Happy New Year with my Glitz Quilt

I thought it might be fitting to ‘ring’ in the new year with a glitzy quilt!

Ha! Get it? ‘Ring’ In the New Year with a quilt of rings? I crack myself up sometimes! This is the quilt I made for the Michael Miller Glitz challenge. It was not a winner. It didn’t make it into QuiltCon… And while everyone is showing thier favorite posts of 2015, this might be my least favorite quilt of the year…  It’s actually growing on me though….

For the challenge we got this little teeny tiny bundle of fat eighths of the Michael Miller Glitz line of fabric. I’m not a fan of mini quilts. I think I mentioned that before. I just don’t know what to do with them! So I don’t make them hardly ever. But when I get a mini bundle like this, I should probably think a little smaller…. But instead I ended up with this nice big throw quilt!

Even though this quilt isn’t a favorite, I learned a lot making it! I got so excited with the new circle technique I learned for my sports quilt that I decided to try it here but not using a true circle. It worked, but it got really hard for the larger rings. Once I got to the larger rings, I had to start patching together the freezer paper and it just got pretty awkward to move around and get into place. But it worked! Just more ‘challenging’ than I had planned on!

I’ve been wanting to use Debbie’s matched binding technique many times, but have kept finding excuses not to. But this time, I knew it had to be done! And it’s awesome!

It really adds to this quilt!

I decided to quilt it using a circular pattern that had to get wider and closer depending on the rings. I like it, but keep seeing areas that I could have spaced a bit differently. But overall, I totally think it works!

And the back. As you know, I don’t do a lot of quilting with black…. Maybe that’s why I’m not as drawn to this one… It seems to attract fuzz like crazy! I used every little bit of my fat eighth bundle! What I didn’t use on the front, I added into the back.

All in all, It was a fun one to make and really challenged my process. Did anyone else participate in this challenge? And the other plus about this one… I actually finished BEFORE the challenge deadline! Might be a first!

And I can finally cross this off my Finish A Long list!

 

Dad’s Quilt

Is finally done!

I don’t know if you remember or not, but three Christmases ago I told my husband I’d make him a quilt. For Christmas I gave him the design and the fabric for Christmas! He was super excited! Ok, maybe not. He was excited to get a quilt, but not about unwrapping a pile of fabric!

Well, it took forever!

But I finally finished it! It’s just so big that it was hard to maneuver. I realized I’m not so great at really big quilts!! I believe it’s about 96″ square. I’ve since started to use QAYG on the larger quilts. But the trickiest part was squaring it up! How do you square up a quilt that is too large to lay out in any room of your home?  Not very easily I learned! Any tips would be appreciated! I had to square it up before I took it to The West Seattle Fabric Co for them to actually quilt!

And the back! I actually love the back! I don’t know if I love it more than the front, but I might! I submitted it to Quiltcon, but it was rejected… I wonder if I had submitted the back if it would have gotten a better response? hmmmm….

The center of the back was from a Round Robin I participated in at a Seattle Modern Quilt Guild retreat. I started it and then three other added on to it, all while a timer is ticking away.

Like I mentioned, the quilting was done by The West Seattle Fabric Company and it looks great. I was just so ready to turn it over to someone to finish this one!  Too big and heavy for me and my machine. I now understand why people hire people to quilt quilts!

And I can finally cross this off my Finish A Long list!

Reindeer Food- a Printable for You!

Ever since the kiddo was teeny tiny, we’ve always had the tradition of making reindeer food.

It’s also one of our favorite neighbor gifts! Before bed on Christmas eve, we have a couple of traditions to add to the getting ready for bed routine. We have to get the cookies and milk out for Santa. Can’t forget the carrots for the reindeer. And throwing the reindeer food off the front porch in our pj’s!

Every year, we’ve been printing one from online. This year I decided to make our own to coordinate with our Letter to Santa.

It’s such a quick and easy little gift! And the kiddo has always loved making it. I love baking, but this can come great in a pinch when you just don’t want to make that last batch cookies for the neighbors!

This is NOT edible for us human types! You’ll need sandwich bags, oatmeal, glitter and the tags! You can print the tags by clicking here.

