Spun Sugar Quilts

My weekend so far....

2012-02-04T19:18:00.001-05:00

We had some great snow this morning.

It was just pretty and a great day to sew.

I picked up the new Denyse Schmidt fabrics at Joann's last Saturday.

I also grabbed a coupld of spools of thread that coordinate.

I tend to get caught without a coordinate for quilting or sewing the binding.

This line is Aunt Edna and the quality is great.

The price is killer though $12.99 regular price.

I paid $9.09 a yard on sale.

Still a little steep for a JoAnn fabric IMO.

I have already pieced the quilt and it's off to my quilter tomorrow.

I will show a picture as soon as I can....

Fave Pin Friday #11 Truth

2012-02-03T10:47:00.000-05:00

Source: twitter.com via Vickie on Pinterest

Lately I have been working through those inner demons....

hind sight?

2012-01-29T09:31:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I was trying to find a suitable backing for a recent quilt.

I picked this 1974 Urban Chicks fabric from my stash.

I needed 4 yards or 70"x70".

Surely I bought a 4 yard piece of this fabric...

Nope.

it's 3 1/4 yards.

I tried to figure out mathematically how I could get the piece I needed

BUT it just wasn't enough....

I whined and groaned and searched my fabric stash....

I gave up on that and found another stash piece of 1974 Urban Chicks in Red

sure enough I did have 4 yards.

In hind sight...

I wish I had bought 4 yards of the light fabric or any fabric for that matter.

I found that every piece I had that 'might' be enough...wasn't enough.

I have a lot of stash but not a lot of backing sized stash.

I thought about piecing the backing but my machine quilter isn't fond of that

(yeah it's sometimes frustrating but he's a convenient so I take that inconvenience)

I think the next time I find a 'deal' or sale yardage I am buying 4-6 yard pieces for backings.

Ever been in this situation?

1651

2012-01-28T07:54:00.000-05:00

inches of binding made yesterday....

and that's just the beginning....

Fave Pin Friday #10

2012-01-27T20:11:00.000-05:00

Source: emeraldandella.com.au via Vickie on Pinterest

I am really crushing on these spice containers.

Fave Pin Friday #9

2012-01-20T13:43:00.000-05:00

Funky Valentines are my fave pin this week.

I want to sew some right now...

Click on the patternspot link to this free pattern.

Source: patternspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

By the way, I missed the Thursday Three yesterday.

I was so wrapped up in my week that I forgot about it.

I know how on earth could I do that?

Well, my hubby was gone for 5 days, while he was gone my sister was here with her 9 month old baby.

Add work and kids and generally crazy life and you have a recipe for failure.

I just did what I could and the blog got neglected.

I haven't been able to show much of the sewing I have been doing but there's quite a bit going on.

On a super happy note, I got an iphone today!

I was a diehard blackberry user....so this is a BIG deal for me.

So far it's been easy to use.

Any quilt/sewing Apps I must have?

Fave Pin Friday #8

2012-01-13T06:00:00.007-05:00

Brown Sugar Blondies

Source: bakedperfection.com via Belinda on Pinterest

I am pretty sure this sums up what I want to make today...

just need the pretty M&M's.

Thursday Three:

2012-01-12T06:00:00.027-05:00

First blog on the radar today is

Anyone Can Quilt
This blogger has several neat projects to look at.

Cotton Flower

I'm crushing on "Cotton Flowers" fabric choices for her bag.

I must check this blog often, for inspiration, of course.

And

Fresh Lemon Quilts

a more modern-ish style blogger designer....

I think I may have seen her blog before but for some reason it didn't end up in my google reader.

It's there now!

I hope you find an enjoyable new blog today.

Have a great day :)

♥ 12 done ♥

2012-01-07T06:01:00.008-05:00

12 days/12 blocks!

I am so happy that I squeezed in some time yesterday afternoon to finish sewing these.

I hope to set them this weekend.

I doubt it will get quilted in the near future....but the top will be done atleast....

{p.s. Block can be found at Temecula Quilts}

Fave Pin Friday #7

2012-01-06T06:00:00.007-05:00

Source: flickr.com via libertythreads on Pinterest

Knitted Hexies.
Love..

Thursday Three

2012-01-05T06:00:00.021-05:00

First:

Obsessively Stitching

This blog features a Blythe clothier, crafter, stitcher kind of gal.

I am smitten with her pink dresses for Blythe's...

Pink, red, white, Valentine-y fever....

Second:

We Love French Knots

so much inspiration on this blog for the stitcher in all of us.

and lastly...

Sew For Home

A plethora of sewing ideas...

check em out.

p.s. just an fyi...this is NOT sponsored in any way. I just stumble on new blogs I'd like to share :)

Getting the Valentine crafting itch...

2012-01-02T19:44:00.000-05:00

yep the Valentine crafting has begun with Bareroots stitchery.

I used some scraps of Ruby for the border of the pillow.

add some crayons

a little varigated DMC threads...

{sigh}

I'm on my way to 'finishing' something...

12 Days of Christmas Mystery....

2011-12-31T06:00:00.023-05:00

Are you participating?

Temecula Quilts is posting a new block each day for 12 days....

I broke out my Set A Marti Michell Templates for the triangle pieced blocks.

It felt like Christmas again when I realized that Set A will work for these 3" blocks.

I think sometimes when we buy a template set, ruler or other quilt gadget we sometimes disappointed if we only use it once....

Then somehow another project sneeks up on us and Voila...

We can use it again!

Here's my first 5 days {blocks} :)

They are super simple so far.

fabric used:

Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott for Moda

Okay now I am off to sew and sew and sew....

yep that's how I am spending my New Year's Eve...

...okay maybe a little wine with the hubby late late....

Fave Pin Friday #6

2011-12-30T06:00:00.007-05:00

Source: alegriashoeshop.com via Vickie on Pinterest

I am obsessed with Alegria shoes.

obsessed.

Thursday Three: 3 new to me blogs

2011-12-29T06:00:00.013-05:00

Flossy Tea Cakes

Source: flossieteacakes.blogspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

Flossy Tea Cakes has some great tutorials and patterns to check out.

Sew Many Ways

Source: sewmanyways.blogspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

I'm smitten with Sew Many Ways.

I have been craving a good tutorial for frosted glass.

The Noble Wife

Source: thenoblewife.blogspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

The Noble Wife is a designer blogger, Jacquelynne.

She designs fabric for Henry Glass and is published in several books and magazines.

A great blog to check out this week.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Fave Pin Friday #5 Random Craft Generator

2011-12-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

Source: random-tutorial.com via eileensideways on Pinterest

This is completely addicting....

I clicked 20 times....and then

like 20 more...just curious what is out there that I am missing.

Thursday Three

2011-12-22T06:00:00.013-05:00

Stitched in Color

Tutorials and more...

beaucoup inspiration

Clover and Violet

gorgeous stuff here....

Little Blue Feather

Who knew how close she lives to me??

Getting my own Christmas presents.

2011-12-20T06:00:00.004-05:00

I found an etsy seller that had fat quarters of Woodland by Lecien and Cinderberry Stitches.

No plan for it per se...

I think it will mix well with Moda colors in Little Apples etc.

So yes, I bought one of my own Christmas presents...

I'm glad I did :)

Travel Bag Gifts

2011-12-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

Nifty Travel Bag

A bag that I am making for my staff this Christmas.

It is a pattern from the Vignette #5 magazine.

So I have 2 done and 4 to go by the 23rd....

better get sewing.

I just have to say....this is from my Darla fabric stash and

it is going to be 'real' tough parting with it....

I ♥ this bag.

Someone shoot me...

2011-12-18T05:38:00.000-05:00

because we are painting my daughters bedroom a week before Christmas...

it's a long story.

