Summer is for Flip Flops (Quilt)

Summer is almost here!  Well we know it’s coming but we’re really waiting for Spring to appear and stay.  One day we have 70’s even 80’s and then the next day we have rain, sleet or snow.  Winter just doesn’t want to leave Kansas for some reason.  I know the heat is almost here and I hate hot, hot weather.

This wall hanging I want to share with you today reminds me of Summer.   There are many styles of flip flops, many colors and all ages wear them.  These flip flops are made of bright colors with a flower design in the center.  On the straps I used different yo yo’s, a small circle and a small heart to finish off the straps.  The pattern had small flowers attached to the straps but you could try decorative buttons.   I used an eight inch square for the flip flops and then used the remaining material to make the straps. I then sewed the flip flops and center flower down with invisible thread after adhering them with Seam n Seam.  Templates for the flip flops and leaves (center) were included in the pattern. 

This pattern was in the “Quiltmaker” August 6, 2012 magazine named “Flip Floppy Flower.”  The lady that designed this wall hanging was on a trip to Alaska when she saw flip flops arranged in a giant circle attached to a wall of a shoe store.  This inspired her to make a flip flop flower quilt.  This should tell you that you can take any design from anything and make it into a quilt.

I made this quilt for my friend that owns a quilt shop “Kessler Kreations” in Hillsboro, Kansas.  She sells fabric, quilting supplies, has classes and does beautiful longarm quilting.  She does beautiful custom quilting.  If you’re ever in the area be sure to stop in and see her shop located on Main Street.  It’s really a neat shop.  Oh and she has kits for this flip flop wall hanging available.  Tell her you saw it on my blog. 

Well better get working on my next quilt. Thanks for stopping in and keep checking my blog for new quilt ideas.

Keep Stitchin,

Connie

Pinwheel Quilt...................

Well Spring is suppose to be here according to the calendar.  Once the calendar said its Spring then we get Winter weather.  We’ve had snow, sleet, hail and then two days later we have nice weather in the 60’s and 70’s with rain.  We need the precipitation so I’m not complaining.  Would be nice to put my coat away and leave it in the closet.  I keep telling myself it will get here then you’ll complain about it being to hot!  Never happy are we!!

Today I want to talk and show you a small quilt, 26” x 30” that I made my granddaughter, Mariah.  It is so much fun watching her with this quilt.  She’ll lay it across her lap and just rub her hands over it.  I’ve seen her laying on it and again just rubbing her hands on it.  She’ll sit there with it on her lap and look at her books.  I do believe she might like my quilts!  Maybe some day another quilter in the family?

This pattern is from the book Country Threads Goes to Charm School.  I have used this book numerous times because I love to use Charm Packs.  The pattern is called “Use A Napkin” because we have to remind our kids “Don’t wipe your fingers on the quilts – use a napkin.”  I thought that was cute.

To refresh your memory a charm pack is 5” x 5” squares and depending on the company you buy from charm packs can have up to a quantity of 43 squares in a pack.  For this quilt you will need 30 squares of different colors and ½ yard of the background material.  In the book is a mini windmill template, using with a  2 ½” square, that you can cutout of cardboard or acrylic.  I used the cardboard back from the charm pack.  Worked great! 

On this particular quilt you will cut the 5" squares in half.  You will get four windmills out of each square.  If you don’t have a charm pack you can cut 2 ½” x 20” strips of 10 different colors. Then use your template to cut the windmills out.

This is a fun quilt to make, a different type of pinwheel.  I like this pattern because you don't have all the bulk of material in the center.  This would also be a great quilt to use up scraps that you have.  I love the bright colors and so does Mariah.

Give this quilt a try and let me know what you thought of it.

Keep stitchin' and until next time, thanks for stopping in……..

Connie

Heritage Quilt

Reunions or family get together's are a lot of fun.  Let me tell you about one of our family reunions that was in the year of 2001.  When the whole family gets together they usually spend the reunion at one of the hometowns.  This particular one was held in my hometown, Hesston.  The family members that live in that town take care of all the  arrangements.  This reunion is usually held on a Friday until Sunday afternoon.

