Wednesday, July 24, 2019

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas....


My true love gave to me....


A Snowflake Pillow tutorial!

Hi!  Welcome to the last day of the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop, hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and my blog, Christina's Handicrafts.  I'm Christina!  Thank you to Sarah for putting this together.  I hope you have followed along with everyone, and seen all of the fun goodies, treats and fun projects we have all shared.  Sarah's quilt is saved for my to-do list before Christmas 2020, as it is gorgeous!

Today I am sharing with you on how to make a machine appliqué snowflake pillow.  It was my first time doing machine appliqué and it was fun, easy and no fingers were pricked in the making!  


Supplies:
17" square of background fabric
15" square for snowflake
Fabric for backing (I followed Crazy Mom Quilts' envelope pillow backing)
15" square fusible (I used the Heat and Bond off of the bolt)
17" square of batting
17" square of muslim or simple white fabric for the back of the front sandwich
Basting Spray

Once everything is cut, iron the fusible onto the 15" square for the snowflake.  Now cut out your snowflake.  You can use your imagination.  I used Google and typed in "Snowflake Cut Patterns" and switched to pictures and picked one that I liked.

HINT: The more complicated and intricate the pattern, the more start and stops you will have, and the harder it could be to sew down.

HINT 2:  If you fold your square into 8ths, that is a lot of layers.  Take the back paper off of the fusible, however do not fold it in on itself.  It will start to stick, especially in warm climates (do not ask me how I know this).  This hint will cut a full layer out.  Also, use your heavy duty sewing scissors, do not use your small thread trimming ones either.

Once you are satisfied with your snowflake, center or put however you would like it on your pillow and iron it down.  Now, if you did not plan to wash it, have kids, adults, or animals lay on it, you could skip the next step.  But, because this pillow will be used in my house, I did the next step.  Plus it was my first time for raw edge machine appliqué, and will not be my last.


Now before we get to the machine appliqué part, make sure to layer it, using the basting spray and making sure that all layers are flat.


Choose your color of choice for the snowflake, and white as your bobbin thread, and stitch around each raw edge on your snowflake.  I did a straight stitch, some people do a zig-zag stitch.  Use whatever you prefer, based on the the look you are going for.


Once all raw edges are stitched down square up your pillow top to 16.5" square.

Now to get that envelope backing that I think looks oh so nice, and does not require a zipper, please use the tutorial here from Crazy Mom Quilts.  Come back to this blog once you have finished, as there is something cool below.


Congrats!  You have made a wonderful snowflake pillow.  You can make them in difference sizes, or make another, because who can stop at one?


Now, the surprise!  We have a wonderful sponsor for the whole blog hop.  The sponsor is Figo Fabrics, and they have offered a fat quarter bundle of their new Christmas line, called Wintertide!


Isn't the fabric just wonderful!  The first piece reminds me of homemade ornaments, perfect for hanging on the tree.  ***Give away is now closed***  Below is an entry form for your opportunity to win this fat quarter bundle.  All entries need to be received no later than Tuesday, July 30, and the winner will be announced on Sarah's blog on Wednesday July 31.




Do not for get to hit submit.  This part is very important!

Visit all of the other blogs on this blog hop and enter to win, if you have not done already, and of course give support and love to each and every one of them.

SUNDAY, JULY 14TH

MONDAY, JULY 15TH

TUESDAY, JULY 16TH

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17TH

THURSDAY, JULY 18TH

FRIDAY, JULY 19TH

SATURDAY, JULY 20TH

SUNDAY, JULY 21ST

MONDAY, JULY 22ND

TUESDAY, JULY 23RD

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH

THURSDAY, JULY 25TH


Thank you for joining us on this wonderful blog hop, hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Until next year!
-Christina

15 Minutes of Stitching - Week 29 2019


Let us see how the last two weeks went on the stitching front.

Days spent stitching in the week: 6 out of 7
Days spent stitching in July: 19 out of 21
Days spent stitching in 2019: 196 out of 202
Success Rate: 97.0%
My week runs from Monday to Sunday.

