Signature Block Exchange coming to an end!

Okay Ladies you have 7 days to get those blocks to me by deadline!

We believe in you and know you can do it! =)

Here are the ladies I am still waiting for. If you have a * star*  you have contacted me and I know your blocks are coming…if you don’t have a star please let me know you are working on getting them here. OR if anyone knows someone without a star maybe you could contact them and encourage them to get SEWING LOL !!!

1. * Sherry (email) auntiesherry@hotmail.com
2. Donna from http://www.withneedleinhand.blogspot.com/
3. * Molly from http://www.mollyscottage.blogspot.com/
4. Melinda H. (email) melinda.mott@yahoo.com
5. *Brenda from http://www.pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/
6. Mel from http://www.melsownplace.blogspot.com/
7. Steph (email) hualapaiquilter@citlink.net blog http://www.hualapaiquilter.blogspot.com/
8. * Julie (email) liv4quilt@yahoo.com
9. * Karen from http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
10. * Lindsey from http://fivehealthyhearts.blogspot.com/
11. Danielle from http://www.wanttobeequilting.blogspot.com/
12. *Jandi from http://jandidean.wordpress.com/
13. *Carole from http://carolescalicos.blogspot.com/
14. Katie from http://katiecrocker.blogspot.com
15. * Margaret  (email) margaretyancich@yahoo.com
16. Bonie (email) dircomm41@yahoo.com
17. Michelle from http://thetatteredquiltcottage.blogspot.com/
18. Joanne from Freyedknots@blogspot.com
19. Erin from http://misserincrafts.blogspot.com/
20. Julie (email) jricht10275@aol.com
21. *Kim from http://magnoliabayquilts.blogspot.com/

 

 

Here is a reminder of what our beautiful Signature Block quilts are going to look like if you choose to do the Jo Morton pattern:

But you don’t have to go out and purchase the book, you could make up your own setting!! I was playing in EQ5 and drew up a couple really easy possibilites:

Just add sashing

Or turn your blocks a different way and add sashing and a border:

The possibilities are endless and I am sure  all you creative ladies will come up with some awesome stuff!

I can’t wait to see what everyone does with their blocks!

Rachel from p.s. i quilt (she’s in our swap too!)  is going to run another signature block exchange for people of the funky/bright fabric persuasion…if you are interested check out her blog to sign up.

OH you KNOW I am thankful!

Thank you GOD!

For my amazing husband

For my beautiful children

For my super awesome Mom and Dad

For my brothers and sisters

For my friends

For my dog

For our cars that keep running

For our jobs

For our home

For our health

For our country

Wishing you and yours the most wonderful Thanksgiving!!

later gators! melissa

What was I thinking?

Okay so I took the plunge today and spent $100 on  1 inch thick foam, jiffy grip, and polar fleece, because I had a lot of confidence in Christmas-elf  self to  make 15 pairs of slippers as gifts for the ladies in the family.

But then…….

I made a pair.

YIKES! I am going to have to get the BG involved and make an assembly line.  The sewing part isn’t bad….it’s just the cutting all the parts. Especially the foam.  Any tips on cutting foam??

Here is how the first pair turned out:

Warm cozy fleece inside:

And safe, no slip jiffy grip on the bottom!

1 down 14 to go!

Later Gators, Melissa

Hitting the Machine today!

Okay ladies only 38 days till Christmas and I am going to make 15 pairs of these:

Only mine will have much cuter fabric! Hahahaha

Am i crazy??  probably!

 

I also started working on this pattern from Wintergreen Threads by Need’l Love

I’ve been wanting to make that one for a couple years now! Wish me luck =)

And after all that I am going to start playing with the Rouenneries  fabric that I am IN LOVE with!

Later Gators! Melissa

A little charm square table runner tutorial.

 

Wow I haven’t been web logging my days very frequently lately!

Between school being very busy for us this year (homework is crazy for 1st and 3rd grades!! I hate to see middle school and high school!!) and trying to keep up with housework and meals, I just haven’t taken the time to update.

I made up a little table runner using a Glace by Three Sisters charm pack.

I couldn’t find a table runner pattern that used only ONE charm pack !! Have you noticed this about charm square patterns??  But I only had ONE pack, so I had to make one up.

