Greetings friends! My studio has been a buzz since we returned from the Dominican Republic and my sewing machine has been humming along. I am back today to show some of my latest needlework finishing projects (the ones I can/have permission to show). I am headed up to northern Illinois to visit my mom and second dad next week and when I return, I am on jury duty...so, I am doing my best to get all the customer orders I have on hand completed. I have some special projects that need my attention upon my return and patterns to write - I'm just trying to find a balance and fill my time with happy, creative work. I'll keep the chatting to a minimum today and let the photos do the talking. These are not my stitching or my designs, just my finishing work - I will post the designer details I have with each image. These projects are from two different stitchers/clients.
Mountain Cabin by Lucy Beam Love in Stitches Quilted Wall Hanging
Love 2 Stitch (Love Bits) by Hinzeit (Needlebook Outside)
Love 2 Stitch (Love Bits) by Hinzeit (Needlebook Inside)
Serial Bowl Collection - Sampler Lessons - Lesson One by Plum Street Samplers Bowl Filler/Pin Pillow
Merry Olde Christmas by Notforgotten Farm Quilted Finish for an Ackworth Mini Quilt Stand
Autumn Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches Quilted Finish for an Ackworth Mini Quilt Stand
Friendship Quilt by Told in a Garden (Needlebook Outside)
Friendship Quilt by Told in a Garden (Needlebook Inside)
A Christmas Pin Pillow by Kathy Barrick Bowl Filler/Pin Pillow
Thanks for visiting today - I hope you are inspired to create something special. I am signing off to finish a few more tasks (we are still on the dreaded night schedule, so I am writing this at 1:10 AM) - I still have a pile of Christmas ornaments to finish that are calling my name. I will be working on my June projects for Poppie Cotton and Therm O Web this weekend, before taking time off to visit my family next week. So many projects, not enough time! I look forward to visiting with you again soon...
Greetings friends! It is new project tutorial day - time to share my May project created for Therm O Web with you! I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials to share with you on the Therm O Web Blog. Each month, I share a new project and you give you my tips and tricks for using their adhesives and interfacings. For the month of May, the blog is focused on quick projects for gift giving, kitchen sewing, and sewing for kids. I created a brand new project that was posted yesterday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "Nifty No-Sew Fabric Tags." My comprehensive tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with templates, and step-by-step directions with color photos. This is a fast and easy "no-sew" project, perfect for using up scraps and great for beginners. I chose to use some cheerful fabrics from the Promise Me collection by Michal Marko for Poppie Cotton. I hope you will stop by the Therm O Web blog and check out my project and tutorial...
To find the baker's twine, ribbon and buttons I used, along with other supplies/tools listed, visit my Nifty No-Sew Fabric Tags Supply List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!).
Are you familiar with HeatnBond UltraHold Iron-On Adhesive? This product is perfect for "no-sew" projects. HeatnBond Ultrahold is paper backed, iron-on, no-sew, double-sided adhesive for bonding fabric without the need for pinning. Ultrahold’s no-sew bond is stronger than traditional fusible webs. The solid sheet adhesive means edge to edge coverage for appliqué shapes on quilts, wall hangings and attire without puckering or bunching. Draw or print directly on the paper backing to easily design appliqué pieces. This is another product that is a staple in my sewing studio...
I hope this project gets you excited to create something special and unique...
I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project will be available on June 18th...and I am working on something fun for summer...
Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...
Happy Monday - welcome to my stop on the Sweet Tooth Fabric Tour - thank you so much for dropping by for a visit. I am thrilled to be sharing such spooktacular fabrics from Poppie Cotton today! I have some very special projects lined up, created with the new Sweet Tooth fabric collection designed by Elea Lutz for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed putting on my quilt designer hat and playing with these adorable Halloween prints. This brand new fabric collection (shipping to quilt shops this month) has a truly wonderful vintage feel. The entire collection is filled with perfect details and the sweetest little treats! There are prints featuring witches riding brooms, pumpkins, candy, kittens with bowties, black cats, ghosts, skeletons, stars, polka dots...and, of course, flowers…all done in a traditional vintage color palette. The tiny details in this collection truly inspired me!
