I love that Pfaff Bi-level foot

Usually I'm applying a binding with one of my favorite Pfaff feet, the bi-level binding foot.   Today I was sewing on a temporary sleeve on a quilt for our guild's quilt show this weekend.     This quilt is already bound.  So when I move the needle over to the far 0 position, set my stitch length to a 6, which is huge, my machine  bastes in the ditch.  

On the back is the temporary sleeve.  I did hand stitch the bottom of the sleeve with a big stitch.   

Both lines of stitching will come out easily after the show.

I hope to see you at the show.   I will be there on Friday.  

If you are looking for details about the show, please visit our guild's blog page here.  It will give you times, directions etc.  

Presenting - Attic Windows - by the St. Anthony's Quilters

Dolly, Alice, Alice, Paulette, Doris
A great Quilting Team at St. Anthony's

While I was away this winter, the St. Anthony's Quilters spent their Wednesday afternoons stitching away at this sweet Attic Windows Quilt.    This single bed size quilt top was pieced and donated by Willa MacLean.   I went to quilt this week with the girls and was so thrilled that it was just being finished and it came off the frame that day.  I will bind it this week after I find some dark blue fabric  
This quilt will be raffled off by the church committee starting later this summer.     Many thanks to Willa and the St. A. Quilters....  We will put another quilt on next week.   Stand-by to see that one..  It's nice.

Gearing up to teach!

I'm excited to be back into the swing of things.   Take a look.  I've added a teaching link to the right hand side of my blog.    Since I am away most of the Winter, Spring and early summer and November are my prime teaching season.

This week I'm preparing to teach a Smart Wallet class at the Elm City Quilt Guild, a local guild.    I'll be seeing the students this Saturday to give them their kits and instructions for the class on the following Saturday.    These are very experienced quilters.   This class is a perfect way for these gals to stretch and learn a few new techniques.  

I'm kinda excited to get back into the swing of things after the winter away.  I've made all new samples, and even found a few more simplifying techniques.

See you soon!

A Pfaff Class

In the last year, I was working with some girls who own Pfaff sewing machines.   The whole idea was to learn more about the machine and feet.  We did this by making small projects - usually two or three hour projects.   We were a small group meeting in each others kitchens.   It was nice and intimate and projects get done quickly.  

But have had a number of people hear about it and ask if they can participate or start a new kitchen group.   This got me thinking about having a Pfaff workday in a larger venue say once a month.   I am hoping we can have up to 15 people participate.

I have a venue selected but I have to check out the costs, outlets, lighting etc.  I'm planning a "test" class for later May or early June.   I have a the project all picked out that would be perfect for our first "new venue" class.  

This nesting bowl project can be completed in a 4 hour class.  This is my sample.  Participants will get a good bit of utilizing their IDT to machine quilt (not free motion) these nesting fabric bowls.   Once they get through these bowls, they will have the confidence to machine quilt other larger projects such as placemats and table runners.  

Do you own a Pfaff? Are you local?  Maybe you would like to learn some new skills.     If so, let me know and I'll add you to my list.

I'm home, now what!!

Well, we've been home for almost a week.  

After our 3+ day drive north, we've been busy with all kinds of errands.  unpacking, laundry, cleaning, groceries, dentist, Insurance, Taxes, more groceries and volleyball games.     We are finding it cold.   We wear two sweaters in the house all the time.    The air is dry.   I get nose bleeds easy.  

But it's nice to be back where my kiddos are.   I got some really good hugs this week.   It's hard to do that over Facetime!!   Miss Aurora is visiting us for the weekend.  We are spending a bit of time in my sewing room.

She has picked out 5 item of American Girl doll clothes outfits that she wants.   I have 5 Simplicity patterns.  She matched up each pattern with the fabric that she wants me to make the outfit out of.  It's all organized into ziploc a bag.  She has 5 kits ready for me.    

In between my regular projects next week, I'll pull out a ziploc bag and make one.    These doll cloths are a bit friggy to make, but I like making them because they are relatively quick.  The next time Aurora comes for a visit, she'll have some new doll clothes.  

She wanted me to show you the kits.  

Tutorial - How to make a Gift box for your wallet.

You've made your fabulous wallet.  

Now you might want to make a pretty gift box for it.

Using the directions that follow, you will be scoring
a scrapbook size piece of cardstock.  Then trimming,
folding, and securing with glue or tape.

Start with a 12 x 12" cardstock weight paper.
Set the cardstock on point, on your cutting mat.
You will also need a long ruler and a scoring tool
(an old nail file in my case).
(other scoring tools could be a small pointed knitting needle, or
a non-serrated butter knife)

Diagonally, line up all 4 of your cardstock corners so
they are exactly on an inch mark.    Set your ruler edge
exactly 2-1/8" from the imaginary center line.

Using your scoring tool, firmly press along edge of the ruler
making sure that the ruler does not move.

Now, carefully slide your ruler over to the right 3-5/8" from
the imaginary center line.
Score.
Now repeat these same 2 scores on the opposite side.

Turn your cardstock 90 degrees to do the  wider scores.
Place the edge of your ruler 4-1/8" from the center. Score
Move  ruler to the right 5-5/8"  from the center line.   Score
Repeat these 2 scores on the other side.

I have penciled in where my scores are so you can see better
About the center of each of your 4 sides, you will notice 2 little triangles.

With a small pair of scissors, cut out the 2 triangles
on all 4 sides.  8 triangles in total..

To the flaps:  On the short ends, cut in from one of the triangles
to the score mark.  Do this on both short ends.

