Pages

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Grand Illusion ~ Quiltville Winter Mystery 2014


Here are my fabrics!

For the ...

Grand Illusion Quiltville Winter Mystery

I cannot resist a good quilt mystery!

Grand Illusion


I love Bonnie Hunter and her quilts, patterns, methods and mysteries.

Click Here for all the information

 The fabric requirements may be found Here

My friend Debbieann added up the fabric yardage as follows:

Black - 2 and 1/4 yards (The print is my black)

Green - 1 and 1/2 yards

Turquoise - 2 and 1/3 yards (My color is more blue/violet)

Pink - 2 yards

Yellow - 1 and 5/8 yards

Neutrals - 3 yards

My quilt will not be scrappy.

I have found fabrics in my stash that are large enough cuts to use one fabric.

Part One is Up!

Time to sew ... :)


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!


Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

May your feast be blessed!

<3< <3 <3 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Sign-ups are still open!





There is still time to sign up!

I hope you will be sewing with me! 

To show your support, please join in this hop by sending me an email to



SUBJECT LINE.... 
I can support YOU....

YOUR NAME:
Your Email Address:
YOUR BLOG Name:
YOUR LINK to your BLOG:

I will get back to you as soon as I am able.

Thank you for showing your support by joining in this hop!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Quilty Jar Opener Giveaway Winners!




The winners of my


are ....

Comment # 3


I just LOVE these!! So unique and creative!! Oh my Gosh I couldn't pick I would be grateful to have any one of them!! Thanks Pat and have a Wonderful Holiday!!
Huggs, Nancy

Comment # 29


Love these my kitchen is orange so if I win please choose one for me. Hugs Sandra

Comment # 21


What a neat idea!! Why didn't I think of that. They would sure help me because I have the hardest time opening new jars and have no one home to help!! 

I am sending emails to all the winners
for the addresses to send these handy kitchen helpers.

Enjoy!

Thanks to all who left lovely supportive comments!



<3 <3 <3 

Sorry for being two days late for this giveaway announcement.

I have been very busy working on the


There is still time to sign up!

I hope you will be sewing with me! 

To show your support, please join in this hop by sending me an email to



SUBJECT LINE.... 
I can support YOU....

YOUR NAME:
Your Email Address:
YOUR BLOG Name:
YOUR LINK to your BLOG:

I will get back to you as soon as I am able.

Thank you for showing your support by joining in this hop!



<3 <3 <3 




Saturday, November 22, 2014

Show Your Support!


My Time to Cheer!!


I am so honored that the lovely

 Mdm Samm @ Sew We Quilt 

asked me if I would cheer this hop!

What a wonderful way to show our support for all our friends who need a little comfort 
and to know how much we care.

For this hop we will be showing our support by 
sewing the big beautiful bra pattern that Mdm Samm has created for us.

This may be used to make any item of your choosing. 

There are ladies we know in our quilting family who are battling BREAST CANCER and other forms of cancer.

As Cancer seems to touch many of our lives,  Madame Samm kept thinking of the inspiration we could provide by creating a GIANT BRA, quilted, stitched, embroidered, appliquéd...whatever you would like to do...

Madam Samm would provide you with the pattern and has already created a 3 feet by 2.5 feet pattern.....BRA...( it would be offered  FREE to all those who participate)

YOU could make it into a  quilt, pillow,  BAG for carting all their notions to their treatments, wall hanging....that will be up to you... She suggests a blog theme  " WE will support you" or " I will support you" ....She will also  provide you with these one liners if you want them embroidered...

Mdm Samm also will include the hanger with whatever LETTER you want to stitch.
 ( the pattern actually has all of them) -if your friend's name begins with J...then you would get this letter J to add to top of hanger...or you can use your first initial, if you plan to give it  to someone someday... The file will have everything you need.

This may be used to make any item of your choosing. 

Be creative!

Be Supportive!


