TNT Thursday with Dorian's Gift Bag Tutorial!!!

I am so excited this TNT Thursday to have Dorian guest posting with her fabulous Gift Bag Tutorial!!  This is something new that I totally want to try!!!  Thanks again Dorian and take it away . . . .

Hello everyone, I'm Dorian, from RidgeTopQuilts. So happy to be here today and share this bag with you!! Thank you Melissa, for inviting me :)

With Christmas arriving soon, I though a cute gift bag would be in order. You can fill it with some small things like Legos or mini dolls, and give it to a child. Or fill it with some yummy chocolates for a favorite coworker or friend. Maybe even some cute sewing things for your sewing buddy.

You will need:

   1 piece of 18"x 27" batting or interfacing of your choice (depending on how stiff/soft you want your bag.
   1 piece of 18"x27" lining fabric.

Lay fabric A strip wrong side up in front of you, going lengthwise. Measure up from the bottom 1" and from the side 2" and mark a 1 1/2"x1/2" rectangle. Do this on both ends. Draw a line down the center and from each corner to the center.

Cut on the drawn lines inside the rectangle. And press to the inside.

And sew the pieces down.

Making prairie points.

You will need nine prairie points (PP's for short) Cut out nine 4" squares. I used fabric C, but you can use whatever color you want, or even make them all different.

Fold from one corner to the other, and press. And then fold one bottom corner to the other, and press again. So the two sides of the triangle, are folds, and the bottom is raw edge.

Open up the corner where the last fold was made, just a little bit to slip in the next triangle. I like to put it in about an inch. Then sew, using a scant 1/4" seam (some people use 1/8"). Stopping about halfway thru the triangle, to put the next one in.

 I leave my small ruler right there next to my needle, so I can easily measure as I make my chain.

Sew all 9 PP's together.

 Put fabric B face up on your table,. lay the PP's down along it, matching the bottom of the PPs to the top of fabric B. Lay fabric A face down on top (make sure the slits lay along the PPs).

Pin and sew 1/4" seam.

Press the seam up, towards fabric A. This will make sure your PPs' are pointing down.

Sew fabric C to the bottom of fabric B. Right sides together, 1/4" seam.

I laid my interfacing down on the back of my project, and marked about an 1 1/2" of space that covers the slits, then cut the strip out. You don't want to cover up the slits. This area has to be open (not ironed to the lining).

Iron on my interfacing to the back of your pieced project. Then place the lining on it, WRONG sides together. If using interfacing that irons on both sides, go ahead and iron your lining down. If not, or if you use batting. Pin it and quilt it anyway you want to.

Then fold the top down about 1/2" and sew a seam.

French seam

Fold your project so that the right side meets the left side, with the WRONG sides together. Pin and sew a scant 1/4". Down the side and along the bottom.

Turn your bag inside out. Smooth it all flat and sew a 3/8" seam down the side and along the bottom.

Turn right side out, and TA-DA...your seam is now encased in another seam :)

Making the tie.

 Using a 4"x wof strip. Fold strip in half lengthwise and press. Open up, fold one long side to the middle fold line, press. Fold other long side in, press. Then fold the whole thing in half lengthwise.

Press and sew. I like to sew all around mine, but you can just sew the one seam to hold it all together, if you want.

Put a safety pin in the end of your strip and thread it thru the slits you made in the bag. This tie might be too long for you, if so, cut it to the length you want and sew the end up.

I hope you've enjoyed my tutorial.  Thanks again Melissa, for having me here.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Dorian


And Thank You Dorian for taking the time to put together such a fabulous tutorial and then being willing to share it with all of us.  I am sure quite a few of us will be adding it to our list of New Things to Try!!!

So what did I do new this week???  I tried out my new mat and practiced squaring up on a rotating mat, and my oh my, I love it!!!

Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza!!!

So I totally agree that Christmas is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!  It is a season of love and giving!!  So I figured Happy Quilting should reflect that by doing some giving as well!!  So check back each Friday leading up to Christmas for some Giveaway Goodness!!!  That's right, each Friday, one of my amazing sponsors will be hosting a giveaway and trust me, you won't want to miss out!!!

  Wishing you all a Happy Holiday!!!  

         

         

Jump, Jump, Jump . . . Jump Around!!!

