Thank you all for playing along with my first really, real giveaway. 

There will be more patterns to give away in the future, so watch for them....

Thank you all for playing along with my first really, real giveaway. 

There will be more patterns to give away in the future, so watch for them....

* Give away closed*

When I was asked if I would be willing to do some pattern reviews for a few of Eleanor Burns' new patterns, I considered it for a nano-second and said, "YES!" 

Are you kidding me? 

Come on! It's Eleanor Burns! Need I say more? 

I didn't think so. =)

Alas, it was not Eleanor who asked me...Maybe someday I will get to meet this inspirational and very talented lady. 

On to the topic at hand....Up to this point in my quilting {ahem} career, I've yet to buy a pattern and then make the quilt. I intend to, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't buy the pattern in the first place, however, after I get it home I become intimidated as I read the instructions. After trying to decipher them for a while, I end up folding them back up and putting them away to look at it "another time." Those other times have yet to happen.  

Another challenge for me is picking out the fabrics for a project. Up to now, I have almost always used  fat quarter bundles or other precuts for my quilts. I much prefer to let the fabric designers do all the hard work of deciding what goes with what. Doing some reviews for her patterns is going to stretch me in that area and I think it's a good thing,

 So, without further ado, here is my first review. 

 My first pattern is a Dresden plate variation called a Grandmother's Fan. The pattern (#1276) comes with  instructions to make both a table runner and a quilt and it also comes with the acrylic template to make the blades. Normally you would remove the protective paper covers on the ruler before you use it. I left the paper on the ruler for a reason. There will be more on that later. 

 As I have mentioned a time or ten, I love Dresden plates, but up to now, I haven't done a Grandmother's fan, so I was excited...and intimidated, to give this one a shot. Why intimidated? It's on point. I have only done one quilt on point and it was hard, so I chose to do the table runner instead of the quilt. I reasoned there would be fewer triangles to deal with that way and fewer chances to mess it up. 

Cutting the fan blades

I really didn't need to worry, however, the instructions were very clear on how to put it together and I didn't need my seam ripper at all! The instructions also include which way to press the seams, which I really appreciate. Within 4 hours, I had a table runner top that measured 49" x 20 1/2" unfinished. As a matter of fact, it has taken me much longer to write this post than it did to sew the table runner! *grin*

All that's left is the borders.

There is an option to add piping to the quarter circles, which would have added a nice touch. It was Black Friday when I made this and not worth it to me to brave the crowds to buy piping or cording to make my own. 

Finished top

The pattern is labeled as "easy," and I agree that it is easy, however, I don't consider it a beginner pattern only because of working with pieces that are cut on the bias. I do think this pattern would be a great choice for a quilting class in order to teach new quilters how to sew with pieces cut on the bias and showing them how to sew blocks on point. 

If you have any questions about the pattern that I wasn't clear on, please feel free to ask. =)

If you would like to win this pattern, just leave a comment telling me how you found my blog or how long you have been coming here to visit. I am hoping those who are more shy will come out to say, "Hi." =)


✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸
This is very important:
Please make sure you are not a "no-reply" blogger (see button in my side bar to learn how to check to see if you are or not) or I won't be able to contact you and I will have to draw a new name.
✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸


I will draw a winner on Wednesday the 30th of November.

Talk to you soon!! =)

* Give away closed*

When I was asked if I would be willing to do some pattern reviews for a few of Eleanor Burns' new patterns, I considered it for a nano-second and said, "YES!" 

Are you kidding me? 

Come on! It's Eleanor Burns! Need I say more? 

I didn't think so. =)

Alas, it was not Eleanor who asked me...Maybe someday I will get to meet this inspirational and very talented lady. 

On to the topic at hand....Up to this point in my quilting {ahem} career, I've yet to buy a pattern and then make the quilt. I intend to, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't buy the pattern in the first place, however, after I get it home I become intimidated as I read the instructions. After trying to decipher them for a while, I end up folding them back up and putting them away to look at it "another time." Those other times have yet to happen.  

Another challenge for me is picking out the fabrics for a project. Up to now, I have almost always used  fat quarter bundles or other precuts for my quilts. I much prefer to let the fabric designers do all the hard work of deciding what goes with what. Doing some reviews for her patterns is going to stretch me in that area and I think it's a good thing,

 So, without further ado, here is my first review. 

