Fun fun!

I am a member of a Swap and Quilt group. This month is QAYG Log Cabins in polka dots! So much fun! 

First time I've made quilt as you go blocks! These are 12 1/2". 

I knew I saved all those polka dot fat quarters for something! I see a QAYG project in my future!  

Crazy for stars!

I saw a version of this folded wreath online and had to make it!

It wasn't hard at all .

I used  6 1/2" squares of the focus ( back that flips up) and a 5 1/2" squares of the solid with 1 inch sashing sewn around. Used fusible fleece to give it shape.

Sew pairs with right sides together, leaving a space to flip right side out. Whip stitch closed. To mark sewing lines measure 3" down from corner and Mark, then 2 " from opposite corner, diagonally .Do this on both sides of the square. Use a ruler to draw the line from one point to the other. I used a frixion pen. You don't have to mark every square, just every other one. Iron off marks when all squares at joined . Oh, there are 12 squares in all. Then lift corners and join with a bead on top

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Go! Sew!!

New Book / Quilt Club!

I became part of a new book/quilt club!! Eeekk! I'm so excited! It's the best of both worlds! We read books AND make quilts based on those books . How cool is that!! 

I attended my first meeting this week and I brought each member a book mark I made with the club name on them. 

So cute! 

Time to make Christmas gifts!

Now is the time to start making Christmas gifts at a leisurely pace. No stress here! 

I will do my best to post instructions/ tutorials of a few popular ones . I will strive for one a week . Come back often to check my progress. 

We will be making:

Microwave Bowls

Microwave Potato Bags

Infinity Scarf

Zipper Bag for Cosmetics( or whatever you want!)

You can make anything you want! Want to know how to make something  you saw? Ask me! 

Ok, let's get to it! We are making a Microwave Bowl. This is basically a pot holder for your bowl of oatmeal ( or corn for dinner ) . Instead of grabbing a hot bowl, you lift out a soft warm potholder that your bowl is sitting in!

There will be lots of photos! You never know when this is someone's first project. Be patient . 

Note: ALL ELEMENTS MUST BE 100% COTTON for this project or YOUR BOWL WILL CATCH ON FIRE IN THE MICROWAVE!!!

You will need :

2 squares of COTTON fabric ,10 1/2"

You could use a Moda Layer Cake😀

2 squares of COTTON batting

 ( save those batting scraps!)

COTTON thread to match

Layer one of each fabric square on top of one of each of the batting squares. Draw an X on the back of each batting square , from corner to corner. Sew on this line, to hold your layers together. Now you have 2 quilt sandwiches.

Fold each sandwich in half, right sides together. On the folded edge, mark 3/4" on the open edges and 2 1/2" on the folded edge.Turn it so you can mark the other edge. THEN fold each one in the other direction and mark that fold the same.Do this on both sandwiches, on the batting side. 

Now connect your lines into a curve. Sew on the curve.

Trim the outer portion of the curve to 1/4", to have less bulk.






You now have the two halves of your bowl!






Put them together with right sides facing and batting on the outside. 


Line up the corners and the curves you just sewed. Before you pin the curves together, flip one to the right and one to the left so that they nest together.





You should have no less than 8 pins holding your bowl together.



On one side, between the corner and one curve (dart), mark a 2 inch space where you will not sew. I usually just put two pins together at the beginning and the end of the space. I know that I will not sew past 2 pins together.Do whatever works for you!

Once this is done, sew all around the edge (leaving that 2 inch space open!)





Trim the corners.






Now turn it right side out!











Push the corners out using a chop stick or some blunt tool

Find the opening and press the edges in the form the seam.

 
Go ahead and give the whole thing a good press.


Sew 1/4" from the edge all the way around




Your bowl is now done!!

Push me to blog!

I have a friend on a quilting FB page who just jumped into blogging. Yippee!! Not only is she blogging , she's pushing me to keep up with mine! Wow ! Thanks Jessica!! I need a push in that direction! 

Although I have not been blogging lately, I have been quilting! I made a quilt for a retiring elementary school principal . I am also in the middle of not one, but two t -shirt quilts!!  Both are for my youngest son , who just graduated from high school and recently became an Eagle

Scout!! Proud momma here!

