A Girl In Paradise

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-02-29T07:04:00.001-05:00

What a week! Busy, busy, busy!

I have loads to share and I have put a few things on the back burner. I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately. I don’t know why, I just do. So, I decided to put a few projects away, concentrate more on my family, and just do to the things that inspire me in the moment. The pressure I was putting on myself was sucking the fun out my life. Not cool.

That being said I do have a few fun things to share with you that I am very excited about.

Finished Projects

My pincushion for the Bee a {Modern} Swapper swap is done. You can read more about this Pincushion here. I break from it was just what I needed. I just love how it came out.

My quilt for the Modern Triangles Quilt Along is done and you can read more about that quilt here.

New Projects

Doll Quilt Swap 12 – I am in the current round of the Doll Quilt Swap and have been spending most of my free time working on this. Above is a little sneak peak. I even did a little block for the back. I love that I had to challenge myself and jump outside my comfort zone. In this round they have changed things up a bit. First, they gave you 5 blocks to chose from the churn dash or shoofly, log cabin, drunkards path, NY beauty, or flying geese. I picked the NY beauty because it is a block I have never made before and it looked kind of hard. The second thing they changed was that they don’t want you to use white or off white. Wait.. what? No white background? That is something that is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I can’t wait to share more of this mini once it is finished and in the mail.

On Going Projects

I am still working on my Modern Folder Star Mini Quilt tutorial. It is coming along nicely and should be ready soon.

On Hold

Memory Quilt for my Daughter

Apple Core Quilt

2010 Scrap Quilt

Want to hear more of what’s going on in the quilt world? Hop on over to Freshly Pieced and check out her Work in Progress Wednesday link-up. This week you will even find a giveaway for some thread. Definitely worth checking out.

Pinball Swirl Pincushion

2012-02-27T15:44:00.001-05:00

All finished an on its way! Here the little pincushion I made for the Bee a {Modern} Swapper Pincushion swap.

I really hope my partner likes it . I did a bit of stalking and found she likes lots of bright, happy colors, check, and after seeing the mosaic she did for this swap I knew some paper piecing was in order. Um… paper piecing? Me and paper piecing don’t go way back. I had only made a handful New York Beauties before attempting this block. So, why not make it miniature… that will be easy right?

This block is called a Pinball Swirl. I had lots of problems with it in the beginning because it was so small but after some trail and error it finally came together. I am glad I stuck with it because in the end I think it came out awesome and I am all kinds of proud of myself. Now I just hope my partner likes it….

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

Modern Triangles QAL {Show and Tell & Link Up}

2012-02-24T09:58:00.002-05:00

Well it time for the big reveal!

That also means it is time to link up your completed quilt. I will keep this linky open till next Friday, March 2nd, and will select a winner then. If you have made this quilt but do not have a blog post to link up, feel free to link up a Flickr photo instead. You will still be entered to win. I can’t wait to see all of your quilts.

Here is some pictures of the front and back of my Modern Triangles Quilt. I just love how it came out and don’t know what side I like better.

Good Luck and thanks for all of your support. This was my first quilt along and it is hard sometimes to put yourself out there. I am so glad that there are so many of you that have been so supportive along the way.

A quick reminder, this bundle of Happy Mochi Yum Yum is what is up for grabs, and thanks again to everyone who participated in the Modern Triangles Quilt Along!

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-02-22T11:00:00.001-05:00

You may or may not remember but a couple of weeks ago I finished a memory quilt for my oldest son. Now, I have pulled out, sorted, and washed some clothes for my next memory quilt. This time I am going to make a quilt for my daughter, but I am taking a departure from baby clothes and making her a quilt out of all the dress my mother made for her when she was a toddler. I haven’t quite figured out the layout or block, but no rush, when it comes to me I will know.

I have also been doing a bit of housecleaning on the blog. I have updated the About Me page above and even added a picture of myself. I am generally very shy about putting myself out there, so this was a big step for me, but I felt it was time.

I also, took some time and organized my Tutorials page. I had no idea that I had this many tutorials. This has been on my list of things to do for a long time now and I am very happy with the results. I would love to hear what you think.

New projects:

Modern Folder Star Mini Quilt – Remember this mini quilt that I made last year for the Mini Quilt Challenge over at Amy Lou Who Sews? Well it has been very popular on Pinterest and a couple of people ask for a tutorial. So, here you go. The squares are cut and ready to go. I am using my Sugar Creek fabric by Denyse Schmidt. I just couldn’t wait to cut into it.

On going projects:

Modern Triangles Quilt Along – This quilt is finished! I am so excited, it came out better than I expected, I even love the back of it. I can’t wait for the big reveal on Friday.

My pincushion for the Bee a {Modern} Swapper swap – I didn’t even touch it. After all the trouble I had with it last week, I just needed a break from it.

Apple Core Quilt – A little more progress… but not much.

2010 Scrap Quilt – Don’t ask… I haven’t touched it since the Super Bowl. Seriously, I never thought I would “need” time in front of the TV to get this done. I might need to download a good series off of Netflix this weekend. Any suggestions?

Want to hear more of what’s going on in the quilt world? Hop on over to Freshly Pieced and check out her Work in Progress Wednesday link-up. There you will find other talented quilters and hear all about what they have going on.

Easy to Make Shoe Bling

2012-02-19T18:38:00.001-05:00

This week at the mall I saw someone with some rhinestones on the heel of her shoe. She was very fashionable and clearly up on the latest fashion… something that eludes me most of the time. I am a busy mom that struggles to put an outfit together never mind accessorize it.

Now, I am not sure if these rhinestones were part of her shoes or not but it occurred to me this was kind of sexy. A little eye candy as you walk away, if you will. So, why not add some to the only pair of black heels that I own. You know for that rare occasion that my husband actually takes me out on a date and I actually put on that little black dress that hangs neglected in my closet.

These were ridiculously easy to make.

I took some stretchy jelly cord (the kind you use for beading), strung 10 – 4mm pearls, and tied it together with a double knot. Then I just added them to my shoes.

Seriously, that was it.

I did do some experimenting and found that if the jelly cord lays flat on the inside of your heel they stay put. When I stung the pearls all the way around the heel they eventually rolled off.

I am sure that this is the kind of accessory that can be made a thousand different ways. So, I challenge you to do just that. Make some yourself and share them with us. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Please be kind and don’t forget to link back to this post.

I will be linking this project to some of these great linky parties.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

We have a Winner

2012-02-19T15:13:00.003-05:00

The My Memories Software Giveaway is over and we have a winner!!!

The lucky winner of the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software from My Memories is #2.

Who is #2? Well it is Kathleen, of course!

Kathleen, I hope you enjoy your My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software!

I will be contacting you soon with more info.

For those of you who didn’t win, My Memories has also offered all my awesome readers with your very own Share the Memories coupon/promo code STMMMS45812 that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the www.MyMemories.com store.

I am totally in love with this software. I have been a scrapbooker for years and have made several beautiful scrapbooks for my older children, but since the birth of my last child, I am embarrassed to say I haven’t made one for him and he is 3. Part of the problem is the great digital camera my husband gave me for the birth of said child and social media. With no film to develop or far away relatives to send pictures to, all my picture remain on the computer yet to be printed out and scrapbooked. Now, I have been working hard on getting his “book” done and love using this software. It is very user friendly and without all the stuff to pull up and put away it is coming along very quickly.

So, give them a chance and check out their website.

Modern Triangles QAL {Machine Quilting & Binding}

2012-02-17T19:51:00.001-05:00

For this quilt I decided to do some Straight Line Quilting.

A few thoughts before we begin…

Thread – Use 100% cotton thread. I like to use Gutermann 100% cotton thread. For the beginner it will give you the least amount of tension problems. For the more experienced quilter, the possibilities are endless, but if you decide to use a decorative or specialty thread be sure to experiment on a small quilt sandwich to make sure your tension is right and that your machine likes the thread.
Needles – Start each quilt with a new needle. I like to use a Schmetz Quilting Needles. It is designed for machine piecing and machine quilting. For 50 wt thread such as Gutermann use a 75/11 needle. For specially threads or heavier projects use a needle designed for that thread or project.
Walking Foot – A must for straight line quilting. This foot will help feed your quilt properly and prevent puckering and tucks.

To begin, lower your presser foot to where you would like to begin. (If possible, I like to start a few stitches off my quilt top.) Lower your needle one stitch to pick up the bobbin thread and pull to the top. Holding the both threads start sewing. Using the side of my walking foot and the ditch, as my guide, I quilted a total of 4 straight lines on each diagonal row of solid fabrics, as shown in the picture above, ending each line a few stitches off my quilt top. When you are finished square up your quilt.

Now we are ready to bind our quilt.

Cut 4 – 2 1/2” strips (2 1/2” by 44” or WOF) for your binding, sew together into one long strip. Then fold in half the long way and press. At one end fold your raw edge in and press. This will be the beginning of your binding. Lay the beginning of your binding down first and leave about 2 or 3 inches before you start stitching. Sew all the way down to the first corner, cut the thread, and remove.

Fold your binding straight up with a diagonal crease, and then....

...straight down. Start stitching again. Do that for all 4 corners and sew till you are almost to where you started.

Insert your raw edge (end of your binding) into the fold of the beginning (start of your binding and finished edge), pin, and finish sewing.

To finish your binding turn over to the backside of the quilt and use a Jacob’s Ladder or Step Stitch and hand sew your binding on. If you take a look at the picture above you can see I loosened the treads so you can see what that stitch looks like. It is a very simple stitch and comes together quickly. In the picture below I have pulled the stitch tight and as you can see that it virtually disappears into the binding.

Join us next week for the big reveal! Link up your completed quilts and enter to win this bundle of Happy Mochi Yum Yum. If you have made this quilt but do not have a blog post to link up, feel free to link up a Flickr photo instead. You will still be entered to win.

If you have any question or concerns about this Quilt Along, please let me know. Also, don’t forget to check our blog roll on the side bar. Keep up to date with the other bloggers involved in this quilt a long.

Mini Valentine Treat Boxes

2012-02-14T12:36:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here is a quick and cute Valentine treat box that I made with my kids this weekend to give out to some family and friends today.

Here are a few things that you will need to get started.

heavy card stock
scissors
tape (double sided tape if you have it)
scrapbooking glue
paper cutter
ruler and cutting mat
dull butter knife (or something to score your paper)
heart paper punch
black sharpie marker
black fine tip marker
candy of your choice

To make this covered box:

cut 2 squares out of your card stock, one 5” and the other 5 1/4”
on both squares measure 1 1/2” in on all sides, score the card stock
fold along the score lines
cut the 2 center score lines on the top and bottom edge, as pictured above.

Note: If you have a attachment for your paper cutter to score the card use that, if not, a dull butter knife and ruler works just as good. Do not cut through the card stock with the knife, just make an indentation into the card stock to make it easier to fold.

Now it is time to make your box. If you have double-sided tape use that, it will make your life a lot easier. I, of course, did not. So, I used regular tape and some scrapbooking glue. Don’t use regular white glue because it will warp the paper.

Fold in the 2 sides and tape together. Then glue the outside flap to complete your box.

Next, I punched out 2 hearts out of my left over card stock and edged them with my black sharpie. Then with a fine point sharpie I wrote in some cute conversation heart sayings. My daughter helped me with this part as my mind was drawing a complete blank. We had a good laugh and got a little silly as we picked out sayings for the recipients of our boxes. Then we glued them to the top of our box and filled them with my favorite Dove chocolates.

I hope you have a great Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!

Sunday Stash #10

2012-02-12T02:04:00.001-05:00

I swore, I would never get sucked into the Denyse Schmidt craze, but I couldn’t help myself, I am in love. Just look at some of these prints from her new line called Sugar Creek. I am not usually a huge fan of blue and white, but I really like how it is mixed with the lime green to give it a contemporary look.

Can you believe it has been over a month since I added any new fabric to my stash? A shame really, but sometimes you have to wait to the perfect line rolls around and catches your eye. I am really happy to be happy to be adding this line to my stash and can’t wait to start working with it. It has a great feel and weight.

Sugar Creek - Diamond Blue
Sugar Creek - Gingham Nut Meadow
Sugar Creek - Wavy Check Cornflower
Sugar Creek - Floral Meadow
Sugar Creek - Kitchsy Tile Cornflower

This line of Sugar Creek by Denyse Schmidt can be purchased here.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

Modern Triangles QAL {Piecing the Back}

2012-02-10T16:03:00.001-05:00

This week we are going to piece the back and sandwich our quilt to get it ready for quilting.

