Fall is in the air

The nights are getting cooler, and craft fair season is approaching.

Jane showed me another new project. She crochets cool bracelets with elastic cord and beads.

I am not as good at crocheting as Jane, so I tried it with beading wire. I have minimal jewelry making skills, but it's pretty cute.

I have seen much more intricate designs, but will leave that for more experienced crafters.

My next show is at Woodstock Academy on October 5th. It is a fundraiser for the Future Business Leaders of America.  If you are in the area, please stop by. I made a few mug rugs/coasters with the Woodstock Academy insignia.

I will have quilted table runners, baby quilts, mug rugs and linen totes. This year I also made fleece snowballs! They are great for an indoor snowball fight. Don't you feel bad for people who don't get a good supply of snow each year??? I am not looking forward to winter...

Back to School

School opened on Tuesday, so it has been a hectic week.  No matter how crazy it gets, the children make me smile everyday.
Tuesday night I attended a seminar given by Joy Henning at the Worcester Public Library. She gave an overview of several on-line genealogy databases. Joy is always engaging, and I always learn something new.

My friend Jane, who is an incredible crocheter, is always challenging me with new projects. The latest project she asked me to make is a placemat that has four different fabrics, so you can have four different looks.  She would like 3 sets, with a different fabric for each month.

I analyzed the construction, and figured out how it is made. Please do not judge me based on the fabric selection. These are not ugly fabrics, they are just remnants I use to work out a pattern.

Four Sided Placemat, Mug Rug or Coaster

Start with four fabrics. The sample shown is cut at 9 1/2 by 7.

Have fun experimenting with other shapes and sizes.

Place the first two fabrics (green and pink) right sides together. 

Fold the pink fabric in half to mark the center.

 Pin the pink and green fabrics together on the left side only.

Fold the pink fabric out of the way.

 

Fold the blue floral fabric in half to mark the center.

 Pin the blue and green fabrics together on the right side only.

 

Start stitching as close to the fold as possible and back stitch. Sew the pink and green side first. Hold the remaining layers out of your way. When you get to the fold, again stitch as close as you can and back stitch. Move to the blue and green fabric. Hold the pink and green section out of your way. Start close to the fold, backstitch and continue to the next fold and backstitch.

Now place the final (hot pink) fabric right side down.

Here's the tricky part. You are only pinning the top two layers.

First I put a pin 1" from either side of the center so I don't sew here. 

This will be the opening left for turning.

Pin the hot pink to the unsewn blue floral fabric on the left, and the unsewn pink on the right.

Again, start stitching as close to the fold as possible and back stitch. Sew the hot pink and blue side first. Hold the remaining layers out of your way. When you get to the pin that marks your opening, backstitch.
Repeat for the hot pink and pink fabric. WHEW! You made it!!!!

Turn right sides out. Be patient. Turn out the corners and press well. 

I use a small piece of fusible to close the opening.

I did not use interfacing or batting, but would love to hear what worked for you. Now, just choose which color you want today.  The remaining layers will give you cushioning underneath.

 Thanks Jane for the challenge. I can't wait to see what you bring me next!

Preparing for Craft Fair Season

It has been a busy week. I went camping at Strawberry Park in Connecticut for a few days.  It was nice to sit back, relax and catch up with a friend. While I don't love tent camping, I am proud that were able to set up the tents and screen house without help. The weather was beautiful. My son and his girlfriend stopped by for dinner one evening.

 

I attended a co-worker's wedding on Saturday. Congratulations Ari and Tim.

I have been working on finishing items for the upcoming Craft Fair season. I was able to borrow a sewing machine and finish a winter table runner. I am not happy with the picture. The background is blue swirls and the snowflakes are white.

I finished several mug rugs. I have three craft fairs booked for the fall. If you hear of any in Central Massachusetts, please let me know.

One more week of summer vacation, then back to work.

No Sew Projects

My old faithful Janome sewing machine is at Charlton Sewing Center for her annual cleaning. Thank you Cathy Racine for keeping her running! So, I have been looking for no sew projects to keep me occupied.

I saw a picture of a beautiful woven fabric star. I searched Pinterest and YouTube and figured out how it was made. I used cardstock from my scrapbooking supplies and fabric I had on hand.

When I dropped off my machine at Charlton Sewing Center, I had fun looking through the store.  I saw a purse made from Bali batiks. It was very sturdy, and looked like a fun project.  I found the pattern for "Bali Bags". Strips of fabric are wrapped around clothesline. The covered rope is then zig zag stitched together.  So, back to Pinterest and YouTube and I saw beautiful bags, bowls and rugs made with this method. Similar to the braided rag rugs from my 70's childhood.  Unfortunately, I will have to wait to get my machine back before I can attempt this project.

I found crochet projects made from fabric strips.  My first attempt was messy.  I cut the fabric on grain and it was very fuzzy. So, I tried bias strips. The fabric frayed very little, but the prep work was tedious (cutting up yards and yards of 1/2" strips of bias). Not something I would try again, but it gave me something to do while sitting in front of the air conditioner waiting for the heat wave to pass.

My next project was very 70's. I saw a pot holder made from prairie points. After browsing the web I found the design is also called Somerset Patchwork.  There are many wonderful designs and variations on the web. My friend Karen said she remembered them being framed in an embroidery hoop. Harken the 70's! Country decor and candlewicking.  Back to my fabric on hand. I tacked down the triangles with glue stick and then hand sewed the points when it was finished. I will add a backing and binding later.

