“New Hobby” Giveaway

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CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Winners TBA shortly. Thanks for entering!!

As 2011 comes to a close, you are probably thinking about plans for the new year. Ways to improve on this and that. Do less, you aren’t Superwoman. Do More. You are Superwoman!! (Or man!!)

Maybe you are even thinking about taking up a new hobby. Learn something new.

Well, I CAN HELP WITH THAT!!

Welcome to my Get-You-Started-On-A-New-Hobby Giveaway…

All you have to do is leave a comment finishing this sentence.

I would love to try (one of the below).

• crocheting

• beading

• sewing/quilting

• macrame

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Giveaway Guidelines:

Contest starts today Friday December 30, 2011 and runs through Thursday January 5, 2012. One comment per person.

Two comments will be randomly selected by the Random Generator.

Winners will be posted on Friday January 6, 2012 and notified via e-mail. Make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will have 48 hours to reply by e-mail with name and address or new winners will be selected.

Prize boxes will be mailed within three days of contest close. (Everyone is welcome. I will ship international.)

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Photos are showing craft supplies I gathered to take pictures. Not necessarily the exact items you will receive but I will send enough to get you started.

Each package will include How-To Instruction books/booklets and/or patterns.

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I am so excited to offer this giveaway to my blog followers. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement year round. And a HUGE thank you for your comments both here and by e-mail. They mean a lot to me!!

Psst… even if you already know how to do these crafts, you can still enter. Just tell me which is your favorite.

And please do come back to show us what you made. I will post pictures on my You Made It page. Good luck!! Thanks for participating.

New Look For My Quilting Table

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All organized.

From this…..

To this.

Ready for me to sit, read and jot down ideas. I really like how this turned out. I will be making more sets like this.

Making Hanging Fabric Baskets To Go With My Table Runner

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It’s been over a week since I showed you my Quilt-As-You-Go Table Runner I was working on. Made with different widths of fabric strips. I love working with strips. This one uses navy, avocado and pink fabrics.

The back is a Fat Quarter that I found at JoAnn’s months ago and loved the colors. It was my inspiration fabric and my runner was built around it.

I finished the runner sometime last weekend but didn’t show you because I had another idea.

With plenty of strips left, I decided to make Hanging Fabric Baskets. Like those I had seen on the net.

I found several sites with basically the same steps to make these baskets. (I borrowed this photo from The Mother Huddle site.)

I followed along with the instructions. Made a few changes. You know me. I had to put my own spin on it. I wanted it sturdier. I tried several ways and finally got it to work as I envisioned. By using very thick Pellon.

I sewed a strip of it inside on the bottom of the outside fabric.

And also inserted a circle of thick Pellon right before inserting the lining.

Next, I folded down the outside fabric so about a half inch of the inside lining would show.

I even added an extra strip of heavy Pellon connecting the bottom of the circle.

It makes the bottom even sturdier. As you can see in this photo.

It was fun making these baskets. I am going to make a couple of smaller ones. (Still have more strips.)

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Go here for the instructions to both the table runner and hanging basket. There are three for the hanging baskets. I used the first one.

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2010/08/table-runner-tutorial.html

http://www.themotherhuddle.com/tutorial-hanging-fabric-baskets-or-pockets/

http://www.themotherhuddle.com/hanging-fabric-storage-baskets/

http://sewplicity.blogspot.com/2010/09/tutorial-hanging-fabric-basket.html

SS Holiday #1: Merry Christmas!!

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Merry Christmas everyone!!

Here’s wishing you have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year.

I made this table runner just for you. It is my first in my SS Holiday series. It was made from all scraps except for the borders and back.

Thanks again for being one of my loyal blog followers!! You are the best!!

S.S. Holiday: Table Runners For The Holidays

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Something new….

I am always thinking about ways to use my fabric stash. I get an idea, so excited!! Make one or two, get bored. Or run out of steam. Then I sit and wait for the next idea to pop up. But I just thought of an idea with “LEGS”. A perfect ongoing project. I can use both stash and scraps.

I am going to call my idea the S.S. Holiday. S and S for STASH and SCRAPS. And HOLIDAY. I will make table runners for whichever holiday catches my fancy.

And not just the in-your-face, decorations everywhere holidays. Such as Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Halloween. Think whimsical, unusual, funny and silly.

I will make at least one a month, maybe more. Depends on how much time I have and which holidays I already have fabric for. No doubt I will buy new fabric so I won’t commit to only using stash. But I won’t go overboard. A Fat Quarter here and there. Even just a half yard will be more than enough should I see a fabric PERFECT for a holiday.

I have my first table runner almost finished. You will have to come back to see it.

What is your FAVORITE HOLIDAY?

One Quilt Finished And Another Started

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I finished my Red Hot Chili Peppers Spool Block Quilt. I machine sewed the binding. I am getting used to how a machine sewn binding looks. Flat on the top. But wider looking which I like.

It is larger than the first one. Nine spool blocks for this one.

This is how I made the back.

I was going to be lazy and just do all one fabric but didn’t have one piece large enough. So had to do a pieced back.

And the binding I wanted to use… the white with black speckles… didn’t have enough of that one either. Only had one Fat Quarter left.

So went with this black with white swirls instead. I think it looks OK. Just the “pop” it needed. Not too much. Just right.

Quilt measures 35″ by 37″. Colors are cranberry, forest green, white and black.

This is my favorite photo. Stippling. Oh how I love you!!

When I am stippling, I feel so free. Free to go left, right, wiggle around. Go whichever direction I want. But always thinking ahead about an exit strategy. Don’t want to be boxed in or cross over any stitches. I flip over the back every few minutes looking for tension issues. So glad I took the time to watch numerous videos on how to stipple.

