Remembering

Remembering the service and
sacrifices made by our veterans....

 Thank you.

Spool Block - Sampler Block #1

The 1st block in the accuquilt sampler is an 8" spool block.

Here's how to make it.

Choose 2 contrasting fabrics.

If you have an accuquilt, use die # 55047 Quarter Square 4"  Finished Triangle to cut 8 quarter square triangles from each fabric.


Otherwise, cut a 5 1/4" square, and then cut it on the diagonal in both directions to make 4 quarter square triangles. Repeat x 2 with each color.

Place 1 triangle of each color fabric right sides together.  With same color on top each time, and long bias edge to your left, stitch one short edge of each pair.  Chain stitch all pairs together.






Press each pair toward same side.

Lock opposing seams together with 1 pin in seam and stitch long edge. Press open.

Here's where you can have some fun turning the blocks different ways until you get the look you like.  I went with the spools facing in opposite directions.
.

So here is my first completed block.   I hope you will try one too.

I would love to see your finished blocks.  Email a picture to me, and I may feature your block in a future blog post, plus you will receive 20 points toward a $10 gift certificate in my fabric shop.  See my shop announcement for details.

Happy Sewing ♥

Accuquilt Sampler

I've been wanting to try out all the dies for my accuquilt, and have decided that a fun way to use them would be in a sampler quilt.

So, the plan is to post a new block each week, along with cutting and sewing directions, so you can do your own sampler, (even without an accuquilt machine).  No overall finished design is in place, other than to use as many of the dies as I can.  I have picked out a color scheme using batiks, kona cottons, Bella solids, and some prints.  Hopefully we will enjoy the process, and see where it leads us.  Are you game?



The first block will be a spool block like the ones I used in this placemat set.

This will be a sewing adventure!

Happy Sewing♥

P.S. - You can earn points toward a $10 gift certificate in my fabric shop by making your own version of these blocks.  More detail to follow.

Easing Into Summer

May is almost over (sigh), and it has been a lovely month.  Here are a few of my favorite things about May ~

• working in the garden, with just enough breeze to keep away the mosquitoes, 
• strolls around the neighborhood with my husband in the lengthening evening light, 
• the first ice cream cone of the summer from a local stand,
• my favorite spring blooms (lilacs and lilies of the valley) perfuming the air, 
• walking barefoot and easing into summer.

Before June bursts upon us, I thought I would share a few items reminiscent of May from some new favorite Etsy shops:

The May Queen Necklace from VividColors

 Emerald Earrings from Kande 

Custom Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle from BellaPuzzles

Lampwork Frog by MyLampWorkGarden

Sweet Strawberry Dottie-Janes by GraciousMay


I hope you will enjoy perusing these shops and their wonderful items.  I can personally vouch for this last seller, having purchased shoes for my youngest granddaughter from her.

Happy Sewing ♥

Today is Our Anniversary

I've been married to my best friend for 24 years today on the 24th of May. 

 Here we are on our honeymoon 24 years ago, canoeing in Vermont....

And here we are last year para-sailing in Virginia Beach. My husband forgot his sunglasses, and is wearing our 10 year old granddaughter's cool purple ones.

Still having fun together!

Thanks honey for just being the one and only you.  Happy Anniversary to Us!

Happy Sewing♥

Congratulations to the Winners!

Of Project Quilt for this week, LovebugStudios (Judges Vote), and Karen's Crafty World (Popular Vote).  They both win 2 yards of fabric of their choice from my shop, as well as a $10 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Congrats also go to PennyFabricArt for her 2nd place win, and MoranArtQuilts for winning 3rd place.

Check out KimsCraftyApple blog for the winner of the cathedral windows pincushion by WarmnFuzzies, and the winner of hand dyed fabric made by Kim herself, plus some cute pictures of her daughter drawing the prize winner.

Happy Sewing♥

New Hoffman Shipment

I love the quality of Hoffman fabrics.  From the packaging, right through to the exquisite detail in every design, they are top notch in my book.

Their batiks are superb, and I am enjoying getting to know some of their screen prints too.

Indian Summer Meadow Gold

These are a few of the fabrics from their new lines that came in yesterday. I will be listing them in my shop over the next week or so.

In case you missed the announcement, you now earn a point for every dollar you spend on fabrics, tools, and supplies.  100 points = a $10 gift certificate to spend on anything you like in my shop.  Earn extra points by emailing me a picture of something you make with the fabric you buy, and if I use it in a promotion you will get 20 points more toward your reward.

Silver and Smoke Batiks

Happy Sewing ♥

You Can't Miss This!

Eighteen entries for Project Quilt this week!

Place a vote for your favorite and get up to 5 chances to win a wonderful prize.

