More Christmas

Okay, I probably won't have time tomorrow to post so when I found some more stockings for Christmas, I thought I'd send them your way.  A Little Gray has this Abominable Snowman Stocking. It's just too much, I think I have to make one.  I also loved the Buddy the Elf Tree skirt.  There are many fans of the "Major Award" Leg Lamp Pillow and now you can sew your very own!. Charlie Brown is a favorite for Christmas and these ornaments are so nice.  Here is the page with all the Christmas stuff from Olivia Jane Handcrafted . They are inspiring and I'm so thankful that the designers share with us.  Have a nice Friday.  Diana

Christmas Projects

Here is another Christmas stocking tutorial at Sew Like My Mom.  It's fat quarter friendly and aren't they cute.  I hope these tutorials are helping you get ready for our stockings for the children in hospitals.  December is coming quicker than we think.

Gingercake has a sweet Caroler for the season.  It looks like you could use recycled wools, etc. for this project.  She also has many many tutorials that you will like from aprons, potholders, to children's projects.  These trees are a great way to use up those trims we collect.

As a final for the day, I found a Polish quilter who offers a cute Christmas truck pattern.  It is paper pieced and really clever.  At the Sewing Under Rainbow site, you will find the instructions in Polish but also in English.  This deer pattern is great, one of the prettiest paper pieced items I've seen in a long time.  You should check out her tutorials.  Have a great Halloween and prepare for Christmas!   Diana

Look Book Fun

Have you figured out what to do with all the beautiful new fabrics that are out there?  All those vibrant colors and patterns.  I love them and then I sit and stare at them and am a little unsure where they fit in.  Here is a great online Look Book that perfectly shows us how to use these fabrics, a lot of inspiration in a little space.  I actually love these little e books that I've found online, just a little click and you're onto the next page.  If you click on the links on these pages, they will take you to the pdf files for the patterns in this booklet.  It took a little long to load , it could have just been me, but if not be patient and they will come up.  I really loved the Bungalow quilt by Joel Dewberry.  This Look Book is put together by Rowan, Free Spirit and Joel Dewberry Impressions.

Stitchery Dickory Dock has such a cute tutorial for a tiny ruffled purse.  I found this while at Free Spirit.  These are just too sweet.

Here at 100Billion Stars , you will find a whole lot to look at.  The Roundabout Quilt is very nice.  There are also pillows, pin cushions, book covers, mug rugs, and even a soft Frog!  You will like visiting here.  Take the time to enjoy some sewing today, even ten minutes a day can add up quickly.  Diana

Jam or Marmalade?

Today I'd like Marmalade.  I love to visit the Moda Bake Shop site, remember our Lawn Chair Quilts, that's where they came from.  I liked this Marmalade Quilt because it appears to be an easy and fast way to use up those charm square packs that are so tempting.  I think this would also be a nice project to start with a beginner.

This Sunnyside Stars Quilt is a nice way to use those pretty large prints we always buy.  It's just large half square triangles.  And I love the sweet black lab in the photo...  Another thing, if you look at the quilt before quilting, you can see the secondary star pattern better.  That's a nice little surprise in the quilt.

Finally, I love, love this Family Tree pillow.  Maybe it's the tree, maybe it's the colors but it's a terrific look for the fall.  Stay warm and sew more.  Looks like some bad weather coming from the West.  Diana

Fun Weekend Stuff

The Marshfield Quilt Show is going on right now.  Are you attending?  It's always a nice trip over to the show and a great day to spend with friends.

I love aprons.  Really, who doesn't like these necessary little items for the kitchen and  for many other uses.  You can wear one while quilting and keep scissors, etc. in your pockets.  All the greatest aprons need a pocket.  I found a e-book at Craft Chat Eat that has 10 aprons, the e-book is free and all you have to do is sign up with only your email address.  You will receive an email with link to the aprons.  The e-book is quite beautiful and has instructions for these aprons and there is a great variety.  The Craft Chat Eat site has a lot of nice ideas and especially if you look at their Pinterest site.

We have our Christmas Stocking roundup coming and here is a tutorial for a stocking that was quite cute. Amy's Creative Side is a good place to visit for ideas.

Magnolia Bay Quilts has a nice tutorial for a 60 degree quilt block.  This looks like an interesting way to use up scraps.  Hope you all have a great weekend and find time to enjoy quilting.   Diana

Red Roosters

I visited the Red Rooster Fabric website and what a treasure trove of patterns!  They have current and their retired patterns.  If you like the Elm Creek stories, you will like the patterns that coordinate with them.  Most of the patterns are free, some are not and are available in quilt shops as individual patterns or books.

