Vertical Quilting Curve

I have come to the decision to leave Vertical Quilting Curve as its writer. This was a very hard decision to make. It took me nearly a month to decide on this course of action because I really do love taking part in it. But, life happens. If I wasn’t working full-time and trying to accomplish so much at once, well, then maybe I could give this blog the deserved attention it needs.

If you are interested in maybe writing for this blog or others please visit the Write For Us page to express your interest. I wish you the best of luck. Thank you for stopping by and checking out the many articles I have written while I’ve been here.

We all have them. Scraps. A little snip here, a little strip there and many of us cannot seem to find the strength to throw them away. I grew up with a mother who lived through the depression so every little scrap of everything was kept because you never knew when you might need it and not be able to buy something new. Luckily, there are several things you can do with fabric scraps. Of course you can make a scappy quilt. You can make small hand sewn gifts like potholders, sachets or pillows. Another item you can make for yourself or for a gift is an item decoupaged with fabric.

The container I made shown in the photo is one of those paper mache boxes you can buy at the craft store. The top is made from pieces of fabric from one of those bundled 5″ square samples you can pick up at most quilt stores. Unfortunately I can’t remember which brand this is. I just remember picking it up at the Spring International Quilt Festival for $5. The bottom is not fabric, though. It is a nice crepe tissue paper I picked up at the art supply store. It is not as thick as fabric so it makes the lid fit not so tight.

To make the box, or cover almost anything including glass vases, candle globes or wooden tissue box covers, you will need just a few supplies.

Modge Podge glue
Sponge brush or a nice size paintbrush
Fabric
Container

Steps
1. Cut pieces of fabric into interesting shapes and angles.
2. Using brush apply glue to surface.
3. Lay one fabric piece onto glue. It is easier if you start in the center of an area.
4. Apply glue over fabric piece and more of the uncovered surface.
5. Overlapping the edges of the first piece lay another fabric piece down over glue.
6. Continue applying glue and fabric pieces until desire area is completely covered.
7. Allow to dry.
8. Apply a layer of glue to finish. Allow to dry and repeat if desired.

Now you have a cool little object to use in your quilting space or an instant gift for the holidays.

Want to learn some more stuff? Check out the tutorial section.

quilting, scrap fabrics, craft tutorial, crafts, decoupage, handmade gifts

I came across the article “The Quintessential Quilting Roomâ€? at the OrlandoSentinal.com. Maybe I am just being a little jealous but how many people actually have this kind of space to devote to a whole sewing room. The article actually said that “Don’t pick the tiniest room in the house as your sewing space. The room should be a minimum of 20-by-16 feet with a ceiling at least 9 or 10 feet.â€? It also said that you should have a table 60â€? x 84â€? and it should not be against a wall which explains why the room should be so big.

After moving from a house that didn’t have a room this size I didn’t get one in my condo either. In fact I took over the dining room, ½ the bedroom, a corner of the living room and even the garage. I have only known only one person who got her dream sewing room when her new house was built and it was even bigger than what is suggested here and had every piece of equipment you could dream of except for a long arm machine.

Although, I am very impressed that a newspaper saw fit to publish an article about quilting at all, I feel they were only aiming at large home owners who have unlimited retirement funds to set up their perfect space and overall the article wasn’t very helpful. You can find more helpful information online at various quilting and sewing sites. One website I found has a group of pictures of several different sewing rooms. I would love to have a room of my own and am all for bringing back the sewing room to homes as mentioned in an earlier posting.

So, are you lucky enough to have a whole entire room that fits the dimensions of the article or do you make do using various organizational strategies to make the most of your space?

quilting, sewing room, sewing space

Okay, I know it seems a little early to be discussing the holidays and it seems retailers try to get you to start the shopping season a little earlier every year but quilters and other crafters always seem to start (or need to start) early to get everything done. In fact, I bet October is actually late for some people.

Every year I try to do at least one big handmade gift for someone. Luckily both mine and my husband’s family have a great appreciation for handcrafted gifts. Last year I made matching denim aprons for my brother-in-law and his wife who both love to cook and entertain. Past gifts have included a crossed-canoes quilt using mostly plaid fabrics, a very heavy flannel and denim rag quilt, and a bird watching wall-hanging. There have been several years when time is rare and the gifts are smaller. I’ve made crochet dishcloths, quilted potholders, scarves, cross-stitched bookmarks and quickie fleece blankets.

