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Sunday, November 30, 2014

Cyber Monday Pattern Sale!

Hey there friends!  I hope that everyone here in the States had a fantastic turkey day!  It was a low-key holiday for us, which was absolutely wonderful because our low-key times are just about over for the month of December.  I am hosting three Christmas parties this week alone.  Yes, I may have bitten off a little more than I could chew, but I just love Christmas so much that it's hard to say no to a party!  So, we spent the weekend cleaning, decorating inside, and getting the lights on the house.

We did NOT set one single toe inside of a mall.  I like getting my shopping done before the season gets here so that I don't have to fight crowds.  All but three of my gifts are already purchased and wrapped under the tree;  and what I don't already have, I am ordering online.



Speaking of online shopping, in honor of Cyber Monday I am having a pattern sale!  All of my patterns on Craftsy and Etsy are discounted, including my latest- Laundry Money.  The sale will run through Wednesday!  Happy shopping!



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Laundry Money

I'm supposed to be using my time wisely cooking and getting my house ready to decorate for Christmas today, but I couldn't resist taking a few minutes to share my Miss Kate coin quilt finish with you!  It's not really procrastination though.  I actually finished this quilt over the weekend, but it was so rainy, I couldn't get any pictures, and of course the days are so short lately that it's almost dark when I get home from school.  So today was the first opportunity I had to get pictures of it.  There, now that I've justified enough, I feel no guilt whatsoever.


I really love these cheery fabrics!  I wish it was spring or summer so that the backdrop could show off the colors better.  Bonnie and Camille fabrics fabrics just make me smile!


This was my first ever jelly roll purchase.  Yes, that's right- my very first.  I usually don't buy a lot of precuts (unless you count fat quarters), because I don't always know what to do with them.  I love quilts with strips, but I usually just use the fabric I have on hand.  I have to say that the jelly roll was nice though.  I didn't have to cut the strips, and more importantly, it gave me tons of fabric variety.


Of course, that meant that I didn't have leftovers for my usual scrap festival on the back, but that's okay.  I like the way the wide green stripe echoes the shape of the coin strips, and the navy blue shows the stippling really well.  There was a time when I used to shy away from quilting with contrasting thread in case I made any mistakes, but I've gotten to where I really like the contrast.


The other great thing is that a jelly roll has built in binding strips!  I used all of the solids, and I love the way it frames the coins.  Sometimes, I think a pieced binding is too busy, but with all of the white sashing in this quilt, it works.



Although I'm calling this pattern Laundry Money since it's a coin quilt,  I didn't want to give that name to the quilt itself.  Since "coin quilts" are a quilters' term, I don't see a little girl enjoying that name.  I decided to call the quilt Ticker Tape Parade.


I have been putting my time to good use over the last several days, knowing that the holiday season really cuts down my sewing time.  I went ahead and finished up my Laundry Money pattern, and it is for sale in my Craftsy and Etsy shops!  It's a great use of a jelly roll, so I hope you'll check it out!


I hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving filled with family, food, and fun!




Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Needle and Thread Thursday!

Welcome to another Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  These weeks leading up to the holiday season just fly, don't they?  I can't believe that Thanksgiving is in ONE week, and then of course, Christmas will be here in a blink of an eye.  By the way, NTT will be taking a break next week for Thanksgiving, but we'll party again the following week on December 4th!

Speaking of the holidays, I owe you a winner for my Christmas scrap fabric giveaway!  The winning comment was number 41, Dorothy Thornton.  Congratulations to you Dorothy.  I'm so happy that my fabrics will have a new, loving home, and I can't wait to see what you decide to make with them!



I would love to make a scrappy Christmas lap quilt and pillows. Thanks for the chance. I love playing with scraps
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Oh my goodness, y'all are really in full sewing swing lately because last week's party rocked!  SO much fabulousness (it's a word!) was linked up, like this Endless Chain quilt from Lori at Sew French.


This beauty, Lilacs and Lavender, was shared by Diana from Red Delicious Life.


and this Variegated Violets quilt from Tanya Quilts in CO is fantastic!


I know I say this often, but it is so true.  I can't wait to see what you have going on this week!

1.  You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Miss Kate Coins

Hello All!  I picked up a Miss Kate jelly roll and finished up this quilt top over the weekend, but between the rainy weekend, and the short daylight hours I've been foiled in my attempts to get a good picture of it.  I rushed outside before school today and snapped this one in the morning light.


I haven't pressed it yet, and in the biting 16 degree temperature this morning, I didn't take the time to smooth it out for the photo. (The sashing really is straight, I promise!)

