HAVE I TOLD YOU HOW MUCH I LIKE APPLIQUE?

I didn’t get any sewing done this weekend.  Attending ArtPrize and entertaining company from Pittsburgh kept me too busy.  However, I did want to show you this block above.  I saw a quilt that I liked while on the Bus Tour last February.   Unfortunately, I did not get the name of the pattern.  What I remembered were big flowers on a large scrappy background.  I love appliqué and decided I could create this design myself.  My block is 14” square.  I like how it turned out and hope to get some more blocks made soon.  I think three of these blocks in a row would make a nice wall hanging on a narrow wall in my hall.  Or add a few more blocks and it would be a nice bed runner.  I’d still like to make several blocks, maybe nine in all, and make a nice size wall hanging.  I’ll keep you posted.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  City House Studio has a tutorial for a scrappy sticks block.  This would be a great way to use up those narrow pieces of fabric that you don’t know what to do with and don’t have the heart to throw away.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

DO YOU LIKE TO COLOR?

Coloring is perhaps one of my favorite memories from childhood and today is still one of my favorite things to do. When I saw this beautiful quilt (above) I thought that now I can combine my two favorite things: coloring and sewing.

I found this bolt of fabric in the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

This is a close up of the fabric.  It is called Monochrome by Jenny Beyer for RJR Fabrics.

 This is a close up of one of the blocks in the quilt above.  I understand that crayons were used on this fabric, but I’d like to try colored pencils, or maybe some fabric paint.  Whatever I do, I bet it will be lots of fun. 

OF INTEREST:  Enjoy boldly painted plywood quilt blocks on historic barns and buildings when you travel the Vicksburg Quilt Trail.  You can travel through the scenic countryside and visit the quaint town of Vicksburg, Michigan.  Depending on when you go, it might be a good time to enjoy the beautiful fall colors too.  For further information contact the Vicksburg Quilt Trail at 269-329-04811.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Echinops & Aster blog has a tutorial for a sewing machine cover.  Really cute!

PS:  Molly Flanders was asking to see our favorite quilt, so I'm linking up to her today.  Check out her blog here to see lots of other favorites. 

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

NEW STITCHERIES, RULER, PICTURE

Above is a beautiful new Stitchery that Barb David made as a sample for the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  This pattern is called Gingerbread Square by Crabapple Hill.  Kits are available at the shop.

This is another sample that Barb made.  The pattern for this darling wall hanging is called Smiley Tree and is by Jana Davidson.  It is so cute!

 

After our Whimsical Gardens Group met recently, Barb G. showed us a couple table toppers that she made using the Creative Grids Straight Out of Line ruler.  I didn’t realize it until I got home, that I didn’t get a picture of the entire runner.  The ends are turned over so the backing shows and little buttons hold them down.  What a clever idea.

 This is another table runner that Barb G. made.  Barb’s blog is Garden Path Quilts.  

You can get this ruler at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

Judi A. took this picture for me earlier this month when Diane Moore stopped in at the shop looking for fabric to border this darling quilt.  I’m sorry but I don’t have any information on the pattern.  Thanks Judi for your help!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  A Few Scraps has a tutorial for a poly pockets see through zipper pouch.  I like this idea because you can so easily see what is inside.  This is a great gift for children and adults alike!  (Can you tell I’m starting to think about gift giving time?  Vickie told me this evening that Christmas is just three months away!  Yikes!  I have to get busy NOW!)

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

WHIMSICAL GARDEN BOM MEETS AT ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

The Whimsical Garden BOM group met Tuesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above is a picture of the block we will be working on for the next month.  Kits were distributed today.

Cathy and Sandi showed us their blocks that they had worked on during the past month and had some questions about completing them. They look like they are coming along fine!  Just a few more blocks to go on this fun quilt.

  I arrived early for class wanting to see if anyone from the Tuesday Bee had anything to share.  Above Geri shows us her latest project.  It is awesome.

This is a close up of this darling quilt.  Geri said each small square in the nine patch finishes at ½” square.  If my math is correct, each nine patch is only 1 ½” square.  I can’t imagine working with something that small.  And look at how perfect each block is!  I’m showing this to the Happy Scrappers.   What a great way to use those small scraps.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Pink Chalk Studio has a tutorial for a Water Bottle Carrier.  I have to make one of these.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

FEELING SAD? MAKE A STAR!

What do you do when you feel sad and lonely?  That’s how I felt after my company left.  The only way I knew to alleviate those uncomfortable feelings was to head to my sewing room where I played all day!  What fun.  I knew playing with fabric would make me feel better.  I had seen the pattern for this star and decided to give it a try.  I love how it turned out.

