Quick and Easy Gift Ideas Blog Hop

Hi Friends!

Today I'm joining a great BLOG HOP

hosted by Sew in Love (with fabric).

A BERNARTEX fabric company blog.

During the next week there's

a GREAT line up of projects and ideas you'll want to

watch out for!

There will also be a giveaway at EACH stop along the way.

 A Win Win situation.   ;)

I received a selection of prints from the 

ORIGINS line of fabric

and designed this great set of coasters

ALONG with a "berry basket" to hold them in!

I LOVE the BRIGHT green in the center of my coasters!

Plus...

that little bit of green stitching

makes them EXTRA special

and takes just a little bit more time.

;)

The Origins line of fabric also includes

these ROUND motifs

that are SUPER simple to construct

and also FIT in the handy dandy basket.

I had a hard time deciding which set to make....

so ....

I made them BOTH!

The tutorial for this project is over at the Sew in Love (with fabric) blog today.

I hope you'll make a few 

and give something....

or....... a WHOLE bunch of SOMETHINGS

that are HOMEMADE away this holiday season!!!

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Origins, make sure you're signed up to follow the Benartex blog either by email or through a blog reader (see both options in the right hand sidebar at Sew in Love with Fabric). Leave a comment letting me know you are, and leave a second comment if you follow Benartex on Facebook. In your comment, let us know if you're making any handmade gifts for the holidays this year (and if you are...where are you in the process? Idea stage? Halfway done? Already wrapped?). The giveaway will remain open through Tuesday, December 9th at 11:59 pm EST. 

Monday

I'm beginning a new project today.

This is a quilt project I do every year!

I organize an effort to give

Quilts to all the high school graduates

that attend my church.

Yeah.

I'm starting early.

It's in my MIND...

so I have to get it OUT!!!

This is the block for this year.

A shoo fly variation using SHIRTS!

I think it will make some nice masculine quilts!

Here's a little how to...

:)

Cutting info:

Light fabric - left - 

TWO 4 1/2" squares

strip cut 2" wide.  (17" long)

I had to cut two since I'm using shirts

and the sleeves were not long enough.

Dark fabric - center of photo -

TWO 4 1/2" squares

strip cut 1 1/2" wide (17" long)

Medium fabric - Right side (red)

ONE 4" square

strip cut 1 1/2" wide (17" long)

Lay DARK and LIGHT squares ( 4 1/2")

right sides together.

Draw diagonal line through the middle.

Sew seams on BOTH sides of line.

Cut apart.

Trim blocks to 4" (square up)

Sew strips together.

DARK. MEDIUM. LIGHT.

Cut into FOUR 4" segments

Arrange.

Sew together.

block should measure 11"

OOPS!

Trying to keep it REAL. 

;)

This photo shows some blocks

where I SWITCHED the 

LIGHT and DARK from pattern instructions above.

I like the variation it gives!!!

I hope to make a few of these quilts for the graduates

and IF I have more blocks

I'll make some more charity quilts 

for the local hospital chaplain

who ALWAYS needs

QUILTS!

Are you interested in sending a block or two?

I'd love to add a little BLOGLAND love

into these quilts. 

:)

Blocks can either highlight the DARK or the LIGHT.

It'll be fun to have a MIX of blocks.

Leave a comment and I'll send you my address.

How to

A couple of you asked for some instruction on this block.

 

I'm using a charm pack

and LOTS of little 2" scraps.

 

It begins here.

2" little squares

and

 a couple of 2" x 3 1/2" strips of white.

 

You can see I've added some of the dimensions

on the picture...

but I got frustrated with "paint" on the computer

and left some BLANK.

:/

I'm SURE there's a BETTER way!

Technology and I have NEVER been

BEST FRIENDS!

 

When sewn together it should measure 5".

I ALWAYS need to trim mine a bit!

Here you go!

It's always nice to add some SPICE to a charm pack!

 

The white strips between are all 5" x 2"

Here's my block.

It should measure 11".

 

There are a myriad of ways YOU could use this block.

This is how I think I'll be piecing mine together.

 

See how I'm adding more 5" x 2" strips

and 2" scraps

between blocks???

 

*****For you EAGLE eyes out there....

Did you notice the blue cutting board on TOP of the green???

