Thursday, June 7, 2012

Kids Craft Containers - A MBS Tutorial

I have another bake shop tutorial today but this one is quite a change up from my original type of project.  This one is for Kids Camp and it is totally kid friendly :)  Introducing Kids Craft Containers :)


These little guys are super for keeping those crayons, markers, colored pencils, and whatever else neat and tidy.  And since they are so cute they can just be left out on the desk until the next time they are ready to be used :)

All you need are some scraps and some Mod Podge (love that stuff!!)  And you are on your way :)

Oh, and these also make fabulous Teacher Gifts!!!  And it is something your kids can actually make for their teacher :)  My daughter made this one for her teacher and she loved it :)

So pop on over to the Moda Bake Shop and see how to whip up your own Kids Containers for your wee ones :)


So I bet your wondering, well what did she do new??  Well I could say I tried crafting with all of my kids and managed not to yell at them.  (That would so be something new :)  But as I knew I was posting this tutorial today I actually  posted what I tried new on Tuesday : Making a Paper Pieced Pattern :)  It was quite the saga.  If you haven't had a chance to read it you can check it out here.

So what have you tried out new??  Link on up :)
 
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

So Much Going On

I am just so excited for all that is going on right now.  It's funny, I thought summer was supposed to slow down but instead, it seems like things have kicked up quite a few notches.  But I am totally loving it!! 

 I have 2 tutorials in the next 2 days  and then another one next week, and one in July.  I just love participating in blog hops and the like, it is so much fun and I make so many amazing friends.  And best of all, it really helps me to get my projects done!



And I also have my non-blogger land projects in works. Yesterday I quilted the center Semi in my Dad's Father's Day quilt.  Now I just can't decide how I want to quilt the rest of it.  I am debating between the same pattern on a larger scale or wavy lines.  Any suggestions??


And I continue to work on my King and Queen size Braided Irish chains.  These 2 are a huge WIP but I just love working with these fabrics so that is nice.  Each night my husband and I watch old episodes of  Friends to unwind before bed.  It is a great time for him to surf the internet and check up on sports and I use the time to pin.  This is what I did last night.  (It's nice that we can spend time together but we both still get to do what we want, tee hee hee :)

And the nights before I pinned these 2 stacks.  The 4 patch squares are all done and the other stack has now been stitched and I just need to press them now.  It is amazing how long it takes to pin a stack over 100 pieces.  I need to teach my kids how to press :)

And I pulled some fabrics for one of those tutorials mentioned above.  I am excited to start cutting into this happy stack!  And I am just waiting on fabric to arrive for the Christmas in July tutorials.

So here is the rundown.  Not so many completions but a lot of work going on, so I am good with that :)


Designing Stage
  • King Size Serenity Quilt
  • Circle Meets Square Quilt
  • Snip and Clip Quilt - Just Waiting on Fabric to Arrive :)
Piecing Stage
  • Jessi and Me Quilt 
  • June Bee Block
  • Sew Bee Create Quilt
  • 10 Little Happy Kids
  • Braided Irish Chain - Queen and King
Quilting Stage
  • Solids Quilt for Free Motion
  • Father's Day Rolling on Out Quilt
Completed Stage
  • Kids Camp Project

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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Paper Piecing Saga :)

I am thrilled to say that my large (about 20" x 34") paper pieced semi is now complete!!  Yippee Skippee!!!  And, I am happy to say that I am quite pleased with the way it turned out. (And that is always a bonus :)  So I thought this morning I would share the little saga of how this block came to be.  


This is my Dad's semi.  The last time he stopped by (My mom and I use him as our personal delivery guy :) I snapped a quick picture of his truck through our front window.  So I took this picture and brought it into my EQ 7 program.  

From there I drew the lines in with the picture as reference.  Once I had the basic outline of the truck I imported the image into excel and went to print it off and decided it needed color.  So I went back, added some color and then printed it of to use as a paper pieced pattern.  (I made it rather large so there was a lot of cutting and taping going on to make 1 large pattern.)  



Then I sat and stared at this and tried to figure out how in the world I was going to turn that drawing into a paper pieced pattern.  I started by breaking it into 4 sections and then adding some connecting lines :)  And I figured from there just go at it and make the best of it.  So I pieced the first section which went all right and then upon starting the second section I dedided that I could probally put it together just as fast doing normal piecing as it was mostly squares and such.  So I did that.  And this is what came from it.  


Ya, silly me didn't think about the fact that when you paper piece the image is reversed.  So when I regular pieced it wasn't reversed.  Needless to say, piece 1 was not matching up with piece 2 as the front of the truck was facing the rear :)  So I got frustrated, scribbled on the piece I had done wrong and wen't back to all paper piecing.

