A LITTLE BEE TOLD ME...

A little Bee told me that Diana had made a Mug Rug.  Isn't it stunning!  She is participating in a Mug Rug Swap and made this as her entry!  Participants are to make a mug rug using hexagons.  How clever of Diana to use hexagons as the honeycomb. Look at all that fussy cutting she had to do!  Diana is one talented lady.  Someone said, and I agree, it is too beautiful to set a coffee mug on.  I’m going to get busy and make a mug rug so I can participate in the swap. Of course, mine will be a very simple hexagon flower, but I want a chance to win Diana's mug rug.   We are supposed to put our mug rugs in a bag and I don’t remember how the swap will be done, but I’m hoping I’ll get Diana’s.    I’ll keep you posted!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Mommy By Day Crafter By Night has a great tutorial for a little birdie told me messenger bag.

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

DO YOU NEED A MUSTACHE?

A good friend and fellow quilter Jeanne Bird sent me this picture of this adorable baby quilt.  This is what Jeanne said in her email to me:

“I thought you might like to see a baby quilt I was asked to make. She (the person who asked Jeanne to make the quilt) wanted a modern look with grays and white. I decided to make a little dude bow tie quilt using neck ties from my collection. The ties are folded 3-d. The border is mustaches, which gives it a whimsical look. Last weekend the quilt was given to the gal and she loved it.  The baby shower is next month and I hope the mom to be likes it.”

What a darling quilt.  Don’t you just love that mustache border!  I wonder where Jeanne found that perfect fabric for this bow tie quilt!  Thanks Jeanne for sending the picture.  Great job!  I’m sure the new mom will love it!

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Thistle And Leaves has instructions for making your own needle threader.  Be sure and scroll all the way through it as there are lots of pictures with the instructions.

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

NEW FABRICS FOR A NEW SEASON!

On a recent visit to the Attic Window Quilt Shop I noticed some new fabrics had arrived.  Chris said I had shown you this before, but I don’t think I showed you this grouping.  The fabric on the left is Girls Rock by Kanvas Fabrics (that is the repeat).  The other bolts are from various lines that Chris pulled together to make a nice coordinating display.  I like them, don’t you?

These beautiful sunflowers with the coordinating fabrics are all from the Graffiti line by Windham Fabrics.  Love those sunflowers!

A lot of beautiful new Hoffman Batiks recently arrived at the shop.

Look here, there is even a black batik!

Beautiful blues.   Stop by the shop soon and pick up some of these beautiful new fabrics.  More are arriving all the time!

ON ANOTHER NOTE: In Color Order has a tutorial for a patchwork chevron quilt.

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

NEW BOM AT ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

A new BOM will begin soon at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Actually, there will be two blocks each month (at least that is my understanding).  Marilyn K. and Sue C. will be leaders of this BOM. Above is the sample that Marilyn made for one of the months. I love the soft colors she used and that apron is so cute!

These are the blocks that Sue made.  Isn’t that apron adorable with that cute little pocket?

This BOM quilt is from Quilt In A Day’s book Quilts from El’s Kitchen by Eleanor Burns.  A start date has not been selected yet.  Watch the calendar on the sidebar for details or call the shop and get on the list. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Sew Much Like Mom has a tutorial for a scrappy drunkard’s path.  I love this method for making curves.

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

MOD SQUAD MEETS

 The Mod Squad met Wednesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Cathy was working on her Lone Star Spiral quilt and laid it out to see how it was coming together.  It’s going to be spectacular.

 Donna joined us today.  She drove Adrienne who is still unable to drive due to surgery.  It was nice to meet Donna and I hope she will join us again.  She was working on these very small hexagons.  Note the penny that I placed next to one of the hexagons to give you an idea of how small these are.

 This is the pattern Donna is going to make.  It is from the book Quilts From Grandmother’s Garden by Jaynette Huff.  Can't wait to see this quilt!

Judi A. has joined our group and brought this block that she made for our charity quilt.  Love those colors.

Adrienne is currently limited to hand stitching and was working on a Joseph’s Coat.

Look how organized she is and ready to make this quilt!

And I finished up this paper pieced star.  I want to make a table runner but want to make the next two stars in different gradated colors.

