crickets studio

I Heart Faces Weekly Photo Challenge: Silly Holiday Photos

2012-01-03T22:42:00.001-05:00

Love love this blog and just had to link up this week.

This fun, no contest challenge was too good to pass up. You have to check out some of the fantastically silly photos. They’ll make your heart smile.

So here’s mine…

Just look at those eyes. My little guy is so saying, “Me? Eating the candy? No, not me.” This while popping a green gumdrop in his mouth while the rest of us were making our annual gingerbread house.

I believe him, don’t you?

A look at 2011

2012-01-01T23:45:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year.

It’s 2012!

“Twenty-twelve” as my daughter likes to say.

Here’s a little of what I did last year…

I so slowed down on all my projects in September due to my new full time job. Hoping 2012 allows more time for playing with my children, quilting, sewing, painting and scrapbooking – oh, and of course, blogging!

Out with the old…in with the new!

Happy and Merry

2011-12-24T06:02:00.000-05:00

Wishing each and everyone one of you

very

happy

and

merry

holiday

season.

Tips & Tricks ~ December 2011

2011-12-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

Wow – when did it become December? About eight days ago silly (yup, that’s me answering my own question!)

It’s time for the last LAST block for our Tips & Tricks sampler. You all have been so fantastic bearing with my tardiness these past few months. I am honored and humbled by all the emails of encouragement I’ve received since going back to work full time in October. Yup, I’m blessed. Super duper.

Sew, I pulled out all of my blocks, my big and little ones. We have six 6-1/2” blocks and eleven 12-1/2” blocks. Naturally, my first question was, “what is missing? A color, block pattern, something to fill everything in just right.”

zxdcvffdzaqwsdgg, qbkhwerty says my 3-1/2 year old son….he’s “helping” Mommie with this post.

What I realized is that all of you are asking that question, too. Each of our quilts are going to be very different, so what I may need to complete my top, you may not need. The December block will fit this perfectly…..

Drumroll please…..

The December block is…..

A Block of YOUR CHOICE! Yay! Yahoo! Yippee!

Really, I am not just copping out here. I had this plan, and in order to fill in what your quilt top may need, and to personalize it even more, you get to choose what your last block will be.

Here are my blocks:

Right off I see I have only a smidge of red that shows predominately in one block . I need to use this color in this last block. I also see alot of medium blues, muted tones, and a good balance of darks. The light violet in the one block needs to be repeated somewhere, too.Another scrappy looking block would fit here nicely. Maybe one with some ample background.

You’d think I’d had already made my December block to show you. Nope. Simply haven’t had time and I don't wish to rush the process. It’ll get done and then I will show you the top layout I’ve been brainstorming. See, I really am working right along with you. None of this “planning ahead” stuff for me!

Also, trim your extra HSTs into 2-1/2” units. We’ll be using them in our final quilt top (of course, if you wish to use them in this 12th large block, go ahead!!!) We’ll be using 2-1/2” strips in our setting, too, so pull out some that fit into your color scheme. Don’t have exact measures yet. Just have some handy.

Lastly, add a signature to your 6-1/2” siggie block we made a few months ago. Here’s a tip – yay! Using a warm iron with no steam, press the siggie block to the shiny side of freezer paper. Then write on the light part of your block. The freezer paper give the fabric stability so you can write a but easier.

Lots to do, lots to do. I’ll get working on my December block – get working on yours! Can’t wait to see {hugs}.

Tips & Tricks ~ November 2011 (Really!!!)

2011-11-27T23:21:00.000-05:00

I know, I am so super late with this block. I picked it out eons ago, and well, life got in the way. I think you’ll like it, and not just because I have finally gotten it sewn and posted for you. It’s a super easy and cute block!

What is it you ask? Wait no longer….it’s “Tennessee” found on quilterscache.com. Since I am sew sew late, the tips will be few affording you more time to get this month’s block before {yikes} the month is over!

What do you need?

Pull out your extra half square triangles (HST) pile and take out 6 that are 4-1/2” or larger. Trim to 4-1/2” square. Cut 3 each 4-1/2” squares of coordinating dark fabrics.

If you don’t have any or enough extra HST units, then just whip up what you need. See my post in my March post for directions using these fabrics:

5” squares – 3 each in a light background fabric (can be scrappy or all the same)

5” squares – 3 each on a dark fabric (can be scrappy or all the same)

4-1/2” squares – 3 each of dark fabrics. Maybe use a charm pack, or spare parts left over after a project.

Make up six HST and square up to 4-1/2”

Layout as shown….

Sew up into rows…. and then into your block – and you are done!

Okay, so no tips or tricks this month, except one cool looking block. Hope that works for you {wink}.

Thankful

2011-11-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

Today is the day we celebrate our thankfulness.

And I am in so many ways. Every day.

Love your families today in whatever form they take.

Hug.

Kiss.

Appreciate the moments.

Thank YOU for tuning in.

Happy Happy Thanksgiving.

I’m late, I’m late, I’m late…

2011-11-02T23:05:00.001-04:00

….and I missed an important date!

The Tips & Tricks quilt a long November block date, that is!

So, my new job is wonderful…and whoa, talk about full time. An 8 to 4 job outside my home, really cuts down on what I’m able to do in a day (or week for that matter!)

Not that I’m complainin’ because I know how very blessed I am to have found a job, a good job with great people when so many are still out of work.

And I have the best bloggie buddies that will wait for my November QAL block, right?

You’re the BEST!

~Carrie

Tips & Tricks ~ October 2011 (and a surPRIZE, too!)

2011-10-15T21:27:00.001-04:00

This month’s block is a wee bit late – thank you all sew very much for your patience. There is a little surprise at the end of this post, and I am hopeful that you all feel this block and your “prize” were worth the wait.

This month I am feeling my family’s support in my re-entering the traditional sit-at-a-desk-in-an-office workplace. I’ve worked my own direct sales business from home now for so long, that it’s upset the household and the family dynamic a bit (okay A LOT) and I’ve realized just how important it is to sit and enjoy my family. So, I picked our block to be Table for Four. It reminds me of my husband and two kids and I sitting around the dinner table catching up with each other after a day of being apart.

(I should note that the photos, well, aren’t the best. I have to work on this now in the evenings, and that is so not the best time to take pictures. Thx for bearing with me.)

The original pattern came from Quilter’s Cache and may be found here. In this pattern only two fabrics are used. I changed it up a bit to a scrappier look, and that changed the cutting directions, too.

So, here we go…

Pick your fabrics: Select from your stash a solid or tone on tone that will be your background. Then pull out a variety of medium and dark fabrics.

Background:

4 each – 3 ½” x 4”rectangles

2 each 4 ½” squares

2 each 2” squares

1 each 3 ½” square

Medium and Dark Fabrics:

4 each 4 ½” squares

2 each 2” squares

8 each 1 ½” x 4” rectangles

4 each 1 ½” x 3 ½” rectangles

Using a pencil, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of each 4 ½” and 2” background square.

Pair a background square with a colored squares of the same size right sides together.

Sew a scant ¼” seam on either side of the draw line on all square pairs.

TIP #1: Press all the squares once sewn. This helps to have more accurate cutting in the next step. Cut all squares apart on the drawn line.

Press all HST units open to the darker fabric. You’ll now have 2 identical sets of HST.

Trim the four smaller ones to 1 ½” and set aside.

Separate the larger HST into two piles each with different fabrics in them. Take one pile, untrimmed, and set it aside for your surprise. TIP #2: There is ALWAYS a way to use every bit of fabric we have! Trim the other set of four to 4” square.

Layout your block using my photo as a guide. TIP #3: Double-check your layout before sewing! You’ll avoid problems later.

Sew first into rows and then sew the rows together. Remember to press your seams so they nest together nicely. Trim to 12 ½” unfinished.

Ta da! I just love this block – happily scrappy and fun!

Now, your SURPRIZE! October is a BONUS block month, and we will use some of our leftover HST units for it! Wa hoo!

I found this neat 6” block called Little Geese. It’s was a Block of the Day from Quilt-Pro Systems back in September. It’s perfect to use some of our extra HSTs that have been just waiting and waiting to be pieced into a block.

Sew, pull out those 4 HST from above, and 4 more from your “extra” pile.

Trim the all to 2 ½” square.

Cut one (1) 2 ½” square from a scrap piece of fabric to be your center.

Layout as shown in my photo, sew together into rows (being careful to match and next your seams). Sew your rows together and press.

Trim to 6 ½” unfinished. Here’s my block – what do you think? I mixed it up a bit by throwing some reds in there {wink}.

Congratulations! You now have six bonus blocks, 10 large blocks and one signature block.

Don’t forget to post your block in our group photo album! Enjoy the rest of October and Halloween – boo! Thanks for sewing with me!

It’s my turn!

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Yay! It’s my turn for my block to be posted for the Moose on the Porch Fat Quarter Quilt Along! So silly exciting, isn’t it? Mine is block #2.
It’s a cool block based on friendship and fun – I call it “Friendship Twist”. You just never know when a new friend will turn up thru all the twists and turns of life. Or, as in my case, a steady rock of a friend will shine brighter and delight, surprise and fill my heart with love in the blink of an eye.
I’ve recently found that out during my sudden babysitting job loss and then resulting search for a full time traditional desk job. The wonderful support of my friends and family, some friends I knew were awesome, and during my family crisis, they stepped up and showed me they could be even more amazing than ever!
I made it with Origins by Basic Grey for Moda. The soft colors represent the friends that hover in the background, quietly supporting and affirming your actions all the while waiting for the moment to come into the foreground and shine just for a moment, but at the exact right moment.

I dedicate this block to them. Without their encouragement I so could not have found a new really good job in only 27 days!
Sew, pop on over to see Konda’s blog and her wonderful new Quilt Along. It’s just started so it’s easy to catch up and win neat prizes, too.
Let me know if you’re joining the quilt along!

P.S. I’ve sewn up the October Tips & Tricks block and now have to type up the post. Thx sew very much for your patience!!!!! There’s a surprise in the post for you, too, for having to wait a while for this one…{grin}.

Late

2011-10-01T18:51:00.001-04:00

I am late with the October Tips & Tricks block. Sew very sorry! I've been job hunting all of September, and yes! I did find a job. A truly wonderful full time job doing what I'm really good at. I am really blessed. However, I've not worked in a traditional work place since having my kids. AND I only found out about the job this Thursday and I start this coming MONDAY! Eek! I have no professional clothes, only "mommie" clothes, have to get child-care squared away and who is picking up which kid when….in a bit of a pickle, but I'll work it out.

It's all good.

Even the mommie-guilt I am carrying around and I haven't even started the job yet.

Keep checking back – I'll get the October block up soon.

Really, I will.

Really.

Yummy fabric

2011-09-21T12:28:00.001-04:00

Just opened a fat quarter pack of Origins by Basic Grey for Moda. I’ve had it in my stash for a while (got it at an absolutely incredible sale). Konda over at Moose on the Porch Quilts asked me to be a designer in her new Fat Quarter Starts Quilt Along, and I just knew I had to break into this fat quarter pack for it!

Sew today, I am working on my block for the QAL…shhhh, it’s a well-kept secret, considering I haven’t even sewn it up yet – ha! My block is the 2nd block in the QAL and is scheduled to come out October 11. The quilt along starts on September 27 and new blocks are introduced every other week. Plus, there will be PRIZES!

After I make up my QAL block, I have to get back to job hunting and packing for my daughter’s weekend camping trip with the girl scouts. Last year’s camping trip was really wonderful. This year the forecast is for rain, but I’m sure we’ll still really enjoy ourselves.

