Triangular Tuffets

I am in model stitching mode today, but I wanted to stop by quickly and show you the finished chair cushions I made over the weekend. I have two wooden chairs in my studio - one at my desk and one at my sewing/serger machines....these are really not the most comfortable chairs, but like many of you, I work with what I have. So, I decided to make a couple quilted tie-on cushions - to make the chairs prettier and to make my hiney happier. I used the Tuxedo Collection by Doodlebug Design Inc. for Riley Blake, as it matches my studio nicely...and some black grosgrain ribbon with white polka dots for the ties. The top is pieced 7" equilateral triangles and the bottom is a 7" hexagon...both cut on my Studio Fabric Cutter using Nested Bullseye Dies by AccuQuilt. I was able to accurately cut all the pieces in just a couple minutes and started sewing right away...I fused a piece of Pellon SF-101 Shape-Flex Interfacing to the wrong size of each hexagon, to make the bases nice and sturdy. I quilted the tops with cotton batting and muslin, then filled the tuffets firmly with fiberfill - in fact, I over-stuffed them, because I knew they would flatten out after I sit on them for hours. I added the grosgrain ribbon to tie the cushions in place...and I think they turned out perfectly! It only took me a couple hours to completely make both cushions and they are such a nice added touch to my studio...

I am headed back to my stitching nest for a few hours, then it is back to work on my website...the sun is shining (I will try not to focus on the 45 mph wind gusts - ugh!), so I will be taking both dogs on good walks to the park today, as well. Enjoy you day!

Pincushion and Pillow Pizzazz

I must admit, I am a bit behind on my blogging...it has been difficult to find balance lately. Yes, I have been stitching my heart out and I will have some new Blue Ribbon Designs to show you soon...and I have started stitching my 2014 fundraiser piece for my Komen 3-Day walk (a little hint, it has an autumn theme!). I am also busy working on the new website...and I have been scheduling time to quilt and sew daily.

I finished a couple more equilateral triangle projects over the last couple days...both using the brand new Bullseye Equilateral Triangles Die Set (1", 3", 5", 7" Finished Sides) for the Studio Fabric Cutter by AccuQuilt. I wanted to try out the 1" triangle size (yes, I said 1" triangles!), so I made the cutest little pincushion...it is approximately 3" W x 4.5" H. I added several decorative pins, a piece of rose lace, and a little tag for gift giving.

I also did some piecing of 3" equilateral triangles...and I took a photo that shows the difference in size...

I am just in love with this pillow! It is made from the fabric collection Pom Pom de Paris by French General for Moda...and the accents and backing are from the Rouenneries Deux collection by French General for Moda. It is approximately 18" W x 16" H...and I made my own custom pillow form. I am just tickled with this pillow...it makes me happy!

I have also been working with 7" equilateral triangles and 7" hexagons to make two new chair cushions with ties for my studio...more on those in a future post.

So, as always, it's been a productive and creative week...thanks for visiting!...I'll be back with more projects and stitching posts soon...

Sewing Stars

Today I am back to share another sample I created for AccuQuilt - the Bullseye Mosaic Triangle Quilt....along with a table runner I put together yesterday in the same style. Both the quilt and the table runner use Bullseye Hexagons and Bullseye Equilateral Triangles, cut with the Studio Fabric Cutter...using these two shapes and piecing in rows, completely removes the need for inset seams, making the piecing much easier than expected. Plus the Bullseye Equilateral Triangle dies have dog-eared corners allowing the cut shapes to line up perfectly!

Here is a close-up look at the two sets of Buyllseye Nested Dies needed for the quilt and the table runner. In the back in each photo, you see the Foam Boards (without blades for spacing)...and in the front you see the Blade Boards (with blades for cutting). Mix and match these two sets of die boards to cut a variety of shapes and sizes. You can read all about these Bullseye Nested Die Sets and see videos that show exactly how they work by visiting this link:
http://www.accuquilt.com/cutting-dies/studio-bullseye-nested-dies.html

Photo courtesy of AccuQuilt.com
Bullseye Equilateral Triangles-Odd-1", 3", 5", 7" Finished Sides for Studio

Photo courtesy of AccuQuilt.com
Bullseye Hexagons-1"-7" Finished Sides for Studio

....and here is a look at the Studio Mosaic Triangle Quilt that uses these two die sets...oh my goodness, how I love this quilt....it was so difficult to ship it to AccuQuilt - after it was complete, I REALLY wanted to keep it in my personal collection...in fact, I may have to make another, just for me! You can currently find this pattern for free on the the AccuQuilt website. It measures approximately 39" W x 48" H...and it does take a while to correctly piece all the equilateral triangles, but it is straight forward piecing with no inset seams! Having a design wall is quite helpful to make sure you keep all the pieces lined up correctly...

Bullseye Mosaic Triangle Quilt Pattern for Studio

For my table runner, I simply used one complete star row from the quilt pattern...I used 4 hexagons (3" finished) and 72 equilateral triangles (3" finished). I wanted a nice cheerful table runner to brighten up my living room coffee table and this size fit perfectly. The fabrics are from the retired line Oz by Sanae for Moda.

