Craftsy Block of the Month 2012

Finished the binding and the label for my 2012 Craftsy Block of the Month quilt.  Almost all of the fabric was what I had in my stash.  I did have to buy the black fabric as I knew the bright colored fabrics that I used needed black as the sashing & border.  Feels good to have this done.

Also made 2 crib sheets for our little Hannah.  Only had to work half a day today so that left me a couple of hours to sew!

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family.  We have been so blessed this year and wish blessings on all of you too.

Week in Review & Items for sale!

This past week or so I have been busy with work, home, and sewing.  I finished a pieced baby quilt & 2 small self bound baby blankies.  I used my left over Minkie fabric in these projects.  I had purchased some Minkie in Grand Junction, Colorado Thanksgiving week but used most of it in a little blanket for my daughter-in-law's niece.  I finished putting the sashing on my 2012 Craftsy block of the month project and have put the quilt on the frame ready to machine quilt.  Almost have everything ready for Christmas.  Just some stocking stuffers left.  Tom & I decided not to get each other anything other than stocking stuffers.  We don't need anything & decided to buy Christmas for 5 kids on the Angel Tree.  It felt wonderful getting things for those kids.  We have been so blessed this year that we felt that we needed to share with others.  Though our blessings didn't come in the form of money we felt it necessary to give of ourselves this year.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.  It may be a couple of weeks before I get back on the blog, but then again, you never know.  Life is, after all, a journey.  Have joy in the journey!

2012  Blocks of the Month ready to be machine quilted!

Minkie blankies

Pieced baby quilt

Matching Baby Carrier Canopy

  THESE ITEMS ARE FOR SALE

The carrier cover is $45.  Pieced baby blanket is $45.  The small Minkie baby blankets are $20 each.  OR you can purchase all pieces as a set for just $110!

Finishing the BOM Project

If you have been following my posts on the blocks of the month, you have noticed how bright the colors are.  I have decided to use black sashing and borders, maybe some pale yellow too, but definitely the black.  Will post photos when I get the top put together.  Once more, here are the blocks that I made over the past 10 months (2 per month).  The Craftsy online course was free and it was fun to try new techniques.  Some of those techniques I have used again, some of them I may not use again due to the time it takes to make certain blocks.

Scrappy Big Star Quilt

It has been a busy month.  Making PJ's for the boys for Christmas, working on baby stuff, and getting the Big Star quilt sewn & quilted.  I used one "Layer Cake" package with the neutral color & brown as the the final touch.  The pattern was from Jenny Doan's tutorial on the Big Star Quilt (find at http://missouriquiltco.com/),  I decided to do an all over machine quilt pattern using "Leaves".  I like the end result.

My daughter-in-law, Trista, and I hit the day after Thanksgiving sale at Joann's in Grand Junction, Colorado.  It is a small store in the Mesa Mall and it didn't seem as crowded as the St. George, Utah store. Not many of us had cart loads of fabric.  I had so much fun!  Kept myself in check & bought about 225 yards of fabric.  Down from last year.  Total savings - over $1,040.  Total -  Under $450.  I save up all year to stock up on the flannel.  Can't wait to start new projects.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving.  As for our little family, we have been so blessed and are so grateful for everything we have (& don't have).



All over machine quilting design "Leaves"



Big Star Block pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company

"Scrappy Stars"

This is the newest baby Carrier Canopy.  Covers the baby carrier/car seat to protect baby from the wind and the elements.  Yes, I do sell what I make.  If you want one for someone you know has a baby, just let me know.

October Blocks of the Month

So where did this month go?  So much to do to get the yard in order before the winter weather sets in.  I finally had a moment to work on the October Craftsy blocks of the month.  This month's lesson was on paper piecing.  Not my favorite technique, but since it's the last of the blocks in this Craftsy series, I had to follow through.  As you can see I am still using the bright colors.  Next months lesson is putting the blocks together into a quilt.

On the left is Friendship Circle Block

On the right  is the Circle of Geese Block

Fence Rail Diamond - "Pumpkin Spice"

Finished putting the label on the Fence Rail Diamond quilt last night. As you can see by the label it is called"Pumpkin Spice". That happens to be the name of the dark brown with pumpkin print fabric. This is a queensized quilt that will be donated to the New Horizons Center in Richfield, Utah as a raffle quilt. The quilt blocks were from the tutorial on Fence Rail Diamonds from The Missouri Star Quilt Company. It worked up very quickly and I like the final product. I added the border and corner blocks & decided to highlight the quilt by using the pumpkin colored binding.

HAD FUN WITH THE LABEL!

MACHINE QUILTED WITH SWIRLS (IN HONOR OF HALLOWEEN I CALL IT MAKING WITCHES TOES)

NEED NEW CAMERA TO SHOW BETTER COLORING

What a Find!

