Moonwishes Crafts

Project Linus Quilt 2012

2012-02-17T10:17:00.000-05:00

Between surgeries, just not feeling good and a major wedding quilt project, I didn't get much other sewing done this past year. The other day I counted up how many quilt blocks I had made towards this year's Project Linus quilt. I had made only 10 and needed 25! Last night I finally sat down and whipped up 15 more, machine embroidered the Janome Project Linus logo on one of the blocks, ironed them and trimmed threads. Hopefully today I will be able to get them sewn together, sandwiched with the batting and backing and quilt it so it can be turned in tomorrow which is blanket day at my local sewing shop, Super Stitch . I try to get a blanket done every year and if I don't finish it on time I end up without the mental push of a deadline. This is going to be a big push for me so I hope I can get it finished.

I usually make most of my Project Linus quilts in bright primary colors. This is where cutting blocks out of leftover material at the end of sewing project really pays off. I cut all my leftover cotton quilting fabric into 4 1/2" and 2 1/2" squares and 4 1/2 x 2 1/2" rectangles. I always seem to have plenty of pieces to make a scrap quilts for this yearly project. I'm also glad that I didn't have to cut these pieces all at the last minute as the tendonitis in my elbow wouldn't have allowed it. It is amazing just how many different kinds of quilt blocks can be made with just these three size of quilt pieces. The picture shows this year's block design.

The Project Linus logo can be downloaded for free at the Janome website along with a lot of other free machine embroidery designs.

The Free Motion Quilting Project

2012-02-15T16:13:00.000-05:00

If you want to learn how to free motion quilt on a domestic or home sewing machine, this is the place to go! Visit The Free Motion Quilting Project where Leah Day will help you through written and video tutorials to learn all sorts of designs and ways to quilt your quilting projects. Her site is a fantastic learning opportunity that you should want to take advantage of.

Valentine's Day & Project Linus

2012-02-11T10:03:00.000-05:00

Just realized last night that Project Linus blanket day is this coming Saturday the 18th. Although they take quilts throughout the year, I try to have one ready by the blanket day as a prompt and deadline for me. At this point I only have 10 blocks made and need 25 total, plus finishing the quilt. I'll see how it goes. I haven't missed turning in a blanket for years, but this past year was rough with two surgeries and the new year hasn't started out so well either with almost non-stop pain from not only the RA but tendonitis. You would think that if you are already in chronic pain for one thing, you wouldn't have to get another source of pain too wouldn't you? It has sure slowed down my sewing plans. I'm going to give it a try to get the Project Linus quilt finished though, as it is simple quick blocks.

Also a reminder that lately several of the embroidery sites that I signed up for have been giving away free embroidery designs for Valentine's Day. So if you get newsletters in the mail, be sure to open them to see if you got a goodie! I think in the last couple days I got 5-6 free designs. Valentine's Day is now rather special for me as it is also my wedding anniversary. This year will be our tenth one and I'm so glad I have a hubby that not only loves me but works hard to help ease my physical pain and has stuck by me all these years of chronic illness! He is a wonderful guy.

The Free Motion Wuilting Project

2012-02-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

I've been hearing a long time about Leah Day and finally last night since I couldn't sleep I had time to visit her blog, The Free Motion Quilting Project. Definitely a place to visit if you are trying to learn FMQ and want to be able to both read and see how to do things. She has lots of videos showing how to do things. I barely got through the surface of what she has in her blog and know that will need to spend so quality time there.

Winter Machine Embroidery Freebies

2012-01-20T14:34:00.000-05:00

Just in case you may have missed it, Embroidery Library is offering some great winter freebies up through January 22, 2012. Two of the designs available need bigger hoops as one has a measurement of over 8" on one side and the other has one over 9" on one side and is designed for an endless hoop, but for those with smaller sew out ability they have split the design for you. Embroidery Library, if you have told them your preferred format and maximum size of your hoops, will remind you if designs are too big for your machine when they are placed in your shopping cart. I download all the sizes anyhow, as maybe someday, some nice person will give me a machine that can use those large designs. LOL! Downloading all the smaller sizes helps you from having to decrease or increase the sizes of your designs as much to get them to fit a certain area and that keeps your stitch count and sew out looking better. I just love the generosity of this company! And what terrific designs besides.

Gifts!

