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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

100th Post Giveaway

First, let me say how truly touched I have been over the last week by your kind comments and encouraging stories in the disappearance of our sweet cat, Rodger. There has been no sign of him but I still stand at the window and watch. I am also checking in at the local animal shelter. I am pretty sure he's gone, but I still continue to hope. Thanks so much for sharing in my sorrow. Now, on to the matter at hand, my 100th Post!! I had decided I wanted to do something when I reached 100 followers, but that kind of sneaked up on me. Then when I realized I was close to 100 posts, I wanted to make something special for a giveaway. So during the last week, I've been working on this little wallhanging or table topper. I've named it Mocha Mini #2. Most of you know that Kim Brackett and I have been friends for many years. I was lucky enough to be involved in her first book, Scrap-Basket Surprises and she graciously asked me to do a quilt. Mocha Swirl is my quilt and it will always be very special to me. I decided it would fun to share a part of Mocha Swirl with one of you. When you look at Mocha Mini #2, you will know that these are the same fabrics as the quilt in the book!

I loved the chocolate brown and caramel colors in this quilt. I started with the border fabric and had so much fun choosing all the fabrics for the blocks. Most of the fabric came from my stash or from Kim's stash. As a result of all the angles in making the blocks, I ended up with a lot of little mini triangels.
I know a lot of people don't keep these, but I did and sewed them together in little blocks. They have been languishing for almost 2 years, but I finally decided to finish them up.

But in looking at Mocha Swirl, I still had some pieces left of the border fabric and of the backing fabric.
So I decided to make some little mini quilts and use these fabrics up.
I was able to get three little quilts out of all my leftover triangles. The one on the left is not done yet. The one in the middle is my giveaway, and the one on the right is going up as a wall hanging in our upstairs bathroom.
So here is Mocha Mini #2. I cut the border fabric into 1 1/2" strips and made a pieced border. This quilt is completely hand quilted by me. The only thing left to do is add a Kitty, my special trademark.


Leave me a comment and if you'd like to, share something special that you've learned by being a blogger or reading other's blogs. I'll announce a winner Friday morning. That's it!! This is my way of saying thank you for all the joy I've gotten over the last year as I've wandered through your wonderful blogs and learned so much from you about this passion we all share. Until next time,

-Karen

31 comments:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Hey Karen! congrats on the 100th posts! time flies when your having SEWING fun! Cute Quilts, Love'm!
(numero uno never wins, but that's OK!)

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Very cute mini! I'd love to hang it in my kitchen. :-) Congrat's on 100! I think quilting bloggers are the best! I've been fortunate to meet a couple of my blogger friends in 'real life' and hope to meet more. Have a happy day!

antique quilter said...

congrats on 100 posts, a milestone for sure
Yes I have hope too that Rodger can still come home
I would be standing by that window too!
What a cute little quilt!
and wonderful story behind it, a great giveaway, love little quilts and well mocha swirl sounds like a great coffee drink, or maybe ice cream! love that name!
Would love to win to add it to my wall of little quilts I am working on. thank you !
Kathie

Vivian said...

Major congrat's on your 100th post, Karen. It's been my pleasure to get to know you over the past few months.
I've learned two things from my blogging. There is enough inspiration from all these ladies (and men) that I'll never run out of ideas for projects. The other thing is that no matter how stupid a mistake I make, no matter how much trouble I'm having with skipped stitches or poor color choices or inaccurate seams, there are other quilters somewhere who've done the same time. I'm not alone, and I feel better!
Mocha Mini #2 would look great in my living room.

Karen said...

Oh, me, me, me! I am glad to have found you via blogging and would love to have something you have made. I have learned that you and I have lots in common when it comes to quilts.

Kate B said...

Congratulations on 100 posts. All three of the mini quilts are adorable and I love the Mocha Swirl.

SewCalGal said...

Congratulations on your 100th post. My world of quilting expanded 100 fold thru blogging. I've learned so many things it is difficult to pick one, so I'll share that I truly feel the world of quilting is a great place to spend time!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

robin said...

Congratulations of 100 posts. I love your quilt - love the colors. :)

rebecca said...

The tips and tricks I have learned by following blogs is huge. Great morning coffee time!

Congrats on the milestone!

Lynn W. said...

I followed SewCalGal over here and I'm in awe of your collection of mocha quilts and how you extended the num. I'm very sorry to hear about beryour cat and hope he finds his way home soon (I have 2 in residence). 100 posts is a great start ... keep on going.

Andrea said...

Congratulations on 100 posts! I do not have a blog, but I enjoy hopping around to several blogs. I found yours during the "book tour" and had to buy the book because I loved the "Nana Girl" quilt. Blogs like yours give me so much inspiration! You are so generous to give away a little "mocha" quilt, I hope I'm the lucky winner!

WoolenSails said...

That is a beautiful quilt, really love the mix of shades and the border. I am sorry to hear about your kitty. I love my tuxedo about 3 years ago and spent months walking the woods looking for him. It is so hard when we lose a pet that way, never knowing what happened. Last year as it was getting colder, a tuxedo showed up in my yard. He was a wild thing and it took a lot of coaxing to get him to trust me, but he is now a part of our family. I like to think that my black sent him to me, to fill the gap that he left.

Debbie

Anonymous said...

I remember reading a while back about your "kitty" trademark on each quilt and if you remember I commented that my friend does this same exact thing! I'd absolutely love to have your mocha number....with that kitty trademark!
Still so sorry yours hasn't found home...

