February 2011 Recap

This month, 47 quilters made 217 String Heart blocks. The list appears below.

Welcome again to our newbies this month: Cheri, Cyndi, Liz, Nan and Wendy (a winner!)  Congrats to the other four winners, Irene (first time winner!), Moira (first time winner!), Julie P (aka Joe Tulips) and Kathy B (another first time winner!)

Here's the record of blocks made, donated and won.

February Block List - 217 Hearts

• Andi - 1 (donate)
• Andra - 1
• Andrew - 9 + 1
• Barbara - 4 + 1 (donate)
• Becca - 1 (donate)
• Blondie - 2
• Brenda Kay - 2
• Carol - 2
• Caroline - 9
• Cathi - 2
• Cathy - 3 (donate)
• Cheri - 4 *NEW*
• Cory - 9
• Cyndi - 2 *NEW*
• Deana - 3 (donate)
• Ellie - 6
• Gail - 6
• Ginny - 1
• Irene - 4 *** WINNER ***
• Janet S - 3
• Julie P - 4 *** WINNER ***
• Julie Wy - 3 (donate)
• June - 3
• Kasey - 2
• Kate - 9
• Kathie - 7
• Kathy - 7 *** WINNER ***
• Kim - 2
• Laura - 9 + 1
• Laurnia - 4
• Linda N. - 4
• Linnea - 2 (donate)
• Lisa - 9
• Liz - 4 *NEW*
• Maree - 9
• Mary Jane - 5 (donate)
• Marybeth (mb) - 9 + 1
• Michelle - 2 (donate)
• Moira - 2 *** WINNER ***
• Nan - 1 *NEW*
• Pokey - 2
• Rho - 1 (donate)
• Sharon - 3 (donate)
• Shelley - 9
• Sophie - 9 (donate) + 1
• Wendy F - 9 *NEW* *** WINNER ***
• Wilma - 8

Winners, check your email !!

If you are one of the lucky five winners this month--four of whom are FIRST TIME WINNERS--please check your email for a message from me. I need a couple of things from each of you before I can divvy up the blocks and let everyone start mailing thier blocks to you:

1. Please confirm that your name and address as I have it is correct
2. Let me know how many (if any) of your own string hearts you'd like to keep

Congrats again to Wendy (Newbie!),  Irene,  Moira, Julie and Kathy.

Updated to say that I've heard from everyone except Kathy.  If you're a friend of Kathy B in Lubbock, Texas, please share the good news with her and ask her to get in touch so I can get the mailing info out to everyone.

Congratulations! February Heart Winners!!

Congratulations!!! to you ALL!! Wendy, Irene, Moira, Julie P, and Kathy!! Make somethin' pretty!!

New blog

I've just set up a quilting blog, and I hope some of you will take a look at it. Here's the link:

http://brooklynquilter.blogspot.com/

I've never had a blog before, so I'm just learning. I hope it will inspire me to finish some projects, and get some advice. I've been admiring the many wonderful blogs associated with the block lotto group, and I guess I couldn't help but jump in.

Thanks (and congratulations to the winners of the string hearts)!

Ginny (BrooklynQuilter

We have five winners!

Sophie is so dedicated, going home from work just to send the list so you all don't have to wait to hear the winners! 


And, here they are:

#1 48 hearts - Wendy
#2 48 hearts - Irene
#3 48 hearts - Moira
#4 38 hearts - Julie P.
#5 35 hearts - Kathy


Congratulations to Wendy, Irene, Moira, Julie and Kathy!


Can't wait to see what you make with the blocks!


Debbie in Jerusalem

The list of names for the drawing today ...

... is on its way to Debbie in Israel. For a while this morning, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get away from the office to come home and send it before her bedtime ;-)

I did add all the recently blogged blocks--even if I didn't post a comment acknowledging them. We ended up with a total of 217 string hearts--we'll have FIVE winners, each winning at least 35 blocks.

pick me, pick me!

Sophie,

I'm available Monday afternoon or evening or morning....

Getting in under the wire...

I spent most of this month hopping around on crutches after a foot surgery (still have the cast on for another little while, boo hoo!) and also making a simple quilt for a friend going through chemo right now...

I managed to get two blocks done today for the block lotto, with just a few hours to spare! Since I can't go up to my sewing room easily, I decided to use civil war repros that I already had downstairs, and found it really hard to locate some dark fabric...this fabric definitely reads black but does have pink flowers ...hope it is okay!!

Here is a photo of the quilt I have been working on, lots of scraps used for this one and some donated by the lovely Kate!

Good luck everyone!!

one additional heart

This additional heart makes my total 4 for the month. For some reason, my hearts seem to be more masculine colors on the left, and more feminine on the right.

Finished quilt

This is quilt #1 from the tic-tac-toe blocks I won last year; sorry the colors are wonky in the photo -- those two very dark ones are actually a rich purple!

Julie Wa

Let me introduce myself...

My 2 string heart blocks

Hello all.  Thanks to Sophie for letting me join this really interesting blog. I'm Cyndi, and I live in a small mountain town called Forest Falls - it's in the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California. We live at 6,000 feet, and currently have 3 feet of snow on the ground due to a massive, wet storm that came through here Friday and Saturday. So I've been hunkered down at my sewing machine, space heater running, working on various projects for various blogs, groups, and swaps.  I know some of you from other groups and blogs - waving hello - and am glad to "see" you here.

I'm married with 2 adult kids (Theresa and Kenny) and am a soon-to-be-retired teacher and teachers' union president. June 2 is my last day of work.  On June 3 my husband and I are taking our trailer to British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska for 3 to 4 months. (We don't know exactly how long we'll be gone - it's the first time in 26 years that I don't have to be back in August!) I'll be taking my Featherweight for when we have hookups, and my Singer 99 hand crank for when we don't.  I have 3 blogs - my cooking one, Cookin' With Cyndi, which has been neglected of late due to work and sewing, my travel one, Wanderlust, and my sewing one, Just One More Stitch.

I'm looking forward to lots of fun on this blog!

I need a (last minute) volunteer

If you are donating your chances this month or did not make string heart blocks and would be available tomorrow afternoon to randomly choose the winners, please let me know (with a comment or email).

Last of Bright Stacks Received

I received my last package with three bright stacks from Janet so I now have all of them. Thank you all so much! I can't wait to put the top together.

Melinda

2 more

This is it. Two more for a total of four. Julie P.

The Final Four

Well, actually, my only four! I made two more blocks today, bringing my total for February to 4 blocks.

Here they are, the two I made early in February and the two I just made. That's it for the month!

Nine Done !

Here are my nine blocks for February!
** Caroline **

Benta's Bright Forest

As I was going to sleep last night I had an idea how to arrange the black and bright trees that I won  in December.  A while ago I had tried arranging the blocks as two quilts: one bright on black, and one black on bright, but they were both quite small, so I thought about one style in the centre and the other style outside

Astonishingly, I still remembered it when I woke up this morning, and the blocks went perfectly together in my first (OK, second) arrangement!  I would have finished sewing earlier had I not stitched one drop of trees upside down, but it's now a quilt top, on a fleece blanket, ready for binding when I'm next in the mood for binding.


Ta-da!!!

 Thank you Sophie for organising this, and to all of my very kind contributors :-)

Stacks of shoes ;-)

I received a block from the lovely Sophie this week

Only one more set to receive ............... isn't it exciting ........ I can't wait to start sewing.

All blocks received in Dallas

I received my final set of stacks from Maree in New Zealand yesterday, so thank you everyone. When I put these together I see garden paths, so I'm reviewing my stash and web fabric stores with a view to finding some floral border or stripe fabric with a white background to put in columns between the paths. If all else fails I may see if some of the large florals from my kaffe fassett stash would work. Also a floral border around the outside. I think there's enough for 2 lap quilts . For the second i may select the stacks with novelty fabrics for a kids quilt. I would use some toy border fabric with it and I may make columns fromy "I spy" squares that I have from some swaps, to add to the fun. The kids quilt will go to our Guild's donation project, and the floral to my church's prayer shawl ministry for shut-ins. Thanks again and good luck to all this month!

More Blocks - Better pictures

I have a total of 5 blocks finished for this month.  Since the last photo was so bad, I have attached a photo of all 5 blocks to this posting. 

just checking

I sent stacks blocks to Lisa and Linda about 10 days ago but haven't seen any notes from either of you since then... did they arrive?

Julie Wa

my first block lotto post

Here are my first 4 blocks. I'm looking forward to being part of this group. Your block photos are lovely.

Stack Block Block from Sophie

I received a stack block from Sophie today. I have three more to come and I see from an earlier post that they are on the way. Thanks to everyone. Can't wait to put the top together.

