Looking for love...on Bloglovin!

I could not post without a photo,LOL!!!  I was able to get one of my catch up blocks completed!!! Woot Woot!

I had been aware of the demise Google Reader but I was not super quick to act on other alternatives.  It seemed there were many choices and I wanted to see what was out there and wanted to see if I even liked any of them.


I found one I do like Bloglovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It it easy to manage, easy to read ( that is A MUST HAVE for me) and I kinda am smitten with the name.


Jennifer over at Ellison Lane Quilts has a super quick and easy post on how you can Claim your Blog and learn to love again at Bloglovin :o)  Thank you Jennifer!!!!


Hope this helps out!  I would hate for anyone to miss even one their favorite posts from the blogs that they follow!

Life with kids and summer sewing

JUNE!!!! School is out for the summer and I have people at home!   It is time to readjust the schedule to accommodate more activities that the smaller ones require so they do not develop the dreaded screen disease!   I am amazed at how quickly they can just look at a television, ipad, ipod, iwhatever...also known in our house as widgets and be HOOKED...so an adjustment is necessary...

The water park is our choice in the battle against screen disease!  Look at all the fun stuff for them to do!!!!

The happy ( for now) people

Having them home and taking them out and about has created a little disturbance in my sewing force.  If I am not at home, I cannot sew...sigh...but I was able to make these and start on some new projects!


Believe Do.good stitches

Tula Pink City Sampler Sew Along blocks 10,11,12

Best Bib on the Block {tutorial}

I have been making this bib for years!  It has withstood the test of hundreds of babies. I still have wonderful friends tell me they have been passed on to a niece, nephew or dear friend and are being loved by all that use them. Sure does my little heart good!  I wrote a tutorial for  Clover and Violet featured in their new baby series almost a couple of years ago ( time files). This is an updated version with a link to a FREE printable pdf on Pellon Projects! 

So easy to do, you will want to make them for everyone you know that is having a baby!  Cute , easy and reversible not to mention a fun stash basher project! The choices are endless once you have the basic method in place.

Requirements:

For a basic bib you will need two pieces of fabric 15x13.   If you are doing a variation of the pattern, like the two toned bib, you will need a  7.5inx 13in top piece and a 9x13 in bottom piece.

One piece of Pellon Nature's Touch Batting

Thread, I recommend Aurifil 50wt or 40wt in many colors! They are all beautiful!

Fastener, I use resin snaps on all my bibs. Velcro can also be used in place of snaps

Optional:

Pellon 830 Easy Pattern 

Print out the pattern pieces Part A and Part B.  Line them up and cut the pattern out.

I recommend tracing pattern onto Pellon 830 Easy Pattern.  It will withstand MANY uses as opposed to paper patterns.

For this bib I am using Thomas Knauer Asbury from Andover .  Super fun fabrics!  Choose two fabrics the top here is 7.5x 13 and the bottom is 9x13.  right sides facing sew together using a 1/4in seam, then press seam towards the bottom.

Place your sewn section on top of the Pellon batting

Using a 1/8in seam topstitch the fabric to the batting

lay the top piece on top of the backing fabric.  Make sure your backing fabric is wrong side up

Lay your pattern on top of the sandwich, pin and cut out.

Take the back fabric and flip it to the front so that the right sides are facing

Pin and sew around the entire bib leaving a 1 to 1.5in opening at the top for turning.  Back stitch at the start and end.

Turn the bib inside out

Pin the 1 to 1.5in opening closed

Topstitch around entire bib using a 1/8in seam.  I like using a contrasting thread for a little more fun.

Iron your cute bibs!

The only thing left to do is the closure. If you are using velcro, please follow the recommend guidelines provided on the package. If you are using snaps, there is a snap placement guide on the pattern that make this an adjustable bib or you can place them wherever it works best for your baby.

I have a standard size snap press but your local fabric store may have a hand held snap press. 

You will need two backs and one male and one female piece

Push the back into the end

this is how it will look on the opposite side

Place the male piece on top

and let the snap press to do the work!

Repeat the process for the female side and you are DONE!!!!


Once you have your closure completed, your bib is baby ready!

To download a free pdf for this bib pattern please visit: Pellon Projects Best Bibs on the Block

Tula Pink City Sampler Blocks Four, Five and Six

It has been so cool seeing all the Tula Pink City Sampler Modern Blocks popping up on Instagram!  Literally popping!  They are so fast and easy to make and possibly a little bit addictive ;)

If you have not joined in on the fun, there is a Tula Pink City Sampler Quilt Along being hosted by Sew Sweetness showing the blocks and giving tips on how to assemble the blocks.  This was my day ( YAAY!)