2012-01-13T20:11:00.001-05:00

Last year (2011) was a rough one physically for me with a lot of pain and periods of discouragement. Then I found a devotional book at our local library book sale on seeing the gifts that God gives or brings our way. I read through that book twice during the year before passing it on to someone else that might find use for it. Over the month of December, which was a financial strain for us, I thought again about that book and my need to acknowledge the gifts that come my way. I wanted to focus on the good and not the bad that was happening in my life. Suddenly life just didn't feel as full of strain and problems when thinking about the good that was happening.

When Ron and Savannah came for Christmas he brought me 3 Sew Beautiful magazines that someone had given him to pass on to me. I hadn't seen them before as I don't have a subscription to this magazine as so many of the projects are for little girls that I don't have much opportunity to sew too much for. I was very excited to get these magazines and reading them helped to take my mind off the pain I'm in. Best of all I saw some neat ideas that I can hardly wait to try on the Little Dresses for Africa dresses that I make. In one of the issues they even had a 'pillowcase' dress.

My next sewing 'gift' came in the mail today. A friend from one of my sewing digests wrote me and offered to send me 6 memory cards and a hoop to go with my second hand Janome 9000 or she was going to throw them out! I was so grateful for her generosity and she even refused to let me pay for the shipping!

Several weeks ago I had an author write me and ask me to read and review her book which I of course said yes to. Although I've been having a hard time reading this past week, this has been a fun and interesting book to read and I will be doing a review of it soon. And then today I received my second book gift. Michael Palmer sent me an Advanced Reading Copy of his book Oath of Office to read and review. Since he is one of my favorite authors, this will be a treat indeed!

I challenge you to keep track of the gifts that come your way so that on discouraging days you can think of the many blessings that have come your way. God indeed is good!

Purple Hat New Freebies

2012-01-13T10:53:00.000-05:00

The Purple Hat has just posted three more freebies that is part of their animal alpha-bet series. These designs would be great as quilt blocks. Purple Hat features lots of children's designs and in the hoop designs. Visit them here and see what they are working on!

Finally Finished, well almost!

2011-12-31T14:03:00.000-05:00

After a year of work when I was able, in between two knees surgeries and multiple arthritis flare-ups, I am happy to say that I am done with Ron and Savannah's wedding/Christmas quilt! I just have to sew on the label although they got in for the holidays last night and got to sleep under it already. I'm so happy to have it done and I think it turned out well with lots of bright colors that will go with just about any color scheme except a subdued one. There is a quilting tradition that some quilters insert a humility block into their quilts since no one but God is perfect. Well, that is not a problem I have. Lots of technical oops in this quilt, but it was made with lots of love for a lovely couple.

This quilt was made with over 1000 individually cut 2 1/2" squares and the border was supposed to have about that many and they were actually cut, but by the time I got to the border, I realized that a pieced border wouldn't work. This was a quilt as you go quilt, using ideas from Sharon Pederson's books (hope I got her name correct) although it isn't a reversible quilt. Even so, for a big queen sized quilt, that is a lot of bulk to be handling! It was made on my Janome 7700 and 9000. Now onto other projects, only I think I want to go with smaller projects for a while!

New Free Embroidery Designs

2011-12-31T13:46:00.000-05:00

Anna Bove Embroidery has just released some beautiful FREE embroidery designs to download. Snowflakes which could be placed into any winter scene and Green trees which could be placed into any outdoor scene that needs some pine trees. They also have other neat things at their store, so stop on in!

My Quilt is Finished

2011-12-29T10:42:00.000-05:00

After a year of working on it when I had time, in between two major knee surgeries, arthritis flare-ups and generally not feeling well this year, I'm happy to report that I have finally finished my kids wedding quilt! Pictures will follow after they see it for themselves, but I am very pleased with the way it turned out. I don't think I will ever attempt such a large quilt again as it was just too heavy to manipulate even doing a quilt as you go version. At some point the whole thing has to come together for the final border and binding! Thankful that I had a Janome 9000 and a 12000 so I could switch between them to save time on thread changes!

More Machine Embroidery Sites

2011-12-26T12:34:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Else, we have two more great sites to add to our Machine Embroidery Sites pages. Be sure when possible to sign up for the different sites newsletters so that you will know when they have come out with new designs or freebies. Like all the other sites on the lists, these ones also have plenty of freebies for you to try before you buy!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-24T22:52:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all my sewing friends! We look forward to this next year. With no surgeries planned, I hope to feel better and no lost time recuperating so I can be able to get more sewing projects done. We would love to see any sewing projects you do also.

