Tree Bird Blog Hop - my stop!

"Beautiful Birds" fabric designed by Tracy Lisotte for Elizabeth's Studios

When I learned about the darling fabric we'd be working with for this Blog Hop, I had to participate - I couldn't help it!

 >> Little Birdies Free Pincushion Tutorial & Pattern << #littlebirdiepincushion

You may have noticed that I have a thing for little birdies... I have a few spruce trees that surround our back deck, with little chickadees, blackbirds, an odd pigeon or magpie, well, a whole menagerie, sometimes.  And nothing says "Spring" like the sound of birdsong through my window.

I've also been thinking about "interactive" quilts - fun for me to make, fun for kids (3 and older) to play with and enjoy, and the prints in this line really lent themselves to what I had in mind.

Fused a few of the birds to Pellon Pel-Tex71F heavy-duty fusible stabilizer, then fussy-cut the shapes.

Laid out a few of the birdhouses with a tree panel to compose the quilt...  Looks like it's going to work!

Next, I pieced the top, then with batting in place, I marked where I wanted the little birds to sit in the branches with a Frixion pen.  I marked each spot with a pin, turned the batting over placing 1/2" metal washers in strategic places among the branches and birdhouses...

...Then I fused some lightweight interfacing to hold the washers in place.  At this stage, I laid it over the backing and did a little freemotion quilting on Ol' Betsy.  

On the front of the quilt, I outlined each washer with a Frixion iron-off pen, then tried to "respect" the markings as I quilted... (it's not a pretty picture if you miss one, trust me).

Added a few super-magnets with some heavy-duty E-6000 glue to the back of the birds, which seemed to do the trick.

Once I iron off the markings and put on a binding it will be ready for hours of interactive fun!  I'm thinking, family tree games, matching games, I-Spy games, countdowns, story-telling, etc.

