My First Schnibbles

I have had fun enjoying all the beautiful quilts at the Charming Girls Club, but as I tend to focus on making charity quilts, I rarely get time to make anything for myself.  As I've just finished this quilt top, I wanted to share it with you.  It is also my first schnibbles quilt.

The lighting in the room, my camera, and my desire to step back far enough to capture the entire quilt, doesn't allow the beautiful colors to show up in this picture. Thus, I decided to include a picture taken outside, when I started this quilt at the Mogel Mountain Quilt Retreat last month.

The design is from the book "Schnibbles times two", by Carrie Nelson, which I wrote about previously.  It is a fun book, with 12 cute designs that all have well written instructions and great visuals.

This pattern is "Bennington", but I made it slightly longer, as I wanted to use it as a good size lapquilt. 

Now, off to do some fun machine quilting.  I want to finish this quilt and will most likely do a smaller schnibbles next time, possibly a table topper or wallhanging, for my next schnibbles.

Strip Tease the AccuQuilt way!

Do you strip?  Strip quilt that is.  While I love a variety of quilting styles, I must admit I love strip quilting.  Would you believe that I actually joined the strip quilting phase back when we used t-rulers?  Yeap, there was a time when quilters thought a  t-ruler was the best quilting tool ever.  You'd "mark" your fabric with the t-ruler and then cut strips (or pieces) using scissors.  Clearly, this was before the invention of the rotary cutter, mats, and various rulers. And way before anyone ever dreamed of an AccuQuilt.  OMG, I think I've just given away a hint about my age (I'm older than dirt).

While there are many great rulers that help quilters cut strips, and you can buy pre-cut strips of fabric, I have fallen in love with the ease of use, accuracy and speed that I get when I cut strips with an AccuQuilt.  It works great for cutting multiple layers of fabric at the same time, but I also love how I can lay scraps of fabric, of various sizes, and get usable strips.

I'm now a collector of scraps of just about any size.  I group these scraps in themes, or colors, and cut them using the AccuQuilt.  Today, I cut Christmas Fabrics from my stash using  the 2 1/2" strip die.  The 2 1/2" strip die is also the most popular AccuQuilt die too! I can certainly understand why, as there are so many great designs you can make using this die.




















I had won a lovely collection of Fat Quarters from Ebony Love (Love Bug Studios).  Didn't Ebony do a great job folding this fabric into a cute Christmas tree?  Thank you Ebony, as now I'm off to make another charity quilt (with a Christmas theme).

Ebony's fabrics bred with my stash, and I ended up with a wonderful collection of 2.5" strips of various sizes.  I'm now shopping for a focal green fabric to add to these strips, to make this new strip quilt pattern from Cozy Designs.  It is called Diamond Double Cardstock.  I think this pattern would work in a variety of color pallettes.  And, I'm going to make this lovely design with my Christmas fabrics (and a focal green where the bright blue is).

Did you know that AccuQuilt has released three new strip dies (1", 2 1/4" and 4 1/2") this summer.  They have a great collection of strip dies that will cut 1", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/4", 2 1/2", 3", and 4 1/2" strips.  

There are so many amazing designs that you can make using these strip dies and they certainly help to make beautiful quilts fast.  Plus, you can make your own strip bundles and give as gifts.  Yeap, a homemade jelly roll makes a yummy gift.

If you have a favorite strip size (e.g. 2 1/2", 4 1/2", etc.)  and/or a favorite strip quilt pattern or book, I'd love to hear your insights.

Pinwheel Charm

Pinwheel Charm, a new design by Cozy Quilt Designs, was released today at Cozy Quilt Shop's monthly Fat Quarters Anonymous. 

This new pattern design is perfect for fat quarters or charm squares.  The Pinwheel Charm pattern includes detailed instructions and visuals  to make a table runner, lap, large throw, queen or king size quilt! 

Personally, I'm looking forward to making this quilt using some Moda Charm Packs that I have in my stash and have been looking for a great design that would work for Charm Packs.   And Pinwheel Charm is so cute I can't wait to make it! 

I also think this design would look great in just about any color scheme.  And I love it using Christmas fabrics for this table runner.

