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.