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!

I HAVE A WINNER FOR THE LAYER CAKE DRAWING

CONGRATULATION to Steph Blair you are the drawing winner.  I have E-mailed you for you address to send this wonderful layer cake of Gina Martin's Folk Art Holiday.   

MODERN CHRISTMAS TREE APPLIQUÉ

Don't forget to continue the Hop, there are more project posts and more chances to enter for prizes.  Today is Brooke of sillymamquilts and tomorrow Gina Martin the creator of this wonderful fabric.
You can enter any of the bloggers drawings until Thursday the 31st. 

• July 23rd  Becca Bryan www.bryanhousequilts.com
• July 24th  Hilary Smith  www.youngtexanmama.com 
• July 25th  Sally Keller   www.sallysangelworks.typepad.com
• July 28th  Donna Shervington    www.donnaleeq.blogspot.com
• July 29th  Brooke Sellmann   http://www.sillymamaquilts.com
• July 30th  Gina Martin  www.patternandhue.com
• July 31st  Prize Drawings

 I will be giving away a layer cake of Gina's wonderful Christmas fabrics. To enter a chance to win please leave me a comment on what you would create with a layer cake of   Gina's Folk Art Holiday fabrics.  

(international entries  are welcomed) Winners  will be announced July 31st.

My wall hanging or table runner, the piece can be used for either, is 16½ inches wide by 38 inches long.  I saw a picture of a similar project on the back cover of the Bernina Look Book 2014, which was created by Bernina staff.  The book did not provide any directions or pattern for the piece, so I have provided a simple tutorial that I hope will help you if you wish to create a similar item.  

These are the 16 fabrics in the Folk Art Holiday line.  You can use 14 fat quarters, or even a layer cake for the circles and star, but you will need 2 half-yard pieces.  I used one of the half-yard pieces for my background, and the other for my binding.

I had a package of June Tailor Mix ‘n Match Templates for Quilters with 6 different sized circles, however I still needed some different sizes.  I found an old art compass and used it to make additional sizes.  If you do not have templates or access to a compass you can search the kitchen and even the medicine cabinet for tops to jars and medicine bottles for different circle sizes. 

I used Steam-A-Seam 2 Light to adhere my circles to my background fabric.  There are several other brands of adhesive paper that are available.  I drew a variety of circle sizes on my adhesive paper, using the manufacturer’s directions.  I even made some half circles.  Following the manufacturer’s directions I ironed the adhesive on to the back of my different fabrics.  I cut them all out ready to adhere them to my background fabric once I had laid them all out in a pleasing design.  

I used one of the half yards for my background using the salvage-to-salvage 40/42 inches by the 18 half-yard cut.  My choice was to use the white background with the light grey snowflakes, as a winter sky.  

I cut a pot for my tree using a quilters’ triangle ruler, and also cut a lip for the pot with the same ruler. 

I put my background up on my design wall and starting at the bottom of my tree and began to set my circles and half circles in a pleasing manner.  I took care to try to use the most visual colors on the outside of the tree to give the best vision of  a tree design.

My last template was a star.  I found a star template in one of my quilt books that seemed to be the right size, and again used adhesive paper to prepare it for the tree.

When I was happy with the entire design; I iron the pot, circles, half circles, and star to my background.

I appliqued my adhered shapes to my tree using a small zigzag stitch.  I found I did not need stabilizer, but some machines do require the use of it to avoid tunneling.  Usually a light-weight tear away stabilizer is sufficient.

I sandwiched my completed appliqued top with Warm & Natural batting, and used a light gray solid for my backing.  I ironed the layers well and used flower pins to hold the sandwich together while I quilted it.  

I used a light grey regular sewing thread in my bobbin and a light grey Isacord thread for the top thread.  If Isacord is not available Sulky rayon 40wt thread can be purchased at most fabric stores and also works well.  I decided on a wavy quilting pattern, which I thought gave the impression of a winter wind blowing through the tree.   

With all the quilting finished I trimmed off the excess back and batting adjusting the width and length to my desired size and sewed a light grey binding on it and included a hanging sleeve.  I wanted to be able to use the piece for either a wall hanging or table runner.