09 January 2015

First Finish of the Year, plus Plans

This is a must read post!  Really please come read, I have links to Giveaways, QAL's, SAL's, blog hops, and many other fun happening things going on this year, each link will take you to a fresh page so click away!
First Finish, Shark pencil case, first time using back of fabric, 
I just finished this shark pencil case, but I am still thinking that this pattern needs some fine tuning, Renee, already worked on getting the tail more shark like, but this case also doesn't hold very many pencils, do you know how many markers and etc. my kids have, lots, they love, love to draw and spend at least 1-2 hours a day doing it.
You need one of theses to turn out that damn tail.
Giveaways:
  1. Okay peeps, anytime I come across a giveaway, I like to post it on Missouri Mel's Giveaway linky page, you can link giveaway's you find and even your own giveaways, if you have one,go here! 
  2. Debbie does her list all by herself on "Wow, I like that", she must read a ton of blogs, lol! 
  3. I especially wanted to point you to this one, using the Meadowlark fabric line, you can enter in her giveaway and quilt challenge!  Go visit Melanie Testa and see what she is going to create next. ends January 10th. 
QAL's, SAL's and BOM's:
 so many to choose from and maybe you don't even find it till it is to late, well Terri of Childlike Fascination took the hard work and has compiled a whole list of them on her new site QuiltAlong.net , I e-mailed her a couple that she was missing.
For some reason she still hasn't added the Quilt Art Designs Ocean's BOM, and I have been seeing some pretty amazing turtles out there already.
There are a few other BOM's and SAL's but the designers are having a hard time trying to figure out how to get the designs out since the EU VAT crap, go to Penny Dog blog to vote against that. 
I don't have Instagram yet, but soon, and if I did I think I would join in this quick Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt-A-Long 2015, it's a quick one and ends Feb. 14th.


Linky Parties:  Everybody loves a good linky party, which ones are you doing this year? 
  1. Le Challenge, is always fun, I can't wait to see what the new challenge will be, it will announced on January 15th and you have till February 15th to make something! 
  2. FMQ'ing is on my list of things to learn this year, so maybe you would like to join me over at Quilt Shop Gal (previously known as Insights from SewCalGal) for the 2015 FMQ Challenge.
  3.  I did not join this one last year, but I think I will make up a list and do it this year, the "2015 Finish Along" over at On the Windy Side. 
2015 FAL at On the Windy Side


       4.  I found a new book linky party,   Fabric Mutt's "Sew The Library" , I already have the next 2 months covered, lol.
       5.  Or maybe you want to get some of your stash down, then you can join the "SewMyStash" linky
       6.  Getting ready for Christmas, this linky @ Celtic Thistle will help you stay on track. 
       7.  Trying something new, write about it and join the "New to me Linky" @ Celtic Thistle  

and not last or least #8.  Wanting to learn new skills (I love learning new skills,check out my new hobby cross stitch on Monday Jan. 19th), here is a "Stretch Your Skills" linky party, the first one is about Foundation Paper Piecing, to be written in February.

Stretch Your Skills @ tweloquilting.blogspot.com
4 1/2" Teeny Tiny Block Swap, still need 1 more person

Swaps: 
 I love swaps!
  1.  Pillow Swap Four Seasons, sign up anytime, but there will be 4 swaps in this year, the first one is already started, but you can still sign up so you know when the next one will start.
  2. The Teeny Tiny Block Swap, put on by Amanda of "What the Bobbin?", we still need 1 more person for the nature theme, do you like my bee above, then come join our group!
  3. Have you  wanted some handmade placemats, well Super Swaps is still open for sign ups till January 28th.
Blog Hops: this is the current blog hop I am in, it started today, be sure to follow along.
this is the first time I have tried cross-stitch and I am now getting really worried since my hardware hasn't shown up yet, I ordered it in November.  hope it comes in the next week.
Work in Progress, due January 19th.


January 9, 2015


January 12, 2015


January 13, 2015

Cheryl Wilkinson will post to Ipiece2-Mary

January 14, 2015


January 15, 2015

Amy Whitaker will post on Ipiece2-Mary
January 16, 2015

Julia Plunkett will post on Sewwequilt

January 19, 2015

January 20, 2015

 
Would love to hear your plans, I have been trying to keep up with everyone's New Year Plans, tell me what your favorite thing was from this massive list of fun stuff.

Linking to some other awesome linky parties:
WIP: Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced
Let's Be Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
and TGIFF, Thank goodness it is finished Friday.

11 comments:

Lorna McMahon said...

What a fun post! Love those shark pencil cases. They are just too cute!

Celtic Thistle said...

So many fun things to join in, thanks for all the info!

Renee said...

I totally agree, they need to be bigger! When I gave them to the kids I filled them with candy (which was only a few pieces, haha). I guess you could just enlarge the pattern and use a longer zipper. Imagine a HUGE one! You could put your whole arm in there and it could eat stuff animals! Hahaha.

Lisa in Port Hope said...

So tempting to join all these swaps. I really need to stop starting new quilts.

DeborahGun said...

You are a wealth of information Mara - thanks so much for sharing :-) I plan to keep up with Le Challenge this year and hopefully Sew the Library and Ho, ho, ho. I have a love/hate relationship with QAL's - I am usually drawn in by the prizes, but have never won one and end up feeling under lots of pressure, so I think I might stay away from them this year and focus on sewing things I enjoy.

Gemini Jen NZ said...

Gosh you must have spent all day putting this post together, thanks tonnes for all the info and ideas. The shark cases are looking great, well done! Good luck with all your project goals for this year!

PK Sews said...

I love your lacy shark! Thanks for sharing!

M-R Charbonneau said...

Very cool, Mara! My kids would love those as pencil cases. Love all your plans too!

CeLynn said...

Goodness girl! You are one busy sewist ! Love the sneak peak at your blog hop project,how are you doing with it? I finally finished the x stitch,but am thinking about re-doing one part…thanks for all the links and info,not sure what I will be joining this year yet…

Those shark pencil cases are way too cute!

Vera said...

Lots of links to check out :) I'm doing some of these already. Your case is looking good but I agree on the size. It does look pretty small. My girls are drawing all the time too :)

SIMPLESEW said...

Oh, do I have your hardware? Tell me what you need baby, I got it. I have tons of cross stitch and would love to send you some magazines. I want to find a QAL we both can do......... I love love the shark, I just cant imagine doing one, that zipper looks like it could bite you. I pinned it years ago.. emailed cha ! xo