Happy Valentine's Day

I know it's almost over but Happy Valentine's Day everyone! These are some very old Valentine's from my school days. I think they are so sweet.

Lillian's Quilt Part Two

I have finally finished the second quilt for Lillian. It's smaller than the first. Still a little larger than I wanted. I hope it will fit over her crib. I still have to make the label. Not my favorite part of quilting. One thing for sure I don't care if I ever see another piece of lavender and green fabric.
My next project is ripping down wallpaper from my kitchen. What fun!

Lillian's Quilt

I finally finished Lillian's quilt top. It turned out a lot larger than I wanted

57 x 56 so it isn't going to work as a quilt to hang behind her crib.

I even went back and made some of the letters smaller but just couldn't get them small enough. Maybe Tonya will have some suggestions in her new book.
I guess I will just have to make another quilt to hang on the wall.

I like the way the quilt turned out. The problem now is I can't figure out how it should be quilted.

Snappy Bag Tutorial

                                                                                   This will be my first time posting a tutorial.

We'll see how it goes.

I have been reading on some of the list about Snap Bags and I thought I would post how I made one.

You will need two - 8 1/2 inch square Scrappy blocks or a piece of fabric 8 1/2 by 16 1/2. 
I didn't use interfacing or batting in my bag because the strips were already so thick - but you could if you wanted to!

A piece of Lining 8 1/2 by 16 1/2 inches.

Two pieces of metal measuring tape one inch shorter
than the width of the finished bag.
Round off the sharp corners and cover with tape..

This will keep the metal from poking through the fabric.

First you want to sew the two blocks together. I used a 1/4 inch seam.

Then pin the blocks to the lining - placing the right sides together.

Sew all around the bag leaving an opening for turning on one of the short ends.

Trim the corners and turn the bag right side out..

Press well and turn down 1 1/4" on both short ends.

Stitch across the 1 1/4 inch you turned down. Leave the ends open.
You may want to use thread that matches your fabric.

I used white so it would show up in the picture.

Now you need to insert the metal tape. Make sure the numbers face the right side of the bag.
If you don't put the tape in right you won't get the snap that closes your bag. Put a piece of tape in both ends of the bag.

Make sure the tape is 1/2 inch shorter than the bag on each end. You don't want to sew over it when you sew the sides of the bag together.

With right sides together sew the sides of the bag.

I find it easier to start sewing from the bottom of the bag.

After the sides are sewn together you make the bottom. To do this make a mark about 1 inch up from the bottom on both sides.

Center the bottom of the bag over the side seam and stitch across both ends where you made the mark.

Turn right side out and you are finished!


There are many things you could do with this simple pattern.  You could add batting or interfacing to make the bag have more body.  I have seen them made with beads or tabs to help pull them open.  They could also be made smaller or larger.

All instructions are written with the best intent and are only a personal account of the sewing of my bag.
I hope the instructions are not too confusing. 
If you do have problems be sure to let me know.
I would be glad to answer any questions you might have.
If you use my tutorial to make a bag I would love to see the pictures and please give me credit for the instructions.

String Quilt Quilted

I was able to get my string quilt quilted this weekend..

It looks a lot like a Christmas quilt to me.

I used dryer sheets as the foundation and in the last few days I have been reading that used dryer sheets are highly flammable.. I think I will reconsider donating this quilt to a charity for children. I am going to try paper or the type of interfacing that dissolves when you wash your quilt.

A Quilt for Lillian

I have been working on this quilt for Lillian, my little Granddaughter and let me tell you working outside the lines is not an easy task..

I have so much admiration for designers like Tonya at Lazy Gal and Gwen Marston , I have several of their books.

Thanks goodness Tonya has a book coming out soon.

This is a temporary arrangement of my quilt which was inspired by one of Tonya's.

I am not so sure about the reach for the stars block. It is difficult to read and I am not crazy about the color.

Speaking of color. I had no idea how difficult it would be to find Lavender and green fabric. Evidently those are last seasons colors. I ended up mixing batiks and other fabrics. I am not sure if that is acceptable or not but I really didn't have much of a choice.

This quilt is supposed to be a wall hanging to go over the crib and it is coming out a little larger than I wanted. I think I got carried away with the size of my letters. I still have the border to do and that will make it even larger.

This is not as easy as you might think. Trying to get all the pieces to fit together has been quite a task for me.

Aunt Millie's Garden Progress

I have been making progress on my Aunt Millie's Garden quilt. All the blocks and borders are finished and I just have the sashing to complete.

Before I do that I will need to make a trip to the quilt shop to pick up somemore multi colored reds.

