"T Stands for Thelma" . . . .

My "T Stands for Thelma" quilt is home from the quilter.

I thought I would try white binding, I know that's sort of a quilting no no, but I like how crisp it looks, I think it was a good call. 

We  (we being me and my long arm quilter Connie Lancaster at Quilts Plus) decided just a nice all over pattern would work best for this quilt top.

This pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co also goes by the name of Bibelot.  It would make a great choice if you're looking for that perfect project for the Schnibbles July sew along.

I decided to hang this quilt in my guest room.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 82, click here for more detail.

Also, I'm up to 21 yo-yos!  

The olympic trials on TV lately helped with my production. 

Read more

It's a start . . . .

Last year I made this patriotic table topper for a 4th of July blog hop and giveaway.  The twin to this table topper lives somewhere else,  I wonder if the person who won it got it out and is enjoying it as much as I'm enjoying mine this year.  After finishing this table topper I vowed to make more table toppers to enjoy throughout the year.

And one year later, this is still the only table topper I own!  But this is the year I'll have a fall table topper, I just know it!

Well I made up my mind and I'm going with "Free Spirit Medley" from Judy Martin's book "Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts"

The other pattern had more background fabric, this pattern better suits the fabric I have on hand.  So that's how I decided.

Since I'm going controlled scrappy, to make sure I get the design to pop like it should,  I'm sort of starting from the inside and working my way out.

It's a start . . . . .

Read more

Celebrate ! ! !

Best wishes for a fun and safe 4th of July . . . .

wherever you may be!

Read more

Tools Tuesday . . . . .

So here's my first review of an item that was in my tools drawer that I had not used and didn't know how to use!

Piping Hot Binding - Accent binding with piping by Susan K Cleveland.

It's more like a kit, you get this book, a piping ruler and some cording.

It was stumbling across this book while I was working on Leap Year that gave me the idea to frame my blocks which enabled me to use more fabric and make my project bigger!  Isn't life funny sometimes?

So the first thing you do is sew the cording inside the piping strip.

Then using this ruler, you run the covered cording down that canal in the ruler to trim it.

You can trim strips 1/2" or 1/4" inches wide.

This is my test block, I used the strip with piping on the right side and just a folded and pressed flange on the left side.  

I didn't see much difference in looks, not enough to go to the trouble of making the piping.

In the book Susan says, " the Groovin' Piping Trimming Tool is used to trim piping seam allowances to a consistent width.  When piping is sewn, it is impossible to maintain a consistent seam allowance.   Trimming seam allowances using a traditional acrylic ruler is a time consuming chore but the Groovin' Piping Trimming Tool makes this task quick and accurate"

I agree with this assessment, if you want to go to the trouble to make piping, this ruler works great.  I'm just not sure how often I'll make piping.

The book itself is great, it provides wonderful step by step directions for binding, piping and making a backing.    I'm keeping this little piping/binding kit, back in the drawer it goes.  If I ever decide to make piping, I'll want that ruler to trim it!

I'm giving this book and ruler a rating of 3 cupcakes out of 5!

Read more

It's July . . .

Time to swap out the living room quilt!  I don't like to leave my quilts up for more than a month during the summer months so "Bounce" is down and "One Star Two Star Red Star Blue Star" is up!

This quilt was made from the Miss Rosie's Quilt Co pattern "Cindy Lou Who", I made mine a little larger.  I made the blocks larger and I even added a few blocks .  When I made this quilt my intention was to put it in the middle of my bed for the month of July.  But my A La Mode quilt (Lifetime Quilt # 65) is on my bed for the three months of summer so I decided to hang this quilt in the living room this year instead.

The Sherri and Sinta's July Schnibbles project is quilter's choice.  If you've not made "Cindy Lou Who" I don't think you could find a better project for this month's sew-along.  It was the October 2009 Year of Schnibbles project.  Go check out that parade, there were some amazing finishes.

(For more information on "One Star Two Star Blue Star Red Star", Lifetime Quilt Number 51, click here)

So now that I'm done with "Leap Year" I plan to start working with my Minick and Simpson fabric.

And I've narrowed my project down to two patterns, both Judy Martin patterns and both from this book.

This is an old book, published in 2004 I think, but if you love star quilts you won't find more interesting patterns, stars or projects in any other book.  

This is "Free Spirit Medley"

And this is "Stars and Stripes Forever"

I don't think I can make a bad decision.

Housekeeping: 

Diane won the Bounce giveaway of a layer cake and pattern.  Diane, I sent you an email, let me know your address and layer cake choice and I'll get everything in the mail to you.  I let my husband pick the winning number and he chose 33, Larry Bird's number when he played for the Celtics.


The majority of you said you get a bounce in your step from your family and from sewing, I'm with you there!  Thanks so much for stopping by, sending emails,  and entering the giveaway.  Don't forget, if you make a Bounce send me a picture!

Tomorrow is tools day, my first tool review, stop back by.

Read more