Crafty Sewing & Quilting

Double Surprises! Versatile Blogger Award - Twice!

2012-02-09T21:22:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful double surprise!

Thanks to Snoodles at Lily Pad Quilting for recognizing me with the Versatile Blogger Award last night!

Thanks to Bea at Beaquilter for recognizing me with the Versatile Blogger Award today!

So a double thanks goes out to both of you!

What a delightful award! I appreciate Bea and Snoodles for passing the honor along to me.

Here are the rules that I saw on Snoodle's and Bea's blogs:

1. Add the award to your blog.
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you.
3. Mention seven random things about yourself. (see below)
4. List the rules.
5. Award to 15 bloggers.
6. Inform each of those 15 by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Things about me!

Number ONE: I love to Laugh! Sometimes I laugh so hard I can't stop. One of the first gifts my husband gave me when we were dating was a necklace that said Live Love Laugh! We will be celebrating 20 years of marriage this summer.

Number TWO: Every morning, I eat oatmeal with nuts and fruit. I make my lunches look like at quilt - Quilter's Salads – thus started my Lunch Looks Like a Quilt Blog.

Number THREE: I am a visual person. I need to see it in photos, so I share LOTS of Photos!

Number FOUR: This will be my third year of trying a vegetable container gardening. I say trying, as some things grow and somethings don't! I am learning a lot! I thought it would give me something to do other than quilting, but I see quilt ideas in the garden, so it doesn't take my mind off of quilting!

Number FIVE: When I am making a quilt sometimes I don't want it to end... I love the process of making a quilt. I have been known to cut out way too many pieces and strips and I usually end up with several extra blocks not just one extra block! Sometimes even enough to make another quilt.

Number SIX: I have 12 sewing machines.

4 Janome sewing machines #6500, #4000, and #3000 and a Gem. I sew on my #6500 all the time. #4000 when I go to Saturday Sewing, and the #3000 is for sewing at the camper. I don't use the Gem anymore. It one of the first mechanical ones that came out and it never worked very well.

I have a black Singer Featherweight that I learned to sew on it. It was my Mom's sewing machine and she gave it to me. It runs very well.

I have a white Singer Sewing Machine was given to me by a friend, because I love to sew.

I have an old sewing machine in a table that was also given to me by another friend.

Two battery operated sewing machines. One my daughter bought in the Netherlands.

Three antiques treadle machines – from three Grandmas.

Number SEVEN: I actively started blogging one year ago in January. When I started I wasn't liking it. It was hard for me to do. I couldn't get the spacing right between the words and the photos. I typed too slow and left out words in sentences! Now after a year, I can't believe that it is simple and easy and I LOVE it! I still don't get some things and I get confused, but I remind myself that I am still learning. For example the linky parties were very confusing to me and now I love them. I write three blogs! This blog, Lunch looks Like a Quilt to Me and A Collection of Sewing Quilting from the past 41years.

But the most important thing that I have learned from blogging – There are Quilters out there who love quilting as much as me! Who think about it all the time and can't stop thinking about it! Who write about it and share. I love all the wonderful quilting and crafting friends I have made in blogland!

These are the 15 bloggers that I would like to award the Versatile Award to:

#1 Seam Rippers - Belinda shares quilting and sewing projects.

#2 Casa Boose in Stitches - Linda shares about quilting and sewing projects.

#3 Dye Candy - Chris shares her dyed fabrics and quilting projects.

#4 Quilting by the River - Connie shares about quilting project and tutorials.

#5 Richard Quilts - Richard is new to quilting and blogging!

#6 Becca Cooks - Becca is Richard's daughter and she is just getting started with sharing recipes.

#7 The Thrifty Groove - Diann shares some incredible thrifty finds.

#8 Where Creativity Blooms - Kim shares quilting and crafting. She developed and hosts Project Quilting.

#9 Yuki and Rocket - It's a dog blog with wonderful photos and even some doggie recipes! Because I share photos of my dogs with quilts on wordless Wednesday I have met some dog bloggers.

#10 Quilting in My Pyjamas - Shay is from Australia and hosts "Favourite Fridays"

#11 Life Imitates Doodles - Molossus shares Zentangle doodles and drawings and just about anything and everything you need to know about Zentangle. I met her thru' Twitter.

#12 A Quilter's Table - Debbie shares about quilting and recipes.

#13 Button Floozies - I love buttons and they share all sorts of buttons - new and vintage and cool button ideas.

#14 Craizee Corners - Sharon shares about quilting and I met her thru' Twitter.

#15 Quilting by Jeannie - Jeannie is from Wisconsin and is a long arm quilter too!

This was really hard to do. I wanted to list all the blogs I follow! Some of the blogs I follow have just received the award today too, so I couldn't list them.. . Or could I have awarded the award to them again? I got it twice! Hop over and check them out!

Thanks again Snoodles and Bea for such a wonderful and fun award!

Enjoy your day!

Marcia

Paths of Life Quilt for Project Quilting

2012-02-09T10:34:00.001-06:00

This post will be a series of photos of how I cut and stitched each step for my Paths of Life Quilt.

I am not going to explain each step, as I have said before there are books out there that do a wonderful job of explaining. I would just like to show you the process.
My Disclaimer: Do not try this at home! It is not for a beginner. It is not easy to do, but it is fun, once you get the hang of it!
It is not quilted yet. I will share more photos again in a couple days, as the challenge is due on Sunday at noon.
This is a photo of how it looked at the end of the day on Wednesday. I will share the steps...

I started on Wednesday by laying the blue fabric right side up on the background fabric. With the rotary cutter I started cutting with wavy lines.

