Book Blog Bonanza 10/06/10

My dream project remains to take the fabric from my wedding dress, purchase coordinating fabric, and create a throw for our bed. I am sure it would require some new needles, thread, and probably a machine foot or two -- plus I would buy some extra time! :)

I learned to sew when I was eight, by sewing by hand with my grandmother's scraps. I was cutting out a small piece of fabric held on my lap & accidentally cut my shorts, too.

If I could spend $500 on a project I think I would use most of the money on a babysitter. When I moved I packed all my fabrics up and I love them I just need to do something with them. So maybe I'd buy myself a few notions and a lot of time.

I'd have to take some time to think about a project if I had $500 for a single one. I suppose I'd spend the big bucks on the fabric that I usually feel is too expensive and enjoy using it for something special. I'd probably make a bed size quilt. I'd like to make one for our guest bedroom, queen sized... someday!

I LEARNED TO SEW WHEN I WAS 10 YRS. OLD AND ALWAYS ENJOYED IT. I'VE MADE MOSTLY CLOTHES AND SOME QUILTS. I ALWAYS DREAMED OF BEING A FASHION DESIGNER BUT NEVER PERSUED IT BUT STILL ENJOY MAKING ITEMS FOR MY FAMILY... I'D LOVE TO GO SHOPPING FOR FABRICS AND MAKE SOME ITEMS FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND PET RESCUE SHELTERS..THEY ALL NEED SOME HELP..

I learned to sew when I was very young. maybe 7 or 8. My Grandma taught me how to use her Singer treadle machine. She said when she passed away, I could have her machine,but, my uncle was the caretaker of her estate and he would not let me have the machine. I have never forgotten all the hours i sat there and sewed fabric scraps together!

I've always wanted to learn how to quilt and just recently started trying to teach myself how to do so. I've only started with a small doll quilt but would eventually like to make a bed quilt for our Master bedroom. I would spend $500 on a variety of luxurious fabrics to use for the quilt, and some high quality thread. I'm sure I would also find some tools and notions that I'd love to have! :-)

Wow, with $500, I would buy the expensive silk and make a very regal 16th or 18th century ball gown!! With some added hand embroidery!!! Or, I would just buy a bunch of fabrics to make "modern" clothes since I haven't done that yet. I just learned how to sew last year and all of my projects have been historical reenactment pieces. I really would like to make something that I could wear everyday.

OMG I got to have this book I actually need it right now!! $500 are you kidding I am a fabricaholic I would buy fabric to make Quilts!!! You giving away money too?? LOL

I just started quilting a few years ago. My first big project was a t-shirt quilt. My husband would buy me a harley t-shirt whenever we traveled and I never were T-shirts. So I made a quilt out of the shirts (all the shirts had a black background). I used a flame fabric for the border. I had the quilt machine quilted with a flower pattern with petals that were in the shape of flames. Love it and want to make more. Other themes of course.

My dream project is to make both my sons quilt before they finish high school. I have 2 years for the first one!

Hmmm...I've never seen this book so can't talk about that, I don't have a favorite tale to tell so I guess that leaves what would I do with $500. I'm thinking that since I am such a basic sewer I would us it to buy sewing classes and learn to do more with my sewing machine than just straight lines.

My first completed quilt was made just before my wedding. The "Quilt Police" would have been appalled by it: 5/8" seams, a sheet for backing and no binding! ;-)
27 years later it's still my favorite project. :-)

I have been making lots of cute skirts for my 4 year old, so I think she would have a lot more skirts with $500! :) I would stock my fabric bins with all the fabric I've wanted to buy but never did.

I love buying pre-cuts as they look so delicious, but I am always at a loss for projects for them--I can only make so many totebags before I get bored, y'know? so this book would be nice...
$500--I would buy some nifty attachments for my sewing machine so I could get really creative with my sewing.

I think with this book and a few jelly rolls I'd make a quit for everyone in my family, ok, maybe not EVERYONE but almost! Thank you for the chance to win!

OOHHHHH! $500.oo spending spree!! Oh What Fun that would be!!! I would probably spend it all on fabric ..... I would love to learn to quilt someday .... and this would be a good start for me. Thanks.

If I had $500 on dream project... I think I would make a giant double sided baby blanket for grown-ups ( I love throws). I would need a lot of Minky, new needles and binding tape. I think I would use any left over $ to buy the backing and interfacing and binding for a t-shirt quilt. It's so hard to pick your favorite potential project. (:

shopping is always fun!!!!! i LOVE to shop, BUt i'd spend it all on fabric! i Love to sew and make things it keeps me busy while i'm at home!! It would help me to be able to buy my sewing machine i have been wanting for a lonnnnnnggggg time that I haven't been able to afford!!! :-) yayy I got a chance to win... thanks!! :-)

if I had an extra $500 I would use it to make quilts for the grandkids - I have given them quilts for their small beds, but now they are getting into the regular size beds & need new ones made by Grandma - I would love to have the money - and the time - to make a new full or queen size one for each of them!

