I don't do a lot of giveaways...

But This one, I just couldn't resist.  Judith is from the UK an is a new quilter, she got bit by the bug about the same time range as I did. She is giving away a fat quarter set of the entire new Denyse Schmidt range 'Picnic and Fairground' from Jo Ann's, which is apparently all the new rage.  Though I missed the Flickr excitement, I do think the fabric looks very fun.   So wish me luck!

Oh, and if you want to pop over and enter yourself, try the link, or Google Needles and Lemons.

Notes on the Placemat Process

Here are some of the sketches I did for the placemats:

I liked the abstracted rectangles alot.  So I started sewing a bunch of the cut strips together to piece in with larger rectangles.   

Here's my newspaper template, to help visualize the layouts as they are in process:

Here are the first two mats that I completed:

Two things became apparent:  (1) Line drawings or sketches that look great with no color or pattern can end up being very busy when executed in fabric. (2) Scale is important.  I cut the strips 1-2" but they are too big relative to the overall size of the mats (13" x 18").  They would have more punch (maybe?) if they were a tighter group of narrow pieces.

So the next two mats that I completed are much simpler.  I still have two to go with the Pennington fabric, then I will use the leaf stuff for the other sides of them.  

Designing Placemats

Yesterday evening I was able to do a few sketches and figure out a general idea of what I'm trying to achieve for the place mats, though I have no idea about the table runner yet.  I am thinking it will become clear, once the place mats are done.  I finally stopped in at Fabric Etc., and found the green and gray fabrics I was imagining/remembering in the first place.  Turns out it's designed by Ty Pennington. There were three patterns in the color way, but I only bought one.  I've already bought so much other stuff, and they were $17.99 a yard!  Yikes!  Here's the one I picked.

At lunch I got set up and started slicing strips from all of the selected fabrics, I cut a variety between 1" - 2-1/2."   The plan is to make a number of striped pieces of different sizes, then piece them each slightly differently.   They will be reversible  so I think I'll feature this fabric on one side and the leaf design on the other side.  Maybe bind them in white for a crisp edge?   One thing I realized as I am writing, is that reversible means quilting has to look good on both sides.  Uh-oh.  

I WON SOMETHING! I WON I WON I WON.... Me? Really?

I'd forgotten all about checking back on the Brown Bag site... but was going to look for something on Flickr  and saw a new comment saying "Congratulations," and I thought hmmm, for what?  So I went to the blog, and there it was:  Simple & Sweet:  Participant #85  Sharon Robinson.   I didn't know there was a catagory for Simple and Sweet, maybe they just made it up for me, but I'll take it.  Wow!  How totally cool and unexpected!
My fabulous partner Andie also won - Judge's Choice.  Are we amazing or what?

Katie's colors

One of my many errands on Saturday was to search for fabrics for Katie's project.  I didn't find the fabric I remembered (imagined?) at Two Thimbles, but rather than drive around all day I decided to build a grouping around this fabric - very cool green & metallic leaf design - 

I'm not sure how the first two (left) will work but I think they can be slipped in, in smaller pieces for contrast.  I need to keep this simple.  I was not looking forward to six bindings, x 12 x 18 x 2... by hand, and doubting my ability to do a strong hand stictch or an attractive machine binding.   But I've seen several examples now of doing it as a faced back, turning it rightside out and topstitching.  That sounds better, though not as attractive (in my mind).  

Even though it's not quilt the right green to go with the other leaves, I was excited to find the Ginko fabric,  because one of my favorite horded FQ's is it's twin in this strange reddish color:

I may use it for the backs.  Need to figure out what batting to use, next.  And what design??  I don't want them to be too random, but I don't plan to have them all the same either.  

In other news, I was wondering what was going on with the Janet Fogg workshop, so posted a question to the MQ Yahoo group.  Glad I asked, because the info had all been sent out a month ago, I just misplaced/lost/didn't read/forgot the e-mail.  So now it's next week.  the supply list indicates that we should bring photos or clip art for "your piece."  Now I'm slightly stressing about the need to have a time-consuming new piece figured out before next Monday.  But in that funny synchronistic way that things seem to work, While browsing at the bookstore Saturday, I bought a Dover copyright free book of Fruit Crate Labels.  I've always liked this style of graphic design, and the book comes with a CD containing almost 100 images -  so I think I'll find my idea there.

Here's a sampling of some of the ones I like best:

Okay, maybe not - they're too huge, I'll have to edit first. But no time this morning.  I need to get my act together, and get moving.  It's Ebenal Arbitration day.  

:P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P