Buzzing and Bumbling

A Hodgepodge of Tips

2012-02-09T11:02:00.000-06:00

We all struggle to make what we do easier, faster, more controllable, or just more efficient. I have a handful of tips that you might find useful. You may already do these things, but it might be that you find something helpful here.

1. Do you see that little round button on the floor? The one made to make turning on your Christmas tree easier? (We call it a "stomper", but I'm sure it has a real name!)Well, it works like a dream with your iron!!! It's easier than stepping on that little switch on your power strip, and since my iron turns on and off by plugging and unplugging, it is a LOT easier than bending down to plug and unplug.

2. This one is simple. I use one of those inexpensive plastic "buckets" as a trash can in my sewing room. It has a very wide top, so throwing those tiny threads and scraps in is much easier!

3. I use hardware bins to hold my embroidery thread. Each drawer front has a snippet of floss and the number. Since I like to put embroidery on my quilts, I love having my floss so accessible. Did you know these have slots for wall mounting? Mine are mounted on the wall, one on top of the other.

4. Because I use freezer paper for all my applique and designing, I buy big rolls of it from U-Line. The paper cutter is also available from them and has made my life so much easier! I've had this roll of freezer paper for several years and I use it a LOT! At about $50 a large roll, it isn't cheap, but when you use as much as I do it is a lot cheaper than buying it by the box in the grocery store. I would spring for the extra to buy the cutter, too. It really makes it easy to use!

5. If you have a guest room that isn't used often, store your quilts under the bedspread on the bed. It keeps them flat and out of dust and light. I've even given an impromtu "quilt show" when asked by peeling back each layer to show each quilt.

6. Keep a luggage tag on the machine you take to workshops. (Since so many in my group have Featherweights, I keep my name on mine all the time.) I put a ribbon through a toggle clip (that can clip on my handle) and embroidered my name on it. I then sewed both layers of ribbon together. I've had it for several years and although it has a few spots, it has been durable.


7. Use your crockpot! If it weren't for my crockpot, my poor husband would have to take me out to eat almost every night! (Not such a bad thing, but I don't think he would go for it!) I put our dinner in the crock pot in the morning and leave it all day so I can quilt. I feel like I have a built in babysitter in my kitchen when I use mine. I don't have to run back and forth to the stove. (I also like to bake bread, so when I don't have time, I use my trusty bread machine! Another great time saver!)

8. Use your glue stick in place of basting and in situations where you want an accurate hem or insert. (This photo is from my post about hemming napkins and using the glue stick to turn under the hem before sewing.) I use glue sticks as much as I use freezer paper!

Well, I have other tips scattered throughout my posts, but these are the ones I wanted to share with you today. Hopefully, you found something useful. Have a great day!

Making Ribbon Labels - Tutorial

2012-02-06T12:16:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wanted a label to give your quilts or other handwork that little punch of "professionalism"? Maybe you just want an easier way to label simple quilts or to send a message to the recipient. This method is not my idea. I've seen it several places before. I have used it now for a couple of years and although it isn't perfect, it works really well and costs a lot less than having labels made.

Print out columns of what you want your label to say. You will be cutting them out, so you don't really need much spacing between them. Be sure you don't print them too large to fit on your ribbon. You will want to test this on plain paper.
You will need fabric transfer paper for inkjet printers. Be sure to read the label. Some are made for copiers! READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! Mine said to print mirror image.Since I use Word, which does not have a mirror image option, I set my printer to print mirror image. On my Cannon Pixma printer, this option is called "T-Shirt Transfer" in the "media" section of printer options. (There may be other ways to set your printer to print in mirror image. You probably know a lot more about that than I do!!!)

Be sure you put your paper in facing the correct side. That will probably vary with your printer, but be sure you will be printing on the correct side of the transfer sheet.

Cut out what you want on your ribbon. I do this one at a time so I don't lose any!

Place the wording down on the ribbon, making sure it is not upside down. When straight and in the correct position, press with a hot iron for about 20 to 30 seconds. Check carefully by pulling back just a little to see if it has transferred. If part of the letters are not sticking, put it back down and continue to press.

Peel off the paper and you should have a nice label. This will wear off with frequent washing and handling, just as it does on a t-shirt, so you may want to do this next step to make it more permanent.

Brush on some gel medium and let it dry.

You should decide beforehand how you will want to sew your labels in. You can go across the corner, sewing the ends of the ribbon into the binding (you need to leave your ribbon flat, but leave enough ribbon at each end to sew it at an angle)...or.....

...you can make your ribbon a loop that you sew into the side of a label or your quilt binding...... or....

...you can sew your label lengthwise into the binding. If you do this, you will want to make a ribbon loop, turn it inside out and sew across the raw edges, then turn it right side out again and press.

I found the hardest part of this entire process was in figuring out how to get a mirror image, so once you do that the rest is easy!
Have fun!!!

Finished Scrap Quilt Top

2012-02-02T17:58:00.000-06:00

I finished the quilt top made from the "Terrain" scrap blocks from my last post. I love the way it turned out! I used vintage sheets for the sashing and outer border, so the entire quilt is made from scraps and recycled fabric. It's so much fun to think that I have a quilt top where I formerly had a pile of scraps! I can't wait to get it quilted. This is the second scrap quilt I've made since Christmas. My scrap pile is still large, but I now have two quilts that (at least in my mind) cost me almost nothing! This could be addicting.

I'm not sure I'll ever use up all my fabrics, not even counting the scraps, but it sure is fun trying!

Using Those Scraps!

2012-01-30T11:41:00.000-06:00

Back in the summer, I won these trimmings from Kate Spain and the line she had coming out at the time. I put them aside, ready to use them in my applique and piecing. They are strips between an inch wide all the way to about 6inches wide, and not enough of any one color to do standard blocks. I decided to start some scrappy blocks using the same method I use for piecing the backs of my quilts, only small enough for blocks.

I started out by cutting a wide piece about 9" long (you can use any size you want) and evened up the sides. I also cut a couple of pieces from the narrow strips.

I cut one strip down the center and sewed it to each side of the other strip. Then I cut the larger block in half lengthwise, making the cut at the side and not the center.

I sewed the strip between the two sections of the block.

You can either stop here, or cut the block into two more sections by cutting widthwise and inserting another strip like the first. There is no reason your blocks all have to be the same, but try to carry one color over into each block to tie them all together.

Here are a few of the blocks I've made from my little treasure pile of scraps. Notice that some are very simple and others have more piecing. If a block is not quite large enough, simply add more strips either on the edge of in the middle of the block. It couldn't be more simple. Trim all the blocks the same size or have some large and some small. Mine are all 6" x 9". You can see by the arrangement that I will be able to add little "pops" of color in the areas where the blocks don't come together.
This seems to be a year that many of us have chosen to use up as many of our scraps as we can. What a wonderful challenge! I'm going to see if I can turn these into something useful as well as beautiful!

Depression Era Quilt Top?

2012-01-27T15:44:00.000-06:00

My husband's sweet cousins (thank you, DD and Linda!) found this pretty quilt top at an estate sale and put it aside for me. It has the characteristic "bubble gum" pink of the Depression era and many of the fabrics in the Dresden plate design appear to be from flour or feed sacks.

Although the sashing is machine sewn, the Dresden plate design is sewn with hand stitching.
I am going to set this aside for a little while and really think about how it should be quilted. I wish there had been a little tag along with it telling who made it. I imagine the hours and hours put into it. I tend to make up my own back story if I haven't been given one, so I imagine some little Texas grandmother sewing these blocks while sitting on the porch in a rocking chair. (She had to get out of the stifling hot house on those summer days, so she sat in the shade with a breeze on her face.) As she pulled out each little carefully cut shape, she thought about where she got the fabric. It might have started out as a flour sack or a sack of chicken feed. It probably was made into a little child's romper before being put aside to be cut up for quilt fabric. The same hands that sewed these designs so carefully, also shelled peas and shucked corn. She kneaded bread at least once a week and often thrilled the "men folk" with her pies. She always wore an apron and spent many hours hanging the laundry on a line outside the kitchen door. Her babies were born at home and a few of them died there. When her sons marched off to war, she waited weeks and sometimes months to hear from them, each day with a prayer for their safe return. She was "soft as a kitten" and "tough as nails". How sad that her family didn't think of all this when they decided this top was not something they wanted to keep.
This makes me want to finish all my UFO's and get labels on them! I think I may put a note on each one of them, telling a little about why I started it and maybe even why I didn't finish!

Ultra-Absorbant Bib with a Cupped Bottom - tutorial

2012-01-26T00:01:00.002-06:00

Now, you are either going to think I'm clever or crazy, but I came up with this bib that's protective enough to use with an adult as well as a toddler.
I went to the store with the intention of buying some inexpensive bibs to alter and embellish. I didn't find any I liked, but I did notice that most were made a lot like a washcloth with a neck cut out. SO......like a good little crafter, I went to the washcloth aisle and started looking at the selections. I happened to notice that there was something on that aisle that was already shaped like a bib, but with a few differences. It was ...........

...made to fit on a toilet lid. The thing I liked about it was that it had a wonderful, soft texture and a rubberized backing that would prevent leak- throughs.


1. Place the cover on a large piece of paper. I found it helpful to put this all on a carpet and to pin it down around the middle to hold it in place. Stretch out each edge and trace it off to make a pattern.

2. Cut out your pattern and make a neckhole at the top. You might need to taper the edges toward the top also. I left only the elastic at the bottom of the bib and cut off the elastic from the top 2/3 of each side.


3. Cut a fleece lining, making it about 1/2" larger all the way around.

4. Pin the lining to the bib, putting right sides together. Sew around the outer edge. Leave the neckline open.

5. Cut a 20" x 3" strip of the fleece. Center it on the neckline and sew one edge of the fleece to the neckline. (It will hang over at the ends.) Finish off the extended ends by folding the right sides together and sewing across the ends and down the side until you get to the neckline. Turn right sides out. Then turn the raw edge along the neckline under and sew it down.