We are also looking forward to sales from our store helping to support the Sewing Project in Paraguay. the Hill's are very excited and grateful that we have taken them on with the promise of a portion of all sales that will be sent to them monthly. For more about the Project, please visit http://norbertandsylvia.blogspot.com/ to see what else you personally might be able to do.

The sewing project in Limpio Paraguay

2011-12-20T13:55:00.001-05:00

Throughout our life, we have always given a portion of our earnings back to charitable causes whether to our church or other worthwhile needs. I'm sure those of you that have been reading my blog for a while know that I love helping assist in needed causes, such as the Project Linus quilts I make and the Little Dresses for Africa. These I do personally in between my own sewing projects. I feel so grateful for what I've been given in sewing machines , fabric and notions that I want to give back in tangible ways. We have wanted to find a charity that would be a good fit for our store, Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts, to help support. We wanted especially to find a charity that was sewing related, helping women to learn sewing and help them to earn a living to help support their families in a respectable manner. We wanted a charity that the buyers of our goods would appreciate that a portion of their purchases would be going to help other women in their sewing endeavors. After some studying and searching via the Internet, we found the perfect charity in a recent copy of The Quilter magazine.

We will now be sending a portion of the proceeds of our pattern sales monthly to "The Sewing Project in Limpio/Paraguay". This project is run in Paraguay by Albert and Sylvia Hill. Sylvia was asked to teach women how to sew and over the years this project has blossomed. The better seamstresses are now learning how to produce Fair Trade goods to sell to help support themselves. The women are growing in self esteem and now have a way to sew and make gifts for their families as well as earning much needed income. This is a worthwhile project that helps impoverished women to be able to start their own businesses. We are very excited to partner with this project. Your purchases will help provide needed funding. You can learn more about this project here: http://norbertandsylvia.blogspot.com/

You can also make your own personal donations to the Sewing project by way of fabric, notions, sewing machines, and money. Some of the women need bus fare just to get to the sewing classes and money is needed to help pay for more sewing teachers as the project grows. They also are very much in need of those who can help to sell and distribute their Fair Trade articles that the women produce. You can send monetary donations and find out more about the project at The Sewing Project in Limpio Paraguay To enquire about the project write to the following address or to send a donation make the check payable to: "The Project for the People of Paraguay - sewing project!” Send the check, enquiries or donations to: PPP P.O. Box 251 Avon, Minnesota 56310. You will get a receipt for your donation. Thank you for your help in this cause in what ever way you can. This group also would appreciate prayers if you are so inclined.

Accuquilt Go! Baby

2011-12-17T14:12:00.003-05:00

While looking through the latest American Quilter magazine (Jan 2012) I came upon an ad for a giveaway for the Accuquilt GO! baby. You can register at www.quiltviews.com/go-baby-giveaway It comes with two dies and two cutting mats. Value ~$250. I'm bringing this up for those of you who are interested in trying out this method of cutting templates, and it seems to be rage lately. By signing up you have a chance at winning one so you can try it for free, which for me is the only way I'll ever have one. Interestingly enough in the same magazine is an article on projects to do with the leftover fabric after cutting the dies (or what you can do with leftovers after cutting applique pieces).

For those of you that do machine embroidery, KennysKreations combines the available cutting dies with some of their available embroidery designs to make a fantastic Rose of Sharon quilt if you would like to see what the possibilities are for these dies! I have no affiliation with either of these companies, just love to pass on information to all our sewers out there. Those that don't have an embroidery machines, you can still get great ideas for appliquéd quilts using the stitches on our Janome Horizon 7700.

Quilting Arts 10th Anniversary Postcard Quilts

2011-12-16T14:09:00.000-05:00

Years ago I made a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish during my life. I don't know what happened to the list, but I do remember one of the items. I wanted to have a quilt of mine on the front cover of a quilting magazine. Haven't achieved that yet, but when Quilting Arts was celebrating their 10th year anniversary, they put out a request for tiny postcard sized quilts featuring the number ten. I decided that not only did I want to feature the number 10 for them, I wanted to feature my 40 some years of quilting, sewing and embroidery so I made this little quilt. Today while checking out the Quilting Arts website, I discovered that they had posted my quilt! You can see it here.
In such a small project, it was difficult to show everything, but two of the fabrics were from my first two dresses that I made for myself that I then used for scraps in my first quilt. Hard to believe that I still had some of those scraps after all this time. Other fabrics were from other quilting projects. One was a piece of batik that I picked up on a cruise with Doreen Speckmann years ago. Many significant bits and pieces.