I love the crinkled look.

And DONE!!

You can read more details on how I made it here.

http://thisyearsdozen.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/my-christmasy-red-hot-chili-peppers-quilt/

Go here for the Freda’s Spool Block tutorial.

http://fredashive.blogspot.com/2010/01/string-spool-tutorial.html

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My next project…

Since it took several days to make and finish the Red Hot Peppers quilt, I wanted my next project to be something I didn’t have to “think” about. Or worry about. Just sew. Strip by strip. It is a quilt-as-you-go table runner. I saw the directions somewhere on the net. Have to find the site so I can link to it.

For now, this is where I am.

Fabrics gathered.

Back decided on and sewn along the batting top edge.

And a few strips sewn and pressed.

The PRESSING is a pain. PITA!! But it is necessary to have a straight seam before adding the next strip. So, I will be Slow and Steady.

Update 12-23-11: Found the site.

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2010/08/table-runner-tutorial.html

And The Winner Of My SewMamaSew Giveaway Is…..

Comment #11.

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Justine in CT said:
December 12, 2011 at 12:53 pm

Lovely pillows. I was going to say “I wish I had gone to college instead of getting married so young (19)” – but if I had, I wouldn’t have the 2 wonderful children I was blessed with so things worked out just the way they were supposed to!!!

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Justine is the winner of my Two Pillow Covers.

She has already been contacted via e-mail so I will ship asap. Congrats!!

Thank you EVERYONE for entering. I enjoyed reading each and every comment.

My “Christmasy” Red Hot Chili Peppers Quilt

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It sorta looks like Christmas… Not Christmas fabric but the red, green and white makes it seem so.

Just finished making this spool block mini quilt top this morning. This is my 2nd spool block quilt. I am still practicing, improving my skills so when I go to make the “big one” I will have ironed out all the kinks.

I already showed you the 4 1/2″ scrap blocks I made last month. So after deciding on which other fabrics to use, I got started.

First. String sewed the sides.

Next. Added the spool tops and bottoms.

I added additional tops and side sashing to balance out the spools.

The look went from this…

To this.

Isn’t this much better? Not chopped off looking.

And I wanted LOTS of borders. Even thought about five. But just went with three. Green tonal from Arbor Lane Quilt of the Month Series.

And cranberry with tiny white stars.

This will be the binding (unless I change my mind) when I get to that step.

White with black speckles.

Right now as I type this (I am taking a break), I am thinking about how to make the back. Probably wide rectangular strips using some of the fabrics used for the top.

More to follow. You will have to check back for the finished quilt.

Need To Make A Quick Gift? There’s Still Time…

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Got guests coming? Long lost relatives popping up? Unexpected party to go to?

No problem. I made this table topper in one afternoon.

Start by going to Moda Bake Shop for the “recipe.”

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/05/christmas-packages.html

These blocks are really easy to make. I made four.

Next you decide on a layout.

I liked the openness of the second one best. In my mind I could see a centerpiece in the middle.

Sandwich the layers. Back, batting and top.

I tried something new for the quilting. Just teardrop loops. Three of them.

Started with the smallest teardrop. Then went around it. And once more, for three. You can see where I goofed on the first block. And the next ones didn’t get any better either!!

My lines aren’t the straightest but I was using my free motion quilting foot. It looks a MESS but I LOVE IT!!

Next… I decided on rounded corners (think bias binding). You can decide which way you want to finish yours off.

Before sewing on the bias binding (I machine stitched it front and back), I did a quick squiggly line along the edge of the quilt. To tame the ruffliness caused by the teardrops pulling in a bit. You can see the squiggly line in this photo.

And DONE!!

Now I can add my centerpiece.

BTW, can you guess how long I have had this Christmas centerpiece? I made it during my floral crafting days back in the early 80′s. Every year I drag it out of its storage place and display it.

OK… now it’s your turn. Try it. And don’t worry if the teardrop curves don’t perfectly curve. From afar it will look perfect. The person who gets it will LOVE IT!!

Giveaway Week At SewMamaSew

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Update 12-17-11.

And the winner is….. Comment #11, Justine in CT.

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Are you ready for a Giveaway!! Been a while, huh?

Well, wait no longer. I am participating in the annual Giveaway Event over at SewMamaSew. Today, Monday December 12, is the first day. Giveaway will last all week. From 12-12 through 12-16. Lots of sites will be participating. You will have to check them all out.

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/

But first, let me tell you what I am giving away and how you can win.

The winner (chosen by Random Generator) will receive Two Pillow Covers handcrafted by yours truly. Colors are plum, brick red and lime. Made with all cotton fabrics.

Photos are showing the covers with pillow forms inside them. You will receive the outside covers only. Covers are fully lined, envelope style.

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To win all you have to do is post a comment answering this question.

What is one thing you wish you had done in your youth?

Enter as often as you like. Come back and enter daily. More chances for you to win.

Giveaway contest runs all week. From Monday, December 12 through December 16 ending at 8 pm EST. Winner will be announced via e-mail by Sunday, December 18. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. If not, a new winner will be randomly selected.

Prize will be mailed by December 24. I will ship internationally. Everyone is welcome to enter.

So.. comment away!! And you could win these.

Large Pillow Cover (16″ by 15 1/2″)

Small Pillow Cover (12 1/4″ by 11 1/2″)

Have fun. Good luck!!

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BTW, you can find me on Etsy and Yatimi. Would love for you to visit. Thanks!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thisyearsdozen

http://www.yatimi.com/shop/midnightbeader