Stitch and then press after stitching.

Sometimes, I pressed the seams in and sometimes out. Whichever way was best. I also pressed and let all my seams distort to get a curvy effect on the black strips.

Here's the first path completed.

The original sketch to give me some guidelines to follow, but I changed it as I continued.

I cut, stitched, and pressed the other paths in the same way.

I pinned a few pins at the intersection of the opposite curves.

The paths joined at the edge. The other paths intersected on the quilt. I added curvy borders too. All of different sizes too.

I pressed every step and let the fabric stretch and curve. I let things get distorted on purpose. I trimmed the outer edges with curves too. It is ready for the final pressing, before I quilt it.

I can't wait to quilt it!

Have a great day!

Marcia

Part ONE - the story about my inspiration for this quilt

Wordless Wednesday - Valentine Kisses, Kisses, and More Kisses!

2012-02-08T09:39:00.000-06:00

Linked with:

Blog Paws - Wordless Wednesday - Feb. 8, 2012

WordlessWednesday.com - Feb. 8, 2012

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - Quilt Inspired by Tools - Part ONE and Prizes!

2012-02-07T21:16:00.007-06:00

First, I want to tell you about the wonderful prizes, I won for just participating in Project Quilting - 2012. There are six challenges in the regular season and we have just started the third challenge. You can check it out and join in the fun and win prizes too! There is a Project Quilting link in my sidebar.
I won a pattern from StudioCherie!

Cherie gave a free pattern to EVERYONE that participated in the first challenge! I chose a Travel Duffle Pattern. I plan to make a bag, this summer when I sew at our camper. Hop over and check out her wonderful patterns and handmade items. Thanks Cherie! Here's her blog!

I also won a layer cake of my choice from the Fat Quarter Shop! This is what I chose:

I picked Blueberry Pie, because I love blues! Hop over and check out all the wonderful fabrics they have a www.fatquartershop.com. Thanks Kimberly! Here's her blog!

But it is not about the prizes, it's about Project Quilting inspiring quilters to create!

This week, the challenge is "Tool Time". Tools are to be your inspiration for designing a quilt.

My inspirational tools are a large pusher shovel, a small shovel, a broom, and an ice chopper, (not in the photo - it's in the shed as our snow is melting).

I use these tools to shovel all the little paths in our yard in the winter.

I shovel the path around to the back side of our house that leads to my quilt shop entrance.

Here's where the path curves around to the back and goes by the pond and bird feeders.

Then the path turns back towards the house...

to my quilt shop door. I have two windows on this side and one on the other side. One day, I will take you on a tour inside.

As you leave the shop you curve back around and ...

... across to the front of the house and thru' the trellis. In the summer, that is where my Morning Glories bloom! <-- Here's the link to the posts about the quilt I made inspired by the blooms.
I show you all these paths, as they are kept clear of snow and ice with these winter tools. I have to admit that my husband helps keep the paths clear too... I don't do it all.
We have several paths to shovel in the winter in our yard. There is one that goes from the garage to the shed and to the garbage cans and the burn barrel. On the other side of the house we have a path to take our little dogs outside in the winter. So our winter tools are a necessity to uncover the paths.

As I start creating my quilt, I laid out the fabrics. I am using the batik blues from my Blueberry Pie Layer Cake that I won.

I pulled out the blues. When I laid them out, I chose not to use the lightest blue. Oh... they are so yummy!

They don't look as blue against the white quilt.

I will start with separating the 10 inch squares with black 1 1/4 inch strips. I can't show you my sketch today as it will give away what I am doing.

I sewed a strip on the top of each square.

I sewed the squares together in three rows of four squares.

Then I added a long strip to each side of the center row and the right side of the right row and the left side of the left row.

I lined them up offset and then sewed them offset.

This is my temporary design wall.

It's the sofa and a cedar chest with the white side of quilt, as the back drop for the photos.

This is the fabric I will use for the next step. I will give you a clue. I am going to rotary cut it in a really cool way to add the blue fabric.

I have been saving this blue for the perfect quilt project. This is it!
Enjoy your day!
Marcia
Linked with:
Kim's Crafty Apple: Project Quilting Challenge 3 - Feb. 5, 2012
Lawson and Lotti: Tutorial Tuesday - Feb. 7, 2012
Chef in Training: Tuesday Talent - Feb. 7, 2012
Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday - Feb. 7, 2012
Quilting by the River: Linky Party Tuesday - Feb. 7, 2011 NEW Party
Freshly Pieced: Work in Progress - Feb. 8, 2012

Getting Up Close with All Machine Embroidery Binding

2012-02-06T07:59:00.000-06:00

I use the same quilting thread on my regular sewing machine to stitch the binding. It's a little heavier than regular thread, but it works great and matches.

It's a nice and neat durable binding.

It's also pretty. The embroidery stitching finishes off the quilt with a lacy effect!

Here's the back side of the quilt showing the embroidery binding.

I stitch slowly and very carefully making sure it holds the binding in place perfectly. It is important that is looks even on both sides of the quilt.

If you want to see more photos of embroidery binding - check out my photo gallery. I show photos of the process of stitching the embroidery bindings. Also there are a variety of embroidery stitches.

We are having another warm day in Wisconsin! That's amazing for February!
Have wonderful day!
Marcia
Here's the link to Thursday's post - Charms for a Valentine's Table Runner with Lazy Daisy Quilting - How I made it and quilted it.

Where I Share - Linked with:
Pieceful Life: Little Quilts Monday - Feb. 6, 2012
Sew Chatty: Made with Love - Feb. 6, 2012
Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Feb. 6, 2012

See all the places to share on My Linky Party Page.

