Before you nod off...

Whew! Christmas is over for another year. Does anyone else feel like nodding off to sleep?
Before you do, Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts has been even busier than some and has a baby-quilt finish to show you. Hop on over, say hi and visit some of the other linkys. And to help you nod off after that, under whatever quilt it is that you have on hand, here's Uncle Eric to sing you a lullaby...

Give Me an O...

This week's host Vickey from Gingersnaps Quilts is sharing a special gift she made for her special man. Head on over, bring those finishes -- you know, those gifts you've been staying up late to finish -- and link up. Then we can ooh and aah over them and think "Gee, that's awesome and I want to make that. I haven't made nearly enough for Christmas this year so let's make one. Right. Now." Just me? "O" well (sorry, that's bad. In my defense, I'm working on 3 hours of sleep and a full day of shopping).

Two video clips for you this week. The first is Ohio related. You'll understand when you see what Vickey made.



The other is a feel good PR stunt for WestJet that I'm happy to pass along because I hope they'll do it again…preferably for one of my flights…if I actually flew anywhere…Enjoy!


And for those of you who celebrate Christmas, a heartfelt Merry Christmas! We hope Santa is good to you and yours. :)

Four Elephants Went Out to Play...

"Upon a spider's web one day. Ils s'amusaient tellement bien, qu'ils appelaient à un autre, viens!" If you are a child of the 80s or had a child during the 80s in Canada, chances are you are very familiar with the Sharon, Lois and Bram song, "One Elephant." The bilingual lyrics to this song are forever burned in my brain and became a bit of an ear worm while making the quilt I'm sharing today over at Quilt Matters.

Come on over, bring your finishes and see why I have babies elephants baby elephants on the brain.

Sunny Down Under

It's sunny down under so head on over and catch some rays as you check out the finishes at Quokka Quilts. But before you do, best make sure you have a good handle on the Australian accent with a helpful telecast from Adam Hills.


Now head on over to QuokkaQuilts and see what people have been up to!

TGIFF - It's Here!

Happy Friday, all! TGIFF! is here this week. I don't know how I missed this "treasure" before Halloween, but since it's just about holiday light season, I figure it's fair game to share.

 

 
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American friends!

TGIFF! Is On Over at Never Too Hot To Stitch

We're heading to Australia, where Lynne from Never Too Hot To Stitch is hosting this week's TGIFF! She's been busy knitting up a storm in response to the bushfires in the Blue Mountains. Grab your finishes and head on over!

From Never Too Hot to Stitch

TGIFF! Is Hot Over at Hot Pink Quilts

Even though the temperatures are frigid here in Ottawa right now, things are hot, hot, hot over at Hot Pink Quilts for this week's TGIFF! Grab your finishes, a nice beverage, and let's head over to Audrey's to celebrate the week that was!

In case you missed the post, here are the winners of our OctoberQuest 2 challenge!

And The Winners Are...

We are so impressed! You all finished 178 quilty goodness projects for OctoberQuest 2! It was wonderful to see the variety of styles and projects, from bags to table runners to full size quilts -- simply awesome. Congratulations all on your beautiful work and thank you for participating so enthusiastically in our annual challenge. We wish we could give each and everyone of you a prize!

A huge thank you to our sponsors -- Mad About Patchwork, Sew Sisters and Christa Quilts -- for offering up such great incentives.

Shall we find out who Ms. Random chose?

The winner of a $50 gift certificate from Mad About Patchwork is...

Tessa Marie!

The winner of the other $50 gift certificate from Mad About Patchwork is...

Ashley Hinton! Ashley, please email me (quiltmatters at gmail dot com) so we can get your prize. The email button on your blog requires people to sign up with about.com to send you an email. Thanks!

The winner of a $50 gift certificate from Sew Sisters is...

Fiona from Celtic Stitches!

The winner of the other $50 gift certificate from Sew Sisters is...

Cynthia Brunz!

The winner of the $25 gift certificate from Christa Quilts is...

Becky Thompson!

Congratulations to our winners! Thanks again to everyone for making OctoberQuest 2 so much fun!

Terrain Ginormous It's Finished Friday...

What's going on here? If you think it's maybe a spectacular finish for Quokka Quilts, head on over!


There MAY be some server issues happening over there, so just to make sure you don't miss out, you can linky up from here if you have a problem.

A Haunted TGIFF! Over at Quilt Matters

TGIFF! is on over at Quilt Matters this week. Better head on over there to link up before you get Hexed...or M-R does.