Add a little oatmeal…

Add a little glitter….

Add the labels… Print, trim and fold the tags in half. I fold over the bag a couple of times, then staple to the back. I also add a little tape to the front of the bag to secure the front of the labels.

Is spreading the reindeer food part of your Christmas Eve tradition? It’s always fun to throw glitter, so I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to hear if you add this tradition to your own!

 

Holiday Swap Sewing

I feel like I haven’t blogged in ages! I’ve been sewing and decorating for the holidays, but then we went to Disneyland and I between all that, I got behind!

Last weekend we had our Seattle Modern Quilt Guild holiday party with a gift exchange. I am so in love with the Mini Tree pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful, that I had to make it!

The front and back are both done almost all in Cotton and Steel Fabrics. I’m kinda in love with this line right about now. I’ve never been a ‘line’ follower…. Until now! I think the front fabrics are just perfect for a snowy winter tree scene. And then I just loved how these back fabrics pulled in the colors of the front with a play on the idea of the tree, etc…. My envelope back ended up opening the wrong way, but I think it still works!

Do you have a quick curve ruler? I’m also not one to buy too many specific rulers, but I’m kinda taken by the quick curve ruler. It’s pretty fun. Easy to use and makes curves super easy! I recently took a class to learn a pattern using this ruler and she had a preview of the trees…. So then I had to get the mini version too. It’s on Amazon with prime shipping, so there’s still time to make this for Christmas presents! And the pattern is a free pattern! Perfect!

The pattern goes together really quickly! I did the whole pillow in one evening and it’s a big one. My pillow is for a 24×24 pillow form. Now, if you decided to quilt it with about 1/2″ lines, plan on it taking you a bit longer…. I’ve also become a new fan of my walking foot, but more on that later!

When you cut it you have an equal amount of opposite leftovers! So I need to through myself a little pillow together with green trees in a white snowstorm! Oh, yes!

And this is the pillow I got! Not everyone made pillows, but I gave and received one!

When playing the game you aren’t’ supposed to know who the gifts are from. But when we all gathered our gifts to meet over by the exchange, I saw my friend Debbie grab hers. I made a mental note to pick her present becuase everything she does is faboulous! But then when it was my turn to pick, I was so intrigued by this blue and red bag (favorite christmas colors) that I totally forgot to stick to my plan!! Luckily, what was inside was the same colors too!

Mine was made by abazeley who makes a lot of fun things! I think it’s such a fun pillow and goes perfectly with our decorations! Thank you!!!

 

And the Giveaway Day Winner is…..

Thanks to everyone for your interest in the West Seattle Fabric Company  and It’s Just Sewing giveaway! I love working with Monica and choosing such fun fabrics for the giveaways from her shops  West Seattle Fabric Company and Beach Bum Fabrics. Please remember to check out her shop next time you are fabric shopping!

 

Now to what you’re waiting for… The Winner is….

And here’s my traditional drum rolllllllll……

Comment #64!

via Random.org

Yea! dispack! You’re the Winner!

And thanks again to West Seattle Fabric Company and It’s Just Sewing for the awesome giveaway! Thank you!

Giveaway Day with West Seattle Fabrics!

It’s that time again!! It’s Giveaway Day AGAIN over on Sew Mama Sew. And yep!  The West Seattle Fabric Company is once again our lovely sponsor!

Today we have another hand picked collection, by myself and Monica, from West Seattle Fabric’s online holiday shop!

Last giveaway day, I mentioned all the fun changes that West Seattle Fabrics has undergone in the last year.  Now, Monica has started a new fun venture! She’s started a blog for beginner sewistas!

It’s Just Sewing is a video based blog with tutorials dedicated to the beginner! We were talking the other day about how there are a ton of sewing blogs, but not many about the basics for the beginner. And that is why she started her blog. Be sure to check it out for some really fun projects!

I don’t think we’ve ever done a holiday bundle! I was feeling the holiday spirit when I went to pick out fabric and this is an awesome bundle with a combo of modern holiday fabrics and solids! Oh, never mind, maybe I won’t do the giveaway and keep it for myself! Just kidding! It’s for one of you!

