Wiggling onward!

Last week I showed a Wiggle Time quilt I made smaller for a neonatal quilt. This week I will show you the finished tops for two more. These I made the size in the pattern. Love making this pattern by Cynthia. I really wanted to make more but I needed to get back to making table runners and other things for the upcoming craft show in less than 3 weeks!

I will be quilting these up over our Minnesota winter and then donate to Project Linus.

Aren't these little monkeys adorable!!  

Linking with Oh Scrap

Gobble it Up!!

Wow it's fall, where did our summer go?? September presents a table runner challenge for us Island Batik Ambassadors.



Table runners are my thing, I love to make them.  I had a ton of ideas racing around in my head of what to make. With the decision made I chose fabrics from Island Batik's Sand Dune line released at Market in May, plus the Island Batik background fabric I picked up at my local shop for half price-SCORE!  The perfect colors for a fall table runner.

I designed this pattern using dresden plate blades for the turkey's feathers. Yes there will be a pattern forth coming in my Craftsy shop!!  After completing the half circle of blades for each turkey, I then machine appliqued them with invisible thread. The body, beak and wattle are made from felt. Little black buttons for his eyes finish him off.  What a fun, festive, playful runner to put on your Thanksgiving table!

And if you have followed my blog you know how much I love to custom quilt. Leaves are quilted in the background and I stitched around each feather about 1/8" in.

And feathers in the border-quite fitting to quilt feathers on a turkey table runner, right?

I just loved working with these rich fall colors and especially since they are Island Batik fabrics!! 

If you would love to see what the other Ambassadors are making this month you can find links to their blogs here

Linking with Whoop Whoop, Finished or not, Chezzetcook and Finish it up Friday

Falling for purses

I had a past customer of my purses come to see what I had on hand a couple weeks ago as she needed a new one. The ones I had made were not going to work for her, so we looked through my fabric and she picked out the perfect ones for her:-)  Since I like to make them in batches, and since I needed more for an upcoming craft, show I decided a couple days later to go through my bin of purse fabrics and get started.  These are what I came up with.  My customer ordered the one on the bottom right.

They all have 8 pockets inside, 3 pockets outside and a magnetic closure. This is from a pattern I made, I have had many requests for the pattern, but at this time I do not have it for sale. However the purses are for sale;-)

My customer also brought along a friend of hers(mine too) and she really like this snowman wall hanging I was working on and it is now hers!  Customers sister emailed me about purses after that and she also purchased one that I had on hand.  I love it when I get to personally talk/email with my customers!  Thanks so much ladies!

I used felt for the letters, hat and bird to machine straight stitch applique on after the quilting was done.

Linking with Let's Bee Social

Getting my Wiggle on!

Earlier this month Cynthia had her patterns on sale so I thought I should pick up her Wiggle Time pattern and get my wiggle on!!  And I did wiggle yesterday, LOL  I went to my charity fabric cupboard and pulled out a background piece and coordinating scraps. But, alas, my background piece wasn't big enough. I really wanted to use this one so I thought I would just scale back the pattern and make a neonatal size with it. So less blocks and 1 less row and I had just enough to make it work. What a fast, fun little pattern, in a couple hours I had this sewn...

We then went off to a retirement party and when we came home I went back to the charity fabric cupboard and pulled out for another one and started in on it.  This will be the size from the pattern. Back to wiggling for me today!


Linking with Oh Scrap, MCM and Scraptastic Tuesday

Winner from Seaside Summer blog hop

It's time to announce the winner for my giveaway during the Island Batik Seaside Summer blog hop.

I numbered the comments and then had my DH choose a number, #23 you are the winner.  Congrats to...

GranChrisAugust 17, 2016 at 9:47 PM

Love the colors, oh so nice. The runner is great.

 I will be emailing your pattern shortly!

Leaves, Dolls and a meeting

What a goofy title, right?  Many things going on this past week for me. First up is finishing up 2 more table runners. I have used Connie's pattern before and loved it, so I thought I should make a few more for the fall craft shows. Connie's has hearts for Valentine's Day, however I love seeing patterns made in different colors. So the bottom one is like what I have done before, then I got to thinking what if I switched the blocks around and put the black in the center. I like it!!!  The original plan was to applique two big leaves in the center of each black after I quilted it.  But I kinda like it plain-what is your thought?

