12/3/15

Journey's End Celebration Giveaway!

Think of it as a pot of gold at the end of a very long rainbow. Today I'm celebrating the binding of the Doors of Ireland with a giveaway. Actually, the giveaway would have happened anyway, but this seems like as good a reason as anything else I could think of. I'll get to the giveaway in a minute, because as I'm writing this, the giveaway is still formulating in my head.

This morning I machine sewed the binding to the Doors of Ireland.


Since I've been working on this quilt since July of 2012, it seems like a good reason to celebrate right there. Wouldn't you agree? I started it shortly after I returned home from my journey to Ireland in May/June of 2012. It was the first time I tried recreating photographs into quilt blocks, and I'll say I've learned quite a bit along the way. It's been an excellent primer for some other quilts from photographs I'd like to try. 

Among those on my to-do list are a quilt I'll call "Me and My Shadow" made from the selfies our shadow selves like to take when we journey in our RV. Here's one of them now. It was taken at an overnight stop in Heyburn, Idaho, some years back.



Another I've been collecting photos for is a quilt I'll call "Windows and Walls". While working on the door quilt, I started getting interested in windows as well. Here is just one image I'd like to recreate into a quilt block some day. It was taken on a Sunday driving journey in the little town of Carlton, Oregon.



Finally, the "Barns of America", but this one is a dream for the future. When Mike retires at the end of April, 2017, we're dreaming of a journey back east. Along the way, I hope to capture some barns for this quilt. Already, I have quite a collection, but I'm holding off on starting the quilt until after our big trip. Here's one I saw while driving through Iowa last year.


Now that the binding is sewn on the doors, I'm going to keep the rest of the day pretty low key. For one thing, I want to use some of the CSA pumpkin puree currently hanging out in the freezer. I happen to have a bag of fresh cranberries leftover from Thanksgiving that I need to use, and I can kill both birds with one stone by making this Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Bread. I made this up a few years ago. You can find the link to the recipe right here.


While I'm waiting for that to bake off, I need to do a little kitchen cleaning. Other than that, I'm just going to get to work hand sewing the binding on the doors. And since I'm feeling deeply philosophical today, I'll add that a journey of 304 inches begins with a single stitch. 

So just what am I giving away today, you ask. It's this seven fat quarter bundle of Ribbon Festive Forest by Tamara Kate for Michael Miller Fabrics.


Pretty, huh? It's a Christmas bundle, but at least a few of them are appropriate for other times of the year. So what do you have to do to win it? Let me count the ways:

1. Leave a comment...any comment will do. If you need an idea, however, tell me a place you'd like to journey to sometime in the future. The sky's the limit, not your budget. Even if you don't believe you'll ever get there, where would you go if time and money were no object?

2. Followers (new or well-seasoned) can get an extra chance to win by leaving a second comment letting me know how you follow. If you're not a follower, you can find several different ways right there in my left side bar. Just sign up and join the fun!

3. Make sure I have a way to contact you. Lately, I've received comments and questions from some of you who are set at no-reply. If you've written to me and received no response, that's a really good clue that I have no way to contact you. If you need help getting your settings right, please email me, and I'll try to help you out.

So that's it! Short and sweet. All residents of Planet Earth are welcome to enter. I'll leave this giveaway open until I take the last hand stitch on the binding. It usually takes me about 3-4 days to hand sew a quilt this large. Time's a wastin', so don't miss out.

134 comments:

Jessica said...

I'd love to travel to Europe. And many places in between.

Jessica said...

I follow your blog directly and on Facebook.

Quilting Tangent said...

The Far East. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Anne D said...

I would love to visit the states again. Thanks for the chance to win.

Anne D said...

I follow on bloglovin

beaquilter said...

I told hubby to save up for a trip to disney world with the family when I turn 40 (so a little over 2 yrs)

beaquilter said...

I'm a follower on feedly

SkiWheel said...

I love your work, your blog, your posts... thank you.
I would love to travel to the Galapagos, the Ocovango in Africa, the Antarctic to see the Emperor Penguins and the Falkland Islands too! -- Kayaking in Greenland and Iceland and The Queen Charlotte Islands and paddle the Nahanni! So many beautiful places on earth that I fear will be irrevocably destroyed due to global warming and human . Oh, look, see what you have done with one simple question.. the imagination starts to ramble.

