A Day at the Beach

Seems like everyone always goes to a nice beach for the winter . . .

 

I spend my winter in Chicago.

 

 

Yes, it's still cold here.  But,  so what. I can still go to the beach. (My daughter lives about a block away from here.)

 

 

See that dark speck? It's a hawk, out on the ice. I started to take a photo for the blog and my husband said "Are you sure you want to show that? It's eating its prey." His eyes are better than mine, LOL.

 

 

 

 

Quick Coaster Tutorial

After my last post I got a few e-mails asking me how I made that little log cabin coaster in one of the photos.  I realized that some of you are new quilters or perhaps you just have not tried to make a coaster before. So here's a quick tutorial for making one. I used a different block to show you how to construct it because -  duh -  this one is already made.

 

 

This sweet Heart & Spool block below is the block we're using for the Quilt of this Month in my Yahoo group. Jane M. designed it and I will only take credit for using pink instead of red. (You can get the instructions by joining the group from somewhere on the sidebar of this blog.)

 

Make your block -  Choose a leftover 4.5" x  4.5"   or   5"  x  5" block from your collection if you have one or find a block you would like to use. Or, choose a plain square of a pretty fabric. Then, cut a square for the back and a square of cotton batting the same size as your block.

 

 

 

Layer your pieces -  block and backing right sides together, batting on the bottom.

 

Pin your squares together on the side where the opening will go (for turning) and don't sew between the pins. You may wish to pin all the way around if you like. Then, stitch the layers together using a 1/4 inch seam all the way around (again, don't sew between the pins, leave that part open).

 



I know it's hard to see the stitching in the photo but I sewed 1/4 inch away from the edge. Trim your corners for less bulk.

 

Turn right side out through the opening. Use a blunt end tool (nothing sharp) to push the corners out and then smooth them out.

 

Press the edges of the opening under 1/4 " and pin. Then stitch 1/8 inch around the entire edge of the coaster, making sure you catch the pressed seam.

 

 

Isn't it cute? I hand quilted a little heart inside the heart and was thinking about also embroidering my initial in the center.

Well, that's done. I had a horrendous morning dealing with computer and e-mail issues. Definitely time for a cuppa!

 

 

 

Pretty and Pink

It's almost February 14. Pink is taking up space in my head again. Last week, I pulled out some of my favorite pink print scraps and fat quarters.

 

Then made a DJ block with one of my favorite pink prints.

 

These tiny pieces are killers.

 

 

Next, I brought out a small quilt I made awhile ago and started to quilt it. I'm enjoying taking in the pinks mixed with brown. I really love this little quilt. Why do I start these things and then put them down for so long? Don't ask me about the brown border print. Trust me, it's old and you can no longer find it anywhere. I'm hoarding a small strip left over from a larger quilt.

 

 

 

I changed my mind and decided to quilt it using a light brown thread instead of an off-white one.

 

I didn't always love pink. It sort of grew on me over the years. I'm thinking about making another little quilt and so far have one block finished but I'll see if I can make it work before I post a photo. And then who knows just how far I'll carry this pink thing.

 

                                                             

                                                                

 

                     

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Winner

Here is the winner of the Quilted Heart book by Mona Hodgson -

                                    Mandy Currie

Congratulations, Mandy!  I will send your address to Mona as soon as you e-mail it to me.

Thanks to all of you for posting  a comment here. Your stories certainly touched my heart and I'm glad that quilting gets so many of you through life's difficult times. I know it does the same for me. It's a well documented fact that "the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight." For many of us, the creative process involved in quilting is also a healing technique that can not only relieve stress but bring us in touch with our emotions to generate greater feelings of well-being.

 

So if your problems (or the cold weather or winter blues) happen to be getting you down, try picking up a needle or sit  down at your sewing machine and see if making something lifts you up or changes your outlook a bit.

 

Valentine's day is coming soon and my mind is leaning toward making something small and cute with hearts or pink and red prints again this year. How about you?

 

 

 

 

Happy quilting!

Stories Stitched Together - Book Giveaway

Winter always means spending more time sewing but I also spend more time reading too. And reading books about quilting are always a favorite. You too? Today I have the opportunity to host a wonderful giveaway of a book by Mona Hodgson, popular author of several historical novels centered on women's lives and their quilting in the 1800s. The book is a compilation of three novels in one volume called The Quilted Heart.

