Organization with the Scrappy Planner and Accessories

One of the most common questions I get when teaching or via email or comments on my blog is . . .  How Do I Make So Many Quilts in a Year?  And the long explanation includes my daily schedule that is pretty much like clockwork around here now, with set times for computer work, chain piecing, and pressing, and of course, some time to take care of the kiddos in there as well.   But the simple answer is Organization.  I have always had a love for organization.  Even when I was little, I used to sort my toys into similar categories and then line them up by size :)  Being Organized has blessed me well my whole life, through jobs, to raising babies, and now into this wonderful Quilting industry.   So you can imagine that I just about jumped out of my skin when this fabulous package from Fat Quarter Shop arrived on my doorstep Saturday afternoon.    It's Lori Holt's new Scrappy Project Planner and the accompanying accessories.   Talk about Quilting Organization!!!!

The planner starts with a huge section on planning projects.  For each page of projects there is a start and finish date, sketching space, color planning, and details on the quilt size, blocks, and supplies.  Everything you need to keep track of each project you are working on.   And getting to write it all color coded with the matching markers is just so fun!!!

And then the next section is your weekly planner, so you can actually plan day to day how to fit all of those projects that you just wrote up into your weeks and months.  Brilliant!!  And of course, you totally can't help but love getting to use all of the little matching stickers to represent sew times, appointment times, kids activity times, and any other time you might have.  Trust me, there is a sticker in that book for everything and they are so cute!!!

And the Lori broke it down one more step, by include a Daily To Do List as an accessory.   And I have to say, I am so loving this pad!!!  I write myself a daily To Do list but it is normally just on a post it or scratch paper.  How cute is this To Do list!!!  And the idea of including the Water Jars, so Brilliant!!!  I totally need that reminder.  I can't wait to start filling this out first thing tomorrow morning (I waited on today, as the kids were out of school and I slept in and didn't go to the pool, and I didn't want to start out on a day where I would have to cheat on fitness, tee hee hee ;)

And one last shot of the planner, for two reasons.  First to show you the other sections included in the planner.  There is a Tips and Organizing, where Lori has fantastic tips on storing fabrics, and easy references for all of the measurements you need for your most commonly used piecing units.  Then there is Scrappy Patterns, with 6 adorable scrappy patterns in full step by step color pictures.  I totally need to get started on these now, I want to scrap bust like crazy :)   And finally, there is a Notes section to just help you keep track of it all, because once written down, you don't have to remember it anymore ;)  

But the second reason I wanted to share this picture is because of the awesome quote from Lori on the cover page.   "Organizing isn't about being perfect - it's about being efficient. "   You just can't say it any better than that.   

And that is the Scrappy Project Planner.  Eeekk, I am so excited to start filling it up with all my plans, especially with Christmas fast approaching.  I have so many handmade gift ideas swimming around in my head that I need to write down and start planning out  And  now, I can do just that.  And speaking of Christmas, wouldn't the Scrappy Project Planner and all of it's accessories  be just the perfect Christmas Present.   You might want to add it to your Santa Wish List ;)     So fun!!!

I hope you had a very Happy Quilting Weekend and a wonderful Start to a Happy Quilting Monday!!

An Impromptu Table Runner or 2

So remember yesterday when I said I was excited to be working on some WIP's , well . . . I got distracted :)   And 2 totally impromptu fall table runners were the result ;)

You see, it all started when I got an email with cutting directions for a new project (one of those secret ones for a bit ;)   And you know how I love cutting!!!  So I immediately started cutting all of the prints that I would need for the project.   But then, I had all of these beautiful  strips and some scrappy bits leftover.  I just love these Desert Bloom prints from Sherri and Chelsi and knew right away that they would make the prettiest fall table runners.   

So I started to chain piece.  I really wanted to embrace some improvisational piecing here so I just kept chain piecing without much of a plan.  (which is so hard for me, but always a fun activity in letting go ;)  I chain pieced all of the little bits of scraps into strips that were about the same length as the strips I already had.   And I just loved that I had a variety of scrap sizes because they turned out so cute in all of their patchwork goodness.  From there I decided to add a super skinny neutral strip to either side of the patchwork so that it didn't get lost or to busy in the table runner.

Then I grabbed all of my plain strips and just started adding them to the patchwork.  Again, I tried to do this all improv, just randomly picking a side to add it to ;)  And of course, chain stitching was so fast, I didn't have time to worry about what it was going to all turn out like, tee hee hee.

So then I had all of these sections of pieced and plain strips.   At this point, I was super happy to find that I actually had enough for 2 runners, yippee!!!

I divided the section in half and then played with the layouts until I got 2 table runners that were fun and random, but yet still pleasing to the eye ;)  

And then, just for a little more balance and to really make those beautiful prints pop, I added a neutral border.  I just love the way it frames up all of that improvisational piecing goodness ;) 

And I used up all of the scrap bits from cutting my secret project.   So exciting!!!!   Don't you just love a good scrapbuster ;)

 Now I just need to get these quilted up ;)   But I guess I better get back to that previously mentioned WIP that is already on the long arm, but when it comes off, these might just squeak in between the next quilt.   So fun!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking up to Amanda's and Sarah's ;)

3 Quilt Along WIP's

I am all caught up with my secret sewing at the moment, so now I can get back to finishing up some of those things that got set aside for a deadline.   And wouldn't you know it, all 3 things I pulled out to work on yesterday just happened to be Quilt Along's, Yup, I love em!!!!

