Berry making 101

I'm adding berries to my vine today.

Kind of nice!!!

right?

To make my berries....

I began with a little square.

Just UNDER 2".

I trimmed the corners.

I do not try making a PERFECT circle.

It works....believe me.

 

I begin with a square

because it's easier to get ALL the berries

the same size when I begin

with squares that are the same size.

 

to me....

It's easier than trying to

cut circles the same size.

I guess....you could draw cirlces on the fabric...

but THAT would take too long!!!

;)

I sew a big running stitch around the outside...

All the way around.

Pull that string and gather the edges together.

VIOLA!!!

 

A pretty little berry!

Applique them down.

Enjoy the red and green goodness!!

Spoons

I was inspired to decorate wooden spoons over here

at Alisa Burke's blog.

 

Just call me a copycat. ;)

The little wood burning tool

was purchased....

The spoons were found....

and...

I had something unique to add

to some of the Christmas bags!!!

 

It's not ALWAYS

fabric and sewing over here!!!

;)

 

linking up with

 made by you  Monday.

 

House update

Houses have been arriving at my house.

Neighborhood houses

that say WELCOME!!!

I love this blogland neighborhood!

A very friendly and encouraging

place to "live"!

 

Tuesday is the BIG day!

I'll spread ALL the houses out..

take a quick picture...

and then...

I'll divide them into little neighborhoods

and choose some winners!!!

The winners will recieve a set of houses

to make a quilt with!!!

 

You've also been sending little orphans

and...

The orphans are finding HOMES!!!

 

I love this BRIGHT quilt!

Thank you for coming to the party

and

for being so generous with your orphan blocks.

 

We're up to THREE charity quilts

and enough to make one or two more!

Woo hoo!!!

;)

 

 

 

Pretty Pillow

Taking unfinished sewing projects

and finishing them

has become one of my

Spesh-ee-a-li-TEEZ!!!

 

I enjoy seeing the undone....

DONE!!!

This one came unfinished.

Wish I would have taken a BEFORE shot

of the embroidery!!!

It's done now!

 

I added some fabric highlights.

Voila!

A pretty pillow!

 

I love the way it turned out

and hope that someone else will too!!!

 

I've listed it in my little shop.

;)

 

Vines and Leaves

I'm adding some applique to this quilt!

I cut some leaves Free hand

and am adding them

ONE by ONE

on to that curvy vine!

 

The light border I'm putting them on is

a VERY generous 10" wide.

LOTS of room to play!!!

I pinned them on HERE and there.

I don't think this kind of applique

needs or WANTS a pattern.

 

Leaves are ALL so individual in REAL life!

See my use of THREE different white/lights??

First there was the muslin pieced with the triangles.

THEN

There was the muslin with sparkly freckles!

A gold sashing.

And then.....

a very light white/gold floral.

 

THAT, my friends, is what you do

when you have LOTS of fabric

but NOT lots of the SAME fabric!!

:)

I'm almost done with the purple leaves.

I'll switch thread color soon

and work on the greens.

Hey!

I might even get busy and make some BERRIES!!!

I think they'd be VERY happy in this quilt!

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

From MY house to YOURS!

 

I finally got them ALL in ONE place

at ONE time!!! ;)

 

Our family will be blessed in the coming year with...

 

A son-in-law!

 

What a GREAT gift!

 

Orphans no LONGER!

Here's another charity quilt

made with YOUR blocks!

 

The blocks have been all LINED up

on my living room floor for the last couple of days.

Today was the day I really NEEDED to get them together!

Having them there on the floor

Blocked the path from

Fireplace to Christmas TREE!!!

 

How would Santa get THROUGH???

 

I solved that.

A little sewing

and

the quilt top is complete!!!

 

Whew!

Santa can come on over!

We're ready.

;)

One Happy QUILT!

Here's A VERY FUN charity quilt using

some orphan blocks

and

EXTRA house blocks you sent!

 

Isn't it CHEERY???

 

Thank you.

Thank you

for participating in making this quilt!

 

I have enough orphans

and houses to make a couple more!

Woo Hoo!

 

The quilt measures 55"x70"

I love ALL the color in this quilt!

There's movement in this quilt too...

Thanks to those stars and pinwheel!

 

I'm thinking...

a little girl is going to SMILE mighty BIG

when this is covering her up!!!

 

I'm smiling too!

Giving quilts DOES that!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Gift!

A last minute gift.

These were by SPECIAL request...

because she liked these so much!!!

Gotta LOVE that!

 

If you're still wondering if you have time

to give something HANDmade...

Here's proof...

YOU DO!!!!

