Sunday, March 17, 2024

Give It A Whirl Blog Hop Starts Today

It is time to whirl, twirl, and spin with the "Give It A Whirl" blog hop!


What was the challenge?

Somewhere in or on your project you must include a "whirl".
This can be a pinwheel, Dresden, or anything that looks like it's spinning.
Maybe a merry-go-round or Ferris wheel in the fabric?

I've always wanted to make a 3D pinwheel quilt, so this was finally the chance to do that.
Geta's Quilting Studio has a great tutorial. Geta is an amazing quilter so
check out some of her other designs and patterns.

You can find her how-to make a 3D pinwheel HERE.

The fabric is "Xanadu" by Ann Lauer for Benartex that I bought not too long ago.
I love the colors and movement in this fabric!



The centers of pinwheels can be pretty thick, but 3D ones are even more so.
I brought out my hammer, but not just any hammer. It is called "The Wacker."
It's made specifically to smash those big lumps a little flatter without damaging the fabric.
It really works!
(Yes, I know there is a snip, clip, and make them flatter version, but I can't ever figure it out.)


"The Wacker" says to steam the seam before wacking, but wouldn't you know my iron
wouldn't steam without yucky brown stuff coming out. This wasn't a manufacturer issue.
It was a "uh-oh" moment when I accidently grabbed the Best Press instead of water
to fill the iron reservoir. Don't ever do that! It's not pretty what it does to the iron.

My new Oliso iron arrived quickly, thank goodness. So pretty!
No, I did not purposely buy that color to match the fabric, but it does, doesn't it.


My old workhorse Nolting does the job for quilting my projects.
Nothing fancy with my stitching, but I love the money I've saved doing it myself.


Simple scribbles around the pinwheels worked just fine for me and kept the
pinwheels dimensional. I love how they look!


I flew to Ohio to spend time with grandkids in February.
Monkey Girl turned two while I was there...where does the time go!

She is officially one of the "Monkeys" because there is nothing she won't climb on.
Busy, busy, busy, and happy totally describes her. The Monkey Boys totally love that girl!


Check out more whirling and twirling projects!

MARCH 18 - TODAY!


Check out the "Give It A Whirl" Pinterest page HERE!

Thank you for stopping by!

Give It A Whirl Starts Tomorrow

 I think all the crazy winds, rain, and snow happening all over are trying to
set the stage for the start of the "Give It A Whirl" blog hop.

Are you ready for some amazing whirls!

It starts to tomorrow...see you there!


Friday, March 1, 2024

A New Bona Lisa Block Arrives Today

 The first of the month means a new block for Bona Lisa's Sweater Emporium.
It's just Carla sharing her spooktacular talent on this month!


BONA LISA'S SWEATER EMPORIUM


JANUARY BLOCKS

Bona Lisa


Carol at Just Let Me Quilt
Repulsive Ruffled Sweater


Bona's "In Vest"


FEBRUARY BLOCKS

Carol at Just Let Me Quilt
Kickin'-It'-Up Boots

Ye Ole Homestead


MARCH BLOCKS

Take No Bull Sweater


Carol Swift at Just Let Me Quilt
Bonus Block - Down To The Bone free block



It's amazing how different it can look with other fabrics.

Do you want to join in the BOM fun? Check out our Facebook page HERE.

How does our Bona Lisa's Sweater Emporium BOM work? 

It runs from January 1st through August 31st. 

All block releases happen on our Cackling Stitches Facebook page HERE.

We even give you the fabric requirements early to help you conjure/gather your fabrics.
You can find it HERE.

It's not a mystery BOM. We show you each of our finished quilts!

On the first day of each month, we release a block pattern (sometimes it's more than one)
 that is free for the entire calendar month. After that, those blocks go into our individual 
ETSY shops where you can purchase them for $2 each. 

New and free block(s) then appear for the new month...and so on, and so on.

Beginning January 1st, the ENTIRE pattern is available in each of our ETSY shops for $15.
We've had so many people ask us if they can buy the whole thing at once, so we decided to go for it.
If you can't wait for each block release or you don't have a Facebook page, this is for you!

We hope you appreciate the time we put into creating this BOM and understand that we keep
 the costs to a minimum for you. We ask that you respect our copyrights and do not share the 
pattern with others. You're welcome to direct your friends to our Cackling Stitches Group 
Facebook or any of our ETSY shops so they can get their own patterns starting January 1st.

