Thimbleberries Sew Day

Well, I did do a few more blocks for Thimbleberries Sew Day.  After lunch, I went back upstairs and sewed up 9 more blocks.  I only need fifteen more blocks for this quilt. I pulled out more fabric and will cut that later.  I'm going to make the templates again.  I have a tendency to cut away my templates as I cut fabric....I want them to be as accurate as possible so I decided to cut the big template again.  Of course, I don't have anymore template plastic!  So, I decided I would stop that project for now.  I need to iron the fabric that I picked out too.  I then pulled out a project I've been wanting to do for awhile now.  I ordered the template for this project a few weeks ago and never had time to do anything with it.  So, I thought I would play with it today too. 

First off, here's the Thimbleberries blocks I made today:  15 so far and I only need 30. So, that's a good start on this project, don't you think???

Now, here's the other project I worked on today.  Yes, more trees!  I don't know what it is here lately but I just love making trees.  These are Christmas trees. I ordered the half hexagon ruler from Missouri Star Quilt Company after I saw the Youtube video.  I'll put it down below if I can figure it out.  Anyway, this was quick and fun and I want to make several to give as gifts this year.  I'm through for the day. The Mavs are coming on and I have to go cheer them on...Yeah, Go Mavs!

Here's the video...

Today is Leap Day 2012 and Thimbleberries Sew Day

Happy Leap Day!

Today is Leap Day 2012. What are you doing today and going to remember in the years to come?  I'm going to remember I was home with a horrible head cold!  Real memorable, huh? Oh well, what can I say?  I hope you are having a better day. 

I hate colds...they make you feel so lousy and all I want to do is just lay around and blow my nose. Ugh!   I didn't go to work yesterday and I just laid around most of the day.  I did get up for awhile and updated my other blog, the Sew What's.  Look on the right hand side of the blog and see what my small quilt group is up to...We have some amazing quilters in this group!  Anyway, that's all I did yesterday. No sewing and no tatting. I missed Tatting Tuesday and we were going to decorate shuttles!  Boo hoo, I really wanted to do this but the girls said they would do it again so I'll be doing that shortly.  I am not feeling any better today so I stayed home again.  I didn't want to waste the whole day so I did pull out my Thimbleberries book and look to see what pattern I wanted to do.  I went upstairs and cut out some fabric and sewed 6 blocks together.  I'm taking a lunch break now and going to take more pills...I'm not sure if I'll sew more or just lay down after lunch so this is what I did this morning. 
I pulled out this book that I have had for many years. I have always wanted to make several things out of it and just never have.  I enjoy looking at it but sometimes looking and drooling just isn't enough!  So, I decided today was the day I was going to do one of the patterns I've been wanting to do.  This one is called Paddlewheels and Pinwheels.  I pulled some muted fabrics out of my stash and 6 different background colors and started cutting.  I sewed these together to see how easy it was and if I really liked it.  Well, yes, they are easy and yes, I do like them, so I will continue with this project!  But, for now, I'm going to eat and watch a little TV...Hopefully, I'll show you more later.

These really aren't as ugly as they look.  They are just muted colors and will brighten up when I put other things with them....

Using my Go cutter and finishing a Rainbow Scrap monthly challenge.

I came home Friday and started cutting 5" squares with my new Go 5" die.  I got it last week as I thought it would help get some scraps under control.  Well, I was right.  I got a whole box of scraps cut in less than 2 hours. I've had these scraps for a few years and I've been cutting 5" squares a little at a time.  I finally broke down and bought the die and got the whole thing cut.  My stack of 5" squares ended up being 11" worth of fabric. I can't tell you how many there are but it is alot.  I cut the 6" squares too but didn't have a die for them.  It took about 30 minutes to cut the small stack of 6" squares and less than an hour and a half to cut the big stack of 5" squares.  I know it was definitely a time saver and I just love my Go...

I planned on sewing all night and cutting more but the family decided otherwise.  We went to dinner and it was too late to play when I got back home.   I was going to sew on Saturday and more family things were going on too....I was finally able to sew a little on Saturday night and sewed up this little  tree placemat. It was fun to make and I guess I'm just stuck on trees lately.  I guess I'm ready for spring but these look like Christmas trees to me.  I used green scraps for these and quilted this little mat yesterday and finished binding it tonight.   I'm still doing the Rainbow scrap challenge and this was one of the things I wanted to make for the month.  I am going to make a placemat every month. I'm not sure if I'll do it with a holiday theme, it's just whatever strikes my fancy at the time....Anyway, here's the little placemat all finished...I made this with strings or strips and just drew a tree shape and made the blocks according to the tree size.  Like I said, I'm kinda stuck on trees right now.