6. Sew hook and loop tape to each end of the extension.

You may need to manipulate the edge of the bib a little to make it cup upward. You may even want to sew it in place. This is a heavy duty bib! Guaranteed to catch messy drips and little ones love the texture!

Valentine Booklet Tutorial

2012-01-23T11:13:00.001-06:00

Here's a sweet little idea for you to make using scraps, cardboard, and paper. The verse reads:

Roses are red, Violets are blue.

Here are some things I love about you!

(You can then use the remaining pages to list the things you love about the recipient. Maybe you can even use some photos!)
This is a very easy project. Here's the tute:


1. Cut two heart shapes from cardboard. (You can use a cookie cutter for a pattern or cut one from paper first.)

2. Trace the hearts onto the wrong side of your fabric scrap, leaving about 1/2" allowance around the edges.

3. Cut out the fabric hearts on the seam allowance. Clip almost to the line on the curved edges.

4. Use a permanent glue stick to glue the seam allowance over the edge of the cardboard heart. Make two. These are your covers. On the front cover, leave about 1 1/2" open for stuffing.

5. Use a craft stick to stuff a small amount of fiberfill under the fabric on the front cover to slightly puff it. After you get it the way you like it, glue the open edge closed.


6. Cut two hearts from felt. Glue the felt to the back of each cover to hide the turned over seam allowance.

7. Print out or write your chosen verse and cut your pages from paper. Stack them up and trim to fit inside the booklet.

8. There are probably many ways to bind your book, but this is a very easy way. I simply took several strands of embroidery floss and sewed through the book at the top of each curve of the heart, making loops. Be sure you test whether of not your book will open. You need to leave the loops loose. I suspect a couple of jewelry rings would work better, but I didn't have any on hand. A very narrow ribbon might also work well.

I chose to glue a few sequins on the top. A silk flower, embroidery, applique, or even nothing at all could be used. Now fill the pages with the things you love about the recipient - their sweet smiles, their thoughtful nature, the way they listen........etc.

NOTE: Here is an alternate method of binding the pages together. Simply fold your fabric in half before cutting and place one edge of the heart at the fold. When you turn the edges, you will be turning one piece of fabric over 2 cardboard hearts (see the photo above). Cut your paper with the fold at the edge also, then sew down the middle (on your sewing machine) to connect all the pages. Instead of gluing felt over the cardboard cover backs, you will glue the first and last page of the paper to the front and back, as shown below.

You could also use this idea for a little booklet of inspirational thoughts or uplifting scriptures. Use your imagination! There's no reason the shape has to be a heart. You could use any shape that you can cut out and turn your fabric over. It doesn't even have to be a Valentine. It could be a fun little autograph book for a little girl, or a book of coupons for Mother's Day, tiny watercolored sketches or even a Get Well gift for someone who needs it.

Have fun, and .....

Tutorial - Handbag Pin Cushion

2012-01-18T10:22:00.001-06:00

My quilt guild is having a pin cushion swap coming up this spring. I thought I would try to make a few now so that the date doesn't creep up on me. Spring gets really busy for me!

This is my first attempt - a pin cushion shaped like a handbag (we call it a purse around here, but I know the terminology changes with location.

It was super easy to make.


1. I used felt and cut 1 rectangle 9 1/4" x 4" and two triangles (the sides of the purse) with a base of 2 3/4" and sides that are 3".

2.Begin by placing the point at the top of the two long sides at the bottom edge of the rectangle and sewing all three triangle sides to the side, pivoting at each triangle corner. You should have a about 2" of rectangle left at the end to use as a flap on the purse. The right side is a little trickier. You will need to measure down from the top of the rectangle and start the same distance from the top as you ended up with on the other side. (the approximate 2", in other words)


3. This is what you will end up with. Now turn it "right side out" so that the seams will be on the inside. Round off the flap.

4. For a handle use a 1" x 6 1/2" strip of felt folded lengthwise and sewn down both sides.

5. Sew the ends of the handle at the inside top of the purse sides.

6. Cut a piece of cardboard to go in the bottom. It will be about 2" x 3 1/2", but measure the bottom of your piece to find the size you need.

7. Fill with either polyester batting, cotton batting, or crushed walnut shells. If filling with crushed walnut shells, tuck an extra strip of felt across the open top and down each side when almost full. Sew in place, adding more filling before making the last stitches.. Alternatively, you could make a separate little pouch for the walnut shells and fill in around the sides with batting. This will keep them from leaking out.

8. Add little snippets of lace and beading by sewing to the top where they will be hanging out of the flap.

9. I added some fabric glue around the inside edges and the underside of the flap. This was just extra insurance the crushed walnut shell wouldn't leak.

10. Add a little button and stitch the flap closed.


And that's it! Consider using fabric instead of the quilt. You could also add embroidery or trim. What I've shown is just basic. You might even try layering and quilting each piece before sewing. You could add jewelry findings, little bead feet, contrasting corners, pockets on the side, etc. The flap could even be made in a contrasting fabric. Use your imagination and run wild with it!

My Very First Quilt Tops - 33 years ago

2012-01-16T10:03:00.000-06:00

I was looking through my UFO box this morning and came across my two oldest "unfinished objects".
When my two oldest sons were very young (about 2 yrs. and 4 yrs. old) I attempted to make quilt tops for them.

Quilting was not yet a popular thing in the late 70's. I didn't know anyone who quilted except my husband's aunt. She didn't live nearby, so I couldn't go to her for advice. AND, machine quilting wasn't acceptable at this point. You mailed off your top to someone who would hand quilt it for you and mail it back. I couldn't afford to do that at this point in my life, so they stayed unquilted.

I didn't have a pattern or even a book to tell me how to sew a quilt top, so I just came up with my own designs and dove in. I did have a couple of quilts passed down to me, so I knew most quilts had blocks and sashing (although I had no idea of the terminology). The fabric available then was a polyester/cotton blend, so that's what I used along with scraps I had been given.

I had no idea of the things to really watch out for when putting my top together. I didn't know what made a quilt top neat and nicely sewn.

Now I know that my blocks and sashing should line up!

my poor little fish is upside down, but that's not the worst of his problems!

My blocks should be the same size!

And I know now to not cut the points off my triangles!

Despite these problems that seem so obvious now, I put these unquilted tops on my boy's beds and let them enjoy them. They have a few spots and stains and I had to repair several seams.

Now......do I quilt them in their current condition or take them apart and rework them before quilting? The "persnickety" among you will say "REWORK", but could it be the true value of these sad little quilt tops is that a young mother made an attempt to provide something special for her little boys despite her limitations? Would reworking them destroy the evidence of that? I'll have to think about this one - maybe for another 33 years!

New Quilt - I Won't be Afraid

2012-01-12T12:28:00.001-06:00

Do you know of someone who is going through a tough time - surgery, chemo, life changes? Or how about a child who is afraid of the dark? Or maybe you need something inspirational for a prayer room wall at church. This quilt is made to comfort. The verse on it reads "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise. In God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psalm 56: 3,4"

I used string blocks as my border. In fact, as I laid them out to photograph for my last post, I started thinking of ways to use them in a border. I ended up using a foundation strip the size and length of my borders instead of blocks. I machine quilted along each seam in the border, which gives a very nice texture.. It is quilted in swirls and pebbles around the raised circles. The backing is a soft, cream fleece.

I have worked non-stop on finishing it. My fingers are sore, but I like the results. This photo doesn't really do the texture of the quilt justice. (I will have it in pattern form within the month. If you are interested in pre-ordering it, just email me for details.)
For me, this verse is a good verse to start the new year on. I am not facing adversity right now, but what great things could I do if I did not let fear get in the way?

Waste Not, Want Not!

2012-01-09T00:01:00.003-06:00

Have you ever thought about how much money you throw away when you throw out those little scraps? If you weigh one yard of fabric you will find that it weighs an average (depending on the fabric, of course) of 5 ounces. That means that if you pay $10 a yard you are paying $2 an ounce. My scrap pile above weighs 7 1/2 oz., so I would be throwing away about $15 worth of fabric. Hmmm..........I must say that this is a very small portion of my scraps!!I have four bins stuffed to brimming with scraps of all sizes. I weighed the fabric in one bin at 8 lbs. The fabric in that one bin alone has fabric worth at least $256! Remember I have 4 of them. I don't want to even think about how much I've spent on fabric in the past! I want to use up every tiny bit of fabric I can. It is the "green" thing to do, after all. (There is a point, of course, where you need to just give those scraps away or throw them away. I don't promote hoarding!) I decided to make a string quilt. Our quilting great grandmothers used this method often to use up scraps and provide warming quilts for their family. Most of you probably know how to make one, but there are still some of you out there who don't know how simple it is. You can make blocks any size depending on the size of your scraps. String blocks are good if you have a lot of long narrow scraps. Here is one I made a few years ago. Absolutely everything, including batting, was scrap. I used a leopard print silky fleece left over from pillows for the backing. It is large enough to curl up in while watching television.


You can make these either with or without a foundation to "build" on. For a foundation you could use scraps or inexpensive muslin. Actually, my husband's aunt used newspaper. She tore it off after all blocks were sewn together. (Another opportunity to recycle.)

Start by placing the first strip right side up at the edge of the foundation (your muslin or newspaper). If you're not using a foundation, you will just sew each strip to the next.

Place the second strip right sides together matching the edges. Sew this using a 1/8" seam at the edge.


Flip this piece over and press. Continue by adding each successive piece just as you did this one until you have covered your foundation. You can keep your strips uniformly straight, or let them become "wonky".


