Needed a Blue Christmas Table Runner and other things

One of our daughters recently moved back home.  We renovated and remodeled our downstairs into an apartment for her (everything except a kitchen for now).  Just a few short weeks ago there was nothing but studs and concrete floors. A ton of work has been accomplished and there is still lots to do but it is liveable and she moved in two weeks ago.

She asked for a Christmas Table Runner but everything in my stash was traditional colors and they wouldn't work for her decor. While at work this week, I spotted one of our newer Stonehenge fabric lines and decided to make a super easy 10 minute table runner. I purchased 1/3 yard of the center focal fabric and 1/2 yard of the contrast fabric. I've made so many of these table runners that I can really make it in 10 minutes. Haha

She loved it and it is the perfect colors for her new apartment.  If you need a reminder on how to make these, click this link to read a previous post with tutorial.

After completing the table runner, I was still in the mood to experiment with some new projects I've been wanting to try....

The fabric "box".  This was very easy and turned out super cute. I can think of several uses for this project.  If you would like to give it a try, this is the video tutorial I watched by the Crafty Gemini.  

Not sure what got into me, but I'm on a roll now.  Next I experimented and made these precious, super easy Christmas ornaments.  I used scrap fabric first just to make sure I could make them before using my good Christmas fabric.  If you want to give them a whirl, here is the link to the video tutorial I watched.

Back of ornament......

The video tutorial suggests you use a pot lid as a template for the circle. Just thought I'd share that a large Folger's coffee lid works great as well. :)

I'm planning to make some Christmas bed pillowcases but thought I'd go ahead and share with you the ones I made for my grandchildren this past Halloween.

If you haven't made these yet you ought to try one. Click this link to view one of the several video tutorials available online.

My silly grandchildren with their pillowcases....

Even teenage boys like it when grandma makes them something....

My goodness, I really accomplished quite a bit in one day.  Sometimes I impress myself. :)

You still have time to make these simple projects before Christmas.

Until next time.....get busy!!

Dresden Coin Quilt

Thought I'd use today's post to reveal a recent finished project.

I followed the Missouri Star video tutorial to make this Dresden Coin quilt using Layer Cakes (10" precut squares) from the Benartex collection called "Urban Oasis".

This collection is bright, wild and extremely beautiful!!!
To watch the Missouri Star video click HERE.

I decided to make my quilt a little longer than the tutorial directions so I simply added more Dresden pieces to each row.  I had two Layer Cakes from this collection so there was plenty to go around.

In fact, because I had so many Dresden pieces cut.  I followed another Missouri Star video tutorial to make this gorgeous pillow. 

Truthfully, I made two of these pillows and still have Dresden pieces left to make something else.
To watch the Missouri Star video for the "Sprocket Pillow" click HERE.

Oh how I LOVE this fabric collection and I think it's great to make a quilt and matching pillows.

Both projects were super simple and fun to make.  The only issue I had was when attaching the center button on the pillow.  I used an extra long needle but it was still a challenge to get the needle through such a thick pillow and then do it again in order to pull the center of the pillow taut (with the button) to give the "poofy" finished look.

Give either or both of these projects a whirl!  You won't be disappointed!

On a completely different subject....over the past weekend, I realized how huge my plastic bag of tiny scraps was getting....the ones too little for crumbs but perfect to stuff my doggie beds.

Thankfully I'm getting closer to the end of this orange flannel with skateboarders.  It feels like I've been making doggie beds from this fabric for over a year (probably have).  There was enough scraps to stuff two more beds last night and I think there is enough orange flannel to make two more smaller beds or one large one when the scrap bag fills up again.

These home-made beds are always doggie approved. :)  Of course, my little Talia must try out EVERY new bed before the other fur children are allowed to use them.

What's been under your needle lately?

Ribbons In The Sky - Free Pattern - Accuquilt GO Friendly

I'M BACK! 

Where have I been? - Right here at home.

Why have I not blogged in several months?  - Pure LAZINESS, no excuses!!!

As a form of apology for disappearing from the blogging world for a few months, I'd like to share with you a baby quilt I designed just a few weeks ago.  Please accept my apology and enjoy the free pattern!!!

This quilt pattern is Accuquilt GO friendly.  For the construction of the blocks you will use the 4" Finished HST's and the 4 1/2" square dies.  Borders can be cut with the 2 1/2" unfinished strip die and the 4 1/2" unfinished strip die.

