SF 49er's

I made a pillowcase for my 12 year old grandson, Elijah, for Christmas.  His mom joked that we needed a table runner for Football Sundays.  Our family gets together for the games each week, with treats and a meal.  I had left overs from the pillowcase so decided to take her up on her joke.   

Field Day Placemats

I have been wondering what to do with these Alison Glass prints for some time.  Brooke at Silly Mama Quilts had a great sample of one of these placemats with Alison's fabric on Go Create showing this placemat.

  I pulled out my fabrics and ended up with 11 placemats.  I need to do some searching through my stash for one more print to make it an even 12.  These will be perfect for spring and summer family dinner celebrations.  I did get this one completed.

A Christmas Skirt At Last

I have been talking about making a new Christmas skirt for our tree for at least a couple years.  I had some 4 1/2 inch strips cut from this Figgy Pudding fabric and decided it probably would work well.  

I got the the skirt all finished, even figured out how to face the center hole so I did not have to split it and make ties.  It will fit right over the tree stand before setting the tree in.  I had it all machine bound, with the light print.  

Problem #1:  Now that it was all done except for sewing by hand the binding down.   I decided to try it out on the tree stand.  Might have been smart to see how big it needed to be first.  It was a good 2 inches too small all away around to cover the stand's legs.  

OK:  I cut a 6 1/2 inch bias strip folded it in half and started to sew it all around from the back side.

Problem #2:  It was cupping under so badly that this idea would not work.  So I un-sewed the strip and put in on again sewing it from the top side.

Problem #3:  Now it cupped up instead.  I was smarter this time and only sewed about 10 inches around, in order to test my idea.  Not so much un-sewing this time.  

Hmmmm:  What to do, maybe add pleats every 2 inches or so to give more fabric around, maybe it will lay flat.  WORKS!

I guess this goes to say the Mother of Invention at least when quilting is a couple of major mess ups!   

Tutorial Testing

My VBF asked me this past week if I would help her out by testing one of her tutorials.  I must admit I did add an extra block.  But the tutorial is great.  Easy to follow and a really fun piece.

BROOKE AT SILLYMAMA QUILTS

I used Alison Glass fabrics with Kona solids for the crosses and border.  Such a fun color combination.  

All finished except to handset the binding down.  

Be sure to stop by Brooke's site and take a look at some of her great tutorials.  Brooke at Silly Mama Quilts

Around the World Quilt Blog

Brooke invited me to post my latest project in the Around the World Quilt Blog this past week.  

Brooke at Silly Mama Quilts

Like so many of us I have more projects started than I like to admit.  However, this gave me an opportunity to work on something I have had in mind for some time.
My idea came from Elizabeth Hartman's book Modern Patch Work.  Her pattern was Rapid City.  I am not interested in doing a whole quilt as Elizabeth did, but just combining eight blocks to make a wall hanging that will end up being about 15 inches wide by 40 inches long.
There are actually only four blocks, but I repeated each twice.  I did move some of the fabrics around in each repeat and used a different final frame on each.  I will also use a dark grey and black fabric for a final frame between each block when I join them to make two final blocks.

This was my first block.  I have used all Alison Glass's fabrics, with only Kona solids as the final frame.

One finished block and a second with just some changes to the fabric placements and a different colored frame.

This was the next block I attempted.  I think I am going to like this project.  

Six of the eight are now complete.

Blocks seven and eight.

The final project completed.  I just have to quilt it now.  I have no idea how to quilt it as of now.  I will have to think on that a bit.  

Time to Start Christmas Gifts

I figured I had better start some of my Christmas gifts.  I have some quilting friends I want to remember with a small fun gift.  I think this idea might just be perfect.   

STARS

I love these star blocks.  I've used them several times.  I'm on a mission to use up my Bonnie & Camille fabrics, so this is the last project that I'm making with them.  The quilt will have a total of 42 blocks and measure approximately 66 inches wide by 77 inches long.

Cleaning House Give Away

Give Away (United States only please)

I'm cleaning house.  This tangled  bundle of scraps is about 99% Bonnie & Camille prints.  Yes a whole drawer full!  I'm giving them away this week.  
To enter, just tell me what you would like to do with these scraps.
I will be drawing a winner on Sunday October 5th.  
  

Red Letter Day by Thimble Blossoms

I love Camille Roskelley's fabrics and her Thimble Blossoms patterns, but often they are piecing nightmares for me.  I have a drawer full, in fact two drawers full of her various fabric lines.  I really have to see if I can get something done in them.  The Red Letter Day pattern looked like a winner.  Two out of nine blocks done.  They are huge blocks, 22 1/2 inches square.  I do love them!

Hexis and Linen

I have been playing with the thought of hexagons for some time now.  The English paper piecing thing is just not my idea of fun.  I decided to try appliquéing these down with invisible thread.  It worked really well.  I plan to add a border, but have not decided whether it will be a table runner or a wall hanging.  

Longaberger Basket Liners

This Longaberger basket only had a spring/summer seasons looking liner.  To purchase a liner from the Longaberger company would cost me a pretty pricey amount.  I've made basket liners before, but this one with the two moveable handles were a more complicated job.  

I ended up studying the original basket and incorporating my usual basket liner pattern and finished this fall theme basket liner today.  
I guess I will need to think about a Christmas liner next.  I use this basket on my buffet to gather up all the miscellaneous items that somehow make their way there.  So I want it to blend in with the seasonal runners I use on the buffet.

More Fat Quarter Style Ideas

I'm still playing around with my Fat Quarter Style book.  I really love this pattern and can't wait to start working on it. 