Here are a couple of finished blocks. I think I will start putting all my strips from cutting in a bin dedicated to strips. These could made great "piano key" borders or just string quilts. This might even make a nice project for someone just learning to sew. You don't have to worry about grainline when you have a foundation. Until next time....

A Toy Light Box that Works!

2012-01-05T14:42:00.001-06:00

I've found a great little light box and it was in the toy section! It cost less than $20 and is large enough for 8 1/2" x 11" pages. It is made by Crayola and is called the "Light Up Tracing Desk". It's light and portable and would be easy to take on a retreat or to a class.

I will pass the stickers and princess pages on to someone who will appreciate them.

Here is the little light box, complete with a handle for easy carrying. The Disney Princess sticker in the bottom corner can be removed, but since my sister claims that my husband treats me like a princess, I will leave mine where it is!

You may want to give this a try. You might even find it on sale since the holidays are over. It's so easy to use, a child can do it!

My Christmas Present!

2012-01-03T09:14:00.000-06:00

What a great holiday! I've been so busy with my sons visiting, I haven't even sat down at the computer. We had a great time, from sitting around talking or relaxing with a movie, to going on a Segway tour of San Antonio! (I was terrified that I wouldn't like that, but it was so much fun I'm ready to go again! We sailed over sidewalks and through parks and plazas with the sun warming us up. It was a blast!!) My sons are hilariously witty and entertaining, so everything we did turned out to be funny! We made some new memories that we can talk about during holidays to come.

The little "flimsy" above (actually it is pretty large) was made with what Santa brought me this Christmas. I haven't finished it yet. I'm thinking of putting a design element in the corners.

This is my new Accuquilt Go!. I've already gotten a pretty good start on wearing out one cutting mat! I've never been big on piecing as my favorite method is applique. I think this machine will make it easier to do more piecing in addition to that. The quilt top was made while my husband watched a couple of football games this weekend.

As a former teacher, I have been familiar with die cutters for quite some time. In the past, they were designed for paper and the librarian at our school warned us all that each die cost around $100! We were not even allowed to do our own cutting because she was afraid we might ruin one of those expensive dies. (She was also afraid we might stick our hand over the die while cutting and end up with a hole in our hand! Teachers are often treated as children. I don't know why!) Thankfully, the Go! is designed for fabric and the dies, although still relatively expensive, are not as expensive as the ones we had at school. If you cut your fabric into strips just a little larger than the die, you can limit waste. I used mostly scraps from my scrap bin to make the quilt top above. This made accuracy so easy! Everything went together quickly and easily, which is important to me.

If you haven't tried a Go! yet, you might want to put it on your list for the next big gift giving holiday.

My Christmas Elf

2011-12-15T11:58:00.000-06:00

As I was attempting to straighten my quilting studio, I opened a box that had this little doll that I made last year. I had forgotten about him. He didn't have clothes yet and I had gotten busy and put him away. I decided that he would be fun to put out for Christmas this year, so I finished him off and placed him under the tree to watch over the gifts until Christmas. I can see I need to work on the little boots a little more (didn't notice until I put the picture up!).
Every time I make a doll I remember how much I love doing it!
My youngest son flies in on Saturday and my oldest on Thursday of next week! The middle son won't make it this year, so I am a little sad about that, but so thankful that I live in a world of cell phones and internet where people all over the world can connect in seconds! What a blessing!

Happy Holidays!

Faster Method for Double Turned Narrow Hems , Tutorial

2011-12-12T00:01:00.002-06:00


I had 16 table napkins to hem. UGH! After spending about 30 minutes hemming one, I was trying to find a strategy for getting them all hemmed before Christmas dinner!! I was thinking along the lines of - "If I hem two a day, I will have them finished in about a week." The problem was that it was tedious turning each side of the hem and pressing, then turning again and pressing, then making sure it stayed turned while I sewed each side. Doesn't sound hard, but it was more time consuming than I wanted to deal with. Then I turned to my trusty glue stick and came up with a method that allowed me to make 15 more in about 40 minutes! Such a simple little trick, but it really made my work easy and fast!!


I cut my fabric 24" x 14". In my mind, this was a nice size for placing across your lap. You can cut them the size you want.

Run a line of glue stick along one side at a time and turn the hem in 1/4". (I was not really exact in turning. After all, these are going to be used to wipe dirty mouths! I just eyeballed the turn under.)

Press the hem down. (Do only one side at a time.)

Run another line of glue stick along the turned under hem and repeat turning and pressing. Now you have a double turned hem ready to sew.


To reduce bulk in the corners, you can trim the corner before the second turn under. Sew your hem down on each side, pivoting at each corner. TA-DAH! You're finished. Give it a try to see if it doesn't make the work of hemming much faster!

Boot Napkin Ring Tutorial

2011-12-09T10:04:00.000-06:00


My last post showed a table setting based on my Cowboy Santa Christmas plates. I've been asked how the napkin rings were made. These are so simple, you will be surprised. You could make them in any shape you want, too! There is no reason it has to be a boot.

Draw off the shape you want. Cut it out and place it on a doubled (wrong sides together) piece of your chosen fabric. I used an embossed upholstery fabric that looks like leather.

Cut out the shape.

Sew a very scant seam along the two sides. Leave the top and bottom open. Because this fabric can't ravel, I didn't have to turn any edges. This would also work with felt.


Roll up your napkin, fold in half, and insert into the boot.

My next post will be a method to speed up and simplify hemming table napkins if you don't have a rolled hem foot for your machine.

Christmas Lunch Tables

2011-12-08T08:37:00.000-06:00

My family is coming to my house for lunch after church on Christmas day. I have two tables set up - one in the breakfast area and one in the dining room. Our local Texas based grocery store (HEB) has Christmas plates this year with a Cowboy Santa and the Alamo in the background. The plates are china, not plastic, and at $2.50 a plate, I couldn't resist. I already had the Alamo from my Christmas village, so I set it up (raised on a box) in the center of a wreath. The cactus candles had been in my closet unused for a couple of years.

The "boot" napkin holders are simply cut from an embossed faux leather and sewn together only on the sides (left open at top and bottom).
I made a simple rope "loop" to slip over the glass.

The dining room is set up a little more formally. The round table in there is 75" across, so I can seat 8 people easily. I found these sweet little salad/dessert plates at Walgreens for $1 each! I already had white plates and red chargers. I made simple little napkin holders of loops of stretchy sequined ribbon ($2.50 for a roll).

The centerpiece is a wreath surrounded by a garland of red berries. I placed a plant stand in the center, scrunched the leftover ribbon around the space between the wreath and the stand, and placed a frosted red-polka dotted trifle bowl on the stand. The poinsettia was set in the bowl. I placed a dove on the side of the wreath. There is a cardinal on the other side.

The pictures don't show the complete table settings since I still have more napkins to make, but I think you can get the general idea. We will eat "buffet" style since we have to sit at two tables, so I didn't need a lot of room on the table for food. I also didn't put out place cards because I want my family members to sit at the table they like best.
I still have a lot of time to make little changes and improvements to my tables, but I can enjoy the decorating during the entire holiday season!

A Gift Idea for Your Quilting Friends!

2011-12-06T00:01:00.001-06:00


If you're needing a small holiday gift for quilting friends (or any other friends for that matter!) this might be an easy one for you to try. If you're like me, when you quilt, sew, or embroider, you often end up with pricked, sore fingers. This lotion has vitamin E to help them heal and to give your hands a soothing, smoothing treat on these cold, dry days. (I am having a horrible time getting my post to do what I want it to do! I'm having to write all of this as a comment on the photo since I can't seem to do anything else!!! ) There are recipes all over the internet for making hand lotion at home. The one I chose is from Patchwork Times and uses 16oz. baby lotion, 8 oz. Vitamin E cream, and 8 oz. Vaseline. I chose the Vaseline that contains Cocoa Butter. Mix all of the above in a mixer until it is creamy. I found empty squeeze bottles (3 oz. size) in the travel section at Wal-Mart. I had to fill them by putting the lotion in a plastic bag (the kitchen zipper type) and snipping off one corner. I then squeezed the lotion into each bottle, tapped it to settle the lotion, and filled again until full. I made up a name for it and printed off a free vintage tag (also found by searching the internet). I tied a ribbon around the top of each and they are ready for gift giving. Here is another site you might want to check out for recipes, suggestions, and even labels! This site has a natural lotion that does not use "pre-existing" lotions. A Sonoma Garden

Quilted Christmas Tree Wall hanging

2011-12-04T15:53:00.000-06:00

In the hallway between my laundry room and kitchen pantry, I've put a simple quilted tree. I made it in wide horizontal strips using scraps of green. In the horizontal seams, I put ribbon loops that I can hang either ornaments or candy canes on. It would be great for a dorm room or small space. It takes up only as much room as what you hang on it, except for the space on the wall or door.
I didn't use a pattern and I don't have a tutorial since I made this several years ago. I used large half square triangles at the ends of each row and made each row successively wider than the one above it. (You are viewing this at an angle because the hallway is too narrow for me to get a photo straight on.) I added the cardinals because I like them. You could leave them off or add something you like more.
In a few days I will post the dining tables I've set up for Christmas. I need to find fabric for table napkins, so I still have that to do. I can't seem to find any sold commercially that will work for my tables. I'm anxious to show you what I've done with a few inexpensive Christmas plates and what I already had around the house.
Until next time, I hope you find time to relax and do the things you love!

Little Red Riding Hood

2011-12-01T14:02:00.000-06:00


Little Red Riding Hood - finished!

It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas!

2011-11-28T08:32:00.000-06:00

I've started putting up my Christmas decorations. My husband has lights on the outside of the house and I now have the tree up. I usually put several trees up, so this is only the first. I'm not sure I will keep it like this, but I've been missing snow. It doesn't snow here except on very rare occasions, so I put snow on my tree. I plan to add more snowflake ornaments, but I have to buy more first. I also think I will sprinkle sparkly artificial snow over the tree. I haven't put anything on the top of the tree yet because I need a ladder to do that and my husband was using the ladders while putting the lights up!