My blocks this week are four, five and six...

Bad Blogger...

I have been a very bad blogger.  After Market, I came home and was exhausted and then became ill so I have been not keeping up with my poor neglected blog :(  I have been sewing, although it has been mostly "catch-up" sewing...


I did start the Tula Pink City Sampler Quilt and tomorrow is my day to share on Sew Sweetness!!!!!  Hope you are all joining in on the fun blocks...SO FAST AND EASY!!!!! This is my block number one :o)

Do Good Stitches Believe blocks for April...

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I did get to meet up with Pat Sloan at IKEA and grab some lunch!!!!  Her ab fabness just keeps getting higher and higher...I LOVE HER!

Pat was looking for a rug and an ironing board and I was looking for nothing but came home with a new set of white dishes made in Portugal for when Rachel comes to visit in OCT!!!!! There were a couple of other things that may have hopped into my cart in Ikea ;o)

I am feeling MUCH BETTER today which is good considering there will be a sewing playdate here tomorrow!!!! If you are in the area...drop on  in...I LOVE my sewing friends!!!!!

Blogger's Quilt Festival Baby Quilt

WOW!  Blogger's Quilt Festival time already?  I missed being able to participate last fall and am so happy that I will be able to join in the fun this time!  Thank you Amy so much for hosting this fantastic event again.  I cannot imagine how much it takes to coordinate all this twice a year.

The quilt I wanted to share last Oct and was not able to is the Pineapple Princess.  This quilt was made when my Doctor from San Diego ( he was our doc for about 12 years before we moved) posted a photo of the sweetest baby and when I asked whose baby it was he told me he and his wife had just added to the family.  I have to say, he was the best care giver to me and my family.  He was always there for questions and concerns and even though he would tell me I was crazy at times ( this may actually be a bit true) he is the bestest doc ever.  I had to do something for him since he did put up with me for so many years.  He also added bonus points when he told me her name and mentioned she was named after my girlie ( true or not he got the points).

The stars are from the fab Solstice Stars Series by Fresh Lemons Quilts.  I added the scrappy lines when I was playing with layout and they really work.  The STUNNING quilting is by the overly talented Laurie Tigner.  Laurie saw the quilt top on facebook and sent me a message asking if she could please quilt it...I have never said YES so fast IN MY LIFE!  

The stars are made with Amy Butler fabrics from different lines.  It was fun to see how they all complimented each other.  I loved the combo so much I am reusing this idea with the Lucky Stars BOM  from  Don't Call Me Betsy.  I used was two layers of Pellon batting.  Laurie suggested it and I can see how that second layer makes the gorgeous quilting POP!   I used Aurifil 50wt for all the piecing and sent my Aurifil cone to Laurie to do her magic. Laurie also used same cone for the Irish chain comfort quilt for my son's teacher and I have done numerous projects in between. This cone has been more places then I have been!

One of the most special things about this quilt is that it has been seen by and touched by each of the people that have had input into it's making. Laurie brought it to KC Market last year and I took it around to all the wonderful people that had made this quilt possible.  Amy Butler, Faith Jones, Alex Veronelli, Cris Haskell, Laurie Tigner  I do not know that all of these fine people get to see all the creations that are made with their inspirational vision and excellent products.  It was very cool to be able to share this with them and I thank them for their contribution :o)  Could not have done it without them!

This is one of my most favorite pics EVER ( Sara is so dang cute)...

I am submitting this to the Baby Quilts category.  Now I just want to sit back and drool over all the other fab entries!

I have a Pat Sloan Crush!

A few weeks ago I was playing with some Bobbins and Bits, the new fabric line by Pat Sloan for Moda Fabrics.  Pat asked me to test out a new pattern using her fabrics and I could not say no to Pat ;o)


So here is Crush!  Great pattern and the colors in this line are so perfect, the grays and oranges...TO LIVE FOR!   I had a great time making this quilt top and would like to do another that I get to keep just for me!  The pattern is easy to follow and it goes together pretty fast, which I love.

To see more ( and there are many more) fabrics in this line visit Pat on youtube.  She has some real eyepoppers!





I made the decision yesterday that this will be the line I am using for my Tula Pink City Sampler Quilt Along that will be starting May 20th hosted on Sew Sweetness!  Hope you will all join us for this event!!!!