Quilting Poem

I read this article the other day in The Country Register of Colorado and thought that many of you quilters(along with me) could relate to it. :)

Quilting

by Marlyn Hasart

About forty years ago

I was bitten by a bug.

I wasn't sick or feverish

Or drinking from a jug.

With paper and pencils, cloth and scissors

My "Artistic Juices" began to flow.

Cut and measure, snip and sew, rip and tear

This pile did grow.

Squares and sashing from fabric so smooth,

My feverish brow, it began to sooth.

Right sides together, seams to meet,

Sit and sew, press seams so neat.

Lay the block on the bed

All these ideas in my head.

Move blocks again till they seam right,

Alleluia, What a pleasing sight.

Back to the machine, I just had to buy,

And sew and sew-My how time flies.

Where's my dinner, my hubby did cry.

What are you doing? Up the stairs I did fly.

I'm making a "quilt" for our bed so warm

It will keep us cozy through the night's storm!

And now the years have so quickly passed,

The piles of quilts have grown so fast.

So now I give them to family and friends

And hope this bug lasts till my stash ends. 

Now I don't know about you quilter's, but I can soooooooooooooooooo relate to this poem. The stash just keeps growing and growing. :)

Have a great week!

Colleen :)

Mini Charm Mix Shortcut Quilt

As you know I love to quilt and I subscribe to the newsletter from the Fat Quarter Shop. In a recent newsletter they had an interesting short video on making a quilt from a mini charm pack. I haven't used charm packs a lot, but the few times I have used them I really like sewing with them. So much less cutting and I am all about saving time! :)

I thought you might like to see the video also, so here it is.....





Now.....we just need to find time to make one of these. Ya, right.....just put in on your to-do list right. LOL! :)

Happy sewing and have a great day!  

PRESSING QUILT SEAMS

Sometimes we all need a refresher on our "sewing" techniques and I for one am diffidently one of those people. I think we all get a little sloppy sometimes with our sewing, not that there is anything wrong with that. Especially when it comes to quilting. All our little "quirks" just makes the quilt that much more special.

Anyway back to the subject of techniques. When it comes to ironing the seams (especially in quilting) there are times you press the seams open and this way and that way. :)

So if you are one of those people, along with me, that needs to be reminded how to press your quilting seams I found this article from Craftsy which I know many, many of you follow, but this is good information. So just click on here to read about how to press those seams. 

Happy sewing! :)

LOOK WHAT I GOT!

Even though I design most of my own items I have wanted to start designing my own quilts. I have done a few on my own, but they take an enormous amount of time and brain power so I thought I need to make things a little bit easier on me. So.........look what I got for Christmas!!!!

I have had my eye on this software for a couple of years and never wanted to take the plunge and purchase it, but I decided this was the year I am going to get it. 

I have been playing with it a little learning all the ends and outs of it. I told myself....self....now don't just jump in there and start slamming things out (like I normally do!LOL!) I am taking each lesson one step at a time and I am watching all the videos. Even though I want to get started on my own designs I have been very good at following the steps first. Aren't you proud of me. :)

So, I just thought I would show you what I am going to be doing this winter. I hope to get projects posted here when I get them complete.....well.....at least that is the plan. So stay tuned. :)

Have a great day!! :)

Finished UFO'S !!

Well it took me awhile (like four years!), but I finally finished a couple of fall UFO's!! It was actually nice to have some time to just do some quilts in between getting ready for the Christmas shows. :)

The other day I was going through the sewing closet re-organizing and found this unfinished wall hanging so I told myself...self....you need to get this done!

I had the shutters and windows done for years so at least I didn't have to do those. I just needed to pick out fabric for the pumpkins, leaves, window box and house. Luckily I had the scrap fabric to do this. 

After I finished that one I remember I started this small one a few years ago so I "dug" it out too and finished it.

I had to cut out all the little leaf parts which I hadn't made those types of leaves for years so it was learning all over again! All those little ti-nee wienie squares were horrible! Now I know why this "A" brain perfectionist here does applique most of the time!!  

I think it turned out pretty nice with all the fall colors.