Now that we are 'actually' doing it....

it's not as good of an idea as we thought.

13" Lalaloopsy Size Dress Pattern

2011-12-17T13:23:00.002-05:00

I finally made the pdf of the Lalaloopsy sized pattern.

There aren't any detailed directions yet.

I just wanted to give you a chance to have the pattern before Christmas

just in case you have time to whip one up.

13" Lalaloopsy sized dress pattern PDF here.

I haven't made a tutorial for this yet.

Basically cut 1 front of the pattern, 1 back, 1 back reversed from dress fabric.

1/4" seams throughout.

I used Riley Blake Hoos in the Forest print.

I sewed a 1/4" grosgrain ribbon across the dress front before I hemmed or sewed any seams.

I used velcro for the back closure.

If you make one or 2 please post a picture on my flickr group.

I'd love to see what you make.

disclaimer: I am in no way associated with Lalaloopsy maker MGA.

I receive no profit from this design.

Fave Pin Friday #4

2011-12-16T06:00:00.006-05:00

Source: needlework.craftgossip.com via Vickie on Pinterest

This is sooo adorable....

xoxoxo

Announcing "Thursday Three"

2011-12-15T06:00:00.005-05:00

I'm sure you know this and probably don't need me to tell you but

there are some pretty awesome bloggers out there.

I follow a TON on my side bar and many more in google reader.

Lately, with the intrusion of Pinterest...I have stumbled upon many blogs I didn't know existed or I didn't 'follow'.

I have found so much inspiration that I thought I would share.

I'm going to try to share 3 new blogs each Thursday...

"The Thursday Three"

and write just a small blip about them....

maybe a picture or 2??

so without further a do....

here are my first Thursday three....

Design Seeds

self explanatory.

Molly Flanders

love Molly's quilts...etc...

her photography is fab too!

Ana White

there are no words for how awesome Ana White is.

no words.

{my husband may have made this for my dd for Christmas ;) }

Recap

2011-12-10T20:32:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we traveled to Iowa to visit my family.

It was the "first" Christmas gathering of 2011.

We will have Christmas with just the kids on the 25th.

The trip to Iowa was really 2 fold, Christmas and my mom's 60th surprise birthday party.

It was a HUGE surprise for her.

All of my sisters participated and my brother as well.

It took a great deal of planning and organizing but somehow we pulled it off.

My mom was a tough cookie though as she refused to come into the party hall.

She was told it was a party for my dad's friend...but it was really for her.

It worked like a charm.

Overall it was a great weekend.

Now I am trying to play catch up.

I don't really want to leave my recliner.

I did pick up the mail yesterday and there was my copy of Vignette Issue #5.

It's packed full of eye candy.

There is a bag pattern in this bag that I want to try.

Perhaps for gifts for my staff? not sure yet...

but my time IS running out.

Part of our Christmas in Iowa is that all the adult kids buy a gift for one another.

My sister Marie got my name and she went on amazon and found 2 of my top rated books.

Quilting from the Little Things and Sew to Swap.

Awesome books.

I was able to leaf threw them on the 9 hour drive home.

This weekend I 'hope' to accomplish something but I'll tell you...I just want to rest.

Favorite Pin Friday: Christmas Ornament

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Source: elsiemarley.com via Vickie on Pinterest

One of my favorite Christmas Ornaments this year.
Half eaten Gingerbread man is genius.
My friend Jane gave me one last year and I finally searched out the pattern online.
Probably not time to make any this year but I am 'tucking' it away for the future....I'd like to give one to each of my sisters and brother for Christmas next year.
Okay, I am back to my sewing machine for a couple of hours.
Nothing to show as this stuff isn't quite ready yet.

Giveaway winner... Learn to Make A Quilt...

2011-12-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

I apologize for the delay in announcing the winner, work got in the way.

Tonight we did CPR renewal and the week has been a total whirlwind.

I didn't sew a thing :( but that's about to change tomorrow.

I have to wait in the morning for the plumbers to fix our waterline to our fridge....

you know THAT could take hours of waiting...

and sewing...(secret yippee here)

Anyhow.....

The winner of the book Learn to Quilt is #63 VickiT!

I have emailed you,Vicki....

For the beginner Quilters....a giveaway

2011-11-28T19:13:00.001-05:00

*COMMENTS CLOSED*

I have recently reviewed a new basics quilting book for House of White Birches.

Learn to Make a Quilt from start to finish by Carolyn Vagts is packed with just the basics.

I have been quilting for 15 years and 'thought' I know just about everything there is to know about quilting techniques.

But I know there is still more for me to learn!

Learn to Make a Quilt from Start to Finish includes advice on everything from fabric and pattern selection to cutting techniques and tips on completing a quilt. It focuses on one pattern, with one block that can be turned in different directions to create a number of different designs.

The book is written to teach beginners how to make a first quilt, with step-by-step photos that walk the quilter through each stage of the quilt-making process. Added tips and insights on techniques are included to make sewing easier and more accurate.

It's definitely a great book for your quilting library.
If you'd like to win a copy, please leave a comment.
I will randomly chose a winner on Dec.6th!
thanks :)

oooo DS Daisy Mae....

2011-11-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

This was my retail therapy the night before my surgery.

Oh no there is a story behind this fabric.
I mean a LONG story.

I have never ever had fabric cutting take so long.

19 half yards took 40 minutes.

then the clerk didn't charge 2 of the prints so they took another 15 minutes to figure which ones they missed.

Wow it was a major kerfluffle...

I kept my cool...

mainly because my nearest JoAnn's didn't have the new line.

I was in one of the Columbus stores before my mom's flight arrived.

Thank goodness I really allowed myself extra time!

They are fantastic colors.

Creating desire fullfilled

2011-11-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have been longing to make some doll clothes for my girls' dolls.
They have several dolls but it seems that the LaLaloopsy's are the favorite plus my Grace loves American Girl.
I just finished a messenger bag for her A.G. doll.

I have shown several of the A.G. outfits I have made over the last year....
but now I am creating Lalaloopsy sized clothes.

I drafted several patterns for the 13" Lalaloopsy from scratch to make an A-line skirt, jumper, pants, t-shirt and I hope to make a hat soon too.
I just basically measured the doll arms, legs, waist, neck etc and kind of drew them based on how I have sewn other patterns.
I didn't copy patterns. They are basic but super fun.
I have loads of ideas for embellishing the clothes too.
Wish I could stand long enough to cut more out....
Once I am feeling better then I may make pdf's of the clothes.
You'll be the first to know when they are done.

Fave Pin Friday #2 : Vintage Shapes

2011-11-25T07:51:00.001-05:00

Source: puglypixel.com via Vickie on Pinterest

These Vintage Fabric shapes from Pugly Pixel are awesome clip art for your blog!

I so want to do the premium membership so I can get all the shapes.

Happy Thanksgiving and a Black Friday nudge

2011-11-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!
There is so much to be thankful for this year.
Thank you to all my blog readers :)

There are a few Black Friday sales related to quilting that I just had to pass on.
I am going to do my shopping online this year....

First Martingale:

They are offering 50% off all books and free shipping.
I can tell you right now I have about 5 titles I am getting. You know because I need so many new books!

Second FatQuarterShop:

Black Friday Blowout: Over 200 items 30-50% OFF for 3 days only!

