March 2015 Finishes

Since I'll be posting lots of finishes this week, this blog post is also a part of A Week of Finishes, an event I put together in 2013, and decided to revisit again. If you have any recent finishes you'd like to link up, grab a button and please do! (you can share blog posts, flickr photos, or IG photos.) I love to see what other people have been making!

Alright! Finally getting around to documenting my finishes! Here are the things I finished in March! :)

So much for that goal...

At the beginning of the year I had a goal to blog more. I wanted to blog at least once a week, as well as blog all my finishes for the year - in at least a monthly blog post. Well, I obviously don't have to report on how bad I'm doing at those goals...

February 2015 Finishes

I decided this year that I am going to blog all of my finishes for each month. I did blog January's finishes HERE. But then.... I didn't upload my photos for February's finishes until, well, this morning. But anyway, here are my finishes during the month of February!! There are only two, but I do have quite a few more for March, so I'll post those next. :)

But who cares about quantity right?! I love these!!


First up, I made this Celestial Star Mini for Sarah of Pheasantpress.com. You definitely should go check out her site! She is has some amazing paper product goodies!! 

Perfection. Is it overrated???

Is perfection stopping you from trying? I'm not referring to your own perfection. I'm talking about the perfection of others.

I absolutely love seeing the amazingly beautiful quilting that people do on their quilts, or others quilts, if they do it as a job. Usually the most amazing quilting is done on a long arm machine,  and sometimes it's all quilted automatically - taking out all human error. But no matter how it's done, that doesn't lessen the talent and work that is put into the beautiful workmanship.

But I often notice thoughts in the back of my head telling me that if I can't quilt as beautifully as "those quilters" I shouldn't even try. I should stick to using my walking foot and quilting straight or wavy lines. 

I hear the thoughts, but I never listen to them.

Celestial Star QAL: QUILTING

Today's Topic: Quilting 
Assignment: Create a quilt sandwich and start quilting!
On the Blog: Blog about it and link it up using the link up at the end of this post. OR you can also link up photos from Flickr* or Instagram.  

On Instagram: Take a picture and tag it using hashtag #CelestialStarQAL.
 

There is a giveaway!!!

When you link up on this post, or on Instagram, (You can enter both places) you will be entered to win one of two fat quarter bundles:

Heather Bailey Bundle of Up Parasol (9 FQ's), your choice of colorway, 

sponsored by I Don't Do Dishes

Moda Crossweave FQ bundle, 

sponsored by Material Girl Quilts

The giveaway will be open until I pick a winner on Thursday September 18th.

To enter, share a picture of your quilting. You don't have to be finished, but you need to have started. 

You can pick up a pattern on Craftsy and in my new shop!.

*If you are sharing pictures from Flickr, I started a Celestial Star QAL group, where you can also share your photos, or start up a discussion, ask questions, etc. I don't get on Flickr much anymore, but I'll try my best to keep my eye on it for any activity going on there. I still think Flickr has a pretty good platform for groups, even if the rest of the site has changed.
**If you decide to work faster than my schedule, which is fine, be sure to take pictures along the way so you can come back and enter the different giveaways!



 Let's Get Started:
Be forewarned: It's a little lot wordy and I don't have any photos. But I'll add some when I get my quilt back finished and start basting my quilt. So skim it, or don't. It's ok. It just didn't happen. You know, life... it's what happens. ;)


First, after creating your quilt top, you need to create a back for your quilt. On minis or one block quilts, pillows, etc, I usually make the quilt back about 1 inch larger on all sides than the quilt top. And cut the batting about the same. For larger quilts, I've seen people make the back 2-4 inches larger on all sides than the front. Sometimes I forget this, and then it's a pain trying to match up the front and back when making a quilt sandwich. So, remember:

Make the back larger than the front!!

 It is also a good rule to make the batting larger than the front, but not necessarily larger than the back, though I often do when I'm making small projects.


