Freckled Whimsy

My Little Friend

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:05:00 +0000

I have a new friend.

Please meet "Oli".

Full name = Oli-So Perfect :)

More to come on my little friend.

Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:18:00 +0000

We all have one, that comfort zone.

We know what we like and what we're good at.

Sometimes it's hard to wander from that for fear of failure.

My comfort zone in free motion quilting is meandering in smooth lines or meandering in squared off lines/boxes.

I purchased Angela Walters book, Free Motion Quilting, on November 21, 2012. I've looked at it many times. I've ooohhhh-ed and ahhhhhh-ed over it. I thought a few times that maybe I could do it but I chickened out every time.

Until my last quilt. I wanted to do something different. So I practiced for a bit to see if I could get the basics of it down.

I chose her flower pattern...

This was my first picture. It's a bit hard to see but I used the variegated yellow thread in Tula Pink's collection by Aurifil. I need the rest of this collection..just saying.

Here is my flower on the orange print in Piper by Dear Stella.

One more shot showing that I made my flowers kinda big...hahaha!

I really love how it turned out. None of the flowers are the same size and they are certainly not perfect, but flowers in real life are equally as imperfect.

So based on this...the fact that I can do this, so can YOU. I'm putting a challenge out there to all of you. Whether it be in regards to quilting or not, take a step outside of that zone we so deeply cherish. It's really not that bad and you might find that you kinda like it. ;)

Oh, I know I've only shown a few peeks of this quilt...but don't worry. You'll see the whole thing very soon!!! Promise!

Much Love!!!

Remember Sale

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Mon, 27 May 2013 18:57:00 +0000

Today is a day for all of us to take a moment and be thankful. Thankful for all the men and women who have served, who are serving now, and those yet to come.

Think about where we'd be if we didn't have those brave among us. Actually, I'd rather not think about that, but you see what I mean.

Revel in your freedom today, tomorrow, and yesterday, and be thankful!

I am not only thankful for those that serve, but I am also thankful to all my readers. I appreciate you every day!

To honor both, I am doing a buy one get one FREE sale that begins now and will end at Midnight on June 1st.

Head on over to my shop and take a peek ---> http://freckledwhimsy.bigcartel.com

I have 4 patterns available right now.

If you buy one, get one, use the code REMEMBER2013

If you buy two, get two, use the code 2xREMEMBER2013

Enjoy, and Much Love!!!

Fresh Modern Bee Finish ... Finally!!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Sun, 26 May 2013 17:20:00 +0000

Hello my lovelies!!

It's always nice when we can revisit old friends, right? Ones that you've been meaning to reconnect with but time just keeps slipping away... Then when you actually put your foot down and do something about it and reconnect, you feel so good afterwards!

The same is true with quilts. UFO's... (Un-Finished Objects). Poor little things, sitting all alone in the closet or in a bag or at the bottom of a tote completely forgotten. If you listen carefully, you can hear them crying... well ok, maybe not but I bet they still feel bad ;)

A few months ago I pulled out a UFO that was from a quilting bee I was in, Fresh Modern Bee. I had my fellow bee members make me half square triangle blocks using Sweetwater's Make Life line for Moda. I forgot how much I truly loved this line. I had pieced the top and pin basted and even began quilting. Then other things popped up and it got set aside. Again.

Until yesterday... I saw it sitting there and just had an itch to finish it. So I did.

Here she is, in all her splendor.... I heart her.. so much! Thank you to all my bee friends that made it possible!!

Scrappy binding.... *swoon*

This is my little helper. Couldn't help but snap a shot of him! :)

Here is a close up of one of the blocks to show how I quilted it. Just kind of a no bones about it meandering but instead of rounded edges I went with squared off edges.

I am so happy to have her done!!

Thank you again to all my fellow bees!!! I heart you for helping me put this quilt together!

Much Love!!!

Kissing Booth * New Pattern Release

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Hello my friends!!

Guess What?!

Yes!! I have another pattern in my shop!!

Let me introduce to you.... Kissing Booth!!

***Note: Purchase Kissing Booth and one other pattern and get $4.50 off your order, now through June 1, 2013 at 12am. Use coupon code KISSINGBOOTH

Grab the pattern over at my shop (link in left sidebar), a Layer Cake or a Jelly roll, and some background fabric, and you'll have a new quilt in no time!

This pattern comes together pretty quickly, and even though it looks like it is full of Half Square Triangles, it's not! There is not one single HST in this quilt.

One block is all this quilt is made up of. Just flip them around and your blocks look like they are kissing! Hence the name.. :)

My daughter thinks they look like kissing fish... I think she is right!

