Saltwater Quilts

Starting a New Reversible Table Runner for Easter and 4th of July

2014-03-12T10:41:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! I have been working on a new project while I complete my economy blocks. A reversible table runner with one side for Easter and the other for any patriotic holiday.

Everything I am sharing with you now, I completed on Friday last week and planned to share it with you earlier. However, I have somehow caught a nasty cold. My kiddos and husband have been sick several times throughout the winter season and I guess it finally caught up with me.

So there has been no sewing happening around here once I completed both sides of the table runner. I am also waaayyy behind on my house chores which I prefer to spread out over the week, but this time it looks like I am going to have to spend a couple of days to catch up.

For now I can share my progress with you. The Easter side consists of fabrics that are good Easter colors. I picked chevrons, several flowers, little birds and chicks, and I love the one towards the center that looks like chicken wire.

I love the little chicks and the yellow ribbon flower by Denyse Schmidt. The latter is probably my favorite print. I wish she would release a whole collection of ribbon flowers in all different colors. Just like Lizzy House did with her Pearl Bracelets. That would be so wonderful! A girl can dream right?

The second side is patriotic and for some reason my reds are looking more coral in these pictures. The deeper reds are almost burgundy. I tried to get the reds to show true, but the pictures did not want to cooperate. I am hoping I will figure it out before I show you the completed table runner.

I have made this table runner two other times and this version is a little different. Usually on this side, the pattern creates a chevron print. This time I arranged the colors to make the flag design, but the arrangement of triangles hasn't changed.

Here are the other two that I have completed...
Side 1 - Halloween/Side 2 - Flea Market Fancy
Side 1 - Amy Butler's Lark/Side 2 - Christmas

I have listed a pattern for this reversible table runner in my Etsy shop if you would like to make one for your home or as a gift. Here is the listing: Reversible Table Runner.

Hopefully I feel better soon and will have more to share with you in a couple of days.

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Economy Block Update

2014-03-03T19:24:00.001-06:00

I have been working steadily away on economy blocks. They are simple to put together, but very time consuming. It is a great project to work on slowly throughout the year.

Whenever you are cutting fabric for your latest project, just cut out some squares to set aside for economy blocks. Over a year or two you will have plenty to assemble a quilt top depending on what size you are aiming for.

I decided I want to make it all now, which makes for a great deal of fabric play. The scrappy look requires pulling many different fabrics, cutting, and organizing pieces for each block.

Here are some blocks that I have already assembled. I decided to put them together in squares of 9 blocks. It will be easier to assemble the quilt top this way rather than sew it row by row.

Each economy block is 5" and the tutorial for them is found here on Red Pepper Quilts. I decided to make this quilt a large throw size requiring approximately 200 blocks.

These six squares make up 54 of the blocks. I definitely have my work cut out for me. Sometimes I question my judgement in choosing this project and deciding to make it so big.

However, I keep on sewing when I think of the final product. It is going to be such a fun quilt to curl up with and watch TV. My kiddos have already taken a shine to it and I know they will love it when it is all finished.

This is a lengthy project, but I really have enjoyed playing with the different fabrics, arranging, and rearranging fabrics that I would not normally put together. It has been a great way for me to step out of my comfort zone and look at colors and fabrics differently.

The next time I share this with you I will have a whole quilt top and I can't wait!!

Previous posts related to this (lots of economy blocks):
Economy Block Progress
Economy Block and Scrap Update

Have a great day and stay tuned!
Candace

Name Tag Tutorial

2014-02-25T23:14:00.002-06:00

Ever need a name tag... well here is a quick and easy tutorial to make one that represents you and your personality. When it comes to making a name tag there is no right or wrong. It is an expression of you, so create whatever makes you happy.

1. Choose your size and cut out front and back pieces, batting, and any other scraps for decoration.

Front and Back - For this particular name tag, the finished size is 3" by 4". Cut two pieces 3.5" by 4.5" to account for 1/4" seam allowances.

Batting - Cut the batting to the finished size, which is 3" by 4" in this case.

I chose to decorate mine with waves, so I cut oversized strips for each wave. I cut narrow strips of double stick fusible web to apply to the top edges of the waves to prevent the edges from curling up or fraying.

2. Trim the edges of each decorative piece (waves in this case or whatever pattern you choose) with the desired design while holding the adhesive in place.

Since I only had to trim them a little into the shape of a wave, my adhesive strips are very narrow. The size of your strips may vary depending on the design. I chose not to apply it to the whole piece because it would add too much bulk. It is really only necessary to give the edges some stability.

3. Iron them in place and top stitch each piece. Lift up the bottom edge of each piece, trim and remove the extra fabric underneath. If not, in this case I would have 4 layers of fabric which would make quilting difficult. Trim the edges to the right size.

4. Embroider your name however you prefer. I used a fine tip disappearing ink marking pen to mark my name first and used that as a guideline.

5. Center the batting behind the front piece and quilt as preferred.

**Different option: If you would like to bind your name tag, layer the back, batting and top before quilting and then add the binding like you would a quilt.

6. Add the backing right side together with the front. Stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance around the edge leaving a 2" opening on the bottom.

7. Trim the corners and turn your name tag right side out. Be sure to push out the corners (a chopstick works great for this). Press with an iron and hand stitch the opening closed.

8. Sew on a brooch pin back and voila! You have fun name tag that is all you!

Here is a collage of name tags found on Flickr to help jumpstart your imagination and give you some inspiration.

1. name tag, 2. Sew It Together Name Tag unmasked!, 3. Name Tag, 4. Name Tag for the Sewing Summit, 5. Sewn by Leila Name Tag, 6. A Special Name Tag., 7. Name tag --finally!, 8. Super Mini Quilt Name Tag, 9. Name Tag!, 10. Sewing Summit Name Tag, 11. Hello, my name is..., 12. Sewing Machine Name Tag, 13. Embroidered Name Tag, 14. Sew It Together name tag, 15. Officially Official, 16. My Name Tag for Sew It Together yay!

