MINI SHOPPING SPREE WITH "THE GIFT CARD"

It was an absolutely wet day yesterday. Throughout the day it would thunder and the rain would come down in buckets of water. There I was standing at the door; armed with "The Gift Card" and I was heading to the local quilt store to use it no matter what.


I had planned on getting a jelly roll of Moda's Simplicity fabrics. They are so fresh and feminine and such yummy prints. But then I realized I need some fabrics for a quilt to be gifted to a newly married couple. You see, she likes greens....any shades and I don't have any of that color fabric in my stash. So, I went looking and with the help of one of the employees there, we came up with these beautiful fabrics that will make a wonderful lap quilt she and her hubby can snuggle under.

Later on in the afternoon I had to return some yarn at Michael's and yep, you guessed it...I whipped out "The Gift Card" again and purchased this book and a number ten crochet hook and the proper thread to make some of those crochet edged flannel blankets.

Can you believe after all this....I still had money left on the card? Well, I did. There isn't much left, but I intend to use it all...every last penny.

Have a blessed day!

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FREE MOTION

Yippeee! I am so excited! I was at my local quilt shop picking out some new fabrics....I know I know, I said I was going to use what I have, but I couldn't help myself. I was bestowed with a gift card, so , you know how that goes. I HAD to use it. : ) Anyhow, I noticed while I was there that in a couple of weeks they will have a free motion quilt class. So, I signed up. It's a 4 1/2 hour class on one day and the class was only $40.00

As I was looking through my supplies list I was dissapointed by the fact that we have to purchase a book .We will be using a pattern for a table runner in this book. As I read on, I saw that they won't be totally following the instructions given. So, why buy the book? I don't know, I am going to look for it at the library first and possibly copy that page I need. That is ridicuolous they are making us buy the book. Anyhow, I am still excited about the class as I hope taking this class will allow me to make a better finished product. No more "X's" hopefully in the future.

Enjoy your evening!Pin It Now!

Crochet

Did I mention I like to crochet? Well, I do. I find it incredibly relaxing. Especially when I have found a pattern with well written directions. Here is a pic of a baby blanket I am making for a friend I play BUNCO with.

Here is another. That first one seemed kind of dark. The pattern is a shell stitch. The yarn I am using is so soft. I think it will be a wonderful covering for her babe in the coming summer months.

I also plan to make some bibs and crochet edged flannel blankets too. These are great shower gifts to have on hand. I plan on making this gift set and doing others in different color ways so I always have a gift on hand.

I love handmade gifts. I have saved my childrens baby gifts that were crocheted or quilted. It is especially more sentimental when you have a piece made by a family member that has passed on.

If you need a tutorial or pattern for the chrochet edged blankets check my side bar for Sew Chic blog. They have a great tutorial there for you to use. I believe happythings blog on the side bar also has some tutorials as well as a pattern to make bibs too.

Have a blessed day!

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THANGLES

Do you quilt? Have you ever used thangles? They are a wonderful thing if you don't like doing math with squares that call for seven eighths in them. These are a time saver and you will love them. I am hoping to pop out a couple of QUICK quilts with these nifty Thangles. If you want to see how to use them, check out this YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4p-vpLScRw

There is another YouTube video series on this link.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Thangles&search_type=

This gal from Expert Village in Utah shows you step-by-step how to sew and cut Thangles. Very nicely done. She also states that 85% of quilting is half square triangles. I didn't know that. This will definitley be a time saver then. If anyone has used these, please leave me a comment on how you liked using them.

Hopefully in the next week or so I will be able to post pics of the finished quilt that is blue and yellow ; as well as the new one I will be making using the Thangles.

Until then.....
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BINDING DONE!!

Phew! I finally finished my first quilt and binding. I wasn't able to get it done before my friends birthday, but I think she will love it just the same. I mean who doesn't enjoy getting a package in the mail all wrapped in beautiful paper just for them, right?

The "big, bad binding" turned out to not be as bad as I thought it would be. It was actually quite relaxing to hand stitch it to the backing fabric of the quilt. I am pleased with how it turned out. Hopefully as I quilt more, my binding skills will improve.