Here is a link to a very pretty Christmas quilt.  It's called Here Comes Santa.  I'm not sure if you can find the fabric for the santas but it did come out this year and if not, don't we all have some santas in our stashes.  I know I do.

This pattern for Destiny was nice too and has a lot of movement to it.  It's the Berries has such a great setting that its worth checking out.  There's so much out there!!  So take the time to look through this site and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.  If you're looking for a new project, I bet you'll find it.  Diana

Log Cabin Quilts and Such

I love the log cabin block.  What can't you do with it?  Here are some wonderful ideas , fifteen of them actually.  Please check them all out, you'll be inspired to get out your scraps and make a cabin.

Creative Ideas For You does have some great ideas.  This is the site where I found the New Wave quilt.  I especially like the Wonky Cross and the Birthday Cake quilt, wouldn't these make great soldier quilts.

You must visit Nancy Zeiman's blog.  She has a free pattern for a dove that is just beautiful.  You must look at all the variations made with this lovely bird.  What do you think of the God Bless America dove and the Merry Christmas dove?  Really nice ideas.  Also, while you're there, sign up for Nancy's newsletter too.

Take care and get sewing.  Diana

Some Weekend Projects

I had a couple granddaughters in the car the other day and one commented how the pencils were poking through a part of her school tote bag.  She commented that a pencil bag would be good.  I think so too and see a project, although small, in my future. Free Spirit Fabrics has a nice pattern  for a pencil bag and it looks simple too.  Just my idea of a good thing.  I just love the Free Spirit fabrics too.

I think we've had something similar before but how about sewing hexagons by machine. Tallgrass Prairie Studios has a great tutorial with information on how to do this.With some careful sewing, this looks like it could be done.  She has been featured before but is worth featuring again.

Here is a post at Canton Village Quilts with some great pictures of lovely quilts at a recently attended show. Enjoy the eye candy and have a great weekend.  Diana

Videos to Watch

I have enjoyed viewing new blocks and techniques on the Quiltmaker Block Network.  This website posts a new episode on each Monday.  The videos are usually pretty short so you can quickly get ideas but provide enough information to easily sew a block or apply the technique to your situation.  I also liked how they showed alternate colorways and values when making the blocks to show what a simple fabric change will do in each situation.  This was a fun place to visit and I think I'll be back every Monday. This site also has some freebies and I found the settings for 12" blocks informative as we've been working through our BOM and will need to set them together.

Another site with great videos, and many of them, is Quilters Newsletter TV. These videos are about 10 minutes long and have a variety of subjects about quilting and people involved in the quilt world.  It appears that they present a new one each Friday.  These are worth watching when you have a some spare moments.

These should inspire you with new ideas this week.   Diana

Pumpkin Love

Pumpkins are everywhere this time of year.  Don't you want to make a pumpkin pin cushion?  Then go to Sew We Quilt  and look at these little cuties.  Actually, I want to pins in the cushion even more.  Too sweet.  If that isn't enough, then scroll down and look for the roosters and the rooster quilts.  All you chicken lovers will be pleased.

Have you even wondered how to properly fold your quilts?  Piece O'Cake has a great tutorial for a different kind of fold for storing your quilts.  I think I'll have to get all my quilts out and do them over.

The Patchery Menagerie has a simple technique for making a nice block.  Would be a clever and quick project.

Film In the Fridge has a cute quilt called Hooked Hexagons that makes great use of fat quarters and/or layer cakes.

Hope you enjoy these links.  Diana

We're Back

It's been a long time but it's time for new posts.  The gardens and canning are almost over, fall clean up is in full swing and winterizing is happening.  It was a great summer but went by in a flash.

New hours for the sewing sessions on the first Mondays of the month.  We now start sewing at 9:00 am so you can make it an all day event if you want.  Pack a snack, pack a lunch, get out those UFO's and join the group in sewing on those days.

I found a blog with a truly gifted hand quilter, he's Tim Latimer and you must look at his exquisite quilting. Just scroll down and see some of the beautiful quilts that he's working on and he does trapunto the old fashioned way.

Kitchen Table Quilting has some nice tutorials and quilt patterns.  I love the Simply Style Stacked Squares (say that three times!).

QuarterInch Mark is a blog with some great hand sewing and quilting projects.  She has a tutorial for a triangle pouch that is so cute and she hand quilts it!  Very nice.

I've seen Disappearing 9 Patch but not Disappearing 16 Patch until I visited Happy Quilting .  Melissa has Tutorials and then More Tutorials and also videos, many of which feature some quilting techniques for your home machine.

Happy Quilting and enjoy the great fall weather.