New Pattern

Inchworm store now has this pattern for a toilet tank topper by Barb Gaddy. It is pdf format and when you order I will email it to you. No shipping for you or for me, yea!!! Any of the patterns by Barb Gaddy or by Jean DaBell are in pdf format and I can email them to you, just put free shipping in the voucher box and make sure to include an email address and voila it will be in your in box the very next day. I love pdf patterns. I can search and find them when I need them. I can organize them. I don't have as much paper to keep track of, it is the green thing to do. It is also the perfect way to go because it is so easy to do. Let me know what you think, if you like pdf or like getting a paper pattern. And along those lines, does any one out there know how to attach a pdf to a web page so that it can be given away free? I have been trying but haven't been successful yet.


PS. Barb is designing a cute table topper for Valentines Day that we will offer as a pattern or as a kit. Coming very soon so stay tuned, if you loved her Christmas ones you will love this one.

FREE PATTERN - FROM MY STORE TO YOU!!!

My sister Barbara from Bejeweled Quilts has allowed me to give this pattern away free for one week. It is our gift to you for being such wonderful blogging friends.

After the week is up, it will go on sale in my store.
You can find the pattern here

Enjoy!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Winner Time!!!!!!!!

It was a fun filled week with lots of bloggers dropping by and lots of sites to go visit. I hope everyone had the chance to enter a contest somewhere and that everyone was a winner. But I can only pick one. I used a random number generator and ............
Here are your random numbers:

36

Timestamp: 2011-12-17 04:16:01 UTC

Marcia W. from Florida was the winner of the book and the fat quarters.
So I will let Marcia know she won and thank you to everyone who stopped by and entered. I enjoyed all the comments. It seemed that the majority of people wanted to learn or get better at free motion quilting. Including me. There are some great tutorials out there and lots of books but I guess in the end it is a matter of practice, so good luck to everyone.

I have been working on some little projects. I saw those tutorials on Sew We Sew and decided to make some bags. They were so quick and turned out so cute. I think I am hooked.


Well I cleaned today and I am pooped, so I think I am going to take the rest of the evening off. Have a great weekend everyone.

GIVEAWAY DAY(WEEK)

It’s time for The Original, the big, the amazing… Giveaway Day! Mark your calendar for Monday, December 12th thru Friday December 16th!

Giveaway Day is a HUGE event that Sew Mama Sew coordinates where everyone with a shop or blog can give something away. This year the category's for the giveaway are:

Handmade for the Home (quilts, hot pads, pillows, etc.)
Handmade Bags
Handmade Baby + Kid Items
sewing supplies
Other Craft Supplies
Handmade Accessories (hats, scarves, belts, adult clothes, etc.)

I think I see a book in someones future, 256 Fat Quarter Quilt Blocks by Jeanne Stauffer and Sandra l. Hatch. And what is a book without fabric so I am throwing in a fat quarter bundle of Moda blenders from my store to go with that book.

Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite quilting technique is or what new technique you would like to try in the coming year. For a second chance you can follow and I would love to have you. Have a Happy Holiday and a Great New Year.

I Spy Bags

Have you ever seen these I Spy Bags? They are so cute and fun to make. I have been making these for the last week for Christmas presents, so shhhhhhhhhh it is a secret. I thought I would share some photos and then include the instructions. That way you can copy the instructions if you like with out the hassle of the pictures. Finding things to put in them was like a month long treasure hunt. I found ball beads,dice beads, and letter beads(I spelled their name in each bag), flower, heart and star buttons, bug buttons and cowboy hats. Anything you like. Instead of pellets I have seen people use rice. Your imagination is the limit.





Instructions
Things You'll Need
· Fleece fabric, Poly pellets, Funnel, Small novelty buttons and items, Clear vinyl, Sewing machine, Thread, Scissors, Pins, Tape measure .
1. Cut the fleece fabric to the dimensions desired. For example, if an 8-inch by 8-inch bag is desired, cut an 18-inch by 9-inch piece of fabric. I cut 2- 6 inch circles, I like the look of the round ones.
2. Fold the fabric in half length-wise and place it folded onto a work surface. Cut a 3-inch square in the center of the fabric for a square one. Or cut a 3-inch circle in the center of the round one.
3. Cut a piece of clear vinyl the size of your square or circle. Lay the vinyl on the wrong side of the square hole or the round hole. Pin the vinyl to the fabric several inches away from the intended sewing line.
4. Stitch around window opening, sewing the vinyl and fabric together. Trim the vinyl seam allowance to 1/2 inch outside the seam. Or I just leave the vinyl all the way to the edge because I feel it gives the cut side a little more stability.
5. Place the right sides of the fabric together. Sew around the edges and leave a 3-inch opening at the top to enable turning. Turn the fabric right side out. You now have an empty I Spy bag with an opening.
6. Select approximately 50 novelty items and buttons to place inside the I Spy bag. Place the items inside the bag. You can make note of the items you place in the bag.
7. Place a funnel into the opening and pour the poly pellets into the bag. Fill the bag so that it is full, yet the items can be moved and shifted around within the bag. Top stitch around all the edges to finish the bag and close the opening.
8 Make a list of most of the items placed in the bag. It isn't necessary to list all of the items; however, most of them should be listed to assist in finding them. Enter the list into a word processing program, print it out onto card stock and consider covering it with contact paper.