This past week was good.  I missed a day just due to life getting in the way.  But that is okay.  This week was a lot of good prep work, so maybe next week will have some great fabric out numbers.  No fabric in, which feels wonderful, but I might fall to eBay stash sales soon.  It is horrible when you day dream about fabric while at work.

Fabric out this week: 0.00 yards
Fabric out, in 2019: 29.12 yards
Fabric in this week: 0.0 yards
Fabric in, in 2019: 137.62 yards
Fabric difference in 2019: 108.50 gain of  yards

I hope everyone had a great week!

Sharing at:
Life in Pieces

-Christina

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Design Wall Tuesday

This last week was busy, and productive but really good.  We got a new desk for me, to pay bills and have things to take care of later be put, so I do not keep using the table.  I love it already and I have not fully moved in yet.


On the stitching front, I was able to make progress on two things.  I cut and prepped strips for more 4-patches.


And I was able to start working on my blog hop project.  See picture below for a sneak peak and let me know if you can guess what I'm doing.

My goals for the next week are to focus on two things.  My first goal is to finish the item for the blog hop I am participating in.  Below is a sneak peak of what I'm doing.  I'm getting excited, as it is definitely a learning experience, and I feel like I have some good hints and tricks to use, of things I learned along the way.


Here are all of the blogs participating.  I'm on Thursday, which is the last day.  I hope to see you back here!

SUNDAY, JULY 14TH

MONDAY, JULY 15TH

TUESDAY, JULY 16TH

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17TH

THURSDAY, JULY 18TH

FRIDAY, JULY 19TH

SATURDAY, JULY 20TH

SUNDAY, JULY 21ST

MONDAY, JULY 22ND

TUESDAY, JULY 23RD

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH

THURSDAY, JULY 25TH


My second goal is to sew some more 1/2 square triangles and strips together to prep some 4 patches.  The end of the month is quickly approaching, and I want to be able to accomplish my One Monthly Goal, as it has slipped by almost every month this year.

My third goal, which will continue to be a goal until it is completely done, is to work on unpacking our house.  Our goal for the week is to focus on sorting the getting rid of pile.  Is it going to our own garage sale, or Goodwill?  Another small thing is to start making progress on organizing my sewing area a little.  There is no organization that has happened, and it is starting to get to me.  My stretch goal is to get my new desk organized.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Sharing at:

-Christina

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Finish-a-Long Quarter 3


Quarter 2 flew by, and now we are in quarter 3.  I have not had a finished this whole year, which is surprising, especially since I have been able to put time in almost every day, but hopefully this quarter it will change.  I have a lot of things close to finished, so it is just putting the jets on working on those items.  Let us go to my list.

1. Baby quilt for my Cousin's son who was born in the middle of January 2017.  My goal is to get it done sometime soon.


2. Knitting a purple shawl - deadline long past, but I will use it in my office, especially when it gets cold and drafty.  If is a great knitting project to do in front of the tv.


3. Cross stitch Marriage record for C&T (late present).


4. Wedding quilt for C&T (late present, at least they know it is coming).


5. Handiwork (something I have been trying to catch up on for the last year, I just need to use one of my off fridays and sit down and do the minor repairs on most of the items).  The pile is getting larger each quarter.


6. Make rugs, this includes ripping what I've done out and restarting as I found a different pattern I want to use (belated Christmas gift...we won't say how many years late).


7. Charity Quilt top for Prayers and Squares at my Grandmother's church.


8. 2nd Charity quilt top for Prayers and Squares at my Grandmother's church (I started these before I got married, which means they are at least six years old.  I just found them in one of the last boxes I still have to unpack).


9. Wedding quilt for D&D (late present, at least they know it is coming, at least I hope).



10. Quilt for one of my Grandmother's (shhh, it is a surprise for her).


11. Mom's quilt (this one is even older.  I got the kit in college and got frustrated with it because my 1/4 inch seam was off and I was doing a horrible job at cutting).  It turns out I was doing just fine.  I just need to quilt it and finish it for Mother's day!