On our way home from shopping today something shiny caught my eye.  Around the block we went and parked in front of the yard sale.  The shiny thing was the chrome on a Free Westinghouse Zig Zag sewing machine in a cabinet.  The bobbin winder tire needed replacement, the shaft on the winder was seized, the light will need to be rewired.  However, after 2 1/2 hours of cleaning and servicing I have one sweet machine.  What a bargain (or so I think) at $80.  The machine has a wonderful stitch and is very quiet.  I will have to buy some wiring to get the light going, but I am so happy with the purchase.  The machine is living in the kitchen for a few days until I decide where I want to put it.  I am not sure of the age but believe it is a model J2 manufactured somewhere in the late 1920's or 1930's.  It has all the attachments and instruction booklet too.

My daughter-in-law, Trista, came to visit her Mom over the last few days and made a wonderful little "motorcycle" out of diapers and baby stuff for our new little Hannah.  Her Mom helped her make the name blocks.  The gifts were so adorable that I had to take photos.  Trista is very creative (if you couldn't already tell from the gifts).

Here's hoping you all have a great autumn and remember to share your talents with others.

September Blocks of the Month

This past month has been so busy that I just now got around to completing the September blocks of the month for my Craftsy class.  I did take a shortcut in making the units.  I have made a Drunkard's Path quilt in the past so I do know how to construct the unit.  However, I learned a simpler way of construction from Jenny Doan on Missouri Star Quilt Company's tutorial page.  As I am using only fabric on hand, the Cleopatra's Puzzle block is a little different than the actual pattern.  The pattern uses only 2 fabrics, but I didn't have quite enough so I used the 'lemon' & 'lime' fabrics.  The chain block pattern is another block made with what I had on hand.  My little stash box that I am using for this Craftsy class has alot of bright colors and some darker colors, but not very big pieces of those fabrics.  So this quilt will be a truly scrappy creation.

Chain Block on the left  -- Cleopatra's Puzzle on the right

PS - this beautiful little angel is our precious Hannah born this past Thursday.  Truly a little miracle and she has captured all of our hearts.



Boo-tiful Night

Finished my Halloween quilt last night.  The blocks are made using the tube technique.  I learned this technique from Jenny Doan at the Missouri Star Quilt Company website.  This is a quick and easy way to make a block.  Most of the fabric was purchased at our local quilt store in Richfield, Utah - Marcia's.  It is a charming little store right on the main street.  I machine quilted the project with a meandering loop style and threw in a word or two.

Hope your harvest was good and that you are all enjoying the beautiful weather.

'Boo-tiful Night"

Meandering loops with a word or two thrown in

and of course, the label.



Cocoa Creme

Finally finished the "1600 Quilt".  I used a smaller "jelly roll" so the center section of the quilt is smaller than the "1600 Quilt" would be.  I added two borders to make the quilt a finished sized of about 50" x 80".  This makes a nice quilt for someone who is tall or someone who just likes to be tucked in!  I used the scalloped edge by using my new Vines & Curves ruler purchased from Quilt In A Day.  I watched Jenny Doan's tutorial on the Missouri Star Quilt Company website (also found on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIHhTxTpMQ0&feature=player_detailpage.  The quilting is the "Meandering Peacock" pattern designed by Linda Taylor.  I used my Brother 1500 sewing machine which is set on a Start Right quilt frame from Grace Frame Co.  By using the Grace Laser I am able to follow a pantograph to do an all over design.
The quilt's name is "Cocoa Creme".  The colors reminded me of cherry chocolates and I used brown thread for the machine quilting.

Sorry, the photos didn't come out as well as they should have.  May have to break down and purchase a new digital camera.

Cocoa Creme

Center showing use of the 2 1/2" jelly roll strips

Curved edges - gentle 5" curves using the Vines & Curves ruler

Small Jelly Roll

The jelly roll from Riley Blake was a samller one than some so I decided to make the center strips the focus of the quilt.  I have added one border so far and am now trying to decide what color to put next.  Decisions, decisions!

1600 Quilt

I am using one of my new jelly rolls from Riley Blake Designs.  It is a quick and easy pattern and can be found on the web at several sites.  If you want to see how to do this go to the Missouri Star Quilt Company and watch Jenny Doan give her tutorial.  http://www.missouriquiltco.com/

Will post photos when I get it done, if my blog will let me.  Having some issues there.

August Blocks of the Month

After work last night my plan was to do the yard work before the weekend as I have plans.  Well, Mother Nature had other plans and it rained like the dickens last night.  So plans changed and I took the time to make the August blocks of the month.  The blocks this month were the Ohio Star & the Double Star.  I used the techniques as outlined in the course.  Still using the odds & ends of fabric that I started out with.  Definitely like the bright colors that will be in the finished quilt.

