Sew Simple Saturday & OMG, an Announcement!

Quick storage tip this morning, to share over at Jan's Sew Simple Saturday!

I have noticed the new product for storing bobbins together with their proper spools, and it does look pretty cool..
Amazon sells them for nearly a buck apiece...

Why not save a buck when pipe cleaners can be used for this task! I stocked up on extra bobbins through eBay, and I can keep threads together with multiple bobbins, all with one pipe cleaner!

I still keep a lot of thread on the rack my DH made for me, and it has nice long nails that allow bobbins to be kept with many of my spools.

Some spools are too big for this though, and since acquiring a second machine, a lot of my spools have two different bobbins. Now I keep many of my quilting threads in drawers near my Juki:)

Share your Nifty tip or tutorial by linking up this weekend over at Sew and Sow Farm - You will be entered for the chance to win several prizes!! Jan has shared a cute tutorial for a knitting needle case!

Quick announcement:

I have not stopped thinking about the loss of ALYoF's since first reading about it several days ago! Seriously, I have been grieving!!
Sooo,

I am working this weekend to launch OMG: One Monthly Goal. It will follow a very similar format!

This morning I created my first-ever button!
You can grab it from my sidebar if you like!
I have also created an OMG page for my top tab-bar, and once I have that all written up I will create the first post, a giveaway for the first month, and inLinks...
I am so excited!!

And one more tip!

I found a great little site for making the button with the html code. Check out The Grab Button Builder if you are interested!

A Mini Christmas Tree Skirt or Quilted Candle Mat

It's Sew Simple Saturday - December Edition!

I made another Mini Christmas Tree Skirt, this time taking pictures along the way. A fun use for border fabrics, or striped fabrics! It fits well under a small tree, or as a candle mat.
Two or three together would be lovely for a table setting..

The first time I made this block, I cut my own template and made little marks so that I was able to line up the template and exact six matching triangles.

Since then I have acquired a sixty degree acrylic template. Now I can simply line up the line markings so each triangle is identical.

Cut six triangles. Size doesn't matter as long as they are all the same. Going for simple, I cut mine the same size as the 6" template.
Sew three together, set aside, and repeat.

Finger-press the seams in opposite directions for each half-hexie.
Before sewing the two halves together, connect the center points with a pin.

Line up the edges and sew.

Clip the center seam, almost to the center point and fan your seams so they will lay flat.
Press.

To add a border:
Cut six strips, each a few inches longer than the width of one triangle. The width you cut your border strips is up to you! Mine are 1.5" x 9".
Attach the first strip to one side and trim.

Repeat five more times.

I stopped here, but of course you could add more borders if you are looking for a larger finish.

Sandwich top with backing and batting, and quilt as desired.

I cut binding fabric 2 1/8" wide for this fabric, and needed 56". Attach using your preferred method. If you have never bound hexie-corners, you may find it easier than expected! Just stop each side the usual 1/4" from edge, and adjust/finesse the miter after wrapping the binding over the edge.

The Figgy Pudding fabric remains one of my favorite out-of-print lines.
The first mini tree skirt I made was with an orphan block leftover from my Figgy Swirl quilt in 2012.

I began making this quilt without a plan, then designed the borders after completing the large blocks. I suppose it could be called improv...
I sold it to a buyer in Eastern Canada and kind of regret it(!)
Well, Now I would like to make another and pattern it. I am not sure what the best software is for writing patterns, but I know I do not own it. Any suggestions?

Visit Sew and Sow Farm for inspiration this weekend, and if you have a tip or tutorial be sure and link up! Last month, I won a Fat Quarter Shop gift certificate! Perfect timing for all their fab-sales too - what a beautiful bundle I received! 

Milk, Sugar, & Flour by Elea Lutz

Southwest Summer Quilt Block Tutorial

Summer in the Southwest is HOT, inspiring me to pull my deepest orange for this project!

I love the way it plays with this Echino NiCo Scooter Fabric!

Finished block = 13.5" x 17"
Although there are bias edges to be careful with, this is an easy block and a fun method...

1. Select three fabrics with good contrast.

2. Cutting:
     Fabric One: Cut your center fabric 6.5" Square.

     Fabric Two: Cut four pieces of the contrast fabric, (to be sewn next to the center):
          2 - 3.5" x 6.5"
          2 - 3.5" x 12.5"

     Fabric Three: Cut two squares of the outer fabric, 9 3/8" , then cut them diagonally in half.