Cyber Monday Sale: 25% off any order – 4 days only! Use coupon code: monday11. Offer expires at Midnight CST, Thursday, Dec 1st. Terms: Coupon must be used online and can only be used once. Discount is not combinable with any other offer and is not applicable to clubs, programs or the purchase of gift certificates. Not applicable to previous orders.
{I can tell you right now that I have a "Cart" waiting for the 25% off sale!!!}
GO FATQUARTERSHOP!!!!

and Finally Accuquilt:

{my-vertisement is that I LOVE accuquilt and this is the time of the year I get most of my dies!}

{the "regular" advertisement is below}
With Black Friday being the busiest shopping day of the year, many of you may prefer to avoid the hassle of long checkout lines and frantic shoppers. You can now find the perfect gift for the quilter in your life in the comfort of your own home without battling others for popular and discounted items. Not only will you avoid the trip to retail shops, but you can also save money by taking advantage of exclusive online sales that retailers now offer like AccuQuilt. Check out AccuQuilt’s online Black Friday sales now by clicking on the following link:
http://www.accuquilt.com/sale-details
Unsure of what to purchase at accuquilt.com?
Get the quilter in your life the gift of choice with AccuQuilt’s eGift Cards.
These gift cards make it extremely easy for you and can be in any dollar increment! http://www.accuquilt.com/gift-cards/accuquilt-virtual-gift-card.html

Have a great day!
Have fun shopping :)

Thanks.....

2011-11-23T15:17:00.001-05:00

I'm almost not sure where to begin this post.

As many of you know I had surgery last week.

It is thankfully my last this year and for quite some time if I can manage it.

I guess we are never sure if our health will hold out but I am hedging my bets in a positive direction.

Part of the specialness of this last week was that my mom came to stay with us.

She can rarely take any time off of her job as a hair dresser so this was even more special.

My girls loved it.

There were some ups and downs and now I am on the mend but the leg still lets me know every 4 hours that it's still there!

My mom went home yesterday.

That was tough because we miss her.

One consolation is that we are traveling to see them in a couple of weeks...

Now about today.

Today is not like any other wednesday.

I was planning a stay it home day.

That quickly changed when I realized that my 10 year old had a doctors appt.

(since they are off school for Thanksgiving).

Hubby is working so my broken self was elected to take her.

When I got home....

there was a package at my door.

It said Moda on the side

(from a distance I could read this because..well I have a hawk-eye for Moda!)

When I picked up the box...I quickly realized it wasn't Moda at all....

It was from Joyce from J'Ellens.

What on earth?

Did I order and not remember?

I mean the anesthetic and vicodin could have done it....lapsed memory...

no I didn't order. I'm sure I didn't.

In the box were 4 blue bags

and a

"quilted" card.

gorgeous 'quilted' card.

I was/am stunned.

Joyce and Katrina sent me treats to help me feel better.

3 fat quarters and 3 jelly rolls of new Moda solids....

robin egg blue, porcelain and slate grey.

I am just stunned.

I almost instantly started crying from happiness that they were so thoughtful.

I don't deserve to have such great friends.

I can't wait to see them and thank them in person.

Joyce and Katrina...if you are reading this....

You made my day, week and month.

I am so thankful.

Sunday Stash #16 and my status

2011-11-20T09:03:00.000-05:00

Well it's Sunday.

3 days after my surgery and I am having pain but less than yesterday.

I knew it would be like this but it doesn't take the discomfort away :(

I am seriously hoping to be like 100% better tomorrow...

okay better enough to go to see Breaking Dawn Part 1.

My mom is here and we were going to go together while the kids are in school.

So hoping I feel up to it.

In the mean time...

Here's Nine Dots by Carrie Nelson for Henry Glass

my Sunday Stash....

I have been dreaming about stitching.

Mind you I have done a bit of the binding I had planned

but I want to ...SEW

sew a whole quilt top...

I must be on the up swing ....

however, the body has to catch up with the mind.

I guess I'll keep dreaming for a few more days.

Fave Pin Friday

2011-11-18T17:23:00.000-05:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Vickie on Pinterest

This is my favorite pin of the week.

Which Princess are you?

I'm Tiana.

There are TONS of cool stuff on pinterest as you probably already know.

You can follow my pins

I hope to share a new favorite pin with you each Friday.

Going Coastal

2011-11-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

Going Coastal is my dream fabric.

I am particularly smitten with the bottle caps print.

I've made a quilt with it....

however it's refused to be photographed.

Just kidding about the refusal,

unfortunately I can't quite show it to you yet :(

There are quite a few quilts that I just can't let you view.

It looks like ALL I am blogging lately is piles of stash.

pretty stash though.

things are piling up...

2011-11-15T06:01:00.001-05:00

it's is getting out of control ;)

new books to inspire

2011-11-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Quilt Market and all the blog posts have doomed me.

I want to buy so many fabric lines....

ugh it's embarassing, I MUST control myself....

MUST.

in the mean time.........

Friday I went to my nearest JoAnn's.

I was armed with coupons but no real plan.

BIG Mistake.

BIG.

I ended up spending nearly an hour looking at books and magazines

(Mollie Makes which they did NOT have despite the fact that MM says they all do,

so I was disappointed on that front)

I did, however, take a little charm home with me.

3X the Charm in fact.

Me and My Sister gals have out done themselves.

I bought 2.

One for me and one for my Mother in Law.

Her birthday is coming so I decided to get this book

and cut up the quilts for her as kits.

I spent all Friday night picking fabric for 4 of the 7 in the book and cutting it all.

Yep. I cut all the pieces because it is increasingly difficult for my MIL to do it herself.

For myself, I plan on making Greta first....perhaps out of Hello Luscious? I'm not sure.

In the mean time, I have

pretty in patchwork doll quilts to keep me busy.

I couldn't resist this one.

full of ideas and this quilt which about made my heart stop.

I so enjoy this one, it makes me smile and think that it needs to be a bed quilt.

Of course, I didn't leave without magazines.

Make Ahead Holiday is packed with yummy looking recipes.

But take a look inside Stitch Craft Create...

lovely.

Now I have reading material for my time off....

my outlook is getting better every minute.

"Lark" the Herald Angels Sing...

2011-11-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

I can't help it.

Everytime I look at this fabric

I have the Christmas song "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" floating in my mind.

It's not Christmasy...at all.

There may be something seriously wrong with me.

LOL

getting a head start....

2011-11-12T06:02:00.000-05:00

I made some bindings so that I can sew them onto quilts this weekend and prepare hand work to do while I am off the next 2 weeks.

Actually, I am off work for 11 days.

How did I manage that?

I am having surgery again.

This is the last one this year....I hope.

At any rate, I am preparing handwork and english paper piecing to keep me busy.

My mom is coming too which should be a BIG help.

the beginning of great things.

2011-11-11T22:17:00.000-05:00

These have arrived....

Hello Luscious, Good Fortune and Salt Air

from various sources

okay it was ebay....

and one bundle was from Moda for a tutorial...

I couldn't resist ebay.

But I still NEED a few more new lines...specific precuts and yardage

so January, February and March can't come soon enough.

Top done

2011-11-05T14:31:00.000-04:00

Ah yes the borders are on and it's ready for quilting.

That's the next challenge...hand quilt? machine quilt?

Well I did hand piece the flowers so I think I am going to hand quilt it.

That could take awhile but atleast the top is done!

I didn't really intend to be 'away' from my blog this long.

I am going to try to be better.

I just didn't want to post without pictures.

I've been doing stuff like

I made a pie...

but I don't think Marie Callenders count as "my pie recipe".

So I decided not to post it LOL.

I am going to make some more pictures this weekend, it's a beautiful weekend for it.

stash from Vegas

2011-10-24T12:45:00.000-04:00

Just a little Heather Ross from my last trip to Las Vegas.

I wasn't going to buy much at Quiltique.

I wasn't.

Then when I checked out I found out that if I spent $7 more, I would get a $25 gift card.

So I promptly went and got the 8 bolts of H.R. fabric and had then cut 1/4 yard pieces.

It's stash as I really have no plan for it at this point.

But it's fun :)

Doll flower quilt progress...