Charms for a Valentine's Table Runner with Lazy Daisy Quilting

2012-02-02T21:11:00.014-06:00

I quilted my table runner with diagonal wavy lines and an eight petal "lazy daisy" - I call it Lazy Daisy Quilting. Here's a before photo. It's ready to quilt. There are 11 rows in length by 3 rows wide. I used the 5 inch quilter's blenders charm squares and added a floral print. A total of 33 squares. So simple, yet so pretty!

I started the quilting with the wavy lines and the daisies running in one direction.

Added my name and the year in the corner.

Then I quilted the wavy lines in the other diagonal direction.

Took it off the quilting rollers and trimmed the edges. The table runner measures approximately 14" by 50".

Flipped it over to show the back.

And an up close photo of the lazy daisy.

I love the Lazy Daisy Quilting! Fun and whimsical!

I used an 80/20 Batting (80% cotton and 20% poly). It is a perfect batting for a table runner. Lays nice and flat and is machine washable!

Got the binding ready.

I will roll it up until Saturday morning, when I will machine embroidery stitch the binding. Update: Completed the Embroidery <---Click here.

Then it will be ready for my table for Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day - Early!

Marcia

Kit available - Special Limited time offer.

Table Runner Kit:

Includes 33 Charm Squares with binding and backing fabric, plus 80/20 batting.

ONLY $15.00 plus $6.00 shipping US only.

To order email at Marcia@craftysewing.com

Linked with: Links here and All the Buttons with links are on My Linky Parties - Where I Share Page also.

The Thrifty Groove: Thrifty Things Friday - Feb. 3, 2012

At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday - Feb. 3, 2012

2805: Potpourri Friday - Feb. 3, 2012

Quilting in my Pyjamas: Favourite Things Friday - Feb. 3, 2012

My Repurposed Life: Catch as Catch Can - Feb 3, 2012

Stuff and Nonsense: Fridays Unfolded - Feb. 3, 2012

Confessions of a Fabric Addict: Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? - Feb. 3, 2012

Amylouwho: Sew and Tell - Feb 3, 2012

Richard Quilts: Link A Finish Friday - Feb. 3, 2012 NEW Party!

Crazy Mom Quilts: Finish Up Friday - Feb. 3, 2012

Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Feb. 6, 2012

Quilting by the River: Linky Party Tuesday - Feb. 7, 2012 NEW Party!

Love Affair with my Brother: This Week - Feb. 4, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Before and After - Haircut Day!

2012-02-01T07:59:00.000-06:00

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Linked with:

WordlessWedneday.com

Blog Paws: Wordless Wednesday

Minutes for Me - Linky Party #11 Once a Month Party!

2012-01-31T22:08:00.000-06:00

February 1st (Jan. 31st) to February 29th

Who shared at Last month's Party:

Vrooman's Quilts

Hillbilly Handiworks

The Shady Porch

The Seam Rippers

Quilting by the River

Thanks for sharing - a party isn't a party without participants! Hop over and check out their blogs after you link up something fun you want to share here today. Come back and share another link later in the month. We all love to see what you are sharing on your blogs. Party runs from Feb. 1st to Feb. 29th.

Follow the Guidelines for sharing at the Minutes for Me Linky Party:

1. The URL is for your specific post.

2. Add your backlink before linking up your post.

3. Be a follower of this blog, so you can link up every week.

4. Visit others who share.

5. Please - No advertising or etsy links.

6. Share an Old post or a New post. Add a back link in the post.
7. Link up several posts a month - come back as often as you wish! If you are having fun and you want to share it - share it here!

8. Monthly Party starts at Noon on the 1st day of the month and ends Noon on the last day of the month.

More information about Minutes for Me - click here.

This is my "Minutes for Me Button".

It is sized to 150X150 pixels for your sidebar or a page of your blog or for in a post.

On Blogger Blogs: Right Click and save the photo first. Add it under Gadgets, as a Picture, with this link http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/

Are you ready to link up a post or two or three?
Thanks for sharing!

Marcia
Also, check out the NEW Sharing Page! If you learned something here - share it on the Sharing Page too. Thanks!
Also, check out the NEW Linky Party Page - where I share everyday.

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday -- My Interview from Project Quilting - 2012

2012-01-31T16:15:00.000-06:00

This was my interview at Kim's Crafty Apple for Project Quilting.

What's your crafting style?

Free Style Quilting and Sewing

How did you get started creating?

My Mom was my inspiration as she is a very crafty person. We were always making something from sand candles to fake fur happy faces. Remember the crackled grapes? How about the loop loom pot holders?

But my Mom didn't sew. I took a sewing class in 7th grade and I was hooked on sewing. My best friend and I made cute little smock tops. This was my first sewing project! I still have it and it hangs in my shop to remind me of where my love of sewing started.

I took Home Economics classes all through Junior High and High School. I loved it! I went to college at UW-Stevens Point and graduated with a teaching degree in Home Economics Education – now it is called Family and Consumer Education. Subbed for awhile after graduating, raised a family, had several different jobs, and then taught Family and Consumer Education at the Middle School level for several years. In 2002, we moved and it was time for another career change. I bought a Gammill regulated stitch quilting machine in 2003 and started my quilting business. I started it part time and in less than a year, I was quilting full time - 5 days week. It just snowballed, with one customer telling another customer. Word of mouth still seems to be the best advertising. I am so blessed to have a job I love!

My Favorite piece?

Today, my favorite quilted project is Imaginary Blooms.

