A few completed swap pieces ...


Two appliqued mug rugs for a Quilting Gallery swap.



Two house blocks for Block Swap Adventure.

I often get so busy making ties and related accessories that I don't make time to sew other stuff. These swaps are a great way to change the pace a little and do something different. Very, very refreshing and fun.

A few swap and other blocks, sent out in January. I get so excited about shipping these out and reaching their destination that I take one or two quick pictures, which, unfortunately, usually aren't the best. Sigh ... 

A few swap blocks sent out recently.

No pattern used for this one, just 16 HST blocks

Paper Pinwheels  http://www.quilterscache.com/P/PaperPinwheelsBlock.html

Swap Block for Block Swap Adventure. The more I paper piece the more I fall in love with it.

Check out this quilt done with 24 gorgeous Lone Starburst blocks. Swoon.

A few blocks made for Block Swap Adventure. Both should have reached their destinations so I feel safe sharing them!

The pictures didn't turn out very well, and of course I've already sent the blocks, but they are really neat blocks.

Both are paper pieced.


First, a Storm at Sea block. I initially tried to make this block without paper piecing. I learned my lesson quickly! The paper piecing made it so simple, and the seams and points line up without any trouble.


Second, a simple star found here. The pink fabric is not this frighteningly bright, I promise.

I found a simple to follow paper piecing tutorial here.

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 My kids are with their father for a little bit so I'm in "project mode" while I await their return.

Project 1: getting the house clean. Deep cleaned and purged of stuff we don't need. It has been a major project but I'm down to the last few rooms and seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It's a good looking light too!

Project 2: sewing. Beginning with the quilt tops above. The two tops are identical in design, just different colors and fabrics. I used Elizabeth Hartmann's Crazy Nine Patch Block tutorial here and had so much fun putting these together. I highly recommend giving this a try. I was able to put each top together in an afternoon, each set of 9 crazy blocks took me just under an hour, so it's a super quick and easy technique. I'll share many more pictures after the quilts are done.


Project 3: repurposing this gem. At least I think I'm repurposing it, I'm not exactly sure what it's original use was so maybe it's always been a craft show key fob holder. I kind of doubt it though.

Lest it go unnoticed, the really ugly positioning and lighting of the thing is intentional, just like an infomercial. That way the "after" will look most amazing.

Project 4: catching up on my tv shows and sleep. Need I say more?

In other news, I received this beautiful block in the mail from Andra of Simplify and Quilt. I love it and it's another perfect addition to my growing block collection ... one block closer to making a quilt!

Another swap, another block. Or two. And some goodness in my mailbox.

Civil War fabric again, and apparently that's where I stopped reading the e-mail.

I searched high and low for a "Florida" block but had little success. Then went for a traditional block and made this one (click the sneak peak to see the full image):


The tutorial for this Cross Roads block can be found here, basically the inner squares are each 3.25" and the outer squares (2), each cut into two triangles, started as 7.25".

I took my pictures, bagged my block, and went to get the address off the original e-mail.

Oh wait, I was supposed to make a specific block - a choice of three, but none of which was named Cross Roads.

Back to the drawing board (again, click the image to see the full block, can't spoil the fun for the recipient!) ...


No tutorial for this one.

I sent both.

And look, I got a new house from Cyndi:


I'm in love. And who couldn't use a new house (without an upside-down mortgage even, I think I'm now the only person in town with a house like that)? And it looks terrific with the other blocks I've received.

More bow ties. Making these is more than a little addictive, which is perfectly fine with me. They can be found in the shop, waiting for happy new homes and little boys and young men to wear them proudly.

Each of the bow ties is available in four sizes - infant, toddler, boy, and preteen.

And each is just $13.

The other day I posted about some quilt squares I'd made. I failed to properly link to the tutorials for the squares.

Not a huge issue, but after spending last night trying to find out how to make a certain square - which turned out to be paper pieced and absolutely beautiful, but not right for the project I had at hand - and coming to "dead ends", I decided that I really should link back to the original posts so someone coming across my squares would be able to recreate them if they so chose.

The first square, the red, white and pink block, was created using a Solstice Stars tutorial at Fresh Lemon Quilts. I made the Two Colors Star, though I did adapt it a little to use fewer pieces. Her tutorials make 12.5" blocks.

The second square, a traditional block using Civil War era fabrics was found here on Civil War Quilts blog. She offers tutorials for 8" blocks so I added a coordinating border to get to a 12.5" block.

I've also edited the original post to include this information. I don't know about you, but I know I'll sleep better tonight.

I laid out all the swap blocks I've received and am very excited. I'm expecting a few more in the mail, once they arrive I'll try to share some pictures of potential layout ideas.

Have a wonderful weekend.
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For the last 14 months I've had the honor of participating in Block Swap Adventure's monthly block swaps. Each is a challenge in it's own way, which makes for a lot of fun. And the blocks I get in return are shaping up to be a terrific quilt for my family room.

My May block, a traditional block with Civil War era fabrics, was quite a treat to create. I don't do traditional very often, and I don't do Civil War fabrics, so a fair amount of research went into creating this one. It was great fun learning more about the history of traditional blocks, I had no idea just how much there was to learn. The block this is based on is a Louisiana block.

