QuiltingArts: Use scraps for postcards

Today's email provided the directions from the Quilting Arts Blog for using all those left-over scraps by making them into postcards. A few clicks later, I've found the online version to share with my genea-quilters friends. See:  Zap Your Scraps with this Easy Collage Postcard Technique.

Casserole Kimono for Carrie

You can make this project in about 60-90 minutes -- from cutting to machine quilting. I fell in love with the Casserole Kimono pattern from www.MakingALegacy.com while we were snow-bound in Laramie, Wyoming just after Thanksgiving. Mr. Myrt is so good about going to quilt shops with me!  ;)

When I saw this fabric, I just knew this would be for my youngest daughter Carrie. Active in her church work, and busy as a mom and PTA president, Carrie can keep something warm or cold as the case may be. I had to shop around for a 9x13" pan with a clear plastic lid (most are red or blue, that would clash with my fabric choices.) The pattern says this also fits an 8x8" pan, so I guess you'd just fold things in a bit?

The pattern called for batting, but I used Insul-Bright which is needle punched and has "a reflective metalized poly film" just perfect for making pot holders and such. I got mine at my local WalMart, one of the few I've shopped lately that hasn't closed down the fabric department.

Isn't the wooden spoon a great touch?

Wall Hanging for Stacey

This is the wall hanging I outlined stitched with my good Pfaff Quilt Expressions 4.0. I haven't had much experience stippling, so this panel was a perfect study for me.

Gordon made the quilt hanger -- it took us forever to find the right knobs. I painted it black to match some of the furniture in my daughter Stacey's home, and then finished it with a gloss sealant.

The parts I added:

• The dark brown borders. (I thought black would be too dark)
• Coordinating rust/cream stripped fabric from the inner border for the backing.

The BEST part was giving my middle daughter something both Gordon and I had made. We had a ball working together on this project.

Stashbooks: Insulated bags

I've been quietly quilting presents for Christmas -- and since my three daughters internet savvy, (one even blogs!) I cannot say much about what's been cooking in my sewing room. But this blog entry I simply must bring to your attention:

Lunch Bags Are Not Just For Lunches Anymore blog post by Carolyn Aune is sure to inspire your last minute gift giving of the colorful AND useful type!

You'll want to order some heat resistant "insul-fleece" batting. After reading a bit about it, I've ordered some for a casserole carrier I am making for one of my daughters. (OK, the cat is halfway out of the bag. But at least they don't know which one is getting it!) Check out the Meet Insul-Fleece blog posting over at CTPubBlog.For instance, I had the same question as a few others who are just discovering this project -- namely, is there a right or wrong side of the fleece for enhancing the heat resistant properties? The answer...

is NO, there is no right or wrong side. This same blog entry features an 8" x 8" casserole cozy that I think is idea for dressing up your holiday table. (Halfway through the directions, they start calling the project a casserole carrier, but since it has no lid, I don't think that qualifies. The cozy ties in each corner, and isn't at ALL like the larger casserole carrier I'm making that requires a 9" x 13" covered casserole pan for the inside.)


What projects are your working on -- that you can share with the gang? 


Find us over on Facebook...

Christmas Quilt Show

So it is nearing that time of year again -- with Thanksgiving in the US just around the corner, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are not far away.

If you'd like to see some of the entries in the Christmas Quilt Show 2010, head on over to the Insights from SewCalGal's quilt blog and click to view each entry ~ there are 41 thus far.

VIDEO: Sandwich Quilt

I discovered this video, part of a series from Expert Village, that discusses using washable spray glue as part of sandwiching a quilt in preparation for machine quilting.

 

Quilt Read: Heart for a Hero by Ed Ditto and Laura D Patrick

The Genea-Quilters went on a field trip during the FGS 2010 conference to a quilt store, Mammaw's Thimble Fabric and Quilt Shop and while there my friend Madaleine Laird picked up a book for me. Heart for a Hero by Ed Ditto and Laura D Patrick combines family history, quilting and life as a mother all into one story that ends with a Korean veteran getting the acknowledgment he deserves.