2011-10-19T16:34:00.000-04:00

I have been slowly appliqueing these hexie flowers for a small doll quilt.

I think I blogged about the book

The Civil War Sewing Circle by Kathleen Tracy

and how smitten I was with it.

{picture from Martingale site}

My plan is to finish it this year...

but you know I have QADD {Quilter's Attention Deficit Disorder}....

so that may not happen LOL.

There's been a lot of sewing going on here in the background...

I don't mean to get your hopes up as it's not for Quilt Market,

nor am I going to QM this fall.

Life has other plans for me...like trick or treating,

work, parents' visiting and my {maybe} last surgery this year.

Let's not forget Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays too!....

gifts...

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001-04:00

I have always been inclined to make gifts for people rather than buy them. You may know that from reading my blog in the past.

Sometimes (okay most of the time) it costs more to MAKE the item than if I bought it.

I digress.

I really wanted to tell you about how this little project came to 'be'.

I was fiddling around with an idea to make little bags for my girls dolls and do-dads.

You know the do-dads I am referring to....

the super itsy bitsy little toys that come with dolls like the mini Lala Loopsies or Moshi Monsters.

I wanted to make a Moda bakeshop project or tutorial somehow.

Long story short, it didn't end up a blog tutorial.

It ended up HERE:

In Quiltmaker's newest magazine Small Quilts and Gifts

(I'm smiling because I really had no intentions of it being in a magazine,

but isn't that how it happens sometimes!)

I used Lynnete Anderson's Scandinavian Christmas by Lecien.

Here are the original prototypes....

Hideaway by Lauren and Jesse Jung

and

Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey.

If you happen to get a hold of a copy of the magazine and make one of these half hex bags send me a picture.

I'd love to share it with everyone on my blog :)

The pumpkin has been found!

2011-10-11T07:59:00.000-04:00

The pumpkin has been found.

you may remember this post...

well I found it in between 2 other stitcheries in my portable sewing packet/pouch.

I decided to clean it out before my trip to Vegas.

I had 2 stitchery projects, and 4 english paper piece projects.

4 English paper piece projects?

even I was amazed that I have that many hand piecing projects right now.

Want to know something funnier?

I didn't sew a lick on the plane to Vegas...perhaps I will on the way home??

I'll let you know if I do....

The mantle this time of year....

2011-10-08T06:00:00.007-04:00

I LOVE to decorate for Halloween and Fall.

It's that time of year close to my birthday and many happy memories.

Here's my mantle this year.

First year for a banner.

It's a Martha Stewart Pumpkin banner from JoAnn's.

Just makes me feel happy looking at it.

How many runners out of a Layer Cake?

2011-10-06T06:00:00.039-04:00

7 halloween tablerunners

yep 7!

I made the tops last year with good intentions of finishing them LAST Halloween.

Each runner uses 5 layer cake squares and 2 border strips.

Here are 6 finished runners.

This runner will be mine....

I bet you are wondering what I will do with the other 6?

Well they are for my 6 staff members.

Check out the quilting....love the bats that my quilter did.

Last Christmas I made my staff runners with a summery theme.....

I know summer for Christmas...odd

but those were the ones I had finished.

I am giving them these table runners today during our office potluck

and so they may use these throughout the rest of the month.

Next task is what to do for Christmas for them...

each year it gets harder and harder.

I know...make them bed sized quilts! ha.

not yet....

what if I do 2 quilts a year?

hmm not sure that would go over well..

I better plan better for next year....6 lap or twin size quilts.

yep I could do that.

A WIP revisted....

2011-10-04T06:00:00.013-04:00

This is a table topper that I started about 4 years ago.

Heck I probably blogged it when I finished the applique flowers.

I can't remember for sure.

I do believe it is a Cottonway pattern though.

I have been buying Cottonway patterns for EVER.

Anyhow, why blog it now?

well it's been in my to-be-quilted pile for 3 years at least.

I was looking for another project this last weekend and found it in the pile, already layered and pinned.

I was going to quilt it at one time...obviously.

I set it on my cutting table next to my hand stitching bag.

That's when a light bulb went off...

Use PEARL COTTON!

So I decided to hand quilt it in size 8 Pearl Cotton....

I will show you the progress as I make some.

{p.s. I get distracted easily with quilting...

again that's probably extremely obvious}

Halloween Felt Ornaments -- Done!

2011-10-03T06:00:00.011-04:00

Another weekend finish.

There were 3 left....

the candy corn, the acorn, and the pumpkin...

ah where's the pumpkin?

I just realized it's MIA fron the picture.

I know I finished the pumpkin and I have no idea where it is....

I'm off to find it right now.

{ still really confused as to where it is and how I didn't catch that it wasn't in the picture WOW}

Another version of the Scrap Apple Bag

2011-10-02T17:23:00.001-04:00

This is one alternate version of my Scrap Apple Bag.

I only boxed the corners 1/2" on this bag.

I was going to give it to my 10 year old...but

the fabrics are adorable and I am having a rough time parting with it.

There's Swell, Sweet and 1974 by Urban Chicks, Freebird by MoMo, and even a few Tula Pink scraps.

Here's the orginal Scrap Apple Bag found on Moda Bakeshop.

Just one of my many finishes this weekend!

Fall has definitely arrived.....

Bobbin' for Apples....at Accuquilt

2011-09-30T10:29:00.000-04:00

Pop on over to Accuquilt and read my blogger spotlight on the Applecore :)

And if you'd like some free ideas/patterns from Accuquilt you can sign up for their newletter HERE.

Crazy Punkin Pillow

2011-09-28T20:13:00.000-04:00

I've been kind of quiet in terms of blogging.

I have been sewing.

Pinky swear.

Actually, I have been getting a little 'crazy' lately.

I was inspired by the EZ Quilting Simply Crazy Ruler to make this pillow.

I took out my stash of orange, black and Halloween fabrics and went to work.

I decided that plain black in the center wasn't going to cut it so I drew a pumpkin

and stitched it with size 8 pearl cotton.

I used the same size 8 pearl cotton for the 'quilting'.

I love the big stitch pearl cotton look on this pillow.

I am thinking that this ruler would make a great tutorial or inspiration for a new project.

Do any of you have this ruler in 'stash'?

Just curious if you have it and if you made a project with it.

I kind of like it because it helps me with the 'wonky' look that I tend to shy away from.

FREE Halloween Candy Corn Runner Pattern using the Go! Cutter.

2011-09-24T06:09:00.000-04:00

Halloween Candy Corn Runner

using Accuquilts Go! cutter

{please note: this is NOT a sponsored post, I purchased these dies

and decided to make something (finally).}

Gather your supplies:

A fat quarter of white, yellow and orange fabric

Black background 8.5" X 27"

batting 10" X 29"

backing fabric 10" X 29"

Accuquilt Go! fabric cutter

2.5" strip die (piecing)

2.25" strip die (binding)

Isosclese 5" triangle die (candy corn)

Using your Go! fabric cutter and the 2.5" strip cutter,

Cut 1 21"X 2.5" strip of each color as shown.

Sew the strip together in this order:

yellow, orange and white

press seams to one side.

Take your Go! cutter Isosclese triangle die and lay the strip across it.

Cut 8 triangles like those shown above.

Candy corn usually has a white tip and given the way that the cutter cuts the triangles,

there will be 4 left over candy corn 'opposites' for another project.

Layer the backing right side down, batting and black background right side up into a quilt sandwich.

Pin or spray baste all layers for quilting.

Next lay 4 of your corn triangles (I chose 4 with white tips like candy corn) onto the background and pin in place.

My candy measured 1.25” between points (measuring top of corn to bottom)

and 1.75” from the edge of the background.

Quilt the straight "piecing" lines of the candy corn.

Quilt 1/4" around the outside edge of the 'candy corns'.

