Wednesday, January 27, 2016

American Made Brand Solids and my new Bargello Quilt!!!

I've developed an obsession for solids.  During my Bag It series last fall, I pulled a bunch of deep rich solids from my stash of American Made Brand Solids and made multiple bags.

zip bags american made brand solids

The richness of these colors made these projects a pleasure to work on and I ended up keeping these for myself!

I love the feel of the fabric - the hand.   There are 75 yummy colors to chose from and the fabric is completely made in the USA - from the cotton to finish product.

I've been wanting to make an all solid quilt so I had fun in my quilting space last week.  Look what I made!

bargello quilt

I had so much fun designing and making this bargello quilt.  First, I gathered eleven of the rich jewel tone colors from my stash.


Then I cut, sewed, cut, seam ripped and sewed again!

bargello quilt

Ever make a bargello quilt before?  Very fun and easy.

Interested in a QAL?  I'm planning on hosting one in March with a pattern for two sizes.  One will finish at 36'' square like my beauty.  The other will be 18" square.

Any fabric works although I'm sure you'll agree that using these gorgeous solids from AMB make a great quilt.

Interested in a QAL - let me know in the comments!

bargello quilt

I am proud that American Made Brand solids by Clothworks are a sponsor for my blog!


I'll be linking up here  Blossom Heart Quilts,  Sew Fresh Quilts and Freemotion by the River.


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, January 25, 2016

Word 16 - Dream



dream quilt

In December I asked family to choose their word for 2016 and I made them a mini quilt to help them keep that word in focus all throughout the year.

One of my sisters picked dream.


"I chose my word DREAM to keep reminding myself that my chance to pursue my dream isn't over even though I am getting older.  Lots of my time is spent on the kids and the college hunt, and the word dream will keep me focused on the one dream I don't want to let go of.  2016 will be the year."


Make and share your word for 2016.  You can find more information here.

Join the linky party here.

Much thanks to our sponsors  Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts .  (The linky closes on Jan 30th.)

    

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Friday, January 22, 2016

What do the words Home, Finish and Grow have in common?

I've been enjoying seeing the finished Word 16 quilts pop into the linky as well as Instagram and Facebook.   It is important once you do share to also enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here.  This way you can be sure your entry will be counted.  Entering the mini also opens up a few other entries by visiting our two great sponsors.

Lisa first shared this darling word quilt via the Elm Street Quilts facebook page!  Home is such a good word - a great focus for the year.


And for my blog title - Home, Finish and Grow are all entries in the Word 16 linky party.  Go check them out!

One week to finish your mini quilt and join the linky party as part of Word 16 for a chance to win one of two great prizes from our sponsors Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts .  (The linky closes on Jan 30th.)

    

Many options for sharing - Instagram, Facebook, blog or via email.  All the details are here.

Lots of options for creating your mini - I shared a tutorial for one option here.  You can see the great variety from the entries below!

Your turn now - share and then go visit others.  The linky will be open for the month of January.  During the month, I'll also share word quilts I made for family members as well as highlights from participants.

After you share, officially enter the giveaway here.




My word for 2016 was Discover.  2016 - I'm ready for you.  A year of Discovery!



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Sewing with Scraps - Tablerunner

In a burst of energy in late December, I tackled a major clean up of my creative space.  I'd donated or tossed a bunch of things included scraps I was certain I would never use.  (That said, I imagine I did actually toss something useful but what is gone is gone!)

When I did find some reasonably sized scraps, I made a plan for what to actually make with them.  This tablerunner was the first quilting with scraps finish.

table runner tutorial

The fabric is from a quilt I made several years ago, a Christmas line from Kate Spain.  I just love the snowflakes on each of these prints and thought they would make a perfect table runner to take one into January.

table runner tutorial

The pattern is available here in Craftsy. 

table runner tutorial

 It would be fantastic in all kinds of colorways, including scrappy!

table runner tutorial

 I did an organic wavy line for the quilting and was very pleased with the finish.  I gifted this to my mom for Christmas and she loved it!

I hope to post monthly on a project made with scraps - hoping to inspire as well as clean up my space in a useful way!

And before you go, I've a couple of other things underway on the blog.   Elm Street Quilts Word 16 runs through the end of January.  Still plenty of time to make your mini and link up here.

Great prizes from terrific sponsors!



Hugs kicks off on February 1.

I believe giving a handmade item is like boxing up a hug that can be unwrapped over and over again.   Please join me turn the month of February into a month of handmade hugs.   You can read more about it here.    Please help me spread the word on hugs - grab the button from the sidebar!!



Finally, I love linky parties and will be joining these fun parties at  Blossom Heart Quilts,  Sew Fresh Quilts and Freemotion by the River.




Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, January 18, 2016

Word 16 - Simplify

simply quilt

In December I asked family to choose their word for 2016 and I made them a mini quilt to help them keep that word in focus all throughout the year.

One family member picked Simplify.