Creating a Quilt Sandwich:

 There are a billion tutorials online for creating a quilt sandwich, and I honestly haven't looked at many of the newer ones (as in the last year and a half). I know there are some that people swear by, so you should go check those out. :) I kind of just do my own thing because it works for me. And one day I want to find a better way, because that's always a good thing. But for now, I'll share my tricks with you in case they work for you too! :)

I, like probably many of you, I don't have a designated basting spot. I kind of have to improvise with the room that I do have. I do LOVE spray basting, and that can mean a big mess. So the first thing I do is lay down a few old sheets and spread them out nice and flat. I make sure they cover a much wider area than my quilt is big to help catch any spray that goes beyond my quilt. This is also a good way to keep your quilt clean if you have to baste outside in your driveway or sidewalk or somewhere like that, which I have done in the past.

Next, place your batting right side up. Yep! There is a right and wrong side to batting. Here is a little blurb from APQS website. Read the full article HERE ("Batting has an 'up' and 'down'", January 22, 2013, http://apqs.com/blog/2013/01/22/batting-has-an-up-and-down/).

"The "right side” vs. the "wrong side”
"Batting that has been needle punched during its formation has a right side. Look at the batting and search for small pin holes or dimples in the batting. Needle-punching methods drive small needles from one side of the batting to the other as they compress the fibers together. These small holes will reveal the right side of the batting. You want your machine's needle to penetrate the batting in the same direction as the needle-punching machine.
"The wrong side of the batting will have more slubs, which are tiny balls of batting. The wrong side looks much like a sweater that has been worn one too many seasons. If you have this side inadvertently facing up when you layer your quilt, your needle can catch one of these dense little balls of batting and try to force it back through the batting and out the back of the quilt, resulting in bearding."

So, next I lay the "right side" of my batting UP. Spread it out flat, but don't stretch it.

On small quilts or projects I spray the entire batting and then place my small project over it. On a larger quilt like the one I'm working with, I lay the entire quilt over the batting, making sure it is aligned straight. Then I sit in the middle and carefully pull back one end. I spray a small section, about a foot at a time from one edge to the other edge (to the sides of me, not the edge in front of me, or parallel to the "fold" where I've pulled the quilt back). Then I carefully smooth the quilt over the section I just sprayed, working from the center to the outer edges. Be carefully you aren't stretching anything or your batting/quilt top will start to bunch. You want to smooth it just right so they are perfectly together without any bumps on either layer.

Then I repeat by spraying about a foot, then smoothing, spray a foot, smooth, etc. Repeat until you have finished with that side of the quilt.

After the first side is finished, I go back tot he center of the quilt, pull back the opposite side and do the same thing until the entire top is completely basted.

After the top is basted, I flip the quilt/batting over, smooth it out, and baste the back in the same manner as the front.

Now you have a "quilt sandwich".


Quilting:

Quilting. This is the fun, scary, adventurous, sometimes frustrating, very creative and where the possibilities are limitless stage. You can quilt by hand, on your sewing machine, on a longarm, or have someone else do it for you. I am not going to talk about how to quilt, because I don't claim to be an expert. I have a few tricks I like, and I'll share those later. But mostly I want to spotlight how you can showcase your quilt with how you quilt it.


Hand Quilting:

I love hand quilting! I think it looks amazing and I love the texture and emphasis it adds to the quilt design. Here are two of my examples of projects I've quilted by hand:


My Giant Granny Square quilt

The stitching is very simple, and shows up the most around the outside boarder. I used really large stitches around the outside as well as on the inside squares, which you can kind of see in the top photo. A fun way to emphasize the quilt.


My very first Celestial Star Block before I named it that, which I made a year ago using liberty prints.

I hand stitched around it using black pearl cotton. It's not anything flashy, but I like it. I think it really goes well with the overall feel of the liberty prints. And it's held up really well living on our couch for the past year+.


Machine Quilting:

You of can easily quilt straight lines on your home machine. I love to make wavy lines with my walking foot, a technique I really want to share when I get a moment to do so! Those are both risk free (mostly) and scare free ways to quilt your quilt.


My example of straight lines, on the diagonal. I used rainbow thread to spice it up a bit! :)

 I made this quilt for my niece. It was fun, and the biggest quilt I've made.

Echo quilting is a really fun way to quilt in straight lines, but still add interest. Here is an example from a quilt I made a few years ago:

 A quilt I made for my SIL as a Christmas present.

