Sunday, January 4, 2009

More Red Strings and a mini-give away....

Read to the end or you'll miss it!

I spent the day today cleaning up the sewing room. I moved furniture around and consolidated my scraps and string fabrics. I dusted and swept behind furniture. Oh man, I just thought the rest of the house was bad... but when you pull things out in a sewing room the dust is about three times as bad. But everything is clean now. I have used Bonnie's Scrap User's System for a about two years now, and today I separated the light strips from the dark strips. I need to start using up some of those strips, I really didn't realize how many I had. And I now have three scrap/strings containers.... light, dark and red.

The reason I made a red strings container is so that it would be easier to make the Red Strings blocks. After all that organizing, I made up more string blocks. Now I have 35 of them. I really like the way they are looking, although I don't like the pics. The real colors are really rich.







And, on Saturday, Dear Hubby sent me to the Quilt Shop to pick up some fabrics just for me. I told him that I had gathered my fabrics for the giveaways, but hadn't bought anything for me. Wasn't he sweet to tell me I needed some stuff just for me? I chose to go with some Reproduction fabrics. Love them!!!

With my older kids out of town, I knew there wouldn't be any running the roads for me, so now I'm all set to sew this week. I don't know how much I'll get done though, because my back up caregiver is gone!! We'll survive though. We've got coffee, chocolate and lots of fabric and thread.

Oh and since I was digging through the scraps, I pulled out some scraps to send along in the Whirl Into Winter Give Away box. I now have two sets of fat quarters to mail out and their companion scraps. I think a couple of quilters are really going to like what I'm sharing.

We've made it to 200 comments, so there will definitely be two winners. Let's see if we make it to 300.

And, as a little mini give away, whoever leaves a comment here will be added to another little scrap give away. I'll send someone a small brown envelope of scraps....just leave a comment on this post. (I just want to see who is still reading my blog!!!)

I'll draw for this mini give away Monday, the 5th, at 7:00 p.m. (CST).

Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments. I haven't been able to respond to them all, but I have read each and every one. I've even visited some blogs and added them to my Google Reader.

Have a great week, and I'll be back tomorrow for the mini-giveaway!!!

Happy Quilting!!!!!!!

36 comments:

Cathi said...

I love your red strings blocks!! I have always shied away from red, for some reason, but now suddenly find myself really drawn to it. The richness of your blocks is amazing.

Unknown said...

I love the red blocks. And how cool you found time to clean your sewing room. Count me in for this drawing.

Cindy F said...

I love your reds. One of my favorites and have got a red bedroom. I love your choice of fabrics, I glad you got something for yourself. That is always fun. Have a great week Paula.

Debra said...

I love the red string blocks too!I vow to finish more quilts this year!
Now I think a red quilt would be a good one to do!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Glad you got to do some shopping just for you!

Joyce said...

I've been trying to clean my sewing area also. It's really a never ending task. Thanks for entering me in your drawing

Juli said...

I've been fascinated with red quilts lately and I love yours I can't wait to see it finished.

Pat said...

I am still here and still reading and enjoying!

Kerry said...

I'm still here Paula! And your little strings quilt looks really neat. Hope you get that sewing done you want to get done; but the in between breaks sound like a treat too. Enjoy! Oh, and Happy New Year too!

Rachel said...

I'm still here! and I LOVE the red blocks. Red is one of my favourite colours. It's so cheerful.

I started my own blog today (well, yesterday now). A big step into blogland for me.

Have a great Monday!

antique quilter said...

we can never have enough reproduction fabrics, good choices you made!!!!
Love the red strings...I always try to add red to every quilt I make.
Of course we are still reading your blog!!!
I am subscribed to it thru bloglines.
kathie

Melanie said...

I love the red strings--- looks like valentine's day is on the way...

The Demanding Doll said...

Well, I'm definitely a scrapaholic so would love a little brown envelope of goodies or even fat quarters ;)

I'm just starting Bonnies scrap method and have been a cutting fool the last couple of days.

Terry said...

Pick me! Pick me! *jumping up and down* Love your red blocks too! Have a great week! :0)

Rhonda said...