I also made two maple leaf blocks yesterday afternoon. These will be given to my small quilt group for our church quilt.  Everyone in my group is making a square or two in autumn colors.  The squares will be put together and a quilt made for the church we meet at.  This is one of the things we do just to say thank you to the church for letting us hold our meetings there.   They sell chances on the quilt to their members and one of the church members wins the quilt.  It's a win, win situation. We enjoy doing it and the church likes it too...

Tomorrow is Tatting Tuesday and we are decorating shuttles.  How fun will that be?!  Til next time, happy sewing! Linda

I've been a very bad girl....

Ok, I couldn't help it...it's not my fault!  My arm was twisted!  Really!  Ok, I broke down and bought all the other dies I wanted. I just had to....I got the 5" square, I'll be cutting out some lovely charm squares this afternoon.  I got the circle die. I had to have that one to make the cute pillows I saw in the blog hop, right?   I went ahead and ordered the 7" Drunkard's Path die, it was on sale and it came with a free magazine.  I'm a sucker for sales and free stuff too. I know I said I would wait to buy this one but I changed my mind.   I ordered the ruler I wanted too a few days ago, it was on sale too.  All the dies I bought were on sale so I saved some money, oh and I bought some glue too.  Glue, you ask???? Yes, it's for a pattern I got from Inch Worm Quilts. Barb from Bejeweled quilts made this little round tablerunner with her Tumbler die. I ordered the pattern and some fabric from JJ at Inch Worm Quilts (Barb's sister) and it came yesterday.  Barb used glue to hold the ruffle together around the tablerunner.  I got home too late last night to play  but I did read through the pattern....Now, I have several things I want to cut out this afternoon so I can start playing.  I'll try to post some pics later tonight or tomorrow of some of the things I cut out or made.  I gotta go now, I 've got some serious cutting to do. Til next time, happy sewing!

I didn't win anything so I had to buy!!!

You know I participated in the Go Ahead and Show Some Love blog hop and my day was Valentine's Day, right?  Well, I really enjoyed the hop and I enjoyed seeing what everybody made and all the tutorials but.....I didn't win anything!  Nothing, nada, zip....so, I had to buy all the goodies and gadgets that I saw that I just couldn't live without! Yeah, that's right, I couldn't stand it, I broke down.  I ordered me two new dies, the 3 1/2" Drunkard's Path die and the 3 1/2" half square triangle die. I was really good because I didn't buy the 7" Drunkard's Path die too. I decided I would try out the smaller one first before I bought both...  I saw two projects I wanted to do with the Drunkard's Path die last week and one project using the triangle die but I'll use this one alot, I know.  I also ordered a pattern and some fabric and a new knitting book.  I'm not through either, there's a new ruler I'm going to get too....I just have to remember the website I saw it on and I'll get that one too.  I have been so good the last six months so I don't feel guilty at all.  Well, not too guilty but I can handle it!  Ok, gotta go find that website, til next time, happy sewing, Linda

Show Some Love Blog Hop Winner!

Hello, everyone, I'm sorry, I forgot to announce my winner yesterday for my tablerunner kit.  I got so busy looking at all the blogs and sewing, I just didn't remember.  I hope you enjoyed the blog hop, I know I did.  I guess I didn't win anything because no one has emailed me, darn!  You know what that means, I have to buy all the items I saw that I lusted after!!!!  Oh my, there will be a dent in the old checking account next week from my quilting purchases.  LOL, I sure enjoyed  the hop and I can't wait to make the projects I saw.  I hope you found some inspiration and learned some things along the way too!  Ok, for my lucky winner, of the kit I created for the tablerunner, Lee Ann L of the blog, Unfocused!  Lee Ann, if you'll send me your snail mail address, I'll stick your kit in the mail to you.  Thank you to all for entering and I hope you come back to see me soon.  til next time, happy sewing!  Linda

Last but not least, the final day for the Show Some Love Blog Hop!