 My first pattern is a Dresden plate variation called a Grandmother's Fan. The pattern (#1276) comes with  instructions to make both a table runner and a quilt and it also comes with the acrylic template to make the blades. Normally you would remove the protective paper covers on the ruler before you use it. I left the paper on the ruler for a reason. There will be more on that later. 

 As I have mentioned a time or ten, I love Dresden plates, but up to now, I haven't done a Grandmother's fan, so I was excited...and intimidated, to give this one a shot. Why intimidated? It's on point. I have only done one quilt on point and it was hard, so I chose to do the table runner instead of the quilt. I reasoned there would be fewer triangles to deal with that way and fewer chances to mess it up. 

Cutting the fan blades

I really didn't need to worry, however, the instructions were very clear on how to put it together and I didn't need my seam ripper at all! The instructions also include which way to press the seams, which I really appreciate. Within 4 hours, I had a table runner top that measured 49" x 20 1/2" unfinished. As a matter of fact, it has taken me much longer to write this post than it did to sew the table runner! *grin*

All that's left is the borders.

There is an option to add piping to the quarter circles, which would have added a nice touch. It was Black Friday when I made this and not worth it to me to brave the crowds to buy piping or cording to make my own. 

Finished top

The pattern is labeled as "easy," and I agree that it is easy, however, I don't consider it a beginner pattern only because of working with pieces that are cut on the bias. I do think this pattern would be a great choice for a quilting class in order to teach new quilters how to sew with pieces cut on the bias and showing them how to sew blocks on point. 

If you have any questions about the pattern that I wasn't clear on, please feel free to ask. =)

If you would like to win this pattern, just leave a comment telling me how you found my blog or how long you have been coming here to visit. I am hoping those who are more shy will come out to say, "Hi." =)


✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸
This is very important:
Please make sure you are not a "no-reply" blogger (see button in my side bar to learn how to check to see if you are or not) or I won't be able to contact you and I will have to draw a new name.
✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸


I will draw a winner on Wednesday the 30th of November.

Talk to you soon!! =)

New blog button

Edit...I'm still tweaking things.

I made a new blog button. 

I didn't delete my old one from Photobucket, so it will still work for you. Feel free to grab the new one. ...Or not. =) The coding is on the sidebar. Let me know if you need any help. 

Have a great Saturday!

Edit...I'm still tweaking things.

I made a new blog button. 

I didn't delete my old one from Photobucket, so it will still work for you. Feel free to grab the new one. ...Or not. =) The coding is on the sidebar. Let me know if you need any help. 

Have a great Saturday!

Just go and read. 

A Perfect Lily

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends....I am thankful for YOU. 

Just go and read. 

A Perfect Lily

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends....I am thankful for YOU. 

Two packages came today. 

One I can talk about and one will have to wait for a little while. 

Lets just say that this lovely lady is my new BFF...

Eleanor Burns

Whether she wants to return the favor remains to be seen. ;-) 

The package I can talk about is from my blogging friend Theophanie @ Jubilent Nest. She recently had a give away and I won! She is a sweet, talented and creative lady and has great blog. Tell her I sent you. =) 

Ribbin trim for a Christmas stocking perhaps? 

On a more sobering note. My husband's dear uncle died yesterday morning so this already very busy week will be even more busy.

I wish each and every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving...I am thankful for all of you. 

Two packages came today. 

One I can talk about and one will have to wait for a little while. 

Lets just say that this lovely lady is my new BFF...

Eleanor Burns

Whether she wants to return the favor remains to be seen. ;-) 

The package I can talk about is from my blogging friend Theophanie @ Jubilent Nest. She recently had a give away and I won! She is a sweet, talented and creative lady and has great blog. Tell her I sent you. =) 

Ribbin trim for a Christmas stocking perhaps? 

On a more sobering note. My husband's dear uncle died yesterday morning so this already very busy week will be even more busy.

I wish each and every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving...I am thankful for all of you. 

Lucas is spending the night with us for the first time

AND 

 he will going to church with us in the morning. 

My heart is full....

Lucas is spending the night with us for the first time

AND 

 he will going to church with us in the morning. 

My heart is full....

I'm selling my Accuquilt Go. 

6 1/2" tumbler die

6 1/2" triangle die

Alex Anderson Quarter Square 4" finished triangle die

Original die that came with the Go!

 

Everything you see here for $200 plus S&H.

If interested, send me an email at redeemedsheep (at) gmail (dot) com.

=)

I'm selling my Accuquilt Go. 

