Dresden Plate Giveaway Winner

First off I would like to thank the people that entered my giveaway. I really appreciate it. Evidently it wasn't that great of a prize but I don't care - I like the Dresden plates anyway.

I picked the winner using a random number generator (although
'Eeny, meeny, miny, moe' would have worked as well).

The number selected was #8 - Jennifer. I will send them out as soon as I get your address. I hope you like them and we would love to see what you do with them.

For a final note - I am having trouble with my blog. I don't know if it's me or the computer but I can't seem to make any comments and my log in keeps kicking me out. Right now all I can do is post. When I get time I will try to fix it.

Sunbonnet Sue

I have a customer that wants a Sunbonnet Sue quilt for her new baby. I made this to see if she would like it. And she did.
I really like Sunbonnet Sue's but I'm not crazy about making them. But it's a totally different story with an embroidery machine. I'm really having fun with it.

Dresden Plate Giveaway

I've been busy making my Dresdens for my quilt and having fun with my embroidery machine. I need 14 more 6" plates to have enough for a full size quilt. After it's finished I will put it up for sale. Which at the rate I'm going will be awhile. I have a quilt for my daughter, 2 customer quilts and the Hoffman quilt that I need to finish 1st. Whew - what a list.

Anyway I have made 6 8" Dresden plates that I thought one of my followers might like. They are on 12" blocks and could probably be made into pillows or with a good size border maybe a lap quilt. Or even a tote -

I have listed 3 pictures but there are 6 total 8" blocks (and one 6" if interested). How about we go til the end of the month of May. I will pick a winner from one of my followers that is interested on Tuesday, May 31st. Maybe I can get a couple more made by then.

Dresden Plates

It's been such a hectic week I haven't had much luck getting to the computer to make many posts. My oldest friend passed away Thursday and I have to go to the funeral today. It's so sad she was only 50. Being raised in the Army and moving around so much I haven't had many lasting friendships. When I first moved here Jane was the 1st friend I made and we have been friends for 31 years. Makes you realize how short life really is.

I have managed to get a few more Dresden Plates done. I'm halfway there. I was hoping all I would need was 20 blocks but have decided to double that. And with that I decided to add more backgroung colors. I started working on those last night.

I placed what I had out to see how I wanted to arrange them and took pictures to help see what would look better. It always helps to see it in a picture.

I'm not crazy about this layout

I like something like this better

Behind the Seams Quilt Hanger

Here's a way to hang your quilts without putting holes in your walls. If you have walls to hang something on - I don't have any walls that aren't taken up with one thing or another. I do have a quilt hanging in the opening between my sewing room and the living room. All the other rooms are packed so full that there isn't room for anything on the walls.

Anyway I found this over at Bayside Quilting and thought it looked interesting. Use the Behind the Seams Quilt Hanger to show off your quilts. Just measure, peel, and stick!!'

My sister is going to get on my case for putting this on here. As usual I found this while crusing around on the net. If anyone has used this let me know how it works - I might be able to use it at work.

Rippity do-da

'The Rippity do-da is the new must-have for your sewing. Make the task of taking un-sewing quick and painless with the Rippity do-da. Simply glide down the seam the same way as the old fashioned seam ripper but in a fraction of the time. It's quick, easy and it won't poke holes in your fabric or you! Use the enclosed mini lint roller to simply whisk away the thread left behind.'

I've been seeing this around lately and keep thinking about getting one. I have the little lint rollers and a ton of regular seam rippers (I need plenty). If this would make ripping out easier and faster then it might be worth it.

I think what I like most about it is the name, every time I see it it sticks with me like a song.

A Little Peak

I was going to build a fence yesterday but I decided to work on my Hoffman quilt instead. I now have everything ready to be quilted - just waiting on the thread to come in. Should be here sometime this week.

So I thought I'd put a little peak out here - can you see what it is going to look like.

I still have alot more work to do but I think it will look good when it's finished - that is if it turns out like I plan on

Dear Jane

I haven't gotten much done lately but I did manage to get 4 more squares finished for my Dear jane, At the rate I'm going I might get it finished by next year.

I am enjoying doing them. It's nice having such a variety and using the different colors and patterns makes it exciting to see what each one will turn out like.

I did have one more finished but when I was pressing them my iron spit on them and it left a stain. I've used a spot remover but the stain is still there. I do have another remover I'm going to try this weekend - hopefully it will work. If it doesn't it won't be that big of a deal to re-do them.

And the WINNER is

The winner of the man's wallet is #13 Kathy H

I used a number generator to get the number.

I excluded my family members when I counted down. I had some extras and thought I'd be nice (which they will think unusual) and send them one.