So, now we that have a completed quilt top we need to take some measurements and get started on out back. My quilt top measures about 34” by 38” and depending how you have laid out your quilt top yours should be about the same.

If you don’t want to piece the back, that is fine, this quilt will take a piece of fabric about a yard and a quarter. You can use that for your backing and move on to sandwiching.

I love to piece my quilt backs because it give me the chance to think outside the box and experiment with some improv piecing. I look at it as a challenge to use up some of my unused quilt blocks from the front or the leftover scraps. Take your time and audition a few options. There is no right or wrong way, just do what feels right.

Above, I took the opportunity to use up my leftover triangle units and the fabric I had left over from my fat quarters. All I added was a yard of Kona Snow. I am using that to “float” my triangles and to boarder the top and bottom. The rest I will use for my binding.

To float my triangles, I first cut 2 – 6 1/2 strips (or the height of your triangle units) of Kona Snow. Then I cut 4 triangles using my template, and I sewed them together with my 6 leftover triangle units, as shown above. Then I used what was leftover from that strip to finish off the row, off centering them a bit. Then I added a 1 1/2” strip of the Kona Snow to the top and bottom of that row to float them.

Next, I cut the leftover fat quarters into 2” strips, then in half again. I was left with an assortment of 2” by 9” strips. I pieced them together in 2 rows of 24. One I placed in the center of the 2 triangle rows, the other one I cut in half the long way and placed one on top and the other on the bottom of the triangle rows. Then I added 2 - 3” strip of my Kona Snow, one the top and one bottom.

This is a little different than the picture above, sorry I keep changing my mind, then the lighting got really bad for pictures. So here is a quick rundown of the order….

3” strip of snow
4 1/2” strip of the assorted 24 – 2” fat quarters pieces
1 1/2” strip of snow
6 1/2” strip of snow with triangles units
1 1/2” strip of snow
9” strip of the assorted 24 – 2” fat quarters pieces
1 1/2” strip of snow
6 1/2” strip of snow with triangles units
1 1/2” strip of snow
4 1/2” strip of the assorted 24 – 2” fat quarters pieces
3” strip of snow

Now you are ready to sandwich your quilt. I like to use a 100% cotton batting or a 80/20 cotton poly blend depending on my project. For this quilt I am using a piece of Warm & White that is a 100% cotton, that I had leftover from a previous project.

Sandwiching a small project like this is much easier than a larger quilt and can be done on the table. First I will iron my quilt back with a little starch and lay it flat, wrong side up, on the table. Then I will lay my batting on top of that. Lastly, I will iron my quilt top, again with a little starch and lay it on top of the batting, right side up. Smooth it all out making sure you have no bubbles and pin all three layers together with safety pins.

Now we will be ready to machine quilt our sandwich next week. So, join us again for your Machine Quilting Options and Bindings. If you have any question or concerns about this Quilt Along, please let me know.

Also, don’t forget to check our blog roll on the side bar. Keep up to date with the other bloggers involved in this quilt a long. Want to be added? Just leave a comment below and add the Modern Triangles QAL button to your blog.

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Giveaway

2012-02-08T22:42:00.001-05:00

If you are anything like me and love all thing that are crafty, then today’s giveaway is for you. That’s right my friends we are talking about My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software, rated #1 by Amazon and Top Ten Reviews. So, if you love to scrapbook but are limited on time, or if you have always wanted to try it, this is a great way to get started and preserve and share your photos and memories.

My Memories Suite is a digital scrapbook software that is extremely easy and fun to use. Using this software, anyone can create digital scrapbooks, photo books, cards, calendars and gifts without having to buy expensive and complicated software programs.

The winner of this giveaway, will get a copy of the My Memories Suite software for free!

My Memories Suite Version 3 digital scrapbooking software is a fun and creative way to keep and share your memories, whether you have a Mac or PC. The software's design tools will help you to build entire albums effortlessly using one of the many installed templates, or designing your very own pages from scratch.

My Memories has also offered all my awesome readers with your very own Share the Memories coupon/promo code STMMMS45812 that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the www.MyMemories.com store.

Check out some of the pages I have created and enter to win your own My Memories Suite software below.

The Giveaway Details

Prize: My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software {a $40 value!}
To Enter: Visit the www.MyMemories.com and leave a comment sharing which digital paper pack or layout is your favorite. One comment per person please.
Giveaway Ends: Friday, February 17th at midnight EST. One winner will be selected using random.org and the winner will be announced here on my blog, Saturday, February 18th.

Please make sure that you are not a no-reply blogger and that I have a way to contact you if you win. Check my sidebar for more information and directions.

You can also visit or follow My Memories on the web.

Follow the My Memories Blog
Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter
Visit them on YouTube

Have fun & Good Luck

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-02-08T06:54:00.001-05:00

Finally, some love for my scrap quilt. With the Super Bowl and some rainy weather I have been snuggled under this quilt getting a good portion of it done. I might actually see it done in the near future. Unfortunately, most of my other projects have sat neglected and I have no new projects to share….

… except that my awesome husband made me a new design wall. We used the Oh Fransson! Making a Design Wall tutorial and it was super easy. Just a board of foam insulation from Home Depot, some white cotton batting, and duct tape. Of course, I would have loved the mac daddy design wall that she made, but I need it to be semi portable, so guess it is half a design wall for me.

On going projects:

Modern Triangles Quilt Along – I have the quilt top done and the back all pieced, now I just need to sandwich it all together.

My pincushion for the Bee a {Modern} Swapper swap – my first attempt at foundation piecing was unsuccessful. I used muslin, but this time I think I will try paper. Hopefully I will have better luck the second time around.

Sewing with my daughter – We are still making some 4 patch quilt blocks for 4 Patches 4 Hope. She is doing really well and cranking out some awesome blocks.

Apple Core Quilt – A little more progress…

Modern Triangles QAL {Assembling your Quilt Top}

2012-02-03T16:10:00.001-05:00

Now that we have made our triangle units let’s discuss our layout options and how to assemble our quilt top.

Layout Options

One of your options is to keep all your colors together in rows. I like the look of this but unless you are making a bigger quilt, or have more of the solid fabrics, the 4 solid fat quarters will not give you enough width and will give you a long skinny quilt.

Your next option is to go random for that all over scrappy look. I like this one a lot and you can use all but 2 of your triangle units. More bang for you buck as they say.

Another option is to lay it out in more of a pattern so the diamonds really pop. The only thing with this layout is you will have 8 left over triangle units. It doesn’t bother me because I plan to use mine when I piece the back. I just wanted to let you know in case this is a concern for your and then you can make your decisions accordingly. This is also the layout I will be going with for the rest of this QAL.

Here is a picture of the diamond pattern in case you had trouble seeing it before.

Note: If any of you found that you had extra printed strips, I apologize, I forgot that had cut extra strips for a practice run. I have edited the previous post. You should have cut 6 – 2” strips from each printed fat quarter, for a total of 48 strips. If you have already cut the extra strips, fear not, they will not go to waste, we can incorporate them in to our pieced backing next week.

Assembling Your Quilt Top

First, I numbered my rows (with a water soluble blue marker) 1&2, 1&2, 1&2, because each row 1 is the same and so is each row 2. This will help me keep my pattern when I am joining my rows later.

Then because we are dealing with triangles that go up and down and not blocks that go side by side, I chose not to stack my rows, but instead I pinned the rows together right from my design wall.

Line up 2 triangles at a time and sew together using a 1/4” seam. The first 2 triangles sew together easily, then the ones after that you have to make sure you open the seam on the previous set so it is not sewn to one side. You will need to have these seams open for when you iron or you will end up with knots at your points when you sew together your rows.

This is how your back of your row will look with your seams ironed open.

Now it is time to sew your rows together. Sew row 1 to row 2, then sew those units together till you have a completed quilt top.

Quick hint: To get your points to line perfectly here is a little trick I learned years ago when I was a beginner quilter. Stick a pin into both points and secure. Do this for all your points and sew your rows together with your 1/4” seam allowance.

Cut off any ears or tags to reduce any bulk in your seams, then iron your seams open.

This is how your points should look after you have ironed your seams flat.

Last but not least, square up the sides of your quilt with a ruler and rotary cutter.

Quick hint: I like to use my large 17 1/2” square that I bought for t-shirt quilts. I have found that it works great in getting nice crisp corners.

Now we have a completed quilt top.

Join us again next week week and we will be piecing the quilt back using some of the left over triangles and fat quarters. If you have any question or concerns about this Quilt Along, please let me know.

Also, don’t forget to check our blog roll on the side bar. Keep up to date with the other bloggers involved in this quilt a long. Want to be added? It is not to late. Just leave a comment below and add the Modern Triangles QAL button to your blog.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-02-01T06:51:00.001-05:00

Focus, Focus, Focus that has been my motto this week. Sometimes when it comes to my crafts I have a serious case of Crafters ADD and have trouble focusing on just one project at a time. Either inspiration strikes and I need to work something out in my brain or I jump from project to project all the while getting nothing done. This week I am happy to say this was not the case. I actually made some progress on the things I have been working on.

Finished

The memory quilt for my son.

New Projects

A pincushion for the Bee a {Modern} Swapper swap. I am excited to be trying something new, and challenging myself to learn a new technique. I haven’t done much foundation piecing before but can’t wait to give it a try. At this point any pointers any of you may have would be greatly appreciated. Wish me luck!

On going projects:

Sewing with my daughter – We have been working on some 4 patch quilt blocks for 4 Patches 4 Hope. The blocks will be donated so comfort quilts can be made for those undergoing cancer treatments. It is an easy way to help out others and use up some of those fabric scraps. I am so proud of her for wanting and being excited about helping others.

Modern Triangles Quilt Along – I have the picked out the layout and assembled the quilt top. I am so excited about this quilt and cant wait to share more on Friday.

Apple Core Quilt – Some progress…

2010 Scrap Quilt – I am not even going to mention it… still sitting there, untouched.

For David–A Finished Quilt

2012-01-31T16:16:00.001-05:00

This quilt is for David, my oldest child. As you know I have a thing for memory quilts and can finally check another child off my list. Last year I made one for my youngest and because they shared a lot of the same baby clothes I couldn’t start on this one till that one was done. I am really happy with how it came out, and of course, it makes me kind of sad too. My baby is not a baby anymore, he is almost 12. It is amazing how the quickly the time goes by. I can vividly remember him in most of these outfits and find it hard to believe he was ever that small.

This quilt measures about 50” by 70” and the front is pieced with using a modified 9-patch block to accommodate the clothing. All the knit fabrics were backed using Pellon Shape Flex Fusible Interfacing, a must for these types of quilts. For the back I used denim. Not my first choice for backing but it really does suits the front. Besides I found a really nice light weight piece at Jo Ann’s so it really isn’t to bad. Also, I did some straight line quilting in off white so it would stand out on the plain backing.

Now, of course with another memory quilt done that means it is time to start the next one. This time I will be making one for my daughter. I have pulled out all her little dresses that my mother made her when she was a toddler. Thankfully they are all made of cotton so this one should be an easier one to put together.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and all your continued support. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I will be linking this project to some of these great Linky Parties.

Modern Triangles QAL {Triangle Construction}

2012-01-28T16:05:00.002-05:00

Now that you have picked out your fabrics, it is time to start making our triangle units, but before we begin, here is a quick recap of the materials needed to make this quilt.

Materials:

8 – printed fat quarters (or a variety of scraps)
4 – solid fat quarters

Cut:

6 – 2” strips of each printed fat quarter, each strip should measure 2” by 18”
10 – 2” strips out of the solid fat quarters, then cut each strip in half. These pieces should measure about 2” by 9”

When cutting your printed fat quarters fold it in half at the salvage end, square up the raw edge, and start cutting your 2” strips. Continue down the fat quarter until you have cut 6 strips in total.

If you are cutting from scraps, your strips can be cut longer, (or shorter), but I found if you are cutting from fat quarters, 2” by 18” strips use your fat quarter more efficiently and leaves less waste.

Sew 3 of your printed fabric strips together by alternating patterns. This will give you a more scrappy look.

Iron your seams open as shown above.

Now you are ready to cut your equilateral triangles. I am using a 6” plexi triangle that I have from a previous project, but these triangles can also be made by using a template or the 60 degree line on your cutting ruler. I was able to cut 5 equilateral triangles from each strip.

If you are using the 60 degree line on your ruler make sure to align the ruler’s 60 degree line along the bottom edge of your strip and cut. Then rotate your ruler so that the opposite 60 degree mark is aligned with the same bottom edge in the alternate triangle corner, making your first equilateral triangle, then cut. Keep rotating the ruler around the triangle and cut the rest of your triangles.

