It's down to the wire now - where reality takes a big BITE out of my "Left To Do List"! If you are still scrambling to make a little something that will raise a smile & make a memory, this may be just the last minute project for you. Or, if you are all set, sipping eggnog, & laughing at the rest of us, you can get an early start on next year ....
Here are the wonderful instructions:
Half Eaten Gingerbread Man Ornament
I especially like how no fancy (as in, "impossible to find") buttons are necessary. Just white embroidery floss & bright buttons, sewn as instructed, makes them look like candies - sweet :)
I like to make a new ornament every year - sometimes they are elaborate (as in smocked Christmas Ornaments - I made 1/2). I had to buy ornaments at the last minute .... lesson learned!
Looking back, my favorite ornaments are the simple, quirky ones - like the year we all painted ceramic ornaments for Mom. My brothers painted theirs black - ALL BLACK - they were into heavy metal music that year & obviously, had no time to spare on details :) What's your favorite ornament? Or, decoration? Yep - it's time for eggnog & memories ... love, faith.
I have the best of intentions: I collect massive amounts of information on a quilting topic before I attempt it. And, after all that, I can never put my fingers on it when I need it! Oh well, I figure the important stuff will stick. And, since circumstances are always different, you just have to DO it & hope for a certain amount of grace. Hope is a wonderful thing - don't you think?
Hotpad Project
I found a lovely project (near the bottom of the page): ThimbleMouseandSpouse Blogspot
& Snowman people fabric I really liked from my stash.
Since my center feature was a different size, I adjusted all measurements - not a big deal.
But, I absolutely refuse to apply Binding to a project <12" finished size. So, a slim outer border that looks like Binding was improvised.
Note that I now have to sew my project, right-sides-together with Backing Fabric & Batting & Insul-Bright & turn & hand-stitch the opening closed. Things are getting kind of thick.
I stitch in the ditch & give definition to the borders - liking it!
Then, I remember a lovely free-motion Snowflake quilting design from the AQ (American Quilter) Magazine, November 2014 Issue. It really is the sweetest design - trust me. Three rows are perfect to offset my Snowflakes & I mark w/my new Frixion Pen (heat activated removal - perfect for a HotPad). The marking works wonderfully - thanks PJ.
But, after ripping out my free-motion Snowflakes three times, I decide to do some straight stitching w/my trusty Walking Foot.
Ooohhh - all that thickness starts to distort my Snowpeople HotPad. I sew a few lines across the Top & Bottom to help straighten - oops - should have used my Frixion to mark first. (Snowflakes don't fall horizontally, so I hadn't marked before.)
O.K., now it's boring. I sleep on it.
The next day (ripped stitches forgotten), I decide to add a few free-motion touches to my Center to make it pop.
I remember that my previous Snowflakes were attempted with feed-dogs up for more control - like regular sewing. This was suggested for free-motion quilting novices & had worked well for me with other projects. However, with all the extra padding, this was NOT the thing to do!
Now, my free-motion went much more smoothly. And, I managed to make a Snowflake (alright - it does look like a flower). But, I'm happy & DONE - grace will be there another day, I'm sure :) love, faith.
I love the Traditions of Thanksgiving - they are what really makes the holiday special for me. When I was a kid, though, I thought they were annoying - especially the one where we had to go around the table & say what we were grateful for. You just knew my younger brothers were going to mumble something silly - usually involving pie & whipped cream - or not having to eat their veggies one day out of the year. I'm lucky enough to be spending T'giving with those same silly brothers later today (one lives locally & the other surprised us with a last-minute visit from the north) - wonder what they'll come up with this year? I hope it's wonderfully silly - because laughter is the best tradition of all!
What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition or memory - new or old? It's ok if it involves pie :)
love, faith.
The "5-Yard Everyday Quilt" Pattern can now be downloaded at Connecting Threads!! Whoo hoo!!! Be sure to click on: View More Images for an extra special treat! Love, faith.
You guys are SO creative - every time I see a "Five-Yard Everyday Quilt", I'm re-inspired! Thank you Claire for this idea: Two for the Price of One! Yep, you can actually make two Baby Quilts instead of one large Lap Quilt from 5-Yards of Fabric with this design. Thought I'd give it a try with these Cowboy & Indigo fabrics (remind me of denim without the weight) I fell in love with at First Stitches. And, don't forget, Baby Quilts aren't just for babies - they might be just the right size for Football Season!
Each Baby Quilt finishes: 36" x 44"
Total: 40 Blocks (20 each)
Layout: 4 Blocks across, 5 Blocks down
One Border (2" finished); different for each Quilt
Blocks constructed as indicated in pattern using
Fabrics A, B, C, D, & E except for Borders & Binding.
(Adjust calculations to 20 Blocks each.)
Fabric A: Make sure you can get 20 fussy-cut features
Fabric B: Cut carefully - you'll need almost every inch!