Then I tried to make a placemat. Not bad for my first attempt.

So, if you know of any no sew projects that use fabric, I would love to hear from you.

Machine Embroidered Coasters

It's been a busy week getting ready for the spring craft fair circuit.
I found wonderful machine embroidery designs for candle mats from Five Star Fonts. They come in several shapes, have four different quilting stitches and are made entirely in the hoop. I love that they use small pieces of fabric so I can use up some of my fabric stash! I am selling them as coasters/mug rugs/candle mats.

While looking for ideas on Pinterest, I saw a beautiful oriental fan shaped coaster. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a tutorial, but knew I could figure it out. So, I opened my Electric Quilt software and printed a 6 inch fan block pattern for paper piecing.  I paper pieced the fan blades, then appliqued the center. Again, this pattern uses small pieces so I can use up those 2 1/2" strips left over from another project.

My last project for the week was totally unexpected. We planned a bridal shower for a co-worker this afternoon after school.  Her fiance's mother called me last night in a panic.  She had cut out paper bells, written a letter on them and handed them out to our staff.  She asked everyone to write words of wisdom for the new bride on their bell using their selected alphabet letter.  She planned to have everyone read their advice and pin the bells on a sash.  Unfortunately, she could not find a suitable sash.  So, of course she called me. I checked the web to find the usual dimensions, and went looking for fabric. I machine embroidered her new monogram on the front and the words "Off the Market" on the back.  She was very touched by the gesture and now has a one-of-a-kind sash.

The rest of the week should be quiet.  I am walking at our area Relay for Life on Friday night and my son is coming for dinner on Sunday.  Enjoy your week!

Coasters Galore

I have been preparing for this year's craft fairs and am always looking for new ideas. I received a machine embroidery design for an in the hoop "mug rug" from Five Star Fonts. Since I had never made one, I used her design for the first few.

Then I got creative and added stippling and wording.  I wanted something for my desk to show support of the Boston Marathon bombing victims.

 This coaster is for my friend Karen to remind her to be strong.

 This design was fussy cut.

Then I started browsing the web to see what people were making. I get so inspired by the creativity of others. I saw some cute ideas on Pinterest.
YouTube had a few tutorials. Some were more intricate than others.

Last night as I was turning another coaster right side out, poking out the corners and sewing the opening shut, I remembered a design that used "woven" folded squares. Because of the structure, the coaster is sewn on all four sides, and flipped out through the woven squares. So I went back to the internet and found a great tutorial on YouTube.  I pulled out my box of fat quarters and realized this was an easy, quick, stash-busting project. I like the look of the coaster, then saw that people were using them to slip on wine glasses. Guests can keep track of which glass is theirs, and not leave wet rings on your furniture.

While searching for wine coasters, I ran across really cute coasters that look like flip flops!!! Who knew???? After drafting several patterns, this is what I came up with.

I plan to make several designs and sell them for $8 per pair.  Any color suggestions? What designs would you like to see?

T-Shirt Quilt - Labor of Love

While visiting my Uncle Richard last summer, he showed me several quilts made by his mother and grandmother. One quilt has hand appliqued Sunbonnet Sam motifs and is hand quilted. Richard said he remembers this quilt from his childhood. It is proudly hanging in his family room.Which led to my next project.  Richard has a wonderful sense of humor, and his t-shirt collection reflects his humor and love of life.  I offered to turn some of his shirts into a quilt.  So, he gathered up the shirts that held special memories and I brought them home.   Gina Zeleznok at Sturbridge Quilting and Sewing Center did wonderful machine quilting. Now, it's time to finish the binding. I hope to have it finished so I can deliver it to him next summer when I go back for a visit.

Ancestry Day at NEHGS

Saturday, my friend Jane and I spent the day in Boston at the Ancestry Day presentation sponsored by the New England Historical Genealogical Society.
Crista Cowan, the Barefoot Genealogist, was a blast!  People may think genealogy is boring, but Crista proved how much fun it can be.  Thank you Crista for sharing your tips and tricks for overcoming obstacles.
David Alan Lambert, chief genealogist at NEHGS shared wonderful stories and new research suggestions. Thank you David for reminding us that the dash on a headstone between a birth date and death date represents a life time of stories and experiences.  He reminded us to "flesh out" our family history.  Sure, you may know your ancestor's dates and locations. But, do you know what your great-grandmother loved to cook?  Do you know if your great-great-grand father loved woodworking? Ever wonder where your love of gardening came from?
David encouraged us to start writing our family story. Technology changes so fast - remember saving files on 3.5" floppy disks???  We store so much digitally these days, and these storage devices can get lost or crash.  This year I would like to create a photo album to share with my family.

An introduction

Welcome! I look forward to sharing a multitude of interests. My Nana taught me to knit and crochet. I remember sitting at her feet with a ball of Red Heart variegated yarn learning to make granny squares. In college, my roommate Daisie had a wonderful patchwork quilt. I think she wished she had a brand new bedspread, but I was so jealous of her quilt.  Many years later I made my first quilt.  I still sleep under it every night.  I have taken many classes and found wonderful mentors. I look forward to sharing my latest project, and would love to hear about what you are working on.

My Grampa shared his love of reading, learning and history. He started my family history journey in 1979. I started with Everton pedigree charts in three ring binders. My mother's family has lived mostly in New England.  My father's family started in Maryland, moved through the south and ended up in California. I look forward to sharing this journey, and appreciate any advice you may offer.
Cindy