Bargello finish

I think I have only pieced one other bargello piece.  Yes it is not quilted yet.  Someday that might be on the UFO list to finsh;)  But I kept seeing these bargello table runners all over the net so I thought I would try my hand at it.

Lots of fun was had going through the Christmas fabrics and finding what I liked together.  I have quite a stash of Christmas so you will be seeing more and more as the craft season gets underway.  I have been selling Christmas table runners for a couple of months already. So there is no time like the present to get busy making.

You find a tutorial at Jordan Fabrics.

The fabrics and bargello wave speak for itself so I kept the quilting simple with my favorite swirl hook. And a solid black binding to finish it all off.

And that is my Friday Finish!  

Linking with Finished or Not Friday, TGIFFand Whoop Whoop

Addicted to 10 degrees

And that doesn't mean 10 degrees fahrenheit either!!  I am talking about the 10 degree wedge ruler.  I love working with this ruler.  Using my tutorial I created this fall fabrics one first. 

 It's always fun to see how they turn out.  The center circle is the last piece I figure what fabric I want to use.  And I don't even do that until the top is all pieced.  Here is #2 topper. 

And then it was time to make a Christmas one. 

With the edges being curved you have to make bias binding.  Not my favorite thing to do, but it is necessary.  I used to dread sewing the bias binding onto the curves.   But no longer, I have finally figured out what works for me.  You have to be sure not to stretch it while sewing.  Even the tiniest bit of stretch will keep your top from laying flat.  After sewing the binding on I press the binding outward and use a bit of steam. 

Here you see my fingers/hand slightly pushing the binding away from the topper, keeping it away from the steam of course!  I might press around the circle a couple of times making sure the binding is smoothed out before I machine stitch in the ditch from the front side. 

And then while pressing two halves of the Christmas one I accidentally laid them down side by side, with one of them upside down, and made a whole new style of wedge table toppers.  Since I wanted a round Christmas one I made yet another set of wedges! These wedges were cut with a wider section of the ruler.  And this was born, a wedge swirl!!   Be honest and tell me what you think of this design.

Linking with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss

A sewing weekend

We were out camping a few days last week so I had to get some sewing time in this weekend.  The weather wasn't the greatest for much outdoor activity anyway.  On Wednesday night I ordered two Accuquilt dies. And wow are they fast they arrived Saturday afternoon!  They were having a sale and offered free shipping on orders over $35.  As you know that is not hard to reach!  I really like using 2.25" strips for my binding on everything I make.  So I ordered that strip die and a 4.5" tumbler die.

I have used the 2.25" strip die several times already.  I set right up to cutting binding for several table runners, a lap quilt and a wall hanging.  So you will be seeing more finishes very soon!  Here are the first two of them.

I finally figured out how I wanted to quilt one of these star table toppers so it was just waiting for it's binding.  All of the star points received straight line quilting by using a ruler on my longarm. A fun swirl in the middle and simple stippling in the light background.  The pattern is an oldie from Stitchin' Friends called Seasonal Star.

It was not a good day for lighting for a good photo.  The red is a pretty cherry red and what might look like holly leaves on black to you is actually a dark green with holly leaves and it has metallic specks in it as does the light background, so fun and sparkly in person but it wanted no part in taking a good picture!  And the weather doesn't sound all the cooperative in the next couple days either:(

The backing is the only part that photographed true in color.

Next up was this green snowman table runner.  It's a fun pattern in one of the books by GE Designs.

A simple allover swirl hook looks great on this style of table runner.

Did you get some sewing time this weekend, what did you work on?

I'll be linking with some of the fun Monday and Tuesday linky parties.

MCM

Monday Making

Won't you join me...

