Sunday, March 29, 2009

SAVE MONEY, SAVE YOUR SCRAPS

When the weather gets you down the best thing to do is quilt. Of course you first need to stop by the Attic Window Quilt Shop and pick up some fabric. Then you can start on that project, or continue making those flying geese. If you are doing the Geese in the Forest BOM over at Twiddletails you will need to make 27 of these blocks during the month of March.
Too many times when making a block there are bits and pieces of that lovely fabric that end up in the trash. You might as well throw away money. Save those scraps! Above is the pile left over from the flying geese being made this month. Someone said that April is “use what you have” month. Why wait? Why not start now?


This is what was made from last month's scraps. You can do the same thing. Just stitch those little pieces together and make new fabric that you can use to make a basket like this. Or make flowers. There are any number of other things you can make with those scraps. Try it, you might like it.
Jeanne Ray Crafts has state flower patterns. Take a look.
Until Next Time: Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

THE KNOTTY GIRLS ARE AT IT AGAIN!

The Knotty Girls Stitching Bee met tonight at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Several were working on pincushions. Take a look at the ever so small stitches on Judy’s pincushion. Can you see the bees buzzing around?
Check out that spider web and spider on the side of Judy’s pincushion? Such intricate stitches.

Not everyone worked on pincushions. Bev is working on crazy quilt blocks. She said they have been in process a long time and probably will be for a long time to come. Don’t you just love her flowers?


This is the work of a beginner. Maybe if your editor keeps practicing she’ll learn to make smaller stitches and get things more even. But she sure did have fun! What a crazy group!
Ever wonder what to do with DH's old neckties? What about making a pillow out of them? Carol Sews has a tutorial for you.
Until Next Time: Happy Quilting

Sunday, March 22, 2009

HAVE FUN AT THE ATTIC WINDOW

Above is Maggie’s Garden Friends BOM. We have such talented teachers at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Maggie has done excellent work and her students are making beautiful quilts. If there is something special you would like one of our teachers do (teach a special class, help you with a certain project, etc.) just give us a call and let us know. Maggie, this is a truly lovely quilt.
This past week was Mystery Week at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Participants had their choice of where they would start making their quilt – at the Attic Window or at Quilted Memories in Montague. There were a number of time slots at each quilt shop when participants could quilt. This group started at Quilted Memories on Monday where they made the quilt center. They didn’t know what they were going to be doing until they arrived at the shop. They were given three different color choices. Then they finished their project on Thursday at the Attic Window. Attending mystery events is a fun way to stretch yourself. It gives you an opportunity to use fabrics that you might not normally choose. One participant agreed and said she would never have chosen these fabrics, but now she loves her quilt. Another participant was heard commenting on the lunch that was included, “I sure would like the recipe for these lemon squares,” she said. “They are different and so good.” Got to get that recipe!

Our Doll Teacher Julie made this rooster pin cushion. Isn’t it the cutest thing with all its embellishments? Julie said she and her Bee did them and she is willing to do them again. The Bee meets the second Thursday of the month. She says the chicken is easy to do. It's just based on three squares of fabric that you sew together in a special way. You add the beak and tails then you sew it together, stuff it and add the feet and eyes. Just call the shop and let Julie know if you are interested making a chicken so she will bring the needed materials to the bee. Check out Julie’s blog and see what else she’s up to.
Fabric Hoarders Beware: Golden Gate Quilts has a warning for you. Check it out!
After reading that bit of news, check out Crabapple Hill Studio for a cute May flower’s stitchery.

Until Next Time: Happy Quilting

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

MAKE YOUR DESIGNING EASIER

Quilt making has choices. You can follow the directions exactly down to the very last thread tail, or you can make the design truly yours by putting yourself into your project. An easy way to do this is to put the blocks onto a design wall. Sometimes it is best to have the entire block constructed before you put it on the design wall, at other times it may be advantageous to only construct part of the block. This method of partial construction works better with some blocks than others. With the curved blocks this is an excellent way to design your quilt before your start sewing and later think “I wish I had….”

The first picture is of a fully constructed block. This picture above is of the partially constructed block. If you don't currently have a design wall you can purchase a nice one at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

It is easier to get a picture of what you want by constructing only part of this block before you put it on the design wall. In the following pictures you can see the various ways you could put the quilt together.



Or do you want it like this


After you have made your decision, it is then easier to sew the blocks together.
Don’t be a follower. Give your individual creativity full rein. Not only will you find pleasure in making a quilt truly yours, you will also find yourself gaining confidence and making quilts that people will cherish forever.

Check out Exuberant Color to see how Wanda has arranged her curved pieces (scroll down when you are on her blog and see all her pictures).

Do you like Vintage? Hop on over to Molly’s Place and check out her free vintage cat cross stitch patterns. They are so cute and really bring back memories (for some of us).

Until Next Time: Happy Quilting

Sunday, March 15, 2009

HAVE YOU TRIED REVERSE APPLIQUE?

Have you tried your hand at reverse appliqué? This project was made of a scrap pieced “secret” layer as featured in Jan Mullen’s book Reverse Appliqué with No Brakez.