I love this shot!

The fabric I used in this quilt is Just Wing It by MoMo for Moda. I know it is an older line but I had it in my stash and wanted to use it because it is so striking! You could use any line and it would look fabulous!

If you make this quilt, I'd love to see it! Please feel free to add it to my Flickr Group HERE if you do make it! :)

Much Love!!!

Sew Mama Sew Winners!!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:45:00 +0000

I'm late! I'm late!! I wonder if that rabbit in Alice in Wonderland is rubbing off on me!! ;)

Time for the good stuff!!!!

I have two winners!!

The winner of my 3 patterns is....

And the winner of the Fat Quarter bundle is ....

I have sent each of you an email!! Please respond to me with your address and I will send out your packages! :)

Congratulations!

Much Love!!!

Giveaway Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:05:00 +0000

Hello Everyone!!!

Sew Mama Sew is hosting their bi-annual Giveaway Day again! I've missed the last few but I am very excited to participate in this one!

I am so happy you stopped by to see what's up for grabs!! While you're here, feel free to take a peek around if you are a new visitor, or even if you've been in the family for a while. :) I have lots of tutorials and tidbits, and I just opened my shop for my own patterns!!

You will have from today until May 10th, 2013 at 7 pm (CST) to comment for a chance to win! The winner will also be announced before May 12, 2013 via email, so please make sure your email is linked to your profile when you comment! I will also update this post with the winners!

I know, you want to get to the good stuff and see what I am giving away huh? Me too!! Hahah!

I am going to be giving away 2 sets of things so TWO winners! Yah!!!

Item #1:

I just released my first 3 patterns, Catawampus, Turnovers, and Fifteen Degrees. The first giveaway is a copy of each of these. The format is your preference. I can mail you the physical paper copy, or I can email you the PDF for each pattern!

Item #2:

In honor of my very first pattern, Fifteen Degrees, I am giving away a Fat Quarter of each of the fabrics in this line and the pattern! The line is called Rockin' Romance by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics and it was used in Fifteen Degrees. It is a gorgeous line, so feminine and I adore all the gray in this collection, and of course, the purple!

Now, for how to enter to win....

1. Please only comment once.

2. Leave me a comment telling me your favourite thing about Summer!

3. That's it! Easy Peasy!

I will use Random.org to choose a winner!

Good luck to everyone!

Much Love!!!

Which Way?

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:55:00 +0000

I had a bit of spare time today so I pulled out a Layer Cake I've had for quite some time now. It was Just Wing It by MoMo for Moda Fabrics. I don't know why I haven't cut into it before now but I truly heart this line.

So as I was putting blocks together and pressing, I wondered what all of you do. When it comes to pressing, I mean.

Do you press all seams open?

Do you press all your seams to the side?

Or do you mix and match?

Me? I used to always press to the side. Always. Mostly because it was faster..lol!

However, I've discovered that I really much more prefer pressing open. I feel that my seams lay flatter and my blocks square up better. It does take a bit longer to go about it this way, but my end results are so much cleaner.

So now I'm a totally "Press Everything Open" kind of girl. ;)

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!!!

Much Love!!!

Sale ends Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:37:00 +0000

Thank you so much for all your kind words and positive energy in regards to my first pattern release!! I cannot even tell you how much I appreciate it!!! There is a ton of work that goes into pattern writing and to know others enjoy them is such a reward.

Just a quick reminder, my sale will end at midnight on Saturday, April 20th.

If you'd like to grab up a pattern or two or three, click on my SHOP button on the left side and use the following codes for either the PDF versions or the paper patterns:

Purchase 1 pattern and save 10% - Use Code FRECKLED10

Purchase 2 patterns and save 15% - Use Code FRECKLED15

Purchase 3 patterns and save 20% - Use Code FRECKLED20

Sunny approves, do you? ;)

First Pattern Release!!!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:04:00 +0000

I have an announcement...Ohhhhh I am sooo excited I can hardly stand it.....Hahah!

You probably guessed by my post title that I have been working very diligently on a few patterns and they are done, done, done!! Not only are they done, but I am releasing them as my first three patterns for my pattern company!!! Hooray!!!

I am so very excited about this new venture and I hope you love the patterns as much as I do!

So with out further ado, I bring you my patterns:::

Catawampus:

Turnovers:

Fifteen Degrees:

For the next two weeks I am offering them at a discounted rate. You can purchase 1 for 10% off, 2 for 15% off, or all three for 20% off!!