                                    

Here's a little info about the book -

"Like a beautiful patchwork quilt, the three novellas in The Quilted Heart tell stories of lives stitched together with love and God’s unending grace.

"Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles, Missouri. The ladies who gather there have all experienced heartache related to the intense hardships of the Civil War and together they are facing their painful circumstances with friendship and prayer. Can the tattered pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God’s grace?"

                               

When I think about quilters from the past I realize that ours lives are not so different from theirs. We too still struggle and celebrate as they did - There are weddings, births and funerals, challenges and conflicts, joys mingled with sorrows and failures turned into victories. Our lives are stories stitched together, just like quilts.

 

For a chance to win a signed copy of The Quilted Heart omnibus – all three novellas in one volume - just leave a comment on my blog telling me how quilting has gotten you through some tough times and how it has been a refuge for you. Comments will close on Saturday night and the winner will be announced sometime on Sunday.

See author Mona Hodgson's website and blog for more of her delightful books AND a free block pattern for a quilt that's in my book The Civil War Sewing Circle.  Best of  luck to the winner!

                                               

                                               

Cleaning Up in 2014

Two weeks ago I started cleaning out my son's vacant bedroom to make more room for another sewing/work/storage space for myself. My work/business stuff is taking over my creative/sewing space. I am on a mission to clear the clutter and organize my stuff! Throw out the old, make room for the new. It's beginning to look like I've taken on a huge task. But I know I need organization and a clean space to be creative.

Things I have to do: Make or buy some new curtains for the room, put up shelves, get a new table, finish purging whatever my son left behind. Clean the carpet. I need help moving things around in there and getting a bookcase and set of drawers brought up from the basement so I'm waiting for my husband to have some free time to help. He's busy and stressed so I can see it's going to take awhile for me to actually have that room set up without some help. In the meantime I can dream about organizing a new space, can't I?  The room is green and I'd love to paint it blue but that will have to wait until spring or summer, if at all. Maybe I'll learn to love the green. I saw this cute photo yesterday and think I need to get me some pegboard too : )  Never thought to paint it . . . .
 

I've spent time this past week pulling out my resources, getting ideas:

I've been saving this page I tore out of a magazine for a couple of years . . . . I know I could create some pretty things if I had this room : )  I'd keep it clean too, I promise.

 

This organizing has carried over to the rest of my home now. I've started to de-clutter that too. I just cannot be creative or productive if my home is cluttered or not clean. Messes really mess up my mind and make me cranky and less productive. I bought this nifty Electrolux cordless vacuum (with a detachable dustbuster!) to help me keep up with the dust and dirt on all my hardwood floors. It's not a replacement for the big vacuum but it's easy to take out for a quick sweep every day if I need to. It even works on some of our low-pile area rugs. Karen commented on my Facebook page that I probably liked it so much because it's blue. Yep, it works for me if I have pretty cleaning tools.

 

Funny, when my house is clean I often find that I am in a better mood and then have more energy and time to be creative. After I cleaned I even went to the gym to exercise. And hey, I also made that pincushion, LOL. Okay, it's not a quilt, but until I get more organized and clear my head a little, that may be all I'm able to do . . . .

 

 

Let's hope I can keep this up. Maybe an organized space + an organized mind  =   a healthier, happier, more productive me in 2014.

 

 

Pincushion Fun

My Yahoo group is making pincushions for a swap. Some in the group were hesitant to join in because they had never made a pincushion. Imagine! Pincushions can be so simple to make. Marian gave everyone the idea to make some simple pincushions from orphan or leftover blocks and shows how she did hers on her blog. Aren't they just lovely? She makes it all look so easy. And, with pincushions, it really is.

 

 

I've been so busy with family and other things lately to do much sewing, pincushions or otherwise, but today I think I may have a few minutes and, if I do, I will take out my numerous leftover or reject blocks from other projects -

 

 

 

Pick one,  and make a simple pincushion.

 

I think it's going to be this star block. Maybe I'll get on a roll and be like Marian and make five  . . .

 

(Doll pillow pincushions are in my book The Civil War Sewing Circle. Striped pincushion - cut 1" x 3 3/4"strips and sew them together. Use some pretty decorative machine stitches at the seams.)

 

How about you? Even just a little something can get those creative vibes flowing. Make a little pincushion from a leftover block. Keep it for yourself or perhaps put a smile on someone's face and give it away.