A Bracelet For Me

One of my Christmas gifts that I really love was from my sister, Melinda.

Isn’t it the cutest thing?  I love it!!!!!!

Enjoy,

A Quilt for Kath

This is the quilt that I made for my step-daughter Kath.  I showed this photo a while back before I put the binding on.  I know I took a picture of it once it was completed but for the life of me I don’t know where it is. 

Kath has the cutest pugs, Luna and Vinney, who like to sleep on the bed.  So any quilt that goes on the bed gets washed over and over again.  The last quilt I made her I finished sewing the binding, by hand.  It didn’t hold up very well.  It came back to me for “warranty” work and that time I was smart enough to sew the binding down with my sewing machine.   This time I like to think I’m a little smarter.  The binding was sewn on using a faux piping method and completely done by machine. 

I used this tutorial http://tlcstitches.blogspot.com/2010/07/faux-piped-binding-tutorial.html.  Although I like how it turned out, I think I will play with the measurements a little bit next time.  I’d like the piping to look a bit more like a flange and be a little wider.  Should be a simple adjustment. 

Kath loved the quilt and I’m sure the dogs will like it too.

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–December 26, 2011

This week I have a design floor.  My granddaughter Emily decided she wanted a new quilt.  She spent a lot of time in my sewing room picking the fabrics for a Five, Ten, Twenty quilt.  Once she had the fabrics organized, we worked as a team.  She ironed and cut while I sewed.  The quilt top is now complete and waiting for her to pick out the backing.  Then we’ll quilt it on my ancient Handiquilter. 

To see what others have on their design walls head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

As Seen on Facebook

"Hey....Santa....hey...be careful of that.....ah, too late..."

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–December 12, 2011

This one is just too darn big for my design wall.  In fact it’s ginormous, almost 100” square.  It’s a Christmas present for my step-daughter Kath.  I still have to find my leftover fabric so that I can make a scrappy binding.  Here’s a close-up of some of the blocks.

This is made using my Five, Ten, Twenty pattern that can be found here.  I actually doubled the pattern so that this quilt was made using 36 block leaving 4 left over.  I may make pillowshams from the extra blocks, if I can find the time.  For now, I need to focus on getting everything else ready for the “big” day.

To see what others have on their design wall, head on over to Judy’s Blog.  

Enjoy,

A Good Chuckle on Friday

My daughter posted this on my Facebook Wall.  Do you think she’s trying to tell me something?

Enjoy,

2011 UFO Commitment–Completed

Early in the year my guild issued a UFO challenge for 2011.  Thank goodness they did because without it non of these particular UFO’s would have gotten finished.  Rumor has it we will again have a challenge in 2012 with a twist to it. 

I finished putting the binding and label on my last UFO (not really my last UFO, just my last UFO I committed to, I have lot’s of UFO’s).  The due date is tonight at our annual Holiday Potluck and Party. 

So here it is, in all it’s fineness. 

It was quilted on my very, very old original Handiquilter with my Brother PQ 1500.  I attempted swirls which turned out OK for my first attempt. 

Here’s a close-up of the quilting and binding.  Don’t you just love that bias stripe for the binding.  Since this will be a charity quilt, I decided to simply use a buttonhole stitch to sew the binding in place. 

Finally the back of the quilt.  I think I’ve shown this fabric before and I just love it.  I had just enough leftover from a previous quilt to use it here.  The fabric is extra wide (no piecing ) and came from Ikea.  Love it, love it, love it!

Now it’s off to the kitchen to start the meatballs for tonight’s potluck and while I’m in there I think I’ll make some cookies as well.  Should be a fun time. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–November 28, 2011

This is the last of my UFO’s that I committed to completing this year.  It’s now hanging on my design wall and needs to be quilted this week. 

I should have been doing this but instead I’ve been working on clearing out old fabrics and such from my sewing room.  I have a ton of stuff that I know I will never use so it’s time to move it out.  I need to find a place to donate it or figure out how to sell it either on Ebay or Etsy or even just here on my blog.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

To see what others have on their design wall, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog.  

Enjoy,

Snippets and Threads

As promised the tutorial is now available for Snippets and Threads.   I’ve included it in this post, but it is also available as a printable PDF on my website http://www.robinquiltsetc.com or directly http://robinquiltsetc.com/files/Snippets_and_Threads_Tutorial_1_.pdf and to see what other free tutorials I have go to  http://robinquiltsetc.com/freepatternstutorials.html and spend some time clicking here and there.  Once again, a big thank you to my friend Becky for coming up with the perfect name. 

Snippets and Threads

(A Foldable/Portable Thread Catcher)

 

To begin, you will need to draw a 12 inch equilateral triangle.  I used a piece of poster board to make a template so that I can use it over and over again.   Here’s how I made it.

Use a ruler to measure a straight line, 12” long.  Mark half way at 6” and draw a line perpendicular to the 12” line.

Remember each side of the triangle is 12”.  So take your ruler and measure from one end of the bottom 12” line and line up the other end of your ruler along the center line (make sure the measurement is 12”), draw your second side.