The pattern for WE SUPPORT YOU is like this one above..JUST LARGER. 
You can make it any size you like.


My fabrics arrived yesterday!

I am ready to sew!

I hope you will be sewing with me! 

To show your support, please join in this hop by sending me an email to



SUBJECT LINE....
I can support YOU....

YOUR NAME
YOUR BLOG
YOUR LINK to your BLOG


Guidelines
Anyone and everyone can participate in our HOPS.
If ever you wanted to have cheerleaders in your life
to cheer on your creativity….
well you do not need to look any further…

1. With the pattern that will be provided
create whatever you like ....large or small , we will support you ALL! 

2. BE a cheerleader for all those who participate, there is nothing 
as heartfelt as your lovely comments.

3. Please turn off your word verification the day of your
post…you really do not want to miss any comments..
YOU have no idea how that one comment can be a life changer….

4. Be sure to add your post at midnight EST. WE have visitors
all around the world who like to get up like we do in North America
to your lovely creations

5. Please ADD everyone including YOUR blog on your post 
that day, so we can find everyone as easily as we found you..

6. MOST IMPORTANT, commit, if you don't, you have
taken the spot of someone else who I will be hearing about,
trust me there…

7. Add the button to your blog so everyone will note you are SUPPORTING
someone with CANCER  is coming and also
a reminder for YOU to get your project DONE.....
A great gentle reminder....

Please follow all the guidelines so that all will run smoothly!


The code for this button is on the sidebar 
@
Sew We Quilt

Please add it to your sidebar and 

post a promo to spread the word!

Are you ready to show your support?  
Wonderful!  

Send me an e-mail!

I will get back to you as soon as I am able.

Thank you for showing your support by joining in this hop!





Saturday, November 15, 2014

Twist & Turn Hexie Jar Opener Tutorial


Twist & Turn Quilted Jar Openers!


I have arthritis in my hands and find these so useful in my kitchen.

The shelf liner grips smooth metal caps and rough edge plastic caps comfortably and easily.

I can even open tough caps on small necked bottles with one of these.

~ <3 ~

For a basic tutorial for an easy sew square opener for sewing both openers, read the

Tips and Tricks Here




To make the hexie ones I used some of my "Sunnyside"Honeycombs.
which I was lucky enough to win in a giveaway from the lovely

Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy

during the hexie hop last year.

I also cut strips from the lovely birthday fabric gift from my friend,

Dorian @ Ridge Top Quilts

and I also cut some strips from my treasured Kate Spain stash.


Cut all strips WOF and sew as you go,
trimming them down as needed as you go along.

I cut 2.5" strips.

Next time I may cut narrower strips.




The grippy side is cut from silicone type shelf liner.


For the back I  used my hexagon ruler to cut the



Making the twisted hexie one, requires sewing a  partial seam.

Partial seams are easy.

Here is the method I use:



I cut all my strips oversize and cut them down after I sew.


Line up your first strip on top of one side of the honeycomb hexie.

Measure about one inch from the beginning edge of the seam and 
insert a pin to mark the beginning of your first seam.



Remove the pin and press needle down at this starting point.

Stitch to the other edge as usual.


Here is a close-up of the beginning of the seam.

You will close this seam after your last strip is added.

Press inward toward the hexie.


Continue adding a strip to each side of the hex closing all other seams as you usually sew,


For this one, the orange strip was the last added.
In the picture above I have folded the first strop with the partial seam over the last orange strip.


 Needle down a few inches before the end of your partial seam 
and sew to the outside edge of the last strip added,
closing the partial seam.



Cut away the extra fabric. 


Your hexie will be oversized and you will need to cut it down to size.


I used a 6.5" Fons and Porter Hevie ruler to cut all my hexes.


A straight edge ruler  can also be used.
In this photo I laid my regular 6.5" cutting ruler on top of the hexie ruler to cut the long edges.
If you do not have a hexie ruler, use the lines on the ruler and mat to cute the hexie shape.


