Peek Show: The Surprise Inside! Mystery Boxes and Mini Swaps

Let me start this post by saying I am an affiliate for Craftsy. What that means is I advertise for them here on Pink Doxies. If you choose to click on their link, and then buy something after clicking through this site, I receive a small payment. That's what advertising is all about, but not this post.

I also buy through Craftsy myself. They are one of my favorite online stores, and often carry fabric sales of Mystery Boxes. Did you ever try to guess what the fabrics might be? I've always been curious, and couldn't stand it any longer so I bought one to see. Care to peek inside with me?

This was my bundle, shrink-wrapped in plastic and boxed. There were 14 bundles, each a full yard. Total price was $48.07 making each yard cost $3.43. Let's have a look.

This is a Free Spirit bundle, and I generally like Free Spirit fabrics--a point we should consider first. I think their fabrics are just a little bit different from the mainstream in a good way. They definitely appeal to my style.

 Riddles and Rhymes by Tina Givens

Anna Marie Horner, Denise Schmidt, and Parson Gray

Fox Playground by Dena

Garden by David Walker

Paw Prints by Kathy Davis

What I thought: I was glad to see some coordinating prints. They might not all have been exactly what I would have chosen in walking through a store, but if I saw them for under $3.50 a yard I would likely have picked many of them. The ones that are a little less my style will expand my stash. Not a single one disappointed me, and I will definitely try it again. This was a good surprise.

Here's another wonderful surprise! My Anna Marie Horner mini quilt swap package arrived last night. Isn't it beautiful? Thank you, Tracey in Florida! I'm so thrilled.

There was an entire goody bag inside! I didn't send extras to my own partner, and regretted it after I was so spoiled with all of this. Tea, a mug rug, wrist strap for my billfold, charm squares, and home made dog biscuits for the girls.

#annamariehornerminiquiltswap

My own cone flowers burst into bloom just days ago. It seems as if their timing was just perfectly matched with the special delivery. 

Doesn't this make you want to surprise someone with something fun? It does me. I have a surprise of my own I'm working on, and need to get done before this weekend. Can you get yours done to share on the Pet Project Show this Saturday? I hope so. You make the most beautiful things!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
SewFreshQuilts

Wrens & Friends Quilt Finish & Taking Perfect Pictures

For every good picture you see here, there are at least a few other takes that don't make it. Like this one. I always think it's funny that things can appear picture perfect, but it never actually happens that way. The shot below was the last minute before dinner, and the rain was coming down behind me. I was begging for volunteers to hold the quilt for me.

The same story happened for the back shot. Cue the dog.

There's something about the look of a rolled up quilt that thrills me. I need to try it as soon as I have one done. No dogs here.

 Just a quick little post to show the finish for Q2 On the Windy Side Finishes with Adrianne. The linky is open for those of you who are participating, so time to link up. See you there!

Linking up today with~

Freemotion by the River

Quilt Story

Show and Tell Tuesday

Show and Tell with Bambi

Cooking Up Quilts

Hug-a-Bit Quilts

On the Windy Side

Pet Project Show #26

Happy Weekend to You!

I am off enjoying a bit of free time while the family holds down the fort, and feeds the animals. No big post, but some stunning new fabrics I found for a steal, and a Linky Party today for everyone to visit.

Enjoy the eye candy, and link up at the bottom. Remember, you may link up any blogposts or Instagram posts created in the past week. Some of us have a hard time choosing the favorite of the week. I know.

I invite you to add as many links as you've posted over the past week. If you've posted 3 times since last Saturday, you can link all three. You're not limited to just one, so show them all off! 

    

Thank you to each one of you who link up with the Pet Project Show. I love to see your work here!
***********

Come on, Doxie Girls.
It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday-Monday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left)
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until
Monday, June 20th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will
feature several of the Doxies and my
favorite link ups.
By linking up, you are giving permission for me
to post your picture with a link back to your 

blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap Finish

 Instagram has an allure all its own for quilters and quilter bloggers. There are quick fabric deals made daily. Want to re-vamp your stash? Grab a stack, snap a picture, and name your price. Someone may be looking for just that thing, and you might become friends in the meantime. There are posts by companies for new products and sales, but only if you follow them. Sometimes they'll have link ups and giveaways, too. Fun! People throw out pictures of whatever they're working on, and some are very inspiring projects. And, if you're interested in trying out a swap, it's heaven! There are oodles of mini quilt swaps, and Kate Basti does an amazing job of managing many of them. #katebasti #annamariehornerminiquiltswap

This was my first, and I signed up almost without hesitation because it was Anna Marie Horner fabric. I adore her prints! As you can see, I survived it, and got my mini mailed out this past Monday. My swap partner got her package already, so I feel safe posting my finish now.

The backing is one of the few fabric not in the Folk Song line, but still AMH. It's called "Innocent Crush."

My personal goal is to always push outside my comfort zone, so I did something I'd never done. I decided to add pearl cottons to this mini. Working with large eye embroidery needles, I actually quilted through the orange fabric and all the layers. It was hard work, but can be done. When I got to the corners, I lifted the fabric, and just stitched through the top layer. Easier, longer stitches, and it showed off the pink and salmon threads better. There are additional stitches and French knots in the main part of the mini, too.

The binding is the only semi-stripey fabric I had left, and I cut it so it showed some striping. I machine stitched it to the back, and turned it to the front. I kept with the spirit of hand quilting, and hand stitched it to to the front. I admit that I actually enjoyed finishing the binding this time. I wanted one last intimate look before I mailed it off.

I'm waiting on my package to arrive, and am excited to see what someone might make me. Whatever it is, I will be delighted. There are a lot of different skill levels involved in a swap, and you never know what you'll get. What you do know is that someone out there lovingly made a gift for you, hoping you'll appreciate it as much as the one you've sent. It teaches us to be gracious receivers as much as generous gifters.

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget to link up to the Pink Doxies Pet Project Show tomorrow. You may post as many links as you'd like as long as they are posts or links you've created in the past week.

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up today with~
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Richard and Tanya Quilts
#CreativeGoodness
TGIFF!

Work In Progress & Creative Space Tag

The Wrens & Friends quilt was loaded Sunday evening, and I started work on it. A pass or two, and I was off to bed. Monday afternoon I was back at it, but imagine my shock at how fast the looping went. By the time I was really relaxed and on a roll, it was over!

I didn't want an edge-to-edge on this quilt so I did straight lines on the border. It was loaded horizontally in the machine so the longest sides were at the top and bottom. With those done, I had to unpin the quilt from the machine, and turn it. Re-pin the quilt again at the top and bottom, and a quick finish. I didn't mark anything, but instead eyed the spacing by the flower print. Minor adjustments at seams kept things even.

On final inspection here below, I found one place I had 'pin tucked' the fabric. It will stay, but I know how to prevent it the next time I have to turn a quilt. My daughter won't mind. She's just thrilled it's almost ready. 

I'm tickled at how sweet the backing turned out. What do you think? Have you ever worked with a border print before?

I hope your works in progress and UFO's piles are getting smaller. Remember the end of the second quarter is approaching for any Finish Up link ups you may be involved in. I'm hoping to have this off my list by then, too.

Today's Creative Space Tag comes to you by Ruth at Charley & Ben's Crafty Corner. I loved her post today! Do visit. I'm so thankful for all of you that have joined in on this. So many have said they had no idea it would be so fun! Let me know if you're interested by sending me an email or using the contact form in the sidebar.

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up today with~

Quilting Jet Girl

My Quilt Infatuation

Sew Fresh Quilts

Freshly Pieced