Have fun and happy sewing!
Candace

Weekender Bag Complete!

2014-02-21T14:37:00.001-06:00

This is my first time making a weekender bag and I am happy to say that it is completed. I feel like I have gone through some sort of rite of passage. The process of making this bag can be related to childbirth... it is a lot of work, painful, but so rewarding afterwards. When you finish it, you think "I am never making this again!" However, as time passes on you look back and think "It's so cute, I should make another..."

Amy Butler's Weekender Bag is a great pattern. It is very detailed and well explained. This bag is definitely a complicated project, but so worth it in the end.

There are so many tips and suggestions out there on the internet that offer ways to alter the original pattern or to just make the process a little easier. Here is a link to one blog that makes a lot of great suggestions... Splendora Falls Weekender.

If you search for "Weekender Bag Tips" on the internet or Pinterest, you will find a ton of information. There are so many links on Pinterest! There is even a support group on Flickr... The Amy Butler Weekender Bag Support Group Pool where pictures and tips are shared.

I decided to make the first one as the pattern states so I could decide for myself what the pros and cons are. I am going to make two more, one for my other sister and one for myself. However those two will be quilted and will have batting for stability instead of the Peltex. For this bag she did not want the quilted look so the pattern worked out perfectly.

Peltex is so great as a stabilizer, but it is such a pain to sew with. The best tips I can give you are to thoroughly read the pattern's directions, take your time and be prepared to build some arm muscles! It is pretty easy going up until you have to sew the different sections together. Everyone suggests using Clover Wonder Clips to hold the layers together which I am going to try next time.

The other adjustments that I am going to make for the next bags are:
- slightly wider straps for shoulder comfort
- slightly longer straps for more comfortable over the shoulder use
- use duck lining along with quilt batting
- maybe add some interior pockets

This one is a birthday present for my sister. I cannot take credit for the fabric selection. She knew exactly what she wanted. I love the fabrics that she picked especially the stars!

I had to be very careful because I wanted the white to stay very white and clean. I had to make sure that my iron and ironing board cover stayed clean. I made sure that I washed my hands before sewing and I kept my sewing machine area very clean.

The first thing I told her when she received it was to hose this baby down with Scotch Guard (ok, test a small part on the bottom first, then hose it down). It has to stay clean and pretty!

I found some cute charms on Etsy from Bead Sources, but they are not the only shop that sells them. Just search for charms on Etsy and you will find a ton of options!

The only change I would make is to put in a metal zipper. There is nothing wrong with the white, I just like the shiny that a metal zipper adds to a project.

I also made her a couple of zipper bags to match. This one is lined with the fabric that I used for the weekender lining, piping and handles. I cut out a square with "The World" on it and made it into a label. This bag is 12" by 12".

The second bag is reversed with the lining fabric for the exterior and the star fabric as the lining.

Added another charm... I love these!

It all came together nicely. This was not a quick project, but it helped me to improve my sewing skills. I am very proud that I completed it and now that a little time has passed, I am ready to make another one.

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Several Gift Bags

2014-02-06T11:43:00.001-06:00

These are the last of the gifts I made for Christmas.

The pattern is Jeni Baker's drawstring bag. It is such a great pattern! She makes it so easy that you can whip up a handful of these in no time. The part of the project that is most time consuming is deciding on which fabrics to use.

I made these for my kiddos. They are always playing with matchbox cars and small trains and they like to take them everywhere they go. These bags are the perfect size for their little hands and a great way to help them keep up with their small toys.

After Christmas we went on a long trip to visit family and they loved to take their little bag along to carry their belongings. The ladybug bag is for my little lady. She loves purple and ladybugs.

The superman bag is for my little man. He loves anything that has to do with a super hero.

I made this clutch for my sister. The pattern is a Gathered Clutch by Anna over at Noodlehead. This bag is another quick sewing project.

I made my sister a larger duffle bag out of these fabrics a couple of years ago and decided she needed a little clutch to go with it. I love using these zippers made with the gold metal. They add a little shiny to the bag.

If you would like to see the other projects I made for Christmas gifts, here is a list:

Dresden Tote Bag - For my grandmother
Sporty Zipper Bags - For my sister
Hexagon Zipper Bag - For my grandmother
Joy Quilt - For my mother (It doesn't mention that it is for her because I posted it in September and did not want to spoil the surprise)
Fabric Basket - For my grandmother

Before we know it, it will be time to start sewing for Christmas gifts again. I plan on starting in the summer!

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Mug Rug Tutorial

2014-02-03T08:31:00.004-06:00

I have been playing with these fabrics from the Gramercy collection by Benartex and I came up with a quick mug rug tutorial. You can find the tutorial here ~~and a~~ ~~chance to win a fabric bundle~~ over at their blog Sew in Love {with Fabrics}. Check it out! (Contest is now closed)

I have shared many mug rugs with you, but I always make them around 8.5" by 5.5" and bind them like a quilt. This time I decided to change it up a little by making it square and adding a ruffle. It is a really quick and easy project and makes a great gift.

If you would like to see more mug rugs, here are links to some of the previous mug rugs I have made...

A Bundle of Mug Rugs
More Mug Rugs Continued
First 3 of 9
Next 3 of 9
Last 3 of 9

You can make your own mug rugs with my simple and well detailed pattern to make 13 different mug rugs on my etsy site here.

Happy Sewing!

Candace

Economy Block and Scrap Update

2014-01-31T17:06:00.005-06:00

I have been sewing away on my economy blocks and I have to share them with you. When I am finished you are definitely going to get your fill of them. I am making a large throw sized quilt and am going to need over 200 blocks.

These red, navy and green blocks are some of my favorites! The top left with the green ribbon flower center is in my top 10.

Pinks and aquas... these colors make me so happy! I love the plaid and the solids! Mental note: I need to make more blocks with solids.