How do you manage your many ideas/photos and actually get to producing them into quilts? I often find myself overwhelmed with all the "idea" I have collected - (not to mention the fabric stash in my basement!! :) ) And on top of all that, still have time to post to your blog and document your projects to share with us!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us..
I love cats too, and my name is Barbara. So I love your signature/moniker too!
>^..^<

Mary Ann said...

I would love to travel to San Antonio and Austin Texas and on a different trip the Pacific North West. There is so much of this country I haven't experienced.

Mary Ann said...

I follow on feedly

SkiWheel said...

... global warming and human "intervention".
... with all the "ideaS" ..
See, you have my brain racing faster than my fingers can keep up!

Shauna said...

I would love to go to Australia, Italy, France, England, Spain...ok I would love to travel the world. But if I had to pick one it would be Australia.

Shauna said...

I follow you with bloglovin'

Jusmom1 said...

Thank you so much for this giveaway! I would love to go to Ireland and Scotland.

Jusmom1 said...

I follow you on Bloglovin.

gpc said...

I have a couple of friends I'd like to travel with, and I would go anywhere with them. The places I always wanted to see don't hold all that much charm when I think of going alone, while even McDonalds looks good with a friend. That said, if a friend would go along, I'd love to see Scotland and more of Alaska. :)

gpc said...

I follow -- oh how I follow -- on blogspot and facebook. Happily so. :)

Tawa said...

No budgetary restraints huh! Well, I would go to the USA. By some miracle, there would be a feast of quilt shows on during the month I came. Paducah, Houston, anywhere. There would still be rooms available at nearby hotels (2 rooms, since my hubbie is a gold medal winning snoring machine). I would go to show after show, and take classes from all those luminaries I read about in blogland. Then, my airline would waive all my excess baggage fees, just because! That would be my ideal trip. Oh, and the hubbie wants to go to NASA, apparently quilting isn't enough for him. Thanks for the giveaway. Tarnia.hodges at gmail.com

works4me said...

What a fabulous celebratory reason for a giveaway. Woo hoo. So close now. Thanks for the chance to win.

Travel - severe allergies keep me from travelling by anything other than car, but, if there were no restrictions to me travelling, I've always been fascinated by the Galapagos. I would love to go there in a way that would not disturb such an amazing ecosystem.

works4me said...

I follow in none of the usual ways at the side. I check in via the internet every day just after lunch to see what is up in your busy life. It's amazing the things I have found out from your blog - how to use up every bit of that CSA share, that I am not the only one who has quilt inspectors, that I need not fear FMQ (but I still do, a little), that there are a lot of quilt techniques I still want to try, and the list goes on and on. :)

Lee said...

I have always wanted to go to Finland as that is where my parents were from! thank you!

Lee said...

I follow your blog w/ Bloglovn!

Dixie said...

Too many people and cats to care for would prevent traveling for me, but if I could, I think a nice Rest Cure would be nice. Location negotiable.

Sher S. said...

I'd love to go back to London England because the last time we were there I tore the minsescus of my left knee and had a hard time walking. I'm so glad that the Doors of Ireland is almost done. Breathe a sigh of relief.

Sher S. said...

I'm also a follower of your blog directly and on Facebook.

Julianne said...

I love the idea of the "shadow selves" quilt, how fun!!

Julianne said...

I follow on google and your blog is one of my favs!!

Dana Gaffney said...

There's a bunch of them, London, Paris, Australia but first I think I'll go to Oregon and stay in a little B&B called Three Cats Ranch, then drag the owner with me to the Sister's Quilt Show :)

Dana Gaffney said...

I'm old school, I follow on GFC.

Shirley said...

I would love to spend some time travelling the Southwestern states. Love the rugged beauty. I really enjoy following along with your projects and you are such an inspiration. You three cat portrait mini-quilts are awesome. If a quilt has a cat on it, it automatically becomes my favorite. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway. (shirparks@gmail.com)

Kathy L said...

I've been reading your blog for quite some time now. Where do you get so much energy? Love your work.

Kathy L said...

I am a follower.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I would love to go to Hawaii - can't fly and get sea sick, so will have to wait for the invention of teleportation.

Kate said...

The sky's the limit? So I can't choose Mars, huh? Hmm, I'd say Europe, then. And it's too hard to narrow it down from there.

Kate said...

And I'm a Feedly stalker. Follower. Whichever.

