Double Winners - Double Prizes - May for Me Celebration Giveaway!

The Double Winners win double prizes: Pat and Shelly
Congratulations to both Pat and Shelly!

Each winner will receive a set of May for Me Note Cards and The Easy To Sew Quilt Pattern.  Two prizes each!


Thank you to everyone who follows me and left a comment sharing who inspired them to craft, sew, or quilt and for the kind wishes and prayers for my Mom.


I emailed Shelly, but I can't email Pat as she is a non-reply-commenter.  


So Pat when you see this, email me!  Marcia@craftysewing.com


Several of you that follow me are listed as a non-reply blogger.  Here's how to know, if I did not send you  a reply to your comment, than you need to either leave an email in your comment or on your blog settings, somewhere you can add an email/  That way when you leave a comment, then bloggers can reply to your comment.   Most importantly you can win!  I have seen where some bloggers don't let that person win, because there is no contact information.  But I will post it and hope that the person sees this post and contacts me.  So Pat email me, please.  Do you know Pat?  Let her know she won too. Thanks!

Pat's comment was:

Pat said...

I too am a new follower. I too will have to give my grandmothers credit for starting me on the road of quilting, sewing, crocheting and crafting. My mom's mom taught me to sew on an old treadle machine when I was 7 and I am now in my 50s so that is over 40 years of crafting for me. :) I hope I have inspired others to also express their creativeness too. And even if I don't win the prize, I just wanted to say those baskets are gorgeous! And you have inspired me to give them a try sometime. Thanks. :)

Shelley's comment was: 
Shelly (free indeed) said...

I've always had a creative bent I guess. Mom recognised that in me and made up a craft box for me. She would put yarn, pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, tissue paper, gum wrappers...just about anything she thought I could use to create. I used that box for years!!!! My first sewing 'lessons' were on lace up cards; then she gave me the cut off hems when she hemmed slacks...lots of polyester in those days LOL! I started my first patchwork with those and all by hand....I thank her for encouraging that spark for making things with my hands and imagination.




Thanks again for all the kind wishes and prayers for my Mom.  We are still at the Hospital and my Mom is doing better.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Another May for Me Giveaway on Tuesday! Here is a listing of the past Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday Posts.

Enjoying May one day at a time.

Marcia

FAQ's - Friday's Frequently Asked Questions

This week I posting from the hospital, as I am still with my Mom in a Hospital.  

She's had two surgeries this week and many tests. Yesterday and today in a step down Intensive Care Unit and tonight back in a regular room.  She is getting better, but still very sick.  She has Pancreatitis. Thanks for all the kind messages and prayers.  I have my lap top along so I can update family and blog of course.

How long does it take to get a quilt quilted? 

First you book your quilting date.  Mail your quilt, so it is in my quilt shop at least one week before your date. I will quilt your quilt on the day you booked or the day after that.  I quilt full time 5 days a week and I try to keep a very tight schedule, but sometimes life happens!

This week is a great example of life happening.  I am staying with my Mom in a Hospital out of town.  So I have contacted my customers that were scheduled for this week and next week. I will move them, kind of on a triage basis, as to which ones need to get done first, working with the customer to make sure the new date will work for them. For example two of the quilts for this week had no rush at all and they will be moved to July.  One of them had a "due date" of June 1st, so it will be the first one on the schedule next week when I am back to work.  I also save a day or two in each month for my quilts or emergency quilts.  So there is always a little wiggle room.  

Eight years ago when I first started my long arm quilting business, I decided that it was important to have a quilting schedule and be able to tell a customer when I can quilt their quilt.  So that is how I do it and it works!

How many colors of  quilting thread do you have? 

I carry over 150 colors of Perma Core - a premium quality Poly Quilting Thread.  It is amazing how many different reds, blues, yellows, greens, oranges, and purples there are to choose from.  How about just plain Purple, or Power Purple, Wild Violet, Lilac, Amethyst, Wine Plum, Grape, Lavender, or Orchid?  I also carry about 12 cones of the variegated threads.

What is your favorite color?  I love all Blues.  My favorite is a soft blue called Chambray.  Chambray reminds me of a soft denim shirt.  

Do you take photos of all the quilts you quilt?  Yes.  I add them to the photo gallery about twice a week.  Sometimes I have to wait to put them up if the quilt is a surprise or a gift for someone.  I take photos of customer's quilts  in my quilt shop or I lay them out on the guest bed if they are really big or I need a natural lighting.

Why do you take so many photos of your dog?  

Whenever I take photos of my own quilts, I spread them out on a white sheet on the floor and Gabby thinks I am there to give her some attention. She loves to be the center of attention.  

Each week I will answer email questions.  If you missed a FAQ's post, I have put the all on the questions and answers on my website on the FAQ's Page.  If you want to see the original posts, because they have the photos with the questions, click on FAQ on the labels in the side bar.

Don't forget to enter the drawing for this week's May for Me Celebration Giveaway. It's a Double Giveaway!

  

Enjoy May - every day where ever you are! 

Marcia

Thursday's Thoughts - Why I Follow Blogs?

Why do I read and follow craft, sewing, cooking, quilting, and art blogs?

I want to see what everyone else it doing.  What's everyone making, sewing, or quilting?

I love the large photos, so I can see the details and the colors.

I love the stories about why you are making a quilt.  Where you got the idea and who receives the final project.

I enjoy the tutorials. Even if I never make them, you can be assured, if I am following you, I am reading it.  I may never make the item, but I have made it in my mind.  I love the process of construction.

I like to read posts at the end of the day, when I am too tired to quilt or sew.

My favorite blogs are the bloggers who do whatever they want to...it doesn't have to be popular or hot!  I think that is because I like to do my own thing.  When I first started posting, I assumed no one would follow my blog, because I don't always do the "hot" projects.

Now I am really being honest..  I thought I didn't like the blogs that weren't exclusively about quilting or crafting.  Until recently I didn't think I needed to know personal stories...But I didn't get it.  I didn't understand what blogging was all about. It's the sharing and you can't share about your craft without personal stuff mixed in.  So I have changed my mind.  I do like the personal stuff, because you get to know the person better. And  knowing more about the person who posts, makes the reading more interesting.

So when the May for Me Celebration started, I decided to do a personal day too - Thursday's Thoughts.  I like my new schedule of posts.  This is my posting schedule for now - I may change it!  New Posting Schedule I like to have order in this chaotic world.  Especially this particular week in my life...

So on a personal note:  I have spent the whole week in hospital rooms, bunking on a sofa in my Mom's room. We have been in two hospitals. She has now had two surgeries and more tests tomorrow.  First they thought it was a heart attack and then Pancreatitis which lead to removing the gall bladder in the first surgery and trying to remove a stone in the second surgery and we are not done yet.  Today after the second surgery they moved my Mom to a step down intensive care unit of the hospital.  She has oxygen and wires and IVs.  The doctors have reassured me that it is just so they can monitor her closer, as this unit has more nurses to care for my Mom.

I brought my laptop along and it has been great for sending out updates to our family and friends. And for posting and reading posts.  Reading the posts has kept some normalcy to my day.

Please keep us in your prayers, as we try to find out what is making my Mom so sick.

I enjoy following blogs, because I love what you are sharing... the personal parts and your special craft!

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments this week.  I will email you back soon...

Making the best of everyday, in this chaotic world of hospitals, this week in May!


Marcia