The green ribbon flower fabric by Denyse Schmidt is one of my all time favorite fabrics. It is hard to use it, but I love it when I do. I am never sure which way to go, use it and run out or save it for later and let it collect dust. Oh, decisions!

How cute are these little chicks?! The yellow stripe... another favorite fabric. What can I say... I am a simple girl.

I have had a lot of fun playing with so many different fabrics and working with different combinations. It has been a great exercise to force me to put fabrics together that I normally would not. It has really pushed me out of my comfort zone, which is where I like to stay all the time. I am really excited to see all of the blocks come together in one quilt!

Here are previous links related to this project:
Economy Block Progress
Economy Blocks in Progress... well sort of

Quick side note on saving scraps**

In my last post I asked for advice on the best way to save and organize scraps. Thank you so much for all of your advice!! There were a lot of great suggestions that I am thinking over and I will let you know when I figure out what I am going to do.

I haven't been very efficient when it comes to the scrap department and my pile keeps building. With my current system, I just stick all scraps, no matter the size, in a divided storage container with three drawers. One drawer for cool colors, one for warm, and the other for neutrals. The problem is that I am not really using them.

Some are fabrics that I don't want to reuse, so why do I keep them? Because I have a problem and can't throw anything away! I need to work on that. My system is off balance right now. I spend more time saving and less time using the scraps. I have spring fever and want to clean out all the clutter in my house, which includes my growing scrap pile. I will get this figured out! Thank you everyone for all the great ideas to get me started!!

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Economy Block Progress

2014-01-27T22:49:00.001-06:00

I have been busy sewing economy blocks... and more economy blocks... I shared with you a few posts ago how I got sucked in to the Economy Block Along that has been going around on blogs, Instagram, and flickr. I tried to resist this new movement, but I couldn't. I love scrappy quilts and this one was calling my name.

Here are some progress pics...

I love these with the roses, lime, blue, teal, and pink.

I am crazy about these red and green and teal blocks. I love the plaid and decided I need to make more with the plaid.

Here are a few blocks with Aneela Hoey fabrics.

Accumulating pretty scraps... for the trash bin. I just like to see them all together. I used Rita's tutorial (Red Pepper Quilts) which instructs you to make the blocks a little larger and trim to the accurate size.

This is the tip of the iceberg. I am about a quarter of the way there, but I can't wait to see how it turns out.

I used a lot of my scraps for the blocks, but there are so many scraps left in my scrap bin. I noticed that many of my scraps were too small to use, which has me thinking... maybe I am saving pieces that are too small to save.

I would love for you to share your thoughts on this. Do you save scraps larger than a certain size or do you save all scraps no matter how small?

Please share! I think I need to go back and clean out my scrap bin...

Economy Block Along Links
Flickr - Economy Block Along Group
Instagram - #economyblockalong

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Economy Blocks in Progress... well sort of... and a Hexagon Heirloom Quilt

2014-01-19T21:47:00.001-06:00

Well, I did it... I got sucked in. You may have come across pictures or mentions of the Econony Block Along that is going on. I have read about it on various blogs, there is a flickr group with lots of examples, and there are tons of pictures on Instagram under #economyblockalong.

All the quilt block eye candy on Instagram is what coaxed me into joining. I usually resist these big sewing movements mainly because I have enough on my to do list as it is, but this time there was no resisting.

I chose to use Rita's tutorial over at Red Pepper Quilts. The block in her tutorial is a 5" block and for some reason, I decided I want a big scrappy throw sized quilt. This means I will need over 200 blocks. I am not sure if I know what I am doing, picking a project that requires so many fabrics... but... it's going to be fabulous!

The picture above is where I have been sitting off and on all week cutting fabric and more fabric. I haven't been very productive at the sewing machine this week because all I have done is cut fabric!

Above are stacks of my blocks (they're in the ziplock bag too) and I have more to go. It doesn't look like much, but there are a LOT of blocks here (and some are still scattered on the floor). Since I don't have much to show you in the way of completed projects... I decided to put together a collage of my activities on instagram...

You can find me on Instagram at http://instagram.com/saltwaterquilts.

Bottom row 3 from right to left... Sherbet Pips quilt I am working on, Enjoying the sun at the park, and a pretty tea pot gift from my sister for Christmas.

Top 3 from right to left... starting my economy blocks, my cat sitting on my arm as I push fabric through the sewing machine (go figure), and a trip to the beach.

Big Picture on the left... A couple of weeks ago I went to Florida to visit my grandmother and the beach. This is a quilt my grandmother is hand quilting. I am kicking myself now for not taking my big camera and getting lots of pictures to share with you, but I am going to go back in several months. She should have a lot more of the quilting done and I will get pictures then!

The blocks in the quilt were hand pieced by my great, great grandmother who was born in 1880 and her name was Lou Daisy Barns. My grandmother assembled the quilt top with navy hexagons and is now hand quilting it. She was a little concerned about choosing navy, but I love it! The navy makes all the bright colors pop!

Many of the fabrics in the quilt are from my grandmother's clothes when she was a little girl. She shared many of her childhood pictures where she was wearing a shirt or dress that is now in that quilt. It is such a great story and such a treasure! I promise I will share it again with you when I get more pictures. You can view another quilt my great, great grandmother made in 1901 here: A Family Treasure.

Happy sewing and hopefully I will have some blocks to share with you next time!
Candace

Dresden Tote Bag

2014-01-15T00:06:00.001-06:00

Today I am sharing with you another bag that I made for my grandmother as a Christmas present. She loves 30's reproduction fabrics and has made several quilts out of them. All of which I am crazy about.

I had originally made this dresden to go on the back of my rainbow tumbler quilt and decided against it. I stored it for a future project, thinking possibly a pillow.

Then one day the whole project just popped in my head. I had some peltex interfacing and my thoughts went like this... "I should make a tote... for Memaw for Christmas... and I can put the dresden on the front because that is so her taste... and I should put it on the striped fabric I have!" Yes, the same fabric as my curtains in the picture above. Projects usually do not come that easy to me. Usually there is much more thinking, planning, and pondering involved.

