MISSING ALL MY QUILTING FRIENDS

I took this picture from my front door.  Wish you were here! 

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January* at the Attic Window Quilt Shop!   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• 2014 Sampler, Saturday, February 1st at 9:30 a.m.
• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Sew Lux Fabrics has a tutorial for a hugs and Kisses mini Quilt.

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

APPLIQUE BEE CANCELLED

 

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!  I just wanted to tell you that the 1 p.m. Applique Bee which is scheduled for Tuesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop has been cancelled.  Well, you can still go if you can make it and are brave enough to drive on these icy roads.  I, however, cannot get out of my subdivision.  Three people were stuck on the hill (it’s really only a bump) in front of my house this afternoon.  The city plow has not been down our street in three days and I’m just not brave enough to try to drive my light car.  Besides, I heard on the TV that we should stay off the road unless absolutely necessary.  (One more day of this and it may be necessary because I'm going bonkers!) So sorry about this as I really wanted to see what you’ve been doing and it was our first Applique Bee of 2014!  Hope you all can make it next month. 

The above picture is what I did today.  I practiced on my free motion quilting.  I need lots and lots of practice! (My daughter took one look at it and said, "Hasn't anyone ever told you that you're not supposed to use machinery when you've been drinking!")

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• 2014 Sampler, Saturday, February 1st at 9:30 a.m.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Kim’s Big Quilting Adventure has a darling Heart Struck Table Runner that will be perfect for February!

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

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SNOWED IN?

I have heard that you should look for the good in everything.  So instead of moaning and groaning about this weather, I decided to tackle a project in my sewing room.  After much agonizing I decided to finish the Charity Quilt that the Happy Scrappers started.  Members contributed the blocks and I said I would put it together and quilt it.  I have been putting off that finishing business because I couldn’t decide on a layout.  I made one more improve block (above). 

Then I put the quilt together like this.  I love how it looks. The pattern is Converging Corners and you can find it at Film In The Fridge. The quilt is now ready to be quilted.  Since we are again snowed in and being told to “stay off the roads,” I hope to start the quilting today.  I would advise people to call the shop to verify if a class is being held.  It looks like this weather won’t let up until Wednesday.  Ugh!  Oh, well, we can get lots of sewing done.  What are you working on?

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• 2014 Sampler, Saturday, February 1st at 9:30 a.m.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Ellison Lane has a hot pad tutorial that would be great for any season.

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

FREAKING FRIDAY!!!

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick, sick, sick of this weather.  Here’s me (note:name tag says Carol) sitting by the window wishing I could go outside and play.  I think a number of quilters here in Michigan are feeling the same way.  I just called the Attic Window Quilt Shop to see if anyone showed up for the Stitch-In.  I guess there were two brave ladies!  I just am not that brave.  Of course, those weather people on TV scare you into not leaving your house.  I do know that Lee Ann’s Strip Street Bag Class scheduled for Saturday has been CANCELLED!  Ugh!  Have I told you how much I hate this weather!  BTW, Carol and other dolls in the shop are for sale.  You can read about them here. 

At least we will have a driver and a nice warm bus when we go on the Heart of Winter Tour!  Have you made your reservations yet?  You can read here  about all the fun we had last year.

The Applique Bee is still on the schedule for Tuesday from 1-3.  I’m hoping Martha will bring her quilt to show us.  I understand that she has it finished and you can see a picture of it at Garden Path Quilts.  Does anyone else have their quilt completed?

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• Next Saturday is February 1st, and that means the 2014 Sampler will be held at 9:30 a.m.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Why Not Sew has a tutorial for a birdie wall hanging.

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

FRIENDSHIP FROM THE NETHERLANDS

Evi McGrath of the Netherlands recently sent a package to the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I posted previously about Evi, here and here.  Evi sews with the Tuesday Bee during the summer months when she and her husband come to Grand Rapids on vacation (her husband is from this area).  Included in the package that Evi sent were pattern and directions for making these darling Friendship Hearts.  Earlier this week Chris shared Evi’s instructions and the group made these darling hearts shown above.   

