Christmas Then And Now Blog Hop Sign-Ups

There's a new blog hop happening in July! 

 Christmas in July (then and now) will run from July 27th to July 31st.

Are you ready to play along? 

Here's the rules of Christmas in July (then and now):

With life as crazy as it has been lately, show an older Christmas project

from "back then" or show something new...anything Christmas related.

You can make/show a mug rug, pot holder, mini quilt, baby quilt, bag, toy, etc.

Post your project on your assigned day and list the other blog hoppers.

Have a giveaway or don't have a giveaway. It's totally optional!

Visit everyone's blog on the list and leave a sweet comment.

Are you in?

Email me with your name, email, blog name, and blog URL 

and I'll get back to you with a date for your post.

It's always fun to be a part of a blog hop and share what you make.

I'd love to have you join in!

I Like Thursday And Other Stuff

Life has been really up, down, and crazy lately, hasn't it!

Sometimes it's hard to find the good in things and people, but thankfully we keep trying.
 Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color has weekly posts on Thursday, along with other sweet
bloggers, sharing "likes" in their lives. I thing we all need to stop and look for those likes!

I like...

My new home. Old home, but new to us, anyway.

We moved, twice, since March. Of course, it had to be in the middle of the Covid 19

pandemic...ugh. The first move took us from Utah to a small condo near Las Vegas.

Two days after the move we were asked to stay home. That meant not being around

our grandsons because we're in that risky age factor thing. 

What we thought would be just a couple weeks turned into months. Looking for a home

when people don't want to let you in their house to see it was quite challenging. 

Luckily, we found one we liked and the paperwork began, almost all of it online.

Combining two households and some of my mother-in-law's things was quite a 

challenge. We have way too much stuff! Unfortunately, the donation spots all closed 

because of the virus, so that was another challenge. I'm now down to just four 

colanders instead of 10, two sets of silverware instead of six. Furniture was in 

abundance, too. Luckily, the people who bought our house in Utah took a lot of it.

I like...

My family!

Before the move, they threw me a surprise birthday party at the condo. 

We observed proper social distancing but this was so good for all of us after almost two

 months of not being together. Pizza, salad, and donuts for dessert...it was awesome!

They've been so helpful with the move and we couldn't have done it without them.

They make me smile even when I'm totally exhausted from moving!

I like...

My new sewing room and cabinets.

There's still a lot of work to be done in this room and I've been crawling over boxes
to sew masks and quilts, but it's getting there. It has horrible lighting though!



I like...
My backyard.



There's a lemon tree.

Typical desert landscaping with a pine tree and a palm tree together.

There's a wagonwheel.

It even came with Rolladen shutters. We're ready for the zombies or apocalypse! 

 I like...

My friend, Cynthia, has survived the Covid virus. 

She had been in the hospital since March with it and just went to rehab this week. 

It was up and down for her, but she kicked it...yay! I don't just like this fact, I love it!

I like...
YOU!

Thank you for being a part of my blogging life!
Stay safe, healthy, and be creative.

Words To Grow By Block Of The Month June

This month's Words To Grow By block of the month word is "Wander" which seems kind of
perfect because I've been feeling like I need to wander a bit after being stuck at home for so long.
 It's been hard to focus on things, but my mind has definitely done a lot of wandering!

"Wander"
Unfinished block measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

I've been using my Riley Blake Confetti Cottons for my blocks.

I love how many color choices the fabric line has!

The block designers...

Amy from Sew Incredibly Crazy

Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks

Joan from Moosestash Quilting

Carol from Just Let Me Quilt

We all love using EZ Print Lite Sheets by ThermOWeb...no tracing!

Just print in your inkjet printer and your designs are ready.

Here's a list of all the blocks so far:

JUNE - WANDER - JUST LET ME QUILT
You can find WANDER HERE

MAY - BLOOM - MOOSESTASH QUILTING

You can find BLOOM HERE

APRIL - SHARE - CREATIN' IN THE STICKS

You can find SHARE HERE

MARCH - PEACE - JUST LET ME QUILT

You can find PEACE HERE

MARCH - FAITH - JUST LET ME QUILT

You can find FAITH HERE

FEBRUARY - JOY - SEW INCREDIBLY CRAZY

You can find JOY HERE. 

Our Words To Grow By BOM blocks are free during the month they are released.

After that, the blocks can be purchased from the designer for a small fee.

 There are over 3000 friends on the Facebook group and we would love for you to join us!

Need A Hug In A Zipper Bag?

I have such fun using Crafter's Edge Crossover II and fabric cutting dies.
There are so many fabric dies to choose from...love it!

My "Need A Hug?" zipper and lined bag went together quickly using the
newly released Cactus die and Equilateral Triangle die for the applique.

Need A Hug?
Lined zipper bag measures approximately 15" x 18"

Dropping a "Need A Hug?" zipper bag filled with treats and necessities on someone's
doorstep would definitely brighten someone's day. The possibilities are endless for filling it!