UPDATE:  See how I finished this little quilt and turned it into a Pack-Along HERE.

~~~~

Here's another idea for this sweet fabric:  I needed a little sample for a class on binding curves and scallops at a local guild meeting.  So I woke up that morning, programmed little Mo with a design I liked...

...then pushed the button and quilted a couple of pretty placemats for the demo.  Darling!

UPDATE:  See how to bind scalloped edges with this SCALLOP-EDGE BINDING tutorial.

Big THANKS to Madame Samm @ Sew We Quilt/Sew We Stitch, for organizing this hop, and to Lana at It Seams to be Sew for scheduling and cheering us all along the way!  

Be sure to stop by my other blog sisters for more fun ways to use this adorable fabric!  

The Raspberry Rabbits

More Stars In Comanche

Stitchin By The Lake

Quilting Through Rose Colored-Trifocals

Quiltscapes  << Thanks for visiting!

Love & Support

It's February - the season of LOVE.  It's also the month of Heart Health Awareness.  I found the perfect combination for my project on the "We Support You" blog hop!

Love & Support!

I recently received a letter from the state health department, reminding me to schedule my annual mammogram.  I usually do it around this time, but now each year when I change out my quilt decor for February, I'll have a great reminder to take care of it.  Regular checkups are so important too.

My Mother died of Adrenocortical carcinoma about 16 years ago -  a very rare, very aggressive form of cancer that caught her by surprise.  By the time the diagnosis was made, it was a mere 8 days until she passed away.  She was only 59.  She'd had a cough for several months, but didn't think anything of it.  She was never one to allow a little discomfort get in her way-she was one of those go-getters!  She had 11 of us kids, and there were a dozen grandkids at that point.  She enjoyed riding horses, writing poetry, stories and histories. She could sew anything and had just started her very first pieced quilt.  She went white-water rafting with my sister about 2 months earlier, and rode her horse just a few days prior to her passing.  She was a Cowgirl Poet, and always wore her red cowboy hat at poetry events.  Maybe that's why I like red so much...and sewing!

I used my I ♥ Applique' pattern and enlarged it 250%.
I found similar heart patterns to make both a post-mastectomy pillow, and a women's heart surgery pillow.  I also found a good Heart Health CHECKLIST just in case you are interested.

I added the sweet little scallops for a fancy finish on my little Valentine.  (See just how easy it is to make the scallops & prairie points HERE at my RBD Cutting Corners "Fancy Finishes" Tutorial today).

Now, I've got a couple of 3-1/2" Riley Blake Designs stackers to giveaway at the end of this hop on February 12th - Leave a comment and tell us one thing you plan to do for your health this year! (Giveaway now closed).

So, love yourself, be vigilant in taking care of yourself - stay healthy, live long and sew to your heart's content!  That's my wish for all of you!


A big thanks to Mdm. Samm @ Sew We Quilt, and our illustrious Cheerleader, Pat @ Scrapatches!  Remember, you can purchase the "We Support You" pattern from Madame Samm - send an email: madamesamm@me.com.

Full Hop Schedule HERE

UPDATE:  Congratulations to LeAnne - giveaway winner.  And thank you to all of you for your heartfelt comments and stories.  This is truly a tight-knit (or is it "stitched"?) community, sharing and supporting one another.

Support Group...

It's time for the "We Support You!" blog hop - sponsored by Mdm. Samm @ Sew We Quilt, and cheered along by Pat @ Scrapatches!  It all started with a friendship quilt.  This "We Support You" pattern by Madame Samm is now available for purchase ($12).  Send an email directly to Madame Samm: madamesamm@me.com. 

Hop by next Monday for my little installment in this fun hop!  Meanwhile, click here to see the full hop SCHEDULE <<

Tammy 4 All Seasons

I'm "Sew Happy" to participate in today's Tammy 4 All Seasons Blog Hop today.  

Woohoo!  I finally made a Tammy Bag!

Snap-on Pinny

Pinny back

 
 Tammy back pocket

I know, so sad - no cross-stitch yet!

Hey, this is fun - my handle has a keyring.  Perfect to attach my scissors.

Good tools make such a difference!

Beam N Read LED hands-free light, good Readers, Stick With Me secure magnet, Frixion iron-off pen.

A big thanks to the team for this hop:  designers Mdm. Samm @ Sew We Quilt - Tammy Bag pattern, Cori Blunt @ Chitter Chatter Designs - adorable Pretty Pinnies, and Brooke Nolan @ Brooke's Books - Vintage Cross Stitch.  Another round of applause for Mary @ I Piece 2-Mary for herding us all together, keeping us on track, and cheering us on.  And a big shout-out for an amazing assortment of sponsors for this hop!  The right tools and supplies are so essential... as I discovered!

I knew it would be a tight schedule when I signed up - my husband and I just returned yesterday from a vacation.  I had designated time for my project but by the time I realized that there was something amiss about my aida cloth for the cross-stitch, we were far from home.. and supplies.  My grids measure about 7/16ths...

something's wrong with this picture

The pattern calls for 28-count aida cloth, and after trying, "frogging" (rip-it, rip-it), trying with single strands, ripping, trying again - I realized that my cloth had a much higher count, and every teeny weeny stitch took about 6 tries... not feeling "sew happy".  I had to put it aside.

Instead, I kinda lived the summer scene rather than stitch it...

Swam with stingrays, snorkeled a bit, got a little sunshine and a little time with my honey.  Aaahh.  

I'll try again, with the right supplies - then use the Summer cross-stitch motifs for the scrapbook.  Or another Tammy.  Perfect.

All loaded and ready to stitch!

Be sure to check out the entire lineup - Mary's got the master list HERE.  You can also check Mdm. Samm's Tammy 4 All Seasons Pinterest collection HERE.

Sweet Stitchery!