RIBBONS IN THE SKY - Designed by Theresa Litz

46" x 46"

 

 

I'm challenging myself to use fabric from my stash whenever and as much as possible.  For fun, I sometimes sit and "make" fabric from my scrap pieces, chunks, and strips of fabric.  To reacquaint yourself with this technique, you can read this blog post from the past.  "Making Fabric on a Rainy Day".

 

 

I decided that a 4 1/2" square was a nice size to make, collect and adapt into future projects. 

 

A friend of one of my daughters recently gave birth to twin girls and I decided I'd like to make each one a quilt...similar but different.  This is the first quilt and I will share the directions for a second baby quilt in an upcoming blog post.

 

Using my EQ7 software, I came up with this design.  

 

In the center of each of the Ribbon Blocks, I used my "made fabric" 4 1/2" squares.  You can choose to simply use a particular fabric (as shown in the above design), or even fussy cut from a special fabric.  Just remember, if you want to fussy cut, the fussy cut square will be sitting diagonally in the quilt once the blocks are assembled and pieced together.

Fabric Requirements:

 



Ribbon Block Construction:  You will need to made a total of 5 of these 12 1/2" unfinished Blocks.  This is a very simple block using only Half-Square Triangles and a center 4 1/2" square.  (Disregard the strange purple piece sticking out of the block picture...don't know why my printer went crazy.)

 

 

 You will need a total of 4 Setting Triangles (top, bottom, right and left)

 

You will need a total of 4 Corner Triangles (left top, right top, left bottom and right bottom)

 

Inner Black Multi-Dot Border is made by cutting 2 1/2" x WOF strips.

 

 

Outer Lime Green Border is made by cutting  4 1/2" x WOF strips.

 

 

Here is a blank Coloring Sheet so that you can experiment and play around with colors/fabrics you would like to use in your own quilt.

 



This pattern was super quick and easy to piece together.  If you make one in the future, please send a photo so I can share it with everyone!!!

Until next time.....Keep quilting and sewing!





Zipper Quilt - Baby size

Just finished sewing the binding and label on this cute little baby/toddler quilt.  The pattern is called The Zipper quilt by Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I used a charm pack of pre-cut 5" squares from a new Moda collection called 'Aloha Girl'.  Also used was a Cotton Supreme bright white in the blocks and inner sashings.

This is a really fun, fast, and easy quilt to piece together.  You can watch the video tutorial that gives you detailed instructions at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtLL4liuW8o

The border fabric is an Andover Dimples light blue that has been in my stash for a couple of years.

The most precious fabric was found in my stash to use for the backing.  Honestly, I believe this fabric may be close to 20 years old! :) :) :)

The quilting design I decided to use is call 'Peonie' and it can be found at Urban Elementz.

And just in case you are wondering....no, I didn't make this with anyone specific in mind.  :)  I've been wanting to try this pattern and thought the 'Aloha Girl' collection would make a precious version.  This will be another quilt I put away for when I need a baby gift or donation quilt.

What have you been up to lately?

Until next time!!!!!

Bordered Periwinkle and a Tshirt Quilt Finished

Another totally finished project!  I'm on a roll! :)  I shared a photo of the blocks in an earlier post, prior to assembly and adding borders, quilting, binding, etc.

The pattern/design is called Bordered Periwinkle by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company.  The fabrics used was a Moda Layer Cake called Whitewashed Cottage. A silver gray solid was used in the blocks and as an inner border. The yellow outer border is from Moda's Whitewashed Cottage collection as well.

I made this after watching the video tutorial:  HERE

As far as quilting goes, a pantograph from Urban Elementz called Kashmir seemed to be a perfect choice.  I'm not sure that it is still available as it was a retired pattern when I purchased it.

Close up of the front:

The backing fabric is a 108" wide from the same Moda Whitewashed Cottage collection.

Close up of the back:

While the above quilt was on the frame, I was also in the process of making a T-Shirt quilt for a local young woman graduating from college.  As soon as the quilting was finished for the above quilt, I had this quilt ready to put on the frame.

All of this young woman's collection of T-shirts revolved around her years as a competitive diver/swimmer for her school team.  Taking that into consideration, I chose to use a pantograph called Fern Gully from Urban Elementz.  I hoped that the design would give a feeling of water and in my opinion it worked. :)

Close up while on the quilt frame....

Close up of back....

The quilt was finished and delivered just in time to be displayed during her graduation party!

There are quite a few other projects in the works right now and I hope to start sharing them with you in the next few days.

Keep sewing!   Until next time.....

