Is The 'Blogging' Honeymoon Over...

Today I read a comment on someones blog mentioning something about having a 'stale' blog.I think it was Janet over at Quiltsalott. Hhhhmm, I thought that was a good word. I have been thinking a lot lately about the changes I have been seeing in the blogging world. I first noticed a slight change after the first of the year, I thought well, maybe there were some New Year's resolutions made about cutting back or cutting out so much blogging. Slowly through these last few months I have seen some of my fellow bloggers dropping like flies. Some have just STOPPED blogging all together and a lot have cut W-A-Y back on the number of posts they do. It also seems to be the coming trend to all of a sudden to just stop replying to those who leave comments, even if it is something that blogger has always done in the past. So-o-o-o, is the 'honeymoon' over? Do you find blogging a 'chore'? Has the excitement and the lure of it lost it's luster? Do you think you put out 'stale' posts just because you feel obligated or pressured to?? Everyone talks of Blogging Without Obligation, but we still put pressure on ourselves and others. Do you want to take a break but feel you JUST CAN'T? Teresa from Stitchin Friends recently did a post laying out her new blogging schedule. Sarah from House of Krom has been talking about priorities with her family and less computer time. I have read countless others proclaiming they spend w-a-y too much time on the computer. A lot of bloggers are taking up Facebook instead of blogging....well, I don't think I find the Facebook that much fun. I find blogging more satisfying. Yes, I do have a Facebook account but don't go there much. I Twitter.....that is fun!. You can make quick little sentences about what you are doing through out the day and it only takes a second or two. I'm not finding fault in anyone about how they blog or how they spend their computer time. I have just been thinking about these changes I see.

So, what do you think? What is your take on things? Have you developed a way to manage your time between computing, family and your favorite projects? Is the 'honeymoon' over? Is blogging becoming 'stale'? Are we ready to go on to something new and different?

Goodies Galore

OW.....OW.......This little Owl is sooo cute it's 'hurting' me! I am just always amazed at how talented some of my fellow bloggy friends are. Mel over at My Own Place Blog is definitely one of those who ranks high on the list. She recently had a giveaway for her blogiversary and I was one of the lucky winners!!! Yeah for ME!! Go here for the owl tutorial.

Isn't this TINY little witches hat magnet she made just amazing??? It's a COPY of Mel's 12 1/2" Witches Hat Halloween blocks that I am fortunate to have one as well. What a contrast between the two sizes!

Included in my winnings was all the 'fixins' for one of her table runners. Look at all the yummy reproduction fabrics she so neatly layered. I'm tellin' you.....Mel is a class act at everything she does!!

Her instruction sheet for the table runner was even colorful, cute and well written.

And ALL my gifted goodies just spilled out of this so FAB little gift bag she whipped up.....YES MEL....you are one of those I call a 'WHIPPER UPPER' because you just seem to always be whipping out wonderful creations and appear to do it with such ease!! Yes Mel....you know I am a FAN!! Thank you so much for your generosity and for the care that shows in how you present your gifts to us. You are greatly appreciated!!

If you haven't ever been over to Mel's blog, take some time and go over....scroll down and around and check it out. You won't be disappointed!!!

The Addiction Has Begun...

I have a plan......and this new addiction is coming together with these 1 1/4" Hexies...............And yes......I am still working on the 4 B's ( previous post ).....I only have 7 more quilt tops to go!!!

I've Been Doing The 4 ' B's '

Borders..............Backs............Bindings.......................BORING!!!

My Friend Jenny's Log Cabin

Isn't this scrappy log cabin quilt just w-a-y too cute!! I think Jenny (no blog) did a fabulous job! CLICK ON PHOTO to enlarge. Jenny was my very first blogland swap partner. We swapped scraps with each other. Melly and Me Blog hosted this swap and provided the tutorial for this pattern back in the spring of 2008. Wow...was it THAT long ago!! Hhhmmm.....I guess Jenny is more on the ball than I am. I hang my head as I reveal that my blocks are still laying in one of my project boxes.

Here is a close up.....you can see some of the quilting designs. I like that she made smaller log cabins to use as part of her border.

I love this little diamond/square design she added in the sashing between her blocks.

I think I 'spy' some of my scraps in this photo.

Here is her simple white yet elegant back. Her label is w-a-y down in the bottom right hand corner.....LOL...behind the caladium.

A close up of her floral binding.

And a wonderful finish with a great label. Thank you so much Jenny for sending me these photos so I could share!!!

EDIT:>>>ATTENTION>>>>>THIS IS NOT My Quilt.....it belongs to my friend JENNY>>>>>>

My Completed Halloween Swap Blocks

Here are my completed blocks I sent in for Janes Halloween swap.....THIS.ONE.I.LIKE...

Do these pumpkins and ghost look familiar Gail (no blog)????

Thanks for sending these cutie fabrics too Gail!!!

This is w-a-y cute too! Baby pumpkins and ghosts.

