Anxiously awaiting ...

Sweet Harmony by Amy Hamberlin of Kati Cupcake has arrived (and has just been waiting for me to pick it up). I can hardly wait to run my hands over these bolts of fabric.  They are lovely. Once again, Amy has done a beautiful job designing this line.

 

 

Watch for custom fat quarter bundles and maybe a kit or two in my etsy shop soon! (I ordered the entire line).



I was able to do some quilting on a couple of Amy's samples, I was so nervous but was pleased with how the quilting turned out!  I loved seeing Amy's designs and it was so hard not to share.  Sew Edgy was one I was able to quilt, one in the aqua color way and the other one in pink.

 

 

Another one I quilted was this darling pattern called Chev-Skis -- a great twist on the Chevron design that is so popular.

 



Pictures taken from katicupcakequiltingco.blogspot.com

What is your favorite??

Evie~

Large Block Quilt

I have wanted to make a large block quilt for forever -- forever finally arrived and I completed one.  I used the pattern from Camille Roskelley's book "Simply Retro" and made this fun and boyish Churn Dash block from her pattern "Baby Love".  It's simple, one large block!  Fast, easy and fun.  Simply put, I don't think you have to spend hours piecing to come up with something cute for a new addition to the family or for a gift.

The skull print completes the back.

I quilted it with a loopy allover quilting -- kind of like a scribble and love it!  The texture is awesome -- it's perfect!!

Fabrics used in this quilt are from the line "Treasure Map" for Riley Blake Designs.  What little boy wouldn't love some little boats and skulls!  Fabric (and kits) are available in my etsy shop.

I have another one in mind to make using some yardage from April Showers using another one of Camille's patterns -- and can hardly wait, but right now I am getting caught up on quilting for customers and sewing!  Enjoy your weekend!

Evie~

Nifty Notions - March

It's mid-month and time to share another Nifty Notion.  This month I am featuring Lori Holt's Half Hexie Rulers.  Have you tried these out?  They are amazing. 

The rulers come in two sizes, the small size can be used with a charm pack or would also work well with a 2 1/2" jelly roll strip.  The second is larger and works with your 10" layer cake squares. 

I used the small ruler with a charm pack and made a couple of throw pillows for my sister for her couch.  I originally made the pillow for a demonstration I did in my shop.  I used Road 15 by Sweetwater for Moda.  My sister saw it and "had to have it" so I made another one and she now has two!  The ruler makes your cutting so easy, and it took me longer to actually arrange the placement of the half hexies than it did to sew them together.  They sew together perfectly, the seams matched, they looked nice, it was easy to press -- and I can't say enough good things about it.  I loved that there were no "Y" seams to try and sew like with the traditional hexie.  You can still achieve that old fashioned pieced look and it's so much easier!!

Here is a photo of the block before it's quilted so you can see what it actually looks like before it was a finished project.  I used a 20" pillow insert and made the top a little larger.  In the photo I placed 7 half hexies horizontally and built my rows so they were 11 half hexies high.

 

I quilted it up, made my back, trimmed the top to fit the back by squaring up the edges -- and had a darling pillow in no time. 

 

This picture did not upload well -- or my eyesight is getting worse!!

 

The web is a wonderful source for ideas and I found a few of these images to share, they are not my original photos or work. 

 

 

This is a good example of the larger half hexie made from Scrumptious by Bonnie and Camille

 

 



This is also a larger half hexie which shows them sewn together into the quilt top

This fabric is Odds and Ends by Cosmo Cricket

Try it out!  Find a charm pack, jelly roll or layer cake -- or if all else fails -- RAID YOUR SCRAP BIN!!! Make a runner, a pillow, or a good old fashioned quilt.  You won't be sorry you purchased this ruler, you can use it over and over again.

Evie~

Double Slice Quilt by Missouri Star Quilt Company

Have you all seen the demonstration for the "Double Slice" by Missouri Star Quilt Company?  Well if you haven't, you should take a look.  Here's the link --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxC-0T5lXw4

I was able to finally finish my project and I love it.  It goes together so well, is a great beginner project, but would work well for anyone wanting to make something quick for a gift or for themselves.  I added a border to mine to make it a little more "lap friendly" meaning I wanted it a little larger to snuggle under.  The quilt measured approximately 55" x 62" before the border.  I used an additional 3/4 yard - 4 1/2" strips, and my completed project is 63" x 70". 

For my project I used the Honky Tonk layer cake -- and I could make a dozen or more because they are so fun and showcase your fabrics so well.

Of course, I was going to do a "step by step" for you, but I am having electronic photo difficulties -- which totally means I don't know what I'm doing and having trouble with photos .... 

So I will share with you what I do have and hope you can get the jist of it ...

