Mug Rug and Row House Update

I admired this little mug rug by Julie the Crafty Quilter.  Check out her other samples and free tutorial.

  I wanted to make one but do it a little different.  You can see I added an Ohio star on the right and a checkerboard border along the bottom.

I liked it so much I decided to add a tree and an Ohio star on each corner of the lap quilts with the row houses that are in process.

WIP: Row Houses Under Construction

I've been a little panicked lately.  Christmas coming, so much to do, so little time....   (I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet)

So I went ahead and put away the fall fabrics and put some Christmas fabrics on display.

And I've been watching  Christmas movies and "building" houses!

I started the Christmas tree 2 years ago (I saw this one:  which is a pattern from About.com) and the little patchwork quilts last year.  And recently, somewhere I saw someone made rows of little house for a border (but can't find where I saw it so I can give them credit) and I knew the little houses would be just the thing to finish off these projects!

Barking Dog Leads to Big Charm Square Tote Bag

A couple days ago I opened the front door and my dog ran out and started barking at a lady parked in my neighbor's driveway.  I scolded the dog and apologized to the lady and noticed she had a big quilted tote bag.  I've been wanting to make a big tote bag and she kindly let me see how it was constructed.

Size is 18 x 14 x 4"

Made from Charm Squares -- 4 across and 3 down.  Pocket is also made from charm squares (4) plus one folded into the triangle shape.

The Bag has a zippered pocket on each side.  Lined with ticking.  Don't you just love ticking?

Looking inside the outside pocket.

 I have a tutorial for the bag in process.

Christmas Craft Mug Rug Class

Do you love to share your love of quilting by teaching?  At church we had an Old Fashioned Homemaking Night to make some gifts including these mugs rugs and also Soup Mix and Cookie and Banana Bread Mix in a Jar.

I had the kits ready and the sewing machines set up!

I laid out some of the 3 1/2 inch squares so people could see how they'd look and choose their kits.

Don't you just love Christmas fabrics!

Laid out with right sides together, ready to sew.

Finally I got a couple ladies to teach.  We had fun!

 

More WIPs-- Baby Quilts-- Update (2 quilts are complete)

12/26/13  UPDATE:  Winnie the Pooh Baby Quilts for great nieces are complete!  Both are bound in lavender, but quilted and put together a little differently.

Original Post from 11/9/13
I've made a lot of baby quilts this year but have a few to complete for some of my own little relatives (hopefully before they are grown up)!

This one is for a little great niece named Isabella.

The free motion quilting was completed today and it just needs it's binding.

The little center blocks are Winnie the Pooh vintage looking fabric with little scenes that include darling little maps with labels.  The outer blocks are mostly Connecting Threads Quilters Candy.

This is another one is for another little great niece named Havynn.  The second cousins were born a few weeks apart last year.

This one is made with fabric with scenes of cute little hedge hogs and other woodland critters and may be for a cousin's grandbaby but the blue sashing is a little too wide or dark blue, so I'm not 100% satisfied with it.  I think when it's quilted it may look nice.

This one was originally for my cousin's grandbaby, but I'm not so happy with my quilting and that's why it's been on hold for so long.

Postage Stamp Quilt Progress

This past weekend, I added on a red scalloped border to this postage stamp quilt that's been in progress for quite awhile.

Quilted all over with meandering pattern

The red border is quilted with lines that follow the scallop pattern.

I made some yoyos to see if I like them there.  The idea comes from a quilt I saw with a blue polka dot scalloped border on Pinterest that has yoyos.  I also have some ladybug buttons that I could sew on with the yoyo's.  But for now I'm gong to pack it away again so I can focus on holiday things.

Making Labels Using Freezer Paper with tutorial

Update:   Please be advised to observe copyright laws.

Do you label your quilts?  Some of the things we make will last for a hundred years or more and end up in someone's possession who might wonder who made it!  Those with a label will be cherished even more!  Here are a couple labels I've made recently with freezer paper.

