Blocks and more blocks.

Due to a wonderful turn out…Sign up’s are closed! Thank you!

We are off to a great start for the Signature Block Swap!

There is plenty of time to sign up if you haven’t and want to.

I can’t wait to have a quilt made up of all the amazing women that I chat with and check in on everyday in blog land!

I am posting the participants at the bottom of this post so if those of you who are already signed up want to get a head start on making your blocks you can. We are up to 37 people so far. So you will need to make at least 37 so far.

 I started sewing some of mine up the other day so as to be right on top of things!  I made a little tutorial as I went along to show you how easy they are.

1. Cut your backgrounds squares at 3 1/2″ I used a very nice dyed 100% cotton. Cut your corner squares at 2 1/2″. I used little scaps of civil war reproduction fabrics that I had saved from other projects. But you can sure use all one color if you have a bigger piece of fabric.

2. Mark a line through the middle of your corner squares. I love the “sewline” marking pencil.

 

3. Place square in the corner of your background and sew along your marked line.

4. Cut off the corner using your ruler to get a nice 1/4″ seam allowance.

 

5. Press to toward the darker fabric. I like to used a little spray starch so that I get a nice crisp block. My favorite is Mary Ellen’s Best Press.  It smells so yummy!

 

6. Repeat process in opposite corner. Your block should measure 3 1/2 ” when you are done.

7.  Sign your block with a permanent fabric marker.

Here are the ladies we have so far.

Signature Block Swappers

 

1. Aunt Pitty Pat from http://auntpittypats.blogspot.com/

2. Lisa from  http://bearhugquiltworks.blogspot.com/

3. Teri from http://www.purpleandpaisley.blogspot.com/

4. Sherry

5. Jane from http://janesfabrics.blogspot.com/

6. Barbara

7. Donna from  http://www.withneedleinhand.blogspot.com/

8. Sue from http://www.quiltmamasue.blogspot.com/

9. Molly from http://www.mollyscottage.blogspot.com/

10. Dawn from http://piece-and-love.blogspot.com/

11. Carrie from http://apassionforapplique.blogspot.com/

12. Michelle

13. Melody from http://thedemandingdoll.blogspot.com/

14. Kaaren from http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com/

15. Melinda H.

16. Brenda from http://www.pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/

17. Cecelia M.

18. Terry C.

19. Mel from http://www.melsownplace.blogspot.com/

20. Steph

21. Michelle from http://prattlinpins.blogspot.com/

22. Julie

23. Linda (Flatlander)

24. Karen from http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

25. Lanette from http://tataville.blogspot.com/

26. Lindsey from http://fivehealthyhearts.blogspot.com/

27. Laura P.

28. Laurie N.

29. Danielle from http://www.wanttobeequilting.blogspot.com/

30. Anett from http://pincushioncrazy.blogspot.com/

31. Rebecca  from http://rebeccaplourde.blogspot.com/

32. Charlene from http://thehormanns.blogspot.com/

33. Melissa from http://cornbreadandbeansquilting.wordpress.com/

34.Jandi from http://jandidean.wordpress.com/

35.Robin from http://rsislandcrafts.blogspot.com/

36.  Lissa  (email) mailto:alexander.lissa@gmail.com

37.  Carole from http://carolescalicos.blogspot.com/

If you see your name above and you have a blog but it is not listed could you shoot me an email at lussier99@comcast.net  so that I can add your blog to your name.

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In other quilty news I have just been sewing up the rest of my BOM’s for the quilt shop.  I need to design and sew them  into a layout. That’s what I will do today.

 

Later Gators!

Due to a wonderful turn out…Sign up’s are closed! Thank you!

Melissa

Pot Holder/Hot Pad Tutorial and other stuff.

Hi there Ho there!

Look at my cutie tootie little toy sewing machine I picked up for my sewing room. It was super clearanced at Hobby Lobby for 8 buckaroos! I couldn’t pass it up.

We’ve got a busy couple of days ahead of us. This morning I was supposed to go on my daughter’s field trip to Moo Ville (a dairy farm.)  She INSISTED that I go. Soooo….I got the day off of work,  got girls all ready and then I got myself ready (make up and EVERYTHING lol) , packed our lunches,  then headed to the school. When I got there Patiences’ teacher said that there wasn’t going to be room for me!! It didn’t break my heart let me say =)~

Tonight we have Parent Night for the girls Karate class. They will get their yellow belts and have a banquet.

Friday I work, then when I get home I have to take the girls to  Spring Frolic at the school. Saturday I teach my apron class and Saturday night is our Wine Tasting Party!!

Busy Busy Busy!

I made up a quick pot holder/hot pad to hand out as an extra at my apron class and thought I would share it with you girlies!

This way it’s a hot pad:

And this way it’s a pot holder:

Easy Shmeasy Pot Holders

Supplies:

Insul-Bright batting (you want this type because it’s heat resistant)

Fat ¼ main fabric

1/8 yard binding

Grommets and grommet tool

 

Cutting:

From Insul-Bright cut  -one 10” square

-  two 4  x 10” rectangles

From main fabric cut   -two 10” squares

-two  8 x 10 rectangles

From binding fabric cut  – two 2 ¼ inch strips

 

Directions:

Sandwich the 10” square of Insul-Bright batting between the two 10” squares of main fabric.  (You may baste however you like, for the sample safety pins were used)  Quilt as desired.