Before I finished that quilt, my favorite was my First Morning Glory Bloom. It's not necessarily the final project that I like, but how I feel when I am creating the project. It's the story behind the projects, that make them special.

What's your favorite crafty blog to follow/read?

I follow and read several blogs, but my favorite is:

HillbillyHandiworks

Tonya shares beautiful projects and the stories of her life. She does “quilt a longs”,“learn a longs”, and recently is sharing her wonderful Hexagon Blocks.

Because I work alone, I love the connections I have made through blogging.

Favorite part of creating a quilt?

The construction of the quilt --- the piecing and the quilting --- Sometimes I don't want that to end! Love the process!

Least favorite part?

I Love the whole process!

Beverage of Choice?

Iced water with one blackberry

Sweet or Salty?

Both Sweet AND Salty -

blackberries, mandarin oranges, AND eggs with fried rice I shared this recipe on my Food Blog - "Lunch Looks Like a Quilt to Me".

Number 1 on your Bucket List?

To just keep doing, what I am doing ... creating, quilting, and sharing everyday.

Kim listed all the links to all the places I share:

Blog: http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/

Lunch Blog: http://lunchlookslikeaquilttome.blogspot.com/

Website: http://www.craftysewing.com/

Email: Marcia@craftysewing.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/craftysewing

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marcias-Crafty-Sewing-Quilting/100856479173

Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftysewing/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/craftysewing/

Picasa: CraftySewing Picasa Photo Gallery

Hop over and check out Project Quilting at Kim's Crafty Apple!

Have a "creative" day!
Marcia

Getting Up Close with My Quilting - Extra Large Swirly Gig Quilting

2012-01-30T09:46:00.000-06:00

First, a little explanation about my quilting, (It's my job): Once a week, I share here, an "Up Close View" of my free style quilting. I quilt on a Gammill Plus long arm quilting machine with regulated stitch. I quilt all free style designs, which means I manually move the quilting machine across the quilt to create the designs. It is not computer generated and I don't use templates or panto graphs. I doodle or sketch a design for the customer's quilt on a piece of paper. Then I envision it in my mind and start stitching. I make it sound simple, but it is far from simple. I have been quilting customer's quilts since 2003 and every day is a joy and a new adventure in creating a "cool design" on customer's quilts. Yes - I repeat designs, but because they are free style, they don't always look exactly the same.

This quilt is a great example of a free style design using the extra large "swirly gigs". I have made the swirly gigs in many different sizes and styles over the years.

The swirly gigs flow across the quilt, intertwining within each other to smoothly fill the space. I have to concentrate very carefully as I move in and out of the spaces, so that is never looks like a uniformed pattern, without repeating the exact motion, but keeping it consistently even throughout the quilt. That's what makes it beautifully unique'.

The backing fabric on this quilt is the fuzzy minky fabric. It is wonderfully soft and smooth...

I share, because I love what I do every day. I am very blessed and very lucky to have such a wonderful job.
Again, I make it sound easy, but there is a lot of work, time, and energy involved in owning and running your own business. The best part about my days are that they are never boring. I create, I quilt, and I photograph each day to share my quilting life with the world.
When my kids were little my husband told them something like this: "Find something you love to do, do what you love, and make it your job. You will never feel like you are working - if you love it!"
We are both so blessed to love what we do!
Thanks for following along in my life...
Marcia

Keep on Dreaming Quilt - Project Quilting

2012-01-28T19:20:00.015-06:00

I always use a white quilt or a sheet as the back drop for my photos. Today, I decided to throw it out in the snow!

I took several photos as the sun was just right.

The snow was just right too. It was pretty cold today and there was a nice crust of snow, so it wouldn't sink into the snow.

But then the wind caught it...

It rolled over and over until it was face down.

I stitched some words from the lyrics - Keep on Dreaming in the white squares.

So that's my Keep On Dreaming Quilt - Inspired by Project Quilting.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Marcia

Click Here for all three posts about this quilt - starts with this post and then scroll down for the other two posts. The song Keep On Dreaming is on the first post. My brother, Mark wrote the song.

Liked with: Links here and All the Buttons with links are on My Linky Parties - Where I Share Page also.

Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff - Jan. 28, 2012

Love Affair with My Brother: This Week - Jan. 28, 2012

Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty - Jan. 29, 2012

Pieceful Life: Little Quilt Monday - Jan. 30, 2012

Sew Chatty: Made with Love - Jan. 30, 2012

Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Jan. 30, 2012

Richard Quilts: Link A Finish Friday - Jan. 27, 2012

Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday - Jan. 31, 2012

Chef in Training: Talent Tuesday - Jan. 31, 2012

Freshly Pieced: Work in Progress - Feb. 1, 2012

The Shady Porch: Rock 'N Share - Feb. 1, 2012

Faith, Grace, and Crafts: Pearls and Lace Thursday - Feb. 2, 2012

Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff - Feb. 2, 2012

Work in Progress - Keep On Dreaming Quilt

2012-01-27T21:07:00.006-06:00

I pressed Heat 'N Bond Lite to the wrong side of the fabric. I sketched some hearts on the paper side of the dark pink fabric and stars on the yellow.

Cut them out.

I drew a little sketch of the way I want to press them onto the background fabric.

Peeled the paper off the back of the fabric.

I was planning to place the stars exactly in the center of the hearts, but as I placed them on the hearts they looked so cool off center. I like it!

Pressed them in place.

Next I picked the thread colors.

I chose the dark grey thread for stitching on the black fabric. I like it better than black on black. You will see why, when I post the completed project on Sunday.

Long wavy stitching lines on the center blue area.

