In case you haven’t figured it out yet…..

I am a beginner.  As in-I have NEVER quilted a thing in my life!   For real!  Mom taught all of us girls to sew growing up, and I hated it.  Could care less about it and literally hoped and prayed I wouldn’t EVER have to do it again!!!  Somehow, I got roped in to opening a quilt shop with Mom, (still confused a little on how it happened)   🙂    and have fallen in love with this world.  You know, the quilting world.  And believe me when I say it is a WORLD all it’s own!  I have met the nicest people while hanging out and I am happy to admit I have been bitten by the bug……(yes, it’s a bug.  OBVIOUSLY very contagious.  really)  I sewed my very first quilt top.  Just imagine me, a little embarrassed and a LOT excited!

I had heard about the disappearing nine patch on a ton of blogs…. Natalie did a baby quilt and showed me the basics.  Instantly I knew this was the quilt for me.  It looks like a TON of work, but it is actually very basic and easy.  So, I bought 3 charm packs and started to sew.

Charm packs make it easy because there is minimal cutting and instant results.  And I am all about instant results! 🙂  If you haven’t tried the disappearing nine patch DO IT!  It is so fun and amazing.  Really, I felt like I could really sew!  I am still not convinced I am a quilter…….but I am getting more used to the idea.     🙂    (I mean, I have always admired quilters and girls with sewing skills…I just never thought I would be among them!)  But,  I had a blast and I can’t wait to finish it!   I am actually thinking about more ideas….different quilts I want to do and try….

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Disappearing 9 patch top

And in case you are interested, in the forums they are talking about doing a virtual sewing bee…..*squeal* this is it, Girls!  This is our year!!  All you ‘non-sewers  let us unite.  We can be quilters too!!  🙂   Go pick out a favorite charm pack and lets do this together!  :)Here is a picture of my finished top.  I used Sweet, by Urban Chik’s. (obsessed much?  Ok, so I like Urban Chik’s…. A Lot.)  Is it healthy?  Doubtful.  But I do love them.   I think I might get 3 more charm packs and double the size…..hmmm  I will let you know.  🙂

Hope you have a fabulous day Ladies!!

Sarah

It’s Time For Sewing Lessons!

After my fun time sewing honey bun strips together for the “bloom” quilt I wasn’t about to throw them away!  I decided that the “lil zipper bag” featured on Moda Bake Shop earlier this month would be the perfect sewing project for my young sewing daughter 🙂  Ally was more than excited!

This is most of what we started with…100_02381

(This project would also go well with Natalie’s series of honey bun projects it only requires 9 -9 1/2″ long strips from your honey bun!)

This is Ally learning one of the most important skills of any seamstress…100_0243The art of the seam ripper!

This is Ally quilting the bags outer fabric layers… I’m so proud of her!100_0249

I helped with the zipper…

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and the lining…

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But otherwise it was pretty much all her!  ( I spurred a few helps and ideas 🙂 ) But here’s the finished product!

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And guess who couldn’t be happier!?100_0260

A Sneak Peek…

at what I’ve been working on…

p3110020Yes!!! It’s an adorable coin quilt made out of my favorite Nouveau charm packs…It’s almost done!

and….Zippity Doo Dah in diamonds! It is going to be soo cute! I can hardly wait !p3100005Keep those fingers crossed that I will have time this weekend to get them done!!!  🙂 Have a lovely day!

Natalie

We Have a Winner!!!

That’s right folks, it’s that time again. Time to announce the lucky winner of the Weekly Giveaway over in the forum.

Congratulations shell.scraps, you’re the big winner this week!

We’ll be sending you your Baskets of Blessings Charm Pack Pattern soon!

We’d also like to give a nod to last week’s winner, tilelady!

She won a Ruby’s Flower Garden Charm Pack!

A giant THANK YOU to everyone who participated by letting us know your most intimidating quilt pattern. We had some great posts, and some gorgeous pictures. (Seriously! I was impressed ladies!)

If you don’t know what the heck we’re talking about (you’re not alone,) let us catch you up!  Each week we have a giveaway for anyone who responds to a question we ask on the community forum.  All you have to do is be part of the discussion and you’re automatically  entered to win.  Add a pic to your post and you double your chances!

For full details about the Weekly Giveaway, click here.

To learn how to register and use the forum, click here.

There’s a new giveaway up RIGHT NOW! So come join the conversation!

Up Next… (another “honey” of a project!)

…a tissue holder for your purse! These are so cute and much easier to make than you think!

What you’ll need:

1) six strips of fabric from your favorite honey bun

2)a coordinating piece of fabric for the lining that measures 9″ x 6″

First choose six of your favorite strips from your favorite honey bun. I am still using Fresh by Deb Strain. (Just so you know,  I will be making all of my projects out of ONE honey bun!)

Line them up until you like the order, then cut them down to 8″.

p3170057Next, sew your strips together. Press your seams to one side. Your six strips should now make a block that measures 7 1/4″ x 6″.

Then measure and cut your lining fabric to 9″ x 6″p3170046

Now you will line up your outer(strips)fabric with your liner fabric RIGHT sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam on each of the 6″ sides. It will look a little funny as the lining is larger than your outer fabric. Don’t worry you are doing just fine. p3170047Okay, now flip your fabric right side out and press making sure to center the outer fabric…It will look like this:p3170053

See how the lining makes a cool little accent? (love tricks like this)

okay with your lining as the outside turn the sides toward the middle. (Mine measures approx. 1 3/4″  on each side of the center line.) PIN! This one can be slippery!p3170054

Stitch the side seams closed. You may want to serge them or zig zag to prevent fraying.

Then you pop it right side out, pushing out those corners, and you are DONE!!! p3170058Is that not the cutest tissue holder that you’ve ever seen?

Yes indeed, it is that simple…Easily done in under an hour! This one would make a great gift for just about anyone on your list, as most of us will eventually need a Kleenex!  Fill er up and toss it into your purse! Your ready for whatever comes your way!p3170063(please excuse the horrific lighting…I just wanted to show it filled with lovely Kleenex!) Oh, and check back in a few days to see what I’ve come up with next!

Have a lovely day!