Friday Fun Day and The Giveaway

Friday, October 28, 2011
Hi Everyone,

Here we are in Houston... got up early and almost everyone is still asleep. The giveaway is being hosted today by Maureen you don't want to miss getting in on a little bit of this..

you get to pick your palette either Glamour or Dreamer...

Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter there will be more updates on Market. Sample Spree tonight.... woohoo!!!!

Market Bag and The Gangs All Here

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Hi Everyone,

This will be a quick blog post... there is just so much to do before I leave at oh dark thirty tomorrow morning. While I am gone I will be posting sporadically if you follow me on Facebook you will get the whole low down as it happens. Because I now have an HTC Status... so I can post pictures fast and easy :)

As promised a pic of the bag I made myself for Market. I have been wanting to make a bag with my Parisville stash for the longest... so here it is. I made a backpack. It should make things easier. Sally's idea :)

Meet the Gang is all here and in the shop.

And the Pezzy Prints followed the gang home... they all showed up yesterday.


It is possible that the Newsletter might be a day or two late. I will do my best to get it out but since I won't be home it might not get done until I get back. Sorry about that.

I am closing the shop for two days because I won't be able to ship anything until Tuesday. It will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Talk soon!

Getting All My Ducks In A Row... And Waddling Them To Market

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Hi Everyone,

I can't believe I have to pack tomorrow. My flight is in the wee hours of Thursday morning. I had 5 things that were on my list to finish before the first weekend in November. Here is the latest finish that has to be in the mail before I go:

Finished it Sunday night. It will be hard to say goodbye to it. I heart it for sure.

Here are the other things in the order in which they were due:


 Scrappy Mug Rug

 Delighted Bunting

GO! Baby tutorial.

The last thing on the list is my Habitat challenge quilt for the Modern Quilt Guild. It isn't done but I have 4 days when I get home to work on it. It is all laid out and just needs to be appliqued and bound. I don't want to show it because I want it to be a surprise for the guild. I am pretty happy with myself for getting everything done.

So since most of my have tos were done I made myself a bag for Market. I will show it to you tomorrow. I don't know why but I always feel like I need a new bag when I go to Market.

Here is the yummy that showed up to the shop yesterday:



AS Tiffany said to me yesterday "I hope the rest of The Gang finds their way here today" LOL

Lark, Outfoxed and Half of Meet The Gang Are Here...

Monday, October 24, 2011
One of the Meet the Gang Boxes must have gotten seperated LOL

working on getting it posted in the shop

Happy Monday We Have Winners Of Delighted and Pincushion Goodness

Hi Everyone!

Gonna be a great day around here! Lark will be here this afternoon! Woot! And we have winners of the Bottle Cap Pin Cushion kits and Delighted Fat Quarters...


So without further ado... Mr. Random has a list randomizer so I used it to pick the 11 names. #1 wins the Fat Quarters everyone else gets pin cushion kits.


Here they are in order:


55.
mblittle5 said...
Thanks for the tuorial. And the giveaway.

43.
Candice said...
FQs???!!! So yummy :) Thanks miss Julie :)

69.
Mom C said...
Lark is really pretty. What a fun pincushion. Thanks.

54.
robin said...
Cute! Thanks for the tutorial. :)

74.
Marcia W. said...
Lucky you - attending quilt market - I would love to win some Delighted and / or a pin cushion kit. The bottle cap idea is amazing for a pin cushion. Thanks for the giveaway. Oh! returned to look at the solids - they are lovely. Sometimes solids are loosely woven, so knowing these have a silky feel is a plus.

47.
Paula said...
Very cute and Delighted is a really beautiful line. Thanks for the chance!
97.
jmniffer said...
Fun project with a great fabric line. Thanks for the video; I do so much better with visual vs printed instructions. Thanks for the chance.

95.
Beth said...
Thanks for sharing the fun!

93.
Melissa said...
It is interesting that I keep finding new favorite fabrics:) Today, I am really loving the Delighted line! Thanks for offering the chance to win:)

7.
Janet said...
So cute! I'd love to win the kit...and the delighted fabric is awesome. Thanks for the giveaway

32.
Jeanne said...
Isn't that the sweetest thing. I know what I can do with 10 or so of those. Guess I will be busy making the bitties. Thanks

I will be emailing you all for your address. Thanks to everyone for participating.

In Which The Winner Of The Mystery Prize Is Announced.

Saturday, October 22, 2011
... well I thought it sounded more elegant than winner winner chicken dinner... and you have to be elegant when you giveaway Rendezvous...

Dang it is so pretty.....

So let's get to it... Mr. Random said:



And Ms. #291 is:

Debra said...
I already like you on Fcaebook!

Friday fun day?

Friday, October 21, 2011
Hi Everyone,

The Giveaway is here  in case you missed it. I hope you will forgive me but I am taking the day off from blogging... or kinda... 'cause obviously I am here right? I have been sick all week and I just need a day to recover.

