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!!

Lots of pool time!

I have really been enjoying the pool this summer! I get in every morning (almost) at 9:00 and just swim from one end to the other, back and forth , until I get tired. Then I grab my green noodle and kick from one end to the other . I do this for about an hour. Yes, I'm calling it exercise, hehe! Sometime I get back in the pool in the evening, around 7:00, especially if it was a hectic day. Ya know, sometimes you just have to take a break from the sewing machine! 

Quilt for a retiring principal

This is the quilt commissioned for a retiring principal. Teachers and staff signed blocks for me and they all went into the quilt. A very special keepsake for a very special person. 

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!

Embroidery Machine

I recently acquired a small Brother Embroidery Machine. It only has a 4x4 hoop, but that's good for now. I have been doing lots of embroidery. Quilt blocks, pillow covers, Christmas ornaments. There are, surprisingly, oodles of designs out there for a 4x4 hoop! I am a little leery of 'free' designs. However , I have found a few sites that are, so far, very trustworthy for downloading free designs.

 My current favorite is       http://embroideres.com/free-embroidery-designs/

Theirs is broken in categories. Makes for easier searching for a particular design.
Like this cute one to welcome 2015....in Japanese! (? I guess it's Japanese!?) Year of the Goat?

2015

A new year. What will it bring? What do I want it to bring?

I want to travel. I know, I do do travel quite a bit, but , I want to travel with my husband. We plan to go to Las Vegas this year. Hopefully within the next month. We have a new grandbaby due at the end of March, so that sort of puts a kink in any travel plans around that time. I suppose that means I'll be home....sewing!

I really should make a list of all my PHD's and get those knocked off this year. What are PHD's? Well, Projects Half Done, of course. I happen to have more than a few of those.  I'll think about it. Not sure I want to tackle such a big list this year.

Good Bye 2014!

Ok, I have NOT been posting for most of 2014. I was too busy and couldn't even keep up with email, let alone my blog.  I am not happy about that. I will do my best to keep up this year.

Let me give you sort of an update of what I've been up to.
In March 2014 I was the Director of the GSQA 15th Biennial Quilt show. We donated a total of 62 quilts to the local Fire and Police Departments. That's me in the middle.

We also had the honor of displaying some of the awesome, award winning quilts made by the founder of GSQA, Marion Maerke. This was her Humming Birds that won more than one ward in 1984.

This is Marion's daughter, Kathleen. She drew the winner for the opportunity quilt in the background. (I didn't win).

THEN, after a very hectic week of quilt show, I flew to Washington D.C. with my, then 82 year old, Dad. I took him to the Cherry Blossom Festival and it was AWESOME! It was his first trip to D C so we did the normal touristy things: The war monuments, he was a Master Sergeant in the army during the Korean War, the Arlington Cemetery, The white House and The Capital. It was the trip of a lifetime and neither of us will ever forget it

While I was in the area, I did a little shop hopping with a friend who lives there. 

That was in April 2014. Then, in May 2014, my baby became a senior in high school! Time flies when you're having fun!!

Skipping to October, I spent a week in Gulf Shores, Alabama with my sewing buddies. We went to Pensacola, FL for a class with Philippa Naylor from England. It was an awesome class! I also met up with quilty friends, Karen Williamson and Alma Moates. 

Now we are to Christmas, or Christmas sewing! I made 26 candy cane holders for my granddaughter's class. I made a reading tent for her playroom and a teepee for my grandson. For myself I made a table topper. I call it Peppermint Twist. I made it for a guild red and white challenge. I got an Honorable Mention.

So, now! We are up to date on LAST year. 

2015 will be AWESOME!! Let's make it sew!!

This is where I'll be all week! I am the Show Director. There is much to be done before the 15th Biennial Quilt show. Celebrating 30 years of GSQA!       www.gulfstatesquilting.org

Fancy Bookmark

This is what I made today. Actually I made SEVERAL of them! They are just so cute and SO easy!

I am working on a short tutorial in case YOU want to make one (some).

