Pillows and Plates

Don't you love pillows? Heaps of them!  And you can make just one quilt block and make a pillow and done.. House of A La Mode loves them too.  Just a piles of beautiful colors too.  And here are the tutorials for some of them and other things too.  These pillows remind me to just let loose with the color and fabrics.  This past weekend I saw Sue let loose with her scraps and make string quilt blocks that just blew me away and all the patterns and colors just went together.  Lesson learned.

Pitter Putter Stitch has a tutorial for a lovely and different Dresden Plate.  I love this very versatile pattern. She also has some nice blocks here.  There is a wonderful review of all her 2013 quilts on her blog and I think you'll enjoy it.

Sew Take A Hike has a great way of making continuous prairie points.  Prairie points are seriously wonderful. Here is an idea to take one of your photos and make a quilt block or a whole quilt if you get wild. And she did a wonderful sailboat quilt for Moda Bakeshop here.  It's really sweet.  Diana

Stay Warm and Sew

I didn't used to like fat quarters.  What could I do with them anyway?  Now I love fat quarters and have about two big baskets full of them just waiting for me. Here is a link to 10 Ways to Cut a Fat Quarter presented by U Create. Now if that don't inspire you to look at your fat quarters.

I've been visiting quilting blogs from other countries and loved this Italian blog called Appunti Patch .  You can use the translate button on this blog and understand most of it.  The scenery and photos she uses are so lovely and watch some of the slideshows that revolve as you go down the page.  I'm struck at how similar we all act and look as we get into our quilting, no matter where we live.  Right about now, I'd love to be sitting with these quilting ladies and making some blocks.  It's a lot warmer...

A lovely quilt called Sentimentalities is here at Going Home to Roost.  Such beautiful pattern and fabrics.  Here is the pdf for it. It is offered by Art Gallery Fabrics which is where the fabric in this quilt came from. I think I've featured them on our blog before but worth a second visit and third for sure.  They have video, patterns, tips, you will be here a long time.

Do you have binding to do?  Tonight would be a good time to sit under your quilt and bind, don't you think?  Diana

Happy Friday

McCall's Quilting is one of my favorite quilting magazines and their website is really nice.  First, check out their beautiful Ireland Quilt BOM, which all the blocks are free and available for downloading instructions.  The fresh green colors make me wish for spring. Here is a video class on applique and it's free into March. It looks like a really good class.

McCall's Quilting also puts out an America Loves Scraps/Winter Scrap Issue and has a quilt called Winter Galaxy as a preview of this issue and if you like blue, it's very pretty. Here is also a link to their favorite scrap patterns free ebook. Each one of these quilts looks like a great way to use up some of those never ending scraps. Anyway, keep looking at this site and there are many features to choose from and I loved it. And here is their Facebook.

I always love to check out the RJR Fabrics site and they have posted some new patterns.  Love those Jinny Beyers quilts! And then her Ashford Quilt.

Not sure if I put this on before but Shabby Fabrics had a great BOM for 2013 that is still available.  If you like hearts, you'll like this.  Also, check out all their lovely patterns and fabrics, the fabrics are just beautiful.
Have a happy Friday.  Diana

January Meeting

In spite of the cold temperatures many of you showed up for our January meeting.  Show and tell was small in quantity, but as usual the quilts were all just lovely!
Marge showed a neat quilt that is sewn by hand, and when you are done it is quilted as well.  A nice project to take with you on the go, or work on in the evenings as you relax in your comfy chair.
Thank you Marge.  I know that some of the ladies are inspired to make one too!

Marge shows how she assembled the Momoe's Star Quilt.

The front of the quilt shows the star like shapes that are formed when the quilt is sewn.  Or, perhaps the petals stand out more when you look at it?

Kathy shows her Dresden plate quilt that she made from her brother- in- law, Jack's neck ties.  She said it is her "Masterpiece".

Kay shows her quilt "Let It Snow".  She designed her quilt lay out, and she also guided her sewing machine to do the embroidery on this quilt.  How lovely!

Deb finished up her Red Work embroidery quilt with all of the cute birds and bird houses.  The star borders frame it all up nicely.

Some time ago Diana had done a demo on this block called Grandma's Attic.  Deb has completed this project using reproduction fabrics.  So nice and cheery!

Susan brought in a nice Santa wool work project.  Just love that sweet polar bear with the wreath around his neck.

Peg made this Chevron quilt for her son.  She used the technique that Sheila had shown us in November for our fast and easy Christmas demo ideas.

As usual it is so inspiring to see the creativity of this group!  Our quilt show in October should be just wonderful with all of the beautiful quilts that you continue to bring in for Show and Tell!

Laurie

More Ideas...

It was a great meeting last night for the hearty souls who braved the cold.  We have such a nice group!  I will remind every one later in February too but at our next meeting we will be doing a Make and Take project that can be finished at our meeting.  You will need to bring scissors, sewing needle, and some off white or white thread.

Riley Blake Designs has a new block of the month for 2014 and its about celebrating the holidays with fabric and especially birthdays.  The first block has been posted; it's an ice cream cone block which is very sweet.
You can also watch a video on sewing this block here. You can also check out their many videos at this site and they are nice. I thought this crochet hook cozy was especially nice and a great idea as I tend to lose these.  Would make a great gift for a friend who crochets too.

Check out We All Sew for this beautiful wool pillow that features a snowflake.  I really like the simplicity of this.  I believe this site is a Bernina blog and has a lot of quilting and sewing information.  The Polka Dot Chair has a wonderful post about Hawaiian quilts and the process of making them.  Love them and the colors and makes me feel warmer already.  There are many links at the end of that post to take you to other informative places regarding the Hawaiian quilt style.  She also has a project at the Moda Bake Shop for a personalized pillow that is so sweet.  So check out Polka Dot Chair for a fun blog.