So I mentioned last Thursday that I was trying something new in the way I quilt.  I have always been a one quilt at a time type of gal.  I would start it and pretty much finish it before starting any other new project. So I tried changing things up a bit and for the past 2 weeks, (in the little amount of sewing time I have had with the holidays and all) and have jumped around from project to project, doing little steps here and there.  And guess what, I am loving it!!!  (which is actually a really big surprise to me ;)

This week I finished my Sewing Summit Remake (see yesterday's post), worked on my STARS Quilt-A-Long (so happy to be picking this project back up again), Made the X's and O's for my Grandmother's quilt, and worked a bit more on my next Bake Shop Project, Flying in Squares.

Designing Stage

• Baby Quilt for Special new Niece arriving in March 
• Baby Quilt for Special new Niece arriving in April
• Baby Quilt for Special Nephew arriving in April
• Circle Meets Square Quilt
• 4th of July Table Runner for Sister-In-Law 
• Christmas Tutorial

Piecing Stage

• Stars Quilt-A-Long - Worked on!!!
• Hugs and Kisses Quilt for Grandma - Worked on!!!
• Going Places Quilt
• Flying in Squares Quilt - Worked on!!!
• Cottage Crossroads Baby Quilt

Quilting Stage

• Nursery Crib Quilt

Completed Stage

• Sewing Summit Projects  - Bee Bolt Block and Bag Makeover

So what about you??  Are you a one at a time or are you a Jump, Jump, Jump,  . . . Jump Around type???

Memories Bag

My Sewing Summit Swag Bag remake is complete, and I am just giddy with the results.  I decided right away that I really wanted to redo it as a sort of "Memories Bag".  I wanted it to remind me of the classes I took, things I learned, and people I met.  So I pondered for a while on how to do this and then came up with the idea of doing it a la "High School Yearbook Style".

I printed off some pictures on fabric using the good old Freezer Paper Printing method.  Then I made some fun backgrounds for each of the pictures.  The background for the class photo's represent what was taught in the class.  So fun :)  I wish I could have had each person in the picture sign the bag but alas, oh well.

So here it is, my Sewing Summit 2011 Memories Bag :)  I am so looking forward to next year's Sewing Summit and the opportunity to make even more amazing memories!!

Holiday Weekend

This was a terrific Holiday Weekend!!  Our little family spent tons of time at Grandmas's.  The kids loved playing all day with their visiting cousins.  The adults loved having a little extra time to just sit and chat as the kids were already occupied,   (although, the occasional temper tantrum had to be dealt with :)  I baked 4 pies for Thanksgiving and they all turned out great so I was pretty excited about that.  I ate way to much food all weekend but turkey is one of my favorites, especially leftover turkey sandwiches,  so what ya gonna do :)   I also made up some homemade chocolates, a Christmas tradition of mine.  And last, but not least, I even managed to hit a few sales. (not the crazy late night ones mind you, I can't handle that kind of stress.)  I even splurged at Jo-Ann's and got myself a little something something that I have wanted for some time now.  But at 60% off retail and then another 25% off that is is really a splurge??  I don't think so :)

I hope you had a Terrific Holiday weekend as well and possibly scored some great deals :)  Be back tomorrow with some more quilting goodness :)

Winner of the Intrepid Thread Woodlands Giveaway!!!!

So I hope everyone in the States had a very Happy Thanksgiving and those of you from around the world had a Spectacular Thursday!!!  I know I ate my fair share of turkey and pie and enjoyed spending time with family.

So today is the day to announce the winner of The Intrepid Thread sponsored giveaway.  Remember those beautiful Woodlands fat quarters??? Of course, only one person can win the fat quarters but today everyone wins.  Why???  Because Julie is having an amazing Black Friday Deal!!!

20% off of Everything!!!!! Just use the coupon code BLKFRI20

 So go ahead and get yourself that item you fell in love with and wrap it up to go under your tree :)  

Okay, I got so excited about the sale I almost forgot to tell you the winner.  The winner of the fat quarter bundle of the woodlands is . . . . .

Congrats to Lisa Marie!!!  I have sent you an email :)  Now the rest of you jump on over to The Intrepid Thread and get your own little Black Friday Shopping Goodness :)

Thankful TNT Thursday!!