No fancy rulers or other tools were needed to make this simple wall hanging. The project consisted of one fat quarter. The yellow fabric was “made” by stitching together many small bits of yellow scraps found in the scrap bag. The border is also scraps of red fabrics with a few black and white bits tossed in for good measure. About ¼ yard of striped fabric was purchased for the binding. Watch for an upcoming class in reverse appliqué at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.
Glenys shows us the previous Penny Rug BOM. These wool fabrics make up so nice. Check out this year's Sampler. It promises to be as pretty.
Check this Out: Nellie says spring is in the air and the blue birds are scoping out their nesting places. To help you get in the mood for spring you might want to check out Nellie’s Needles and take a look at her bird sculptures. Scroll down and get the pattern in the side bar.
Until Next Time: Happy Quilting!


Thursday, March 12, 2009

HAVE YOU TRIED FREEZER PAPER APPLIQUE?

Mary Ellen, Pat, Jan and Mary (left to right) had fun taking the Freezer Paper Applique class recently at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. With this method you get crisp edges, exact placement and the paper is removed BEFORE you place your applique pieces on the background material.
Here, Jan is ironing the fabric to the freezer paper template.

These are some petals waiting for the paper to be removed before placement on the background square. What you see beneath the petals is a design drawn on vinyl to help with placement.

Mary Ellen demonstrated a quick and easy way to make flower stems. It is so easy and does not require additional tools. Thanks Mary Ellen.

This is what the finished block looked like. The women agreed that this method was quick and easy and gave them crisp edges and enabled exact placement. If anyone is interested in the directions for this freezer paper method send me an e-mail or leave a comment on the blog.
  1. New Blog Listings: For all your Blog Hoppers you might want to take a look at a couple new places where the Attic Window Quilt Shop is listed. Paper Panache has a nice listing of blogs. The other one is Quilt Qua and has another fine list of blogs for you to visit.
  2. Another Place to Visit: An Sew On has a nice tutorial for a potholder. Check it out.
  3. Also check out Freda's Hive on my blog list on the side bar. She has a cute Easter Egg Tutorial.
Until Next Time: Happy Quilting

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

HOW TO MAKE YOUR QUILT TRULY YOU

This is the 2008 Attic Window Quilt Shop Sampler that Cathy M. did. Compare it to the sampler picture on the side bar and see what a difference her choice of colors make. This is truly a lovely quilt.
The Penny Rug Club still has room-------come join us! It meets the 4th Tuesday of the month from 1 - 4 p.m. or the 4th Friday of the month from 6 - 9 pm. We are doing two different projects this year. The first 6 months will produce a wall hanging, suitable for framing, and the second 6 months will be a 36 " round (or oval ) table rug. Samples will be in the store soon.
Beginners feel free to come for a class during one of these times. Call the store to sign up.

Finding quilting designs a challenge? You will achieve consistent and good looking results with the directions in this book: Free Motion Quilting Made Easy by Eva A. Larkin. There are 186 designs from 8 simple shapes. Stop in at the shop and pick up a copy.
Some Things of Interest:
Sew Many Ways has Tool Time Tuesday where each Tuesday she will review a tool or gadget. Check out what she has done with something from Home Depot and how she uses it for her quilting. Very clever..



Sunday, March 8, 2009

DO YOU LIKE VINTAGE?

There has been so much going on at the Attic Window Quilt Shop that there will probably be more than the two usual postings this week just to get everything in. This is just one of the cute projects we’d like to share with you. Robbie had a pillowcase that belonged to her grandmother. She didn’t want to throw it out so she cut it up and made this cute apron, adding lace and vintage fabric where needed. What a nice way to remember and honor someone so dear to her.
The other apron was an old feed sack block that she had in her UFO pile. She added lace and fabric where needed. How clever. There are also kits available in the Attic Window Quilt Shop of aprons that Robbie has designed. They are not these vintage type ones but they are very cute and would make a lovely hostess gift. Stop in and check them out. This scrapbook was also made by Robbie. She purchased a photo album book then covered it with fabric, glued lace to it and embellished it. She has it filled with vintage lace samples she has collected. What a clever idea.
Since we seem to be doing all things vintage today, here is cute “redwork” embroidery that Cindy did. Interesting use of thread color. Doesn't she do beautiful hand work?
A Gift For You:
Easter is just around the corner so you might want to check out The Purl. She has the cutest Easter Eggs project for you to make.
Until Next Time: Happy Quilting

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

HAVE FUN MAKING BRAIDS

Sandy, Barb, Karen and Gayle had fun making the Friendship Braid today at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.
This is the start of Karen's Braid. Don't you just love these fabrics?

The 2009 Sampler has begun. Above is the February block. There is still time to participate in this year-long event. Call the shop for details or click on the calendar on the blog to see when the upcoming dates are. You won't want to miss this fun time. During each session there are demos and door prizes. Also if you attend 7 months in a row the next month is free.
You might want to check out Sew Mama Sew It has scads of ideas as to what to do with FQs. Lots of fun stuff.
Until Next Time: Happy Quilting
lkjlkj

Attic Window Teachers

Attic Window Teachers
Attic Window Teachers

Quilting for Kids With Cancer

Quilting for Kids With Cancer
Generosity has no bounds. Above are the women in the Quilts For Kids group at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Left to right, Henrietta, Phyllis, Nancy, Carol, Karen. These women donate their time, fabric, money once a month to make quilts for kids who have cancer.

Quilts For Wheels

Quilts For Wheels
Many thanks and much appreciation goes to the women who work diligently each month to make quilts for those in wheel chairs. Kudos go to: Yvonne, Mary T., Fran, Joan, Mary Ellen, Barb, Lee Ann, Nancy, Mary.
Quilting Bloggers Logo