But before you go...I love the online quilting community and how kind and supportive quilters are. We are a sheltered lot, apparently. I'm often shocked at the comments I see sometimes on other types of sites so I got a good giggle from this clever response to the 'haters' out there. Enjoy! (There is some harsh language!)

Come out of the closet...

Come on out all you finishes!!! It's the last TGIFF for OctoberQuest and it's ON over at Quilter in the Closet!!!

TGIFF! Back Again at Quilt Matters

From www.sewingpartsonline.com

Surprise! TGIFF! is back at Quilt Matters this week.

We're officially into the second half of October. How goes those projects you are hoping to finish for OctoberQuest 2?

We still have two weeks, but it's time to step up the binge quilting, right?

Please remember to read the rules BEFORE linking up! Thanks!

OctoberQuest 2 Goes On Despite U.S. Government Shutdown

The U.S. Government shutdown has affected a lot of things, but not TGIFF! and OctoberQuest 2! I wonder if we'll have more participation this week? Any furloughed quilters out there?

TGIFF! is on over with M-R at Quilt Matters this week. Grab your finish and head on over. As we have prizes this month OctoberQuest 2, please be sure to read the rules before linking up!

Before you go though, here's a clip from the Newsroom. Although it's a fictional show, this segment about the current debt ceiling debate in the U.S. is not. It's compelling and worth a watch.

Getting Things Rolling for OctoberQuest 2 Over at Quokka Quilts

It's time! Grab your projects and head over to Quokka Quilts where Laura's getting OctoberQuest 2 rolling with her beautiful jewellery roll.

And on that note, I'm going to apologize right now for this ear worm..rolling, rolling, rolling:


Happy Friday!

It's OctoberQuest 2!

To celebrate our first TGIFF! anniversary last year, we held OctoberQuest (challenge, quilt fest - get it?), a month-long challenge to finish off your quilty projects. It was motivating. It was fun. We know it's taken you 11 months to recover from the hangover excitement.

TGIFF! turns two this month and don't you think we should celebrate with a sequel? Yes! And OctoberQuest 2 is bigger and better than the first!

Your quest, should you choose to accept it is to finish up those quilty projects, whether it's for the upcoming Bloggers Quilt Festival, the Finish-A-Long, Halloween, Thanksgiving or even, gasp, Christmas. Or finish up those WIPs, UFOs, charity quilts, or um, overdue gifts -- you decide!

The rules remain the same as last year:

1. Your quilty project must be completely finished (As much as we love celebrating quilt tops or completed blocks, they will not be eligible for the prizes).
2. You may enter more than one finish and even more than one finish each week. Just add a link for each finish to one of the linky parties. The linky parties will stay open until the end of the month.
3. Your blog post or photo on Flickr/Picasa must have a link back to the TGIFF! site and the particular party you are participating in. 
4. Link up your quilty finish in any of the TGIFF! linky parties this month:
• October 4 -  Laura @ Quokka Quilts
• October 11 - M-R @ Quilt Matters
• October 18 - Julia @ Julia's Spitzenkiste
• October 25 - Jen @ Quilter In The Closet
5. OctoberQuest will be open until October 31st at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winners will be picked via Ms. Random Number Generator on November 1st and notified via email. Please make sure we can contact you via email or we will blow the gift certificates on ourselves need to run Ms. Random again.

To get your quilting mojo going, we've got some sweet incentives for you. We warned you this was bigger and better!

1) Mad About Patchwork is giving a $50 gift certificate to two lucky participants! There's something for everyone too - Pam's offering a 10% off purchases for the month of October to all OctoberQuest participants -- just use TGIFF10 at checkout.


2) Sew Sisters Quilt Shop is giving a $50 gift certificate to two lucky participants! They too are offering 10% off purchases (excluding classes, clubs and block of the month programs) for the month of October to all OctoberQuest participants -- TGIFF10 at checkout!

3) Christa Quilts is giving a $25 gift certificate to one lucky participant! Christa is having a special fall blowout clearance sale - take an extra 10% off her clearance section when you use the code 13CLEARANCE at checkout.


Just think of what deliciousness you could get with one of these prizes?! So exciting! Thank you to our sponsors for offering these goodies!

So ramp up your "Let's Get 'Er Done!" attitude and start polishing off those projects to share starting this Friday at Quokka Quilts.

Happy OctoberQuest 2!

#TGIFF! Is On Over at #CherryValleyDesigns

It's that time of the week again #isitFridayyet?! Megan of #Cherry Valley Designs is our fabulous host for TGIFF! She's got a beautiful #quilt to share so grab your finish and head on over.

