Tuesday, April 30, 2013

IT'S AN INTERLOCKED BLOCK

I’m spring cleaning this week (yes, I think Spring has finally arrived in Michigan) and getting ready for company, so I don’t have much time to play or to post.  However, I will show you another block from Fat Quarterly’s book Shape Workshop for Quilters.  This block is called Interlocked.  I must confess, I made this block sometime last year when I first picked up this book.  As I recall, it was a little difficult for me and I never finished it last year.  Today I added the white sides to make a large square block.  Now, I like how it turned out.  It really is an interesting block.  Can’t you see an entire quilt made of these blocks? 

ON ANOTHER NOTE

Quilters Road Trip is being held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  You can get your Passport at the Attic Window Quilt Shop for only $5.

SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO
: I think this is another interesting block.  The Cute Life has a great tutorial for a Curvy Pinwheel. 

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Monday, April 29, 2013

ROTE QUILTING PROGRESS




 Today I thought I’d show you my progress on Ruth’s Quilt. 
I call it Ruth’s quilt because earlier this year at a Happy Scrapper’s meeting, Ruth (above) showed us this quilt.
Here is a look at the entire quilt.  She said it was a great way to use up those scraps, or those “ugly” fabrics that you no longer use.  I thought this was a wonderful idea because I have lots of fabrics that I purchased when I first started quilting and now never use because my style has changed.  I wouldn’t call them “ugly” fabrics.  They are just fabrics in a color that I no longer use.  Ruth’s quilt seemed like the perfect answer.  A great way to reduce that stash!
 As a rule I don’t like repetition quilting.  I get bored so easily.  However, this is a perfect quilt to work on when you are at a Bee and can just sew without much concentration, which allows you to socialize with your friends.  You can see my project box filled with the cut rectangles and squares used in this block, and that I have been making progress.
No concentration is needed when sewing these rectangles together, then sewing them into a block, and then adding the gold sashing (a color I had to throw in to perk up this quilt).  Thanks Ruth for such a wonderful idea!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  I love fabric and am always looking for a new way to use it.  Make It & Love It has a clever idea.  Check it out. 

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Friday, April 26, 2013

PROMISE YOU WON'T LAUGH

My kids call me tightwad.  I consider myself frugal.  So, remember when you look at this that I’m just trying to save money and the environment as well.  Recently I posted a link to someone’s blog (sorry I can’t remember the name) of how to secure the threads on your bobbins.  I got excited when I saw it and headed off to Home Depot to get my plastic tubing.  However, once there I discovered the tube only came in one length and cost more than I wanted to spend.  I only had about 4 bobbins that I needed to secure.  Besides, the only tubing I could find was too thick for my tiny plastic bobbins.  I came home empty handed.
Then it occurred to me to try this.  On the way home I drove through a fast food place for something to drink.  Once home, and drink finished, I was just about to toss the empty in the trash, when I noticed the straw.  It was a large straw.  I took it to my sewing room and used my X-ACTO knife to cut pieces the width of my bobbins.  Then I made a slit down the piece so I could open it and slip it around the bobbin.  It works!  And it’s FREE!
Later I was proudly showing off my creativity to my son and lamented that I couldn’t figure out how to keep my spools of thread from getting all tangled like this.
I found a large piece of plastic, but it’s too thick and I don’t like it.
My son came to the rescue with a piece of flexible hose that is used in a car.  It was easily cut with the X-ACTO knife and fit the larger spools of thread perfectly.  However, I am still looking for a solution for the smaller/thinner spools of thread.  Any suggestions?

ON ANOTHER NOTEQuilters Road Trip is being held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  You can get your Passports at the Attic Window Quilt Shop for only $5.
 
YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: Blossom Heart Quilts has a nice tutorial for a helixed table runner.

PS:  I'm Linking up to Sew Many Ways today.

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Thursday, April 25, 2013

HAVE YOU MADE THIS PAPER PIECED STAR?

This is another block from Fat Quarterly’s book, Shape Workshop for Quilters.  This is a paper pieced block and called Paper Pieced Star.  It was fun to make, and easy.  The only problem I had was getting the middle, where all the points meet, to “rest” nicely.  I need Judi to show me how to squiggle those underneath pieces around to make everything lay flat! 