In fact, some of my fleece blankets have been the most well received. All it takes is a great print that reflects the personality of the receiver or something they like. One year I found an extremely beautiful panel of a Navy ship and used my serger to add a simple finished edging to make a throw for my brother-in-law who is in his 20th year with the Navy. It was the hit of the year and it took me less than 1/2 hour to complete. Doing easy projects like fleece also frees up time to do my own projects or get more gifts made.

This year is one of those “I really don’t have time” years. So, I’m seeking quick and easy projects. Yes, I know that Christmas is only two very short months away but I have to do at least one big project that was actually due this month. I’m trying to make a 50th wedding anniversary quilt for my in-laws. It should have been done for this month but with all the illnesses running around the house I’ve barely had time for laundry and chasing germs away. This memory quilt is at the top of my list. My other handcrafted projects probably will not be quilt-related except for maybe a tote bag or two. Though, there are a few easy projects in the “easy quilts” magazine I just picked up.

How about you? Are you in high gear to make gifts for the upcoming holiday season? If so, what? I love to hear what people like to make to give away and what the recipients think, or, do you care what they think? Many of my recipients don’t really “need” anything but I love to believe it’s the thought that really does count and I’m most thoughtful when I’m making something.

quilting, quilts, handcrafted gifts, Easy Quilts, Christmas, gift giving, handmade

Brought to you from the publishers at Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting this new magazine claims easy projects that are “quick - simple - fun”. Good news is I really liked most of the projects in the magazine. Bad news is I really like most of the projects in the magazine which means I bought it but I promise I’m going to actually make something out of it.

Some of the projects inside quilts and wall hangings as well as pillows, a table topper, a unique purse, baby quilts and a notebook cover. Some of the techniques used include strip piecing, rag quilting using flannels, bargello, and steps for bead embellishing.

One of the 28 projects inside that made me really inspired was “blocks in a box”. A super easy strip pieced block is the basis of this simply elegant quilt. The designers used a varietyof off-white prints to surround a red square. I decided to try this using all blue fabrics around a black square. I have 4 blocks done as shown in my photo. I plan on using a variety of blue fabrics to give it more of a random look while maintaining a monochromatic style. I have never used much blue in my quilt projects but this simple pattern with the exciting prints, I believe is going to make an elegant bed covering that won’t take me forever to piece. Now, actually quilting it will be another issue all together.

Now, that I’ve been inspired, maybe I should change my magazine challenge to this project. I didn’t get very far with my other one and I won’t have to think as much with this one. Just making these 4 squares didn’t take me long at all. Plus, I have some other ideas for using this square but making them smaller for small projects such as tote bags. What do you think?

quilting, quilts, quilt magazine, Easy Quilts, Fons and Porter

Tucked away in the corner of a small shopping center is the Illinois quilt shop in the current issue of Quilt Sampler. The Quilt Merchant looks plain and simple but once inside the quilts displayed on the walls are anything but plain and simple.

The Quilt Merchant specializes in reproduction fabrics especially those of the Civil War era. The staff working the day I stopped in said they did not start out to be so specialized but the demand for the fabrics became prevalent. Before walking into this shop I would not have thought I would really like this style of quilts but then again I haven’t met many quilts I dislike. I was impressed by the colors and styles especially the appliqué quilts like the Vintage Charm quilt which is available as a kit in the store or on their website. Personally I am not a kit person. My favorite part of quilting is selecting fabrics. Another quilt I liked was From the Heart which they had the pattern for. It is a sampler quilt with an appliqué medallion center.

Although there was plenty of patterns I could have purchased I decided to end my trip with fabric instead. Who can’t use more items in their fabric stash? Plus, I picked up some weavers cloth to use for my needle punch projects. They also carried the fusible interfacing that is used to back any fabric you want to do needle punch on, so, I picked up a yard of that as well. The clerk told me it is useful to back regular 100% cotton or clothing items.

Located in Winfield, IL it is a quaint shop to stop in and pick up a little piece of history to add to that stash.