I'd like to thank everyone who entered. Check out the tutorial and let me know if I need to explain better.

How to make a wallet

I've had a few people ask for the directions on How to make a wallet, so yesterday I did a little tutorial. I hope it is easy to follow

1. Materials Needed
at least 10" of fabric(I usually use denham - it seems to last longer)
1 yard 5/8' Grosgrain ribbon
1 yaed 7/8" Grosgrain ribbon

2. A Cut (1) (9 1/2 x 10 1/2)
B Cut (4) (3 x 4 1/4)
C Cut (2) (2 3/4 x 4 1/4)

3. D Take 2 of B and cut the top off at a 45 angle

4. I usually finger press the ribbon in half.

5. sew the ribbon on the top of D (the 45 angle) and on each side of C

6. Place D on top of B to make E. You will have one angled up to the right and one to the left. Sew the ribbon on the short side. This will give you one left and one right piece

7. Press A in half and unfold - place face up.

Position the left E and the right E. Place C in the middle.

8. Sew C down along one side (depending on if it's for a righty or lefty). I usually go down one side of the ribbon and back up the other side.

9. Sew a piece of 5/8" ribbon along the top of the inside piece

10. Fold the wallet (make sure the outside is about 1/2" longer than the inside) and sew along the outside edges close to the edge.

11. Now sew the 7/8" ribbon around the entire wallet (just like a binding)

I usually press it flat then tri-fold it and steam press it.
Sorry the pictures aren't that great - still have camera problems (must be the idiot taking the pictures)

It's really very easy, I've been making them for years - I hope the directions are easy to follow.

Since I needed pictures to go along with the directions I make my husband 2 new wallets with his monagram on them. (Poor thing thought I did his initials wrong)

Happy Mother's Day to him.
AND A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE SPECIAL MOTHER'S OUT THERE.

Blind Quilter

A friend of mine sent me this link the other day and I think it is amazing. I have enough trouble quilting I couldn't imagine being blind and trying to do it. Losing my eyesight has always been one of my biggest fears.

Here's the link I can't get the video on here.

HEAT Press Batting Together

I just found this and had to try it. I have a ton of batting that was to small to use and to big to throw away - this was perfect.

HEAT Press Batting Together is 1 1/2 inch cloth tape that will fuse two edges of batting together. It's soft, its thin, it stretches, its needle easy for hand or machine quilting.

The roll contains 10 yards enough to complete additions to three large quilts.
USA AND INTERNATIONAL PATENTS PENDING

I'm sure most of you have already used this and as usual I'm behind again but I try.

Sewing room #2

If anyone has been keeping up with my progress I have got room #2 almost finished. I decided to just convert the spare bedroom instead of taking down the wall between that room and my sewing room. I still would have liked to take the wall down and have one big room but this was easier. I still need to put up my light and I put a table top ironing board in after I took pictures.

This is where I put the embroidery machine and all its accessories

It probably will never look this neat again

I still have a ton of fabric to bring in here from another room. I'll probably have to buy another bookshelf
DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY

May Giveway @ We love Quilting

WE LOVE QUILTING is having a giveaway - go check it out.

DON'T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY

Men's Wallets

I started making these about 15 years ago when I had trouble finding a decent man's wallet. Then I gave them out as gifts. Now they are in high demand. I usually make about 20 at a time and sell them as fast as I make em.

These are made out of blue denham. I sold out of the camo ones. I have been told that they are super comfortable - in the back pocket or front pocket

So as an added bonus I thought I'd give one of these away to one of my followers - be family or friend. I will pick a winner on the 9th of May. Let me know if you're interested.

Easter dresses

My granddaughters received their Easter dresses and they love them. And they fit. I was hoping to get some pictures of the girls twirling around in their dresses but since I wasn't there to enjoy their fun and take my own pictures these will have to do.

And what a handsome grandson.

It's a shame I live so far away - I'm missing so much

"I've been a hard worker all my life, but 'most all my work has been the kind that 'perishes with the usin',' as the Bible says. That's the discouragin' thing about a woman's work. If a woman was to see all the dishes that she had to wash before she died piled up before her in one pile, she'd lie down and die right then and there. I've always had the name o' bein' a good housekeeper, but when I'm dead and gone there ain't anybody goin' to think o' the floors I've swept, and the tables I've scrubbed, and the old clothes I've patched, and the stockin's I've darned, but when one of my grandchildren or great-grandchildren sees one o' these quilts, they'll think about Aunt Jane, and, wherever I am then, I'll know I ain't forgotten."
quote from AUNT JANE OF KENTUCKY by Eliza Calvert Hall