Thursday, August 27, 2020

I Like Thursday With Not Afraid Of Color

 Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color has weekly posts on Thursday, along with other bloggers, sharing "likes" in their lives. I love reading all the "likes" but I'm terrible about sharing mine. I'm more of a once-in-a-while I Like Thursday poster. And I'm usually late posting. Sorry Lee Anna!

I feel like this should be more of a like-hate post. We've been having lots of repairs and updates on the new house, so it's hard to get excited about all the dust. But it is nice to see things coming together. I love my new house and know I will love it more when it is fixed a bit. 

We had the inside painted before we moved in and the outside will get painted in a week or two. This is definitely a fixer upper house, but it had some really good qualities like shutters and crown molding.


I like that they cut down the countertop to one height. It had some ugly and thick tile on the bar and back splash, and the countertop was damaged. It's gone...yay! The tile floor is going, too. It's about 17 years old and has quite a few loose tiles. This is a picture from the previous owner's sale promotion. That's not my pic on the wall.


I really like how this will look when it's done...a new sink, too! No pictures, but we replaced fans and lights in some rooms. The old ones were really gross!


I like (love) the new countertops and flooring that will be installed.



Sewing has been interesting through all this. I actually missed a deadline. GASP! That was a first for me and I didn't LIKE it. This was a combo project for ThermOWeb and Crafter's Edge.


I like living closer to my family. Utah was beautiful, but family is better. Nevada has online classes for school because of Covid. My daughter is a superwoman coordinating five school age kids and their online schedules. Plus, her husband is a teacher trying to work through the online curriculum. Crazy! 

Their house is small so my daughter is really working miracles getting them educated. I help a little by taking Monkey Baby (who just turned 3!) so she can focus on the five and seven year old boys. The older three do their own thing without much help. 


I like that he is a good snuggler and loves to sit next to me while watching Netflix or reading a book with me. Not so happy that I took his picture, though. LOL


I like Halloween. Actually, I like it a lot! Joan from Moosestash Quilting and I started a Facebook page with just Halloween sewing things. I'm loving it! Joan is as crazy about Halloween as I am, so we're a great team. It's called Cackling Stitches...we'd love to have you join if you're into Halloween.


Check out Not Afraid of Color for more fun likes!

Tumblers And Unicorns With Crafter's Edge And ThermOWeb

It's always fun to combine a project with two of my favorite things...ThermOWeb and Crafter's Edge. I love ThermOWeb's iron-on adhesive, Heat n Bond Lite, Iron-on Adhesive, for applique, and Crafter's Edge dies make it a breeze to cut out shapes for quilting and applique. It's a win-win for sure!

Heat n Bond Lite, Iron-on Adhesive is so easy to use and peels off easily without having to score the paper. You'll love it! Crafter's Edge dies have no sharp edges that can cut through up to six layers of fabric. It's a bonus that they store flat and don't take up much room. 


The Tumbler dies come in different sizes in one package...so cool!


I wanted a unicorn quilt that would be okay for a boy or girl so I checked out unicorn colors. Did you know unicorns come in different colors other than white? Well they do! I went with a blue and black one for this quilt.

Unicorns Unite, 48" x 48"


It's not a proven fact, but I've heard that Blue Unicorns are social leaders and usually symbolize faithfulness between partners. 


Though Black Unicorns are often thought of as being evil because of their color, they really are a symbol of freedom, power, and strength. 

To make this unicorn quilt you'll need a few things:

Heat n Bond Lite, Iron-on Adhesive

Thread, batting, sewing machine, rotary cutter

1 1/2 yards - black fabric

1 yard - white fabric

1 yard - blue fabric

1/2 yard - black and white stripes (binding)

Optional: Spray n Bond Basting Adhesive

Crafter's Edge Unicorn Fabric Die, 4" Tumbler Fabric Die, and Crossover II Cutting Machine


Cutting instructions: 

Cut 35 - black 4" Tumblers
Cut 44 - white 4" Tumblers
Cut 9 - blue 4" Tumblers
Cut 2 – 3” x 28 ½” black, left and right Border A

Cut 2 – 2 ½” x 32 ½” black, top and bottom Border A

Cut 2 – 1 ½” x 34 ½” blue, left and right Border B

Cut 2 – 1 ½” x 34 ½” blue, top and bottom Border B

Cut 2 – 3 ½” x 34 ½” white, left and right Border C

Cut 2 – 3 ½” x 40 ½” white, top and bottom Border C

Cut 4 – 4 ½” x 40 ½” black, Border D

Cut 4 – 4 ½” x 4 ½” blue, Border D

Cut 6 - 2 ½” x 43" black and white stripes, Binding

With right sides together, sew tumblers together in rows using the different colors as shown in quilt. Press seams in rows in opposite directions. With right sides together, sew rows together as shown in quilt; match seams. Press seams down. Trim off edges of tumblers to make Center Block Tumblers/Unicorns 27 ½” x 28 ½”. 