I put cardinals in several places around the tree. One of my fondest snow memories is from when we lived in Georgia. I had a very large window in my kitchen that looked out over a deck. It had snowed and the deck was covered in a layer of white. I kept a bird feeder there and enjoyed watching them come and go. Because of the snow, I had sprinkled a couple of handfuls of sunflower seeds over the snow earlier. I was busy in the kitchen and looked out in time to see at least a dozen cardinals gather on the deck to eat sunflower seeds. It was one of those "magical" moments for me.

I have a wonderful painting in my entryway that is "on loan" from my sister. I added a dove to the globe to tie into the tree with birds and to symbolize "Peace on Earth". I enjoy setting up little vignettes that tell a story.

I'll show you more later, but I haven't really finished much more than this. I still have an entire village to set up, for instance!
Until next time, have a wonderful holiday season!

Winter Scene Quilt

2011-11-21T08:13:00.000-06:00

I made this little wallhanging about 3 years ago.Using scraps from my scrap box, I started with a background, ironed fusible webbing to my fabric, and cut out shapes to fill the scene. I ironed them on where I wanted them, but then sewed around their edges. I might add more this year, if I have a free moment or two! I can think of several things I would like to add. It might be fun to let the children cut out some tiny shapes, too! This little quilt is 42" x 32 1/2".

This is an extremely busy week with Thanksgiving on Thursday, my mother's birthday on Friday, and my daddy having cataract surgery on Tuesday. I have food to make for different occasions on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm working frantically on finishing the Little Red Riding Hood quilt, but I'm not sure I will finish this week. I wish I could say that things will calm down after this week, but the busy holiday season is just getting underway!
If I don't have another chance, let me tell my U. S. friends Happy Thanksgiving! Hopefully, this is not something we do only once a year!!!

Owl Ornament Tutorial

2011-11-14T09:31:00.000-06:00

The holiday season is beginning! I would start decorating in July if my husband would let me. In fact, I would keep a tree up all year! I love the season and all the decorating that goes along with it.
So....until the new year, I'll be posting ideas for gifts, ornaments, decorating, holiday foods, or whatever I can dream up for the season. Today, I made a little group of owl ornaments. I used fabric scraps from my scrap box. You could hang them on a tree or use them on a gift (maybe along with a card that reads "Owl Have a Blue Christmas Without You" or "Owl Be Home for Christmas!". I group of them might make a nice little arrangement on a table or hanging from a sparkly branch as a centerpiece.
They're quick and easy to make. For even more fun, let your children or grandchildren decorate them!


Your owl can be absolutely any size you want. I made mine fairly small, but if you want them large, then use larger scraps. Place your scraps right sides together and draw a shape similar to that above. I gave mine the little "horns" that characterize owls and made the base a little wider than the top.

Sew on the lines, leaving the bottom open.

Turn right sides out.


Cut ovals of cardboard and of felt to fit inside the bottom opening. You can stand your little figure up and get a pretty good idea of how big to make the oval. It doesn't have to fit perfectly, only close.

Stuff each owl with either polyester stuffing or cotton stuffing.

Sew a running stitch around the bottom of the owl.

Insert the cardboard and pull the running stitch to close the bottom over it.

Sew the felt over the bottom.

Coat the figure with gel medium. Let dry well. (If you don't have gel medium, white glue such as Elmer's can be used as a substitute.) This will give the figure a "harder" surface.

Use gesso to paint face and tummy areas.

Use colored permanent marker to add details.

Sew a little loop of floss at the top of each if you want to hang them. Don't try for perfection on these. Let them have character. I would really love to see these detailed by children. So have fun!

Happy Holidays!

Chalkboard Tablecloth Tutorial

2011-11-07T07:42:00.000-06:00

I promised you a tutorial on making a chalkboard tablecloth similar to the one I made using Ghastlies fabric. That cloth was made for a round table, but I'm going to show you the basic process here in a square. This is made for a doll's table but the process is the same. Just measure your table and use those dimensions for the chalkboard portion of your cloth.


To begin, I used Roc-Lon Blackout Lining for the chalkboard. This is a lining sold in the drapery section of fabric stores. It has a "rubbery" feeling on one side that is smoother than the "fabric" side. You want to use this smooth side for your chalkboard side. You will also need Chalkboard paint. You can find this in most hardware stores.

Here is the can, but it came packaged in a box.

If you can't find the chalkboard paint, you can paint your surface with a double layer of gesso and a double layer of craft paint. You can use any color you wish! (It is a little more expensive and time consuming to do it this way, but if you have the supplies you might want to give it a try. Use matte finish paint!

Paint the surface, keeping your brush strokes as smooth as possible.

When your surface is completely dry, you can "prime" your chalkboard by covering it with chalk using the side of your stick of chalk. NOTE: you can do this after you sew on the borders if you wish.

Using a chalkboard eraser or a folded up piece of batting or felt, smooth the chalk all over the board. You are trying to redistribute the chalk, not remove it. When you write with the chalk, find a "soft" point on the chalk stick, not an extremely hard one. You don't want to scratch the surface. (This is also true on a regular chalkboard.) Your chalkboard surface is ready to go now. If you wash it off, you will need to "re-prime" the surface with chalk.

Sew borders on two opposite sides of the center. You can sew through this very easily!

After pressing them open (YES, you can press this! Just in case your fabric is different from mine, proceed with caution at first.) Sew the remaining two borders on. Press.


Now sew your outer borders in the same way.

After turning under the edges and sewing a narrow hem, you are finished! Have fun with your tablecloth - play hangman with your children.....

....leave notes for your family.....

or use it at a party!

Last Day of the Ghastlie Blog Hop and Winner of My Giveaway!

2011-11-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today is the last day of the Ghastlie Blog Hop! Thank you so much for the wonderful responses to my post yesterday! I also thank you for helping me to reach my goal of 300 followers and to go a little over that! What wonderful friends you all are! Apart from the Day 9 winner of the blog hop (click on the Ghastlie logo on the sidebar to check on the winner, announced by Madame Samm), the winner of MY giveaway, the chef's apron on the left, (chosen by Random Number Generator) was Carolyn:

Carolyn said...: YAY I'm a follower and you are over your 300 mark! woohooo! I am just blown over by all of your wonderful Ghastlie ideas!! Love the aprons, your quilt, just everything. This blog hop has been so fun. I'm glad it's going to be a yearly thing! I would love to enter your giveaway, too!Thanks for the chance! I'll be contacting her by email for a mailing address. But you still have a chance to win a great prize! Comment on each of the blogs on the hop today and get a chance to win one of these great prizes: DAY 10 Giveaways; Jodi from Forth Worth Fabric Studio
sent along this lovely package of Ghastlies
I think it was 5 collections...lots' of yardage; Velocity 50 from Reliable; Here are the blogs for today! Be sure to visit each one and leave a comment !; Mrs Nan Ghastlie; Mrs. Gmama Jane Ghastlie; Mrs Joan Ghastlie; Mrs. Nancy Ghastlie; Ms Susan Ghastlie; Madame Ghastlie

Ghastlie Blog Hop - Today's My Day!!!

2011-11-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

I'm a hostess today on the Ghastlie Blog Hop! Welcome! I want to show you a way to use the Ghastlie fabric line from Alexander Henry in a way that is not connected with Halloween. Do you have a friend with a "milestone" birthday coming up? How about a Ghastlie birthday party?

Or maybe a friend or coworker is leaving? Or you're hosting the book club and the month's selection is a murder mystery or thriller?

I started with a tablecloth. I made chalkboard fabric (tutorial is coming soon!) and edged it with Ghastlie fabric. I can write on the tablecloth the names of the foods I serve or leave messages for the honoree! Guests could leave little messages too! I think the grandkids would LOVE this!

Then I made a doll using the knitting aunts as inspiration! She's trying to rest up and read a good book before the party, but as you can see,this spider just won't leave her alone!

I also made a hostess apron using "leftover" fabric.( Didn't have a model so I had to use an overturned chair! Not very slim and beautiful, but it worked!) I also made two hot pads from scraps.

And, because you were nice enough to visit me and leave a comment, you will be entered in the giveaway for today as well as for MY giveaway - a Ghastlie chef's apron! (Are you a Ghastlie cook?) Again, my model the chair was kind enough to step in.

On a previous post, I showed you a quilt made from Ghastlie fabric. You can see it here

So leave a comment and visit my sister blogs today. You don't have to follow, but I would love to have you!! I would really love to reach 300 followers!

Here are today's blogs:

ON Thursday November 3rd
Day 9

Mrs. Sharon Ghastlie
Mrs Corrie Ghastlie

Mrs Cheryl Ghastlie

Mrs. Linda Ghastlie You are here!
Mrs. Pickles Ghastlie

Day 8 of the Ghastlie Blog Hop

2011-11-02T06:24:00.000-05:00

We're on Day 8 already! I can't believe it is going so quickly. Be sure to visit the blogs below and leave comments for a chance to win the prize for today!

DAY 8 Giveaway

                                                      This beautiful KONA bundle
                                                         in PINK is from our very
                                                     own Jane from Jane's Fabrics.
                                                     This is her sweet....giveaway..
                                                Oh and some Presencia threads too!
                                                             From her to YOU

ON Wednesday November 2nd Day 8

Mrs. Jane Ghastlie

Mrs. Mary Ghastlie

Mrs. Michelle Ghastlie

Mrs. Dawn Ghastlie
Mrs Mary Ghastlie

And don't forget to check in tomorrow and see what I have to show you!