Red is fun and lively! I like the stringed quilt in red...

I'm curious about your secret project. When are you going to let us in on it?

God bless your day.

Millie said...

I love your string blocks and always enjoy reading your blog.

Count me in for your drawing! Thanks.

Kim said...

I enjoy reading about your projects. I can relate to cleaning up. That's what I did last week. Now I know what I have and what I have to do. It's time to sew!

free indeed said...

Yup, I'm still here too. I don't even remember if I signed up for the 'whirl into winter' here or not...I'll have to check that out. I love scrappy quilts and Ihave a hard time throwing any scraps out..even the smallest bits. I'm trying to use up some of them by joining a block lotto every month and using only scraps to make the blocks....I don't mind making blocks for others and I'll win sometime I hope.

Amy said...

Hello,I found your blog through another blog.. and I love the red strings.thanks for sharing,have a great day

Karen said...

I'm still reading and enjoy your blog thoroughly! Guess sewing room cleaning is contagious...it's happening at my house also. Karen

WhiteStone said...

Ah, Yes! The dust in the sewing room. I think we forget that fabric, especially cotton fabric, has LINT. LOL. I'm glad my sewing room has a laminate floor for easy cleanup - about every several months.

Casey said...

the reds look really great! yay for another giveaway!

Libby said...

Looks like 2009 is going to be the year for scraps *s* I know I will be digging into mine once again to see what quilts are hiding in those containers.

laurie in maine said...

I'm so amazed at the generosity of the Quilt Bloggers in this project that I've been going through the list a 2nd & 3rd time and just exploring a few more each day - refreshing the title so I can see it all. Happy surprise for me!

Winona said...

I'm still here. My scrap bins are overflowing. I haven't done anything scrappy for a while. It shows. Love the red strings. Winona

Wendy said...

Well you are starting 2009 off right :)I sooo need to organize and clean my sewing room.
I really love the civil war prints too. I just got some new Jo Morton FQs the other day from her Toast line. Couldn't resist
The red string blocks look amazing.

busylizzy said...

I love giveaways, mini, big or anything in between. I hope you get some sewing time with your back-up caregiver away.

Becca said...

I love the red-that's going to be a quilt with major pizazz!

I can't resist a scrap giveaway-goodness knows I have enough of my own but it's always nice to have some fresh faces to liven up the scrap drawer!

Becca

Sara said...

Those red string blocks are great! I love the way it looks. I am not much of a red person, but those are wonderful. Isn't it wonderful when DH lets us get fabric, just beacuse! I do read your blog all the time. I check it at least 2 times a week!

Andrea said...

I love those red string blocks a lot. Never been one for string quilts but I love the direction of these much better then on the diagonal. I've just cleaned my sewing room too - unearthed loads of stuff I forgot about - lol !

Ann said...

Happy New Year! I've been cleaning too, so haven't had time to blog. Have fun sewing this week.


Ann

SueR said...

Hi, I'm still reading your blog! Love your red string blocks!

QuiltPeace said...

String blocks are always a joyous surprise - most of mine had been scrappy but like the idea one color way - will have to try that
Happy New Year

Kristin said...

Your red strings blocks are so striking =I love this kind of piecing -- so forgiving and so unique!

Patti said...

I'm still reading your blog - enjoy it a lot! However once again I'm hopelessly behind. At least now I have my favorites in a "Daily Read" folder so I have a better chance to keep up with them. Just got a little behind during the holidays!

Don't put me in the drawing for just this post, OK? I have stuffed drawers of my own scraps. I just wanted to say "Hi" and let you know again how much I enjoy your blogl.

Anonymous said...

It's 7:13 so I have missed the giveaway. Not a big deal since I have 150 yards of my own. I like your fabric filing system but I would have a yellow bin instead of red.

Anonymous said...

I've got a stupid question... what are "string blocks"? I want to do a simple quilt - and I love the look of yoru red blocks - but I'm not sure where to start.

Any ideas on a simple quilt - Twin or Full sized?

:)
Thanks,
Kandra