Carla said...

Congratulations, Karen, on your 100th post. The thing I've learned from blogs is how many lovely quilter/bloggers are out there just waiting to become friends! Like YOU!! I love it!

Darlene said...

Congratulations on 100 blogging posts. I'm glad you decided to start blogging because I've enjoyed getting to know you. I'd love to win a little something made by you. :-)

I've learned many things since I started blogging but due to blogging I started enjoying hand applique and hand embroidery.

Quiltingranny said...

My first time to stop by via Sew Cal Gal & I will be back.
compassionatequilter at rocketmail dot com

Kat said...

'Mocha Swirl' was the first quilt jumped immediately into my eyes as I flipping through this book. I really want to win the 'little brother'!! :))
Thanks for this beautiful giveaway, Karen !!

As a quilt beginner I must learn a lot.I have listed 186 quilt-blogs in my sidebar and watch and read daily.I have many favorite blogs.Should I really look out one or two?

I learn a lot from Joanne on 'Thread Head',from B.Brackman on 'Civil War Quilts'and from Cheryl on '1880 Sampler Quilt' and 'So Many Quilts,So Little Time'. And I learn from Vivian, Karen, Liz, Cheryl, Maureen, Michele, Lori, Kathie, Linda, Sherri, Deanna, Wanda, Siobhan, JulieK, Sinta, Gretchen, Merilyn, Kathleen, Janet, Marcie, Paula, Sue .. and much more and I love all !! :)

greetings and best wishes
Kat

QuiltSue said...

Congratulations on your 100th! The mini-quilts are so cute I'd love to win the one you're giving away.

What have I learned from blogging? What a great community the blogging world is - there's always someone who will give encouragement, praise, commiseration, or whatever it is you need at a particular moment.

Rosa Robichaud said...

Your little mini is absolutely ADORABLE!!!!

Pls add my name in your virtual "hat" ... in hopes that it gets picked! *s*

Tks for the give a way!

Rosa Robichaud
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
robich@rogers.com

Anonymous said...

The Mocha Swirl quilt in Kim Brackett's book really caught my eye. So I used that pattern to make a quilt for a friend's granddaughter serving in Iraq. Her favorite colors are green, purple & zebra -- and I made it work! Congrats on your 100th post.

Becky said...

Hi Karen, Congratulations on your 100th post! I've learned so much from your blog and you DO inspire me to take chances and try new things. I'm thankful for your connection to Kim because I feel her books are going to be a big part of my quilting journey and I probably wouldn't have found them without you talking about them. You do such beautiful work! Have a great day! :)

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Congratulations on your 100th post.

I've been inspired beyond measure by the quilting blogs that I read, yours included.

Jana said...

Hello Karen! Congrats also on 100 posts. I can hope too that Rodger can still find his way home, I would be waiting at that window as you are.
Thanks to the bloggers and all sort of blogs, I am now more open for other colors. At the beginning, I would have made just the blue and white quilts, but now I am even making the quilt for my daughter with Kaffe Fassett´s fabrics, and I can tell this a BIG improvement for me :-)
Have a great Spring,
Jana in Prague

Kim said...

Congratulations on your 100th post! I enjoy reading many quilting blogs and have found so many great ideas. I appreciate the sharing of free patterns, ideas, and tutorials. I am in awe of the creativeness shared here. I also appreciate those who keep it real sharing mistakes and frustrations, so I know I am not alone in those things! I'd love to win your mini with such great colors!

Debi said...

Congrats on the 100th post...I am oh so close to my 500th! Beautiful quilts, and I love Kim also! I have learned so many new techniques from my blogger friends and have so many more blogger friends than local friends.

Debra said...

I am so proud of your blogging success, and am also proud that I have a piece of the mocha series in my LR!!! Congratulations on your 100th post. Have a great day.

DonnaCME said...

Karen, thanks so much for sharing your blog with us. And, a special giveaway, too! I think what I most get from reading everyone's blogs is inspiration. I so love to see what everyone is doing, and come away with a new pattern to try, new fabric to look for (!!), or a new color combo that makes us go "wow".
Thanks again, and congrats on 100 posts!

ckzamzow said...

I LOVE the Mocha Swirl pattern and can't wait to try it. Since I am a redhead, the browns, golds are colors I love so would be honored to have your mini quilt in my home!! I too am a cat lover and am so sorry to hear about yours. I also loved your MIAGIA blog and am shooting for making most of the quilts in the Scrap Basket Surprises by your friend, Kim. LOVE her book and can't wait to get the new one! Congratulations on your 100th post. Blessings! Cindy Z

Marcia W. said...

Karen, Congratulations on 100 plus posts. Your minis are very cute - and the giveaway prize is in "my" colors. Thank you for sharing such a nice quilt. Hope to be back reading your 200th post!

Pokey said...

!00 posts are great, and the gift that you are sharing is perfect. I love when -folks share their made with love creations! Who appreciates it more, than those of us who also create?

I can honestly say that quilty blogs have expanded my desire to try new things. I have several quilts made that I doubt I would have attempted without the ideas shared, and the encouragement given....
:-}pokey

Terry said...

Congratulations Karen! I love Mocha Swirl and it would be so cool to have some of the bits of it in my home! Thanks for the chance!

Blogging has been a wonderful experience for me. I get inspired every day and I've met so many wonderful people too! :0)