Wondering about all the #hashtags? My inspiration...

I am so easily amused!

TGIFF! Is On Over at Missy Mac Creations

Happy Friday all! It's time for TGIFF! We're over at Missy Mac Creations for this week's TGIFF! Grab your finish, a cup of something delicious and let's head over to see what Erin's been up to.

But first, let us ask ourselves this question: What does the fox say? Let's find out in this video...

Doing the Happy Dance Over at Quilt Matters

M-R's doing the happy dance over her Bright Stripes quilt. Grab your finishes, head on over to Quilt Matters to link up and join in the happy dance! Come on...you know you want to!

I could not decide...

Whether to use this picture

or this one

So you get both, and you get to go over to QuokkaQuilts to find out what it all means for this TGIFF..

Getting Campy over at Pippa's Patch

Pippa's sharing her Camp Stitchalot bag at this week's TGIFF! party! So grab your finish, some GORP (granola, oatmeal, raisins and peanuts) and let's head on over to Pippa's Patch. She also has a giveaway...

Please remember to link back to the party so your readers can find us.

To get you in the mood for this week's TGIFF!, here's a well-known camp song, Barges:

 

Well, that's the official version. These are the lyrics we sang at camp:

Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the (Guiders) counsellors having a fight,
Swiftly flows a pillow through the air,
And there goes someone's underwear.

Couns'llors, I would like to go with you,
I would like to have some privileges too,
Couns'llors, have you candy in your hold,
Do you fight with campers brave and bold?

Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the counsellors, What a sight!
With curlers in their hair and cold cream on their face,
They look like someone from outer space.

Okay, it might not be that kind of camp bag, but now aren't you curious? ;)

Happy Friday, all!

Thank Goodness It's Finished(?) Friday?

The very talented Em at Sewing By Moonlight is hosting TGIFF today. Hop on over and see what she's been up to!

One for the birds...

TGIFF is on at Amy's Crafty Shenanigans and Amy has provided us with this sneak-peek...
Hmm... is it a magpie, a crow or a blackbird? I don't know! And how many will there be??? According to folklore, the number of magpies you see determines your luck...

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.

To cover the bird species dilemma, I really can't go past The Counting Crows, Murder of One for this week's theme song. Have a listen while you pop over to Amy's to see!

Lullabye time...

Amanda at Bedtime Quilting is hosting this week's linky party. She said she's not sure what she's going to finish but as she has FIVE (yes, that's right folks, FIVE) kids, I'm amazed she's getting anything finished! With that many kids, and a name like Bedtime quilting, I think it's lullaby time...

A finish???

What IS this???!!! Is it a finish? Hop on over to Quokkaquilts NEW blog to see!

Hello Friday, Hello Kitty!!!

Hellloooo Friday! You've been a long time coming! TGIFF today is brought to you by Lynette, at What A Hoot Quilts. Head on over!

A Sparkly Friday

Break out the disco balls and get your glitter on for this Friday's finish. The party is ON dahling! so head on over to Mollisparkles.com and say hi to Josh and Molli and what is sure to be an absolutely FABULOUS finish! 

Remember, if you link up, remember your manners and say hi to your host(ess) and the other party peeps!

Curtains Up for TGIFF! Over at Quilt Matters

From www.telegraph.co.uk

Happy Friday/Almost Friday, all! TGIFF! is on over at Quilt Matters this week. Let's just say that I'm very happy to have this monkey of a WIP off my back. ;) Come on over, link up and let's celebrate the week that was!

TGIFF goes to Gotham City...

Life is hard in Gotham City. "It's the kind of town that whispers "baby" while it's picking your pockets, that promises the world and delivers the gutter, or vice versa, and puts out your lights with a kiss, or a bullet, then forgets your name before dawn."

Grant Morrison - The Clown at Midnight

"This is a story about Mercy. It's also about revenge... justice... and fighting for yourself." To read it, you need to go to QuokkaQuilts for TGIFF...

It's a Super TGIFF! Over at Blossom Heart Quilts

From businessinsider.com

There may or may not be a little of this Super guy...

Okay, it's not that kind of Super TGIFF!, but I think you'll agree that our host Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts has some super finishes to share with us this week.

Head on over, link up your own recent finish and enjoy the other finishes! Please remember to link back to the party so your readers can find us.

Have a great weekend!

TGIFF! Is Hot Over at Thirteen in '13!

Photo by Helen H. Richardson/Denver Post)

Black Forest, Colorado has been a hot spot these past few weeks literally as thousands of acres of forest burned.