In cheering on my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors as they present their beautiful quilts for the Island Batik Beat the Heat Blog Hop.   This month half of us 50 ambassadors are showcasing the fabulous batik collections that were released at Market in May.  There are giveaways involved!!  For more information go to Island Batik blog.  And please come back on Aug. 21st for my day to show you my quilt from the Seedlings collection.  You can have a sneak peek if you scroll way to the bottom of this post😉

Monday, August 5

Leanne Parsons 

Sherry Shish

Tuesday, August 6

Bill Locke

Lisa Nielsen

Wednesday, August 7

Sandra Walker

Terri Vanden Bosch

Thursday, August 8

Pamela Boatright

Kathleen McCormick

Monday, August 12

Karen Neary

Carol Moellers

Tuesday, August 13

Michelle Roberts

Laticia “Tish” Stemple

Wednesday, August 14

(Debora) Anne Wiens

Gene Black

Thursday, August 15

Tina D Dillard

Bea Lee

Monday, August 19

Joanne Hart

Carla Henton

Tuesday, August 20

Connie Kauffman

Vasudha Govindan

Wednesday, August 21

Vicki in MN (me)

Mania Hatziioannidi

Thursday, August 22

Gail Sheppard

Monday, August 26

Maryellen McAuliffe

Jennifer Strauser

Tuesday, August 27

Connie K Campbell

Joan Kawano

Linking with  Whoop Whoop Friday and Finished or not

A few WIPs for Wednesday

I have been doing a little piecing, a little longarm quilting and a little binding too.  I am making the most of my time when we don't have other things planned.  Jumping a bit from one season to another, not that I am wanting summer over with.  Seems summer just finally started weatherwise.  But I do need to stock the boxes for the crafting fall and winter season.

First up I finished up these two pumpkin table runners.  You might remember that I made these last year also.  The pumpkin applique is from A Bright Corner.

.

These two jumped into the quilting que this past week also.  They were pieced last winter while we were traveling in the southwest.  One of them is now listed in my Etsy shop.  

Yesterday I went through some old photos from several years ago to see what I used to make.  Just looking for something different to add to my craft show boxes and Etsy.  This pattern was from Stitching Friends and is called Seasonal Star.  I don't see anything about them online so I am wondering if they are no longer in business.   So I whipped this up in just over an hour.  It measures about 24" across.  Perhaps I'll go quilt it now.  How would you quilt it?

I can hardly believe this is the last day of July, where has this year gone!!  So much done and so much more to make:)  

Linking with 

Midweek Makers

Wednesday Wait Loss

Island Batik unboxing event!!

If you have been following me for a while you know that I am an Island Batik Ambassador.  I am so lucky to work for fabric and other goodies and this is my fourth year to do so.  I love it and it just keeps getting better and better.  I mean look how big this box is.  And it weighed 23 lbs.!!  They are just so good to us, and we love it:)

We were sent the second box of goodies from Island Batik a couple weeks ago.  First we got the shipping notices and then of course the anticipation just builds and builds until UPS drops it off.  Some of us are guilty of stalking UPS because we are so darn anxious to see what is in the box each time.  We never know what goodies will pop out! 

This time Island Batik was really encouraging us to film our unboxing.  I am not one to be in front of the camera, but DH was insistent that I follow directions, LOL   He set up the camera and lighting which was very helpful.  Using my phone to film it and turning the camera around so I could always see myself was the ticket for me.   So without further ado let's explore the contents together.  I sure hope the video works since I have never uploaded one on blogger before.

I can hardly wait to get started with all these gorgeous fabrics and hope that you will follow along on my journey to see my finished projects.

Disclosure: These products were sent to me free of charge from Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil thread, and Accuquilt for use in monthly challenges.  Thank you to all of these fabulous companies!!

Linking with
Design Wall Monday
What I made Monday

Finishing up orders

Recently I was asked if I could made a 128" long table runner using the same pattern as a runner in my Etsy shop but using only red and green fabrics.  After figuring out I could only do a 122" because of the block size my customer decided that size would be okay for her.  I picked out fabrics I thought she might like per our convo.  Sent her photos of the fabrics and the schematic I did in EQ for approval.