What are you doing this weekend? Sewing? Scrapbooking? Playing with the family? Whatever it is, I hope you put yourself completely into it and have a super fun time!

Tips & Tricks ~ September 2011 BONUS Block

2011-09-15T09:55:00.000-04:00

Surprise! Here’s a 6” finished bonus block for you! Every quilt needs a label, and I thought this Signature Block fit the bill perfectly. You can use it in the front of your quilt top, or as a label on the back. Let’s wait until we have all the blocks done and see what happens.

I found this signature block on quilterscache.com and adapted the directions – I am so not a template quilter, so I changed it up a bit. Since this is a bonus block, I won’t have as detailed instructions nor as many tips…we’ll have fun with this simple block!

Pick out your fabrics:

Pick two of your fave fabrics for the squares and a light solid for your “signature” part.

Favorite fabric squares: 2 each 5-1/4” squares, each one a different color.

Signature fabric (here I used the muslin): 1 each 4” x 11” strip

Let’s sew! Stack the two 5-1/4” squares and cut once diagonally from each corner to corner to make four quarter square triangles (QST). You’ll only need two of each for this block so save the others for another block or project.

Sew the QSTs right sides together in pairs using a scant 14” seam. Press to the darker side. See below for placement, make two the same. (please ignore the muslin in the photo….)

Fold the signature fabric strip in half long ways, open up, and line up the seam of one triangle unit with the fold…

Flip right sides together and sew a 1/4” seam. Press open with seams to the triangle unit.

Repeat for the other side…

Now we need to trim up the block to 6-1/2” unfinished. Use a square cutting ruler for this. Lay your ruler on the square lining up the bottom and left edges of the triangles units with the 6-3/4” markings.

Trim the right and top edges. Pick up the ruler, turn the block 180 degrees and repeat, instead this time line up the bottom and left edges with the 6-1/2” markings. Trim the top and right edges even with the ruler.

Viola! You are done!

Remember to post your block in our group photo album! Enjoy your September BONUS!

Tips & Tricks ~ September 2011

2011-09-01T20:57:00.000-04:00

Whew! Wasn’t sure I’d get this T&T post typed up! August was a busy month, and adding Tropical Storm Irene to the mix last weekend, well, all of a sudden August was over. I actually finished sewing this block during the tropical storm – used it as an excuse to take my mind off of what may happen. Of course, I remembered to take photos, you’ll note they are a little wonky as the lighting in the house wasn’t great that day, but I so totally thought I’d already typed the directions. Surprise! I forgot to do that one small step {sheepish grin}.

We’re doing the block Louisiana this month. I found it on quilterscache.com and adapted the directions a bit.

Pick out your fabrics:

I used my stash again, and wasn’t completely thrilled with the end result, but hey, it’s going in a sampler quilt, right? I am confident these colors and their combination will work out fine. TIP #1: Sometimes you just have to say, “what the heck” and roll with it.

Small pinwheel fabric: 4 each 3-1/2” squares

Large pinwheel fabric: 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles

Background (here I used the muslin): 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles AND 4 each 3-1/2" squares

TIP #2: Aim for contrast not only in color, but also in scale. See how the background is a solid, the small pinwheel fabric is a marble (much like a small print) and the large pinwheel fabric is a large print. Say I were to use all large scale prints for this block – they’d fight each other and the block pattern wouldn’t stand out well at all.

This is another quick block. Take out your squares, all 8 of them. On the back of the squares, mark a diagonal line from corner to corner.

Place the background square on the left side of the large pinwheel rectangle…

and sew 1/4” away from that line. TIP #3: And another repeat of the same ole’ tip…sew a second line 5/8” away from your first seam. This will result in an extra HST and not wasting the “unwanted” corners in the sew and flip method

Cut apart 1/4” away from the drawn line. Set the extra HST aside (we’ll use it in the final quilt top layout or maybe even a bonus block along the way).

Press open the corner...

Now place a small pinwheel square on the opposite corner of the light square noting that the guideline is now opposite the first square. Repeat what we just did above…

Cut apart 1/4” along the drawn line, set the extra HST aside and press the corner open.

Make 4 of these flying geese units and press well.

Next, take a background rectangle and a flying geese unit, layout and sew as shown. Wait! Don’t sew yet until you read Tip #4…

TIP #4: When sewing these together, sew with the flying geese unit on top so that you can see the stitching lines…you’ll want to sew your seam so it’s not only 1/4”, but also so it falls just a stitch width ABOVE the “X” formed by the previous seams…see my close-up below:

If you do this, you’ll end up with a nice sharp point like this…

Make 4 of these unit and then layout your block. See? It’s a simple 4 patch to piece together now. Easy peasy, with one more tip before you sew….read on….

TIP #5: When placing these units rights sides together to sew your 1/4” seam, take time to match the seams as I have below. When you do this, your pinwheel center comes out perfectly. Also remember to sew one stitch width away from any “X” stitching to ensure sharp points.

And here’s my completed block

Don’t forget to post your block in our group photo album! Enjoy your September and back to school and apple picking season. I’ll be back soon with a BONUS block for you. Thanks for sewing with me!

Late

2011-08-31T22:32:00.000-04:00

That’s me, late. With the Tips & Tricks block for September that is.

I have the block all sewn.

Pictures are taken, not cropped.

But no words are written and it’s getting super late (there’s that word again) on 8/31.

The September bonus block is even sewn…nope, nothing written about that one yet either.

Forgive me, it’ll be up soon {please please}

Lucky

2011-08-29T08:59:00.000-04:00

It’s the morning after the remnants of Hurricane Irene passed thru our area (Albany, NY). It came thru as a tropical storm and wow, did it rain here! Lots of wind, too. It started Saturday nite and last thru the wee hours of this morning. The small town of East Greenbush that we live in was spared the worst, thank goodness. We had a couple leaks in our home and a semi-flooded basement, but that’s it. Many we know had mudslides, massive flooding, trees down in their yards, on their homes. 140,000 here in NY are without power, many roads are closed. My DH just called and said he’s turning around because 1. He can’t get to work with the road closures and 2. His partner just called him and said the office is powerless! We are blessed and feel so lucky that we were spared the worst.

Let me tell you how scared we were…as we prepared driving around our town Saturday, it was eerie to see windows taped and boarded up, shelves depleted of batteries, water, canned goods….these types of storms just don’t happen here.

Last time we had a major event like this was in July 2008 and it was a fluke storm that downed three trees in our yard. That one started and finished in less than 5 minutes.

So, as I count my many blessings this morning, I’ll be sewing a bit and hugging my kids and DH (our 18^th wedding anniversary was also yesterday!)

Posting this hoping you all and your loved ones are safe and healthy today. If you are cleaning up, I am sending wishes that it goes quickly for you and that life returns to normal very soon.

Potty training, Back-to-school and In-Laws visiting ~ oh my!

2011-08-22T10:02:00.000-04:00

All at once, life has interrupted life….what?

Seems like everything is happening at once these past few weeks – it’s all GOOD, but super BUSY!

Love seeing my in-laws. They are wonderful people, and I’ve been so looking forward to hugging them. Their month-long visit from Florida is a welcome change to our summer.

It’s a task I’d rather not do, but I need to now sort thru the huge pile of my daughter’s 1st grade papers to make room for 2nd grade. Less than 2 weeks away is the start of our school year, and I so need to get organized for it. Have to also clean off the kitchen table so the kids can eat their breakfast in there away from the distraction of TV and toys. Our youngest also starts preschool. September 6th is going to be a tough day for this mom.

And then there’s the potty training. My son decided on his own to tell this unprepared mom that the diaper fairy came and took his diapers to the new babies. He had to learn to use the potty. We’re into day #13 and actually doing well, both of us. I’ve held my patience in check and he and I are both better for it!

In all of this I am trying to work on a bonus block for August {grin} and the September T&T block…have some ideas, just have to get moving on them.

Back to life…think I can fit a shower in today?

Tips & Tricks ~ August 2011 repost!

2011-08-01T21:16:00.000-04:00

Edited 9/1/11: Blogger did it again, grrr….it ate up my post for the August T&T block! Doing a very quick repost now and will fix the photos soon. Check the PDF file under the Tips & Tricks tab to print these out….

It’s August! We’re midway through summer – whew! We’re just back literally, hours back, from our two week vacation to the beach. What a fantastic time we experienced! Hope you’re enjoying time with your family, too, whether home, away or something in between.

A new month brings a new block in our quilt along. For August, let’s do a Brilliant Star. I just love LOVE star blocks and this is near the tippiest toppest of my list! The star is meant to glow from the center out and radiate brilliance, so color placement is important.

Pick out your fabrics:

Pulling from my stash again, I found some plain muslin, and blues and purples I just had to use.

Here we go…

Light Blue: 4 each – 5” x 5” squares

Dark Blue: 8 each 3-1/2” squares

Light Purple: 4 each 3-1/2” squares

Dark Purple: 4 each 2” x 3-1/2” rectangles

Lightest (here I used the muslin): 1 each – 3-1/2” square AND 8 each - 2” squares

This block pieces together SO FAST! Yay – more time to get out into the sunshine this month {big toothy grin}. Take out your blue fabrics, both light and dark. On the back of the dark squares, mark a diagonal line from corner to corner. TIP #1: I use a chalk pencil to mark the back of dark fabrics. Lead pencils just don’t show up very well unless it’s a light fabric.

Place the dark square in the corner of the larger light blue square…

and sew 1/4” away from that line on either side. TIP #2: Another repeat of the same ole’ tip…sew a second line 5/8” away from your first seam. This will result in an extra HST and not wasting the “unwanted” corners in the sew and flip method

Cut apart 1/4” away from the drawn line. Set the extra HST aside (we’ll use it in the final quilt top layout).

Press open the corner...

Place another 3-1/2” square on the opposite corner of the light square and repeat what we just did above…

Cut apart 1/4” along the drawn line, set the extra HST aside and press the corner open.

Make 4 of these units and press well. Square to 5”. Set aside and let’s work on the purple units.

Pull out your light purple squares and the muslin 2” squares. Using a lead pencil, mark from corner to corner on the back of all 8 muslin squares. TIP #3: Use a mechanical lead pencil and you’ll always have a fine pencil line and not need to stop to sharpen it!

Okay, remember what we just did above? Sew…let’s repeat it with a couple of easy adjustments. First, these units are smaller than the blue ones. Therefore, no extra HST unless you are really a glutton for punishment {hee hee}. Sew, place a muslin square on the corner of the purple square…and sew on the drawn line.

Trim 1/4” away from that line… and press open.

Now, here is the where the other adjustment comes in…place the next muslin square on the corner BELOW the one we just did.

Proceed as we did earlier making 4 units. Square up to 3 1/2”.

Sew the purple rectangle now to the 3 1/2” unit. See the photo for placement.

And press open toward the darker fabric.

Let’s layout your block and piece together. First in rows and then the rows to each other.

And here’s my completed block

Don’t forget to post your block in our group photo album! Enjoy your August and eek – it’s almost back to school time! Enjoy this last month of summer break!

Tips & Tricks ~ July 2011

2011-07-01T04:37:00.000-04:00

Wow, did June go by fast or what? Dance recital is over, school learning fair project complete and school is done and summer vacation has started! I am now the mom of a preschooler and a second grader, whoa. Better start sewing to take my mind off of that!

Our July block is called Blazing Arrows. I originally found it on quilterscache.com and adapted it to fit a patriotic theme. Of course, you may select any colors and fabrics for your block. I like the USA flag colors because it’s July and that means celebrating our Independence Day!

