Mini Monday: Blocks and Bags

After receiving a couple of these cute drawstring bags as gifts (thanks Cindy!), I was thrilled to finally make one myself.  The pattern by Jeni Baker of In Color Order is wonderfully written and easy to follow.

the Everything Bag

I love that there is no interfacing, stabilizers, fusibles, or zippers involved! It was satisfying pulling fabrics I have collected for Leo projects.  The race car fabric is Michael Miller, Riley Blake fabric is used for the drawstring and top of the bag, and I am not sure about the dot fabric used for the lining. I ordered Jeni's lined drawstring bag pattern which includes instructions for making eight different sizes as well as directions for customizing, but she also has a free tutorial version on her blog.  The Everything Bag is the size I made.  There will be more drawstring bags popping up here, I can tell you that!

Circle of Flying Geese

May bee blocks completed and mailed with two days to spare.   I was equally excited and terrified when I read that Caitlin had selected this Colorwheel Geese block for the Wish Circle at do. Good stitches.  I have seen some amazing projects made with this block and even pinned the tutorial, but never thought I could actually pull it off.  That's the good thing about bees...you are pushed creatively.  You know how I feel about paper piecing....it doesn't like me.  Well, I think we may be growing on each other.  This block (once I printed out the pattern properly) was surprisingly straight forward to assemble.

Carla's arrow block

Carla has come up with another cool bee quilt concept for our MCM Bee! She is collecting arrow blocks pieced according to her own tutorial as well as the leftovers which I am sure she will incorporate brilliantly.  I love Carla's first MCM Bee quilt and know this one will be awesome as well.

Happy Monday and happy June!
School is out for my youngest....where did that first year of high school go?!
Thanks for stopping by,

Mini Monday: Pencil Roll

How is it March already?  Hope you are enjoying St. Patrick's Day!  

colored pencil roll

I have a quick finish to share today.  This pencil roll (pattern from Pink Chalk Studio) makes a quick and easy gift.  

optional flap

stitching with Aurifil #5011

I used scraps of colorful fabric for the pencil dividers, Field Study by Anna Maria Horner in home dec weight for the exterior, natural linen for the pocket, and quilter's linen for the flap.  

all rolled up

Aurifil #5011 is the perfect color thread for stitching on linen and makes a nice stitch line on the exterior AMH fabric.  A button and ribbon are used for the closure.

Like I said....a fast and fun gift to whip up.  

Thanks for stopping by,

Mini Monday: Christmas stitching finishes

I finished a few little projects right before the Christmas break and the breaking of my right hand…ouch!

organic quilting lines

The festive llama block received a border of Kate Spain Twelve Days of Christmas fa la la strips and some straight line quilting with Aurifil 50wt #2021.

pillow back

llama pillow

I used this tutorial and Sweetwater's Countdown to Christmas fabric to make an envelope style backing for the pillow cover. 

no picture of finished stocking

Leo needed a stocking for Montana so I whipped up a quick stocking using fabric from my Christmas stash (don't know what it is though).  I traced Leo's daddy's stocking and followed this tutorial.  I am hoping I took at least one picture of the completed stocking before coming to Montana (left memory card at home so not sure) because all the photos I took with my cell phone over Christmas were lost when my phone … ahem… fell in a bucket of water yesterday.

I also finished the fabric chalkboard placemat for Leo.  I took pictures along the way, but alas they are on my memory card at home.
  

chalkboard fabric side

I laminated a 13x18 piece of Ann Kelle Super Kids fabric and placed it wrong side to wrong side with the same size of chalkboard fabric.  Holes do not go away with chalkboard fabric so no pinning or ripping is possible.  

careful stitching

I used Clover clips to hold the two pieces of fabric together along with the Lollipops Designer Bindings pre made binding strips I found in my studio.  Doesn't that polka dot match perfectly with the super kids fabric?

reversible cover

Lastly, this sewing machine cover was made as a gift for my sister's featherweight.
I used this tutorial found on Pinterest adjusting the dimensions somewhat to fit the featherweight.

featherweight cover

The cover is reversible; one side is decor weight fabric from my stash and the other side is Kona Modern Quilts fabric by Cynthia Frenette  gifted by my sister.
Hmmm… is that considered regifting?

Thankfully I was able to travel and spend Christmas with my husband, children and grandson despite my broken arm.  Leo and his parents flew back home yesterday, and the rest of us are just hanging out and relaxing before the new year begins.

