Happy 50th Birthday to Me!!! Presents for You!!!

February 2, 2015
Today's the Day I was dreading,
but it has turned into the most fun birthday ever!!

I'm 50!!!

And planning this celebration for all of you has been amazing!!

I want to start by saying thanks for all the Birthday wishes and lovely encouraging comments I have received already! You are the best, and have made this a birthday I will never forget!

Some fun facts for my birthday

1965

1. The maple leaf becomes the National Flag of Canada
2. The Sound of Music has its premiere
3. The Pillsbury Dough Boy is created
4. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis Missouri is completed
5. TV debuts: Green Acres, Charlie Brown Christmas, I Dream of Jeannie, Tom and Jerry
6. Academy Award for Best Picture went to My Fair Lady
7. Shania Twain was born 
8. The Supremes release "Stop in the Name of Love"
9. Sonny and Cher make their first TV appearance
10. Kellogg's Pop Tarts pastries were created (loved these as a kid)

My Birthday Celebration will be running from Feb. 2-8th

Winners will be emailed and names posted around Feb. 9th

A Few of My Favourite Things (Shops) 

(full disclosure: I have and do shop at all of these businesses! I don't have any blog sponsors. I asked my favourite shops if they would help me celebrate and they all said yes, and donated something special for me to share with you!! How cool is that!! 
(I'm a very good shopper, just don't tell my husband, lol)

Each Logo is a link to the  sponsoring Shops, take a look around, show them all some love...
you have all week to complete your Birthday Celebration Entry,
let the shops know why you're visiting.
Hopefully you'll find a new place to get inspiration and products you love...
but most of all... have fun...
Good Luck everyone.

Fabric Spot is an online only Canadian shop that specializes in modern designer fabrics, solids and has the largest organic cotton fabric selection in Canada! Karen has great customer service, prompt shipping (international shipping is available, with a flat rate for US friends) and a monthly prize giveaway too!
I like the layout of the website, it's easy to get around and when looking at a fabric the rest of the collection will view below it.

Fabric Spot is offering a FQ bundle of Organic Cotton Frolic 

(Winners choice of girl or boy colour way.)

I love my labels!! I have 3 different sizes,
2 different colours (white and navy)
and a 3rd ordered in Red. 

Feyza has also given me a coupon code "upstairshobbyroom"

 if you decide you would like to order your own labels, you will save 5% on your order. My blog always has this logo link and info on the right sidebar.

Here's a sample of my labels and how Feyza will contact you with the proof layout of your labels to confirm before making them.

You can also add a logo or graphic if you want. 

90 Custom Labels

Mad About Patchwork started as an Online store and has just recently expanded by opening a storefront in
Stittsville, Ontario.
Pam and the team offer great specials
at the beginning of every month
and
 Kona Stash Builders
  follow these links to see what's on special this month.
Great customer service , prompt shipping (international shipping too)
 and an easy to navigate website!

 $30.00 Gift Certificate

Sew Sisters is another great online store with a storefront in Toronto Ontario.

They also have great customer service, prompt shipping and also ship internationally.

I participated in Blogathon Canada 2014 last year with the Sew Sisters team and had a blast!!

They have great selection of fabrics and a great clearance section that gets added to monthly.

$25.00 Gift Certificate

Kristy is a fabulous Paper Piece pattern designer who just recently along with some friends launched an amazing eMagazine, Make Modern.

Kristy's latest free BOM is Zoo Animals which follows up last years Retro Cool... Sew Kitschy...

The very lucky winner of this "present" will get to choose

2 Bundle Patterns

here are a few examples of what you might choose...

$15.00 Gift Certificate

Who doesn't love zippers!! I get so excited when my zipper order arrives with all the bright fun coloured zippers and there is always a zipper pull included as a bonus thank you!!

Great customer service and fast shipping and delivery and I'm in Canada, so that says something coming from the US. 

How fun is this, matching or contrasting your projects for just the right affect!!

And

Something For Everyone!!

I wanted to celebrate with everyone and didn't want anyone left out or not getting a present...

so I have a present for everyone!

A simple 18" Mini Wallhanging Pattern I made for today...
I'm calling it....

Let's Celebrate You

and yes that is blackboard fabric as the boarder and cake base!!

Clicking on the picture should take you to Craftsy to download the pattern. Please remember that the patterns I share are mine, don't redistribute, send your friends and family here. If you make it, let people know where the pattern came from :)  tag me on Instagram  at upstairshobbyroom, if you post a picture... I would love to see; and...  personal use only please!!