I wiggle line stitched on the hearts

and stitched swirls in the background of the star fabric.

I couldn't finish it all tonight. I will finish the stars and the black and white parts tomorrow morning and then bind it. My "Keep On Dreaming" quilt is based on a musical inspiration for the Project Quilting Challenge Number Two. Keep On Dreaming is my brother's song and I posted the song on Tuesday.

I quilted on my project quilting at the end of my quilting day, today. It's the end of my work week, so I quilted longer than a few minutes... actually, I quilted a couple hours and will quilt more tomorrow. So my Minutes for Me - while it was wonderful to play on my quilting machine, it delayed our Friday night dinner. I had nothing ready when my husband got home. But I made dinner in about 5 minutes! We had meatloaf, leftover potatoes, and a salad. We had my frozen meatloaf squares. When I make a big meal, I freeze some of it for just such an occasion.

My frozen Meatloaf Squares saved the day!

Thank goodness!

Enjoy your day!

Marcia

Linked with:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict: Can I get a Whoop Whoop? - Jan. 27, 2012

Amylouwho: Sew and Tell - Jan. 27, 2012

Crazy Mom Quilts; Finish Up Friday - Jan. 27, 2012

Quilting in my Pyjamas: Favourite Things Friday - Jan. 27, 2012

At Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday - Jan. 27, 2012

My Repurposed Life: Catch as Catch Can - Jan. 27, 2012

Stuff and Nonsense: Fridays Unfolded - Jan. 27, 2012

2805: Potpourri Friday - Jan.27, 2012

Charms Packs of Quilter's Blenders

2012-01-26T22:19:00.001-06:00

Recently, I was asked, if I would sell the Quilter's Blenders in a Charm Pack of 42 - 5 inch squares in color combinations to make a little quilt?
YES!
On my website, I sell Extra Wide Backing Fabrics in 32 designs and colors. There is a link in the sidebar of my blog. You can purchase a pack of 5 inch squares of all 32 Extra Wide fabrics that I carry in stock, to choose a backing fabric for your quilt.

Starting today, you can purchase Charm Packs with 6 colors in each. You get 7 squares of each color. Totaling 42 - 5 inch squares.

This one is called the Bright Pack #1. It includes 7 blue, 7 green, 7 yellow, 7 purple, 7 ocean blue, and 7 orange.

This is the Pastel Pack #2 of Quilters Blenders. lavender, medium pink, lite pink, ocean blue, lite blue and mint green.

It's a quick and easy way to make a simple quilt top.

and this is the Pinks and Purples #3 Charm Pack.

You can also order Three Color Charm Packs.

Green, Yellow, and Blue #31 Includes 14 green, 14 yellow, and 14 blue - totaling 42 - 5" squares.

Lite Pink, Medium Pink and Rosie Pink #32

There's also Two Color Charm Packs.

If you are from Wisconsin you will like the green and yellow two color pack.

A two color quilt would be a great beginner quilt.

Two Color Charm Packs include 21 squares of each color - totaling 42 - 5" Squares.

You pick the two colors - Choose from any of the 16 Quilter's Blenders.

Because these are new items, I am currently taking all orders by email.
Simply email me to place your order.
I will email you a paypal invoice to pay with by paypal or credit card.
It's simple to do!
Email me at Marcia@craftysewing.com

42 - 5" squares Only $6.00 plus $2.00 shipping on each pack in the US only. If you order multiple charm packs the shipping will be reduced for each pack.

Six Color Charm Packs:
#1 Brights
#2 Pastels
#3 Pinks and Purples
Three Color Charm Packs:
#31 Green, Yellow, and Blue
#32 Lite Pink, Medium Pink and Rosie Pink
Two Color Charm Packs:
You pick the colors - just tell me what colors you would like choosing from any of the Quilter's Blenders.

This is what I did with some of the charm squares. I added a printed fabric to my squares and made this cool and simple table runner.

I plan to quilt it, so it will be ready for Valentine's Day! I'll share all about it next week.

I had fun combining the floral with all the pinks!
The possibilities are endless!
Have a great day!
Marcia
Linked with:

Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Jan. 30, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - One Laptop and Two Lap Dogs!

2012-01-25T12:59:00.000-06:00

Linked with:
WordlessWednesday.com - Jan. 25, 2012
Blog Paws - Wordless Wednesday - Jan. 25, 2012

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - Musical Inspiration for my Quilting!

2012-01-24T22:05:00.008-06:00

Project Quilting's Challenge Two is Making Music. My brother, Mark wrote a beautiful song named "Keep on Dreaming". When I first listened to the song I said to him, "That would be a great song to quilt!" --- I wasn't exactly sure what I meant... I guess it was the way the song flowed. I love to sing it while I am quilting.
I picked out the fabrics yesterday. I selected a sky fabric, a star fabric, and a black and white fabric to create the background for my quilt.

A little pressing and then some very careful wavy cutting with the rotary cutter.

I learned how to cut and sew together wavy lines at a mini class that I took at Quilts by Barb's Quilt Retreat a couple years ago. Sorry, I can't explain it, but there are many books out there that give you instructions on how to cut and how to sew it. I just wanted to show you what I was doing to create my quilt.

We learned how to sew it, so that it lays perfectly flat and smooth.

Here's the back, so you can see how nicely the seams lay.

My background is pressed and ready for tomorrow, when I take a few more minutes for me to create.