Next up the dolls sporting their new outfits.  The sun was mighty bright when I took these pictures!

These outfits are for sale if anyone has little girls you need a present for!

And last but not least, last week I had the fun opportunity to meet in person a fellow Island Batik Ambassador who is also from Minnesota. Suzy and I decided to meet at a quilt shop(I know you are all 'sew' surprised) All in Stitches in Zumbrota.  Suzy has a new book out on Applique and I will be participating in a blog hop in October doing a project from her book, so stay tuned!

Want to see more creativeness, join in the linky parties below. I am heading there now.

Freemotion by the River

Let's Bee Social

Pumpkins, plus, and dots equals...

A pretty fall table runner.  This is a Plus pattern from The Trendy Table by Anka's Treasure.  In the book, Heather has it in modern colors, but, I wondered what would happen if I made it more fall like. I am in love with it!!  What a great way to use  some orange and gold scraps. 

Hook swirl free motion quilting with my Nolting Funquilter.

 If you look closely you see a slight change in the thread, I am using Superior King Tut variegated  orange, it has very small repeats.   This thread is so pretty, especially on the black fabric.

Linking with Oh Scrap and Main Crush Monday

I flipped a switch

That is I flipped the switch from all quilting to making 18" doll clothes.  I have been wanting to get back at making some more cute outfits for the craft shows coming up this fall. So last weekend I dug around in the garment type fabric bins in my stash and came up with lots of fabrics to use, denim, corduroy, sweatshirt and t shirt knits, and some regular cotton too.  There have been lots started but only 6 outfits completed so far.  I tend to make at least 4 of the same outfit for efficiency sake. So I better get back at it today and finish up more of these.

Did you notice the gemstone iron on studs on the pants leg and the shirt neckline-little details make it cuter!

This little dolman sleeve shirt was a freebie here. I added a little neckband to it, and some iron on silver studs.

Don't forget about all the give away's happening with the Island Batik blog hop going on now. Get all the info from my post here

       

Linking with 

Sew Fresh 

Silly Mama

Sarah

Seaside Summer blog hop-Island Batik

August finds us by the Seaside for our Island Batik Ambassador blog hop!
                                                     

Today is my day on the hop that started on Monday Aug. 15th and continues thru Sept. 2nd.  Each day there are 2 or more of us Ambassadors sharing our projects showcasing the new Batiks that were released at Market in May and there will be giveaways!  Read to the bottom of my post to see mine and enter.

The bundle of fabrics I received from Island Batik were from the new Sand Dune line. You guys, these are just gorgeous colors, be sure to check them out at your local quilt shop or ask them to carry them if they don't. 

While I have not been at the sea this summer, we did stay busy with lots of fun outdoor activities.  So I closed my eyes and went there(to the sea) in my mind. I saw sand dunes and tufts of grass, so I picked these 8 fabrics from this line to use for my project.

I have always wanted to make a Crazy Eight Strip Teaser table topper, I have had the pattern for a couple years now. However, I decided I wanted it smaller than the 44" in the pattern.  After searching around the internet a bit I found this tutorial  for a 34" one and used it. Although I used 8 fabrics instead of 4. I love the size and I LOVE the coloring of it.  I have to say that it came together so nicely, using Island Batiks there was no stretching on the bias edges and my seams and points lined up great. 

And of course you want to see it quilted and bound, right?  

With all these points and inside angles I decided to do something I don't think I have ever done before. I used a single layer of Batik cut at 1 1/4" for the binding.  When I was thinking through how to approach doing it this way, I remembered I had that special fabric folding pen from Clover. You put some the special solution mixed with water in this special pen and when you wet a line down the fabric it just creases on that fold so easy! It worked like a charm. Before you know it I had my 1/4" fold done on my binding strip. Next I sewed the binding to the front of the topper, clipping my inside angles as I went. Then I pressed the binding out and whipped that baby to the back and stitched in the ditch on the front and was able to catch all of the back.

Superior Threads supplied me with this beautiful King Tut variegated thread. It went perfectly on top
and Aurifil in the bobbin(supplied by Aurifil).

If you would like to whip up a little snack to take to the beach try this...

Pop a bag of microwave popcorn, add 3/4 cup of dried cranberries and 1 cup of peanuts.
Melt 3/4 of a bag of Almond Bark and add to above ingredients and stir. Cool and enjoy!