First off, I pulled out my Summer Solstice quilt top.  I thought I was pretty much done with the top, but I realized that the wonderful brother and sister-in-law I am making it for actually has a King size bed, not a Queen.  So I grabbed my leftover scraps and had just enough to add a good size border.  Which I added, didn't like the fabric arrangement, took off, and then added again, but ya know how that goes ;)  I then pieced up a backing, so this is all ready to be loaded on the long arm now.  

But it is going to have to wait it's turn, because look what I loaded on the Long Arm on Tuesday morning ;)   Yup, my Snapshots quilt along top has waited just under a year now to be quilted, and it was high time it got some attention.   I am doing all of the "pictures" in straight line quilting to practice my ruler work ;)  And then I am doing swirls and curls and loopde loops in the backgrounds and borders.     I am so excited with how it is starting to come together and can't wait to get this one all finished up so I can donate it to the Festival of Trees this year in honor of my sweet little nephew ;)

And finally, while I was watching the game with my sweetheart last night, I finished pressing all of my cute little HST's for the border of my Crossroads Quilt Along top.  They are all ready to sew together into rows this morning ;)

I am so excited to be working on these 3 quilts and to be getting them out of the WIP pile ;)  Hopefully it won't be long before I can share finish quilts ;)   

What are you working on today???

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!   Let's have some fun!!!

First,  we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the $25.00 Gift Certificate from  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop  is . . .   Number #65. . . Congrats  Patsy Cash!! I have emailed you :)    

 

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Intrepid Thread.  Julie carries an amazing variety of fabrics in her shop!!!  She always has amazing bundles that will blow you away.  And to really be blown away, be sure and check out her fabulous Sale Section for some great deals, Julie has added over 900 items to make room for new fabrics, and you are going to love what you find on a huge discount!!! 

   

Today's  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is a special treat as Julie has made up one of her adorable custom bundles just for this giveaway!!!  The Intrepid Thread is offering one lucky reader a custom Sweet Rose Fat Quarter Bundle.  Isn't it just beautiful!!!

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite color of roses.  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your The Intrepid Thread love. You can follow them on Facebook, Bloglovin,  or Instagram.  You can Sign up for The Intrepid Thread Newsletter (right side bar) ,  Follow Their Blog, or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your The Intrepid Thread love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, October 25th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!!!

Finished Charming Totes

So those Charming Totes that I shared the start of on Friday morning, well, I finished them up on late Friday Afternoon ;)    Sometimes you just really need to happy dance for a quick finish and these little totes did the job perfectly :)  And they turned out oh so cute!!! 

First up, was the Desert Bloom tote.  The fabrics are by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda and they are just  perfect for this cool fall weather that we are getting.  I finished up with this tote and almost wanted to go rake up some leaves to jump in.  But I resisted and finished up the second tote instead ;)

I was lucky enough to have a bit of Desert Bloom yardage on hand that was left from some secret sewing, so I lined it in the happy yellow and then added some navy handles.  I just love how the yellow makes me smile, it is like a pocket of sunshine hidden in your tote ;)

And the second tote is the Manderley Tote.  The Fabrics are by Franny and Jane, and this was a special little tote for me because Jane gave me this Charm Pack at Spring Market to make something beautiful with, I think this tote totally fit in that request :)    So pretty!!!

I didn't have any Manderley Yardage though and didn't want to wait for some to ship, so I used some fun prints that went along with the beautiful charm squares for the handles and lining.  I love this gorgeous grey flower from Riley Blake that I had in my stash and it made the perfect lining and then added a pop of color with this gumdrop print from Dear Stella.  So fun!!

And while I was putting pictures on Instagram and Facebook of the process I got several questions on which pattern I was using.   The short answer is I used the Charming Handbag Tutorial by Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts.  She made it up for the Moda Bake Shop several years ago ;)

However, I do a few adjustments when I make mine - I don't cut the charms down to 4 1/2" square, I just leave them at the 5" square that they come as.   I have since made a full step by step tutorial on how to make these totes here, with Amanda's permission, that includes my alterations.   Just for your reference ;)

So because of that, when it is time to cut the lining, I cut mine at 18 1/2" x 18 1/2" square.   I also like to do my gusset corners a little differently then Amanda does.   I showed in this bag tutorial (a reversible take on this patchwork one ) how I like to do my gussets, which is what makes the bag square on the bottom ;)

They finish up at 16" high and 17" in length on the top of the bag  and 13" in length at the bottom of the bag (because of the gusset :)  and are 5" wide.  It is a perfect side tote for Library Bags, Piano Bags, and the list can go on and on :)

And those are the main alterations that I am doing that are a little different than Amanda's tutorial ;)  I should probably just make a tutorial of this tote with the alterations the next time I whip one up.  Would that help???  

Hope you are having a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Linking up to Quilt Story ;)