Put a Stamp on It! A Shared Day!

I'm part of the "Put a Stamp on It" blog hop going on right now! I've been sweating it because of several "impediments" to my getting this post out - vacation, grandkids here, and then a computer crash (with an estimated date for the delivery of a new computer on July 10th)! Hopefully, you haven't given up on me by now!

My stamp, which is all applique, shows off my state, Texas! I should probably say "my part of the state", because Texas has forested areas, mountains, hills, coastlines, swamps, desert....almost any landform you can imagine. Well, not tundra, although the panhandle area gets quite a bit of snow in the winter! I was born and grew up in San Antonio.

Now, after living on the east coast for 20 years,  I live just south of San Antonio where prickly pear, bluebonnets, and longhorn cattle are pretty common! 

My granddaughter, Delaney, is with me and is learning a little more about sewing. 

She made a stamp too! We made it a Nana/Granddaughter project. I really think hers is much more adorable than mine! 

                          She designed it herself, too! 

 My stamp became a throw pillow......

 

and hers looks perfect in my sewing room!

 Unfortunately, she will be taking hers home with her when she leaves. 

Many thanks to our cheerleaders, Mdm. Samm and Thearica of Pigtails and Quilts!
Be sure and visit the other blogs on this hop! Here they are:

June 28

Robin's Fabric Nest

In The Sewing Basket

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Just Quilt It

AnnieOak Designs

Buzzing and Bumbling

krislovesfabric

CherrysPrairiePrimitives

Hanging On By A Thread



                                          

I've returned from my prolonged "adventure" in babysitting and eight days of vacation, driving from California through Utah, Arizona,  and New Mexico. I've been gone for over a month and I brought my grandkids back with me for an extended stay! 
Since I'm signed up for a blog hop that starts on the 26 (my day is the 28th), I have recruited my 10 year old  granddaughter to hop along with me! She did such a great job on her project, which is to be a "stamp" design, that even if I never made mine you wouldn't be disappointed in what you will see. Here's a peak at the back. Let me tell you - it's adorable!!!
Our trip took us to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Tombstone, Arizona, and Carlsbad Caverns. Most of our pictures need to be "gone through", but I did download a few taken in the Tombstone Museum that might be of interest to those of us who sew! If you could go back in time to the 1800's, you might go through a scenario like this: 

Get out the iron so you can press your dress. This iron weighs 21 pounds!(Not to speak of continuously putting it back on the flame to reheat it! AND....it was 118 degrees just outside of Tombstone when we were there!) 

You decide to bring the black beaded handbag because it holds a few more coins and you know you will need a LOT!You also clean up your gloves a little so people won't think poorly of you!

Oh, no! You need to fry some chicken to take along for lunches on the trip. Maybe a few apples will help, too!

It's time to catch the stage coach! You hurry down the stairs dragging your heavy wooden trunk and find someone to help you carry it to the station.

 

  You're ready to go, but after a brief talk with the driver, you find out there is no such thing yet as a Quilt Shop!!! Oh, NO!! You'll have to either rely on the two calico designs the local general store has ordered (the same two that every woman in town has made her family's clothing from), or use up old scraps and clothing!

Aren't you glad we live in this day and age where all we have to do is click a button on the computer?

Lola, And a Giveaway!

This line in rich browns, golds, grays, and blacks is called Lola! This is the third set of fabrics I was given as part of a challenge. I had about 1/4 yard of each design in this line. I kept thinking of coffee when I took it out, so my ideas followed that line of thinking.

First of all, I made a Mug Bag using the pattern found here. It holds a coffee cup and has a pocket for cream or sweetener.

Then I made coasters. It was fun matching the fabrics for these! This is what you'll need:

•  Hexagon templates - Mine are from Quilt Sense and they are available in many fabric shops as well as online. They have 3 sizes of templates as well as a 60 degree triangle. 

•  glue stick
•  fleece or batting
•  fabric
•  rotary cutter
•  iron for pressing after gluing   

Using the two largest hexagons (5 1/4" and 4") cut a large hexagon (this will form the back and the binding of the coaster and a smaller hexagon, which will become the center, from two coordinating fabrics.
Cut a 4" hexagon from the fleece or batting. (I like to use fleece because it gives more protection to the table and it will not shrink during washing.
Find the center of the large hexagon and working from the wrong side of the larger piece, use a little glue to adhere the fleece and then the center fabric over that (right sides up).  

