Winner!

So I did the number generator thingy.  I was scared but it was easy.

It picked #2

That's Darlene from Quilting Daze.

Congratulations!

Thanks to all who entered. 

OH MY GOSH!

This must only happen to me!! 

 OH MY Gosh

.Let me start at the beginning.

Last night I began paper piecing a little Halloween witch.  I have looked on-line for a picture and can't find one so look in this photo and you will see the pattern picture.  

See it up there in the right corner?

OK, so it took me (and I am NOT exaggerating, an hour+) to do that one little section that looks like the witch's hat -it's below the pattern picture in the photo above. 

I sewed backwards, I ripped out, I sewed correctly but instead of trimming off to 1/4" I forgot to fold back the just added piece and cut the whole thing off and was just left w/seam allowance.  I ripped it off and did it again.  I sewed a piece on correctly-going in the right direction (yeah) but then when I'd press it out I would only have a smidgen of a seam allowance at the outside of the block or where another piece would align. 

Have I completely lost you?  I know I've lost me.

So that picture above was how I left my sewing table last night.  

And no I did not sit and drink heavily the rest of the evening :). 

This morning was a new day, all fresh and lovely.  I have (had) a smile on my face.  The plan, which I thought was a dang good one, was to sew this sweet little block together and take pictures as I go so I could  post about it.  

This is the first seam I sewed. It is wrong. The orange should be on the left side.  I ripped it out.

Now it is correct. The orange piece (#1) is on the left and the black piece (#2) is on the right.

What I should tell you is I thought about this seriously... before I sewed it.  I was sure I was right-and was FLOORED when  it wasn't.

I think this picture is OK-just so proud I got it together.

 :)

And now for the big reveal~

TA DA!!  

...wait do you see it??? 

And I'm not talking about the fact that the edges aren't squared-I was just going to square it up as best I could.

Yes, is she an anorexic witch?....

 or could it be that the triangle piece under her hat (behind her arm) SHOULD BE BLACK!!!

Oh for goodness sake.  

I'm frustrated.  But not too badly. I KNOW I am directionally challenged and I'm actually amazed that it looks like a witch at all.

 So what to do, what to do...well I am going to un-sew some more and try to salvage this.  

I am not looking forward to it but I will try.  

BECAUSE:  

IT CAN'T BE THIS DIFFICULT!

I can not be this...what?

Slow, bad, dumb, challenged?  

I don't want to paper-piece a bed size quilt, I don't want to paper piece ever again.  But I want to finish this little project and be happy with it and be able to say. 

 "Yes, I can paper piece but it's not my cuppa tea."

I WANT to learn this technique.  But I want it to be easy!  

Aha, there it is.  

I don't want to be challenged today, am I in a rut? Am I too comfortable? Is that a bad thing or a good thing?  Hmmm, a lot to think, food for thought as they say

....hmmm.

And speaking of food, as I was getting ready to sew that little witchy-poo together, Libby called.  Would I be able to have lunch with her and her sweet little granddaughter and then travel to a quilt shop for a quick fabric fix? I most certainly would!

****************************

Here is a picture of the four (yep 4!) Quilts for Kids quilt pieces I cut out last night.  

Mindless sewing-it's a good thing.

  

But  a sewing challenge is good too. 

Thanks for listening. 

I'm going to have a little giveaway and no it will not be that little witch! :)

What's it going to be?

One of my little jack's quilts....a finished one tho' I promise!

Leave me a comment and I'll draw a name  on Saturday, if I remember. And if I forget, I'll do it on Sunday...

Fun times, fun times. Life is Good! 

Edit: Drawing is now closed. 

Yesterday when I went to the mailbox...

...there was a package in with the bills. 

It was from Kathy!  In celebration of her 500th post she had a give away and I was one of 4 lucky winners. The little mini flag made by Kathy herself!  It is beautiful.  The workmanship is exquisite.  And you really have to see it in person to appreciate it. It is perfect.

I'm so happy to have it to remind me of Kathy and to help decorate my home.  I spent a little while last night trying to decide where it would look best. 

Right now it's here:

The photo is me and our oldest son Paul. At the Marine Corp Birthday ball in 2005.

I've looked at the little flag several times today and it makes me smile and think of Kathy who  I'm happy to have met through blogging and all the rest  of you who I've come to share so much of my days with.  My family knows about you all too since I tell them what's going on from your posts, even if it's just about the weather. Like Jeanne having something like 12 feet of snow in Big Bear Lake this past winter (Paul would like to move there) or Shannon's pictures of Tennessee (ah, Paul wants to live there too) or learning about chickens and the fun of grandkids and the fact that her husband and mine are like almost the same person--it's sorta freaky-- from Judy (Paul would move to Washington state too!-but I couldn't take the rain, sorry Judy!)

So again, thank you to Kathy for the wonderful keepsake that I will cherish forever.