Supernova Friendship Block Swap winners!

At long last, Stephanie and I can announce the winners of the prize package for our Supernova Friendship Block Swap! Congrats to Kris Jarchow, who blogs at Sew Sunshine, and Jen Van Dyke, who blogs at Jennifer Under the Juniper Tree. Take a look at their beautiful quilts. Here’s Kris’ version:

Here’s Jen’s:

And the back of Jen’s, which is just as great as the front:

Lee Heinrich, who blogs at Freshly Pieced, is the Supernova block designer and the judge for our contest. Here’s what she had to say:

“I love their scrappy saturated color scheme, and the back of Jen’s quilt is another quilt unto itself! : ) It was a tough choice – I also loved the hand-quilting on Ashlee Schnell’s and Kate Yates’ quilts. I also thought the quilting on Maya Toscani’s and Cathy Ledbetter’s pair of quilts was amazing! Everybody did a great job, and I can’t thank them all enough for participating! It’s been so much fun seeing so many Supernova blocks these past few months.”

It’s really amazing to think of what started as a simple email exchange between Stephanie and myself has turned into some lovely friendships for so many of our participants. Several of you have sent us incredibly touching emails about the relationships you formed, and Stephanie and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Kris and Jen will each receive a prize package (thanks to Stephanie for taking care of the mailing) including a signed copy of the book, Vintage Quilt Revival, by Katie Clark Blakesely, Lee Heinrich and Faith Jones; a gift certificate to Green Fairy Quilts and some goodies from QuiltCon!

Kris and Jen aren’t the only ones to get a prize, though. When I was in Austin for QuiltCon last month, I got to meet and stay with Stephanie in person. It was a great time and a lovely way to be able to deepen our friendship. And look, she even had another Supernova block for me:

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Supernova Friendship Block Swap. If you’d like to see more photos, visit the Supernova Friendship Block Swap group on Flickr.

XOXO,
Sandra

 

 

 

 

 

Supernova update

I have some good news for any Supernova Friendship Block Swap participants out there: Stephanie (Late Night Quilter) and I have extended the deadline for entering your quilt until Feb. 14!

Too many of you expressed you’d like more time, and since neither she nor I have our quilts finished, it seemed like the least we could do.

Also, you don’t have to enter as partners to win. This way, if you get your quilt finished, but your partner hasn’t, you’re still eligible for the prize. (Sadly, your partner will not, however).

If you haven’t checked it lately, take a look at the Supernova Friendship Block Swap FlickR group. There’s lots of great eye candy there (for those not in the swap); it’s the place to upload your photos by midnight, Feb. 14, 2015.  Here are some guidelines for posting:

1. When you upload, please name your entry “Your Name: Finished Quilt entry” (e.g., Sandra Louise: Finished Quilt Entry). Please write the word single or pair, to note whether you are entering alone (if your partner didn’t finish) or together.
2. In the description, please include your partner’s name, your fabric and any other pertinent info you’d like Lee to be aware of when she judges.
3. You can enter more than one photo, e.g., if you want her to see the back or a different angle.
4. Please upload a maximum of three photos, each one labeled with your name and the words finished quilt entry.
5. If both you and your partner have finished your quilts, and your entry pair is selected, you will both win a prize package. There may be some variations in the prize package due to availability, but they will both have approximately the same value.

Entries dated before the deadline of Feb. 14 (midnight EST) will be eligible for the following prize package:

• Copy of the book, “Vintage Quilt Revival,” by Katie Clark Blakesly, Lee Heinrich (designer of our Supernova block) and Faith Jones
• Copy of the book, “Quilting Wide Open Spaces,” by Judi Madsen
• $50 gift certificate from Green Fairy Quilts (Note: if you live overseas you will receive a $50 gift certificate to a fabric store of your choice)
• An assortment of fat quarters and fabulous notions

Both Stephanie and I have been a little overwhelmed by life, work and the holidays, so neither of us has our quilt tops finished. I know she’s working on her remaining blocks for me, and I can’t wait to see them.

XOXO,
Sandra

Supernova Friendship Block Swap: the final question

We are finally at the last question for The Supernova Friendship Block Swap. Stephanie and I hope that all our participants have not only enjoyed making their quilts,  but have also made new quilting friends for life.

Friendship is definitely a blessing so this last question seems like an appropriate way to end our swap:

What are the unexpected blessings in your life? What are the things that maybe you at first thought were a terrible twist of fate, but then turned into a lovely gift?

