A Friday Finish: A Flea on a Hot Brick

So, I do have what I think is a very cute Friday finish for you today, But first, I want to explain about the flea on a hot brick in the title. If you are familiar with the expression, it goes something like this: she was jumping around like a flea on a hot brick. That is how I feel about my sewing and crafting right now. I am jumping from project to project with not too much forward motion. Not trying to lament that fact. I was just thinking about it yesterday and these are my thoughts. If something won't hold my attention, or excite me into working on it, I jump to something else, even start something new. It will all get done eventually and I'm not punching any time clock here. So here is my finish:

 Meet Spring Maggie Rabbit. This sweet bunny is a pattern by Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy. I have made about 5 of these now and each is different and fun. The other day I needed something that was really spring-like...desperately.

 So I dug around and found my Maggie Rabbit supplies. I keep the pattern and felt all together in one place for this purpose. One of my few organizational things that works.

 I auditioned so many pretty flowery fabrics for the dress. It was hard to choose. This is a Jeni Baker print from her Dreamin' Vintage line. I can't tell you how much I love the pretty flowers on this.

 I was unsure about making the boots that are a part of her outfit, then my husband said "How about making her some colorful Wellies for spring?" Genius! So out came the brightest pink felt in my stash. I got it at Purl Soho.

 Look at this pretty. So springy and fresh, yet feminine and oh, I can't think of enough adjectives.

 Here is Maggie with her sister, Summer Maggie. She is the very first one I made several years ago when the pattern first came out.

 Her boots are exactly like the pattern is written, to lace up and tie at the top.

Summer Maggie has a hat that I designed for her to wear while gardening.

 Here is a detail shot of Spring Maggie's apron. I used a decorative stitch that my machine makes.

I even took her out in 25 degree weather this morning to try and capture how pink these Wellies are. Hard to do. It rained buckets all day yesterday while I sewed these Wellies. Very appropriate, I think. Now, the question is, what will the flea jump into today? Have a great weekend friends.

Friday Big Finish and Post 200 (the one with a giveaway)

Here we are. Another Friday Finish and this is, to me, a big one. I have been working on this for a long time. It is also my 200th post! That, my friends is a lot of words and stitches.  So let's get to it.

Remember when this quilt pattern came out?  I think it must have been a year or more ago. I fell in love with it. There was a quilt along that I wanted to join, but way too much else going on then (16 months ago) for me to start something I knew would take a bit of time.  I finally began my Retro Flowers Quilt in March.  This was the first block I made.



I loved it and I had a whole stack of fabrics pulled to make each flower different, like the one in the picture on the pattern. As I stare at the block and the fabrics I had pulled, I started to like my selections even less. I tried pulling other fabrics. I was spinning my wheels.  Then, either due to some unknown inspiration, or maybe it was a conversation with my hubby, I took an abrupt left turn to this:

I have done several ROYGBIV quilts in my time. It's a theme I revisit a lot because I just love it. I drew the whole thing out and colored it with colored pencils.  Okay...this was it.  I even found a way to keep the first block as part of the quilt.  Yay me!  So here it is, the finished top:

 Please excuse the poor lighting. We have had such a rainy week, complete with downed trees and flooding. I had to take these in my sewing room. I tried without the flash (above) and with the flash (below) which makes a yellowish cast.

 But you get the idea. There are small dots and flowers in here, although you can't really see them in these pictures.  But I L-O-V-E it so much. I have even planned how I will quilt it, as soon as I finish one more WIP top and quilt the other two tops waiting in the wings.

 Here is a bit of a close up. You can see that sometimes, my seems met up perfectly.

 And sometimes they did not.  It also shows more on the darker colors.  But I don't mind at all.

Every time I started a new color, I got excited all over again.  I think that helped me keep going.

Now on to the second item of my post. To celebrate my 200th post I am going to have a giveaway. I absolutely love Alicia Paulson and her blog, Posie Gets Cozy. She is the creator of Maggie Rabbit and the lovely Daisy Chain ABC sampler. She also has lots of great stuff in her shop, Rosie Little Things. I am going to offer the winner (chosen by Random Number Generator) $20 to spend in Alicia's shop.  This giveaway is open to any and all. The winner will pay any difference between the prize and the total, including shipping of items.

To win, and you must answer the question to win (my party, my rules) go visit Alicia's shop and tell me what you might choose if you win. That's it.  Giveaway is open until next Friday, July 12 at 5 pm EDT.  Thanks for sticking with me. Now go look at Alicia's shop!
WINNER!!!! Fiona of Celtic Thistle is the winner as chosen by random number generator.  Congratulations! Thanks to everyone for stopping by. I hope you stick with me in the future.

Happy Monday...and a Winner!

Happy Monday everyone.  Day 2 of my staycation.  I have lots of sewing planned for this week, and if all goes well, I'll have lots to show you all week long.  First up, I finally finished my Daisychain ABC's sampler that I bought from Alicia Paulson.  I think I started this in February or March.  Glad to have it done!

I did enjoy doing it, a bit at a time.  This just needs a frame, and it is going to live in the home of my newest grandson.

Next, I made the first of what I know will be many of the Cell Phone Wristlet pattern.  I bought the pattern from Caroline at Trilliumdesign.  I fell in love with this pattern when I saw it on a blog hop to launch the pattern.  I just had to get it.  I could not believe the pattern was sooooo easy to assemble.  I did not expect that, having made many bags and pouches before.  I had all the fabric and fusibles and the zipper.  I just needed the hardware.  I will definitely be making more of these.

 This first one is for my daughter.  She loved the one made with the Ruby Star Rising typewriter fabric.  I tried my best to copy that one.  Not perfect, but pretty good.

Here is the back.  Sorry the picture is so yellow.  Inconsistent flash is probably to blame here.  I was not asked to promote this pattern, but I do love to share when I find something I think is terrific.

Last, but not least, the winner of my scrap giveaway: comment #7 Celtic Thistle!  And here is the bundle going out to her:

This is 2 pounds of scraps just for you Fiona.  Yes, I weighed it on my kitchen scale.  Fiona is in the SMQ Bee, so I already have her address.  I made my post office Monday run this morning so I posted this along with my bee blocks.  The postman said it should get there in 7-10 days.  Let me know, Fiona.

This is the first time I have ever posted anything for overseas.  It was a great learning experience for me and the postman was very patient and helpful.

That's all for now.  Have a great Monday.