Remove the templates and turn the raw edges of the larger hexagon down about 1/4". (Run the glue stick along the outer edge and then turn it back. It will adhere and you can press it into place.) (Alternatively, if you want a very narrow binding edge, turn the raw edge back to meet the edge of the smaller hexagon (basically, you are folding the edges that show in half). Press.

Using the glue again, turn the edges back over the center hexagon. Fold it over right at the edge of the center hexagon. Press to dry the glue and set the crease.

Now all you have to do is sew it down! You can use fancy stitches or the straight stitch on your machine or you can do it by hand.

 That's all there is to it! Easy enough for a beginner or a child!

          

This is the last of this three by three mini hop! (Three posts by three blogs!)

Be sure you leave a comment at each and visit the Blank Quilting facebook page for a chance to win some fabric!

Be sure to visit these other two blogs:

Debby Kratovil Quilts

   
Amy, A Quilting Sheep

NOTE: I have just returned from a month long trip! The links above have been corrected! I'm sorry for the problem with them earlier!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blank.quilting?fref=ts

Web site: www.blankquilting.com

  

Until next time....   

 

Step Out of the Box - a Contemporary Quilt!

I was given some fabric from Blank Quilting's new line, Regency, toplay with. I had about 1/4 yd. of each fabric in the line.
The fabric is in beautiful shades of black to gray. There is a really nice border print you can see below that I didn't use in this quilt. I think it would make a gorgeous border if I had more than a small piece.

This line had fabrics in a gradation from dark to light. 
I cut  squares of each and laid them out in rows that formed the gradation I wanted.  I sewed squares into rows, and rows into my quilt top. I actually worked from dark to light and then turned the top on it's side. (It was easier to keep up with the gradation that way.)

.

I then had a top with a gradation of dark to light. 
I was ready to add color inserts, appliqued circles, and fusible words!

If you're interested in this pattern, it's available in my Craftsy store (The button on my side bar will take you there.). It's an easy design and the colors you add can fit your tastes. A chart is given that shows where each fabric goes, and there is a guide for placing the circles and strips.
 
You will want to check out Blank Quilting's website and Facebook page to see what else they have to offer.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blank.quilting?fref=ts

Web site: www.blankquilting.com

WAIT! There is a giveaway!! Just visit and leave a comment in the three blogs in this, the second of three, Mini Blog Hops and visit Blank Quilting's Facebook page. You will be eligible to win a surprise! (You can see it on Debby's blog.)

                       Debby Kratovil Quilts
                      Amy, The Quilting Sheep  
          Linda of Buzzing and Bumbling  You Are Here!
 

                              

Paperweights From Dollar Store Candle Holders

I am with my grandkids, 1700 miles from home. No sewing machine. No needle and thread. No fabric!!! But, I'm having fun anyway!
We made some teacher appreciation gifts and Father's Day gifts last week. The kids LOVED it! I will warn you, though. This is definitely a project to do outdoors because of the smell. 

I saw this basic idea here. She made a beautiful paperweight from the candle holders using only decorative paper and Mod Podge. (This is a great site, by the way!)
We decided to use real objects and use some of the sayings on some cute cards we saw. 
First we bought those inexpensive votive candle holders you can find at the dollar store. They come two to a box! $1!!!!! (You might also find them in other discount stores.)
We also found some small plastic frogs and a bag of Smarties candy. 
We bought a can of polyester resin and a small bottle of catalyst. (We found this at Michael's.) Follow the directions on the can to mix the resin! I mixed and they stirred and poured.
We put our candies and frogs in the area intended for the candle and poured the resin in to fill the space intended for the candle. Leave this outside to harden or in the garage. It will continue to have a strong smell until it is completely cured. 
That's all there is to it! EASY PEASY! FUN! 
We want to try one with a silk daisy in it. The kids also thought of nuts and bolts, fun stickers, and pebbles. The possibilities are limited by the size of the object. How about a photo cut to fit in the bottom? Decide if you want the paperweight to be bottoms up or right side up when finished. 
You're done!
Watch for another fabric challenge reveal on Monday, May 27th!! See you then!!!
             

