Friday, July 31, 2009

AROUND THE WORLD QUILTING BEE

Anita’s block for The Around The World Quilting Bee arrived in the mail today and I just had to share it with you. This block is so unique and she’s done a wonderful job making it. Look at the globe and how she’s pinpointed where the AWQB members are scattered around the world. The letters spelling out our Bee are nicely done too. Anita you are a very creative person. Wish this block were mine, but alas I forward it on to Paloma tomorrow so she can add her block to Anita’s quilt and then it continues on it’s journey around the world. You are going to end up with a lovely quilt Anita.

Sue Daley Designs has a nice toturial for a thread catcher. This one's a little different from some of the others I've seen.

Until next time: Happy Quilting
Caroll

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

ATTIC WINDOW AT WMQG

The West Michigan Quilters Guild had its summer event this past week. What fun. The women brought in baby dolls and quilts for the Santa Claus Girls, a local organization that gives away toys to needy children at Christmas time. They enjoyed Strip Quilto (It’s like Bingo only better). The main event was the garage sale. People could bring a table and rent space to sell quilting/sewing related treasurers. Above is a picture of Chris Brown, owner of the Attic Window Quilt Shop, who had a table of goodies for sale.

There was also a block challenge. There is a quilt show coming up next year, so the women made a 9” finished star block out of blue and yellow fabrics and members voted on their favorite. Above are just a couple of the lovely blocks. This group has so much talent!
Posie Gets Cozy has some cute stitcheries to use in the kitchen.

Until next time, happy quilting,
Caroll

Monday, July 27, 2009

IT'S A BALANCING ACT

Don’t you just love the bright batiks in this quilt? It’s called Balancing Act. Maria J. made the quilt but said she does not want to teach the class and asked me if I would. Sure! I am going to make a small sample in the 30’s fabrics just so people can picture it in a different fabric. Maria saw the pattern in a magazine (sorry, but I cannot remember which one), and planned to make it when she went to the cottage. However, when she arrived she discovered she did not have the magazine with the pattern, so she created her own. I think you will like the way Maria did the rectangles. Her way seems very easy to me. Look for the class in the upcoming calendar and newsletter. We have been working on them and they should be out next week. The teachers at the Attic Window Quilt Shop have many new things planned for you. What I particularly like are the new small projects that are on the schedule. I love those small projects. They make nice gifts. As the holidays, start rolling around it is hard to find time for your favorite hobby and these small projects are just the thing you need.

Just in time for back to school, U create has a back to school lunch bag for you to make.

Hope you're having a great day!
Caroll

Friday, July 24, 2009

MAKE THIS ID PURSE

I’d like to introduce you to Ruth DeVries. This past week I attended the Fat Quarter ID Coin Purse Class given by Ruth at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Ruth is a very special woman. She said that when she learned her granddaughters could not carry a purse to their college classes due to security reasons, and that the small ID holders that they were wearing around their neck were falling apart because the gals tried to cram too much in them, she decided to design her own. She said that after she did, so many people wanted them that she decided to make a pattern. Her first patterns did not include the lanyard. She would purchase those. She lived in Florida at the time and got ones that had her state name on them. However, that was rather expensive, so when she saw some brightly colored lanyards at the local flea market for only $1, she bought a bunch. When she took them home and showed her granddaughters, they were surprised. Ruth wondered why. Her granddaughter said, “Because the marijuana flower is printed on them.” Ruth nearly died. She didn’t know that. All she saw was the pretty and colorful flower. She quickly cut off the connectors and decided she could make her own lanyards, which she now includes in her patterns.



These are some of the ID Coin Purses that we made during class. Each is large enough to hold several items. In the front beneath the plastic, the student can place her ID. You can also get a cell phone, lipstick, money and driver’s license in this small purse. It’s big enough for a passport which makes this great for travelers. It is also wonderful for hands-free shopping. You don’t have to worry about leaving your purse in the grocery cart while you shop. If you have ever watched TV, you know that the floor is not sanitary. You’ll never have to worry about where to put your purse at the restaurant or in the restroom. Never again, will you accidently leave your purse behind. It is with you all the time, safe from purse-snatchers. Call the Attic Window if you’d like a pattern. They really are very easy to make. This is a lovely gift for a woman of any age.
The Noble Wife has a cute tote bag and stitchery pattern. Check it out.
Have a good weekend!
Caroll





Wednesday, July 22, 2009

STAY HEALTHY, MAKE A COZY

You’re probably wondering what the heck are these. Have you ever warmed your coffee or soup or anything up in a public microwave? How about where you work? I have and once I took a look inside that microwave, I went YUK! I wondered what crust and crud might have fallen into my coffee. I’ve tried to clean the oven, but when you have scads of people using it 24 hours a day, it is impossible to keep clean. I used to use paper towels to cover my cups or bowls but that seemed a waste of a tree to me. Sometimes there are not always paper towels available (at least where I work). And when I was working off premises, I wondered about what was inside that microwave.


So I solved my concerns by making these little Coffee Cozies (that’s what I call them). I made several different sizes to fit my needs. You can do that too. Just take a circle of fabric, trim it if you want, and there you have it. They are easy to carry in your purse for that spur of the moment need. You can wash them too.