The reason I'm bringing up family reunions is because this particular reunion I decided I was going to make a "special" quilt" a "A Heritage Quilt".  A little background when this family gets together they have an action to help with the costs.  This turns into a highlight of the weekend.  Sometimes a family member would bring something old that had memories when they were kids.  This would usually end up in a bidding war if one wanted it really bad.  A lot of good fun and lots of laughter was during this time.

Back to the quilt!  I made a special quilt for the auction that year.  I started with pictures of the parents, which on the quilt was the center, this was Abe Willems.  I ask the brothers and sisters to give me photographs of each one of them now and there wedding pictures.  Any pictures of the family while they were growing up, pictures of the house, farming, church, anything that would make this quilt have history.  I ran the pictures off on muslin through my printer.  I surrounded the picture with a log cabin design.  As you can see I had the names of the siblings machine embroidered between the now picture and the wedding picture.  The first name on the block would have been the siblings name followed by the spouse and last name.  I hand quilted around each block and on the border I quilted connecting hearts.

This was really a fun project and I learned about the family history through this process.  It was fun gathering all these pictures and figuring out how to put it all together in a quilt and make it very interesting.   The quilt was auctioned off and bought by a son for his father and mother and headed to Portland, Oregon.  A lot of memories were hashed that weekend, laughter was plentiful, and a good time by all.

So does this inspire you to try a Heritage Quilt?  It's a lot of fun and the history you learn about your family tree. Try it!  Have fun with it!  See what you can come up with.

Keep learning and stitching,
Till next time,
Connie

Valentine Fabric Postcards

I have all this fabric so what do I do with it?  Yes, I could make a scrappy quilt but I found another use for this fabric.  It's making fabric postcards that you can actually mail through the post office like a postcard.  I know a lot of you out there, including myself, love to make paper cards but this is another way of making a card. 

I got interested in making these fabric cards quite a few years ago.  I started making these type of cards for my grandchildren on most all occasions.  Some of them have a photograph album with slip in photo sleeves and to put the postcards in them to save.  

This is how I make them.  The inside of these postcards are made with a stiffener interfacing which is about 1/8" thick.  The size of my postcards I make are 4" X 6."  Then I cut the same size out of Double Stick Fusible Web, quantity 2 per postcard.  Then decide how you want to design the card and what occasion it will be used for.  Fabric, bling, ribbon, lace, buttons really anything can be used.  As you can see on my Valentines Cards that I used letters from a game that I picked up at a garage sale. 

TIP:  If you're a garage sale person keep this in the back of your mind because there are usually sewing remnants, ribbons, rick rack, buttons, jewelry, etc. anything you can imagine can be used on cards. 

Back to making the card.  Iron on the fusible web to one side of the interfacing.  Then start cutting fabric, ribbon or whatever you're going to put on the card.  Another point.  If you have something bulky wait and put it on last because your last step is sewing.  Such as my letters on my cards, they were glued on when every step was done.  Once you are done with the decorative side then we'll move to the other side (front).  Iron on the second piece of fusible web and cut out of muslin or white material another 4" x 6" piece.  This will be the side you write the name and address of who you're sending it to (just like you would on a regular postcard).  On the left side write your message or if you have a special rubber stamp that you'd like to use stamp it.  Don't forget your return address.  Once the postcard is finished you will go to the sewing machine and sew around the outside on all sides a decorative stitch.  Then paste or sew on your bulky embellishments to totally complete the postcard.

As you can see in the photograph above you can make any postcards for any occasion and use them to decorate.  I do this especially at Christmas time because there are so many Christmas fabrics and accessories that you can use.  Special note!  Can u tell I love to watch birds?  Cardinals this time of year just really stand out because of there bright red. 

Now if you're postcards are flat you won't have any problem mailing them in the post office.  I would suggest if you have bulk that you put it in another envelope and mail it.  Infact, when a holiday came around the postmaster was excited to see what kind of postcards I had designed.

Hope you enjoyed this post and you will try to make a fabric postcard for a friend, grandchild, family member or whoever.  Keep checking back cause there will be other fabric postcards once in a while.

Till next time, Keep on stitchin,
Connie

Fun and Fast Quilt......Bento Box.....