Madeline, Sweet Madeline! (and a giveaway!)

Pattern A6219 from NewLook Kids!

Blank Quilting has some new fabrics coming out soon that you will want to be on the lookout for! 
I made this little dress, modeled by my great niece, using fabrics from the line called "Madeline". 

The fabrics in the line are bright and colorful!

 
Since Miss Dimples has a twin brother and also an older sister, I made "monster" dolls for them with the leftover fabric. (I did not use a pattern for these, but there are many good ones on the market!)

The turquoise "bandana" looking fabric was perfect for this little boy!

Don't tell her it's a monster! She thinks it's a frog!!

So....be on the lookout! This line should be in shops in early June! Blank Quilting has a website with their fabric lines as well as free patterns and more. Check them out!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blank.quilting?fref=ts

Web site: www.blankquilting.com

             There's a giveaway, too!!! 
You can win a nice group of fabrics pictured here.  You need to visit only three blogs on this Mini Blog Hop to be eligible to win! Then you will be going to the Blank Quilting Facebook page to "like" them.
                        Debby Kratovil Quilts
                           A Quilting Sheep  
                         Buzzing and Bumbling   You are here!

                              

Quilter's Favorites

                
 Welcome to my post for the Quilter's Favorites Linky Party.
                                
Whether you're here by accident or you are following the links, I'm glad you've stopped by!  Now for the questions I have chosen to answer!
Tell a little about yourself. 
 

• I’m Linda of  B. Bumble & Co. I’m just a simple Texas girl with a passion for color, fabrics, and whimsy!( I’m married to a wonderful man who happens to be  a scientist and knows how to keep my feet on the ground!  We have three sons and two grandchildren.) I started college majoring in art, but switched to elementary education when I realized I would need to make a little bit of an income. (Didn’t realize just how” little” teaching would bring in, but I loved the children!!)

 Any advice for a successful color scheme of a quilt?

•  Fabric companies have made it very easy to put together a nice color scheme. You can always pull colors from a focus fabric and go from there. BUT, if you want to really have fun, use the things around you that you love to inspire your color scheme. Here are some examples of how I used the things around me to pull colors for a quilt: (each is a link to a post showing the colors)

 
   Killdeer - to see the post go to this page. You will see her rust red underfeathers!
Children's book illustrations: Go here to see more!

  

• Also look at dishes, wrapping paper, cards, famous artwork, and even magazine ads. Use a colorwheel to help you find color combinations that compliment each other.

Could you share some tips about quilt techniques other than patchwork? 

•  I love applique. The method I use is very simple or I wouldn't use it! (I like to work FAST!) I use freezer paper and a glue stick and iron my pattern to the right side of the fabric. I turn all my seam allowances to the back and stick them down with glue stick. They are all ready to sew down by hand or machine when I finish. You can see a tutorial here.  

Do you have free tutorials on your blog?

•   Yes! I have quite a few! You can find them by clicking on the "Tutorials" tab at the top of my page. (I know it is hard to read in brown, but when you hover the cursor over it the words will turn white.) I have tutorials for several techniques as well as many projects!

Share some tips for organizing the fabrics in your sewing room. 

•  I have all my fabrics in tubs labeled by color or theme. All novelty fabrics go in a tub labeled with their theme: Christmas, Bugs and Spiders, Birds, etc.  All other fabrics are by color. Small scraps are in plastic zipper bags with the air squeezed out and are by color. I place those in tubs in cabinets.

 Oh, I wish it were this clean right now!!!
Would you like to share one of your favorite quilts, made by you?

•  As you know, choosing a favorite quilt is like choosing a favorite child! I think "Who's Been Eating My Porridge?" is one of my favorites. It was one of my first patterns. The recipe for porridge is embroidered around the border.

                                    

Could you recommend a book to someone who just started quilting?

•  First of all, there are hundreds of good books out there. The one I go to the most is The Quilter's Ultimate Visual Guide by Ellen Pahl. I have worn my book out and have had to put all the pages in a 3 ring binder since they were falling out anyway! This book is written like an encyclopedia. I think it has tons of valuable information for anyone, not only new quilters.                 

That's probably all you want to know about me and more! Enjoy the linky party!!