A Little Patchwork

This is a little patchwork I started to work on this weekend. It is an interesting project for several reasons: each square measures only 1 inch, I have never done piecing that small, but the most important aspect about this project is that it is not going to be for me. I joined the Pretty Little Pouch Swap (my very first swap!) and this is part of what will become the pouch for my partner. I'm quite pleased with the way that is looking. I just hope that my partner likes it. I can't wait to send it to her and share with you more details about the finished pouch.

*Linking up to Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me in 2013 link up and Plum and June's Monday Link Up*

I hope you have a lovely week,

Martha

Cross Stitching

I started a cross stitch project! Can you tell I'm excited? Cross stitching has been in my mind for a while, but I always seemed to find an excuse to postpone it. Well, it seems like my dad read my mind and decided to give the encouragement that I needed. He just came back from a trip to Mexico and brought me several cross stitch pattern booklets and cross stitch fabric. I was so delighted with my present that on Saturday I took out my embroidery flosses, organized them (finally!) and started stitching. I'm very slow, but it is really fun to the see pattern come together as you stitch every single little cross. At the speed that I'm going it looks like it is going to be a long term project, but it gives me something to do when I'm watching TV with my husband. 

I hope you have a lovely week.

*Linking up to Fabric Mutt for the Let's Get Acquainted Monday Link Up from Plum and June and Sew Cute Tuesda at Better off Thread*

Martha.

Reaching For The Stars

Hello friends! I hope you had a wonderful time during the holiday season. I had a good time; Holidays  are still bitter-sweet for me. During this time is when I miss my mom the most, but being with family and friends makes it a little easier to get by. I'm really excited about 2013; last year was a very good year. I met many wonderful and talented bloggers, I got my sewing machine and started quilting. I hope to this year learn more things about this wonderful art that is quilting and hopefully by the end of this year have finally conquered my fear to free motion quilting.

I kept pretty busy during the Holidays and made handmade presents for some of my friends and family, but for some reason I felt like I had been away from my sewing machine for a very long time... and today we finally reunited again. I started a new quilt. I've been dreaming about a star quilt ever since I started quilting and I thought it should be my first project of the year. I'm using the star block tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew, amazing tutorial and the blocks come together super easy. I completed a few blocks and I can't wait to get back to my sewing room to keep working on this.

How was your weekend, did you make any big resolutions for the New Year?

Martha. 

Merry Christmas

I want to wish a merry Christmas. May your holidays be filled with love and peace in company of your loved ones. 

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such lovely comments. I truly appreciate them. 

XX Martha.

A Picture... A Moment

It is starting to look a lot like Christmas. Even though the weather today was cold and gloomy, my house felt  warm and cheerful. I spent the day working on some Christmas presents and enjoying the sight of these beautiful poinsettias my sister got me. How was your weekend?

Martha.

Giveaway Winner Announced

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by and participated on the giveaway. I hope you had lots of fun during the blog hop. Thank you to my followers for reading my blog and to all my new followers welcome. Please keep in touch I'm planning more giveaways for the next year.
The true random generator has spoken and the winner of this giveaway #307 RoseMary. I just sent you an e-mail please check your inbox.

Thank you again, you guys make blogging even more fun!

Martha.

Giveaway : Quilter's Blog Hop Party

Welcome to my stop on the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you stay a while and look around. My name is Martha; I love cooking, baking, gardening and less than a year ago I discovered quilting. And I love it! I tend to collect books and just recently got a copy of Susan Beal's Modern Log Cabin Quilting. I love it so much that I went and got an additional copy to giveaway to one lucky winner.

Here is what you need to do to enter:

-Leave me a comment on this post.
*If you are a non-reply blogger, or you are not sure, please include your e-mail address on you comment so I can reach you in case you are the winner*
-If you are a follower you get a second (bonus) entry. Just leave me a comment letting me know your are a follower.

The giveaway stays open until Saturday December 15, then I will chose a winner at random and announce it on Sunday December 16. I'm happy to ship internationally so everyone can participate.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please check out all the bloggers participating on this amazing party. I'm sure there will be lots of goodies.

Good luck!

*Giveaway is now closed*

Martha

Paper Piecing {Pattern Review}

This past weekend I tried paper piecing for the first time. Ever since I started sewing I had been intrigued by paper piecing. I admire so much the beautiful and intricate designs that people are able to create using the method, but I had been so intimidated to try it..; Well this Sunday it all changed. Diane @ From Blank Pages was so kind to send me a pattern she designed to test. The pattern is called Illusion. I couldn't be more surprised at how easy it all came together to create this beautiful block. I think Diane is a very talented pattern designer. The instructions on the pattern were so clear and easy to understand and it even came with instructions and templates on how to cut the fabric including seam allowance! I thought that was perfect, specially for a newbie like me. Of course, I couldn't had done it without first reading Diane's  Paper Piecing Tutorial. 
Now the question is: what to do with my beautiful block?  Any suggestions.

Martha.