Recently, when blog hopping, I discovered the Carmen Rose Prose blog and the pattern/tutorial for how to make this star. It is foundation pieced and above you can see the first steps.

Here is another look at the finished project.   The tutorial is in two parts.  You can find the first part here and the second part here.  I loved the freedom of creating this star.  Not only is it a great way to use up some of my scraps, but I was able to get involved in the creation process, which made me forget all about missing my loved ones.  Why don’t you give it a try?

ON ANOTHER NOTE: If you’d like something more traditional, check out Snips Snippets blog where you’ll find a wonderful tutorial for a Star Dresden.  It’s quite long, but thorough and the end product is darling.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

CAN YOU MAKE A QUILT LIKE THIS?

I had out-of-state company last week and we spent a good part of the week/weekend at ArtPrize.  ArtPrize is a 19-day international art competition held in three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Art from around the world pops up in every inch of downtown, and it's all free and open to the public. It is so epic that Time Magazine called ArtPrize one of "Five Festive Events You Won't Want to Miss in 2013."
 You can imagine my delight when we walked into DeVos Place and saw this beautiful quilt.  A man was standing by the quilt, holding a baseball cap in his hands as he explained his quilt to a viewer.  I tried to get closer.  I was impressed that a man made this quilt and wanted to ask him how he got that binding to look so perfect.  After a few seconds and a few inches closer the man turned to me and thrust the hat toward me.  “Take this,” he said.  Take this?  Why would I want his sweaty old hat?  I wanted to know more about the quilt.  “Here, take this,” he said again, thrusting the hat at me.  Apprehensive, I took the hat and then realized why he wanted me to take it.  “This is…oh, my gosh, this hat and that quilt are made of wood!” I exclaimed.  Fraser Smith  smiled and nodded his head.  I stepped closer to the quilt and admired the “stitching” on it.  I was really fooled by this beautiful carved wood.  To get a closer look at Fraser Smith's other pieces, go here.  I hope he wins a prize!  I wish I could make a cloth quilt that looked that great!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Urban Threads has a tutorial for a Keyboard Cat!
 
Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

DO YOU HAVE COURAGE?

Have you seen this before?  I started on it while attending a retreat in West Virginia when Mary Lou Weidman taught us how to make a story quilt.  Can you see what my story is?  Anyway, I was cleaning today, getting ready for visitors from out of state, and I found this quilt.  I came home from the retreat, worked on it for a bit and then put it aside when another project called my name.  Has that ever happened to you?  Maybe I can get back to it once my company is gone.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  I love what Melody of Fibermania does.  Her colors are awesome.  She has a free pattern for you.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

RED BIRDS WHITE FLOWERS AND BLUE BACKGROUND

Today I want to show you what I’ve been working on.  Blues this dark are not what I usually work with and I was apprehensive when I first started this project.  After adding the red birds and white flowers, I like this table runner.  I still have to decide how I'm going to do the eyes, and then quilt it.

This is a close-up of a couple blocks.  This pattern is from Kim Schaefer’s Calendar Runners, table décor whimsy for every season.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Stitched in Color has an interesting Go Anywhere Stripe tutorial.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

ANOTHER BRIGHT STAR

Saturday when the Happy Scrappers met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, Vickie showed us the first quilt she made from the same book, Lone Star Quilts & Beyond by Jan Krentz.  Vickie said she didn’t like how this quilt turned out and liked the one I blogged about here much better.  I don’t know why because I think it’s beautiful.  However, I must admit that I do like the second quilt better. 

Vickie said she learned a lot when she made the first quilt.  She showed us how she cut small pieces of fabric and placed them in the design as she wanted them.  That helped her make sure she was putting the correct color pieces in the right place.  What a clever idea.

While we Happy Scrappers were working away on Saturday, Lori (that's her in the middle) came into the shop with these two quilts.  I begged her to show us and let me take a picture.  What a good-looking quilt .

This is a closer view of Lori's quilt.

Lori also showed us this quilt.  She said she made it a while ago when she took a BOM from the shop.  She said this is going to be a gift for a special friend.  Both quilts were quilted by Cathy Thomas who owns Looking Glass Quilting.  I wish I had taken a picture of the back of this quilt to show you the exquisite quilting that Cathy did.  If you are interested, you can contact Cathy by calling 517-626-2412.