With what ever method you use to cut your triangles, the base of your triangle should measure 5 1/2” and the height of your triangle should measure about 5 1/2”. It is ok if these measurements are not exact as long as the measurements are close. All that really matters, is that all your triangles are the same size so that your rows will align when sewed together.

Now that you have all your triangles cut from the previous step, it is time to add the solid colors. First, I am going to put all my solid strips into 2 piles. Each pile will have an equal amount of strips and the same ratio of colors. Then I am going to put the triangles that I cut in the previously into 2 equal piles all stacked in the same direction. Now place one pile of solid strips on the left side of one pile of triangles and the second pile of solid strips on the right side of the other pile of triangles.

Sew the solid strips onto your triangles and trim off the excess. Iron your seams to the solid side. I have found, through trial and error, that this method works best and will make the blocks lay flat with no bumps or knots.

If you are not using a plexi triangle you can use a cutting ruler to achieve the same results. Just use the edge of your triangle as your guide.

Next week we will be assembling your quilt top and discussing your layout options. If you have any question or concerns about this Quilt Along, please let me know.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-01-25T10:35:00.001-05:00

I was really hoping to have my memory quilt finished this week to share, but that didn’t really work out as planned. It is basted and some of the machine quilting is almost done but other than that there is not much. It has been a little slow going here in the sewing department but other areas of my life have been quite busy…. mainly the kids, as usual. We have a Rosa Parks report to do. It is a living wax museum project so we have to write a report, do a poster board, and dress up as that person. And if that wasn’t enough, we have also been working on a project about the constellations. My kids are fascinated by the stars so this has been really fun to do. My daughter told me that she wanted to be an astronaut. She is only eight, and not getting on the space shuttle any time soon, but honestly, I can’t bear the thought of her ever being that far from home.

Well back to the sewing stuff….

No new projects or completed projects to share this week, but I have been teaching my daughter to sew. Isn’t this the cutest little machine ever? My mother got it for her for Christmas. It doesn’t work the best, but it fits her needs perfect. Not to mention it is slower than my machine, so my anxiety level is kicked down a notch. We haven’t started any quilts yet, just practicing sewing seams together on some scrap fabric.

On going projects:

Modern Triangles Quilt - Not much to report on for progress. I have mainly been working on the triangle construction and cutting options to post on Friday for the QAL. So, some writing and taking pictures, but not a whole lot of sewing.

Memory Quilt for my son – again like I said above, I am almost done machine quilting it, and hope to have it ready to bind this weekend.

Apple Core Quilt – Slow and steady, I got another row done this week while waiting for my son at his guitar lesson.

2010 Scrap Quilt – I didn’t even touch it, but I am hoping if I keep mentioning it here on my WIP post it will shame me into finishing it. Maybe I will even bring it with me to work on when I get together with the girls on Friday to sew. We’ll see…

Mosaic Monday–Pincushion Swap

2012-01-23T11:28:00.001-05:00

I recently joined the Bee a {Modern} Swapper for the sewist that enjoy both quilt bees and swaps. A fun way to mix it up a bit. The first rotation will be… you guessed it, a pincushion swap. Talk about starting things off on the right foot. As most of you probably know I am super excited about this. I have not been assigned a partner yet, but I can’t wait to get to know her and get the creative juices flowing. Till then we have been asked to put together a mosaic, so our partner can get a better idea of our likes and dislikes. So, here are a few of my favorites…

1. pincushion, 2. pincushion in a cup, 3. Scrappy Pincushion Swap Pincushion, 4. 'Hope Valley' pin cushion, 5. Scrappy Pincushion Swap--Round 2, 6. Winter Wonderland, 7. Linen Embroidered Pincushions, 8. quilted pincushion, 9. SOOOooo cute!!!, 10. hedgehog pincushion, 11. Untitled, 12. Strawberry pincushion

If you are my partner, and you stopped by to stalk me, you can also check out my Pincushion & Pin Topper Pinterest Board, for more of my likes.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Modern Triangles QAL {Fabric Selection}

2012-01-20T09:19:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the first week of the Modern Triangles Quilt A Long, and without further adieu here is the big reveal of what we will be making. Keep in mind that this is not a finished quilt but progress on my quilt top. I will be quilting a long with you only jumping ahead to work out any math or measurements.

It is a modern version of the classic Pyramid quilt. I constructed equilateral triangles units and then assembled them into rows. Finished quilt size will be approximately 40” by 40”.

This is a great scrap busting quilt that can be accented with the solid fabrics, or without, depending on the look you want to achieve. For the quilt shown above you will want between 6-8 printed fat quarters or about 56 (2” by 18”) printed strips, and 4 different solid fat quarters. Keep in mind you can make this quilt in any size by adding more fabrics.

I am very excited to finally be using my collection of Happy Mochi Yum Yum and some coordinating solids for this quilt. The solids that I will be using are sour apple, bubble gum, orange, and snow. (snow is not pictured)

Next week we will be discussing our cutting options and putting together our triangle units. If you have any question or concerns about this Quilt A Long, please let me know.

Also, don’t forget to check our the blog roll on the side bar. Keep up to date with the other bloggers involved in this quilt a long. Want to be added? Just leave a comment below and add the Modern Triangles QAL button to your blog.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-01-18T08:02:00.001-05:00

For the last couple of weeks I have really been trying to get back in the swing of things. That means sewing and blogging on a regular basis. The holidays really threw me for a loop this year, and at this point I am really happy to be back on a regular schedule. My main push has been completing those unfinished projects from last year…

Completed

…and thankfully, I can add this one to the completed pile and check it off my list. Well, almost off my list. I really need to put it in the mail, like asap! But honestly, I was a little nervous about how it was going to come out. Remember how my friend’s little girl picked out all the fabrics? Well, it has been ages since I randomly put together fabrics without separating them with *gasp* some Kona white. That’s right ladies, I’m stepping outside my comfort zone, but I am really happy with the results. I am sure she is going to love it. There is plenty of purple, pink and aqua to match her room, and it is backed in some super soft hot pink Minky.

New Projects

Sorry, I don’t have a better picture, but here is a sneak peek at what I have been working on for my Modern Triangles QAL. I am so excited about this I can barely contain myself. I have been wanting to do a QAL for the longest time, but things don’t always work out as you plan them. My biggest fear has always been that I wouldn’t be able to commit the necessary time needed to complete the quilt. Thankfully that is not an issue right now and I can go ahead as planned.

On Going Projects

I have been working hard on completing a memory quilt for my son, it is now actually basted and ready to be quilted. I can’t wait to cross this one off my list as well. It has been sitting on my sewing table for far to long.

Also, I have been working on my apple core quilt. You remember the one, the one I am doing entirely by hand. It has been slow going but my oldest just started guitar lesson, so that pretty much guarantees me about a half hour every week to work on it.

That just leaves me with my 2010 scrap quilt that I may never finish. If there were only more hours in the day for sewing. Sadly, there is not, but we have been enjoying some cooler weather here in Florida, so there might be a little hope for some progress…

Sunday Stash #9

2012-01-15T09:41:00.001-05:00

If you are a regular follower of my blog you probably already know of my love of the popular fabric line Happy Mochi Yum Yum, by the very talented Monica Solorio-Snow. A while back I bought my first fat quarter bundle online and ever since then I have been itching for more. So, this week, it seems, the sun, the moon, and the stars have all aligned. You see, my local quilt shop sent out a Facebook status update saying that they had received a shipment of various fabric lines including many prints from the Happy Mochi Yum Yum line. So, you know I was very excited, and in the car the very next day to go get my hands on some.

Just look at this place, and my sad little picture, that I took with my phone, doesn’t nearly do it justice. For more amazing pictures you can check out the photo stream they have on Flickr. It is what one would call a destination quilt shop for anyone traveling to the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area, and definitely worth the trip. The name of the quilt shop is Rainbow’s End, and no this is not a sponsored post. It is just a fun place to visit, and a way for me to share a part of my little quilting world with you.

The first thing I did was pick out the fabrics that were to be the giveaway in my Modern Triangles Quilt A Long….

…and then a few more prints to add to my collection. So now, I am a very happy person with some great fabric, that I can’t wait to cut into.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

Modern Triangles Quilt-Along {Introduction}

2012-01-11T12:36:00.002-05:00

That’s right, my very first quilt-along, and I was hoping you would like to join me. I have this idea to make a pyramid styled quilt, but with pieced equilateral triangles. It is a simple design with a modern twist. You can join at anytime and this quilt is suitable for every quilter. I do, however, hope that you want to join in and make this quilt along with me, so to sweeten the pot, I am offering a prize and creating a blog roll. That way there we can all get to know each other and keep up on our progress.

If you would like to be added to the blog roll please grab the Modern Triangles button and add it to your blog. Then leave me a comment, or email me, telling me that you have, and I will add you to the blog roll.

I will be posting every Friday, as I know many of us like to sew on the weekends, and for you planners out there, the schedule will look something like this:

January 20 – Fabric Selection and Materials Needed

January 27 – Triangle Construction and Cutting Options

February 3 – Assembling Your Quilt Top

February 10 – Piecing the Back

February 17 – Machine Quilting Options and Bindings

February 24 – Show and Tell with Completed Quilts and Link-up

March 2 – Link-up Closes and Winner Announced

Anyone who links-up a Modern Triangle quilt during the Show and Tell Link-up, between February 24 and March 2 will be in eligible to win this bundle of Happy Mochi Yum Yum.

So, who is in? I know I am!

Next Friday, join me, and I will reveal the design and talk fabric….

Sunday Stash #8

2012-01-08T11:18:00.001-05:00

I have to say it has been really hard to get back into the swing of things. I have gotten very little sewing, crafting and writing done since I took my little break. There has been just too many distractions, with the holidays, the kids home on winter break, and then my little one had an accident and lost his front tooth. Which was very upsetting to say the least, I turned my head for a second and, pow, blood everywhere and a screaming 3 year old. Thankfully, other than loosing his front tooth there was no permanent damage and the dentist is happy with the way everything has healed…. me on the other hand… I may never get over it. My child has become a cautionary tale and every time he gives me his toothless grin I flashback to the blood.

After all this drama, I was in immediate need of some fabric therapy, and it came to me in an unexpected bag of scraps from a friend. Going through a bag like this is like Christmas morning all over again. You just never know the surprises to be had and the little gems to be found. Like this little discontinued charm pack from Moda.

I am not usually a huge fan of reproduction prints, and this is definitely something I would have never bought for my self. But isn’t that the best thing about a scrap bag? All the fabrics you might have once over looked, now have new purpose. This Moda 1933 charm pack by Chloe's Closet has given me a new source of inspiration and something new learn about. I even went to the library yesterday and checked out a couple of books on 1930’s reproduction quilts. Of course there isn’t enough fabric here for most of those quilts… but still… it is always fun to learn something new.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

2011 A Year in Quilts

2011-12-30T16:21:00.001-05:00

Wow! I can’t believe I completed 11 quilts this year. Honestly, I had no idea it was this many. I can’t tell you how many times I have felt inferior to all you quilt goddesses out there that complete quilt after quilt, but now I must say, I am feeling a bit silly at it all.

It is kind of nice to take a minute and remember the quilts from the past year. As I have had to said good-bye to most of them, as they were made for others, either as gifts or commissions.

Miniature HST Quilt – Original post here

Baby Girl Memory Quilt – Original post here

Pink & Green String Quilt – Original post here

Double Hour Glass Quilt – Original post here

Garden Friends Baby Quilt – Original post here

Rebecca’s Memory Quilt – Original post here

With a Twist Doll Quilt – Original post here

Bright Triangles Toddler Quilt – Original post here

Faux String Quilt – Original post here

Modern Folder Star Mini Quilt – Original post here

Drunkards Path Quilt – Original post here

Looking forward to 2012, I bring with me 3 unfinished quilts… and plans for my very first Quilt-A-Long. I will have more information on that real soon. So, stay tuned….

Some of Your Favorite Tutorials of 2011

2011-12-28T16:20:00.001-05:00

Transferring Ink to Candles – Original post here

A New Twist on Friendship Bracelets – Original post here

Personalized Easter Eggs – Original post here

Decorative Pin Toppers – Original post here

Machine Embroidery Art – Original post here

Glitter Composition Notebook – Original post here

Quilt Binding by Machine Tutorial – Original post here

The Big Chunk Pincushion – Original post here

As I look back at the past year I am filled with little regret and a great sense of accomplishment. I want to thank all of you who support me and my blog. All of your positive encouragement and comments keep me going, especially on those days when I want to throw in the towel and quit.