Day 7 of the Ghastlie Blog Hop

2011-11-01T08:11:00.000-05:00

DAY 7 Giveaway

                                             These wonderful Auriful Threads
                                        from IHAN...Kelly at I Have A Notion
                                           is sending 1 winner this collection
                                            of some pretty colorful threads.
                                        Looks like we have a thread cutter
                                                 too...see his sharp knife lol

So for your chance to win please visit the blogs below today and leave a comment on each one!

ON Tuesday November 1st
Day 7

Miss Daisy Ghastlie
Mrs. Dana Ghastlie

Mrs. Elaine Ghastlie

Mrs. Gramma Sheri Ghastlie
Ms. Suz Ghastlie

, Ghastlie Blog Hop - Day 6

2011-10-31T07:48:00.000-05:00

Day 6 already! Be sure to visit the following blogs today for some great project ideas. Leave comments on their blogs for a chance to win. (And be sure you come back and visit me on Thursday to see what I have to show you!)

ON Monday October 31st
Day 6

Mrs. Tonya Ghastlie
Mrs Tiramisue Ghastlie

Mrs. Angela Ghastlie

Mrs Pauline Ghastlie

Mrs. Karin Ghastlie

Mrs Barb Ghastlie * lost her power during snow storm
(keep trying - she should be up soon)

DAY 6 Giveaway
Halloween...

2 sets of these candy lovely lights

( not edible, they do light up)

from one of our very own Mrs Nancy Ghastlie

Coeurdalenegifts

Until next time,

Mrs. Linda Ghastlie

It's Behind You!

2011-10-29T08:35:00.000-05:00

A picture of an unfinished Little Red Riding Hood quilt. It still needs borders, etc. Do you see the wolf behind her? The borders will have the story embroidered around it along with other hidden goodies! I put this away a year ago. I need to get it out and finish it!!!!!!

The Wanabe Quilters Contest is behind us. What a great contest! And.....
Week One of the Ghastlie Blog Hop is over. We'll be back on Monday, October 31 to begin the new week! Be sure you come back to see where to go each day. I will be posting on Thursday and have some "UN-Halloweeny" projects for you.

I should be back in full swing after this week. I am much better (from my shingles) and have so far avoided the awful tummy bug that everyone around me has been getting! I have house guests and I certainly don't want to pass along anything as "ghastlie" as a virus!!! My sister and I were decorating for a big banquet at church tonight and she is sick this morning. So.....I will be busy today!

So until Monday, have a great weekend!

Ghastlie Blog Hop, Day 5

2011-10-28T07:55:00.000-05:00

Day 5 already! I hope you're visiting these blogs each day for great ideas! Here are today's blogs:

ON Friday October 28th

Day 5

Miss Trudi Ghastlie

Ms. Deonn Ghastlie

Mrs. Marlene Ghastlie

Mrs Kim Ghastlie

Mrs Tammy Ghastlie

And today's giveaway!

                                       DAY 5 Giveaway...

                                                           2 more WINNERS for
                                                                 Ghastlie Fabric...

4 Yards EACH of this GHASTLIE

Collection from our sponsor

Alexander Henry Fabrics...

They are sporting a BRAND NEW look too.!

YOU can VIEW these from samples they have posted!

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/101-a-ghastly-night

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/100-ghastly-forest

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/102-a-ghastly-clover

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/98-ghastly-bramble

Ghastlie Blog Hop, Day 4

2011-10-27T07:21:00.000-05:00

It's Day Four of the Ghastlie Blog Hop! Be sure and see what these bloggers have to show you today!

ON Thursday October 27th

Day 4

Mrs. Katherine Ghastlie

Ms Sharon Ghastlie

Mrs. Gooden Ghastlie

Ms. Selina Ghastlie

Mrs. Melinda Ghastlie

Day 4 Giveaway

                                                                 These rulers always
                                                                  MEASURE up
                                                          to the Ghastlie Standards
                                                       Creative Grid top 3 rulers....
                                                     it is time for some serious non slip
                                                              rulers...just saying...

Day 3 - Ghastlie blog Hop!

2011-10-26T06:58:00.000-05:00

It's day 3 of the Ghastlies Blog Hop and you have another chance at winning something.

DAY 3 GIVEAWAY

But today we will have 2 winners...YES

and each will get..

4 Yards of this GHASTLIE

Collection from our sponsor

Alexander Henry Fabrics...

They are sporting a BRAND NEW look too.!

YOU can VIEW these from samples they have posted!

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/101-a-ghastly-night

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/100-ghastly-forest

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/102-a-ghastly-clover

http://www.ahfabrics.com/collections/category/98-ghastly-bramble

So visit these blogs today and be sure and leave a comment!

ON Wednesday October 26th

Mrs. Barb Ghastlie

Miss Karen Ghastlie

Ms. Loralynn Ghastlie

Ms. Jen Ghastlie.

Ms Penny Ghastlie

Mrs Rhonda Ghastlie

Day 2 - Ghastlie Blog Hop

2011-10-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of the Ghastlies Blog Hop has arrived and with it another chance to win a great prize and maybe some giveaways on the blogs. Here are today's blogs:

ON Tuesday October 25th

Mrs. Annie Ghastlie

Mrs Doris Ghastlie

Mrs Brandie Ghastlie MIA TODAY...KEEP TRYING ...

Ms. Alidiza Ghastlie

Mrs. JudyC Ghastlie

DAY 2 Giveaway!

so visit the blogs above and be sure and comment for chances to win this great prize!

(I will be featured on Thursday, November 3. )

Mrs. Linda Ghastlie

It's a Ghastlie Blog Hop!

2011-10-23T14:45:00.004-05:00

Are you ready for another "fun" event? Have you seen the "Ghastlie" line of fabric by Alexander Henry? Perhaps you like it, but wonder what you could possibly do with it?

Although they do have a couple of designs in the line that look more suited for Halloween, I don't see the ones I've chosen as a Halloween fabric at all! I come from an art background, so I see these as almost a surrealist expression of stern, Victorian or Edwardian life. This is "illustration" in the style of Edward Gorey. It would be at home in a Tim Burton movie, an illustration for a poem by Poe, or even a page out of H. G. Wells. I don't see these as scary or spooky.
I hope you will join us for a blog hop of ideas of things to do with this line of fabric! I will be featured on November 3 and my ideas have NOTHING to do with Halloween! I think you'll see that this is something YOU could use! There will be prizes, both small and large, so be sure to join us!
Here is a poem by non other than Madame Samm at Sew I Quilt, the instigator of this hop!

Welcome GHASTLIE FANS

Behind the scenes we ( 54 ) Ghastlie obsessed

Stitchers have been rather busy, you could say.

I will be as surprised as all of YOU.

I cannot wait to see what my Sistahs

have created.

If you have this thing for Ghastlies

and they have tied you in a knot

and you wish you could get them out of your mind

than this may be a thought.

We heard her plea for a cure

Mdm Samm was pos/it/ively sure

that we could stitch the nights away

in hopes that we MAY----???

( all 54 of us)

BUT....

The side effects are Ghastlie

there is no mistaking too.

if you don't run this very minute

YOU too will catch the FLU...

We suspected all along

this was her master plan

she did not want to be alone,

with all YOU Ghastlie FANS...

(I suspect there will be a CURE somewhere

in one of these blogs...)

ON Monday, October 24th

Mrs Kirie Ghastlie

Ms Carol Ghastlie

Ms. Wendy Ghastlie

Ms. Carrie Ghastlie

Mrs Holly Ghastlie

ON Tuesday October 25th

Mrs. Annie Ghastlie

Mrs Doris Ghastlie

Mrs Brandie Ghastlie

Ms. Alidiza Ghastlie

Mrs. JudyC Ghastlie

ON Wednesday October 26th

Mrs. Barb Ghastlie

Miss Karen Ghastlie

Ms. Loralynn Ghastlie

Ms. Jen Ghastlie.

Ms Penny Ghastlie

Mrs Rhonda Ghastlie

ON Thursday October 27th

Mrs. Katherine Ghastlie

Ms Sharon Ghastlie

Mrs. Gooden Ghastlie

Ms. Selina Ghastlie

Mrs. Melinda Ghastlie

ON Friday October 28th

Miss Trudi Ghastlie

Ms. Deonn Ghastlie

Mrs. Marlene Ghastlie

Mrs Kim Ghastlie

Mrs Tammy Ghastlie

ON Monday October 31st

Mrs. Toyna Ghastlie
Mrs Tiramisue Ghastlie

Mrs. Angela Ghastlie

Mrs Pauline Ghastlie

Mrs. Karin Ghastlie

Mrs Barb Ghastlie

ON Tuesday November 1st

Miss Daisy Ghastlie
Mrs. Dana Ghastlie

Mrs. Elaine Ghastlie

Mrs. Gramma Sheri Ghastlie
Ms. Suz Ghastlie

ON Wednesday November 2nd

Mrs. Jane Ghastlie
Mrs. Laura Ghastlie

Mrs. Mary Ghastlie

Mrs. Michelle Ghastlie

Mrs. Dawn Ghastlie
Mrs Mary Ghastlie

ON Thursday November 3rd

Mrs. Sharon Ghastlie
Mrs Corrie Ghastlie

Mrs Cheryl Ghastlie

Mrs. Linda Ghastlie
Mrs. Pickles Ghastlie

ON Friday November 4th

Mrs Nan Ghastlie

Mrs. Gmama Jane Ghastlie
Mrs Joan Ghastlie
Mrs. Nancy Ghastlie

Ms Susan Ghastlie
Madame Ghastlie

As you can see above, I'm highlighted in yellow! Be sure to come back and visit me then, along with all my "ghastlie sisters"! The button on my sidebar will take you to Sew We Stitch, which is the home of the hop!

Jack O Lantern Gift Container Tutorial

2011-10-16T21:55:00.000-05:00

Do you need a little gift for a teacher, a neighbor, a grandchild?

This little Jack O Lantern is quickly and easily made and can be filled with any small gifts or candy.

