THIS CONTEST IS NOW OVER

Here at Connecting Threads, we were given a little challenge to pick one of the new Stash Builder Samplers and make a project or 2 with them. The one I chose is the Fat Quarter version of the Ecosystem Sampler. The colors are perfect for some beach house projects I've been wanting to make.

I made 4 placemats and a table runner. The placemats are a pattern in Terrific Table Toppers with Patrick Lose. I knew when I reviewed this book that the placemats were a must project. They were pretty easy, all the applique was fused down & zig-zagged in place. Then I quilted them - quilting is something that I'm learning as I go along. I've always been a little maching quilting challenged, but know that it makes sense for small projects. So (sweating bullets), I quilted them. They were a pretty quick project all in all, and would have been finished much sooner if I hadn't had to remove the binding from 2 of them twice - first time my seam allowance was way off (darn computerized machine - it's just supposed to know), and the second time because I sewed it (with the correct seam allowance) to the wrong sides! But, I love them, and can hardly wait to take them to the beach.

The table runner was part pattern that I've had forever, and part my own artistic license with it. I just took 2.5" strips & squares and randomly sewed them together and then added the end triangles & fused down the crabs. It will be fun on the coffee table under the big bowl of shells we've collected.

As part of our "summer of samplers", one lucky commenter can win the Ecosystem Sampler featured in this post. Simply leave a comment by 6/30/10, and I will draw the name of one lucky winner using a random number generator. Good luck!