Cozy Quilt Designs will have a booth at the Road to California Quilt Show (Jan 14-17).  This will be the first time time that Cozy Quilt Designs will have a booth at this show.  SewCalGal hopes you will visit their booth, which will be located in the Ballroom. They'll have their great collection of patterns, books, fabrics and many other items.

But if you are not able to make it to the Road to California Quilt Show, or visit Cozy Quilt Shop, you can also shop online.  I also want to encourage other quilt stores to consider selling Cozy Quilt Designs in their shop, as they are delight designs that are easy to follow and make beautiful quilts!


Cozy Quilt Shop
http://www.cozyquilt.com/

Road to California
http://www.road2ca.com/

Fun Christmas Projects

I'm having fun making Christmas gifts and items to decorate my home for the holidays. It has been fun to work on projects while listening to Christmas music. And we finally have some rain in Southern California, so it now feels like winter has arrived.

Two fun projects that I've been cutting fabric for today are from patterns that I won from a C&T Publishing giveaway, earlier this year.

This cute design by Joni Pike, of Sew Speical Designs, is called Snowflakes (#810).  It also goes well with the Hillcreek Designs hand dyed button package called "Snowflakes".   I just love this cheerful snowmen!

And this "Krismas Kats" design (#795), also by Joni Pike of Sew Special Designs, is absolutely purrfect for Christmas!    And Hillcreek Designs has a delightful packet of buttons called "Krismas Kats" that works beautiful to embellish this quilt, as well as a package of buttons (#795) from Just Another Button Company.  I recommend this design and both packets of buttons to make this quilt spectacular for the holidays!

These designs are well written with easy to fusible designs, that make for a fast quilt project that you can quickly finish in time for Christmas!

SewSpecial Designs http://www.sewspecialdesigns.com/

Hillcreek Designs:  http://www.hillcreekdesigns.com/

Just Another Button Company:  http://www.justanotherbuttoncompany.com/

C&T Publishing: http://www.ctpub.com/
C&T Blog:  http://www.ctpubblog.com/

And, you could even finish these quilt projects in time to enter them in the Virtual Christmas Quilt Show to win prizes.  Winner will be announced on December 25th!

Inspirational Holiday Table Toppers

I love this table topper design that Ann Conn and Monique Noonan created.

I think this table topper design would work well for Christmas, Hanukkah, and various seasonal and color themes.  With Ann & Monique's approval, I hope to someday share insights with you via a tutorial on how to make these delightful table toppers.  But for now I wanted to share these photos with you as I thought they are inspirational.

Monique and Ann are very creative and special friends.   Monique is also the owner of Quilts & Sew Forth, in Mentor, Lake, Ohio, which is a store that I hope you'll be able to pop in, as I do believe you'd enjoy it.  And I hope you get a chance to meet Monique when you visit Quilts & Sew Forth.

Eleanor Burns Signature Pattern: Toss Nine Patch

Eleanor Burns has created many delightful patterns, published many fantastic books, and produced exceptional television programs for for quilters of all levels - from beginners to advanced quilters.  Her Tossed Nine Patch pattern is one of her signature patterns, that features what she calls a "magic vine 5" square".  I have to admit I do think it is magical, as versions of this pattern have been showing up for years.  But this pattern is an original Eleanor Burns design.

With all Eleanor Burns Signature Patterns, you get a pattern that is well written with great instructions.  My first impression on reviewing this delightful pattern was wondering "when have I ever seen a 16 page booklet" with such well written instructions and visuals.  This is truly a delightful pattern that is perfect for beginner quilters, as well as those quilters that have years of experience.    This pattern would also make a wonderful gift for a quilter, or want-to-be quilter. 

This pattern includes instructions to make this design, with fabric requirements, for a wallhanging, lap, twin, queen, or king size quilt.  It also provides insights for fabric selections. 

While many quilt stores may offer this pattern in their selection, you can also purchase a copy online from Quilt In A Day:  http://www.quiltinaday.com/

I'm sure you'll enjoy this pattern, by Eleanor Burns.  I've certainly enjoyed using this pattern to make fun scrap quilts, charity quilts, and quick quilts for gifts and/or fundraisers.  It is easy & fun.  And every quilt looks different.

I'm a big fan of Eleanor Burns, and this design is one that I highly recommend every quilter make one (or more).  Sew much fun! 

