Tremor Tuesday

Today I experienced my first (and hopefully last ever) earthquake.  At first it was confusing and then became utterly terrifying.  My house was shaking so badly I thought it would collapse.  I ran outside as fast as I could and left the cat to fend for herself.  

I'm not sure what's proper emergency protocol for earthquakes, but many of my neighbors came out of their buildings as well.  There was an older gentleman standing on the sidewalk across the street when I came out and I shouted over to him, "What was that?!"

He said, "I reckon it was an earthquake." 

Jem, Scout, Atticus, and Dill

50 years ago today marks the publication date of the timeless American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.  You can read all about the history of the novel here at NPR.

Thank you, Harper Lee!  You gave us one of the most wonderful stories ever written.  I hope daily that I will find a box with chewing gum, or a pocket watch, a ball of twine, or soap figurines in a knot hole in a tree outside my house.  I can't see a wardrobe closet without calling it a chiffarobe-- and wanting to chop it up for firewood.  I never see camellias without wanting to chop off the flower heads.  In the oppressive heat of summer, I can't help but feel like "a soft teacake with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."

If you haven't read it, read it.  If you read it a long time ago, read it.  If you reread it every year, read it.  Then come back and tell me all about your favorite part.

Mail!

Look what Reba brought!  I immediately stopped talking with Conky about the Secret Word of the day, sat down in Chairry and opened this package.  Lo and behold!  My very own copy of EQ7.  (Holy @#$#%!)

Thanks Sarah and all the folks at the The EQ Blog.  I'm so utterly lucky.

And don't forget you can still pre-order at an awesome price until May 21st!  

EQ7 Giveaway

As you know, the Electric Quilt Company announced a contest on their blog offering 10 lucky bloggers the chance to win two copies of EQ7-- one to keep and one to give away.

Imagine my excitement when I got an email on my Blackberry stating I had won not one but two copies of EQ7.  I literally got out of my car and did a dance in the street!  

Normally this is where a blogger would post a picture of the flesh-and-blood object to be given away.  Instead, I have an email (Click on the picture to go to flickr and see the original size.).  Sarah from the Electric Quilt Company will be mailing the loot directly to the winner after the giveaway (I think she is trying to keep me from selling the software on the black market of quilting).

To get a chance at winning my extra copy of Electric Quilt 7, simply comment here.  If you need something to say, tell me about the best thing you've ever won.  I will use random.org to choose a winner at 9PM EST on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. 

(For the record, this is the best thing I've ever won.  Josh, however, won $400 on a Virginia Lotto scratcher ticket!  That was lucky.)

Engaged!

Engaged!

Originally uploaded by jenamoured

Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got, I'm still (I'm still) Jenny from the block.

Inspiration

All finished with the quilting, almost finished with the binding
Originally uploaded by CampFollowerBagLady

Can you believe a met my upload limit on flickr this month? I'd have something to show you if it weren't for that. Well, that and the secret project.

Until flickr unlocks its doors, and until I unveil the secret project, feast your eyes on this!

Lucky!

I received my swap quilt yesterday! My mystery partner was Jill. I felt so lucky when I opened the package to see the beautiful quilt that she had made me (plus all the goodies!).





This quilt is one that I had marked as a favorite in the group pool and truly hoped that it would be coming my way.



The strip of patchwork is so random and wonderful, and in fabrics from one of my favorite designers! She used that gray color that I have been secretly trying to work into every project, which makes me think that not only was she reading my blog but she was also reading my mind.

Not to mention the wonderful strip of embroidery...



Thank you, Jill! I appreciate all the work that you must have spent on this gorgeous quilt.

I've Arrived!

It's official. I've arrived!

The SwapMommas at the Doll Quilt Swap blog chose to showcase my swap quilt (in progress) on their blog! You can check out the post here.

First, I'd like to thank The Academy...

Gloria's Quilt

DSC04275
Originally uploaded by jenamoured

I'm finally getting around to posting this.

I delivered Gloria's quilt last weekend when I went home to help her pack for departure to William & Mary College.

She loved it! We snuggled under it and dragged it around the house all weekend, refusing to pack it until the very last minute.

You can see the two of us holding the quilt over the loft railing. Lucky that house is so big so that we could get a great full view, far away picture.


STATS
76x92"
Machine pieced, hand bound
Machine quilted by Rebekah Richardson of Kept In Stitches Quilting in Richmond, VA

I used fabric from the Natural Effects line by Marcus Fabrics. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough of my original fabric, so I had to supplement with another fabric from the Natural Effects line (same print, smaller scale) and one Al Fresco print, which is also used as the backing. I used this as the border, along with a couple blender batiks.


I, personally, think it looks beautiful. I'm so proud of my work and I can't believe I actually made that thing.

My aunt emailed it to a family member, who wrote back to ask if the center section was a single piece of fabric. It felt great to say, "Nope! That's patchwork!"

I.
Am.
The Bomb.

Cast-On Stitch

DSCN7758
Originally uploaded by kleio's belly

Look at this cool thing! Turns out, she's using something called a Cast-On Stitch to create those curlicues.

Thankfully, on her blog, she linked to Sharon B's Stitch Dictionary, where she found the Cast-On Stitch Tutorial.

Totally going to try this.

Surprise!

I went to Chicago to visit family, had tons of fun, and even visited the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry (the only building still standing from the Columbian Exposition aka the Chicago World's Fair). All was excellent.

When I got home, I had a wonderful surprise! Crystal, of Sonnet of the Moon had sent me a package full of goodies. She included many wonderful quilted coasters, some cloth napkins, a bar of chocolate (Twilight Delight, one that Josh really loves!) a folding fan, and a gorgeous cut of fabric. When I opened the package and looked at all the goodies, Josh noted how excellent a job Crystal did with the fabric choice, considering all those fabrics are ones I would have chosen for myself. Thank you so much, Crystal! I love all my goodies. <3



Also, continuing progress on my DQS7 quilt. I picked up some charm batiks at the quilt shop yesterday and have gotten all my little birds cut out. Of course, I'm deviating from my original plan, but I think I like what I've got. It's too dark to take a picture of my layout, but feast your eyes on my fabric!



Here's hoping my partner likes what I've got going on. She's not blogging much and she only has about three favorites on her flickr page. Ah well. What can you do?