Sorry, the blog won't let me upload photos so I posted them on Facebook.


Finally found another way to load photos.  I have sent message to Blogger a bout the problem.

Here are the August blocks of the month.

Double Star on the left and the Ohio Star on the right.

Scrappy Balkan

I finished putting my label on my Scrappy Balkan quilt tonight.  I used the Balkan Puzzle pattern to use up some of my 5" scraps for the center of the blocks & the green & red fabric were in my stash.  I decided to use the 2 1/2" scraps for the binding.  I really like the finished quilt.  Then again, scrappy is my favorite type of quilt.  I will now have to get my August blocks of the month started before September blocks get here.  Still crocheting around receiving blankets & burp cloths in the middle of every thing else.  My poor garden didn't do too well in the hot weather this summer.  Of course, I don't have much of a green thumb.  My wall hanging got a Theme ribbon at our County Fair this week.  Very happy with that.

Balkan Puzzle  blocks set on point

Overall machine quilted using my open petal design 

Scrappy binding & label 

Saturday Scrappy Fun

Hubby & I went to the "Blast from the Past" car show in Salina this morning.  There were some really cool cars there.  Didn't take any photos though.  Then off to lunch at Wingers in Richfield.  I highly recommend their Waffles.  They were light & fluffy.  Hubby had the waffles with chicken breasts, I had the waffle with bacon.  We will definitely go back for the waffles.  They were soft enough for me to chew (still have some healing going on where the tooth was taken out in readiness to put the implant in).  Hardware store and then home.  Finished sewing my scrappy blocks & decided to set them on point so cut out newspaper to see what size half square triangles would look the best to make the blocks on-point.  Two of the main blocks are done & the rest of the half square triangles are cut out.  Taking a break to check email messages etc.  I hope to have the remainder of the blocks finished this next week.  Tomorrow after church I will finish a little boy receiving blanket & burp cloth so I can start the next one for our new (coming soon) granddaughter.  Life is good.

Used 5" squares to make half square triangle blocks then used the "Balkin Puzzle Block" pattern to put them into some sort of design order.  Added the half square triangles to set the blocks on point.  Will post finished quilt photo at a later date.

Grandpa had to get this for little "Whosit".  I love Eeyore.  Even if this one is blue with a pink bow on the tail!

Quilt Tip of the Day:  If you have several bobbins wound with different colors of thread you can use them up when making scrappy quilts.  Chances are you will have more than a few of those colors in the scraps & you will soon have empty bobbins ready for your next sewing project!

Flannel Flannel Flannel

After working in the yard pulling weeds I came in to prepare 8 receiving blankets with burp clothes in readiness to crochet around the edges.  I used my Accucut die cutter to cut out the burp clothes with a die I designed & had made.  Since I make so many, it sure saves me time cutting out.  When I cut out the burp clothes there is always a little fabric leftover.....and we all know I just can't throw it out.  So, I used my 3 1/2" square die to cut out flannel squares.  I have used these in baby quilts before.  I keep my precut shapes in ziplock bags so I can pick up a bag when I have the urge to do some sewing but don't have time to cut anything out.  I have 2 plastic containers full right now of various shapes.  I have quite a few of the 3 1/2" squares cut out right now & if anyone would like to give them a nice home (for free) just let me know!  That will give me more room for the upcoming bits & pieces.

THE STACK READY TO SEW AROUND

MY ACCUCUT DIE CUTTER AT WORK

Box of 3 1/2" squares ready to go to a new home!  There's an assortment of flannel in there.

QUILTING TIP OF THE DAY:  Flannel is fun to sew with.  It is cotton but has more give than regular cotton so be careful when handling in pieced projects.  It tends to shrink quite a bit, so pre-washing is a good idea (I don't always do that as I love the old fashioned quilted look you get after washing the project).  After pre-washing, iron on some spray sizing (NOT STARCH) as the sizing will help the flannel from stretching too much & makes for better handling when sewing.  Also, when you press the seams if you press them open instead of to one side you will have less bulk.  This is especially helpful when you hand quilt/tie the quilt.

Baby Shower in Venice

Yesterday was a baby shower for my daughter-in-law at her parent's home in Venice, Utah.  Her sister, Mindy, prepared wonderful goodies to eat.  So many of Alisha's friends & family showed up.  One of the special gifts that was made for my little granddaughter to be was a quilt & receiving blanket made from flannel that was the little one's great grandmother's.  A co-worker of Alisha's Mom made the blankets.  It was a wonderful & very touching gift.  As I am sentimental about things like that, it was heartwarming to know that my daughter-in-law feels the same way.  If you have the opportunity make someone's day by making an item from fabric that has some meaning behind it, I hope you take that opportunity & run with it.