12. Wedding quilt for N&B (this wedding was last year, 2017, shhh, it is also a surprise).


13. Christmas Table Runner  (this was going to be a present, but Christmas Eve my cat decided to play with my soda on the table and spilled some on it, so I could not gift it due to running.  I tried to remove the stain, which did not work so it is all taken apart to replace what was stained, and now it is time to put it back together).


14. Second Christmas Table Runner (still to be finished for a Christmas present).


15. Bonnie Hunter's En Providence Mystery Quilt (I've printed all of the clues and my fabrics picked out, I just have to actually start on it.  I do love the reveal, and I'm considering making it just a tad larger to fit on a queen size bed).



16. Knit scarf for my husband.  He saw the scarves I made for my grandparents for Christmas, and wants a few scarves.  As a result I am going to get this one done, and have the other two made for next winter.  It is made with a simple pattern.  Knit stitch about 30 stitches across and then 70" long.



17.  This quilt will be for charity.  I hope to have it done for 2020's Hands to Help hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I am making it with purples and greens as the latices, and I just need to start.  It is going to be gorgeous I think.  Photo credit goes to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.


18.  There was a mystery quilt a long with Cora's Quilts called Gathering.  The fabrics are gorgeous and I have finished all of the cutting, I just have to put each step together.  It will be a throw size.


19. Supplement my blog post for the 12 Days of Christmas over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict by making a pillow. It will be a 14 by 28 pillow with three snowflakes on it. The snowflakes will be appliqued and quilted down. I have no picture, everything is cut out, I just need to execute it. I was not able to complete it for the 2017 blog hop, so I'm going to get it done and present it as a gift idea for this year's blog hop.

20.  Finish Sweet Tooth Queen size quilt.  Started as a Breakfast Club project, I want to finish all of the blocks and put it together.  It will be the first quilt I have made for our bed.


21.  Finish Sweet Tooth baby quilt.  I had left overs from the two kits I bought to make the queen size, so I decided to make just one of each of the twelve blocks and combine it into a baby quilt.  I think it is going to look awesome when it is done.



22. Chenille this panel of Mickey for a birthday gift. It has been layered, I just need to sew rows and finish it off.


23. Chenille this panel of Disney Princess for a birthday gift. It has been layered, I just need to sew rows and finish it off.


24. Chenille this panel of Dory for a birthday gift. I just need to sew the rows on it and finish it off.


25. Chenille this panel of Belle for a Christmas gift. I just need to put the binding on, and sew it down.


26. Chenille this panel of Belle for a belated Christmas gift. It matches the one before, the only difference is the minky on the back, and I'm sure the binding will be different. I just need to sew the rows on it and finish it off from there.


27. Chenille this panel of Little Mermaid for myself. This will be the last panel to be chenilled as I come last.


28. Finish snowflake pillow (shared at 12 Days of Christmas hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict).  This one I have hand quilted, and I love the look of it.  I hope to finish it before Christmas this year.


29. Dr. Who quilt, finish as I have started cutting it out. This was an intended gift for my husband on Valentine's Day over two years ago.


30. Natalie's wall hanging. The fabric has been picked out and the idea is in my head. I just need to put it on paper and figure out how to do the blocks as I do not have a pattern for it.


31. Storm at Sea quilt I started at the San Diego Quilt Show last year.  I have it all drawn out as to what I want to do, making it about 60" by 60".  This is the small quilt because I plan to make a scrappy teal/blue/green one that will be even bigger.  My Mom bought the templates, so I just need to borrow them from her to get cracking.



32. Proud Mary is from Splash of Color by Jackie Kunkel.  She was to come to the San Diego Quilt Show, however her class was cancelled.  All of my fabrics are picked out, I just need to finish ironing them and then start the cutting process.  


33.  L&B's Wedding Quilt is for when they got married in July 2015.  The fabric is starched, I need to finish cutting it out, and then start putting it together.