Just Let Me Quilt Etsy Store HERE.

Moosestash Quilting Blog HERE.
Moosestash Quilting Etsy Store HERE.

Creatin' in the Sticks Blog HERE.
Creatin' in the Sticks Etsy Store HERE.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

April Showers Blog Hop Sign-Ups With Joan

Joan at Moosestash Quilting just dropped a blog hop challenge for April that is sure to
leave us soaked and dripping with some inspiring and creative "shower" ideas. 

THE CHALLENGE:

 Late snow showers, rain showers, baby showers, wedding showers. 
What do you like to shower everyone with?


Email her if you want to play along!


March's blog hop challenge will have our brains whirling with things to sew!


THE CHALLENGE:

Somewhere in or on your project you must include a "whirl".
This can be a pinwheel, Dresden, or anything that looks like it's spinning.
Maybe a merry-go-round or Ferris wheel in the fabric?

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

A Moose Is Loose And Ready For Love

This month's blog hop, "It Moose Be Love" is perfect for the queen of moose things.
Joan at Moosestash Quilting is hosting this blog hop and she has so many "queen" talents.
She's also the queen of wicked, applique, and tiny quilt pieces, but today it's all about the moose.


Joan's challenge to us: 

Show us what you LOVE. Moose of course are optional.

With February being the month of "LOVE", my moose project was really feeling it.
He's pink and full of love!

The Big Pink Moose
50" x 70"


Fabrics used: Benartex New Hue and Superior Solids




There has been so many fabulous moose and love projects this week, so
be sure to visit them all so you don't miss anything. 

Blog hoppers to visit and see their moose love:


The next blog hop will be hosted by me and there is still time to sign up.
Let me know if you want to play along.


THE CHALLENGE:

Somewhere in or on your project you must include a "whirl".
This can be a pinwheel, Dresden, or anything that looks like it's spinning.
Maybe a merry-go-round or Ferris wheel in the fabric?

Monday, February 19, 2024

It Moose Be Love Starts Today

"It Moose Be Love" starts today!
It's hosted by the queen of moose herself, Joan, at Moosestash Quilting.


 Blog hoppers to visit and see their moose love:


The next blog hop will be hosted by me and there is still time to sign up.
Let me know if you want to play along.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Cackling Stitches 2024 February BOM

 It's time for another Cackling Stitches block for Bona Lisa's Sweater Emporium.
Check it  out!


BONA LISA'S SWEATER EMPORIUM


JANUARY BLOCKS

Bona Lisa


Carol at Just Let Me Quilt
Repulsive Ruffled Sweater


Bona's "In Vest"


FEBRUARY BLOCKS

Carol at Just Let Me Quilt
Kickin'-It'-Up Boots

Ye Ole Homestead



It's amazing how different it can look with other fabrics.

Do you want to join in the BOM fun? Check out our Facebook page HERE.

How does our Bona Lisa's Sweater Emporium BOM work? 

It runs from January 1st through August 31st. 

All block releases happen on our Cackling Stitches Facebook page HERE.

We even give you the fabric requirements early to help you conjure/gather your fabrics.
You can find it HERE.

It's not a mystery BOM. We show you each of our finished quilts!

On the first day of each month, we release a block pattern (sometimes it's more than one)
 that is free for the entire calendar month. After that, those blocks go into our individual 
ETSY shops where you can purchase them for $2 each. 

New and free block(s) then appear for the new month...and so on, and so on.

Beginning January 1st, the ENTIRE pattern is available in each of our ETSY shops for $15.
We've had so many people ask us if they can buy the whole thing at once, so we decided to go for it.
If you can't wait for each block release or you don't have a Facebook page, this is for you!

We hope you appreciate the time we put into creating this BOM and understand that we keep
 the costs to a minimum for you. We ask that you respect our copyrights and do not share the 
pattern with others. You're welcome to direct your friends to our Cackling Stitches Group 
Facebook or any of our ETSY shops so they can get their own patterns starting January 1st.

Just Let Me Quilt Etsy Store HERE.

Moosestash Quilting Blog HERE.
Moosestash Quilting Etsy Store HERE.

Creatin' in the Sticks Blog HERE.
Creatin' in the Sticks Etsy Store HERE.

Give It A Whirl Blog Hop Starts Today

It is time to whirl, twirl, and spin with the "Give It A Whirl" blog hop! What was the challenge? Somewhere in or on your project ...