I had fun putting this one together.  I've always liked coin quilts, but I wanted to make it a little more interesting by randomly arranging the coin strips.  It takes a little bit of planning, but I like the look.  Since this is such a great use of a jelly roll, I'm thinking of writing the pattern for it.  What do you think?


Friday, November 14, 2014

Christmas Pillows and Giveaway!

Well, I mentioned at yesterday's NTT that I finished a couple of Christmas pillows as gifts.  Here they are!  They are 18 inches square.


The ornament pillow is my very first applique' and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  I have an irrational fear of interfacing, which is what has kept me from trying appliqué before this.  I've always worried that I'll iron the wrong side of it to something and ruin my work.  Maybe I'm being just a little bit neurotic??  I made this appliqué by sewing it to muslin (right sides together), then turning it right side out like a pillow.  Then I kept it in place with basting spray while I stitched it down, and it worked like a champ!  Check out the backs-


So, here's the thing.  I have made so many Christmas projects over the last few years, and each time, I just add more and more to my Christmas stash.  At this point, I have a ton of scraps, and frankly, I'm a little tired of them.  So, I've decided to give them away.


There are seriously a LOT of scraps in this pile of many different prints I've collected.  Definitely enough for a lap sized quilt, depending on the pattern, and a few bigger pieces as well.  I'm ready to send them off to a new home, and let someone else make some holiday keepsakes with them.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to let me know what you'd like to make with them!  I'll randomly choose a winning number on Wednesday afternoon, and announce the winner at next week's NTT!  Good luck to all!

This giveaway has now ended, but I host giveaways often, so keep your eyes open for next time!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Welcome to NTT!

Brrrr!  The winter weather has taken hold here, and for me, there is no better weather for quilting!  I finished up a couple of Christmas pillows yesterday, and put together a little tutorial for the method that I use, but no new projects since then, so let's jump right in to this week's highlights!

Keera at Live, Love, Sew linked up her pretty Round and Round quilt, and I love the dark background!


Jennie from Porch Swing Quilts shared her new pattern, Taffy.  It's a beauty!


and Curlyque Sue shared this fun diamond quilt!


I hope the colder weather has afforded you plenty of inside sewing time, or at least some quilt snuggle time!  Time to link up your latest projects!

1.  You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

**Oh, and in case you missed it- THANK YOU for voting my Shattered Rainbow quilt the ROYGBIV favorite!  It is such a tremendous honor!



Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Simple Quilted Pillow Tutorial

Hey there friends!  The holiday season is upon us, and if you're anything like me, your list includes some handmade awesomeness for the special people in your life.  Well, pillows are one of my favorite go-to gifts.  There are unlimited ways to personalize them, and they show thoughtfulness without being too time consuming.  They are also a great way to freshen up a room's decor without spending an arm and a leg.


As a quilter, I don't sew a lot of other things like bags, pouches, etc., and frankly, branching out from quilting makes me a little apprehensive (I have an irrational fear of interfacing, but that's another post).  Even though I know there are probably fifty different tutorials for basic pillow construction on the internet, I needed to figure it out for myself.  So, I played around with it, and this is the method that I came up with.  It is super easy, and really quick.

Materials Needed (for an 18 inch square pillow)-
*20" pillow form (I like my pillows extra full, so I buy my pillow forms slightly larger than my pillow, but you can use an 18" form if you prefer)
*1 yard muslin (I used bleached white muslin)
*18" square cotton batting
*1/3 yard backing fabric
*18" square pieced pillow top

Once you've got the method down, you can modify your fabric requirements to make a pillow in any size!

Start off by making the front of your pillow however you like.  Think of this as a mini quilt, and make it as simple or as intricate as you want.  A pillow is a great place to show off applique', regular paper piecing, or English paper piecing- but you can also keep it simple!  I decided to do some improv piecing with my scraps.  Be sure to give it a good press, and trim to size if needed.


Next, cut your muslin to 18" square, layer your muslin, batting, and top, and baste.  A project this small only takes a few pins, and of course there is the bonus that you don't have to crawl around on the floor!  Since the muslin will be the on the inside of the pillow, it is okay for this purpose (it is a bit thin for me to use elsewhere).


Now, quilt that baby to your heart's content!  If you're in a hurry, a quick stipple or some straight line quilting fits the bill, but if you have more time, the sky's the limit.  Again, personalize it!


Time for the envelope closure backing.  It really is easy!  From your backing fabric, cut two pieces, 12.5" x 18."  Cut two pieces of muslin the same size.  You want your two flaps to overlap by several inches so that when your pillow form is inserted, it still stays closed (I like about six inches of overlap).  So, since the pillow is 18 inches, we need 24 inches of actual fabric, which means that each piece should be 12.5 inches (including seam allowance).


Align the backing fabric with the muslin piece, right sides together, and sew along one long side.  There is no need to sew all four sides, and you'll see why!


Press the seam, and fold in half with the backing fabric right side out.


Press again.  Voila!  You have one side of your envelope closure!  Just repeat with the other piece of muslin and backing fabric.


Now it's time to turn that mini quilt into an actual pillow!  Lay your quilted top face down and layer your envelope closure flaps on top.  Align the bottom one with the bottom of the pillow, making sure that the sewn side is toward the center of the pillow.  Lay the second backing piece on top.  You can pin the three layers together if you desire, but this is so small, I just hold everything in place while I stitch.


Use your walking foot, and increase your stitch length just a little bit.  I usually set mine on 3.0.  Sew 1/4 inch from the edge, all the way around the pillow.  It is helpful if you start sewing at a point where your two backing pieces overlap to anchor them, especially if you aren't using pins.

See why we didn't need to sew all the way around those backing pieces?  They'll get secured in this step.


Now, the very last step is to bind your pillow!  Binding covers up all of those raw edges, and I think it gives the pillow a little bit of flair.  I like pillows that have pretty edges, so binding the pillow is great for form and function.  Check out my machine binding tutorial HERE if you're new to quilting and aren't sure of this step.

Finally, insert your pillow form, or if you're like me and you always buy a slightly bigger one than your pillow- STUFF it!  Be sure you get it pushed all the way into the corners (I just noticed in my final photos that I need to do that a little more).



Now you're ready to gift your pillow, or enjoy it yourself!  Have fun, and make lots!



Saturday, November 8, 2014

Royalty

First of all, I want to give a huge shout of thanks to all of you who cast a vote for my Shattered Rainbow quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I just received word that my quilt won the ROYGBIV category, and I am beyond thrilled.  What an honor!

I'm on cloud nine right now, and I am happy to share my latest finish with you as well!  I've decided to call this quilt Royalty.  I think the name fits the rich jewel tones, as well as the crown shape created with the blocks.  I can even see a tiara shape in the negative space between the blocks.


I really enjoyed the entire process of making this quilt.  The pinks and purples are colors that I don't usually gravitate toward, but I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.


I used all of the scraps, then added some wide stripes of teal and gray fabrics to finish out the backing.




Do you ever get an idea in your head that you just can't stop thinking about?  I have to believe that we all feel that way sometimes.  Well, I've been so excited about the design of this quilt, that I have also written the pattern for it while simultaneously sewing it.  Ordinarily, I finish the quilt completely before even starting the pattern, but with this one, I found myself stealing a few minutes here and there to work out the quilty math throughout the whole process.

So, that means that I am also delighted to let you know that my Royalty pattern is available in my Craftsy and Etsy shops!  This pattern is written in three sizes, and has two different layout options.  So, you could choose to make both and get two patterns in one!  I hope you'll check it out!


Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Latest

Yesterday, I hosted a sew-in at my house for my MQG ladies and it was SO. MUCH. FUN!  Six ladies (and one other member who was only able to swing by for a little bit) sewing, chatting, lunching, and laughing from 10:00 am until almost 5:00 pm.  The official ending time of 3:00 came and went, and we were all having such a great time, there was no way I was breaking up the party!

During the sew-in, I got all of my blocks put together for my newest quilt.  Then last night, I pressed them and finished the top.


I'm really digging this color combo, even though it's not a palette I have ever chosen before.  Maybe I like it so much because it's like nothing I've ever chosen before.  Pinks and purples are usually not my thing.

Edited- Okay, it just occurred to me why this color combo seems so familiar.  Any Frozen fans out there?  I may or may not own Frozen for myself, and I may or may not know the words to all of the songs...I'll never tell.


*photo courtesy of the Disney Store

You always see Elsa pictured in her ice blue dress, but it occurred to me that the teal and purple of her coronation dress, along with Anna's bright pink cape are almost the very colors that I've used in this quilt, and I'm sure that's also why I've been thinking that the colors look wintry.  As much as I enjoy the movie (as much as a grown person can enjoy an animated princess movie), of course I'm happy that the quilt doesn't scream "Frozen."  I just think it's kind of funny that I inadvertently put these exact colors together.

I'm planning to write the pattern for this one as soon as I finish it, and I'm hoping I can get it finished and photographed before everything turns brown around here.

By the way, don't forget to pop over to Amy's Creative Side and vote for your favorites in the Blogger's Quilt Festival HERE.  I would love for you to cast your vote for Shattered Rainbow in the ROYGBIV category.  Voting is super easy, just click on the heart in the corner of the box of the quilt you choose.  You don't have to enter an email address or sign up for anything!  Easy peasy!  Thank you!




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