Thanks for following along as I take the challenges and create a quilt for Project Quilting. I have til Noon on Sunday to complete my musically inspired quilt. I am sure Mark will love it. You can listen to Mark's "Keep On Dreaming" - just click on the song.
Enjoy!
Marcia

Linked with:
Pat Sloan's Blog: My Word - Share What You Are Working On! - Jan. 25, 2012
Freshly Pieced: WIP Wednesday - Jan. 25, 2012
The Shady Porch: Rock 'N Share - Jan. 25, 2012
Happy Quilting: TNT Thursday - Jan. 26, 2012
Faith, Grace, and Crafts: Pearls and Lace - Jan. 26, 2012
Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff - Jan. 26, 2012

Winner Announced for the FREE Quilting, Batting, and Thread of the Scrappy Quilt

2012-01-24T11:58:00.001-06:00

These wonderful quilt bloggers made a scrappy quilt, shared a post about it, and linked up their scrappy quilts for a chance to win FREE Quilting, Batting, and Thread on their scrappy quilt.
I love everyone of them! I would love to award quilting prizes to all of them! Don't they look great? All made from such colorful scraps! So cool!

Sharon from Vrooman's Quilts

Tonya from Hillbilly Handiworks

Linda from Eat, Sleep, Quilt

Katie's from Katie's Salt Marsh Path

Connie from Quilting by the River

Heather's Needles and Pens Blog

The winner is Heather!

Congratulations!

She wins the FREE Quilting, FREE Batting, and FREE Thread.

Hop over and check out Heather's Needles and Pens Blog and tell her congratulations.

Thanks to all for sharing their beautiful scrappy quilts! Such beautiful scrappy colors!

Watch for upcoming information in February about the 2nd Annual May for Me Celebration. I have teamed up with some blogger friends to make this year's celebration bigger and better!

Enjoy your day!

Marcia

Getting Up Close with Big Circle Quilting with Orange Slices

2012-01-23T08:27:00.001-06:00

Today, I am sharing big circle quilting. I think it is a perfect choice for this quilt. The circles and orange slices repeat the design of the whimsical fabric.

The big circles and orange slices really add a cool twist to this quilt.

I used a thread color called pearl. It looks like a very lite grey.

It works perfectly, because it isn't a stark white thread and it lightly shows on the back and blends nicely on the front of the quilt.

The circles range in size from 2 inches to 4 inches in diameter. The orange slices are about 3 to 4 inches.

The big circle quilting is a perfect choice for this quilt!

Have a great day!
Marcia
Linked with:
Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday - Jan. 24, 2012

A Quilter with a Green Thumb - Maybe... Maybe Not ?

2012-01-20T08:34:00.002-06:00

I bought two Amaryllis kits right before Christmas, thinking they might bloom sometime between Christmas and New Year's when my Mom was visiting. My Mom love flowers and I thought it would be cool to have Red Amaryllis blooming in my living room.

I took them out of the box and followed the directions. This is the way they looked when I started them. One was already sprouting out.

Cool ... maybe I will have blooms by New Years! Or at least one bloom!

This is the way they looked on December 29th. One was growing and one wasn't.

Well, at least one of them is going to bloom. It will look really cool next to my other plants.

Well... New Year's came and went and still no blooms.

On the 8th of January it started to open.

This is how it looked on the 10th of January. I took pictures during the day as I watched it change.

Then the next day!

And the next day!

These were taken on January13th.

And this is the one that is not growing...It looks perfectly fine but nothing is happening.

The Red Amaryllis does look very nice with my green plants on the table by the window.

Up close of the bloom. This could be a beautiful red texture fabric to use in a quilt.

That's one nice bloom! It really could inspire a very pretty thread painted quilt!
I think it was worth taking a picture or two or three everyday. Hope you enjoyed the view.
We are suppose to get 7 inches of heavy snow today. It started snowing early this morning. I think I will just stay inside and enjoy the flowers! It's a good day to sew in the dining room and enjoy the view of the snow on the evergreens. Yes, I have to quilt too, but I also need a few Minutes for Me of sewing on the green donation quilt.
Have a wonderful day!
Marcia

Linked with:
My Christmas Cactus is Blooming Post - Dec. 15, 2011
African Violets in Full Bloom - Dec. 6, 2011
Tootsie Time: Fertilizer Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
A Southern Daydreamer: Outdoor Wednesday-Jan. 18, 2012
Lisa's Chaos: Macro Monday - Jan. 23, 2012

Mom and Me --- Making This Year's Donation Quilt

2012-01-19T10:15:00.006-06:00

Here we are proudly displaying the first completed block of our donation quilt. We decided to do all greens this year for our courthouse round quilt. Mom purchased the green fabrics and supplies for the quilt. I cut the strips. Mom lays out all the strips for each block on paper towels in a pizza box.

I cut each green fabric into strips of all 4 sizes needed for each round of the courthouse round, thus giving us a large variety of greens for the block. We started with about 35 different greens and later added a few more!

Then I place the cut strips into the drawer organizer to make it easier to select the strips for the rounds for Mom to lay out on the paper towels.

We are big fan of blues, but we are loving all the greens...

Then I take two blocks at a time and sew them together. This isn't a fast method for making the blocks, but it is an organized way of making them, as each block is very carefully planned out, so all the greens look great together.

Of course, we took over the dining room --- It is my favorite place to sew. Lots of light - not so good for taking a picture, but I wanted you to see where we were sewing.

The dogs wanted to be in the photo too. They are always under our feet as we sew.

We donate the completed quilt to the Fireside Dinner Theater of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. They raffle it to raise money for Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson County.
This is last year's donation quilt. The Fireside raised almost $3000. in the raffle for Rainbow Hospice.
Rainbow Hospice is near and dear to our hearts as they took wonderful care of my Dad 16 years ago. He died of cancer. Each year, my Mom and I make a donation quilt in his memory.