This has sure been a different week as far as weather here.  Monday we had temperatures in the low 70's, which is very unusual for January, then Wednesday we had freezing temperatures, wind and snow.  Blowing snow in spots where you just couldn't see.  This only brought a trace of snow but with the wind, blizzard conditions.  Our winters have really changed because now we

hardly ever see snow, a few days of really cold weather.  Our temperature's are usually in the 40 - 60's.  Which would be nice if we weren't so dry.  We need the precipitation but would rather see it in the form of rain. 

The quilt I want to talk to you about today is "Bento Box" pattern by Tracey Brookshier (Updated and Expanded).  This pattern has twelve new quilt designs that will work with 2 1/2" strips and additional block sizes that you can use.  It all depends how you assemble the blocks to what your quilt will look like.

The pattern suggests that you limit your color palette using 2 - 4 main colors.  Choose fabrics in pairs, such as one dark and one light, with a strong contrast between each pair.  Try to avoid using directional prints because if it bothers you that the strips is going the wrong direction this will drive you crazy.  This pattern suggests using fat quarters or fat 1/8's but you can also cut your own 2 1/2" strips if you'd like.

This is a fun and fast pattern and I like all the different ways you can use the strips.  Try this technique in your next quilt, colors you like, maybe a scrappy look?  I'm excited are you?

Till next time, stitch away,
Connie

Swingin Monkey Strip Tubing Quilt...............

One of my favorite things to watch on TV is sports. I didn’t play sports when I was in school because in those days it wasn’t offered except for boys. Have things changed for the better I’d say. Anyway, I did play softball in the summer and also love to watch college girls’ softball and that’s come a long ways from when I played ball. Anyway now football is in the air, which team will go to Super Bowl! Another reason I have sports because I do have a TV in my sewing room and usually some kind of sports is playing. I can sew and listen, when yelling goes on I can check it out. So when there’s a game on, regardless what sport it is, I’ve got my TV on in the sewing room.

OK, I’ve talked about “strip tubing” in several of my blogs. I’ve got another quilt using the same technique but different material. This particular material has a theme of monkeys with coordinating material. Blocks that were left over were made into pillows with decorative fringe on each pillow. Wouldn't this look good in any child's room, boy or girls?

Have you tried making any quilts with this pattern? Check out this link, the first book "Strip Tubing" is the one I use. There are alot of different ways you can make these quilts, different sizes and explains how to use the  "Strip Tube Ruler" by Cozy Quilt Designs which also is shown on the same page (scroll down). This is also a great tool to have cause once you use this book you'll try several different quilts. Try it, increase your quilting knowledge by reading up on a new technique and let me know what you think

So here’s to more sewing and watching TV, football and/or football. What’s your pick?

Still stitichin,
Connie

Sunflower quilt blocks or postcards.........

Well the holidays are over so now maybe things will slow down a little that I can get back to blogging.  I’ve missed everyone so let’s get back to keeping in touch. 

I’ve talked about what you can do with panels but I found another product that is similar.  These are called “Quilt Blocks.”  These blocks measure 4” x  6” and a quantity of 4 in each package. These seed packets are one example of collectible prints.  Check out their website www.oldeamericaantiques.com for more images.   These quilt blocks are printed on 100% cotton sateen.  These are ready to sew and easy to quilt.

The prints I used in this wall hanging derived from vintage seed packets dating from 1880s through 1930s.  The pattern I used for these quilt blocks was a nine-patch which is included in the package.  This wall hanging measures 17” x 21” vertical but if you choose to make it horizontal it measures 21” x 17.” 

I live in the country, what use to be a big dairy farm.  My dad and his brother farmed and milked cows for many years.  They were considered one of the biggest dairy farms in the county.  So I grew up with Holstein cows, bottle fed calves, geese (which I didn’t like cause they chased us kids).  Really good memories.  Sorry, got side tracked there.  Anyway, we grew up with crops like wheat, corn, soybeans and milo.  These crops have many different colors to watch as they matured.  Sunflowers were everywhere but were considered wildflowers.  Now there are some farmers around here, not many, that will plant sunflowers for a cash crop.  The fields are beautiful when in bloom.  So these sunflower postcards, quilt blocks mean something to me. One of the reasons I love living in the country.

Check out these postcards and if you make a quilt or wall hanging please send me a picture.

Hope everyone had a great Holiday and everyone have a great 2013.

More stitchin a comin.........
Connie