"I choose SIMPLIFY because I'm overwhelmed with material things.  I've collected items to be gifted to grandchildren who have now outgrown them.  I've gifts from my daughters that bring me many good memories of the time they were gifted to me.

I am going to take photos of special items and then donate these things I don't need.  They will give new memories to the new owners."


Make and share your word for 2016.  You can find more information here.   Join the linky party here!

Have you chosen your word?

Much thanks to our sponsors Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts .  (The linky closes on Jan 30th.)

    

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Friday, January 15, 2016

Fortune Cookie Inspiration


Last week, I drove with my son from NC to Texas so he could take the minivan to graduate school.  I didn't want him to drive the 1,200 milies alone but it was actually more about getting uninterrupted 1 on 1 time with him!.

Once we arrived, we went out for dinner.  What a great fortune cookie I got!

Be brave enough to live creatively.

I've taped the fortune to the bottom of my computer monitor, right next to my min quilt with my word for the year, Discover.

About two weeks left to finish your mini quilt and join the linky party as part of Word 16 for a chance to win one of two great prizes from our sponsorsChalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts .

    



Many options for sharing - Instagram, Facebook, blog or via email.  All the details are here.

Diane shared her entry via email. (I'm having trouble getting the photo to upload to the blog.)  She choose the word Saguaro and said :

Saguaro's are slow growing , like my quilting skills, but sturdy, strong and can live into their 100's.  It reminds me to stay strong, grow and reach my age goal of 101. Lots of long lived women in my family, all sewists and quilters.

Your turn now - share and then go visit others.  The linky will be open for the month of January.  During the month, I'll also share word quilts I made for family members as well as highlights from participants.

After you share, officially enter the giveaway here.




2016 - I'm ready for you.  A year of Discovery!





Have a wonderful day! Patty

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Hugs

Just about a month to Valentine's Day.  February 14 - a day devoted to showing your loved ones just how much they mean to you with gifts of flowers, candy and other small items.

Elm Street Quilts would like to celebrate giving handmade in the entire month of February with Hugs. 

Hugs is about giving handmade to those in need - a way to tell them that someone cares.  Give a handmade hug to an ill friend or family member. Give a handmade hug to a charity that collects handmade for those in need.


Throughout the month of February, Elm Street Quilts will feature posts on organizations that accept handmade items and share tutorials and photos of the items I'll be making to donate.

Is there an organization you'd like me to feature?   Comment below or drop me an email at elmstreetquilts at gmail dot com.

My goal is to get lots and lots of participation - blanket the world with hugs in the month of February.

Will you help me spread the word?   Grab the button below and use #handmadehug or #ESQhugs as our social tags.

Besides tutorials, there will be a linky party so you can share what you made and donated - works in progress or recently donated are all good.


Grab the button and join me in Hugs!
Elm Street Quilts

Monday, January 11, 2016

Word16 - Courage


courage quilt

In December I asked family to choose their word for 2016 and I made them a mini quilt to help them keep that word in focus all throughout the year.

One sister picked Courage.


"I choose COURAGE because I think if I keep that powerful word in mind, it will help me take risks this year. 

Taking on more of a leadership role in my coaching of colleagues by running more workshops will help me professionally. 

Also, courage to make take risks outside of work- traveling and  pushing myself to become more adventurous in activities."


Make and share your word for 2016 and join the linky party here..  You can find more information here.

Much thanks to our sponsors Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts .  (The linky closes on Jan 30th.)

    

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Friday, January 8, 2016

Have you chosen your word for 2016?


My word for 2016 is Discover.  I blogged about it here.

Rita chose Imagine as her word and sent me this photo of her quilt via email.  She choose this word - 'to imagine good things for the year'.

Suzy choose Future,  Heidi choose Soar and Val choose  Fabulous.   (You can go visit them by clicking the links with their word or through the linky below.)



Are those all good words - Discover, Imagine, Future, Soar & Fabulous?

Look what they sound like all together -

DISCOVER and IMAGINE a FUTURE that is FABULOUS and SOAR!!!   (smile)

Your turn to choose a word (or small phrase) and then make your own mini and share it.
  • Choose one word (or a small phrase) that will become your focal point for the year.
  • Make a mini quilt - as simple or as fancy as you want - so that you can place that mini quilt somewhere for daily inspiration. (And to keep it simple - as long as there is a word on fabric it counts.  You don't have to stitch the word on - you can write it on.  You don't have to quilt your finish - maybe it is a small embroidery project.)
  • Share your mini and a few words on why you choose the word and join the linky party.  Then officially enter the giveaway here.
Many options for sharing - Instagram, Facebook, blog or via email.  All the details are here.

Terrific sponsorship from Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts with prizes to be awarded (randomly) to participants!

    


Your turn now - share and then go visit others.  The linky will be open for the month of January.  During the month, I'll also share word quilts I made for family members as well as highlights from participants.

After you share, officially enter the giveaway here.




2016 - I'm ready for you.  A year of Discovery!



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, January 4, 2016

Word16 - Gratitude


In December I asked family to choose their word for 2016 and I made them a mini quilt to help them keep that word in focus all throughout the year.