For me, the twist on this question is thinking about the unexpected. Certainly, I have many things for which I am very grateful and blessed, but something bad that turned out not only well, but became a blessing? I’ll definitely have to give that some thought.

In the meantime, I’m working on my next tutorial — an easy lap-sized quilt that you can make in time for the holidays!

XOXO,
Sandra

 

Supernova Friendship Block Swap: Question 4

The other day Stephanie and I were on the phone chatting when we realized that we’d both whizzed by the August deadline and getting question number four to you for our Supernova Friendship Block Swap.

We both hope this is better late than never. Here goes:

Forgiveness is an integral part of any healthy relationship. What does forgives mean to you? Share with your partner an example of a time you had to forgive someone — or someone had to forgive you — and how it strengthened the relationship.

Seems kind of an appropriate question about now, doesn’t it?

Since I had a bit of free time this weekend, I decided to take the fabrics I was going to use as a redo of block number one and use them for number three instead. I’ll go with my original idea for the first block, since if I don’t like it with the rest of the blocks once I have them, I can always throw it on the back.

Gotta say, I love how using a pale color around the center square creates a kind of halo effect from a distance. Here’s a closeup:

I’m just about done with the redo of block one, and putting what I have so far on the design wall, it’s pretty exciting. I’d show you now, but a cranberry red room with pale gold curtains does not for a good photo make. One of these days I’ll get around to painting it.

XOXO,
Sandra

 

The one where I redo Supernova block #1

I shared with you in my last post how I really wasn’t crazy about the first block I made for the Supernova Friendship Block Swap Stephanie and I are hosting. it was OK, I just knew I could do better.

Mine’s the one on the right. I’m using this photo that Stephanie took since I didn’t even bother get a photo of it before I sent it in the mail!

Thankfully, she likes it just fine, and I think it works with her cooler color palette. We’re using Splendor 1920 by Bari J along with pieces from our stash.

I’m just being a picky perfectionist, and I’m glad to have her blessing on the redo.

I didn’t veer too far from the original, I just switched one palette for another. The geometric print will still be on the outside, and the yellow will be next to it. The centers will have the birds and feathers, and the green will be in the very middle.

I just need two more fabrics and I can start sewing. Wish me luck!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

XOXO,
Sandra

Finished: Supernova block #2 and my cotton infinity scarf

I have two finishes to share with you today, my second Supernova block and the cotton infinity scarf from last week. Let’s start with the block:

I decided to go a little bolder this time; I also didn’t use Lee’s directions for choosing fabrics but just picked them as I sewed. I’m much happier with the result than with my first block. In fact, since I hadn’t made a duplicate of that block before I sent the first one off to Stephanie, with her blessing I’m going to redo the first one for my quilt.

What’s really cool about the block above is how when you look at it from a distance, the pale yellow fabric creates a kind of halo around the darker colors. I got the idea from some the photos on our Supernova Flickr page.

So, are you ready for the question for August? This time, Stephanie did the honors, and it’s all about making memories:

During this last month of the summer, your assignment is to sit back and think for a minute. Think about your childhood summers …

Our memories make us who we are. They provide us with a sense of self. This month, Stephanie and I invite you to write about your best childhood memories and share them with your partner in the Supernova Friendship Block Swap. You can share one, you can share five — whatever you’re inspired to do.

When you share a memory with a trusted friend, it’s like giving a little gift, a small piece of yourself. These are the gifts that truly allow friendships to deepen and flourish.

I hope you’re enjoying the beautiful blocks and the friendship you’re developing with your partner. Don’t forget to post photos on our Flickr page. Even if you’re not participating in the swap, there’s some wonderful quilty eye-candy to enjoy!

For the scarf, I powered through the rest of the weird shiny polyester string-type yarn I had so I could finish. Let me just say I was glad it was long enough by the time I decided I couldn’t take any more of the yarn’s splitting and slipping. I didn’t even finish the entire skein. I. was. done.

On the far left is the Rowan cotton that I began the project with (and that makes up the back side), followed by another Rowan cotton in a slightly lighter weight. Next is the bouclé, and last is the string stuff.

One of the other things I didn’t like about the string stuff was that it showed even the slightest problem in tension. Since cotton doesn’t have the same stretch and bounce that wool does, which is what I typically knit with, this meant there were more issues than I would have liked.

