Gotta Love Blue

My newest creation is completed.
~Sally

Here's A "Cool" Summer Project For You!

How "cool" are these?  I felt 10 degrees fresher just looking at the pic!


I love how the citrus slices are quilted to look like they have sections, and those napkins really set them off.   
(And, I have no idea why my text is suddenly backed by white.  Go figure--I can't get rid of it.)


The pattern is a freebie from Phillips Fiber Arts, and the download is here: phillipsfiberart@danemcoweb.  It uses their 12-degree wedge ruler.  


But, really, how  hard could it be to make your own 12-degree wedge ruler?  Okay, I admit it, I didn't make my own--I bought one when it was on sale for a few bucks.  Always happy to avoid math whenever possible.

~Sandy

Fun Project: Miniature Quilt for Silent Auction

As per my usual MO, I finished this quilt about an hour before I had to leave for the Columbine Quilt Guild meeting.  I made it for the annual silent auction.

This little quilt is so colorful that it makes me smile.


Since I'm still loving the black-with-brights combo, I trotted out my bright fabric strips again.

 The idea for the wavy strip-pieced border strips is from Janice Gunner, whose article and instructions appeared in the April 2002 Quilters Newsletter.  She sews alternating long, skinny wedges together to make the strip sections.


If you're interested in how I created the flower, read on:

I created the pattern for the flower by tracing the circumference of a plate onto tagboard.  Then, I folded the circle into eighths (avoiding math!), and cut out one of the resulting wedges to use as a template for the eight flower sections.

When I cut out the eight wedges, I just added a 1/4" seam allowance all around.  I positioned the wedge template on selected sections of my strip-pieced large rectangle.

Once the eight sections were sewn together, I put the intact tagboard circle (I had made an extra) onto the sewn flower and turned under the outer edge using the template as a guide.  Starch helped set the fold.

Since the center of the flower was one big lump from all those seams coming together, I just cut it out, because I knew I was going to add a small center circle to the flower.

I machine appliqued the flower and border wavy lines to the black background fabric using a (somewhat) invisible stitch.

It still looked like it needed something, so I added some bobbin-work stitching around the center of the flower, the outside of the flower, and on the leaves.  I used all six strands of cotton embroidery floss and hand-wound it into my bobbin.  For the top thread, I used monofilament.

Finally, I quilted everything together, using outline stitching around all the appliqued pieces, and rather small stippling in the rest of the background.

I liked it so much that I wanted to keep it for myself!  Actually, I have enough strip-pieced sections to make another one, so I think I will.  I'll have to vary the design somewhat, though.  Who wants to make the same thing twice when you can do something different?

~Sandy

HEAT AND BOND

I started using something new, well to me anyway.   Have you used it before?  It's Feather Lite Heat and Bond.  The lightest weight fusible stuff and leaves appliques very soft and flexible.  I'm sold on this stuff!  I highly recommend it.  JoAnns doesn't carry it however, but Hancocks does.

~ Judy

"Tranquility" is on her way....

To the Hoffman Challenge.  I am sending her out USPS on Monday.  She's excited and so am I!

~ Cathy

Frivolous Friday...New Grandbaby!

Say "hello" to the newest member of my family, Lucas James Schnitker, born June 2, 2012, and weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz.  His proud parents are Allison (my youngest daughter) and Blake; and his very happy Big Sister, who is holding him in the photo, is Myah (3 1/2).  Myah adores "Woocas".

Luke is my seventh, and probably last, grandchild.

Life is good!

Quilted Teacups

My latest obsession is making quilted teacups.  I made my own pattern, even tho they are out there to purchase.  I still need to improve on a couple of things, and I have ideas for others too. Enjoy looking! 
~Judy 

4th of July and Frivolous Friday

I found a bit of time to sew something beside little kidlet clothes this week! I have the applique and ditch work done and am ready to do the finishing work.  I brought it outside to see it in the sunshine to help decide where to “go” next.  (The grass was bumpy, but you get the idea.) Take a peek!

Need a grin?  This picture is of my parents and Mom’s sister from Cody with my grandchildren.  The first shot went pretty well, and then the squirm started!

Here is a great picture of Cathy and Addy at the girl’s birthday party.  It was so nice to have her there!  Tomorrow is Bridger’s first birthday.

Hope to see you all soon!  Robbie

Serial Quilter

Oh Sandy, when I saw this I thought of you and our long arm group!  I love it!  This one is for Cathy!  (source and source)

More options here!  Enjoy!

Robbie Marie

Frivolous Friday!

Everyone knows the name “Superior Threads,” but have you seen this???  It is fun!

I spoke with Sharon Schamber’s daughter, Cristy Fincher, a couple of years ago. She told me a story about Sharon forgetting that she had water soluble thread in her machine and having her work wash away!  Good lesson to learn from someone else!  Right???

