Travel Checkers

Today's project is my absolute favorite. I've wanted to make a fabric checker board for a while but I was put off by the idea of needing a separate bag to put everything in for travel.



This board is double sided and one of the edges is left open, creating a generous pocket to store the game pieces, magazines, coloring books, etc.



Just stash everything inside and roll up for travel.

Hither and Yon

This block is a doozy.  I ripped a lot of seams while working this tutorial.  As you all know, I'm making 8" finished blocks for a Christmas quilt.  Unfortunately, the 8" version of this block has some strange measurements, and so we're not able to use any of the easy piecing methods we've learned.

As always, I'm listing the measurements for 12" finished blocks with 8" measurements in parenthesis.  If you're too scared of triangles, check this tutorial to make a 12" finished block using easy piecing methods.  If you're making 8" finished blocks, you're stuck with this!

A finished project!

Check it out! Colleenmds made a rice heating bag using the Broken Dishes block. I absolutely love the colors she picked too. Fantastic job!

IMG_8433
Originally uploaded by Colleenmds

This little rice bag makes me super happy. I put a lot of time and effort into making these tutorials. And before that, it takes a lot of mental trial and error before I even start working things up in fabric. So, to know someone liked one of my projects enough to make one of their own...well, that's just so cool!

Anyway, if you make one of our projects, please feel free to post pictures the flickr pool. We'd love to see them!

Catch-up Week

Hi everyone! As you can see, Jennifer and I are running a bit behind this week. We've decided to cut our losses and declare this a "catch up" week...for us and, if you're quilting along with us, for you.

This means no giveaway this week but that doesn't have to keep us from chatting. I'd love to know: what projects are you working on these days? Link to pictures or blog posts if you have them.

I'm finishing up the last few Mod projects and cutting fabric for two new quilts and making raw edge applique throw pillows.

And if you haven't been to the flickr pool in a while, check it out!

There's a beautiful finished quilt using round 1 blocks.

And lots of new blocks: Corner Star, Eight Hands Around, Amish Diamond, The Dandy, Quatrefoil and a grouping of four blocks in a color scheme that is, in my opinion, quite striking!

We'll be back on Monday with our next block tutorial. Stay tuned...

Giveaway Winner!

Before I announce the winner of the quatrefoil table runner, I wanted to thank you all for letting us into your studio this week. It was really fun reading all your comments.

So, I didn't feel like making 89 slips of paper (seriously? 89 comments? I still can't believe it!) so I had my boyfriend push the button at random.org.

And the winner is...#11...Kati! An email is on its way.

Thanks for everyone for playing along this week and for making this our most popular giveaway so far!

Giveaway Day!

It's giveaway day again! We're giving away this red/aqua table runner but you should know, I really do want to keep this for myself. So, comment before I change my mind pick a winner on Sunday.



And our question for today is: what else goes on in your studio while you're working? Do you watch movies or listen to music or chat with friends while you sew? Do you prefer silence? I love to watch bright cheerful tv shows like Gilmore Girls or costume movies like Marie Antoinette. I can't talk on the phone or have friends over because I get absolutely nothing done. What about you?

Table Runner

I wanted to see what would happen when I put two or more quatrefoil blocks together...but I didn't have enough time to make an entire quilt. So, today's project is a simple table runner. While I'd still like to use this block in a quilt, I like the simple pattern made by the three flowers together.

Quatrefoil

Good morning everyone! It's so very early, isn't it? I don't mean to complain about daylight savings time but it's hard to be cheerful about it when I'm so tired.

But, something that did make me happy despite the tiredness, was seeing John's post about our little blog. I'm definitely a Quilt Dad fan, aren't you?

So, welcome to everyone who's here because of his recommendation. You've picked a good day because this is the block we're making this week:



This is definitely one of my favorite blocks. I'm not actually into flowers but for some reason, the pointy "petals" really appeal to me.

Winner!

Hey everyone! I can't believe how late it is...this daylight savings time is already messing with my head. Anyway, this week's winner is Misha! And in case you were curious, her favorite color combination is green, purple and orange.

I wanted to thank you all for entering this week's drawing and for sharing your favorite color combinations. It was my favorite question so far because I just love talking about color.

Also, tomorrow's block features a combination that came up a lot in the comments and it's my first time trying the combination for myself. Here's hoping I did it right. :)

Giveaway Day!

Today is giveaway day! I'm only giving away the pillow cover so if you win, you'll need your own 18" pillow (or pillow-form). To make up for that annoyance, I'll include some other treats as well.



