Category Archives: finished projects

Spell it with Moda Mini Quilts

August 26th 2016

As a former teacher and lover of words, I am naturally drawn to alphabet related things. So if you are a quilter and you’ve been around the block, you have surely been seeing these lovely Spell It With Moda quilts popping up all over the quilting hallways of the Internet.

This is a snapshot of what I found by just googling that phrase. Doesn’t it make you feel like going and making a quilt right now?

Well, I certainly couldn’t help myself and I got the Spell It With Moda little workbook available at Fat Quarter Shop complete with all the letters, ampersand and filler blocks. I do have a whole quilt in my mind (fabric ideas too) but for now, I started small making mini quilts with first name initials for some special peeps I know in their favorite colors. (I hope)

They were really so fun and fast to do.

I even included a little sailboat on one of them to fill some negative space.

As you can see from these, the only adaptation I made was to make them with patchwork squares which deviated from the larger pieces of the same fabric, which the pattern calls for.

Matching up backing is always fun.

To make it easier to hang, I sewed triangles on the corners and custom fit a skewer into them to keep them straight and hang a ribbon from.

Yay! And here are the happy recipients, love those smiles. I so enjoy making pretty things for others and making new friends from Social Media has been such a pleasant surprise. 🙂

Quicky Vacation Tote: A New Pattern

August 9th 2016

Introducing the Quicky Vacation Tote bag! I’ve turned my “go-to” scrappy project into a pattern for you to enjoy.

Quicky Vacation Tote 3

It’s the perfect project for those left over squares and strips, easy to make, adapt or re-size and always looks so pretty! This one below was made for a trip a couple of years ago, you may remember the post here.

quicky vacation tote

Quicky Vacation Tote

If you’ve never made a quilted tote, this would be a great starter pattern for you; plus, the Quicky Vacation Tote pattern has some great features that are really easier than one might think.

Quicky vacation tote inside

For starters, it has French seams, and a magnetic snap, and a boxed bottom (not shown) and you can even add a label if you want.

quicky vacation tote jane 2

Jane’s tote highlights the Daysail line on the outside and Vintage Picnic on the inside (both lines by Bonnie and Camille). I love that she tried so many techniques that were new to her, she did a great job. She opted not to box the bottom and that’s okay!! There is plenty of wiggle room in this pattern.

quicky vacation tote Jane

Marisa’s bag sports the fabric Boathouse by Sweetwater for MODA.

quicky vacation tote marisa 1

I love those stripes don’t you?

quicky vacation tote Kristen1

Kristen’s bag is Sodalicious by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller . How fun are those bottle caps and text print? She used Soft and Stable by Annie’s as the stabilizer to make her bag sturdy.

quicky vacation tote kristen2

And last, but not least, is this scrappy tote with a mix of lines that go perfectly together.

quicky vacation tote Denny

This one screams summer! For stabilizer Denny used headliner, a special material used for car interiors. Super sturdy stuff available at Joann’s.

quicky vacation tote denny2

I am so excited to be able to share these finished Quicky Vacation Totes with you. These ladies did an awesome job testing out this pattern for me (Thank you!) and had fun doing it!

quicky vacation tote denny3

The pattern is available here and it’s on sale (PDF version) for only $5.00 through the end of August. I hope you have been inspired to make your own to celebrate these last days of Summer!

Five Things to Love About the Spark Box

July 15th 2016

Have you seen the latest from Love Bug Studios?

It’s a Spark Quilt Box full of goodies to ignite your creative energy. I am going to tell you five things I love about this box and why you should consider reserving one. Yes “reserving” one because once they’re gone, they’re gone!

The first reason is I love surprises! So happy mail arriving at my house, especially when I’ve likely forgotten about it, is certainly a perk and there is only more goodness inside! Ebony, Love Bug Studios owner and idea extraordinaire has an eye for detail.

Reason number two is I love details! I love wrapping details, a sticker, a satin ribbon and the prettiest tissue paper ever, it’s so nice to look at I don’t need to open it right away. And look, all the goodies have more cute wrapping in the way of paper sacs. I appreciate the time and effort she takes to make this package so pretty for her customers to receive.

Let’s open them up!

In this bag are goodies revolving around the theme “JUST BEACHY” which also happens to be one of my and Ebony’s favorite places so everything in this bag reflects that. There is sand colored thread, beach ball candies, beach buttons, beach ribbon and a real Sand Dollar. I know where mine is going. Are you loving it yet? Reason three to love this box, is that these goodies are perfect for crafting and gifting or crafting a gift!

Ready for more fun? How about this pattern? It’s my Sea Horse Mini Pattern. Ebony included fabric (different in every box) for images, buttons for the eyes and a Fish cut out (complete with fusible) to use for this or another creative idea swimming around in your head. (My pattern is strictly piecing but there is no rule about personalizing it with this cut out.) Reason number four? What’s not to love about fabric?

These were especially cute, the charm is a tiny flip flop and the whistle that sounds like a “Zzzzzzzzzing” and the festive confetti pouring out of the sac was definitely a reason to giggle!

Lastly, I know when I am in the zone, making and creating, a sweet snackerel is just what I need to keep me going so reason five does not disappoint: SNACKS! In the Snack sac is a chocolate shark fin you get to take a bite of. And if you’ve ever met Ebony, you know she loves her snacks. We’ve already got 2 in this yummy box.