ON ANOTHER NOTE
Quilters Road Trip is being held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  You can get your passport at the Attic Window Quilt Shop for only $5.

SOMETHING ELSELove Laugh Quilt has an interesting block you might like.  It is called Marvelous Mountain.

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

WHIMSICAL GARDEN BOM AT ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

Above, the participants of the Whimsical Garden BOM at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, hold up the blocks they worked on this past month.  You can see a finished quilt sample in the background.
Here, Martha shows us all her blocks together.  For someone so new to appliqué, she is doing a fantastic job.
I was totally wrong when I posted the block that everyone was to work on last month (as you can see it looks nothing like the blocks they are holding up).  That’s why you are seeing this block again this month.  This is the block they will be working on during the month of May.
I went to the shop a little early today to see if the Tuesday Bee had anything for show and tell.  Above is the very small pouch (I wonder if it is the ear bud pouch I’ve been seeing on other blogs) that Judi shared with us.  Isn’t it cute.?  I love how Judi does those zippers.
This is the other side of the pouch.  Perfect!
Fran West was working on these hexagons.  Each hexagon is ½ inch in diameter.  She said others in her group were doing ¼ inch hexagons but thought those were a bit too small for her.
Here Fran works on stitching those hexagons into a flower.
Sharon R. was working on this lovely two fabric appliqué quilt.  The pattern is Sunflower Fields by Pacific Rim Quilt Company.

On Another Note:   Did you know that Barb Grutter has a website?  Barb attends the Whimsical Garden BOM.  Barb's website,  Garden Path Quilts, has a mystery BOM that you should take a look at.  You can get all the previous blocks, so get started now on this Mystery quilt called Angel Stars.

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

HAVE YOU MADE THE NORDIC STAR BLOCK?


Do you like this block?  I fell in love with it.  Maybe because it’s applique, I don’t know, but I want to make more of these blocks.  I saw this block, as well as many others that I’d like to make, in Fat Quarterly’s book Shape Workshop for Quilters.  This block is the Nordic Star block. The pattern for the Nordic Star Quilt is also included in the book.  The quilt isn't made up of only these blocks, but uses a string of them across the width of the quilt.  I think I'll have to make it.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Quilters Road Trip is being held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  Stop in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and get your passport for only $5.

You Might Also LikeLeedle Deedle Quilts has a nice tutorial for a String X-block.  Check it out.


Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Monday, April 22, 2013

ARE INSTRUCTIONS A PROBLEM FOR YOU?

I love this cute little pouch.  The design is Bridget’s Bagettes by Atkinson Designs.
Here it is again with a few things inside to give you an idea of the pouch’s size.  Some of you may know that I have problems with piecing, but I think I may also have problems with reading instructions.  I got so far into making this pouch and then I just could not understand what I was to do next.  I finally drove up to the Attic Window Quilt Shop and asked for help.  The person trying to help me also had difficulty understanding what should be done.  Anyway, my finished pouch looks slightly different from the picture on the pattern.  However, I like it this way.  Actually, I like my way of making it best.  Three different sizes for this little bagette are included in the pattern.

ON ANOTHER NOTEQuilters Road Trip is being held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  Passports are only $5.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

A Bright Corner has a tutorial for a Strip Tube Quilt.

