I WON THIS BEAUTIFUL FABRIC POST CARD BY ANNIE

 

Picture taken borrowed from Annie's Blog

I recently received an e-mail from Annie at Annie's Musings that I won this beautiful fabric Post Card that she made!!!  Is this not the cutest 'post card' you've ever seen? I cannot wait to receive it and hang it on the wall by my sewing machine.....what inspiration!!! You have got to check out her blog to see all the amazing work she does!!!

Thank you again Annie :o)

RED, WHITE & BLUE TABLE TOPPERS

In my last post I showed a picture of the red, white and blue blocks I started to make for some table toppers using the Creative Grids 90 degree Double Strip Ruler.  Here are the three I finished for my children and their spouses...shhhhh, they're a surprise.. (I plan to make a fourth one for me and my hubby...blocks are made, just have to decide how I want this one to look, and what size I want it to be...these finished at 19"x30"). I chose to quilt them with straight lines, following the zig zig pattern based on how I oriented the finished blocks. I used King Tut variegated thread in red, white and blue from Superior Thread...love this color combo and love King Tut thread...in fact, all my favorite threads to use are from Superior (I don't get anything for saying this...I'm just a happy customer).  I love how this thread looks on the solid red fabric I used for the backing on all of these toppers (you can see it best in the close up pic). All that is left to do now is stitch on labels.

I'm linking this up to Connie's Linky Party Tuesdays.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE BLOCKS

How many times do you purchase fabric and tools and just not get around to doing a project with either of them?  I'm guilty as charged of doing this....I bought FQ's in red, white and blue prints along with some yardage (the white background print above at $3.00 a yard on clearance) last year and then a few months ago (or so) I ordered the Creative Grids 90 degree Double-Strip ruler....neither had been touched until yesterday.  It's probably best to use either a jelly roll or strips from yardage to have as little waste as possible when using this ruler, however, I wanted to try it out with these FQ's.  I cut my FQ's into 2 1/2 inch wide strips; randomly chose two strips and sewed them together along one side, pressed them open; and, then, with right sides together, sewed two of these sets together along both sides (always using a 1/4" seam allowance) which created a 'tube'. Using the Double Strip ruler, I cut them into three 'triangles' (which is what you get from  FQ strips along with a lot of waste that I plan on using for another project...so I guess then it really won't be waste LOL). When the 'triangles' are opened and pressed you get these cute blocks.  I plan on making these (along with all the others I cut out after I took this photo) into several table toppers.  I personally love how easy it is to use this ruler to create fun blocks...just wish I'd opened it up and started using it when I first got it...live and learn :o)

FUN CHARM PACK FROM MARCIA

I recently won this fun charm pack over at Marcia's blog (Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting Blog) for her Create a Charm Pack May For Me Giveaway. I had my choice of colors and decided to choose these (it was a difficult choice because she offers many more great colors as well...so head over and check them out here!)....and I have to say that they are even prettier and brighter in person!!!  She included a sweet note on one of her quilt photo postcards and surprised me with three more for me to use...thanks so much Marcia!!! Now I just have to decide what fun project I'm going to make with these....decisions, decisions :o)

FINISHED TABLE RUNNER AND A WIN!

I finally managed to finish my table runner made from all the different blocks I've been having fun making.  When I started this project, I thought I'd make two matching runners, however, I decided that it would be more fun to try something different for each one.  After sewing my blocks together and adding a border, I stitched it together using the 'pillowcase' method (didn't want to sew on a binding); stitched around the border a 1/4"  and then quilted it with stippling (love to practice stippling and was very happy with how much easier it feels to do each time).  Now I have to choose which blocks I want to try for the second runner....but there may be a couple of other projects that I do first...in between golf games (since I started June 25, 2011, I've played a total... so far, 79 times...wow!!!!)

Just got an email today from Marcia, of Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting Blog, that I was one of her lucky winners...I get to choose 42 charm squares...what a fun prize...thanks Marcia!!! She's got a great Fabric Garage Sale going on right now through June 8th....so be sure to check it out!