So many quilt patterns!! I have piles of books and patterns and even more ideas for quilts! Organize? I don't think I know how. I try. I fill totes and bins and binders and drawers. I just want to sew! Here's an idea...don't buy any more fabric until I sew all the fabric I now own. Yeah, right!

Also, I have a quilt in the works that MUST be finished (top anyway) by January. It's for a quilt show in March 2014. I have a few blocks made, all paper pieced, but I have a LONG way to go! The theme for the show is "Pineapple Fields Forever". I do love pineapple....but pineapple blocks....well, not my favorite. They are pretty though! Perhaps I'll give you a preview and show you a block here and there as I go. Wouldn't want show you the entire quilt until it hangs in the show.

Here is one of 14 pineapple blocks ( they will be of two different colors), I have five done. THEN there are 13 applique blocks (not cut out , yet) and a few pieces blocks and paper pieced border. YIKES!!!! Let me get off of here and sew.

P.S. I little encouragement here and there won't hurt :)

Sew Happy.Me Sewalong

I participated in a sewalong on a quilting blog this week. You can do it too! Just go to sewhappy.me

I made mine a little larger by adding strips to each side of the front panel, the a smaller strip to the top and bottom. It was a really fun and CUTE project. If you hop over to sewhappy.me you'll see a boy bunny version too!!

2013

I can not believe that I can not manage to get to my blog on a regular basis! Might have something do with ADD! I flit around from one thing to another 18 hours a day. Seems I hardly finish anything these days. I am currently working on no less that 4 projects! ALL need to be done within the month ( if not sooner). We will be welcoming a grandson to the family REAL SOON! SOOOOOOOOO excited!!Thus, the many projects in the works. Car seat cover, nearly done; diaper bag, not cut out yet; baby carrier (sling), thinking about; baby carrier (back pack) , thinking about. Then there's the Giving Quilt Challenge, due March 9th, most of the blocks complete...still need to put it together and QUILT it!!! Thankfully we have this little thing called Mardi Gras down here and the kids are out of school for 3 days. That adds up to a 5 day stretch of days "off". That starts this Saturday. I should be able get all that done, Lord willing. I will do my best to get picture posted and may even manage a tutorial.

Stay tuned!

International Quilt Festival!!!!

I'm going to Houston for the International Quilt Festival! SOOOO excited!!! This will be my first time! I signed up to volunteer at the AAQI booth on Thursday ( come visit me from 8:45am-11:30am). Row S. I am about to make a pile of ATC's to bring. If you have not yet made ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) they are a fun way to use up all those glorious scraps that seem to take over our sewing space. I will take photos as I go and upload them here for you :)

Hurricane Isaac!

All tucked in to wait for the hurricane to get here. Just stayed in today and I ACTUALLY GOT TO SEW!!! Happy day!! Putting my "Brownies a' la Mode" together. I took a class with Kathy Brown (famous for her Take 5 pattern!) and we started the "Brownie a' la Mode" in the class....that was a month ago! Well, now all the blocks are done and put together! Ironing the borders now. Plan to sew the binding on my Sudoku quilt so I will have some handwork to keep me busy when the electricity goes out :/ .  Baked some cookies (Chocolate with white chocolate chips an macadamia nuts..Mmmmm), boiled a dozen eggs ( ready for egg salad - with homemade mayo :), have PLENTY of water ( Kentwood man came yesterday :), bought batteries ( for everything in the house that uses batteries.. $$$$$!!!!!), put sandbags in front of the door, and out back ( in case the pool overflows with all the rain ) . Can you tell this is not my 1st hurricane?? NOT! I grew up here on the coast of Louisiana, nothing South of here but the Gulf of Mexico...where hurricanes come to play.
On a more serious note, I pray everyone in the path of Isaac is spare any harm of person or property.

Stay safe and enjoy the breeze :)

Twisted Sister Class!

My friend , Cathy, and I took a Twisted Sister Class last week from Ami Simms. That woman is a blast! If you get the chance you should take her class! You can see quilts make with the Twisted Sister ruler here www.amisimms.com. We are not allowed to post pictures of the quilts ourselves.

Just click Twisted Sisters and on that page you will find a link called "your twisted sisters".