Lisa England said...

Australia, New Zealand, Italy -- these are some of the places I would like to visit. Not crazy about long flights though, so with money being no object, I'd want to take the trips on a Supersonic Jet.

Lisa England said...

I follow your blog via GFC. A well-seasoned follower, as you say. Always lots of interesting things to read here!

Vicki H said...

I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise. I have seen pics of others and they look so beautiful.

Vicki H said...

I have been a happily follower with GFC.

Peggy said...

I hope to visit our granddaughter and her new husband in Germany next year and do some sightseeing.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

Substance of Living said...

If I could go anywhere and money were no object, I'd stat by spending time in every state in the USA in a really nice RV.

Substance of Living said...

I follow via Bloglovin'

Lee said...

Well, Ireland would be a good start, for a place to visit. I had a friend who was a make-up artist on The Manions of America and he'd write to me from Ireland and told me I'd really like it. I've followed along as you've done your Doors quilt - can't believe that was 2012 when you went to Ireland! Another place I'd like to go is the Geneva area of New York - ancestors were from there and I've reached dead ends on my research online.

Lee said...

I follow you via Bloglovin', I think I get daily Bloglovin' posts, but I usually click on the link to your blog on my own blog's sidebar.

crazy quilter said...

Wow, congrats on the finish! I would go to Hawaii or Alaska if I ever got the opportunity! Thanks for the chance to win diwy zero nine one two@yahoo.com

crazy quilter said...

Ps I follow you and the lovely kitties via bloglovin!

OhioLori said...

I would looove to go to England!! Want to visit the Awesome castles, and all the Gorgeous English gardens!

OhioLori said...

Already a Follower, thru Email & Bloglovin! :) Love the Adventures Gracie & Smitty have! & allll the wonderful sewing, cooking & fun things on your Blog too! Always feels like I popped-in to visit with a special friend! Merry Christmas Blessings! :)

Janet S said...

I hope a trip to Alaska is in my future! Thanks for the continued inspiration you give!

Janet S said...

Congrats on reaching the finish line on The Doors quilt! I follow via blogspot and look forward to your posts every day!

quiltzyx said...

Way to go - another finish!

The place I'd like to go to in the future is Three Cats Ranch in Oregon. I've heard it's the cat's meow and pajamas all in one!

quiltzyx said...

And yes, I'm a stalker from waaaaaaay back! LOL

Cinder Gal said...

I would love to just travel. Mainly over seas but seeing more of the USA would be fine with me.

Cinder Gal said...

Following on bloglovin. You are one of my favorites.

Kristine said...

I would like to visit Europe. I want to have a passport and go somewhere foreign!

Kristine said...

I follow via Feedly. I don't like to miss any of your posts!

Pamela said...

My husband and I would love to do a walking tour of Scotland (then I'll make him spend a weekend in Paris because I want to go back again)

Pamela said...

I follow with bloglovin.

Kathy MacKie said...

Italy is on my bucket list for sure.
dkmackie@shaw.ca

Kathy MacKie said...

I follow you on Google Friend, thanks for the chance to win.

Anonymous said...

My dream trip would be to Australia and New Zeland where I would take lots of pictures of barns. I love barns and love your idea of a "barn" quilt. Have enjoyed your blog for a couple years now and look for to many more years.

Bonnie58 said...

Love your blog and the kitty's antics. Australia and New Zealand are on my to do wish list, as well as Hong Kong. Thanks so much for sharing

Bonnie58 said...

I have been a follower for a few years now. i love your sense of style and the way your mind works.!! Thanks for sharing your life with us all.

Podunk Pretties said...

Alaska! I've been telling everyone for months I'm moving to Alaska to live off the land. The chances of me moving are slim, but a visit would be just as nice.

Podunk Pretties said...

Follower via GFC

Susan said...

I would like to travel to and throughout all 50 US states. I would also like to travel around the world, particularly Europe, the far East, South America, Australia, New Zeeland, and the the North and South Poles. I might as well add the moon in there too :-)

senstrings (at) yahoo dot com

Susan said...

I follow your blog via email. My cat, Patches, says meow to Smitty and Gracie.

senstrings (at) yahoo dot com

Margaret said...

Hi, I traveled to the east coast when we sent our youngest off to college. First vacation without kids in about 30 years. I would love to go back but do the whole coast from Canada to Florida.

Margaret said...

