Rachel is having a Giveaway...

Run... don't walk over to P.S. I Quilt because Rachel is having a giveaway. It's a $50 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop. The giveaway ends August 1st when Rachel will pick a winner.

RAGBRAI...

We spent last week in Iowa so the husb and son could ride RAGBRAI. This year, the 37th Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, had a 442-mile route through the southern half of the state, with overnight stops in Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington.

The team hitched a ride on the Bud Bus from Coralville, IA to the beginning of the route in Council Bluffs. This was their ride...

And here is Team Spare Tire leaving together on the first day...

The team takes a break {Charlie is the one in back with the colored jersey}.

Now, if you are not familiar with this ride... or Iowa... you may be imagining this...

or this...

but most of the time, with 10,000 registered riders... it is more like this...

For more pictures and info, check out the RAGBRAI site.

Giant Pincushion Giveaway...

Have you seen the new Giant Pincushion tutorial on Moda Bake Shop by Julie of
Jaybird Quilts?

Well, she is giving 2 giant pincushions away on her blog!!!

If you'd like to enter to win,
first check out the MBS blog,
then head over to Jaybird Quilts.

Julie will leave it open until midnight EST on Sunday night...
and on Monday morning, pick the two winners!

Hurry and good luck!

Quilt Camp Project...

Inspired by this ...

{Amy at Diary of a Quilter provides lots of inspiration!}

I took this...

and made this...

but not without the help of this...

{Rosie}

Theresa made one too!

What's up @ Quilt Camp...

We had SEW MUCH FUN yesterday at Quilt Camp. Lots of laughing, eating, and {somehow} a fair amount of productivity!

Here is a peek of what went on...

Dawn brought along this quilt that she made and quilted. The pattern is Jelly Bellies by Miss Rosie. Dawn has a new long arm and I'd say she has the touch. I am not sure if you can see the quilting. Jackie decided we were calling this the "Rooster Head" quilting pattern. {Snort::Snort}

Nancy had this top complete. Wow, I had to borrow the pattern for this one in the June/July 2009 edition of Quilt magazine.

Sally was putting a border on this Drunkard's Path. All of these fabrics were hand dyed by Mary. {YUMMY!} I don't do curved piecing and I have tons of respect for those that do! Some day I just might get out of my box... literally.

Jackie put together these Chex Mix blocks from Atkinson Designs. Since I am a nine patch kind of girl I LOVE THIS QUILT. I believe I have a kit for it at home - purchased at the Chicago quilt show in the early 2000s. {Vintage?}

Speaking of vintage... Jackie purchased these antique applique blocks at the Chicago quilt show some time ago. She made the postage stamp blocks as setting blocks and whipped this together yesterday. Couldn't you just die?

Here is a closer look at one of the ladies.

Diedre put together this top. Again... I LOVE THIS! It will have an applique border when it is done. Early in our friendship I visited Diedre's home. She had a huge stack of unquilted tops and the biggest stash I'd ever seen. I have since caught on... and Diedre validates me! I love her for that!

Here is Mary's version of the same quilt. Mary spent a good part of the day cutting out a quilt that she will take on the On Square Short retreat at Fern Hill Retreat in New Glarus.

More pictures tomorrow... maybe by that time Theresa and I will have something done.

Summertime and the Living is Easy...

Where does the time go? I realize I haven't done a good job blogging over the summer.

{SORRY}

The good news is that I am attending Theresa's Quilt Camp today - an annual event held by the One Square Short quilt group. This day promises to bring hilarity, good food, and good stories {stories I can repeat because we will not be consuming loads of cocktails} with pictures to share. Theresa and I have already made 2 trips to Common Threads in prep for today! No, Mark Lipinski, you can never have too much fabric!

Hey Midwesterners... isn't this weather fab! Can it really be July???

More later... I promise,

Another Great Giveaway...

If you jump over to The Fabric Shopper, you can leave a comment to enter a giveaway for a Pretty Ditty Apron pattern and 3 yards of fabric!

The giveaway ends Sunday, July 17 at midnight CDT... so run, don't walk!

Giveaway news...

Amy @ Kati Cupcake is having an Amy Butler :: Quilt Soup Kit Giveaway.

Isn't it yummy!!!! Run over to Amy's blog and leave a comment to be in the running. Tell her you gabbed with Anne over the picket fence and I sent you.

Nancy @ Go Make Your Bed is having a giveaway too!

More yumminess! And she'll have 3 winners! Go see Nancy!

It is raining here so I guess the weeds in my garden get to live another day. The husb is on call and Prince Charles is watching the Tour de France. Sewing room... here I come!

He's Ba-ack...

My boy has returned from Germany!

Here is Charlie (right) at Ohare with his buddy Casey.

I am pretty sure he had the time of his life visiting Pettstadt, Bamberg, Berlin, Munich and Nuremberg.

And I get the feeling he really loved his host family. Here he is with Lisa.

And the rest of the family :: Sarah, Mom, and Dad.

Thank you Schneider family for taking such good care of my boy!

The Polish Pottery Shoppe...

Have I shared my love for dish & dinnerware with you?

Ohhh... I've got it bad.

While at the lake last week, Nancy and I stumbled upon

the Polish Pottery Shoppe.

Look what I bought.

Photography aside... aren't these two little pieces 2 die 4??

The pitcher and ramekin are from the traditional collection of Boleslawiec stoneware.

Nancy even indulged and bought a very cute gravy boat. I was proud of her. She usually is so practical she doesn't go for this stuff, but she is a lover of all things blue. I think she may have even started a collection.

PS Prince Charles returns to the US tomorrow!

Bee in my Bonnet Giveaway...

Lori at A Bee in my Bonnet having a fun giveaway. I have been reading Lori's blog since I started blogging. A link to her site is on my blogroll and now I have a cute button to get there too. She has fanstastic inspirational posts and she is a pattern designer. Lori's applique is unbelievable.

Check out this Give Away!

SEVEN flour sack towels

24 DMC Floss

A CUTE little needle assortment

your choice of an iron on transfer

Go see Lori!