Well, here it is, the last day for this Red/White/Valentine/Accuquilt blog hop!  It's been a great week and I've enjoyed seeing what everyone in the hop had to show!  Great tutorials and giveaways too.  Here's the last three bloggers:

• Stacey (Driving Miss Stacey) ...a great big Lady of the Lake red and white quilt.  It's beautiful! 
• Tracey (The Peony Teacup) ...she's done a sweet little mug rug and tablerunner too. So cute, you'll want to make both of them for your sweetheart! 
• Paulette (Sweet P Quilting and Creations)...a wonderful little quilt Winding Ways quilt. Oh my, another one I've always wanted to make. 

What's a girl to do?  So many lovely things I want to make and not enough time.  What to choose first?!  The good thing about this hop is that I know the Go Cutter will make so much better time of cutting that I can get these projects done alot quicker.  I have entered all the giveaways and I'm hoping to win  but I've put all the dies on my list so I can buy them if I don't win them.  Go check out these lovely bloggers and see what great projects they are showing and be sure and enter their giveaways. 
I have posted the whole week’s agenda just in case you may have missed someone…there’s still time to hop on over. Be sure and enter my giveaway too. I was on Valentine's Day so be sure and comment on that day so you can be eligible for my drawing. Good luck and happy hopping and sewing!

February 13th

• Marjorie (Marjorie Busby, quilter)
• Ariane (Ariane's Crafts)

February 14th

• Connie (Quilting by the River)
• Linda (Living 4 Quilting) (that's me!-go enter my giveaway!)

February 15th

• Lisa Marie (Scraps of Life)
• Marilyn (North Hills Quilters)

February 16th

• Alicia (Heirloom Quilting)
• Marjorie (Marjorie's Busy Corner)

February 17th

• Sharon (Crazee Corners)
• Jacque (Lilypad Quilting)

February 18th

• Stacey (Driving Miss Stacey)
• Tracey (The Peony Teacup)
• Paulette (Sweet P Quilting and Creations)

A Quick and Simple Way to make Half-Square Triangles

Here's a quick tip to make half-square triangles. This was shared by one of the members in my small quilt group. She said she found in on Craftsy.  Great tip.  I've done this before but didn't know how big the half square triangles would be but the mystery is now solved....

A quick and simple way to make half-square triangles

1. Layer 2 squares of fabric right sides together and pin.

2. Sew ¼" seam around the entire square, stopping ¼" from each corner and pivoting with the needle down to sew the adjacent side.

3. Line up a ruler corner to opposite corner and cut the square diagonally. Being careful not to move the square, now cut diagonally in the opposite direction.

4. Open each of the four squares, press seam allowances toward the darker fabric, and trim the dog ears. Edges on these units are on the bias, so be careful not to stretch them as you press and sew.

How big should the squares be? Whatever size FINISHED half square triangle you want, add TWO inches to that measurement. For example, if you want a 2 ½” half square triangle (finished size 2”),you would cut your squares 4”.

2” finished – 2 ½” unfinished = 4” squares

3” finished – 3 ½” unfinished = 5” squares

4” finished –4 ½” unfinished = 6” squares

5” finished – 5 ½” unfinished = 7” squares

Make one set, cut them and measure to be sure your quarter inch seam is correct and they measure exactly what you want.

If you spray starch these or use Best Press by Mary Ellen, there should be no problem with bias edges or cut your squares to begin with on the diagonal. You will have bias edges one way or another, so just be careful and don't stretch.

Some more Show Some Love Blog Hoppers!

February 17th
Today's bloggers are:

Sharon from Craizee Corners and Jacque from Lilypad Quilting. Wow, they both have great tutorials to share with you.   Sharon has a great dresden plate hot pad that is so cute and Jacque has two wonderful projects for you to see.  Oh my, I'm going to have to get busy for sure and make all the great things I've seen this week!  I'm so feeling all the love from this hop!

I just recently found both of these bloggers thanks to this wonderful blog hop and they both have alot to teach and share. I'm so glad I participated in this. It's been fun and I've met just such nice people. I hope I'm not repeating myself but I've just been blown away this week at all the talent.  I'm so loving this red/white/Valentine/Accuquilt hop!  Go check out these two bloggers and get busy sewing! Hugs, Linda

February 16th, here's the bloggers for Thursday...