 

These fun little coasters took

NO TIME at all.

 

Technically...they took time...

but NOT MUCH!

 

And....

They'd be so cute with Christmas fabric!!!

Wouldn't they??

OR...

Just red and white!!!

 

Hmmmm.....maybe i'll make some more!

 

Tutorial for this project is HERE.

 

Tuesday

Once in a while I pause between projects.

Not often enough, I'm afraid!!!

 

During this short pause...

I trim the scraps from what I JUST finished

into little squares.
;)

 

The scrap determines the size.

 

2", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2".....

 

As I cut my little squares yesterday I wondered...

"Why don't I do this EVERY time??"

 

Then I realized!!!

 

IF I did it every time....

I wouldn't have any strips, triangles or ODD little pieces

to play with!!!

 

It's ALL GOOD!!!

 

Log Cabin Holiday Style!

I was sent an ebook to review this week.

It inspired me to

pull out my Christmas fabric

for the FIRST time this year!!!

 

I can't believe I waited this long

to get the Christmas fabric out!!!

Maybe it's because the box of Christmas fabric

lives in my ATTIC!!!

Not the easiest Go to place, huh?

 

The little book is ALL about LOG CABIN quilts.

It includes some fun OLD quilts

that I like looking at

even MORE than the new ones!!!

 

Directions are very easy to follow

and

Pictures are well done.

I think it's a great BASIC book

that you can refer to again and again.

 

This FREE little Ebook is available

HERE.

Let me know what YOU think.

 

My pillow above uses 1 1/2" strips

in a Half log cabin style.

It took FOUR half log cabins to make the center

and the border is 3" wide all around.

I had fun quilting loop-de-loops

in all the white areas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

little something

This week...I made....

one little sewing bag....

For ME!

See?

I've already filled it with my JUNK!

Not to worry!

I can make more!

 

These decorator fabric samples

have been in my cupboard TOO LONG!

I'm using the samples ALL UP....

and it feels so good!

I should have a little bag ready

for ALL my friends...

IF...

I can gather up enough ZIPPERS!!!

;)

 

You'll find other fun Friday finishes

here and here!

Forgetful

When packing sewing projects

for an unexpected trip to help an ill relative....

I forgot ONE thing!

(The ingredients for one little block!)

An important thing when making a QUILT!!!

 

I was NOT going to let that little block stop me!

I sashed the blocks adding cornerstones

and EVEN added two small borders!!

 

I'm OFF to fill the HOLE!!!

and then...

I can get going on some more BORDERS!!!

This quilt needs to GROW!

;)

Neighborhood update

The orphan blocks

and

the extra houses you're sending

have been getting along famously!!!

 

There have been no MAJOR squabbles

as they meet and mix with one another

over here at my house.

 

I'm letting them get acquainted

before I cement their friendships

with a SEAM!

 

Thank you for participating

in this year's neighborhood party

and

for sending your extra blocks and fabric along!

 

We're making some extra special

quilts for charity!

 

 

 

Windy Day!

When I began piecing these hand-me-down

half square triangles....

I didn't have my thinking cap on.

Surprised???

Me neither!!!

;)

 

Some pinwheels are going this way..

and some are going another!!!

 

I've made a decision!

It doesn't matter which way the wind blows!!!

 

I'm not fixing A THING!

 

I think with some sashing,

cornerstones,

and maybe some other kind of DISTRACTION...

No one will notice!

 

And...

YOU won't be telling...

Will you?

Fast....

I've mentioned before I like to go FAST!!!

 

Well....

I found out last night...

there are other ways to go fast!!!!

Yep.

That's me.

These little guys are FUN to drive!

I CRASHED the boys night out party!

 

HeeHee!!!

It was my son's 19th bday!

I pulled the "MOTHER card"...

and said I'd like to go as well.

 

What a FUN night!

 

Maybe I'll do it for MY BIRTHDAY too!!!!

:)

 

After a great night out...

I woke up to this...

http://www.anaheimartscouncil.com/news_spot.php?id=220&bnr=spot

My quilt is on the FRONT page!

 

Fun.FUN!!!

Little birdies

Today I made some cute little "somethings"...

out of some little "NOTHINGS" that I found around the house.

 

Scraps of fabric, old t-shirts,.....

embroidery floss, buttons and little sparkly circles.

(what are those sparkly circles called

that they attach to clothing to make it sparkle???

I can't imagine covering a whole dress

or skirt with them!)

 

This one, I think, is my favorite

and he doesn't have any sparkle at all!!!

 

Just those CUTE square button eyes!!

 

Yep.

I'm having some fun!