Carefully, crease all your folds.

Fold up each short end and you will put a bit of glue
on each flap.  Then fold up the other sides and clip or hold
until the glue dries.  

I am holding the flap for 10-15 second
while the glue takes.  Do this for all 4 flaps.
(or better yet, use double sided tape)

I had not glued all 4 flaps in this picture,
but please imagine that they are glued.
Fold the top of the box in place.  You will notice it's a tad
bit longer that it needs to be.  

With a small pair of scissors, round or square off all four
corners about a half an inch.  

 -------------------------------------------------------

You can orient your box like this by
securing two small bottom tabs and
securing the lower flap to the sides.

You can orient your gift box like this
by securing all 4 small tabs.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's a quick hostess gift that I whipped up this morning.   I'm attending a St. Patrick's Day Social in at a friend's house this evening.    We are dressing in green and bringing appetizers.    My appetizer,  deep fried green beans (from Publix's Frozen Section).    

Everything Green!!

This started out with 3 inch squares.   Now it's approximately 8" x 14".  
Perfect for a long skinny dish.
I love to practice my circle quilting.
Easy once you get the hang of it.

Isla's Secret Garden

 My friend Brenda R. gave me some left over "marble-like" duck-weight fabric which was left over from making a bulletin board.      I had just came across this link for a pattern to make a straight sided cosmetic sized bag.    So it's a great opportunity to try the pattern.   Using some scraps from other finished projects, I made some flowers, and free-motion stitched them on the bag fronts.   Then assembled the bags.  Easy peasy.    

As an after thought, I decided to add a line of grass on the back of the bags because they are so plain.    And as another after thought, on one, I added the name of a little grand-daughter of Brenda R.'s visitor   It fits into the back grassy part quite nice.    Her name is Isla.   Sounds like I-La.

The bag on the right is for Isla.  If I were to give this
little bag a name, it would be Isla's Secret Garden.
I've hidden Isla's name on the back of the bag in the grass.  

Grassy bits on the back of the bags....

Do you see Isla's name!  

Dumplings anyone?

I quickly finished up this little prototype dumpling bag to go with my Bionic Gear bag.   The nice thing about this little zip bag is that it sits like a bowl when opened.  When closed it has the shape of a dumpling.  It's quite cute.    

Cute little dumpling bag.  It's only about 2 inches high.

It sits open  to hold your clips or other little necessities.
The next time, I'll use the lighter fabric on the inside
so I can see my trinkets easier..:)

See how my little dumpling fits nicely in the tray.

My keeper bionic bag will be made from these main fabrics.
I have a kit made up ready to take home.
Watch for that in April or May!!

The reveal - My sewing organizer bag - It's Cute

This little organizer is 10 inches wide when it's all zipped up.   I wasn't happy with my first choice of fabrics for this prototype, but I really like my better choice for the outside of the bag.   It is quite pink but I like it.    I do have lots of colors on the inside, and one of them is pink.   So it all worked out pretty good... for a prototype.

The name of this organizer is the Bionic Gear Bag.  There's a little zippered dumpling bag to compliment this kit.      It won't take long to make, so stay tuned for that.

I just love using my new little labels.  

This is what the organizer looks like when I unzip the big zipper.  It has
four inside smaller zippered sections.  The front
flops down to makes a tray. It will hold needed
items for the day.

Here it is with some of those needed items moved from the
slots into the tray area.   It's hard to see but, there is room
for 7 large spools of thread.  I have four large spools in there now.

Sewing a Sewing Organizer

Last week I was in a quilt shop and saw a sweet sample of an organizer tote for all your sewing things.    You would use this if you go to a retreat or a workshop.    I should have taken a picture of the tote because it was just sweet.  I wanted to buy the pattern and go home and make it right away.   But they had sold out the pattern.   I totally understand why because the sample was just so darling.   Anyway, the store took my name and said they expected the pattern the next day and they'd call.   It's been over a week and no call.  

I did some research online and found this similar pattern.  It's not quite the same.  It has an extra zipper, and it's a little bigger, but the concept is the same.   I bought the pattern and downloaded it.  After reading through the pattern requirements, I fished through all my scraps for usable pieces.    I even sacrificed some bits from my A - Z quilt fabrics.   I'm sure there are 10 different fabrics in it.     I started to sew up the prototype and actually it's eye catching with all the color.  I've been picking away at it here and there for a couple of days.    I had some short zippers but I need to buy a 22" zipper.    Its coming out better than I thought.  

I had quickly quilted the outside out of a piece of scrap knowing that it's just a prototype.... but prototype or not, I'm not crazy about this brown/mustard colored fabric.  I'll pick up something with nicer colors today or tomorrow when I get the zipper.   I should have this done in a day or two.   Stay tuned for the reveal.

EdVentures Fredericton - Wallet Workshop

I'm pleased to announce that I have been selected to teach a wallet class during this summer's edVentures learning program.

This 1 day Batik Smart Wallet class is on Friday July 17th, 2015. 

If you have crafty visitors coming to Fredericton this summer, they might really enjoy this workshop.    There is a 15% early bird discount if you register early.   Will you help me spread the word?  

Now, this class will be setup a little different.   Students, as part of their kit fee, will get to choose one of 5 styles of prepared batik kits.    This means that they will just bring their sewing machine to the class, choose their kit and simply start sewing.  Their kit includes quality batik fabric, interfacing, purse hardware, zipper, thread and of course the pattern so they can make another when they go home.   So no homework before the class like my normal local classes have been.

Won't you consider joining us!