KNOTTY GIRLS HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW

Thursday evening I attend the Knotty Girls Stitching Bee at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I have some nice show-n-tells for you.  Above, is the beautiful wool wall hanging that Sherri is working on.  It is a Sue Spargo pattern.

This is a close up of the intricate stitching embellishment.   It is awesome!

Marci is working on this Starburst pattern.  I love the colors in this block.

Jo Ann said her daughter made this stunning wall hanging.  The quilting on it is something to see.

This is the back of the quilt showing the wonderful quilting.

Above is a close up so you can better see what I’m talking about.  This quilt could be reversible because the back with this multicolored quilting looks as beautiful as the front!

This is such a wonderful group of women who are willing to share a part of themselves.  Jo Ann brought a fantastic dip for all of us to try.  And Maggie told us how she creates her gourmet dishes using herbs from her garden and various vinegars that she has purchased.  We begged her to write it all down for us as it all sounded so yummy and too involved for us to remember.  She said she would do us one better and bring us a dish to sample.  Yeah!  Of course, we are holding that date secret so we can get first samples. 

This is a great site for yardage and block requirements for various mattress sizes.  Check it out here.

Sew Mama Sew had a tutorial for a wallet to tote.  Check it out.

♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT I'LL CALL THIS COW QUILT?

This is a sneak peek of what I worked on all day Monday.  This is the cow pattern from Mary Lou Weidman’s book “Out of the Box.”  I blogged about it here.  Recently I attended a week long work shop with Mary Lou and have also been working diligently on my Story Quilt.  More about that later.  I just wanted to let you know I’m not just sitting around and twiddling my thumbs.  This quilt is quite large and involves a lot of thought and appliqué. I hope to add long lashes to those cow eyes and have already changed the bird on her head to a flower above her ear.  I must have made a dozen changes today. You can see some of the other cow quilts people have made by going here. They are so darn cute and fun to create.  You should try one.

On another note:  I did do something else today.  I baked.  This is something I rarely do.  It is not good for me to have baked goods in the house because somehow, some way,  things that are round and contain chocolate keep calling my name!  But yesterday while blog hopping I saw a recipe for cookies on the Bake at 350 Blog and had to try it.  These cookies are not only huge, but wonderful as well.  Check out the Morning Monster Cookies here ( you’ll have to scroll down on the blog).   Don’t think calories.  Think OMG these are good!

Patchwork Duck Designs has a great tutorial for a car seat cover.  What a nice gift this would make.

PS:  I just wanted to tell you that I linked up to Connie at  Quilting By The River today.  Take a look at all the other blogs who have linked up.
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

MODERN MONDAY SEW ALONG

Can you believe it’s Monday already?  Where did the weekend go?  Weekends are way too short.  I vote we work weekends and take the rest of the week off.  How about you?   It was beautiful here in Michigan.  Hope you had a beautiful weekend too.

Now for the Modern Monday Quilt Along.  Above is block #38 and is called Contrary Wife.  Jennifer said she chose this block because the name made her laugh.  I laughed too.  What a hoot! 

Above are all my blocks together.  It is really shaping up.  Now hop on over and see what Lynn’s block looks like.  Then go visit Jennifer’s blog and get the pattern for this week.

I had to show you this.  Why is it that every time I put a quilt or a quilt block on the floor so I can take a picture, my cat has to lay on it?  She has a bed.  She has all the comforts a cat could want.  So why does she have to claim my fabric!  Gotta love her.

Here’s something I found interesting. So Sue has a tutorial at Sew We Quilt for a kitchen floor mat.  I like the way she put the non-skid material on the bottom.  This floor mat is a great way to use up those scraps too!
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

REINDEER GAMES FOURTH WEEK

It’s Friday again and time to play Reindeer Games.  Barb has named this little guy Comet, so, this week I’m posting a picture and pattern for Comet.  You can get the free pattern here.

 This is my applique version.  Now go to Bejeweled Quilts to see what reindeer Barb has up today.  I know she's in the middle of a move, and she may not have her pattern up yet, so keep checking with her.  And don’t forget to check out the Flickr group for inspiration and/or to add your finished block.  Be sure and check back in two weeks for another pattern.

PLEASE NOTE:  I'm trying to add all the patterns to the tutorial tab at the top of the page for your convenience in the future.  Wish me luck!
 
Wendy at Ivory Spring (also on sidebar) has a free pattern for you too.  This one is for a beautiful throw quilt and pillow with an excellent tutorial.  This is definitely one I’d like to try. 

