A free class

Cute. Right?

 

It's from a new Craftsy class taught by

Tara Rebman.

 

Craftsy has LOTS of quilting classes

Plus a host of other

CREATIVE class opportunities!

 

This one's even better!!!

 

There are a total of 11 projects in this class

and they use SCRAPS!

My Favorite kind of fabric!

 

Would you like to win a FREE class??

 

The Link to sign up is HERE.

 

Craftsy will pick a winner on Monday!

Good luck

and KEEP learning!

 



My own room

I'm showing it off today...

because it may NEVER be this clean again!!!

This is where I work.

This is where I sing along with the radio...

and....

where I HIDE out when I need some alone time. ;)

This isn't so neat...

but it works.

Behind my machine is an extra bed.

Kind of nice to have a quilt on display ALL the time, right?

Actually...

It's been covered with this and that...

so i don't usually SEE the quilt!!!

LOL!

It's also nice to have some walls for my art quilts.

I haven't managed to figure out a design wall yet.

Maybe I'll continue using the floor in the living room!

 

Some of you may know....

I haven't had this little room for long!

But I have TAKEN over!

I've been enjoying the fact that almost

EVERYthing I need is in ONE room

and not under 4 beds, a cupboard in the family room

and

behind the sofa!

There is also a nice big closet!

Some of it holds winter wear...

but I have the majority

and NO!

I'm not opening the doors today!

;)

Things might FALL OUT!

 

Graduation time

It's that time of year again.

The time of year I give a few quilts away!

There are 5 graduating seniors at my church this year.

They all received an extra special gift.

a QUILT!

 

Early in the year I organized a sewing day.

My helpers and I began these quilts and then....

I finished them up.

I waited TOO long to finish them up...

but I DID it!!

 

I thought May would be the PERFECT month

to quilt and bind them.

WHAT was I thinking?

I wasn't.

There were some smiling faces yesterday.

 Warmed my heart.

;)

 

I've been organizing this little project for QUITE a few years.

WAY before blogging.

So wish I had more pictures!

 

Pictured above are the quilts from 2010

I don't have a picture of all the quilts from 2011.....

but I LOVE this one.

Some of the quilts from 2012

 

It's ALWAYS fun to figure out a way to

USE up scraps for this FUN project!

 

I'm ALREADY thinking about NEXT YEAR!!!

 

a little dress making

Sometimes you just HAVE to make a dress.

 

It would be a LOT less trouble to buy one.

It would probably cost LESS too.

:)

But...

A Grandma does...

what a Grandma HAS to do!!!

And that is...

Make a DRESS!

I finished off with a BIG ORANGE buttton.

Can you see it peeking out under that curly hair?

I love it!

The pattern claims to be easy.

The "set in" neckband was NOT easy for MOI!!!

 

After ripping it out THREE times

I finally managed to get it all together

without any BIG puckers.

Whew!!!

 

This Grandma sees a future FULL of

frustrating, FUN and

FABULOUS

dress making

OPPORTUNITES!!!

 

 

 

mail call

My BIG order of batting was delivered yesterday.

I never dreamed it would come wrapped in plastic!

Sure easier than driving to the store and

lugging it to my car!!!  ;)

 

This roll was on sale and they only charged me 10 cents

for the shipping.

My need for batting came at the RIGHT time!

 

So...

I'm swirling away.

Free and easy swirls.

 

I first did a TEST run with my finger...

swirling around the blocks

trying to imagine a good motif.

Then...

I DOVE in!

Swirling and swirling.....

 

I like it so far.

I have TWO  matching quilts to quilt.

Getting CLOSE to that GRADUATION

deadline!

Woo hoo!!!

 

The new batting is behaving.

Seems very similar to warm and natural.

I'm glad I took the chance

and bought it!

 

I'm trying to match up the fabric blocks

with the appropriate thread.

Not too much trouble

and it's actually looking pretty good!

 

Easy meal tonight after all that swirling.

My husband's favorite.

:)

SO happy he likes an easy meal.

I squeeze a lemon on the fish

add some olive oil

and barbecue right before we eat!

 

 

Laurel Leaf

The center to this scrappy quilt

is now complete.

 

I began with a few orphan blocks...

made some more of my own.....

pieced them together

LEAVING an EMPTY muslin center.

 

Backwards....I know.....

But didn't it turn out nice?

Using this product made it extra speedy.

ALL the leaves are the SAME size.

That helps too!

Had to pull out my little machine

since Ms. Juki doesn't "DO" zigzag.

;)

Did you hear her SARCASTIC voice???

Yeah.

I did too.

In other news....

My husband's garden is going GANGbusters

keeping me BUSY in the kitchen!!!

 

Every night I try to figure out a way

to incorporate a Garden item

into whatever I'm making!

Kind of like scrap quilting....

...kind of....

 

 

 

Helpful Hints

This quilt is READY for Sarah's Hands2help

quilt drive! Whoo hoo!!!

;)

 

As I worked to get it finished

I realized I had some ideas for a speedy finish to share.

As I looked for binding...

I was thankful I had this little organizer FILLED.

I contains 2 1/2" strips for bindings.

(leftovers from projects + strips that were rejects.)

 

It also contains, STARTING at the top...

a 2" square drawer.

2 1/2" square drawer.

3" drawer...

3 1/2"

4-5" drawer

and

2 1/2" strips!!!

 

This little organizing tool helps me out

more often than NOT!

 

This binding is a FUN mix of pinks.

Perfect for a scrappy quilt

and...

I didn't have to search through my stash to find it!

The second little tip I want to share is this.....

Watch OUT for cotton sheets!

You never knowWHERE you might find them

and....

They make the PERFECT backing!

 

I happened to have THIS one just WAITING.....

for the RIGHT quilt!!!

 

Do YOU have any speedy tips to add???

 

Have a GREAT weekend.