I have a lot to be thankful for, a great family who loves and supports me, good friends that are there when I need them, and even this blog. As a stay at home mom with 3 kids, and a husband who travels, it is important to me to connect with like minded people, who share my love for all things crafty.

Now, I am going to go back to my kids, who are raising quite a raucous in the next room. I guess my quiet time is over for now….

Sunday Stash #7

2011-12-04T13:29:00.001-05:00

Only buying what you like, for no particular reason, can be dangerous. If you are not careful it could be the start of a new quilt, or even worse a new color way to expand on.

My daughter’s new room is painted in this bright pink and is accented in black and white funiture. So, when my daughter saw this Bouquet Beauties print by Hoffman California International, we both knew it would be perfect for a quilt to go with her new room. Then this black and white stripe from the remnant bin and a new project is born. Now to decide on what quilt block to use…. any suggestions?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Drunkards Path Quilt-A-Long {A Finished Quilt}

2011-12-02T11:46:00.002-05:00

I can’t believe I am finally finished with this quilt, and in time to link it up with others. I made this quilt as part of Kate from Needle and Spatula, and Kristie from OCD, Drunkards Path Quilt-A-Long. I think I am going to call this quilt The Happy Drunk.

I don’t normally join QAL’s because with 3 kids my time is limited and I never can seem to finish them in the allotted time, but this one spoke to me. It looked like a great skill builder with the curved piecing. I followed Needle and Spatulas great directions and the blocks came together effortlessly. Thankfully, because I was a bit nervous about this one. Curves are definitely outside of my comfort zone.

For the quilting I echoed the rows inside and out, with a variegated rainbow tread. This to was outside my comfort zone. Normally, I would have just used a white thread and called it a day.

Once I decided to use the variegated rainbow thread I knew I had to back this quilt in white, to get the full effect. I also added some improv pieced blocks to the back, that I made using the leftover scraps. I think I like the way the back came out just as much as the front.

Quilt Details:

Fabrics: Kona White, Micheal Miller, Robert Kaufman, Heidi Grace and various other scraps I have collected the years.

Finished Quilt Measurements: 60" x 75"

Block and Piecing: Drunkards Path block, in a Scalloped layout

Quilting: Free Motion Quilting, echoing the rows inside and out, with some straight line quilting around the edge, using a variegated rainbow thread made by Superior.

Be sure to check out the other great Drunkards Path Quilts over at Needle and Spatula.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-11-30T08:55:00.001-05:00

It has been a very unproductive week around here. I don’t think I touched my machine all week, as you can see from my lack of posts. My best friend from from high school, who lives 2,000 miles away, came down for the week to spend Thanksgiving with us. We had a great visit and keep very busy relaxing on the beach and such.

New Projects:

My friends daughter all but fell in love with my minky backed Faux String Quilt. She slept with every night and dragged it around the house all week. If I wasn’t so in love with it myself I would have given it to her to bring home. Instead I brought her to the fabric store to pick out her own piece of Minky, then we hit my stash to pick out some fabrics. Oh, to be young and carefree and not over analyze your choices. She just picked out what she liked. Now to do something interesting with this color combination…..

Ongoing Projects:

I am still working on my Drunkards Path quilt from the Needle and Spatula QAL. I am sure you guys are sick of looking at it by now, so here is a little sneak peak of the back. I stepped out of my comfort zone with the machine quilting and I am really loving the results. I only have but a few rows left and this quilt will be done. I am really hoping that over the next couple of days I can accomplish this, because this week is the link up to share your finished quilts and see the quilts everybody else made.

I also wanted to give a quick shout out to the owner of the local quilt shop I frequent. I stopped by yesterday because, you know, because with only a couple of rows left I ran out of thread. Don’t you hate when that happens? Well anyways, she was out of stock and I just about died. Are kidding me? Seriously, out of stock? and without even having to explain my predicament she pulled out a spool from her own personal stash for me to use free of charge. How nice was that! Just a little extra incentive to finish up this quilt today. I really want to return this thread as soon as possible in case she needs it for something.

Bee Blocks:

My blocks are starting to come in from the Twist on Tradition Bee and I can’t wait to get started on this quilt.

Now it is time to head on over to Freshly Pieced and check out what everybody else has going on for Work in Progress Wednesday. Have a great day!

Sunday Stash Report #6

2011-11-20T19:54:00.001-05:00

I think, I might of forgot that it was Sunday. Well, better late than never…. right? The kids don’t have school this week, because of Thanksgiving, and we are not in our usual Sunday routine. Boy, it is already throwing me off. I have a feeling I am not going to get much done here, on the blog, this week. It might even be my cue to take the week off and enjoy some family time. I will be back next week though, I have lots of stuff in the works and can’t wait to share them with you. Including the quilt I have been working on as part of the The Drunkards Path QAL. I am having fun with it, even though, I have stepped outside of my comfort zone, but I am really loving the results. It really pays to slow down and pay attention to the details.

Well, it wouldn’t be Sunday without a little fabric. I have been trying to add to my pitiful stash, little by little, picking up pieces or lines that really speak to me. This week I came across this great woodland print from Kokko and I couldn’t resist. The fabric itself has a great feel and weight, almost like a linen, but not as heavy. This is the only Japanese import in my stash right now, but I want to add more. I love seeing them used in cute little minis or zippered pouches.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Machine Embroidery – A Personalized Minky Pillowcase

2011-11-18T14:02:00.001-05:00

Last week I had a birthday party for a sweet little boy who is just turned 3. His mother, my friend loves and appreciates gifts that are made by hand and that are personalized, but it is hard to get creative when it comes to boys. So, I hit the internet for some inspiration and came across this tutorial from Sweet Peas and Bumblebees. Perfect! Something that he probably doesn’t have, it can be personalized, and can be paired with other bedtime goodies.

To embroider on Minky can be kind of tricky, so I thought I would take a minute and share how I did mine.

To make this pillowcase, you will need:

5/8 Yard Minky Fabric
1/4 Yard Minky Fabric For Cuff
Cut-away stabilizer
Water Soluble stabilizer

Remember you have to embroider the cuff before you construct your pillowcase. Like in the tutorial above I cut my fabric that I am using for my cuff to 9” X 40” and made my markings, with pins for embroidery placement. This was the tricky part because I didn’t want to use a marking pen in fear that it would ruin the fur. Thankfully the recipient of this gift has a short name so I have a little wiggle room, but I have to at least get it so it is straight along the bottom edge, and somewhat centered in the front cuff.

I ironed my cut-away stabilizer to the back of my Minky per manufactures direction, and placed a piece of water soluble stabilizer on the top. For this project the cut-away stabilizer is a must because you don’t want your letters to shift or distort, and the water soluble stabilizer on the top will keep the plush from coming through your design.

After I peeled away the water soluble stabilizer from the top and cut away the stabilizer from the back, one of the first things that I was afraid of was that the Minky would get hoop burned. You know that permanent stretch of a knit once it comes out of the hoop. As you can see that didn’t happen and you can see that I cut the cut-away stabilizer pretty tight, but the letters still should be fine.

Now, I am ready to put together my pillow.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and all your continued support. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think, or if you have any questions. I will be linking this project to some of these great Linky Parties.

Tuft a Pillow {a tutorial}

2011-11-14T11:03:00.001-05:00

After I posted my tutorial for The Big Chunk Pincushion, a couple of you asked, about the tufting? Tufting is when you make a depression or decorate something at regular intervals, by passing a thread through a cushion or pillow. This can be done by using knots or in this case, using buttons. Almost any pillow can be tufted by using a variety of different threads, needles and buttons. This is a great sewing basic to know.

To tuft this simple box shaped pincushion you will need a long needle, 2 buttons, and some embroidery floss.

X marks the spot. One of the reasons I quilted this x on my pincushion was because, I wanted to make sure to sew my buttons on correctly, and now I know where the center is on both sides of my pincushion.

Insert your needle just shy of the direct center of your x and pull through the pincushion to the other side, coming out just shy of the center on that side too.

String on your button, and insert your needle on the other side of your x, and pull through to the other side.

Once on the other side, pull and tie your treads tight to make a depression in the pincushion.

Then string on your other button and knot tightly.

Cut the excess treads off, and your all done. A pincushion tufted with 2 buttons.

If you would like to see my original tutorial on how to make this pincushion you can find it here. Also, I will be linking up this tutorial to some of these great linky parties. Go check them out. You never know what you are going to find.

Have a great day!

Modern Folded Star Mini Quilt

2011-11-11T11:36:00.001-05:00

The other day I teased you with a sneak peak of my mini that I made for the Mini Quilt Challenge over at Amy Lou Who Sews. The challenge was simple enough, make a mini, and share it as part of Amy’s Sew & Tell. So, here it is, my Folded Star Mini. It is a play off the traditional folded star trivet. I added few more rows and used some bright and colorful Kona solids.

This mini was a little bit of a challenge as I had never made a folded star quilt before, and most of the tutorials I found online only included the first couple of rows, but I think I did a good job or making sure all the prairie points lined up. The hardest part was cutting the circle perfectly round and putting on the binding. Let’s just say I am using this mini as a learning experience. I have definitely learned a lot for next time.

Quilt Details:

Fabrics: Kona, red, orange, chartreuse, aqua, crocus, and coal

Finished Quilt Measurements: about 14" circle

Blocks and Piecing: prairie points

Quilting: none needed it is a quilt as you go process

Today, I am linking this up to Amy’s Mini Quilt Challenge. So head on over and check out what everybody else has made. Have a great day!

Work in Progress Wednesday–One Year Later…

2011-11-09T08:50:00.001-05:00

Today, Lee over at Freshly Pieced is celebrating one year of Work in Progress Wednesdays. I can't believe it has been a whole year. Lately, it seems that I have been less than organized and spotty at best about my postings, but this link up has been a great way for me to keep organized and get my projects done. Not to mention the inspiration I have gotten from the other quilters who link up on a regular bias. I love reading through their blogs and seeing what they have going on. I have found some of my favorite quilt blogs this way.

First up, Kate from Needle and Spatula is hosting this Drunkard’s Path Quilt-a-Long and I couldn’t help but join in. Curved piecing and I have never quite got along till now. She showed me a quick and easy way to put these blocks together with no pins. I am loving the results. I have the quilt top put together so far, but I think it needs another row. It seems a little short and a quilt needs to be able to cover your toes or what’s the use. :)

Yesterday, I put together this little mini for Amy Lou Who’s Mini Quilt Challenge. So, be sure to check back on Friday for the big reveal.

Lastly, I have been working on this pincushion and needle book, for the Sewn Spaces Pincushion Swap via Flickr. I finally sent it out yesterday with some goodies, and I hope my partner is likes it. This pincushion was the inspiration for my Big Chunk Pincushion Tutorial I posted the other day.

Now it is time to head on over to Freshly Pieced and check out what everybody else has going on for Work in Progress Wednesday. Have a great day!

A Girl

Sunday Stash Report #5

2011-11-06T19:58:00.001-05:00

This week I picked up some Soul Blossom, by Amy Butler and a great yellow print from Kaffe Fassett’s 2010 spring collection. I am a huge fan of both designers and was sad to see these little lovelies tossed aside in a fat quarter bin at one of the local quilt shops in my area. So, I just had to pick them up and take them home.

One of the things I really like about Amy Butler and her Soul Blossom line is how she incorporates 3 different color ways into one line that can all be interchanged with each other. I will happily pair these with the Soul Blossom that I already have in my stash.

Fabrics by Kaffe Fassett are a staple in my stash. I love how they mix with other lines and give you those great pops of color.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

A Girl

The Big Chunk {a pincushion tutorial}

2011-11-04T16:01:00.004-04:00

Ever since I started blogging and getting involved with swaps via Flickr I have been obsessed with pincushions. How to make them, and how to fill them. I have been using plain old Poly-fil but I just don’t find it to be very functional. So, after a little research online I found out that you can fill pincushions with Crushed Walnut Shells. I know, how exciting is that!

There are several benefits to using crushed walnut shells in pincushions, walnut shells are biodegradable, non-toxic, and they are mildly abrasive to keep pins clean and sharp. Crushed Walnut Shells (or Ground English Walnut Shells) are primarily used for bedding in lizard habitats, and can be bought at most big box pet stores. Who knew!?

Let’s get started, and you can make your own crushed walnut shell filled pincushion.