Prepare Crafter's Edge Unicorns: Iron adhesive to wrong side of fabrics; let cool. 



Following Crafter’s Edge instructions, place paper side of adhesive facing up on platform*. Cover as directed before running through machine. Run die and fabric through machine. *To reverse the direction of design, place fabric side up before cutting.


Unicorn facing left - place dies on iron-on adhesive side with fabric face down.



Unicorn facing right - place dies on fabric side with adhesive face down.

Peel off paper liner from the backs of applique pieces. Place applique, adhesive side down, on right side of fabric. Press according to package directions until entire piece is bonded. Let cool. 


Using a heatproof applique sheet can help in assembling the design before ironing it to the fabric.


Iron unicorns on Center Block following package directions. Sew around edges of applique using a straight, zig-zag, or blanket stitch. 


With right sides together, sew 3” x 28 ½” black strips to left and right of Center Block. Press seams towards borders. With right sides together, sew 2 ½” x 32 ½” black strips to top and bottom of Center Block. Press seams down.

With right sides together, sew 1 ½” x 34 ½” blue strips to left and right of Border A. Press seams towards borders. With right sides together, sew 1 ½” x 34 ½” blue strips to top and bottom of Border A. Press seams down.

With right sides together, sew 3 ½” x 34 ½” white strips to left and right of Border B. Press seams towards borders. With right sides together, sew 3 ½” x 40 ½” white strips to top and bottom of Border B. Press seams down.

With right sides together, sew 4 ½” x 40 ½” black strips to left and right of Border C. Press seams towards borders. With right sides together, sew a 4 ½” x 4 ½” blue square to the ends of remaining 4 ½” x 40 ½” black strips. Press seams towards center. With right sides together, sew strips to top and bottom of Border C. Press seams down.

*Quilt assembly with batting and basting spray:


Protect the area where you will be working by placing an old sheet or paper under and around the area you’ll be spraying. Place the batting on work area, smoothing to remove wrinkles. Place the quilt backing, wrong side down, on top of batting. Smooth to remove wrinkles. Having the batting a bit larger than the backing is suggested.

Roll back about six inches of the quilt back to expose some of the batting. Using the basting spray, spray batting from one edge to the other. Carefully lay the wrong side of quilt backing over the sprayed surface of batting. Smooth fabric to ensure it adheres to the sprayed fabric and remove any wrinkles. Roll back the rest of the quilt back to continue spraying and smoothing about six inches at a time until you reach the bottom of the quilt back. Check for creases or folds you might have missed.

 

Turn backing and batting over to have batting facing up. Lay quilt front, wrong side down, on batting. Make sure quilt front is lined up correctly; smooth out wrinkles. Use the same spray and smooth method as the backing. Trim edges and square-up quilt. Quilt as desired and add binding.


Check out ThermOWeb for this post and more amazing projects to sew and create!


Thanks for stopping by!


Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Riley Blake Designs "Little Engine That Could" Blog Tour

This new fabric release by Riley Blake Designs, "Little Engine That Could", brought back a lot of memories of my elementary school days and reading the book to my children. Even my five year old grandson knew the story!

The prints are vibrant, 100 per cent cotton, and look amazing in my quilt, "I Know I Can!" which measures 45" x 45" when finished.

I Know I Can! 

Riley Blake has captured the whole book in its fabric line and I think you'l love it as much as I do. The book "The Little Engine That Could" was published in 1930 by Watty Piper. The book encourages us to not give up and to keep on trying, which is still great advice 90 years later.

The fabric line includes a panel to make a book, but I fussy cut the blocks and used them in the quilt.

Look at all the fun fabrics you can choose from! 

I love that argyle design and thought it was perfect for the binding.

Applique is kind of my thing, so I added a train and clown to the center. He's a happy train, isn't he!

I love using EZ Print Lite Sheets by ThermOWeb for my applique...no tracing! Just print in your inkjet printer and your designs are ready.


The back of the quilt is pieced with leftover fabric, which makes it even more sweet.
You can find my pattern for "I Know I Can" HERE.
Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to check out Riley Blake Designs to see more beautiful and fun projects to sew. Check HERE to see the book panel sewn into a book...so cute!

Monday, August 17, 2020

Halloween Cackling Stitches Group On Facebook

Halloween is one of my favorite times of years and it's Joan's at Moosestashing quilting, too. So, we put our wickedly crazy heads together and created a Facebook group, Cackling Stitches, that's just about Halloween sewing. 