Pick out your fabrics:

Yup, I am pulling from my stash again using a variety of blues and reds. TIP #1: I may have already used this one, but it’s okay to repeat myself, right? I am using the same background fabric throughout this block to unify it. With all the different blues and reds, I wanted to bring the block together. You may also use various background fabrics, just be sure they are the same value…not some very light, some very dark…it’ll confuse things a bit.

Blue fabrics: 1 each – 7-1/4” square, 4 each 3-1/2” squares

Red fabrics: 2 each 3-1/2” x 6 -1/2” rectangles and 2 each 4” squares

Background neutral fabrics: 1 each – 7-1/4” square, 4 each 3-1/2” squares, 2 each 3 -/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles, and 2 each 4” squares

We’ll work on the center square first. Take out the two 7-1/4” squares. On the back of the light one, mark a diagonal line from corner to corner:

Sew 1/4” away from that line on either side. TIP #2: Best quilting investment EVER was my purchase of a 1/4” foot for my sewing machine. Most if not all companies make them for the various sewing machines out there.

See how I can line up my seam? Sew easy!

TIP #3: We need to sew down one side of the line, AND the other side too….sew, just pull out your piece a bit from the needle

and turn it around and start sewing seam #2. Saves a ton of thread!

We’ve made HSTs before, so here’s a quick review…press and then cut on the drawn line:

Press toward the darker fabric:

Piece the 2 background 4” squares to the 2 4” red squares in this manner now. Trim these to 3-1/2” square.

Back to our center square…on the wrong side of one of the large HST units, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner, perpendicular to the seam:

and place them right sides together, colors opposing, nesting the seam as shown:

Sew a 1/4” seam on either side of that drawn line, press and cut apart.

And press open. Square to 6-1/2”. One of these is the center of our block and the other is our July BONUS BLOCK! Surprise!!!

Set the center block aside and go ahead and put your bonus block with the other bonuses we have been making this year.

Next, let’s work on the flying geese units. Take out the 4 rectangles and eight 3-1/2” squares. On the back of each square, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.

TIP #4: Don’t assume anything! This time around we’re using this line in a different way than we did for the HST earlier. Be sure to read your directions and re-read them to make certain you do the steps correctly and avoid ripping out any seams. We’ll be using the “flip ‘n sew” method for these flying geese.

Place a background square onto a red rectangle noting the direction of the line below:

We will be sewing ON THE DRAWN LINE. TIP #5: Again, I am repeating myself from our January block, I sew a teeny tiny bit, like a thread’s width, away from the drawn line toward the outside corner to allow for the fold in the fabric.

Press and trim 1/4” away from the sewn line. Press outward (forgot to take that photo, sorry!)

Repeat with the other side, noting the position of the square and the sewing line on the rectangle:

Do this for all the flying geese units. Now layout your block and sew together in rows. TIP #6: I used a lot of stem pressing my blocks with each step. I really wanted my block to lay flat.

And viola! Not only do we have an awesome finished block…

…but we also have eight extra HSTS and our 6” bonus block for July!

Don’t forget to post your block in our group photo album! Enjoy your July 4th celebrations here in the USA – it is so amazing to live in the land of the free!

One a Day

2011-06-30T10:36:00.000-04:00

Being an avid photographer and album maker, it pains me when I cannot find a few minutes to work on my album pages. Late last year I had come across the concept of scrapping one photo for each day of the year. So, even if I cannot get to my family and special albums, I still have a record and at least one photo of what happened during the year. One week is a double page layout so at the end of the year, I’ll have a complete album (that is if I can keep up!) I am a wee bit behind, but I am finding that catching up is pretty quick. I am making my album digitally, but you can do this with paper scrapping, too.

Last night I worked on the last week of April 2011. The top photo is the left page and the bottom one is the right page…

Feels good to be working on these pages…every once in a while when I have a bigger chunk of time I pick up my paper scrapbooking and work in my daughter’s dance album, or my son’s baby book (which I just finished the other day – woo hoo!) I have an ongoing series of family albums, but I am super behind in them, like I’m working back in June 2008 STILL!

And as you can see, I take pictures of EVERYTHING and scrap all of it!

So you know, I made these pages in Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus 3.0 software using my own layout and the Fabulous Digital Power Palette.

Row Robin ~ my row is up!

2011-06-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

I posted previously that I’d be designing row #3 for Becky’s Patchwork Posse’s Row Robin quilt along…well, it went live yesterday! (Yup, I’m a wee bit behind this week!)

Every quilt needs a resting place, so I made up a super simple row so the eye could rest, and then wander around. Here it is:

And the best part about this row robin is you sew up your OWN rows and keep them! Perfect for reducing your stash and having fun, too. Becky is thinking about doing my row with a scrappy fabric look – cool idea. That will look great!

Sew, head on over to Patchwork Posse and join the fun.

And remember, I designed a border (mine is the crazy patch butterfly one) and sewed up the last round robin Patchwork Posse had? Here is my quilt top right now:

ALL of it was done with scraps and stash fabric. I didn’t buy one piece of new fabric. How cool is that? It’s going to be my daughter’s bed covering when finished. Becky’s got great ideas that are super doable!

See you again soon!

Compassion

2011-06-17T09:04:00.000-04:00

I have a 7 year old daughter.

And she is the single most compassionate person I know.

She saw a news report right after the tornados struck Joplin, Missouri, and immediately wanted to help them. Like, that minute, she wanted to send the children there toys, books and clothes right out of her own room.

Sniff.

After some thought, she came up with the idea of a bottle drive to raise money to send to the American Red Cross to help rebuild their community. She has redeemed 1,852 as of last night with more to go in our garage.

And tomorrow we have a Bottle Drop-Off Day at her school, organized by she and I.

My girlie was recently given a Certificate of Recognition by the county legislature for her efforts…

…she asked my why they sent her an award when all she was doing was trying to help send Joplin the money they needed. “Isn’t everyone doing the same thing?”

No words can express how my heart fills just thinking about her efforts and how she aches for these victims. She is troubled this morning with the news that more storms and mini tornados will hit that area today. “Why is Mother Nature doing this to them?” she asks.

Wish I had the answer.

Seven is Super

2011-06-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

For the past few years I’ve made 8x8 digital scrapbook pages for my daughter showcasing the highlights of her birthday party. Five was Fabulous, Six was Stupendous, and this year, SEVEN IS SUPER!

Her Girl’s Rock Dance party will live on forever.

Page made using Creative Memories Storybook Creator 3.0 software, Decorative Click and Fill 12x12 Pages and the Fabulous Digital Power Palette.

Tips & Tricks ~ June 2011 BONUS block!

2011-06-15T09:56:00.001-04:00

Ready for another fun bonus block? This is our 3rd 6” finished bonus block to use in our quilt top. I have a plan for them, but it keeps changing {grin} so as soon as it’s set, I’ll do a big reveal!

Since this is a bonus block, the tutorial will be here, without so many tips along the way. This is meant to be fast and fun!

This 6” block is the Greek Cross. This design uses the HSTs and strip piecing we’ve done in previously 12” blocks. Easy peasey.

Please read thru the directions to the end first, and then start your block. (Getting sick of me saying that yet?)

Pick out your fabrics from your stash – I stuck to one light and one medium, but you could mix it up.

· Lights – cut 2 each 3” squares AND cut 1 each 1 1/2” x 11” strip

· Medium or Dark – cut 2 each 3” squares AND cut 1 each 1 1/2” x 11” strip AND 1 each 2 1/2” square

NOTE: I neglected to include the 2 1/2” medium square in the photo – oops!

At the start of this month we learned how to make a half-square triangle HST. See the March T&T post for that information. I’ve written a fast tute below for you:

Make 4 HSTs using the 3” squares of light and med/dark fabrics. I drew a quick line on the back of the light square from corner to corner…

placed the squares right sides together and sewed a 1/4” away from the drawn line on both sides…

Cut apart on the drawn line…

…and pressed open with seams toward the dark fabric.

Square up each HST to 2 1/2” – you should have 4.

Now, sew your light and med/dark strips together…and press the seam allowance to the darker fabric.

Segment into four 2 1/2” pieces…

Layout your block….sew rows first…

And then each row to one another…

Press and square to 6 1/2” and….

…you’re done! You’ve completed a Greek Cross block!

AND now we are halfway done with our quilt along blocks – how cool is that???? Please post a photo of your completed block for all to see and cheer you on!

See you again soon!

Proud

2011-06-08T12:26:00.001-04:00

So proud of my girlie – she performed in her 3rd dance recital at a historical theater in our city. Where I danced, ah-hem, 25+ years ago! She danced in three routines, tap, jazz and hip hop. And, she has come a long way this dance year! I am so impressed with my 7-year old!

Here are some highlights:

Outside the theater before the show

Tap routine to “Trickle Trickle”

Super fun hip hop routine to “Somebody to Love” The girls brought the house down with this one!

Jazz dance to “Funkytown” – another fab performance!

With her congratulatory flowers afterward. We celebrated with dinner at McDonald’s (dancer’s choice).

I look at these photos and still cannot believe this is my baby girl. So stinkin’ proud of what’s she’s accomplished!

I’m a designer…

2011-06-02T10:36:00.000-04:00

…for a new Row Robin over at Patchwork Posse!

I am designing Row #3 in this new fun row robin (we provide the directions for the row every other Monday and you work on YOUR OWN quilt top! The row robin just started on Monday and Becky at Patchwork Posse did a fan-tab-u-lous job on the first row – butterflies!

I am working on my row RIGHT NOW, well, I will get back to it after I am done typing this post {grin}.

Let me know if you’re joining us!

Tips & Tricks ~ June 2011

2011-06-01T03:11:00.000-04:00

Our 6th Tips & Tricks block - yahoo! As I type this, we’re just now having some nice warm almost dry weather here, just in time for Memorial Day. While the kids play outside, let’s sew up a fun block!

I had a completely different plan for this month, and then I came across this block on Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville website. It’s called Pineapple Blossom and it’s wonderful! Here is the link to her instructions: Click here. Please note we are making a 12” finished block, Bonnie’s main directions are for a 9” block. Read carefully! The cutting directions are written in her directions in RED. Because this block is Bonnie’s original design, I cannot do a step-by-step tute like I’ve done these past several months (ya know, copyright laws and that stuff)…but I can list my tips & tricks for you!

If you haven’t yet checked out Bonnie Hunter and Quiltville, do so soon. She rocks with her use of scraps and found materials. Her books are very cool, as are her mystery quilts.

You can so do this block from Bonne’s instructions, there are excellent. I’ll list how I did my block and some tips along the way that I found useful, okay?

I am still using my stash for these blocks. Here is what I picked out….

TIP #1: When using a variety of lights for a scrappy background, I like to stick to all same-color family fabrics within one block. For instance, all white-based for one block and then cream-based for another. The quilt will still sparkle once all the blocks are laid out for the quilt top, and each block will be able to stand alone, too).

What I like about this block is that it takes a simple log cabin style block and steps it up a bit. Looks like the beginnings of a Courthouse Steps block, doesn’t it? Here is mine in that stage…

TIP #2: when adding the corner squares, remember to sew that extra seam about 3/8” (or a presser’s foot width) away from the first seam so you can save fabric and gain an extra half-square triangle (HST) to use later in our quilt top. Bonnie notes this in her directions (and I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember). You can also use the 5/8” sewing guide line marked on your sewing machine’s presser foot plate. Simply line up seam #1 with the 5/8” sewing guide and sew along. Remember we did this already in a few of our quilt along blocks?

