Which way did I go?

I've got so much going on I don't know whether I'm coming or going half the time. 

There's just so many things that catch my eye.  And I think "I HAVE to do that!"  I won't live long enough to do all the quilts and other projects I want to do...but I'm sure going to try.

So anyway...here's what my ADD self has been up to the past week.

I've completed the pieces for 20 spiderweb blocks and have started putting them together.  These darn blocks are sooooooo addictive! 

Because I was running out of this particular red fabric, I thought I was going to have to finish at 20 blocks.  Then I took a a fateful trip over to one of our area shops and found more!  I'm not sure how many more blocks to make.   I figure this will be a long term project that I'll just keep adding scraps to.  When this next two yards of red is gone then maybe I'll be done.

Last week I started ANOTHER Portobello Market quilt.  This one will be my third for the shop!  It sells so well that it decided that I make another one just for Houston Quilt Festival.  I am using Paula Barnes' new line Greystone...with a few oddballs thrown in for more variety.  This is the first block.

For anyone interested this block is actually called Columbian Star.  It is only called Portobello Market because that's the name Moda published the free pattern under.   They are published using the name of the fabric line usually.

By the time I'm done making this quilt forever I'll have made it more than half a dozen time...because I have fabrics set aside for other ones using this pattern and ideas for an 30's and Kaffee one also.  I'm a glutton for punishment I tell you.

Question...would anyone be interested in learning how to make this block?  It's much easier than it looks.  I promise.

And lastly, yesterday I spent the morning and early afternoon tracing and coloring this little beauty.  It is Which Witche's Boot by Crabapple Hill Studio.

The surrounding blocks and fabrics will be Civil War prints to give it a more vintage look.  The fabrics are from Jo Morton's new line Carolina...with a couple Paul Barnes prints thrown in.  And even though some of the embroidery threads used for this quilt are pretty bright, I'm thinking the darker Civil War prints will help tone them down a bit...fingers crossed.

Till next time...

It's time for...

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

...a Giveaway!

To celebrate two years blogging and my 200th post

I have for one lucky winner goodies from

Adorn It

Two project books and a Layer Cake to be exact!!! 

For a chance to win just leave me a comment and I'll draw a winner next Thursday, July 28th.

Please make sure I have a way to contact you. "No reply" commenters that do not leave their email address in their comment will not be eligible for the giveaway.



Ellis County Quilt Show

This past Saturday I went with my dear friends Mazelle and Connie to the Ellis County Quilt Show in Midlothian, TX.  It was a small show but there were some really fantastic quilts being shown that I thought you might like to see.

I have the kit for this one...not like I'll ever find the time thought!

Last year's Best of Show

Somehow I managed to find the book for this quilt in the 50% off section of the local quilt shop in Midlothian.  And it just so happened that this quilt IS the actual one in the book.  It was just just stunning in person.

This year's Best of Show

It's Ferdinand the bull!  I love how Susan Corbett, the quilter,

created a scene in the background surrounding the bull...just fabulous.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Ellis County Quilt Show.  Till next time...

Designer a Day - Day 11

Swirly Girls Design

The Equal Rights quilt is next on my "want to do" list!

Hahahaha...

Thank you Penny!

Designer a Day - Day 10

For those of you who love to make clothes, you absolutely have to check out

Serendipity Studio!

Flower Pin Tutorial

Here y'all go...enjoy!

Supplies you'll need:

2 1/2" x WOF piece of fabric

2 1/2" square of felt

Button and pin back

Hot glue and Roxanne's Glue-Baste-It

The first thing you want to do is trim the selvage off each end of your 2 1/2" strip. 

Then run a small bead of Roxanne's down each end and turn over 1/4". 

This creates a nice clean edge without having to sew a seam.



Next, fold your strip in half width wise with wrong sides together. 

And using a large basting stitch on your machine sew a 1/4" seam. 

Be sure to leave 3" long thread tails at both the beginning and end of your strip.

TIP:  Use a different color for your bobbin thread from your top thread. 

You'll understand why as you keep reading.

Your strip should now look like this.

Next, tie the threads together to make a knot at one end of your strip. 

This will keep you from losing your thread and gathers in the next step.

Begin pulling the bobbin thread to create the gathers. 

As you gather, keep moving the gathers down to the end.

It should now look like this...kind of like a little curly pigs tail. 

Starting at one end of your gathered strip, arrange it how you'd like it and

place a small bead of hot glue at the bottom edge of the strip and press it into place.

Now its time to create the flower.  Add hot glue a 1/2" at a time on the gathered edge 

just below the seam line and wrap the gathered strip around as you go.

Next, trace approximately a 2 1/4" circle onto your felt square and cut it out.

To attach the felt to the back of your flower, place hot glue around the perimeter of your circle

and an X across the middle.  Then place on the back of your flower and press together firmly.

Attach the pin back by place a small bead of hot glue along it and pressing it to the center of the felt.

LAST STEP!  Flip over your flower and place a big glob of hot glue in the center. 

Then press your button into place.  Hold it for a minute or so to give the glue time to cool. 

And voila...you're done! 

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial...and that it made sense. 

If you make these flowers, I'd love to see what you do with them.  They have sooooo many uses! 

Here is a flower I attached to a headband.  I've actually made a few of these.

Next I want to make a flower bouquet!  Wouldn't that be fun?!

Till next time...