I have been a follower for quite a while. I love seeing your awesome quilts.

Barb H said...

I'd like to travel everywhere in the world, but especially a return trip to the Emerald Isle. Great quilt, by the way.

Barb H said...

And, Barbara, I follow you on Blogspot.com, and love every one of your posts.

Beth said...

Great question, Barbara! We talk about this one quite often. I think I would most like to spend some time in England. Two of my great-grandparents came from there, and I've always felt an affinity for the place and the people, ever since I was a little girl reading British storybooks. Watching the Great British Baking Show just makes the feeling stronger!

Beth said...

I follow you via email: wordygirl (at) earthlink (dot) net

Robyn said...

I follow you through bloglovin
rtgandy at gmail

Robyn said...

I would love to travel through Europe, especially Italy. I just keep getting drawn to Japan though... I love it so much that it is hard to choose to go to anywhere else on the rare chance I get for extended travel.
rtgandy at gmail

Unknown said...

I follow you...and Gracie...and Smittie and enjoy it every day!

Amy C said...

I would love to travel to Northern Ireland to visit my family.
I'm an old follower.
campbellamyd at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would take 2 weeks and spend all my time going through all of the displays at the Smithsonian. I'm a science/history geek!

Lyndsey said...

If I could time travel I'd go back in time to have one more shopping trip with my mom, otherwise I like to go on safari to watch giraffe in the wild.

Lyndsey said...

I follow you by GFC but you also pop up on facebook and blogloving. I love following along.

Laura said...

I follow you by email newsletter received almost!! daily. What alot of energy you put into your blog.

Laura said...

Not sure I'll be fanciful about where to travel. However, I will thank you for your wonderful posts of your work and the photos of your cats. I too am a cat lover. Really appreciate all of your hand work.

gayle said...

If time and money were no object, I'd go see Australia. And stay for at least a month sightseeing!

gayle said...

Oh, and I follow you on Feedly. Cats and quilts? How could I not follow you?

juliehallfeldhaus said...

We would like to go back to Alaska even we loved it there!

juliehallfeldhaus said...

I follow you by email. Every morning I have my coffee and read your blog:)

Heidi said...

Well, I haven't been to Oregon in ages, but with no restrictions I take my husband to Spain!

Heidi said...

I follow by email:)

SJSM said...

To start, travel to all the US national parks. That would take me to each state and to far flung places such as American Samoa. Then a road trip throughout Europe, see the Amazon, Egypt, India, Thailand, Japan, Antarctic, parts of Africa, the Seychelles, New Zealand, Austrailia, Fiji and other beautiful isles of the Pacific. and wrap it all up with a world cruise in a penthouse suite. In each adventure whichever family and friends will join in as their interests dictate. I could go on however if I accomplished all those trips I just might be tuckered out.

SJSM said...

Following by email is my method and I have liked you on Facebook. Love the kitty pages you put up. :)

Unknown said...

I want go to China . fancyandpoor@yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog. fancyandpoor@yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog. fancyandpoor@yahoo dot com

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Congrats. Glad the bobbin thingy helped with your tension issues. I need one to fit my machines (not long arm). You need to drive thru Wisconsin, and check out their barns. Lovely barns in that state.

Auntiepatch said...

My Grandmother's family came to America from Ireland around 1900. I would like to see the country her family came from.

Auntiepatch said...

I follow your blog karen.patch.anderson@gmail.com

liniecat said...

I suspect it will be an anti climax once the Irish quilt is completed although am sure with the actual quilting over, you will be relieved!
If you stated it in 2012 that's not so bad when you consider how MUCH else you've completed during that time too lol
Love the idea of the shadows being a quilt, always thought that was such a personal and imaginative thing to collect, shadowy memories - maybe subtle voiles will be needed lol

liniecat said...

I follow by email : )
I have been lucky enough to travel far and wide as RAF Loadmaster Aircrew flying on VC10s.
Id love to go back to Hong Kong .............. I spent weeks there on separate detachments
( flying back and forth to Kathmandu) and many othr regular trips into the old Kai Tak airport.
But then I wasn't interested in textiles like I am now!
Id go and go in search of fabrics lol can you imagine!!!

mumbird3 said...

I follow on bloglovin...love your blog! My family came over from Ireland in the 1830s - would love to go there and wander where they did!

Gill said...