When you get to the cutting off the corner part here’s another tip! TIP #3: Press these seams BEFORE cutting. This will help the block lay flat and the resulting cutting will be straighter – yay!

TIP #4: At the step where you’ve just added the last 4 strips to your block it should measure 12-1/2” square. Go ahead and make sure it is. Doing this now will help it end up being the right size after the last two corners are added.

Here is my finished June Pineapple Blossom Block! Yippee!!!!!

My block really is square – the photo makes it look a bit wonky {oopsie}.

Many thanks to Bonnie Hunter for allowing us to feature her block this month. And huge thanks to all of you for sewing with me ~ sew cannot wait to see your block! Be sure to post it in our cricketsstudio quilt alongs flickr group.

May Block Lotto block

2011-05-23T14:31:00.001-04:00

Finally had two seconds, well really, ten minutes, to sit down and sew up the May Block Lotto block. (If you haven’t yet found Block Lotto, check it out NOW).

The May block is a Bonnie Hunter design, Pineapple Blossom and was it ever fun!

We had to use two grays and two gold fabrics with WOW as the background. After fretting that I didn’t have any gray fabrics, I found two and was on a roll. I always make an extra block for a sampler quilt I’ll put together “someday”, and pick the best blocks to put into the Lotto pool. Only made two blocks this time around, so one block to put into Lotto and one to keep. Pretty much the same fabric layout, too.

What are you working on?

Local Shop Hop!

2011-05-21T08:12:00.001-04:00

Well, we are in the middle of a four-day local quilt store shop hop, and I am having a fun time! My little boy and I have visited five of the 11 shops on the shop hop list, and altho’ money is tight so purchases have to be slim, I am walking away a happy girl! Each shop is giving away a free pattern to a sampler quilt and a free fat quarter! There are raffles and a big grand prize drawing at the end for those who visit all 11 shops. That I cannot do, one is simply too far away and my kid’s schedule is nutty this weekend with girl scouts and softball games.

If you’re in the area, you’ve still got time to hop to some shops. Check out the info about the Ninth Annual Quilter’s Quest Shop Hop here.

What is really neat is finding stores in our area (it’s about an hour drive to the farthest shops), that I never knew about! A brand new one just opened and it is fabulous. It’s called The Joyful Quilter and they are also online. Check them out – they rock! Seeing all the new fabric lines in person is also a plus. I like seeing them online, but in person I can TOUCH them! You all know what I’m talking about {wink}. Being in the company of others with our obsession is also so motivating and inspiring.

I am hoping to sneak in a few more today after our mother/daughter girl scout brunch, and maybe one before my DD’s softball game tomorrow afternoon ~ a quilter’s got to do what a quilter’s got to do, right?

Enjoy your weekend!

Tips & Tricks ~ May 2011

2011-05-01T03:35:00.001-04:00

Wow – it’s time for our May Tips & Tricks block! We’ve had a super rainy April and I am so ready for May flowers (plus, it’s my birthday month, so extra celebrating!) While it rains here, let’s sew up a fun block that we can play with…really, we’ll be playing with it!
First, let’s recap what we’ve already done during the first four months of 2011…
Four 12” blocks

and two bonus 6” blocks

Mine are wonderfully scrappy, just love it.
May brings us the Playful Chevron block (my own name…you’ll see why soon {wink}). For this block you’ll need to pull from your stash:

Lights: You can pull all one fabric, or a variety of lights – 16 each 3-1/2” squares
Mediums: Again, use all one fabric, fabric colorway (which is what I am doing) or a variety of colors as long as they all read medium when compared to the lights and darks – 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles
Darks: Same as medium above, but remember to make sure these fabrics read dark when compared to the lights and mediums you’re using – 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles.

We’re not learning any new techniques this month, but we will be reinforcing the flip & sew method we learned in January. It is so common in piecing that it’s almost a new basic in our art form. Always good to practice! Find the original post in the January Tips & Tricks posting for all the details. Don’t forget to sew an extra seam line to get that bonus HST from each flip and sew corner!
First, mark your sewing line on the back of all 16 light squares. Divide in to two groups of 8 each.
Next, let’s get out the dark rectangles and 8 of the light squares. TIP #1: Direction is super important when creating units for a chevron pattern. Read through the directions and then read through them again! Place a light square right sides together on the left corner of a dark rectangle – make sure the sewing line is going from the top left to the bottom right. See mine below:

Prep all four in the same way, chain sew them (TIP #2: chain sewing saves a TON of thread and time), trim and press the corner out.

Now, take these units, and we’ll add another light square to them. Place a light square right sides together on the right corner of a dark rectangle – with the sewing line is going from the top left to the bottom right again – it needs to be in the SAME direction as the first. It’s easy to turn it to go the other way if you’re thinking flying geese. Resist the urge to make geese – we’re making chevrons today! Chain piece, trim, press…

Let’s work on the medium rectangles now. Pull out the 4 medium rectangles and remaining 8 light squares.
Place a light square right sides together on the left corner of a medium rectangle. NOTE – the sewing line is now going the opposite way! Make sure the sewing line is going from the bottom left to the top right. TIP #3: Double-check your sewing line placement! Can’t tell you how many times I haven’t double-checked only to be pulling out my trusting seam ripper – ugh. See mine below:

Chain sew all four units, trim and press as above.

Repeat with the last 4 squares on the opposite corner, remember the sewing line goes from bottom left to the top right. Chain piece, trim and press…

You now have 8 fun rectangle units! Pair a medium and a dark as I have done below – a “v'” forms.
Place the dark unit right sides together on top of the medium unit. Repeat with the other pairs and chain piece. Press the seams open.

Now the fun begins (can you hear the party music playing?) A traditional chevron pattern looks like Charlie Brown’s shirt…

But, since it’s playtime, you can arrange your pieced square units ANY WAY YOU WANT within a four-patch layout! Here are some ideas:


I’ll be going with the Charlie Brown layout….I just love the Peanuts!

When you decide, simply sew your squares and then rows together, remember to press your seams so they nest easily. Keep an eye on those “v” points, too!
And our fifth 12” block is done!!! Please post your blocks in the Tips & Tricks photo album (or my crickets studio blog flickr group) and show off your block! Can’t wait to see all the fun Playful Chevrons.
Oh, and I’ve been playing around with a layout for our blocks and trying to whip up a way to use those extra HST units we’ve made and are saving….have some ideas, but you’ll have to stay tuned….
Thanks for ~~playing~~ sewing with me today!

©2011, Carrie Graziano, crickets studio

Just One Star

2011-04-29T09:25:00.001-04:00

…in the nick of time!

Just mailed these two blocks off to Moda Fabrics for their Just One Star Project. They are due May 1st, so I just got them in under the wire.

Now off to my Scrapbooking Weekend Getaway in Massachusetts. Love organizing these retreats so we can get out of town for a few days, celebrate our memories and connect with friends!

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T15:39:00.000-04:00

Hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful family day together today.

Here are my two bunnies on our way to church this morning.

Give someone bunny hugs today.

Tips & Tricks ~ April BONUS BLOCK 2011

2011-04-15T05:10:00.000-04:00

We’ll be sewing at least six 6” bonus blocks during our fun quilt along. They’ll pop up here and there during the year. In March we pieced a Friendship Star, one of my all time favorite block patterns. I thought since our April block was sew much fun, I’d throw you another bonus block – yippee!

I’m hoping the bonus blocks will build on the skills and tips we’ve already covered in past tutes, so the tips and instruction here will be light. The bonus for April is the Spool Block. You only need TWO fabrics for this block – I know, call me crazy! As usual, I pulled from my stash.

Lights: 2 each 2 1/2” x 6 1/2” rectangles
Medium or Dark: 1 each 2 1/2” x 6 1/2” rectangle and 4 each 2 1/2” squares

Here are mine

Make the side units using the flip and sew method as described in our Tips & Tricks January posting. Take the light rectangles and piece the 2 1/2” squares and sew them onto each side…using the lines drawn on the back as your sewing line. See below:

Don’t forget, I like to sew an additional seam to create an extra HST – look in the photo below….

Cut between seams and press.

Sew these end pieces to the remaining dark rectangle – here’s how I laid out my block.

And my completed block – measures at 6 1/2” UNfinished.

Our 2nd bonus block is completed – cool! Please post your blocks in the Tips & Tricks photo album (or my crickets studio blog flickr group) and show off your blocks!

Can’t wait to see your blocks!

Quilting bee blocks done!

2011-04-13T10:17:00.001-04:00

And with them, the bee is complete (I think). Still have to check on that {grin}.

For the very first time throughout this year long online quilting bee, I was late. It was so weighing on me. So, even tho’ I still have a ton of work to do on the round robin top (that yes, I am also late on by a few days now), I took a break from crazy patches and made my online bee buddy Kristin her two blocks.

Here they are:

Kristin asked us to make 10” blocks based on the Mod Mosaic Floor Pillow tute on the Oh Fransson! blog. I got them pieced so fast – it was fun and easy. My kind of block, well, not really as I tend to lean away from modern and more toward traditional, but you get the idea.

So, I have to now get back to the round robin top. As much fun as it’s been working on these tops since August, this for me, is the most tedious round. I am working in colors I don’t really prefer as pretty as they are, and it right now just feels like “block after block” of the same thing. That’s why samplers appeal to me, different blocks every time! So not a gal who makes 120 of the same block – need more excitement {smile}. I have 13 blocks left to paper-piece (out of a total of 36), then I’ll need to sew them into borders and then onto the quilt top. No where near where I needed to be. Photo coming when I make more progress! (I have also rec’d my own top back, but I am not peeking at it. Not fair to enjoy it when I haven’t yet completed my commitment yet). Photo of that will come soon, too!

Between tax season and my bronchitis that just won’t quit, I am so behind!

Can’t wait to be caught up again…

She’s seven today

2011-04-07T08:51:00.000-04:00

…and it’s so bittersweet.

I am so proud of the young lady she is becoming, yet I long for the baby she was not too long along.

My oldest is seven years old today.

Seven years of the best girl in the world, yup, I am so biased!

I was feeling kind of empty and blue last night after the kids went to sleep, so I threw myself into a new project. I took these from my card-making supplies:

And some of these I got at the dollar store, a pack of seven for $1…

And made these for the birthday girl!

Lots of buttons, flowers and rhinestones I rarely use for cards given new life on custom headbands. Of course I made one to perfectly match her birthday outfit, until she changed her mind and wore something else! Instead, she wore TWO headbands to school – too cute.

I also wrapped her presents

And made her a cake – which has to be the most absolute ugliest cakes ever, but she’ll love it. Pink and purple are her faves right now and she really prefers me to make her cakes. No store bought ones for her!

This morning she awoke to a room full of balloons (no picture of her super messy room) and pancakes with a candle. The darling girl even sang to herself as we sang to her!

Making a super special “I am seven now” wish…

Here she is – my wonderful seven year old fabulous girl –

Happy Birthday to the BEST GIRL EVER!

Tips & Tricks ~ April 2011

2011-04-01T08:59:00.000-04:00

**REPOSTING** Blogger and I have had some issues this month and my original post was deleted….ugh! So, I am reposting it in hopes it stays this time!

Happy April! Have you had any April showers, yet? Believe it or not, here in New York, we are getting a big Nor'easter as I type this – crazy, huh?

Sew, it’s April, and a new month brings us a new Tips & Tricks block, yay! Honesty is important, sew I’ll let ya know, I am a bit under the weather as I put this tute together for you. Here is my disclaimer: the cold medicine I’m taking may result in wonky instructions. If you find such wonkiness, just let me know and I’ll fix it. Thanks for your understanding {hugs}.