Purchase 1 pattern and save 10% - Use Code FRECKLED10

Purchase 2 patterns and save 15% - Use Code FRECKLED15

Purchase 3 patterns and save 20% - Use Code FRECKLED20

They are being offered as a paper copy, shipped with in 1-2 business days from date of payment for $1, or you can get a nearly immediate download in PDF format too! The discount applies to either format!

Head on over to my shop HERE or you can click the SHOP button over in the left sidebar. (:

I would love to hear your thoughts about the patterns and when you make one of them, please add it to the flickr pool for Freckled Whimsy!

Oh, and tell your friends!! (:

Much Love!!!

Washi What?

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:06:00 +0000

Whoa...it's been a bit huh? I've been super busy with some stuff that I hope I can share with you very soon!!

Until then, let me show you what I've been up to with that darned washi tape. I've recently gotten bitten by that bug and its like Pringles. Once you pop, you can't stop...heehee!

The first thing I plastered with Washi tape was my 3.5 year old Mac Book Pro. The top had gotten a bit scratched in his years so I gave him a girly makeover. He didn't seem to mind...too much. :) I love how it turned out!!

After that I went on a hunt for something else to cover. I found 3 wooden frames and instantly knew I wanted to cover those too!! I covered all three and decided to put quotes in them and hang in my sewing room. I've only gotten one filled with a quote so I will show you that one for now, but when I have all three up in my room, I will show you the final result.

What do you do with your Washi tape??!!

Dear Pick Your Plum...will you PLEASE do another day of Washi tape??! Two haven't been enough to satisfy my thirst for this sticky stuff! ;)

Much Love!!!

Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:47:00 +0000

Hello!!

I was having a lot of fun making changes to my blog. After making the new header I wanted a matching signature, divider bar, and then I decided to make my own social media buttons!

This resulted in me making a Facebook page for Freckled Whimsy! There isn't much there yet, but it would give me warm fuzzies if people liked my page. I promise, there will be postings there! I just have to figure out the whole Instagram Facebook integration stuff!

So if you are interested, no bribing involved, go ahead and like my page. You can click the pretty little orange button over on the left side or you can click HERE to see my page.

Much Love!!!

Changes

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:44:00 +0000

I want to say thank you to all of you who answered my question about pattern choices. You all gave some really great insight!

I titled this post "Changes" because there will be a few changes coming in the near future. GOOD changes!

First up was a blog update. It's been a few years since I have done anything with the look of this blog, so I freshened it up a bit! A few more tweaks will probably be made, but just wanted to give you a heads up so you knew it was still me here. ;)

What do you think?

Much Love!!!

Question #1

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:35:00 +0000

I was curious...

When you are looking to make a quilt, what draws you to a pattern?

What makes you choose one over another?

There is no wrong answer here.

Just be honest. :)

I hope everyone has had a splendid weekend!!

Much Love!!!

Quilt Label Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:13:00 +0000

Hello and Happy Monday!!

Mondays are usually a blah kind of day so I thought I'd bring you a little tutorial on how I do my quilt labels.

If you don't label your quilts, I'll let you off the hook *wink* but going forward I truly encourage you to label them. They are important for so many reasons. They tell the why, the who, the when, the where and really, anything you want them to. Think of all those quilts from the past and how we all try and figure out where they came from, its legacy. Be sure to leave your legacy on your quilts. You worked hard on them. You and your quilt deserve that much. :)

Now, a lot of people ask what to put on the label. Well, that's really up to you. I think in part it depends on its purpose. If its a quilt for yourself or a gift, the name of the quilt, it's recipient, you're name, the date (I personally use the date I completed it), maybe a location, and any other little tidbits you want. Maybe a quote, or a short story. Some people like to put their address on their labels. I really only do this if I am sending my quilt out and I want to make sure I get it back no matter what!

Due to the fact that there are so many different things to put on a label, I choose to hand make mine every time. I love the idea of creating labels on Spoonflower and I even went out there and designed a few. After I thought about it for a while, I decided each quilt I make is different and unique, I want my labels to reflect that same thing. I didn't want the same label on every quilt.

Another reason I make my labels like this is so I can sew them right into the backing of my quilt. I generally piece all my backs so this isn't an extra step for me. You know that by sewing them right into the quilt that they won't be removed with out compromising the quilt itself. Very important!!

So, here is how I make my labels. It's super simple and so versatile.

Here we go...

Step 1: Find a free font site to choose the font you would like to use. I like DaFont.com. Tons to choose form and they are FREE! They even have directions on how to install them!