Now you’re going to do the same thing for the third side.

See?  Easy as can be and all three sides measure 12” and you have an equilateral triangle. 

Now using the template you just made, cut out two pieces of fabric for your thread catcher. 

Place the two pieces right sides together and sew around all three sides leaving an opening about 2” or 3” to turn your triangle right side out.  Be sure to clip the corners prior to turning. 

 After turning right side out, topstitch 1/8” or very close to the edge, make sure you catch and close the opening at the same time.

Fold each corner 2 ½” towards the outside, press and secure by sewing a button in place.

The last step is to fold and sew each side together to create a bowl to hold you “Snippets and Threads”.  Sew right on top of your previous stitching line.

That’s all there is to it.  Now you can simply fold it flat and tuck it in with your hand sewing so that you have your own, personal thread catcher with you at all times.

Hope you have fun making one of these for yourself and of course all you friends.  I’d love to see pictures of what you make. 

Enjoy,

 

 

Design Wall Monday–November 14, 2011

First of all – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER, MELINDA!!!!  Love you big sister!!!!

Next, my design wall. 

After my hectic September and October I’m trying to get back into a routine.   I’m spending time each day in my sewing studio cleaning and getting ready to practice my freemotion quilting.  These two little quilts are on my design wall and are next up to go “under the needle”.  The one on the left was done in a guild workshop using a square in a square ruler and the one on the right is a little quilt I made at a Mary Ellen Hopkins retreat in Las Vegas several years ago. 

What’s on your design wall?  Head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times blog to see what others are up to.

Enjoy,

I Finally Sewed Something

OK, so it’s not much but at least I turned my machine on and sewed something.

It’s a little pocket size note pad.  I always carry a notepad of some kind and I decided I wanted to make a cut little one. 

Here’s the inside.

And it’s mine. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–October 24, 2011

I have been mucho busy lately so there is very little on my design wall.  So here is a picture of my design dining room table with a sampling of a little project I am working on.

SNIPPETS AND THREADS (Thank you Becky for the name, it’s perfect.)

These cute little Snippets and Thread catchers are only about 5” across the base and fold flat so that you can tuck one in with your hand sewing. 

It takes longer to pick out the fabric then it does to make one.  I have a free tutorial coming later this week, so be sure to check back in with me. 

To see what others have on their design wall, check out Judy’s blog. 

Enjoy,

Have You Missed Me?

I know, I’ve been missing for waaaaay to long.  I have excuses but probably not very good ones.  Two Wacky Women had a retreat, then the next day I got on a plane and flew to Georgia where I spoke at a guild and taught at a three day retreat.  Back on a plane to California for another Two Wacky Women Retreat followed by my guilds quilt show this weekend.  Quilters by the Sea 

In the mean time I am getting ready to exhibit at Houston’s Quilt Market which is a wholesale show, not open to the general public. 

The best thing that’s happened over the last few weeks is getting my cinderblock, back yard wall painted.  Wait until you see it, it’s fabulous.  More about that in the next few days. 

As you can tell, I’ve been a busy, busy girl but enough of that for now.  Back to the quilt show.  Today is the last day of the show.  I have two quilts I made that are on displayed, along with my President’s Quilt.  But………..the very, very special quilt I entered belongs to me but was made by my dear friend Margie Oshwald.  Margie is very quiet and shy so I knew she wouldn’t entered a quilt on her own, so I did it for her. 

These are tiny pieces that she hand appliqued.  Her work is just wonderful.  If you get a chance to attend the show, please vote for this quilt, Number 105 on the ballot.  I would love for Margie to win a ribbon for this wonderful, playful quilt. 

Enjoy,

Laptop Sleeve

I received the nicest note and picture regarding my laptop sleeve tutorial.

Dear Robin

I would like to thank you for your laptop sleeve pattern and here is picture to share with you of the laptop sleever I made as per your pattern.

Kind regards

Melinda Meyer

From Sunny South Africa

Thank you Melinda for taking the time to send me the picture and the nice note. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–September 26, 2011

I started this back in January at a Road to California class with Bonnie Hunter.  She calls it Texas Braid but mine is called Seal Beach Braid. 

This week begins a very crazy 5 weeks for me so I have selected this to work on.  For me, this is kind of mindless sewing.  There are very few decisions that need to make and once you get in a routine, it goes very fast.  So with that in mind it will go with me to Marilyn and my, Two Wacky Retreat this next weekend, then thrown in the suitcase for a trip to Georgia where I’ll be speaking at a guild and teaching at a Tiny Stitches retreat.  The month will continue with one activity after another culminating with a trip to Houston Quilt Market where I have a booth. #1102. 

To see what others have on their design wall, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times blog.  

Enjoy,

Almost There

It was back to working on the quilt that Marilyn and I are making together.  Today was my part.  I quilted it and sewed the binding to the front.  It’s now ready to turn over to Marilyn and she’ll finish the binding and hopefully add a label (I don’t think we talked about that ).  I really like how it’s turning out.  I did a simple overall meander using lime green thread.  You can’t ever go wrong using lime green. 

Enjoy,