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Friday, April 19, 2013

A SHOP HOP IS FUN AND FILLED WITH IDEAS

My mother is known to say, it rained cats and dogs, which is what it did here all day Wednesday.  However, Cathy and I didn’t let that stop us.  We went on the 6th Annual Spring Fling Shop Hop. Our first stop was custom Quilts Unlimited in Fennville.  Above is their quilt for the Hop. It is a cute store with lots of patterns, fabrics, books.  Mary Smallegan opened the 3,000-square-foot shop in 2007 after retiring from Johnson Controls.  No one in her family made quilts. She got interested in the process when she picked up a magazine and decided that she could stitch the beautiful patterns.   I noticed on their website they invite customers to use their large table for pinning a quilt, or to just stop by for coffee. 
Next we went to So South Haven, naturally in South Haven, Michigan.  I could kick myself.  Our decision to go on the Hop this day (we had a different day planned) was spur of the moment and I forgot my camera!  Yikes!  What is wrong with me?  Cathy Mueller, my partner in crime, saved the day and took all these pictures with her fancy phone.  Thank you Cathy!  Above is the quilt that So South Haven had for the Hop.  Their website boasts that they have the Largest Collections in Southwest Michigan of: 30's & Civil War,  Batiks & Flannel, Thimbleberries.  They have many kits to choose from in this friendly atmosphere where beginners are always welcome!
From there we went to Calico Creations, also in South Haven.  Cathy caught me at the cash register, checking out my purchases.  I agreed to post this picture only because the shop quilt is on the wall behind me.  This is a darling store with lots of kits, fabrics, patterns and books.  We were a little tired by then and driving in the pouring rain in places you are not familiar with can get to you.  So of course we had to go eat.  We stopped at Clementine’s, a fabulous restaurant in South Haven.
Then Thursday, we tried to visit the other shops on the Shop Hop list.  However, we really only made it to the Queen Bee Quilt Shoppe in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I fell in love with this shop.  I hadn’t been there since they first opened and they have expanded.  I want to make this quilt above!  I think it will make a great scrappy quilt.  I don’t know if we’ll get to the rest of the shops on the Hop.  It took us forever to get around to the Queen Bee as a number of roads were closed due to flooding and we had to take detours.  Cathy and I each wanted to win the Grand Prize which is a new Janome Sewing machine!  Can you ever have too many sewing machines?  I think not!

ON ANOTHER NOTE
Cutting Corners College by Riley Blake Designs has a tutorial for a modern quilt.  Check it out!

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Thursday, April 18, 2013

DO YOU HAVE SHOES LIKE THESE?

What is it about women and shoes?  I’ve read that buying shoes have had a mystical effect on women and they've made comments like:
  • The act of putting on a new pair of shoes can make you feel happy.  
  • They make an outfit.  
  • Shoes replace men…they don’t talk back. 
Well maybe that’s not why the women at the Attic Window Quilt Shop wear these bright tennis shoes, but I got so excited when I saw them that I had to take pictures.   I caught Jeanne Bird at the Jodi Barrows meeting the other night wearing these brightly colored shoes (shown above).  She looked so darn cute!
Then Saturday Stephanie showed up at the Happy Scrappers wearing these shoes.  She said that you can special order these shoes from Converse.  You design your own shoes.  Stephanie said that she picked out the colors, the stripe on the rubber, the shoelaces, grommet, and had her name printed on the back.  
This is the back of Stephanie’s shoes.  She is a PhD, but had this put on the back of her shoes because that is what a friend calls her - StephPhD.  Don’t you just love these shoes?
And you saw Adrienne’s shoes in an earlier post.  I love these bright colors.  Hey, Adrienne, did you get these in New Zealand when you were there?
On another note, during our Happy Scrappers meeting Saturday, I showed Stephanie the The Square in a Square® ruler that was shown at the Jodi Barrows Trunk Show recently at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above Stephanie tries out the ruler.
Here, Stephanie made three rounds on the square.  You can see the left over fabric on the side.
Look what Stephanie did with the leftovers.  Pretty clever.  Stephanie did a wonderful post about her experience with the ruler.  You can read her informative post at Peas In A Pod.

ON ANOTHER NOTEKelsey Sews has a tutorial for a wedge pillow. 

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

DO YOU LIKE CATS?


Are you like most quilters…love cats?  I love cats, although mine is giving me problems at this time.  I’ll tell you about that at another time, but first I want to tell you about this cute wall hanging.  Actually it is part of a quilt pattern.  Cindy is teaching a class called Crazy Cats.  It is an interesting quilt that is not paper pieced but uses a freezer paper pattern for cutting. Fabrics are stacked and all cut at once then shuffled to achieve diversity.  This class is Wednesday, April 24, from 1-4 p.m.  Call the shop to register. 
I wanted to show you the dolls that Yvonne and Rosa are making.  Aren’t they fantastic?  Yvonne’s is on the left, and Rosa’s doll is on the right.  They wanted me to tell you that they didn’t make the baskets that are on the table next to them.  Barb Hassenrik made them for the dolls.
This is a closer look.  Look carefully.  I thought the face and hair was painted on.  It is not.  This is done with very small stitches AFTER the heads are stuffed.

