Snow Day!

It snowed yesterday finally! Then it started to melt, and then it froze. I saw these rose-hipcicles in my yard and couldn't help but put a few pictures up for you to see.

Hope you are staying safe and warm!

A Belated Christmas Present

Not much going on. But I thought I would show you these really cool fold up tote bags. They are called Tukaway Totes by www.Quiltwoman.com. They were actually pretty easy and very large. I figured they would be great for big bulky but not so heavy things from the grocery store. Like chips and boxes of cereal. Anyway, I made two of them for my Aunt Sue.

 Of course I had one of my quality control team on hand to make sure all was done properly.

But then he got lazy.

And then the safety factor changed and I had to stop sewing for the day.

Believe me when I say, there was no way to get this quality control inspector to go away. He can be very persistent.
Thanks Alex! You are such a big help. Not!

Snowbird Christmas Ornament

It's almost here! I have a craft show coming up and thought it would be nice to have some little somethings to sell. So here is my offering for a quick easy Accuquilt project.

Start off with  these Accuquilt Studio Dies:

Bird #5 (50617)
Feather #1 (50111)

Supplies needed:
2 red medium buttons
10" x 4.5" piece of white wool or felt
red cotton crochet yarn or ribbon for hanging
red thread for sewing machine
Steam A Seam

Iron the Steam A Seam to one side of the wool. Fold in half and cut two birds. With remainding wool, cut out 2 feathers. Make sure they are in opposite directions. Easiest way is to make sure to double the fabric, right sides together.

Peel off the Steam A Seam and gently stick the two bird pieces together. Cut off the wing.( Sorry birdie)

Ok, this next part is optional. If you want a little ribbon for hanging instead of a string, Now is the time. Cut the ribbon the length you want. Match up the edges and gently peel apart the bird at the back. Insert the raw edges of the ribbon and seal the fabric back up. You can now press with an iron.

Peel off the Steam A Seam from the wing pieces. Match up the wings on each side of the bird. Make sure they match perfectly. You are going to sew them down and they need to be matched up on both sides.

Using pretty red thread in your sewing machine and a decorative straight stitch, (I used stitch number 49 on my Bernina 430) sew around the bird and wings. I used a zipper foot and sewed pretty close to the edge. Sew a little more to the inside around the wings.

 I started where the wing meets the tail.  I stitch the wing first and then when it meets up again at the beginning I pivot and head for the tail. I end at the front of the wing. Confused? I am. Wooo.
I then used a different decorative stitch (#120 on my Bernina) and sewed across the bottom of the bird.

I start at the back end and end almost to where the eye would be. Sew a red button on each side of the wings. If you are using string to hang it. Measure out the cotton crochet thread and tie the ends together. Loop it around the button, twist and around again. Done!
here is what one looks like with ribbon.

I of course had lots of help.

Whatcha doin?

Are youz done yet? Wanna Play!

And we are done sewing for today.
Have fun!

Good things in Tiny Packages

The holidays are coming up fast. I have been making these simple Teabag pouches and thought they would make a great gift or craft fair project. Of course I love looking for new ways to use my Accuquilt dies. They don't take much fabric and are great for scraps you just can't throw away.

Here is an example to get you started. I'll show more at the end of the post.
I used Osnaburg for the outside and a matching fabric for the inside.

Here are the supplies you will need:

11" x 5" piece of Osnaburg
11" x 5" for lining
scrap 4.5" x 3.5" nonwoven fusible interfacing
Scraps for ovals and bird
Wonder Under or similar
thread for applique




Lets get started.
Fuse the fusible interfacing to the backside of one end of Osnaburg. This is to give your applique some stability when you sew.

Iron the Wonder Under to the back of the scraps for the flowers.
Here are the Accuquilt dies I used.
Studio Dies:
 StudioOvals #50697 or Go Ovals #55358 I used the smallest and the second to the smallest oval
Studio Bird Trio # 50435 Or Go #55325

I used the smallest bird and the large oval shaped wing.
Using the second from the smallest, and using a plain fabric, cut one oval. Using a matching tone on tone fabric cut one from smallest oval.