Step 2: Bring up any program where you can write text and change the font. I use Photoshop, but you can use whatever you have on your computer. It doesn't have to be fancy, just so you can type words and change the font.

Step 3: Create a new document. If you can choose the size of your document, choose the size you want your label to be. If you can't, just use the rulers as a guide. For this label I am using 6 x 6.

Step 4: Type out your label. Create it just as you want it to be shown on the back of your quilt. Add words, quotes, shapes, anything you can trace. Don't make it any more complicated than your tracing abilities will allow. :)

Step 5: Now print that out.

Step 6: Cut your fabric that you are using for your label. This works best with very light fabrics but you can test different colors to see how they will work.

Step 7: Lay your fabric centered over the paper you just printed. I use a bit of tape to keep it in one place.

Step 8: Now comes the tracing part. You can do this a few ways. I used to tape this up to a window so the light would shine through and trace it. This works but I find my arm gets tired and I keep having to fiddle with the pen to keep the ink at the tip. So I created my own light table. My sewing machine table has a plexiglass insert and the machine is lowered so I have a space between the bottom of my machine and the top of the table. I put an Ott light in that space, placed my paper over top of that.

If you don't have a set up like this you could use any light box or you should be able to purchase a piece of plexi glass and then just set books or the like on either end to create a space to put a light underneath.

Step 9: Once you have your light source set up, start tracing with an archival safe pen. For this quilt I used a Micron 05.

Step 10: Sew it into your quilt backing! This shows how it looks sewn into the quilt after it's first washing.

And here's the quilt it went into. Finish #4 for 2013.

Began January 11, 2013 and finished on February 16, 2013

Pieced and quilted by me

I did 6 blocks on January 11, and finished the rest from February 11-16th ;)

I would love to see your results if you try this!!

Much Love!!!

Lickety Stitch

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 04:45:00 +0000

Quilting is my #1 hobby, hands down, but as a crafter, we all know we never just stick to one thing. Our creative minds just explode with ideas and, well, we just need to let that out or the world may come to a shortage of chocolate. Heh!

I am finding that my second crafty love is cross stitching. It all began with The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery and all their most adorable designs. I just couldn't resist. You can find their (Amanda and Ashleigh's) designs HERE and HERE.

It started with this...

Then my good friend, Heather, designed this spectacular Holiday Holly Deer so I tested the pattern for her. I love how it turned out!

Then The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery released their Woodland Sampler. It's only February and its already so full of cuteness! I can't wait to see what each month will bring! I am secretly hoping there are turtles, even though turtles are not traditionally in the woods... ;)

Here are a few shots of my progress with the sampler...

Here is January all finished and full of cute!

..and on to February..

If you'd like to stitch along with the Woodland Sampler, you can sign up HERE for only $16.95 for the whole year! Even though it's February, you will still get Januarys pattern too. :)

What are you waiting for? Come join me?

Much Love!!!

Toes in the Sand

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:37:00 +0000

In my last post I gave you this sneak peek...

Here are a couple others...

Note those tiny triangles are 1"! But never fear, it is still super easy to piece! Honestly that block (#7) is the one that intimidated me the most and I saved it for last. After piecing it I sort of felt silly because it really was so easy and it is easily my favourite block in the pattern!

Almost done...on goes the binding!!

And then its all done!!

Here she is....in all her orange glory!!

I present to you my quilt. The pattern is by Jaybird Quilts and it's called Toes in the Sand. You can use the templates included with this pattern but I much prefer to use her Hex n More ruler. It is seriously the bomb!! I've always hated piecing triangles because lining them up to match points is aways a pain. Not with Julie's ruler! She makes it so easy to get perfect points its ridiculous! (No, she didn't ask me to say that..hahaha! She also didn't ask me to promote anything for her. I just love her stuff that much. It promotes itself!)

Began 12-27-12 and finished on 01-24-13

Pieced and quilted by me

Fabric is Treasures and Tidbits by Piece O' Cake Designs for Robert Kaufman

Thank you Julie, for an amazing pattern and an amazing ruler!!

If you are interested in making your own Toes in the Sand quilt, I know Fat Quarter Shop has it and is sending it out as a block of the month. You can check that out HERE. Also make sure to add your quilt to her Flickr group HERE.

Just to show you how much I enjoyed piecing this quilt, I am going to make it again!! That's a rare occurrence for me, to make a quilt more than once. So stay tuned as I piece my second Toes in the Sand!

Just a few more bits of eye candy...

Much Love!!!

Lattice Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:12:00 +0000

Well this year is definitely off to a great start for projects and finishes!

