Necktie Social

Hi Everyone!  Hope you had a good weekend!  Mine was pretty busy, and I worked a little bit on a lot of different things.  So, I have a lot to show you this week!

My friend, Shelly, over at Prairie Moon Quilts, issued a challenge and contest a while back.  I decided to give it a go, as I'm really trying to challenge myself this year. She has a fun website where you can learn all about the goings on at her place.  I love her cowboy and ranch style.  It fits with my style quite a bit.  And Shelly's sense of humor fits me, too.

Anyway, her challenge is called the Necktie Social.  Click on the link to read more about it.  There is still time to get in on this action!  Shelly has been collecting neckties (she has collected over 1600 from people who've sent them in).  If you ask for it, she'll send you a kit for the block challenge (no charge).

Here is what you'll get....instructions, a foundation block, and a bunch of pieces of silk ties, all cut up with interfacing on the back and ready to go.  You are to piece the block and then embellish it any way you want.  You can even add in other fabrics, but you have to use a fair amount of these ties, too.

Some of the ties are pretty ugly!  But some are pretty interesting.  This was my favorite in the lot I got.

Here is my block after sewing it together.  Some of those ugly ties don't look so bad when they're all cut up.  There was one extra in my lot.  I didn't include this blue and green one.  It just didn't seem to fit with the rest. I did a narrow zigzag around the edges just to hold the parts down and keep them from fraying as I now work to embellish it.

I spent a while going through all my ribbons, beads, charms, and doo dads, trying to find stuff to put on this.  I think I found some cute stuff, but you'll have to wait to see it.  I think these are due June 30, so there is plenty of time if you want to join in.  I'm doing it for the fun and challenge, but there are some pretty awesome prizes available, too!  Hope you want to jump in.  I'll be interested to see the resulting quilt, which Shelly will donate.

I also belong to her Cowgirl Club.  Once a quarter, I get a little surprise package in the mail.  I typically forget all about it, so it's a nice little surprise when it arrives.  It always contains her newsletter, a pattern for something, some cute cowgirl related fabric, some poetry, and a fun little something.  Sometimes it's a cowgirl chapstick, sometimes it's cowgirl mints....  This month it was a cute bag containing some beans and a recipe for her Cowboy's favoriate breakfast dish (which of course contains beans).  Everything always comes wrapped with this cute paisley bandana-like tissue paper (which I save to wrap presents in for my cowboy BIL.  It's a lot of fun.  If you want to learn more about it, click here.

Shelly also has an etsy shop, if you want to visit it.  Go here to see her cute stuff.

Shelly and I met through blogland, and we've both decided it's a good thing we don't live closer to each other.  We'd definitely be best friends, and we'd get into a lot of trouble together, because we like all the same stuff.  She quilts, of course (she has a longarm---jealous!).  But she also knits, just like I do.  She used to work at a university, just like I do.  She has horses, just like we used to (so I get to live vicariously through her horse adventures.)  She has a hubby who's a cowboy, just like mine was and still pines to be (if I didn't keep dragging him back to the midwest from out west!).  We're going to retreat together this summer so we can meet up in real life.  I can't wait, Shelly.  I really can't!  I am so excited.  I'll tell you all more about that later.

Well, see you tomorrow!  I have a really busy couple of weeks ahead, trying to finish everything up for these conferences I have presentations at!  Argh!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

Comments

[Linda]

I swear you do the coolest things!! I love LOVE how your block turned out!! So gorgeous!

[Lynn]

The necktie social sounds like fun! I wish I had time to participate, but I can't do everything. *sigh*

[Shelly]

You are WAY too kind, girl! I can't wait till our retreat. And yes, it IS (sorta) a good thing we don't live closer. We'd be in trouble with our cowboys all the time!!!! Love your block so far . . .

[jackie]

Sorry to busy reading posts about market to read yours...

hahaha, I am totally just joking, but did laugh, you just beat me to all the market blogs from the team, you, me and Jana, all drooling over the posts=)

[Caroll D]

You find the most interesting things to do. Love how your block turned out. Thanks for all those great links. I'm off to see all her cute stuff.

[Allie]

I think this really is your year for stretching yourself - the block with the ties is amazing!

[Deb]

I like the way your Necktie block turned out - so cute - can't wait to see how you embellish it. I ordered mine today - thanks for sharing the project link!