Here is a closer look.  Isn’t this amazing.

ON ANOTHER NOTEModa Bake Shop has instructions for making an interesting quilt.  Wouldn’t it be nice to make this and donate it to your local library or school?

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

ATTIC WINDOW'S BED RUNNER FOR SHOP HOP

The Spring Fling Shop Hop is this week (through April 20) and above is the Attic Window Quilt Shop’s quilt for the event.  Seven shops are participating in this Hop and there are daily drawings for $20 gift certificates from each shop.  Also, someone will be the winner of the grand prize: a Janome Sewing Machine!   You can still get your passport for only $5. 

This is a closer view of the quilt.  It is a bed runner and Chris designed it herself.  She said that Carol Huster quilted it.  Chris used the Tumbler tool from Creative Grids to create the end borders.  I love this quilt. Each participant in the Hop will receive a free pattern for a block in this quilt as well as a free gift.  Wouldn’t this bed runner look wonderful at the foot of your bed?
While at the shop on Saturday a couple customers stopped to see what we Happy Scrappers were doing and had a quilt to show us.  Above Marlene T. shows us her all-flannel quilt.  I bet someone will enjoy wrapping up in this cozy quilt during those long Michigan winters.
Cathy Thomas made this quilt and did the quilting as well.  She has a long arm and does quilting for others.  If interested, you may contact her at 517-626-2412.
I took this picture last week, but promised I wouldn’t show it until now because Glenna, Julie and Melanie made this beautiful scrappy quilt for a friend.  What thoughtful friends they are! 

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Simplicity Creative Group has a free pattern for a Hexagon Table Topper.

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

Monday, April 15, 2013

THE HAPPY SCRAPPERS AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

The Happy Scrappers met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this past Saturday.  Dear friend, Stephanie, came up from Kalamazoo to spend the day with us.  Above, she shows us the peace quilt that she made.  She was working on it last month when she was here.  Isn't it lovely!
This is the back of Stephanie’s quilt.  The back is Minkee and is perfect (warm) for our Michigan Winters.  Beautiful quilt!
Judi showed us her alphabet quilt.  All the stitching is done on her machine.
Here is a close up of one of the blocks.  Isn’t this cute!
Judi also showed us this quilt that she made 20 years ago.  It sure has held up well.  She said it is on her son’s bed.
Valerie was working on her paper pieced focus square blocks.  Aren’t they cute?  She said the hot chili pepper one on the bottom is for Rosa!  Oh, no!  It just hit me...I didn't get a picture of Rosa!
But I did get a picture of Brenda.  She is deep in conversation and I don’t think knew that I took this picture.  I had to snap a picture of her because I’ve heard her complain about having to do her hair and makeup before she comes to Bee because of me and my darn camera!  LOL    You are a beautiful woman, Brenda!
A customer came into the shop and had questions about what we were doing.  Above Buffie explains how she did the quilting on her quilt with her domestic sewing machine.
This is another finish for Buffie.  On Saturday she was busy sewing on the beautiful teal blue binding on this paper pieced quilt.  Can you see the Ronald McDonald square?
This is the back of Buffie’s quilt!  Don't you just love that fabric!
Rosa and a Challenge:  See, I did get a picture of Rosa.  Can you pick her out?  A challenge was issued to both the Wednesday and Saturday groups of the Happy Scrappers.  They have been asked to make a quilt block which will be put together for a charity quilt.  For those of you participating, a tutorial for the block, which should end up 12 ½” unfinished, can be found at Film In The Fridge.  Be sure to scroll down and see a picture of the entire quilt.

More pictures about our fun Saturday later this week.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

The Spring Fling Shop Hop will be held the week of April 12-20 (that's this week!).  Seven shops are participating.  Daily drawings for $20 gift certificates from each shop.  Someone will be the winner of the grand prize: a Janome Sewing Machine!   Get your passport now for only $5. 

Quilters Road Trip will be held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  Passports are only $5.

Until next time,

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll
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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.
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