These are not only for coffee. You can use them when you heat up your water for tea. A Prairie Home has a cute Tea Tote Tutorial (try to say that real fast) that you might also want to try.
Hope you're having a great day.
Caroll


Monday, July 20, 2009

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER BLOCK

This is another block for the Around The World Quilting Bee. This one is for Debby Wolff who wanted liberated houses. This is the third redo and the final product--I thought. Then I reread her directions and discovered I didn’t add salvage, so back to the drawing board.

Don’t forget the Annual Christmas In July PJ sale this Saturday, July 25, at the Attic Window Quilt Shop from 8 to 10 a.m. Wear PJs and come early. Those wearing PJs during the first hour of the sale will receive a special gift.

How About Orange has a tutorial for making a basket out of old magazines or newspaper. (Don’t you just love the name of that blog!) Check out her other tutorials and free downloads. She has a lot of good great information.

That's all for now. Happy Quilting!
Caroll

Friday, July 17, 2009

Around The World Block


When Courtney from Around The World Quilting Bee asked each us to make a block that told her something about our self, I was stumped. This is what I came up with. When I put the picture on our Flicker group pool and asked the others what it said about me, I was surprised at how closely they came to what I had intended to say. So, I guess this block can’t be too bad. In fact I kind of like it. Hope Courtney does too.
Check out Empire’s BOM. Very nice block and looks like it’s fun to make.
Hope you have a nice weekend. Happy Quilting.
Caroll

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

NEW CLASS AT ATTIC WINDOW

How do you like this Run Around Bag? The class will be at the Attic Window Quilt Shop on Aug. 13 from 1-3. This is a new class and a new teacher and I don’t think it was included on the calendar so I wanted to let you know about it now so you would have time to register and get your supplies together. Isn’t this the cutest bag!

Not much else today. I did find something interesting that you might have missed. The Quilter has an article on the 10 ways to save time for quilting. What quilter doesn’t need to read that?
Until next time: Happy Quilting
Caroll

Sunday, July 12, 2009

FREEZER PAPER APPLIQUÉ CATS CLASS

It was a fun-filled Saturday for those who attended the Pussy Willow Gang appliqué class at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. The women made such cute cats and they called out to be shared. Above is Julie’s cat, waiting to be sewed onto the background.

Above Yvonne is applying starch to the edges of the fabric that extend from the template.

Julie uses a stiletto to pull the fabric around the template as she applies a hot iron to get that crisp crease.

Barb’s cat is ready for the templates to be removed so the pieces can be arranged and glued to the background for final sewing.

Yvonne glues down the pieces of her cat to make an easy-to-take anywhere hand sewing project.
Barb’s cat is now glued to the background and ready sewing.

Lee Ann’s cat just needs it whiskers and it will be perfect!

Several people have asked “what is the discount” on fabrics at the Annual Christmas in July PJ Sale. Chris said that is a surprise! She said that people should come early, because the earlier you come the better the discount. Also, remember that you receive a special gift during the first hour of the sale, but only if you have your PJ’s on.
Have you ever heard of making a purse out of a book? Check out Make A Purse Book and see how it's done. Interesting! Bet that teenager would love it.
Until next time: Happy Quilting
Caroll

Friday, July 10, 2009

DIG THESE SPOOKY SHOES

I’ve had such a good time making these witch’s shoes for Jane’s Spooktacular Halloween Swap that I just had to show them to you. Of course I got all the fabrics at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. (How do you like the baggy hose?)

Each one is a little different, as I was using up my scraps. There are 12 of us in each group. I’m in group 5 and am anxious to see what others are doing. I will post this pattern in September for you who are not in the swap and would like to make a little Halloween wallhanging of your own.

Have you ever made a mouse pad? Yes, you can run your mouse over this star point block with no problems. Check it out at Quilted Paradise.
Until next time: Happy Quilting!
Caroll

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

It’s that time of year again: Christmas in July. This lovely block is just one of many blocks from a quilt sample at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. It is called Holiday Redwork and the pattern (from the Stitch Connection) is available at the shop. It’s shown in Redwork, but can also be done in appliqué.

Remember, all the month of July (oops I goofed. I was supposed to say) CHRISTMAS fabrics are on sale at 20% off. The Annual Christmas In July PJ Sale will take place Saturday, July 25th from 8 to 10 a.m. If you come into the shop with your pajamas on during those two hours that day, you will receive a special discount. Come in during the first hour and you will also receive a special gift, but only if you have your PJs on! (No pajamas, no discount.)

This is a picture of Maggie’s Shooting Star quilt. It is a Laundry Basket pattern which can be purchased at the shop. When I saw the individual blocks earlier I just couldn’t imagine how it was going to go together and here it is. What a lovely quilt.

I always hesitate to tell you to go to certain sites for patterns when we have such lovely patterns right here in the shop. However, you bag lovers might want to check out this DYI blog. It has lots of bag ideas.
Until next time: Happy Quilting!
Caroll

Sunday, July 5, 2009

MAKE THIS GIFT FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

Lee Ann has done it again. She made this beautiful diaper bag as a sample for the shop. What new mother wouldn’t love to have this? Got a baby shower coming up? This diaper bag is sure to please. The pattern can be found at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

Above is a picture of Colleen’s newly finished quilt. It is Felicity’s Garden which was a BOM at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. She quilted it herself and did a fantastic job.
Maybe be a little late for this year, but just in time for next year’s celebration. Make It Do has a great tutorial for a fireworks table runner.
Hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th. Until next time: Happy Quilting.
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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