Rice Warmers

 I started this quilt a long time ago. It was early in my machine piecing career and I was not as skilled with a rotary cutter as I am now. Let me set the scene ...


I had been hand quilting for like 15 years, I was newly married, and living in a tiny apartment while our house was being built. I was at the kitchen table cutting out colored strips for a log cabin quilt. I cut the side of my finger with the rotary cutter. @#g%6*!!!! As I am bleeding and crying I decide that maybe rotary cutting is not for me. I put the blocks away.


A few years later I get it back out, shutter at the memory and the scar on my left index finger and begin again where I'd left off. My machine is acting up, cutting threads, making birds nest underneath, blah, blah, blah. I put it away again.

A few weeks ago, I get it back out. I think back to all the times I've tried to work on it. I also decide that I hate the fabric. I just can't bear to throw away the 100 blocks I have pieced. 


Wallah! I made them into rice warmers. They measure 8" square.

Headbands

I was at Hobby Lobby the other day and I saw some cute feathers and some jeweled pieces that were on clearance. I thought that I could use them for headbands. My daughter was only too happy to model them. Just a few shots of some new headbands for the Backwoods Fest!

Fabric Flowers

I have been sewing for the Backwoods Fest. One of the things I've been making is flower pins of all colors. I put some of the flowers on hair clips as well.

These flowers can be pinned to the double-sided headbands that I made. I'll show you those later. They are turning out very cute!!

To make these twisted fabric flowers you start with a small circle of felt about 1" in diameter. Cut a 22" strip of fabric and tie a knot in one end. Using a hot glue gun, glue the knot in the middle of the felt circle. Then twist the strip of fabric and wrap it around the knot gluing occasionally. Fold the last little bit of fabric over to the back and glue it down. Then add a pin back or hair clip, whichever you would like.

I have also tried some different techniques. These pins started out with that same 1" circle of felt. Then pick out some fabric for the main petals. Cut those out in a 4" diameter circle. Then fold the circle in half, and then 1/3 to the front, and 1/3 to the back. Put a dab of glue between the folds to hold it in place. I used 6 or 7 petals on each pin. Glue those triangle-shaped petals to the felt circle. Then add a fabric flower or yo-yo to the top and a pin to the back.

Some flowers I simply added a few loops of ribbon or yo-yo's to the back.

The Girls Go to a Quilt Show

My Mom, sisters, and my daughter went a quilt show in Columbus on Saturday.

From left to right: Michele (my Mom), Katie (youngest sister), Braeleigh (my little girl who usually smiles), Julia (the sister born after me), Me, and Audrey (my oldest sister).

Cinch Bags

My church is putting together school kits for children in need oversees. I was asked to make a few of the cinch bags that will be filled with school supplies. 

It was such an easy pattern that I thought we would share. Click on HERE and scroll down until you see "Download a pattern".

Hand towels anyone?

More Backwoods sewing ... How about some hand towels? I am busy matching and cutting the fabric for all of my hand towels. So far, I am loving the towels.

What are you sewing today?

44 purses for Backwoods on the wall ...

 Ok, sew I started cutting out purse patterns yesterday. And I cut and cut and cut ... I think I might have carpal tunnel syndrome now! I was thankful for my sharp Gingher's, but I think they need sharpened now.


Anybody who knows me knows that I have 2 fabric storage. I have one 5-layer shelf for odds and ends, 1-yard cuts, colors, pieces I buy that are pretty, or good deals. I also store my scraps in baskets on one of these shelves, by color. The top shelf is for "specialty" fabric like Christmas, Halloween, landscape prints.


The other 5-layer shelf is my "collections" fabric. I have my lines over there. My Moda fat quarter packs, My Robert Kaufman collections, my Anna Maria Horner must have's, and of course my Denyse Schmidt oldies but goodies ... just to name a few. It is my SPECIAL stash. you know what I mean. The "if you really love someone you'll make something with this fabric" stash.

So I broke into the coveted stash to make some purses. I think I got carried away! Look for my booth at the Backwoods Fest in September if you're in the market for a fabulous bag!