I used iron-on adhesive to attach the dresden to the bag fabric and then I hand appliquéd all around the edges. I did this prior to assembling the bag.

I also made scrappy handles and interior lining with the 30's fabrics. This is a good size tote measuring at 12" by 12" and 3" deep. It is very sturdy and can carry a lot! She was crazy about it and could not wait to take it to her sewing group to show it off.

I am going to deviate from the topic for a moment... when I start taking pictures, my little helper shows up. I have two cats, Artemis and Apollo. Apollo is the snuggler. If I sit down, he is always there trying to climb in my lap. This guy is Artemis and he is not a snuggler at all.

He is mischievous and always up to something. As soon as I start taking pictures he loves to get in the middle of it. This is also his room that he adopted as his own. He spends many hours in here sleeping and if I have guests staying in it, he paws at the door to try to get in. He definitely has his quirks!

Back on topic...Last year I started making Christmas presents early. Below is a collage of the gifts I made for my grandmother... the middle bag I shared about two posts ago... and the one on the right, I made in September and you can read about it here. I made specifically for her.

I thought the stiff basket would be great for her sewing stuff and it has pockets on the outside all the way around. Great for holding lots of little sewing trinkets. I purchased the measuring tape fabric when I was with her and planned on using it for a project for her. The blues and the fabrics in this bag fit her personality so well. She was crazy about it and put her crocheting stuff in it right away. It was a perfect fit!

Last year, the early Christmas sewing really worked out well for me (for the first time). Usually I am over due on my handmade gifts. I decided I am not doing that anymore. Better planning and starting early were key. It worked! Hopefully I can pull that off again this year! If you did any Christmas present sewing... how did that go for you? Did it go as planned? I would love to hear some stories!

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Sporty Quilted Zipper Bags

2014-01-07T23:22:00.003-06:00

Over the next few weeks, I am going to share several projects that I made for Christmas gifts. I couldn't share them before because it would have spoiled the surprise, but I can share them now!

These are for my sister. She is into CrossFit and working out and her favorite colors are lime and purple. She goes through phases where she gravitates to and uses one or a combination of colors to represent herself. She also loves rabbits and her buddies have given her a lot of fun nicknames in reference to a rabbit/bunny. Sounds strange, but it suits her.

So I chose these fabrics for her... the lime and purple... she even has CrossFit shoes in lime and purple... the grey to soften and compliment the bright colors... and the bunny as sort of a label for her.

I am crazy about these bunnies. I am so happy with how they turned out. She was surprised that I had made the bags for her and she loved them. They were a big hit!

I quilted them with straight lines, because I wanted them to be sporty. They are also a good size measuring at 9" by 6". Not too big and not too small.

I chose white zippers to compliment the quilting and the white bunnies. I also love how the zipper tabs turned out, which is probably the most stressful part of the whole process. I always get tense when it comes to sewing up the sides around the zipper tabs because I don't want them to get pinched or just messed up. Thankfully the whole process went smoothly.

After making a handful of bags for Christmas, I feel a great deal more confident when it comes to sewing in zippers.

I am excited that I finally get to share these with you. Zipper bags are so easy and fun to make and are great to give as gifts. The possibilities are endless. The problem is... I am going to run out of people to make them for. How many can I give to one person before it becomes too much?

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Little Hexagon Fun

2014-01-02T22:44:00.001-06:00

I have been having a blast with little hexagons lately. They are so fun! I made my grandmother, Peggy, a zipper bag as part of her Christmas present (the rest I will show you later). She loves 30's reproduction fabrics, so I pulled out my scraps and this is what I came up with. This bag is 10" by 10" and the hexagons are 1" in diameter. This is a good size to use as a small project bag or to store sewing notions.

I also decided to embroider her name on it as well. This was the first time I have embroidered a name. I have worked with cross stitching before, but not embroidering. I couldn't share this with you before because she regularly reads my blog and it would have ruined the surprise. She loved it!

Here is a picture from my Instagram account... http://instagram.com/saltwaterquilts... from when I was making all the little hexagons. They are so cute and my kiddos love to sort and stack them.

I finished off her bag with a little ribbon and a small charm. I am crazy about these little charms. You can find them on Etsy.

Here is another little bag that I made for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway. I love making these little bags and plan on making more to put in my Etsy shop.

I put together a project bag (this one is from formandfabric.com) filled with fabric scraps, scissors, thread, needles, and hexagons printed on card stock. I keep the cut and sewn hexies in a little ziplock bag. I take this bag with me on the go so I can work on them whenever I get some down time.

For some hexagon inspiration, I put together a collage of hexagons that I found on flickr. Bask in the glow of the hexagon eye candy...

1. Hexagon, 2. Hexagons, 3. Hexagon hearts close-up, 4. Hexagon pillow, 5. Hexagon Mini Quilt, 6. Hexagon Bag, 7. hexagon pillow 2, 8. Happy pincushions, 9. PSL Hexagon Pin, 10. Hexagons, 11. mini hexagons, 12. Hexagon Pouch, 13. hand stitching and vintage lace, 14. Rainbow Hexagon Pillow, 15. Hexed In, 16. Kissen Hexagon / Pillow/ Patchwork, 17. Mini {sexy} hexies, 18. hexie pillow, 19. Hanging hexi mini patch works, 20. Hexagon Mini Quilt

Hopefully I have spread the hexagon love and inspired you to give it a try for the first time or get them out again.

Happy Hexagons!!
Candace

2013 Recap

2013-12-30T21:27:00.001-06:00

It's recap time again! I can hardly believe the year is over. It came and went so fast. I put together a couple of collages of the projects that I worked on this year. I love looking back through the year because it makes me feel so productive. Even with losing a couple months of sewing time due to a big move to a new state.

This was the first time I moved away from my family. Prior to the move, I lived 20 minutes from my parents and my sisters. The whole process has been an adjustment and I don't know if it will be permanent, but we are getting settled and making it our home. I have learned a great deal from the whole experience and I feel like I have gone through some sort of right of passage. I feel like a big girl now!