Marilyn was also holding a class that day.  She was teaching how to make this Classmate bag.  I previously took the class and blogged about it here.   You can take the class too as Marilyn is often teaching this popular class.  Look for upcoming classes on the calendar or call the shop for information.   

Above, Nancy works on her Classmate bag.

This is Jane’s work-in-progress.  Love the Lobsters and Crabs fabric.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  The Quilting Board has a tutorial for a mini D4P.

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

APPLIQUE BEE MEMBERS ARE BUSY

I was a little late getting to the Attic Window Quilt Shop on Tuesday for the Applique Bee.  I did get there in time to snag Geri before she left the Tuesday Morning Bee and took a picture of what she was working on before she left.   She said she picked up this pre-printed/pre-colored item at AQS in Grand Rapids last year.  She is going to make it into a pillow.  Ahh, Spring!

Now for what the members of the Applique Bee were working on.  Above is Judi A.’s latest project.  When she saw that her friend had something like the above, Judi searched the net, put her thinking cap on, and came up with her own way to make this cute little needle kit.  How darling.

Judi also made this bag for her friend Sue.

This is the inside of the bag.  Note how she even put her friend’s name on the bag! 

Also included in the bag, is this darling thread catcher.  I really have to make one of those.

Lee Ann was working on stitching these blocks to background squares.  She said she found these hexagon flowers at a garage sale.  There were enough blocks to make one quilt.  However, when her two granddaughters saw them, they each wanted a quilt.  Lee Ann decided to divide the flowers up, sew them to background squares and add sashing so she could make two quilts. 

Diana has been busy making this wonderful bag.

This is a close up of the bag.  What a fantastic piece of fabric!

She also found this perfect fabric with elephants on it. 

She added many pockets to the inside of the bag. 

That's all for today.  Stop by tomorrow and see what the Mod Squad (Modern Bee) has been up to.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Jo’s Country Junction has a Bubbly quilt that looks like a lot of fun.  There are lots of links and it isn’t a tutorial exactly, but you can make this cute quilt and use up some of those scraps.

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

NEED ANOTHER BAG?

Since I have problems with piecing, I tend to shy away from patterns that involve too much piecing.  However, when I saw this bag pattern and how it is made, I had to try it. As I read about the pattern I learned that I could have  perfectly-matched seams using the Quiltsmart interfacing technique.  That it involved easy construction.  That it was a roomy, comfortable bag.

The above picture shows you the inside lining.  As I made the bag, I realized that what the pattern said was true.  This pattern was easy to make and the piecing a breeze since it is done with the  Quiltsmart printed interfacing.  It indeed does make difficult looking patterns easy! The squares of fabric are placed on a fusible interfacing printed with a grid, and this makes everything easy to sew, and I got accurate piecing. 

This is a copy of the pattern.  Included in the pattern are instructions and two Quiltsmart printed fusible interfacing panels to make one Mondo Bag. You can get the pattern at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Quilt smarter, not harder!

ON ANOTHER NOTE: When blog hopping I saw on Bejeweled Quilts a link to a free pattern.  Go see what Barb did with the pattern, then go to Sew Happy Geek to get the free baby quilt pattern. 

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

WHAT'S NEW AT THE SHOP

When I was at the Attic Window Quilt Shop last week I saw some new fabrics that I wanted to tell you about.  Isn’t this block above adorable!  I know.  Who wants to think of anything having to do with snow after our long hard winter.  But, really, it is just too cute, and you will be glad to have something cool to work on this summer when the weather gets hot.

That block is part of this panel.

These are the coordinating fabrics. 

This is a close up of one of the Warm Wishes fabrics by Red Rooster Designs.  Better buy it before it melts away!

I also fell in love with this Kitty Kat line by Blank Quilting.

This is a close up.  I love anything cats, can you tell?

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  The weather here was breathtaking. 

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Fairy Face Designs has a tutorial for a HST mini quilt.

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

NEW BOM AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

A new BOM has started at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above is one of the blocks.

This BOM is called Quilted Memories Mystery Quilt #2 and is by Common Threads.  It is $15/month, which includes, kit with Civil War fabrics, pattern, and a chapter of the novel Quilted Memories. 