Our block this month is called “A Dandy” and I found it on here on Quilter’s Cache. Instead of the patriotic colors they used, I went for more of a traditional scrappy look, again, pulling fabrics from my stash.

Let’s pull out some fabrics:

· Lights: 4 each 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangles, 2 each 5” squares and 1 each 4 1/2” square

· Medium (my red): 4 each 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangles

· Dark (my greens): 8 each 2 1/2” squares and 2 each 5” squares

Take out the 5” squares and as described in the March T&T block posting, make four half square triangles (HSTs). Briefly, mark your sewing lines of the back of the light squares

Match up the light squares with the dark squares, right sides together

Sew on the sewing lines,

cut apart along point to point and press.

I press toward the dark fabric.

Trim up to 4 1/2” square. Set aside.

Have you sewn flying geese before? I actually have used a fancy new fun method, and then due to this silly bronchitis, promptly forgot to do it when making my block! Sew, that method will will wait a bit. Today, I am making flying geese using the flip and sew technique I showed you in the January T&T block posting. Pull out your 8 2/12” dark squares and the 4 medium rectangles.

First, mark the backs of all the squares from point to point as shown. This is your sewing line.

Place this square, right side down, onto a rectangle as shown

Sew a scant thread line next to the drawn line. That’ll give you some wiggle room when you fold over the resulting triangle.

Before removing the unit from your machine, swing it around and sew another seam 5/8” away toward the outside from the first seam.

This is what you should have….

Trim 1/4” away from the first seam line and viola!

Instead of wasting that corner of fabric, you now have an cute little extra HST to use somewhere else in our quilt top. Save it and we’ll see where we can put it later. Next, press your medium fabric outward as shown:

Repeat this now of the other side of the rectangle

Once pressed open, you have a flying geese unit. It should measure 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”. Repeat to make three more.

Layout these flying geese with the light rectangles.

I pressed toward the light fabric to reduce bulk. Trim to 4 1/2” square.

Layout your block

I pieced mine by working in rows first, then putting the rows together. Of course, I have some tips for this.

Turn over the unit that contains the flying geese. See where the “x” forms at the top and sides of the triangle? That’s an important intersection.

When you’re piecing this unit to another, make sure your seams is just a threads width away from that intersection, toward to outside edge.

Most directions call for this seam to go right thru this “X” perfectly in the center, but I find that the treads width away gives me just the right amount of space needed to get the perfect point once the seam is pressed. See my nice point below?

Sew, piece your rows and then your rows into a 12 1/2” unfinished block.Here’s is mine:

And here are my extra HSTs ready to trim and stash away for when I’m ready to put them into the quilt top.

Woo hoo – block #4 is done!!! Please post your blocks in the Tips & Tricks photo album (or my crickets studio blog flickr group) and show off your blocks! Also, watch for a another 6” bonus block mid-month….

Oops – just saw that I didn’t separate out all my tips for you – they are in there, I promise! Kinda like when we hide veggies in our meals to fool the kids – they get ‘em, they just don’t know it!

Thanks for sewing with me!

Tips & Tricks ~ Bonus Block for March!

2011-03-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

Ready for a fun bonus block? I thought it might be fun to piece some 6” finished blocks to use in our quilt top. 6” blocks are so versatile – you can put 4 together as a 4-patch to make a 12” block, you can also use them as setting blocks. Right now my plan is to use them as setting blocks which would mean we’d need eight in total by December. The choice is all yours…there will be 7 more bonus 6” blocks during this quilt along for you!

Since this is a bonus block, the tutorial will be here, without so many tips along the way. This is meant to be fast and fun!

So, the first 6” block is my favorite, the Friendship Star. At the beginning of the month we learned about HSTs right? Here’s the post. This is where you can put them into another block!

Please read thru the directions to the end first, and then start your block. (Getting sick of me saying that yet?)

Pick out your fabrics – here is what I used:

Lights – cut 4 each 2 1/2” squares AND cut 2 each 3” squares
Medium or Dark – cut 1 each 2 1/2” square AND cut 2 each 3” squares

Cut to size…

At the start of this month we learned how to make a half-square triangle HST. See this post for that information.

Make 4 HSTs using the 3” squares of light and dark fabrics – you will end up with 4 HSTs that measure 2 1/2” square. Here are my photos of how I did it (detailed directions are in the earlier post)

…pressing seams away from the HST toward the square…

Layout your block….

Piece your rows first….

And then each row to one another…

Square to 6 1/2” and….

…you’re done! You’ve completed a Friendship Star block!

See you again soon!

Tips & Tricks ~ March 2011

2011-03-08T19:34:00.001-05:00

This was originally posted March 1st, but somehow it was deleted by Blogger on March 8th. I am reposting tonight – sorry for any inconvenience!

Yay – it’s March and we’re up to block #3 in our quilt along. How are you doing so far? This month we’ll chat about two basics in piecing – the 4-patch unit and the half-square triangle (HST) unit.

Our second block is Buckeye Beauty. Fun, scrappy simple block that looks spectacular in a quilt top. Pop over to Quilter’s Cache’s block and see the scrappy goodness they put together. NOTE: I modified these directions for the quilt along, so don’t try to follow those from Quilter’s Cache. They’re fine, but different than mine, ‘kay?

Please read thru the directions to the end first, and then start your block.

Pick out your fabrics (remember, I am pulling from my stash) – here is what I used:

Lights – from 4 lights cut 1 each 3 1/2” square (I used leftover charm squares) AND cut 2 each 7” squares
Darks – from 4 darks cut 1 each 3 1/2” square (I used leftover charm squares) AND from 2 darks cut 1 each 7” squares

Cut to size…

Last month we did speed strip piecing, this month we’re not. We’ll be constructing the 4-patch the traditional way. TIP #1: This one seems so obvious, but when you’re working with lots of fabric pieces, it comes in handy. When you’re piecing squares together for four- or nine-patch blocks, always place the same fabric shade (light, medium, or dark) on top – I always put the dark fabric on top and then sew the seam. This helps keep me organized when doing large projects, and it seems there is always a dark fabric in just about everything I piece.

TIP #2: Chain piecing uses less thread and is very speedy! I may have already used this tip, but it’s a good reminder {wink}.

See? Dark fabric on top, and I’m chain piecing.

Press to the dark fabric. TIP #3: Yup, used this tip last month, but it’s a goodie…Measure across your unit now. Does it measure 6 ½” x 3 ½” ? If not, your ¼” seam just isn’t right. Try again. If you don’t get it right now, the whole block will be off.

Now sew your units into 4-patches as I’ve shown above. Your seams should be opposing, making it super easy to match them.

Ta da! Two lovely 4-patches. These beauties should measure 6 ½” square and will be two of the four corners you need for your block.

Next, we’ll piece the half-square triangles. TIP #4: Everywhere you’ll see the abbreviation HST. That stands for Half-Square Triangle and is pretty commonplace nowadays in the quilting world. Many designers use it without explaining it – kinda like we all know that when you ask for a Kleenex you’ll be handed a facial tissue.

Now, confession time…I really use to struggle with these little babies. I didn’t realize it, because when it comes to worrying about bias edges and all that, I’m pretty relaxed. There is the traditional way to piece HSTs which involves cutting a square and then cutting that square into triangles, thus exposing the bias edge (the long stretchy edge). When you sew two bias edges together you run the BIG risk of stretching them and getting a wonky HST.

About a year ago, I was introduced to a wonderful ruler that simplified the process, and in using it I’ve been successful in all of my HSTs. They can be done without this ruler of course, but TIP #5 states “if you find something that works, use it!

Here is the ruler – it’s the June Taylor Perfect Half-Square & Quarter-Square Triangle Ruler (yup, it helps you do both!) Your local quilt store, Jo-Ann’s, and Wal-Mart may all carry it. I asked my quilt store to order it in for me, and they showed me how to use it, bonus!

I’ll show you how I make my HSTs with this tool, but also talk about how to make them without it. Sound okay?

First, place a 7” light square right side down on your cutting mat. Place the ruler over that lining up the marking from top corner to bottom corner. Using your pencil, follow the openings and mark 1/4” away from the center point. (Without this tool, use a 6”x12” cutting ruler. Mark a center line from top to bottom corner. Then mark lines on either side of that 1/4” away). TIP #6: Placing the fabric on your cutting mat helps prevent it from shifting under the pencil as you draw your lines.

These are your sewing lines (you’ll sew right on top of them).

Place this light fabric together with a dark 7” square right sides together and sew along your sewing lines. I have a 1/4” foot in which I can use the notch as a guide for a straight seam. Do this for both dark/light 7” squares. (Yes, I know this break my “sew with the dark on top” rule…only because we have to see the lines).

Now, place the right side of the ruler on top of the sewn sandwich. Line up the sewing lines with the dashed lines on the ruler. Use the cutting channel to cut the square in half. (Without this tool, place your 6”x12” cutting ruler from top to bottom corner and cut from point to point.)

Press open to the dark fabric. You’ll end up with FOUR HSTs – set two aside. We’ll use them another time. You only need TWO HSTs for this block.

We cut these units a bit large, so we could then square them to size. Again, using the nifty tool, place it on top of one of your HSTs.

See all those grid-like cutting channels? They’ll help square up your unit. Line up the ruler along the 45 degree line matching it to your HST. Cut along the 6 1/2” cutting channels on both the right and left. Lift the ruler, rotate the block a quarter turn and repeat. You now have perfect 6 1/2” HST units – wow! (Without this tool, I honestly am not sure how to use my cutting ruler to square HSTs…I bet you’d just use the 45 degree line of that ruler in much the same way?)

Layout your block – notice that it’s a 4-patch, too?

Piece the block just like you would a traditional 4-patch block. I piece the rows first, pressing the seams opposite each other so they line up pretty and nice when I piece the rows together to form the block.

Here is my finished block – squared up to 12-1/2” unfinished.

Now, want tips on how I squared it up? Here you go…

TIP #7:Place your 12”x12” ruler on top of your block, on your cutting mat. Now, this is where you need to be precise….look at the photo below:

See that I have lined up the center seam of my block on the 6 1/4” line? Half of a 12 1/2” unfinished block is 6 1/4”, so that’s where my ruler should be. Do this vertically and horizontally. I cut the right and top edges, turn the block, realign and cut the remaining two edges. Done!

Woo hoo – block #3 is done!!! Please post your blocks in the Tips & Tricks photo album (or my crickets studio blog flickr group) and show off your blocks! Also, watch for a bonus block mid-month….

‘til then,

**Please note that I don’t receive compensation of any kind for recommending this ruler. I just really love it and wanted to share my find with all of you!

So excited!

2011-03-06T10:33:00.001-05:00

I finally figured out the final borders for my Patchwork Posse Round Robin top – woo hoo!

My daughter would like this for her twin bed, but it wasn’t long enough, and I am so not an expert on measurements (I am more of a “if it looks good, keep it” gal).

I’ve decided to add a solid-ish 2” or so border top and bottom to buffer the final row of blocks. The block pattern I found in one of the online group I mod. It was a recent swap and perfect to add to my quilt top. It’s called a Happy Block. Since this quilt top was made entirely from my fabric stash, these blocks will be fast to make up. Nine each top and bottom should fit perfectly. It’ll be a nice balance to the sides, too.

Feels good to have a plan!

Chance to win a GO! Baby!!!!

2011-03-04T22:30:00.001-05:00

Jodi over at Pleasant Home has awesome news, and to celebrate she is giving away an AccuCut GO! Baby Cutter with stuff! Go here to enter, but hurry – you only have until midnight PST!!!