So I thought today, being Thanksgiving here in the States and all, that we would change things up just a bit :)  If you have something new you have tried and have blogged about it, please go right ahead and link it up.  But if you would like, you can also add a list of things you are thankful for to your post.   Or, if you just want to right a post about the things you are thankful for that would be great and then go right ahead and link that up as well :)

So, this week I tried something totally new to me.  I was in a bit of a rut and didn't really want to finish up my crib quilt, so I decided to move to another quilt.  I never quilt this way.  I always try to finish what I start before I move on.  (I get worried I won't ever come back to it :)   But I actually found I really enjoyed bouncing around.  I worked on 4 separate projects this week, and even though I didn't get a lot done on one particular project, I found I really liked the variety.  So I think I am going to give bouncing around my WIP a shot for a little while :)

As to my list of things I am grateful for. . . .

I am grateful to be loved by an amazing husband and five wonderful children.
I am grateful to be finished with school and to be living in the home that we want to grow old in.
I am grateful to be a stay at home mom.
I am grateful to be living in a country where freedoms are upheld by the government and by brave men and women.
I am grateful to have been brought up by wonderful parents who taught me the value of right and wrong.
I am grateful to live 2 doors away from the best in-laws anyone could ask for.
I am grateful to have such an amazing creative outlet in quilting that allows me a little time-off each day.
I am grateful to my wonderful readers who leave sweet comments and boost my day.
I am grateful to have made so many wonderful friends through this wonderful online quilting community.


Alright.  I am off to make some pies.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Beebolt Block

In our wonderful Swag bag from the Sewing Summit was a little package from Beebolt.  It contained 9 beautiful spring-ish 3" blocks were to be used to make a 8 1/2" block.  That block will be mailed to Beebolt and then all of them blocks from each Sewing Summit participant will be made into a charity quilt.  You were allowed to use any other fabrics to incorporate with these beautiful prints in making the block.  

I whipped mine up yesterday after having a bit of a lightbulb idea.  I figured, why not try my same concept that I did for the Fat Quarterly block, but reverse it.   So I started with a simple 9 patch.  

Then I slashed and whacked adding in some solid ivory.  So this time the color was in the background and the  neutral was in the intersecting lines.  Fun little change up :)

Then I spun it a bit to give it some wonky goodness and trimmed it down to size.

And here is how it turned out.  I love it!!  I am so looking forward to seeing the quilt that is made up of all this beautiful spring goodness at next year's Sewing Summit.  Which, by the way, has just been announced will be in Salt Lake City on October 11, 12, and 13.  Hope to see you there :)

Just Call Me a Teeny Bopper

Okay, so I haven't been sewing a lot lately.  Why??  Because I have been reading like crazy.   I am one of those crazy people who once they start a book just can't put it down. I have to finish and a lot fall by the wayside in the mean time.  

So I hadn't picked up a book in months.  Then the other day, my husband mentioned that Crossed was coming out in a few days.  So I logged onto my goodreads (which I hadn't been to in months)  page to see the release date.  To my surprise, 3 other books that I had been wanting to read had their release dates come and go while I was on a reading hiatus 

So, to the library I went!!  And now, I am all caught up in my book que and have been thoroughly enjoying the down time curling up with a few good books in front of the fire while watching the snow fall. So what have I been reading???

The second book in the YA Dystopian Matched Trilogy.   Loved it and can't wait for the last installment!!!

The last book in the YA Septimus Heap Series.  This is such a fun series!! Great for anyone who loved Harry Potter.    

The last book in the YA Shiver Series.  Think Twilight but just the werewolves :)  

The second book in the Heroes of Olympus Series.  This is the spin-off series from the Percy Jackson series.  I am half way through this book and I am so loving it!!!

So ya, basically I am hooked on YA Series.  I can't seem to get enough of them.  Just call me a teeny bopper :)

Giveaway Day Sponsored by The Intrepid Thread

The amazing Julie at the Intrepid Thread is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway here at Happy Quilting so let's get right to it!!

How about some stunning Fat Quarters from Khristain A. Howell's new collection The Woodlands??  Aren't they just adorable!!!

So how do you get the chance to win your self some beautiful fabric goodness.  Simple.

Just click on over the The Intrepid Thread store and find your favorite item, then pop back here and leave me a comment of what that favorite item is.  You can just copy and paste the title of the item or copy and paste the link if that makes it easier for you.

I can't wait to see what everyone has fallen in love with.  One entry per person please :)  The Giveaway will be open until Nov 24 and I will announce a winner on the morning of the 25th.  Good Luck and Happy Quilting :)

TNT Thursday gets Wet

So 2 things I tried new.  One "quilty" goodness related.  One absolutely not.

