X O X O

I've already packed up nearly all the Valentine's decor so wanted to finally get all my Valentine posts completed.  I wanted a small topper for this little table in my sewing area and had made some X and O and heart blocks a few years ago.  I think I used a Tutorial from A Quilting Life but her blog keeps having adds pop up and I couldn't even find where to search.  I think I've also seen similar tutorials on other blogs so I'm sure you can find one if you search.  My friend Donna gave me the small picture frames which come with a variety of holiday pictures to display.

I quilted it with and E2E from My Creative stitches, called Beloved

It was my birthday a few days ago and my friend, Cheryl gave me this darling birthday cake!

 

L O V E Pillow

When I was making the X O X O small topper, it occurred to me that the O could be part of a very Valentine-y word and I should make some L O V E letters and do something with them.  I had a long pillow sitting here with no cover so....

I made a pillow cover for the pillow I'd made for the Scrappy Cats for Fall pillow cover I made last halloween

I started out making the letters.

The width of the pieces are 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches (finished) so 2 x 6" unfinished.

  The left side of the V is longer, 6 1/2" unfiinished. 

The top and bottom horizontal red pieces of the E are 3 x 1 3/4" and the white are 1 1/2 x 3" (unfinished)  and the center horizontal piece of the E is  1 1/2 x 2" unfinished.

  If I do it over again, I'll add a small spacer piece between the L and the O, probably 3/4 or 1" x 6"

The white rectangle for the L is 3 1/4 x 4 1/4" and the horizontal bottom of the L is 2 x 3"

I prefer this shape of a V so cut the angles as shown and I like how it turned out.  I made a template to keep for future use.

I had bought these perfect buttons at a quilt show a while back and wanted them to show, so made the opening of the cover on the front.  The bottom peachy border is 2 x 24 1/2" and finishes to be 1 1/2" wide and the same length.  Also the top peachy piece for the button holes finishes the same size but it's 3 1/2 x 24 1/2" so I could fold it in half and I added some interfacing inside.  The bottom red boarder is 2 1/2 x 24 1/2 and the top red piece is 5 1/2 x 24 1/2 and has a one inch hem, before I added the buttons.

I don't usually quilt the back of my pillow covers, but I wanted to try this free pantograph from My Creative Stitches, called Elizabeth.  She has lots of beautiful designs and lots of sales.

For the front, I used This is a free pantograph from Urban Elementz.  Rose

I didn't add any quilting to the area where the buttons are but I think I should have.

Some Art for the white boards

white board

more white board art

Happy Belated Valentines Day

I made this topper for my friend Donna.  I'll show some cutting instructions too

Three rows of the nestled hearts made it about 54" square

I made one for me also, but just one row to fit this desk area.  It is about 18 1/2 x 60"

Quilted with an E2E design from My Creative stitches, called Beloved

Some cutting instructions

Each half heart will be 12 1/2 x 6 1/2"  To angle the top corners, make 2 1/2" squares and sew diagonally and trim leaving 1/4 inch seam.  For the bottom, cut a 6 1/2 in square and sew diagonally and then trim leaving the 1/4" seam again, to make the bottom point.  After I did that and before pressing the corners up, I cut templates which saves a lot of fabric.

Another way to create the template is to use this Easy Angle ruler if you have one, which builds in the 1/4" seam allowance.  You can also use it on the top corners.

Showing how it looks laying along side where it will be sewn

Here you can see how to line up the corners.  Note, you can also make this size without the Easy Angle, by just cutting a 2 7/8" square and cutting it in half diagonally.  This saves fabric, instead of using a 2 1/2" square to snowball the corner and wasting the other side.

If you want to cut them out quicker, you can cut a 4 inch square in half diagonally, twice.  I love saving time and fabric.

I like to use that easy angle to cut off the dog ears ahead of time, which helps line it up correctly when you sew it on.

Lay out your heart shapes to your satisfaction

To make the units, you will lay the bottoms together as show here and sew your 1/4" seam.   Note:  do your snowballing of the top corners first.  After sewing, the unit will be 6 1/2 x 18 1/2"

You can see the middle is sewn together into a unit

Then start sewing the units together.

Quilt as Desired

Getting the binding prepared

Christmas Tree Skirt

Wow, I had so many drafts of unpublished posts, but I guess I'll post anyway even though Christmas is over for now.

 

I put gold satin on the back which turned out so pretty, it's reversible!

I started this a few years ago and the way you cut it, you end up with strips for two

It's so nice to finish up projects especially after a few years or more!

Red and Black

 

Made back in November for Jordan

Conor's Baby Quilt

Baby quit all done. I wasn’t so happy to see that dark block in the picture but the baby likes his quilt and it's not quite so noticeable in person.

You'll need 25 charm squares of lighter and 25 charm squares of darker fabrics for the Hour glass blocks (or can use 7" squares so you'll need half as many).  Cutting instructions.  Cut a 5" block diagonally once or a 7" block diagonally twice.  Sew lights and darks together as shown.

The setting triangles are cut diagonally twice from a 9 5/8" square.   I'll update for the corner square trianges later, when I find my notes.  I used Twinkle, Twinkle little Star print.  See Audrey's baby quilt for the star corner tutorial.

Quilted with Teddy bears.  I'm enjoying trying out new quilting designs on my Q'nique long arm 

Winter Mix and SnowMan Quilt

I started this Snow man Quilt many years ago and finally finished it up in January.  Maybe I can get this post published before the blazing sun warms us up for summer, lol.  

 

It was so frozen out that day that even the weeds took on a delightful shimmering sparkle!  Not quite as enchanting through the screen though.

Snowmen and 4 patch blocks   I found this many blocks but luckily had some of the light blue snowflake fabric and just a little of the dark blue snowflake fabric left to make the remaining blocks.  I laid on some buttons and noses to see how cute they'd be

I made the rest of the blocks but not quite enough of the dark blue for the final corner blocks so innovated with the two corner star blocks which turned out to be a special touch 

I was up hiking my favorite route when I saw these two.  The big guy was over 7 feet tall and his baby had fallen against him but still so cute!

Quilted with giant snowflakes

Getting ready to sew on eyes

I put this snowflake fleece on the back with batting inside too, so it's extra cozy!  I have some notes jotted down somewhere with the dimensions for the blocks so will update the post when I come across them.

Winter painting 

I'll work on this more next year

I put some winter art on the White board at work for the patients to enjoy in the recovery room. 

I made this winter topper a few years ago and finally put the binding on in January too!  My friend, Donna, sent me the darling tray and winter decorations!  It was rewarding and less depressing to have something pretty to put out after the Christmas decorations were all taken down.