I then began to piece it and was hoping to be able to get it all done before we went on our little lake vacation last week.  But I ran out of time and finished as soon as we got home.  It takes a bit of time to make a 122" runner!!!  I didn't have room to lay out the whole thing for it's photo.

For the quilting I did an allover freehand design of a lettuce leaf feather with an olive green Glide thread.

Another customer asked me to make a set of 4 matching place mats using the pattern from S.O.T.A.K. Handmade.  I love this pattern, as you can probably tell as I have been using it for a few different ones lately.  Here are hers all done.  She received hers and left me a fantastic review-I love my customers!!

After making the leaf table runners I decided it would be great to make matching place mats for that runner.  And since I had the fabrics out still I made fast work of a set of two. I posted them on my Instagram yesterday and SOTAK saw them and liked them!

Look how cute they are together!  These items are now in my Etsy shop

Stay tuned tomorrow here on the blog, I will be doing an unboxing of my second Island Batik box that I received as part of my being one of their ambassadors.  It's a video!!!  I am scheduled for 6 pm tomorrow.  Hope to see you then!

I love how our geranium is really blossoming now!  We have wintered this guy over for 2 winters now.  When we bring him out in the spring he goes into this very sickly looking mode that makes us think it is dying. After 2-3 months he looks gorgeous.  I would love to know how you winter over yours if you do.

Linking with 

Whoop Whoo

Finished or Not Friday

Foto Fun

A finish for July OMG

I am thrilled to say I finished my July goal today!  What was it you ask?  HERE is the original post.  Next you ask what is OMG, this would be a monthly goal we set and publicly announce at Elm Street Quilts blog at the beginning of the month.

My goal was to make these...

into these this month...

Last week DH and I took a little vacation at a lake up north of us 3 hours.  We were looking for peace and quiet along with biking, kayaking, fishing.  Well mother nature had other plans for us.  It was so hot and so humid, mix in the bugs and some rain.  The only place that felt good was on the water in our kayaks when it wasn't raining. The bugs didn't bother us out there.  Isn't this so serene and peaceful looking.   The bikes never got ridden. 

We tried fishing but they were not biting very good.  However we each caught a little guy, not a keeper, that had to go back to the water. But isn't he pretty!

After getting home is when I tackled my OMG leaf table runners.  Luckily I had all the strips sewn for the borders so that went really quick.  I love being able to whip up three projects so fast, feels like a great accomplishment. 

One more wildlife photo for you.  Today this little guy hung around a lot.  First he was laying out in front of the house by the drive way.  Then he/she and mommy was grazing in the back yard.  Next thing I look out and here he is all by himself right next to our pond right off the deck!  What a cutie.  And then tonight right after dinner he was peeking over the side of the deck!  I wonder if mommy knew what he was up to all day long!!

Hope you are all having a good week. Mine started off productive and I hope it continues.  The heat and humidity has broken and it feels great to open windows again!  But I hear a little more humid tomorrow.  

Linking with:

Midweek Makers

Wednesday Wait Loss

UFO Busting

12 Days of Christmas blog hop

When Sarah, from Confessions of a Fabric Addict blog, asked if anyone wanted to participate in Twelve Days of Christmas blog hop this year I jumped right on it.  I have participated for several years and it is always so fun and inspiring.  Sarah has a great give away so keep reading to the bottom of this post to find out how to enter. 

This year I have a tutorial for you for a hexagon snowman table topper.  I warn you lots of pictures!!

So let's get started.  You will need two different fabrics, I chose a light and dark gray.  And a small piece of white for your snowman faces.  A little piece of orange felt or fabric for noses. Six black buttons.  Four inches of stripe fabric for small inner border. 

From the light gray cut 9" x WOF(width of fabric).  No need to cut off the seldvege.  

