Saturday, December 29, 2012

Back ... sorta

Another quick post as I am thoroughly enjoying this very restful, snowy day.  I have not touched a sewing machine in DAYS but I saw a new pattern on the Moda Bakeshop blog today that looks like some fun sewing so I may gather up a couple of layer cakes and start it later today or maybe tomorrow.

I received a new point and shoot camera with many, many bells and whistles.  There will be a huge learning curve since this one has a lot of options I didn't have on my Canon.  I actually opened it on Christmas morning and started taking what I thought were photos.  (They were videos.)  Today I actually broke out the manual and thought I would give it a quick read through.  I read for a while but I am a visual learner so I started experimenting.



Both of the photos above were taken with the same light within 5 minutes of each other.  The difference?  I changed the scene setting.  I still have absolutely no idea what I am doing but it is fun just fooling around!

Hope you are also taking some time to do things that you enjoy and make you happy!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

I think I am ready!


My youngest son and his family arrive here tomorrow. I think this is the most prepared I have been for Christmas in years.


I actually feel like I have the time to listen to Christmas music, sip some eggnog and enjoy the tree lights.

You ready?

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

All is well

I have not posted in such a long time!  I have been overwhelmed getting ready for the holidays and craft shows.  Things around here are still crazy but the end is in sight.  Back in about a week!!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving

Today I am traveling south to see some of my very favorite people in the world and spend Thanksgiving wrapped in a comforting blanket of family and friends.  I am sending each of you my sincere thanks for taking the time to read my blog and taking a peek into part of my life.

For all of you in the United States, Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The travel blanket

As promised, here is the tutorial for the travel blanket.  If you have ever made a "quillow" the procedure is much the same.

Couple of notes:  the handles are a little bulky and you may end up fighting with your sewing machine.  I could not get my Brother to move the fabric so I ended up doing the handles on my big girl, Jenny.  Before I stitch the handles in place, I use a pin about an inch below the edge running parallel to the seam line to hold the handle edge completely straight.  You don't want the handles to be stitched on an angle.  I am sorry that you can't really see my stitching lines since I was using black thread on black background fabric.  I used my walking foot for most of the construction.  One last thing - the disgusting cutting mat is the one I use for cutting fleece and batting and has seen better days!


As I mentioned yesterday, you will need a yard of polar fleece.  (If you want to use a contrasting or coordinating piece for the pocket you will need additional fabric - 14" square.)  Trim and square up all the outer edges with a pinking blade in your rotary cutter.

Cut 14" from the bottom of your fleece.  You can use that for the pocket or use a 14" square of coordinating fabric for the pocket.  (If the blanket is for an older child, you may want to just leave that extra 14" on the bottom.  You can customize the length of the blanket to the height of the child.  You will need the fabric, however, to be 36" across.)

From the 14" piece that you trimmed off, cut a piece that is 14" long by 3".  That is your handle (which is also optional).


After cutting the fabric, make the handle by folding the fabric in thirds.  No need to worry about the exposed unfinished edge because the fleece will not fray.  Stitch on the edge of the handle to secure the raw edge and then stitch the same stitch width on the opposite side.  This flattens the handle and gives it more of a finished look.



Find the center edge of your blanket edge and mark with a pin.  Pin the raw ends of the handles 2-1/2" from the center pin on either side.



Sew the handles in place and then layer the pocket (again find the center point of the pocket and match with center of the blanket top) and sew from one end to the other.  I used a 1/2" seam for the bottom and sides of the pocket. I also backstitched at the beginning and end of each stitching line.



The pocket is stitched along the top edge and then down each side.  Leave the bottom of the pocket open.


To fold the blanket, place it pocket side down and fold the left and the right sides in to line up with the side stitching lines of the pocket and then fold in half bringing the bottom edge up to the top edge.


Fold that section up in roughly thirds - just enough to line up with the top and bottom of the pocket.


Turn the whole thing over, reach into the bottom of the pocket, hold the inside top corners of the blanket and flip the pocket over enclosing the blanket.  I needed a camera crew to show you the flipping so I found this demonstration on YouTube that shows the basic premise.

Joann's has had polar fleece on sale lately and I was able to pick up my fabric for about $6 a yard.  Start to finish the blanket takes about an hour to make.  It is a fast, easy and inexpensive gift and I love the way mine turned out.  I am sure the grands will enjoy them and I am willing to be some Mommy's are going to want them, too!

Friday night sewing

Doing a tutorial is hard.  Do something, take a picture, take another picture...review pictures and realizing they are all crappy and take another picture....rinse, repeat.  Good grief!  For all you wonderful folks out there that do tutorials on a regular basis, my hat is off to you!

IMG_0149 I finished one - yes, one - of the blankets.  Not because they are difficult or take a lot of time.  They really do go together quickly.  It’s all that photo taking and thinking that got in the way!

Bottom line is that I have a lot of photos to edit and turn into something that resembles a decent tutorial. So, I will post that tonight.

Did you participate?  What did you work on last night? 

Friday, November 16, 2012

Travel blankets

One of the women in S4 (my sewing circle) made travel blankets for her grandchildren.  They are made from  polar fleece or minky, have a short handle and fold into a pocket much like a quillow.  Since all of my grandchildren are traveling long distances to see their other grandparents for Christmas this year, I thought I would make one for each of them to snuggle with in the back seat.  I am spending Thanksgiving with all of them next week and want to have the blankets ready to deliver as a pre-Christmas gift from Grammy.