Here is a list of all the blogs in the hop with their day listed...

Monday Aug 15 - Rain Forest

Kissed Quilts 

Tuesday Aug 16 - Red Tide

Free Motion by the River

Mary Mack Made Mine

Wednesday Aug 17 - Sand Dune

Purrfect Spots

KnitBug 2 (that's me)

Thursday Aug 18 - Seashore

Tamarinis

Pamela Quilts

Maria Michael Designs

Bonus -- Kissed Quilts --come back for another new design!

Friday Aug 19 - Surf Squirt

Quilting Affection

Archipelago Quilting

Monday Aug 22 - Tradewinds

Arkangel Creations

Bejeweled Quilts

Tuesday Aug 23 - Equinox

Kauffman Designs

Adele Mogavero * Del~Lillian's

Wednesday Aug 24 - Sea Canyon

Lemon Tree Snippets

Bea Quilter

Thursday Aug 25 - Sea Foam

Stone Cottage Quilts

Friday Aug 26 - Spoolin' Around

Sallys Quilting Corner

Toolontilkkupaja

Monday Aug 29 - Tide Pools

Inchworm Fabrics

MooseStashQuilting

Tuesday Aug 30 - Wind and Sea

For Quilts Sake

Patchwork Breeze

Wednesday Aug 31 - Spring Zing

Desert Bloom Quilting

Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Thursday Sep 1 - Splash

Kissed Quilts --I'll be back!!

The Patchwork Pearl

Friday Sept 2 - Landscapes

For Quilts Sake

For my giveaway, I have a .pdf  pattern for my Modern Circles table runner that I made using Island Batiks.  Just leave me a comment to be entered!  The winner will be chosen on Sept. 7th.  You don't have to follow my blog but it sure would be wonderful if you did:-)  If you don't win you can still get the pattern in my Craftsy shop!

NOTE: I am getting several of you ladies who are no-reply bloggers---please leave me your email addy's so I can contact you if you win!!!

Linking with
Let's Bee Social, NTT, Whoop Whoop, Finished or Not Friday

Island Batik Blog Hop begins

Yesterday the Island Batik Summer Blog hop started. There's a bunch of us Island Batik Ambassadors participating with ideas galore using new batiks, tutorials, giveaways, and recipes.  My day on the hop is tomorrow, so be sure to stop back.

                                                       
Here is a line up for you...

Monday Aug 15 - Rain Forest

Kissed Quilts 

Tuesday Aug 16 - Red Tide

Free Motion by the River

Mary Mack Made Mine

Wednesday Aug 17 - Sand Dune

Purrfect Spots

KnitBug 2

Tamarinis

Thursday Aug 18 - Seashore

Pamela Quilts

Maria Michael Designs

Bonus -- Kissed Quilts --come back for another new design!

Friday Aug 19 - Surf Squirt

Quilting Affection

Archipelago Quilting

Monday Aug 22 - Tradewinds

Arkangel Creations

Bejeweled Quilts

Tuesday Aug 23 - Equinox

Kauffman Designs

Adele Mogavero * Del~Lillian's

Wednesday Aug 24 - Sea Canyon

Lemon Tree Snippets

Bea Quilter

Thursday Aug 25 - Sea Foam

Stone Cottage Quilts

Sew Supportive

Friday Aug 26 - Spoolin' Around

Sallys Quilting Corner

Toolontilkkupaja

Monday Aug 29 - Tide Pools

Inchworm Fabrics

MooseStashQuilting

Tuesday Aug 30 - Wind and Sea

For Quilts Sake

Patchwork Breeze

Wednesday Aug 31 - Spring Zing

Desert Bloom Quilting

Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Thursday Sep 1 - Splash

Kissed Quilts --I'll be back!!

The Patchwork Pearl

Friday Sept 2 - Landscapes

For Quilts Sake

We celebrated our 34th wedding Anniversary this past weekend with a trip up to Duluth to visit our Son and Daughter-in-law. Hubby and I camped at the Buffalo Valley Campground. We biked on the Willard Munger Trail and Kayaked on the St. Louis River, and a hike in Banning State Park with our Son and DIL. They took us to dinner Friday night and cooked for us on Sunday night. Saturday night they came over to our camp for dinner. The weather was great all weekend.

