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Saturday, February 21

Goldfish Bowl Pocketbook ~ Sew the Library & a Giveaway Winner

Last weekend, my cousin's little girl became a big sister for the very first time.  I made her this sweet little goldfish bowl purse as a big sister gift.  It will be paired with the book "A Fish Out of Water", by Helen Palmer, so I wanted the little fish to look just like the one in the book.  Of course, inside the purse there will be a pack of "Go Fish!" playing cards.  Hmmm... there's something fishy going on here.


Goldfish Bowl Pocketbook
Pattern from "First Steps to Free-Motion Quilting", by Christina Cameli

The quilting design shows up better in the picture below.  Although there is much room for FMQ improvement, I'm really happy with how it turned out.  The color in this photo is more accurate too - the outside of the purse is Kona Cotton in Azure.    


Goldfish Bowl Pocketbook 
Quilting Design from "Step-By-Step Free Motion Quilting", by Christina Cameli

I've gotten serious about learning to free motion quilt... at least enough to do small projects.  This time around, I am finally meeting with some success and there is a reason for that.  Her name is... gee, can you guess?  Yes!  Christina Cameli.

Christina is just the best and I am definitely a huge fan!  I met her last spring when I chose her Spoonflower fabric for one of my own book's projects.  At the time, I had no idea who she was, or that she was such a sweetie pie!  She is a great teacher too.  As you can see, I've spent some serious time pouring over her two wonderful books.  All those little tabs are for things I want to try!  (That is not a real cookie - it's one of my cookie coasters.)  


The Secret Formula for learning how to Free-Motion Quilt
Christina's second book, Step-By-Step Free-Motion Quilting, just came out recently.  Looking through this book makes you feel like you are reading a friend's treasure of a design journal.  It is filled, chock full, with wonderful free-motion quilting patterns, along with instructions on how to accomplish them.  It stands alone as a great design book and it is also the perfect accompaniment to Christina's best-selling first book: First Steps to Free-Motion Quilting.  That first book has wonderful projects to make, and I intend too!   That adorable Goldfish Bowl Purse is one of them.  One of the things I love about Christina's patterns and quilting designs is that she brings a fresh and modern approach to free-motion quilting!

I also enrolled in Christina's bestselling Craftsy Class: The Secrets of Free Motion Quilting, which made me an even bigger fan than ever! Christina is very good at teaching quilting and watching her class is so helpful!  She has a gift for being somehow inspiring and restful at the same time.   

I am a Craftsy affiliate now, so must tell you that if you click the links to Craftsy and happen to purchase anything, that I will receive a commision.   Cynthia Brunz of Quilting is more fun than Housework helped me learn how to set that up and I just have to say a huge "Thank You Cyndy!" here on my blog.  
I chose to become an affiliate because I love Craftsy. I was already a fan of Christina!  


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On March 6th, I will be guest posting for the very first time for my friend Susie of Susie's Sunroom!   I'll be taking part in her Simply Striped Pillow Blog Hop.  I've purchased the cutest fabrics for this and will be quilting my pillow with another of Christina's beautiful quilting designs from Step-By-Step Free-Motion Quilting.  This is so exciting for me and I am really honored that Susie asked me to be a part of her hop! 





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Aren't I a meanie-mean-pants?  I've put the announcement of who won the Kona Cotton (All 303 Fabulous Colors) Color Card all the way down here in my post.  Bwah, Ah, Ah!  A very link filled post with lots of wonderful places to go and check out, I might add.  So without further ado, here is the photo I took of the computer screen with the winner chosen by the Random Integer Generator




I met a lot of wonderful folks this week and wish everyone could win!  There were 101 comments (I did not count blue replies by me)  I haven't been able to get my blog set up with numbered comments yet, which means I counted three times to make sure I got it right.  The lucky winner is one of the people I just met: Colleen K., who blogs at Fancy Foot Farm!  Colleen, I'll email you soon.  Or you can email me; either way is good.   