So, I think that is all the fall I will be doing. I made a few of the coiled baskets I have started to make for the local fall shows I am doing. I really need to get started on Christmas stuff. YIKES!!!  Falling behind already!! :)

Have a great week and happy sewing! :)

FALL QUILTS

Oh my....I can't believe how long it has been since I posted anything. I can't believe how busy the summers are and my kids are gone! I only have one more Saturday for the summer market this Saturday and then I will be done with that. Bad thing is......have to start planning for the Christmas shows! YIKES!


Fall is beginning to peek it's little head out a little bit up here. Will be in full force in a couple of weeks. Speaking of fall.....I just wanted to share this treasury with you from the QQQ team on Etsy. They have such talented sewers and these quilted items are just so beautiful! Makes me want to get in my sewing room and get busy with fall projects! 

Have a great week! :)

Wall Hanging - Fall House, P... MROriginals $199	Hello Fall Moda Quilt Fabric... LauriesFabricH... $38.95
Autumn Quilt Table Top Mini ... NeedlesnPinsSt... $20	Quilted Place Mats Gold Rust... HollysHutch $64.75
Handcrafted Autumn Rose a Ni... Quiltsbysuewal... $1250	Handmade Quilted Autumn Tabl... MurphysHouse $75
Farmhouse Quilted Table Topp... ForgetMeNotQui... $30	Large Quilted Throw Pillow C... MakeMinePatchw... $56
Quilted Reversible Scrappy A... vschwam $42	modern handmade country patc... AliceAndFloren... $95
Cotton Fabric Red/Brown Autu... Blueridgefabri... $24.99	Quilted Table Topper - Autum... QuiltinWaYnE $48
Quilt Modern Patchwork Autum... autumnelan $300	Fall Patchwork Lap Quilt or ... KittyKatCreati... $50
You're the Pumpkin of my... yayamars $10	Fall - Autumn Leaves Hexagon... creativeblessi... $23

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MORE SEWING TIPS

Today I have a couple more sewing tips for you. I collect these tips from a variety of different places and some of them I use and others I keep on the list that "someday" I may try. I wanted to share some more with you. :)

To carry thread with you when you are traveling use empty dental floss containers. Remove the empty floss spool and replace it with a bobbin loaded with thread. Wind the tread through the opening to the cutter, and then shut the lid on the container. Before you do this make sure the hole in your bobbin is the same as the dental floss. Some dental floss are larger so check before you do this. :)

Tired of chasing the sewing machine foot pedal under your table? Try wrapping a wide rubber band around the pedal to prevent slippage.

If you are like me I have those pesky little bits of fabric and thread all over my work area. A lint roller works good to pick up all these little pest. Run it across the floor, your table and you.

If you are hand quilting and can’t find where you left off when you stopped quilting attach a little Post-it flag and put the needle in it. The flag works great and doesn't leave any residue on the fabric. I also use the post-it flag on fabric where I have several yards of a fabric and to easily find where my last cut was I put a bright post-it flag and pin on the area so I can find it fast. 

Hope these tips helps. I will put together a few more soon. Have a great day! :)

STASH BUSTING....

Ok.....so....is your sewing room getting out of control?? Do you have what Stashbuster.com calls WOMBAT...."waste of material, batting and time". :) If so....it is time to clean up the fabrics, get those UFO's out of the box they have been hiding, at get busy "stashbusting". 

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Shop your own stash first:

One of my many cabinets and tubs of "stash". :)

Sell or swap with friends:

I have a group of ladies at the hospital where I volunteer that get together once a year and swap fabrics. We live in a small community so everyone shops at the same two fabric stores so that means everyone has the same fabrics. Well so many of us are now shopping online also that we are starting to get a variety of fabrics so this swap is really neat to see all the new fabrics.

Donate UFO's and/or fabric to charities:

If you have just so much fabric you don't know what to do with it all, consider donating it to a local charity. Many communities have quilt guilds that make quilts for community projects. Our hospital has a quilt for patient program that many ladies and gents in the area make quilts for this program. This is a great way to use up that stash of fabrics.