I love my BSR (Bernina Stitch Regluator) and although I didn't learn to FMQ (free motion quilt) with this, it's made it quite easy to be lazy on improving my skills. When I first was learning how to FMQ, I made a large picnic blanket and I practiced a different quilting design in each block. We use the quilt all. the. time. It usually lives in our van and we use it for picnics whenever we get the chance! Or for whatever else we are doing. It's been fun to have.


Anyway, there are lots of ways you can quilt using FMQ designs. I'll share a few from my picnic quilt. These pictures where taken as I was making it, so just know I took them a long time ago. ;p and remember, I was JUST LEARNING! and I wasn't using my BSR. So they are horrible, but worth it, and it doesn't even matter that they are horrible. :)


You can do simple designs, all over designs, or stippling:

 Originally shared on this post.

 Originally shared on this post.

Here is an all over design that I did on my daughters doll quilt. I love this with the variegated thread.

Or you can do fun designs to fill in the spaces.

 

 

 My daughter's car quilt. That we actually don't use in the car.

Or you can be a bit more artsy and "draw" some designs. This last one is the back of my picnic quilt, or a block that I "traced" as I quilted. I love the how the design shows up on the back.

I really love this one!

Originally shared on this post.

 I made up this design. Can you tell?!? haha.

originally shared on this post.

Originally I wasn't going to share my own quilting photos, but that was kind of fun to look back in time. ;) I had started a Pinterest board of quilting ideas, which you can check out, or browse for more ideas.

There are so many more quilting ideas and designs, and tutorials than when I made this picnic quilt a few years ago. Mostly I want to say, don't be afraid!! Get your hands dirty and do something daring!! No regrets! Have fun! And love whatever you decide to do!! Sure, it could possibly make or break your quilt. But who cares?! One thing I strive to do, is "OWN IT". Accept where you are right now in your skills, and keep doing things to help you get to where you want to be. And whatever you do, don't compare! How's that for a little quilting pep-talk?! :D


Alright, so now I want to see some of YOUR quilting! Use the linky below to share your blog posts or photos of how you are quilting your Celestial Star block(s)! I can't wait to see them! I'll pick one winner from this link up on the blog, next Thursday, to win one of the FQ bundles mentioned above.

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Quilting!!

Crayon Mug Rug Pattern and Giveaway!

If you are wondering what happened to my pencil mug rug post... I took it down. That pattern is no longer available, as I didn't realize how closely it resembled another pattern that is out there. So just forget about that one. and I apologize. ;)

I would like to introduce you to my newest pattern, Crayon Mug Rug!

This is not just another paper piecing pattern, but rather, it is a pattern on how to create a mug rug! There are step-by-step instructions, including step-by-step diagrams, on how to:

•  paper piece the pencils
•  assemble the top
• self-bind using the backing fabric

 Crayon Mug Rug finishes at 10 inches x 6 inches

The pattern also includes:

• a coloring page, to help plan your  colors before cutting into your fabrics
• pattern pieces for pencils and borders
• cutting templates, to help minimize fabric waste, make piecing pencils easier, and are a great tool for fussy cutting.
• A poem to share with your mug rug (see below).

My favorite part of this pattern:

 There are 3 crayon tips that you can choose from! They are fully compatible with each other, so you create a collection of all New Crayons, add in a few Used Crayons, or show which colors are your favorite with the Worn Crayons. Every mug rug will be totally unique!

This mug rug would make for the perfect teacher gift! Teacher Appreciation Day is tomorrow (May 6th), and it is almost the end of the school year! There's plenty of time for end of year teacher gifts!!!  Also great for friends, mothers, artists, children, fathers, etc. This is just a fun pattern all around! Crayons always seem so playful and happy to me! I wish real crayons came with such great wrappers!

Here is the poem that I wrote for Hunter's teacher, to go along with the mug rug I made her for Christmas. (Because I wasn't sure if she would know what it even was. haha.)

Being a teacher takes a lot,
Dedication and work, it never stops.

Your tummy growls, your mouth is dry.
You wish you had a snack nearby.

Now you have the perfect spot,
A mug rug holds a drink and lots
of cookies, treats, and crackers too.

