Oh Geez, it's my BIRTHDAY!

My blog is one year old!!  It really sneaked up on me!  I'm going on a give-away hunt today to find something fun for YOU to celebrate!  Be sure to check out my next post for a chance to win!

I can't believe it has been a whole year.  I still feel as dumb about blogging "how to's" - I'd rather sew than try and figure out more ideas for making my site look nice.  Thank you for visiting me anyway!

I've been working with no rules for a few days...not easy for me.  I'm trying to put a top together from my fabulous "liberated lady" swap blocks, my liberated doggie and tree blocks, and a tub of small to medium scale floral fabrics.  My friend Jonesy made most of us witches, and that is the focus for my quilt.  My daughter loves "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked," so I thought I would finish it along that theme.  Here's the mess that is currently hanging on my design wall (mess in a GOOD way)...   :o)

I'm still in the process of adding strips, making liberated tree spacers where needed, and moving ladies around. 

After the center is together, I am going to free-piece words (a la Tonya of Lazy Gal Quilting) that will say "I'll get you my pretties...and your little dogs, too!"

Things can get pretty nutty going from the wall to the sewing machine, so I thought I would share my SECRET LABELING WEAPON with you.  I take leftover scraps of FREEZER PAPER, cut them into squares, and label them with row and block number (or other info), then press them to the block or chunk of pieced mess.  (I temporarily press them to something else, then peel them off when I am really to use them.)

I like this better than pins, clips, or other bulky row markers that are available commercially.  I don't have to move them before pressing or sewing, they add no weight, and when I am finished, I just peel them off and throw them away.  It's the best way I have found to reduce piecing errors.

I also use this method to label swap blocks with my name or other info.

Or better YET, I use this to label pieces of blocks or kits in case I set a project aside and FORGET what fabric goes WHERE!  (which happens to me a lot...)  I used to use painters masking tape or trust my old brain (big mistake these days...) and freezer paper leaves no residue and keeps me from banging my head against my sewing machine as I try and remember things (or use a seam ripper, God forbid!).

So have fun sewing, and try my method using freezer paper...I sure am glad some butcher somewhere came up with this fabulous stuff!!

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)