tell me that you follow.  

That is all.

What happened to my Swoon? And Spring Giveaway.”

Encouraging words of the day.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. ~ Psalm 9:10, NLT

What happened to my Swoon?  My corners match, my seams match.  Everything was coming along great even though everything was taking a long time.  But, somehow,  my block doesn’t quite look right. , , , Things like this are always happening to me when I decide that “NOW I know what I’m doing with this.  I can go full speed ahead.”  Then . . . here you go:

Other that the “glaring mistake,”  it looks great.

I haven’t done anything else.  It took me forever to cut out the pieces for my Swoon and then a while to sew them together, correctly or otherwise.  And now I have an appointment with my seam ripper.

Don’t forget about  my  “Birthday – Ready For Spring Giveaway.”  Enter now if you haven’t already.

Other Giveaways:

"My Sister Made Me Do It. . . ." is having her “Blogiversary Giveaway.”  She is giving you the opportunity to win a Fat Quarter Bundle of Tweet by Timeless Treasures. – ends March 1^st.

Needles and Pins is celebrating her 100 post with a giveaway.  You could win some fabric or a set of crocheted dish cloths.  - ends March 4.

SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini.  - ends March 2.

I’m posting this to claim my blog on Bloglovin.  Not sure what it’s all about yet but something about not being able to use Google Reader after March 1st. 

Bloglovin

That is all.

“Birthday – Ready For Spring Giveaway

Encouraging words of the day.

But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.  ~ Psalm 33:11, NLT   "The plans of the LORD stand firm forever." Are you frustrated by inconsistencies you see in others, or even in yourself? God is completely trustworthy--his intentions never change. There is a promise that good and perfect gifts come to us from the Creator who never changes.  *****************************  I've planned a giveaway which I'll tell you about later in this post but here's a preview: I've received several exciting packages in the mail.  I received two sets of hexie flowers from partners in the "Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap."    Jan from California was my partner for February and sent me these two lovely flowers.  They'll be perfect as the sky in the GFG I'll complete some day. And then, somehow, my October flowers from Beverly in Oklahoma just now arrived.  More sky. Thanks, ladies, for the beautiful flowers. I also received this fabulous wall hanging with my blog name, Hilachas, on it.  Colby made it for the "Name Game: swap. It’s even more beautiful in "real life.."  I like it so much and all the symbolism in it.  There are real “hiilachas” sewn in the middle of the Dresden plates, little pieces of thread that Colby sewed down.   The hand quilting is beautiful.  I have found the perfect place to display it in my sewing room.  Thanks again and again. And now, here is the information about  my  “Birthday – Ready For Spring Giveaway.” I just celebrated my birthday and am definitely ready for spring.   My yard is ready for spring as well as our peach tree already has beautiful pink blossoms and there are daffodils and narcissis flowers blooming.  So I’ve chosen 5 fat-quarters that remind me of spring to give one of my followers. Here are beautiful, colorful flowers . . . Easter eggs that just yell “spring . . .” Cute FQ of teapots,  cups, mugs, etc. and perfect for mug rugs . . . Birthday cakes and cup cakes . . . And of course, bugs, bugs, bugs . . .

To add to this, I’ve made this little kit to take with you when you’re away from home. 

 It’s a wonderful little take-along to hold your hand-sewing, needles, threads, all those little things you need while sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or any of those other places we find ourselves twiddling our thumbs and wishing we had remembered to bring our sewing.  I’ve also managed to add a page called “Tutorials” to my blog (see tabs at top of blog) and have included the tutorial for this handy little kit.

So, you’re wondering, what do you have to do for a chance to win this giveaway?  Ends March 2nd and you have two chances:

1.  Become a follower of my blog and post a comment telling me so. 

2.  Blog about this giveaway, then come back and leave the link to your post.

Other Giveaways:

"My Sister Made Me Do It. . . ." is having her “Blogiversary Giveaway.”  She is giving you the opportunity to win a Fat Quarter Bundle of Tweet by Timeless Treasures. – ends March 1^st.

Sew She Can is having a giveaway. You could win 10 fat quarters by Pat Bravo from Fat Quarter Shop.  – ends February 28^th.

My Brown Bag Studio is having a giveaway.  You could win a Farmer's Market Fat Eighth Bundle.  – ends February 26^th.

That is all.

No Happy Birthday Giveaway Yet and One-Flower Wednesday

Encouraging words of the day:

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain." 
There is absolutely nothing to fear about tomorrow; for God is already there.

Today is my birthday and I just have to share the wonderful gift I received from my sister Ida who blogs at "My Sister Made Me Do It."   One of my favorite childhood books has always been “Alice in Wonderland.”  I enjoy reading all about the author, Lewis Carroll and just enjoy all the crazy antics in the book.  Knowing this, my sister made this wonderful wall hanging.

