Spinning a Web and a Variation on the Snowball.....

I've been working on my spiderweb quilt blocks....

I have finished enough to get an idea of the finished product....

I have a long way to go, but I do really like it....

Today I spent some time working on a block that is very similar to the Flowering Snowball....this one is called Papa's Delight {don't ask me why}.

It has a similar center and flower pattern, but also has triangles connected to the cross pieces that create an hour glass....I think the cross sections are heavier in this block.  But I was happy with the look so decided to continue on....

    

This is definitely a fun block...I love this farm yard fabric and works so well with gingham and polka dots.  You still get the circular feel from this one, but the added triangles in the middle are kind of fun too!

We are getting lots of rain here tonight...we need it. 

Hope all is well with you....

Have a great weekend!

mary



Summer Flair....

Here is a sweet and simple idea for your next picnic or as a hostess gift. 

Simply take an old tablecloth...one that has served it's purpose and is no longer in use....cut a section - tea towel size.  Hem all sides...

Add a hexie flower....machine top stitch all around...

Add some ric-rac and perle cotton stitching...

How fantastic is that!

mary

 

Busy Stuff.....

I have been so busy the last week....finishing up samples for classes....working on my hexagon....thinking about shapes and quilts....digging into my roots.....whew!

 

One of the classes I will be teaching this fall is a freezer paper piecing class....it will be a very easy introductory class....

this little carrot placemat should be an fun way to get your feet wet with paper piecing... 

  

Then over the weekend I spent Sunday visiting my mom.  Molly and Kyle {Molly's guy} went with me and we took grandma to the local museum....out to dinner....and we visited a couple of cemeteries.  It is good for Molly to remember her heritage...

yep...she takes it very seriously :)

Yesterday and today I have been planning a quilt I have been wanting to do for some time...

a spiderweb quilt.  I have seen many fantastic examples on Flickr and there are a couple spiderweb quilts in MO 2.  But some time ago I had ordered the kite ruler from Marti Michell...

    

So I think I will end up with a 17" block....

Sure doesn't look like much now, but I think it will be a sweet...quick quilt.  My plan is to use some of the Flower Sugar fabrics in the kite sections of the block...

Hope you are having a productive Tuesday! 

mary ;)

Critter Community Complete....Friday Finish!

This project started with a selection of fabulous fabrics designed by our own {Ohio} fabric designer....Suzy Ultman.  Our little shoppe {Sew To Speak} was fortunate enough to receive a preview bundle of fabric... and then I was fortunate enough to be allowed to take a bit to weave into a project!  So, at the risk of being labeled a One Trick Pony....I made a quilt!

I have blogged about this quilt for the past week or so...my inspiration was an antique quilt - a log cabin on point - made in the 1890's!  Although, I am sure the quilter of the 1890's would be totally perplexed by the term wonky or liberated to describe to her quilt, but that is exactly what she accomplished!!! 

  

Suzy's fabric is so bright and cheerful, I had to pull out my bright spots and ginghams! 

By placing the block on point, I ended up with a pieced square in between the blocks where the four points meet....I love this little square!

For the back I stitched a few cast off corners together and squared them up....just enough to give it a little pop on the back!

It is pick stitched with perle cotton....

And for the binding I used a Riley Blake stripe with dashed lines...love those dashed lines!

This is a small quilt...just about 45" X 45"...perfect size for a wee one!!!

I love it!  But it began with a fantastic inspiration fabric....thanks Suzy Ultman!  We adore you!!!

For today the plan is to do a little hand piecing on my hexagons....

    

And try to stay cool!!!

TGIF!!!

mary

Corner Triangles and Setting Triangles....

My Log Cabin On Point - Critter Community Quilt is pieced and I am hand quilting....but I thought {in case you want to make a log cabin on point of your own} I should post the formula for figuring up those pesky corner triangles and setting triangles....

For the Corner Triangles...I needed to cut a square in half once on the diagonal.  This way my stretchy bias would be on the long edge which was sewn to the 4 corners of my quilt...

to figure out what size you should make the parent square {which will be cut once on the diagonal} follow this formula:

  

1. Take your finished block size X 1.41

2. Divide that answer by 2....and ADD 0.875".....then round up to the nearest 1/8th. inch to find the parent block size

3.  Take the parent square and cut it in half once diagonally to yield two corner triangles.  You will need two parent squares cut once on the diagonal to yield four corner triangles.

I had a 10" finished block size.....so my parent square was 8"

   

Now, along the sides I needed to add Setting Triangles.  For Setting Triangles I needed to take a square and cut it twice diagonally.  This gave me four triangles with the straight of grain along the long edge {which would be my outside edge}. 

