Cute Fabric, Cute Sami, and Happy Mother’s Day

Look at this beyond cute fabric I found yesterday at Joann’s! Of course I had to get a ‘little’ of it as it had pictures of dogs like my Sami, and in sunglasses. As this is the only way I will ever see sunglasses anywhere near her cute little face I just could not let it get away.  This flannel fabric was only $6.99 a yard AND I had a 50% off coupon so it was meant to come home with me.

I’m not so sure she is as excited as I am with it, but she will learn to love it when it is made into a quilt…..maybe. 🙂

Happy Mother’s Day.

 

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Trying Out Pin Cushions

Don’t you just love cute pin cushions? During my recent browse around Pinterest several caught my eye, and of course these 10 minute crafts turned into a several day project, but they are so cute! The fruit pie cushion is a free tutorial from one of my favorite quilter/designers, Lori Holt at Bee In My Bonnet. The fabric I used was a charm pack called Farmer’s Market from RJR Fabrics. The little cobalt blue flower pots are ones that I’ve had for many years and decided to make them earn their keep and hold my pins. 🙂

I used the crushed walnut shells, called lizard litter at the pet stores, to stuff the cushions and to give them a little weight. A little advise: fill the cushions over a container up high in case your dog (Sami) decides to ‘help’. This stuff goes everywhere if you spill it and your dog tries to play in it while you are trying to clean it up.

These little cushions were made from orphan blocks left over from other projects. They are very handy to have at different locations around my sweat shop. Now I have one at each machine, cutting table, and the ironing board, but I will never be organized.

I am guessing you all have several pin cushions you have made, in addition to our old standby ‘the tomato pin cushion’, and probably some that have been handed down from relatives and loved ones. I remember my aunt kept a hanky pinned to the front of her blouse had pins pinned to the hanky when she was sewing.

 

 

 

Bordered Star Table Topper

This project has been in my mind for a long time and I finally got the last border sewed last night. It was a simple project using half square triangles for the star and 2″ strips for each of the borders. Before quilting it is 41″ square that will be a perfect size for my little round dinette table. I will use the same blue as the last border for the binding. The quilting will be completed when Miss Daisy comes home from the Long Arm Hospital.

The best thing about this project: All the fabrics came from my stash! This does not happen often and when it does I like to let everyone know. 🙂

The inspiration for this project came from a screen shot I saved from 2012 in my ‘wish file’. All the information I have about it is Lemoyne Star Medallion Quilt by PetitQuilts. I want to give credit to PetitQuilts for designing this lovely piece.

 

 

Cute Little Fabric Baskets

 

I’m sure most of you have made these little baskets at one time or another. I believe I made the red one back in the 1980s and I know I sold a bunch of them at craft sales  I attended at our local city’s arts and crafts festivals in the 1990s. I honestly do not know when I found the time to do those things back then as I was working full time, taking up to 17 credit hours per semester at college, and hitting every craft festival I could for the extra money. Thank goodness I was younger then.

I think I got the idea for these little baskets from Crafts magazine. Back then we didn’t have Pinterest, Facebook, or blogs to share all the wonderful ideas we do now.

I found the red basket full of sewing machine attachments and decided I would make a few. I cut two pieces of coordinating pieces of fabric at 8 1/2″ sq. and a piece of light weight batting at 8 1/4″ sq. (I used Hobbs 80/20). The handle cut from the same fabrics at 2 1/2″  x 8 1/2″. The sewing is pretty self explanatory by looking at it, but if you have any questions, please just ask and I’ll help. (Sew wrong sides together with batting and handle placed and leave opening for turning. No batting in the handle.) I used (4) 1/4″ ribbons cut at 16″ long leaving a 4″ tail hanging over on each side, and I sewed them 2″ in from each side. Be careful to sew under the handle and not over it.

I hope this makes sense. Not really meant to be a beginners tutorial, but I will be glad to walk anyone through the steps if help is needed. I am so bad at giving directions without waving my hands. LOL

You could make these little cuties any size by adjusting your measurements. I love that they lay flat when you are not using just by untying the corners.

Would love to see yours if you decide to make any.

Another thought I would like to share: If you want a laugh for the day, go to You Tube and do a search for Jeanne Robertson. She is a Southern motivational speaker and her motto is to handle stressful situations with humor instead of anger. I think you will enjoy it.