My schedule continues to be quite full, but I am doing my best to finish up a few more sewing/quilting projects. I also have new needlework designs I will be able to share with you soon, along with a plethora of other projects...and yes, I am still working away on my new website design with tons of new features...it should be another productive week!

Tumbling Table Runner and Topper

It's no secret I adore my AccuQuilt Fabric Cutters...I use one almost every single day. Over the years, I have built up quite a collection of dies for both the GO! and the Studio versions. I probably use my Studio Fabric Cutter most often, as it needs a designated space (it is larger and heavier), so it is readily available at all times...and with the GO! Die Adapters for the Studio, I can use every single one of my dies without changing fabric cutters. All of this equipment can be quite an investment, but in my line of work, the quick convenience and the accuracy of die cutting is well worth the expense. Every time new dies are released, I add them to my "wish list" in my AccuQuilt account on their website...and let me tell you, that list is quite long...a girl can dream...plus, it is always good to have something to work towards...

As a long time (passionate) fan and friend of AccuQuilt, I am lucky enough to do some sample sewing for them...and yes, that is my dream job. I just LOVE playing with the test dies and working on new bright and cheerful projects for them behind the scenes...and it is even more fun, when I see the models I have sewn/quilted for them featured on their website. Yesterday, AccuQuilt released Four New Bullseye Nested Dies for the Studio Fabric Cutter (2 sets of tumblers and 2 sets of equilateral triangles) and I was thrilled to make a couple samples for them using these special new dies! I was extremely excited to try out the Bullseye Nested Dies, because I am yet to have any in my collection - they come with a well-deserved price tag, because each one is capable of cutting multiple shapes and sizes, and that price tag is currently out of my personal budget. I was very interested to see how well these dies worked and the wide range of cutting possibilities.

Here is a close-up look at the die set for the Bullseye Tumblers-Even-2", 4", 6", 8" Finished for Studio. In the back, you see the Foam Boards (without blades for spacing)...and in the front you see the Blade Boards (with blades for cutting). Mix and match the two sets of die boards to cut a variety of shapes and sizes. You can read all about this Bullseye Nested Die Set and see a video that shows exactly how they work by visiting this link:
http://www.accuquilt.com/cutting-dies/studio-bullseye-nested-dies/bullseye-tumblers-even-2-4-6-8-finished-for-studio.html

Photo courtesy of AccuQuilt.com

The first project I worked on was the Bullseye Tumbling Table Runner Pattern for Studio (shown directly below) which uses the Bullseye Tumblers-Even-2", 4", 6", 8" Finished. This particular pattern is available on the AccuQuilt website and uses the 4" Finished Tumbler - the piecing was easy and straight forward and I really like the look of the wavy binding....I was very pleased with how this particular sample turned out...in fact, it was hard to send this finished piece back to AccuQuilt!

Being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted to test my binding skills on a test table topper before working on the actual model, so I used some extra tumbler cut-outs from the project, along with some scraps and fabrics in my stash to create a smaller version (show below and in the upper right-hand corner) - I wanted to make sure to sew the four corner angles properly and that the bias binding the directions called for worked well for the two long sides. It actually worked out perfectly and personally, I think the edges and binding make this table runner extra special. Here is a look at my test table topper...

I learned I absolutely ADORE the Bullseye Nested Dies! They cut beautifully and accurately (with dog-eared corners for perfect piecing)...and the possibilities with each set are enough to make any quilter happy. You can cut solid shapes, rings, and frames...and you can mix, match, and layer Bullseye dies for a wide range of combinations (which I will show you in my next post project that features Bullseye Hexagons and Bullseye Equilateral Triangles). Now that I have tried and tested some of these innovative dies, I *have to* start saving my pennies so I can afford to add them to my collection...they are really quite spectacular!

AccuQuilt was kind enough to let me hang on to a couple sets of Bullseye Nested Dies for a few weeks, so I could play a bit more...I have a unique project in the works, so I will be showing that to you soon, as well...

I hope this post has inspired you to play with shapes, color, and new interesting finishes...take a little time to be creative...

Saturday Samplings...

My design studio has been overwhelmingly busy this past week...and unfortunately, I can't really show you much just yet...I finished a Christmas ornament for the 2014 Just CrossStitch Ornament Issue and a Halloween ornament for the 2014 JCS Halloween Issue...and super exciting - I am finishing up an original quilt block submission for a very fun quilting magazine...I'm also just finishing up the stitching on a few small items I designed for the Elegant Stitch annual breast cancer kit...plus there are new designs that I need to prepare for release...and I am slowly, but surely, rebuilding the entire Blue Ribbon Designs website...yep, I've been burning the candle at both ends.

