Welcome to My House & a giveaway

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It’s my lucky day to participate in another wonderful blog hop by Carol of Justletmequilt.com.  This one is called Welcome to My House.  Since I have an affinity for images of houses, cottages, log cabins and those sorts of things, I knew this was another blog hop that I HAD to join!  Check out the end of this article for a little giveaway too!

A few years ago, while browsing through different sewing blogs, I came across an international movement or quilt-a-long, from 2013, where quilters made mini-houses utilizing scraps of fabric.  Check out this blog, Building Houses from Scraps to see the incredible results!  These quilts blew my mind!!  Who can do that sort of work and not lose their mind!!?  Apparently, not me!  If you can imagine, those houses were complete at merely 3 inches each. That’s incredibly tiny by anyone’s standards.  I would love to have seen them up close!!

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This is one of the little houses that I made awhile back for a Covered In Love block drive.  This house measured  4.5″ and is the same pattern that I used in the pouches below.

I began my own little house project using a wonderful paper-pieced pattern from verykerryberry.com.  I made several tiny houses at 4.5″ and kept them in a little box, hoping to eventually make a little quilt.  I tried to use only scraps instead of cutting into yardage.  Did I have enough scraps?  Do you know me??  I began in earnest making little houses but soon realized that I’m not disciplined enough to make an entire quilt of those tiny things.  Although I did make about 25 or so houses, I slowly been using them up on smaller projects like zippered totes.  Each little house became my new favorite.  I would always put a little creature in the window, because who wants an empty house!?

Which brings me to today’s blog assignment.  I dug out the same 4.5″ mini house pattern and made this colorful mini house double-zippered tote.  I cut into some of my precious Liberty of London fabrics!  Can you believe that until now, I didn’t have any actual Liberty scraps!!  I did have some remnants from my recent trip to the UK.  What a great use for them, right!?  Even the little deer in the window is from a Liberty print.  The inside lining is Liberty of course, but the outside pocket uses a favorite purple Me & You for Hoffman batik print.  I used the same fabric for the pocket on the second tote shown here.  The magenta batik fabric surrounding the house complements all the pink tones and helps keep the bag from having too many tiny prints.

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The deer peering out the window makes me smile!

Of course, making tiny houses is addictive and I made another one with regular cotton fabric.  I like how it came out, but the tea-drinking cat is my favorite part, of course.

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The black cat in this window is holding a cup of tea in his paws.  I cut into a lovely precut just for this little feline.

I adore the above bold paisley “Thalia” print from JuneBee for Ink & Arrow.  It has all of my favorite colors.   I decided to just go with it, even if the roof of the house is red, and the rest of the fabric is the opposite of a cool color.   The little scrappy houses are not meant to be too matchy-matchy.   For the lining, I went with the Authentic “Define Black” print from Sweetwater.  While I wanted a black print for the lining, I avoided using something like just a polka dot.  Sweetwater was the first quilting fabric company that I became familiar with.   This “Authentic” line is a reprint of their first fabric line with Moda, and I am so grateful to have snagged a piece of it.  The words are uplifting (timeless, natural, pure, genuine, real, authentic, simple and renew), and who doesn’t need encouragement these days!?  I added one little touch with my zipper pulls?  I took quilt buttons that were lying around in my studio and converted them into functional zipper pulls.  They really do make using the zipper much easier, but they are pretty as well.

It is time to leave bright pinks and blues behind as we turn into the fall season.  Thinking about the autumn season, I went to my stash and pulled the fabrics you see below.  The warm mustard color goes with everything and who doesn’t love a little jungle theme to inspire?  So how about a little giveaway?  

Leave a comment and tell us your favorite animal if you would like to win this little fall-inspired stash bundle.   Most fabrics will be fat quarter size.  This giveaway ends Sunday, September 16, 2018.    

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Five-piece fall inspired giveaway.  Leave a comment telling us your favorite animal to win.  

Check out the other fabulous bloggers and their house projects.  Here is the schedule below.

September 10

Words & Stitches

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Melva Loves Scraps

Cynthia’s Creating Ark

Quilting Quietly

Ms P Designs USA

Quilt n Party

September 11

MooseStash Quilting

Vroomans Quilts

Marjorie’s Busy Corner

Patchouli Moon Studio

DesertSky Quilting

Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.

Clever Chameleon Quilting

Sew Many Yarns 

September 12

Beaquilter
Days Filled With Joy
Freckled Fox Quiltery
Wont-To-Be-Quilter
Why-Knot-Kwilt
CreativeBlonde
Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Quarter Inch Crafter
All Thingz Sewn

Sew Many Yarns

September 13 

Creatin’ in the Sticks

Quilt Doodle Designs

Quilting & Learning – What a Combo!