Would you like to see another fun giveaway?  Mara has made the most adorable and tiny little paper pieced Bee blocks and is making a pincushion to give away to one of her lucky readers.  You can comment for a chance to win here: Secretly Stitching 

And Last, but certainly not least, I am linking this post to Sew the Library.  This is a monthly link up party that starts on the 20th of each month.  The great idea behind this linky party is to make a project from a book you already own... something we all intend to do , but often put off.  Oh Look!  Squirrel!
This month the party is at Martha's Weekend Doings.  Check out the great Kimono Tunic that Martha made!  Have you sewn a project from one of your books this month?  If so, go and join in the fun!  

Thanks for visiting!
Lara



43 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness. I'm up late and decided to check my Bloglovin' feed. I'm so excited! Thank you. I've longed for a Kona color card forever!

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  2. I was so excited I forgot to tell you how stinking' cute that purse is. The fish reminds me of a book my children loved about a fish named Otto who was overfed and grew too big. Great FMQ by the way. I also didn't pay attention to how I was logged in to leave a comment. That's me up there as Skootchover.

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  3. What a darling big sister gift. I love the circles (bubbles?) you interspersed among your wavy quilting lines. I'm not familiar with this book; thought the fish was from Dr. Seuss at first. Delightful!

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  4. Oh Lara, that is such a sweet purse and your quilting looks perfect to me! You go girl!

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  5. Adorable little purse! You did a great job on it. And your quilting looks wonderful!

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  6. Oh that is such a sweet sweet bag, and the quilting on it looks wonderful :-)

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  7. What a lovely idea for a gift.

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  8. I love that purse and I think your free motion is "fabulous darling", it's such a good idea to make her feel special too as a big sister.

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  9. That purse is SO STINKIN' ADORABLE!!! What a great share. :) The quilting really is perfect on it. Thanks for the books share, too - I'd like to look for those for myself.

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  10. The fish purse is so darn cute Lara! Your quilting looks just great as well!

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  11. Your fish purse is just adorable! I want one!! And what a perfect quilting job you did. Thanks for the recommendations on the FMQ books. I am going to have to force myself to break out of my comfort zone with this. All I do well is meander and that gets boring. I've never participated with Craftsy and will have to look at that, too.

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  12. PS... did you make the pinwheel?

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    1. Yes Ramona, this is one of many that Kaitie and I made, all of which two found their way home with guests.
      You can read about it and find the link for the pinwheel pattern in this post: http://www.buzzinbumble.com/2014/07/sweet-serenade-lil-twister-quilt.html

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  13. Ohhh... what a lovely purse, Lara! I love it!
    Hugs, Deborah

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  14. How darling!!! She'll love it! And the FMQing is fantastic!!!!!!!

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  15. Thanks for the book recommendations from me, too! I've been dabbling in FMQ without much success; certainly not enough to do somethng for someone else to see! I want to keep trying through. Your fishy pocketbook is adorable, and what a fun idea for a little girl!

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  16. That purse is adorable and the bubbled, wavy quilting perfect accent for that little fishy to be swimming in a fish bowl!! I have the first book and the second is on my wish list.

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  17. Hello Lara! Thanks for sharing all my FMQ resources. Your purse looks lovely! You do very precise work, and I think you picked a great design for that little purse. I love that you made your own handle, that looks fabulous. What in inspiration you are!

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  18. Lara, that purse is adorbs!! And your quilting is great! I think you have been holding out on us :) Congrats to Colleen, even though I am totally jealous! :D

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  19. so cute! I love those fmq books too! It is always a great present to make something homemade and pair it with a book, love your "package"!!

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  20. That FMQ looks fantastic! And the end results look so professional. Lucky big sister! I love the added addition of the Go Fish cards. :)

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  21. Your "Fish Out of Water" purse is sheer perfection! From the quilting to the Fish on front!! And the fabrics!! She will love it, I am so sure.
    I will have to look up these books on FMQ, as that is something that I need to learn to do. I thought you already easily could fmq !
    And I am so happy that you will be one of my guests blogging about our pillow in the blog hop! I can't wait to see what you create, Lara!
    Susie

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  22. Your purse is really cute! I'm sure your cousin's daughter will love it!

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  23. Super cute purse. Love the fish! Adorable! Love your bru haha more

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  24. That is so cute! Great purse, very clever design! The pinwheel too! Thanks for the link to the Sew the Library link up. I have been thinking I should make at least one thing from every quilt book I've bought (but that would take a long time, lol). Sew the Library sounds like a good start.