Ghosts and Candy Corn anyone????

This ghost and ghoul fabric is really vibrant in person.

Now this is what I'm talking about.......probable my favorite!!!

For my group I signed up to do BOO letters.....but I couldn't get the word to look right in the required 12 1/2" block size.......it needed something else.........SO......I drew out this ghost to sit atop the BOO.

I determined since this was a larger design I should paper piece it instead of free piecing it. I sewed up the design in 3 separate sections and assembled those 3 together...positioning the little hands where they would fit in the required size.

Since I drew out my own pattern there was A LOT of figuring out as I went along AND A LOT of RIPPING OUT! I think it was well worth it though...I think they turned out pretty cute!!!

Deana over at Dream Worthy Quilts sent me this block. She and I did a private swap with each other. Aren't the dangle-ee witchey legs just the Cutest?? Thanks Deana.....I love it!

**************NO JENNY*******I DIDN'T GET YOUR EMAIL********************

Leaders and Enders

This is my new Leader/Ender project. Gather up your strips and strings. Use anything less than an 1 1/2".

Cut some 5 1/2" paper squares, making sure what you use the ink will not rub or iron off onto your fabric. ( tip from Bonnie).

Take a light and a dark and lay them in the center...right sides together. Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Flip and press top piece down. Keep alternating light with dark strips until you reach the edge. Your strips should be long enough to extend 1/2" off the edge of your paper.

Turn square around and start sewing light/dark strips going the other way until............

You end up with this!!! Uh... mine doesn't look so light/dark....oh well, no bigg-ee! Now trim....leaving 1/4" of fabric extended from edge of paper. If you will keep a pile of these papers and your strips close at hand while you are working on other projects you will ALWAYS have fabric under your needle.....and if you do, you will be working on two projects at once and one day you will end up with one of THESE....A Basket Weave Quilt.....Bonnie has more detailed instructions for this project on her web page.

Ok....all of you who whine about paper piecing....just keep the ones you have sewn by your chair and lazily tear out the paper in the evenings while you are watching the 'boob' tube.

I learned about leaders and enders from Bonnie at Quiltville....this is such a great idea!

...LiL Sister....

.............It's been a year.........I still miss you just as much today.............!!!!!

Playing With 'Miss Bernie".......

Hey, how did those people in Switzerland who make these things know I had cows..????? Isn't this a HOOT!

I'm learning and checking out all her 'bells and whistles' today. Look at some of these wonderful stitches she allowed me to make!!

Oh my...look at these sweet little snowflakes. I'm thrilled they are a nice size and not tee-ni-nee!

This swirl or ocean wave stitch looks like real 'hand stitchery' to me....this one stitches out slow!

I used my BSR--Bernina Stitch Regulator here for some quilty practice runs.....Miss Bernie is not playing nice with me....the stitching is 'crap-o-la'!!!......Uh, well....maybe it's me???

My seem ripper slides easily underneath the large spaces on these seams...the seams are longer than when I use a basting stitch!! (Click to enlarge)....I thought this stitch regulator would make my stitches look better. I have practiced some just lowering my feed dogs and free motion....that worked better than this. I know.....it's probable ME!

Can you see what I'm talking about.....maybe I should get out my handbook....when all else fails.....read the instructions! I think maybe I need to adjust my stitch length.......I'll go try that and see what happens! .......MUST.LEARN.THIS.

......And Jenny (no blog) I'm waiting for that email picture of your scrappy log cabin...can't wait to see it!!

Confetti / Cathedral Stars.....

As you can see....I have more or less finished the top to my Confetti Stars. This is my version of Bonnie Hunter's Cathedral Stars Quilt she has instructions to over here. I made mine so colorful I thought it reminded me of that glittery confetti you can get at the party store. I'm thinking I will just add a border around using the same turquoise green. I decided I didn't want rows of various borders of straight lines going around it. I wanted the stars to stay the main focus.....and then I'm thinking the blue for the binding. The hot pink stars are bright enough without adding more of that color around the edge....I'm just saying.....

It will lay on the floor through out the evening so Mr. Brown Dirt and I can do our ritual we do every time I finish a top. We look at it....admire it....critique it....give our various opinions on how wild and colorful this one is. We will discuss which fabrics would be good for the back and....LOL....try to guess on how long it would take me to hand quilt it! I truly LOVE this one.....I'm thinking GD Shaylee's name might be on this one!!

AND GUESS WHAT??? I pulled another SNEAKY drawing for a giveaway. I selected these Halloween fabrics left over from my blocks I made for Jane's Spectacular Halloween Swap. I drew a name from this post....there were 43 comments made......I appreciate all my regulars for helping me out with your opinions.....coming to the rescue when I needed it. Oh how I love to be sneaky.......AND the winner is...#33.......BONNIE from CALAMITY JANES COTTAGE!!! Oh....and by the way.....she is having a giveaway.....go check it out before it's too late!!!
Congratulations Bonnie.....get with me so I can get your snail mail address.