Well I haven't had a quilt on the front cover yet, but one has been published. I haven't written a lengthy article on sewing to be published,but have had many letters to the editor published. I feel that these are all small steps towards achieving my goals and someday hopefully I will get there. If I don't, at least it wasn't because I haven't been trying!

Vintage Sewing Patterns

2011-12-15T21:39:00.001-05:00

I have always enjoyed rummaging through sewing patterns and dreaming of what I could make with them. However, with thousands of patterns published over many years, it is next to impossible for any one person to make all the patterns. As a pattern seller, I come across many more patterns that the average sewer. Currently we have well over 7000 patterns listed in our store Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts with thousands more still to list. I find it especially interesting when I run across patterns that I made back in college and during my early married years that I had made for myself. Since I don't consider myself vintage, I get a twinge every time I see those patterns described as vintage. Well here for your study are two genuinely vintage patterns! Butterick Sewing Pattern 5388 is a great little girl's pajama pattern and Butterick Sewing Pattern 3957 is a man's pajama pattern. These are the oldest patterns to come into my possession up to this point in time. While I do try to collect and display vintage sewing notions to use and display, we sell sewing patterns and so have just listed these patterns up for sale.

These type of vintage patterns are so different than what we get now when we buy a pattern. The pattern tissues were not printed with any cutting lines or symbols but with holes and notches cut out of the pattern tissue. They were one size patterns. Butterick was the first pattern company to come out with an instruction sheet for making the garments, called a Deltor. Can you imagine trying to put together a pattern that has no markings or instructions especially if you are a new seamstress and just learning how to sew? I know of only one pattern company that does that at this point of time and that is Marfy patterns from Italy. They make seriously stylish garments and the pattern comes in a plain envelope without even a picture of the finished garment on the envelope much less any instructions or pattern markings either. Only a very accomplished seamstress would attempt their patterns at this point.

Over the last hundred years, patterns have gotten easier and easier to sew, less and less fitted and much more casual. Over the past weeks we have been listing older patterns and the difference between older patterns and newer ones is interesting. While the styles many times are classic and could be worn even currently without looking 'old-fachioned', the patterns help you to sew into the garment all those features that help keep you from looking like you are wearing something with that homemade look. I only wish I could find these types of patterns in my size range as apparently there weren't too many plus sized women around back then!

I have a dream of getting my old Singer machine that was made around when I was born into good working order, find some quality fabric from the 1950's and a pattern from the 50's in my size and make me a 'real' 50's garment! I suspect the hardest thing is going to be finding the pattern that fits me! But the joy is in the hunt!

Embroidery Library December Freebies

2011-12-02T19:37:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen them yet, you will want to pop in at Embroidery Library and pick up their December freebies. They are concluding their year long Blooming flower pot series with a Christmas flower pot as well as one for Chanukah. There is also a Christmas Bird Song design as well. Since they come in two sizes, that is 6 freebies to pick up in whatever embroidery format your machine takes. I love Embroidery Library not only for their many freebies but for the fine quality of their designs.

Vintage Patterns

2011-11-29T20:35:00.000-05:00

One of the joys of selling sewing patterns is getting to look at them, see the different styles, see how little some classic styles have changed and the different sewing techniques required. This Butterick Pattern 3326 is a good example of our older patterns. It is designed by Evan-Picone with many classic details. The jacket has a funnel neckline, two-piece long sleeves, welt pockets and is fully lined. The front wrap skirt is also fully lined and in two lengths so depending on the fashion fabric chosen can work for the office or a party. The blouse is a classic long sleeve back button blouse, with front pleats/tucks, and a stand up collar.

You may not want to use a pattern as is, especially as it may be hard to find it in your size, but taking some of the details from an older pattern can bring a special touch to your sewing. So many of our patterns today focus on how fast and easy it will be to make that those special details may be missing. Come visit our store today and see what you can find to give that couture touch to your garments!

Missing Art Quilts

2011-11-20T10:35:00.000-05:00

Please help 4 quilts come home! Following a quilt exhibition, 4 quilts remain missing. Please check this blog to see pictures of the missing quilts and to find out how to contact the owner if you see them up for sale or at any other place. Two of them were made by Sarah Smith, who just posted a 3-part article on the Jamone site about free motion quilting.

