Sunday, March 18, 2012

My Birthday Present to You

Today's my birthday. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm 59.

Three years ago today, I quite vividly remember spending my birthday in this down under city.
Foreground: Sydney Opera House; Background: Harbour Bridge
That day, we rode the ferry from Five Dock... 
 

to the CBD (Central Business District) 
Sydney CBD view from the top of Sydney Tower, the gold spire in the center of the previous photo.
In the CBD I shopped for opal (the national gemstone of Australian) earrings, and got them.

Most often though, birthdays are low key in our family. This year is slightly different because I'd like to give you a chance to win one of three presents. This is an Australia-themed giveaway.

You might remember that back in August 2011, I started making this Friendship Medallion Quilt. The pattern is a freebie from Patchwork Pumpkin, an Australian quilt shop. Instructions come with a few strings attached.
1. You are not allowed to purchase any fabrics for the quilt top. You must use your stash!
2. You may swap fabrics with your friends.
3. Show us your quilt centre to get the next border instructions. No proof? No pattern. No exceptions!

Wanting a stash-busting project, many of you saw my posts about this and decided to join me. Because so many of you did that, Patchwork Pumpkin asked if I would like to give away two of their patterns! Two of you have a chance to win a pattern of your choice from Patchwork Pumpkin.

While I was cutting out each of the eight parts for this medallion quilt, I thought about how great it was to be stash-busting. And gosh, why not cut out TWO of every piece needed?

So, for example, in part one (as seen on the right) instead of cutting out just 64 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" turquoise prints and 40 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" white prints...

I cut out 128 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" turquoise prints and 80 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" white prints.

I continued to double-up on my cutting throughout all eight parts, setting aside the half I didn't use. With permission from Patchwork Pumpkin, I printed instructions to accompany each part.

That means, my giveaway gift is this. THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
A cut out kit, not just hunks of fabric, to sew your own 85" X 95-1/2" medallion quilt top like mine.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
Anyone can enter once for a chance to win one of two patterns or the kit. Here are the parameters:
  • I'll ship the kit within the lower 48 U.S. states. An international kit-winner should expect to pay shipping. 
  • Three winners will be selected Thursday, March 22.
  • In your one comment, tell me two things:
  1. Whether you'd like to win the "pattern" or "kit" or "either."
  2. Something you know or like about Australia, whether you've ever been there or not.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. 

As for celebrating my birthday, what I'll be doing is this.
Hosting our second Sunday afternoon open house. Last Sunday's visitors, who numbered a dozen, were mostly curiosity peepers. We're hoping this Sunday's visitors will be more serious since we'll be hosting an open house every Sunday until the house sells! I can't think of a better birthday present than an offer. Linda

33 comments:

  1. What a wonderfully generous woman you are! I'd love the kit and I'd happily pay postage to have it sent to AUSTRALIA, 'cause that's where I live!! What I love the most about Australia is the diverse and ever changing landscape, each state has something unique to offer and the people are friendly and funloving.

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  2. Happy Birthday, Linda! Hope your open house goes well. WOuldn't it be a wonderful b'day pressie if it sold today. :)
    I live in Australia. The thing I like most about our wonderful country is the freedom! We can travel to so many wonderful places, all different, without ever leaving our country. We have a multicultural society, which means wonderful and diverse cuisine; fabulous fresh fruits and vegetables and seafood all over; a great health care system; wonderful opportunities for lifestyle; oh my goodness, I could go on and on! lol

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  3. First of all, Happy Birthday! I hope you get your birthday wish.

    Unfortunately, I don't know a lot about Australia but from pictures I've seen, it must be a beautiful place! From what I do know about it is there must be some fantastic quilters there. I read the blogs of several and their color and fabric choices are wonderful! If I were to win, I'd choose the kit.

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  4. Happy, happy birthday, youngster! I, too, hope that you get your birthday wish. If I win your generous give away, I'll choose a pattern. I know that I'd love to visit Australia someday, that there are lovely quilters and quilt shops there, it is a gorgeous country and that my mother-in-law traveled there alone when in her late 70's!

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  5. Happy, Happy Birthday!! Please don't enter me into the give-away. I just stopped by to wish you the best. ~karen

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  6. Happy Birthday! Good luck and best wishes with our Open House, fingers are crossed!

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  8. What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday! I've been wanting to participate in this project and just haven't done it yet. This would make it so much easier!!!! Happy Birthday, Linda!

    I would be happy with either but ecstatic to have the kit! I would love to to know so much about Australia as there's not a lot I know about it but do know that my husband would love to teach there someday!

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  9. I would love to win the pattern and do some stashbusting from my own stash! I haven't been to Australia but I think it is a fascinating place with all its different flora and fauna. My sister lives there and one day soon I must go and visit. Happy birthday to you!

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  10. I Have been following your blog for quite a while (2 yers?+) but am usually a lurker these days. Time seems so short. I just wanted to let you know that you are an inspiration, and blessing to me.

    When you started this quilt I so wanted to try it, but as I said it has been a busy time in my life (childs wedding and mom's needing to be moved to assisted living due to altzheimers). I have watched your quilt grow and loved how it looked.

    I don't know much about Australia, and it is likely I'll never travel there. One thing that I have in my mind is that Australians seem to be "CAN DO" kind of people, with strong wills and big hearts. Of course a lot of this perception comes from reading quilters blogs, lol. I would love a chance to win the kit.
    Happy Birthday to You!