I used an idea by Kim from Kim’s Big Quilting Adventure.  She shared a pinwheel block she made and I hope she doesn’t mind me using it too!

I did it pretty quick…less than an hour! So don’t look at my corners or pinwheel points LOL!!

If you want to make one too, here’s how:

Fabric:

1 charm pack

1/2 yard for backing and binding.

Directions:

Step 1  (Figure 1)

Take 1 red and 1 white charm square and place them right sides together.

Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the light square, then using a 1/4 inch seam, sew on both sides of the line.

Using your rotary cutter and ruler cut on the line then press towards the darker fabric.

Repeat 2 times to make 12 red/white  Half Square Triangles.

Step 2 (Figure 2)

Assemble Half Square Triangles into 3 pinwheel blocks and sew together.

Using 2 of the blue charm squares and 1 green charm square=  cut each charm into 4- 2 1/2 squares.

Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on each 2 1/2 inch square, place and sew on the line  on the 4 corners of the pinwheel blocks.  Trim off corners to 1/4 inch and press toward the blue/green fabric.

Step 3 (Figure 3)

Using 9 coordinating charms= cut each into 4- 2 1/2″   squares.

Lay them out in 6 rows of  6 and sew together to make one patchwork square.

Cut the patchwork square twice on the diagonal from corner to corner.

These 4 triangles are your setting triangles.

Lay out table runner according to the diagram and sew together!

Layer with batting/backing then quilt.  Then bind. Then enjoy!

Later Gators! Melissa

More Kitchen gadget re-do’s

I think I am finally almost finished with the Holiday Season (Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year) decorating. Shewww.

Now I can relax and start making Christmas gifts.  I do believe I am going to try and make everyone quilted slippers this year.

I found these old strainers at the junk shop— added a little Christmas Cheer and tucked them into corners in my kitchen.

Later Gators! Melissa

Saturday Shopping

Went Christmas Open Housing with Mom this past weekend to our favorite little antique and craft shops.

I am almost bursting at the seems with Christmas decorations as it is, but I won’t live here forever, so you have to get the cute things even if they don’t fit here! LOL

For instance…I have NO WHERE to hang this shelf, but it was $10.oo at Primitive Connections antique shop in Allen, MI.

So I HAD to get it right…come on $10.00!!

In my next house, surely there will be a free piece of wall to hang it! Who know’s I might even find somewhere here in our tiny townhouse!

Mom bought me this great enamel wear basin with candle and fixin’s at The Old Granary in Quincy, and I found the cute Candy Cane stuffies at the Hog Creek Antique mall.

I went through my f aux greenery and sprayed some snow in a can on them to create some new festive arrangements. I will take pic’s of the rest of them as I churn them out.  Here is how one of my Junk Shop re-do’s turned out:

Ohhhh I feel like a Christmas Elf already!

Only 46 days left till Christmas! Are YOU getting ready?

Give-away!!

Sweet Home Quilt Co. is hosting a fabulous giveaway of an old favorite Moda line!

Cinnamon Stars…yummy!!

Crafting, and messing, and painting OH MY!

I am managing to make a fine mess in my kitchen, but not to finish much yet.

Mostly I am painting my junk shop treasures so that they can become re-purposed prims.

I found an old bread box and painted it up, applied the label, now I am waiting for the mod-podge to dry so I can re-sand it and wax it.

I also found an old wooden cheese tray that I have painted and sanded, now I am waiting for my wax to melt so I can finish the pantry cakes that will go under the glass.

I also found this great old lantern, but when I was trying to convert it to an electric lamp today I BROKE THE GLASS!! I was so bummed.  But I think it still looks okay even without the glass for a little Christmas light.

I found this mortar and pestle at Goodwill for a buck and painted/sanded it.  It should feel right at home in my kitchen!

Well back to the crafty mess!

Later Gators, Melissa

It’s beginning to feel alot like Christmas!!

Okay Halloween is over, and I have full rights and privileges granted by The BG to start decorating for Christmas!

So that’s what I am doing!

I have picked up all kinds of goodies from the local junk shops that I will be turning into Christmas eye candy.

Stay tuned…

First thing on the list= decorate my newly painted dry sink!