I am really happy with the projects I made this year and look forward to 2014. I used a lot of bright colors as I always do and it has me wondering if I should try using softer colors every now and then. Is it too "in your face" bright?

My goals for 2014 are...

Learn new sewing techniques
Work with more solids
Make more scrappy projects and actually make a dent in my scraps
Make a few projects with free motion quilting
Find new sources of inspiration
...and share it all with you!!

Non sewing related...

Learn how to use photoshop
Learn how to use my camera on manual setting
...Both of these are basically like learning Chinese, I have been working on this for a while and it is slow going! If you have any tips or top secret info that will help make this process easier, I would love for you to share them! Please!

Do you have any goals/plans for the New Year? If so, I would love for you to share them.

Here's to the New Year!

Candace

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

2013-12-28T01:34:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and is enjoying the holidays.
This time of year can be so crazy and I try so hard to soak it all in and enjoy it. I love Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve evening is always so peaceful and quiet and probably my favorite time during the Christmas season. It is when I get to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Many of you know that I moved earlier this year and this is my first Christmas to experience temps in the single digits and snow. I know many of you live in places that get much colder than that, but this has been quite an adjustment for this girl. I have always lived near the gulf coast where it only goes below freezing a couple times a year. That is not the case with my new home.

Several weeks ago we received several inches of snow, which was definitely something new!

It was so peaceful and beautiful and cold! I had fun traipsing around our yard, taking pictures and playing in the snow.

Several weeks later... we received several inches of ice. Icicles like this was another first for me. Thankfully we did not lose power and the roads were clear which meant no cabin fever.

I have been keeping myself busy with quite a few sewing projects for Christmas presents. I will share them all with you in the weeks to come. My sewing machine and projects took over my dining room. If you look closely, you can barely see my reversible table runner with the Christmas theme under all that mess, but it looked really good in my dining room before the sewing machine moved in!

I have also shared many pics of my holiday season on Instagram and here is a collage of some of them...

If you are instagramming, you can find me here.... http://instagram.com/saltwaterquilts.

I hope you all are enjoying the last few days of the year. I can hardly believe that 2013 has come and gone and we are looking towards 2014! It seems like only yesterday when people were freaking out that the world was going to stop functioning when it turned year 2000. Here's to 2014... may it be a wonderful, prosperous year full of joy and lots of sewing!

Cheers!

Candace

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

2013-12-09T09:38:00.002-06:00

It's that time of year again when Sew Mama Sew hosts their giant giveaway event. It lasts for a week and gives readers the opportunity to win some great prizes and introduce us all to some new blogs and shops. Stop by Sew Mama Sew and check it out!

If you are new to my blog, welcome and thank you for visiting! I know you have many blogs to visit, but I hope you will come back and look around for a while.

Now down to business... I am giving away this fun zipper bag. It is 9" by 9" and the hexagons are hand appliquéd. Zipper bags are addictive and I really enjoyed making this one.

...and a fat quarter bundle of 8 fabrics from Denyse Schmidt's collection, Flea Market Fancy.

Just leave a comment for this post to enter to win (international entries welcome). For a little fun... include in your comment if you are making any handmade gifts this year and if so, what are they. For a bonus entry, follow through bloglovin', google, or email and leave a comment that you are a follower or new follower.

This giveaway will close Dec. 13th at 5:00 pm PST.

***

The winner is...

Congratulations Emilee!

Emilee has been contacted by email.

Thank you everyone for participating and I hope you enjoyed the Sew Mama Sew giveaway event.

Thank you for visiting!

Candace

Quilt Backs

2013-10-15T14:37:00.002-05:00

Today I am sharing some of my quilt backs with you. Katie over at Swim, Bike, Quilt is hosting a linky party, "The Other Side of the Quilt" for sharing quilt backs and it is open Oct. 15th - 31st. I looked back through my previous quilts and here are five of my favorites...

Rose Quilt - I love the back of this quilt. I love how the colors are soft and the pattern is scrappy. It is a good quilt for snuggling! Many of the fabrics are used on the front with the dark green thrown in as extra.

I Spy Quilt - I am crazy about the back of this quilt. I made it for my children and wanted it to be as colorful and fun as possible. I participated in two I Spy charm swaps to get enough fabric for the front. I used all of the smaller prints on the front in a half square triangle pattern and kept the larger prints for the back of the quilt.

Rainbow Steps and Stairs - I love this large chevron print and used it for the binding and a large stripe on the back. I thought it would be too much to use for the whole back. I like how the large white sections soften a large busy print. I am crazy about the color and the size of the chevron.

For the Birds... - This is another quilt where I thought the print would be too much for the entire back, but is softened by large sections of white. This is also another bright green that I am drawn to. I love this print and it works well with the colors on the front of the quilt.

Complete Reunion - The front of this quilt is made from a jelly roll and a layer cake. I cut 5" squares from the extra pieces I had left over from the layer cake and made a column on the back. I love using a solid grey on the back of a quilt, but I think it would be too dark for the whole back. So again I like to soften it with a section of white. I guess that is a little of the traditional quilter in me showing through.

I hope you have enjoyed looking through these. It is nice to go back and look through my previous projects and reminisce. The back of the quilt is a great place to add a lot of character that is often ignored. I am glad Katie created this linky party and I can't wait to see what others have to share. You can check it out on her blog - Swim, Bike, Quilt.

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Sherbet Pips Equilateral Triangles

2013-10-06T01:05:00.001-05:00

I have been wanting to make an equilateral triangle quilt and decided to use my fabrics from Aneela Hoey's Sherbet Pips collection.

I have had these fabrics for a while and have talked myself out of using them several times. I should at least wait until it gets cooler before making a quilt with these lovelies. It isn't really scarf wearing weather yet (at least where I live), but I couldn't wait any longer.