Thanks Sophie

I received a stacks block from you today Sophie. It's pretty.

wilmaNC

blocks on the way

Finally!!!  My January blocks are on the way to Cathy, Caroline, and Melinda.  I'm sorry I was so pokey about getting them in the mail.
Janet

Stacks

I am happy to announce that I have received all the January Lotto blocks, even the ones from Celine in th UK. Thank you all. They will be assembled and the top will be donated to a local charity that makes quilts for children. My design wall is pretty small and I could only display half of the blocks received.

Last stacks received

Thats it ! They're all in (thanks Sophie, it arrived this morning) and they are all just beautiful - time to crank up the machine and set to. Thank you every body for making my first attempt at Block Lotto such good fun, for supporting when my seams went array! and for sending such such bright and beautiful blocks. Heres a pic taken on Sunday before the last block came in..

Great aren't they??!!

more stacks received

Check out these beauties ;-)

Blocks from Brenda

Only two more left to arrive - can't wait to start sewing

Got one done!

This one is the correct size, and I'll donate it.

Happy Stitching,
Andi in Arizona

Pssst ... the Sneak Peek Email has been sent

If you made and posted a photo of your heart blocks this month, you should have email from me with the information about the March Block.

Leftover String Fabric

Hi everyone.  I just thought I'd share what I did with the leftover pieces of string fabric from this months block.  I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with.

Last Arrived

I am happy to say, my last stack arrived today.  Thanks Sophie.  It fits right in with the others.  Hoping by next week I will have some time to work on them.  Thanks again everyone...they really look great together!

Feb blocks 9 + 1 to donate

First Attempt

I don't have a block to enter yet, this one is too small. But strings are certainly addictive and I am trying to be more accurate on my cutting with the next one. I decided to sew my bonus triangles together in a different way, and they are in my orphan box for now. I also noticed that I have ALOT of dotty fabric!!

Happy Stitching,
Andi in Arizona

February Heart Blocks

I managed to do another two hearts to donate as I was a lucky winner last time

I have also finished piecing a scrappy top which contains my 'bonus's' and a heart that I made first and is too small to enter the lotto - just need to trim and add a scrappy green border and for the first time - no cost, no outlay just time spent... hurray!!

More Stacks - received

Another squishy! thank you Sarah V for the lovely stacks. Only one more block to come now from Sophie and then I'll start sewing - can't wait!!

More stacks received

Thanks Benta!! Your blocks are beautiful. Thanks also for the scissor tags, I have not seen any like yours.

wilmaNC

another heart completed

I was able to make another heart block

Total blocks submitted:  3 (donated)

Two for me, so far !

Here are two hearts for me, so far! I wanted to get them posted in time for the sneak peek! I will try to get more done before the end of the month.
** Caroline **

stacks received

More stacks ;-)

thanks to Coralie

more hearts

It was Friday Night Sew In yesterday.  It is so good to have a designated day to stop everything else and sew.  

I got to make up another string heart block - here is a photo of the two hearts I am submitting (for now - I hope to make some more soon)

Total blocks submitted:  2

All in all, a very successful FNSI - which actually lasted most of the day

Two more from Deana

Please add two more hearts to my list.

2 done

Finally, I got 2 hearts made yesterday while I was home alone! Now, what to do with my bonus blocks?
These were fun (once I wrote down the sizes of the pieces so I didn't have to keep coming out to check my computer). It was interesting, too, to see the fabrics again that had been hiding in my string bag for months.

Stacks Received

I just dug my way out of a pile of stacks!  Thanks to Andrew, Carol, Debbie, Julie P., Kim and Lisa.  All your blocks have arrived safely and might I add, have added a lot of color to my sewing room! I can't wait to see them all sewn together.  I am just trying to decide if I want one large quilt or two small...decisions, decisions!

stacks-received

I want to give a big Thank you to: Linda G., Linda N, Linnea, Lisa, Marybeth, Pokey,
Shelley, Barbara, Ellie, Julie P., Kate N., What a treasure it has been to receive all of the beautiful blocks this month. Thank you all for making this possible.

Kina

String Blocks

I am not all that pleased with my results. I guess that's because I'm just not that comfortable with free style piecing. I am quite rigid and need my blocks to be exact. Anyway, here are the 4 that I have made. The one last one, on the bottom, was a gift from Blondie, which she included with the Stacks she sent me. Because of her generousity, I will donate it to a newbie for an extra chance to win.

