A Modern Tutorial

It is finally here. My tutorial on my modern quilt is up over at Riley Blake Fabrics.   I called it 'Eye of the Modern'.

I was going to quilt it in straight lines as that is what so many real modern quilts have on them, but I just really loved the swirls.  

As you can see, it was a bit of a windy day when I decided to photograph it outside.

Go and check the tutorial out, it is very easy and fun to make!

Fabric Fest

Have you heard of it?  If not you better keep on reading!

Riley Blake Fabrics is hosting a fabulous retreat in Las Vegas!

They have Eleanor Burns and Nancy Zieman as keynote speakers.  There classes are to die for with designers Lila Tueller and Lori Holt, who create the sweetest patterns and fabric lines.  And my favourite designer in the world, the lovely and crazy Amanda Herring who is also emceeing the event!

Other teachers include Amy Smart and Sue Daley  and so much more.   

To check out this not to miss event, go here.

Playing with Pom Poms

I am over at Riley Blake's Cutting Corners doing a fun tutorial on pom poms.

I show a couple different ways you can use pom poms and then give you a tutorial on how to make this cute bookmark.   It is the perfect gift for someone's stocking!

Cupcake Pincushion Tutorial

Riley Blake Fabrics has this fantastic section on their website where it is all pincushion tutorials!
How totally fun is that?   What a fantastic gift to make that special quilter in your life.  In my case, I would probably just make one for myself.  Kidding, okay not really, I guess I would probably make one for my mom too.

Why am I telling you all of this?   I made a special pincushion for Riley Blake's tutorials.
You can see all the instructions here.

Don't you just want to go right out and make one?  I had to satisfy my sweet tooth and my cravings for embellishments while making this pincushion.   How did I do?

Zipper Tape Embellishing

I have posted over at Riley Blake's Cutting Corners this fun art quilt and a few other cute ideas for using zipper tape.

You will also find instructions for this:

and this:

Head on over and take a look! If you enjoy it, please leave a comment while you are over there=)

Clock Works Quilt Tutorial

The name of this quilt is Clock Works.  It is Riley Blake fabric called Mod Tod and filled with gears and such.  I adore it and have never done the Drunkard's Path before, was petrified of sewing on a curve.   So I jumped in, designed it on EQ7, taught myself curved piecing and made a tutorial up with lots of tips!    Go and check it out on Riley Blake's Cutting Corners site.    Feel free to leave a comment there too!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway as well.

3D Embellishing Tutorial - Ribbon

As you know I am somewhat completely obsessed with embellishing.   By that I mean 3D embellishing on art quilts, clothing, kids quilts or accessories.  

Riley Blake fabrics has this great website called Cutting Corners where they post tutorials on quilts, apparel, accessories and home decor.   It is great for ideas and free instructions to make things.  

I have made a couple of quilts for Cutting Corners.  I was chatting with one of the girls at Riley Blake and mentioned my obsession over embellishments.   From that conversation, I am now posting once a month on Cutting Corners showcasing a different embellishment and how to use it!  

For this month, I chose ribbon.   It is one of the most versatile embellishments ever and very under used.   I want to get quilters/crafters using this fabulous product.  

I show you how to make cute ribbon flowers and how to weave the ribbon into fantastic ideas.

Go and check out my tutorial.   (Feel free to leave a comment too=)

Surprises and Feedback

Let's start off with the frustration first.   I have been working away  on my R & B quilt.   Yesterday, I decided that the blue streaks in  it needed to tie in with something, not just go off the quilt.   I felt the eye was left stranded.   I cut the same wavy pattern on the perimeter and added blue borders.

Now I don't know if I like it or not.

Keep in mind that it is looking quite square, but the outer edges of the blue borders are going to be shaped into the wavy pattern as well, and not so thick.   What do y'all think?

Before Border

 After Border 

On a much happier note, look what arrived in the mail today?  That is all embellishment goodies.   It was a big bag of zipper tape, ribbons, buttons, pompoms, and ric rac.   Totally fantastic.   My dear friends at Riley Blake Fabrics are letting me do something totally wild and crazy.  More on that later.

Do you see the packet of 2" squares?  My BFF Brooke sent these to me!  She knew I was so sad that I didn't get to market with several of the design team  (probably cause I whined about it every day), so she mailed me these scrumptious squares.   Yes that little paper does say Good Fortune by Kate Spain! How super cool is that?  Love that girl!

You only have 2 more days to enter the giveaway for a Baby GO!

Lost on the Block

My quilt is up on the Riley Blake website. 