I've already showed you my first finish for the year, my scrappy trip along quilt! I'm still in love with it!

My second finish for the year is a quilt I made for my niece. She was born on 01-23-12 (yes she just turned 1 year old!!!) and she didn't have a quilt yet, while her brother and sister already had two each!

It began like this... (using Film in the Fridge's tutorial)

And it ended like this... (please excuse the poor quality picture) I had to get it sent off and it was such a gloomy day today. I'm just sick I wasn't very proactive to get better shots while I could have. :(

I love the back! I cut out the letters with my Silhouette and then raw edge stitched it to the backing.

I hope she loves this quilt as much as I do!!

Keep your eye out for my third finish for the year.....

Much Love!!!

A Beautiful Ugly Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 06:07:00 +0000

I mentioned in my last post about a new project that has hit Instagram by wildfire, the scrappy trip along (tutorial here). A few people started it and next thing you know there are over 2000 photos tagged with #scrappytripalong. Two THOUSAND!!!! In a timeframe of a little over a week I believe, maybe two.

I saw these photos popping up all over IG and I couldn't wait to join in the fun! So I went and faced all my fabric. I sat there for a while and pondered it. Hemming and hawing. Second guessing. Having an internal debate really. I wanted to participate but my hinderance was the fabric selection. Anything goes. Its scrappy. *begins twitching episodes*

Now some of you are like, so? Whats the big deal?

All my quilts, and I mean all of them, are matchy matchy. The scrappiest I've ever done is a mini quilt and pillows, but all those fabrics matched. Even if they weren't from the same line, they matched.

I don't have OCD or anything like that, but I've always had issues with choosing fabrics. I've sort of relied on the designers to do the work for me in regards to color and never really branched out. Why? Because I didn't want to put hours into a quilt and taking a risk and then end up hating it. My logical side said don't waste your time and effort, stay safe. So that's what I've always done. Ugh, right? Yep...but that's the truth of it.

The last few years I've ~~hoarded~~ lovingly collected multiple lines of fabrics. All kept together and not getting all mixed up with other lines. If I got them mixed up, how could I make sure they weren't left out of a quilt? I would oogle over others photos of fabric collections and how they would all be stacked up together and be so pretty, yet none of them belonging to the same line. I wanted that, yet instead of buying a fat quarter here and there, I'd buy the whole line.

So back to this quilt....I sat there a good while and battled myself and finally decided to wing it. Everyone said how fast this went together so would it really be that much time wasted....that's what I told myself to convince me it was ok.

I started pulling fabrics.....this was the start of my pile....

I wish I would have taken a photo of my final pile. You'll notice that in the photo, everything still pretty much matches. I finally said what the hell and just started throwing whatever in that pile. I pulled fabrics out of their matching lines (more twitching wondering how I will ever remember where all these belong), I pulled fabrics out of the scrap bin. I dug through piles of fabrics from previous quilts. One big pile. When I was done I stared at it for a bit. A long bit....

Then I said...this is going to be one "Beautiful Ugly Quilt".

I quickly gathered up my selections, ironed them, and cut them up. *twitching* These things didn't match, but I pressed on.

My plan was to do 8 blocks at a time. I chain pieced which for me was very efficient...sewing the first two strips together one right after another 8 times, then I'd go back and add the third strip to all 8 sets, then the fourth, and so on. Clipped each strip set apart and ironed the seams per the instructions and sub-cut, and then ripped each set of 8, stacking them in rows on top of each other so I could chain piece them back together.

Each block came together, some uglier than the last, but I kept going.

My first 8 ...

Then I had 16...

24...

With 12 more blocks to go, I tackled them in one shot...

Almost there...8 left to go...

And then it was done....my "Beautiful Ugly Quilt" top was done...so I used it as a cape..heehee

At this point I was completely giddy with this quilt. Seriously. I was in love. I wanted to keep going and finish as soon as possible. I pinched myself a few times because I couldn't believe it, but I really really really loved it!

My pinwheel quilt will probably always be my favourite quilt, my Linus quilt, but this one, this one is a very close first. As in when I cover up, I have them both..hhaahha!!

I love this quilt because it is so full of firsts for me.

My first finish for 2013! My first scrappy quilt. My first non-matchy matchy quilt. My first "take a chance" quilt. My first putting fabrics together from completely different lines. My first time separating my children, my fabric children.