I know, I know, so how can you get your own?

Go to Spark Quilt Box to read all about it. You can also sign up to get notified for when the next set of boxes are ready. Upon notification you go here and order yours! (June boxes still available) Leave me a comment telling me what you love about this box and I’ll randomly select one person and send them the “idea” bag complete with pattern, fabric, buttons and cut out to inspire your creativity.

And don’t forget to sign up for Ebony’s spark box to receive yours in the months to come!

A Pretty and Practical Bag for Travel

April 28th 2016

I love my Vintage Picnic Traveling Tote. You may have seen me over-gramming about it on Instagram a few weeks back. It was so fun to make!

It’s no secret that I ~~hoard~~ collect fabric. It’s no secret that I have a vault for my most favorite lines. (pictured below) It’s no secret that sometimes I forget what I already have. And it’s definitely no secret that if I don’t buy “that fabric” right now it will be gone FOREVER!! At least that’s what the fabric addiction neurons in my brain keep saying. But I digress.

My traveling bag, my “go-to-bag-with-all-the-right-pockets-holds-everything-I-need-for-traveling” bag had broken and I had to make a new one ASAP. And there was no question, once this fabric arrived, that it was the right one for this project. It was also the first fabric bundle I busted open so soon after it’s acquisition. Really.

It’s Vintage Picnic by Bonnie and Camille. I loved the classic red and blues in this line, the gingham and dainty flowers, whose scale is not so dainty, made a perfect match.

I chose the darker bolder colors for the outside, since it will hide any wear and tear and smudges.

I had made these scrappy stars and wanted to incorporate them into the bag. The first design showcased four across the top of the bag.

But after sleeping on it and playing with the fabrics some more, I changed the design and fabrics several more times.

The inside would be in the lighter color ways of the line with a bit of Hello Darling thrown in. That divided pocket was a must, I kept the broken bag and use the size and inside as a sample. I know, no one can see the inside of these aqua dotted divided pockets, but I know it’s pretty in there!

Besides the beautiful colors, I was determined to make it with zippered outside pockets with the prettiest linings. These pockets turned out to be perfect for boarding passes, lipstick, my phone or dollars for tipping if necessary.

Above is the outer part of the bag. I sewed and quilted it all in this chartreuse green #1231 thread by Aurifil. There is a crazy method to quilting a bag with divided inner pockets and zippered outside pockets.

I am still perfecting the zipper tab but it works!

I know there are so many bag patterns out there, but this one is so pretty and practical, I’ll be making a pattern for it, and revealing my crazy methods, for the handful that want to make it. Sign up for my newsletter for the heads up on the pattern.

If you want to save your fabric for this pattern, you’ll need:

1/2 Yard main blue

1 FQ side panels

4-6 FQs for outer pockets, pocket linings and inner pockets

1 yard inner lining

1 FE for sashing (gingham)

Scraps to make four star blocks (4″ finished)

(1) 18-20 inch zipper, (I prefer larger so I can trim)

(2) 9 inch zippers

1 square yard of

Accents or details you may want to add.

The finished size of the Traveling Tote is 14 inches high, 16 inches wide at the top, 11 inches wide at the bottom and 6 inches deep. I still love my bag!

And here it is in action! It really is great for travel! I hope you wanna make one!

How to Grow your Quilting Business

April 19th 2016

The Creative Arts Professional Summit is an annual event put on by Morna McEver from International Association of Creative Arts Professional. It’s a great event to attend to work ON your business instead of IN your business. By answering introspective questions and participating in focused exercises, you grow both personally and professionally. Collaborating, networking and eating together is also a sure way to make new friends and business associates (pictured below). But most importantly, you learn how to move your business forward through specific action driven by a new mindset for where you want your business to be. This is my second year and it was great! Since last year I have released 7 quilting patterns and have been picked up by 2 distributors. I am so excited to do something that I enjoy and see my business grow.

Cabs 2016

WHAT I LEARNED AT CABS 2016:
1. Laurie knows a lot of Information that helped me with how, who and where.
2. Relationships build business.
3. Promote. Promote. Promote.
4. Communication is key, be clear with expectations.(Contract)
5. I need a square.
6. You never know where your next business opportunity will come from (Terri’s card game).
7. Proof your patterns. Again.
8. Know where your peeps are, Facebook, Instagram, Blogs
9. Your website should let people know what you are doing, what you are selling.
10. SEO? Please add info.
11. Success or failure? Own it.
12. Find ways to work smarter, collaborate.
13. Dream bigger.
14. Copyright: tangible and intangible rights.
15. YOU are your brand.
16. Project your dreams with positive statements and read them daily.
17. Believe in your dream and in yourself.
18. Work toward your goals, 3 things daily.
19. When hosting a blog hop, clear your calendar!
20. Replace limiting beliefs with positive affirmations.
21. Facebook groups can build fan base.
22. Stretch your neck during photos. Lol
23. Get them to Know, Like and Trust you.

Every year I make a list of what I learned, see what I learned last year on this post.

This event is a great investment to build your creative business, for more information on next year’s conference, click on the picture below.

Summercrafter

Craft. Quilt. Unwind.