Primarily Circles Modern Baby Quilt Finished!

Cheers! I am celebrating another UFO completed!

Photos taken out our local library
Cool bikeracks, eh?

Primarily Squared Quilt Stats:

31" Square
Block tutorial from Linda's Quiltmania.
White Kona Sashing and Border.
Vintage Zoo Backing Fabric, from my Stash!
Ingeo-Fiber Batting
Random ZigZag FMQuilting with Aurifil 50wt, on my Juki TL98E
Flanged Binding: Suzie's Magic Binding at 52 Quilts, (modified with 1 5/16" wide strip blue fabric, and 1 1/2" strip of orange fabric).

This finish meets my January Goal with OMG!
And, my first Quarter One finish with the 2016FAL! (goal number one HERE)

Linking up today with the following Parties:
OMG: It's Finished!

Needle and Thread Thursday

Doin' a jig at Confessions of a Fabric Addict...

Fabric Frenzy Friday!

Myra is hosting TGIFF this week at Busy Hands Quilt!

Cheers,

Heidi!

Cozy Afternoon BOM: The Christmas Critters are Finished!

My Cozy Christmas Quilt went for a photoshoot today at Clark County Museum.

Cozy Afternoon in the Wintertime Gazebo!
Finished Size 64" Square

The Sew-along and Bloghop for the Cozy Afternoon BOM was a highlight for 2015! (the link is to the Pinterest Board if you are interested in seeing different versions!)
Hosted by Jacquelynne Steves, my version is based upon the theme fabric from her line "Joy, Love, Peace, Noel". 

The little critters I embroidered were enlarged from the theme fabric, and now take center stage.

I used crayons to color them, heat-set the wax, then washed the fabric in hot water and pressed it again prior to stitching.
With some trial and error, the Crayola Crayon's used with a very heavy-hand worked the best.

Mr. Mouse was the first block!

Embroidery on quilts is new for me! After seeking Barbara's (Cat Patches) advice for quilting the blocks, I decided to closely outline the stitching and used a loopy fill much like the larger loops I used in the background areas.
The Free Motion Quilting is stitched with Aurifil 50wt threads, using my Juki TL-98E.

The backing is pieced from a long-stashed snowflake print, plus a bit of the StudioE bias check I love so much. I used Ingeo Fiber batting, a manmade fiber using "ingredients from the earth" (plants). It behaves much like polyester - kinda puffy and holds it shape well. For seasonal quilts, I like a batting that can handle storage without permanently creasing.

For the flanged binding, I followed the tutorial for Susie's Magic Binding at 52 Quilts, except I cut my strips a bit more narrow at 1 5/16" (navy), and 1.5"(accent red). Attached to the back at just over 1/4", it was a perfect wrap to the front to stitch in the ditch for a quick finish with a bit more accent!

Following the link, you can also find a video. The other tip I suggest for this type binding is to sew the strip lengths together prior to joining them into one long strip. The diagonal seams will all in the same place this way, making it easier to avoid landing their bulk in a corner.

This feels like the perfect finish to wrap up 2015! I have had a fun and productive year, and am very thankful to have met so many quilter's through blogging. Thank you for joining me in celebration!



 

All -American Lunch Bag!

All in good humor, I was inspired to make a lunch bag when I came across some McDonald's fabric hanging out in my stash! This result was not really my intent when I bookmarked the Lunch Box Tutorial at Pink Penguin ages ago, but a fun Christmas gift for sure!
The pattern is modified a bit - I quilted some denim to make a sturdy base.
Then, I couldn't resist doubling-up the handles to make the golden arches!

I love the drawstring coverlet!

The Bag It Challenge runs until December 14th - plenty of time to hop aboard, make some bags and enter for a chance at prizes! I am inspired by Patty to make a Jewelry Roll, and next week she will post a tutorial for Triangle Bags that sound pretty tempting too.

Check out more Bag-It makes at the Link-up!

I am linking this up with Ho! Ho! Ho!, hosted this month at Rose & Dahlia!

  The linkup is open through November 30th.

Doubled My Zip Bag Pleasure

I decided my first little Zip Bag needed a mate!
A larger version following a variation of the Week One Bag, with 1 1/4" boxed corners .

I may not be able to complete a Week Two bag, the cute little Boxy Bags! Can't believe it is Friday already, but I am looking forward to next week and I have been eyeing my leather stash!

There are still several weeks of fun - check out the Bag It Series at Elm Street Quilts! 

Selvage Along - Selvedge Slippers Tutorial, Using a Memory Foam Bath Mat!

Motivated by the current Selvage Along, co-hosted by Jess of Quilty Habit, and Renee of Quilts of a Feather, I recently pulled out my collection of selvedges and whipped up a pair of house slippers!