Quilt in the background.

Notice I basically outlined the candy corn with some straight quilt stitching.

Last, bind your runner.

I used binding that I made with my 2 1/4" Go! cutter strip die.

yield:

A quick cute Halloween Candy Corn runner for any table.

You can download the pdf for this project HERE.

Some Kind of Wonderful .... again

2011-09-17T15:54:00.000-04:00

A few months back I blogged about this book: Some Kind of Wonderful by Anni Downs.

I was smitten about this "bowling ball" style bag for holding projects and stitchery.

Well I've done it.

I pieced the front and the back and I have started stitching the designs.

I hope little by little I can squeeze this stitching in between my other quilt projects and work.

I'll be sure to show you my progress.

Stretched 9 Patch Crafty Halloweeen Table Runner

2011-09-12T13:06:00.000-04:00

Remember these unfinished blocks?

Well I managed to sew and assemble them into a top this weekend.

I set them 3x5.

I intended to layer, quilt and bind this runner...

and then....

This is the back of the top.

{keeping it real}

Yes I pressed the seams.

No they wouldn't stay 'put' and kept popping back up.

I have never experience this with a quilt top.

I was kind of frustrated by this.

I suppose it could be the size of the pieces finishing 1 1/4" X 2 1/4" or blocks?

Anyhow, I decided not to use batting for this project.

So I changed it to a Crafty 9-patch Halloween Runner (it's not a quilt without 3 layers).

I laid it right sides together with my backing,

stitched around the outside edge 1/4" and trimmed it.

I turned it right side out and top stitched the edge 1/4 and 1/8

of an inch to close the opening and finish.

And there you go... a cozy little place for my Raggedy Annies to sit.

It satisfied my need to create, make a runner for this lonely table, and do it quickly!!

I'd say it was a successful weekend.

silence

2011-09-11T00:01:00.002-04:00

Twilight, cookies and such..

2011-09-10T11:39:00.000-04:00

This weekend has brought me time to bake, read and sew.

The cookies were inspired by my sisters' baking last weekend.

We just had to have more chocolate chip cookies.

I haven't felt the need to blog because there just wasn't a lot to blog about.

How many blog posts could I write about laundry, dishes and work?

Not that many.

I have been also slightly absorbed with new books.

My sister brought the entire Twilight series for me to read.

In just 9 days I have read all four,

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.

I nearly swore I would never read them.

Then I caught the first movie on Showtime during a free trial weekend

and the rest is history.

I wanted to read the books because books always seem better than the movies.

So I have finished them

and I feel I can move on to bigger projects.

More halloween-ish projects, tablerunners because I NEED more, felted ornaments...just 3 left to finish, a few more secret projects that can't be shown ....yet.

I am sure I will be blogging a bit more now.

I have a list of 10 blog posts I want to write soooo that should keep me busy for quite awhile.

WIPs halloween style.

2011-09-01T02:23:00.001-04:00

I'd like to sit here and type that I just can't believe it's been so long since I blogged.

But I just can't.

I just kinda lost my blogging mo-jo this last 2 weeks.

Maybe it was school starting?

Maybe it was that I took my time creating "Pages" near my blog header, in which only 2 are finished and published?

They take a long time to create for my tutorials because I have made so many.

Maybe it's because my husband bought Netflix and I have watched the entire first season of Glee?

At any rate,

I have a couple of projects/ WIPs on my cutting table.

I bought a charm pack from J'Ellens called Trick or Treat by Moda....

Cut it up, added some older Moda Halloween lines and some dots and voila!

Instant halloween table runner in progress.

It's a 9-patch, elongated, narrow, my own design and fun :)

While watching Glee and various other Netflix movies I have been stitching more of these guys.

Note, that I started them in August last year....nearly 1 year to the day!

It's a pattern by Garden Moon and there are 12 felt ornies in which I have finished 5.

I am pretty pleased with how these are sewing up because the circles are so perfect.

I used my Go! cutter circle die and my Sizzix cutter circle die (my DH bought me like 10 years ago).

The combination made the circles a perfect 1/4" different just like the pattern.

This holiday weekend could be hit or miss for me in terms of blogging because I have a bunch of family coming.

and I mean a BUNCH.

but it's all good and we are happy to have them.

Sunday Stash #15

2011-08-21T06:00:00.010-04:00

Holly Hill by Laurie Bird for Windham Fabrics.

I found yards of these beauties while organinzing my sewing space.

Now what to do with them?

See I am still seasonally confused.

Tutorial English Paper Pieced Applecore Part 2

2011-08-20T06:00:00.003-04:00

Tutorial English Paper Piecing Applecore Part 1 can be found HERE.

Once you have prepared all your pieces, you can lay them out to decide on placement or randomly select the order.

Select 2 applecores and lay them like this.

Flip the core to the right so that the wrong side shows.

Rotate the applecore so that the end points meet as shown.

Grasp the papers keeping the points right sides together.

Begin a whip stitch.

I suggest using a small Straw needle so that you can just take a tiny bite of the fabric and leave the paper underneath untouched.

After stitching about a 1/4" of the pieces....

Bend the fabric between your fingers. I have one finger to the outside, one in the middle and one on the outside of the other applecore.

This will give you about another 1/4" of fabric to whip stitch.

It takes practices and is a somewhat slow process, however, with practice it begins to go quicker.

Here is one completed applecore set.

Finish with a small knot.

It will be hidden on the back side of the piece.

Add another applecore to this 'block'.

(This sample is made in Ruby)

Make {5} A blocks

Make {5} B blocks

Here are both 'blocks', you can see how they will next together.

*Note* leave the papers intact at this point.

to be continued in Part 3........

Seasonally Confused.

2011-08-19T07:42:00.001-04:00

I am.

Seasonally confused.

Technically it is still summer. It's 85 degrees and beautiful most days.

Why would I be confused?

Well it's getting a bit cooler in the night here in Ohio and that smell of fall is in the air....even for a brief moment early in the day.

My mind keeps wondering to orange, red, yellow and black.

Leaves, pumpkins, and spiced desserts.

Last week when I attended the book signing at J'Ellen's House of Fabrics I was terribly confused.

I wanted Sophie by Chez Moi....

Trick or Treat by Deb Strain....

Summer House by Lily Asbury.....

Farmyard: Sentimental Studios......

and Oops a Daisy.

p.s. for inquiring minds....I didn't break the bank at J'Ellen's. She was having a HUGE sale. $20 for jelly rolls, $5 charm packs....you get the idea.

It was HUGE and I had a gift certificate from a really great friend. I was pleased as punch.

Anyhow do you see the issue?

Summer,

no Fall,

summer, Fall, summer....ACK! I am mixed up.

Do you know the feeling?

What to start first? what will I make? I have a gazillion patterns and MY own and still I'm not sure.

First on my list is some sort of fallish/Halloween pillow cover.

I have a pillow form that had a 4th of July cover....now it's naked so I really need to start there first.

Oh shucks, I just remembered the Applecore tutorial....guess I will start there and the pillow will be second on the list.

It's 90% done.

2011-08-18T06:00:00.005-04:00

My Sewing area/kids tv playroom that is.

The wall unit is Expedit from Ikea.

I ♥ Ikea.

really.

Here is the angle from the tv wall unit.

Another Expedit added there and I am using the other white pieces I had from my first set up.

And the cutting table area.

The wall cabinets and ironing station were clearance at Home Depot a few years ago and so they stayed.

It's about 20' X 16' and is packed with fabric love :)

I am feeling sooo much better that it is a useable space again.

When I have a mess whether I am organizing or not, I just can't focus until it's straightened.

This is 90% done.

There are few baskets here and there that need a home, but some of the Expedit squares are empty so there's room.