I would love to win this book. Pat Sloan is my favorite designer. I am currently working on a 'Sew Along' I did via her blog. It is a great applique and pieced table topper. So much fun!!!!

$500 on a dream project ... wow, that's a lot of fabric and supplies! My dream project would be to cover my old couch and do matching draperies to cover the sliding glass doors. Would brighten up the room tremendously.

Wow $500 - since I'm fairly new to sewing $500 would sure jump start my stash! When I see these amazing pictures of peoples sewing rooms I'm blown away by the amount of fabric so many have!

I'd buy some silk batting ....it's really nice to work with. It feels feathery when done. I'd make another king size quilt for our bed!

OMG - I would so love this book. I like to quilt but never seem to find the time to. This book looks like it could really help in the time department, lol. $500 for a dream project - Where to begin??? Right now, we are in the process of buying a new house where the kitchen and dining area are basically the same area. So, I believe my dream project would be to get all my supplies for making coordinating chair covers, cushions, table linens, curtains and kitchen decor.

I would spend $500 on some beautiful batik fabrics and coordinating threads to make a quilt for my bead. I love batiks!

I luv Pat's other books. I'm not really sure about all this jelly roll, layer cakes and honey buns stuff? Just the sound of it makes me hungry. But then again when you got fabric -who needs food! Except maybe chocolate:)

My dream project would be to hire someone to finish my sewing studio! It's now a storage building, hubby is supposed to finish it, but you know how that works!

$500 on a dream project??? I bought the pattern for the Sister Quilt Show Quilt when there this year. I think I would buy everything I need to make that!

Spending $500 huh? I think I would take it and go down to NYC and go to the FIT bookstore. Hopefully I would have enough leftover so I could have a cup of coffee and sit and read my new books.
~K

If I had $500 I would buy enough fabric for a whole bedding set for my bed AND pay someone else to quilt it on a long arm machine! I love making quilt tops, the actual quilting of them? Not so much. :)

Wow i would like to win . Lost my job so i am selling off my sewing stuff if i won i wont have to i could pay some bills.And to make things worst yesterday i cut my baby toe open had to have 5 stitches.I love sewing been sewing by hand since i was 8yrs old my mom showed me how .Then i learned on the machine when i was 12 .Kids have it way too easy now .I remember making my own bags and doll clothes.I am making jean bags now .

I made my first quilt 40 years ago for my first child's bassinet. I still consider myself a beginner! I'd spend that $500 on fabric, fabric, fabric!

My 1st sewing project, which was in Home Ec. in 7th grade, was a shift which had a back zipper. I can remember cutting out the fabric I chose & loved, thinking whoever designed this pattern was stupid to make it so hard to cut on the fold line for the front of the shift. It was hard to cut the 2 layers of fabric apart!!! Talk about learning from your mistakes!!!! However, my shift was original b/c we put a placket w/buttons down the front to cover the seam line. The other girls in the class wanted a shift like mine.

Oh..... $500 on fabric. That is a dream!
I would spend it all on good quality quilters cottons- some imports from Japan- and make a big beautiful quilt for each of my kids.

If I had $500 to spend...I would spend it on projects for my baby that is due in February. Especically blankets but if I did not have all the decor already I would have loved to make everything for the baby's room.:)

if I had $500 for a dream project, I would start with a sewing machine tuneup, a new rotary blade and sewing needle, then some fabric to make a new quilt, pillow cases, and a bed skirt for my bed, then if I had any money left over I'd either make curtains for my room or I'd pay (with extra of my own money) to have it professionally quilted. I'd love that!

If I had $500 for a project I would purchase PFD silk fabric and fabric paints for a unique and personalized quilt. I've wanted to experiment with silk but I just haven't had the time or money to begin the journey.

My dream project would be an embroidery machine to jazz up all the items for my kids! applique does the trick now, but it's more time consuming, and not as ready to wear looking, which is a must for teens/preteens!

I would purchase a design program so I can design fabric.

Thinking of what I would do with %500! Hmmm. Some really nice designer fabrics? A new sewing machine? A class in needlework of some kind? I can think of several ideas. The book on quilting could inspire me to make quilts, something I have not done even though I have friends who are prize-winning quilters.

I love the convenience of precuts. I would rather have a ton of small pieces than one large piece. Scrappy stimulates my creative energies.

I love to quilt. I have only been doing it for a few years now and I mostly make quilted bags but would love to have the time to make more quilts. With $500.the possibilities would be endless. I would love to make a quilt for my bedroom.