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe new year!
Thanks for stopping by,

Mini Monday: meet Friday's Finish

I got so busy with our guild's holiday Sew Day that I forgot to post last Friday's finish.

mug rug swap

 We swapped mug rugs at our holiday party.  This is the mug rug I made and Kathryn received.  Most of the fabrics are scraps of Kate Spain's Twelve Days of Christmas; the bottom of the mug and the handle are Sweetwater's Countdown to Christmas; the background is Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander.  The tutorial I used for the mug rug handle can be found here.

group photo

You can click on our Orlando MQG's website to see some great projects from that day.  The only picture I took (and since I'm in the picture technically I didn't take it) is our group photo showing off our mug rugs.  Marge made that fun horse mug rug that will be perfect in Montana!  Thanks Marge!

holiday Chucks

I also whipped up these cute holiday shoelaces using that same Sweetwater fabric line and Maureen's tutorial.  This counts as my Mini Monday project.  I have to say these shoelaces are so fun to make AND wear!  The bonus feature of this tutorial is feeling like a teenager again!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Monday and happy stitching,

Mini Monday: Travel Pillow

I whipped up this cute travel size pillowcase from a tutorial at the Fat Quarter Shop.

flannel pillowcase

This was my first time ever making a pillowcase and it was super easy!  I did omit the prairie points because I didn't think this particular case needed them, but I'd like to give them a try sometime soon.

I used flannel that has been in my stash for a very long time.  Leo will be getting this little pillow as one of his Advent gifts.  Wouldn't matching PJs be cute?! 

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy stitching,

Mini Monday: More Blocks and QAYG

I love making mini quilt as you go projects to use up those strips of batting leftover after trimming a quilt.  

These little gifts can also put to good use those tiny scraps of a favorite fabric that otherwise might {gasp} get thrown away. 

mini pin cushion - stuffing in progress

potholders - great gifts to have on hand

 I made a few more blocks for our Orlando Modern Quilt Guild's Camp Boggy Creek charity project.  

fabric gifted by hubby's aunt

leftover fabric from son's quilt

love this Florida fabric

So happy that others have volunteered to do the assembling and quilting!

Hope all my friends in the U.S. had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanks for stopping by,

Mini Monday: Queen for a Month

November is the month I get to be Queen Bee of our Mid Century Modern Bee group.  This is my first time participating in an online bee, and I had a difficult time choosing just one block idea.  So many quilt ideas....so little time.

spiderweb block

another spider web block

I requested spider web blocks based on this tutorial from Heather.  However, I asked my fellow bee-ers not to assemble the four quadrants into blocks because I plan to follow this layout of Jacquie's.  The background fabric is low volume with the strips being bright modern fabrics.

spider web quilt in progress

Since I haven't decided whether I want each star to be of the same print (see picture labeled possible design option 1) or make the quilt even scrappier  (design option 2), I will wait until I receive all the block parts and play with the layout.  Of course that means more stitching for me...didn't think about that soon enough... ;-)

possible design option 1

possible design option 2

I can't wait until my blocks start arriving to see what combinations of fabrics my friends choose!  I know they will be fabulous!  Thanks in advance girls.

Clay Choice Variation

Here is October block I made for Elizabeth.  Click here to see how her beautiful Santa quilt is coming along.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Monday and happy stitching,

Mini Monday: QAYG and Log Cabins

I take a LOT of breaks when I am quilting.  My back and patience (or lack thereof) demand it.  Thank goodness for my featherweight and small projects.

QAYG practice

During those breaks while working on the {Hugs} hexie quilt, I practiced my quilt as you go technique I am learning from Tara's Tinkertote Craftsy class. 

Practicing the QAYG technique is a great way to use up scraps of fabric not to mention batting.  I don't know when I will find the time to make the patchwork bag from the class, but I am having fun with the technique.

scrappy pin cushion

I made this cute pin cushion using tiny scraps.   Walnut shells are used for stuffing.

pot holder front

pot holder back

Then I made a pot holder with bigger scraps.  I skipped the binding and did the stitch all around and flip inside out method instead.

pumpkin mug rug

This pumpkin mug rug didn't use the quilt as you go technique but it was made with scraps and a log cabin design.

needs a pumpkin muffin

 Now I need to get back to quilting....I have some more QAYG project ideas in mind!

Happy stitching!

Mini Monday: Nametag Challenge

The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild's monthly challenge for October is designing and making your own name tag.  I have been wanting to do this for a while now and the Pinterest pins have been accumulating.  Thanks Yanick for creating this challenge.  

the front

 I used this name tag for reference.  Megan has a paper pieced tutorial, but I "free pieced" the sewing machine using the picture as a guide (after my first unsuccessful attempt at paper piecing) and embroidered other details such as the spool of thread.  

The background is a linen in my favorite blue; the other fabrics are from my scrap bin.  I stitched half of  one of my labels (leaving off the "Creates") on the machine at an angle as my daughter suggested.

the back

 A safety pin on the back serves as the means for attachment.  Easy peasy!

with the optional lanyard

 The safety pin can also be used to hook on a lanyard if so desired.

Voila!

 I'm all ready for Wednesday's meeting!!!  Can't wait to see what my quilting friends have whipped up.

I am curious.  Does your guild have members design their own name tags?  

What about the "drop a quarter" in the bucket if you forget yours?  

Thanks for stopping by!