It was all Carol's fault.....

And the winner is.....Anna!

I did the drawing in a very unscientific way.

I let the cat choose!

She likes to knock over glasses and cups. So I put all the names in a glass. She came over to investigate and promptly knocked it over. She looked at the three scrunched papers that fell out, but seemed to lose interest. 

I guess she thought her job was done. But NO! So I took the three papers and tossed them. That got her attention again. She went over and batted at one, and it was Anna.

Second place goes to Glenda!

So many people liked the cows, I decided to have a runner up for a small chunk of fabric!

This is Carol. She belongs to Crispy. We are babysitting her for a few months. Crispy is done with school, has a job, and will be moving into a smaller apartment. Then Carol will go live with him again. 

We have her because his roommates were getting tired of having their glasses knocked over! 

I was sewing on a hanging sleeve yesterday. The quilts from last years block exchange will be showing at the Minnesota Quilt Show in a few weeks. The Minnesota guild had come to Blue Earth for a meeting and saw the block exchange quilts and loved them. So we agreed to make an extra block that would become the raffle quilt for this years show. Mike put it together and Jan quilted it. That is pretty exciting stuff for the Blue Earth Valley Quilters!!!

[see the quilt here!] 

The BEVQ also has a small group started up. We are doing Gypsy Wife. Each month we do a small part of it. We started with 2 blocks and then did some of the filler blocks for month two.

Here is what I have so far. I am using old and new country/farm/tractor fabric.

Then Julie Sefton talked about a medallion quilt along. I will link to her post about it, which has all the links there. 

See what I am talking about [HERE}

I read this and thought the last thing I need is another long term project.

The first round is "basket"

So I went simple....instead of a BASKET center, I found a picture of a basket on some fabric and built a barn around it.

This is my version of "basket". It is just a little thing. I have no idea if I will continue with the medallion quilt, but I do have a start!

build a barn blog hop...

My turn for barn quilt construction pictures based on directions from the book....

Build a Barn

No pattern construction

http://thefreepiecedbarnproject.blogspot.com/

The link brings you to the books blog. 

[click here] for the blog hop schedule. 

It seems like forever ago that I made this, but here I go.....

The first thing I did was go through fabric and scraps to see what would work for my barn. Found some cows that seemed suitable for peeking out a window and strips of red already sewn together.

We have mostly red barns around here. It is a good, classic color and my favorite.

Grabbed some tractor fabric to build around.

The sky would be night when I found the black and white stars and one little moon piece....well, I called it a moon.

Laid out what I had to see where this was going. I was surprised at how big it got without even trying. I had pictures in my head of a silo and fence, but there wasn't really room. 

saving that for next time!

Somewhere along the line I messed up and sewed too soon.

My barn has no overhang along the roof. This is when I was going by what I had read in the directions....which were in the computer. I read them, closed the computer, and started sewing.

Maybe if I had a book, laying there, ready to consult for the next step!

I think this is where I will tell you that there is a giveaway. You can win a copy of the book, Build a Barn No Pattern Construction! It will come autographed from the author, Julie S.

 Leave a comment and you are in the drawing! Make sure you aren't no-reply, so I can get the mailing information for Julie. I'll do the drawing on Sunday, May 22, 2016.

Having the book right next to you may save you from the same fate!

I made my black sky fabric by adding black to what I had, the stars and moon.

If I had added background before adding the roof line, I would have had overhang.

Live and learn.

It was put together in sections. 

The finished block....what I mailed to Julie. 

She gave it to [Chris Ballard] who does the most amazing quilting. 

For more pictures of the block go to the books blog....[click here]

I am looking forward to going to Des Moines this fall for the AQS quilt show. All of the SSOBB  barns made from the book will be there! I get to see them all in person! I am looking forward to that!

I do not remember how I first met Julie Sefton. Through our blogs, for sure, but when?

I honestly don't remember! I do know she has always been a source of inspiration and encouragement. I see her stuff and think, WOW, she's so good!