A little gift to say,“Thank You!”
- Diane Bohn
2013

I included a copy of the poem, substituting teacher with mother, father, friend, as well, because I think they are all applicable.

You can purchase the Crayon Mug Rug PDF pattern 

on Etsy and Craftsy.

 

Would you like to win a copy of the pattern???

Use the rafflecopter below and I will pick a winner by the end of the week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you have a wonderful week!

and good luck! :)

How to: 10 inch Double Border Mini

Did you see my mini that I posted about yesterday? Did you also notice that Heather and Heather are both giving away a free copy of my new Star Fruit pattern? You can enter on their blogs (click their names) or on Instagram for your chance to win a copy! :)

Today I want to show you how I turned my 6 inch finished quilt block into a 10 inch double border mini. Are you ready?! (Yes, I still need help picking a binding fabric. Any suggestions???)

Cut:

Thin border:

       2 - 6.5 inch x 3/4 inch (A)

       2 - 7 inch x 3/4 inch (B)

 

Thick border:

      2 - 7 inch x 2 inch (C)

      2 - 10 inch x 2 inch (D)

Instruction:

1. Create any 6 inch finished block - left unfinished at 6.5 in x 6.5 in. I like to leave on all the paper until I've attached my first border. It adds a little more stability to the fabric and helps prevent shifting.

 2.  Lay out your block and fabric as follows:

 3. Sew both (A) pieces to opposite sides of the pattern:

4. Sew both (B) pieces to the top and bottom of the pattern:

5. Sew both (C) pieces to opposites sides of the block:

6. Sew both (D) pieces to the top and bottom.

7. Create a quilt sandwich by layering top, batting, and backing fabric.

8. Baste with pins or spray baste. I love to spray baste, especially with little blocks like this.

9. Quilt as desired. Minis are especially fun to hand stitch.

10. Square up to 10 in x 10 in.

11. Bind.

And your finished! A beautiful mini to hang on your wall, or use as a snack mat... if you dare. ;) These would make great gifts for Mother's Day, birthdays, swaps, etc!

I'd love to see your minis that you make! Will you tag them on Instagram (#fbpPatterns) or link them up HERE on my blog! You could win a free pattern, fabric, or handmade goodie from me if you do. Just saying. ;)

3rd Quarter Finish-A-Long

This post is for the 2013 Finish-A-Long, 3rd Quarter with Leanne of She Can Quilt. Learn more about it here.

I tried really hard to get more projects finished last quarter, but it didn't happen. (Not surprised since I really only tried the last week of the quarter. lol. oops.) But now I'm determined to get more of these projects finished! And it makes it easier since I did at least make some progress on some of them.


Finishes from last quarter:

• my Travel Duffel Bag. You can see it here.

Progress from last quarter:

• Mabel's quilt! Hooray!

I finally basted it and started quilting it. I think I would have/could have finished it, if I hadn't run out of the pink thread. (I am quilting the center with large pink flowers and then vertical lines in green thread.) I did finish the flowers, and only have a few more lines to quilt with the green thread. Then I want to write quilt Mabel's name, birthday, birth place, etc (just like the boys quilts) around the sashing and quilt more flowers around the outside border. I ordered more thread from Joann's and it's supposed to get her tomorrow. I really should have just waited and bought some Saturday when we were actually down there. Oh well.

I really like how it all looks on the back, granted my flowers are no where near perfect. But I'm not so sure about the front. I think the quilting is a little more juvenile, and the quilt/fabric on the front looks more elegant. I think it will be fine for my girl and I think she'll love it no matter what. If I wanted to really show off the quilt though, I think I could have gone with something else. Anyway, just my inner turmoil. ha. The only reason why I've put this quilt off so long is because I was so nervous that my quilting would be less than perfect. Since I sent the boys quilts out to be quilted on a long arm, they look so fantastic, and I know my skills aren't that good. I finally decided that it doesn't even matter, and I'm sure she'll love having a quilt by mom, more than she'll care if it was professionally quilted.