The “Queen of Hearts” is standing on the face cards (Hearts suit of course) and wearing beautiful crazy quilt velvety, satiney, shiny robes,  The bottom part of the wall hanging has a row of white roses which are appropriately being painted red.  “We’re painting the roses red, painting the roses red . . . .“  There are rabbits and cheshire cats, mad hatters, etc all around and Ida has quilted those in a spiral so they look like rabbit holes.  It is all lovely and Ida has, per her trademark, left “Hilachas” hanging off the quilting on the back  This is the “perfect” birthday present, on top of the ipad cover pattern, selvage ends for the something I’m making some day from selvages, thread, and a gorgeous turquoise straw bag just waiting for the first day of spring!  Thanks, Ida.  You’re one in a million.

And, how appropriate that my birthday falls on the day of the week in which Karen at One Flower Wednesday  has organized a linky for all of to share our hexagon flowers, one of my favorite days.  Here are my flowers.  I’m “killing two birds with one stone” today as these flowers are for my partner at the "Inchy Hexagon Flower-Swap."  I’ve been so busy otherwise that I didn’t make my own hexie flower this week.

AND, I do not know how this dotted line appears nor do I know how to get rid of it.  Delete does not work.  I can't highlight it.  Oh well. . . .

Now, about my “Happy Birthday Giveaway,” now changed to “My After Birthday Giveaway,” because I ordered something to include in my giveaway and it has not yet arrived.  But, here is a preview of something that will be included.

 I have made this little kit to take with you when you’re away from home.  It’s a wonderful little take-along to hold your hand-sewing, needles, threads, all those little things you need while sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or any of those other places we find ourselves twiddling our thumbs and wishing we had remembered to bring our sewing.  It has all these little ziplock bags to put your stuff in . . .

 

 I’ve also managed to add a page called “Tutorials” to my blog and have included the tutorial for this handy little kit I’m including in  “My After Birthday Giveaway,”  if you don’t want to wait and see if you win the giveaway.  Coming soon!

Real Giveaways:

"Flamingo Toes" is giving us the chance to win Pellon stabilizers.

That is all.

I’m in a Swoon . . .

Encouraging words of the day.

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! ~ Psalm 98:4, NLT

Ok.  What have I been doing?  Catching-up and wrapping-up and starting-up, that’s what.  I’ve finally finished a couple of mini quilts.  True, they don’t have to be mailed until mid-March but I wanted to finish them up so I could start “swooning.”  Yes, I’m all into the “hoopla” with the Swoon Block  I bought my pattern and spent all day finishing my mini quilts, then choosing the fabric and then cutting the pieces for my first Swoon block. 

Here are little peeks at my mini quilts.  One is off to Australia and the other is off to California.  One is for the “Name Game” swap sponsored by "Samelia's Mum."  The other is for the "New-Beginnings Mini-Quilt Swap.”

This one is for the "Name Game" so I've covered the name up. Maybe you can notice the little tiny piece of thread being used to sew the name on.  BTW, that thread is part of the sampler.

This is the "12 Days of Christmas" found at "Temecula Quilt Co."  I just fell in love with this little sampler and will probably make one of Christmas fabric for myself.  Notice that the first block is made of 1 piece, the second of 2 pieces and so on.

This is a photo of my laid-out Swoon pieces.  I’ll start sewing them together today.

I can hardly wait to keep going.  Or sewing...

Giveaways I've run into:

"Seriously..I think it needs stitches" is giving us the opportunity to win a layer cake of Little Apples by Aneela Hoey. – ends February 25^th.

"Making Rebecca Lynne" is having the same giveaway and is giving us the opportunity to win a layer cake of Little Apples by Aneela Hoey. – ends February 25^th.

Favequilts is having a giveaway.  You could win Sweetheart Houses Quilt Pattern Designed by Jennifer Bosworth from Shabby Fabrics Gifted by Shabby Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 21.

"It's Sew Kiki" is having a big giveaway including cotton threads and 3 fat quarter samplers divided up among 4 winners. – ends February 27^th.

I've gotta go sew so . . .

That is all.

One-Flower Wednesday and On the Road Again

Encouraging words of the day.

Today, no matter where you are in your journey of faith, just focus on moving forward. God hasn’t given up on you! Trust that He has you in the right place at the right time. Trust that He is working all things together for your good. Trust that new doors are opening. Choose faith and patience, and you will inherit His promises because it’s never too late for you to embrace the good things God has in store for you!

Today is One Flower Wednesday, organized by Karen (over at Journey of a Quilter.) Karen provides a linky for all of to share our hexagon flowers so if you’re interested in seeing beautiful hexie flowers, check it out.   Here are two scrappy flowers I’ve made.

We’re driving back to El Paso today so I’ll have plenty of opportunity to sew more petals and sew up hexie flowers.  I also have a couple of “My Jane” blocks to complete so I should be fairly productive.  Not much else to tell you.  Just posting this quick update and getting ready to go on a 6 ½ hour drive.  Until later.

That is all.