Fabric C: Baby Quilt #1: Border and Binding
Fabric D: Baby Quilt #2: Border or Binding
Fabric E: Baby Quilt #2: Border or Binding
Here's my chart laying on top of my Binding selections:
I purchased 1 1/2 Yards of Fabric A since my features were spaced so far apart.
I also wrote down any identifying information on the fabrics used - just in case! (I cut Fabric B before I did this - you just know that's the one I'll want more of 6 months from now :)
What do you do to stay organized? Let me know & keep the good great ideas coming .... Next up - 12" Blocks, Queen Sized!
faith.
Posted: Show & Tell Tuesday on
Randi's Site - with any luck!
5-Yard Everyday Quilt Pattern for Purchase
(Lap Quilt, 51" x 67" completed size)
Various body parts haven't been cooperating the last several months, so I'm officially proclaiming myself a "southpaw"! I wouldn't go so far as to say I've mastered cutting fabrics left-handed, but I'm on my way. Good tools help immensely!
Do you need to switch it up, too?? First of all, you may not need to purchase a new Rotary Cutter! All I had to do was move the blade assemblage to the other side of my Olfa Rotary Cutter - voila!! Thank you Margie for this money-saving tip!(http://www.firststitches.com/)
Absolutely necessary: The Klutz Glove, Fons & Porter - no need to explain further :)
And, very helpful: The Shape Cut, June Taylor - this is a thick plastic grid that helps keep the edge of the Rotary Cutter in the channel for accurate cutting. I enjoyed this tool (again, thank you Margie) before switch-cutting & LOVE it now! Very nice training for a new leftie :)
And, an easy pattern: Instant gratification (well, almost)! Used my 5-Yard Everyday Quilt Pattern to begin with - no triangles, certainly no curves! lol Will be doing machine binding very soon - not quite ready for the challenge of leftie hand stitching just yet .... but, soon .... faith.
Me: "What do you want for Mother's Day, mom?"
Mom: "Children who listen!!"
I can't say ALL of us ever delivered on her request at the same exact time, but I'm sure we each had our moments :) Happy Mother's Day!
P.S. She asked for the same thing at Christmas, Valentine's Day, her birthday ....
One of the neat things about the Expo is seeing what's new! But, even better is running into old friends & catching up :)
Kathy Gaul - Meetinghouse Hill Designs - is a Wool Applique Artist. Our paths crossed several years ago at a Pueblo Quilt & Stitch Expo - I loved her work (and her) from the start. My favorite design is "Baking up Some Memories" - you can almost smell the cinnamon & cloves!
Kathy's work is featured in the March/April/May 2014 issue of Rug Hooking magazine where she shows how to create dimensional dogwood blooms. Wouldn't they be lovely attached to a purse, jacket or anything!! And, since she's right up the road (Colorado Springs), you can check out some of her classes, too. She's a great teacher (I can tell) & very passionate about her designs - pretty soon, you'll be an old friend, too! faith.
It's NOT too late to get over to the Pueblo Quilt & Stitch Expo still going on today! I made the rounds yesterday & managed to get a few goodies - left a few things for you to buy though :) As always, I'm amazed at the variety of styles, fabrics, kits, trims, tools available ... Something new I spotted: resin quilting jewelry - lovely & unique!!
Be sure to stop by the Stitcher's Garden booth & take a peek at my new design:
The "5-Yard Everyday Quilt" - just look at the possibilities (THANK YOU PJ & LINDA)!!!
When I went to work at the KSC (Kennedy Space Center) a million years ago, the first thing they had me do was read a book of acronyms. It was a BIG book - I read for 3 weeks. I'm proud to say that I never fell asleep - although I came close! Fortunately (although I didn't look at it that way at the time), I worked with five pranksters who kept me on my toes. I wonder if any of them turned into QG's creating WOA's?? Oh, I hope so! Now, forgive me - I MGBTW (substituted W=writing for the Q) - I have a pattern to finish!!
Here's the wonderful post that helped me write the above:
Easypatchwork: Acronyms in the Quilting World
Be sure to add your own Acronyms in her Comments Section - how about MWT's (most wonderful Testers) - without them I could never say TGIF (well, almost)!! LOL XOXO faith.
Oh, it's been forever since I've posted, but I have an excuse reason for that - I discovered Facebook! I know - I know - most of you have not only discovered it, you've UN-discovered it & moved on! Well, what can I say - I'm just a late bloomer! lol
O.K., no new patterns to report - yet! The Radiant Heart design is all written, but it's not quite ready. I need blocks of time to finish & those are scarce right now :) However, I am almost done with the "Everyday Quilt" Pattern - my first traditionally-pieced (strip cut) design! It's sweet and simple .... so, stay tuned (if you haven't given up on me) ... faith.