First.  Remember when I showed this pillow a few days ago.  Yup, it is the one that is part of the designer's challenge for Fat Quarterly.  Well this was the first time I had ever tried making an envelope pillowcase.  Crazy huh!!!  It was so super easy.  Now I want to start churning out pillows for every seat in the house.  (Although the WIP list is a little long so maybe I should hold off on that :)  

Second.  On Saturday I competed in a Triathlon.  Now before you go all "Wow, that is amazing" I should clarify.  It was a team triathlon and the sprint distance.  My husband has always wanted to do Triathlon's but swims like a rock.  I swam in high school (some 15 years ago, mind you :) So when he found this little "fun event" he asked if I would swim so he could be part of it.  What could I say.  

About 4 laps into it I was dead and wishing I would have said No Way!!!! (unfortunately 4 times in the pool to "practice" before the event was not anywhere near enough to getting me into shape, who would have guessed that?? :)   But about 4 hours after I was happy we were able to do it together.  My husband absolutely loved it.  And now he has hopes for us each competing our own.  He just has to learn to swim and I just have to learn to get my tush out of bed in the morning to try to get back into somewhat decent shape :)  Wish us luck :)

So what did you try new this week???  Let's see!!!!

WIP Wednesday - The Nursery Edition

Thanks to my Mother staying with me last week I actually have some works that got progressed :)  And I have to say Thank You to my mother as it was mostly her work.   The new Baby Nursery went from bare to almost completely finished in just  few days.

Here is an awful picture of the adorable curtain my Mother whipped up.  It just needs a tie back for the long curtain.  Isn't it just so adorable :)

And this is the crib bedding.  My mother put together the bumper pads and crib skirt.  They are so cute and have the added bonus of being much taller than the old set so that my wonderful 2 year old can't climb up the side and poke her sleeping sister any more.

And this is what I have been working on.  This is  fun disappearing 9 patch pattern I came up with.  There will be 2 sets of block like this to make the crib quilt.  I am hoping to get some time soon to finish it up :)  And then the nursery will be pretty much done.  It just needs a chair rail :)

So that's what I have been doing.  Now for the rundown :)

Designing Stage

• Baby Quilt for Special new Niece arriving in March 
• Baby Quilt for Special new Niece arriving in April
• Baby Quilt for Special Nephew arriving in April
• Circle Meets Square Quilt
• 4th of July Table Runner for Sister-In-Law 
• Christmas Tutorial
• Sewing Summit Projects  - Bee Bolt Block and Bag Makeover

Piecing Stage

• Stars Quilt-A-Long
• Hugs and Kisses Quilt for Grandma
• Going Places Quilt
• High Flying Quilt
• Nursery Crib Quilt
• Cottage Crossroads Baby Quilt

Quilting Stage

Completed Stage

• Nursery Curtains, Bumper Pads, and Crib Skirt.

Stashing It Up :)

I went to JoAnn's the other day to pick up some Perler Beads for the kiddo's for Christmas.  I decided to just waltz on over to check out the clearance section to see if there might be some fabric I could use to make my front room curtains.  There normally isn't that great of a selection but every once and a while you get lucky.

And this day was a lucky day. (Not for the curtains mind you, but quilting lucky :)   It just so happened that they were taking an additional 50% off of the clearance price and had just stuffed the shelves with  ton of the cotton prints that they were clearing out. (including a bunch of Fall prints, yippee skippee!!)  At $1.50 to $2.00 a yard you just can't pass up these stash builders.

So that leads me to a discussion.  What's your take on Designer Lines (Moda, Riley Blake, Westminster, ect.)  verses Fabric Stores (JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Hancock) ??  And this is just purely my curiosity.

My take - I love working with the Designer line fabrics.  Especially pre-cuts.  They are so much fun and you get such a great variety of prints.  And I do think the quality of the designer lines are better as well.   They are easier to work with, feel better, and hold up better after washing.  And often, I can find great sales at on-line stores that make them very reasonably priced.  So basically, I reach for the designer fabrics first.

However, with that said,  I am not above scoring some "good quality" fabrics at a killer deal. I use these fabrics for all kinds of projects and even though they are not quite as nice to work with and might not hold up as long, I still like the end results.

So that's my take (and it's just my personal opinion, I don't want to open a can of worms here :)

 . . .  What's yours???