This is another of the blocks.  You can pick up your kit each month or attend a class, which is on the third Wednesday of the month from 10-12.  The first class was held this week, but you can pick up your kit any time.  Check it out!

IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD:

• THE QUILTER’S ROAD TRIP is the month of April.  Twelve shops are participating.  Passports are $5.  Each shop chose a different month for its wallhanging.  Chris chose January because she loves snowmen.  Secretly she’s afraid we’ll all be made at her for choosing snowmen since we are so sick of snow here in Michigan.  I don’t think she needs to worry because that snowman is so darn cute!  Patterns and kits are available for purchase.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Melly Sews has a tutorial for sewing a collapsible box.

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

A LITTLE OF THIS AND THAT

I love this wool wallhanging.  I have posted a picture of this wallhanging before, but it was unfinished then.  Now it has the lovely lime green border and is hanging on the wall at the Attic Window Quilt Shop where you can get the pattern, which is by Trish Stuart.  I want to get this pattern and make it in cottons.

I went to the shop early yesterday hoping to see what members of the Tuesday Bee had been up to.  Above Geri shows us this beautiful queen size quilt that she made from scraps!  The pattern is Lincoln’s Platform.  Geri said the pattern was in the American Patchwork and Quilting magazine a few years ago.

Kathy made this charming quilt.  The pattern is The Country Quilt Show.  It is a wool and cotton quilt and was quilted by Bonnie Rhoby.

This is a close up of one of the blocks.  Isn’t it darling!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  This isn’t exactly a quilting project, and The Bored Zombie says the tutorial is for wedding cake toppers.  However, I thought this would be a wonderful Easter project for the grandkids.  These Minions are adorable.

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

HANDSOME MAN AND A FUNNY STORY

I have a funny story to tell you.   Above, Diana (left), Adrienne (middle), and Judy (right) talk during our recent Happy Scrapper’s meeting.

Adrienne had just had surgery on her rotator cuff, so her arm was in a sling.  We were so glad to see her at our meeting.  She is always a joy and she had missed a lot of time sewing with us as she spent a month in her homeland of New Zealand.

Above' is her handsome husband Chris.  As I said in an earlier post, I wanted to write and get permission before I posted his picture because I didn’t want to embarrass anyone.  I know men who would die before being caught in a fabric store!  So our emails went like this:

Adrienne:
Thanks for asking about Chris. ..... actually I think he would be quite chuffed at being photographed at a a ladies "happening" ... the fox in the hen house .....Haha!

Caroll:
Not being from NZ I can only guess that chuffed means...No?
I understand; that is why I asked.  I don't want to embarrass anyone.  He sure is a handsome fellow! (don't tell him I said that...it might embarrass him!)

Adrienne:
Nooooo, “chuffed'' means pretty thrilled, without being too puffed up about it. Low key thrilled. So fire away.

Adrienne:
You made me curious so I looked it up in the dictionary, and it said ''English dialect'' word for chuffed, ........  ''delighted, pleased, tickled, happy, joyous", so have at it girlfriend, post the man all over the page!

I got a big giggle out of that.  Hope you did too.  So here he is above….posted all over the page!  Doesn’t he have a nice smile!  Love that T-shirt!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Jo’s Country Junction has a free pattern for a star table runner.

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

Members of the Happy Scrappers had a belated surprise birthday party for Chris when we met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop last Saturday.  It was a “paper” party and we all brought her paper products that she could use at the shop.  Judi A. came up with this wonderful idea.  What fun to give presents that are sure to be used!

Chris (left) and Val (right) pose with the darling birthday cake that Val brought for this fun event!

This is a close up of the cake.  Isn’t it adorable!

Rosa also brought this wonderful cheesecake that her husband made for us. 

After eating my share of all this superb food, I was moaning and thinking about my diet and these sayings came to mind: 

• Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of cake. ~Author Unknown
• Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not! ~Author Unknown
• Dieting is wishful shrinking. ~Author Unknown
• And my favorite….I think I just ate my willpower. ~Author Unknown

I saw this on Pinterest and think its a good one to remember!

Hope you had a wonderful Birthday Chris!

NOTICE:  Don’t forget the Stitch-In on Friday and Saturday of this week!  Call the shop to make your reservation.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  The Purl Bee has a nice tutorial for a Striped Star mini quilt.

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