If someone has a better way to photograph a quilt, please let me know. I found it hard to get a good pic of it unless I put it on the floor. Anyhow, without further adieu, here it is.

Next up will be some baby things. Several quilts and some bibs. I need to put the borders, backing and binding on this one and send it off.

Then all these kiddos will get some bibs. Gotta look in the fabric stash to make those. I am on a "gotta use what you have" kick right now when it comes to fabric. As much as I would love to buy all these yummy fabrics that are out right now. I just can't justify buying more when I haven't used up what I have already.

If you haven't checked out my blog roll over on the side bar, please do. Ruth and Jessica have a great blog over at http://www.sewchic.blogspot.com/

Speaking of cute baby things to make. Check out her tutorial for some crochet edge baby blankets. These would be so cute for a mom to be that is due during spring or summer time. Those flannel blankies are just the right weight to keep a chill off a babe.

Hoping to pop some of those out as well. They are just too darling, don't ya think?

Have a good day all!

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Quilting

Here is a pic above of the binding I put on the quilt for my friend. I wasn't sure I was going to like the blue as the binding, but it looks really nice. The flash washed out the color, but it's sort of a Robins egg blue color.

I had to watch a video over at you tube to understand how to do the stitching of the binding to the back. I am not always able to picture things from directions. LOL, I need a visual. So, went looking for a tutorial or something with visuals to figure it out. Basically it is a hem stitch from what I gathered. The kind of stitch you use to hem a pair of pants. Anyhow, here is the link in case anyone needs a visual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdC1_1_cx0

Enjoy your day all!

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MARCH IS ......

National Craft Month!

I read that recently in a magazine while working out at the gym. I believe the magazine was Country Living. Not sure. They also had an article in there about entrepreneurial women. Some gals in blog land made it in this article. Have a look at their blog or site.

Alicia Paulson of http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/ was in there. Connie and Mary from http://www.countrythreads.com/patchwork_quilting_patterns_about_us.html were in there as well.

Kudos to these women for making there dreams come true! What's better than being your own boss and waking up everyday getting to do what you really enjoy?Pin It Now!

SPRING FORWARD

Well, Spring is just around the corner. I know I am ready for it. I have had enough snow and cold weather. Ready for some warm sunny days and pretty spring flowers and a tall cuppa sweet ice tea.

Just a short post to remind everyone to set their clocks forward this Saturday.

I will post later on my progress with my quilt. I got the binding on last night and will spend some time today sewing it to the back.Pin It Now!

Quilting

I am still in the process of making this looooong binding to put on the quilt for my friend. I am hoping to actually start sewing on the binding tonight and pinning it to the back and start stitching away to get it all done. I am under a time constraint. I need to have it out in the mail by Monday at the latest. So, if you don't see a few posts between now and then it's because I am sewing away like a crazy woman trying to get it finished. I will be sure to post a pic of the finished quilt.Pin It Now!

Thrifting

I have been reading on lots of blogs the wonderful treasures people find thrifting. Today I decided to try my hand at it. I visited our local Goodwill store. No craft books in the book section. No sewing books, no crochet books...naddah. I couldn't believe it. I was bummed. Nothing in the linen department either. Was hoping to find some old sheets to make some picnic quilts. I did however scope out some tweed and wool sportcoats. Lots of neat plaids and tartans. Thought if I bought maybe six or ten I could put together a pretty warm quilt for our family to use when we go camping in the fall. At $4.99-$6.99 a coat, I didn't think that was too bad. So, I may head back there tomorrow to get some coats to cut up and turn into a warm quilt.



Another thing that I loved, but have nowhere to put it was a vintage picnic basket. Reminded me of the kind my mom had when we were kids. You know the kind with the two handles that you can fold down and the lid flips up and the bottom part of the basket is green. It look kind of like this one, but the body of the basket was a dark green. The price was just right too...$4.99! I tell ya, if I had some place to put it, I would of bought it.

Ah well, better luck next time when I head out to a different store.

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