I learned that it's ok to take a chance, that it's ok to put fabrics together that you may not think will go well together, but in the grand scheme of things, they go perfect. I learned that the whole point of quilting is a creative outlet. Following the line of standards doesn't allow you to do that to its fullest potential. Please don't get me wrong, I am still going to do matchy matchy quilts as there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but for me, I grew in this experience and to me, that is huge and so important.

I finally put on my big girl quilting panties...heh!

Began December 30th, 2012 ....completed January 6th, 2013. Exactly one week!

To show the quilting better...

I am so smitten....so much so that I am making my second one!

A big thank you to @lucyandnorman, @imagingermonkey, @justabitfrayed, and @thatswhatlindseymade. If I researched correctly, it was these ladies who started all the fun!

Have you gotten your trippy on? ;)

Much Love!!!

Mingling

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:59:00 +0000

Hello again my friends!!

Can you believe that this is the last day of 2012? Every year goes by faster and faster!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi and that I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas and of course a safe New Year!!

I've been up to a few things since my last post...

I was in a bee about two years ago or so (gasp!) called Putting the Bee in Christmas. It was a bee geared towards making Christmas quilts. So off my fabric went, and happily it came right back. Unfortunately after that, there it sat. This year I really wanted to make a tree skirt so after trying to decide on a pattern, it came to me that I still had these blocks waiting to be made up. So away to work I went. I didn't do anything crazy with it, but I loved how it turned out! Sometimes simple is just the way to go.

Thank you to everyone who helped me make this!!! <3 p="p">

I've also been making some pillows. I made Rachel's Scruffily Quilt some years ago so when I saw her pillows, off I went! You can find the tutorial for her pillows HERE.

I've bee n playing around with Julie's Hex N More ruler... this girl is a genius...I've said that since I first read her blog....still a genius!

I've been cutting 1.5" squares of Treasures and Tidbits (Robert Kaufman fabric) for a miscellaneous project.. meaning I have no idea what I am going to do with it just yet. I wanted to try Oh, Franssons stamp collection technique. I used smaller squares but its genius!

Last but not least I got sucked in to the Scrappy Trip Along. I saw photos popping up all over Instagram (I'm KarrieLyne there if you wanna add me) so of course I poked into it and in one day I am almost half way done. Each block is 12" finished and I want to make mine 6 x 6 blocks, so I have 20 left to make. If you'd like to know more (and to make your own...wink wink) you can find the tutorial HERE. If you want to see more of the wonderful Scrappy Trip quilts I am talking about, there is also a Flickr Group HERE. Beware....it's addicting!

What have you been up to!!??

Much Love!!!

DIY Subway Art Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:26:00 +0000

So you've heard of this not so little site called Pinterest, yes? Anyone else concur what a time suck it can be? You tell yourself I will just go peek for a minute and an hour later you've pinned 50 things and liked 50 more. ACK!

I do really like that site though. I like the premise that I can pin a recipe or a pattern and when I come across a need for it, I know right where to go. Organized bookmarks if you will, only with very pretty pictures!

After spending so much time on there I thought that if I was going to eat up so much time I should at least have something to show for it. If I am going to pin stuff, I should put some of them to use, right? Otherwise, what good are they?

One of my favourite things to date that I've pinned is subway art. There are a ton of tutorials out there so I won't do a detailed one, just a run down of the steps I took to do mine.

This was going to be a softball theme for my daughter and I didn't want the background to be plain. I wanted to jazz it up a bit.

Step 1: Paint your canvas with Gesso. (You can find this in the artist paint section. Its like white paint to prime the canvas.) Let dry completely.

Step 2: Grab some bubble wrap and cut it into manageable squares.

Step 3: Choose your paints. I just used acrylic. Squeeze a dab of each onto a plastic plate and grab some foam brushes. I used one for each color but you could wash one in between each color.

Step 4: Using one color at a time, paint your color onto your bubble wrap, leaving a paint free spot to hold. This way your fingers will stay fairly clean. Take care not to paint it too thick. Then press it to your canvas. Keep pressing it in different spots until you need to reload with paint. Repeat until you get the desired look.

Step 5: Let dry completely. This really doesn't take too long. Maybe an hour.

Step 6: While your canvas is drying, get out your Silhouette and cut your design from vinyl. My canvas is 20" x 24" and the Silhouette can only cut 12" wide so I cut my design sideways by setting my work area to 20" x 12". Doing so allowed me to cut my entire design from only two pieces of vinyl. (Refer to later photo showing brown and green vinyl.) I used THIS video as my original guide.

Step 7: After the vinyl is cut, remove all the excess vinyl from around the letters. Take care in doing this step. Go slow so you don't have to re-cut. This will leave you with your letters on the backing only.