• Alicia (Heirloom Quilting)...she's working on a beautiful Drunkard's Path quilt...OMG, it's wonderful, go see it!  She's got  some of the blocks done and I just love them.  I'm definitely going to have to get the Drunkard's Path Die.  Go see what she's got going and comment so you'll be in her drawing.

• Marjorie (Marjorie's Busy Corner)  Oh, she has some cute circle projects!  I like both of those too. I have seen so many cute things on this hop.  I'll have to use my next paycheck to buy all the dies I don't have. Oh my! Be sure and comment on hers too, she has a drawing. 

Don't forget to comment on my Valentine's Day drawing two posts back. I have a drawing too. Good luck!

Show Some Love Blog Hop

Ok, don't forget about the Show Some Love Blog Hop....

(If you click on their names, you can go to the post quicker)
Today is Marilyn at North Hills Quilter, she has been making Drunkard's Path quilts and they are all wonderful!!!  I love the drunkard's path block but I have only made one little quilt out of it.  It wasn't using a die and it wasn't the easiest quilt I've ever done either. I want to win the die or buy one (if I don't win)  and try it out to see if it's easier.  Marilyn makes it look so easy.  Go check her out. 

The other blog that's for today is Lisa Marie from Scraps of Life. She made the cutest little heart quilt using her square dies.  I made one a little like this a few weeks ago so you know I like hers!! She also made a cute tablerunner too.  Go show some love to her too. 

This hop has been so much fun for me. I've met some new to me blogs and I've even learned some good stuff about Accuquilt dies.  Of course, it has made me want to buy every die that I don't have already, but  we won't discuss that!  Anyway, go check on these blogs and leave some comments so you will be entered into their wonderful drawings too.  Til next time, happy sewing!  Linda

Oh, don't forget to go to my post from yesterday (Valentine's day) and leave a comment to be in on my drawing too.  Good luck!

Happy Valentine's Day and the Show Some Love Blog Hop

Today is my day of the Show Some Love Blog Hop. I have been working on several things and have been enjoying myself alot with the red and white.  I  haven't made a tutorial for you as these are not my ideas. These are all things I've run across over the internet the last few months that I like and wanted to share. 

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do hearts for Valentine's Day. This first thing I'm going to show you can be customized for any season or holiday.  If you have a special fabric you don't want to cut into or you need a quick and easy gift,  this is perfect for it. I saw this pattern first on Youtube. It was before Christmas, but I had so many other things going at the time that I didn't do anything with it. Like all of you,  I browse blogs, Youtube, websites, Pinterest and Facebook for all things quilting.  I saw this one again on a blog I follow and decided it was perfect for my Valentine project.  Like I said, it can be used for any holiday and any fabric.  I found some cute Valentine fabric and my Go Heart Die and made this cute tablerunner. 

Here's two links that show a tutorial for the little table runner.  Both are easy to follow, one might be better for you than the other but they are both good.  Sew We Quilt website has a step by step tutorial that was really good but  Utah State has this one and it is good too. Youtube also has some tutorials on it but I can't find the link right now.  I made the tabletunner using the basic directions but I added the Die cut Hearts  to it and sewed around them using various stitches on my machine.   Just add some flowers and candy and your table will be ready for your sweethearts to admire!  If you  leave me a comment below, you will be entered into a drawing for a kit to make one like this.  Just sew up, iron on the hearts, stitch around them and add the buttons.  Next year, you will be ready for Valentine's Day too. The drawing will close on Friday, Feb 17th and I will let you know the winner on Saturday morning.

I made two other things for Valentine's Day too. I love Valentine's Day because I like hearts, red fabric, chocolate and  I especially like those little heart candies with sayings on them....Be Mine, I Love You, Sunshine, True Love, Let's Kiss, etc....you remember those, right?    Valentine's Day is a special loving day and I always look forward to it.  Now I have some wallhangings to put up and decorate my house with for this special day.

I went on the Accuquilt website and downloaded this free pattern and made this sweet wallhanging.  You don't have to have an Accuquilt Go Cutter to get their patterns.  You just have to join the website,  but that's free too.  They have so many cute patterns and such great ideas.  Click here and it will take you to the Accuquilt website where you can get the pattern below...This pattern is called Heart of my Heart and I think it is so cute.