My stack of fabrics and a pinking blade for my rotary cutter.  The pinked edge looks so much nicer than a straight edge! (I used a coupon from Joann's to purchase mine.)  Each blanket takes a yard of fabric if you use the same fabric for blanket and pocket.  I purchased an additional half yard of coordinating fabric to use for the pocket though I will not need nearly that much fabric.
Tonight is the Friday Night Sew-in so I am hoping that will give me the push I need to get my project started and finished.  To that end, I am also planning to do my first tutorial. I know!  It will probably not be really pretty since I will be forced to use the flash on my camera.  I am sure I will be spending a lot of time with Picmonkey before I post any pictures!

If you want to participate in the sew along tonight, click on the icon on my sidebar. It will take you right to Heidi's page where you can link up.  It is also great way to find new blogs or other quilters that may be nearby.  I forgot to post where I am when I linked up but be sure to do that.  (I am very good with advice - I just don't follow it!)

Monday, November 12, 2012

3 down - one more to go!

This past weekend was the big craft show at our local high school.  There are over 135 vendors and the turnout is huge.  I had some success (not as much as I would have liked) and feel like I did a good job promoting my brand.  Here are a couple of photos


Scarves were my biggest seller.

Followed by table runners.




I didn't sell any pillows or pillow covers.  I was totally shocked by  that.  My price for the canvas printed covers is only $15 and $20 for the quilted ones.  (I think that is pretty reasonable!)  They sold so well at my office that I thought they would surely sell at the show.


I have PLENTY of inventory for the next show in early December and can finally start working on some Christmas gifts for members of my family.  There is also a Christmas quilt that I would like to make for me.  I love "Sentiments" from 3 Sisters for Moda and there is some fabric in my studio just calling my name!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Oh.my.goodness!

Since I am having a pretty leisurely day, I spent some time this morning reading blogs.  Over on Cookies and Cups was posted this incredible shortbread.



I had to bake it.  Had to.  See the piece just above?  It was delicious with a cup of coffee but I am betting it would taste awfully good with a cup of tea or a glass of milk.  I may have to do another taste test...

Still here!

The wind and rain was crazy last night but the house is still standing.  I only lost power for 3 hours and am very thankful that the storm effects were much less than originally projected for our area.

Since my office is closed today and I am on salary, today is a "gimme" day.  Because I have been sewing so much I have not had the time to do some other projects.  I broke out my can of ASCP and started painting a wooden bread box that I will use in a display. I will also finish the annual swap of warm weather clothing for cool weather clothing and that is always a huge pain. There are about 5 other things on my "to do" list.  I will most likely ending up sewing at some point because it is just too difficult to stay away from my sewing machine!

My thoughts and prayers are for all along the East Coast affected by the storm. Thank you to everyone who commented on my post last night.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Storm watch

Overlay

Possible yard projectiles have been stored, porch furniture is as low as I can get it and I have laundry in the washing machine.  I want to run the dishwasher and then hope the hot water tank fills up again before we lose power...though I am certainly hoping that a power outage will not occur! The only thing that really makes me nervous is when the house starts moving with the wind.  That totally freaks me out.  I guess that is what happens when you live in a frame house over a 100 years old.

For all my readers in the path of the storm, please be safe and stay indoors.  "Talk" to you in a couple of days on the other side of the rainbow!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

But wait! There's more!!

I am also making some non-quilted pillow covers.




I am absolutely crazy about these chickens!


All graphics are from the Graphics Fairy and are printed onto washed, bleached, washed canvas drop cloth fabric.  Everyone who has seen them loves them so I am hoping that they will sell well at the show.  I have my fingers crossed!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Just a little show and tell


These are the ones in which I have inserted the pillow forms.  There are lots more that a simply pillow covers.  They range in size from 12x12 to 12x16.


I may actually use up all the "Peace on Earth", "Grace", "Glace'" and "Roman Holiday" 3 Sisters fabric that I have been hoarding!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Ah ha! moment...



I use basting spray when I quilt on my domestic machine.  I have been using it for YEARS.  Know what I discovered early this morning?  If you make your quilt sandwich and let the spray dry overnight (or at least 8 hours) it quilts so much better and no real gumming up of the needle.

Some days I amaze myself...

Friday, October 12, 2012

I didn't mention this before

About a week ago I was notified by Holly from Bijou Lovely that I had won a design roll of Chicopee from Free Spirit.  It arrived in the mail yesterday.



Isn't it pretty?  The fabrics are reminiscent of fabrics from the 70's.  I am going to make one of Camille's jelly roll patterns with the roll and pick up coordinating fabrics at Burkholder's.  I wish I had time to work on it now but Christmas sewing prevails!

Speaking of Christmas sewing, Burkholder's has a sale of 35% off all the Christmas fabrics they have in stock.  I picked up a yard of something traditional but fell in LOVE with these fabrics!


I am thinking these will make a darling holiday tote.  What do you think?!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Long time, no post

It's that time of year - craft show time!  I have taken over 2 rooms with sewing stuff.


Please tell me everyone destroys their space when they are working!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Just a quick reminder

For readers in Pennsylvania, Ohio or western New York. The Beaver Valley Piecemakers Quilting Guild event starts on Friday, October 12th and runs through Saturday, October 13th.  For more information, follow this link.

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