Now I need to focus on finishing part 2 of the Applecore tutorial and show you what I bought at J'Ellen's House of Fabric.

When life hands you potatoes.....

2011-08-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

Make chips.

We are new-ish to gardening and decided that this year we would add potatoes to our repertoire.

So we quartered some from the pantry that had 'eyes' on them and planted.

Well my husband being not too knowledgable about planting...planted a summer squash right next to the potatoes.

The squash went like wild fire and basically smothered the poor potato plants.

We thought there were no potatoes that could have survived.

So last night we went out to dig out the now defunct summer squash....

and my hubby decided to pull the potatoes too.

Well wouldn't you know it.

Potatoes...lots of them.

Well lots for us.

So we made potato chips first and the rest? maybe American fries for dinner?

I'm not sure but I am super excited that we got potatoes.

It was a treat to see my girls digging for them.

Next year we are planting them again, away from the Squash.

And this monster is from my heirloom tomato plants...

We have tomatoes coming out of our ears this year

guess I will have to try canning this year after all.....

Scrap Apple Bag Tutorial

2011-08-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

Head over to the Moda Bakeshop and check out my newest tutorial.

It's totally scrappy!

Come Join Me

2011-08-10T09:45:00.000-04:00

At JEllen's House of Fabric in Lyndhurst, Ohio!

5259 Mayfield Road .... to be exact.

When?

this Saturday August 13th between 10:30am-12:30pm for a book signing of Fresh Fabric Treats.

This is Joyce and Sarah.

They are very special people and I feel very fortunate that they decided to open their fabric shop here in Northeast Ohio.

This week is their anniversary week and Joyce has some 'sweet' sales to coordinate with the Fresh Fabric Treats book.

Can you guess what she might have on sale?

If you thought precuts....

then you're correct.

Jelly Rolls and Layer cakes $20!

Charm packs $5

Patterns 50% off....

HOLY MOLY.

I'm going to faint.

(fanning self here)

I hope to see you there :)

a small project.

2011-08-08T06:00:00.003-04:00

As you know, I knit.

And I started a new project last night...

a batty dishcloth

from Holiday Knit Dishcloths.

I used my cotton yarn stash :)

p.s. my organizing is still not done.

We decide to move a couple of bedrooms around too...

Weekend of Success and Failure

2011-08-07T06:00:00.002-04:00

In Baking that is.

I made successful Sticky Buns from Barefoot Contessa's recipe on the Food network.

It's really decadent.

Buttery, sweet, crunchy...delicious.

Then...I got REAL brave and tried to make Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes....

Like these that I saw on Pinterest.

{picture from LoveandOliveOil blog}

Hmm....don't even get me started about Pinterest. It's addicting.

I digress...

the cupcakes....well the cakes themselves were divine.

I whipped up the batter in no time and had them baking.

It's a delicious recipe that would make again.

Then I tried to make Strawberry Buttercream.

I have never made buttercream.

I could go on and on about this but basically I don't know what went wrong.

It was perfect until I added the Strawberries.

After spending 30 minutes trying to selvage the buttercream, I gave up and used canned frosting.

Horrible I know.

I may never try buttercream again.

Then I read the blog post attached to the recipe and realized the recipe creator had the same problem with the icing.

Drat!

I could have avoided using that buttercream recipe had I read the blog post BEFORE baking.

Live and Learn.

Tutorial English Paper Piecing Applecore shape Part 1

2011-08-06T12:50:00.000-04:00

This project is the inspiration for this tutorial. I love the applecore shape and I started this some time ago not realizing how complex it could be to sew curves.

Here is what you need to start your own English Paper Pieced Applecore tablerunner.

This will measure about 10 1/2" X 32 1/2".

Sewline Glue Stick

1 Charm pack of Ruby or other fabric line

batting 12" X 36"

backing fabric 12" X 36"

Basic neutral thread

thimble

sewing needle

{30 papers} 1-2 packs of 4" Applecore paper pieces from Paper Pieces

(they are sold in 25 or 150 pieces per pack)

or make your own with this template --->

You can download the applecore pdf template HERE.

I am going to make this small project right along with you and I chose Ruby by Moda for my feature fabric.

I might add some Bliss too, I am not sure on that :)

A charm pack of Ruby or charm pack of any fabric would be adequate for this project.

You will need at least 4" X 5" rectangles.
*note that my applecore has 'holes' in it. I originally sewed through the papers BEFORE I started using the glue stick technique.

Place your paper piece onto the rectangle and mark with a pencil a 3/8" seam allowance.
I have found that a 1/4" is too small for my comfort level with this project so I used 3/8".
After I made 2 or 3 I just eye balled the seam allowance.
It is up to you if you would like to mark them all.

Pin your paper to the wrong side of the fabric and cut out along the seam allowance.

Next you need to make small 1/4" cuts in the seam allowance to help you form the fabric to the paper piece.
BE CAREFUL not to cut too deeply into the seam allowance.

Take your Sewline glue stick and place about 1/2 swipe of glue onto the paper piece edge.
Fold the seam allowance over as shown.

Continue to do this for both 'inner' curves.

Then clip the 'outer' curves and glue and fold.

When you get to the corners you must manipulate the fabric and glue by gluing fabric to fabric.

I wasn't worried about the neatness of the back of the paper....just the 'tightness' of the point of the applecore.

Remove the pin.

Here is the first finished applecore.

It goes pretty quickly since you do not have to sew through the papers.

Repeat 29 more times.

Part 2: How to sew english paper pieced applecores together.

will be posted next week to give you some preparation time.

Leave me a comment if you might participate...

I'd like to know what fabric line you will use or if just scrappy.

I look forward to your combinations.

stuff I want to talk about.

2011-08-03T20:00:00.000-04:00

Why?

well frankly for a better understanding of my view of blogging and sharing.

I want to talk about random stuff ......
what I don't particularly share on my blog
and maybe even why I don't.

**disclaimer**

I am not intending to offend anyone. This is about me.

I do not blog about fabric I don't like or love.

I just don't say anything at all.

You know the old cliche "if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all".

I publish patterns in magazines and quilting books, therefore I am kind of 'in the business'.

That means I have to be very careful what I say on my blog, facebook, twitter and pinterest.

I once made the mistake of tweeting the approximate wholesale price of quilting cotton
and what the retail cost will be.

I saw this information at a quilt shop.

Let me tell you, that ruffled online feathers.

I was viewing it from a consumer stand point...

not the seller.

I am educated enough to know that a quilt shop marks up the fabric.....

They have to make a living somehow!!!

That doesn't matter as, I don't sell fabric

but I am considered in the business by most standards.

For me this was a tough lesson to learn.

Just don't share the wholesale costs.

I can't help but wonder what the lasting effects of my one tweet will be?

Will the offended 'online shop' continue to 'punish' me for that tweet?

Did they purposefully remove me from their blog list?

Am I imagining things?

I will likely never know.

I am just guessing who the offended shop is btw.

I don't really know, I just have a hunch.

at any rate, now I keep my 'mouth' shut.

I may submit 10 projects to magazines...maybe only 1 is accepted.
Sometimes there is no reply at all.

For Real.

and that really messes with ones self-esteem,
so sometimes I want to stop all together,
but I don't...

I am not ashamed of my stash,
however, I do not show all the fabric that I buy.

People may judge that I have too much,

more than I deserve or will use.

btw, this is ALL true....

however, it doesn't stop me from buying more fabric IF I want to.

I consider fabric acquisition as 'therapy in a bag'.

It's cheaper than a psychiatrist at this point.
I get depressed feelings like everyone else.....fabric eases that LOL.

I simply can't do everything.

I get help.

I have a housekeeper once a week.

Her name is Jamie and she's fantastic and worth every penny.

Without her I would have no time to sew.