Press the two 8 x 10 rectangles of main fabric in half length wise.  Place the 4 x 10’ of Insul-Bright  between the fold and quilt as desired.

Place the two 4 x 10” rectangles at the top and bottom of the

10” quilted square, matching up the raw edges. Pin in place.

Sew around all four sides using ¼ seam allowance.

Place grommet in the upper right hand corner.

Bind the potholder as you would a quilt and enjoy!

Later Gators!

Melissa

Rag Egg Tutorial

I feel a tad silly making a tutorial for these because they are so easy. But I would feel worse if I didn’t because I said I would! =)

So here ya go!

Supplies:
Homespun or cotton fabric
Glue gun
Egg shape (can be plastic, paper mache, styrofoam, etc)
Scissors
Tea or coffee to distress.

I like to rip my fabric because I like the unfinished “raggy” look you get.

Make a small cut about ½ inch in on the edge of your fabric and tear the strip off. If you have a very long piece then you probably only need one if you have shorter pieces of fabric you can cut as many as you need to cover the egg shape.

Start at the “fat end” of the egg. Apply a tiny bit of hot glue to the egg shape and press one end of the fabric into the glue.

Start wrapping the fabric all the way around the egg in the middle.

When you get back the starting part (the fat part of the egg) you will then start to wrap by making x’s.

Finish wrapping the entire egg adding glue whenever you run out of fabric.

When the entire egg is covered , cut any extra fabric you have left off and glue down at the starting point.

If your fabric isn’t laying nicely you can add a bit of glue and press down edges.

Stain your egg, and let dry. You can use a strong pot of coffee or tea in a spray bottle, or I like to use Distress It.

Display in a bit of “grass” and enjoy!

The Easy Shmeasy Quilted Tree Skirt

Here’s a fast, easy tree skirt you can make if you are sick of your old tree skirts, you do a new color scheme every year, or your dog ate your old one!  Please don’t make fun of my drawings or santa won’t bring you anything this year!! I couldn’t bring myself to make another tree skirt ( already made 4 this year!!) So I drew the pictures instead. hehehe

The Easy Shmeasy Quilted Tree Skirt

1. Measure the base of your tree stand to determine the size square you need. So if your tree stand is 20 inch across add about 10 inches to both sides= you need a 40 inch square.

(my little artificial tree stand is small and I only wanted a little skirt because of the tiny space my tree has to fit in, so my square was 28 inches, but you can make it bigger)

2. Cut two squares the size you determined in step one. For our tute we will go with the 40 inch example.

3. We now have 2- 40 inch squares. One will be the top of the skirt and one will be the bottom.

4. Layer the squares right sides together and cut an even amount off all four corners. I used a triangle ruler to make sure I cut the same amount off all 4 corners.

5. Your fabric is now an octagon shape. Lay the octagons (right sides together!) on a piece of batting and pin all around to make sure the three layers stay together.

6. Fold the octagon in half (side to side) and finger press. Now fold the octagon in half (top to bottom) and finger press. You now have a cross to determine the middle.

7. Find something circular around the house to trace a circle in the middle with a fabric marking pen/pencil. Make sure the circle is big enough to fit around the tree trunk.

(my artificial tree trunk is pretty small so I used the cap off my spray starch can to trace my circle)

8. Next use your ruler and rotary cutter to cut up one of the finger pressed lines to your circle. Then use scissors to cut the circle out along your traced line.

9. Now sew along all the edges of the layered quilt using a 1/4 inch seam, starting about an inch down from the circle on one side and stop sewing about an inch from the circle on the other side. This will leave enough room for turning the quilt inside out.

10. Turn the quilt inside out and press. You can now slip stitch the sides closed up to the circle so the only raw edges are around the circle.

11. Use whatever basting method you like (I use safety pins) and quilt the whole top.

12. Use bias binding and attach to the circle edges leaving enough binding on the ends to tie around the tree. Enjoy!

Coin Purse Tutorial

The Easy Shmeasy Coin Purse

You Will Need:

Fabric Scraps

Heavy Duty Fusible Interfacing

Coordinating Thread

Snaps

Optional Labels using this tutorial

http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2008/08/label-tutorial.html

1.First cut your Lining and Outer fabric  at 5 x 9.

2.Then cut 2 pieces of  fusible interfacing at 5 x 9.

3.Iron the fusible interfacing to wrong sides of both pieces of fabric.

4. Pin right sides together (I actually don’t pin, but you may want to) and mark a curve on the corner at one end.

5. Fold in half and cut off the curved edge.

6. Sew around the outside using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Make sure to leave an opening on the bottom for turning and placing your tag.

7. Turn the coin purse inside out and press. Slip your tag into the opening with the words showing toward the lining fabric. Top stitch the opening closed making sure to catch your tag in the seam.

8. Now turn your project with the outside of the wallet facing up and the lining facing down. Flip your tag so the words are now showing at the outer fabric and topstitch around all sides using a ¼ inch seam allowance. Again make sure to catch your tag so it stays flat.

9. Fold the coin purse in 3rds and press. Attach snaps. Stitch on the left and right sides over your previous ¼ inch seams to make the “purse” part.

10. Enjoy it yourself or give it away!!