Winner for the 2nd Craftopotamus Quiltaway!

Thanks to everyone who participated in my giveaway for Urban Utility I!  It was a ton of fun reading all of your comments here and on facebook and meeting a bunch of great "new-to-me" bloggers out there.  

Now, just one little click of Mr. Random Number Generator and ...

... we have a winner!  Ladies and gentleman, the quilt goes to...

Super congratulations, Marsha from Santa Rosa, California!  I'll be putting your brand new quilt in the mail as soon as I get your address.

And to all of those who didn't win today, I really really wish I could make one for all of you.  Seriously.  You all are what makes blogging worth while.  Besides, you never know when I'll give another one away...

In the meantime, I've got to get back to working on my gift for my Handmade Gift Exchange partner... so exciting!

The 2nd Craftopotamus Quiltaway!

One year ago today... 

I started a blog named Craftopotamus.

Time sure does fly.

Over 41,000 pageviews, over 400 followers, a couple dozen features, 3 Blogger's Quilt Festivals, and 2 semesters of grad school later, I'm still in it and loving it.

In celebration of creating, blogging, and all of the wonderful people I have met along the way, I am giving away another quilt.

This one, in fact.  It's called Urban Utility I.  That's partly because it was based off of the City Tracks pattern in Cherri House's City Quilts book and partly because some of the colors and quilting remind me of those utility blankets that are used for moving furniture.  And the "I" is because I am working on "II" as we speak, but I'll be keeping that one for myself.  :)

This quilt is my first foray into solids and I have to say, I am hooked.  I bought myself a Kona solids card and haven't looked back. 

It's also the first time I've done any straight line quilting that wasn't done by hand.  It is crazy to me that I have been quilting for almost 6 years, I've done tons of meandering quilting and designs, but have only just now bought myself a walking foot with a guide.  It's almost embarassing!  The finished quilt measures roughly 58" by 75" and is made with all cotton fabrics and batting.

I tell you, I just love this creative journey and having such a great way to share it.  Every day I am amazed by the warm and genuine bloggers I have found on my journey and am continually inspired by YOUR work.  The talent you all have is amazing.  And thank you for following along with me, even when grad school gets the better of my time.

So, are you ready to hear the Quiltaway rules?  They're pretty simple.

You have 5 chances to enter.  Each comment is considered an entry (no more than five per person):

1. Leave a comment about this quilt or what you might do with it if you win it or about what blogging has meant to you.

2. Become a follower.  Just leave a comment, whether you're a new follower or old, just saying that you are one.

3. "Like" Craftopotamus on Facebook and leave me a comment here to let me know you did (or that you already have).  Follow the button for a quick link...

4. Share this post or the Craftopotamus link to this post on your Facebook page (and then come back here and leave me a comment saying you did.

5. Blog about this quiltaway or post one of my buttons (located in my sidebar) on your blog.  Let me know which you did and post the link in the comment.


Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you by email!  This quiltaway will run from now through Thursday, June 9th at 9:00pm.  The winner will be drawn by random number generator and announced Friday, June 10th at 9:00am.

I'll be linking this quilt up to lots of my favorite link parties including Amy's Sew & Tell and Met Monday... be sure to check out my newly remodeled Link Parties tab and all the awesome inspiration you can find at all of these parties - you won't regret it!

GOOD LUCK!!  I hope YOU win!

Fresh Out of the Dryer

There is little better in life than pulling a fresh quilt out of the dryer.

The second Craftopotamus Quilt Giveaway is just around the corner.  Are you ready?

Craftopotamus is on Facebook and Another Quiltaway!

Craftopotamus now has a Facebook page!  Click on the button below and "like" the page to follow via FB!

Meanwhile, it is pouring here today!




Good thing I have some binding to work on for the quilt I am giving away on Friday...

Oh, did I forget to mention that I am giving away another quilt on Friday?  Opps!  Silly me.

Dreaming in Blue and Green and Grey

Do you know that feeling where you are pretty sure that you couldn't possibly think about something more than you already have?  Where some small part of you knows that you have gone down the rabbit hole of over-thought and is lost?

That's where I'm at with these blocks.  They have been arranged and rearranged and rearranged again, starred at until I was cross-eyed, trying to find just the right balance of color.

So far, I am enjoying my foray into solid-color quilts.  I may even have plans for another.

AND, my Recycling Blues quilt was featured over at Marvelously Messy yesterday... you can check it out here!  I feel like I've been following Missy FOREVER... love her creativity and her blog!

Time for Crafting

Dear sewing machine, how I have missed you!  I hope you enjoyed your vacation, because it is time for you to get to work again.

Now that my semester is over I can finally start making time for you...

... and all of the projects I have planned.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll even have enough time for another giveaway...

Quiltaway Winner!

I wish I could crowd you all into a room, spin a big drum of cards with your names on them (like Bozo buckets), pull out a card and call out a name.  Then we could all have the pleasure of seeing her reaction and I could hand her the quilt and probably someone would take our pic and I could post it.

Alas, random number generator is as exciting as I can make it.  So without further ado...

...and the lucky entry is...

Congratulations, Ann Marie!  I can't wait to get your address and send out your new quilt!

I wish I could have made one for each of you.  I have really enjoyed all of your comments over the last couple weeks and have been amazed at how many of you have come to love blogging for similar reasons.  I'm also amazed at how many sweet and generous souls are out there.  You guys rock!

And I can hardly believe that I went from 107 followers to 327!  Hooray and thank you!  I might just have to do it again sometime...  :)