It's time for a NEW cutting board!!!!

 

I LOVE my BIG green one.

the BLUE one is not big enough for ME!!

 

Do you think I might do a little sewing???

How about

A LOT!!!!

 

Well...

That's your REALITY picture for the DAY!!!

;)

 

 

How to Rip

Ripping out.

It happens.

It's not pretty.

 

This is my quick method.

 

1. Choose your tool.

Mine is a small.sharp. pair of scissors.

;)

2. Go along the seam and cut the thread every 1/2" or so.

3. Grasp near the seam tightly!

4. Pull apart in ONE FAST Firm motion!!!!

 

Voila!

Rip is complete!!!

5. Move on to happier things...

LIKE

SEWING!!!!

 

A simple house

Were you interested in coming to the blogland party,

but weren't sure how to build a house??

 

This one's for YOU!

Begin here.

Find a door in your scraps...

or

CUT a door!

 

Red is a welcoming color!

Maybe you have a small piece of fabric

that says it EVEN better!!!

My door is 2 1/2"x3 1/2"

Add the walls.

3 1/2"x 3 1/2"

Add the top part of the house.

2 1/2"x 9"

9" is a bit too long....

but I like to make things a little bigger and

TRIM!!!

Add your outside garden.

These panels are 3"x 5 1/2"

;)

You're shooting for a 12 1/2" width...

So again.....leave a little elbow room

You'll trim at the very end.

The roof is the trickiest part.

I like to choose a fabric...

lay it on top of my house...

and just EYEBALL the rooftop as I cut!!!

The ONLY thing you have to worry about

is getting it TOO tall!

Remember...

your block is 12 1/2".

It's a little lopsided....

that's o.k.

IN FACT...

I think it will look EVEN better

than if it were perfectly symmetrical!

Lay the roof on top of your sky fabric.

My sky fabric is 7" wide/tall.

Use your roof as your cutting guide.

Cut ONE diagonal line.

sew it on.

Lay the roof down on sky again.

Cut a second diagonal line.

sew it together.

Trim sides to fit your house block.

 

* don't trim to 12 1/2" YET!!!

Keep your block bigger.

You can trim it when you're ALL DONE!

Add a small front yard.

I think mine is 2"

Sew it on.

NOW....you can trim your block!!!

 

I'm going to add a little doorknob to my door.

Maybe it will be a button...

maybe it will be embroidered on....

There are LOTS of possibilities!!!

Some clouds would be nice too.......

Hmm........

 

Be creative with your house block!

Have FUN!

Add a couple of details!

 

Add your blog name IF you have one.

Quilters without blogs ARE VERY WELCOME as well!!!

 

I hope ALL of you will be coming to the party!

I look forward to seeing your houses

and also...

getting some CHARITY blocks

to make into QUILTS!!!!

 

Happy SEWING!!!

 

 

Half Log Cabin....FREE STYLE!

I like to make quilt blocks that don't require

a lot of matching or math.

This block suits me.

All it takes is ONE piece of paper (I used a phone book page)

one square (any size) of color.

Strips of color and strips of white varied in width.

I began by cutting my paper foundation to 8 1/2" square.

I set one little square of color in the corner....

making sure it hung off the edge a little bit.

That way.....when you're sewing..... it doesn't accidentally

move in away from the edge!

I added two white strips.

My white strips are NOT ALL THE SAME width.

Neither are the colored strips.

THAT's why this is called a FREE STYLE block. ;)

Press as you add strips.

(Notice the new ironing board cover.)..... ;)

If you're strip is TOO LONG....sew it on...

and then trim.

Don't trim RIGHT next to the edge of the paper.

We'll trim it up when it's ALL DONE!

 Here it is!!!

Notice...

You can end with a white strip on the outside....

or....

You can end with a colored strip...

IT DOESN'T matter!!!!

It IS helpful to make sure your outside strips

are not too SKINNY!

You don't want to LOSE your strip

when piecing the blocks together!

Turn your block over and trim along the edge of your foundation.

You've completed ONE BLOCK!!!

Easy....huh?

Blocks can be arranged like this.

Or like this....

Or...

LIKE THIS!!!

A Free Style quilt!!!!