12 Days of "I Believe" #2

Gift #2

Sew much fun to make!

I have made several of these adorable  "no sew" ornaments  

Class available at "Early Girl Quilts at Assemble"

Like to try one? take a class....at...

http://www.assemblenj.com/module/class.htm?classId=229114

12 Days of "I Believe" #1

Gift #1

Jewelry Travel Case...

Based on a terrific pattern in "Sew Many Gifts" by Karen Burns.. 

I started this project with a 18" by 11" piece of quilted Amy Butler fabric,  and cut  the inside pieces out of coordinating prints, currently available at "Early Girl Quilts at Assemble".

(As is the Book!)

I really like the necklace ribbons...help keep your necklaces from getting tangles and messy.

My additions to her pattern...the non zip pocket.. 

as a place for  a cash stash.

And Ribbon tie to hold rings in place

The 12 Days of Finished!

Sew.... I  love Christmas decorations,

 and I love to applique ... 

so, the year or so (or maybe more)

that I worked on this quilt  was  great fun! 

 The design is by Pat Sloan..

I know that when I hang "I Believe", the day after Thanksgiving, it's time to get finished,

 (or started ...as the case may be)

 homemade gifts that  

"I Believe" I planned for Christmas..

" I Believe" I have a lot to do... 

and that I will finish!

Sew.. my challenge is to post a finished project everyday for the next 12 days

Want to join in the challenge... post your "I Believe I'll finish" photos as a comment! 

Check back tomorrow! Debbie

  

Jackie's Quilt is Finished!

Sew.... Jackie's Quilt?

  Who is Jackie and why is this quilt named after her?  2 years ago my friend Janet received the original "Jackie's Quilt"  pieced top as a gift. Jackie had found it in with some family things and know that Janet and all her quilting friends would appreciate it...Of course, Janet and I fell in love with the original, and needed to figure out the pattern construction and make our own. It seems simple enough, just alot of squares, right...But, no..like a lot of 1930's quilts, the construction may be pretty complex and it actually took 2 seasoned quilters the better part of an afternoon to decipher... 

Sew... my version of the "Jackie" is done in 1930's reproduction fabrics (often referred to as "Aunt Grace" fabric, after a wonderful collection of fabrics made popular by Marcus Fabrics.) 1930's quilts almost always had muslin fabric for the background, and medium green , bubblegum pink, or blue for the accent solid...I choose gray and orange for a more modern look...

More information about Jackie's quilt to come....

Photo by Colette Oswald Photography..Haddonfield, New Jersey

Happening in October!

Every Witch Needs a Great Hat!

Sew... I have always like witch hat decorations..and decided to make one this year....

I had a pattern and everything..then found this one at Springdale Farm Market...

all it needed was the ribbons and sparkle! 

The quilt is several years old...inspired by a favorite Moda fabric called  "Witches Undies"..  

What are you sewing this month? 

 I am seriously working on a blue, green, and purple applique quilt... the fabrics are Kaffe Fassett and friends... the patterns are from a mixture of Blackbird Designs, Edyta Sitar, Kim McLean and me! I love the combination of primitive patterns and WOW! contemporary fabrics

Also..because I can't work on one thing at a time.. I am starting to cut a quilt called "Cranberry Chutney" from Madison Cottage Design.. 

I am using a Jen Kingwell for Moda group called "Moving on Lawns" along with my favorite Peppered Cotton Solids..

And....no picture yet... 

I need to finish my grandson's Luke Skywalker  costume...

START THINKING ABOUT GIFT MAKING

SEW.... I was talking to a quilting friend recently, and she commented on the zipper bags I had made.

 She said " I think they are cute...but what do you use them for?" 

  Well, they are cute, and they are fun gifts to make and give...

Sew..what do I use them for?   

The long green one, made by my friend Janet for a guild swap, holds pens and pencils, and the eyeglass wipes I need all the time. The large floral has a phone charger, and sometimes the NOOK charger.  The diamond shape has lip stuff, hand sanitizer, and cough drops. 

The clear front bag ...

well it's perfect for packing that rotary cutter  .....or M&Ms?

My purse is so much easier to use when it is filled with these fun organizers.

It's easy to make a few at a time.. uses your favorites quilt leftovers ( I refuse to call them scraps!), and they are really useful... Need your gift to be a bit more?  Add a gift card inside for a special surprise.... Fill with first aid stuff, school basics, simple sewing emergency kit...or for that new mom.. emergency diaper and wipes.... the possibilities are...sorry...endless! 

Your local quilt shop will have a variety of fun patterns and zippers in great colors... 

I used Stowaways and Bridget Baguettes from Atkinson Designs, and Sweetpea Pods from Lazy Girl designs...

What am I making this year?   Well, I just started thinking......

Mystery Quilt?

Sew... to my not quilter friends ....A mystery quilt is a fun event for quilters. They receive fabric choice and cutting directions ahead of time, then receive clues to make their quilt without ever seeing what the finished quilt will look like.

 Do all quilters like this?  Some do not....it's hard to let go and choose fabric without knowing how it will appear in the quilt. 
Do people who have made mystery quilts with me in the past love their quilts? Most will say they love the final quilt. Interesting that many quilters have said that had they seen the pattern beforehand, they would have assumed it was too difficult! I find it's easier when you concentrate on one part at a time....

Sew...here are some of the previous mystery quilts......

Mystery  2012 

 Mystery 2016

Mystery 2015

Sew...it's time to start planning this fall's mystery quilt.

  I have done about 15 mysteries. Some have been original designs, some are adapted from another designer's pattern.. (I have purchased the rights to use others' patterns several times.) This year it is inspired by a blog post I found on Pinterest. If you decide to join us at the Assemble Fall Quilting Retreat you will receive the clues, and credit to the inspiring designer.

 For now......well, it's a mystery!

And, for now... I am going to share only my fabric choices...
I seem to be stuck in  a scrappy, one color mode. 

Last year's quilt was "75 Shades of Green".

Before that, blue and white, yellow and white, gray and white,        Caribbean blues, and focus on pink. 

This year I'm going back to gray... The quilt is simple, clean and modern. 

Lights and Light/Mediums

Mediums 

Darks