First, you will need to cut out 2 – 6” squares of fabric, and 2 – 6” squares of batting. With a disappearing ink pen mark a X onto the right side of your square, from corner to corner, and using the X as your guide, sew it to the batting.

Then flip it over and mark an inch down from each corner.

With right sides together sew all the way around leaving an opening to turn right side out.

Square off your corners. I found it hard to draw a straight line with all the bulk so that is why I made the earlier markings. I used a pin to make sure my markings lined up correctly.

This is what your pincushion should look like once you have sewn your corners.

Then cut off the excess from your corners.

Now you are ready to fill your pincushion with the crushed walnut shells. I used about a drinking cups worth (2-3 cups) of crushed walnut shells and a funnel to fill my pincushion. I like mine full and heavy.

Sew the opening shut…

…. and tuft with 2 buttons, one on the top, and one on the bottom, using the x as your guide.

Here you go, one crushed walnut shell filled pincushion, enjoy!

Not sure if you want to make one of your own? Check out the pincushions I have for sale in my Etsy Shop. I have only listed a few and will list more soon. If you want one in a special color or fabric, I am sure I can help you out with that too.

Edited to add: Some of you asked about the tufting. I posted a tutorial here in case you had any questions.
Have a great day!

The Day After…

2011-11-01T14:30:00.000-04:00

In a way, today very much feels like the day after Christmas. The house is a mess, there are way too many sweets hanging around, and we are all suffering from the dreaded sugar hangover. The only thing that is saving me from diving head first into yesterdays Halloween buckets is the fact that my older kids took a complete inventory of their stash before they went to school this morning, and the little one is watching me like a hawk hoping to get his hands on some treats as well.

See I can't even get in a picture and he is all over it. So tell me... How am I suppose to work under these conditions? I have been bouncing around the house this morning doing a little of this and a little of that, but I just can’t seem to concentrate on anything. I have been working on the layout for my Drunkard’s Path quilt but can’t seem to decide on which layout I like better. What do you think?

The classic layout…

….or something a little different, like the scalloped layout?

Bright Hopes Block Tutorial

2011-10-26T11:57:00.000-04:00

November is my month to have A Twist on Tradition Bee make me some blocks, and since I put the fabric in the mail this morning, I thought it would be a good idea to write up a quick tutorial. That way there the girls will know what they are making. The whole premise of A Twist on Tradition is to take a traditional block and give it a modern twist. For my block I decided to modify the traditional Bright Hopes block by using bright solid fabrics accented by the Kona grey.

This block is made by using the partial seam method. It may look a bit confusing but I assure you it is quite easy to put together. In the picture above is how I would like to have the blocks laid out.

Stitch your first seam, starting about halfway down from the center square.

Stitch your second seam by finger pressing your first seam to one side. This will create a length that is equal to your next section.

A quick note: I find the quickest and easiest way to piece this block is to press all the seams out from the center square to one side, instead of pressing all your seams open.

You are going to sew the next two sections in the same way, working around the center square.

To complete this block place your needle where the partial seam ends, and sew the first section to the last section.

Press your blocks open and remember not to trim. I will take care of that when I receive the blocks back from you.

Thank you for making these blocks for me. It has been so much fun to be part of this bee.

Bee Blocks

2011-10-25T10:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I spent most of my uninterrupted time working on bee blocks.

Here is the block I put together for Jenniffier of Jenniffier's Sometime Creative Life and my A Twist on Tradition Bee. Jenniffier asked us to put together these fantastic Goose-Zag blocks. She used traditional flying geese blocks and modified it with fabric placement and layout. This is the tutorial she put together for her block. I can't wait to see them all put together.

Then, I spent the rest of my time cutting and sorting fabric. November is my month and I have to get these packages out into the mail as soon as possible. Hopefully, I can get that done today. All I have left is to address the envelopes and put together a quick tutorial. Umm... easier said than done?

Sunday Stash Report #4

2011-10-23T17:34:00.000-04:00

Wow! Is it Sunday again already? It has been a crazy busy week around here. First, I wanted to mention that the candles I made last year have made Dani Marie Designs 2011 Ultimate DIY Gift Guide. You can check it out here. How exciting! I never thought that this quick gift that I did with my kids, would ever receive this much attention. You can read the the original post here.

Now on to the good stuff. Little by little I am trying to add to my painfully sparse fabric stash every week. So, I ventured out to my favorite quilt shop and picked up this fantastic dessert roll. Someday, I hope to make a black and off white king size quilt to match my bed room, because it makes me sad that as a quilter, I do not have a proper quilt on my bed. The shame! So, I pulled the black and off white from the roll and added it to what I already have. You know, for a rainy day, as for the green, I am sure I can find something for that.

Authentic by Sweetwater for Moda

As for the rest of my day, I hope to finish up all the Halloween costumes that I am working on for the kids. My oldest son is going to be a victim of Camp Disaster, complete with rubber snakes and spiders. The girl is going to be a Butterfly with extra big wings and a black glittery tule skirt, which is now covering about 50% of my house. Ugh! My youngest, who is 3, is going to be a giant orange M&M. I know, how cute!

So, what did you work on this weekend? Did you start any new projects, or did you finish up any of the old ones? I think I might be ready to start a new quilt, maybe I will join the Drunkard's Path Quilt A Long, hosted by Katie from Needle and Spatula, and Kristie from OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder. I love a good scrap busting quilt.

Have a great week!

Quilt fail?

2011-10-18T17:15:00.000-04:00

Well maybe, depends on how you look at things. I finished my faux string quilt last weekend, but it didn't turn out exactly like I had planned. I am slightly upset about it, but I have to remind myself that from the beginning it was in experiment in many ways. You can read more about that here.

First, let's talk about the seams, because I didn't use batting and decided to quilt directly to the minky, you can see all the seams and even see what direction they are ironed in. Had I used all printed fabrics this would not have been a problem but because I used off white (kona snow) it was just shear enough that the blue from the minky showed through. This by far is my biggest aggravation with this quilt.

Here are some of the things I did like about using the minky.

1. When you layer your quilt top on the minky it kind of sticks together. So shifting was not a problem.

2. Machine quilting it was a breeze, and because there is no batting the quilting does not have to be as tight.

3. I love the weight of this quilt! It was everything I thought it would be, soft, snugly, and warm, though I don't think some of my northern friends would agree. For them it might be more a summer throw on a cool night, but here in Florida it is perfect!

The last thing I have to say about the quilting is that even though it showed up perfectly on the minky side, you can't quite see it on the front. I think next time (and yes there will be a next time) I will keep it simple and just stitch in the ditch, and just use darker fabrics.

I learned a lot making this quilt, and I will use these things and go forward, because after all isn't that what it is all about? Lastly, I will enjoy and love this quilt with all its imperfections.

Quilt Details:

Fabrics: Quilt top, Kona Snow and Chocolate, by Robert Kaufman, backing, minky

Finished Quilt Measurements: about 54" x 68"

Blocks and Piecing: 6 1/2" squares & 6 1/2" HST, in a 10 x 12 layout

Quilting: Echo quilting in a zig-zag pattern

I am linking this up to Fabric Tuesday over at QuiltStory.

Sunday Stash Report #3 - Happy Mochi Yum Yum

2011-10-16T18:38:00.000-04:00

I know Sunday is almost over, but I just had to share what I added to my stash this week. A fat quarter bundle of Kona Solids and Happy Mochi Yum Yum, by the very talented Monica Solorio-Snow, or the Happy Zombie as she is known by some. Ever since its release last spring, it has been on my short list of fabrics that I really wanted to get my hands on. Now that I have some I can hardly contain my excitement. I definitely plan on adding more of her line to my collection. I have the perfect quilt in mind for it, but I will need some more prints for it before I can begin.

I found this bundle in a great little Etsy shop called Sew Fresh Fabrics. You might of heard of it, but if you haven't, you must take a minute and check them out. They have a huge selection of fabrics and a bunch of these cute little bundles. I love how they paired the Happy Mochi Yum Yum with a few Kona solids? A good call if you ask me.

I must admit I am not much of a online fabric shopper so this was a completely new experience for me. I am very fortunate to have more than a few local quilt shops near by, so there hasn't been much need for me to go online, but I am really in love with this line, and I just couldn't find it locally.

So, what have you added to your stash this week? Leave a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from you.

iPod Touch Case {a tutorial}

2011-10-13T11:47:00.000-04:00

Today, I am going to show you how I made a case to protect my iPod touch. I needed something that was going to protect the touch screen of my iPod when I threw it into the pit that I call my handbag. This is a very easy and inexpensive project to do. Also, by changing the measurements you can adapt this project to other handheld devices that you own.

To make yourself a iPod case you will need:

Peltex 72F Double-sided Fusible Ultra Firm Stabilizer
fabric
single fold bias tape
thread

Following manufactures directions I ironed my fabric on the back and on the front of my Peltex stabilizer. For this project I am using some left over scraps I have of coordinating Hunky Dory by Chez Moi for Moda. This might also be a good time to mention that if you are working with directional fabrics or large prints you might want to rough cut a much larger piece than you need so you will have plenty of room to fussy cut later.

The math is pretty easy. To determine the size you are going to need the formula is length x width x height. My iPod measures about 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 1/4". Taking those measurements I cut 2 pieces of my fabric covered Peltex to about 5 1/4" x 3 1/4". This will give me enough space for my 1/4" seam allowance and enough room for the case to expand once the iPod touch is inside. Do you follow me so far?

Once I have the Peltex cut to the size that I wanted, I rounded the corners using a spool of thread and a marking pen. This will give my case a more finished look and make it easier sew the bias tape around the edges.

Next I took a piece of bias tape that is slightly longer than the lenght around the peltex, so the ends overlapped slightly. Then I sewed it on with a zig-zag stitch.

Then I marked 1 1/2" down from the top of my case.

With one piece of Peltex on top of another and a 1/4" seam allowance, I sewed from one pin all the way around stopping at the other pin, locking my stitched at the beginning and at the end. Now I have a finished case for my iPod touch.

This sandwich might be too thick for some machines to sew through. If that is the case, you could also sew it together by hand using some embroidery floss. I used a button stitch on this one to give it a more finished look.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think, or if you have any questions.

I will be linking this project to some of these great Linky Parties.

Hanging Hoop Wall Pocket Swap

2011-10-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

I think I might be squeaking this one in just under the wire. The deadline for sending out this swap is in 2 days, and I hate to admit it but it had completely slipped my mind. It wasn't til yesterday when the mailman dropped off my box of goodies, that it all came back to me. Thankfully mine is mostly done and all I had to do was put the finishing touches on the back.

I love mine! My partner out did herself, don't you think? She even added a little pin cushion at the bottom. Too cute! I wish I would have thought of that.

Here is what I will be sending out to my partner. I would just like to stop at the quilt shop in the morning and pick up a few fat quarters to send along with it before I put it in the mail. Every swap package needs a bit of fabric don't you think?

This swap was a lot of fun to do and I hope my partner enjoys opening her pocket hoop with all the little goodies, as much as I enjoyed opening mine.

Sunday Stash Report #2 - Finding Solids

2011-10-02T15:58:00.004-04:00

This week I did a little spring cleaning, and I found this little piece of heaven in my stash. It has been in there forever and a day and I think it is time to pull it out and do something with it.

It is from the line Two Young Street, made by Prints Charming. It is not an easy fabric for quilting because it is such a large print but I love it. I don't know why, but it just speaks to me, and I haven't had the heart or the right project to make me want to cut into it, until now.

Pictured: black, chartreuse, crocus, and orange.

I have done a few sketches and pick out a few of the solids to go with it... but I am on the hunt for a few more before I can start. I would really like to pick up the pink, and the aqua, maybe even the red, if I am feeling feisty. :)

So, what do you have going on? Starting any new projects or are you just finishing up the old ones? I am still working on my fuax string quilt, but I should be ready to share more about it later this week.

Till then,

Bright Triangles - A Finished Quilt

2011-09-28T11:06:00.003-04:00

My Bright Triangles quilt is done. I love all the bright happy colors, and how the basic half square triangle block, combined with the white, allows each print to pop.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was unsure about what I was going to do with this quilt. So now, after much internal debate, I have decided that I will be listing this quilt, along with some others, in my Etsy shop. I am hoping that someone will love this quilt as much as I do and want to purchase it. As for my sister's friend that is having a baby this winter, my sister and I have decided to go together and pick out some prints special for the new baby, that match the nursery.