Thought I would leave you with a picture of something else that is coming next week. Everything is getting here just in time for me to leave LOL

Market...It's Just a Week Away...

Thursday, October 20, 2011
Hi Everyone,

Yes, it  is true. A week from today I will be on a plane to Market... where I will hopefully be able to grab some of this from Sample Spree:

Good Fortune by Kate Spain
I love those colors don't you? Yummy wonderful! (sorry Kate I stole your picture... couldn't help it really!)

Wanna hear something funny? I love it when I go to look at my bank account online and there are several thousand dollars gone... sounds weird I know but that always means something good is coming. Lark will be here Monday and Outfoxed and Meet The Gang should be here soon too... I don't get shipping notices so it is always a fun surprise when it lands on my doorstep.

I posted the few Free Spirit Designer Solids that I got in to the shop... I wish I could take a picture that was like feel-o-vision so you could feel these soft, satiny, delicious fabrics...

The Parrot Blue (last one in second row) is much more vibrant than that and matches the bright teal in Meet The Gang perfectly... I have had my little charm squares out matching things up... I am hoping to carry a nice selection of fabrics that match the new collections coming this fall and winter. Hint: a few of these match the new Ty Pennington collection that is coming in December... I wish I could get pics of it.

Talk soon!

It's My Party and I'll Craft If I Want To...

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Okay it isn't really my party... it is Amanda's but since she is letting us Creative Consultants help host it all around the country and the world... well you get the picture.


This is Delighted... just in case you haven't seen it around here enough :) What you can't see from the pictures is how amazing this would be for Christmas decorations. It would also be oh so adorable for any room in the house but especially a spunky girl... and this adorable bunting panel....


Imagine the Tea Parties!

All of the girls on the design team are celebrating in their own way today. Sally and Brooke have party posts up already so when you are done here you should go over there and check it out. Really if you aren't following the other girls on the team you should think about doing it... they are so amazing and creative. Here is the entire list:










 
While Sally was here last week we recorded a video for you so you could have instructions for the craft we are making. It is a Bottlecap Pin Cushion and she and I decided to add a ring to it. Here is the video.. you will get to hear my voice instead of just reading my typing... and the music is from Sally's band's first album... so cool!



This was done in one take so please be kind LOL

What would a party be without a goodie bag to take home? So yes, Virginia, there is a giveaway. I will be choosing ten people to send a bottle cap pin cushion kit to. All you will have to supply is the glue and fiber fill. I will even send you a ring in case you want to make a ring pin cushion like we did in the video. One lucky winner will win a fat quarter pack of one of the colorways of Delighted of their choosing. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will pick the winners on Monday 10/24


... in shop news Lark did not come yesterday but it will be here next Monday... what did come yesterday is the most beautiful solid fabric I have ever seen... Free Spirit Designer Solids are gorgeous. They have a soft satiny finish to the hand that is just to die for. The colors are vibrant... honestly the prettiest solids I have seen. I will have them up in the shop tomorrow.... just a few colors to start but I will be ordering more.

GO! Baby Birdhouse Quilt Tutorial and Last Day For Discount

Monday, October 17, 2011
Hi Everyone!

Phew what a weekend! First the hubby brought home the creeping crud (AKA common cold) from work and shared it with me. Then I sewed my little heart out to get this tutorial ready for you today.



As you can probably tell from the name of this post the super gracious and oh so generous people over at Accuquilt gave me a Go! Baby to play with. Did you know if you sign up to receive their newsletter you get 22 free patterns (you don't even have to have a GO! to use them either). So cool (just so you know if you use that link they give me points, wouldn't want you to think I was trying to sneek one by you ;) ). You can also "Like" them on facebook here they always have something fun going on over there. I actually liked them before I had a GO! just 'cause I wanted to see what they were up to.



Along with it came three dies that I chose. I ran ever so swiftly to Accuquilt.com and chose these cute things. Of course while I was there I couldn't resist picking a few more for my own personal uses eh hem... :)





Let's get started shall we?

GO! Baby Birdhouse Quilt Tutorial

Supply List:

Fat Eighth - Roof Fabric
Fat Eighth - Birdhouse Fabric
Fat Quarter - Hole and Post Fabric
6" Square - Bird Fabric
Multiple 6" Squares - Leaves Fabric
1/2 yd - Background and Binding Fabric
1/2 yd - Backing Fabric
1 yd Fusible Web

** More fabric may be needed if you are trying to match directional prints

Tools:

GO! Baby Fabric Cutter
GO! 3 1/2" Drunkards Path Die #55070
GO! Bird Die #55352
GO! Fall Medley Die #55041
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Rotary Cutter and Mat
Thread
Straight Pins

Cutting:

For Birdhouse Block (cut all pieces for this block on crosswise grain, parallel to the selvage):

