Welcome

I'm so glad you decided to join me on my blog. I'll offer product tips, techniques and information. You'll also see the more personal side of our business. I hope you'll enjoy following us on this new journey. Carol

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Table Runners

About a week ago I found a Free Pattern for a Table Runner. It was recommended as a quick last minute project for a Christmas gift. I didn't know what I was going to give one of the people on my gift list and this seemed like the perfect thing, especially if it really was a quick project. All you need is 2 yards of a border print.

So I headed to my local quilt shop in search of the perfect fabric. I didn't see a border print like the sample, but I did find a large scale stripe that I hoped would have the same effect. I also bought a companion floral print to use on the back.

This is the fabric pressed selvage to selvage

I made the top in just a couple hours. It really was fast and easy as advertised . Basically it is a stack of Quarter Square Triangles sewn together in different ways. I had LOTS of fabric leftover. So I decided to make another one. I was going to keep one for me but then remembered someone else that I needed a gift for.

I chose different ways to set the blocks for two different looks. I basted them and quilted them. I chose black to bind them just to pull it all together and define the outside. Here are my finished products.

Finished Table Runners

I even had enough of the border print left over to use on the backs. I thought it would be fun for the recipient to see what I started with and how it ended up in the finished piece. Now I can keep that companion fabric I bought to use on the back for my own personal stash.

Table Runner Backs 
I usually do a label for all of my work. The back is so pretty though, I think I might just sign and date them with a Micron Pigma Pen so it can be used on either side.

Not bad. Two completed projects from one fabric in what probably added up to a full day's work.

Happy Quilting, 
Carol




Friday, December 7, 2012

Celebrate The Seasons Banner

I just finished putting together my version of the Celebrate the Seasons pattern. Now that I'm feeling more confident with my stitching, it is time to branch out and apply my same philosophy to my Redwork projects as I do to my quilting projects. My mom taught me many years ago when I first started quilting that it is my quilt and I can use any fabric I want and make it any way I want. It doesn't have to look just like the picture. Once in awhile I do something similar to the pattern but more often than not, I put my own spin on things.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. Here is the pattern for a quilt I was asked to make a sample of to test the pattern and then to sell at shows.

The Pattern


Here's a picture of my finished quilt:

My Confetti Quilt
I've been making minor changes to some of the Bird Brain Designs patterns but for the most part, except for fabric choices, I've made them like the pattern. Celebrate the Seasons is the first one I've done where I've really changed it up to make it mine.

So just like I have shown above, here is the picture from the pattern for the project.

Celebrate the Seasons
And here is my version that I just finished this morning.

My Version of Celebrate the Seasons
It is going to make its show debut at the Tucson Quilt Fiesta! in January. I have been working hard to get UFOs finished during my break. I hope to have several new things in our booth by then.

Happy Quilting and Stitching,

Carol