Cut one small bird from a colorful fabric. Cut one wing from a matching fabric. Make sure it has some contrast so it shows up.
Turn your Osnaburg over to the right side and measure about 1/4" from the short edge. Position the larger oval with the smaller oval inside. Iron to the Osnaburg. Layer the little bird and wing on top of the smaller oval and iron. Using a contrasting thread, I sewed a double blanket stitch with my Bernina. You can use a single and it will still work. Sew around all the raw edges.
With right sides together, pin the Osnaburg to the lining fabric. Leaving a small opening for turning, sew around all sides. Turn and iron flat. Fold into thirds. Open up the top flap and pin the bottom part. Starting at the bottom folded edge, top stitch about 1/8" from the edge all the away around the pouch.
For a closure, I used an iron on Velcro and cut it into a heart shape with one of my dies. You can use any shape that is small or just buy Velcro in round iron on dots. I make sure I use a really hot iron to get it to stick well.
So here are some more samples I made up. Hope it gives you some great ideas!


 Here I used Studio die # 50673 Heart #7
and the Ovals again

 Here I used the penny rug circles # 50090

Just a note: These were done with dies I found on the Accucutcraft site. You will find many more dies there.

Check it out. Here is used the Flowers and Leaves #1 Die number F1425LC

Electric Quilt designs

Hi All, thought you would like to see what I have been up to lately. I have been doing some design work with Electric Quilt 7. I'm starting to work on the actual quilts but here are some quilt patterns in the works. Hope you like them!

Victory Gardens

Volunteers

 

 

 

 

 

No name yet

rose tiles

My plan is to use my Accuquilt for cutting the pieces. These are just a few I'm working on. Next week I'll post more. I will eventually have patterns available for sale. Let me know what you think!

Week 17 Slouchy Purse

Hi All, Here is a fun fast project I found on All People Quilt.com  They call it the Reversible Purse and I love love them! I have been making them all different ways and here is a fast one perfect for that new outfit or gift.
Just a note before you get started. I have changed the shipping on my fabric website. All fabric sales ship free from now on! I'm trying to go to college and am using this site to earn money so I can go full time! Thanks in advance for your support.

First download the pattern from their website. Again here is the link....
Reversible Purse

I have made it the published size here. Other purses I have enlarged the pattern. So go crazy and do some cool creative things with it.
You will have to piece the pattern together with tape.  (Note: I ironed a fusible nonwoven interfacing to the lining fabric to give it a little body before I cut it out.) Follow the directions on their site for putting it together. However, stop after you pull it write side out through the handles. Follow the directions for sewing up the sides. But don't sew up the bottom. Turn the purse right side out with the outside of the purse facing out.
Make sure the side seams are now in the front in the middle.
Ok now for the big red flower.
I used these dies.
They came from the Accucut site originally. So here are the Accucut numbers and then I'll give you the Accuquilt numbers.
Accucut site:
1. Flower, Petal, Center, Stem Item # f1438
2. Circles-Penny Rug Item # CR622 (circle used is 2 1/4")
3. Round Flower Set Item # Q1311
4. Rose Sampler Item # R1362LC (note: this is no longer on the site.)
Accuquilt site:
1. Studio Flower Petals (large) Item # 50432
2. Studio Circles Item # 50637 ( use the 2" size)
3. Studio Round Flower Item # 50155
4. Studio Rose Sampler Item # 50190
Ok, here are the dies.

I only used the stem on this.

To find these you will have to type in the name of the item number in search. Some of these could not be found under the category listings.
Ok, Iron fusible interfacing to your fabrics. You will need just scraps for the green stems and leaves and yellow center. A large scrap of red will do for petals.
Cut out 12 flower petals, two leaves, one center and one stem. Peal off the backing and lay out your flower. Iron with a hot iron.
Now to applique the flower on. I used a small blanket stitch in black thread.
You will have to pull away the other layers and bunch everything up into your sewing machine. Make sure you are only sewing through the top flower layer.
Here is a closeup of the blanket stitching.
Now on to a pocket. The pattern does not have a pocket on it. But I wanted one. I have made bunches of these and I always stress over the waste. I found a perfect way to use the cutaway waste. Check this out.
When you cut the purse out, you have these rounded sections left over.
I just kept throwing them in my scrap basket and stressing over what I was going to do with them later. Then I decided they would make cute pockets. They are double layered so would be perfect. Open one up like this.
Ok so I'm being nutso OCD here. But I think it makes a great pocket shape. So fold it right sides in and sew around all sides leaving a little opening for turning.  Perfect size for a cell phone and keys.. don't you think?

Top stitch across the straight edge.. that is the top of the pocket.
Pin it on  your purse where you want it.
I also marked a line from the middle (top to bottom) for another seam. That way the pocket had a little divide in it. I just used my cell phone for measurement to make sure it would fit.
Turn your purse back out so the right sides are in and sew up the bottom according to the directions.  Turn it right sides out and top stitch around the opening on both sides.  Done!