DON’T FORGET:  The next Stitch-In at the Attic Window Quilt Shop will be held September 20th and 21st.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  The Bored Zombie has instructions for Dizzy Dresdens.  Besure to read post #1 because that is where the pattern link is.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

HAPPY SCRAPPERS HAVE MORE SHOW-N-TELL

The Happy Scrappers met Saturday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and again, I have lots of show-n-tell for you, and I’ll probably divide it into two posts.  First I want to show you this lovely batik block that is in Adrienne’s quilt. 

This is a picture of the full quilt.  Isn’t it fantastic! 

She said she is going to use this fabric for the backing!  Wonderful!

Diana had a darling quilt to show us.  She said she made this pillow quilt for a little boy in the Netherlands. Notice the pillow blocks at the top.

This is the back of the quilt.  I bet that little boy will go nuts when he sees this.

Above Diana shows us how the quilt folds into the attached pillow.  I love how when you turn the pillow over to put the quilt inside, you get this cute little truck!  Diana said the little boy is crazy about trucks.  This will be so handy for those sleep-overs or camping.

Peggy made this stunning quilt with all Kaffe Fassett fabrics.   Those colors and those fabrics makes me want to make one just like it.

Take a look at these tiny hexagon pieces.  Judy F. is putting these hexagons together and then has a larger focus piece for the center.  I’m amazed at the excellent work on these small pieces.  I'm not sure what she is going to do with these.

Peggy made this adorable quilt and is donating it to the West Michigan Quilt Guild’s who then gives them to the neonatal unit at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital.  Did you know that these quilts serve a medical purpose?  They are placed over the incubators to provide darkness and quiet as babies grow and heal more quickly in an environment that imitates being yet unborn.  If you would like to donate a quilt, just remember that the dimensions for the quilts are no smaller than 30 X 30 inches and no larger than 40 X 40 inches.  They do not need to be square. 

Janalee worked on her paper pieced focus squares.  I love the colors she is using.  She is doing her squares a little different from what some of us did, but that’s okay.  It looks wonderful as is and will make a brilliant quilt.

Here is Rosa still working on the quilt she is making for her husband.  These blocks are quite large.  I’m looking forward to seeing them all put together as her fabrics are tremendous. 

Paula worked on this eye-catching pinwheel quilt.

I wanted to show you the progress Adrienne is making on her low value quilt that I previously showed you.  It’s coming right along!

And this is what I worked on Saturday.  A pink string quilt.  I think I told you some time ago that Adrienne was making a pink string quilt.  I liked hers so much that I decided to make one too.  I still have many blocks to go.  A special thank you to Adrienne because she had some pink strings left over and shared them with me.  What a special friend!

That’s all for today folks.  More to come tomorrow.

DON’T FORGET:  The next Stitch-In at the Attic Window Quilt Shop will be held September 20th and 21st.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Speaking of the Happy Scrappers and pinwheels, I found this scrappy pinwheel tutorial at Berlin Quilter and think it would be a fun way to use up those scraps. 

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

I promised to show you more of the happenings at the Happy Scrappers’ meeting held Wednesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I couldn’t wait to show you this photo above.  Judi A. is holding her Sampler block.  She received the kit and instructions earlier in the week and decided to make her large block during our meeting on Wednesday.  What a hoot!  I think Judi did a little too much talking as this is NOT how the block should look!  LOL  I have to laugh because it looks like mine that I posted about last week!  Judi said she may leave this block as is and call it her “one” mistake in the quilt! Sounds good to me!

Above is a picture of the two smaller blocks that we are to make for Sampler this month.

I got a giggle out of Judi.  She made me feel so good knowing that a talented lady like her can make a mistake too.  Remember, Judi made all those cute little pins that I showed in the last post.  Above, is a display of some of Judi’s little coin purses.  Just look at all these little darlings.

Look at how tiny this one is.  I can’t imagine putting a zipper in something this small!  Someone asked Judi what one could do with this and she said, “Put a penny in it.” 

Can you guess what this is?  Judi said her husband wanted to know what she was going to do with his duck tape.

She made a coin purse out of it!  See the penny?  What a talent!

Here is another coin purse.  This one is more feminine with a cute ruffle down the front.

You’re probably wondering what the heck this is.  It is that little round coin purse that you see next to the brown coin purse in the first picture of all the purses...here it unzipped, of course.

Isn’t this little purse with the flower on the front awesome?   Thanks Judi for sharing all your little coin purses with us.  You are a talented lady.  And, remember, I’m laughing with you and not at you.

DON’T FORGET:  The next Stitch-In at the Attic Window Quilt Shop will be held September 20th and 21st.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Kitchen Table Quilting has a tutorial for a Striped Chevrons Quilt Top.
Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!