When quilting this, I simply echoed each triangle. It was a little time consuming, but I love the effect it gave the quilt after I took it out of the dryer. The back is a single novelty print that I picked up at my local quilt shop. It is fun and colorful and I think it compliments the front perfectly. But I have to admit, I was slightly concerned when I washed this because red and white don't normally mix well in the washing machine. Thankfully, Shout Color Catcher is an awesome product and if you have never used it before I highly recommend doing so.

Quilt Details:

Finished Quilt Measurements: 40" x 50"

Block and Piecing: 63 - 6 1/2" HST, in a 7 x 9 layout

Quilting: Straight line quilting, echoing each triangle

I will be linking this up to Sew Modern Monday, Fabric Tuesday, and some of these other great linky parties.

A Sunday Stash Report

2011-09-25T16:27:00.001-04:00

This weekend, in an attempt to finish my faux string quilt, I headed over to my Local Quilt Shop to get some more Kona Snow. I didn't even know if she would have any in stock, (as she doesn't stock much of the Kona solids), but I figured it was as good of an excuse as any to go look at fabric. Thankfully she had just enough left on the bolt. It must have been my lucky day.

While I was there I spied some Minky that she had on sale.... 40% off? Yeah, that always deserves a second look. Brown and aqua polka dots had been my original plan for the back, but some soft and comfy aqua Minky? Umm... I think I might need to reconsider. Sure, why not, I'll give it a try. I am a little concerned on how it will machine quilt, but she assured me that as long as I use a walking foot it should go pretty smoothly. Have any of you ever used minky as a backing for a quilt? Do you have any suggestions or tips for me? If not, wish me luck and I will let you know how it goes.

Besides, why should Minky just be reserved for babies? I want to snuggle under a comfy Minky throw this winter, as well. :)

Old Fashion Rice Pudding

2011-09-23T13:04:00.000-04:00

Last week I made rice pudding, a favorite at our house, unfortunately I don't make it that often, so when I do, it is kind of a treat for the kids. Yesterday, the kids asked me to make it again. The things I do for my kids. *insert exhausted mom who slaves over a hot stove for her family* Just kidding! It's really not that bad, it is just that rice pudding is one of those recipes that takes a little time to be done right. It is also one of those recipes that is best done the night before. Score! Something I can do after the kids go to bed and catch up on my Project Runway at the same time.

This is my from my grandmother and I don't have a traditional recipe all written out. It is one of those things that I just do, you know, from memory.

First, you are going to soak 1 cup rice in 2 cups milk for about 10 minutes.

Cook the rice slowly until milk is absorbed on medium heat, stirring consistently, for about 20 - 25 minutes. You don't want the milk to come to a boil or your rice to stick to the bottom. Remove from heat and place a cover on your pan to keep warm while you prepare next step. At this point it should look a little like the picture above.

Next, in a small bowl beat 2 egg yolks (save the egg whites for later), 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Slowly fold egg mixture into rice that is in your pan. Return rice to stove on medium heat, and cook again till milk is dissolved and rice is tender, stirring consistently. Make sure that the rice is cooked or you will end up with crunchy rice pudding and nobody is going to like that.

Remove rice from heat and set aside. Then beat the 2 egg whites until stiff and slowly add 1 tbs sugar while beating. Fold into rice.

Now add 1/2 tsp vanilla and cinnamon too taste into rice and mix well.

Pour into serving dish or individual cups, let cool, then cover with plastic wrap and place into refrigerator to cool overnight.

The next day serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy.

Quilt Bee Blocks and Swaps

2011-09-21T16:42:00.000-04:00

One of my on going quilting bees is Twist on Tradition. This month Danielle asked us to make a Lemoyne Star out of the blue and white fabrics that she sent us. I had never seen this block made from HST's before, but it was refreshingly easier than the quilt I made from pieced diamonds years ago. Yeah! I love learning new ways to make a classic block.

Last month I joined the Make Mine Modern Swap, and then last Saturday the postman left this at my doorstep. Lynne, who blogs at Miss Stash Would, totally spoiled me when she sent me this package. Just look at all these goodies. Fabric and notions, Oh my! She even made me this fabulous art quilt. Isn't it lovely? I couldn't have been more pleased and I really appreciated all the time and care she took in putting this together for me.

After all the swap deadlines I had in August I have been taking a little break but of course I couldn't stay away for too long... I just recently signed up for two more swaps via Flickr, Sewn Spaces Swap - Pincushions, and the Hanging Hoop Wall Pocket Swap. I am very excited about this, because there is nothing like a swap to get the creative juices flowing and these two look like fun.

A Little Quilting....

2011-09-17T14:23:00.000-04:00

I must admit there hasn't been much sewing going on around here lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been tinkering around with some scraps. When I am in a slump creatively I always seem to revert back to mindless scrap quilting. You know, the type of sewing that requires little or no math, and a layout that doesn't require a design wall. Just a pile of scraps and some white. That way there you don't have to worry about the wrong colors touching each other.

So now after a week of a some fabric therapy, these bright happy colors have inspired me, and lifted my spirits. I have remembered why I love to quilt and why I like to blog about it. I have remembered that I do this for me and that it is OK that I don't have a finished quilt to share with you every other week. I mean really! Who can keep up with that kind of schedule and still have time to enjoy life?

I don't really have a home for this quilt... I was thinking of gifting it to a friend of my sister that is having a baby this winter, or maybe I will list it in my Etsy Shop in order to support my growing fabric addition. I am not quite sure but hopefully by the time I am done with it I will know what to do. I do know that I picked up an awesome print for the back at my local quilt shop yesterday and this afternoon I will be busy layering this bad boy and getting it ready to be quilted. I am thinking straight line quilting on the diagonal...

One other thing that has relaxed me this week has been the ironing. You know how I love to iron so this should be no big surprise. I was very careful about the direction the seams were ironed and how they would lay. This result of this has made this quilt lay perfectly flat and the blocks lined up flawlessly. This makes me a very happy person!

Mosaic Monday - Doll Quilt Swap Favorites

2011-08-29T16:10:00.000-04:00

I finally received my Doll Quilt from the DQS11, and my partner did not disappoint. I love it! They remind me of little beach cabanas, which of course is perfect for a girl in paradise. She included some fabric scraps, *love it* and a little notebook.... that I had to hide from my daughter. Isn't that awful? but the girl has a huge addiction to them, and quite a collection. I guess we all have our weakness, but she collects and hordes these little notebooks, like I collect and horde fabric.... enough said. I found the perfect spot, up on the wall, in my sewing space yesterday, and every time I look at it I can't help but to smile.

Here are some of my favorites from this round. Seriously, this group has some real talent. Of course this is by no means is in any particular order, or the only ones I like. To see more check out the Doll Quilt Swap photostream for some more eye candy. You won't be sorry.

1. DQS11 quilt received, 2. Woo hoo! Happy day!!, 3. DQS11 - Sent!, 4. Received DQS11!!!, 5. DQS11 Quilt Received - Oh My Goodness!!!!!!, 6. DQS 11 received from kristinawilberg, 7. DQS11-Received, 8. Doll Quilt Swap - Rec'd, 9. DQS11 - received

This is the quilt I made and sent out to my partner. I was really happy to be part of this swap and hope to be a part of it again.

How to Care For Your Quilt

2011-08-26T19:52:00.000-04:00

I am sure like many of you that make quilts; you have been asked this question more than once.

So….How do you care for a quilt?

Quilts are typically made from 100% cotton fabric with cotton or cotton/poly blend batting and should be treated as an heirloom. The following recommendations should preserve the life of your quilt. It is important to limit the exposure your quilt has to light, heat and chemicals, as they will age your quilt.

Dry Cleaning is not recommended. Use a mild detergent in a delicate cycle for the minimum amount of time. Never use bleach. To keep colors bright and to prevent fading use the cold water settings on your machine.

Using a dryer is not recommended, but if you must, use a low heat setting to tumble dry, or lay flat to air dry. Line drying could unevenly stretch out the quilt, so, it is not recommended.

Do not display your quilt in direct sunlight or consider rotating quilts through out the year. When hanging a quilt, a quilt sleeve should be attached. This will give your quilt enough support to prevent sagging and stress on the stitches. Hang in a low traffic area wear quilts won't be touched. Quilts are sensative to body oils and ciggerate smoke.

If storing on a wooden rack or hanger, do not let your quilt directly touch the wood. Oils from the wood could absorb on to the fabric and leave a stain. Separate the quilt from the wood by using acid free tissue paper or a piece of fabric.

Quilts (cotton) has to breathe, so never store in plastic bins, bags or directly on plastic coated shelving. It is best to store quilts between clean white cotton sheets, or in a clean white pillow case. Quilts that are going to be stored for any length of time should be taken out several times a year to be “aired out” so the quilt can breathe, then it should be refolded in a different pattern to prevent wearing in the crease.

In a perfect world it would be great if we could store our quilts on an unused bed, lay them flat and unfolded, with clean white sheet layered between them…..I can dream, can’t I?

A New Quilt Project

2011-08-23T18:52:00.000-04:00

For the last couple of days I have been working on a new quilt project.

As you can see it involves large half square triangles and stripes. Lots and lots of stripes. I love this fabric, it is one of my favorites. It is made is by Robert Kaufman, in his Pimatex Basic line, This particular print is called Chocolate, and I think it is perfect for a little baby boy quilt.

I am still working on the layout. I am not quite sure if I want the design going down the middle or if I want it off centered a bit. In my mind there are more white blocks on either side of the layout shown.
What do you think? Minimize the open white space or maximize it?

This is a basic block, nothing new, just 2 HST's sewn together, but I had to cut and piece them differently than I would have normally cut and pieced a HST block. It was important for the design of the quilt that the stripe in the fabric stay straight and go in a certain direction.

I love that this quilt is all about fabric and layout. Nothing fancy just quilting in its most simplistic form.

My Saturday

2011-08-20T21:33:00.000-04:00

Is it sad that I am happy that my sister canceled our plans, my husband is working on our anniversary, and the kids are glued to the Xbox? On most days I would be highly annoyed but today I really had my heart set on getting some sewing done, and since I have been looking at this memory quilt on the floor for over a week, I think it is time to finish it up.

I am done rearranging blocks every time I walk by it...

I had hoped to have it all ironed and sandwiched too, but I think it is time to peel the kids away from their video games and do something fun. I can work on this tomorrow. I am just happy, I got the quilt top put together today and off the floor.

Of course, today just wouldn't be complete if I didn't share a picture...

Here we are on our wedding day some 16 years ago.

Of course, if I was a good wife I might make him something yummy for dinner tonight...

Glitter Composition Notebooks {a tutorial}

2011-08-18T16:09:00.000-04:00

As you know it is Back to School time and as parents we are busy putting together all the things they will need to start off the new year. This year one of the things that was on the recommended school supply list for my daughter was a composition notebook. No problem, right? This time of year Wal-mart or Target has them on sale for like 40 cents. I can handle that....til you step into The Children's Place and your daughter sees them covered in glitter and retailing for $4.95. Seriously! I would never pay 5 bucks for something I can make for less than a dollar.

This project ~~knock off~~ was ridiculously easy to do, and cheap. I paid 40 cents for the notebook, 25 cents for the sponge brush, and the rest of the stuff I already had on hand from past projects.

Here is a little of what you will need.

The freezer paper is optional. I used it because I can tape it to the counter and it gave me a larger workspace than regular paper. If I had a leftover paper grocery bag I would have used that, but I didn't, so I used the freezer paper instead.

The glitter I used had a fine texture and was leftover from another project. I suppose any glitter will do, but I would recommend fine glitter, as coarse glitter might make the notebook too rough.

First, take your painters tape and carefully cover the black binding of your composition notebook. Then place a piece of paper under the cover of your notebook to protect the pages of your notebook from the Mod Podge.

Now add a healthy layer of Mod Podge with a sponge brush to the cover of your composition notebook.

Next add a healthy layer of glitter, shaking off the excess, repeating several times. Once that is done, set it aside, and let it dry. This can take anywhere from a couple of hours to overnight depending on how thick your Mod Podge was.

Once it is dry, add another layer of Mod Podge. This will help seal in the glitter and give the notebook a smoother texture. Again, let that dry. Once it is dry you can remove the blue tape. Then you are done. If you want, you can repeat the process on the back cover.

Have fun with it. We (my daughter and I) are already planning on making another one, but this time I am going to let her get some bling at the craft store to decorate her notebook. This one won't be for school but for home, because like last year she will also need something for her writing homework. A special notebook for this task worked wonders for us last year, so I am all over making her another one. As they say you gotta start the year off right. :)

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I will be linking this project to some of these linky parties.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-08-10T13:07:00.002-04:00

This week has been a very productive, because of the nonstop rain, we have been in. Which means I have been getting a lot of sewing done, but before we begin I want to share the mini quilt I received in the I {heart} the 80's Swap. I actually got it last week and I can't believe I forgot to share. I know, how horrible of me. Anyways, Jenn of Jenn of all Trades made me this Awesome mini quilt for my collection.

New Projects:

Apple Core quilt – Well actually this has been on my "haven't touched in forever" list, but I have pulled it out and dusted it off because I had a brainstorm the other night, to make it go easier. I took a lesson from the paper piecing hexi makers out there, but instead of using paper I am used heat resistant template plastic. It doesn't melt when you iron it, so I was able to press some apple core and sew them together like one would sew together hexi's. Now that I have figured out that it works I am planning to put a little tutorial together today and will share more tomorrow.

My First Quilt A Long - I have picked out my fabric and done the math. Now I am just waiting for the mail man to deliver my fabric so we can begin. I am making my 3 year old his first big boy quilt for his new room, and I thought it might be fun to do it together.

On Going Projects:

Memory Quilt - I have made tons of progress here. I have all my blocks put together and laid them out. At first I was a little discouraged that my blocks were not coming out as I had envisioned, but now that they are all laid out I am full of hope again. Now, I am going to leave it here for a few days move some blocks around till I am happy and then sew the quilt top together.

No Progress:

August Bee Blocks

2010 Scrap Quilt

Follow me over to Freshly Pieced to see what everyone else has on their sewing table this week for Work in Progress Wednesday. :)

Trash to Treasure Tuesday - Chap Stick Holder

2011-08-09T12:18:00.000-04:00

Again, I am planning ahead for Christmas, and I made a hooded towels for a friend. They make great gifts for the little ones that are to big for those itty bitty baby hooded towels, but still want to wrapped up nice and cozy, when they get out of the tub. The problem is after I am done making them I am left just a little bit of ribbon. Sure you can add it to your stash of ribbon bits, soooo, it is not exactly trash but let's face it.... What are you really going to do with it?

I am also in Back to School mode (I know, there is a lot going on in here) and my daughter, she is 8, has a love affair with Chap Stick and Lip Gloss.

So, I took my little bit of ribbon and a swivel hook and made her a chap Stick/Lip Gloss holder.

Using my Chap Stick as my guide I folded the ribbon over, so the raw edges were inside, and ironed everything into place.

I added my swivel hook.

Then I pinned it together and sewed it along the edge on both sides.

Now that is all set, let's see if we can move on to more important things. You know like clothes, shoes, school supplies, etc....

Quilt Binding by Machine {a tutorial}

2011-08-07T13:54:00.000-04:00

Attaching your binding by machine can be one of the hardest ways to attach your binding neatly. Especially on smaller projects. I will say 9 times out of 10, I will sew the binging on to the back of my quilts by hand, with an invisible stitch, or Jacob Ladder stitch, as it is sometimes called. Love this stitch! It makes for a beautiful finish, but sometimes a project requires binding to be added by machine for what ever the reason. Or maybe you just hate hand stitching and prefer to do it by machine. That's fine, do what is comfortable for you.

First, square up your quilt. It really does make a world of difference. I have a big 17" square ruler that I bought to use for some t-shirt quilts I did a while back. Now, I love it for squaring up the corners of my quilt. It works great, and for smaller projects I can use it to square up the whole thing. For larger quilts I will square up the corners using this, then my regular cutting ruler to do the rest.

Ok, so here is something that is considered a huge no, no by some, but if you are lucky enough if to have a nice finish edge... use it! Why not? It is not going to unravel and it will reduce the bulk in your binding. Of course, not all fabric has a nice finished edge. If that is the case leave yourself enough room to sew it on the diagonal later. I know, that seems like a pain, but it will lay flatter than a straight seam.

Usually I don't cut my binding on the bias. *I know, gasp!* The only time I cut binding on the bias is when I am working with curves, then I find it worth my time. Other than that, I have never had a problem with the strait 2 1/2" strips that I use. I will, however still join my strips on the diagonal. Again, this will help disperse the bulk.

Next, I will iron all my seams flat and then, and iron my binding in half, wrong side together.

Since I have a nice finished edge, I am going to lay that down first and leave about 2 or 3 inches before I start stitching. If I didn't have this nice finished edge I would have pinned the binding to the quilt for about 10 inches, before I started to stitch. That way there I could join the beginning to the end with a nice diagonal seam later.

Then, I am going to sew all the way down to my first corner, stopping just before I get to the edge (less then a 1/4"), fold your binding straight up with a diagonal crease, and then....

...straight down. Now when you start stitching again, you are going to have to feel around and find where your corners meet, then start stitching there. Do that for all 4 corners and sew till you are almost to where you started.

Place your raw edge into your finished edge and top stitch to secure.

Now this step is where I am going to add a little work for myself but I feel it is worth my time. This is the step where you are going to want to pay attention to the details.

When I am machine sewing my binding to my quilt top I pin my binding to the back, on the top, in the ditch. Understand? If not see picture above. I do this because I sew in the ditch on the top of my quilt not on the back, but I want to make sure the stitch is straight and neat looking on the back too. Details, Details. Taking the time to pin it all the way around lets me see where my stitches are going to fall on the back, before I start sewing. If I need to make any adjustments, I can make them now instead of having to pick out stitches, (or add any stitches) later. I like it to look like one continuous stitch all the way around. That being said, don't forget to make sure you have enough thread in the bobbin, and the right color.

Note: On larger quilts I sometimes use safety pins instead of regular straight pins, so, I don't stick myself along the way.

See doesn't she look pretty?

Now, I would like to hear from you. Do you have a favorite binding trick that you like to use? Do you use those clips instead of pins to secure your binding? Do they work well for you? Do you sew your binding by hand? Or always by machine?

Saying Farewell to the Farmers Wife

2011-08-05T21:17:00.000-04:00

Regrettably, I think it might be time for me to say goodbye to the Farmers Wife. I will be sad to see her go. I have enjoyed her stories, and even tried to imagine what my own Great Grandmother would have written. I wonder what she would have wished for her 3 daughters...and I wonder what she thought of the path that each of them took.

My Grandmother was the city girl who preferred modern conveniences, and dressing well. The middle sister went to college and became a nurse, much to the displeasure of my great grandfather. The youngest sister did in fact marry a farmer and enjoyed the simple life. But they all lived very well in there own way.

Original set of Farmers Wife Blocks

It is not that I haven't really enjoyed this Quilt a Long, and learned a lot about template piecing, but it is a time management issue and a financial one.

This all came about because I was running out of the original fabric that I bought for this quilt and went to my LSQ to get some more and she was sold out. Then I hit the Internet, and discovered that it is discontinued and very hard to find. Curse you Moda! *waves fists in air* Why do discontinue your fabric lines so quickly? I decided then that I didn't want to buy pieces here and there, and pay all that shipping on top of it. For what? What was I going to do with this quilt when it was finished? I am not a huge sampler fan so I wouldn't be leaving it out on display. Gift it someone? Maybe, but who?

So,then I decided I needed to take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes and new, brighter fabrics.

Did that, but you know what, I am still not feeling it. My heart just isn't in it anymore. Some how this makes me feel like a huge quitter. Which I hate. I am not a quitter and I try to teach my kids to always finish what they start, but right now I feel I must spend my free time with my family, and growing my blog. Not the things that I don't have a passion for anymore. I have a lot of ideas and things I would like to do but need the time to do them. In life sacrifices must be made and priorities must be set.

Second brighter set

Good-bye Farmers Wife. It was great to have met you, and I will never forget the lessons I have learned. Not to mention, I now have a much greater appreciation (and love) for my rotary cutter and all those quilts that been passed down from generation to generation.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-08-03T16:33:00.000-04:00

Is it Wednesday again already? Wow! This week has flown by. Unfortunately, I don't have to much to share with you this week and this post is really light on pictures. I haven't spent much time at the sewing machine or even on the computer, for that matter. This week as I am in Back to School mode. The kids go back in less than 20 days and there is lots to do.... and buy. Appartently my kids have grown out of everything this summer, and I do mean everything. Seriously, you should see my B2S list it is crazy.

But, I do have a few things to share with you...

Make Mine Modern Swap - is done and ready to be shipped out. As part of the swap we are required to include at least 1 1/2 yards of quilt shop quality fabric, a hand made item to decorate there sewing space, and some kind of decoration, collectible, tool, toy, or journal you think would make your partners day. This was a real fun swap to be a part of and I can't wait to find out what my partner thinks of it.

New Projects

My First Quilt A Long - I can't tell you how excited I am about this. I have wanted to do this for a while now but the timing has never been right. So, stay tuned as I will be sharing more on this soon.

August Bee Blocks - I received my fabric from Jodie and we are making these Star Blocks from Cluck Cluck Sew.

Farmers Wife QAL- I know this should be considered an "On going Project" but to make a very long story short I have decided to start this one over. I will share more about this in my Farmers Wife Friday post.

No Progress

Memory Quilt

2010 Scrap Quilt

Apple Core Quilt

Follow me over to Freshly Pieced to see what everyone else has on their sewing table this week for Work in Progress Wednesday. :)

Mosaic Monday - Make Mine Modern Swap

2011-08-01T13:05:00.000-04:00

I know, I know but better late than never right?

The Make Mine Modern Swap is almost over and I am just putting together my inspiration mosaic together. Not sure why. Maybe it is because I had a tough time narrowing down my likes and dislikes. I mean have you seem some of the eye candy that is out there in blog land and on Flickr? A girl can seriously lose track of time taking it all in. So...

Dear Partner,

If you are reading this please do not limit yourself to what is in this mosaic, and please, don't get discouraged if you have gone in a different direction. I really will like whatever you make.

1. Last Project Complete!, 2. Scrappy Storage, 3. quilted pillows, 4. Nicey Jane hexies, 5. Ringo Pie May Block for Ayumi, 6. MMM possibilities, 7. Make Mine Modern Summer Swap Sneak Peek, 8. Happy Daisy zippered pouch, 9. Floral Pin Cushion

Work In Progress Wednesday

2011-07-27T11:33:00.000-04:00

Finished: Can I get a Whoo Hoo!? because I got a couple of those...

July Bee Blocks - Done and in the mail. These blocks were fun and easy to do. Of course it helped that this month's bee mama had all the squares cut out for us. Thanks Michelle! Also, I was really excited to see that Little Island Quilting finished her quilt using our bee blocks. It came out Awesome. You can check it out here.

Doll Quilt Swap 11 - Done and waiting to be mailed. You can read more about this quilt here and here. I was thinking this quilt (made larger) would be fun for a Quilt-A-Long. Anyone interested?

New Projects: Thank heavens NO! I spent most of this week playing catching up. It is amazing what a list will do for ya.

On Going Projects:

Make Mine Modern Swap - I am making a sewing machine cover for my partner. She had a couple of them on her inspiration mosaic. So, I think she might like one.

Farmers Wife QAL - I am almost up up date with my Farmers Wife blocks....still cutting and piecing. You can read more about them here.

Memory Quilt - Lots of progress was made with this quilt. I have about half of my blocks put together and I am almost ready to lay this out and start arranging the blocks. This is my favorite part. The surprise inside. I love seeing how it all comes together.

Still No Progress: -

2010 Scrap Quilt

Apple Core Quilt

Follow me over to Freshly Pieced to see what everyone else has on their sewing table this week for Work in Progress Wednesday. :)

With a Twist - A Finished Quilt

2011-07-26T12:25:00.000-04:00

As some of you may have guessed from my last post, I have finished my Doll Quilt. I was very excited about being part of this swap. I has been so much fun. From stalking my partner on Flickr, putting pen to paper, making the quilt, and now putting together all those fun little extras.

When trying to design this quilt, I played around with a lot of different shapes but felt like, that’s been done or I have seem those a thousand times. It wasn’t until my husband suggested right angle triangles, than things finally fell into place. You don’t often see those, but the hardest had to be the math. I had to make sure the doll quilt measured less than 18” and had at least 6 pieced blocks. Sounds a little like algebra to me, don't you think!? I knew some test blocks were in order, but where to start? That is when I knew I had to pull out the paper cutter and start cutting out triangles.

See Lighting McQueen over there in the corner? Yeah, that means my little guy was "helping." Sometimes I am amazed that I get anything done.

