I'm off!

I am leaving in a couple of hours to drive to Dallas. I will be leaving for the Phillipines very early in the morning. Y'all please pray for me and our entire mission team. Please put each one of us on your prayer lists and the prayer lists at your church. I believe with my WHOLE heart the power of prayer. Please also remember those that we will be going to minister to. Please pray that God opens hearts and minds as only He can.

Those going on the trip are:

Marilyn Bilton
Jan Bishop
Toni Cox (me!)
Sheri Lankford
Mike Bradford
Hilton Hassell
Dennis Morris
Gary Williams

I'm sorry that I have not put out a new episode or posted much, but the preparations for this trip, alongside producing our wonderful Sunrise Service that our church is famous for have been keeping me VERY VERY busy. I have TONS to tell everyone--I got to meet one of my listeners in real life at the Azalea Quilt Show in Tyler. Plus I took lots of great pictures of some very beautiful quilts. I PROMISE I will get everyone caught up as soon as I get back home. We will be flying back in on the 15th. I can't wait to tell everyone all about everything at the quilt show as well as my trip.

Please don't give up on me--I promise I'm not podfading on y'all! I love all of my podcast friends way too much!

I love everyone!

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:12-14 (NIV)

Silly Chick Designs Episode 4

Get all of the juicy details about how I broke my leg! Lots of chatting and visiting! Been missing everyone! Hope you enjoy! I love all of my podcast friends!

I Promise I'm Not Dead!

Hey guys! I'm sooooo sorry I haven't posted or put out a podcast....everyone was so sweet to check on me! I have just been super slowed down by this ding-dong broken leg. My laptop had to be sent off for some warranty work and the other computer is upstairs so I haven't been able to record or do anything internetty. I got my laptop back yesterday, so I will have a new episode recorded tonight before I go to bed--I PROMISE! I have lots to talk about and no notes....so it might be a doozy! I may have 43 kazillion emails in my inbox that I haven't been able to check. Yahoo and gmail are blocked websites at work so I couldn't even sneak in a check there. Oh yeah--those few days off I thought I might get for a broken leg...no such luck. Not really....I wanted to be at work. I love my job!

So I'll check in with you tonight! I've missed everyone! Love y'all!

How's this for a trip?!?!

Y'all will never believe what I did this morning?!?! I fell taking the dogs out and BROKE MY DANG LEG! Can you believe that? I have never been accused of being graceful and I guess it is a good thing. I will tell y'all all about it on the podcast. Looks like I may be off a day or two and can probably get another episode out soon....LOL! Thanks to everyone who has listened and left me such sweet comments. Y'all really do know to make a girl feel special!

Take care and we'll visit soon!

Episode 3

Hey guys! I finally got episode three recorded...yay! Lots of good stuff this week...plus a contest! WAHOO!

Just Some Fabric Scrumptiousness! Had to Share!

I just had to share this picture of some of my latest fat quarter purchases!  I think fat quarters are like kittens.....they are way more fun if you have a bunch of them!  Do you think there is a 12-step program for fat quarters or notions?  I might need one for sewing machines too!

Here's my new hunky strong German man.....I'm taking suggestions on what his name should be.....y'all help me name him!

Good night my lovelies!  I hope to record another episode this weekend....I'm going to try to be more organized!  To everyone who has sent me an email or left me a comment, I am trying to get caught up on my emails---my new job has less internet time than the old one did, so I'm going to get caught up this weekend.  I promise!  Y'all are the best!  Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!  See you at church on Sunday!

Silly Chick Designs-Episode 2

Yay! I made it back for a second episode! I hope y'all like it! Lot's of good quilting talk going on here!

HALLELUJIAH!!!!

I know you're not ready for all of this excitement folks, but my podcast is officially listed on itunes......FINALLY! Yay! I haven't been complimentary of itunes, but I have to say that most of what was wrong was my fault. I would like to say thanks to all my quilting blogging sisters that didn't give up on me! I hope to have a new episode out this week. I'm told that subsequent episodes don't take nearly as long to post.