I'll draw a winner on Sunday so comment below before then.

So, my question for today is: what's your favorite color combination? It could be for decorating, for clothing or for whatever. My current favorite is teal and orange or pretty much anything paired with magenta (this is a fairly new obsession and it confuses me). For decorating...I think I'm an aqua sort of girl even though I haven't taken the time to decorate my house at all. But if I did, I think I'd paint every room aqua. Seriously. So, what about you?

Antique Quilts 2010

Look what I found in my Google Reader: Antique Quilts 2010 from Better Homes and Gardens.  Anina posted about it just today.

This magazine takes 22 traditional antique quilt patterns and remakes them into modern quilts.  This is right up our alley!  Does anyone have this magazine?  What are the projects like?  Are there any blocks in there that we've already learned how to make and experimented with?

A Pillow Cover with Pockets

I know it's been done many times before but I just couldn't resist making a pillow cover for one of our tutorials. There are some blocks that just beg to be made on a larger scale and when Jennifer picked the Corner Star block, I knew just what I'd do with it.



And the best thing (in my opinion anyway) is the back of the pillow. It's made with a men's button up shirt with pockets!

Corner Star

Sorry for being tardy to the party.  I'm not usually the one to make a fashionably late entrance, but this block boggled my mind for longer than usual.

The Corner Star block is made up of flying geese and square in a square units.  If you've been quilting along with us, this will be a piece of cake for you!

This tutorial lists measurements for a 16" block, since that's what we'll need for our project this week.  Measurements for the 8" block are written in parenthesis.  If you need 12" measurements, just ask!

Winner!

Just stopping in on a sewing break to announce our weekly winner. Random.org chose #26...Chancy! An email is on its way!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's block. I know I say every block is my favorite but this one actually is my favorite...for now at least.

Giveaway Day!

I can't believe it's giveaway day already! This week is going fast (and kind of slow) and I'm surprised I remembered it was Thursday. I've been so confused.

Anyway, today we're giving away this spring-y tote bag:



For a chance to win, comment before I draw names on Sunday. I'm a bit headachy today and I'm having a hard time coming up with a question. For now, all I can think of is: what sort of things would you carry around if you won this bag? (I'm secretly hoping you choose something craft related because I want to see what you're working on. Feel free to link to a picture!)

I don't have any portable projects going right now but I'd definitely carry my Kindle and a snack (preferably gummy bears or similar). Oh, and it would be springtime and I'd be on a nature walk. And my boyfriend could come too. But he'd eat all the gummies so maybe not...

Sunshine Block

You might have already seen Jen's block in the flickr pool but I just had to feature it here in case you didn't.

"Sunshine" Block
Originally uploaded by jennewby71

Check out that fussy cutting! I've seen her fabric and the design she chose for this block isn't actually the main focus pattern. It's a secondary design created by the pattern repeat.

It reminds me that there's potential for fussy cutting even when it's not obvious right away. I get pretty annoyed when I don't have enough fabric left to fussy cut the main design but I need to remember that there are other designs that can be just as, if not more, stunning. Fantastic job, Jen!

Oh, and I just saw that Jen is having a giveaway on her blog...a "Snippets" charm pack by American Jane!

Antique Tile

Check it out! Amber of One Shabby Chick made five gorgeous Antique Tile blocks for one of her quilting bees.

for badlandquilts
Originally uploaded by One ShaBby ChiCk

This is my favorite but the other four are beautiful (and sassy!) as well.

This is such a flexible block, as Amber demonstrated. Visiting our flickr group is definitely my favorite part of this project. I love seeing how different fabrics and the use of light and dark can change a block so completely. So, don’t be shy…even if you make just one block, add it to the pool!

You know, it's funny...I've seen our tutorials pop up here and there and every time I do, I just sort of stare in disbelief. I can see that there are lots of people following the blog but I still can't believe people are actually reading it. And, you know, making blocks! And telling friends! It's just so satisfying (and kind of terrifying) and Jennifer and I have you all to thank.

So, you know, thank you!

A "Dandy" Little Tote Bag

Today's project is a tiny tote bag...an "I'm going to read books under a shady tree" bag or, if you're like me, an "I can't fit all this stuff in my purse but I need to bring everything with me wherever I go" bag. Either way, I hope you enjoy making this quick little tote.

The Dandy

This week's block is one of my all-time favorites. First, the name is just too good to be true and second, it's nearly impossible to screw it up. The points on the star don't have to match up with anything...they just float there looking all pointy and perfect. Try it, you might like it!