 This giveaway is a fat quarter bundle of seven different fabrics!

The snowflakes are a mix of Folk Art Holiday prints by Gina Martin

And the solids are from American Made Brand Solids

And if you just can’t wait to see if you have won, head on over to the West Seattle Fabric Company shop and snatch up yours today!

Ready to WIN? You have FIVE ways to enter! And come back and leave a separate comment on this post for each entry!

1. Visit the West Seattle Fabric Company’s blog, It’s Just Sewing website and let us know which is your favorite project! Leave one comment. (one entry)

2. Follow It’s Just Sewing on Instagram. Leave one comment. (one entry)

3. My blog followers get an extra entry. Leave one comment. (one entry)

4. Follow I’m Feelin’ Crafty on Instagram. Leave one comment. (one entry)

5. Share the giveaway on your blog, FB page, or tweet about. Leave one comment. (one entry)

That’s 5 possible entries! You must comment on this post to win. Open to both US and International readers. The giveaway will close on December 13th at 11 p.m. PST, and we’ll choose one winner using Random.org.

Be sure to check out the Sew Mama Sew blog for more giveaways!

And a Special Thank you to West Seattle Fabric Company!

April and July Quilts for do.Good Stitches

I’m excited to share 2 more quilts that I worked on with my amazing group of the Nurture Circle of do.Good Stitches!

First up is the April quilt designed and quilted by Carla, of Modern Bias! She gave us the color selection and the directions to make a diamond of our choosing. Her instruction post has some fun diamond inspiration!

I did a little take on the Psychedelic Baby Quilt. Ok, well maybe not a ‘little’ take! The block was 12×24.

I love how the quilting is in the orange! And the pattern is great. I believe Carla entered this one into the Quilt Con Quilt show. Hope it make it in!

And secondly, the July quilt! In the spirit of the 4th of July, Dhia, of The Peach Patch, chose to do a red white and blue star block. You can find the directions on her blog, here.

The white block was super easy and fast! The red stars, not so easy and fast! The red stars weren’t hard, just a bit time consuming. There were a lot of little pieces in those red stars.

Another great group effort for the Nurture Circle! And a special shout out to Carla and Dhia for their amazing work for the group!

 

June do Good Stitches Quilt

This quilt was started as my month as the quilter back in June! So I’ll start be apologizing to the group for taking so long to finish it!

I was honored when a group member asked if I’d pick my Inside Out Pineapple block for my month! So of course I said yes. I totally wanted to see it as a finished quilt!

All the quilts we do for the Nurture Circle of do.Good Stitches are awesome, but most of them are not this time consuming! I’m worried I might have scared a few out of the group with this quilt! I hope not…

I asked the group to make two blocks each and to use a contrasting color between the center and the ‘rings.’ Most everyone did. A few forgot and different tones of the same color. And you know what…. I love it! Of course I wasn’t going to ask them to redo it. I actually love the mix. It works and makes the quilt even more interesting!

I love the pattern and it seems to be very popular! But it’s time consuming. I really want to make one for me, since this one is going to away to Covered In Love. Maybe a block of the month is in my future! It’s a paper piecing pattern that is basically four blocks in one. It’s not hard, it just takes a little while!

I debated on the binding. I love making bindings out of multiple fabrics, but for this one I finally decided on a yellow. I didn’t want it to take away from the blocks and to me, the yellow became a very sweet complement!

For the back I considered enlarging the block for a super huge block. Then decided to just mimic the center and one white ‘ring’ around it! I did decide to keep it with the solids on the back.

One reason it took so long to get this one done was the quilting…. I had this great idea that I wanted to go a circular pattern, but n=most of the summer and into the fall I had a loaner machine and I wasn’t liking the circular stitching. I got my machine back and was all about the circle… Until I started…. And I didn’t like it. At all. So i picked it all out and went with the lines of the block and stitched in the ditch. Much happier!

One of my favorite things about the quilt is that one block with the light, light yellow and the hot pink center! The contrast with the other blocks is great!

Thanks to all the ladies who participated in this one!

And I can finally cross this off my Finish A Long list!