To buy or not to buy…

2011-02-27T19:28:00.001-05:00

…Well, it didn’t take me long to answer that question! I found myself in my LQS yesterday with two children that were quiet (one was napping in his stroller, the other playing with legos the store had in their kid corner). I was there to pick up the December month of a BOM program, one for which I’d already pre-paid. Tho’t I’d run in and out, no money leaving my pocketbook and then I saw it.

And I had to have it. I told myself, “It’ll match the fabric you resurrected from 1996. Yup, that fabric you’re using in a bi-weekly block program, and that you’re worried about running out of…really, this is only to help you finish that project.”

Yeah, I don’t think so. That was a pretty lame excuse – the colors are not even close! I just ~~wanted~~ needed to come home with this beautiful layer cake.

And so I did.

And it’s all mine {silly grin}.

Round Robin – last border added, or is it?

2011-02-21T21:18:00.000-05:00

Whew – finally found time over the weekend to work on the last two borders for the Patchwork Posse Round Robin. Yay!!!! Becky, the Posse Boss over at Patchwork Posse designed this last round herself, and it’s perfect. It’s a flower garden to finish off our whimsical fun flowery quilt top.

Here are some more close-ups….

I used only fabric from my stash, did a bit of hand embroidery, machine and hand appliqué, and lots of piecing {wink}.

Here is the top with all it’s pieced borders…

My daughter now wants this for her bedcover, sewwww, I may add another top and bottom border to make it cover her twin bed. It doesn’t have to be the perfect twin bedcover size, just enough to make it look proportionally okay.

I took a leap of faith in starting this round robin as whimsy is so not my style, and I was rewarded big-time! Not only did I get the chance to design for this round robin, but also I have ended up with a beautiful quilt top with no monetary investment. Still am pinching myself that this already 60” x 66” top came from my hands and the minds of some awesome designers!

SBS Round Robin Progress

2011-02-16T12:01:00.000-05:00

I am part of a round robin (where we actually work on each other’s quilt tops and mail them around) – we started back in August 2010 and we only have one round to go – woo hoo!

This round robin is only “part” a true round robin., Yes, we are working on adding borders to each others quilt tops, and then mailing them to the next quilter on the list to then add her own border. Where it’s a bit different is that we’re all working on the same quilt top pattern using our own fabrics and colorways. In a true round robin, we’d each design and add our own borders to the quilt tops, each one unique to the quilt top itself.

We are working on the cover quilt from the Elm Creek Quilts book by Jennifer Chiaverini and Nancy Odom. Honestly, it’s not a quilt I would’ve ever tackled on my own. It’s beautiful, but a bit overwhelming for me personally. The gals in the online quilting group enticed and persuaded me, and it’s a super fun project. So glad I’m doing it. Something about working on someone else’s quilt…easier to do for another than for ourselves perhaps?

So, I just finished up the fourth of five rounds. It’s a half mariner’s compass border. Here is what I’ve done on Kathy T’s quilt top:

It’s out in the mail today to the next quilter for the final round, a crazy patch paper-pieced border. I am iching to see my quilt top – no one has posted a photo of it in our group since round three….it’ll be a special surprise when it shows up on my doorstep in March!

Now, have you read any books by Jennifer Chiaverini? Why not? They are seriously fabulous and addictive! She has an entire Elm Creek Quilts series of novels, and a bunch of quilt instruction books, too. Her web site is here. Her latest book The Union Quilters is out this month! So cannot wait to get my copy – you won’t see me for about a day and a half while I read it cover to cover!

Let me know what you think of Jennifer’s books – and if you’ve never read one, head over to her website right now! (Jennifer hasn’t a clue I’m posting about her and her books, I just really REALLY like them! Plus, she is a super sweet lady, too.)

Falling behind….

2011-02-15T10:03:00.001-05:00

….but I am trying really hard to catch up! Not sure if I’m coming or going, just going, going, GOING right now!

Hope you all enjoyed a loveable Valentine’s Day yesterday. I spent it with my kids and then a semi-romantic dinner with my husband. This time of year (tax season), semi-romantic means:

Home from work on time, relatively

Dinner together, alone (kids were playing in the big sister’s room)

10 minutes of adult chatting before the “when can we come out?” question came from the bedroom…

Even with me filling the house with smoke from broiling the steaks and exploding butter all over my microwave (for the lobster tails), the dinner turned out great!

More soon…

Blockapalooza Blocks #2 and #3

2011-02-02T08:46:00.000-05:00

Took ALL day, but block #3 is done

Still using Park Avenue, but it looks a wee bit different from block 1 and block 2 below.

Once we do more I am sure this one will fit right in. It’s so much fun seeing a quilt unfold block by block. Check out the Blogger’s Blockapalooza 2011 – you’ll be happy that you did!

I love a mystery!

Sew much fun!

2011-02-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

This new mystery quilt just started and it’s been so cool already! See my first block here.

Dorinda’s 2011 Mystery only started January 1st, and we already have 2 blocks done. Today, the third rule was released today and I can’t wait to get started (after my “chores” of course!)

Here is my block #2

The rules stated that it had to measure 12x8 finished, include a hexagon somewhere and relate the theme of our quilt in a rectangle. My theme is
“scrappy anything” as an excuse to use up my scrap stash. I feel so guilty sometimes buying new fabric that I thought it was about time I did something with my scraps. Isn’t it funny that from a pile of disorganized bits and pieces (really, nothing bigger than 3” strip length, 3” square or sew) that I’ll end up with an actual quilt? Like found fabric if you ask me!

The hexagon star is a paper pieced pattern I came across by accident surfing for free patterns. The neutral strips were added around that log cabin style and then trimmed to form the rectangle. These strips are leftover from a shower curtain project back in 2004.

Here are my blocks sewn together

Fun, huh? And to think all the fabrics came out of my scrap pile.

What do you do with your scraps?

Celebrating a wintery day

2011-01-29T19:37:00.001-05:00

Whoa, we have had ALOT of snow in the great Northeast this winter. It all started on December 27 and it we’ve had an average of 2 storm storms a week since. And I don’t mean light flurries, dusty snow that you can simply sweep off the porch, oh no! Inches and feet of the white stuff. The week after holiday vacation, my daughter only had school one full day due to all the storms. And let’s not forget the ice storm that hit the afternoon after a morning of 6” of snow fell! Crunchy snow isn’t so fun. And since that we’ve had two more snow storms to add more on top of the slippery crunchiness. Icicles abound now as the temps have finally risen above 4 degrees and the ice on our roof is melting.

Now, I am not really complaining, really. Have I’ve been going a little nutty? Yup. Going a little stir-crazy? You betcha! But, we’ve had a ball outside playing when we can. When I start getting persnickety about the weather, I sew, play games with the kiddies or scrap. These things always make me smile.

Here’s a bit of digital scrapping I did to remind me that snow isn't all that bad…

These are shots I took in our yard the day after the big Christmas blizzard that literally stalled transportation and closed business & schools in the Northeast for days. Look at these photos. The pure joy in my kid’s faces is what is truly important.

You know what their favorite part of the day was? Lying in the winter snow lazily gazing up at the beautiful sky filled with white puffy clouds. It is the most still I think I’ve ever seen them.

Honest beauty.

Is the snow really that bad?

Not at all.

Tips & Tricks ~ February 2011

2011-01-28T05:29:00.000-05:00

Here we are at block #2. And yup, I’m posting it EARLY! I know, you love me! How did you do with our January block? If it’s all done, be sure to post it in our photo album. More on that at the end…

Our second block is the Antique Tile. This was such a super fun and fast block to piece using strips. Please read thru the directions to the end first, and then start your block.

Ready……set……go!

Pick out your fabrics (remember, I am pulling from my scrap stash) – here is what I used:

Light scrap – cut one 2 ½” x 19” strip
Medium scraps – cut one 2 ½” x 11” strip AND one 2 ½” x 19” strip AND one 4 ½” square
Dark scraps – one 2 ½” x 11” strip AND one 2 ½” x 19” strip.

Cut to size…

Traditionally, all of the pieces of this block are cut to size and pieced individually. Not only does that take a lot of time, accuracy may suffer because of all of the seam sewing starts & stops. TIP #1: We’ll be making this block using strip piecing. We’ll sew the strips together and then cut them into the segments we need to make the block. This will help the accuracy and reduce piecing errors. Cool huh?

First, let’s sew the dark and medium 11” strips together with the dark strip in the bottom position.

TIP #2: Place the two strips right sides together and press. This will help the strips stay together and not shift while sewing.

Press to the dark fabric. TIP #3: Measure across your strip set now. Does it measure 4 ½”? If not, your ¼” seam just isn’t right. Try again. My seam ripper and I are best buds! If you don’t get it right now, the whole block will be off.

Cross-cut into four 2 ½” segments.

Next, we’ll chain sew these segments onto the 19” medium strip. Watch carefully, another tip is coming up! Lay the 19” medium strip right side UP on your sewing machine. Place a segment right side DOWN on it leading with the medium square Sew 1/4” seam and - - - - - - > wait - - - - >

- - - –> leaving the medium strip in your machine, place another segment right side DOWN onto it leading again with the medium square…see the photo below….leave a small space between segments. TIP #4: this kind of chain piecing makes for faster more accurate piecing, and saves on thread, too!

Repeat with the remaining 2 segments this time leading with the DARK square. So, 2 segments start with the medium square at the top and 2 stop with the dark square at the top. This is what it looks like just out of your machine:

Cut apart ensuring your unit are 4 1/2” wide.

Press open with seams to the medium strip. These should measure 4 1/2” square. Set aside.

Time to strip piece the other units of our block. Place the light and dark 19” strips rights sides together and as we did before, press them together before heading to your sewing machine to reduce the chance of shifting. These strips are long! Sew and press seam to the darker side. Cross cut into 4 1/2” segments.

Now layout your block! Doesn’t it look wonderful?

Piece the block just like you would a traditional 9 patch block. I piece the rows first, pressing the seams opposite each other so they line up pretty and nice when I piece the rows together.

Here is my finished block – squared up to 12-1/2” unfinished.

Yay – block #2 is done!!! Can’t wait to see yours. Please post your blocks in the crickets studio blog flickr group and show off your blocks!

‘til next month,

PDF file can be found HERE.

A surprise tomorrow…

2011-01-27T14:17:00.001-05:00

….so check back bright and early!

{grinning from ear to ear!}

Yup, another quilty quilt along mystery of sorts

2011-01-26T12:52:00.001-05:00

It’s not really a quilt along.

It’s not a round robin.

It is based on rules we all made up, and techniques we wanted to try.

What is it?

It’s Dorinda’s 2011 Mystery!

And here is my first block in the mystery

And no two quilts will be alike as everyone involved is making up the rules and challenging each other.

Check out the Dorinda’s 2011 Mystery blog and here’s my first block post….read it. It’s kinda funny {grin}.

Quilt Alongs Update

2011-01-25T14:25:00.001-05:00

Yay – block 7 of the Layer Cake Quilt Along with Moose on the Porch Quilts is done! This one is designed by Celine Perkins from Perkins Dry Goods. Check out her blog here. Just finished it moments ago.

The more I look at it, the more I like it. The orangey fabric stands out a little more than I’d like, but that’s okay. Once it gets into the quilt top with the other blocks, it’ll be hunky dory. Still using Fandango by Kate Spain for Moda.