Madame Samm @ Sew We Quilt and Sew We Stitch has organized a lovely blog hop featuring her fabulous "Tammy" bag, plus the talents of Brooke Nolan and her lovely vintage cross-stitch,

and Cori Blunt's adorable applique/embroidery patterns, designed specifically for this hop!

The "Tammy 4 All Seasons" hop starts today!  Mary @ I Piece 2 is our wonderful cheerleader for this hop - you can check out the full schedule HERE.

Embroidery and applique' - I'm good with those.  Cross-stitch with teensy little fibers like linen and 38 count aida cloth?  Well, we'll just have to see how it goes when it's my turn on the 20th!

Meanwhile here is today's lineup for a great kickoff!

KrisLovesFabric

Ga's House

Secretly Stitching

Creatin' in the Sticks

Grandmama's Stories

WHY-KNOT-KWILT
CeLynn's Sunflower Patch

I always love gadgets and tools that make the job easier. Take a look at some of our amazing sponsors for this hop!

BEAM N READ ( led light)

Brooke's Books ( seasonal vintage counted cross stitch designs)

Chitter Chatter ( applique and embroidered pinnies)

DMC ( threads and aida cloth)

H.A.KIDD ( monaco fabric)

MsAppleHeart ( Tammy Bag Pattern/Stick With Me buttons)

READERS ( best readers on the market for those who need to see their patterns

up close and personal) 

SNAP SOURCE  ( great gadget for adding snaps to our bags)

Yarn TREE  ( Q-snaps)

See you tomorrow!  

'Twas the Night...

It snowed this morning!  Really puts me in the mood to start thinking about the holidays ahead, and the perfect setting for my stop on today's "Twas the Night..." holiday Blog Hop.  

Madame Samm @ Sew We Quilt has organized this inspiring hop, and sweet Marlene @ Stitchin by the Lake has been our wonderful cheerleader.

This hop has been something special - not only have the ladies all shared fabulous ideas for quick projects for gifts, but it's also a "Swap Hop"!  

Let me first showcase the amazing gifts I received from Jane @ MooseStash Quilting!

Lindt Chocolate Truffles ~ oops, (not pictured)... nothing left but a few wrappers...

Fat Quarter Star ~ sweet holiday fabrics

Embroidered hand towel ~

 Jane embroidered this and added the cheery accent strip to the bottom.

Cupcake Pot Holder ~ Sew cute!  And I've used it already!

Pie Plate holder and wide rimmed glass pie dish ~ Beautiful wrapped cord in a star design; amazing!  

(Are you sure it took just an hour or so, Jane?)  Even my husband was duly impressed.

But then, I needed to fill the dish. You know, for the pictures.  

I haven't made a pie for ages, but my Momma had some amazing recipes, including the best. pie. crust. ever! Mmmmm!  Hop over to my family blog at 3rDegree Bakery if you'd like the recipe for a fabulous All American Apple Pie and Luscious, Tender Pie Crust.  Or just to drool over the pictures.

Now for some ideas for gifts that take just a few hours or an evening to whip up:

Dishtowel Apron

This is my go-to gift ~ I've made dozens.  

I use a glue-stick to position the rickrack and speed things along, 

And isn't my niece a cute model?!

Stained Glass Applique' Tree Pot Holder

Use a single quilt block, about 8" to 10", quilt it up with 1 to 2 layers of cotton batting 

and a layer of heat-reflective batting such as Insul Bright, then trim square and bind.

 

Use a 2 1/4" x width of fabric strip for binding.

1)  Begin at a top corner, align raw edges at top and sides, 

then stitch binding to the back of the quilted hot pad using 1/4" seam allowance.

 2)  Miter the remaining three corners, same as on any quilt.
Stop 1/4" from the corner, backstitch, remove from machine and clip threads.
a)  Fold binding at a 90-degree angle to create the miter.

2.b)  Fold binding back to align raw edges; fold is even with top quilt edge.

Start sewing at the edge and continue to the next corner.  Repeat.

 3)  Pin or glue-baste beginning edge of binding around to the front;

Stitch over beginning corner.  Remove from machine and clip threads.  

Leave a 6" tail of binding at the end.

 4)  Fold binding around to the front side of the pot holder;  

miter the corners, then pin or glue-baste in place.

 5)  Fold leftover tail into thirds, then edge-stitch the loose section,

continuing to edge-stitch binding into place on the pot holder,

pivoting at corners and backstitching at the end.

6)  Form a loop at the top, turn raw edges under and machine-stitch to finish.

And, this season, I'm all about this little Birdie.  

He's a great little pincushion #littlebirdiepincushion (see >>TUTORIAL<<),
but he'll also make a sweet little ornament or sachet.
It takes just a couple of charm squares and bits to make.

Paint around the eyes and you've got a sweet little Christmas Cardinal.

My gift went to Elizabeth - she's a pattern designer and works mostly with wool.  You can see her designs in many issues of Create & Decorate, and she sells patterns on her Etsy and Craftsy stores.  Trying to think of what she might like, I used one of her own patterns as inspiration for a little quilted hot pad.  I've also learned a few fun ways to fold fat quarters and will share some of those techniques in a few days.  

I absolutely love love little projects that can be made with just a couple of scraps from the sewing room.  A needlenook, a little scissor pocket, a tissue cozy, and many more gift ideas and free tutorials can be found here on my Snippets page.  

Would you like a Little Birdie pincushion of your own?  Leave a comment below and I'll choose a winner on Nov 21st at 5pm when the hop is over.  For a second entry, leave a comment over at 3rDegree Bakery, too!  Meanwhile, if you've missed any of our previous hoppers, see Marlene's master list HERE.  And also, Mdm. Samm is collecting pictures of everyone's projects on her Pinterest page HERE.

Be sure to visit the rest of my quilty sisters on today's hop!

Quiltscapes  << So glad you stopped by!

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Stitch In Time

Kris Loves Fabric

Life In The Scrapatch

The Days Dewings

P.P.S.  UPDATE:  GIVEAWAY over and winner has been notified.  Thanks for visiting - see you again soon!