Domestic Felicity

Life in the Scrapatch

That Fabric Feeling YOU ARE HERE

Just Because Quilts

Hazel’s Daughter

September 14

I Like To Quilt Blog

Selina Quilts

Benita Skinner’s Creative Space

Nettie Sews and Lucky Quilts

Bumbleberry Style

Quilt Fabrication

Sew Golden A Chance

Just Let Me Quilt

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108 responses to “Welcome to My House & a giveaway”

  1. I really like your zipper pouches and the zipper pocket on the outside is the perfect place for a little house block. Great idea. Your houses are so Whimsy and cute. I’m more of a dog person, but I really love the kitty in the window.

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    • I had fun and continue to do so with each of these blog hops. I love the community responses and getting to know so many like-minded creative people like yourself!!! Thanks so much for visiting.

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  3. I was trying to plan a block exchange with fellow quilt guild members. I wanted to do houses! I was initially inspired by the speaker at one meeting Bonnie Hunter. She had a Wonky houses quilt. So now I have much more inspiration from your blogs with these great house patterns! Thank you.

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    • Bonnie Hunter is a quilting guru with a huge following. Yes, anything she touches turns to golden inspiration for us all! Go for it and remember to find a house pattern with a window cause the best part is putting a little creature in there!

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  4. Those are the cutest pouches ever! I am amazed at the creativity I see. As for my favorite animal, I have to say my dogs. I have two golden retrievers and I love them to death. After that cats, and my husband would be shocked to hear me say that.

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  5. I love your zippy bags. My favorite & spirit animal is the turtle. He carries home with him, goes forward never backwards, only fights as final resort, and is pretty much independent.

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  8. What a sweet pouch, and I just love the colors! I have two favorite animals – one is cats. I love living with my cat. The second is hummingbirds. They are so entertaining to watch at the feeder. Thanks!

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  9. Such a great little house pouch. And thanks for the giveaway too. Normally I’d say my favorite animal is the black standard poodle…because I have two, but this week I am going to remember our big bad tomcat Phineus who left us earlier this week on the anniversary of the day the towers fell.

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  10. Very wonderful totes! I love the small houses. It would be time and energy consuming to make enough for a quilt and it would be super fantastic. I like cats and bigger dogs. I do not like little dogs. I have asthma so I like to “pet” house animals with my feet while they are on the floor – not with my hands. I grew up on a farm with mainly sheep and cattle, so I do like those, too. They do have unique personalities, also. Thanks for your generous giveaway. Thanks for participating in the hop and bringing fun to all of us.

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  11. In our house it would be treason to choose between cats and dogs, so I must claim a tie between those two. And my new love is goats! Have you ever hugged a goat? That is the most peaceful feeling. Anyone looking for a favorite animal can’t go wrong with a goat. 🙂

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  13. It would be a much shorter list to tell you animals I don’t like, but right now I am trying to make a giraffe quilt with a friend and I love it so much I will have to go with that.

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    • Please do add a little house. It’s so fun and the bag grabs more attention. You must add someone or something in the window if you can!

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    • Thank you for visiting. I had several good childhood friends who owned horses. I never had that interest but I did love visiting the animals. I think it’s probably all due to being very small and going on a horse that was too fast for me.

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  19. out of the animals you showed tea the drinking cat is my favorite. what a great idea to make your house into a tote. My favorite animal that’s not shown would be any animal that has hair than can be spun into knittable fiber from a musk ox to an angora rabbit, they are all wonderful.

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    • I can’t say that I’ve ever come across musk ox fiber, but that must be something special. I also love the drinking cat. Now, I said he’s drinking tea but that’s only cause I don’t do coffee myself. For all I know, he could be sipping hot cocoa.

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  21. Good Afternoon! What a fun post! I love your little houses – I cannot IMAGINE making any that end up 4.5″ let alone 3″. Holy moly! So adorable – the cat drinking tea is a hoot. My animal weaknesses are dogs although I cannot have one, or any pets. I love seeing pictures of anyone’s cats or dogs, and have proclaimed myself the godmother of my nephew’s dog, Zeus. ~smile~ Roseanne

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    • Roseanne, I do love those little houses. I admire the quilts that are full of them but yes, “holy moly” is right!! I’m sorry you can’t have pets but at least you’ve got some in your orbit. I love dogs and was a crazy cat lover when I was young. I had so many cats then but they all passed away and now, my hubby hates cats so they’re off limits. I giggle when I see those bumper stickers that say, “My hubby said it was him or the cat. Gee I’m gonna miss him.”