1. You need a plastic container. Mine held 7 oz. of marshmallow creme.


2. Punch holes in the bottom around the edge.

3. Wrap polyester batting around the middle, using narrower and narrower strips so that the middle will be thicker than the ends. You are building up a "pumpkin" shape.

4. Cut a strip of orange fabric 2" longer than the HEIGHT of the container, and long enough to wrap around it, leaving enough to sew a seam. Sew it into a tube by sewing the ends together.

5. Put the tube over the batting covered container. Leave an inch at the top and an inch at the bottom.

6. Gather the top and bottom edges. (Do not cover the holds at the bottom. If they will be covered, wait and gather the bottom later.)


7. Run a line of glue at the top of the inside of the container. Turn the gathered edge over the rim and clip it in place over the glue. Let it dry. I used a "tacky" glue. When dry, remove the clothespins.

8. Using a strong thread or yarn, make a few anchoring stitches into the fabric and through the batting, then go through the hole, grab the needle inside the container, and pull it up and over the top, around the outside and into the hole again. repeat this a couple of times in the same place and pull tightly to leave an indention on the outside. This forms the "pumpkin ridges". If your thread is long enough, you can move on to the next hole. When your thread is too short to go around again, anchor it at the bottom. Do this all the way around.

9. Here is a view of the thread coming through the holes and up the sides of the inside of the container.

10. Cut a circle of felt to fit the bottom of your container and large enough to hide the raw edges of the gathered tube. Sew the felt in place by hand.

11. Line the inside with felt. (I cut a strip to go around the edge and a separate circle to fit in the bottom. Use the tacky glue to glue in place.

12. Cut little black felt Jack O Lantern features and glue in place. (You could sew them if you wanted.)

Fill with goodies and present your gift! You could add a little handle if you wanted to. You could also place another plastic container just like the one you used inside the top of this one and fill it with flowers.

Use your imagination, but have fun!

Insulated Gift Bag or Sandwich Bag Tutorial

2011-10-10T12:07:00.000-05:00

Do you need a cute little gift idea for a friend? How about a sweet way to present a sweet gift like cookies or candy? This little bag can be reused as a sandwich bag when the gift is long gone. AND....it's a good way to use up scraps!

1. You need some type of insulation for your bag. You can buy an insulated batting, but I chose to use a mylar chip bag. If they can keep chips fresh, they should work for other foods!

2. Here you see the shiny side. This will be your RIGHT side. Clean off your bag well with a damp paper towel to clean off any residual oil or chips!


3. Cut 2 rectangles for the outside of your bag (mine are 7 1/2" x 8"), 2 rectangles of the Mylar and the batting (also 7 1/2" x 8" ), and 2 flaps (7 1/2" x 4").


4. Put the flap pieces right sides together and sew across one long end. (You can see where I had to "unsew" the two side pieces. Oops!)

5. Turn right sides out and press.

6. Place the flap at the top of one of the outer bag rectangles, on the right side, and place the other rectangle right side down on top of it. Sew the sides and the bottom, leaving a 2" opening in the bottom that you will later turn the piece through. Do not turn right side out.

7. Put the batting pieces on top of the Mylar pieces and leave the shiny side as your right side. I used a little spray basting to hold the batting on while I sewed. You might also try a glue stick to help it stay in place. Place the shiny sides together and sew the sides and bottom. Do not leave an opening in the bottom. Do not turn.

8. Place the outer bag inside the lining, putting the right side against the shiny side. Pin in place around the top.

9. Sew around the top edge, all the way around.

10. Put the outer bag out and turn over the lining through the opening in the bottom.

11. Sew the opening in the bottom closed by hand.


12. To close the bag, simply pull the flap from one side of the open bag over the top. It will close just like an old style plastic sandwich bag.

You can make these any size you want, actually. They don't have to be a sandwich size. How about large enough to hold a loaf of homemade bread? Or maybe just cupcake size? Maybe just the right size for a gingerbread cookie! You can use holiday fabrics for the holidays if you want. You don't have to insulate them, by the way, you can just use two fabrics and make little lined gift bags that can hold little gifts. Have fun! By the way, I added the flower and leaf in the first photo as a gift tag. You know how I love adding flowers and ribbons!

Update on my shingles: Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who left such sweet comments and sent such uplifting emails! It's so nice to have friends out there! My rash is better, although the burning pain is still there. I still have a little recovering to do, but hopefully, I will be over this soon! My heart goes out to those of you who have painful diseases that you live with every day of your lives! I don't know how you do it! I know of several of you out there who do just that! My prayers are with you!

Hot/Cold Pack Tutorial

2011-10-03T12:28:00.000-05:00

I'm a little "under the weather" this week. I have Shingles. Many of you have had them and many more will get them (I'm sorry!). If you had chicken pox as a child, the virus is laying dormant in your body just waiting for a time when your immunity is low because of illness or stress. Then it attacks. The first couple of days, I thought I had a kidney stone! I had such a horrible pain in the kidney area, I couldn't sleep. It wasn't until the skin around my waist started to feel tender to the touch that I started thinking something else could be going on. Fortunately, I got to the doctor when I only had a very small rash starting. I was started on an anti-viral medication that will, hopefully, keep me from getting as sick as I might have otherwise. My rash runs from my spine around my torso to my belly button. . Mine have not blistered yet, so I'm still in the early stages.Unfortunately, my response to pain is nausea and that coupled with some typical other symptoms - chills, abdominal pain, headache, and joint pain - I have been laying on the couch doing nothing for the last week! Today, I am much better.
One way to relieve some of the pain and itching (mine don't itch yet!) is a cold pack. Here is a feeble attempt at showing you a quick and easy one to make. This one can also be heated in the microwave and used as a heat pack - just don't get it too hot! Warm is all you need!!! I made a removable cover so it can be laundered and disinfected!

1. Cut a strip of fabric that will fit around your waist and overlap some. It should be twice as wide as you will want because you will be folding it in half lengthwise. Sew across one end and down the long open side.

2. Turn right side out and sew across several inches from the closed end. This will leave an area with no filling that can be overlapped.


3. Fill the tube with rice. Do not pack it in. Leave it loosely filled. You want to be able to wrap it around your body.

4. Cut a strip of fabric wide enough to wrap around the inner tube. Turn all the raw edges under and sew them down.

5,. Sew hook and loop tape on the inside of one long side of the outer covering and the outside of the other long side, as shown. I used scraps that I had saved from a different project. This allows you to remove the outer covering and launder it.

I hope you never need to use one of these, but if you do, it's nice to have one around. Mine is in the freezer now. I have another one that can be popped in the microwave for about 45 seconds or just until warm (Don't get it hot! It can burn you!). Be sure you know when you need a heat pack and when you need a cold pack - they are for different purposes!

Now on a happy note, Staci at The Confused Quilter has honored me with a mention in her blog and has "awarded" me as a Versatile Blogger! Thank you, Staci! Staci always has wonderful posts! Please check her out.
Okay, you need for me to tell you 7 things about myself. Here goes:
1. I am fairly shy until I get to know you better. Then I'm a little silly! I am terrified of approaching shop owners and of "tooting my own horn" about my patterns. (Not particularly helpful when you own a business!)
2. I absolutely adore my husband of 41 years! I have never even one day regretted marrying him. He keeps my feet on the ground when I tend to get off into "the clouds" with my plans.
3. I like to bake when I'm stressed. I have bread in the oven as I write. I got off my sick bed to make bread. (My heavy duty mixer does the kneading for me, so it wasn't very hard to do!)
4. I enjoy watching old movies! Especially old Christmas movies!!!
5. I love to read. I have a Kindle and I keep it stocked with books! One of my wonderful memories is of a trip to a resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica where my husband and I relaxed on the beach in hammocks under the palms, sipped virgin Pina Coladas (we're not alcohol drinkers) and read our books. I was reading Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter at the time and I'm sure he had a either a science fiction, James Patterson, or John Grisham book.
6.I enjoy working jigsaw puzzles, but I like the ones that are based on folk art. My family works at least one every holiday season! I will take old ones out and rework them sometimes. I keep a few in the RV in case of rain!
7. I love flowers and trees! I miss living in a forest, but it was worth the sacrifice to be near family. I have baby trees in my yard and lots of flowers. Now I have to live long enough to see them grow up!

You can see pictures and learn a little more about me in Ten Things You May Not Know About Me.

I invite you to check out my sister's blog, Doodling in My Mind.
(For my British friends, in the U.S. doodle is a verb meaning a type of drawing and it is not a naughty verb! My sister was horrified when she found out there was another meaning to her title!) She is an artist and a high school art teacher. She is the one who pushed me to put my designs in pattern form and then helped me to do it! I would like to pass this award on to her!

Vintage Quilt and Embroidery Patterns

2011-09-26T13:13:00.000-05:00

Quilters and Embroiderers have used patterns for a very long time. This is the way they shared designs and passed them on. In 1974, my husband and I visited his Aunt Rubye. She was a remarkable "needleworker" who made a living at one time by embroidering monograms on shirts for Neiman-Marcus! (There were enough oil millionaires back then for her to do that!) She was also an accomplished quilter and seamstress. She was born before the turn of the century and learned as a young girl how to sew and embroider. On this visit, Aunt Rubye showed me her "workshop" - a creative jumble of project areas for crafting, sewing, and quilting. She pulled out her embroidery patterns and when she saw my jaw drop over the old patterns, she gave me a few. (I was only 24 at the time and these treasures seemed ancient to me!) I have treasured them over the years. They are extremely special to me, not only because they are old, but because they were hers.

These embroidery patterns have been transferred to old brown paper grocery bags. They have designs that appear to have been from around the turn of the century. The paper appears to be waxed or oiled, which I'm sure has kept it from falling apart.