I know many of you are familiar with this collection since it came out in 2011, but I thought I would share my favorites. These little dogs are too cute and I love the scooter fabrics. I am also crazy about the colors, especially the soft shades of pink and grey.

Selvage edges for another project later...

Ok... a few more favorites... the little dog running with the scooters, the little dog riding the scooter, and the little snail on the move... just too cute. I didn't really notice these little guys until I started cutting the fabric.

For a refresher course in cutting equilateral triangles, I looked around for a tutorial. Faith from Fresh Lemon Quilts has a great tutorial that is short and sweet, but very specific and you can view it here: Cutting Equilateral Triangles.

Here are a few links for some of my similar quilt projects...

For The Birds Tumbler Quilt

Scrappy Happy Baby Quilt Using Half Square Triangles

Stay tuned for more...

Happy Sewing,

Candace

Simple Baby Quilt Tutorial "Stair Steppin' Baby"

2013-10-01T08:30:00.001-05:00

My friends, I have a simple baby quilt tutorial for you. I have been playing with these fabrics from the Sweetie Pie collection by Michele D'Amore and I came up with a tutorial. The collection is perfectly named because the fabrics are so sweet and lovely. Perfect for a baby quilt.

You can view the tutorial over at Benartex's new blog Sew in Love {with Fabric} for their September Blog Hop.

The tutorial is called Stair Steppin' Baby Quilt. This is a great project for a beginner quilter because there are no seams to line up. It is a quick and easy project and makes a great baby gift. The finished size is 30" by 38".

A look at the back...

~~Benartex is giving you the opportunity to win a fat quarter bundle of the Sweetie Pie collection.~~ The giveaway is now closed.

***The winner is...

Vicki HOctober 1, 2013 at 1:52 PM

I like Benartex on FB.

Congratulations Vicki!

Two ways to enter to win:
1. Sign up to follow Benartex's blog, either via email or a blog reader program like Bloglovin' (both on the righthand sidebar of the blog). Leave a comment letting me know you did so.
2. "Like" Benartex on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so.

Bonus entry:

Follow my blog either through Bloglovin', Google, or email subscription and leave me a comment... letting me know you did so.

Be sure that you have a valid e-mail address connected to your comment. The giveaway closes Friday, Oct. 4th at midnight (Central Time). The winner will be chosen by random number generator.

Be sure and stop by Sew in Love {with Fabric} to check out the tutorial.

Happy sewing!!

Candace

Simply Modern Christmas Book Review and My Version of "Joy"

2013-09-27T23:46:00.001-05:00

Cindy Lammon has a beautiful new book "Simply Modern Christmas" full of lovely and cheerful projects. She asked me to review her book and how could I refuse. I am a big fan of hers and her blog Hyacinth Quilt Designs.

I chose to make her quilt properly named "Joy." The instructions were very clear and the cutting requirements are specifically for using fat quarters making it easy to plan a quilt from fat quarter bundles.

Prepare for a little picture overload...

This quilt is a good size finishing at 68" by 82". The pattern uses a large print for the border and large blocks in the center. For my large print, I chose the fabric Paint by Number Birds in Sky from the collection Lush Uptown by Erin Michael for Moda.

Along with an assortment of other fabrics, some of which are from the Lush Uptown collection.

I used the Paint By Number Birds in Unpainted for a portion of the back along with Robert Kaufman Kona cotton in Snow.

Just a few more pictures of the blocks...

Deciding on the arrangement of fabrics is the hardest part. It takes me forever to make up my mind... I keep arranging and rearranging. It is hard to know when to stop.

Another one of my favorite quilts in her book is "Garden Lattice." I almost made this one. It was such a tough call. I love how she made this quilt with non-Christmas fabrics and used unconventional Christmas colors. Most of the fabrics are Amy Butler prints. You could use it any time of the year, but it would also be a beautiful addition to your holiday decorations.

I love the idea of a holiday quilt that can be used all year long. That way it doesn't spend any time stuffed in a box waiting for the next holiday to come around.

Most of the projects in her book are very versatile and can be made as Christmas or every day quilts. There are also a few projects specifically for Christmas such as a very modern Christmas tree skirt and Christmas stockings.

Cindy has made various versions of many of the quilts from her book and shares them on her blog, Hyacinth Quilt Designs. Stop by and check them out.

Just a few more details on my version...

The binding is Sewing Guide from the Mama Said Sew collection by Moda. I LOVE this fabric for the binding! I think it fits the paint by number scheme perfectly. I think I may have squealed a time or two when choosing the fabric for the binding, when I was sewing the binding on, and when the quilt was finished.

I was going for a "quilt to snuggle up with while reading a book" look. I think I achieved it.

I love this pattern! Last look of the overall front and back...

~~Cindy is offering you the chance to win a Simply Modern Christmas ebook.~~ The giveaway is now closed.

All you have to do is leave a comment. If you are a noreply blogger, you will not be elegible because I will have no way to reach you. Feel free to leave any comment, but for fun, tell me if you prefer a Christmas quilt that is strictly made with Christmas fabrics or one that is a little more unconventional. The giveaway will close at noon (Central Time) on Monday, Sept. 30th. Be sure to enter to win!

***

Thank you for all the entries!

Using the random number generator, the winner of the Simply Modern Christmas ebook is...

~Kelie~September 28, 2013 at 7:55 AM

I definitely prefer unconventional fabrics and color schemes! Ur quilt is gorgeous!!! Thanks for the chance to win!

Congratulations Kelie! Cindy will be contacting you with your copy.

Thank you Cindy for the great giveaway!

Have a great day!

Candace

Quilt Blocks for My Version of "Joy" From Simply Modern Christmas

2013-09-21T23:59:00.000-05:00

I am a huge fan of Cindy Lammon. I regularly read her blog, Hyacinth Quilt Designs, and drool over her beautiful quilts. I was very excited to see she has a new book coming out called Simply Modern Christmas. I had already added it to my "want" list when she contacted me and asked if I would review her book. I was and am still ecstatic to review her book and share it with you. I decided to make this quilt from the book...