Now it is is my job to complete all the blocks for our donation quilt. Then I will assemble it and quilt it. I will share more pictures later.
Enjoy your day!
Marcia

Linked with:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict: Can I get a Whoop Whoop? - Jan. 20, 2012
Love Affair with my Brother - This Week - Jan. 21, 2012
Amylouwho: Sew & Tell - Jan. 20, 2012
Crazy Mom Quilts: Finish up Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
Quilting in my Pyjamas: Favourite Things Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
Pieceful Life: Little Quilt Monday - Jan. 23, 2011
Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty - Jan. 22, 2012
Sew Chatty: Made with Love - Jan. 23, 2012
Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Jan. 23, 2012

Scrappy Quilt Challenge and Quilting Giveaway - Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday

2012-01-16T23:55:00.001-06:00

Did you make a Scrappy Quilt Top using the denim block pattern as explained in the Scrappy Quilt Challenge Post?

Did you post your photos of the process from scraps to the quilt top on your Blog or on Flicker?

Did you include a link to my blog? http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/

How to enter the Giveaway for FREE Quilting for your Scrappy Quilt Top?

1. Link up your post on the linky party on this post. (URL to the post about your scrappy quilt), thru' Jan. 23rd at Midnight.
The drawing will be announced on Jan. 24th.
2. Follow my Blog - Not required, but appreciated.
3. Leave a comment after you link up to enter the giveaway to get your Scrappy Quilt Top Quilted for FREE including FREE thread and FREE batting!

Winner of the Giveaway must provide the backing fabric to go with their scrappy quilt or purchase backing fabric from me. Winner pays shipping back and forth.

Need more Information:
FAQ's about the Scrappy Quilt Challenge
Example: How many winners will there be? What size can my scrappy quilt top be? Is there still time to make a quilt top and post and link up?
Scrappy Quilt Challenge

Add your link today thru' Jan. 23rd at Midnight.
Good Luck!
Marcia
UPDATE: an error was made in the time I put on the linky party -- If you wanted to linkup a post about your scrappy quilt -- Please email me so I can include your quilt and name in the drawing. Sorry about any inconvenience.

FAQ's about the Scrappy Quilt Challenge Which Starts at Midnight Tonight

2012-01-16T09:52:00.000-06:00

How big can I make my Scrappy Quilt for the FREE Quilting, FREE Batting, and FREE Thread for the Challenge?

You can make it up to 48" X 60" = 2880 square inches. Which would be a pretty large baby quilt or a small lap quilt - that's 4 feet by 5 feet!

What if I make it larger, Can a pay the extra amount for the quilting? YES!

Can I choose the free style quilting design? Yes and no - I will be quilting the winner's quilt with one of the three overall designs from the sample quilts. If you really like the swirls, wiggle lines, or the meandering with a twist, you can request the one you like best.

Do I have to use the denim block pattern to make my quilt? YES! You must use the denim block pattern as explained in the Scrappy Quilt Challenge Post.

What if I am quilter and made and quilted my scrappy quilt -- Can I link it up and show everyone my scrappy quilt? YES, Please link up so we can see it. You can also link it up on the Sharing Page.

Linking up for the Scrappy Quilt Challenge starts tonight at Midnight tonight, 12:01AM CST Jan. 17th and will run thru' Monday, Jan. 23rd Midnight.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24th.

FREE Quilting, FREE Batting, and FREE Thread for your Scrappy Quilt Top!

Customer provides backing fabric (or you can purchase that from me) and customer pays shipping back and forth. Giveaway drawing is open to everyone who makes a scrappy quilt top, links up photos from your blog or flicker photos, and leaves a comment!

What are my chances of winning? Pretty good!

If 26 people enter (link up), I will add on another FREE Quilting, FREE Batting and FREE Thread for a another Scrappy Quilt. If 51 people enter I will add on another one... and if I get an over whelming response of 76 people, I will keep adding on prizes up for every 25 entries up to 10 FREE Quilting prizes if necessary! So keep spreading the Giveaway!

I have received emails that many will use their scrappy quilt for a donation quilt - What a great idea! Turn your scraps into helping others!

How long does it take to make a Scrappy Quilt? about 1 to 2 hours, if your squares and strips are cut and depending on the size you make. So you can make one on the 18th or the 20th, or even the 22nd and take photos - write a post and link up! Please make sure you back link to my blog at http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/ so everyone can join the fun!

You may use any of the photos from this post or the Scrappy Quilt Challenge Post in your post.

Any questions - please leave a comment or email me at Marcia@craftysewing.com

Join the fun!

Marcia

Linked with:

Quilts Built by Imagination

2012-01-15T00:13:00.008-06:00

The quilted table runner represents tall buildings with lots of windows. When I traveled to San Francisco, a couple years ago, I got to see the colorful narrow houses. They are pretty cool!

The place mat was made by cutting my leftover fabric scraps into squares of different sizes to represent the colorful buildings in Italy.

You can see the photos for my inspiration on Tuesday's post - Build With Your Imagination and the beginning of my quilted project. Saturday's post shares more of the work in progress. I called it Building Your Vivid Imagination.

The wavy lines are the roads in between the houses.

Combining the elements in both photos, I used my imagination to create the quilts - "Quilts Built by Imagination".

Thanks you Kim at Kim's Crafty Apple for inspiring me to create! Kim is hosting Project Quilting. Hop over and check it out!

Enjoy your day!
Marcia

Are you doing the Scrappy Challenge Jan. 17th to Jan. 23rd?