Tuesday Bee met earlier in the morning and Marilyn showed her latest quilt.  I believe this is Marilyn’s own design.  She came up with another way to use the pineapple ruler.  Isn’t that awesome!

Adrienne also had several things to share that day.  Above she shows us the gorgeous quilt that she was binding.  And she shows us this wonderful sewing bag that Judi A. made for her.  Check out that little thread catcher on the table that goes with it.  And look at that lime green lining, Adrienne’s favorite color!  What a wonderful gift! Judi, you are awesome!

A very special THANK YOU to Diana for taking these pictures for the blog.  Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more of Diana’s work as I have asked her to help me with picture taking.  It seems that she and I are on a different schedule.  She is often at the shop when I can’t be there, so in the future we can have more pictures of all the fantastic things the ladies of the Attic Window Quilt Shop are making. 

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is Saturday, February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Elsie’s Girl has a tutorial for making a scrappy Bear Paw block.  I love scrappy!

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

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR SCRAPS

Before I got this terrible cold, I was working on some string blocks.  I have promised myself to use up some of these scraps this year.  Above are two blocks that I completed.

You know the drill…strips are stitched onto a foundation and then the square is cut to size.

Then I created half square triangles.  I saw a creative way of using these blocks but cannot find the blog where I saw it.  This blog had a tutorial for making the string squares and then showed creative ways for layouts.  You know how it goes…go to one blog, then hop to another, and before long you’ve spent three hours on the computer and have no idea where you started.  Above I have pictured placing a plain fabric (right sides facing) onto the strip block and creating a half square triangle.

What is so nice, when you make a block and then spit it this way, you end up with two blocks.

I thought the blog I was looking for was Scraps and Strings, but could not find the post.

Then I thought maybe it was Happy Quilting, but still could not find the post.

Then I went to Julie K Quilts where I found creative ways to use scraps.  But none of these showed the post that I was looking for with the various layouts for these half square triangles.

So I’m showing you what I’ve come up with.

At any rate, be sure and hunt around on those blogs I told you about because they have great ideas for using your scraps.  These are fun to make, although I do not seem to making much of a dent in that scrap pile.  I don’t know which layout I will use, maybe several, as I think I’m going to have enough half square triangles for several quilts.  That is fine with me  I love making these blocks and plan on donating them to the Quilts For Wheels group at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 
Ah, guess what!  When I was looking around for a link today, I found the blog I was looking for!  Blooming Poppies has a wonderful tutorial for making these string blocks and shows you various lays outs for them.  Check it out.
Also, be sure and check out Sew Many Ways today.  I love this idea she has for us today.

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

STITCH-IN AND MYSTERY BLOCK

Look what happened at the Stitch-In on Saturday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop!  This stitch-in included a mystery block and above you can see the mystery block reveal.  Don’t you just love those fabrics!  I was unable to attend as I was home nursing a head cold, so Diana kindly took pictures and sent them to me.  From left to right, Diana, Judi, Rosa, Pam, Nancy, and Lee Ann.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to see Rosa’s quilt either, but thankfully Diana sent me this picture.  I have watched Rosa work on this quilt for her husband for a while and was so looking forward to seeing it completed.  The fabrics were so colorful in this King size quilt.  I think she used the 10-minute block.  I like how your eye sees circles.  Beautiful quilt, Rosa.  And a special thank you to Diana for sending me the pictures.

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• You won’t want to miss the Easy Heart Ornament class on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 1-2. 
• So many of you have asked about this – A Folded Star class will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1-4. 
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Gwenny Penny has a tutorial for an out-to-eat place mat.

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

A VARIETY OF IDEAS

Today I have a little of this and a little of that to show you.  First is this beautiful Wool Mat.  There will be a class on how to make it on Monday, Jan. 27th from 7-9, at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. 

