One Block and Other Things I Do

I haven't done much sewing for the past week or so, but I finally got to make one of my qal blocks, the easy one:)  This is Quilt Doodle Doodle's May block, the Fir Tree.

So that's done, but the I have a challenging paper piecing block to make for the Sew Kitschy qal and I plan to tackle that tomorrow.

What I spent today making is not a quilting project but does fall into the craft category.  The Sodality I belong to at my parish gives Miraculous Medals to the children making their First Communion.  This is how I make them.

The medals come from the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal.  We get them like the one on the left.  The first thing I do is add a split jump ring.  For me, that's the hardest part.  I use a pinch nose plier to make it easier.  

I cut 3" strips of satin ribbon using pinking shears and thread it through the split ring.

Today I needed 24 medals.

I take these to the sewing machine and sew the ends together, right sides facing.

All of my medals sewn up.

Then I turn the ribbon right side out.

Now I glue the ribbons to pin backs, using a good glue.  The only tricky part is keeping the front ribbon free of glue.

Once all of the pin backs are glued and dried, the next step is to attach them to a card, insert them into a plastic envelope and that's it.  

I print on cardstock, cut them up and then punch holes in the card to hold the pin.

It's a nice gift for the students.

Definitely worth the work.

More parish work tomorrow morning but hopefully sewing in the afternoon. 

God Bless!

April Let's Book It Post

I'm happy to be able to link up with Sharon's Let's Book It group at Vroomans Quilts.
I am making a quilt from Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps & Shirttails II.

Put on my design wall for a look see - this is not the true layout.

 

 Since this post, I've brought in some other fabrics to lighten up things a bit.  We'll see how it works out.

Maybe it is getting too scrappy, but Bonnie's designs play to that so I'm going with it for now.

Many more blocks to go on this one.

God Bless.

Yankee Charm Block and More Caps

The Yankee Charm Block is the 21st block in the Ben Franklin Mystery QAL at Erik Homemade Coffee Break ezine.   Apparently the history of this block relates to Revolutionary times.  I like it probably because it has a semblance to a courthouse steps block.

The April block for the From Head to Toe - A Knitter's Gifts block of the month is this cute cap applique made 4 times.  Notice I goofed on one of the blocks and placed my cap in an alternate orientation.  If it doesn't work when I put all of the blocks together then I'll redo it, but for now it stays as is.  

God Bless.  Have an enjoyable weekend.

New Project From a Bonnie Hunter Book

 I've had Bonnie Hunter's book, Scraps & Shirttails II for a while and have wanted to make something from it for as long, so I'm happy to finally begin one of the projects.

I've selected Smoke Mountain Morning with its stars and modified log cabin blocks.

This fabric line from Windham Fabrics is one I've been saving, so now it's been cut into and is living up to its potential.

I have two stars done and am trying out one log cabin.  The stars are a 54-40 or Fight star and the log cabin is the Chimney and Cornerstone log cabin version.  My takes are a little bit different from Bonnie's but that's okay.

What is really cool is that I used my Sizzix to make this block.  That might be why I was able to get two blocks done in a few hours.

I will link up with the Let's Book It group at Vroomans Quilts when that post comes up.  

God Bless You.

Progress Report on Two QAL's

This Teapot is the Sew Kitschy April block.  And here are my four blocks together.

The April block for the Quilt Doodle Doodle BOM is this row of Friendship Stars.

 I think the stars really make the tree and house blocks brighten up. 

Both of these projects are going to make charming quilts.  

God Bless You.

Sprinkles is a Traveling Quilt

These pictures tell a story.  I tested Sue Abrey's quilt design "Sprinkles", then heard about the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge running now at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and decided to donate my version of Sprinkles because it's a nice size for cozying into and with the fabric I used would be good for a young person.  As you can see, my pal Moxie liked it very much, so after doing a stipple quilting and sewing on the binding, Sprinkles got washed and dried and crinkled up beautifully.  I remembered the label, something I don't always do.

Now, Sprinkles is on it's way to the midwest.  

So, from a quilt designer in Great Britain to a quilter in Massachusetts to an organization in Ohio and then, who knows.  

Happy travels, Sprinkles.

Another version is definitely on the agenda.

Thanks, Sue. It was fun.

Quilting Sprinkles and a Nice Win

 I tested the Sprinkles pattern for Sue of Quilt Times and intend to donate the completed quilt to one of the Hands2Help charities. Truthfully, I have not been motivated for the past 2 weeks to do much sewing or quilting.  But, Sprinkles needed to be quilted so I moved my sewing machine onto the dining room table and went to work.  And guess what.  I got back my quilting mojo.  I hope I get this one completed by the weekend and move on to another project.  

If you read my blog you know I do love my Sizzix machine.  I don't have many of the quilting dies, I use the figure dies mostly, but I do watch the youtube videos because making the quilt blocks  looks so neat and accurate.  I entered one of their giveaways and won two dies, 2 FQ's and a very nice book.  This just makes me very happy.

I showed you the postcard I received from my  partner Dawn.  She has finally received the card I sent to her so I can reveal it.

  Did I use a Sizzix die?  Yes.  I had the whole card finished when I realized I hadn't quilted any of it.  See what I mean?  No mojo.

God Bless!

Beautiful Post Card and Blocks of the Month

 I love the post card I received from Dawn (no blog) in the latest post card exchange that Sheila arranged.

 The antennae have little beads.  I didn't know that beads like that would go through the postal service but now I know they will, so I'll have to try them.  Thank you, Dawn.  It is a beautiful post card.

 The March block in the From Head to Foot BOM from Denise of Justquiltin. The first block were the caps.  The socks were much easier and faster to put together. 

The March block for Quilt Doodle Doodles' 2014 BOM.  I'm going to decorate the tree, I just haven't decided what to do yet.  

The crocus we've been waiting to see.  Everyone I talk with is so happy to see their crocus blooming.  It was a tough winter.

God Bless You.

My Sew Kitschey March Block

This is from Quiet Play's Sew Kitschey BOM.

I'm enjoying the paper piecing, and the designs each month are just too cute.  

God Bless.

Caps with Pompoms

 This is the February block of the From Head to Toe BOM designed by Denise Russart of Justquiltin.  I used flannel for the pompoms so that they would show up better.  

Yes, we're still having the kind of weather where you could wear three caps at once to keep warm.  

I also made the fabric postcard for my partner who is in Canada this time, but I can't show it yet.  But it is very spring-like.  

God Bless You.