Tutorial here on Civil War Quilts blog. She offers tutorials for 8" blocks so I added a border to get to a 12.5" block.

I hope that I'm able to give the recipient a block that works for her, but that also has a bit of me in it.

Click the "sneak peek" image to see the complete block.


This second block, for the June swap, was asked to be a Solstice Stars block in modern colors and white.

Just for fun I modified the pattern, thinking it would make it easier. It did, except that I cut some of the pieces too long and had to go back and shorten them. Oops.

I may go back and do a few more of the Solstice Stars blocks for myself, they are really cute. They could easily be mixed with other star or even 9-patch blocks for a quilt top.

The tutorial at for this block can be found at Fresh Lemon Quilts ... I made the Two Colors Star, though I did adapt it a little to use fewer pieces.

Clicking the "sneak peek" will take you to a view of the whole square.

I'm patiently waiting for the rain to abate so I can take and post some pictures of another patchwork quilt, finished over the weekend while hanging out in the woods with the cub scout pack. Nice breeze, bits of sun, great conversation, good food, a relaxing lounge chair ... not a bad venue for quilt binding.

A last (for now) patchwork quilt is getting it's binding stitched, though my aging eyes (crap, I'm only 45) would appreciate a little more natural light to ease that task. I cannot believe how bad my up-close eyesight is getting, and how quickly it's getting bad. I think reading glasses are a necessity.

These two quilt blocks were sent out as part of Block Swap Adventure. I sent them out mid-last week so they should have been received by now. These were such a pleasure to make, I hope they meet the needs of the recipients.

Because I'm Frugal is so exciting! After years of watching and scrutinizing every penny spent it's nice to be able to share what I've learned. The feedback has been wonderful, so far. Your support in spreading the word that the site is there is most appreciated. Look for give-aways in November both here at Because I'm Me and there at Because I'm Frugal.

I was asked recently to make a basket as a "swap angel" for someone who's partner didn't take the Swapping Integrity Pledge (shame on them!) in the Quilted Fabric Basket Swap. Having not received an expected item in a swap I know how crappy and un-fun that feels, so I was more than happy to help out (as were quite a few other angels).


And this is the basket heading to Canada this week.



These baskets, following this tutorial, are very quick and easy to put together.


 I love the fabrics together, so much so that I'm working on a quilt with the same combination.


I hope the recipient will enjoy the bag, and feel a little more internet-swap-loved.


Here is the bag I made for the swap.

I received this beautiful block last week and couldn't be happier! The colors and style are so "me". Thanks Melissa!


This is for the Block Swap Adventure monthly swap. My block, sent to her, is below:

A fun bag made for the Quilting Gallery Quilted Fabric Basket Swap.

Next round of the Block Swap Adventure swap.

First attempt:

 I found one image of this block online, no name for it, no pattern, no idea what size to make any of the pieces.  So this was the first attempt, and clearly not quite right. I got the triangle sizes correct, but overall the block was too big and I didn't start with a true octagon so the center is a wonky mess.

Second attempt:


Better, but the larger triangles are too small so the last side ended up way off. Just not quite the look I was going for. There are a few other issues with it as well, enough that I realized that without any piece sizes I'd be working at this for a very long time before getting it right.

Final product:


Ha! Sorry, can't reveal the details yet, but it's nothing like the first two. While I'd have loved for those to have turned out I'm very happy with what I went with in the end.  I hope my star-seeking partner will like it as well.

The block I sent out for the Block Swap Adventure swap:

The request had been for wonky houses or wonky trees.  I was so excited and had so much fun making the block.

And this is the block I received:


I love it.

These are the mug rugs I sent out for the Aunt Pitty Pat's Easter Mug Rug Swap.





And here is what I received.  Simply gorgeous!

Such a good idea, everyone who swaps should pledge to do the same, or at least commit in to themselves to do the same.  I've been very lucky, so far, with swaps and have received something from everyone I've swapped with (and have sent something to everyone!). 

Here's my confession of the day though: I participated in a swap recently and sent my items out last weekend. The swap was an Easter swap and I had a hard time finding Easter stuff before I packed up the items, so I had to fudge a bit (supposed to send a mug ... I could not find an Easter one, not even at a ceramics store or a thrift store, so sent a simple white mug with a pink ribbon on it). Also, one of the packages was going out of the country and, with a mug in it, I was concerned about weight and cost, so I didn't add in any extras beyond what the swap required. I just feel like I could have done more. I did tell the swap Mama and she reassured me that I did fine ... it's just bugging me a bit.

Head here if you'd like to sign the pledge.

This block is heading to Australia, made for Block Swap Adventure. Debra asked for a wonky tree or house, in bright colors ... seriously, could it have been any more "up my alley"?

I had such great fun making this, and I hope Debra likes it.

Look how lucky I am!


I received these "mug rugs", fabric, and pattern in the mail and am so happy with such generous swapping.

The package came from Annie, an extremely talented quilter.  I love her story of making the mug rugs ... her "trial and error approach" could have been lifted from the pages of my blog.


Thank you so much.