Merry & Bright

Christmas in July!

I know, the kids aren't even back to school yet, but yes it is time to start on Christmas! I love Christmas. I just can't get enough. You know I love fabric, so just imagine all the Christmas fabric I NEED to do something with.


This quilt is just so "Merry & Bright"! And of course the colors are sooo much better in person.
It just makes me happy. It was really fun to make. The "gift" block is another Buggy Barn pattern-of course slightly altered, and the rest of the blocks are Crazy Four Patch.I quilted it in an all-over Loops and Holly.


I will be listing this quilt on Etsy soon. What do you think?

Crazy Four Patch Quilt Block

Wanna make a Crazy Four Patch Block?

I love this block. I use it over and over again and I don't get tired of it!

Here is how I make it:

Cut your fabric into squares. These are 6.5" squares. Any size will work. This would be an easy block to make using Layer Cakes.

Stack your squares into a pile. I'm only using four, but I usually stack at least 8 at a time.

Lay your ruler at an angle through the middle-ish of your blocks and cut.

Now take the top piece of fabric from right side, and "shuffle" it to the back of the pile on the right side.

Take the top fabric from each side and sew them right sides together. Repeat through your whole stack. Press your seams to one side. Keep your stack in the same order.

Now use your ruler to make another angled middle-ish cut in the opposite direction as the last cut.

Then take the top 3 fabric layers on the right side, and move them to the bottom of the pile.

Again take your top two layers and sew them right sides together, lining up your middle seams. Repeat through your stack and press your seams.

Now your blocks should look something like this.

Now use your cutting mat & ruler to square up your stack of blocks.

My blocks ended up at 5.5" after being squared.

You can use coordinating, or not so coordinating fabrics. Or just use up all the bigger scraps you may have laying around.

Woodland Bloom

I just ordered some of this Woodland Bloom fabric--and I can't wait!!!! Check out Lila Tueller's blog and enter her giveaway.

Fall Leaves

Here is my latest. A great fall look!

This was made from a Buggy Barn Pattern. It uses mostly fat quarters. If you would like to make one yourself, go to Morganson Framing & Sew Forth. My quilt will be on display and they will have kits and the patterns for sale!

I wish I were a better photographer--they are always so much prettier in person--

Tag - Unimportant Things

I've been tagged by Karen and asked to list 6 unimportant things about myself, here goes--things you never wanted to know about me...

1. Vanilla Pepsi--it's really like a love affair....ummmm....
2. I love to read. I really have to control myself and not start too many books. When I am reading a good book, I can't get anything else done, no really, anything.
3. I always have the munchies, always. Especially after a huge meal when I am already sooo full. Being full certainly does not stop me!
4. I LOVE the sun.
5. I HATE winter.
6. I love to go camping. It is probably my favorite thing to do with my family. And of course when I camp I get to combine so many of my favorite things. My family, Vanilla Pepsi, eating munchies while I read a good book, and no phone!

Alright--tag Julie and Kristen!

Where I "Craft"

I have had a few questions about where I do my actually sewing--so here are a few photos.

This is my "Crap Room". It started out as my laundry/craft/storage room. It also started out with the name of "Craft Room"

It is now, oh so lovingly, called the "CRAP Room". That means I'm not sharing any more photo's of this room. (Such as I can't remember the last time I saw the carpet in there!)

When I'm actually sewing (or stamping, or scrapbooking. or making jewelry), I do that at my kitchen table. Yes I have a patient husband, and yes I think eating is highly over-rated!

This is where it really gets fun. This is my HQ that I do the machine quilting on. It is in the room I call the art gallery. My parents gave up a room for me to be able to quilt. Aren't they sweet? It's good to be spoiled now and then. Or always, whatever. Anyway my parents have, at last count, 44 paintings on the walls, all done by them. I'll try to get a couple of photos another time.

This quilt is one I just finished quilting for my sister.

To get started I load the quilt back on one set of leaders, or bars. Then the quilt top goes on anther set, and the batting goes in between. Then I "draw" the pattern with the machine as I go across. When I finish a section I then roll the bars to advance the quilt, and go again, and again, and again. You get the idea.

The quilt in these photos, should get binding on it today--so hopefully I'll have a photo of it up soon!

Kyle was playing photographer. He loves to take pictures. I decided not to share the ones of him making me crack up laughing. Laughing that hard and quilting really don't work so well together.

Machine Quilting

Longarm Machine Quilting Services

Quilting Price Guide
These are approximate costs, I will determine the actual costs at discussion of specific quilt. Minimum quilting charge is $40.00
Quilting prices are calculated on a square inch basis. To find the square inch measurements of your quilt top, multiply the length times the width.

Simple All-over Design Quilting
$0.015 per Square inch
Includes Large Meander or Loops, ignoring blocks and borders

Freehand All-over Quilting
$0.017-$0.03
More artistic free form than simple all over designs

Specialty Quilting
$0.035-$0.049
Includes free form quilting with more detail, borders, echo quilting, tight meandering and background fills

Variegated Thread add $3.00
For each Thread color change add $5.00
Border Treatments Approx $10.00

The three layers of your quilt will be loaded on the machine independently of one another. Please do not pin or baste them together.

The batting and backing should measure at least eight inches longer and eight inches wider than your quilt top. For example, if your quilt measures 60" x 80", the batting and backing should measure at least 68" x 88".

Quilt Top
Press seams well. Be sure the top lies flat. Ripples and "puffy" places will not necessarily quilt flat.
The top should be free of embellishments such as buttons and beads.
Clip all loose threads and be sure the seams have been pressed.
A row of stay stitching, applied ¼ inch or less from the edge of the quilt, will prevent stretching.

Backing
Please trim off the selvage edges before seaming your backing. Sides should be straight, and the backing squared.

Contact me if you have any question!

Quote for the Day

Working for God on earth doesn't pay much......but His retirement plan is out of this world.

Baby Peels

I just love this design--It is done with raw edge applique, and has such a soft look and feel to it. It is a great way to get to use lots of fun fabrics together. And of course, it has the super soft minkie back in a moss green.

Turquoise

Late last night I got a little bug for a new jewelry set.


I absolutely LOVE Turquoise!!!
This is a pendant and earring set. The pendant can be put on any chain or leather necklace.

Proud to be Americans!

We had a great 4th of July--and hope you all did too!

Here are a couple of photos of Kyle and Gracie.

We met some of our good friends, the Allan's, and had a little pic-nic dinner and just hung out and let the kids play until it was time for the fireworks outside the Stadium of Fire. We of course had a little fireworks show of our own also. We had a great time. There is just nothing like the 4th of July!

I'm so grateful to live where we live, to have such great friends, and of course for our great family!

More Lil' Cowpokes--

I just love this fabric--

I mean...I really just love this fabric--

Isn't the background on this one great?

This is done with raw edge applique. It needs thrown in the wash, because after this one is washed it just looks so soft and cuddly.

Barbed Wire

I just love this cute boy baby quilt. I found some really fun cowboy themed fabric, and went a little crazy for it. (More quilts and photos to come.) I love the fabrics and the colors, but I really had fun with the quilting on this one--look close it is barbed wire!

Here is the back--

Gracie's a Fish & Kyle's a Hitter

Gracie has become quite the little fish! She decided she could go off the diving board now, and is hooked!

Kyle had 3 at bats in his game last week, and he hit 3 home runs! It was quite the game.