Important: Open up your fabric so you have only 1 layer.  You will begin making 60 degree cuts.  I don't have a large 60 deg. ruler so I lined up my small one with the bottom of the fabric and lined up my regular ruler against it as in the photo below.  Next slide your small 60 deg. ruler away and cut along your regular ruler.  

Now you will slide your small ruler to the top and align with the left cut edge of fabric.  Line up your regular ruler, slide your 60 deg. ruler away and cut along the regular ruler.  

Keep flipping (top to bottom) to alternate your 60 degree ruler across your WOF until you have six 60 deg. triangles. 

It is now time to make 3 snowmen faces.  I took a 7 1/2" circle of white fabric and cut in half. You will have one extra face.  Use your favorite method to applique these to 3 of the triangles.

Fold the face in half and crease, do the same with the triangle to get the center of the bottom edge of both.  Pin to your triangle.

I used black thread and machine stitched with the blanket stitch.  I like to use my rubbery grippy gloves while appliquing, it just helps ease any strain on my hands.  I also wear these gloves while putting on long borders on runners or quilts.  And when I machine stitch on bindings.

When you have finished appliqueing, you will sew the triangles together into two groups of three as you see below.  Watch the placement of your snowmen faces. Press seams open.  And finally sew the two halves together. 

Building the borders.  I cut two strips of the red stripe at 1 1/2" x WOF.  Sew on three sides as shown 

below. 

Lay your ruler along the edge of the triangle and cut the angle needed. 

Now finish sewing the skinny border on the other 3 sides.

You will use the same method for sewing on the larger outer borders from the dark gray.  For these cut three strips at 3" x WOF.   In the plain triangles I stenciled on snowflakes from a purchased stencil, you can also applique them on using your favorite snowflake.  For the nose cut a triangle any size you like to give him the personality you want.  I usually applique it on after the quilting is done, so it becomes part of the quilting.  

Now go quilt it however you like!!  The button eyes can now be added.

  For the binding I cut three strips of the darker gray at 2.25" x WOF. 

I hope you enjoy this cute table topper when the snow flies next winter.  If you make one I would love to see it, and would love for you to link to my tutorial also!

Now for the give away, there is a bundle of Wintertide the new Christmas line from Figo Fabrics. 

Just fill out the form below and be sure to scroll down the form and hit the blue submit button or you will not get entered.  You can get an entry for each blog on the hop you visit.  Here is the list of blog participants...

SUNDAY, JULY 14TH

Jamie @ L’Fair Quilts

Sharon @ Vrooman’s Quilts

MONDAY, JULY 15TH

Amy @ Sea of Estrogen

Meloney @ Mel’s Quilting Blog

TUESDAY, JULY 16TH

Joy @ Days Filled With Joy

Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17TH

Brandy @ Pampered Pettit

Vicki @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

THURSDAY, JULY 18TH

Kathy @ Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Selina @ Selina Quilts

FRIDAY, JULY 19TH

Moira @ The Quilted Snail

SATURDAY, JULY 20TH

Jennifer @ The Inquiring Quilter

Anja @ Anja Quilts

SUNDAY, JULY 21ST

Tracie @ Riceford Streams

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

MONDAY, JULY 22ND

Katie @ Katie Mae Quilts

Susan @ QuiltFabrication

TUESDAY, JULY 23RD

Mary @ Made by Marney

Selina @ Selina Quilts

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH

Carole @ From My Carolina Home

Karrin @ Karrin’s Crazy World

THURSDAY, JULY 25TH

Christina @ Christina’s Handicrafts

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

THIS GIVE AWAY IS NOW CLOSED...

Q3 FAL

Just squeaking in here with a list of UFO's that need finishing.  They are not that old so maybe they are WIP'S instead.  Either way they need doing. 2 table runners and 3 wall hangings.

1. Quilt and bind.

2.  Needs borders, quilt and bind.

 3. Quilt and bind.

4. Quilt and bind.

 5. Quilt and bind.

Linking up at Sarah's for Q3 FAL