Have you heard of Chalkboard markers?
 Write with them on the chalkboard and it stays...and comes off with water!!
 Too Cool!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Turning 50......Help me Celebrate

So Turning 50 has been a bit of a struggle for me...

I know just a number, but it's a big number, lol...

So I decided to flip my frown upside down :),  embrace it, and make it fun...

So I've called on "some of my favourite shops"
 and asked them to help me celebrate...
 by giving you presents

So come back on February 2nd

Don't worry about your shadow...

Join in... 

have some fun...

Wish me a Happy Birthday... 

And maybe take home a present!!

If you click on any of the Logos above you will be taken right to their online stores!! 

Don't forget to show them all some love and let them know I sent you over!! ;)

(Full Disclosure: I don't have any sponsorships or affiliations with any of these companies...I literally shop at them and asked if they would sponsor gifts for you, and they all said yes!!! How cool is that)

Sew Sweet Simplicity Block 4 and Bonus Block 2 & Give Away

I can hardly believe the Sew Along is almost over!!!

My quilting is still relevant.... here in Canada we are still covered in snow. More snow than we had Christmas day, lol.

Block 4

Bonus Block 2

Sneak Peak: on how my blocks came together........

For those of you who were unable to sew along with us on January 10th, here's what I made (hopefully I will have it quilted and bound before the end of the sew along, so I can share)

I upsized the block again to 32" square and added the flower applique.

I love how this turned out!! The fabric is Shapes of Spring by Eloise Renouf for Cloud9 Fabrics. Just love this line!!

And now for the Give Away....

That wool runner is so cute....

The Give Away

Make sure you go to Jacquelynne's Blog because she has a special give away over there too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out what everyone else has done with their blocks...it will increase your chances of winning the pattern bundle too.

UpstairsHobbyRoom (you are here)
Jacquelynne Steves

LilyPad Quilting
Quiltscapes
Crazy 'Bout Quilts
A Quilt and a Prayer
Bejeweled Quilts
Wedding Dress Blue
Mountain Quiltworks
Garden Path Quilts

Oh I Just Couldn't Help Myself.....

Quick little post...a confession

I vowed I would do no new sewing projects, except for a few commitments until my WIP list was completed......Right ......I got sucked in by its cuteness....and in my defensive it is a Sew Along so it's not a year long commitment....that makes a difference, right?
I may have to quit social media if I truly want to stop new sewing projects, because there are just so many good options out there. I keep stopping myself from signing up for a mini swap, and I am not even looking at any BOM, because they are my weakness....lol....but I am committed to this. Fabric is cut, pattern is printed....and what is the cuteness I couldn't resist you maybe asking......

The "Elephant Parade" over at Sew Fresh Quilts

Can you understand how I couldn't resist this!!!

Head over  to Sew Fresh Quilts and check it out,  and if you can't resist either, grab the widget for your blog's sidebar and all the fabric requirements and cutting instructions. Lets all have fun making this adorable quilt.

On the plus side, I am using 100% of my stash so far for the top and sashing!! So I am doing great for my other commitment to Sew My Stash 2015!!!

And I finished my #SewMyStashChallenge1 Hearts

#76

I have been slacking off on posting to my blog again....

Sew Kitchy BOM 2014 at Quiet Play. Kristy is doing another Paper Pieced BOM this year with a Zoo Animal theme....so cute

I have found it hard to get back into the swing of things since Christmas and the New Year happened. As some of you know, I have learned in the last year, after being sick for years, I have a lot of food intolerances. As much as I try to avoid eating the food that ultimately hurts me, it isn't always easy. Sometimes the ingredients are hidden and sometimes I'm just too tired, and all of this is just too new and still seems to  require so much energy, eek. So needless to say, if you understand allergies, I haven't been at full energy or wellness this month. 

It's really hard when gluten, wheat, eggs, all dairy ( the protein) and a few other foods are the things that are hurting you. So much of our diets revolve around these staples. So, I have pledged to make learning and educating myself on my food issues a priority this year, especially the finding of recipes... like bread and pizza dough (I can handle the no cheese  but the gluten free crust at the pizza shop...not great).  It's been really hard adjusting and still is some days, but I do feel so much better when I behave, and silver lining, I have dropped 2-3 sizes (not sure how much weight, I don't weigh myself) :) 

I would love your help too... If any of you have or know someone who has some of the same dietary restrictions and have a great recipe... I would love for you to share it with me!!  I am also thinking of starting a new blog just to keep track of websites and information, I'm horrible at remembering all this new information. So if you share a recipe, add if I can post it or not (if the blog happens, thanks). You can email me at upstairshobbyroom at gmail dot com. 