Christmas traditions

I hang this quilt on my living room wall for Christmas' but I have to admit I didn't make it. I bought it at the thrift store. I just hated to see such a cute quilt not have a home. I love it and I think the grand kids do too.

It was a lousy day at work. My husband banished me to my sewing room. He didn't want to deal with a cranky wife. I have Christmas presents I want and need to make. Just don't know where to start. I guess it doesn't make much difference. I just need to start and not get side tracked doing all the fun projects I see else where. So off to sew have a good week.

New Baby Dress

Here is a picture of the blessing dress I just made for my youngest daughters baby. Next Sunday is the big day. I am getting faster, it only took me 3 hours to make it and I even put trim to match the daisy's at the top of dress around the top of a pair of socks. I cut the dress so the edge on the eyelet is the hem of the dress and the sleeve so I dont have to hem either one of them, how lazy is that? I also lined it because it is cold and eyelet isn't the warmest fabric. My daughter likes this style, it is a remake of an old pattern. Simplicity 2629. It turns out rather cute. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Lillie's Classic Quilts in Independence Kansas

If you are ever in Kansas you should stop in at Lillie's Classic Quilts. Don't you just love a good local quilt store? My daughter in law took me to two while we were visiting for Thanksgiving. The first one was very small but I didn't have my camera but I made sure to bring it when we went to this one. They live in Oklahoma and I thought she was taking me to a shop called Kansas but it turns out she was taking me to Kansas to this shop. We had a lot of fun exploring all the unique things in their store. Here are a few of the pictures I took. I had to laugh, when I asked to take pictures they thought I was going to charge them for advertising. Nope its free just because......

Scenic Pictures of our Vacation

The following are some of the pictures I took on our 2 week vacation. We went to visit my mother in Louisiana and our oldest son in Oklahoma. This first picture was taken in southern Utah in the St. George area.

This next picture was taken while we traveled across the top of New Mexico.

This picture was taken when we crossed the Historic Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River.

Texas looks a little dry even for this time of the year.

The next 2 pictures are of Chimney Rock in Nebraska.


This last picture is of the Little Big Horn in Wyoming where Custards last stand happened.

We had a great time but I sure am glad to be home. I will post some quilting related pictures later.

For Cyber Monday, I am having all fat quarters for a $1, you can name your own bundle or pick from the ones in the precut section of the store.

Jean Skirts- DIY

I saw something about making a jean skirt out of old jeans awhile ago and really wanted to try it. I have made two and they were easy as 1-2-3 after I figured out how to do it. I have a ton more ideas on ways to do them that I just want to make some more. Plus, my daughter has a bunch of old jeans... too bad she can not wear jean skirts everyday!! Oh, well they will have to wait as Christmas is just around the corner and I am not done with my Christmas projects yet....

What do you think? Should I do a tutorial?

Cake... I like to eat it too....

I had a request for red velvet cake and who am I to say no.... so here are a few picture of the cake process... oh the cake is so yummy!!! no wonder I could not say no. This has become a family and work favorite.Can you believe they turned out this flat... no cave in holes here....








Frosting......... yum! the frosting with two packages of cream cheese is to die for literally....

Where oh where am I?

Believe it or not, Louisiana visiting my mother. I have pictures but will have to load them later. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? I am not repeat not having quilting withdrawals. My mom has two quilts on frames so I am doing hand quilting which I dont do much because I dont have time. Pictures to come.

Drunkards Path Update

I posted a quilt made by Jennifer from this pattern called French Quarter by Fig Tree & Co. If you like it you can order it from them. Inspired by a traditional Drunkard's Patch, this version requires no curves, just the illusion of curves, created with simple strip piecing. It is a one block design and it is all in the placement of the blocks. A quilt for beginners and seasoned quilters alike. Sure to be a pattern you come back to again and again! Pattern includes special tips on color placement as well as easy layout instructions.