Hmmmm......What To Do With My Stash

I am always trying to find new projects to make with all my stash. I was always a person that only bought fabric when I needed it for a project. Welllllllll...........now that has changed. I see a fabric I really like and I think...I am sure I can find something to make with this fabric. :)  :)  :)

So now I have a stash. I am always getting neat tidbits and information from allpeoplequilt.com and I saw this the other day so I thought I would share it with you. She has some good ideas that you might like to try. I especially like the one that tells me what the dots on the selvage of the fabric are for!! Here is the link or you can click the picture below. :)  

Thanks for stopping by and happy sewing!

Colleen :)

No More Marking

I am always looking for different and easier ways to do things in my sewing and quilting methods and I found this technique from The Studio Blog on how to sew and cut half quarters without marking every square. Looks like a good idea and I thought I would share it with you! Hope you like it. :)

Happy sewing!

Colleen :)

Time For Tips.....

I get LOTSSSSSSS of quilting magazines and over the years I probably have enough magazines to wallpaper my entire house!!! Most of them always have a page of tips and I keep a running log of these tips. Some of them I actually try and they do work. Here are a few that I read in my American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine that I thought you might like. 

• When working on a quilt project safety pin a scrap of batting to your shirt and put any stray threads from your quilt top, sewing table or floor onto the batting scrap. This saves time because you don't have to throw pieces of thread into the wastebasket. (Now...if you are me....you throw them on the floor and when they get knee deep you finally pick them up!)

• When threading a needle keep a tube of lip balm handy. Instead of licking the threads so they stay together put a dab of lip balm on them. (Sounds pretty good and that way you don't lick your finger and get all those germs...might have to try this one.)

• To see what you are cutting when fussy cutting squares use a plexiglass square template which can be cut by your local hardware store. (Yep....off to Home Depot!) 

• Use clothing steamer to remove the wrinkles from a new package of cotton batting. Giving the batting a light steaming gets out the wrinkles and shrinks up the batting a bit. ( I actually use this one and it does seem to work a bit. )

Hope these tips help with your sewing projects.

Have a great day and happy sewing! :)

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! :)