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  25. I love your goldfish purse!!
    Congratulations to Colleen

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  26. Wow! There's a lot of content in this post! lol First, I must say that I find your goldfish bowl quite charming. There is not a girl on earth who would not want such a pretty little bag. The lining is the perfect complement to the blue/water outer fabric. And the sewing looks neat and crisp.
    Second, the FMQ is gorgeous. The fabric went from blue to water blue. I love the variations you've done between the lines. I can understand how you can spend so much time looking into your books. I'm always amazed by what one can do with thread and a FMQ foot.
    Third , you seem to have taken blogging to a step further. (Meaning, you seem to have been working quite hard...) I'm looking forward to your guest post!

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  27. Cutest bag ever … This bag is so adorable and it's such a fun pattern. Your cousin's daughter will certainly adore carrying her stuff around in such beautiful bag. It's remarkably handcrafted.

    I commend you for your FMQ, it looks great. I wanted to try FMQ for some time now and finally gave it a try this past week. After watching many classes ... It's hard. I practiced a bit every day, but I think it will take a while before I'm able to FMQ on a quilt ... :-)

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  28. Thanks so much for adding to the buzz (hee hee... see what I did there!) of my first Kona link-up by tying in your Kona Card Giveaway. A bloggy friend of mine ran a QAL similar to Sew The Library last year. Its a great way to use all those wonderful resources we have on the shelves!

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  29. So much good info in this post, Lara! You know I am a huge fan of Angela Walters, also of Leah Day, and also of Cynthia Brunz...but I might just have to check out this Camelli gal, lol. You did a super job on that adorable purse. I want to make one! Don't think Brady would be all over it though, just sayin'. So sorry I missed the giveaway; one of those cards is something on my wish list. I've missed a few of my fave bloggers' (and you're right up there you realize) posts of late, I'm a bit perturbed...probably not going through them all properly on bloglovin' feed, so it's my fault.

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  30. I now have both those books and totally love them! Your bag turned out super cute!

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  31. Super cute purse. I love the little fishy. And your FMQ is super. I'm still trying to learn free motion quilng. I got one book a while ago but I thinkg I'm going to check out the ones you suggested.
    Thank you for linking up to Sew The Library.

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  32. I loved that book when I was a kid (and that was a good way back) so it was fun to see it pop up here, and as a cute purse too. I think it's a perfect big sister gift and should make your cousin's little girl feel really special. You are gathering such a head of steam here, with your FMQ and all your other projects. I'm having a lot of fun following it all.

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  33. Hey Lara are you on Blogger? Sew at Home Mummy has lots of blogger tips and one of them is how to get numbers up on your comment form. I will send you the link in an e-mail. I am also trying to learn FMQ, I just adore your fish bowl purse it turned out so cute and I can see there are a lot more projects from the books that you want to create ;)

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  34. Your little goldfish bowl purse is absolutely adorable, Lara. And the fabrics and quilting are gorgeous! Wow! It is so wonderful to see you blossoming so much as a quilter and blogger in the short time that I have known you. So glad we are quilty blogging friends!

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  35. Love the bowl bag! I signed up for the craftsy class too and love it! Been wondering if I should get the second book too as I have the first so thanks for sharing what you thought of it!

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  36. The fish bowl bag is awesome. Neat, neat, neat!

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  37. I'm nearly certain I wrote a long, adoring comment about this purse days ago, but I can't see it any where, so I'll try again. Maybe I just thought it in my head - I was having trouble taking my eyes off of your awesome fish bowl bag, so it's a possibility that I just forgot to type what I was thinking :) This is the cutest and coolest little thing I've seen in a long time. I love the quilting and the blue fabric.

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  38. Your first fmq looks wonderful and that purse is just darling!

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  39. That fish is so adorable and your FMQ is awesome!

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  40. That is such a cute little bag - I love the idea!

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  41. That is the most entertaining purse I've seen in a long time! What absolute fun!

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  42. Wow !!! What a great bag, Lara !!! It looks awesome :)

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