I post my blogs ahead because Monday-Thursday I work 10 hour days and like other working parents must come home to my second job of caring for my husband and children.

That means I blog stuff on the weekend for the rest of the week.

I can't show you everything I am working on.

I sell some of my ideas and once it's on my blog the ideas are public domain-ish

and that is unacceptable for a paid designer. *note #2 and #3 above

I had vein surgery twice this year and should have 2 more before the year ends.

This means I may be home in a recliner recovering.

My children may be on holiday with my in-laws which will give me more free time...

except that I will barely be able to walk the first week.

Surgery is still surgery.

And lastly......

It may appear that I have soooo much time to sew and quilt.

I sincerely wish I had more time to quilt. I look at my projects and long to sew them.

Usually I feel this at about 7 o'clock in the morning....

just as I finish making the beds and head down stairs to leave for work.

There's one last look at my sewing area.....Sigh.

Okay I got that out in the open....whew.

I hope that my rambling on and on here didn't completely turn you off.

The truth is, is that I am actually hoping that you have a better understanding of me

and what you read and see on my blog.

Now I'll get back to blogging more fun stuff.....
like the Applecore tutorial.

more hidden projects found.

2011-07-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

this is a stitchery from a Nancy Halvorsen book.

I collected the entire fabric line that accompanied this book.

I have no idea #1 where the book is or #2 what the book is called!

Terrible,

I need to find it.

and I should finish it!

yeah like every other work in progress.....

I'm trying not to get depressed by the projects I have found,

but rather become inspired that they are half done!

Like I said, I'm trying.

Check this out...

a stack of cracker blocks....

and I found a bunch more blocks cut out.

Turns out I foundation paper pieced these.

there was a good stretch of my quilting life that was devoted to 1930's fabrics could you tell :)

okay I'm off to work.

It's no picnic right now....

then again, it wouldn't be called work would it?

I have to say that for those of you that actually read my blog,

I have some issues to air or discuss in coming posts.

I have read some things that have sparked a side of me that I didn't want to 'put' out in the quilting/crafting realm.

Is this possible? absolutely.

I feel like I have to clear up a few things before I continue blogging.

a pretty re-discovery

2011-07-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

While I have been re-organizing I stumbled on these dresden plate blocks.

I made them about 8 years ago using english paper piecing and applique.

Needless to say, I only made 3.

I sure do love them.

1930's fabrics are one of my favorite.

I think instead of a bed sized quilt, I may just turn these into a table runner.

Just thought I'd share.

Turns out there are about 50 unfinished projects that I either haven't finished or haven't blogged about.

You will be seeing more of these in the next days.....

12

2011-07-24T09:15:00.000-04:00

12 years today!

Nothing big planned for this year's anniversary.

I am still rearranging my sewing room, as we decided to paint yesterday afternoon.

Nothing fancy...just eggshell this time.

I did make a big breakfast/brunch this morning...our anniversary meal?

Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and corn muffins....delish.

Now I MUST get back to helping my husband move the furniture back.

I don't expect taking pictures of this re-do until next weekend,

however I have been running across some pretty nice unfinished stuff in my bins that I am going to share this week.

Have a great Sunday.

kind of a mess

2011-07-23T10:36:00.000-04:00

For the last couple of weeks we have been working on rearranging my sewing/crafting area.

This is as far as we've gotten.

With work and children, it's being done an hour here and an hour there.

This is my cutting table.

Yeah.

It's as bad as it looks.

I am sincerely hoping that this will be finished this weekend.

okay, I'm back to organizing :)

Sunday Stash #14

2011-07-17T21:25:00.000-04:00

Ruby by Bonnie and Camille for Moda has squeezed it's way into my studio.

This week I am totally re-organizing my entire sewing and crafting area....

I have to de-stash after this.....

I HAVE to LOL...

Bustin' My Stash....

2011-07-16T02:47:00.000-04:00

In case any of you haven't heard from other bloggers about the newest GO! contest....
I thought I'd share.
To clarify, I don't receive any compensation for sharing....
I have just used my Go! cutter so often to cut hexies, tumblers and circles just from my scraps.
It speeds the process up 10 fold!

So if you'd like to show AccuQuilt how you much stash you need to 'bust'
Click on the following link to participate: http://on.fb.me/qtyUoq or go to AccuQuilt’s Facebook page and click “Like”.

Then go to the ‘Bust My Stash’ tab under their profile picture and upload a picture of your fabric stash. Submit your photo by Friday, July 22nd and you’ll be eligible to win a GO! Mix and Match 12” Starter Set.
{wish I had this!!!}

The photo with the most votes by July 31st wins!
Photos will be voted on by viewers and fans of the AccuQuilt Facebook page using the following criteria: relevance, creativity, and originality.
Share with your friends during the voting period to increase your odds of winning!
Turns out they have over 150 entries now! And are offering a bonus pattern for those of you that have a Go! cutter or are planning on getting one.

In addition. if you click HERE you can sign up for their email notifications and get 22 free patterns to use with the Go!

I signed up.

I'm also wishing for some new dies for my Go!.....like a 3" applecore...LOL

I'm nuts right? ...{just lookin' for ways to use my stash}

Even More English Paper Piecing.... Applecores

2011-07-12T10:24:00.000-04:00

In between my vignette hexagon piecing I have been changing it up with english paper piecing 3" applecores.

What do you think?

Am I crazy?

Does anyone want a tutorial on how to piece applecores with this technique?

It's a great prject for busting stash!

Are you up for the challenge?

Sunday stash #13

2011-07-10T06:00:00.008-04:00

Mini Mike's gingham prints by Michael Miller.

I am in LOVE.

They are slowly working into my Vignette hexie quilt.

I just can't get enough of them :)

more hexie progress

2011-07-07T06:00:00.004-04:00

Slowly stitching more hexagon flowers for my Vignette hex quilt...

slowly recovering....

just want to share....

2011-07-06T06:00:00.002-04:00

A few months back I put together some quilty 'kits' for my Mother in law.

It is increasingly difficult for her to use a rotary cutter and such.

I decided to take 4 of my patterns and make kits.

This first quilt is one of those 'kits' and is a pattern by Sweetwater called Make Life 'Sweet'.

I cut the colorful strips from Sweet Broderie and some Bella white.

My MIL picked the borders.

It went together quickly for her.

The quilt below is from scraps that I sent her. I am not sure which book she used for this quilt.

However, it looks a great deal like a quilt in Strip-Smart by Kathy Brown.

I just thought I would share before I take them to the local machine quilter.

FFT book signing...

2011-07-05T07:00:00.030-04:00

Here I am with Karen and Marilyn.

My friend Karen already posted a picture of the 3 of us at the Fresh Fabric Treats book signing...but I wanted to make sure I kept a blog/journal of this as well.

It is a rare occasion that the 3 of us are together.

All original Ohio friends...we have to travel to South Carolina to meet up?

What's that all about? LOL

We had a blast catching up and buying FABRIC of course.

We are bad for each other..if one likes it then all 3 of us get it just in case.

It's been a cool way for me to expand my likes of fabric I would have never incorporated into a quilt or my stash.

I love those two :)

And here's a peek of my Make Life Wonky Nine Patch quilt top. This was made from the original wonky 9-patches that I used to test my pattern for the book.

I have a third quilt started as well in French General and it resembles a picnic style quilt instead of a baby or toddler quilt.

The fabric really makes this quilt.

This pattern is versatile in that you could just use a layer cake of prints or mix prints and solids.

If you decide to make a project from Fresh Fabric Treats please join the Flickr group HERE and let us see what your fabric choices are!

I certainly look forward to seeing what you make.

cheers,

* 4th of july *

2011-07-04T07:00:00.008-04:00

Hope you have a fabulous 4th!