1 - 6" strip Roof Fabric
2 - 6" strips Birdhouse Fabric
1 - 6" by 12" Rectangle of Background Fabric
1 - 6" strip Hole Fabric
2 - 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" Rectangles Background Fabric (does not need to be crosswise grain)
1 - 2 1/2" x 4" Rectangle Roof Fabric (does not need to be crosswise grain)
1 - 6" square Bird Fabric
1 - 6" square fusible web

For Quilt:

1 - 3 1/2" x 16 1/2" Rectangle Post Fabric
2 - 6 1/2" x 16 1/2" Rectangles Background Fabric
1 - 3 1/2"  x 15 1/2" Recangle Background Fabric
2 - 3 1/2" x 11" Rectangles Background Fabric
Multiple 6" Squares Fabrics for Leaves and Fusible Web to Match



Instructions:

1. Use that cute little GO! Baby and cut your birdhouse pieces.

Layer
1 - 6" strip Roof Fabric
2 - 6" strips Birdhouse Fabric
1 - 6" by 12" Rectangle of Background Fabric
1 - 6" strip Hole Fabric folded in half width wise

Lay then on the Drunkard's Path Die, making sure that the pieces cover the cutting blades, and crank that baby through:





You will have extra pieces so choose these: 2 roof fabric outside curve pieces, 2 background fabric inside curve pieces, 4 hole fabric inside pieces, and 4 house fabric outside pieces.

2. Piece your Drunkard's Path blocks:

Match the background convex pieces to the roof concave pieces and match the hole convex pieces to the house concave pieces.

 Match the convenient notch at the center of your curved pieces (make sure that your concave piece is on top). Pin.
 Match your edges. Pin.

 Work from the outside toward the center on both sides adjusting and pinning to make the curve smooth. This take a few minutes so be patient with yourself it is worth the time.

 Slowly, start stitching your 1/4" seam allowance. If you see a tuck starting to form (before you sew over it) Stop, make sure your needle is in the down position.

 Lift your presser foot. Gently grab the outside of the concave (top) piece and move it back toward the back of the presser foot.

This will smooth the tuck out and allow you to start sewing again without making an ugly pleat in your circle. Keep sewing slowly and adjusting as you go. This is not difficult and only takes a few minutes to do all 6 blocks so don't hurry yourself.

3. Press. I pressed toward the roof. On the birdhouse pieces I pressed two toward the hole and two toward the house. This allows you to match up those seams and get a perfect circle.

 Roof Pieces

 House Pieces

4. And now through the magic of television the fabrics mystically change color (actually I did the roof different on my first block then changed my mind) so I hope this doesn't confuse you but these are the new roof pieces. Add the 2 1/2" x 4" rectangle to the center and sew them together in this order. (my nails magically changed color and got shorter too :) )


Yay! Roof!

5. Piece your 4 birdhouse pieces together forming a circle. Then add a 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" rectangle to each side.


6. Sew the roof to the top of the birdhouse pieces.



7. Apply fusiable web tot he back of the 6" bird fabric square.



Give it a GO! If you want your bird to face right paper side up, left paper side down.

 8. Press your bird to the birdhouse. Make sure his tail doesn't go down into the seam allowance.


9. Stitch two 6 1/2" x 16 1/2" rectangles of background fabric to either side of the 3 1/2" x 16 1/2" rectangle of post fabric.


 10. Stitch two 3 1/2" x 11" background rectangles to either side of the birdhouse block. Then stitch the 3 1/2" x 15 1/2" rectangle to the top of the birdhouse section.


11. Stitch the birdhouse section to the post section.


12. Grab your Fall Medley die ( I thought I would show you what the newer dies look like, they have two tone foam so you can see where to place your fabric). Adhere the fusible web 6" pieces to your leaf 6" pieces and GO!


 Here is my pile... way more than I needed but that is okay :)


 13. Peel the paper backing off of your leaves and lay them on your quilt in a pleasing arangement. I made a pile at the base of the post and had some falling through the air. Pin them down once they are how you want them so that you can move them easily to your ironing board. Remove the pins in each section as you press (don't press over your pins :) )

 Here is mine with all of the leaves pressed on.

 14. Use your favorite raw edge applique method to secure your bird and leaves. Quilt, bind and enjoy.

If you would like to see how I finished mine keep reading along.

I decided I wanted to do some faux trapunto and a teeny bit of thread painting on my leaves and bird before I quilted the quilt. To accomplish this I grabbed a few batting scraps and....


Found a batting scrap that was large enough to cover the pile of leaves at the base of the post.  I placed it on the back of my quilt and pinned to baste.


Then I free motion stitched around the leaves and painted (with thread) the veins. I matches rayon threads to my leaves to accomplish this. I used some single color threads and some varigated ones. I repeated this on the falling leaves and bird as well.

Then I carefully cut, very close to the endge, the excess batting.

 It looks like this when done.


 Here is the whole thing on the back before I quilted it.


Here are some close ups of what the trapunto and threads look like:



Here is a link to a printable PDF of the pattern.

Don't forget the coupon code ends tonight at midnight LAUNCH15

Talk soon....

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