Here is the pressed back of the hexie showing all the trimmed to size seams.


To make the jar opener,
sandwich the hexie right side up with the 
shelf liner hexie.
Place the liner on top.

The grip is cut from 

easyLiner  shelf liner.

I use a plain white cotton liner.
Flannel also works if you would like a little more cushion in your jar opener.
I have not tried thin batting, but this might also work. 


I like to place one pin on each side to hold the layers together
and remove the pins as I go.


Leave an opening on one side to turn your jar opener right side out.

Trim the corners to make getting the sharp points easier.


Press the TOP SIDE ONLY!

You do not want to melt the shelf liner onto your iron.


Topstitch close around all the edges.

I like to put a pin in the open edge to hold it closed until I remove the pin and sew.


I added one echo line of quilting in the center.


Enjoy using your new nifty jar opener!

Thank you to all who have left lovely comments.

My daughter and grand-darling are flying in today for an extended holiday visit ...

... which is the best Christmas present of the year!

I have been busy cleaning up my shared sewing space and tucking stuff in closets.

I hope to respond personally to all the kind words as soon as I have time ...

well ... when I am not cuddling the baby girl .... ;) 

<3





Friday, November 14, 2014

Twas the Night ~ Tis the Day!



My wonderful gifts!

An adorable mini quilt,
tree die cuts to add to make it Christmasy if I want,
a cupcake pincushion and pin jar,
a sweet stuffed and hand stitched strawberry in a basket,
delicious homemade grape jelly,
a new notebook,
a pattern booklet,
and some lovely fabrics and tape measure trim for future projects

 Received from Kris @ Kris Loves Fabric 

Thank you, Kris!


Here are all the stops on the sleigh ride today ... 

Friday, November 14th

Life In The Scrapatch (you are here)


It is a great day of gifting!


I love making small gift items on my sewing machine.


Here are three easy to make items with free tutorials:

One of my favorite "go-to"  nifty gifty is one I found on one of my favorite blogs ... ;)



"Comfort and Joy with Jacque" @ Sew We Quilt

These are sew useful for personalizing with coffee or tea
or even as a small sewing kit.
They also make good business card holders.


Another one is this cute and easy to make ...



"Snap Bag" @ Sweet P Quilting and Creations




... and I love to use scraps to make my own



Quilty Key Chains


These tiny blocks also make cute refrigerator magnets by tucking a a button magnet between the batting and the backing fabric.

Here is my newest idea for a small and useful  and easy to make gift ...



Quilty Jar Openers!

These are made with a square or fabric (or you could make a small quilt block),

a square of flannel or cotton, and a square of rubberized shelf lining.

Click Here
or scroll down to my next post for a tutorial 
for these easy kitchen helpers
and a Giveaway!

I had so much fun making these jar openers that I played some more with the idea and the fabric 
and I created ...



"Twist and Turn" Hexie Jar Openers, too!



The tutorial for the hexie jar opener will be up at midnight!

Thanks to 


and


for playing Quilty Santa.

The gifts are flying around the world!

How wonderful!


Katniss has picked her favorite gifty from Kris's treasure box ...


... the cute hand stitched strawberry ...

... and has chased it around the room a few times.

I keep having to retrieve it.

This one will be a special ornament on my Christmas Tree this year!



I cannot possibly pick a favorite.

All these giftys are so nifty!!!

Thanks, again, Kris!


Katniss and I say "Purrrrrr!"

May your season of gifting be merry and bright!




Thank you to all who have left lovely comments.

My daughter and grand-darling are flying in today for an extended holiday visit ...

... which is the best Christmas present of the year!

I have been busy cleaning up my shared sewing space and tucking stuff in closets.

I hope to respond personally to all the kind words as soon as I have time ...

well ... when I am not cuddling the baby girl .... ;) 

<3


:)