Happy Birthday!

A few weeks ago, my amazing god-daughter turned the big 18!!!  I can still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday.  She has grown into an beautiful young lady, both inside and out.

She was my flower girl when she was 2-1/2 years old 🙂

Since I wasn’t a quilter when she was born, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make a special quilt for her.  And what a better thing to use than our “Say it With Words” panels.  I chose to use the Prayer Shawl panel because of the great sayings it has.  But I’ll admit that is was also because it was charm pack friendly.  I chose the new LOL charm pack because of the great selection of colors, and her favorite is purple.  That, along with our quilter’s grid and basting spray, made this a wonderful handmade, but quick project (I did the entire thing on a Sunday afternoon).

 Happy Sewing!  ~Jill

Our newest quilter, Claire

Below is the story (short as it may be), written by my 11 year old about making her first quilt.

One day, I made the mistake of saying “I’m bored” at my Granny’s (Karen) house.  It was the 4th of July.  She gave me some grid and charm packs and told me I was going to make a quilt.  It took forever, but I was so happy to finish it.  I love how soft it is!  Sincerly, Claire – The 11 Year old Seamstress.

Here are some pictures along the way.

 Pressing it all down

 

Got it all laid out and pressed!

 Time to start sewing

And, here’s the completed picture!!!

Now, because summers get crazy and the school year is even crazier, she didn’t get much of a chance to work on it.  That’s why it took her until this summer to get it finished.  But I’m so proud of her.  She did the quilting and even the hand-sewn binding.  I guess it will soon be time for her to start another project… but I bet she never tells her Granny she is bored again 😉

~Happy Sewing!

Our First Video tutorial & a Giveaway!

Have you been to one of our shows lately?  If so, you have been witness to Karen demonstrating our FAVORITE quilt product, Quilter’s Grid.

Well, we decided to share this fun, educational experience with the entire world.  We are starting a series of video tutorials that will help in your learning and knowledge of quilting and sewing.

Also, to get you started on the path to faster quilting, we are giving away 1 yard of grid, the Le Bouquet Charm Pack (featured on video), and the Prayer Shawl panel from our “Say it With Words” line of fabric panels.  All you have to do is comment below your favorite quilting notion.  You can get additional entries into the drawing by:

• “Like” us Facebook
• Follow us on Pinterest
• Follow our blog
• Follow us on Twitter

Happy Sewing!

Charm Pack Quilt for a New Prince Charming

A dear friend of mine was expecting her first baby.  So of course, I HAD to make her a quilt!!!  Her and her husband decided to go “old school” (which I love!!!) and not find out the gender of their little miracle.  While I decided to do the same with both of my children, you probably know just how hard it is do find the perfect fabric for a great gender-neutral quilt.  Well, of course I turned to Moda, the greatest fabric manufacturer in my opinion.  And anytime I can use precuts, I am a happy girl.  Even though I have been sewing for awhile, I am still one of the worst cutters of square fabric in the world!!!

Armed with 2 charm packs (which I didn’t use completely) and some jelly roll strips, I came up with the simple quilt design.  It is just 6 vertical rows of 9 squares with strips in between.  And my favorite backing for a baby quilt is our 100% Cotton Chenille – it get softer every time you wash it.

Here is the mama-to-be with the classic “tummy shot”… doesn’t she look adorable!!!

And just the other day, this adorable little man made his entrance into the world.  I can’t wait to get my hands on this little guy and cuddle him up 🙂  But knowing how life goes after bringing home the baby, I’ll give mama a few weeks before I show up 🙂

Faith, Hope, and Love

Well, I have been at it again.  Playing with our Say It With Words Panels.  Today I wanted to show you the Faith Hope and Love Panel.  When I first saw this one I was really unsure what I wanted to do with it.  I had never made anything on point.  I dragged my feet, just a little, but I did.  So let me start by showing you what I had to work with…

First off…

Faith Hope and Love Panel.