And, if you’re out making a day of shop stopping, check out these others I have been to.

quilting, quilts, quilt shop, Winfield Illinois, Civil War quilts, reproduction fabrics

Welcome to a new series - Unfinished Object (UFO) of the Month! Truthfully, I have so many of these I could probably do a weekly series but I’m trying to encourage myself to actually work on these projects.

The first project I’m sharing is a New York Beauty pattern that I started in a class by Karen Stone. During the class I finished this one block you see in the class. I have always had grand plans for this paper-pieced pattern. I thought it would be great to be a contemporary work of art on my wall. It is one of my favorite designs with the curves and geometric angles. I also love the colors I picked out: greens, reds, blues and a little purple.

Question for you: What are your favorite colors for a quilt? I’ve found mine do not always match my decor but rather what mood I’m in.

New York Beauty, quilts, Karen Stone, quilting

I love Lazy Girl designs. I have a few patterns in my to-do stack of projects. I bought many of them after seeing great samples at quilt stores. My idea is to make a few out of the abundance of my fabric collection. I think it’s a wonderful way to show off all those special fat quarter us fabriholics love to collect. I for one have a hard time cutting up my precious designer fabric sometimes. I keep thinking that what if I find a better project to put it in and then it just sits with the other pretty fabrics.

Anyway, I found out that Lazy Girl has their own blog and and they recently posted this tutorial on how to add closures to the inside pockets of your quilted totes and purses. The flaps can be added even after a purse is completed. So if you have a pocket inside a purse or tote that is too open for you just add one of these to keep your stuff in place.

Lazy Girl, quilted bags, tutorial, fabric, quilting

This is the coolest craft fair you will ever go to. Some of the items you find here will not appear at the local church function around Christmas time but there are many hip versions of the very same things you will find at said church craft fair. I saw tons of bags that ranged from urban chic to vegan safe. There was an array of children’s clothing especially cute, cute onesies and adorable bibs. If you were looking for a one of a kind T-shirt for yourself or hard to find college student this was the place to be. You could also find independent printers of stationery, note cards and journals.

Here is a picture of just some of the many business cards I picked up. I went down with a friend and both she and I have the same affliction. It’s the “oh, I can make that” syndrome. I know I inherited it from my mother who took me to craft shows when I was a kid. We were definitely the kind of people that the crafters love/hate. They love it when we say how great their items are then discuss how it was made and then hate us when we turn around and don’t buy anything. We feel really bad that we don’t buy anything but I hope they know we are just like them and love to make stuff.

Luckily for us DIYers there were some booths that had the supplies for making stuff. I picked up 2 iron-on transfer packs from Sublime Stitching and some fat quarters from Quiltogy the urban quilters quilt store who had a booth. I got some great Amy Butler plus one other I can’t remember the designer of. See the photo. No, I don’t have a project in mind but I will…someday.

The Renegade Craft Fair only happens twice and year. Once in the summer in New York and once in Chicago. Check out the website for updates on next years dates. Also, if you live near Chicago or are coming to town they opened up a Renegade Handmade store selling many of the items by the artists who partake in the fair.

fabric, quilt shop, Chicago, Renegade Craft Fair, Quiltology, Amy Butler, Sublime Stitching, craft show

August and September have been very trying months for me and my family. My husband has been sick. It all started with chest pains back several months ago which finally ended up in a diagnosis of faulty gallbladder that had to be removed last month. Then last week he came down with a mysterious virus and had to be tested for meningitis. Those tests came back negative so then the only medical advice they gave was to stay home and rest. It has been over a week now and there is minor improvement in his symptoms. Today he didn’t have as much fever and went all day without taking medication until bedtime. Tomorrow is a doctor’s visit. I’m sure they will still just say “get plenty of rest and lots of fluids”.

So besides working full-time, taking care of our daughter and making sure there is clean towels in the house I’ve been playing nurse maid which left me little time for the attention Vertical Quilting Curve takes. It also makes me cranky when I can’t do my favorite things. I did manage a little this weekend plus I got to leave the house to go the Renegade Craft Fair which I will share more of tomorrow.

For all you regulars out there I apologize for my absence and hopefully this week will be a full and fun week with lots of good health to go around for everyone.