Still, when it’s double-wrapped around my neck, no one will notice.

I mentioned last time that I didn’t anticipate the edges curling knitting stockinette stitch in cotton, but it turned into a happy mistake and make it much easier to hide the ends that I wove in.

I love it when that happens!

XOXO,
Sandra

 

 

Random things …

I’m working on a few random projects this holiday weekend, which hopefully will lead to some finishes soon. I’ll let the photos tell the story this week.

First up, I made the top to my Michael Miller Challenge quilt. It’s my first design, and I’m really happy with how it’s turned out. (Though I’m befuddled as to why the center square looks a little skewed in this photo since I straightened it with a level on my design wall and set the camera on a flat surface before I took the shot.)

Here’s a close-up of the center:

To get ready to quilt, I’m making these practice sandwiches from old, cheap quilt fabric.

Last, but not least, I’m also almost done with my Atomic Apps quilt. Only two more block rows left! (Why didn’t anyone warn me how time consuming straight-line quilting is?)

And, if I recall correctly, I think there’s something called a Supernova Friendship Block Swap that I’d better get cracking on before the July 15 deadline!

Happy belated July 4 and July 1 (to my Canadian friends)!

XOXO,
Sandra

 

Supernova Friendship Block Swap: month two

In addition to the beautiful block on the left, it was great fun to get Stephanie‘s list of 25 things from our Supernova Friendship Block Swap. Here are a few things I learned about her:

1. In addition to her husband and four children, she’s got quite a menagerie: a bulldog-beagle mix, two bunnies, two birds and a fish named Bluebonnet. Wow. That’s a lot of poop to clean up.
2. For her doctoral dissertation in psychology, she researched the quality of life of pediatric brain tumor patients. Stephanie developed a new method of measurement for this during the patients’ weekly visits. Very impressive!
3. Her go-to snack is Cheerios (without milk). Love that.

It was so great to finally get the list, because it was pretty tough for both of us not to ask each other questions that first month as we emailed, texted and talked multiple times.

I’d also love to learn more about our other partners. I hope you’ll share one or two things from your own list in the comments section below. If you haven’t checked out the great blocks made by our swap partners or posted pictures of your blocks to share with everyone participating, you can do so at any of the following links:

FlickR: https://www.flickr.com/groups/2665289@N23/
Instagram: #supernovaswap

You can also post to the Facebook page Stephanie and a couple of her quilty friends started, the Late Night Quilters’ Club.

The next block is due July 15, along with the next mystery question:

Barring any physical or mental limitations, or personal obligations such as jobs and/or children, if you could hold any occupation, have any talent or live any lifestyle, what would you choose and why?

Would you be a great artist, an Olympic athlete or a neurosurgeon? The winner of “American Idol” or a Tibetan monk living in a remote region of the Himalayas? The possibilities are limitless. Share with your partner what is is about that talent, profession or way of life that inspires you. Are there any elements within your choice that you could bring into your life
right now?

I’m so looking forward to seeing the next set of blocks and learning more about everyone, but first, I’ve got to stop procrastinating and get to work on mine!

XOXO,
Sandra

Supernova block swap: the first block

After way too much procrastination, I finally finished my first block for my new friend Stephanie and our Supernova Friendship Block Swap. While there were a few bumps and twists and mutterings of not very nice words, I’m actually pretty pleased with how it turned out.

I only gave Steph a few sneak peaks via my Instagram page, starting with this:

But here’s the full view: (we’re using Splendor 1920 by Bari J, along with items from our own stash. The background is Art Gallery solids in ivory.)

And another:

Thanks to reading Jeni Baker’s blog, I learned that it’s important to spoil your swap partner a little, so I made Steph a little table runner out of leftovers from my plus sign quilt.

One of these days I really have to finish that thing …

Here’s the block that Stephanie sent me — isn’t it wonderful?

In addition to her list of 25 things I didn’t know about her, Steph also sent me these really cute notepads with owls on them:

I’ll reveal some of her 25 things soon (with her permission, of course), but I want to get to the thing I know at least a few of you are waiting for — who won the free Apps pattern?

Jessica Daniele, it’s you! I’ll send you your pdf pattern in just a bit. I hope you’ll send me a photo of your finished Apps quilt.

Thanks again to all of you for entering and for those of you who’ve joined Stephanie and I on our block swap.

XOXO,
Sandra