I used the 'Lost and Found' fabric by My Mind's Eye.  This block I designed is so easy, yet the options are limitless.   Check it out and feel free to leave a comment here or on their site.  

In order to see the tutorial, when you get to the Riley Blake blog, just click on the 'Cutting Corners College' tab at the top and you can see the full instructions there.

I think this is my favourite quilt I have designed for them.  I know that my mom is going to use it when she does quilts for charity, as it is easy, fast and has a fun pattern when assembled.

Fabric Giveaway

To celebrate my opening of my etsy store, I am having a giveaway!

I have a cute charm pack of 'Hoo's in the Forest' by Riley Blake fabrics.   It is so sweet and so adorable.   I love charm packs.  It isn't too much fabric that it intimidates you or makes you think you should save it, but not so little that you can't do anything with it.  And it is all pre-cut perfectly.  That is definitely the best part!

Details to enter the giveaway:

1.   Leave me a comment telling me what you buy on etsy.

2.   Blog about it, and get 2 more entries.

3.   If you are a new follower, leave a comment telling me.

4.   For that bonus comment, tell me your favourite item on my etsy site.

I will make a draw this Friday.  Good Luck!!

Table Runner Tutorial

 Check out my new table runner up at Pellon's website.  I used Lola's Posies from Riley Blake fabrics.

  The instructions give you all the measurements and fabric needed to make a twin, double or queen sized quilt using this pattern.   It is done with two blocks and three different fabrics, and looks great the bigger you get.  

I have some exciting news to share very soon, and with that will come a fun give away... so stay tuned!

Lola's Posies Broken Egg Quilt

It is hot!   What better way to celebrate the heat by looking at a totally fun summer quilt I made for Riley Blake Fabrics.   I used Lola's Posies and created this little masterpiece.   It was very fun and oh so cute.

For complete instructions, you can find it on Cutting Corners on the Riley Blake website.  Each egg is broken into 8 different pieces, and there are eggs in the top and bottom corners.   Go and check it out and feel free to leave a comment there=)

I have more exciting news to share, but a certain website is experiencing a glitch, so that will have to wait.

So let's smoosh some yucky news right in here.   Houston sent me a skinny email.   (translates to I didn't get into the biggest juried quilt show in the world..... again)   Realistically, I wasn't expecting to, and can't have too many good things happen at once, otherwise what would I strive for?   Insert a big LOL here.  

The best thing about hearing from Houston, is that they send their rejection letters by email.   So I hit 'delete' and pretended it never happened=)  Gotta love that 'delete' button.

Onto more good news, I read from one of my uber cool design team members that you can buy fabric at Ikea.   Coincidentally, I was in the neighbourhood of an Ikea store  a few days ago.   The fabric was amazing.  Now it is not a quilter's cotton, but more of a heavyweight cotton.   For bags or coats or table cloths.   And very inexpensive.   I will post pics of that later this week, but had to end on a good note.  Buying fabric is always a positive way to end a post!

Riley Blake Tutorial Done

The tutorial actually doesn't air on the Riley Blake blog till July 19th, but my kids will be off school then.  Summer is in full swing, the pool is wet, the sun is hot and my kids need some summer lovin'.

I got it done early.  And I do love it.  I chose Lola's Posies as my fabric collection to work with.  Click on the link and check out these fabrics!  Are they not just sooo much fun?  

I adore this collection by Lila Tueller.  She named this last line after her daughter Lola, how sweet is that?

I can't show you the finished quilt until it gets posted on the Riley Blake Cutting Corners site.  I think it is okay if I show you a little peak...shhh

I must also tell you that I spent part of the day assembling my design wall and I love it.   I even had blocks up on it.   I have almost got the top done for a newly designed quilt using Amanda's Sugar and Spice line.  This I am allowed to show you pictures of, but I don't have any loaded on my camera.   I thought of taking some while the blocks were on the design wall, but then I just got stitching and the borders went on,the blocks went together,  and before you know it, I was almost done the top.  I will try and show you a  peak tomorrow.  

More 3D Art Quilts

I thought I would show you another small 3D art quilt I created.   This piece is made using aluminum cans and a sink scrubber. 

I admit I was amazed at how easy my needle went through the aluminum.   I did use a very small needle  as the puncture marks don't disappear.   You want to make sure you know what you are planning to quilt before starting.  Although just having needle holes through a piece would make a great addition too. 

The sink scrubber was a fun addition as this stuff is just impossible to pull apart.   The pieces held their shape and stayed straight up after stitched down.

I am now officially a Course Instructor for Riley Blake fabrics!  My tutorial went up to make a funky scarf.  Check it out.