I bought these fabrics from Julie at The Intrepid Thread.  She has the most fabulous fabric at really great prices too.  I think they are a perfect choice for this pattern.  What do you think? 

Color Me Retro

Quite a while ago I put this quilt together.  I had some left overs of Jeni Baker's Color Me Retro and decided to use them up.  Just the finished top stayed on a hanger in my studio for several months.  When I purchased my new Bernina 750Q, I decided to quilt it myself.  That extra large throat on the machine made it a real easy project.  
I belong to a quilt guild in our area that asks you to make one completed quilt each year in your birthday month to give to their charity program.  These quilts go to a number of very worthy charities.  As September is my birthday month this one is my contribution.

Wrenly Christmas

I have decided to finish up several Wrenly Christmas runners that I have had cut out and ready to go for probably two years now.  I work with several ladies and my grandson's teachers that I give runners for Christmas.  It isn't a traditional Christmas fabric, but I love the print and the little bird in the pattern.  

SWEET AS HONEY

I just received these Sweet as Honey fabrics by Bonnie Christine.  They are Art Galley fabric, which are so soft and feel so wonderful.  I am not sure what I plan to do with them.  Placemats for a gift sounds really nice.  The thread is by Aurifil in a 28wt.  It looks so good when used for the quilting.  Aren't these two color just yummy with these fabrics?   

Fat Quarter Style

I finally decided on this pattern for my Hadley fabrics.  Three of the nine fabrics down and six to go.

I'm loving them so far.  

Hadley and Fat Quarter Style

I recently ordered these  Hadley fabrics by Dense Schmidt after seeing them in a magazine ad. I just love them.  

When this great book arrived this week, I knew I had a project for them.

 Would you make this one? 

Or this one!  I haven't made up my mind yet.  

French General Scraps

I love French General fabrics, especially these little bird prints.  My friend Brooke generously gave me her scrap leftovers, and I decided I had to use them along with some linen fabrics I had.  

I quilted the bird fabrics on the vines and outlined the birds.  I used some traditional quilt patterns on the linens.  

A WINNER FOR THESE CUTE LAMINATE PENCIL CASES

OHIO LORI YOUR A WINNER

 I am E-mailing you.  

BACK TO SCHOOL LAMINATE PENCIL CASES IN TWO SIZES

If you had a chance to go to craftytammie this morning you will see that she posted this tutorial for me.  

I have these two cute Laminated Pencil Cases that do not have a home.  

I am giving these away.

Make a comment here on what Back to School projects you like to sew.

I will be drawing two winners on Tuesday the 26th of August.  

Laminated Pencil Cases (In two sizes)

Finished Size 11 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches and 7 1/2 by 4/1/2 inches

This project takes about one hour each to complete.  Just before starting to sew I changed zipper colors on the small case.  I decided I liked the yellow zipper better than the navy, and then decided I wanted to try a longer pencil case as well with the white zipper.   

Materials needed:
One piece of laminate fabric for each case
One zipper 14 inches at least for each case
One laminate measure tape (you will cut approximately 6 inches of the tape for the pencil case handle)  I received this one free.  You can use ribbon instead if you prefer not to cut up you measure tape.
Time needed:
Approximately one hour sewing time for each

Cut your laminate fabric 8 inches by 8 1/2 inches, for the small case and 12 by 9 1/2 for the longer case.  Other than size differences the directions are the same.
On the right side of the laminate lay you zipper down with right sides together on the longer length measurement.  Leave excess zipper on both side, which will eventually be cut off.  Sew with a zipper foot fairly close to the zipper's plastic teeth. 

Fold back laminate and stitch down through laminate and zipper, be sure to sew through the zipper's tape.  Then repeat prior step above and this step for the other side of the zipper.  I used a Teflon sewing machine foot, and as my machine has a built in walking foot sewing over the laminate was very easy. 

 Pull zipper down half way, center bottom of case with zipper teeth the center line, stitch 1/4 inch across bottom of case.  Be sure to double up on stitching over the zipper.  Trim off zipper even with seam edge.

Trim off 6 inches of the laminate measure tape for the case handle.  Fold tape in half ready to insert into top of pencil case.  

Center top of zipper and case and insert tape measure handle with folded edge inside the case, and raw ends that will be sewn into the seam.  Sew 1/4 inch seam and be sure to sew top of zipper  and ends of handle again about 1/8 inch from edge to secure.  Trim off excess zipper top even with seam allowance. 
Now all you have to do is turn your case right side out make sure corners are completely turned out.   
donnaleeq@comcast.net

Don't Miss Out on Craftytammie's Blog Hop

Be sure to use the craftytammie button to enter the Blog Hop taking place beginning August 18th through the 22nd.  

Join Us For a Back to School Blog Hop

Put a note on your calendar to join us for a BACK TO SCHOOL BLOG HOP.  We will have some fun back to school projects and drawings for prizes.  

Scraps to Use Up

I saw a photo of Jeni Bakers article in Love Patchwork & Quilting, Issue Nine. It looked like the perfect project for some of my scraps left over from other projects.  The center fabric is Moroccan Mirage for Anthology Fabrics.  The borders are a Mustard Yellow Essex Linen.  

I used a very close quilting lines and 12 wt. thread.  I didn't try to make straight lines, instead just making them slightly wavy.   

Field Day by Alison Glass

I decided to take a bit of a break and try out something different with Alison Glass Field Day fabrics. I did get it quilted and bound, but the hand work is not done yet on the binding.  Sure brightens ones day!