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  23. The totes are so cute with their little scrappy houses. The blue one is a favorite. Birds are my favorite animal especially wrens.

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    • I also love birds and usually that is what ends up in the windows of my houses. My middle name is Robin so I often grab fabric with those on them. I can’t say that I even know what a wren looks like. I’m going to have to look that up now!

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  24. Love how you showcased your houses. The kitty in the window was my favorite. Glad you are using your houses and not like so many of us, storing them in a box somewhere.

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    • Selina, you are right, we do love storing our creations. I have used these houses for lots of little gifts and things. They make me smile. I know if I waited to make an entire quilt, they would overwhelm me while never getting competed!!

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  25. Love love love the cat drinking tea! That is too cute! Your bags are wonderful, such great colors. My favorite animal is the Norwegian Forest Cat.

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    • Thanks so much for the kind comments. Now that is very specific…a norwegian forest cat! I’m mighty impressed, especially given that you go by “the quilted dog”.

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  26. Love your house bags. What a creative way to use those tiny houses. I’m a lover of all animals but dogs hold a special place in my home.

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    • Thank you for the kind comments. I also love dogs. I love so many animals and think that I just favor the one that I’m with at the moment.

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  27. Love your little bags! House blocks are fun, and can have so much variety. My favorite animal to include in a quilt is any sort of bird.

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    • Lisa Marie, thank you for visiting. I find there are more birds on fabric lines than any other animal. That is totally ok with me but I am a sucker also for anything with a bunny.

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  28. Love your bags. Bright, bold, and beautiful. My favourite animal is, hands down, a cat.We currently have two feline companions and adore them. I also am a fan of the big cats, bobcat being tops there.
    Thanks for the chance to win.

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    • Thank you so much. Ah, if I could have a cat in my life right now! But instead, we have 2 guinea pigs and a dog, which is plenty!! We’ve had over 13 guinea pigs in past years and it’s been a long time!

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  29. Those are just too cute. I’m a moose person myself, and I’m trying to picture a moose in the house! LOL!! I think I started a few of those little houses myself a few years back. Wonder when I have them stashed???
    Thanks for a fun post!

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    • Joan, I’m thinking it would be amazing to put a moose in the window of my next house! Please, if you find your houses or make a new one, share a picture if you can. It would even be a great title for a children’s book, “The Moose in the Window!”.

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  30. Do birds count? LOL I am a cat lover but I am a bird lover as well. Do the 2 go together? Hmmm … I am a bag fan as well and your house totes are adorable … the little house pouch is a must make. Thanks for sharing …

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    • Yes of course, birds count. I don’t think they go well together as I understand cats are hunters for sport. However, I do love them both as well. Thanks so much for the kind comments. Yes, please do make a little house pouch cause they are so fun!

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  31. Cute! I love Yorkies. We had been cat people for the entertainment, love and affection as well as convenience. But in retirement, I got myself a walking companion and I don’t know how I ever lived without a dog. It is more of a commitment to own a dog but I love him. Janice.snell@gmail.com

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    • Janice, I agree that a dog is amazing! I also love cats but they are independent and certainly don’t emote the way dogs usually do. I’m glad you took the plunge and made the commitment to have a Yorkie in your life. That’s a lucky dog!!

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  32. Your tiny houses are sew cute. Thank you for the link to the free pattern. I love the way you have sewn these blocks into these adorable zipper bags. Each one is sew unique! Thank you for sharing in the hop and fro the chance to win the pretty fabric bundle … 🙂 Pat

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  33. I love your zipper pouches! The tea-sipping cat is very endearing. Also, because cats are my favorite; although, some animals I see on my drive to work are just as sweet – an adorable goat, cows, horses, wild turkeys, skunks, donkey – I really love to see them all! Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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    • Danette, I love just imagining seeing all those animals on the way to work…with the exception of the skunk. Our dog had an unscheduled collision with a skunk several weeks ago now. I still shudder at the experience for all of us involved. So yes, bring on all those animals but I’ll pass on the skunk for the moment.

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  34. Well as a Bag Lady myself, you know I love the cute bags you made. Perfect size house block for a small bag. I am an animal lover of all kinds, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be the elephant.

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    • Daryl, my hubby is a lover of elephants too! In fact, the giveaway has a print with elephants so perhaps you will get lucky! When he and I visit new cities or countries, he always wants to stop by their zoo and see elephants. We were in Copenhagen and visited a brand new elephant wing that they built. He was mesmerized!! Then in Dublin, we went to see a baby elephant that had just been born. It was also incredible.