First let me say that I enjoyed this book very much.  I typically don't read a lot of fiction but this story speaks to the all too often problem of our veterans not getting the credit they deserve.  I don't want to give to much away about the book but this is the story of PJ Hathaway and her life as a mom to two small kids and her talent for quilting. Her life is given a jolt of mystery when a package addressed to her grandmother, who has been dead for years, arrives in the mail.  The book is about PJ, her hubsand Ross and her friends discovering who the sender of the package is and why he was important to her grandmother.  But it is also the story of two veterans and their sacrifices during the Korean war that included stays in POW camps.  There is some family history in the book, but once again I don't want to give away the story too much.

This is a difficult book to read, emotionally.  There are descriptions of POW camp life, while not as graphic as it could be it's still hard to read of the experience of these fictional soldiers, that I'm sure must mirror real soldiers. The main character, PJ is experiencing a hard time in her life prior to the arrival of the package. Her difficulties increase as the story goes on. However, her quilting talent allows her to insure that one soldier is given the credit he deserves.  Her solution is one that might be something other quilters may want to consider for a favorite cause.

This is a book that I didn't want to put down. I would have liked to have read it in 1 day but ended up taking 2 days, since I had to feed my own children ;).

Heart for a Hero is available through Amazon. This book is published by American Quilter's Society (AQS) Publishing. It is also available from AQS.

VIDEO: 1 Jelly Roll and 1 Layer Cake

You'll love this short but very sweet video video from the folks at The Missouri Star Quilt Company, www.missouriquiltco.com. 

They are using one Jelly Roll and one Layer Cake to come up with this darling quilt.

VIDEO: Honey Buns versus Jelly Rolls

You'll love this HONEY BUNS video from the folks at The Missouri Quilt Company.

Even Eleanor Burns has sewing room issues

So you think you've got troubles? One of our favorite  quilting gurus, Eleanor Burns shares views of her sewing room, and what she'd like to do to fix things up! She debuts this awesome make-over.





I just wish I had those folks to help me clean out my sewing room. Can you believe that remote-controlled riser to change her cutting table to a sewing table? Very, very kewl.

Fabric Shack in Waynsville, Ohio

Twice we've left Cincinnati without stopping, but this past week, I couldn't resist taking a side road through the country to visit the FABRIC SHACK in Waynesville, Ohio. My sister-in-law took me the first time, and I fell in love -- who wouldn't with the plethora of design books and bolt after bolt of delicious fabrics?

So we stopped -- and I had a blast. Fortunately Gordon is the patient sort (but then I do go to all his woodworking trade shows, showing equal enthusiasm!) Gordon has been known to scour a fabric shop looking for just the right shade of green to go with some Christmas fabric I'd picked out, but I digress.

As I was waiting in line to have my fabric cut, the employee explained that most of their fabric isn't in the store. Much more is available online. So I could hardly wait to get back to the keyboard once we returned to our home in Alexandria, Virginia, to see what's up at the Fabric Shack website.


Their new blog is called QUILT KARMA and its got some interesting postings, though it's only been around since June. They are probably better quilters than they are bloggers, if the number of entries is any criteria for judging. I really like the "curvy" nature of the squares in the Twilight Quilt below, but it could be that this quilt merely strikes a cord since it boasts my favorite color combination of blues and light greens.

Twilight Quilt from the Quilt Karma blog.

Once you've placed things in your shopping cart, you can use the "design wall" to determine your final choices. It seems the better websites offer this option for determining which mix and match options are most pleasing for your project.

I picked up one of those Gypsy Quilter The Gypsy Cutting Gizmo thinking that it will be a time saver. I do a lot of piecing in long stretches, without cutting the thread between pieces. The weight of the gizmo should suffice, and save me the "drudgery" of picking up my seam ripper after every long stretch. Its a silly thing, but I think it may just do the trick.








Fabric Shack99 South Marvin Lake
Waynesville, Ohio 45068

 info@fabricshack.com

www.FabricShack.com

LostQuilt.com

As genealogists, we have DeadFred.com for reuniting lost photos with family members. LostQuilt.com strives to reunite quilts with their owners.

This problem comes up more than you'd think -- and most instances have to do with items lost by the mail or package service.

Facebook friend and Genea-Quilter Heather Wilkinson Rojo reported that Sue Reich lost 5 of her World War II quilts. The quilts were stolen in transit (Fedex) as they were being returned from a quilt show; the empty box was found in New Jersey. 4 of the quilts are shown in her new book World War II Quilts. 

So spread the word about  LostQuilt.com and do what we can to preserve the rightful heritage of our fellow quilters' work.

SewBaby.com has got what it takes

What Auntie or Gramma quilter among us doesn't dream of making a cute quilted comforter for that new baby in the extended family?

SewBaby.com offers patterns, snaps & tools, notions, ePatterns and delightful kid-focused fabrics designed to inspire your next creation.

So be it plush fleece (aren't they divinely soft?), woven cottons with tiny turtles, awesome knits, soft ribs, or something waterproof (always a necessity) check out SewBaby.com.

It's GREEN to shop online ~ saves time, gas, wear and tear on the car (and you!) and more importantly gives you more time in your design studio.

And who doesn't need more time these days?

Quilting & National Parks

How delightful to see that two of the national parks here in the US offer quilters unique souvenirs - vintage postcard quilt kits.

Above see the 4-postcard quilt kit (add your own borders, batting & backing) we picked up in the gift shop at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on Monday. The kit included four 4x6 inch cotton fabric imprinted with vintage postcard prints already mounted on applique media, directions for using the appliques, a pattern for making a nine-patch quilted wall hanging.

The company behind this venture is  Olde America Antiques. They'll have booths 211, 213 & 215 at the 2010 International Quilt Market held in Houston, Texas 30 Oct thru 1 Nov. (That certainly sounds impressive!) I surely hope some Genea-Quilters get to attend. The rest of us will have to settle for this company's wonderful website.

 We also picked up a smaller postcard kit from the same company while visiting Zion's National Park on Sunday.

Although Olde America  Antiques doesn't have postcard quilt kit designs for each of the national parks, their collection of vintage seasonal, patriotic, children, art nouveau and gardening graphics is impressive. You'll surely find something inspiring.

Why limit the appliques to a wall hanging or carrying bag? How about embellishing a jeans jacket, adding lace, ricrac and trinkets?

OLDE AMERICA ANTIQUES
512 S. 12th Ave.
Bozeman, Montana 59715
USA
(+1) 406-587-0937
NOTE: the contact page on the OAA website is here.

VIDEO: How to Tie a Quilt

Sometimes you need to whip up a thick, warm comforter.  Learning to tie a quilt is useful when using a high loft batting ~ much too thick for hand or machine quilting. Check out this video with CTQuilting's Karen Johnson demonstrating great ideas for getting the job done.

ModaBakeShop.com

Check out ModaBakeShop.com "a division of Moda Fabrics that provides online recipes which you can use with the wide range of Moda Pre-cuts."

What got me immediately was WHY NOT ADD ANCESTOR PHOTOS for one square in each of the color groups on the 14 X 30 inch City Windows "recipe" featured on the home page today?

The fabric manufacturers aren't dumb. They know that pre-cuts made it easy for quilters to purchase an array of mix and match fabrics without having to run all over the quilt shop (unless you want to!)

This website is a brilliant extension of their marketing techniques -- and BOY DO WE BENEFIT. We can have our 'scrap bag' and quilt it too, with the simple-to-follow, step-by-step patterns at this website.


Love those 'Jelly Rolls'!

Deseret News: Grandma makes genealogy quilt

Thanks to Annaleise Taylor Dearinger who submitted this link via Facebook:

Grandma Makes Genealogy Quilts
By Carma Wadley, Deseret News

and in my searching on that newspaper's website, I discovered:

Stitching quilts & friendship

Harvard University historian to speak about 1857 pioneer quilt

So apparently the craft of quilting is still making news.

AWESOME!