Last week before we left I was able to get a little more quilting done and finished up these Day and Night runners.

Hope to see you all hopping tomorrow!!

Linking with Freemotion by the River

Runner finishes

Here are a few runners I completed during the past month. I was trying something new just to see if I would like it and I still am not sure.  The star points I made using a square of fabric and folding into a triangle and laying on top of the sashing and then sewing it in the seam when I added the next piece. Look at the close up picture and you will see better what I mean.  It gave a dimensional star point. What I didn't like was the quilting with that loose star point.

Fall leaves are a favorite of my customers so I had to get a supply of them ready.  The leaves are paper pieced.  I guess I have lots of scraps in these colors, at least these help use some up!

I was going for a bit of a modern feel with the quilting of straight lines on the black background.

This runner is from a pattern in Anka's Treasures newest book.  I love using grey with snowmen, as you know, so why not with snowflakes!  I love how it came out. I actually pieced this one while on our big vacation. The swirl hooks got quilted on after we got home.

Hope you all had a great weekend. We spent it biking on our Terra Trikes, and kayaking which makes it a great summer weekend. It was 77 degrees and the teeniest of breezes.

Linking up with
Oh Scrap
MCM
Podunk Pretties
Linky Tuesday
Scraptastic Tuesday

Quilted purses, WIP and OMG

This spring I started this batch of purses, got them part way done and set them aside. I know you guys never do such a thing, right!!  There is the cutting, assembling the outer purse section and then I do some quilting and trim them up. That is where they then sat for 3 months, taking up space on my sewing counters.  After we returned from vacation I decided I had to get these finished. I am glad to report they are now done and waiting for the craft shows.

The pattern is called Shirley from Totes by Sandy. She has loads of purse patterns. I was fortunate, several years ago, to test some out for her. These have just one long over the shoulder strap, 6 inside pockets, and a magnetic snap closure.  Her pattern uses only 2 fabrics for the outside, I decided to use 2 1/2" strips to make the bottom section, you know more color that way!

I started a new project yesterday using a new ruler I picked up at guild the other night. It is the Kite BlocLoc ruler.  I made a bunch of kite 4" blocks with 30's scraps, fun!  

Here is my design floor as of last night. Today's project is to get them sewn into a top. 

And here is my OMG- a wonderful, super gorgeous box of Island Batik fabrics showed up on my door step yesterday, Ooooh la la!!  Thank you Island Batik :-)   

 August is our summer blog hop and all of us Ambassadors are busy preparing wonderful projects to showcase the beautiful Batik's that were released at Market in May. Be sure to stop back here on Aug 17th for my day on the hop.

Linking with 

NTT

Whoop Whoop

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Small Cross Body bag

Before we went on our big vacation in June, I decided I needed a small bag to hold a few necessary items. You know like chap stick, money, camera that sort of stuff. It needed to be a cross body bag so I didn't have to hang onto something while hiking, sightseeing.  In the past I pinned some that would work and this is what I decided on making. Nothing like waiting until 2 days before we were leaving to make it!

I found the free tutorial for this Triple-Zip pouch from Debbie at A Quilter's Table, picked out my fabric and I couldn't believe I actually had the right color of zippers for it!!  I wrote Debbie about the possibility of adding a handle as her tutorial didn't have one. She gave a great suggestion to add one using some cute hardware. Since I was in a time crunch I didn't want to run out and buy hardware. So I just sewed the strap onto the back after I made the pouch. It may not look as good as hardware would have, however it worked perfectly for the trip!  Oh I did make mine an inch wider and taller as Debbie had mentioned it wasn't very big.


August has arrived and I am working on my August Island Batik Ambassador project. This month we had to use some of the new fabrics that debuted at Market in May.  The collection I was given was Sand Dune.  Gorgeous fall colors, not a problem for me. So stay tuned for what I make.  Oh this is going to be a blog hop for us Ambassadors, there will be some giveaways too.  My day is Aug. 17th.

If you missed any of the Ambassador projects in July you can find them all shown here with links to each blog also.  Joan put together a great collage with all the projects!

I hope you all have a great productive week.  My long arm needs to get a work out this week, I have several table runners that need quilting and a few wall quilts too.

We have several great linky parties in QBL, I will be joining these this week.

MCM

Podunk Pickin's