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  35. I love your bags. We have a lot of deer that we watch all the time, so I’d have to say deer!! Thanks for the great giveaway.

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    • Our dog, Annie, was named Doe when we got her. She looked like a little fawn so the rescue organization named her after one. You would think that she would love deer, but not so much. When one shows up in our yard, she goes crazy!! They are such beautiful animals aren’t they. I once pulled up to my house only to see a mom and two babies just standing so regal. I was awestruck and couldn’t get out of my car until they left.

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  36. Looking at those tiny houses makes me want to make some, but then I think about how many it would take to make a quilt and it kind of takes my breathe away. That is a lot of dedication to make enough houses for a quilt! I love how you’re using them in zippered bags…that’s more my speed of things. I love them in the bright colors and putting something in the window is a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing these cute bags and filling us with house inspiration!

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    • Carol, thank you for everything!! Yes, I would also love to be the sort of person to make an entire quilt of tiny houses but it’s just not me. I still hope to see one of them up close one day. When this blog hop was mentioned, I just knew I couldn’t pass it up!!
      You continue to inspire us all so thank you, thank you and please don’t stop!

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    • Thanks so much for visiting. A bird scientist must be such a cool job! I thought I loved the pink one the most and then the blue one is growing on me. Ahhh, such a great problem to have!

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    • Rosalind, thanks so much for stopping by. My son was missing our dog so he fostered a puppy for one week this summer and loved it. It’s not for everyone but what a beautiful puppy she was and will be remembered for a long time. Hopefully she has a forever family by now.

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  39. Your zippered tote is terrific! The colors are so bright. I’ve always been an animal lover so it’s hard for me to choose a favorite. Dogs and cats are on my list, of course. But so are elephants, tigers, and turtles.

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    • Allison, thanks so much for visiting. I think all those animals are great but yes, we do come across dogs and cats more frequently. I think I could love any animal really, except perhaps those like snakes, if that counts.

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    • Bonnie, I’m all about bunnies as well. Years ago when I drove carpool, I would have the kids help count bunnies along our trip. We would then declare, “it’s a three bunny day” and so on. I still do that, but the kids are grown up and now kind of smirk at me. I don’t care at all…if I see even one bunny, it makes me smile!

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    • Andree, Thank you so much. I’m with you on the bunnies! I probably have more bunny fabric than any other animal.

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  42. Love this little tote! Great use of your house…my favorite animal is a dog. I don’t have one now…but we used to have st least two at all times. They truly are mans/woman’s best friend

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    • Yes, I agree that a dog is amazing! The love that they give is hard to find in other furry companions. I know people will say they love their pig, their bunny or whatever. I’m sure those are loving animals too…but a dog is unconditional, and loyal forever, unlike anything else!

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  44. Hello! I am nuts about your bags! The pattern is unusual. Your colors are fab as well as your fabric choices. What a great way to use up your tiny houses! My favorite animal would have to be the elephant. 😀🐘

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    • Great emoji!! I’m impressed. Thanks so much for the lovely comments. As I mentioned above, my hubby is all about elephants. They are incredible animals and I hope we can stop the poaching in the world that has decimated so many. They certainly deserve our protection and preservation.

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    • Agreed…they are stunning. There’s something so regal about them. I love finding one on the side of the road or in our yard.

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  47. I love the cute zippered house totes and the little quilts. They are just so adorable. I love the cute animals behind the window. I love cats, and chickens, but most of all my cute little black and white cat Yana. She was so happy when I returned after a week in hospital, she just wanted to lay in my lap and purr the day away.

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  48. I have the world’s sweetest pomeranian cuddled up against me right now, so I’d be a traitor if I said any animal but dogs were my favourite! But in second place would be blackbirds, because they give us several months of song in the spring. And omg, that tea drinking cat is the cutest thing EVER!

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    • What a lovely image of you snuggling with your pomeranian. Our Annie is a snuggler only when she is tired. It’s ok with me cause she so sweet in many other ways. I think our kids would have preferred a dog that curls up in your lap though. Oh well! My Dad once had a run in with blackbirds after taking an injured in into be treated by a bird sanctuary. The entire back yard was filled with angry blackbirds and he said it was something to experience!

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  49. Your zippered house totes are adorable! My favorite is the batik one. Those colors are gorgeous! I have a favorite bug (the June bug), but I love all animals. I guess I would say dogs are my favorite. They love you no matter what and are such good listeners.

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    • Lovely…thank you so much. I got a bird feeder for mother’s day and it’s a hot spot for so many birds in our neighborhood. It’s when the squirrels show up that the real excitement happens!

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