It is beautiful, elegant and just what I was looking for. I am going to share my review of the book when I show you the completed quilt, but until then, I thought I would share with you some of the completed blocks. I usually post lots of "quilt in progress" pictures, but not this time. I don't want to show you how it is going to look until it is completely finished.

Here is just a few of the blocks...

I am really excited about this quilt and that I get to share it and details about Cindy's book with you. Stay tuned for more..... (there is also going to be an ebook giveaway when I share the finished quilt with you!!)

***Update: View the completed quilt here - Simply Modern Christmas Book Review and My Version of "Joy"

Happy Sewing!

Candace

New Project Sneak Peek

2013-09-17T22:28:00.001-05:00

Here are the beginnings of a new quilt and it all started with the fabric collection Lush Uptown by Erin Michael for Moda.

The Paint by Number Birds in Sky, Poppy, and Unpainted are what first caught my eye and are the fabrics I planned the quilt around.

The Sky is going to make up a large border around the quilt, the Poppy is going to be in small pieces throughout the quilt and the Unpainted will be the majority of the quilt backing.

These are the other fabrics I chose to include in the quilt. Starting from the left, fabrics 1, 2, 3, 8, 12 and 13 are all from the Lush Uptown collection. I even threw in my favorite fabric, Ribbon Flower by Denyse Schmidt, in orange (5th fabric from the right). I am crazy about the Ribbon Flower fabrics.

Time to get to work at the sewing machine. Stay tuned for more...

Happy Sewing!!

Candace

My Crazy Quilting Temper Tantrum Moments... Do You Have Those?

2013-09-14T00:21:00.001-05:00

I usually enjoy quilting, but every now and then I have my moments. Now I can honestly say that these moments are self induced. I bring it on myself.

I am sure that you are sensing that this is some sort of lesson and it is, but it is a lesson that comes in the form of my crazy story with a twist. I can't show you the finished product now, but over a year ago I was making a quilt with these lovely fabrics...

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton

I had decided to make the quilt to enter into a show and I only had a short period of time to complete it. I had been dreaming of this quilt for some time, so I had high expectations of it. I wanted it to look exactly the way I had it pictured in my head. There was a lot going on at the time and things got down to the wire and I was staying up until 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning trying to get the quilt completed. It came down to the night before my quilt had to be submitted and I stopped and did a mental calculation of how much more I had to do versus how much time I had left and I came to the conclusion that it was not physically possible for me to get it completed on time.

Now, up until this point my level of frustration was getting higher and higher. I was like a pressure cooker about to blow it's top. I put too much pressure on myself to get it completed and I wanted it perfect. As I was quilting, I was getting more and more frustrated with how it was turning out. With every stitch I was noticing more flaws. When I came to the realization that this was not going to get completed... I almost lost it.

I wanted to throw the quilt and possibly a few other things across the room. I had decided that the quilt was a complete mess and since I wasn't going to reach my deadline, I was going to put it in the closet and it could sit there (in timeout) until I wasn't mad at it anymore. I really liked the quilt top so I had come to the conclusion that I would wait and in 6 months, I would get it out and pull out EVERY stitch and requilt it. This is kind of insane because I had quilted three quarters of the quilt and the stitching was very close, but what can I say, I was determined. I wasn't kidding when I gave it 6 months. I put it up and let the stress and frustration go.

Close to 6 months later and after a move to another state, I decided once it was unpacked, I would look at it again. I was dreading looking at that awful stitching. With some serious apprehension, I unfolded the quilt and laid it out, examined it closely and decided that I had lost my mind. There was nothing wrong with the stitching. It looked perfectly fine. All those imperfections that I remembered were not even there. The reality of it was that I got mad and frustrated at 3:00 in the morning and out of complete exhaustion was imagining things. I got myself worked up over nothing.

Ok, this is the most wordy post I have ever written, but stick with me... one more short story...

The other day I was sewing away and all of a sudden I realized that I was really angry. Here I was doing something that I love and I should be enjoying myself. Why then was I so mad all of a sudden? (I was putting this little beauty in the picture below together and it is very stiff and can be difficult to maneuver around the sewing machine)

I came to the conclusion that...

1. I was getting towards the end of my project and it was getting more and more difficult. My project wasn't cooperating with me.

2. I was hungry. My mother is a big Jurassic Park fan. She always says that when I get hungry I go into raptor mode (as in Velociraptor). Hungry = Cranky

3. I hadn't stopped and had a break since I started. I kept telling myself, "I will just complete this part and then take a break"... "well now I can finish this and then take a break" and so on and so on. A vicious cycle.

4. I had given myself a steep deadline. I have a two year old who on that day was having "terrible two" moments all day long. I decided I was going to finish my project before nap time was over. Thus the reason why I was hungry, didn't take a break, and was plugging along with my difficult project trying to finish because I knew any minute someone was going to wake up.

Talk about putting some stress on what should have been a fun, relaxing moment. I should have been joyously enjoying my quiet, "me" time that I could spend watching a Jane Austen movie and sewing. I should have known better.

I know that some of you are cool as cucumber sewers who take your time and don't stress about a thing. I on the other hand seem to have a pattern going. I don't know if any of you put yourself in this position, but honestly until I thought about it, I didn't realize I was setting myself up for this stress and frustration.

(I am inserting a relaxing picture to offset all this talk about stress)

So what can we learn from my crazy moments? These may seem obvious, but they were not obvious to me until I stopped and realized what I was doing.

1. Don't set ridiculous deadlines! Be realistic.
2. Stop, take a break, eat, drink, be merry! No raptor mode.
3. Work for awhile and then stop, give your mind and hands a rest and then come back to it. That way you can see your work realistically.
4. Get some sleep!
5. Don't be too critical of your work. It's beautiful and creative. Just take your time and do your best.

Hopefully my crazy moments and the lessons I have learned from them will help you... if any of you have crazy moments.