It was slow going at first but the more I practiced (this is only my second time paper piecing and my first time attempting to make a pattern:) the more the technique started to make sense and the easier it got to adjust my little "pattern" to reflect more of a standard paper pieced pattern.  (not that I am saying it is anything to write home about :)  So all in all, it was a learning process.  I can't tell you how many times I changed things but in the end, after tons of new drawn lines and lots of scribble lines, I came up with this as is the final paper pieced verision :) And I figured since I had spent so much time to put it together I might as well share it, right :)  So if you ever need a large paper pieced semi truck you can find this image in Google Documents here :)


You can download the image and then put it in any program you wish.  You can change the size to the size you need and then get paper piecing (I stretched this image quite a bit to make it longer :)  Oh, and like I said, this isn't a fabulous paper piecing pattern as you will have to add the 1/4" seam allowance around each of the sections on your own since I didn't make the sections separate.  (Also, I found out that you have to piece the frame of the door regular as I couldn't figure out how to paper piece it once you had cut out the center, but it is symmetrical so you don't have to worry about piecing it regular because it won't mess it up :) Basically, if you ever use this and have questions just email me, I would be happy to explain my crazy way of doing it :)

And so after all was said and done, I had one pretty awesome Semi, if I do say my self ;)  It was a rather large challenge, but I learned so much along the way and that makes me so happy!!

 I actually sewed all of the blocks together yesterday and basted the quilt.  So now I just have to get it quilted and then I will share the full reveal :)  I am just so excited, it is going to be such an awesome Father's Day gift :)


And since it is Tuesday and I actually posted a finish (well part of the finish) I might as well link on up :)





Fresh Poppy Design
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Monday, June 4, 2012

The Last of the Blocks Rolled On In!!

I am so excited to have the last of my Semi Bee Block arrive.  Don't you just love when you get squishy packages in the mail!!!  It is just so much fun :)

Lisa made this amazing Car Carrier block.  Can you believe she pieced in those cars!!  So amazing :)  I just love how creative and fun it is.  (And I want a purple polka-dot car!)


Ursula  made this super fun Horse Trailer Semi.  I love that one of the horses has turned his back on the camera.  Apparently, he is not a fan of the Paparazzi.  And isn't it fun that Ursula took the picture by her own horse :)  Such a clever girl!


Once I had all of the blocks, I went back and added a bit of detail to some of the blocks.  You know, doors, ladders, just a few little basics.  Except for this block.  When Danny originally made it she intended to add the transformer logo to the carrier.  But she was having printer issues and ended up bagging the idea.  So, when it arrived looking all Optimus like in the navy and red I couldn't help but finish her plan.  Didn't it turn out cool!!! (It was super easy too, I just laid the paper print out on the wrong side of the fabric and zig-zag stitched over the lines, when I was done, I just tore away the paper :)


Last, but not least on the Semi Truck news, I finished paper piecing the big semi in the middle.  Yipppee Skippee!!!  However, I will save that story for tomorrow.  It is a whole saga and I have to get the kids ready for swim lessons.  (My 3 year old is in a tots and mom class so I suppose I better be getting ready as well :)  Until tomorrow, Happy Quilting!!
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Friday, June 1, 2012

EZ Dresden Challenge Kick Off!!!

Today Kick's off the EZ Dresden Challenge!!!  This is a super fun challenge hosted by the Salt Lake Modern Quilting Guild to celebrate Darlene Zimmerman 20th anniversary of designing amazing quilting tools!!


There are several categories to enter and lots of prizes to be won.   Including a Singer 7469Q Confidence Quilter Sewing Machine!!!! As well as many many more provided by these amazing sponsors!!


You have lots of time to get your entry ready as the linky party for entries doesn't open until September 1.  So in the mean time, the SLMQG has rounded up a fabulous group of bloggers to give you some Dresden Inspiration!!!  So hop along (There will be prizes) and get some ideas percolating on what you want to do with your EZ Dresden ruler!!!
June 1
Salt Lake MQG: Kick Off http://www.slmqg.com/
June 8
Melissa: happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/  (That's me :)
Brooke: pitterputterstitch.blogspot.com/
June 10
Elizabeth: www.dontcallmebetsy.com/
Colleen: www.thebusybean.com/
June 14
Jessica: sewcraftyjess.blogspot.com/
June 15
Salt Lake MQG: Wrap-up www.slmqg.com/
So Pop on over to the Salt Lake Modern Quilting Guild Kick Off to get all of the details on this super fun challenge!!!  And I look forward to seeing your projects :)


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