Pillowcases for Friends

Good Evening All

I have watched the videos for making pillowcases quite a few times but never had the nerve to make one on my own.  Not sure if I mentioned this before - I HATE sewing but LOVE to quilt.  Making pillowcases is sewing to me.  So I always shed away from it.  But then I was able to watch a friend make two at a retreat I went on recently.  You should check out Rhonda's Retreats.  They are great.  She is the best hostess.

A friend from an on-line swap requested pillowcases.  I thought that this would be a good time to try to make some.  And I bought the cutest fabric for the pillowcases at a quilting store on the same retreat.  It was a great experience, now I want to make more.  I think the next one that I will make will be for my little guy.   He's always asking me to make him something when we go to the quilting stores.

Here are the ones that I made:

This last one says "Quilters share a Common Thread".  I love it.  Now I wish I purchased more fabric to make one for myself.

Block of the Month Swap - Oct

Good Morning
I wanted to post a picture of a crumb block that I made for the Block of the Month - October Swap that I joined on Quilting Board.  It was lots of fun and I learned a bit about stash busting while making it.

The competed block is 12.5 inches unfinished.  And I believe the 4 crumb blocks are 4.5 inches finished.

I have been reading, and reading, and reading about Stash Busting.  I even started a system that I'm hoping will work.  It took me about 3 weeks to get my stash cut and stored based largely on Bonnie Hunter's system.  Of course I tweaked things a bit, but doesn't everyone?  LOL  I don't have a lot of variety in my stash yet, but that means I just have to keep working.  Oh right, Playing.  ;).

So when I made my first 4.5 block, I tried using a paper foundation.  And HATED it.  I couldn't image having to make 3 more of these.  I was quite upset too when I thought about all the time that I spent creating the stash storage.  And thinking I can't stand this.  Oh what was I to do.  I had to make a block and my partner loves scrappy.  I decided to give it one more try - this time without the paper foundation.  Happy Dance, Happy Dance.  I loved it.  It was so much easier and the 3 other blocks came together wonderfully.  I'm really happy with the block and with making crumb blocks.

As I had my crumb container beside my sewing machine, I decided to leave it there.  I now am using the crumbs for my leaders and enders.  I almost have another 5 inch square ready to go.

Has anyone else made a crumb block?  What are your feelings about making them?  Do you Love it or Hate it?

Just downloaded the Edmonton Regional Pictures

Wow, I can't believe its taken me more that 2 months to download and look through the pictures from the Edmonton Regionals.  Time sure flies!  LOL
I'm gonna post some of my favorite pictures:

What an amount of samples that were there.  Amazing to see all the different cards we can make.