PS:  Mary Lou Weidman of Mary Lou And Cherries Too has a beautiful post today on being happy, positive and healthy.  Check it out. 

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

ANOTHER SCRAPPY PROJECT

I had to show you this block.  I love finding new ways to use my scraps and when I saw this how-to for  Crazy-Pieced Blocks in the latest Fons & Porter’s Scrap Quilts magazine I had to try it. This how-to is a quick and easy method to make blocks for the Pixie Sticks pattern in the magazine.  It was so much fun seeing this block grow and seeing my pile of scraps diminish (well, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell any difference in that pile, but I knew).  I hope to make some more blocks and put them together in the Pixie Sticks pattern.  It would make a nice charity quilt for the Quilts For Wheels group at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

For those of you who like working with wool, check out Tiny Toad Stool for a wonderful way to use your scraps and make a beautiful gift.  

Wondering what to do with the kids/grand-kids now that school is out.  Check out Shiny Happy World for a free pattern for a game that is sure to keep them busy.

Remember:  Friday is Reindeer Games.
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

MONSTERS TO MAKE YOU SMILE

I recently mentioned that I had been working or several projects.  Well, today I’d like to show you one of them.  Above is the Monster Patch quilt.  The pattern is from Kids Quilts.  It’s not finished yet.  I still have to add the outside border, add a few appliqués, and quilt it.  However, it is turning out so darn cute that I had to show it to you. 

Here and following are close ups of the blocks.

Most of the fabrics I used I got at the Attic Window Quilts Shop and are from Malka Dubrasky’s line.   For more information on those beautiful fabrics check out A Stitch In Dye.  

I had intended to use another piece from that line for the outside border, but thought it was too much, too busy, and I needed something more quiet.

I’m thinking of using a soft turquoise fabric for the outside border that is from Mary Lou Weidman’s line.

I think I showed you this block a while ago.  Now to get this quilt finished!  It’s almost too hot to sew here in Michigan.  Darn!  What’s a quilter to do when the weather is too beautiful to go downstairs to her workroom?   Don’t ask what my excuse was this winter.  I forget!

Carter Quilter has a free pattern for a Posies for Baby quilt.


PS:  I'm Linking up to Freshly Pieced today.  Take a look: 
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

NEW KITS!

Chris at the Attic Window has created some new kits called “Too Cute Too Cut”. You can see why the fabric is adorable, perfect for a crib or kids quilt.

The kit uses the Marcus Brothers “Bundle of Jungle” fabrics and is made up in pink or aqua. This quilt is so easy to put to together, you can make several with other fabrics that are too cute to cut in no time at all. The pattern from Quilts and More magazine, Winter 2010 is free with the kit.

Another pattern that uses large pieces  is "Supersize Shoo Fly" in the August 2012 Amercian Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Since the pattern uses 12 inch pieces for each block it’s perfect for fabric with lots of designs that you don’t want to cut up. This quick and easy quilt has a modern look using a simple traditional pattern. Since the finished blocks measure almost 36 inches you’ll have a finished quilt just like that. Next time you're in the Attic Window, check out the new kits, fabrics and magazines.

One more thing

Chris has her 2011 sampler quilt together and will have the finishing instructions ready soon.

MODERN MONDAY QUILT ALONG

Above is my block for this week’s Modern Monday Quilt Along.  It is #37 and called Birds In the Air.  It was a fun block and really easier than it looked (for me that is).  I noticed last week Lynn showed us all her blocks together.  I thought about doing that with my blocks this week, but it is overcast and I’m not sure how a picture would turn out so I’ll try to post one next week.  I’m just so thankful that we are getting rain here in Michigan.  Take a look at Lynn’s blog and see what her block looks like this week.  Then go see Jennifer’s blog and get the pattern for this week.

I did do some other sewing this weekend.  I made a block that is a great way to use up your scraps.  I will show you later this week and will be showing the Scrap Happy Quilters when they meet next month. 