• coasters and mug rugs

You would THINK I could get these done already. I was going to finish these too, but I had the quilt on the machine. This quarter I got them squared up and cut the binding for them. As soon as I finish up the center of Mabel's quilt and get it off my machine, I'll sew the bindings on so I can stitch them when I'm not at my machine. :)

• 60's Granny Quilt - I did finally get all my larger blocks sewn together. Except now I want to replace the orange with an aqua or teal or something. (shaking my head. this will never be finished.) lol. I am really getting excited for this, but I am not in a rush to finish it right now.

Here is the rest of my list for the 3rd Quarter:
(I took new pictures so you at least can see new photos even if the projects are the same.) :)

• This quilt - this is top priority next on my list. I really want to finish it before we leave for Utah later this month. It might be a sewing marathon, but I want to do it. (I'm crossing my fingers that I can get this done along with my projects for my swap I'm in with two good friends of mine.)

 

•  This diaper bag - I actually would love to get this made this week, or whenever. But definitely before we leave for Utah. I really need a new diaper bag and I love all the pockets in this one. Plus I really want a green bag, I always have! I love this Amy Butler fabric and can't wait to finish this one up.

and the rest of my projects for the quarter, in no particular order:

• kaleidoscope quilt - I need to finish the back, baste and quilt.

• knitting roll - I still have like 3 rows to add to it this section and then finish it.

• My ABC's Number's Book

• Starburst mini - I don't actually know what to do with this. My hubby is not a fan of mini quilts. He doesn't understand the whole concept of hanging fabric on your wall. Idk.

 

• This block that I want to make into Tommy's quilt, maybe. I'm undecided. But I would love to write up a pattern for it either way. :)

• Placemats

I think I added only one new project, and actually left off a few that I've had on my list previously. I'm not going to worry about them right now. We'll see how this quarter goes... I'm in the mood to finish things, so hopefully it goes well. What about you?? What do you have on your list? Do you do better with longer lists? or shorter lists? (I like longer because then I can kind of pick and choose.) :)

Modern Yardage Pillow!

Here is my last pillow for the month. I love this one! As I was finishing it up last night my hubby asked, "What are you making? a wall hanging?" "No, a pillow." "Yeah!" Did I mention he likes pillows? :)

I had fun photographing this out in the daisy's. I think they go well with the fabric. :)

 

The sashing is Kona Marine.

All of the prints are by Emilie Daly for Modern Yardage.

I love the white, but really, I can't decide which print is my favorite.


I used Burst in Robin, medium, for the back.

I was recently contacted by Modern Yardage and asked if I wanted to try out their fabric. Um, YES PLEASE!! :) I've been keeping an eye on their website since they launched earlier this year. Their fabrics are great and I love all the options that are available with each collection: lots of color options, as well as sizes! Most prints can be ordered in either a large, medium, or small print. For an indecisive person like me, it makes it almost too difficult to decide. (not a bad thing). :) And they are constantly adding new designers and collections, so there is always something new. If you haven't checked out their website, you really should. I'll just throw in really quick too that there are a lot of ways to search or browse for fabric (by designer, color, theme, scale, color, etc.) pretty cool. 

Anyway, so you know how it works, they print their fabric on demand. So when you place your order, all of your prints come together, on the same continuous cut of fabric. I was too excited to start cutting that I forgot to take a picture of my fabric when it arrived. But it was all in one sheet with a panel along one edge that had care instructions, a free pattern, and some other cool stuff (you'll have to order some fabric and be surprised with what else they print on there.) ;) Since they print the fabric on demand, I think that also means that the cotton they use is a little different. I am no connoisseur of fabric, but it does feel different. It is SOOO smooth! It's nice. But I was still a little weary as to how it would sew up. I can happily say that I am very pleased with my finished pillow!!

The pattern I used is my Illusion pattern. I have changed it a little, so it's a bit different than what is in my Craftsy store and Etsy shop. I will update those with the new version soon (Illusion2). I'll let you know. I do like this version a lot better, as it's also a lot more versatile in how you can arrange the blocks.

Like this example.
I was originally going to make the pillow like this, but after finishing the first 4 blocks, my hubby said he liked the other way better. I'm still not sure. I guess I'll have to make another pillow soon. :)

So a HUGE shout out to Modern Yardage!!! An awesome company with beautiful fabrics! Thank you so very much for letting me try some of your fabric. :)

I am definitely not the only one who is happy with this new pillow. :)