I'm looking forward to seeing your Irish quilt - I remember when you started it! I've been to Ireland many times but at the top of my wishlist is New Zealand

Gill said...

GFC follower!

Quilting Babcia said...

Being the Christmas season and all, the top travel destination on my wish list would be the Holy Land. So good to see the final step coming along on your doors quilt.

Christine M said...

I've enjoyed watching your progress with your Doors quilt, Barbara. I bet you'll be excited to get that last bit of binding stitched down.

Christine M said...

I follow you on GFC and also have you on my blog list. Thanks for the lovely giveaway.

Terri in BC said...

One day I hope to make my own Doors of Italy quilt, inspired by yours! I would love to visit the Maldives, but I also want to return to Italy. Thanks for the opportunity!

Terri in BC said...

I follow you through my blogroll on my own blog (but I think I also have you on bloglovin'.

vicki said...

I would like to go to England, Ireland and Scotland Thanks for the giveaway. vickise at gmail dot com

vicki said...

I follow you on Bloglovn'. Thanks again! vickise at gmail dot com

erin mcsweeney said...

One day I will get to Hawaii

erin2470@hotmail.com

erin mcsweeney said...

i follow you by email

erin2470@hotmail.com

Judy1522 said...

Your Doors of Ireland quilt turned out beautiful and iis a great way to remember your trip.

Judy1522 said...

I am a follower on bloglovin.

Celtic Thistle said...

The finish line is in site.for.that wonderful Doors quilt, I bet you can't wait ! Since my husband retired a couple of years ago we have ticked off several of the destinations on our bucket list but still have more to see. South America is high up on my list.

Celtic Thistle said...

I am a happy follower on Bloglovin :)

Anonymous said...

I would really love to go to Scotland and stay for 3 or so months. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

barbara woods said...

Haven't been to Fla in years

barbara woods said...

Old old follower

Lana said...

Australia! Would love to spend a couple of months exploring the country & hugging koalas & then on my way back home I would have to visit Fiji. I really enjoy your blog - from the quilting & needlework....to the cat tales.....and the food! I've got some cranberries in the freezer, so I may need to make that cranberry pumpkin bread soon. Yum!
I think your Doors of Ireland quilt is spectacular. I'd say you won't know what to do with yourself when you finish the binding, but it looks like you have plenty of other projects on which to keep you busy.

Lana said...

I always enjoy seeing what you're up to through the emails I get. And I recently started following on FB.

Cecilia said...

I would love to go to England and Scotland one day. Thank you for sharing your projects with us.

Cecilia said...

I'm a follower via email. Thanks for the giveaway.

Nancy in IN said...

We are going to the northeast coast by rail next fall.

Nancy in IN said...

I am a follower by email. Bread looks delicious. I want to try for Christmas.

Quiltsmiles said...

I love traveling and was lucky enough to see Ireland years ago. I'd love to travel back there some day. Happy Stitching and Merry Christmas.

Quiltsmiles said...

Of course I've been friendly stalking you from afar for quite awhile. LOL

Unknown said...

Recent health problems limit my mobility but I'd like to return to Monument Valley and Southern Utah, where a roll on a small rock started this downward trend with my first broken hip. Just passed another birthday, so I'd better get moving!
mgodfrey39@gmail.com

mgodfrey39@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow the Cat Patches blog through every day e-mails.

mgodfrey39@gmail.com

ritainalaska said...

love your doors of Ireland! googled for the pattern, but didn't find it ... have been looking for a grand pattern for such a quilt, collecting shamrock fabric - for a quilt for myself [am half irish and my birthday's st paddy's day. my traveling days are over; never did get to japan to have tea at a teahouse.

ritainalaska said...

i'm a follower!

Lynn - JnL4God said...

I follow you with Bloglovin'
Lynn - jnl4god@live.com.

LethargicLass said...

I would go to Europe for 2 months and go see all my favourite haunts from my past lol

LethargicLass said...

I'm a follower, in for the long haul :)

Lynn - JnL4God said...

So many places I'd love to go. Love to go to Eastern USA and just see some of the historical sights of our country. While I'm there I'd like to visit Amish area's and see some of their crafts including quilts of course. I'd like to go to Norway - it's part of my heritage and know very little about it. Should delve in someday and research it. I took a cruise in 2004 - I'd love to take another. Thanks for the give away!
Lynn - jnl4god@live.com