#72 PickUp Stixz , Blogger's Quilt Festival entry

Just found out about the Blogger's Quilt Festival being held at Amy's Creative Side today and thought I would join along, nothing like the last minute, and submit the quilt you all helped me name!!

Refresher for anyone dropping in for the first time, original post can be found here

The quilt was made using the technique I read about in Quilting Modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen, and I used RJR Cotton Supreme Solids.

I named it PickUp Stixz because it reminds me of the game I use to play as a kid at my grandmothers! Thanks for the spelling idea Audrey!!

The quilt finished at approximately 60" square (240") I'm submitting it in the modern category and I love how it turned out!!

Follow the link below or in the side bar to check out all the entries. Voting Starts Nov 1. So please go and vote, and if you like mine, please, please vote for it!!! Thanks :)

I used the leftover bits to do some piecing on the back as well!!

#7 Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM Block #1

So excited the  Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM  has finally started!!!

I heard from a lot of you how much you were looking forward to the BOM starting, and I felt the same way!! So here's to an exciting beginning and 6 months of great blocks, sewing fun, prizes and surprises, and getting to know each other!!

Spoiler alert:
I won't show you till the end, but I chose to make the original 6 blocks into a Christmas table runner (in Moda Figgy Pudding, with a few other fabrics thrown in), and being as I would need that before the BOM was over I have completed my blocks already, but I am working on at least one other project with the blocks and more then likely another just because it is more fun to work along with you!!

I chose to use a focal fabric for my centers for the runner and an all over quilting pattern instead of applique or embroidery, partly because I haven't done much or either of those and mostly because I chickened out!! lol

 So on with the picture show:

I am apologizing right now for pictures that I obviously forgot to check as I was taking them, and now is too late to retake, eer!!

The quilt pattern is a snowflake and string lights digital pattern!

Check out all the other Blogs for inspiration:

UpstairsHobbyRoom (you are here)
LilyPad Quilting
Quiltscapes
Crazy 'Bout Quilts
A Quilt and a Prayer
Bejeweled Quilts
Wedding Dress Blue
Mountain Quiltworks
Garden Path Quilts

Have fun with your first block and see ya next month!!

if you haven't signed up....what are you waiting for?

#71 Celebrating 1000+ InstaGram Followers with a GiveAway!!

You guys are the best!!

If someone would have asked me when I signed up on InstaGram, how many followers I think I would have after a few short years, I would have said 10 maybe 20, and that would have been mostly family and friends, lol! Boy was I wrong!! I am over the moon happy to be a part of such a supportive network of quilters and crafters!! In the last almost 3 yrs I have virtually met so many amazing and truly talented people. So I want to say thank you, for all your encouragement and support and lovely comments, by hosting a giveaway for all of you! Not to leave out those who follow my blog as well, because I know some follow both, and because RaffleCopter making picking a winner easier, I'm using the blog to host the prize giveaway. Just to explain the blog's difference, I post far more pictures here and share the process of some projects, giveaways, tutorials and Blog Hops here. Please follow along if you would like, I usually  post every other week (sometimes once a month) unless there are a lot of fun things going on!! (like right now)

Mad About Patchwork is a Canadian Online store that recently also became a store front!! Don't worry though they ship Internationally too!!

There are 2 prizes up for grabs, a gift certificate to Mad About Patchwork (one of my favourite shops) for $30.00 and a Homemade Package from me, including the Honey Cowl I just finished knitting, a crocheted market bag, a tiny zippered pouch and a hipster purse. (Prizes are open to all)

Thank You all so much and good luck to everyone!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again to Pam and all the Mad About Patchwork team for the support and fantastic prize they have donated!!

Keep scrolling to the next post if you are interested in a Free Block of the Month, that includes embroidery and or applique. There is also another prize giveaway available!!

#6 Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM, Introduction and a Give Away

 If you are a follower you will recognize me by now I think, but if you are new, 

Welcome to my Upstairs Hobby Room!!

My name is Sandy, and I have been quilting for the last 3 years and blogging for almost 2.

I'm a wife and mother of 3 grown kids ( a daughter and 2 sons ), one married, one out on his own, and one still at home. I live in rural Ontario, on a working farm, and love it. I've always liked to sew, knit, crochet and craft, I even did woodworking for awhile, but when I landed on quilting that was it, I am hooked! I still knit and crochet, but all other creative outlets have fallen away. 

 Three fun facts: I'm tall (5'10"), I love dark chocolate, and I turn 50 in Februrary. (I'm sure you are bored by now, so on to the BOM!! lol)

I want to say thanks to Jacquelynne for asking me to get involved, I am having a blast and it hasn't even officially started yet!!
I hope everyone is getting just as excited about the start of the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM. If you are here and haven't heard about it, use the link below to get all the info and sign up! There is still plenty of time, the first block release is Oct 27th!!

If you like Quilting, embroidery, applique.... 

This is for you, especially if you want to combine them..

so many options...

I had a great time tossing around what I was going to make, what fabrics I would use and how I would construct my blocks. With all the options it was hard to go with just one idea, so I'm doing 2 different projects. 

1. A table runner

2. A Mini quilt....more info on this to come

All organized and in a bin (! use the 13" scrapbooking bins at Michaels), my first project material. You will have to wait to see the rest. Anyone recognize the fabric? 

And don't forget to enter the giveaway for the fantastic PDF Pattern Bundle

This prize is open to everyone!! Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#5 It's my day for....... RJR Fabric's What's Your Shade

Click here to see all the other talented blogger projects

This is my second time working with RJR Fabrics (see the first projects here, and here) and I have to say I had just as much fun with this time. From choosing which of the fantastic colours to work with from the RJR Fabrics Cotton Supreme Solids line to what project to tackle!

My selections:  French Vanilla  (111), Bowood Red (266), Red Wagon (110), Driftwood (297), Burlap (310), Grey Hound (321).  I always like trying something different,  I've never made a quilt in these colours and thought they would work great in the modern design I decided to try.

I wanted to attempt  a technique I really had only touched on once in a BOM.  I remember thinking it was fun and modern, but when I sat looking at the blank 18" vanilla block, I have to say I was a little afraid to start, lol. I think I was into the second block before I really started to relax and enjoy the process, but that's just me, wonky and freestyle are not always easier. I like my ruler and cutting instructions, lol!!

I read about the slice and insert technique in the book  Quilting Modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen. The amazing part is it is totally improve, so when I  finally got over my apprehensions and started enjoying the process, it was fun to think I was designing my own pattern.

It really isn't hard just make a cut anywhere and sew in a strip and then another and another, till you are satisfied with the look. So a few or a lot it all depends on you. Depending on the angel of the cuts is whether they line up, I had to get over that, in the end I liked  the look, even the odd angles.

Don't forget to read/skim to the bottom for the giveaway. While you are looking at the pictures maybe you can help me come up with a name for my quilt (I'm horrible at it) The only thing that I came up with is Pick Up Sticks, a game I use to play as a child at my Grandmother's. My son says it's Drunk Tic Tac Toe, lol!

So enough talk, let's get onto the picture show!!

As I said I started with 18" blocks of the French Vanilla  and various strip widths from the other colours, and I ended up trimming the blocks at 18.75" when I was finished.

On the Frame, this is when it gets real exciting, and nerve racking...

Definitely the right choice of quilt pattern....


With the weather changing so quickly, here in Canada, I wanted to make sure I got some fun shots while I can!! (before binding)

Love my Wonder Clips

 The home stretch!!

Finished quilt is approximately 60" square.

 and the back.....just some random blocks made up of left overs!!

Found some extra editing tools.....and had some fun playing with exposure and saturation....

So I guess the question goes out to all of you now....What's Your Shade?

Please join in the give away for the FQ Bundle of the fabrics I used in my project and see what you can come up with!!! This time the give away is only open to Canada and the US, sorry to my international friends!! (but stay tuned, because more fun stuff is coming!!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

#70 Quick Update and I'll be back Friday!!

So Friday Oct 10th is my Post date for the RJR Fabrics, What's your Shade Blog Hop!! I'm so excited to finally be able to show you the quilt I made!! There will be a prize available too, if that helps, lol!! But you have to come back to enter.....

Then I'll be back on the 16th with an intro post for the FREE Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM by Jacquelynne Steves and Blog Hop!! Make sure you come back there will be prizes!! and lots of fun!!! These blocks are amazing.

I've been so excited about the 2 hops and was so wrapped up in the prep that reaching 1000 followers on Instagram kinda got missed! So look for a give away coming soon to celebrate the milestone!!

What I've Been Up To, (finally back in the sewing room)

Testing this great pattern Parade by Valerie Rigney of The Aqua Umbrella

That's it see ya Friday!!