Happy Friday, everyone!

Robbie Marie

Sometimes, little girls need…

Door Slammers or Door Muffs!

Nana and vintage sheets to the rescue!  We’ll see how they work!

Today I’m off to the quilt show with Cathy!  I can’t wait!  Wish it was THIS one!

Robbie Marie

Great Article About Copyright Issues in the Quilting World

I came across this article in Quilting Board today, and thought it worth sharing.  It does answer some questions, and Kate Spain, a designer who was recently involved in a lawsuit, has some wonderful compliments for quilters.  Above is a photo of some of her designs from her website.  Love her fabrics!

http://katespaindesigns.blogspot.mx/...g-forward.html

~Sandy

I’ve been sewin’–just not quiltin’

What have you been up to?

I’ve been stitchin’ – just not quiltin’!  Here are a couple of things I’ve made lately.  I’ve made my granddaughters a couple of dresses out of vintage sheets and I have my miniature quilt about done for our quilt guild for the June auction. 

Take a look and let me know what you think!

… and finally, my miniature quilt.  Her name is “Myrtle in a Mason Jar.”  I’m finishing her head now.  Myrtle sits in a quart canning jar and I put some vintage spools in it to carry the theme.  The beads are from my mother’s necklace; she bought it in 1952.    Myrtle is holding a miniature quilt. 

I wish you could see the richness of the fabrics, but the sun has bleached them out in the pictures – a photographer, I am not!

Do you like Myrtle???  I hope she will be bid on, but if not, I wanna keep her for myself!

Robbie Marie

RE: LAST POST

I was looking at the pictures and realized that I missed a couple of little swirley thingys. LOL I better go take care of that right away. LOL

~Judy

2 NEWLY FINISHED

Just finished another quilt and realized I hadn't posted a picture of my last one I finished. I love the floral on the lavender one. It was one of those fabrics that you just hate to cut! lol I tried not to think about it, just get it done. LOL I couldn't find a flower like I wanted for the quilting so I drew my own. I hope you can see it in the picture.

The other is my red/white quilt. I love the color combination so of course I had to make a quilt like that! I had a terrible time with the quilting because my Carpal Tunnel was acting up but I got it finished in spite of it. It truly was a labor of love. *smile* Enjoy!

~Judy

Baby Quilt in the Works

I just finished the top of the quilt I am making for my soon-to-be grandson due the last week in May.

This quilt has been fun to work on, as I love all of the fabrics. I wanted it to be very bright! Did I succeed? I'm so in love with using black and white with bright fabrics!

I designed this in Electric Quilt, using two "wonky" foundation-pieced blocks from the EQ Library. I found the dinosaur shapes online and enlarged them for the applique.

I also plan to make two fitted crib sheets from the bright blue wavy fabric in the quilt and this dotted fabric:

If you ever want to make crib sheets to coordinate with baby quilts you make, here are some easy instructions from "P.S. I Love You Baby Collection" by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith:

You will need:

2 yards fabric

4 1/2 yards 1/2" wide single-fold bias tape (optional)

1 yard 1/4" elastic

matching thread

1. Cut a rectangle the entire width of the fabric x 68".

2. Cut out an 8" square from each corner of the rectangle. See illustration below:

3. With right sides together, pin and stitch edge "b" to edge "a" of each corner. Use 1/4" seam.

4. Fold bias tape in half lengthwise and press. Slip folded edge over raw edge of sheet and pin. Machine stitch bias tape using a straight stitch or small zig-zag. Optional hem: To eliminate bias tape, press under 1/4" then 1/4" again to make hem. Stitch.

5. Using 9" length of elastic, pin the center of the elastic to the wrong side of each sheet corner with the edge of the elastic about 1/8" from bias tape or hemmed edge. Machine stitch from this center point along elastic with a zig-zag stitch, stretching elastic as tightly as possible. Start from center and stitch to other end of elastic. Repeat for other end of elastic. Repeat for other corners.

I have made a number of these sheets for my grandkids. They last forever if you use quilt-shop-quality fabrics, and it's so nice not to be limited to the pre-made sheets in the stores.

~Sandy

Can You Relate?

I certainly can!

~Sandy

Coffee Pot Quilt

I made this for my kitchen to complement my coffee pot.

~ Sally

Amish Miniature Quilt

Finished the top today for my little quilt for the Guild auction.  It looks lighter in the picture, it's actually a dark pink.  Happy Easter everyone!

~ Cathy

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter to all my sewing and quilting pals. Now don't O.D. on the chocolate bunnies and eggs, it's easy to do tho and we've all been there. Have a great day and happy stitching!!!!!!

~ Judy