Step 1:  Take your layer cake and cut a 3 1/2" strip off of one side of each 10" square.  That will leave you with a 6 1/2" x 10" piece remaining.  Cut all 42 of your layer cake squares in this manner.  Stack the pieces from top to bottom or the way they came in your square.  In the picture below, the 3 1/2" x 10" side is up and the 6 1/2" x 10" side is facing down so the bottom fabric shows in the picture -- it's just flipped over. 

Step 2:  Take a 3 1/2" strip and pair it with a 6 1/2" strip from the opposite side (pairing the rectangle that is right side up with the rectangle that is wrong side up).  You will continue doing this with all rectangles.  If you run into a snag where you have the same colors or your pattern is too busy just switch it out with something more desirable to your taste.  Once the pairs are matched up (believe me it's much funner than matching socks) sew them together.  You will have a block like the one pictured below.  You will want to sew your 84 slices together and you will once again have 42 squares although they won't really be square any longer.

 The next step is to cut the squares measuring across the 10" side in half, leaving you with two 5"slices (photo above0.  You will do the same thing with your piles, flip one side over and the other up and work from opposite ends to sew your blocks back together.  I don't have a photo of this because of my electronic difficulties, but as you can see from the blocks in the photo below you will switch sides, so you have a small rectangle on one end and a long rectangle on the other and the other side of your block is just opposite.  I hope I haven't lost you yet.  Play with your fabrics, look at the photo and you will know just what I mean!!  Once you have sewn your 84 pieces back together into 42 squares, you will lay them out in a manner pleasing to you, do a little arranging and possibly rearranging and then sew them all together in rows and then the rows together.  I did 6 blocks across by 7 down (42 blocks woo hoo!) 

 

 

 Here's a picture of the blocks all sewn together before I added the border.  I didn't have to do very much rearranging to make sure I had a good mix of color spread throughout the quilt.  I love it!

The quilt is a good size right now, but I love how my little border just framed it and added a little more size.  I used 1 7/8 yards of two pieces for my back, but I would really recommend just going with 4 yards.  It will make it easier for you and give your long arm quilter plenty to work with. 

Because I love this project so much and know you will too, I am offering 10% off layer cakes through Friday, March 21, 2014.   That makes them $29.03 -- and that's a steal if you ask me!  So to go my etsy shop and have fun selecting!  All you need to do is pick a designer or something in a style/color you know you like and you will love it -- I PROMISE!!

One of my quilring friends I have a dear friend who asked me if this would work with a charm pack -- I believe it would and I'm going to try it out ... I will let you know if it's a yay or nay in a few days.

Have fun sewing and if you happen to make a Double Slice quilt, please send me a picture I would love to share it!!!

Evie~ 

Mid-week in pictures

The past week has had so much happening.  New fabric arriving daily ... and more to come. (My niece thinks it is very rude that a man comes and knocks on the door and just leaves -- that man being the UPS man delivering all the goodies)!! Here is a peek at what has just come in and it's all available in my Etsy shop!!!  Here's the link -- https://www.etsy.com/people/olieandevie

Vintage Happy Precuts and Coordinating Yardage
Fat Quarter Bundles, 1 1/2" Rolie Polies and
3 1/2" Bitty Stackers

Great Granny Squared Pattern Book by Lori Holt
The precuts in the shop are used in the patterns in Lori's book

Rocket Age fat quarter bundles and coordinating yardage

April Showers jelly rolls have been in stock, but the coordinating yardage and some mini charms
will be arriving any minute!

Ducks in a Row Jelly Roll arrived which means the coordinating yardage is not far behind!
This is another great line by American Jane.

Down to Earth by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass Fabrics.
This line of fabric is beautiful.  I have quilt kits available as well as the whole line of fabric.

I have more quilt kits coming soon -- trying to make shopping experiences easier and there are some great patterns to go with them (a darling cowboy boot kit and pattern will be posted soon, as well as a star kit made from the new line Rocket Age).

 

There is more to come .... new patterns arrive next week and a GIVE AWAY!!!  Yes you heard me right ... stay tuned!

 

.... and I have some serious SEWING to do!!! 

Evie ~

Vintage Happy by Lori Holt

 

"Vintage Happy"

 

Lori Holt's new line "Vintage Happy" is due out in March. 
These cute prints include various florals, stripes, hangers, irons and vintage pattern design.

 

I have it on good authority the Great Granny Quilt pictured below uses all of the fat quarters pictured above.  And guess what???? ... I am going to be carrying the fat quarter bundles in my Etsy shop!!!

 

Great Granny Squared

Lori's book is also due out in March which features additional projects such as a table runner using a 1 1/2" strip Rolie Polie, and pillows using 3 1/2" squares called bitty stackers.  Of course I had to order books and the precuts to carry in the shop as well. 

 

 

 

 

Watch for these items coming to my Etsy shop soon.  If you want to "preorder" any of these items, shoot me an e-mail to let me know.

 

All photos pictured were taken from Lori Holt's blog "Bee In My Bonnet".  You must check it out!

 

 

I "SEW" love this fabric!!!!



 

~Evie