Monday, January 1, 2018

Social/Sewcial

Tomato/tomato....

Happy start of a new year, both exciting and a bit daunting as one looks down the next stretch of 364 days. I hope you spent last night doing just what you pleased. I did. More on that in the second half of this post.

Social

I am super-excited, and pinch-me-I-can't-believe-I'm-doing-this and well, yeah, a wee bit nervous, to announce that I am one of the co-hosts for the 2018 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop.
Don't you just love the button Beth made? I sure do.  Some of you will know what this is all about, and well the title and sub-title pretty much explain it, duh.

However.

It is so sew so much more.  In the coming weeks we will be giving more details, but for now here are a few deets that need mentioning:

  • registration opens February 1
  • if you are a new or relatively new blogger, which means your blog is under 3 years old, then you are welcome to sign up
Them's the black and white deets.  Here are a few multi-coloured deets:
  • this is a super-duper fraga-listic...wait, mixed metaphors/adjectives... okay it's an unbelievably terrific enriching experience in many ways
  • meet/talk to/share with/help/get help from/learn from fellow and female quilt bloggers in QBL: Quilt Blogger Land.
  • opportunity to make lasting friendships, friendships not necessarily relegated to online only, I'll have you know
Those who read my blog know that Tish of Tish's Adventures in Wonderland and I have been friends since the 2015NQBH, and that we met IRL in 2016, though we'd FaceTimed and iMessaged a ton by then, but again we got together in 2017, and it feels like we are never that far apart. I met Beth IRL in 2016 as well, at a retreat hosted by another blogger on the 2015 NQBH, Julie of Pink Doxies (we've gotten together several times over the past couple of years, both in Ohio and in Florida). I found Cindy of Stitchin At Home on that 2015NQBH, and we got together this past spring, and plan to within the next couple of weeks again.

It's enriching, humbling, rewarding, and downright makes your heart beat rays of sunshine, finding quilter/blogger friends near and far. I have many many more friends, some bloggers, some not, some non-quilters, with whom I iMessage, text, Skype, FaceTime, email, all made through this blog and through that blog-changing experience of the NQBH.

So I hope you may consider joining us. 😊

Sewcial

It went something like this:
Tish:Do you have any New Year's plans?
Wait...I'll just show you the thread!

And so it was...well once we each did our Real Life stuff.  We have wanted to do the Sewcial Bee Sampler QAL from last year with Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell since it was on, but too many other commitments and squirrels meant it just was not possible. So! We made blocks 1 and 2 last night, each of us working simultaneously on another quilt project (you know how that goes) and chatted back and forth on iMessage, shared photos and posted to Instagram. This afternoon we made block 3.

Tish had faithfully downloaded each block as it was released; I got behind.  But not to worry; they are all still there and available for download! Don't you just love the generosity of quilters? I know I sure do. I am using one of my fabric club of the month fat quarter sets from 2016, Maureen Cracknell's 'Fleet and Flourish' which is fitting I think. I'm framing the blocks with 'Seasonal' by Judy Neimeyer, a very subtle print as you see, that goes perfectly. I'd considered using 'Paradiso' by Kate Spain which both Tish and I love (she's using her collection of it), but felt guilty compelled to crack open one of the 3 months of fat quarter clubs I received in 2016 as a Christmas gift.  Feel like joining us? Not a problem; we love company! We don't have a set-in-stone plan as to how we are going to work our way through the 25 blocks, just that we sew them at the same basic time. If we come to a more solid plan as to when we make a block, I will post it here and on IG.

Note that Bernie, of Needle and Foot, another blogger friend I met on the 2015NQBH, did do the Sewcial Bee Sampler, and she has a wonderful page of finished quilts you can find here.

I'm sure many of my readers know another special aspect of QBL: the major source of inspiration, guidance, projects and quilt alongs one can join, whether or not you blog. Splash of Colour QAL with Myra at Busy Hands Quilts was a QAL I did join in the last part of the year. I got my flimsy together today!
Outside in the lovely sunshine, crisp snow, cold wind and below average temps, as is most of Canada
Inside, straight-on shot:
Ah how I love this one! It is out of McCall's Quick Quilts June/July 2012 in case you'd like to make one. Squirrel!

Linking up
Main Crush Monday (two crushes within a few days - wow!)

15 comments:

  1. I am so excited for you and the soon to be new blogger group! I thoroughly enjoyed it last year (and may consider a return - as some have). You will do a great job! Funny to see that squirrel comment at the end of the blog - you crack me up! See you soon, Sandra!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is the start of a truly wonderful year for any new quilter blogger. You will breeze through it all with " Just like on a flying trapeze" coolness. Lovely blocks, and stitching together, what fun.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I really like that Splash of Color flimsy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much for being a co-host for the blog hop this year, Sandra. I am excited to meet the new bloggers and thankful for the time you are going to put into it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I had sew much fun during our little social sewing! I can't wait till we do it again! I am glad you agreed to host the hop this year too. We must remember, when we do not know what we are doing, we must give the appearance that we do...the rest will fall into place :) I hope we help the Tish's find their Sandra's!

    ReplyDelete
  6. New bloggers are going to have so much fun with the four of you! Love your Splash of colour!! Is it going to get some special quilting or an allover?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so excited that you are hosting the new blogger's hop! I look forward to meeting all of the new hoppers.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so excited about the four of you hosting this year! I'm planning on jumping in again this year. Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do love your blog and sense of humour Sandra. Love your black and white quilt. Would love the pattern, now to find it. US website does seem to have the old magazine, but shipping to CAD will be prohibitive. Looked for a PDF version of the pattern on the website, but with the new website, no success. What's the pattern called? Thanks. Happy creative 2018 to you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 1. So jealous of your close relationship with Tish. Insert angry face emoji here.
    2. That flimsy is beautiful. I can see making it with hot pink and orange colors.
    3. With you at the helm of affairs, I am sure it will be fun and successful blog hop.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, I think this blog hop is going to rock with you involved. Congrats. Now I can say I know another quilt celebrity. :) I love what you are doing with the sewcial bee sampler. It has a vintagey-modern vibe. Just think, not that many years ago, you never could have said you were sewing with a friend like that.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ooooh I love your splash of color quilt, nice!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congratulations!! How exciting for you. I downloaded all the blocks, but never played along in the moment. Maybe I should dig out some fabric and sew along with you guys. Love your Splash of Colour. Can't wait to see how you quilt it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I laughed when I read Preeti's comment. You have lots of friends in blogland you know! And like Preeti I think your quilt would look fan dabby dozy in hot pink and orange or lime green and some such.
    I can't think of better hosts, apart of course from all the previous hosts, for the Quilters Blog Hop. You three get on so well together and are such a good fit, that will be a fun group. And you know what, I have a list of pointers and observations from the last few years I would like to send you .... see ..... the telling you what to do starts now ...... only joking of course ...........

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congrats on hosting the New Quilt Bloggers Hop. Even an old blogger like me (definitely more than 3 years into it) leans stuff. Very fun new projects. Happy stitching in 2018!

    ReplyDelete

I wholeheartedly appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment, as they make my day! I answer every one by personal email. :-) Unless... you are a "no-reply" blogger, which can occur for a few reasons. You can get around that by writing out your email within your comment so that I can answer you.