This last little wallhanging was inspired from another blog that I follow, A Sentimental Quilter.  I like Civil War fabric and history and I was reading her blog and thinking when can I get to this little quilt?  She has a monthly small quilt challenge and this month was a broken dishes quilt.  I wanted to make it but I was so involved with the red and white, I just didn't see how I could work it in. Then, she showed it in red and white!!!Woo hoo, that was all I needed. I'll make this one again in Civil War fabric but for now, here's my red and white Valentine quilt. 

 I used some of my left over red and white fabrics and one of my left over heart cut-outs to make this little jewel.  Here's a link to Kathleen Tracy's blog.  She is an author,quilt pattern designer and blogger and she has a Yahoo group that follows her too.  I love it when a plan comes together.  I still have some red and white fabric and I still want to make some more little projects and a red and white bag or two but this is all I could manage by my February 14th deadline.  I hope you have gotten a few ideas or at least enjoyed seeing what I have done for this special day.  Please remember to comment so you will be entered for the tablerunner and go over and see what Connie is doing today too.  She was the other person on the blog hop for today.  Here's a link to her blog so you can hop over there easier...have fun and happy hopping and I hope you have a special Valentine's  Day with your sweethearts. til next time....Linda

I've been busy, how about you? The Show Some Love Blog Hop Started Today!

Hello, everyone!  I really wanted to stay home today and stay in and sew but we didn't get bad enough weather so I decided I better get out of bed and get going!  I could have used an extra day to get more things done!  I haven't been blogging because I've been so busy trying to get everything done.  I've been getting ready for tomorrow for the Show some Love Blog Hop!  I have really enjoyed working on all the red and white but haven't gotten everything I wanted to do done so I'll still be working on red and white for awhile.  Please check back with me tomorrow and see what all I have been up to.  During the meantime,
cllick on these and see what they have in store for you today....

Marjorie (Marjorie Busby, quilter)
Ariane (Ariane's Crafts)

 I hope you are getting ready for the sweetest day and have gotten your sweetie or sweeties some Valentine treats!  Please come back tomorrow and see what I have to show!  Have a wonderful Monday, hugs, Linda

Happy Scrappy Saturday

I have been working on green scraps today and I've gotten a few things done with my scraps.  I'm really enjoying the scrappy Saturdays.  I can cut my scraps up and sew them together and watch the grandbaby at the same time.  No pressure. I brought one of my machines down from my sewing room and set it up on the kitchen table.  I'm all spread out there and the family aren't crazy about that but that's ok too....We usually eat in the living room in front of the TV anyway, so I just gave them an excuse to do that without feeling guilty!  So, I made 5 green disappearing 4 patches to go with the 5 red ones I did last week.  I made 20 more little 3 inch 9 Patches and I made more trees.  The 9 patches and the trees are for exchanges I'm in this year and I'll be doing 40 nine patches a month for that.  I'm through with the trees for the exchange, I've made my 20 for that and now I'm just working on my trees. I need 53 trees for a small quilt but I don't know if I want a small quilt. I don't have any small beds so it's really no use to me for this size. So that means, I need alot more trees.  We are only exchanging 20, I don't know why but that's what was decided. That means I have to make 50 + trees myself and I want them all different.  I'll be using up some more of my green scraps for these as I go along.  Here's some  pics of what I did today and I'm still sewing. I have some other red and white things left to do for my Valentine surprise....more to come on that later. 

40 little 3 inch 9 Patches

I'm so enjoying making these trees.  These are easy and fun to make and this quilt is going to be so cute. I'm so glad they talked me into this exchange...

I saw these blocks on another blog last week and I thought they were so cute, I just had to make some.  I'm making 5 of each color. Which means in 12 months, that will be 60 blocks.  These are small blocks- 8 1/2" unfinished. I might have to rethink how many I make of each color...Plenty of time for that, right?

I've had some of this fabric for awhile and I'm glad I'm using it up.  That floral was one of my favorites way back when....

This last picture is my sweet Mother In Law and the grandbaby.  Mom came by today for a visit and had to hold the baby before she went down for a nap.  They both look pretty sleepy here.

Ok, gotta go do some more sewing before everyone comes home.  Have a great weekend and I hope you get some time with your sewing machine, uh, I mean family, maybe a little of both!  Have fun.