3. Starch and press your pieces for best results when working with bias edges.

4. Lay your pieces out:

5. Sew one 3.5" x 6.5" rectangle to each side of your center square and press seams outward.
Sew one 3.5" x 12.5"rectangle to the other side of your center square and press those seams outward.
Sew one triangle to each side of your pieced square, and press those seams outward as well, toward the triangles.

6. Cut the block down the center first. Make three more cuts, 2" apart on each side of the center cut:

7. Invert the strips. This is the traditional layout, with the outer strips inverted to match the others:

This is the layout I selected:

8. Sew the strips together, preferably with a walking foot.
9. P ress the center seam open, and the other seams outward to complete the block.

 

Someday, this will be a fun tote bag!

Soon, I hope!

Selvage Along - Selvedge Slippers Tutorial, Using a Memory Foam Bath Mat!

Motivated by the current Selvage Along, co-hosted by Jess of Quilty Habit, and Renee of Quilts of a Feather, I recently pulled out my collection of selvedges and whipped up a pair of house slippers!

Rather than starting from scratch, I wanted to use up some bias binding I made in the past, so my colors are selected based on that strange batik, haha!

I snapped photos along the way so I can share in informal, "How I Did It!"

I began at my local .99 Cent Store, where I scored a memory foam bath mat for $1.99!

1. Trace the soles of an old pair of slippers onto the back of the mat.
2. With the bottom still up, stitch around the line using a SZ 100 needle. I also stitched a square around the soles so that the mat would not unravel/make a mess when I cut them out. Here is how it looked from the top:

3. Cut them out very close to the stitching. This is the pair my husband requested after I finished mine (my WIP!.. and again I am using old-stash bias binding!).

4. Piece and quilt a simple strip set with selvedges, layered with batting and the backing of your choice. I used muslin - the bottom sandwich pictured show the backside.

5. Attach BIAS binding to the bottom side of the soles, just as you would a quilt - with the raw edges lined up on the edge of the soles. I used a shy 1/4" seam. (I did not bother to seam the ends, just folded the ends in and sewed it!).
(Oops, no picture here, I will need to add one when I sew up the Big Reds!)
Photo added 8/21 - I added some old leather to Ty's as I know he will wear his to the postbox! Switched to a leather needle and used my open toe foot to stich the binding on at about 1/8 - 3/16".

 

6. Next, I cut one side-edge of a quilted sandwich, matching to one edge of the slipper. Roll the binding over the top and pin that edge together.

7. Before cutting the other edge, I put my foot in there to be certain it was going to fit, then cut the second side to match any curve. and pinned that side in place...

8. Because of the rubber, no-skid underside, I slipped tracing paper under the slipper before sewing the final seam. Using a stiletto and a FMQ foot, slowly sew the top binding down, making sure to catch the quilt sandwich within your seam. I actually double-rolled the binding as it seemed too wide to me..

9. Stitch all the way around the sole, rolling the binding over $ easing in the curves with your stiletto.
10. Tear off the tracing paper that is now attached to your new slipper!

This made a sweet, yet lightweight slipper that is perfect around the house in summertime! One mat turned out to be enough for four pair - three in my size and one for DH. I plan to complete another pair for travel, and perhaps the other will be for houseguests!

Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoyed my most recent make!

Heart Shaped Applique Tutorial

Roses are Red'

Violets are Blue,

I tried a technique today yesterday,

I would like to share with you!

Since I first tried this technique (with Ringed Circles), I have wanted to see how well it applies to points. Valentine's Day provided the perfect opportunity, and since the February challenge with Le Challenge is DOTS, this sweet little mugrug is what I came up with!

Initially, I decided to participate with Le Challenge having a personal challenge in mind: to expand my horizons in the world of art quilting. For some reason or another, I have found the themes to be tough to apply in this way, perhaps too general actually.
The topic of  'stealing' art and techniques has been on my mind since reading recent posts on a blog I really enjoy, Creations... Quilts, Art... Whatever. I was reminded of this quote after reading Nina Marie's post about 'borrowing' techniques. (last week's Off The Wall)

‘The difference between a good artist and a bad one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal, the good one really does.’ ---- William Blake

So, although I have not met my personal goal by letting lose with some art quilting this month, I did learn a new technique for curves/circles/points that I can apply to art quilting in my future! I took a lot of pictures along the way and hope you find them easy to follow.

I am happy to say Ty & I enjoyed a SWEET Valentine's Day - hope you did too!