I have no idea when these patterns were produced, but they are Butterick Transfer Patterns and I do know that Butterick made transfer patterns between 1863 and the early to mid 1930's..They are pattern #10436. I was unable to find out anything more than that.

The patterns below early examples from the Joseph Walker Co. These patterns are from the late 1930's. The first was designed to iron onto children's clothing, crib covers, pillows, aprons, etc. to "give an embroidered effect". The second was an iron on transfer meant to be embroidered.

The Vogart pattern below was from after 1959, since it included Hawaii and Alaska as states.

Below are some Laura Wheeler Designs. These were sold through newspapers. The first one below is from 1946. The second one (with the baby design) is from 1960.

The last one I will show is also a pattern ordered from the newspaper. The address label on the envelope has been cut from the newspaper and filled out by the person who ordered it. This is from 1976. That was the year when quilting here in the United States had a resurgence. This was the Bi-Centennial year for this country and many "old" crafts were being revisited for fairs, school projects, demonstrations, etc. This soon carried over into home decor. I remember a popular wallpaper I wanted that had reproductions of old Sears & Roebuck catalog pages from the 1800's. Quilt patterns came out in magazines and many women started quilting again because there was a new appreciation for old crafts. The pattern here is one for a State Bird quilt.

I really love OLD things like this! I don't know if it's the history behind them that intrigues me, or the "romantic" ideas I form in my imagination about the people using them and the times they lived in. Some day maybe I'll make a quilt with some of these embroidery patterns worked up in the centers of blocks. If nothing else, I feel inspired when I look through them and that's worth a lot to me.

Leftover Block Snack Bowl - Going Green!

2011-09-19T14:41:00.001-05:00

I'm excited about the project today! It fits all my criteria for a great project - it's easy, it's fast, it uses up leftover blocks or fabrics, it's useful, and it's environmentally responsible!

This little snack bowl won't hold a serving of beans or mashed potatoes, but it's perfect for a sandwich, chips, veggies, or anything else that's fairly dry. It can be brushed off and reused or washed between usings. Keep those paper or plastic plates out of the landfill and make your children happy at the same time! You can make these little bowls out of blocks you have lying around and in any size you want. You can line them with holiday fabrics. You could even cut up those inexpensive flannel backed tablecloths to use on one side!!!

1. Do you remember this pumpkin snowball tutorial? You may see the little pumpkin peeking out from under that food above. I used this little block for this project because I didn't have time to make more blocks for a quilt (at least before pumpkin season!). Use any block you want (if it doesn't have about a 2" border, add one for the sides of your bowl.) Layer it with batting and a backing and quilt it as the first step.Do not quilt in the border! Don't bind it yet. (Sorry there's no picture of this step, but it's pretty straightforward. Cut a square of batting and a square of backing just a little larger than the square you have chosen to make into a bowl. Quilt it enough to hold it all together.)

2. Pinch each corner together and line up the two adjoining sides. Then sew from straight above where the slant ends as shown. This will form the straight sides of your bowl. Do not sew the backing in this.

3. Sew all four corners in this way.

4. Now do the same thing with each corner of the backing. Be sure you put RIGHT sides together to do this.

5. Trim the excess fabric from all corners on the bowl and the backing.

6. Turn up the backing.

7. Cut a strip of binding fabric that is 2" wide. (Length will depend on the size block you use. I just cut across one end of a length of fabric (selvage to selvage) and that was more than enough for my bowl.


8. Place raw edges of binding against raw edges of the top of the bowl and sew all the way around the bowl using a 1/4" seam. Do not miter the corners.

9. Turn the binding over the edge and hand sew it down. I gave mine a nice press with an iron.

That's it! This could be folded and placed in a lunch bag. Wouldn't it be fun on a picnic? Or just place it on the table with the appropriate lunch or snack. Any block that comes out square would work. In fact, it would also work with rectangular blocks. You would just have a rectangular bowl (with a more oval top) when you finish!
I might do this the next time I win blocks at my quilt guild!
You can see other pumpkin block ideas by going to FavQuilts, 12 Free Pumpkin Patterns.

Drought update: Thank you for all the prayers going up for those of us here in Texas suffering from drought and resulting wildfires. Look what we got this weekend! (You can see all the brown grass in the background!)

Easy "Snowball" Pumpkin BlockTutorial

2011-09-15T06:34:00.000-05:00

Most of you who have been quilting for a while know how to make a simple "snowball" block, but I have quite a few readers who are new to quilting or who are teaching beginners to sew. I thought this little pumpkin block might be a good project for them. This tutorial is for the block only. What you do with it when you finish is up to you! You could make several blocks and have a little quilt or wallhanging. It could be used as the front of a bag. How about a table runner or placemats? Maybe three of them in a row could be a nice banner. Just use your imagination!


1. Cut your a square for your pumpkin. You can use any size you want, but mine is 6 1/2". Cut 4 smaller black squares (mine are 1 3/4"). You don't want your corner squares to be too large or your pumpkin will have pointed sides!

2. Place the black squares in the corners and make a chalk mark as shown diagonally across each. What is the little blue tool in the photo? Well.......

I happened to see these at the local Walmart. They were cheap - about $1. I thought they looked like they might be 1/4" wide. They are! they are clear, so they work just like a 1/4" ruler! I have been using them for a lot of things! Measuring 1/4" seams, drawing out straight lines, etc. I have a life time supply and I can pick the color that fits my mood! :o)

3. Okay, back to the tutorial. Sew across each corner just to the right of your lines. (I'm talking a hair's width to the right.


4. Trim the corners off, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. (You can use your new little tool if you want!)

5. Turn the corners up and press in place.

6. Cut 2 strips (mine are 2 1/2" wide) the length of one side of your block.Sew to opposite sides. Press.

7. Cut 2 more strips the width of the block including the newly sewn strips. Sew these on the remaining opposite sides and press.


8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to add another border to your block. You can make these strips the same width or wider.l Mine are 3 1/2" wide.

This block as it is is called a "Snowball" block. You can stop here and you'll have a classic block that you can make into a nice quilt. You can leave off the border strips and when you sew your snowballs together, the corners will make little squares. But if you want a pumpkin........

9. Put a scrap of batting behind the pumpkin shape. I used cotton batting, but for a little more definition you can use polyester. Make sure it is large enough to cover the edges of your pumpkin.

10. Turn the block over and stitch in the seam line of the pumpkin.

11. With chalk, mark curved lines from the center of the top to the center of the bottom to give your pumpkin it's "ridges". Sew along these lines.

12. Trim the batting that sticks out beyond the pumpkin shape.

13.To make a leaf, draw out a simple leaf shape (you can trace a real leaf if you want) onto the dull side of freezer paper. Place the SHINY side down against the RIGHT side of a scrap of green fabric. (You don't want to touch the shiny side with your hot iron!) Press the dull side of the freezer paper and the shiny side will stick to your fabric. Don't worry. It will peel off and can be ironed on again several times. It will not hurt your fabric! Cut it out leaving a narrow seam allowance.

14.Turn the shape over to the WRONG side and run a line of glue stick along the seam allowance. (Clip any curves.) Using a pinching motion, turn the edges in leaving the fold even with the edge of the freezer paper.

15. Peel off the paper. Use chalk to draw in a tendril that you will embroider with green floss. Add a little stem, if desired. I used a little tab of fabric with the edges folded in.

16. Back the leaf with a scrap of batting.

17. Sew in veins for the leaves and then sew around the edges, keeping your stitches as close to the edge as possible.

18. Sew the stem on the same way. Embroider your tendril.

That's all there is to it! Easy, right?

Easy 3-D Starburst Tutorial

2011-09-09T10:55:00.000-05:00

I'm using bandanas (97 cents each at Walmart) to show you a very easy technique that gives you a starburst at each intersection of your blocks. Mine will be a Halloween Tablecloth when finished, but you can use this technique for quilts also.


1. Trim the rolled edges off your bandanas. You will also want to trim them all to the same size, as they will probably not be exactly square.

2. Cut 4 squares for each intersection in your tablecloth center. I cut my squares 5", but if you want larger "starbursts", cut them bigger. I used fabric from my stash for this. Fold each in half diagonally and press.

3. Fold each in half diagonally again and press. You have made prairie points.

4. Pin the raw edges of a prairie point at the edge of your bandana. You can place it closer to the end if you want your points to come together. I planned on an applique circle over mine, so I left a little space. I have placed the open end of the prairie point toward the center of what will be the starburst.( If you place the open end to the outside of the starburst center, you will reverse the direction of each "ray" of the starburst. You may prefer this! It would look more like a flower petal.)

5. Pin the second bandana over this, right sides together, and sew a 1/4" seam, catching the prairie point in the seam. Press the seams open.

6. Turn over and catch the open side of the prairie point with your finger and......


7. ....flatten so that the folded edge runs down the center. Press well. I use a little spray starch to help it stay in place. You may choose to leave this 3-D, but you can also stitch it down so that it stays flat.


8. Repeat for the two ends perpendicular to the seam you have just sewn. Make sure you place the open end of the prairie points toward the center, unless you have chosen to do the opposite.

9. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the side you will sew to this. (Pay attention to the colors if you want alternating blocks.) Place right sides together, lining up your seams. Sew a 1/4" seam. Press seams open and flatten the starburst. Press well.

10. In this photo you can see how I've left a space between the ends of my star points. You can make them meet by placing the prairie points closer to the end of each square. You can also see how by placing the open end of each prairie point away from the center, you can make the long points meet in the middle instead of the short points. This is a matter of choice.

11. I chose to applique a circle in the center. You could use a button here. If you brought your points together, you may choose to not put anything in the center.

12. If making this as a tablecloth, sew as many blocks together as you need for the size you want, then add a border all the way around. Mine is not sewn yet, but you can see the look I'm going for! I can even buy some extra bandanas to use as napkins! Since I have turquoise Fiesta dinner plates, I think they will look great with my choices. A few pumpkins as a centerpiece and I'm all set!

