Strip Tubing Again................

I’ve talked about Strip Tubing before in one my blogs.  Again I can’t tell you how much I love this technique.  It’s so easy and so much fun.   You will find out that jelly rolls will be one of your best friends in quilting. Be sure to check out all the books available for jelly rolls and strip tubing.  Colors just seem to blend together regardless how they are put together.

This pattern is “Heartstrings” designed by Gail Yakos, Manufactured by Black Mountain Quilts.  I love the colors blue and teal so this is one of my favorite quilts.  To be honest with you any quilt with these colors fall into that category.  Ho Hum!!!  I’m sure you will find that I like most quilts regardless of colors.  This quilt takes a 2-1/2” wide precut jelly roll strips, 1 bundle or at least 36 strips that you can cut from your stash, 12 fabrics cut ¼ yard each, but not fat quarters, 2-5/8 yard of white background fabric, 5/8 yard for binding fabric, 4-1/2 yards of background fabric and batting

Note:  do not throw any scraps away because you will use these leftover pieces in the outside border. 

These hearts were fun to put together. I was really excited to take it to the quilter and see what she could come up with.  I was not disappointed when I got the quilt back.  Notice what special quilting she did.  On the top of each heart she quilted another heart in blue thread.

Then down the center of each heart she made it look like hearts on top of each other.  She did an awesome job I think.

This week is Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for.  Count your blessings and don't over eat.  HA HA

Until next week have a great and safe Holiday.

Connie

"BOO" for Halloween

The first holiday (well I call it a holiday even if we don't get a paid holiday at work) in the Fall is “Halloween.”  There are so many different ways to decorate for this holiday.  Magazines, internet, stores have so many ideas it’s hard to know where to start.  Well I started with a few pumpkins, fall garland with sunflowers, grapes of different colors, small berries and different color of leaves, wall hanging and table runner.  When Halloween is over you can leave the pumpkins, garland and whatever else can stay for Thanksgiving.  Doesn’t that sound like more time for sewing if you don’t have to put everything away after Halloween and redo everything for Thanksgiving?

The wall hanging I just took a piece of the main piece of fabric with lots of color, pumpkins, corn candy, bats, etc. and cut it the size I wanted the center to be.  I then added a small sashing of purple around the center piece.  I’m really excited about the border of stars, moons and spiders.  You ask why I’m excited about a piece of material?  Well this material is “glow in the dark”.  The starts, moon and spiders really glow in the dark.  I remember hanging the wall hanging for the first time and walking in the room and seeing it on the wall and the table runner on the table, it GLOWED!  Awesome!  There was no pattern for this wall hanging but I think if you’re a beginner your quilt store could help you figure it out.  Or get a beginner quilt book with a similar wall hanging and make it using there directions.

The table runner was made from the pattern “Fat Quarter Table Runner.”  This is a quilt as you sew pattern from “Out Of The Blue.”  Once you’ve made the first one, you’ll be creating table runners so quickly all your gift-giving will be taken care of and fast.  This is a perfect way to use fat quarters you might have laying around or from picking up fat quarters and don’t know what to do with.  There are many patterns out there for table runners so if you don’t care for this one check out some of the other patterns available.  Note:  I’ve had this pattern for quite a while so not sure it’s available to buy right now.  Did you notice on this table runner that I put two rows of “glow in the dark” material?  Just love it!

Now that’s some of my Halloween decorations.  Tell me do you have a favorite Halloween decoration? Have you made a Halloween table runner and wall hanging?  Let me know what your ideas on Halloween are?

Hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween,
Connie

"Candle In The Window" Quilt.....

Fall time is a wonderful time of year.  I just love watching the trees change to beautiful colors.  Bright yellows, oranges, brilliant reds, greens, and more.  Trees to me are like beautiful quilts.  All colors, no matter what colors, all blend together.  It's fun to go to my sewing room with inspiration and start going through the fabric and seeing what I have and what quilt is next.



The cool evenings, all the different colors, taking the kids to the pumpkin patches and watching there faces glow with delight just picking out the right pumpkin to take home, the bonfires, the roasting of hot dogs, smores, hayrack rides, the decorating of your homes.  Don’t you agree that Fall time is a great time of the year?   Just love it!!