Make quilts for Quilts For Kids:

This is one of my favorite ways to use up my stash. The Quilt For Kids program is a group of volunteer quilters from everywhere that make quilts to be given to children for comfort in hospitals while they are sick and undergoing treatments.  This project was started by one women years ago and now has transformed into a huge effort that many companies have become involved with likes of Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Proctor & Gamble, Pellon and many, many more. I really enjoy making quilts for this cause. I just wish I had more time to make more. 

So all of you quilters and sewers out there I am sure you need to "re-organize" those sewing rooms. So get busy and "stash bust"! That way you can make more room for MORE FABRIC!! :)

Happy Sewing!  :)

WHEN DO YOU QUILT?

Quilting is my first love when it comes to sewing. I loooooooove to quilt. So for all of you quilters out there here is a question for you.....when do you quilt?

When you're watching a good movie.

When you're reading a good book.

When you're having a picnic.

When you're sipping red wine (or hot cocoa!) by the fire.

When you're telling ghost stories.

When you're building a fort in the living room.

When the kids are finally in bed.

When it's cold outside.

When you're tired.

When you're sick.

When you've been caught in the rain.

When you finally have time to relax.

These are when some people quilt. I actually do hand piecing when I am riding (not driving!) in the car going somewhere...keeps me from falling asleep. :)

So when do you quilt.......................?????

CELEBRATING NATIONAL QUILTING DAY

I have been sewing, crocheting, crafting most of my life, but my first love is quilting. I absolutely love to quilt! I don't get to do as much as I would like as I am always working on projects for my Etsy shop and local markets, but today I am celebrating National Quilting Day!

National Quilt Day had its start in 1989 when the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society organized a "Quilter's Day Out" which was the third Saturday of every March. In 1991 The National Quilting Society really like the concept of having a national day that they started celebrating in 1992 the "National Quilting Day". Over the years it has actually expanded to March being National Quilting Month. Two great celebrations.....National Quilting Month and National Crafting Month! Just gets your creating juices flowing with all these celebrations doesn't it. :)

So for all you quilters out there have a great "Quilter's Day Out"!! 

PRE-WASHING FABRICS: PROS AND CONS

A big debate in the world of quilting is whether or not fabric should be washed before it’s ever used in a quilt. There are many arguments for both. I personally do not pre-wash (was told by my local quilt shop I didn't need to with today's fabrics) unless it is red. Red ALWAYS bleeds regardless of the fabric so I do pre-wash red. Sooooo..........Prewash? Don’t prewash? That is the question! Most quilters seem to have a very definite opinion on the subject. There are many benefits to both options, so let’s take a look at them today.

                 

Arguments FOR prewashing: It prevents vibrant dyes from spreading onto other fabric. Some bright colors, like reds and purples, can run and bleed when they are washed. This can be very devastating if it happens to a finished quilt. When fabrics are washed beforehand, the chance of this happening lessens. Fabric shrinks when it’s washed and dried. When woven together, the fibers of the fabrics are pulled nice and straight, so laundering causes them to either shrink or relax back into their normal shape. This can cause some distortion in a finished quilt if the items have not been previously washed before they were cut and sewn. Any sizing or chemicals that have been used on the fabric are removed before the fabric is used. This is especially beneficial to those who have sensitive skin. 

Arguments AGAINST prewashing: The amount of shrinkage really isn’t that bad. Yes, it’s still there, but it creates the cozy, crinkly effect many quilters desire. With today’s quality fabrics and dye, bleeding is not much of an issue. Most manufacturers realize that a vast amount of quilters do not prewash, so they ensure that the dyes are set completely. Brand new fabric has sizing, creating a nice crisp material. This creates ease when cutting and piecing. Once the sizing is washed out, the fabric loses that crispness. Prewashing takes too much time! Plenty of quilters prefer to spend their precious crafting time cutting and sewing, not prewashing. When creating quilts that aren’t often used, like wall hangings and heirloom quilts, prewashing is unnecessary. The fabrics remain sharp, vibrant, and smooth

So.......which are you??? Do you pre-wash or not????



Have a great day! :)

Colleen :)