Ricket's Raffle Quilt

Meet Ricket.....he is a local 4 month old puppy who needs heart surgery.  From what I understand, he was originally going to be "put down" but the office manager for my veterinarian decided to take him and raise the needed funds for his life-saving surgery.  Isn't he adorable? :)

He is the reason I made this quilt to raffle or auction with hopes it raises a good amount of funds for his surgery (which is scheduled for next month). 

I had a lot of fun working on this project....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I wanted to quilt it using "Paw Prints" from Urban Elementz.
Can you see how cute the quilting turned out?

Here's a photo of the quilt back which shows the quilting even clearer....

I've asked my vet's office to let me know how much the quilt ends up raising....keeping my fingers crossed it does well!

Until next time.....

Busy, Busy, Busy Work

What have I been up to this last month?  TONS of stuff!!!!

First off, I played around using a Moda Layer Cake from their new collection 'Whitewashed Cottage' and one of Missouri Star Quilt Company's numerous free video/tutorials to put together this quilt top.  This pattern is called The Bordered Periwinkle.

Also on my agenda was getting this quilt top (below) that my mom made on the longarm and quilting it for her.  She made this for her one and only grandson, Brandon, who is graduating in a couple of weeks from The University of Alabama.  She used Alabama colors and a basic "Sawtooth" block to create this HUGE queen size quilt.  Since I'm such an awesome daughter, I also added the binding and completely finished it for her. :) :)

Along came Easter!  On Saturday (the day before), I decided that I wanted something cheery and spring-like hanging in a 'naked' spot on my kitchen wall.  I rummaged through my closet of 'projects waiting on completion' and found a little "Blazing Star" wall hanging needing to be quilted.  I must admit that I impressed myself by how quickly I tossed that project on the longarm, quilted it, applied binding and hung it up by 11:00 pm Saturday night!  I had no clue that my family members would start arriving for Easter dinner with so many gorgeous flower arrangements that just made my new wall décor pop!

Here's a close up....the wall-hanging is not crooked....the picture itself is crooked. :)

I also quilted this Mesmerize lap quilt for a new friend.  She used batik scraps and I quilted it using a pantograph called 'Fern Gully' by Urban Elementz.

The back....

A 10 day trip to Tennessee was also squeezed into the month.  My Dad had a knee replacement so I surprised them by showing up on their doorstep after he was home and recuperating.  I didn't realize till I got home that there is no pictures of me with my youngest grandson, but I do have this photo from the night I took my two oldest grandchildren out for dinner at Applebee's and dessert at Dairy Queen.

Once I returned home, I had to catch up on a project I'm helping with for Quilters' Haven where I work part-time.  Our customers (as well as employees) are making "Star" blocks in patriotic colors.  Once we have enough, we plan to make a Quilt Of Valor to present to a local veteran.  This is what has been contributed at this point in time.....

This past Friday I learned of a local puppy that needs heart surgery.  My vet is helping to raise the funds needed and I offered to make a quilt to donate and use as a raffle item with all funds going toward the puppy's medical expenses.

I searched through my stash of fabric on Saturday and found these two fabrics.  I just LOVE the doggie faces!!!!!!!!!  I figured this fabric would be perfect to make the quilt I designed and shared in an earlier post called "Bird's Eye View".  Since designing that pattern, this will be the third time I've used it in a two month time span.  It is so quick and easy and the perfect quilt pattern when needed a "themed" quilt.

The center of the quilt was cut and pieced on Sunday, and I added the puppy paw prints border last night as I watch television.  Now I just need to get it loaded on the longarm and quilted. 

Wouldn't you know it....I already have the PERFECT pantograph design to use called "Puppy Paws" by Urbanelementz.
                                                       
Speaking of doggies.....one of my little ones has the talent of turning ANYTHING soft into a napping spot.  I had only laid this plastic container with some scraps of cotton batting on top down on the ground for a few minutes while I looked for something.  Needless to say....I didn't disturb her and allowed her to use it as a bed for as long as she wanted while I played in my sewing room.

Guess I will close this post by showing the JACKPOT of gifted fabric I received from a friend on Saturday!  Five bags of the most glorious fabrics!  She was cleaning out her sewing room and decided she no longer wanted these pieces....Christmas, Patriotic, Batiks, Panels, Reproduction, Modern....OH MY....I'M IN FABRIC HEAVEN!!!!

April has certainly been a productive month for me!  I hope I can keep it going during May.  So what have YOU been up to lately?  I'd love to hear all about it!