Next…

Joy by Kate Spain Layer Cake

Then…and this was my favorite part…

Swarovski Crystals 4mm

When we went to the Dallas Quilt Market this spring, it seemed just about every quilt had these on them.  I would never have thought about putting crystals on a quilt.  They add a completely different depth to the finished project.

They are so easy to apply using this little tool…

Crystal Crafter Applicator

So…now for my finished project…

I was going for a Christmas tree look.  If you look closely, you can see where I applied the crystals.  When you step away from this quilt and look at it, it just sparkles.  

I would love to hear what you think of the quilt.  Hope you are having a great start to your week!

A Simple Coaster Tutorial

 Hey there…I wanted to show you an easy tutorial that would make a great gift out of a charm pack.  

Patchwork Coasters without all the work.

 I started with a Deep in the Heart of Texas charm pack.  I was checking to see if we still had these…it looks like we don’t but you could easily use a Deep in the Heart of Texas Fat Quarter Bundle or any of our other charm packs or precuts.  Just make sure you cut your fabrics to 5″ x 5″ squares.

 You will also need fusible fleece.  

 Separate your charms into 4 stacks of 5 pieces.   

 Cut a 5″ x 5″ square of fusible fleece for each stack.

 Iron your fleece to the wrong side of the fabric piece that you want as the bottom of the coaster.

 Take the other 4 pieces, fold them in half and press.

 Now you want to start “stacking your 4 folded pieces onto the back piece.  You want to lay the pieces down so that half of each strip is showing.  I took several pictures to demonstrate this step, above.

 Repeat the stacking for each stack of 5.

 Sew your pieces together using a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Then cut the corners at an angle.

 Now you want to turn your coaster right side out.  Open the center and pull the back through the hole created by the 4 folded pieces.

 Keep pulling the piece through.

 This is what it will look like.

 You want to work your corners out so they are more square.  See that really pretty Classic Crystal Point Turner?  I absolutely adore this tool.  I always used scissors or a pencil and always wound up poking out my corners.  I would recommend that everyone needs one of these.

 Get your corners squared as much as possible and press your coaster.  You are now DONE!  Wasn’t that easy?

 Repeat for the other 3 stacks.  

 I had enough of the charm pack left to go ahead and make 8 coasters.  I have a certain someone in mind who I think will love this coaster set.

Here is the back of the coasters.  Just as cute as the front.

Enjoy the tutorial and I hope you are all having a fantastic day!

Charm Pack Coasters

Hey there!  Well, I have decided to try my hand at offering you a simple tutorial. 

These little cutie coasters are made using 8 pieces of fabric from a charm pack.  Choose 8 squares (if you don’t have a charm pack just cut 5″ x 5″ squares from your choice of fabric) Cut 4 pieces of batting that are 5 1/4″ square Layer your pieces in this order: 2 pieces of your fabric right sides facing together then a piece of batting.  Sew your layers together using a 1/4″ seam.  * I used my walking foot just took keep things from slipping.  Make sure you leave a 2″ opening on one side so you can turn your square right side out. Cut your four corners on an angle..this will help you have a crisper corner. Turn your square right side out. Once you have turned your square you will see that your corners are kind of rounded.  I am not a big fan of that.  I like nice crisp corners so i used the wonderful tool known as the Classic Crystal Point Turner. See how much prettier the corners are now?…I love this tool!  I really am not sure how my life existed without it.  I use it everytime I am turning items.  LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  (ok that was my little woohoo for the day :o) ) Now once you have turned everything you will have a small opening.  Press press press.  Make sure that your opening sides are lined up.  This might take a some negotiations with your iron but you can make it happen. Now you are are ready to sew around your edge to close the opening.  I like to sew as close as possible to the edge so I can make sure to catch all the fabric.  Now is also the time to do any kind of quilting you like.  I like to vary my quilting.  Now you are all done.  You can just throw them on your coffee table or tie a ribbon around them and give them as a great Thank You gift. Let’s Go Sew! Kristin