There are two things that I said I would never do. Scrapbook and sew. Well once I had a baby. . . there went scrapbooking. Next, I had a lot of time on my hands and missed the mental challenges from not working. So I finally figured out how to thread the bobbin correctly just to sew paper for scrapbooking. One thing lead to another and now I'm hooked. I'm 9 months in and totally addicted to sewing.

My mom sewed for herself and me as I grew up, but I really learned to sew when I was in Girl Scouts, from one of the other mothers! I guess it is sometimes easier to learn from someone who isn't sooooo close! ;-)

With $500, I would make a wedding dress or christening dress and donate it to someone who needed it. I would especially splurge on the lace!

All I can say about quilts is I tried to make one once, it had a sunshine pattern. The first sunshine turned out beautiful. The second sunshine turned out beautiful.... and about an inch smaller all around than the first. But I'd love to try again one day. It seems one of those insurmountable crafts that is just too much to try.

I would buy my fabric and make a quilt for my kids and their families

Oooh, if I had $500 for a dream project, I would buy a sewing machine and a table for it. I just learned how to sew, but don't have my own machine. What I wouldn't give to have one!

Adding new books to my sewing library is always welcome. It keeps me up-to-date on new techniques and old ones I don't know. I love Fabric.com.

My mother's mother often told stories of attending the neighborhood quilting bees with her mother and older sister Ione. She and Ione would play with the other children in the yard or under the quilt frame and eventually graduated to needle-threading for the quilters. The day came when Ione was considered old enough to take her place around the quilt frame with the ladies. She was so proud, and Grandmother was so envious. And then while walking home that evening, Ione announced with great satisfaction, "I sewed all day on that quilt and didn't go through the back even once!" Needless to say, Great-grandmother was mortified.

Grandmother taught me to quilt and to do needlepoint. I am blessed to have two of her woolen tailors sample quilts in my cupboard waiting to warm my own grandchildren in the winter.

I think I'd help my granddaughter get some fabric, etc for starting her sewing/quilting life. She made a very simple rag type quilt for her father last year as her first project at 5 years old. The rest would go towards a fancier machine for me! maybe.

I'd love to buy either a beefier sewing machine or an embroidery machine. I have too much fabric already - I need to use some up before I add too it!

$500! Wow, I'd make the window treatments that I've been putting off for the living room.

My dream project is to find an old classic sofa and re-upholster it.

Oooohhhh...$500??? Since I have more fabric than anybody could possibly use in a lifetime, it would have to go toward the wood to build my dream sewing cabinet and a babysitter. As much as I love my boys, they do not let me get ANYTHING accomplished!

I just started following Pat Sloan's blog, and she has great tutorials, so I am sure this book would be fabulous!

Cannot think of a single thing to sew for $500 but a lot of smaller projects. We just remodeled our house & I need to make cushions for the window seats upstairs & the bay window seat downstairs. Foam has gotten so expensive lately & I want to get good quality foam & fabric so I don't have to redo these for a while

If I had $500 I would stock up on fabric so I could make all of my family a quilt for next Christmas. Money is always tight due to medical and medicine bills!!!! But I love to quilt and what better gift than something homemeade!!!

If I had $500 to spend, I would purchase a serger since I don't have one and would love to have one. I am learning to quilt so the book looks great.

With $500 for a sewing project, I'd spend it on quilting material for the grandkids... one for each of the four.

Oh, I would love to have this book! I have recently purchased several jelly rolls, layer cakes and charms to hopefully make it easier for me to actually do more quilting/sewing projects. I believe much of my procrastination comes from having to make those pesky color and pattern decisions before I can start sewing! LOL

Now I need patterns and books that will show me what to do with these cuts. This looks just the ticket!

Does my "hint" that the pre-cuts help the artistic juices to flow count as a sewing tip? hope, hope.

Suzanne

I would love to have this book because I haven't learned to do "real" quilting yet. $500? That's an easier question. I would buy lots and lots of fleece and flannel. I enjoy making fleece twin-size blankets and flannel pajama pants for the Wichita (KS) Children's Home, but I've never been able to buy as much fabric as I would like to do so. $500 would make a lot of blankets!

My dream project would be to quilt the tops I have already made. So I would probably use it for batting, backing, and threads. Or just buy several fat quarter bundles....hummmmm....more fabric to dream about.

Or maybe the GO! or toward a new machine or............now you have me dreaming and that's dangerous for my DHs pocketbook.

Billie in TX
bigmick@austin.rr.com

I am always eager to learn new techniques and love to quilt. The book would inspire me.

I belong to a quilting group that meets once a month and we make and donate many quilts to charities. We have been cutting up our fabrics into strips, and various sizes of squares to be used for our quilts and this book looks like it would give us help.

The $500.00 would be welcome to replenish my stash of fabric, and I really am getting low on batting.