The quilt I want to share with you today is “Candle In The Window”

by Kansas Troubles Quilters, Lynne Hagmeier, designer.  The Jelly Roll called “Snow Bloom” was used for this project.  I made this into a full size quilt and this is one quilt I kept for myself.  I always made all my quilts for a special occassion or to give to my grandkids.  Well this one was special to me.  I love the dark colors accenting the cream in the center with the quilting.  Now I love my bedroom – it’s my quilt, I made it, I’m proud to let you see it. I had  quite a few of these blocks leftover and extra material so I decided to make curtains

to match the bedspread.  Couldn't stop there so made some pillow cases with some more of the leftover material.  Now I feel like the room is complete. Its simple but that's what I like, a homey, country feel.

I also want to show you the back of my quilt.  She did the quilting with cream color thread which really stands out on the brown material.  My quilter knows me pretty good and I can just take my quilt to her and tell her to do whatever she thinks will look nice.  She's been a friend for numerous years and owns her own shop in Hillsboro, Ks called Kessler Kreations.  She does longarm quilting and also sells fabric, etc. in her shop.  If you're that way or close to Hillsboro stop in and see her.

If you've been following my blog I've got some sponsors that you need to check out.  They have daily, weekly, monthly sales going on all the time.  I'll try to pass on the sales each week so sign up to be a follower and receive all the information.

Well on to my next project.  October is almost over and really hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner.  Leave me a comment, I'd like to hear what you're sewing for gifts this Christmas.  You might inspire me to make a few more gifts.

Until next time,
Connie

"Strip Tubing" Oh WOW..............

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 shops in Central Ks had a Shop Hop.  Each of these days they had extended hours to accommodate the quilters.   We are very blessed to have so many wonderful quilt shops in this area.  Each one of these shops has there own way of showing and demonstrating techniques, quilts, etc.  If you have a chance and you're visiting this area be sure to check a few of these shops out.  I loaded the car with 4 other women and off we were.   Our goal was to hit as many shops as we could on Friday and finish on Saturday.  We hit 10 of them and the 11th one we did on our own Saturday.  Yes, more fabric was bought, unique patterns and whatever else we were looking for.  Fun day, weekend, or however many days it took the quilters.

If you're in the area and want some names, addresses and cities they are located in just drop me a note to my email address:  www.connieselzer@hotmail.com.  I'd be glad to help you.

I took a class recently on “Strip Tubing” and the class really got me hooked on this type of quilting.  It’s so simple!  The only tool you need that you might consider buying is a “Strip Tube Ruler.”  You can use a regular ruler but this one is already marked and ready to use.  I   purchased a book “Strip Tubing“ by Daniela Stout and Georgette Dell’Orco so this ruler comes in very handy.

This technique is very different but easy.  Don’t get excited because if I can do it you can also without any trouble.  This technique is making a tube with 2 ½” strips.  You will need light, medium and 2 dark fabrics for this technique.  Cut your yardage into 2 ½” strips.  Then take a light strip and sew two dark strips on each side of the light strip with ¼” seams.  Next take a medium strip and sew two light strips on each side of the medium strip with ¼” seams.  My light strips are the yellow, dark strip is dark purple and medium strip is the light purple.  Can you find the four squares that make one block?

TIP:  Do not use steam when pressing because it will create ripples on the edges.  You might want to use a spray starch or Mary Ellen’s Best Press Alternative.  Personally, I love Mary Eleen's Best Press and it smells so good.

Press them flat.  Now set them directly on top of each other with right sides together and sew each side again with ¼” seams.  If you don’t have a strip tubing ruler use a 9 ”square ruler and set the 45 degree mark on the seam line first at the top and cut fabric then slide down to bottom seam and cut fabric at the 45 degree angle.  You should get six pieces from each tube, four squares to make one block.  If you have any stitches at the point be sure to take these out before opening.  Press your block open.  Then position your four squares the way you want them to look and sew together with ¼” seam.  Make as many blocks as you need for the size of quilt you want to make.   

  

This is such a fun and easy to make quilt.  You can turn the triangles anyway you’d like and make the quilt the way you want it!  Try some different colors that maybe you wouldn't have tried before.  Make it your quilt.

 Keep checking back because I have more "Strip Tubing" quilts to show you.

So is this a technique you think you might try………

Connie

5 Tiny Speckled Frogs Sat On A Great Big Log....

The temperatures are cooling down.  Fall is in the air.  The trees are changing to there beautiful colors.  This is the time of year I really enjoy.