Sewing Patterns Simplicity 9207 Christmas

2011-11-18T20:55:00.000-05:00

One of the joys of having a pattern store is finding 'old' friends in more ways than one. 41 years ago I moved away from California as a teenager and left a boyfriend behind that I have never seen again. However I did run into him on line and both my husband and I enjoy corresponding with him via email. He has been selling all sorts of things on line over the years and his advice is what helped us get started selling on line. He came upon a large batch of sewing patterns that he thought he could resell until I talked him out of it and bought them from him. Going through the boxes of patterns from this old friend, I found patterns that I considered old friends as well. Patterns I have made over the years, or patterns I had planned to make and never quite got that far. We have all done that haven't we? This Christmas pattern, Simplicity 9207 was one of the patterns I received and it brought back many memories of Christmas long ago as I made the Christmas tree skirt, and it has been used every Christmas for over 30 years now. Do you have any favorite patterns? We would love to see them and hear your stories.

Charitable Donations

2011-11-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

We have heard many nice comments about our donating 10% of this months sales to feed the hungry. Since we started this business, we have always donated a portion of our proceeds to charity, but have never really mentioned it other than when we collected for the Japan tsunami relief. While money for us is always tight, we are fully aware of how blessed we are. We would like to be a help to others that don't even have adequate shelter or food. How nice it would be if we as sewers could lend our support to others that theirs and their whole families lives depend on their sewing. Does anyone know of a sewing related charity that assists our sewing sisters (and brothers) in third world countries that we can take on as a permanent monthly donation and help to them? Thinking particularly of women that by starting their own sewing business are able to support their family. Would love to hear some great ideas or have links sent to us. Thank you and our best wishes for a happy holiday season!

Secrets of Embroidery Machine Designs

2011-11-11T11:15:00.000-05:00

Secrets of Embroidery, has a sale going on now. With a purchase of $30 or more, you get a set of 37 seasonal designs for free. There are also some new FREE designs without a purchase, so if you haven't visited there in a while, you need to check out what is new, including instructions for a free project. Secrets of Embroidery, is you haven't been there before, carries designs from MANY businesses, so it is easy to find the designs you need and the designer you are looking for.

We are getting into that time of year where we are so busy that it is hard to keep up with everything, but visiting your favorite design sites you may find just that perfect thing that you need to finish off a project now or get ideas for next year's crafting.

I personally am still working on my kids wedding quilt and hope to have it finished by Christmas. I'm into quilting each block currently and then want to attach the quilted blocks together to make the whole quilt so I don't have to quilt a whole queen size quilt. As the late Doreen Speckman said once, 'machine quilting a whole quilt is like wrestling an alligator!' I'm not into wrestling them either and I'm enjoying the quilting process for this original quilt.

Embroidery Library

2011-11-11T11:03:00.001-05:00

Embroidery Library, one of my favorite machine embroidery design sites, is having a terrific sale on Christmas designs. Currently 100 designs are only $1.00 each. AND for this weekend only, from 11-11-11 through 11-13-11 you can purchase 11 designs of your choice for $11.11. It is also time to pick up your free designs for the month, so is you haven't popped on over their lately, do so now!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-02T13:29:00.001-05:00

It is November and we are having a beautiful fall day. My birthday was a few days ago and it gave me a good chance to reflect on the blessings that have come my way. We are not a wealthy family by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to many in the US and aboard, we are most blessed. We wanted to share with you that for the month of November 2011, 10% of the proceeds from our patterns sales will be donated to the local food bank in our town. This is our way of giving back to our community and to help those close by. Visit Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts to see what a fine collection of sewing patterns and other crafting items we have available for sale.

Vintage Vogue Patterns

2011-10-28T19:50:00.000-05:00

Vogue Patterns, the magazine, has featured some of the vintage Vogue patterns in the last couple of issues. Again readers are saying, "Where can we find them as they are out of print?" Well we still have a small supply of some of the Vintage Vogue reprints at our store. The whole reason we started this store in the first place was to help other sewers find out of print and hard to find patterns. Currently we have around 7500 patterns listed with another 4-5,000 more waiting in the wings to scan, list and post to our store. Stop on in and visit us and bookmark us so that you can find us again. Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts.