Custom Wedding Quilt

Last month, I received a wonderful note from someone who wanted me to make a quilt for their wedding. It's going to be a Jewish wedding and they want the quilt to be the wedding canopy. The wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah (canopy), a symbol of the home that the bride and groom will build together. It is open on all sides to welcome people in unconditional hospitality. After a flurry of emails back and forth, fabrics and a pattern were chosen.

Last week the fabrics for the wedding quilt came in the mail and I just fell in love with them! They are from the Minick American Banner Rose line from Moda.

I wasn't sure how I was going to piece this quilt together as the pattern has a number of points coming all together in one place. It tends to make a bulky seam and is hard to quilt over. I finally ended up making a paper-piecing pattern and had a few of the points end just a little off-center of the quilt blocks to reduce the bulk at the center point.

I think I am really going to enjoy piecing this one together!

--Ann

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's a little log cabin heart quilt that I made quite a few years ago. This quilt has since found a new home via ebay, so I hope whoever has it still loves it. Scrappy reds and pinks blend beautifully and one of these days I will make another quilt like this for myself.

--Ann

Tissue Cover Tutorial

I love to have some tissues in my purse as they are always needed! But I hate the way they get scrunched and messy after they've been in there for a while. This little tissue cover will keep them neat until you've used the last tissue and then you can put a new package in and start all over.

Materials Needed:
3 pieces of fabric 3.5"x5.5" (I used 2 of the red/black music print and 1 of the black/white print)

Fold and press 2 of these pieces to they measure 2"x5.5". I love using a seam guide for this as the iron glides right over it and it gives me an accurate measurement.

Lay unfolded piece right side up, then a folded piece right side down with raw edges to one side and fold to the middle.

 Lay second folded piece right side down with the raw edges to the opposite side and fold to the middle. The two folded pieces will overlap slightly at the center.

Sew all the way around all four sides. Clip corners and turn right side out. Poke corners to square them off, press lightly and insert your tissue package. This pattern is sized for Kleenex brand packages.

This tissue cover is being given away along with a matching zippered pouch and credit card case over here!   Deadline to enter is February 17, 2012!

--Ann

Credit Card Holder Tutorial

Make a few of these in an hour and give to your co-workers or anyone else who might appreciate a custom holder for their business cards!

 Materials required:
Fabric A - 1 piece 4.25"x5.75"

Fabric B - 1 piece 4.25"x13.75"

If you want your card wallet to be a little stiffer, just fuse some light or medium weight fusible interfacing to the Fabric A piece before you begin!

If you want your pockets to match your lining fabric, cut piece B from your lining fabric. If you want them to match the outside cover, cut piece B from the main fabric. I used a red/black music print for the main fabric and a black/white music print for the lining and my pockets are going to match the lining!

Take your piece B fabric and lay right side up on your ironing board as shown in the above picture. Fold the left side over 4" and press. Fold the raw edge back to the fold you just pressed and press again. This will make a 2" pocket on the left side. Repeat for the right side. Now your piece B should be the same size as your piece A.

Place right sides together, keeping the folds in place. Stitch around the entire piece, leaving an opening for turning (about 1.5") on the middle of one of the long sides. Clip corners and turn right side out. As you turn right side out, you'll be able to see that the pockets can be turned either way - turn them so they are flat against your lining fabric. Poke the corners out so they are square and press. Either top stitch or hand stitch the opening closed. Fold card holder in half and press once more - use a little starch if you want to add some stiffness to the finished project. Tada! You're done!

This card holder is being given away here: Purse Accessories Give Away

--Ann

Fabric Purse Accessories (Give Away)

I love to browse the internet for interesting blogs and quilting or sewing tutorials. Some are still on the "want to do sometime" pile, while others make it through to actually being made. One of the things I wanted to do for some time was a zipper pouch. I've seen lots of tutorials and finally sat down to make one myself. And it was so much easier than I thought it would be! The tutorial I used is found here at The Crimson Owl Blog

I also made a card holder for business cards or credit cards and a little tissue pouch and guess what? I am giving this set away! Please leave a comment here and tell me what you use to keep organized to enter! - draw will be made on February 17! Draw is over! Thanks for entering!

--Ann