To start, I created a wall hanging that doubles as a table topper with star appliqué blocks. The stars are machine appliqué, using a blanket stitch and I used all of the prints in this wonderful collection. This small quilt measures 25" x 25" and works perfectly as a small wall hanging or a table topper for my kitchen table. I used a fat quarter stack with each of the prints from this collection...and I used Jailhouse Stripes (Blondee Yellow) for the binding. I created the design, just playing around in my studio - I don't know if I will write a pattern for it - it depends on demand - leave a comment or send me a message if you would like to see me release a pattern…
Next, I made the cutest patchwork project bags - one large and one small. I used each of the prints, cutting 2.5" squares (2" finished). I added wool felt applique, designing/cutting out wool felt shapes that I thought worked well with the fabric prints (I used Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design). I added color coordinated zipper pulls...I also added a fun selvage tag to the large project bag. I just may have to make a coordinating tote bag to hold these fun patchwork bags...
Finally, I started out creating my usual pincushion, but this one finished out a little larger, more like a small pillow. I knew I wanted to do a Dresden Plate variation to show off all the fabulous prints. I had a pile of 2.5" squares left from my patchwork bags, so trimmed them all to a wedge shape to create the blades, then used the Little Witch Black print for the center circle. I added hand-dyed rick rack from Lady Dot Creates to complete the pillow. It measures 9" x 9" and is stuffed with fiberfill and sawdust shavings. This made the sweetest pillow/pincushion to add to my growing collection!
I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Sweet Tooth fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Sweet Tooth is shipping this month.
I am already working on my project ideas for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in June - it is using the fabric collection "Prairie Christmas" (this is a charming holiday collection - click to see a preview). Plus, I will have a new project tutorial posted on the Therm O Web Blog tomorrow (May 14th), as well (it is a fun no-sew fabric project)…so, be sure to stop back on Wednesday for more details...
Hola family and friends! I have returned from the Dominican Republic feeling refreshed and recharged...so today I am going to interrupt the creativity posts with some favorite vacation photos. This trip had a special agenda - we were attending a wedding for one of my husband's best friends from high school. We were treated like royalty at the resort (Secrets Resort Cap Cana Resort & Spa) and had a lovely premium swim out suite with stylish Caribbean style décor. We sampled some wonderful foods, ate at most of the restaurants on the property and were spoiled by fresh tropical fruit daily! We spent quite a bit of time with friends (family) at the pool and the private beach and enjoyed fabulous meals and cocktails (and a wonderful coffee house!)...and also met some delightful people. The beach wedding was beautiful and the bride looked stunning. We also went on a private catamaran excursion with snorkeling at a coral reef and cocktail time/swimming at a sandbar. It was a fabulous trip - the islanders were warm and welcoming, the service was impeccable, the views were incredible and the food/drinks were tasty! This was our second trip to the DR and we would be happy to return...in fact, I could have stayed another week and enjoyed the pampering, sun, and sand...
Here is a selection of my favorite photos (as always, I took a gazillion images and narrowed it down to a grouping of favorites)...
Unfortunately, it's back to reality and business as usual in the studio (I'm already missing my toes in the sand and the resort pampering)...I'm busy working on some needlework finishing and project bags, along with model stitching/sewing and finishing up some new designs (hmmm - maybe I should work on one with a Caribbean theme). I have a fun Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour post scheduled for next week (think Halloween) and a new Therm O Web project tutorial that will be posted next Tuesday. Now that we are back, my website and Etsy shop are both open again...and I have responded to all correspondence, so if you contacted me while we were gone, you should have a message from me.
There will be more artistic things to share with you in the near future, so stop back soon!💙