Undaunted, Aunt Marti at Thirteen in '13! gives us an update on efforts to put out the fires and shares not one, but two beautiful quilts -- a Chevron and a Ring Toss! Head on over, link up and spread some good cheer 'cause it's TGIFF!

TGIFF! is Going Hard Core Over at Quilt Matters

My quilting skills were put to the test on my quilt for this week's TGIFF!, but I showed it who's hardcore. Come check it out, link up your recent finish(es) and let's celebrate the week that was.

Our hobby is not just about providing warmth, love and comfort to our loved ones, is it? It also amuses them, as these videos show:



 

Happy TGIFF, all!

Brainteasing Friday

A little quiz for you today.... 

What is the link between this song:

this... 

this

and this song?
 

Head on over to QuokkaQuilts for TGIFF to find out!

And they danced by the light of the moon...

Wooohoo! It's Friday!!! And we're off to visit our best friend Lucy over at Charm About You. But first,  a little bit of nonsense to get ready for Lucy's finish. Do you know this Edward Lear poem?

Owl and Pussycat by Helen Godden

I

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea     In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money,     Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above,     And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,       What a beautiful Pussy you are,           You are,           You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

II

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!     How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried:     But what shall we do for a ring?' They sailed away, for a year and a day,     To the land where the Bong-tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood     With a ring at the end of his nose,           His nose,           His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose.

III

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling     Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' So they took it away, and were married next day     By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince,     Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,     They danced by the light of the moon,           The moon,           The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.

M-R is so much cooler than me. She suggested this song - Chasing Owl's Wedding Song. I think you've picked up the theme of Lucy's quilt by now. So head on over to Charm About You for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday!

Sew Hungry for TGIFF!

I Spy some TGIFF! goodness over with Marla at Sew Hungry this week. Check it out, spy some other lovelies and let's celebrate the week that was!

And to get you in the mood for a great time, here are some clips of Just for Laughs Gags...I think the bicycle race one is my favourite. :)

   

Flutterby Friday

Is it Friday yet? Not quite but we're impatient for it! And so is MsMidge who is respecting the Canadian half of this blog (even while offending fellow Australian ears) by giving us Mariah Carey's butterfly as the soundtrack to her finish... Check out TGIFF at MsMidge's place... The party's on!!!

TGIFF! Is On Over at Quilt Matters...Because I Said So

This week's TGIFF! celebration is over at Quilt Matters where I'm sharing my Seeing The Forest quilt. It's Mother's Day this weekend here in Canada, the U.S. and many other countries around the world. In honour of Mother's Day, I thought I'd share this 'classic' because sometimes when you are in the throes of parenting, it's hard to see the forest for the trees (like how I did that?). :D



I hope you moms out there get some time to yourselves this weekend, perhaps even some quilting time! :)

Tripping out for TGIFF

We're going on a trip. It's going to be a bit psychedelic. (No, not THAT kind of trip...). TGIFF this week is being hosted by McKenna of TextileDiva  who has a psychedelic 70s finish to show off. It looks a little bit like this... 

No, ok, really, it looks like this:

Be sure to check out McKenna's post for the whole story and visit some of the linkys! Thank goodness it's Friday!!! 

Things Are Blooming Over at What A Hoot!

Lynette at What A Hoot! is hosting this week's TGIFF! Head on over, link up a recent finish and enjoy the Spring inspiration of Lynette's beautiful quilt.

From http://dryicons.com.

Call for hosts

Would you like to host at TGIFF linky party? It's time to organise the next round. If you would like to be the host(ess) with the most(ess), sign yourself up here.

Snowballs away

Spring may have sprung for some, but it's snowballs galore for TGIFF this week Erin has used the most BEAUTIFUL lines of fabric - check it out over at Sew At Home Mummy!

Brrr! It's a Chilly TGIFF! Over at Quilt Matters

This week's TGIFF! is over at Quilt Matters with M-R. She's trying to warm up with her Su{Brrr}nova as her area is hit with another (last please!?) snowstorm of the season.

And today's soundtrack is brought to you by Oasis...


Have a great weekend all!

Calling me home.... to Quokka Quilts

So this week's finish is called Calling Me Home. There are a dozen songs called 'Calling me home', but I couldn't get Country Roads and The Boxer out of my head.  From The Boxer, by Simon and Garfunkel:

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York city winters
Aren't bleeding me
Leading me
Going home

The words aren't quite right in either song for the quilt, and nor is the geography, but they are both about going home - or wanting to... But Country Roads is closer, so head on over to Quokka Quilts for this very special TGIFF...