Here's to less crazy moments! Cheers!
Candace

Sturdy Fabric Basket Sewing

2013-09-11T23:00:00.001-05:00

I completed this handy little basket today, which is a project I have had on my to do list for quite some time. I found the tutorial on Janome's website/blog, Sew4home, which is stock full of free adorable sewing projects. Every post is a new tutorial.

I found this website when I first bought my Janome Horizon. I was looking for sewing tips and instructions to help me use my new machine and found Sew4home. (This is not a paid or solicited advertisement, I just really love this site!)

The fabrics I chose for this project are:
Made with Love Tape Measure in Aqua by Moda - lightweight cotton duck
Snaps in Black from the Mama Said Sew collection by Sweetwater
Lock and Key Midnight from the Secret Garden collection by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller

...and lace that I have had for a really long time.

The instructions call for using Pellon Peltex 71F to line the interior and exterior fabrics. This stuff is hardcore. It is awesome for providing structure and support to your project, but a pain to manipulate around a sewing machine needle. They should include "requires a great deal of patience" to the label.

Below are the exterior panels with the pockets added. The instructions call for decor weight fabric for the interior and exterior fabrics. I used regular quilting fabric for the pockets, so I added a lightweight (one side fusible) interfacing to give them a little stiffness.

The tutorial instructs you to make two baskets, one for the outside and one for the inside lining. The only adjustment that I would make next time is make the interior basket slightly smaller than the exterior basket. The instructions direct you to make them the same size and it makes things a little difficult when putting the two together.

I would also suggest using a stiff lace. I picked a delicate, stretchy lace that made it difficult to sew neatly to the edge of the basket. It kept wanting to slip. If you pick a stiff lace, it will be so much easier, but I couldn't help myself. I chose pretty over convenience.

This project is really easy, it just gets a little hairy at the very end when it comes to putting the two baskets together. If you give this basket a try, just take your time, go slow, and if your machine has a needle down feature... use it.

That way you can sew a small section, stop, and the needle will keep your place while you maneuver your basket in place, sew another section, stop, maneuver some more... until you get all the way around the top of the basket. It is quite a forearm workout. I was building some muscles!

This is a sturdy little basket with lots of pockets. It is too cute to resist. It's dimensions are 10" x 6" x 6" and it can hold a lot of stuff. You can find the link for the basket tutorial here - Hello Kitty Sewing Basket and Pincushion.

Happy Sewing!
Candace

Binding Corners Tutorial: Square and Pretty

2013-09-08T01:13:00.001-05:00

My grandmother requested a tutorial explaining how to get square, pretty corners when applying the binding. Memaw this is for you...

**This tutorial does not include the entire binding process, you can find that tutorial here: Quilt Binding Tutorial. This focuses strictly on the corners.

1. The first step is to make sure the corners are squared off accurately before attaching the binding.

2. When approaching the first corner, stop 1/4" from the edge and backstitch to lock in the stitching.

3. Remove the quilt from the machine and lift the binding straight up.

4. Then pull it straight down with the fold on the edge of the quilt and pin in place. This process allows for a little extra binding in the corner. If there is not enough binding to form the corner, the corner will end up rounded and distorted.

5. Continue sewing the binding starting at the folded edge that is pinned. Repeat the same process for each of the corners.

6. Once the binding is completely stitched to the front (remember if you need those directions, check out the Quilt Binding Tutorial), fold the binding over to the back and start whip stitching into place just below the binding stitching line from where it was sewn to the front of the quilt.

When approaching the corner, fold the binding down flat and stitch up to 1/4" from the edge.

7. Then fold down the next side and pull the thread through the same point (1/4" from edge) of the binding from the next side. Use pins to help keep the binding in place while stitching.

It may be helpful to press the binding with an iron in each of these steps to help keep it in place during stitching. It just makes the binding behave and the job a little easier.

8. Continue stitching the binding down and repeat this process for each corner. When it is all complete, the binding will be very neat and the corners will be square and pretty... which makes for a happy quilter.

You can find the pattern for this Reversible Table Runner here on my Etsy site.

Have a wonderful day!
Candace

Reversible Table Runner

2013-09-05T14:51:00.001-05:00

Reversible Table Runner! I love making these. It is two decor options in one. Just flip it over for a different look.

The quilting is simple and works well with both sides.

This post has a lot of pictures. I took so many and had trouble picking just a few.

The finished size is 16" by 48", but is easily adjustable with the addition/subtraction of blocks and strips of fabric.

Here is side B. I love this look for Christmas and I don't feel guilty spending all this time creating something for Christmas because I know that when Christmas is over, I can just flip it over and keep on using it. I love it!!!

I love the little Scottie dogs and I am sorry to say, I don't know the name of this fabric. I have had it for years and do not remember where I found it.

I love the fabrics on the Christmas side. I used three Christmas fabrics and the rest are fabrics for everyday use, but they are colors that work well with a Christmas theme. (The solid used for both sides and the binding is Robert Kaufman Kona cotton in Snow)

I love the black on black polka dots (center of the picture above) from the Mama Said Sew collection by Sweetwater for Moda. I have had this fabric for a while and haven't used it yet. I need to use it more often (and maybe purchase more) because I love how well it works with other fabrics and it is pretty and sophisticated.

A quick picture of my helper (Artemis) while I was taking pictures. As soon as the camera starts clicking, his tail starts twitching because I am annoying him. He's a brat.

I love how the Lark collection by Amy Butler looks in this chevron pattern of half square triangles (HST). This is such a fun and pretty collection.

It is very artistic and works well as a decor fabric. The colors are beautiful and soothing.

I hope you have enjoyed this very lengthy post with lots of pictures. I am very proud of this table runner and am excited to share it with you.

I have listed a pattern for this reversible table runner in my Etsy shop if you would like to make one for your home or as a gift. Here is the listing: Reversible Table Runner.

Here is a link to the previous table runner I made: Reversible Halloween Table Runner

Happy Sewing!
Candace