Above is a picture of the Strip Street Bag.  You can make this bag with Lee Ann on Saturday, Jan. 25th from 10-3.  What a fun bag to make!

Calling all sewers!  You will want to join Marilyn in making this wonderful bag.

When you open the bag you can see all the pockets and special places to keep your sewing supplies.  I’m not sure a date for this class has been set, so watch for further information on making this bag.

I wanted to show you my bag that I made at Chris’s bag class last week!  I made two: one for my daughter and one for my DIL.  The girls were thrilled that I put the black dot fabric on the outside and used the red for the lining.  I love making these bags!

Check out this stunning quilt by Pauline.  She participated in the Cotton Club Freedom Rings BOM last year at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Fantastic!  Kits for this quilt are still available at the shop; however, they are in limited supply.

Remember this block?  Probably not, but it is the one Diana was working on during Happy Scrappers last Saturday.  I posted a picture of all the tiny pieces she was using here.  The nickel next to the block gives you an idea of how small the pieces were.  Great job, Diana!

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 13-18 – Patterns – Buy one and get one of equal or lesser value at ½ off.
• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• A Stitch-In with a Mystery Block will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th from 10-5. 
• You won’t want to miss the Easy Heart Ornament class on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 1-2. 
• So many of you have asked about this – A Folded Star class will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1-4. 
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Craftiness is Not Optional has  a quick tutorial for a little hangy thingy for a child’s crib…fill it with books, toys, or binkies to keep them happy after naps. (or before…)

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

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH ONE RULER/TOOL

Have you seen all the special rulers out lately?  I’d love to try them, but hate spending money on a ruler that I will use only once.  The other day Chris gave me the Wedge Ruler by Creative Grids and told me to play with it.  So I did. 

Much to my surprise, I found that there are lots of wonderful patterns for using these various rulers in the shop.  I chose this pattern above.  However, after the first couple blocks I decided not to make an entire quilt and made the table topper in the first picture.

Then I took a second look at the pattern that comes with the ruler and decided to use my scraps to make that block.  It made a nice table topper.

I liked that pattern so much that I got some brighter fabrics and made another table runner.  I really like this one.

Then I thought, what else can I do with this ruler?  I made the wedge square and then placed wonky strips across the bottom of each block and came up with this cute block with the star in the middle.  This was such a fun ruler that now I’d like to make the large quilt in the first pattern that I showed you.  I would recommend getting this ruler and looking at all the new patterns for using these rulers in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 13-18 – Patterns – Buy one and get one of equal or lesser value at ½ off.
• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• A Stitch-In with a Mystery Block will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th from 10-5. 
• You won’t want to miss the Easy Heart Ornament class on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 1-2. 
• So many of you have asked about this – A Folded Star class will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1-4. 
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:   Stitched In Color has a tutorial for making a journal cover.

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

HERE IS A REAL MAN QUILT!

 

I couldn't wait to show you this beautiful quilt.  Gene (Lee Ann's husband) made this quilt and quilted it himself!  He did a wonderful job.  Lee Ann told me he picked out the fabrics himself and decided to use the Scrap Crazy Template from Creative Grids to make the blocks.

 This is a close up of one of the blocks.  What an interesting layout.  I think I'm going to try that template!

This is a close-up of Gene's quilting.  Congratulations, Gene, on a job well done!  Hope to see more of your quilting.!

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 13-18 – Patterns – Buy one and get one of equal or lesser value at ½ off.
• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET:  

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• A Stitch-In with a Mystery Block will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th from 10-5.  
• You won’t want to miss the Easy Heart Ornament class on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 1-2.  
• So many of you have asked about this – A Folded Star class will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1-4.  
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:   Don't Call Me Betsy has a tutorial for a Cathedral Star Block.

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

MORE HAPPY SCRAPPING!

The Happy Scrappers met this past Saturday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Some of us were still working on our mystery blocks that I posted about last week.  Above, Rosa and Adrienne show their blocks.  I love their bright colors.