GO SCOTT!!!

So proud!!! This is one of my students who made a strip quilt using all LSU fabrics. He pieced it. Had it long arm quilted , then he made bias binding and put it on. Machine sewn to the front then hand sewn to the back. He entered it in a 4-H competition and WON GRAND CHAMPION OVERALL DIVISION !!!! 

Good Bye 2013!

As this year comes to and end I look back on what was (for my husband and I ) a rough year!! I do my best to only focus on te good things, there were plenty of those, too! I have a new grandson!

Red hair and blue eyes! Yes indeed!

My little daughter graduated from nursing school.

And this is what Santa brought me! EEEK! 

Kitchen Aid Pasta Press

Now, I think I'll go make some pasta! Maybe I'll sew tomorrow :)

http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/CarnivalShipHorn.mp3

This is the ship we were on. The Carnival Elation. I LOVE the 'cruise" part of the cruise. id not care for Cozumel. It's was too hot. I know, it's December, and it's not really hot like the Summer months, but still, I don't like HOT! I told my husband that I could not believe that I actually paid to go someplace hot!

However, cruising along....When we docked at Progresso we took a bus to Merida. That is where you will find  Merida’s Cathedral of San Ildefonso and Church of the Third Order of Jesus in Mexico. The oldest church in the Americas. Started in 1561 and completed in 1598. THIS was the highlight of the trip.

So, if you cruise to Progresso, Yucatan, Mexico, take the excursion to Merida, the capital, just to see this church. We were allowed to explore the church as well as take pictures and video.

Here's a photo that will give you an idea of the size of those doors and the church.

Ok, on the fun -on- board side, our cruise director, Hennie, was by far the most entertaining person on board. He was great! Also my husband participated in the Hairy Chest Competition. Yes, indeed, ladies. I am married to a man with a VERY hairy chest. Keeps me warm :) He would kill me if I put up a photo, but I can not control what goes on youtube ;)

Lazy weekend

This was a lazy no-sew weekend. I just could not get in the mood. I looked at a few interesting blogs. Played games on Facebook. Ugh! Such a waste of time, I know.  Reading a book that is going nowhere. I really need to get moving on a few projects.

 Getting ready for Thanksgiving. My oldest (military son) is frying a turkey this year. Hubby and I will drive up and have dinner with him and daughter-in-law. I am also bringing a surprise. SSSHHHH!!! My 82 year old dad is driving here Wednesday. Kids don't know that Paw is coming! They will be so happy to see him. Plus I get to have my dad to myself (sort of) for 3 whole days! Then I get to go on a 5 day cruise with hubby! God is good! I am blessed!!

WOW! I just found "The Quilt Pattern Magazine" . It's online only. Go! Check it out!

Just found the coolest pincushion! On Made By Eva.

 

She also has a tutorial! Check it out here

 http://madebyeva.blogspot.com/2010/06/biscornu-pincushion-with-tutorial.html?showComment=1385089603802#c2056222923955567154

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 :)

I got hooked on these scrumptious scarves!

They are crocheted using a yarn called Sashay. Comes in so many colors! I have sold several of them and also made some for my girls. SSHHH!!!

Deonn's Portable Design Wall (UFO to Go)

http://www.youtube.com/v/-4eBjeP-Urs?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=hPBzOeShSI21mSc5zbcvvg&autoplay=1&feature=share&autohide=1&showinfo=1

If you have not made one of these, now is the time! Here's one I made. After watching the video I may turn it into the "semi-deluxe" version.

Karen Williamson Workshop

My guild hosted a workshop with Karen Williamson this month. It was sooooo fun and relaxing!!
Yes, relaxing. No sewing machines. It was all hand work. And it was FUN!! A cute quit-as-you-go known as MoeMo's Star. Sort of a cross between cathedral windows and grandmother's flower garden.

 

 

We were all eager to complete a few blocks during the workshop.

To learn more, see Karen's blog at http://nanagirlquilts.blogspot.com/


Thanks, Karen! It was a blast!!