I really like this quilt..It has taken me over a year to get this far but I have enjoyed the journey.

All About the Music

I went ahead and put music on my Blog and now I am having second thoughts.. So I am wondering what everyone else thinks about Blogs with music.. Do you prefer Blogs with music or without?

I seems from all the comments I have received most people prefer not to have music. So I have removed the music but I am leaving Mr. Kitty.

Seams, Seams, What about Seams

Some questions have been asked about bulky seams in my String Quilt. I didn't really have a problem with the seams.

Keeping in mind this was my first string quilt project. This is what I did.

I used old dryer sheets as the foundation.

Steam pressed the seams really well after the top was finished. If you use a thicker foundation the seams would be thicker.

One reason the quilt isn't any larger is because I ran out of used dryer sheets..I guess I need to do more laundry.

First String Quilt

I made my first string quilt today.

I made this one for the It's A String Thing Challenge. The Quilts are supposed to be donated to a charity. It was a fun project.

Stacey is having a giveaway this month for a cute Valentine needle case so you should go over and check it out.

Quilts Ready for Quilting

You know the saying "It isn't a quilt until it's quilted." Well I have a lot of tops that are not quilted.

When I first started quilting I must have been bitten by the bug because I made so many tops I couldn't manage to quilt them all. I just kept putting them in plastic containers and going on to the next one.
This is the year I decided to get them out and put them on hangers so they would be right in my face hoping this would motivate me to quilt them. I still have a few more hidden in the plastic that I have to get backs for but that's a project for another day.

"A New Direction in Quilting"

I read this quote the other day
"If they give you ruled paper, write the other way"
and it just seemed to inspire me.
I have always been one to stay within the lines and I think to be
creative you need to jump outside the lines once in a while.

This has always been difficult for me...I like to follow a pattern and
seldom do I change it. If I could get the exact fabric they used in the pattern I would.
I have taken lots of classes on how to be creative and how to use color but I don't seem to change.

Since this is a new year I thought I would give myself a challenge and try to get a little bolder and braver in my quilting. I wouldn't call this a resolution just a new direction.

This is a quilt I finished last year and it is different from what I usually do but it was made from a kit and I did not get to choose the colors so I wasn't the one being creative.

I want to make a wall hanging for my new Granddaughter and I am going to try and use some of the letters from Tonya at Lazy Gal Quilting she has such great ideas and she certainly gets outside the lines in her quilting.

Wish me luck.

Quilting Library

I just discovered a great site called Quilting Library some of you might like to check out. It is listed as a library of useful links for Quilters and it is full of patterns and tutiorials for quilters.

NYE Mystery Quilt Top

I did finally get the top together...I like the way it turned out.. Now to decide on borders.

NYE Mystery Quilt

The second mystery I am doing starts tomorrow..

It's the NYE Mystery 2009 by Anne B. Smith .

We have already picked our fabrics done some cutting and sewing - 288 half square triangles for a lap size quilt.Now we are waiting on the first clue.

Raising Cane Finished!

We got the final clue to Raising Cane last night so I was able to finish it today.
It was a fun mystery and Dorthy gives great directions so it was quick and easy.

I am wondering where some of you take your pictures for your blogs? I just don't seem to have any place in my home that is suitable..I am never satisfied with the pictures I take.

Raising Cane

I had decided I wouldn't do any mystery quilts this year because of time limits....but I was bored today and needed to do some sewing.
I have been saving the steps to Raising Cane a Dorothy Young Mystery so I started today.
I used Christmas fabrics since I have collected so many.

I was able to get finished with clue 11 and have no idea what the quilt will look like when the blocks are put together..

We were supposed to choose a focus fabric and three other fabrics that went with it.
I am not so sure my choices were the best...they look better in person the colors are better.

I guess I will find out when it's all together.

Snow in Virginia

I was in Virginia helping my Daughter with the new baby and on the day I was supposed to come home they had a huge snow storm..

I am from Georgia and I think this is the most snow I had ever seen.

We measured 20 inches.

It was beautiful but delayed my trip home a few days.

Heavenly Gift

Wow, what a day December the 5th was.
My Daughter went into labor on her Birthday (three weeks early)
and the baby was born at 4:23 am December the 6th...

Lillian Wrenn

What a wonderful birthday present.

Chez Moi Birthday Quilt

I just finished this quilt for my Daughter's Birthday. It's a free pattern from Moda called Chez Moi. I was a little disappointed in the weight of the quilt.. I used Minkee for the backing and the batting I choose was a little too heavy. I never know what kind of batting to use with Minkee.

Anyway it's finished... in the mail and I hope she likes it.