I may have shown this before but I think it is so cute and another great way to use up those scraps so I’m going to take a chance and show it again.  Take a look at Wedding Dress Blue for the Hundred Hugs quilt tutorial.
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

MORE WORK BY BARB VIS

Sometimes I cannot believe me.  I try to stay organized.  I carry a little notepad with me when I go up to the Attic Window Quilt Shop so I can write down important information to go with each picture I take.  Agreed, it was a couple of weeks ago when I took these pictures, but do you think I can find that notebook anyplace!  I have looked high and low.  I have no idea what I did with it.  No doubt as soon as I write this post I’ll find it.  But I’m not going to wait around. Today I want to show you some more work by Barb Vis.  Remember I posted about her here and she is the one who made the tutorial for the scissors keeper (see side bar).  First I wanted to show you the above.  Julie’s Doll Bee was going on when I arrived and I get such a kick of seeing all these dolls resting in coffee cups waiting for their next stage of development. 

Look at these purses.  Barb made them.  Apparently she makes a lot of purses and decided to get rid of some, so these were laying on the table for anyone to claim as their own.  Aren’t they fantastic.

This is another purse by Barb, but as you can see it’s new owner is gripping it tightly.

Barb’s daughter made this lovely cross stitch.  And that is the reason I wish I could find my notes because Barb gave me her daughter’s age at the time she made this and her name.  I’m trusting my memory, but as I remember Barb said her daughter was only about 12 year old when she made this cross stitch picture and gave it as a present to their housekeeper.  When the woman died, Barb got the picture back and is going to hang it in her house.  If Barb’s daughter could do something like this at such a young age, can you imagine what she is doing now!  I’m amazed at this young woman’s talent.

Pins And Bobbins has a nice tutorial for a pickup sticks block.  Looks like something I want to try.

♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

SCRAP HAPPY BEE AND PANDORA'S BOX

As I said in yesterday’s post, I have lots of pictures to show you today.  Saturday I attended the Happy Scrappers Quilting Bee at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above Brenda shows us her latest finish.  Isn’t it beautiful!  I believe she said it was a block of the month.

Ruth told us that she received a bunch of free scraps and used them to make this lovely scrap quilt.  She said the scraps came to her sewn together as a four patches and she decided to make this quilt. 

Ruth said that when she was putting the quilt together she realized the four patches were sewn by hand.  She also realized that some of the small patches were even sewn together to make one small square in the four patch.  I hope you can see what I’m talking about in the above picture.  How clever.  I never would have thought of that.  This person doesn’t believe in wasting a thing.  My kind of gal!

 Ruth also made this lovely quilt from two-inch squares that were given to her.  She said that multiple people sewed the blocks together for a camp up north.  Ruth did a great job of putting this quilt together because (as we all know) multiple people sewing on different machines, makes for various seam sizes, thus various block sizes.  Great job Ruth.

 Chris said she made this quilt from left over fabrics from a charity quilt that she had made.  I love this pattern and the sashings she used.

 She also had enough scraps left to make this darling pillow.

 Yvonne (left) and Rosa made this darling twister quilt for charity.

Yvonne made the above quilt for Quilts For Wheels.  Notice the one red pinwheel.  I love this quilt and the fantastic job that Yvonne did.  What a beautiful gift for a wheelchair bound person.

 

Rosa also shared with us a new magazine that she found. She said that it contained articles on various ways to keep your scraps organized and it included several patterns.

Buffie shows us a scrap quilt that she made.  She referred to it as her Pandora  box quilt.  What is  Pandora’s box?  WikiepediA says that it is a box which contained all the evils of the world.  Today, to open a Pandora’s box means to create evil that cannot be undone.  I wonder what Buffie thinks is evil.  Certainly not this beautiful quilt. 

Above Buffie shows us one of her Pandora boxes.  She says she puts her cut fabric squares, fabric and pattern for a quilt into a box.  Those boxes tend to pile up over the years, and when she is looking for something or just reorganizing her sewing room, she opens the boxes and is surprised.  Maybe she thinks of it as an evil surprise because it reminds her of a UFO she needs to finish.  I just think of it like Christmas!  It’s almost like starting a new project because usually I’ve forgotten all about it.  DON'T FORGET:  Buffie wants each of us Scrap Happy Quilters to bring at least one Pandora box to the next Bee.

Above, Yvonne shows us this darling wallhanging she just finished.  It is Changing Seasons-Spring from the Stitch Connection.  She has the other three season’s completed and is considering whether to put them all together into one quilt,  or finish as separate wallhangings.

Here are two interesting links:

Pink A Dot Quilts has an interesting idea.

The Quilting Mill has a nice tutorial for a very interesting wave block.  Check it out. 

♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

YOU'RE NEVER TO YOUNG TO START QUILTING

Last Saturday the Happy Scrappers met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I’d like to introduce you to our newest and youngest member.  Elsa is also known as Little Pea on the Peas In A Pod blog (also on sidebar).  She is 7 ½ years old and came up from Kalamazoo to spend the day with us.  Don't you just love the eager smile. 

Of course Mama Pea (Stephanie) helped her with a few things.

Elsa has been sewing for a while and got this beautiful sewing machine last Christmas.  I wonder if she’s named it yet?  I forgot to ask.  Sure is a pretty sewing machine.

Elsa made this paper pieced block during the morning.  Didn’t she do a fantastic job for her first try at paper piecing! 

This is a close-up of her block.  Check out that fussy cut center.  Elsa shared some of those cute little centers with me and I can’t wait to make my own blocks with them.  Thank you Elsa (and Mama Pea) for driving all that way to spend time with us.  It was a fun and we hope you will come again.  I was sorry I had to leave in the afternoon to go to my granddaughter’s open house.  However, I did take lots more pictures of the Happy Scrappers and will share them with you tomorrow.  Until then,

That’s all for today folks!

Mama Love Quilts has a wonderful Dresden tutorial table runner.  Check it out.

♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

UPCOMING EVENTS through June

Beat the heat this summer! Here's what's happenin' at the Attic Window Quilt Shop through the end of June. It's a great time to learn some new techniques or maybe it's time for a new project.

NEW! Batik Sampler (6-month BOM)
Cindy has designed this beautiful quilt as a great way to use your batiks or start a fabulous new stash! A one-hour class will kick off the BOM on Thursday, June 21, 6-7 pm (pick-up only after first month)
Mitered Borders
Have you always wondered how a mitered border is done? We will show you how to measure and calculate fabric amount. Wednesday, June 20, 6-8:30 pm
Machine Appliqué
Come and learn how to use some basic supplies and get to know your machine’s decorative stitches. Tuesday, June 26, 2-5 pm

Modern Dresden

There are many names for the Dresden blocks and your’s will be a unique modern version because of the fabric choices you pick. Tuesdays: June 26 & July 17, 6-8:30 pm

Pick Your Size-Tablerunners and Placemats
Have you ever made a table runner and it wasn’t quite the size you wanted to cut your focus fabric? This class let’s you choose between three different sizes to make your focus fabric. Wednesday, June 27, 10:30-12:45 pm
Flannel Blankets & Burp Cloth Edging & Finishing
This class will show you how to make beautiful blanket edgings for that special child or baby. Thursday, June 28, 6-8 pm
Mystery Block
You will learn a shortcut technique and it’s a mystery. So bring your cutting supplies and few fabrics to make this quick and easy quilt. Thursday, June 28, 6-9 pm

JUNE SALE

All Book and Patterns - 20% off
Select Sale Fabrics - $5.00 a yard
Select Flannels - 30% off

 

MODERN MONDAY QUILT ALONG

Above is my contribution to the Modern Monday Quilt Along.  This is block #36 and not my favorite (all that piecing!).  It was supposed to be four small blocks of the letter H stitched together to make one block.  Well, I think I got carried away with my wonkiness.  Maybe no one will notice when I get all the blocks together.  Take a look at Alamosa Quilter and see what Lynn’s block looks like and then head over to see what Jennifer has in store for this week.

I have so many things to show you and not enough time.  However, I hope you will look forward to hearing about our Scrap Happy Quilters Bee that was held Saturday and Buffie’s words of wisdom about a Pandora’s box.  In another post I want to show pictures and tell you about our youngest Scrap Happy Quilter (you’ll be surprised), and I have more pictures from last week when I stopped in at the Doll Bee.  I really have been doing some sewing too and hope to show you my WIP on the Monster Quilt and my Story Quilt that I started with Mary Lou Weidman and my cow quilt from Mary Lou’s book.  I figure if I tell you now, I’m committed to get to work and finish these projects.  

Sew Sweetness is a blog that I haven’t seen before.  I love this tutorial for a planetary mini quilt. 
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

REINDEER GAMES PATTERN #3

It’s Friday and time for the third posting of Reindeer Games.  Above is my redwork version.  You can get the pdf pattern by clicking here.  I think Barb named this one Prancer.  Check out Barb’s blog and see what pattern she has up today.  And don’t forget to check out the Flicker group.

I hope you are enjoying our “game” and will join us again in two weeks for our next reindeer pattern.  You can still get the first pattern by going to this post and the second pattern by going here.   Above is my appliqué version of this week’s pattern.

♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll