End-of-the-Year Finishes

Somehow there was time for a few finishes lately. I really like this pattern. It cuts up easily and shows off focus fabric. I know, it looks tricky but it is simple. The rail fence block has different sized strips that box in the center.

This is the same pattern yet it looks different. It's more of an infant size and I have enough for two more like it.

The pattern for the Warm Wishes Baby quilt from Quiltmaker can be found HERE.  It's a free pattern.
You can add a border if you choose or leave it as is

These are leftover blocks of bug fabric. I hope it is attracted to some little boy.

Marcy

Merry Christmas Angel

 Let’s all pray for peace on earth.

 

Days of the Week Embroidery

 

I've been reorganizing and consolidating in the guest room, a.k.a.sewing room extension. You know how we save absolutely everything. This is a good project because things turn up that were totally forgotten.

I stitched these up when I first retired, before I started quilting. They were spread out in a basket under my kitchen desk. There were many compliments on that little decor piece. They are just nostalgic and made to be used.

They need a good washing and like fabric...handling, My memories. Embroidered towels, Pearl Harbor 74 years ago and aprons.

Marcy

Flag Quilt

This flag quilt was made with swapped blocks from the first group I was part of. It's some of my beginning work and I find it so appropriate to get out now and display.



In this small group, we each made 16 of the same blocks using our choice of fabric. The flags had to be a certain size and framed with a tan fabric. Well, there were a few newer quilters and directions weren't followed. But that's maybe what makes the quilt so meaningful. Everyone did there best. Some are more detailed and the plain ones are just as pretty. It was meant to be a scrappy quilt.

We could complete the quilt as we chose. Some made table runners, but most of us put the 16 blocks into a quilt. I can almost remember which block was made by who (bad grammar).

I found a great print for the back. Since at that time I was limited to stitch-in-the ditch, I wanted to hide the stitching on the back. For the border I did some big stitched stars in a lighter tan.

Our prayers are with France and the entire world.

Marcy

Design Board

I made one design board from Lori Holt's (Bee in My Bonnet) pattern/tutorial from last year that I saved and will probably make more. These would make nice gifts for quilting buddies. Her tutorial is simple to follow with lots of pictures. Great use for those scrap battings and also leftover bindings for the edge. Plus it is nearly a no sew project. It's made basically with a glue gun. It reminds me of a updated quilters version of the old felt boards used in school.

This one is 10" x 20" and was one half of the board I purchased. I want to make some that are bigger and smaller. I ran out of glue sticks so I used Elmer's instead and just used the famous and great small red clips to hold in place.

Now I'll tell you secret. Once I got then "binding" strip attached on the side edge, I used the clips all around the "binding" and did the gluing for the final edges the next day. The fabric was nicely fold and ready for glue. I do that with quilts too--clip it before bed and the next time I am ready to stitch, the fabric is nearly in place.

If you don't need the gratification of having made it yourself, you can buy them at Fat Quarter Shop.

This is one of the philanthropy quilts. I saw the "how-to" online for the dimensional pinwheels. After playing with them for a while I realized I had done this before. Heck, it never hurts to learn things over again.

This is another quilt for philanthropy. It's easy-peasy with 6 1/2 inch blocks of a large scale print and some leftover strips of matching fabric.

Now that's about it around here. With the extra hour of sleep you'd think I'd come up with more.

Marcy
 

I Need Some Ideas

 

Happy October

 

October is usually a lovely month with cool breezes, some rain and sunshine. This October it's been heat, heat and more heat. But, then, there's just strange weather everywhere.

  

My October BOM for Quilt Doodles is finished. And, like last month, I messed up. Last month the apple was upside down. This time I got it reversed. After it is finished, know one will know the difference--that is if you can keep your lips sealed.

 



Here are three of 12 blocks from Crabapple Hill Studios. After finishing three, I knew there was no longer the want to get the rest of the patterns. The technique is so much fun and the block has lots of fun stitching.

I've considered a few options for these lonely blocks, very few. A table topper just doesn't seem fitting. A three block quilt doesn't either. In fact, any size quilt doesn't move me.

 

Here's one thought: finish each one separately. That way they can hang horizontally or vertically. For some reason I had my heart set on the diagonal cut framing and maybe red binding. I'd rather not do another border since the stitching is so detailed.



Then I wondered about how to quilt it. Just a simple outline around the stitching or maybe even some machine trapunto? Help me. Do you have any suggestions? They have been completely stitched for a few years now and it is time to finish them off.



Marcy

Scissor Cozy

When I saw this on Daryl's blog, Patchouli Moon Studio, I had to try it. Like her, I couldn't make only one. So my friend with a Halloween birthday will get one too. I enjoy making things for her since she doesn't sew and so appreciates handwork.  Daryl made it from a pattern and tutorial she saw on SOTAK Handmade. That's a new blog for me and somehow found myself looking around at some real interesting ideas. Both sites will inspire you.

This one with the cat and mouse is for my friend. Halloween for sure. Besides that, she likes critters.

This one is for me. It holds my Gingher scissors but it is a bit tight. Next time I'll make it a half inch bigger side to side. The zipper and construction are super simple.

See my scissor cozy matches my sew together bag. See post HERE.

I think she'll get a kick out of it.

It's getting to be time to do a thorough vacuuming and dusting in the sewing room. I stopped on the philanthropy quilts to make the scissor cozies and am trying to talk myself into the cleaning phase.

I'll drop these off this week and maybe make a stop at a few replenishing stores. Shhhh, don't say anything.

Marcy

Happy Fall

It may be fall but our weather doesn't indicate so. Maybe a few more days of this heat and we can move on to October weather. That's why I got out this old quilt of mine. It was a free pattern BOM from HGTV years ago. One of my quilting groups took it on for a project together and it was so inspiring. Here are just the last six months of it. One of these days I'll take a picture of the whole thing. I just wanted to see what fall through the end of the year might look like.

Speaking of fall, did you see the moon last night? A blood red moon! Science at your door.



Then today when I was at Target, I found these tennies. Aren't they cute. Looks like Pam Kitty Morning's fabric, so I had to have them. Best yet--clearance price of $11.



The other day I got another batch of someone else's UFOs. There were several of these purple blocks finished so all I had to do was finish a few more and put it together. I think I had nine blocks finished. But I came up  with a way to haul the pieces she had completed. I almost feel like a genius!

 

 

I also got my Quilt Doodles BOM completed even though the apple is upside down. Take the genius award back.

 



 
Now that I am done patting myself on the back, I'll move into the sewing room until dinner time and cooler temps.

Marcy

 

My Sew Together Bag

I decided Labor Day weekend would be  for me. The Sew Together bag has been on my wish list for a while and it's a perfect time to do it. The pattern is available at Craftsy. It's an instant PDF download HERE.



Lucky me. There was a quilt along tutorial at Quilt Barn in March of 2014 so I brought my little computer into the sewing room and would switch between the pattern and the QAL. This was like having a teacher and a helper along the way.

This bag is delightful and extremely handy for all of your sewing goodies. I can even fit my small iron and cord into it with no bulging. If you fear zippers. this is a good starting project. If you can sew a straight line you can do these zippers.

The fabric was my winning at a silent auction at my Quilts of Valor group. It was a nice bundle of fat quarters. I did add the green with dots from my stash.

I particularly like the way you can grab either handles once it is all zipped up.

 

There's a piece of felt sewn in for needle and plenty of space between each zipped pocket.

Here it is with some of my tools of the trade. In the lower right corner of the picture below you can see the pin cushion.

 

You know, I have made just too many sewing kits. However this one is the best.

 

Lucky us. With all this technology we are becoming less intimidated by sewing patterns.

 

Marcy

 

More Fabric & UFOs

Last time I picked up fabric for the philanthropy quilts, I was overwhelmed. I think you'll be impressed too. I got bags and bags of good fabric and some UFOs. This one is amazing. I just hope my sewing room goes to a group who can use what's left when I go to quilting heaven.

The donor had this quilt started with several rows together. I love her method of the 9-patch. She sewed 2.25" squares together and then trimmed to 6" to match the heart blocks. Can't go wrong except they may not always be even--who cares.

Each trapunto heart block was hand appliqued to the white block and then stuffed from behind. You can see her tiny stitches. It appears there was no pressing going on. Not a problem.

Below you can see (sort off) her hand written plan, the template for the 9-patch blocks and a stack of cut red and light blocks.

 

Here's a few blocks appliqued and ready for stuffing plus some hearts to applique to the white blocks
.

AND, a giant bag was full of completed heart blocks! I have no idea of how big this quilt was planned to be. There aren't many duplicates in the red hearts fabric. I'm wondering how old this fabric is since I don't recall any of the red patterns.

I hate separating the blocks into small sized children's quilts but that's what we do. This one is more a baby size which is easily and quickly completed.


Hearts are always a gift of love. Right?

Marcy

New Notions--Great!

Ok, first off, I am having camera trouble. But I so wanted to share these goodies. This is totally unsolicited; I found their ad on Facebook. There are a few other indulgences waiting for me. The site is called Smart Needle. I think their main business is machine embroidery patterns.

The number one item--and I will be ordering more--are these bobbin clips. Finally something that works! I've tried them all from pedicure toe separators to stacking bobbin holders. You name it, I've tried it. These work. Perhaps a few more bags will fill the bill.

Now check these out. If you are like me, you use low stick scotch tape to keep your thread from unwinding on large spools and cones. This is sew much better and sew much easier! Hmm. I need to get more of these. too.

I've had this peel and stick ruler tape for a long time. It's meant to be used on fabric for quilting and sewing. It's a ruler and it is accurate. I like to have it on the edge of my sewing table so I do not have to hunt for a tape measure, ruler or square. It comes off easy without residue.

Edited to add:

You know these darling magnetic pin bowls flying off the shelves of Facebook. Well, I got one and love it. Then my husband found the answer.

He found it at Harbor Freight for $4.00. I must admit they are cute all painted and the dots do it right. The Etsy dealers have so many colors and they are sold out in minutes. Think Christmas for your quilting buddies.

Lastly, I've been asked about my leaders and enders method. Here it is: one side for my 2 1/2" squares and the other for those sewn together. I keep the container on a stool near my chair so it is easy reach. You will be amazed how quickly you will have a great scrap quilt without any planning or pattern. Just scraps.

Be scrappy!

Marcy

Row by Row Quilt

This is the Row by Row quilt design by Quilted Works. They are located in St. George UT. Do you love it or what!? I was surprised to see palm trees and surf boards but that's fine for this California girl. You can preorder a kit for delivery in late fall. That's part of the national RowxRow rules. Otherwise, stop by the shop and get yourself a kit or pattern. This is the laser cut kit that comes with the pattern.

This one I finished as a single row. I want to hang it between my cabinets and counter and it's the perfect size.

Here's a closer of the left side showing the Mormon Temple. Maybe you can see that I did circles of quilting on the gray street.

I tried to do some waves in the blue and aqua. It's good enough for me.

Here's the back. It's fabric from the Road to California show from 10 years ago. These are my memories.

Words of wisdom: When quilting, check to make sure your needle is on tight. Yesterday during some straight line quilting with my walking foot, the needle just dropped. No damage. Just a good reminder.

Note to self: Do not vacuum before cutting fabric.

Marcy