Peggy’s design of the mystery block turned out a little differently from what Rosa and Adrienne had.  I love Peggy’s fabrics.  She said she is going to make it into a table topper.

Above is Judi’s block.  I love what she did with her block and wonder how she got that square in the middle.

Above is my block.  I didn’t like all that dark green in the middle of mine, so I appliquéd on a star. Isn’t it amazing how one block can look so different?

Other members worked on various projects.  I don’t know the name of the block Diana was working on but am amazed at how she works with these small pieces.

Diana is so organized.  She also does tatting and showed me how she stores her tatted snowflakes from year to year.  She showed me a picture of her Christmas tree and it looked so lovely with all these various size tatted snowflakes.  What a clever idea!

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*   Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 13-18 – Patterns – Buy one and get one of equal or lesser value at ½ off.
• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• A Stitch-In with a Mystery Block will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th from 10-5. 
• You won’t want to miss the Easy Heart Ornament class on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 1-2. 
• So many of you have asked about this – A Folded Star class will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1-4. 
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:   Just One More Stitch has a tutorial for a woven strings block.

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

ARE YOU A BAG LADY?

I’m not sure how it happened, but when I discovered the Project Bag class had been changed from a night class to an afternoon class at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, I dropped all house work, and went to class.  There were four of us making these lovely and useful bags.  Above Kay shows you her small bag.   I love the fabrics she chose.

Dee shows us her large bag.  Another cute fabric choice.  We each did our own quilting on the bags.  You can purchase kits at the shop. Each kit includes instructions and fabrics to make three different size bags.  Even if you can't attend a class, you'll be able to make these darling bags.

Judi shows us her large bag!  I love how she picked up the wine color in the fabric for her zipper.  These bags are so easy and quick to make and like I said, very handy and useful.  I made a small one but gave it to my daughter-in-law before I could even get a picture of it.  It is the perfect size to carry her mini tablet that she got for Christmas.  I’ll show you the larger one I’m making for my daughter when I get it finished.

While attending our impromptu class, Julie’s Doll Making Class was also in session.  I love the dolls that these women make.  Their skills are way beyond mine. I’m not sure which doll they were working on today, but above is a doll made in the past.

Sometimes things just work out right, and because the class time was changed I got to see this wonderful quilt that Julie made for her great nephew Aidan.  The quilt is Dashing Dragons and the free pattern can be found here.  Julie is a doll maker and hasn’t quilted in 25 years.  She said all the women in her Doll group helped her choose fabrics.

This is a close up of one of the blocks.  Julie said this is the first time she has done machine quilting.  I tried to get a close up but it doesn’t look like I got close enough.  I wanted you to see the special stitches that Julie used to embellish the quilt.  This quilt is darling!

SNOW DAYS:  FREE Snowman Pattern during the month of January*  Specials for the month:

• Week of Jan. 6-11 – Books – 20% off
• Week of Jan. 13-18 – Patterns – Buy one and get one of equal or lesser value at ½ off.
• Week of 20-25 – Notions – 15% off.
• Week of Jan. 27-31 – Fabrics – Buy three yards and get one yard free of equal or lesser value!
• *Does not include sale items.
• Reminder – All handmade consignment baskets are $5 off during the month of January.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Heart of Winter Tour is February 8th.  Call the shop to make your reservation as space is limited and the bus is filling up fast!
• A Stitch-In with a Mystery Block will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th from 10-5. 
• You won’t want to miss the Easy Heart Ornament class on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 1-2. 
• So many of you have asked about this – A Folded Star class will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1-4. 
• You can’t have too many bags!  Lee Ann is teaching a Strip Street Bag class on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10-3.
• For those who just like to sew, come sew with us when we have another Stitch-In on Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-5 and/or the UFO Day on Monday, Jan. 27th, from 10-5.
• As always, call the Shop to reserve your spot.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:    Sew Mama Sew has a tutorial for Mix It Up Cocktail Coasters

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