Hope you don't mind the sharing, for now back to Quilting!!

What I've Been Up To:

I have 21 bibs made to send to Noah's Ark in the Philippines...I just need to bind them:
Girls version: (Velcro will be added when they arrive so they can get the right placement)

 Boys Version:

Finished all the BOM for 2014 (blocks only, still need to assemble tops):

 Classic Meets Modern:

Update, I'll be posting more pictures in another post next week!!

 Sugar Block 2014 at Stitchery Dickory Dock

Aurifil Designer of the Month 2014

Assembled the Globe Trotting BOM top:

Got the bindings on 2 of the 3 quilts I had finished:

Made the 4 mini Sew Together Bags from OPQuilt.com worksheet in her Tutorials tab (you need the Sew Together Pattern from Sew Demented) and used only my stash #sewmystash2015. I have joined in on the challenge, widget link on right side of blog page.

Had a great Sew Along Day on January 10th, with Jacquelynne Steves for the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM:
#sewmystash2015 (used my stash for this beauty too)

 I upsized the pattern to a 32" block for my coffee table...

And started on the Companion Carpet Bag by Samantha of At Home With Mrs. H , January bag from the Bag of the Month Club from Sew Sweetness: (used my stash other than the exterior...don't collect heavier fabrics, #sewmystash2015)

This is my first real structured bag pattern...I joined the club last year but only manage to sew the Poolside Tote by Noodlehead (awesome pattern) So I am over the moon with how well it has turned out so far. Waiting on the handles and frame to finish. My goal is to make the remaining 5 patterns from last year and the 6 new ones from this year....insert, hopeful smiley face, lol.

 my handy new sewing awl, for when my handles arrive

And my list that will follow me this year to keep me on track, hopefully....

To Complete List

Blocks to Piece (blocks not finished)

• (3)Triple Star Blocks
• Playing Cards (Bee Blocks)
• (?) Scrappy Trip Around the World Blocks 
• Fusion Quilt
• Flower Patch Quilt
• Lattice Bones Quilt
• Colouring Box Quilt
• Sew Kitchy Paper Pieced BOM (one more block, Miss Betty)
• Craftsy BOM 2013

Quilt Tops to Sew Together (blocks are complete)

• Sugar Block Club 2013
• Sugar Block Club 2014
• Block Rock'n
• Classic Meets Modern
• Aurifil Designer of the Month 2014
• Globe Trotting BOM
• Layer Cake Challenge
• Come Together (Bee Blocks)
• Playing Cards (Bee Blocks)

Quilt Tops: to Quilt

• City Sampler
• Churn Dash QAL
• Nested Churn Dash
• Parade (tester pattern)
• Square Deal
• Trifle Dish Moda QAL
• Modern Blocks QAL
• Virtual Quilting Bee
• Triangle QAL
• *Globe Trotting BOM
• *Classic Meets Modern
• *Sugar Block Club 2013

Quilts to Bind (that's all I have to do, you would think I would just get it done)

• Bloom Bloom Pow
• Craftsy BOM 2012
• Mystery Quilt

New Projects to Do this Year:

1. 15-30 adult size bibs for special needs children at an orphanage in the Philippines (church missions trip in April) (the number turned out to be 21-just need to bind them!!)
2. Design 2 original projects and write up the patterns ( I am excited about this challenge) more info on this in the future
3. 2 quilts (one niece/one nephew )
4. Set of Placemats (12)
5. 4 mini Sew Together Bags
6. 4 Regular Sew Together Bags
7. 6 Duffle Bags
8. 6-11 purses, yup not kidding, I join the Bag of the Month again this year over at Sew Sweetness and last year of the six I only made one of the bags. This year I am determined to complete them all.
9. New Christmas Stockings (8)
10. Christmas Tree Skirt
11. Misc sewing of pouches, because there is always a need for a simple pouch or 10, lol.
12. *Elephant Parade, because it was so cute I couldn't resist!! Which makes an even dozen new projects. One per month....that's doable.......

*updates