Step 8: Using a piece of transfer paper (I just used clear contact paper) that is a bit bigger than your design, peel off the backing and lay it sticky side down over your letters. Using an old credit card, gift card, or anything with a stiff edge, run it over all your letters. Press firmly. Now flip it over and glide it over the back too. Carefully lift the transfer paper minding that each of your letters are securely stuck to it as you pull it away.

Step 9: Place the transfer sheet onto your canvas lining everything up. Once you have it placed right where you want it, using that gift card again, start rubbing the letters. Here you have to be a bit more careful because if you push too hard you will rip your canvas. You may want to turn your canvas over on a hard surface and burnish it from the back. Then peel back the transfer paper. You may have to keep using your gift card to get those letters to stick down. Be patient and go slow. It's worth it!

Step 10: Once the transfer paper is removed, take that gift card one more time and give it a careful once over just to be sure all the edges are down onto the canvas. We don't want any leaks.

Step 11: Grab that Mod Podge and paint a layer over the letters and on the canvas. Don't worry, you will still be able to remove the letters. We want to put this clear layer down so that when we spray paint it, the paint will not leak under the letters so we are creating a seal around each letter. This results in a very crisp letter, which is important, unless you want a different look. If you want a messy look, skip the mod podge.

Funny. I've always called it "Modge" Podge. Until I looked at the photo to realize its Mod, not Modge...lol!

Step 12: Let dry completely.

Step 13: Grab that spray paint. I only use Rust-oleum's Painters Touch. Best coverage in my opinion.

Step 14: Place your canvas over something you don't mind getting paint on. I used a broke down cardboard box. Spray one coat but don't worry about covering the whole thing. Just do a light coat over the sides and tops.

Step 15: Let that dry according to the directions on the can and then spray it with one more coat. Let that dry once again. Make sure its good and dry. You don't want to peel stickers while the paint is wet.

Step 16: Now comes the fun part. The reveal! Grab a sharp tool like an exacto knife. VERY CAREFULLY stick the tip of the exacto knife into the vinyl letter. Do not puncture your canvas! Once you get the tip of the knife in the sticker you can pull it up and off the canvas. Repeat until you have removed all of your letters. You are left with a piece of Subway Art!

I even used Pinterest inspiration to hang it on the wall....with toothpaste! :)

Note: All fonts were found at DaFont.com. Part of the fun was looking for all the fonts! :)

I did my trial run based on the video I linked above and this was the result...

Now go get your craft on!

Much Love!!!

Help!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 20:32:00 +0000

My dearest crafty friends, I need your help!

I have this prankish idea to play on one of my former supervisors. She is in much need of a few laughs and smiles.

You know those little trees they sell at Michael's Craft stores? They usually have the burlap wrapped around the bottom and they are not very costly?? You can decorate them yourself....

I want to hang (bare with me here....remember I said it was prankish..heehee) Doritos from them...like ornaments.

My need for help comes in because I need ideas on how to put a hold in the tops of the actual Dorito so I can hang a string on it to put on the tree. Anyone have ideas how to do this with out breaking the Dorito? I can always hot glue a hook on it but I'd rather do the hole and ribbon to make it look "pretty". Heh!

Also, is there a way to preserve it so they don't go bad? Modge Podge?? Would that work? Not sure if that can even be done but I thought it would be nice if it lasted until after Christmas was over!

I'm not crazy, promise! Just want to make someone laugh in a very sad time.

Any ideas you have are welcome!

Ready? Set? Go!

Much Love!!!

It's Been Awhile...

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:52:00 +0000

They say that it's better to just jump in the pool instead of gradually wading in. Kind of like ripping off a band-aid. Just do it.

Apologies first.

I never meant to just bounce out like I did. Life got completely crazy and hectic and I got so overwhelmed that I went into hibernation, for lack of a better word. I was in full on quilting mode for over a year. That's all I did with all of my free time. If I wasn't working, cooking, cleaning, or putting on my taxi hat to cart my kids everywhere, I was quilting. Every. Spare. Minute.

I was burnt out. Seriously burnt out. Quilting was supposed to be fun and it nearly turned into another full time job. That's not how I ever intended it to be. I was having so much fun creating new tutorials and patterns, but along with that came the editing of pictures and actually creating the tutorials. If you've never done one, they are a ton of work.

I am not complaining. I enjoyed it. It just got to be too much and I wanted to be able to do other things. I'm pretty sure my kids were sick of me always quilting, too.

So long story short, I wanted to take a break with out really announcing it. I just wanted some time. But that time turned into weeks, then months, then *gasp* over a year. I kept saying that I'd post and then I'd forget or something would come up or I just didn't feel like it.

Sincere apologies for skipping out for so long. I honestly never meant to. If any of you are still around, I hope you will understand and forgive.

On a different note, I do plan on posting again. Perhaps not as often. Probably not like I used to. Maybe. I really don't know where this will take me. All that I know is that I have missed crafting. I miss sharing exciting things that I come across. So I am going to give this another go and see where it takes us.

I hope you'll come along. :)

All this got started because Christmas is coming and I was thinking of gifts. My new baby niece was born January 23, 2012 and I hadn't even made her a quilt yet. ACK! Her brother and sister each have two. I felt terrible. Yes, I know she has no clue but that's not the point.

I started looking for a quilt to make. I kept coming back to the string quilts and fell in love with the baby lattice quilt that Ashley made from Film in the Fridge. So after about a week of obsessing over Pinterest (that's a whole different post...lol) I decided to do this string quilt. It's such a happy little quilt!

I went to my craft room in search of fabric to use because I knew I had more than plenty. I finally settled on a favourite called Pick A Bunch by Nancy Mims for Robert Kaufman and off I went.

Five hours later I had this...

And during most of that time I also had this...

A very happy kitty in a box full of fabric. Silly kitty :)

Hope all of you are well...and until next time....

Much Love!!!

P.S. I have to laugh at myself because I have completely forgotten how to edit my pictures, add watermarks...etc so I hope these come through ok.

Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:07:00 +0000

So it's not officially summer yet, but it sure has felt like it!

We've had temperatures nearly to the 100's already. That's early for the mid-west! Then our temps suddenly dropped to like 55! I felt like I was in Antarctica again or something! LOL! They seemed to have evened out for the time being and we have Spring weather right now....70's! If I could live in temps like today all year, I would! However, our weather here is to bipolar to ever know what the next day will bring!

So what have I been up to and why have I been "off line" for a spell?

Well it all starts in the spring with baseball for my son and softball for my daughter. My son has games on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and my daughter has games on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Plus I work outside of the home 40 hours. That leaves me my weekends.

The past few weekends I've had company. I had a great time visiting and even found out I was going to be an Auntie again!! Yay!!! I'm pretty excited about that! :D

I know I haven't shared much on here lately in the sewing department, mainly because of everything listed above. Not much time. Actually, I haven't even touched my sewing machine in over 2 weeks! **GASP** I know....I know...horrible.

However, I had worked on a few things before all the hustle and bustle started, I just couldn't share them at the time. Now I can. :D

I'm sure you've been to Rachel's site, P. S. I Quilt, right? Well, she needed a little bit of help and I was happy to oblige! After all, I do love to sew!!

She asked me to make her Escapade pattern in all Kona Cotton solids, to be more specific, the Poseidon colorway.

Didn't it turn out grand!!??

(Photo courtesy of Rachel from Flickr)

I only pieced the top and then she sent it to her amazing quilter who did an amazing job!! I have plans to make a twin to it, I adore it that much!! :D

If you love it and the pattern, you can grab it up HERE!!

I also helped Rachel out with her quilt along quilt by piecing the top! This quilt is so FUN to make and I highly encourage you to quilt along with her on this one!! I pieced two tops for her (no I can't show you the other one yet..heehee) and if I can ever squeak some time I will probably make a third for myself to keep!!

Here's the quilt...

(Photo courtesy of Rachel from Flickr)

Want to quilt along with Rachel and make one of these lovlies?! Of course you do...just click HERE for the details!

Let's see..what else have I been up to?

Well, I became the mother to a 13 year old.

I don't even know how that is possible for me to have a teenager. Oh man, does that word make me cringe! LOL! She's a good kid so I'm not too worried, I just feel old. ;)

I have also bought some more fabric because I couldn't resist...especially since some of the prints have turtles in them!!

Prince Charming by Tula Pink.....Yum!! Now if I only knew what to do with all those pretty prints and find the time to do it..hahah!

I hope everyone is doing well!

I miss you!! Truly I do...it's just that time of year that my kids come before everything else!! I promise to be a Chatty Cathy again soon!

Much Love!!!

Love Is Timeless

noreply@blogger.com (KarrieLyne) — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:36:00 +0000

I know i've been quiet, but I HAVE been baking. :)

Check out Moda Bake Shop today and see my latest.

I really love this line...Sherbet Pips....

I really love this quilt actually. :)

What do you think?

Much Love!!!