Just for giggles, I loved this Snoopy Quilt. Really cold again this morning so stay warm.  Diana

Meeting and BOM Finish

Tonight is our meeting night at the Breed Town Hall.  Hope many are braving our winter temps and plan on being there tonight.
Regarding our BOM, the blocks for January are Cat's Cradle and Cedars of Lebanon, two very interesting blocks from Quilter's Cache.  These two blocks are the last for our BOM which ran from last year.  You will have 24 blocks!  Unless you're like me and accidentally made one extra.  Now to decide how to set these together.  With 24 blocks we have options of a large quilt or two smaller twin size quilts depending on the setting choices.  I am very pleased with almost all of my blocks and hope you are too but I have not picked out a sashing choice or border fabric yet.
Settings can determine whether your quilt turns out mediocre or smashing.  Martingale Press has a great article about settings.  A lot of ideas. Just adding an interesting sashing can elevate that quilt to another level and make a straight setting spectacular.  All People Quilt has yet more information about settings.  This site is just full of information.
Craftsy has setting ideas too.  This shows beautiful, real quilts in various settings.  Quilt Addicts Anonymous has perhaps my favorite ideas probably because of all the great sashing ideas.  I think I will draw from these for my quilt setting.
Okay, once you've set your blocks together, what about a border?  This pinterest board will amaze and delight and make you dream of borders. Of course, our favorite designer at Quilter's Cache has a link to wonderful border ideas.  This quilting for Dummies post has a good amount of information to chose borders and then figure out how much fabric and how to measure them.  All vital information. FavQuilts has many links to borders including piecing and making round corners, etc.
Well, I hope these links help you in planning the setting and borders for your BOM.  We spent a lot of time making the blocks and now it's well worth the time to think about these steps.  I hope everyone had a fun time sewing these blocks and I've even come to love half square triangles, haven't you???  In the future, we will see many beautiful BOM quilts showing up at our show and tells.  Take care.  Diana

Monday, Sewing Day

Be Mine is a sweet little embroidery by Pink Chalk Fabrics.  I can see this simple design on a lot of things.  Pink Chalk Fabrics is a wonderful little online store to check out.

133 Spools has a wonderful herringbone block. The small white division strip adds something unique to this pattern. Check out her other tutorials too.

Pins and Bobbins has a very cute way to use Hexagons in a block.  I especially found the way she used the fusible to be a great idea.

Pile O Fabric has just a huge amount of tutorials to go and see.You will spend half a day at this site and learn alot.

Remember, today is sewing session at the regular time.  Diana

Post Holiday Roundup

With grandkids being around so much over the holidays, we had some pretty cute photos taken and some nice drawing made by the kids.  What to do to enjoy these?  How about a a small quilt with photo tabs built in?  Plum and Jane has a cute tutorial with a nice solution and a good way to display your photos and drawings.  You can custom make the sizes to the size of what you want to display.  Here is another post with individual block with tabs.

Sew What, Sherlock has a video on how to paper piece with many good tips.  Makes me want to paper piece more!  I also love the name of her blog.

Do you remember piecing with templates?  If you have a hankering to try it out again or do it for the first time, here is a beautiful butterfly block. This one is shown by Sewn by Leila.  She also has a link page for quilts that are fast and easy for giving away.  I also liked this Diamond Quilt, wouldn't this make a great table cloth too.

Stitching and Bacon has a tutorial for a beautiful star block called The Stars Align.  There's something I like about this block.  I wouldn't recommend eating bacon and stitching at the same time though...Hope you have a nice weekend.  We do have a beautiful winter wonderland this morning but bad roads.  With all the cold cold weather, we could use the snowy insulation on the ground to protect our plants. Diana

Quilt Sashing Ideas - Quilting Techniques

Jelly Roll Jam - Shortcut Quilt Series - Fat Quarter Shop

Sewing Cancellation

Due to the very cold weather due to hit us on Monday, the Sewing Session planned for that day will be cancelled.  It is scheduled for January 13 instead, hopefully, with "balmy" weather on that day.

We're Having a Heat Wave! Huh??

With the coldest weather in many years coming our way, shouldn't we be thinking of warm things?  How about tropical themed quilts?  I found some really interesting ones with vivid colors sure to help warm up our cold outlook.

This one is too much, love the tree. It was made by Barb Alexander and for sale on Etsy.  These leaves are just beautiful and made by marytequilts on Etsy.  I would love to be sitting under this tree, kit by Whims Watercolor Quilts.

Ellen Lindner, Adventure Quilter, has a great tropical quilt called High Ti. I like how she named herself Adventure Quilter.  What would you put after your name?  Diana, Rapid Stitch Ripper??  Quilting in the Bunkhouse has a lovely quilt with quilted shells, dolphins, etc. in the open areas.

The Fat Quarter Shop has a nice pattern for a tropical quilt made with 2 1/2" strips.  This quilt and the last pattern show how warm and cool colors make a tropical feel together. This is a Judy Niemeyer pattern.  Another pattern is offered by Quilt Woman, designed by Chicken Soup Designs and is called Tropical Whimsy.  Love the geckos.  Hope this brought a little warmth into your day.  Take care.  Diana

Eleanor

Hope you enjoy the video below of Eleanor Burns and her Geese in the Garden.  It's great to have a cup of coffee and watch the video in the morning and see all the beautiful quilts she shows us.  Do you guys notice the little black dog wandering around?  Diana

Geese in the Garden Quilt