To figure the size for the parent square in the Setting Triangles....follow this formula:

1. Take the finished block size X 1.41 and round this answer up to the nearest 1/8"

2. To the  answer in step 1....ADD  1.25 inches....this is the size of your parent square for Setting Triangles

3. Cut a square this size and then cut the square in half twice diagonally.

So for my 10" finished block size....I needed a parent square for my Setting Triangles that was 15 3/8 inches.

Hope this helps if you decide to do a quilt on point!

For today...I am going to try to finish quilting this baby and maybe **fingers crossed** get it bound!

Here is a little peek at the back....I am lovin' the back!!!

Have a great Wednesday!

mary 

Tiny Cottage Pincushion Tutorial.....

Here is an easy little pincushion for you or for a friend....

I have made several little cottage cushions....some with embroidered flowers and some using felt as flowers....any way you decorate your cottage - it always looks sweet :)

First print out this pattern...I have given measurements so you can check and adjust your printer appropriately....

I cut a strip of fabric for the roof about 4" X 11" and a strip of fabric for the body of the house 4.5" X 11" 

Sew the two strips together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance....

Then fold this sewn piece in half width-wise {roof on top and body on bottom}.  Place your pattern on the fabric so the drawn seam line hits the sewn seam line on your fabric piece.....trace around the pattern with a pencil....

The drawn line will be your sewing line....NOT THE CUTTING LINE....reduce your stitch length and stitch on the drawn line leaving the entire bottom open for now. 

Trim around the stitched line leaving about 1/4 inch beyond the stitched line....

and turn the cottage inside out....

The bottom is open so I had easy access to add a door, windows and flowers - placing them where I wanted....it is your happy house!!!

If you notice on the pattern I have a dotted line just below the door running across the width of the house....be aware of this line while adding your embellishments...this line will be the bottom of the pincushion.

Once you have finished the embroidery and decorating :)  you will need to add gussets to add depth to your pincushion - this will allow it to stand....

Turn the pincushion inside out again so the wrong side is on the outside....with your sewing machine stitches still reduced, stitch from the opening space to the side you previously stitched and then stitch the other side of the opening space to the side of the house where you previously stitched....now you should just have the opening space open....Are You Still With Me?

   

To make the gusset, measure up from the bottom 1 1/2 inches....mark on both sides....meet the side seam and the bottom seam... this will create a triangle at the bottom....extend the 1 1/2 inch line across this triangle....and stitch on this line.  Do the same on the other side of the pincushion....

Once you have stitched across to create the gusset....trim the excess.... and now the bottom should look like this...

  

Then gently turn the cottage right side out and stuff firm....slip stitch the opening closed....and there you have it!  A cute little pincushion cottage!!!

***note*** if you would rather....you may add a quarter inch seam allowance to the pattern and follow your quarter inch foot for your seam.  This way you could add doors and windows before you have stitched.  For me it is easier to get a nice curve when I have a line to stitch on rather than a seam allowance.  Either way should work out fine :)

And here is a happy cottage using felt for the flowers!!!

Have fun....

mary:) 

Serving Strawberries.....

I have several technique classes planned for our Fall selection of classes at Sew To Speak.  This warm summer morning I was inspired by the thought of strawberries....

I will be teaching a freezer paper piecing class...this little pincushion {5.5 X 3.5} is paper pieced.

I used Essex linen and added a few little french knots on the stem to give texture and a little piping around...

But I didn't want to stop at just strawberries....so I fixed some carrots too....

How about a carrot placemat?

YUM!!!

Happy Sunday!

mary :)

SHAZAM!!!

As I work on my Critter Community / Log Cabin On Point Quilt.....I have accumulated quite a stack of corners!  The extra parts of the block once I have trimmed....

So to be resourceful and not wasteful...I took a couple of corners....

Stitched them together on the long edge....squared it up....and SHAZAM!  A new block...using my cast-offs!

I am just imagining the possibilities....framing these blocks with a solid kona....or sashing them all in white....a mass of colorful blocks swimming in a sea of white!  How pretty and fresh!

Yesterday I need a little retail therapy so I hopped on over to my favorite little shoppe....and bagged my kill  made my purchase!!!

YAY!  A bunch of Happy Mochi Yum Yum!!!  This bright bunch of fun is perfect for my next project.....thank you Monica for designing such a great fabric line!!!

Then I set my sights on some Flower Sugar.....again perfect for my next project!

This fabric is just so sweet!

Happy Friday!!!

mary

A Tutorial for Critters In the Cabin.....

I have a little tutorial for my on point log cabin block on the Sew to Speak blog....

hop over if you like :)

Doctors appointment again today....and then, hopefully, a restful afternoon of sewing!

Hope you are sewing today....I would love to know what has been keeping you busy!

mary :)