Blocks - received

Another 4 squishies through the letterbox - my stack o'stacks is ever growing - Big thank you to Carrie, Sara, Kim and Lisa for the bright and beautiful contents x

Last one, I swear

One more to donate.   I really am done now.

My Heart belongs to you ;-)

I have attempted the heart block - the first one did not go to plan, but the second one worked out better ;-)

I am submitting the black & white heart (it looks a bit brighter in real life ;-) )
I am hoping to get to make up some more real soon.

Sophie, since I won last month, I would like to donate my blocks this month.

It's a lot like Christmas ;-)

My letterbox was overflowing this morning ;-)

Receiving these gorgeous blocks is better than Christmas ;-)

Here are blocks from Andrew, MaryJane and Kelly (thank you for the extras Kelly)

Here is the design wall so far - doesn't it look great!!!

Stacks Coming and Going and a New Blog Post label request

I probably should have seen this flurry of measages coming--after all we did make 378 blocks--and asked you all to label your posts accordingly.   But I didn't, so I'll ask for the following coming forward.

If you are posting about sending OR receiving Stacks blocks, please add the label stacks to your post.

Please also add the label:

stacks-mailed if you are posting about sending blocks
stacks-received if you are posting about receiving blocks

It will make it easier for the winners (and me) to go back and see who has mailed (and posted about it--remember it is optional) and (for me) which blocks the winners have received (also optional to post about).

I've gone back and added (or changed) labels to follow this convention.  So, if you have already mailed or received and posted about it, you're all set ;-)

. . . speaking of stacks.  I saw this adorable pin cushion today on Carol's MamaCJT blog post A New Day.   Anyone who made January blocks could easily make one of these, right . . . just shrink those strips to make a block that's pincushion-sized ;-)

More incoming blocks

I just put blocks from Becca, Julie and Tiffany on my design wall. Still waiting for Cathi's, but they are coming from Ireland so.... ;-) All the rest are here!

Incoming Stacks

So far I have received blocks from Blondie in NC, Irene in TX, Kathy in TX, and Rho in TX. You Texas girls seem to be on the ball this month. Thank you all so much.
Barbara

Scrappy Heart Blocks February

Here are two. I may make some more; have other projects in the works but I am grooving on these hearts. In fact I made a purse using one block that didn't quite turn out to spec. Here is a peek.

Thanks Sophie for a fun block to play with.

Blondie

february photos

these are my 3 hearts for entry; I may add some later but am working on other UFOs. The background is dark navy.
Linda in Dallas

Feb String Hearts and Photos

Here are two blocks.  Sorry the picture is so dull.  These blocks are vibrant!! (I left my camera in Daytona with husband and had to take this picture with my cell)  I wanted to post before next Monday and the camera won't get back until Monday afternoon.

I hope to make a few more blocks before month's end, but no guaratees.  I am donating my chances for the drawing this month.

1 block to donate

Becca (QB29)

Stacks recieved from Laurina, Maree & Rho

I love the postie this week ;-)

I have received three lovely packages in the mail ;-)

Thank you so much - I can't wait to get these blocks on the design wall.

I've Been Receiving...

I've been receiving blocks almost every day, Thank you to
Becca &
Irene &
June &
Kathie &
Moira.
It's starting to look like a quilt top...!

:-}Pokey

pokeydotquilting.blogspot.com

Post Office Run

I mailed blocks to Barbara in Florida today. Enjoy!
~Andi in Arizona

January stacks in the mail to Florida

Barbara, I have finally sent you my January stacks (3) today, hopefully you should get them early next week.
Celine in UK

More stacks received

June Dodge and K. Brown, thanks so much for the blocks. They are great!!

wilmaNC

Deana's first heart block

This is my first completed one and there are others well on their way.

stacks received

I have received beautiful stacks from Ellie in Ohio, Sharon in Washington, Sara in Michigan, K. in St. Paul, and Barbara in McAllen TX. They are lovely, and thank you, and good luck this month.

And as a point of personal privilege, may I say that my son played violin with Janelle Monae last night on the Grammies, and he rocked!
Linda in Big D

Gail's Hearts

Gail asked me to post this photo of her 6 string hearts.

And also shared this photo of a bright Log Cabin quilt she made after she DIDN'T win the lotto blocks when we made these in August 2009.  

I know I am always saying that if you wish you had won but didn't, make some blocks for yourself . . .  and Gail did.

Welcome back to the Block Lotto, Gail.  I've added your heart blocks to the list and we now have a total-so-far this month of 154 hearts.