That's all there is to it! Make as many blocks as you want and as big as you want. Remember that you don't have to use bandanas for this and that it doesn't have to be a tablecloth. This is a great technique for a quilt also!

Free Instructions for a Scrappy Owl Block

2011-08-31T14:07:00.000-05:00

Are you wanting an easy way to make cute little owls for a quilt, pillow, place-mat, table runner or how about a panel for a bag? I have one for you here, complete with a picture tutorial. You can make it any size you want and give each owl a different personality with easy to make eyes!

Let's get started!

1. Cut a rectangle of paper to use as a pattern. Make it any size you want, but your owl will turn out to be approximately the size of your rectangle. If you want a short, squat owl, make a short, squat rectangle. For a long, skinny one, make a long, skinny rectangle.

2. Cut the rectangle in half diagonally.

3. Flip one side over and overlap the wide end. You are preparing to make your pattern for the "face" area.

4. Fold or mark the angle make by the bottom piece. Remember, though, that you have flipped this piece to the wrong side, so flip it back over and re-mark on the right side.

5. Here it is flipped back to the right side and marked. Can you see the little "face" triangle on the right side? Make a mark on each piece so that you will know which is the right side. You will be cutting the face area from different fabric, but you may want to leave your pattern intact until you are ready to cut that piece so that you don't have to "figure out the puzzle" when it comes time to sew.

6. Cut out your pieces adding a 1/4" seam allowance. (You can cut without adding the seam allowance and your owl will be a little smaller, but that works too!)

7. Fold back the face portion and mark your fabric where you will be sewing the face on. Alternatively, you can just cut your pattern pieces apart and leave your 1/4" seam allowance.

8. Cut out your face portion from a contrasting fabric.

9. Sew this piece on to the piece you marked by putting right sides together with seam lines together and remembering that you will be flipping it up when sewn. Flip right side over and press. Trim away the fabric from behind the face area.

10. Sew the other side on. You now have the main body of the owl.


11. For the little wings, cut two small rectangles. (I discovered these were a little long. You will be able to trim off any excess, so it doesn't really matter.) The smaller your rectangles, the smaller your wings and vice versa. You may need to experiment to find a size you like with your owl.

12. Fold in half with right sides together. With the fold at the bottom, sew a 1/4" seam down one side.

13. Turn right side out and make a triangle by putting the seam down the center. Press. Trim off the excess.

14. Pin the wings to the sides of the body. (You can choose to make a different style wing and sew it into the seam here, if desired.)

15. Cut and sew border strips. The direction you press your seam will determine whether the wings flap out or in. You can do them either way. I decided my owl was a little too tall, so I cut 1" off the bottom before sewing the bottom border on.


16. The owl with borders sewn.

17. Now the eyes! Find scraps that have flowers, circles, dots, swirls - anything rounded. You might cut a circle out of a piece of paper the size of the eyes you think you want, and look at the patterns of the fabric through this. Flower centers make good eyes with petals radiating out from the center.

18. Trace off two circles the size you want onto the dull side of freezer paper. Press to the RIGHT side of the pattern you want. Cut out leaving a 1/8" seam allowance.

19. Using a glue stick, run a line of glue along the seam allowance on the WRONG side of the fabric circle. Pinch the seam allowance to the wrong side all the way around. Press.

The eyes will change your owl's personality!

20. Add an outer border and your owl block is finished!

National Quilt Museum and other Stops in Paducah, KY

2011-08-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

What a great day we had!! We started it out by going to to National Quilt Museum. We just happened to get lucky and this was Kid's Day! Free admittance. Special events. Even free ice cream! Fun! Fun! Fun!
You cannot take photos in the museum, so I can't share all the wonderful quilts with you, but you need to go! I was so inspired! Here are some of the small quilts made by school children. (photos of these were allowed)

The meeting room off the foyer has a quilt by Fraser Smith. It is entirely carved of wood!
Check out his works. They are unbelievable! Here is a little "block" that he carved so that we could photograph and feel his work. There were two traveling exhibits there this time: Works from the Chicago school of Fusing along with guest artist Susan Else and The Nature of Design: Quilts by Cynthia Morgan and Velda Newman. Both shows were absolutely wonderful! You can stay in touch with the happenings there by going to their website: The National Quilt Museum .

Here you see Quilt Man (We didn't see Bobbin Boy today, although he could have been there.) He was on hand to meet and greet the kids who came through the museum today.

(Many of us are followers of Laura Wasilowski and her blog, Artfabrik. She had several works up in the traveling exhibit. It was so much fun to see them "in real life". I wanted to tell everyone around me that I had won a pair of her hand dyed socks from her blog! I restrained myself. Telling everyone that I had a pair of Laura's socks just didn't sound dignified.)

After the fun there, we went down the street to a little quilt shop called Quilter's Alley.

The staff there was very friendly and helpful. I bought a piece of fabric that looked like "wood grain" that I needed for a commissioned quilt I will be making. This is the "oldest quilt shop in Paducah".
After this, we decided to eat lunch at a wonderful hamburger place called Willie Jaks in the little town of Metropolis. It is just across the river and is actually in Illinois, not Kentucky.) If you remember your comic books or movies, Metropolis was the home of Superman.

         So here is Superman and the statue of some guy in tights!

After all this fun, we ended the day in a Hallmark shop where a sweet lady named Anna helped us find the perfect gifts for a couple of loved ones. It turns out she is a docent at the quilt museum when she has time. (We found the people around here extremely friendly and helpful! Thank you, Kentucky, for a great few days!)

I didn't give links last time to the other two great places I went, so here they are:
   Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day of Paducah
         and Hancock's of Paducah

              I'll be in the air tomorrow, so until next time.....

A Trip to Paducah, Kentucky

2011-08-26T08:46:00.000-05:00

Do you recognize this building? It's The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky!
My husband was coming to this area on business and when I mentioned that Paducah is a "mecca" for quilters, he bought me a ticket! So here I am, happy as a "tick on a hound dog". We are going to the museum tomorrow, when we have more time to browse and take it all in.

In the meantime, since I don't have access to a car during the day, I spent quite a bit of time and money in this place! (It is almost across the street from my hotel! I was able to walk there without even breaking a sweat!) It was instant "overwhelm" when I walked in. There are rows and rows of bolts, all organized by fabric company, designer, and collection. I lugged back a bag of fabric that will replace all my husband's clothing in his carry-on suitcase! (Sorry, hon!) OH, he saw that! He suggested that I just leave my own things here and buy new! Okay!! (What a sweetheart!) I do feel rather constrained when I fly - especially now that baggage is so costly!

Here are my fabrics.

We also stopped at Eleanor Burn's 2nd store, Quilt in a Day. Her fabrics are only $5 a yard! Not as many fabrics, but still a lot and such a great price! I found this fun Christmas fabric. (the photo doesn't do it justice!)

We ended the day at Max's, a restaurant in the historic district near the river. I wanted to eat out on the patio to enjoy the cooler temperatures. (It's still in the 100's back in South Texas and in the 80's here!)
There is more site seeing to do before we leave, so I'll post some more soon. Until then.......

Easy Diamond Border Tutorial

2011-08-20T08:24:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wanted to give a little added punch to your borders? Here is a very easy way to do just that! You can make this any size you want. If you want larger diamonds, just cut the center strip wider. Although this is more time consuming than many methods, you achieve a very pleasing result that looks much more difficult than it really is! This is actually a form of Seminole Patchwork.

1. Cut strips crosswise (from selvage to selvage) in the width you want. I have cut my outer borders 2" wide and my center strip 1 1/2". This will give me a 2" border when I'm finished and before it is sewn into any seams.

2. Now cut your strip into strips the width of the center strip (with it's seam allowance). So if you cut your center strip 1 1/2" to begin with, you will cut the strips into 1 1/2" segments.

3. Now sew these strips together, offsetting the center strip each time you sew the next strip. (Line up the 1st seam of each center strip you are sewing with the 2nd seam of the last strip you sewed.)

4. You now have a row of diamonds. You can make this as long or as short as you wish. (Although I don't have a photo of this, after making this I have decided it would be a good idea to mark and then sew a line of "stay stitching" on the inside of your cutting line in the next step as you will be left with a very stretchy bias edge!)


5. Trim the "dog ears" off the edges and you are ready to sew this fancy border on!

That's it! Easy, right? Just imagine how this little border can dress up and frame even a very simple little Nine Patch. Keep it in mind the next time you are trying to decide on a border. Imagine the center diamonds in different scraps! (Just make many strips with different center fabrics and mix them all up when you cut.)
Until next time.....

The Lady and the Quilt That Started It all For Me

2011-08-14T19:36:00.002-05:00

Me on the left, my 103 year old grandmama in the middle, and my sister on the left. We have been in north Texas this weekend visiting her for her birthday!

My love of quilts began with this sweet lady, my grandmama.


My grandmother was born in 1908 as a twin. This is her on the left and her twin on the right. They were named Irene (my grandmother) and Pauline (my aunt).


This is a picture of a photo that was sitting on her dresser - the two of them as young women. (Looks like the 1940's to me, but I don't know that for sure.) Again, my grandmother is on the left and her twin on the right.


And this is a peak at the quilt that started my interest in quilting. It's a Little Dutch Girl quilt that my grandmother made. The little socks and ribbons at the back of her neck have been carefully colored in with something (I am guessing crayon) to make them match the dress. I used to pretend the sashing was a road. I would go "visit" each little girl on the quilt by driving along the road and turning into their block. I was a little shocked that her panties were showing as the wind lifted her dress. I wanted to grow up and make a quilt just like that! Sadly, I haven't done that yet, but if I can just live as long as my grandmother, there is still time!

Happy Birthday, Grandmama!

We love you!