Myrtle Beach Quilt Show 2012 - More Fabulous Quilts

Hitting the Bottle.

Another group display at the Myrtle Beach quilt show was called "Hitting the Bottle". 

Create an 18 x 24 inch quilt with hand dyed fabrics.  The challenge is to maximize the dimension and texture using creative machine stitching on the bottles, jugs and jars on the piece.

Rhythms - A quilting technique

At the recent Myrtle Beach Quilt show, there was a nice workshop display.  I thought it was so interesting and was such a interesting group project.  All the pieces were beautiful and my pictures don't do them justice. 

Create a 12 x 36 quilt using black Kona cotton for the background and a piece of hand dyed fabric.  Cut the hand dyed  fabrics into horizontal strips with shapes and curves.  Apply these strips onto the black fabric leaving approximately 1/4" between the pieces.  Embellish. 

A Giant Sharks Tooth - a rare find

I was so excited this moring when Mert showed me what he picked up on our beach walk today.  It's the biggest sharks tooth I've ever seen.

Just have a look at how bit it is compared to the other sharks teeth that we've found in the past couple of weeks.   Can you see the jagged edges?

Not so simple tote bag from Martha Stewart Living

Martha bag.. (sweet fabric, eh!)

This little Martha bag is sweet and I like how one handle is looped through the other.   She suggested it was good for a beginner sewer and experienced sewer.   It looked like a simple bag but I just couldn't fathom how the sewing of those straps worked.

Since I have some fabrics on hand, I thought I'd give it a try.    The free pattern and instructions are here.  I went to Staples to enlarge the pattern.  It says to enlarge it by 200%, but I found that was a bit too big for my first bag.  I used a 175% enlargement and the width of the bag is about 10" wide.   

There are 7 steps to making this bag.  I completed steps 1 - 6 with no problem.  Then in a few simple words, step 7 was a complete stumper.  

Steps 1 - 6 were no problem.

Turning under 1/4 inch on both lining and main fabric, is harder than it looks. 



I thought I could sew it from the inside... Wrong!!

In the end, I finished it.

After I finished the bag, I went in to see if it was just me.. But I found the straps awkward and I would not say this was a beginner project.    I should have read through all the comments before starting the project.   I wasn't the only one who had difficulty.    Some of the suggestions recommended using the Allpeoplequilt version here.  It's a little different in that it has pockets inside and uses batting.  But the most important part is that it has a totally different technique for putting it together.    It looks easier.

More small projects

I made a couple more projects in the last day or two. Both are small projects. 

This little pouch is intended as a loyalty card holder.    It looked so simple and it was.  It's a free pattern that is one piece.   After you cut it out, it takes about 5 minutes to sew.   I did extra stitching on the flap to hide the fact that I used Velcro as the closure.  It's cute. I like it.  I'm storing a bunch of embroidery needles in it for now. 

This is the other project.  It's called a Style File and was designed by Karen Montgomery.  The pattern was in the Quilts and More Spring 2008 magazine.  It is a zippered pouch with a pocket that will hold magazine sized books, or letter size papers.  With my limited stash, and left over fabric from the craft sale items, I pulled enough scraps to make it.  There are faint blue flowers in a bit of the front fabric, so I used a blue zipper from my new stash of zips.     The only change I would make to this project would be to add a wristlet type of strap.  I intended to do that, but forgot.   I will definitely make this project again, when I get home.
 

I have two more simple and small projects to make this weekend before I get started on finishing the pieced blocks that will surround my stitched snowmen blocks in my Winter Wonderland quilt.   

Catch of the Day - A Starfish

Just like at home yesterday, the weather here was amazing.   Lots of spring breakers around, and everyone is in the water.   Not me though. The water is still too cold.   I'm stitching on the deck and taking pictures of Grampie through the rails on the deck.

Grampie is out in the shallow waves, looking for sharks teeth.

Our catch so far.  One big star fish, and some sharks teeth.

A small folksy embroidery project

I traced this little design before I left home and put it in my projects bag.  I thought I'd have it for a rainy day project.  Well, it turns out that it's a sunny day project.  I keep this little piece handy when I'm sitting on the deck.

I love hand stitching with great sunlight.