6 1/2" tumbler die

6 1/2" triangle die

Alex Anderson Quarter Square 4" finished triangle die

Original die that came with the Go!

 

Everything you see here for $200 plus S&H.

If interested, send me an email at redeemedsheep (at) gmail (dot) com.

=)

I'm in love...

Lucas - 8 1/2 weeks

I'm in love...

Lucas - 8 1/2 weeks

The top, that is. It's windy here so this is the best picture I could get. 

It's bigger than I expected it to be, which is funny because I was worried it would be too small. It measures 66" x 78". 

I chose to go scrappy with the sashing because I hate am not fond corner stones. Knowing that this quilt would need way more dreadful corner stones than I wanted to deal with, I figured out a way to get creative so I could avoid them. 

This particular fat quarter stack had 20 fat quarters in it and each fat has almost half left over. It's always surprising to me to see how far fat quarters can go. 

For now, this quilt needs to be put away. I need to focus on Christmas and make some decisions on what to do, if anything, for gifts for the ladies in my family. Last year I made them zippered bags. I'm drawing a blank this year...Anyone have any good ideas?

The top, that is. It's windy here so this is the best picture I could get. 

It's bigger than I expected it to be, which is funny because I was worried it would be too small. It measures 66" x 78". 

I chose to go scrappy with the sashing because I hate am not fond corner stones. Knowing that this quilt would need way more dreadful corner stones than I wanted to deal with, I figured out a way to get creative so I could avoid them. 

This particular fat quarter stack had 20 fat quarters in it and each fat has almost half left over. It's always surprising to me to see how far fat quarters can go. 

For now, this quilt needs to be put away. I need to focus on Christmas and make some decisions on what to do, if anything, for gifts for the ladies in my family. Last year I made them zippered bags. I'm drawing a blank this year...Anyone have any good ideas?

I was chatting with some girlfriends when Shan smiled and said,

Its one of my favorite sayings...

I am {very} blessed to be counted as her friend. 

I was chatting with some girlfriends when Shan smiled and said,

Its one of my favorite sayings...

I am {very} blessed to be counted as her friend. 

Love this blue

Copen {Kona cotton} 

Copen {Kona cotton} 

Working on a new project. =)

Working on a new project. =)

How do you organize your scraps? Currently, they are sorted by color in baggies in my bucket.

I'm wondering if it would make more sense to trim them and store them by size. If so, what sizes would you suggest? Obviously 5" and 10" would be good sizes. What other sizes would be a good idea?

Or, should I give them away?

I need help....

Amy, a redeemed sheep
~Posting from my iPhone~

How do you organize your scraps? Currently, they are sorted by color in baggies in my bucket.

I'm wondering if it would make more sense to trim them and store them by size. If so, what sizes would you suggest? Obviously 5" and 10" would be good sizes. What other sizes would be a good idea?

Or, should I give them away?

I need help....

Amy, a redeemed sheep
~Posting from my iPhone~

All of my WIPs (works in progress) are done! My goal for the year was to get all the quilt tops I made last year quilted. Woot! 

Today is a perfect all day here in Iowa. It's in the 70's and sunny. Perfect picture taking day....My neighbors yard is so pretty with the colorful leaves laying on the grass. 

Don't look too closely at my almost lined up mitered corners. 

After taking a picture of the quilt, I looked up and took this picture. Beautiful orange and blue... 

I used Glide thread and magna glide bobbins on Tipsy. It went well and I will be buying it again. I had some tension issues, but after doing some research, I discovered it was all my fault. *not a big surprise* My mistake (this time, at least) was having the quilt too tight between the bars on the frame. Fortunately, the tension issues are harder to spot once the quilt has been washed and dried. 

Quilt size 83" x 75". 

All of my WIPs (works in progress) are done! My goal for the year was to get all the quilt tops I made last year quilted. Woot! 

Today is a perfect all day here in Iowa. It's in the 70's and sunny. Perfect picture taking day....My neighbors yard is so pretty with the colorful leaves laying on the grass. 

Don't look too closely at my almost lined up mitered corners. 

After taking a picture of the quilt, I looked up and took this picture. Beautiful orange and blue... 

I used Glide thread and magna glide bobbins on Tipsy. It went well and I will be buying it again. I had some tension issues, but after doing some research, I discovered it was all my fault. *not a big surprise* My mistake (this time, at least) was having the quilt too tight between the bars on the frame. Fortunately, the tension issues are harder to spot once the quilt has been washed and dried. 

Quilt size 83" x 75".