We'll have random projects and a block of the month with, of course, Halloween designs. We'd love to have you join us!

CACKLING STITCHES GROUP LINK


Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Getting Comments From Your Blogger To Your Email

This is a blogger help announcement: There's always something that throws us for a loop when Google changes up our blogger format, right? The new format isn't really hard EXCEPT for getting comments to our email. It's not the same way of doing it...UGH!

I did a little searching and found a "cure" at "Life and Linda". She instantly became one of my favorite bloggers for this fix because it really works. Thank you, Linda at Life and Linda!

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENT TO EMAIL FIX INFO

So if you're frustrated that those comments from your blog aren't making it to your email, give Linda's advice a try.

If it works for you, you are welcome!

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Crafter's Edge Cute Fox In A PIllow

Using Crafter's Edge to cut shapes and designs from fabric is so fun. The "Cute Fox" is exactly that...CUTE! The fox would be adorable on a quilt, door hanger, or even as a pincushion. I used it to make a pillow for a quick birthday present. 

To get started on my pillow I grabbed a few fat quarters from my stash, my Crafter's Edge Crossover II machine and dies, and some of my favorite iron-on adhesive, Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive. With all my supplies ready, this pillow went together in a flash!
To make your own pillow, you'll need a few things:

 

Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive

Thread

Batting

18” x 18” Pillow Form

Crafter’s Edge Cute Fox Die

Crafter’s Edge Equilateral Triangles, 6 ½” and 5 ½” (it comes in four sizes)

Crafter’s Edge Letters, F – O – X

Crafter’s Edge Crossover II

Fabric needed:

6-8 fat quarters

1/4 yard - Binding

 

Cutting instructions for each pillow:

 

Cut 1 – 12 ½” x 12 ½” white, Center Block

Cut 4 – 3 ½” x 12 ½” orange, Border A

Cut 4 – 3 ½” x 3 ½” turquoise, Border A Corner

Cut 3 – 2 ½” x 42” black, Binding

Cut 1 – 18 ½” x 18 ½” white, lining

Cut 2 – 11 ½” x 18 ½” orange, pillow back

Cut 1 – 18 ½” x 18 ½” batting

Cut 1 – Crafter’s Edge Cute Fox following directions in Step 1.

Cut 2 – Crafter’s Edge Equilateral Triangles (6 ½” and 5 ½”) following directions in Step 1.

Cut 1 – Crafter’s Edge F-O-X letters following directions in Step 1.

 

Sewing/Applique Instructions: Seams are sewn 1/4” wide

 

Step 1: Applique – Iron adhesive to wrong side of fabrics; let cool. Following Crafter’s Edge instructions, place paper side of adhesive facing up on platform.* Cover as directed. Run die and fabric through machine. *To reverse the direction of design, place fabric side up before cutting. 


Peel off paper liner from the backs of applique pieces. Place applique, adhesive side down, on right side of fabric. Press according to package directions until entire piece is bonded. Let cool. Sew around edges of applique using a straight, zig-zag, or blanket stitch. 

Step 2: Border A – With right sides together, sew 3 ½” x 12 ½” orange strips to left and right sides of Center Block. Press seams towards borders.

Step 3: Border A - With right sides together sew 3 ½” x 3 ½” turquoise squares to the ends of 3 ½” x 12 ½” orange strip. Press seams towards center. With right sides together, sew strips to top and bottom of Center Block, matching seams. Press seams down.

Step 4: Pillow front/lining/batting– Place pillow lining wrong side up on a flat surface. Lay batting on top of pillow lining. Lay pillow front, right side up on top of batting. Pin or clip with all edges meeting together. Baste around edges. Quilt if desired.

Step 5: Pillow Back - Fold under 1/4” on one long side of each 11½” x 18½” rectangles. Press. Fold over again 1/4” and press. Top stitch close to edge of fold.



Overlap the two back sections with right sides up and turned under edges towards the middle to make an 18 ½” x 18 ½” square. Pin/clip to hold in place at overlapped sections and baste in place.



Step 6: Pillow assembly - On a flat surface, layer pillow sections on top of each other in the following order: Pillow back, wrong side up; Pillow front with lining, wrong side down. Baste around edges. Add binding using your favorite method. Place 18” x 18” pillow form inside through the flap.

This pillow was a full one and made it quite puffy...the better to snuggle on!


There's so many ways to use Crafter's Edge fabric dies. Give them a try...I think you'll love them as much as I do!

Day Two Virtual Christmas Cookie Blog Hop

 Yesterday was a sweet day of Christmas creativity and yummy goodies. Thank you to all of the participants and visitors! Check out these fab...