Quick question--I saw on Mark Lipinski's blog that he is going to be putting out a DAILY podcast...has anyone heard anything about that? I searched for it on itunes but couldn't find it--maybe he hasn't started. I know there have been many changes for him recently.

Check out my poll--I'm getting ready to do another tutorial. Let me know what you want to see!

Toodles,
~Toni

Okay. Podcast still isn't working, but I think I'm close to having it fixed. If you'd like to go to blip.tv and listen directly you can do that at http://www.blip.tv/file/3124378 or if you want there is another way...I think this will work.

Open itunes, and click on the podcast tab on the upper left. Then click on the advanced tab at the top. Right click on "subscribe to podcast" and then when it opens a box asking for the URL feed you can cut and paste and put this http://sillychickdesigns.blip.tv/rss/itunes and that should work. I was able to make it work and download it to my ipod.

Thanks to Darlene at Scientific Quilter for being so helpful! I hope to have all of my technical difficulties worked out in the next couple of days and another episode recorded soon. I already have lots to talk about!

Thanks for your patience!

Scrappy String Quilting

As I promised in the podcast that no one can listen to yet because itunes is being snobby, I present:

Scrappy String Quilting Tutorial

Enjoy!

First I want to say that I in no way am taking credit for inventing this technique. Last weekend I bought some bags of scraps from my friends at Sharman's Sewing Center and with that purchase I received a copy of this pattern/technique. What I am presenting here is a demonstration of that technique. I don't want anyone to think I'm doing anything shady here.



 

First you start with a pile of scraps. The scrappier the better.

Then you begin with your foundation muslin. It doesn't have to be muslin, but I'd hate to waste pretty fabric on this part because you won't see it in the end. These are cut in 7" squares and set on point. 

Then you take your first strip and place it RIGHT side UP on the center line of your muslin. 

Next you select the second strip and place it face down on the first strip which is face up.  (I really should get a new ironing board cover--those blue stripes are making me dizzy!) 

Then you sew a 1/4 inch seam down the right sides of these two strips sewing them to the foundation muslin. 

The you flip the second strip open. 




  
 
 

 And press it open.

You repeat the same process with the third strip lining up on the right side of the second strip.

Again, sewing a 1/4 inch seam down the right side. 

Open.

Continue to repeat this process.

You repeat the same process with the third strip lining up on the right side of the second strip.  Until you get all the way out to the corner. Then you flip the square and repeat this process until you get to the other corner and have the entire foundation piece covered.

 It should look something like this.

The you flip the entire piece over and this is what it should look like from the back. 

Using your ruler and your rotary cutter, you trim the excess from the edges.  (And if your hands look as bad as mine, you immediately get some lotion and make an appointment for a manicure....STAT!)

.

This is the little bitty pile of scraps you will have left over after you trim all four sides.

And this is what your square will look like when you turn it over. You are finished with this square.

 

And here's a way to arrange 4 squares into a block. I love how completely different each square is but yet they are the same.

 My favorite part about this whole technique is that I use up all of those little strips and scraps of fabric I have left over from other things that are too small or odd-shaped to do anything else with. Plus it just feels good not to waste something as precious and expensive as fabric. I love my fabric and I want to get to use it up to the last little drop.

Here are the same four squares arranged in a diamond (?) pattern.

Here's a square I did with some fun juvenile prints. I love this one! I have to get me some more of these kind of scraps. I love the bright colors.

And this is just a little bit of doggy scrumptiousness I threw in because I love y'all. Isn't he the sweetest? Just looking at this makes me want to give him a big old smooch!

This is my handsome boy Pig. Yes I said Pig.

I DID A PODCAST! OMG! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

Okay....if you are looking at this blog because you heard of it on my new podcast "Silly Chick Designs" then you are at the right place. This started as a blog that was used to share family news.....this podcasting thing is a new venture so forgive the old stuff and we will jump right in. I obligated myself on the podcast to take some pictures and to post a tutorial....I just recorded that podcast and I am furiously working on the pics and shownotes for all of that! I'll post as soon as I can! Leave me comments! At least good comments anyway!.....Just kidding! Glad you stopped by! Have a great day!