So, there was more than one test block and a lot of trimming involved in the making of this quilt. I had some trouble getting the rectangle points to line up properly. But after some trial and error I finally got them right and couldn't be happier with the results.

Quilt Details:

Fabrics: Kona white, and some bright colored scraps from my stash

Finished Quilt Measurements: about 14" x 14" square

Blocks and Piecing: 4" blocks, in a 4 x 4 layout

Quilting: Echo quilting in a zig-zag pattern

Today, I am linking this up to Fabric Tuesday over at QuiltStory.

Hang Your Quilt Using Corner Pockets & Command Hooks

2011-07-24T20:14:00.000-04:00

Today while I working on my mini quilt for DQS11, it occurred to me that it isn't much discussed how to hang these lovelies. Or maybe it is, and I just haven't noticed? I hope that isn't the case, but you know, it happens. :)

Anyways, after I finished my quilting and squared up my quilt, I cut 2 - 31/2" squares and ironed them in half diagonally.

Then I placed the triangles in the top 2 corners and used a zig-zag stitch to secure along the edge, reinforcing the ends.

Once my corner triangles were attached, I sewed on my binding and did a quick check to the front to make sure all my zig-zag stitching was hidden in my seam allowance.

I hand sew my binding to the back with a invisible stitch, but if you wish to do it by machine, that is fine, either methods will work.

Once your binding is on, you are ready to hang your precious little lovely.

In the above picture I have a piece of 1/4" board that I had stole from my husband's wood pile. I like it because it lays flat and doesn't bow. You can get board like this in the lumber section at your local hardware store and sometimes even at the craft store. It is inexpensive (at the hardware store) for a long piece and it cuts simply with a hand saw. Just sand down any rough edges, and you are ready to go.

I like to attach Command Hooks to my wall when I hang quilts, for 2 reasons...

It is easy to move around or change the quilts I have up on my wall.
I am horrible about how I measure, and where the nails should go. I usally just eyeball it, and end up with way too many holes in the wall. I don't have that problem with the Command Hooks.

Isn't she pretty all bright and happy? I think I might be a little sad to see her go, but she was made for another. I just hope my partner loves her as much as I do.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsered post. All opions are my own. If you know of a product similar to Command, I am sure it would work just as well. I just happen to like this product and thought I would share.

Farmers Wife Friday - Week #3

2011-07-22T22:21:00.000-04:00

This week I skipped around a bit. I had to get away from the #13 template. Every time I see that little guy I just cringe. I have cut enough of them to last me a lifetime.

#80 Single Wedding Star

#7 Bird in the Air

#61 Northern Lights

10 blocks down 101 blocks to go...

Reading through blogs...

2011-07-21T20:59:00.000-04:00

The Next button has changed my BLOGGING life! Pardon my french, but now that I have added it to my Favorites bar, I find it much easier to read and comment on my favorite blogs.

Don't get me wrong I didn't mind Google Reader, but I have a love/hate relationship to it. I loved that you could read blogs quickly and when your time is limited that is a plus, but if you want to leave comments... Well that takes more time that I don't always have.

I hate that Google Reader has made me a horrible comment poster. OK, maybe that isn't Google Readers fault. Maybe I am just lazy, but you must admit it can be a pain to scroll back up after you just read a post, to click the link to get back to the original blog post, then scroll back down to the end of the post, you just read, and leave a comment. Phew! That was a long winded sentence, but you catch my drift right?

Beside I am a visual person and Google Reader is drab and boring. I would must rather read through my blogs on bright colorful pages filled with crafty delights and useful links.

If you want to add a NEXT button to your Favorites Bar check out this tutorial I ran across on Clover and Violet.

And because every blog post needs a picture....

Check back soon to see what I have done with these cute little postage stamp blocks....

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-07-20T09:37:00.000-04:00

Holy scraps! It has been weeks since I last caught you up with a Work in Progress Wednesday post. To be honest lately I have been feeling a very overwhelmed. I have been busy with the kids and feel that the people closest to me are pulling me in different directions, for one reason or another. So, in an effort to feel less overwhelmed, I cleaned out my sewing space (my happy place) and accessed what I have going on, commitments deadlines, and unfinished projects.

First up my, I {heart} the 80's Swap, is done and ready to shipped off to my partner. I am just waiting to hear back from my swap mama for the OK. More on this one once my partner receives her goodies.

New Projects: - Yeah, a got a few of those...

Doll Quilt Swap - I am so excited about this one. Here is the the quilt top. I just need to add a boarder, piece the back, and of course quilt it, but all that seems like cake now that I figured out the math on the right angle triangles. Boy, they were a pain. Is it to much to ask to have all your points match up?

Make Mine Modern Swap - I gotta plan on this one and it is almost done. I will share more on this one soon.

July Bee Blocks - Got to get these started and sent out, July is almost over for heaven sake.

On Going Projects:

Memory Quilt - in my last post for WIP Wednesday I mentioned that I was sketching out some ideas and going through the my bin of baby clothes. I am happy to report that I have most of the quilt cut and should be ready to start piecing soon. This weekend if the sun, the moon, and the stars all aline.

Farmers Wife Quilt-Along - No completed blocks since my last Farmers Wife post, but I have spent some time cutting out the pieces. Some of these blocks have a lot of half square triangles! I am connecting with my inner Farmers wife and tracing and cutting out each template indivually. So, this might take a little time.

No Progress:

2010 Scrap Quilt - I still need to finish hand quilting this quilt, but it is too hot, I live in Florida after all. Who wants to sit under a heavy quilt in this heat? I might have to wait till winter to finish this one.

Apple Core Quilt - haven't touch this one in ages....

Wow! I thought this was suppose to de-stress me. It has a little....at least now I am organized. Now it is time for something fun. Follow me over to Freshly Pieced and see what everybody else has going on.

Jeweled Bobby Pins {a tutorial}

2011-07-17T20:29:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, but I am actually starting to think about Christmas. This year I am going to be organized. Of course I say that every year, but this year I really am going to try. I would love if I could make it a handmade Christmas, but I do realize with 3 kids and a husband who travels, that might be a little difficult.

First up, some Jeweled Bobby Pins. On my Christmas List I have some friends and cousins who live up north, that have school aged daughters. Every year I try to find (or make) them something cute or unique, but they must be small, lightweight, and easily shipped. Nothing worse than paying more for shipping than the gift is worth.

For this project you are going to need some bobby pins with a wide bar, beads, and some fishing line. I did try this out with some jewelry/craft wire, but I was not happy with the results. The fishing line worked much better.

First, I cut a length of fishing line about 25 inches long. Then, I threaded it through the back of the bobby pin and centered it. Then I inserted both ends of the line through the bead, and slid it down to the end.

Lay your bead flat on the bar of the bobby pin and cross each side of your line under the top bar, then bring the line up again, as pictured above.

Repeat till you have the desired amount of beads on your bobby pin.

Once you have the desired amount of beads along your bobby pin it is time to secure the ends. Too do this take both ends of the line and and insert it back through the last bead, pull tight, and knot.

Then pull it through one more bead and snip off the extra line.

As you can see we had some fun today with some different bead combinations.

Mosaic Monday - Doll Quilt Swap 11

2011-07-11T13:30:00.000-04:00

I am super excited because partner assignments came out last weekend for the Doll Quilt Swap on Flickr and I am in! For those of you are not familar there is a lottery for each round of the Doll Quilt Swap since there are so many who want to participate. I am a total newbie at this, and I am really excited to make a miniature bed style quilt, for my secret partner. My quilt has to be at least 9" but no more than 18" on any one side, and it must have at least 6 pieced blocks.

I also need to make a mosaic so my partner can get to know me better. As you can see I am leaning towards bright and colorful quilts.....

1. Just about ready to send..., 2. DQS 10 Received, 3. DQS 10 received from Lolablueocean, 4. My Mini from Isabel, 5. DQS10 Quilt Received!, 6. Doll quilt from Quiltedoma, 7. At Last!, 8. DQS 10 Quilt Received, 9. DQS10_Front, 10. Cacophony of Color - Bella Solids Parade, 11. DQS11 Angel Quilt #2, 12. DQS11 Angel Quilt #6

Machine Embroidery - Framed Art

2011-07-10T23:16:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to frame any of the great machine embroidery designs that are out there? I love this design that I got from Urban Threads and it is perfect for one of the swaps I have coming up. I have unsuccessfully tried to frame machine embroidery designs in the past, but the fabric alone, just isn't strong enough, and if you have a dense design like this on the fabric tends to pucker and doesn't lay flat.

If you are a regular follower of my blog you may know that I love this product from Pellon, called Peltex 72F Double-sided Fusible Ultra Firm Stabilizer. I have great results when using it for machine embroidery, and this project is just screaming for me to use it.

You will need a few things:

a frame (with or without the glass)
the tread you need to digitize your design
your machine's hoop with a inside of at least 8"x6"
Sticky - or similar self-adhesive, tear-away stabilizer product
Peltex 72F Double-sided Fusible Ultra Firm Stabilizer
a scrap of white cotton fabric

First, you are going to iron your piece of white fabric to the rough side of your Peltex, and then peel off the clear film off the back. Trim down your fabric covered Peltex to a 6"x8" rectangle and mark your center guidelines with a disappearing ink marker. Just enough at the edge and a dot in the middle, so your can line up your needle. This is important because you can't apply water to it later to remove the markings.

Hoop your Sticky into your hoop, being careful that your hoop guidelines match up to the Sticky guidelines. Then remove the top layer (or paper) to reveal the Sticky. Then use your guidelines place the Peltex rectangle into your hoop.

Load into your machine and digitize your design.

Once your design is digitized remove from hoop, and cut away the excess Sticky from around the edges. Do Not remove the Sticky from the back of the Peltex, just leave it attached. It is best not to disturb, if possible.

Next you are going to trim to a 5"x7" rectangle using your guidelines to keep your design centered.

Now it should fit perfectly into your frame. Secure the back of your frame as needed.

This project is a great for all those unused or thrifted frames you have lying around the house. Also, I have used frames with the glass or without. It is more of a personal preference, than a requirement

I love the way this project comes out.

The Peltex stabilizer gives it just enough strength to make the design clean and crisp.

Farmers Wife Friday #2

2011-07-08T21:13:00.000-04:00

I spent the better part of this week catching up and making blocks for the Farmers Wife Quilt Along. I know I don't have to but I hate start a project one step behind. It just sets me up for a fail later. Besides it was a rough week and I really needed some quilt therapy.

Here is what I have done so far....

I redid this one from last week, because the color combination was truly bothering me. Besides, I think I really want to have a bit of the off white in every block, to keep the look cohesive, and the previous block had none. Now, I am happy. :)

Did anyone else have trouble with this one? I had to do it a couple of times. It keep shrinking down to under a 6" square. Cutting out all 32 triangles each time was not fun either. Thankfully when I was just about to throw in the towel.... the last one I did, came out correctly.

Here is what they look like together.

This has been a fun learning experience for me. I have dusted off some of some the old piecing skills I haven't used in years and learned some new ones.

Applique With Your Cricut Machine

2011-07-03T12:58:00.000-04:00

I got a Circut a while back from my husband and I have been having a lot of fun with it, but what I have really wanted to do with it is cut fabric letters and shapes and applique them onto quilts.

Sounds easy enough....Just iron the fabric to a product like Steam-a-Seam and cut. Ummm, yeah, I wish it was that easy. I just couldn't get it to stick to the mat, or cut the fabric. It has been very frustrating!

So, after some trial and error and a whole package of Steam-a-Seam later....here are a few things that I learned:

1. Prepare your fabric- I gave my fabric (100% cotton) a good dose of spray starch and then ironed it to my Steam-a-Seam following manufacturers directions. (I starched the fabric because I found the stiffer the fabric was the better it cut.)

2. Peel the paper backing off, before sticking it to your mat. The wax paper won't stick to your mat no matter how hard you try. I assumed you needed the paper in order to cut the fabric. Apparently you don't, but this is why the spray starch is important.

3. Adhere your fabric, Steam-a-Seam down, onto your mat. Then use your scrapper or bone folder and rub it onto your mat. This step is very important. You must get all the bubbles out and all of the fabric must be sticking to the mat. It is the only way to get a clean cut.

5. Here are the settings I used:

Blade on 5

Speed on low

Pressure on max

I would also suggest using a new blade or a blade used just for fabrics.

It would also be a good idea to cut out your design first using scrap paper, to make sure placement and size are correct. I use the Cricut Plantin SchoolBook Cartridge, with 4" letters.

I definitely see more of this in my future. You should see the ideas I have swirling around in my head.