And, I started another quilt along today (I know, I am so addicted to them). This one is the Blogger’s Blockapalooza 2011 over at Quilt Dad. This is a super fast paced quilt along and I only hope i can keep up! Two 12” blocks a week – yup, TWO! Can you stand it????

Here is the first block designed by Quilt Dad himself John Cary.

I’m using Park Avenue by 3 Sisters for Moda. I had a fat eighth bundle so I dug right into it this morning. Super fun block to put together! I’ll most likely need to add some Moda Bella solids as we go along…still trying to figure out which ones will coordinate the best. Any thoughts?

Working on some scrapbooking stuff today, too– cool 20% off sale at Creative Memories only until Jan 31st. Get 20% off any size or color album coversets, pages and page protectors. Even 20% off hardcover digital storybooks! They’ve never ever done a sale this huge. Pop over here to check it out. I am so stocking up!

Laundry is a’calling me so I’d better put my ole’ homemaker hat back on. Will be playing with fabric scraps a little later tonight after naps, homework, grocery shopping, laundry and bedtime…thinking about working up the blockapalooza block above in a scrappy version. Pop back to see if I get it done {wink}.

It’s up – wow!

2011-01-24T11:48:00.001-05:00

Yup, my border design for the Patchwork Posse Round Robin has been posted on Becky’s blog – yippee!!! Check it out here.

And here is my quilt top with MY side border design (look on the right & left outer sides) -

Sew, you like?

The butterflies were for my daughter and are cut from “crazy patches” as I call them. I tho’t they tied into the center design pretty nicely. The crazy patching was oodles of fun, too. A solid border was really needed here, and it also need to be able to be adjusted to fit everyone’s tops as they can get pretty varied as the borders are added.

And my favorite part? I got to use up TONS and TONS of scraps and pieces of trimmed blocks I made when adding the other 6 borders! Waste not want not, right?

This border is also adaptable to any project. It could be an accent on an apron, pillow….lots of quilty things.

I love this quilt top – looking at it makes me all melty. I see fabrics from my kids baby quilts, holiday stockings I’ve made for family, the leaves were added to remind me of my daughter's penchant for leaf collecting last fall….such a keepsake. It’ll hang in my children’s room when it’s completed.

Birthday giveaway….

2011-01-22T23:21:00.001-05:00

Nope, not my birthday, but a fellow fun blogger! KarrieLyne over at Freckled Whimsy is celebrating a year of her blog. She has three awesome giveaways, but you have to act fast! Click here to go right to the giveaway post.

KarrieLyne always has really wonderful tips and very cool projects. Her blog is absolutely worth a look! Pop back here an let me know what you think!

Costumes?

2011-01-20T06:01:00.000-05:00

Really? Yup, if you daughter is in an elementary school Lip Sync concert that is.

My sweetie and two of her girlfriends are lip syncing and dancing to Cupid’s Shuffle on Friday night (hopefully the snowstorm won’t delay it) at her school. It’s such a BIG DEAL and altho’ she’s only in first grade, you’d think it was the most important thing EV-ER.

So, as the ‘parent in charge’ of this dynamic group, I talked to the girls about their costumes.

So I asked, “What colors do you girls like?”

“Black and white,” said in unison. (Ah, they talked about this ahead of time….)

“Okay,” I say, “Black and white is very good. How about a color?”

B. chimes in, “No pink. We just don’t like pink ANYMORE!” S. concurs, “Yeah, no pink. Nobody likes pink.” My daughter softly adds, “I don’t like pink {since when?} but purple is my favorite color…”

B. and S. respond enthusiastically, “We LUUUVVV purple. Purple rocks. It is so cool!”

“Oh, and it has to sparkle. We just LUUUVVV sparkles!” Heads nodding all around.

Got it. Black and white outfits. Purple is the accent color. It has to sparkle. Who knew three first graders could be so definitive? The rest of the discussion went pretty much the same way and we ended up agreeing on decorated white t-shirts, poufy black skirts and black leggings. Oh, and they all have to SPARKLE.

Here are the t-shirts. I had the girls decorate the fronts the other day:

Hard to tell in the pic, but the rhinestones are stuck on with purple shimmer fabric paint. I did embellish the collar and sleeves with the same shimmer paint.

And one of the other moms gave me this cool easy idea…take this:

and this:

and a can of this:

and do this:

(Use your Cricut to cut out heavy cardstock letters. Place them on your prewashed shirt with no softener BTW and spray lightly with spray-on fabric paint. Remove the cardstock letters.)

I added more rhinestones for sparkle and viola! Personalized shirts for the concert. And they are SPARKLY all over!

I’ll post a picture of the completed ensemble soon. It’s going to be too adorable!

Getting dizzy going round and round

2011-01-19T05:44:00.000-05:00

Not really! The Patchwork Posse Round Robin is going great, and I recently finished up the sixth border set.

Here is my quilt top:

See the new top and bottom borders? Wonky striped blocks – too cool and super super easy. I got them on lickety-split (it just took me a few days to post this). Beth from EvaPaige Quilt Designs made up this round and I love it! Check out her BLOG and her WEBSITE. You’ll like what you see!

My borders debut on January 24th – that’s next Monday, my mom’s birthday. How neat. Check back to see what I’ve come up with – these borders are adaptable to most any quilt top.

Best laid plans

2011-01-18T12:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I made this block for the January Block Lotto. We are doing Bright Stacks.

And I actually made a second block, and well, decided to keep it. Well, not really. My brother’s step-children need (yup, need) quilts from their Aunt Carrie, and I’m thinking that a “bright stacks” quilt would be perfect for a little girl. (I also make matching Christmas stockings for my nieces and nephews, sooo….I think I have enough fabric for that too..better go check.

Only one block to enter for Block Lotto this month. The inspiration just hit me, and bam! An idea for little Dianna’s quilt was born!

Block 6 done!

2011-01-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

Woo hoo – half way done with the Layer Cake Quilt Along over at Moose on the Porch Quilts. Here is my block:

I am using Fandango by Moda, and am finding it a wee bit challenging. Don't get me wrong – the fabrics are amazingly gorgeous! But the fat quarter pack I am using is chock full of prints, large, small, medium and busy! For some “quieter” fabrics, I got some Kona solids and that has helped quite a bit, but still – finding balance within each block is tough for me.

Maybe it’s working with the modern type collections? I dunno, but it’s been fun trying!

So, here are all of my blocks to date (I apologize for the icky photography):

Whaddya think?

Sneaky me

2011-01-13T22:37:00.001-05:00

Here’s a quick sneaky peak at my round in the Patchwork Posse Round Robin. My borders, #7 in the round, debut on January 24th, but just for you….here is a little bit to whet your appetite….

That’s all I can give ya. Check over to the round robin on the 24th for more…

Round and round we go

2011-01-07T09:41:00.000-05:00

and it isn’t over yet!

Take a look – I’ve just added border number five to this beauty. It’s the cool leafy borders on the sides…didn’t they come out cute?

Hard to tell in this picture, but I did some hand embroidery for stems and veins to add a little something something.

At first, the leaves weren’t singing to me, but then I thought about it, and who this quilt is for, and I thought, “perfect'”! My wonderful girl collected leaves ALL AUTUMN LONG this year. Every single time she was outside she came in with like, one hundred leaves, to “save” because they were so pretty. What a fun way to remember her curiosity and awe.

Check out this round robin at Patchwork Posse. Only a few rounds to go, and I’m designing the last one (eek!) that comes out January 24th!

Need charms?

2011-01-06T16:10:00.001-05:00

Okay, I have never ever posted THREE times in one day, but this is really such a great deal! How could I not share?

If you are planning to follow my next quilt along that starts up in February, well, you need to know about the sale that Green Fairy Quilts is having RIGHT NOW!

The exact charm pack that I used for my quilt along top…Pure by Sweetwater for Moda…is on sale for 30% off! And I used three charm packs for my quilt top.

Here is a sneak peak at my quilt top….just to whet your appetite for all things quilty…

Of course, there are other cool items on sale, too – they are taking 30% off their most popular 2010 products – I’m pretty sure I saw an awesome price on some fat quarter packs in there, too… Love it!

Sale ends January 10th. What are you waiting for? Click over to Green Fairy Quilts and get yours now!

(Please know that I am sharing this only because it’s a fab deal. I am not in any way being compensated, just wanted to share the info with you all!)

Organizing Day #5 – a quick one!

2011-01-06T13:38:00.001-05:00

So, I just finished posting about Day #2, and decided to see what I missed over at A Bowl Full of Lemons. What did I do next? Skipped from Day #2 to Day #5: Under the Sink.

I knew since I had been forced to do this several months ago when our kitchen sink exploded (yes, you read right, EX.PLO.DED.) that I’d gotten a wee bit lazy in keeping it up.

Here it is before:

And now after – only a five minute redo, but I did throw some stuff away, and organize a bit more.

I have very old kitchen cabinets, like, really really old. So, installing cool organizers inside the doors won’t work here, but I did find some white baskets to corral my dust cloths and scrubby brush. It’s a tough are with the garbage disposal and pipe right there.

Done for the day, even if I am a couple of tasks behind. I’ll get there…how are you all doing?

Organizing Day #2 done!

2011-01-06T12:51:00.002-05:00

Actually, I did this yesterday – but I’m not organized enough to get it posted until today – ha!

So, Day #2’s task was to tackle to computer desk top. Sadly, my laptop sits a top my cutting/craft table in my dining room. And altho’ it’s a tiny area, it needed organizing!

Here is it before:

Look at that pile – ugh!

So, I took everything off and cleaned it up…

(Look at that shine!)

And this is how it looks now – so pretty and neat!

Going now to check out A Bowl Full of Lemons now for Day’s #3 and #4 assignments…or is it #5? Better go now and find out!

Layer Cake…

2011-01-05T05:24:00.000-05:00

block #5 done!

Not the best photo, but you get the idea.

Still time to join in – check it out here. Konda over at moose on a porch quilts has great designers lined up for this quilt along.

And yup, that me in the winner’s circle – I won a jelly roll for completing and posting my last block!

Very fun!

Organizing Day #1 done!

2011-01-04T09:09:00.001-05:00

I did it – a few days late, but I did it!

I cleaned out and organized a junky drawer – woo hoo!

Here is the before

After emptying everything out, (see EMPTY CLEAN DRAWER – yay!)

I realized that I actually owned and was incorrectly using an ORGANIZING BIN for this drawer!

Best laid plans, huh?

Anyway, I digress. Here is the organized and beautiful drawer – ta da!!!!

AND I started a box of Garage Sale items – I am feeling way ahead now {big silly grin}.

I am still behind on the challenges – yesterday’s was to clean the top of the computer desk, haven’t yet checked today’s assignment.

On time or not, I am finally organizing something!

Feels super good!

A bit late…

2011-01-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

…but at least I’m starting!

Just found this cool challenge over at A Bowl Full of Lemons.

21 days to getting organized?

How cool is that?

And Sundays off.

My kind of challenge.

Pop over to this awesome blog and join me!

And we have a subscription winner!

2011-01-02T05:36:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to “gill” – a blog reader who left this comment during The Quilt Pattern Magazine blog tour this month:

gill said...: I think this is a great idea! especially for us overseas readers!

I have sent your email information to the magazine who should be contacting you soon.

If you did not win a free subscription, pop on over to The Quilt Pattern Magazine’s web site and you may subscribe for only $13.99 for 12 issues – such a great deal!

Thanks to all of you who took the time to comment. Please come back and visit again – I love the company!