One of the judge's favorites from the Shoofly challenge by Quilties

A judges pick from the Apple Blossom challenge by QuiltSewPieceful

I am honored to be a sponsor of this challenge, and one of the guest judges for this week's entries.  This is going to be tough, but fun!

Be sure to check out the blog, place your vote, and get your chance to win.

Happy Sewing ♥

C'est la Vie

The good news is, we have a new set of placemats for our dining room.

The bad news is, I don't have a new set of placemats to list in my kimbuktu shop.

Here's what happened. 

I was excited to be finishing up a set of mats that have been in the works for awhile.  They are made with beautiful batik charm squares, hand dyed edging, and I was really happy with the way they were turning out.  So I finished the last of the quilting and was giving them a press with my iron before taking pictures and listing them, when I noticed something odd in one of the blocks.  Was that frayed fabric?  I couldn't believe it.  Somehow I had missed seeing it during the whole sewing process, and I even had my glasses on!

There really is no way to fix it short of taking that mat apart and replacing the square, which is way too much work at this point.

So back to the good news, with a little fray check, we have a new set of placemats. C'est la Vie!

Happy Sewing ♥

Earn Points = Fabric

I've decided to start a new customer appreciation incentive for my fabric shop, which will have great benefits for YOU!


For every dollar you spend in my Fabric Fascination shop (excluding shipping), you will earn a point. For every 100 points, you will receive a $10 off gift card which you can use toward anything in my shop the next time you order.  Simple, right?

The best part is that I am making the offer retroactive to the opening of my shop.  So, if you have purchased in the past, you already have points accumulating.

I have been busy adding fabrics from Moda, In The Beginning, Hoffmans, Kaufmans, and soon Timeless Treasures.  There are now four monthly fabric clubs from which to choose.  And check out the tools and supplies section for some cool new items.  There is sure to be something to your liking!

Happy Sewing ♥

P.S. - Oh, and there is now a  Special of the Day Section in my shop with introductory deals like free shipping, a full yard of fabric for the price of 1/2 yard, or free coordinating fabric with purchase of a bundle.  The Special changes daily, so check back often.

A Nice Surprise!

FRONT PAGE on ETSY!

See the 2nd picture from the left, top row?  

That's a set of my placemats being featured on Etsy's Front Page this evening.

  What a great surprise!  

Thanks SuzyQ for making such a nice treasury and including me in it!

Happy Sewing ♥

Quilters & Quilt Enthusiasts Take Note!

Kim's Crafty Apple is having a marvelous weekly quilting challenge based on the show Project Runway, aptly called Project Quilting.  Every other Sunday through August, Kim and her mother- in- law Diane, will present a challenge to be finished by the following Sunday.  Here are a couple of the entries from previous weeks:

 Shoofly variation challenge public vote winner by KarolsVintageArt

Apple Blossom challenge judges vote winner by PennyFabricArt

The challenge is exciting and fun for participants and quilting enthusiasts alike.  Prizes are awarded to the winner of the public vote, the judges vote, and a lucky commenter on each week's blog post.  At the end of the challenge, a grand prize will be awarded to the quilter who has amassed the most points.  But even if you can only participate in one or two challenges, you will be entered into a drawing for some of Kim's hand-dyed fabrics.  

I am pleased to be one of the sponsors for this challenge, so who knows, you could win some fabric from my shop!

You can find out the details of this week's challenge here.

Happy Sewing♥

A Thoughtful Gift from My Children

As if just being with my children and grandchildren were not enough, they gave me a very thoughtful gift for Mother's Day as well.

I had casually mentioned that I liked this mannequin when my daughter and I were shopping at Hobby Lobby a month or so back.  She apparently put that comment in her "remember" box and then purchased it along with my son as a gift.  They couldn't have known that I have thought of that mannequin a number of times since seeing it, and dreamed of how I could use it in taking photos of fabric and bags for my shops.  It will make a lovely decoration for my sewing room too.

Happy Sewing♥

Happy Mother's Day!

Moms, daughters, and grandmothers, Happy Mother's Day to all!

I am thankful to have both of my children, and most of my grandchildren here with me this weekend; I am content.

I hope whatever you are doing, today is a day you are reminded of things that you are thankful for too.

 EmbraceLetsDesign

We went to the annual Tulip Festival in Albany today.  Aren't these beautiful!

Happy Mother's Day ♥

Fabric of the Day

There is a brand new promotion going on in my fabric shop.  Each day a new item will be listed at an introductory one-day-only price.  Today's fabric special is one full yard of the latest Marble Botanical Butterfly fabric for the normal half yard price (or 50% off).  You can check out the details here.

 

This print is 100% cotton, has a pretty mottled background, and subtle pink and purple butterflies.

There will be a new special daily, so be sure to check back often.

Happy Sewing ♥