$500 of Amy Butler fabrics! it would be sooo easy for me to do! Give me 10 minutes on fabric.com and the $500 would be spent!

My mother "forced" me to take sewing lessons when I was 13 years old. I went kicking and screaming, then begged for more lessons. Over the last 27 years I've sewn. Some years more than others, but I've always sewn. Now it's time to learn to quilt. Something I find very intimidating. This book might give me the push I need. I don't really have a dream project, but with $500 I might buy embroidery software, embroidery designs and thread, to really put the embroidery part of my combination machine to good use.

If I had $500 to spend on fabric I would buy lots of beautiful florals in soft pastel shades or batiks in every color of the rainbow or lots of gorgeous paisleys or fun whimsical prints or...oh, it would be so hard to decide!!!

I would buy lots of the latest fabrics. I don't do much in batiks so maybe I'd go that route.

IF there is such a thing,I would like to find and buy an affordable very mini version of a long arm quilting machine,or whatever else that would work well, so that I could do my own quilting.

Can I use the 500 smakers to just buy lots and lots of adorable fabric instead of picking one larger project?

I've wanted to quilt but have only dabbled at it so far. If I had $500, I would go buy some really great tools to help with quilting - starting with a rotary cutter, and mats. Maybe even a good craft table to layout and cut my fabric on. Spending $500 would really be fun!

I think being comfortable with your sewing machine increases your success. Know your machine and what it can do. Use quality materials in your project and sew a little each day.

Wow, $500 to spend on any project - that would be fabulous! I love batik fabrics and would love to add more of them to my stash. I would love to be able to redo a bunch of my curtains also and $500 would certainly go a long way.

Wow, $500 for a SINGLE project??? Hmm. I don't think I could do just one project with that. I would rather split it up on fabric for clothes for me and my daughter, then use the rest on some pretty cotton for a new bed-size quilt.

Win $500 for projects???? Oh, baby. I'll be retired by the end of the calendar year and I plan to make up for lost time! I've been testing a tote pattern I've designed and written, my granddaughter sat with me and designed the quilt she wants to help me make for her (CATS, you know!!), my grandson is busy making a quilt and I can see the quilted vest I want to make for both me and my daughters - oh, yeah! I can already feel the fabric I can order to make winter clothes and a quilt for grandpa! Did I mention I love to sew and love to quilt??? I just bought an older (very much older!) short arm quilting machine and I need quilting fabric to use this relic! This would be a fantastic retirement present!

I always watched Mum sew when I was very little, maybe 4 or 5. I too admired the craft that my mum and maternal grandma produced. That's why I always have craft works going all the time now.

I would use part of the money to buy containers to organize my sewing room and then buy material to make my grandaughters one of a kind outfits.

with $500 I would love an embroidery machine!!!!

If I were to win $500 for my Project...I would make tie quilts for my grandson's soccer team in Germany. I just returned and he is 6 years old, playing soccer like a champ. I am making him a beautiful tie quilt with red, white & black soccer balls(team name is Red & White) on one side & black on back. In Germany they do not have the fleece fabric and my son was ectatic when he saw the fabric I ordered and will be making the blanket with.I would love to surprise the team with blankets for all....with the quilt book I would use all my scraps and make lap quilts for wheel chair students I worked with for 23 years...just retired in June.

Thank you for having such a great site & blog

Pauliegirl

I would Love this book....the quilt is so cute on the front. Now, 500.00 to spend, I'd buy more material, possibly 1930's collection since I don't have any of that yet. I'm kinda new to quilting and I'm so hooked!!!

That book lookds great.... $500 would be for more quilt fabrics...

looks like a good book. The most consuming part of quilting is all the cutting and precuts make it faster. With 500.00 i would put it towards a new ,machine or spend it on fabric. Thanks for a chance to win

I have been sewing for a few years now. and I LOVE it! i recently started teaching my 8 year old to sew and she is loving it. she has stocked us up on pillow cases! lol and she has made herself an endless supply of arm warmers lol :)
I just got into quilting i still have yet to actually finish a full size one..i haven't had the courage to tart one..so i have been reading A LOT about patterns, techniques and traditional sewing and short cuts, I think this book would be a great help in finally giving me the courage to start a full size quilt. Plus I LOVE just looking around the internet and in books at all the beautiful quilts.
Thanks for reading! :)
Happy sewing :)

My son will be getting married in September of 2011. I want to make a quilt for them with an embroidered Country Church as the center. The church design is machine embroidered in twelve separate squares which requires different color silks. The embroidery is very detailed and will take many hours, threads, batting, fabrics and silks to complete. My dream is to make the design of the quilt a double wedding ring with the embroidered country church as the center motif. It will be lovely and so worthy of the incredible couple they are! Thanks for the opportunity to be part of the contest and tell you about my dream project!