Crumb Catcher in Halloween Fabrics

It's almost October 31st and almost time to put away the Halloween Fabrics!   I wanted to make at least one more project using them.

This will make a nice gift along with a jar of cookie mix topped with a little piece of Halloween Fabric! 

Don't you just love Halloween colors?

I quilted the center star with swirly lines and geometric lines for the perimeter.   Happy Halloween!  P.S.  You can find the tutorial for this crumb catcher at:  http://thecraftyquilter.com/2013/10/christmas-once-a-month-cookie-plate-crumb-catcher/

BANANA BREAD MIX IN A JAR AND A COOKIE PLATE CRUMB CATCHER

I followed Julie the Crafty Quilter's tutorial to make this "Cookie Plate Crumb Catcher".  I also made another mix in a jar, for making banana bread.

 Here's a link to Julie's tutorial:  http://thecraftyquilter.com/2013/10/christmas-once-a-month-cookie-plate-crumb-catcher/

The jarred mixes are very handy and easy and quick to make a treat to enjoy or give away!

Here are some labels you can copy and use for your own treats if you'd like to.

Banana Bread label

Add these ingredients into the jar for making banana bread:

1.  1 cup flour mixed with 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt (optional)
2.  1/2 cup sugar
3. 1/2 cup nuts.  (Note:  the jar will not be completely full)
Place a piece of waxed paper over the opening and then the jar lid.  Place a 5 inch square of fabric and tie it on with raffia. Use a glue stick to apply the label.  Makes a small loaf.
A couple of things:  I put 1/2 white and 1/2 brown sugar in the jar I have displayed to make it prettier.  Also, if you didn't put the nuts in the jar, you would have room to double the recipe, which would make it a full loaf-- if you do this, don't forget to change the "Directions" to double the ingredients to be added.

Next project: a candle holder and candle mat. 

Thinking Christmas Gifts -- Mug Rug and Cookie Mix in a Jar Tutorials

I'm going to teach a class to make the little mug rug (see tutorial) and the cookie mix in a jar.

Little Christmasy mug rug.  You can also see a little tag I pinned on.  I had made it using white ink and embossing powder and a Stampin' Up stamp.

For the cookie mix in the jar you will need:

Free Motion Quilting Tips

One of my complaints when I free motion quilt on my small sewing machine, is that I can't see well.  To remedy that I've put an extra light that I can shine onto the sewing machine bed and that is definitely helpful.  

But the other day I thought, can I tilt the whole sewing machine and acrylic extension table forward to increase my visibility?  And I did and it's better!

I put my KIS essential oil box under one foot.  Note:  I put 2 drops of the lavender oil in my spray water bottle and as I spray the fabric and iron, I enjoy some aromatherapy as well as my quilting projects!

I thought I'd show you how the afternoon sun comes into my attic room and you can see I've put up a few fall wall hangings up too!  And you can also see how the machine bed and table are tilting forward.

Candy Corn Table Runner with a Word Search and Tutorial!

Isn't Candy Corn a great addition to your fall decor?  Would you like to make a candy corn table runner?

 This is what you need:
1.  White (or cream color), yellow, and orange strips 3 3/4" wide width of the fabric (WOF) Note:  I used two different oranges and 2 different yellows.
2.  Strips of border and sashing fabric 3" wide x WOF x 3
3.   Piece of fabric for the sides 6 1/2 x 10 "  and 2 strips 2 x 10" (not shown)
4.  Backing and batting 15" x 40"  (not shown)
5.  Binding (2" x WOF) x 3 (not shown)

1.  2. 3.

 Sew the yellow, orange and white fabrics together

  Trim off the 1st part and discard or save to make a pinwheel.

I used a regular ruler and lined up the bottom with the 60 degree (circled in pink) line (has pink arrows pointing to it).  Note:  Since the end piece I cut off is only half, I think it's technically a 30 degree angle.