One of my sisters picked gratitude.


"I chose my word GRATITUDE for a few reasons.  In the past year, I lost a close friend to cancer and my husband lost his job.  This has helped me appreciate very much what I have and  I want to be reminded to not take it for granted.  

I also know that if you are grateful, you give out positive energy.  Positive energy attracts more wonderful things to you.  "


Make and share your word for 2016.  You can find more information here.   The linky party is open - check it out!

You can create your Word16 mini in any way that gets the word on fabric.   Here is a tutorial on how making a mini similar to what I made.

Write the word on lined paper - or print it out using a font that is pleasing.   Trace the word onto fabric.  I use a water soluble pen.


My neutral fabric was cut at 5 x 7''.    The side borders were cut at 2 1/4 '' x 5''.  The top and bottom borders were cut at 2 1/4 x 10 1/2''.


Sew the side borders.  Press towards borders.


Sew top and bottom border.  Press towards border.

Iron fusible fleece to the back.  I do this for two reasons.  First, if you are stitching without a hoop, it gives the fabric more body and makes it easier to stitch.


Second, it hides the thread tails!


When stitching is complete, make a quilt sandwich using another layer of batting.  Quilt as desired.



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Disappearing 9 Patch Tutorial

I picked the word Discover for 2016 (you can read about it here.)  (Follow the link or keep reading to learn more about my series Word16 sponsored by two terrific companies.)

One of the surprises I discovered in a recent (almost done) major tidy up session of my quilting space was a bunch of 5'' squares which I had cut down from a set of fat quarters with the intention of making a baby quilt.

With the intent to donate the finished quilt, I wanted a pattern that would look good and also go together quickly.  I also discovered some perfect backing fabric so I'm motivated to get this done!

One block I've used before for table runners is a disappearing 9 patch!

This works with any size square.  This disappearing 9 patch tutorial starts with squares that are 5''.

Let's get started.

Make a 9 patch.  It doesn't matter that you had two of the same square as long as they aren't touching.


Press and the cut it half from top to bottom and then from side to side.

disappearing 9 patch tutorial

Starting with the 5'' block means each of these is now 7'' and will finish 6 1/2'' in your final quilt.

You've got a variety of options.  you could just spin these around and resew them together.

disappearing 9 patch tutorial

Or you could go make more 9 patches and then randomly sew them together like this.


This block of four now forms a block that is 13 1/2 x 13 1/2''.

Sew four blocks of four together and it looks like this!  See how you've completely lost that this was every a 9 patch?  That is the disappearing part!  (smile)

disappearing 9 patch tutorial

A good size for a baby play quilt is something that is at least 40 '' square so I'm off to the machine to keep sewing some more!

A charm pack would be excellent to use for a disappearing 9 patch.  You'd get lots of variety and 36 charms would yield you a quilt that is 39'' square!

I hope you found this tip on Disappearing 9 patch helpful.  I'll be linking up here at Sew Simple Saturdays.  I love the idea of sharing quilting tips each month.  Here are the list of tips I shared previously:


And don't forget to make and share your word for 2016 in Elm Street Quilts Word16!

I'm very excited about it.   Do you have a word - or a phrase - that will define 2016 for you?
Join me in putting that word onto fabric - anyway you want! - and then share it and join my linky party!

There is terrific sponsorship from Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts with prizes to be awarded (randomly) to participants!


   

Come join the party!!


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Friday, January 1, 2016

Happy 2016! Word16 begins!

Welcome to 2016!

I wish you a year of health and happiness filled with family, friends and fabric!


Word16 officially begins now!

Want to join in?

  • Choose one word (or a small phrase) that will become your focal point for the year.
  • Make a mini quilt - as simple or as fancy as you want - so that you can place that mini quilt somewhere for daily inspiration. (And to keep it simple - as long as there is a word on fabric it counts.  You don't have to stitch the word on - you can write it on.  You don't have to quilt your finish - maybe it is a small embroidery project.)
  • Share your mini and a few words on why you choose the word and join the linky party.  Then officially enter the giveaway here.
Many options for sharing - Instagram, Facebook, blog or via email.  All the details are here.

Terrific sponsorship from Chalk Lots and Green Fairy Quilts with prizes to be awarded (randomly) to participants!

    

Now before you link up, let me tell you about my word for 2016 - Discover.

In August of last year, I retired from my corporate job after well over 30 years.  I wanted more time for family before my youngest headed off to college.  I wanted more time for me.  I wanted more time to write.

So why discover?

I want to -

  • Discover a balance for my day of friends, family, exercise and my writing
  • Discover whether I have what it takes to become a published author
  • Discover how to grow the community around my blog

Your turn now - share and then go visit others.  The linky will be open for the month of January.  During the month, I'll also share word quilts I made for family members as well as highlights from participants.

After you share, officially enter the giveaway here.




2016 - I'm ready for you.  A year of Discovery!

Happy New Year!!


Have a wonderful day! Patty