34. S&D's Wedding Quilt is for my sister-in-law and her husband, who got married in November 2016.  The pieces are waiting to be put together by English Paper Piecing (EPP), and the sashing squares are all cut, and starched, I just need to iron and put them together.


35.  On Ringo Lake the 2017-2018 Bonnie Hunter mystery that is absolutely gorgeous!  I have all of my fabric picked out and starched, I just have to get working on it.


36.  Meadow Mist mystery quilt was revealed at the end of 2017.  I have the fabric picked out, and I have since the start of it, I just have not had time to start on it.


37.  Scrappy Bargello was started January 2017 in a class with Bonnie Hunter.  I am currently working on the final border, which is a braid, so it will take some time.


38.  OSU Quilt #1 for my Grandfather who is an alumni.


39.  OSU Quilt #2 for my Mom, as she is also an alumni.  This quilt was originally meant for my Grandmother, but she has passed away, and I feel like it would mean a lot to my Mom to get the quilt intended for her Mom.


40.  Bel Canto is a mystery that was held at my local quilt shop for Strip club.  It is designed by Daniella Stout, and the reveal happened in December 2017.


41.  Baby blanket that is knitted.  I have casted it on, it is just buried in the my pile of projects right now.


42.  Moonlight Path's quilt along with Cora's Quilts.  Mystery took place in Spring of 2018.


43.  Pocket bags - set of 4 for personal use.  I have my fabric picked out, and it is on its way to me right now.


44.  Brown bag mystery quilt from Cupcake Quilts in Spring, Texas.  I have all of the clues, I just need to put it together.  (I have not peaked to see how it all turns out)


45.  Jelly Roll rug.  It was started in a class, and I still have yet to finish it!


46.  D&D's wedding cross stitch is a belated wedding gift that I am trying to get done for the happy couple.  I'm still on the first border, but I have made more progress on it even since this picture was taken.


47.  Champagne and Pearls quilt is for a class.  The class was cancelled, but I still want to make the quilt.


48.  Ispy quilt for Niece, which will be a birthday present.  All paper pieced, square in a square, with the Ispy fabrics in the middle.  I can not wait to see the secondary design comes out on this one.


49.  Drunkards Path quilt.


50.  Kingfisher QAL is hosted by Stitched in Color and Tales of Cloth.  The quilt includes EEP, appliqué and regular piecing.  I intended to work on this while away from home this last month, however life had other plans.  It will be a great evening project to wind down from the day.


51.  2nd Snowflake Pillow from the Christmas in July bloghop.  I needed to make another one to take progress pictures.  Now I need to finish it.


52. Sweater Weather is a quilt along with Cora's Quilts.  I bought the kit a while ago and when this was announced I knew I needed to try and follow along.  Maybe I will walk away with a finished quilt top at the end of the time?  I can try.


53. Paulie sweater is the first sweater I am knitting, and I want to finish it so I can wear it on those cool mornings at work.  I am loving the colors I choose.


54.  Daisy Chain Mystery, a mystery quilt along, we will see how it looks soon, as the final reveal is only a month away.  I can not wait to get this finished!


55.  Signature Quilt is for our pastor who is retiring in June.  I'm putting together a quilt with all of our well wishes for his happy and healthy retirement.  Deadline is June!


56.  Sandcastles is a quilt I started with Bonnie Hunter at the Mountain Quiltfest, which I had a blast at.  I can not wait to finish it, as I saw someone's and I want to finish it like them.


57.  Box Kites is the second class I took with Bonnie Hunter at Mountain Quiltfest.  It will be easy and fast to put together.


58. Baby Blanket is made out of that nice chenille yarn that is so soft and thick.  This is for a co-worker's baby who has already made their entrance into the world.  I hope to finish it up in the next month or so.


59. Harry Potter Cross Stitch - this is a gift for a co-worker for her baby shower.


I hope everyone has a great quarter!

Sharing at:
Throw a Wrench in the Works

-Christina