Another thing that is keeping me busy, is training for the Komen 3-Day in Dallas this coming November. I have received questions from several of you wanting to know if I am walking again...and the answer is ABSOLUTELY, 100% "YES" - in fact, my airline travel was booked this week! Team Twinkle Toes will be meeting up in Dallas to walk the 60-miles for breast cancer awareness/fundraising and I can't wait to get together with my teammates and lace up my shoes again...and yes, I will be asking for your help with my fundraising again this year. I have continued to train throughout the winter months, even with the bitter cold and snow/ice/wind...and with a little help from my treadmill...I just have to get back in the habit of logging each of my walks, so I can keep track of my mileage....having two dogs that need daily walks also gets me outside every single day. There will definitely be an exclusive design again this year for those who make a donation on my fundraising page - I am in the charting process now and there will be more information and photos in the coming months.

Mama Twinkle Toes has also been SUPER busy working on fundraising ideas/projects for our team expenses (which add up extremely quickly)...and the first one has been released and is a HUGE success! See the beautiful scissor holder in the upper photograph? - isn't it GORGEOUS?! It is made from an antique wooden weaving spool, polished from years of service and a lot of thread running over it....the bottom is wrapped with a black strip of 100% wool and then a little black and white gingham ribbon tied in a bow with 2 keys attached...and the bottom of the spool is covered with a circle of brown wool to protect your furniture...and little black scissors are the perfect accessory. This very unique scissor holder is the first fundraiser for our expenses - it is called "Key to Everything" - and is in very limited supply - I know the first scissor holders have sold out, but Mama Twinkle was able to get a few more of the antique spools and is now waiting for more scissors to arrive. If you would like to purchase one (or more) to help support our team, visit: http://www.elegantstitch.com/what%27s%20new.htm for all the details. The price is a very reasonable $20 + postage (and this includes a pair of those cute black scissors)...I am not sure exactly how many are still available, so if you are interested, be sure to promptly visit the link and follow the instructions for ordering. Team Twinkle Toes is so very grateful for your support - we truly are!

...and with permission (my blog readers are seeing this first!)...here is a little peek at the next fundraiser...an antique wooden domino pincube - seriously, how cute is this?!...

It is just the sweetest pincube, with needle felt sandwiched between two antique wooden dominoes, tied with a black ribbon bow, and adorned with pearlized pins...so fun!! I don't have all the details or pricing for these just yet...they are still in the works...but I will post more details when they are ready...this is just a little teaser of things to come...

I'm off to finish up my quilt block project and possibly get in a little more quilting before heading back to my stitching nest for more model work...I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend!

Lessons Learned...

So, it's been quite a while since my last post...but I have a good excuse...I have busy working on a large project with Annie's - a "Learn to Cross Stitch" video class. Over the last year we have been working on all the details - I have been writing a script, preparing five exclusive projects for the video, and gathering supplies and materials to use as props for the class. This week, I traveled to Berne, IN to their studios for two full days of filming (and the black cloud that has been following me made the trip too! - ugh!)...it was a lot of traveling and two days of hard work (the whole project was WAY more labor intensive than expected!)...I had to wear more make-up and hairspray than I have worn in my entire life...and I had to wear clothing that was not really my style and made me look old...but that was all needed for the bright lights and cameras. I had a bunch of very fun photographs of the set and filming....but I was told by the producer I could not share them, as they don't want their competitors to see how they do things...bummer...but I have a couple that I think are clear of technical details, just to give you a glimpse. The online class/DVD will not be ready for a while, as they still have to do quite a bit of production and editing...but I can tell you, it is a beginner class and covers all the basics - materials, tools, and notions - preparing for a project - how to read a chart - step-by-step Cross Stitch techniques - creative finishing ideas - pretty much all the basic information you can imagine. We cover Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Partial Stitches, and pesky French Knots. If you know someone who can benefit from this Learn to Cross Stitch video, I'll be sure to post when it is available and all the specifics.

I did learn a few things - there are no good leafy green vegetables in the small town of Berne (especially in the winter) or healthy meal options...the weather was pretty much the same as in Iowa (cold/snow/ice/wind), except a little warmer and a little less snow...local taxi drivers will share all sorts of interesting personal information (yes, I heard an entire story from a man who walks his cat on a leash with a harness)...and I'm really good at reading from a teleprompter and not so good at "winging it" during filming (I'm just too detailed!)...

Another thing I learned - Schatzi must have really missed her momma and our daily walks...
We just replaced her crate pad last week - she had already destroyed one...then I repaired/covered it with my sewing skills, only to have her chew another big hole in it. So a few days before I left, her new crate pad from K9 Ballistics arrived - they claim to have virtually "indestructible" dog beds and crate pads that are "chew & scratch resistant"...well, her new TUFF crate pad lasted only four days. While I was out of town, I received this photo from my husband, showing the destroyed crate pad and the culprit...this was sent to the company to get our warranty replacement...

So now that my part of this huge video class project is complete, things should start to get back to normal. I have a few magazine deadlines to work on...a few new releases to prepare...more work on the new/improved website...more sewing/quilting projects...and a few surprises to complete, as well... Tonight and this weekend, I will take a deep breath and just dive in...