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  11. I would love to win the kit. Sadly not a patern guy. My dad spent time in military and mom yesterday gave me one of his bomarangs such a cool place hope to visit one day.

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  12. Wow! What an amazing giveaway. I would love to have the kit, but would be happy with just the pattern. What I love most about Australia is that my brother's grandchildren all live there.

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  13. I would love to win the kit, but would be content with the pattern. The thing I like most about Australia is that my brother's grandkids all live there.

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  14. Happy Birthday Linda. I'd love the kit & would be happy to pay postage to Australia. :) What i love about my homeland? The beautiful landscape & the wonderful wildlife. Hugs,

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  15. Happy Birthday Linda!!! I'm hoping for the perfect present - an offer! I would love the kit - how special. And I don't really know anything special about Australia - except that I love to hear them talk :)!

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  16. Happy Birthday!! The day arrived! And I can see that so did your open house! I hope things go well for you. We just had 2 family members sell their houses this week... So I am passing some real estate "luck" on to!

    As for Australia, there are so many wonderful things about that country. It is rich in history and many Canadians feel a special connection there considering its British roots. Both of our countries are still apart of the Commonwealth today. I am intrigued by the landscapes there from lush and beautiful with vegetation to dry and barren with desert heat. All wonderful!

    As for your generous prize, I am happy with anything that comes my way! :o)

    Happy Birthday my March birthday friend!
    Heather

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  17. Hope you have a wonderful b'day.I'd be very happy to pay the postage if I won the kit, but would be equally happy with a pattern. I live in Australia & think it is a wonderful country to live in. Love all our unique birds & animals.

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  18. Happy Birthday, Linda!! I hope you get the birthday present you're hoping for and get your house sold!

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  19. Happy birthday Linda! I sure hope you get an offer on your house. What a wonderful present that would be.

    I would love to win the kit. That must've been a lot of work to cut out a second set of fabrics! I've never been to Australia, and I don't know much about it, other than it looks like a beautiful place. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  20. Happy Birthday Linda!!!! What I love about Australia, well I'm a little biased here. To me it is the MOST wonderful place on earth & I wouldn't live anywhere else.
    The quilt is gorgeous BUT I really don't need another project. I notice the lovely Julie is #1 on your comments. We haven't met but we did a round robin last year & she is a sweetie. Please give my entry to Julie if possible. hugs, Jan

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  21. You know I want the kit!!!!! I would even DRIVE to your home to pick it up..... no postage necessary!

    Australia..... hmm.... I liked the movie....... I loved watching it on retreat with all my buds.

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  22. Happy Happy Birthday Linda!!! Hope your open house went well and that you get an offer soon! Visiting Australia is definitely on my bucket list...I want to hike the bridge! As for the giveaway, well, I'd be happy with either!

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  23. Happy Birthday Linda! What a generous give away, now that is what I call stash-busting! I'm not interested in the pattern or kit, I have so much I will never use in a lifetime, but I love this idea. I will have to try it. I hope you had a successful open house. I have never been to Australia, but have clients there. I remote into their servers on a weekly basis to post payroll and do other things (they have two US subsidiaries that I work with). When we are working on a big project, like getting ready for their audit, the time difference is a killer.
    Looks like you have a lot of fans!

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  24. Happy Birthday Linda! Mine was the 17th, I think that's why I love green. I'd like to win either one. Your quilt is so wonderful. I've never been to Australia but my former boss and friend had been there 4 times and he would say, good on ya mate. Don't know why I remember that but it has stuck with me.

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  25. Happy birthday blessings to you, sweet Linda. I'm praying for the house to sell before summer. I sure hope it does!
    We have good friends who are missionaries in Australia. They have raised their three kids there, who now have married Aussies. I don't think that the grandparents will ever want to come back here to retire, do you?
    :-}pokey

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  26. Happy Birthday!
    Your quilt is great.
    I would love to win the kit but, would be happy to win the pattern.
    I hope your open house is a success.

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  27. What a generous giveaway! I'd love to win the kit, but would be delighted with either. I've never been to Australia, but would love to go. I'd like to dive at the Great Barrier Reef. A world class dive, I gather.

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  28. Happy Belated Birthday!
    I hope you had a buyer come to the open house!
    I do remember that quilt. I am going to be selfish and say I would love to win the kit.
    I don't know much about Australia except what I see on PBS. The one thing I do know is that there are some really great Quilt designers who live there and Australia has some really super magazine which I wish I could get here in town.
    Oh, one thing I do know is the surf is good in parts of Australia but you have to watch out for sharks.

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  29. Happy Birthday Linda! I can't tell you how much Iowa is going to miss you and Stitchin Mission! Like most others I would love to win the kit. The thing I love most about Australia is it is #2 on hubby & I's travel plan (right after Alaska). Keeping my fingers crossed for a great open house for you!

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  30. Happy Birthday! I would love to win either. What I know about Australia - they have some GREAT quilters there!

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  31. love those photos of Sydney and glad you have such great memories of your visit - don't enter me in the giveaway cause as you know I know a bit about australia ! just wanted to say I'm impressed that you cut out two quilts at once - lot of work !

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  32. I forgot to leave my email addy, sorry,
    lyn.robyn.smith@gmail.com

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  33. wow!! i've been watching your progress on this one and *fingers crossed* i'd like the kit..

    the thing i think of when i think of AUST, is the kangaroos...i'd like to meet one one day :)

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