Rather than starting from scratch, I wanted to use up some bias binding I made in the past, so my colors are selected based on that strange batik, haha!

I snapped photos along the way so I can share in informal, "How I Did It!"

I began at my local .99 Cent Store, where I scored a memory foam bath mat for $1.99!

1. Trace the soles of an old pair of slippers onto the back of the mat.
2. With the bottom still up, stitch around the line using a SZ 100 needle. I also stitched a square around the soles so that the mat would not unravel/make a mess when I cut them out. Here is how it looked from the top:

3. Cut them out very close to the stitching. This is the pair my husband requested after I finished mine (my WIP!.. and again I am using old-stash bias binding!).

4. Piece and quilt a simple strip set with selvedges, layered with batting and the backing of your choice. I used muslin - the bottom sandwich pictured show the backside.

5. Attach BIAS binding to the bottom side of the soles, just as you would a quilt - with the raw edges lined up on the edge of the soles. I used a shy 1/4" seam. (I did not bother to seam the ends, just folded the ends in and sewed it!).
(Oops, no picture here, I will need to add one when I sew up the Big Reds!)
Photo added 8/21 - I added some old leather to Ty's as I know he will wear his to the postbox! Switched to a leather needle and used my open toe foot to stich the binding on at about 1/8 - 3/16".

 

6. Next, I cut one side-edge of a quilted sandwich, matching to one edge of the slipper. Roll the binding over the top and pin that edge together.

7. Before cutting the other edge, I put my foot in there to be certain it was going to fit, then cut the second side to match any curve. and pinned that side in place...

8. Because of the rubber, no-skid underside, I slipped tracing paper under the slipper before sewing the final seam. Using a stiletto and a FMQ foot, slowly sew the top binding down, making sure to catch the quilt sandwich within your seam. I actually double-rolled the binding as it seemed too wide to me..

9. Stitch all the way around the sole, rolling the binding over $ easing in the curves with your stiletto.
10. Tear off the tracing paper that is now attached to your new slipper!

This made a sweet, yet lightweight slipper that is perfect around the house in summertime! One mat turned out to be enough for four pair - three in my size and one for DH. I plan to complete another pair for travel, and perhaps the other will be for houseguests!

Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoyed my most recent make!

Tickled by my Elmo Purse!

Two year olds are tickled by Elmo, and my Grand Niece is no exception!
I was excited to learn I would be able to attend Madeleine's 2nd Birthday party while in Seattle. Without much time to get ready, I purchased an Elmo purse pattern for $3.50, found as a download at HeartFeltPatterns on Etsy. Very cute, and the purse was a hit!

I used fleece for the body and cotton for the lining.
Followed the pattern pretty closely, but couldn't resist quilting his nose:)

Rather than purchasing a magnetic closure, I used magnets from an old shower curtain and sewed them in.

Just a quick Friday Finish share, I am looking forward to a productive weekend!

BTW, the gray cutting mat is a new purchase - 50% off at JoAnn's. My last Olfa mat only lasted two years before tiny green flecks began showing up, on fabric, on my hands, even on my face. Granted, I do a lot of cutting for my Etsy shop, and quilting of course, but I was fairly disgusted with the price of the Olfa nowadays. They have more than double in price in what seems like a short period of time. My new mat is awesome - the markings are easier to line up with since they are outside the perimeter, it is a full 36" (some are only 35), and best of all, it is printed on both sides and should therefore last twice as long! I will have to get back with y'all to verify that though, a couple years from now ;-)

One Sketchy Bee - another Quilted Book Jacket Finished!

A quilty finish is always a thrill, but especially exciting when it is meant to surprise someone!

One Sketchy Bee
A quilty surprise for Lara from BuzzinBumble!

I knew this one would come as a shock & I couldn't wrap it fast enough once I finished!

Initially inspired by the little bee pattern, by Diane Fortune, found published in the book Love Embroidery (Amazon link - non affiliate). The stitch is a new one for me, called Roumanian Stitch.

This is my third quilted book cover, but because I wasn't really sure what I was making when I began, it came up a bit small. No worries, that's what scissors are for ;)

I was swearin sweatin a bit, but trimming the cover page did the trick. whew.

Because I have enjoyed 'meeting' Lara so much, I reached in the pool room for a bit of a fave print from Kokka.

Ahh, sweet homemade space.

 

It is a hot one here today folks - 100 degrees before 10AM, and a bit of smoke hovering over Vegas from California fires. My shutters are closed, fans are on, no ironing and no laundry allowed(grin).

I am looking forward to a weekend 'home-cation'!