Land of Liberty

I love this beautiful "Land of Liberty" quilt made by Trisha Chubbs. She did an excellent job selecting fabrics and making this cute wall hanging.




















This design is from Debbie Mumm and free pattern instructions are available by clicking here.


Yes, freedom rings in the Land of Liberty. And Trisha's beautiful quilt shows it proudly. Thank you Trisha for letting me share your beautiful "Land of Liberty" quilt with others.

Trisha also maintains a delightful blog that you may want to check out: http://www.tlcstitches.blogspot.com/ I definitely enjoy reading her blog. She is very talented and shares many delightful insights on her blogsite too!

Tracey M. Brookshier - Brookshire Design Studio

Tracey M. Brookshier is a quilt artist, pattern designer, teacher, lecturer and quilt judge. While you may be familiar with her patterns, she is also well known for organizing international quilt challenges.





Her Bento Box design is one that I’ve loved to use when making charity quilts and/or wanting to use up some of my fabric scraps. As Tracey has come up with an updated and expanded version of her original pattern, I wanted to understand how the two patterns might differ.























I’ve concluded that both patterns are lovely and compliment each other. The new pattern provides 12 new quilt top designs, cutting instructions for 3”, 4.5”, 6” and 9” blocks in addition to the original 7.5” blocks, and hints on how to choose the most effective fabrics for your quilt. I also like all the ideas in the new pattern for different ways to layout your blocks, creating variations to the original Bento Box, while retaining the original simplicity to create a quilt that I fell in love with when making the original Bento Box design.

All of Tracey’s patterns are delightful and I know she provides excellent instructions and diagrams with her patterns. If you haven’t yet tried any of Tracey’s patterns, I’d highly recommend you give them a try. I bet you’ll be hooked like me. I am now trying to select which of her lovely patterns I’ll make next.

Possibly I’ll make her “BB Bag” design is so cute. It also looks like a great project for those that like to machine embroider or embellish. I can just imagine how nice a monogram, cute embroidery design, or embellishment would look on the front of this charming bag.




















But her “Butterfly Town” quilt pattern would be also be great fun to make. It is such a cheerful quilt. And, while I do love butterflies I think this quilt would make a wonderful charity quilt (e.g. can’t you imagine a little kid snuggled in this quilt)!




















On the other hand, I do need to start making things for Christmas gifts. Her “Christmas Stockings” looks like a fun design that I’m sure many would love to receive at Christmas. It is also another great design for those that like to do machine embroidery and/or embellish.




















And then, there is her “Napa Forest” patterns suggests to me that I sit back and enjoy a nice glass of wine, while I’m trying to decide which one of Tracey’s lovely patterns I want to make next. There are so many to select from. But wouldn’t this Napa Forest quilt be great when you have people over for a glass of wine?





















Or what about the other wonderful patterns she has created. Hymm…..which of Tracey’s patterns should I try next? So many wonderful patterns to choose from. Which one do you want to try?

You may want to join me with a glass of wine and determine which of Tracey’s designs you’d like to make next, or if you want to attend one of her workshops, or if you want to have her come to your guild to lecture and/or teach, be a judge at a quilt show, or………? She is a lady of many talents, so there are certainly a lot of wonderful options.

You can contact Tracey directly via email at: mailto:tracey@traceybrookshier.com
Her website also provides insight on all her designs, as well as her schedule.

http://www.traceybrookshier.com/

Lisa Moore - Coming to Rosie's Calico Cupboard

Lisa Moore, is a wonderful quilt artist, from SE Alaska. She is coming to Southern California soon, and we'll be teaching a class at Rosie's Calico Cupboard.

The class is an easy curve technique using half square triangles and one seam flying geese. She has named the design, which will be taught in this class, Alaska Toss - Creative Curves. It wll be offered on Thursday, April 16th from 10am-4pm. This class is only $35.

If you are interested in taking the class, you can contact Rosie's Calico Cupboard directly. Phone: 619-697-5758 7151 EI Cajon Blvd. Suite F, San Diego, CA 92115 http://www.rosiescalicocupboard.com/

And, even if you are not able to attend this class, you may want to pop into Rosie's between now and April 16th. There is currently a trunkshow of many of Lisa's quilts, on display at Rosie's.

For more info on Lisa Moore, check out her website: http://www.quiltswithatwist.com/