Have to share with you a bus trip I took for three days visiting quilt shops in Kansas and Oklahoma and just had a blast.  If you have a chance to take a quilt bus trip grab a friend and sign up.  You'll have so much fun!  Don’t get discouraged if you have to go by yourself because with three days you do make new quilting friends.   The fun part is you can visit, quilt, show and tell what you bought from each quilt shop and even play a few games.  Oh, I also have to mention we even watched the movie “27 Bridesmaid Dresses.”  Everybody enjoyed this movie and had some good laughs.  You just meet so many other quilters that are just as enthused as you are about quilting. 
It seemed every store had a new technique, new tool, demonstrations regarding a new product to show us.  Even if they had some of the same materials they seem to show different ways to use that material.  Each store was exciting to visit.   It was hard not to buy a lot but I did control my spending.  Proud of myself for that!

One thing I did fall in love with on this trip was this frog material.  I like frogs but I don’t have an obsession with them.  When I saw this pattern and all the different frog materials I just had to purchase it.  Wouldn’t it be a nice quilt for some little boy or girl especially if a little boy or girl likes to catch little pollywogs.   Aren’t all these little frogs happy?  Got to love it.  My 6 month old grandaughter, Mariah smiles when she looks at it.

For the backing I used a colorful print that had the same bright colors.  Flowers are usually found by ponds and so I thought this would go with the frogs sitting on the logs.  Now this quilt can be used either side.  Does anyone else remember this  "5 Speckled Frogs Sat On A Log" being sung to them when they were a child?

Novelty prints are fun to work with.  There are so many different prints and so many ways to use them.  Put your thinking caps on and come up with your special quilt.  Let me know what you like to do with novelty prints?

Here's to Fall, keep smiling
Connie

Chicken Wallhanging - WOW!

I'm so excited about this post.  Keep in mind when you read this blog I'm not taking credit for making this  wall hanging that I’m going to talk to you about today. 

This wall hanging is made by my cousin, Carolea.  She purchased this wall hanging by joining a Block of the Month Club through Keepsake Quilting which provided the material and pattern each month in 2000.  She finished the blocks in 2001.  Now I have to tell you that this whole wall hanging is done by hand.  She needle turned all of it.  Each feather, each raspberry and grape clusters, all the branches, flowers, leaves, eggs all of it.  Layers upon layers were added by appliqueing on each chicken feather.  Last July she took it out of the closet and decided that she only wanted to finish the wall hanging by hand quilting it.  She started hand quilting it the first night of the Olympics and finished it a week ago.  Hand quilting was challenging because of the thickness of all the materials.  She said she’d probably never do another raspberry or grape cluster again! Appliqueing  and/or hand quilting.   Can u blame her!  She’s happy with it and I would to be if it was mine.  Another point this was her first project or attempt at needle turning.  Looks awesome cousin!

Carolea will welcome any comments!  She’ll be watching my blog to see what you say.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed posting it.

Off to the sewing room…….

Connie

Disappearing 9 Patch Quilt

Have you ever gone into a quilt shop or on line and see these little 5” square packs of material and don’t know what or how to use them?  These are called “Charm Packs.”

I am really starting to like using 5” charms.   Charm-square packages are produced by the manufacturers using there fabric line and colors that blend together.  It’s quick and easy!  They come in a variety of different colors or values.  The theory is “use what you have” just like quilters have done for so many years. These charm packs come in a variety of quantities within a pack.  Just depends on who your manufacturer is.

TIP: A note on charm packs, they usually don’t stick around very long so if you see one that you like you might want to purchase one or two right away.

Cutting a charm square is very important to make sure you don’t miscut.  Don’t let this scare you because if you do miscut there’s a good chance you might have a piece of stash that you could cut a 5” square out of and use it for a substitute.  It doesn’t have to match perfectly and remember you’ll be the only one that knows you substituted.  Some charms have pinked edges and these are usually measured from the outside edge of the pinking.  So be sure to measure your square before you cut.

I’m going to tell you how to make a “Disappearing 9 Patch!” If you don’t have any charm packs and you’d like to try it you can cut 5” squares from any of your stash and do the same thing.  That’s why charms are so much fun because they are already cut for you and not that expensive and you can go right to sewing them.

Now how does a “Disappearing 9 patch” work?   Using 5” Charms, sew together 3 charms x 3 charms, which makes a 9 patch.  When figuring out which charms you want on each row remember that the 4 corner blocks will not be cut.  So within the pack you find a few squares you don’t really care for then put them in the centers of each row.  You are now ready to cut.  Cut down the middle of the 9 patch, turn and cut down middle again.  Once cut then mix and match the blocks, the way you like them.  Don’t forget to take the time to square your blocks up when completed. There is no right or wrong way to set your blocks.  It's your quilt!

Now doesn't that sound very quick and easy?  Try it and let me know if you like this technique. 

Keep that sewing machine humming,
Connie