 

Sharing this fun finish with several Friday link ups:

 

Can I get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

TGIFF, hosted this week by Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts

Finish it up Friday with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio

My adventures with Henry Glass - Desire to Inspire & a Giveaway!

My all-time favorite Christmas album is A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio, the original soundtrack of the TV Special.
I listened to it quite a few times over the past few weeks!


Etch A Sketch art work by  Alli Katz  - check out more of her various artistic creations at lookhowhappyiam.com.

This was my way of truly embracing the challenge when I received some happy mail - a large bundle of Christmas fabric! This is a bit understated, but I have to tell you I was so excited to find out I was selected by Henry Glass as the May Challenger for Desire to Inspire! What a surprise when I received Shelly Comiskey's Kringle Krossing fabrics! I hope you will take a moment to check out my interview for the Desire to Inspire Challenge at Henry Glass ! Oh, and leave a comment so they know you love the program -- because it is awesome! If you want to participate in their challenge you will find info there too!

I don't know how many designs I drew out and tinkered with before I made my final decision for the main quilt! I wanted to showcase and use all Shelly's fabric. The only fabric I added from my own stash is the solid black and the dark green. And the backing of course, but we will get to that..

Kringle Krossing 65" x 75"

The plan for this quilt originally was to frame the main panel, shown below.
Once it was on the design wall however, I got the idea to make a postage stamp border for the panel. Great, except it would not fit with the blocks the size they already were. My next 'big' idea was to make the entire back of the quilt a big postcard, with the panel stamp in the corner, etc..

In the end, I pulled it. I really wanted to have a go at FMQ'ing that big beard, and a huge floor pillow would be a perfect mate for this quilt! I played with drunkard's patches to make the stamp border - a lot of trial and error to get the right size and I did get a plan set. Hopefully I took good notes, because it became pretty clear: No time-no time-no time!

Disappointed that the panel would not be a part of my submission, I made the decision anyway - I want that floor pillow!  

 

That aside, I re-focused and got busy:-)

 

The backing is Tidings of Great Joy Quilting Treasures - an awesome eBay score (6yards $30 shipped).

Machine stitched binding. Did I mention no time?

Once the quilt was finished and photographed, I had a few days left to play without any pressure. I used scraps to surround my favorite print in the line, the sweet reindeer, using Jacquelynne Steve's recent quilted potholder tutorial. Mine is more of a trivet though, since I left out the strap that I had made for a hanger. oops..

I still had one print that I had not used in the quilt, and I fussy cut Santa there, 'Makin his list'.

Playing with the block, I thought of the Chalk Cloth fabric I have never gotten around to using. I looked online and found a lot of rolled up portable chalkboards. I guess you could say this is improv project; I cut the cloth the same width as the block, added borders, some ric-rac, straps and a hanger so it can be displayed on the wall.

30" long - 16" wide

What a fun way to make a wish list! Or the holiday menu, or a nice note to Santa with the cookies...
I put a patch of the chalk cloth on the back as well, thinking how cute when it is rolled up.

I know this is getting long, but I will mention one thing I found out about chalk cloth. It really wants to roll up the other direction. See the wavy bumps in the full view? If it is stored as a roll, it really needs a strong tube for support to keep from creasing. If purchased online, it is likely to become creased in shipment. Creases are pretty permanent and from what I read online, ironing is not recommended. I tried it anyway of course. I even spritzed water on and ironed from the back. It helps a lot, but in the end, I cut in a way that avoided the big creases.

Try as I might, I was not able to use all the beautiful fabric provided for this challenge! I look forward to finishing the big floor pillow and I will share that here, but it is likely to be December since I tend to push deadlines when I can:-)

For someone who is not real big on holiday hoopla, I sure have been doing a lot of it lately!
Ty just rolls his eyes, and I laugh and tell him to be staunch - there is more to come!

 

Now, are you ready for the little giveaway?

This is a one yard bundle. Fat eights are cut from six prints from Shelly Comiskey's Kringle Krossing, + one 1/8 of the black backing fabric, and 1/8 of Happy Town (lime green) by Jacquelynne Steve's.

Enter by leaving a comment on this post before Sunday, June 7th at midnight PST. Followers may leave a second comment for another entry, please tell me how you follow! Winner will be drawn at random, (and re-drawn, and re-drawn until a winner is drawn that is not a no-reply blogger with no email address!),

 

I try to respond to all comments, but please forgive me if I fall behind for the giveaway! This will be posted with Friday Finish linkups & I have a busy weekend ahead! I love hearing from reader's! I try to visit each blog in return, and often end up following as well:-)

 

Thank you for reading, and remember, there are only 205 days left til Christmas!