The Crafter's Edge dies don't take up much room when storing and can cut up to six layers.

They just released a cactus die that was perfect for my "Need A Hug?" zippered bag.

I used the Equilateral Triangle die, the smallest one, for two of the rows.
The corners are notched to make it easy when sewing them together.

The cactus, snake, and lettering were backed with Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive . 

You'll love how easy it is to peel off the protective backing paper. 

I used a video by Nicole at Sprout Patterns to make "Need A Hug?" because I felt it had great 

instructions for a lined zipper bag. Her instructions made it so easy to sew the bag together

using the front bag section I made with the cactus and equilateral triangles.

What You'll need for "Need A Hug?" 

Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive

Fabric Fuse

Heat n Bond Fusible Interfacing

18” Polyester Zipper

Thread/Embroidery Thread

Crafter’s Edge Crossover II

Crafter’s Edge Cactus and 3.1" x 2.5" Equilateral Die

Fabric Needed:

10-11 fat quarters

Cutting instructions:

Cut 1 – 6 ½” x 18” beige, front of bag

Cut 16 - 3.1” x 2.5” black, equilateral triangles

Cut 18 - 3.1” x 2.5” turquoise, equilateral triangles
Cut 4 - applique cactus shapes

Cut 2 – 3” x 18” brown, strips

Cut 2 – 15” x 18” beige, lining

Cut 1 – 15” x 18” brown, back of bag

*Tip: Ironing Heat n Bond Fusible Interfacing to the back of an applique block can help keep the
 threads from showing through fabric and stabilize the fabric to make stitching small pieces easier.

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

Prepare the cactus design using iron-on adhesive. 

Iron adhesive to wrong side of applique fabrics following package directions.

 Cut out four cactus shapes using Crafter’s Edge cactus fabric die.

Snake and lettering:

Right click on picture to save. Print on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Pattern has been reversed.

Trace designs on iron-on adhesive.

Iron adhesive pieces to wrong side of fabrics following package directions. Cut out applique pieces. 

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.

Using the Crafter's Edge Crossover II and 3.1" x 2.5" Equilateral Die, cut out

16 - 3.1” x 2.5” black, equilateral triangles

18 - 3.1” x 2.5” turquoise, equilateral triangles

With right sides together, sew equilateral triangles together alternating colors and directions.

Press seams to sides. Trim ends as shown below. Strips should be 18" long. 

With right sides together, sew equilateral triangle strips to top and bottom of center applique strip.

With right sides together, sew 3” x 18” brown strips to top and bottom of equilateral triangles.

Press seams towards brown strips.

Follow the video link above to sew the zipper bag together. 

*Instead of pinning the zipper in place before sewing, I used Fabric Fuse to hold it and the fabric 

layers in place. Just apply the Fabric Fuse to the fabric, lay the zipper on the fabric, let dry, and sew.

You'll love how it keeps the zipper right where it should be with no slipping out of place.

Fill your bag and share the hugs!

Visit ThermOWeb's blog where I'm hanging out today and see all the other
amazing Show Thanks ideas happening there.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafter's Edge Mask With A Pocket For Filter

With the Crafter's Edge Crossover II and Crafter's Edge Mask Die, making face masks are so easy.

You can also add a pocket to the back of the mask for a filter, too. I'll show you how!

I love using HeatnBond Sew-In interfacing as a filter, but there are lots of other choices.

Pick the filter that makes you feel the most comfortable and meets your standards of safety.

Directions come with the Face Mask Die and they are really easy to follow.
Run your fabrics/interfacing through the Crossover II Edge using the mask die.

I used three different fabrics for the mask to show the different layers.
You can use the same fabrics if you want to.

Sew the rounded edge of fabric mask pieces together following the directions.
Clip or use pink shears on curved edge. Press seams flat. 

Fold over 1/4" twice on short end of pocket edges. Press. Top stitch close to edge.

Pin elastic to right side of mask lining, a quarter inch from edges.

Stitch a couple times over the elastic to secure them a little better.

Layer mask front, pocket, and lining as shown below.

Pin layers together making sure to catch all layers of fabric.
The pocket will be about a half inch from the shorter edges of mask.

Stitch around all edges with 1/4" seam making sure to catch all layers of fabric;
leave 1 1/2" to 2" opening for turning inside out.

Turn inside out, having pocket at the back and lining in the middle.
Fold edges of opening inside the mask. Press.

Top stitch close to edge around entire mask. Be sure to catch opening in stitches. If adding a
wire, tuck it up in top of mask now. Stitch 1/4" from top stitching to hold wire in place.

I used the second from the smallest mask die to create a filter from
HeatnBond Sew-In interfacing. Filters can be cut in other shapes if desired.

Tuck the filter between the pocket and lining. It can be removed and replaced as needed.

Having to wear a mask may not be fun, but wearing a mask made with Riley Blake Designs
"Tranquility" by Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs can be a pleasure!

I think you'll love the Crafter's Edge mask die as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by!