{tip junkie}

Sunday Stash #12

2011-07-03T09:51:00.000-04:00

Floralious by Michele D'Amore for Benartex.

I bought these prints at the Quilter's Cottage after the book signing (more on that later).

2 of my quilter friends also bought some of this line.

I have no idea what I will make...

I just wanted it in my stash for a future 'something'.

Progress on Hexies

2011-07-01T08:44:00.000-04:00

Vignette Hexagons in progress.

This is just a sampling of the fabrics I am using for this project.

So far there is Little Menagerie, Giddy by Sandy Gervais, Denyse Schmidt's Picnic, Bliss by Bonnie and Camille, Sweet Broderie, Plume by Tula Pink, Mini Mike's from Michael Miller and several more.

All happy colors to me and all kitchy scrappy.

I am having surgery on the 5th. This will be my second one of 4 possible surgeries. I am sure that these hexies will keep me busy, plus a little EQ7, and when I am really feelin' good...I am going to work on a tutorial for a new Moda Bakeshop project.

I hope to keep finding interesting things to blog but

In the mean time, enjoy the 4th of July and keep cool.

Fresh Fabric Treats Book Signing Reminder :)

2011-06-30T14:13:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder about the Fresh Fabric Treats book signing THIS Saturday July 2nd

Quilter's Cottage

2571 S. Ocean Hwy - Business 17

Garden City, SC

10:30am- 12:00pm

The Cottage will be having a 4th of July weekend sale including 30% off all fabric!

I will sign your pre-purchased copies of the book as well.

Stop and visit with me if you are in the area.

Vintage Threads, Fabric, Iowa.....

2011-06-28T09:50:00.000-04:00

My family and I made an unplanned trip to Iowa this past weekend.

My mom is having some health issues and with my impending surgery next week...

this weekend was the only option to go for a visit.

During the visit, I stopped at the local quilt store called the Cotton Cabin.

I found a few fat quarters of Marcus Brother's fabric to add to my civil war stash.

It was a good visit to the shop and the owner suggested I travel up the highway to Dyersville.

You know the home of the "Field of Dreams" and the catch phrase "It's not heaven it's Iowa" .

Here's the store fron of Vintage Threads.

It turns out that Vintage Threads was chosen as one of the top 10 quilt shops and will be featured in the Fall 2011 Quilt Sampler magazine!

How cool for them.

I was excited to visit a top 10 shop and was able to see their quilt that will be featured in the magazine.

I didn't take pictures inside as I got the impression that wouldn't be a good idea with the magazine thing this fall.

Some of my fabric loot: good ole red, white and blue.

With these prints I taught my mom how to make yo-yo's with a Clover yo-yo maker.

She's going to make a yo-yo flag and these prints were perfect.

And here are some the other odd and ends that jumped in my arms :)

Over all its a nice shop with wool, primitive and dark colors.

So if you are in the area of Northeast Iowa...check out the Cotton Cabin and Vintage Threads you shouldn't be disappointed.

Spreading the word

2011-06-27T21:56:00.000-04:00

Spreading the word .... Accuquilt is having a HUGE Die sale....

in case you want to expand your die collection and give one of my Go! tutorials a try.....

Applecore Topper

Easy Flag Topper

4th of July appliqued Hand towel

stinkhorn?

2011-06-25T22:42:00.000-04:00

Amongst our Lillies....

we found...

a Stickhorn!

At first it freaked us out that we had an orange tentacle growing in our mulch....but once we figured it out..we calmed down and removed it. If you don't remove them they begin to smell like a dead carcass apparently. Thank goodness it's gone. Have you ever had one of these?

Where inspiration leads me....

2011-06-22T05:59:00.001-04:00

The title is no small title is it?

Where inspiration leads me.

It's a tale of where do I begin.

Some where along the line I have gotten a glimpse here, a tweet there about Vignette by LeAnne Beasley.

My interest was piqued.

I didn't know exactly what the magazine promised but it looked good on the front cover and many quilters were buying.

Did they know something I didn't?

I HAD to find out.

So I made a mental note that the next 'shop' I saw advertise the Vignette would be where I'd buy it.

That way I wouldn't forget to buy it or later wished I had.

Sharon of Daisy Cottage Quilting did just that.

She posted about having Issue 3 available and I was ready.

I bought Issues 1,2 and 3 **

All I can say is WOW *

This is a MUST.

Completely beautiful photography,

inspiring recipes {chicken salad we made last week},

and stitchery and quilting patterns.

That brings me to the Vignette Hexagon Quilt.

At first I thought it was pretty...then I paged through the magazine again and thought some more.

and more and more.....

I had to make this quilt.

Well My version of this quilt.

I dug through a bag of hexagons of no particular purpose and began to plan.

I gathered orphan jelly roll strips and charms for the flowers as well.

I broke out my GO! fabric cutter and off I went. I cut hexagons for about an hour.

I have no idea how many I cut. I should count....no I'll quilt instead.

My DD that's 4...she did some of the cutting with the GO! as well.

It excites her to help me sew.

Right about the time that I was cutting hexagons it dawned on me

I need a special project bag for these hexies.

So I paged through the Fresh Fabric Treats book and found the sewing kit by Kim Walus.

Whew.

It looked simple.

Then I started to gather the ingrediants.

Vinyl?

You know, 9pm at night, stores closed and I didn't plan ahead.....

So vinyl.

Where do I get vinyl for the bag?

I didn't have vinyl but I DID have the packaging of a sheet set.

Okay...I can recycle and I have vinyl *

winner :)))

So I cut the vinyl as best as possible and the one piece actually had a pocket fused to it.

I think it held the information card for the sheets at one time.

It's hard to get a good picture of the bag.

I used Terrain by Kate Spain, recycled vinyl and a thift store zipper PLUS I have a pocket.

I am very happy how this bag turned out.

The instructions were clear and correct.

The only problem I had was with the vinyl shifting or slipping between my fabric sandwich.

I ended up basting the vinyl to one strip with 1/8" seam AND then sewing all 3 pieces together with a 1/4" seam. It worked out perfectly well.

You can see how I put the hexagon paper pieces in the pocket.

My game plan is to work on this while I am laid up during my next surgery.

Yes, you read that correctly....I am having surgery #2 already.

So it will be hexies and the Food Network!!

Strip-Smart blog/book tour Winner Info.

2011-06-20T09:09:00.000-04:00

Are you the winner?

Head over to Kathy's blog to see.

She has listed ALL of the blog winners there.

AND leave a comment for the Grand Prize giveaway.

Sunday Stash #11

2011-06-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

Does Cosmo thread count in my stash?

I bought this happy bundle of 16 to go with the stitchery project in Vignette magazine.

looking for 4th of July projects?

2011-06-18T06:02:00.000-04:00

I realize that this is Father's Day weekend however, it is getting awefully close to the 4th of July.

Have you decorated?

I have :)

I pulled out a couple of my tutorials featuring 4th of July theme and made them into pdf's for printing.

Patriotic Pinwheel Runner is available HERE on patternspot.com for free.

The Patriotic star placemats are HERE.

In addition, I finished up my 'cheater' flag pillow.

It's a panel from Marcus Brothers I believe.

Since it's a 'cheater' of sorts I took the opportunity to try something that I have never attempted before.

I stuffed this pillow with scraps.

Scrap batting.

Scrap fabric.

Scrap thread.

just scraps no polyfil.

talk about re-cycling :)

This gives the pillow a firmer feel, and frankly it reminds me of the type of pillow my grandma had on her front porch swing.

It could sit outside in the elements and she didn't mind.

Definitely brings back memories.

And this is a little corner of red, white and blue including a pincushion I made from Pine Mountain patterns.

I hope you will find some inspiration to create a project for the 4th.

Happy Saturday sewing :)