Linked with:
Pieceful Life: Little Quilts Monday - Jan. 16, 2012
Sew Chatty: Made with Love - Jan. 16, 2012
Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Jan. 16, 2012
Chef in Training: Tuesday Talent Show - Jan. 17, 2012
Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday - Jan. 17, 2012
The Thrifty Groove: Thrifty Things Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
At Picket Fence: Inspirational Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
2805: Potpourri Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
Stuff and Nonsense: Fridays Unfolded - Jan. 20, 2012
Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff - Jan. 20, 2012

Work in Progress - Project Quilting - Building with a Vivid Imagination

2012-01-14T22:02:00.011-06:00

As I got my super long table runner ready to quilt, I realized there was some more space to quilt a small quilt. A place mat would be great to go with the table runner. I had a few fabric scraps left. I cut all the pieces into squares - not perfect squares. Overlapped them like the ocean side houses in the photo of Italy. See Tuesday's post for the photos of the architectural elements. I used a purple quilter's blender fabric for the background.

84 inches - that's long table runner!

Choosing the threads..

I quilted the table runner with wiggle lines spiraling into the shapes and then weaving in and out on the yellow background.

I really had fun just spiraling in and out!

I quilted the place mat on each individual square - the houses of the city.

The waving lines thru' the background represent the curvy streets in between the houses.

Both quilted and ready to trim, block, and add the binding.

The back side of the place mat.

The back and the front of the table runner.

Purple binding for the table runner. I used a little tiny stretch stitch to machine sew the binding onto the quilt.

Black binding for the place mat. This photo was taken in the bright sun. The sun really washes out the colors.

A couple macro shots. First photos of the place mat.

And a close up of the table runner. Remember these macro shots - photos make the fabric and stitches look larger than life.

Added my name and year as I always do on my own quilts.

Use your vivid imagination to create...build with your imagination.

Tomorrow, I will share photos of my completed Project Quilting. Click here!

Enjoy your day!

Marcia

What's Project Quilting?<-- Click here.

and a link to My Scrappy Quilt Challenge (Tuesday - January 17th to the 23rd)<-- Click here

Linked with:
Love Affair with My Brother: This Week - Jan. 14, 2012
Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff - Jan. 14, 2012
Lisa's Chaos: Heart Macro Monday - Jan. 15, 2012
Freshly Pieced: Work In Progress - Jan. 18, 2012
The Shady Porch: Rock'NShare - Jan. 18, 2012
Faith, Grace, and Crafts: Pearls and Lace Thursday - Jan. 19, 2012
Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff - Jan. 19, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Yes - We Do Love Each Other!

2012-01-11T18:09:00.000-06:00

Linked with:
WordlessWednesday.com - Jan. 11, 2012
Blog Paws - Wordless Wednesday - Jan. 11, 2012

Minutes for Me - Linky Party #10 NEW Once a Month Party!

2012-01-11T12:51:00.002-06:00

Welcome to Minutes for Me ONCE A MONTH Party!

In 2012, I am going to make things in my life easier! Part of making things easier means cutting out things that take time and doing more fun things. Don't get me wrong, I love the Minutes for Me Linky Parties! I love seeing what everyone has linked up! Taking time to play is important! Reading about what others are doing for fun is really cool too!

I have received emails from friends saying they forgot to link up or things got too busy and they forgot. Now they will have a whole month to share. Everyone can share as many posts as they would like. Please no repeats. I would love to see what is happening now, but you are welcome to link up an old post too, as long as you include the backlink for others to see where you share.

So, what did you do this Month? Did you play?

I have been spending my Minutes for Me playing! You saw my post last week where I created some cool scrap fabric cards. At then end of last week, I quilted a gift for a friend. A One Block Table Topper with a matching card. I posted that on Monday of this week. That was my play time on the quilting machine.

As you know My Minutes for Me time is when I take time to play and create! What do you do? quilt? sew? cook? craft? gardening? take photos? scrapbook?

Thanks to all who linked up their posts last week!

A Feature from last week's Party #9

The most viewed post last week was Snoodle's Post from Lily Pad Quilting Blog. Snoodles shared a post about fabric that she won and is playing with! . Thanks Snoodles for sharing. Hop over and check out Lily Pad Quilting.

Snoodles please add the "Featured at" Button to your blog sidebar or a featured at page. Right click and save the image. Then go to Add a Gadget and add it as a picture and include this link to add to your sidebar. http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/ Thanks for sharing Snoodles!

Follow the simple Guidelines for sharing at the Minutes for Me Linky Party:

1. Link your post URL and not your whole blog. The URL is for your specific post.

2. Please display a visible back link or my button in your post to this party or it will be deleted. Back links will be required in order to link up. Add it first before linking up. So grab my link first and add it to your post, then link up. Once you get used to doing that it is easy!

3. Be a follower of this blog, so you can link up every week.

4. Take a moment and visit some of the other participants.

5. Please - No advertising or etsy links.

6. You can share an old post or a New post. Just make sure you have a back link in the post.
7. You may link up several posts a month - come back as often as you wish! If you are having fun and you want to share it - share it here!

8. Monthly Party starts at about Noon on the 1st day of each month and ends at Noon on the last day of the month. (Noon-Central Time)

More information about Minutes for Me - click here.

This is my "Minutes for Me Button".

It is sized to 150X150 pixels for your sidebar or for in a post.

On Blogger Blogs: Right Click and save the photo first. Add it under Gadgets, as a Picture, with this link http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/

Thanks for sharing!

Marcia
Also, check out the NEW Sharing Page!