Tips & Tricks ~ January 2011

2011-01-01T17:36:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year and welcome to this crazy quilt along! I can’t wait to share some of my piecing and quilting tips with you all once a month. Some of you may already know these things and others will be hearing them for the first time. Either way, I hope to inspire you all, and share my love for quilting with you.

Grab the quilt along button on the right, too! Visit the Tips & Tricks Quilt Along page for missed posts during the year. All the links will be there.

All of the blocks will be completed with fabrics from my stash – so this will be a scrappy 12 blocks sampler when we’re all done. Honestly, I have no planned fabric, what you see each month is what you get. Think more about light, medium and dark values, and the scale of the print. Exact matching? That’s important to some quilters, but not the main thing here. I use the same color family, but not necessarily the same exact fabric, to unify my block and bring out the pattern. You can match fabrics exactly if you’d like.

Our first block is the Amish Diamond. This is great pattern to reinforce some ideas and introduce new ones. Please read thru the directions to the end first, and then start your block. Always good to get a feel for things before being any project.

Find the pattern at: http://quilterscache.com/A/AmishDiamondBlock.html. Now, since I am doing a scrappy block, I am using this pattern only as a guide for sizes.

Select your fabrics – this is what what I used:

Light scrap – cut one 6-1/2” square

Medium scraps – cut 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles

Dark scraps – cut 8 each 3-1/2” squares.

I know, I have a couple of blues that read medium instead of dark – I’ve decided to take a risk and see if they work. Bear with me {grin}.

The center unit is called a “square in a square”. Traditionally it is pieced using one square and 4 triangles. The triangles tend to stretch out of shape using this method as they have a bias edge. TIP #1: We’ll be making this unit using the “stitch & flip” method. Note: some quilters use a thinner weight thread for this method. Use whatever thread you like.

First, press 4 of your dark triangles in half from point to point to form triangles. Open back up. You’ll use the fold line as a sewing guide.

Next, position a creased square at one corner of the light 6-1/2” square. The crease line should run from top left to bottom right.

Sew on that line just a threads width to the OUTSIDE of the crease (TIP #2). Do this for 2 opposite corners.

TIP #3: Now, before you leave your machine, go back and sew again. This time we’re going to use up some fabric that usually gets discarded. Stitch again, this time stitch 5/8” away from your 1^st sewing line – toward the outside.

Go to your cutting mat and trim away the backs of the sewn folded triangles ¼” from the first sewing line. Do you see what else we have? We made an extra half square triangle! I plan to use these in the finished quilt top. These should measure 2-1/2” when squared up.

Repeat for the 2 remaining triangles/corners.

Now carefully press open your unit and square to 6-1/2”. TIP #4: Did you see how I placed my blue corners? The lighter ones are opposite the darker ones for balance.

The rest is simple piecing. Layout your block.

Piece together into rows. TIP #5: When sewing seams with points, stitch just a threads width above the “X” where the seams overlap. This should give just enough room for the point to lie nicely no matter what thread weight you use. Sorry, didn’t get a great photo of this…

TIP #6: Press the seams on each row opposite each other so they nest together when piecing the rows.

TIP #7: When pressing seams with a point, press AWAY from the point. That helps me keep my points nice a sharp. Small disclaimer: Have to say tho’ since we all sew differently and use different thread widths, try it and see if it works for you.

Here is my finished block – squared up to 12-1/2” unfinished.

Pretty good start to our year! Please post your blocks in the flickr group photo album and show off your blocks!

‘til next month,

As 2010 comes to and end….

2010-12-31T09:16:00.001-05:00

….be sure to pop back here tomorrow as 2011 begins!

Our Tips & Tricks Quilt Along starts tomorrow – yay!

Once a month you’ll make a 12” finished block with me using your fabric stash! It’s simple and at the end of the year you’ll have 12 wonderful blocks to set into a sampler quilt top!

Low cost.

Low commitment.

Beautiful Blocks.

Sew Easy.

Be sure to join our flickr group photo album, too.

Toast and ring in 2011 tonight and sew with me tomorrow!

Happiest New Year,

Happiest of Holidays

2010-12-25T05:40:00.000-05:00

May today bring you all the wishes and hopes of this magical season.

Happiest of Holidays to you, your family and your friends.

Peace,

Paper chains

2010-12-24T12:48:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, Mom and I made ribbon chains for our Christmas tree. It was so much fun picking out different ribbons each year, and trying to find the mini staplers (really, we KNEW they were in a place we’d never forget). I tried to do this when my daughter was born, but really, a baby simply cannot cut and staple ribbons together. She ended up trying to eat the ribbon pieces, and well, it just wasn’t a good idea!
So, the next year I handed my daughter a crayon and she “colored” on strips of construction paper. My husband and I also wrote wishes for our family on these small pieces of paper. I dated them and stapled them into a paper chain. We do this each year as part of our holiday traditions.

Now we have two kids – 6-1/2 and 2-1/2 – and they love our paper chain.

My little girl is printing so well now, and can write her own notes. Mine from her this year=>

<=Daddy’s

<=Little brother’s

And one for herself =>
(isn’t she a scream?)

She even made one for a classmate as she is LD’s secret elf. She wrote all sorts of things to him, “You are a good friend.” “Happy New Year” “You tell good jokes”. Maybe this will start a new tradition in his family.
What are your holiday traditions?

Quilt Alongs for 2011!

2010-12-23T14:17:00.001-05:00

Guess what?

I am jumping right onto the fun quilt along bandwagon!

When? 2011. January 1st to be exact.

Why? Because they are a bunch of fun!

How many? I have TWO planned right now – yay! One will be a monthly sampler quilt along, and the other will be a bit more frequent, maybe weekly, maybe bi-weekly??? Haven’t figured out that part yet. It’s a fun one (aren’t they all?) and will finish up super fast.

How can you join in? EASY!

Follow my blog so you get all the news.
Grab a button (when available) to spread the news
And get ready to sew, sew, SEW!
Then post your progress on our brand new crickets studio flickr group photo album! Go there now to join our group so you’re all ready.

What? I can tell you that the monthly quilt along is a stash buster….anything goes on this one. The other quilt along uses three charm packs of the same line. I’ll figure out the backing and binding soon…

AND, don’t forget, I am the last designer for the Patchwork Posse Round Robin. My borders come out January 24th and I am jumping-up-and-down excited. There is time to catch up on the round robin if you haven’t yet started.

Okay, who is joining me?

Heartfelt gift

2010-12-21T09:30:00.002-05:00

I so wanted to make a heartfelt gift for my good friend Robin.
My kids and her kids are the bestest of friends. Really. I babysit her little guy a few mornings a week, and he is just the cutest.
What to do?
Oh, and really, it is 4 days before Christmas. I am just a wee bit late in thinking about this.
I know, I am in the scrapbooking, photos, quilting business….that seems almost too predictable. I did make her little guy his own playmat for Christmas. I blogged about that here. What to do for his mom?
Then I found this in my daughter’s craft supplies:

And then I found this in my own stuff:

All I needed was these…

And viola! The perfect memory gift for my friend. (And of course I had to make one for me, too!) My son’s hands will grow all too quickly…and now I have his little handprint preserved forever {sniff}.

I used a simple toothpick to engrave their names. I also put “2010” on the back side. Altho’ they aren’t yet dry (it takes 24 to 48 hours for Model Magic to air-dry), I carefully put the ribbon in. One less thing to do this busy holiday week.
Added bonuses? Model Magic is available at any craft store. I’ve even seen it in my local grocery store. It is super lightweight, so it won’t weigh down the Christmas tree branches. It also has a better chance of longevity as it won’t crack or break like plastic will. AND, the boys LOVED doing it! Note – have extra Model Magic on hand for them to play with after the handprints are done. Kept them busy for a LONG time!!!!
Hope you’re enjoying today – the 1st day of winter!

UPDATE: Robin received her precious handprint yesterday, and yes, it was the perfect gift. She smiled from ear to ear! And guess what? My mom did the exact same thing for me with my children, and just today gave me two wonderful impressions of their little hands. I am one lucky gal {big toothy grin}.

Did you hear the NEWS?

2010-12-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

1/1/11 UPDATE: Congrats to “gill” who won the free subscription! I have your email address, and you’ll need to confirm with the magazine by 1/31/11 to claim your prize.Woo-hoo – bet there are going to be some awesome projects coming your way!

Wow - this is so neat.

An online magazine just for us. It is devoted to quilt patterns and to us quilters.

And to launch this awesome magazine, the publishers are having a blog tour countdown! Every day in December you can visit a blog and have a chance to win a free subscription - that's a month full of chances! Plus, you find some really great blogs, some new to you!

Today is my day - yippee! Thx for stopping by {smile}.

So, what's it all about? I'll tell ya!

For your one year subscription, you get one issue each month, plus an extra. Who doesn't like an extra? Simply put, freebies rock.
With each issue, published in an easy-to-use PDF format, you get at least 5 new patterns, interesting articles & very few ads.
And think of this - it is the GREEN way to go! All those trees that WON'T be cut down. And with this format, you only print out the patterns & articles that you want to, when you want to, even if you're in your jammies {wink}. It is in your hands!

I plan to send in my own patterns and articles for publication, and you can, too. Not sure what to submit? There is a list of suggestions right on the magazine website, along with all the info you need to know.

Here are some details right from their webiste:

Why totally online?

Print and file portions of the magazine you wish to keep
Easily organize all the articles and patterns in a binder
More patterns for your money
Instant access to the magazine, no waiting for the mail to arrive.

You totally have to check this out. Less than a dollar an issue! You read right - it's more than a bargain.

Don't forget, YOU have a chance to win a year’s subscription free.

How, you ask?

Here's what you have to do to enter:

Check out The Quilt Pattern Magazine site now, surf it a bit, look at the preview of issue #1....and then come back here and tell me what you think about it in a comment.

See, easy?

If you think you might want to follow my blog, too, well, I'd think that was cool, too.

Good luck!

Check out this giveaway!

2010-12-15T07:49:00.000-05:00

Rachel over at p.s. i quilt announced this very cool giveaway on her blog today. You simply must check it out here.

Her sponsor is Canton Village Quilt Works and here is the amazingly generous prize…

A fat quarter bundle of Kona Solids! I know, I’m drooling, too.

Check it out now, you don’t have too long to enter. Good luck!

Holiday baking…

2010-12-14T06:29:00.000-05:00

…is one of my very favorite things to do. I give away batches of cookies to everyone, family, friends, teachers, my mail lady, my UPS delivery guy, neighbors…just about everyone. And of course I keep a batch just for me {yum}. Here are some pics of us over the years making our fun cookies. From right to left is 2006, 2007, and then 2008 and 2009…yes, my 1 year old at the time is ever so delicately adding sprinkles to the spritz cookies in the last picture!

And silly me, I always try a new recipe. Luckily, they almost always taste good.

What’s luck got to do with it? Well, if you don’t know already, I’m just not a very good baker.

I either over bake, under bake, forget an ingredient, add too much of one…and forget about meringue. Those egg white are the bane of my existence.

But I love to bake holiday cookies. So I do.

And guess what?

People eat them. Not because they have to, but because they turn out pretty tasty.

Holiday magic at it’s best.

Here is a favorite, this is year 2 of making it. It’s gluten-free, so my best buddy can enjoy it, too!

(I am hopeful that you can click the picture above to go to a pdf file for the recipe…trying it for the 1st time)

Jodi over at Pleasant Home has been doing a very fun Christmas Cookie exchange. The button is on my right sidebar, or you can link up here. She’s had some awesome guest bloggers post some scrumptious recipes!

Have any favorites to share? Leave me a comment and Let me know. There is still plenty of time for more cookies!