Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Word Verification Rant - Happy Halloween!

I'm starting think this whole word verification thing has gotten out of hand - what do you think? 

So often I attempt to leave a comment on a favorite blog and type what I think is the correct set of letters followed by or following a set of numbers and then - BAM!!!

"The letters you entered did not match the verification, please try again." 

I try again.

BAM!!!

"The letters you entered did not match the verification, please try again."

One more time...

BAM!!!

OH the heck with it I give up!  Moving on...

OH MY GOODNESS.  Just think how many comments I would have left if I had not given up after three failed attempts.  Has anyone else experienced this?  I have noticed a steady decline in comments over the years and I wonder how much these verifications have to do with it.  I truly don't get much spam without them - maybe I should abandon it altogether?  What do you think?  Have any of you dropped the word verification from your blogs?

Well, no verification required, it's Halloween!!!  For about 45 more minutes - ha!  I got a late start...  ;)

Hope you had a great day!


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Christmas is Coming and GIVEAWAY

Today was one of those busy rush around days.  The Husband was off but only in the morning.  This evening his hotel is hosting a Halloween party and he is in full costume - a zombie of course.  Ick.  I'm not a zombie fan.  I don't like scary movies AT ALL but zombie movies are the worst.  Ironically, he somehow managed to hook me on that show, The Walking Dead.  Oh my goodness I'm probably going to have a heart attack from the suspense and gore, but there's just enough drama to keep me reeled in.  But really, YUCK!!!  Ew, zombies, ew.

After running errands I came home to a messy house to clean and several quilts and projects waiting to be finished.  One was an adorable custom tutu skirt order - with glitter.  I will take a picture of that tomorrow, oh it turned out just precious.  I pulled this little quilt out of the cupboard today.  I have been working on it off and on over the past couple of years.  It's not a priority so it has been neglected.  I wanted to add more to it but I'm afraid if I don't bind it and hang it this year I'll never do it.  I bought this...eep...something like three years ago?  Four years ago?  Anyhow I was playing around with detailed free motion quilting and different designs I'd not yet tried on projects before. 





 

It could probably stand to be quilted a bit further but I'm over it - so UP IT GOES!  I plan to bind this up and hang it in the living room this coming weekend - after the Halloween decorations come down that is.

Oh yes, and don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY celebrating my little tote getting published!!!!!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Happy Friday

Happy Friday quilters - what are you working on today?

I'm hard at work on more secret projects...and some Christmas gifts too.  There are seriously NOT ENOUGH hours in the day.  Right now I'm trading sleep for sewing time....and yes it makes me cranky!  Lol*


I have been organizing and even decorating my messy little sewing space!  I've decided clutter is good - it means I'm sewing.  :)

Don't forget to comment on my celebratory give away post!  See the last post for exciting news and your chance to win!  :)  If you feel so inclined, like "Pumpkin Patch Quilts" on Facebook for updates and random sewing nonsense. 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

I've got BIG NEWS...and a GIVE AWAY!!!

 



I just received the go ahead to share the most exciting news...guess who's tote pattern made it onto the pages of QUILTS AND MORE magazine!!!????!!!!!!

MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look for the pattern for 3-Hour Totes in the Winter 2012 issue of Quilts and More!!!!!!!!!!


I think this super exciting happy news calls for a give away?  What do you think???

Leave a comment below sharing what colors you would make this pattern in for a chance to WIN a little gift from me!  :)

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!!!  :)

Lone Star Mini Finished

Just listed on my Etsy Shop - a little finish to try and stock back up.  I love quilting feathers!!!  I did these on the Brother sewing machine.  There is NO throat space under that machine, my only complaint.  So I really only can quilt little projects.  The stitches are nice though, consistent, and I don't have the tension issues I have at times with the Simplicity.  I may try to find a new darning foot though, I just cannot seem to SEE where my stitches are going with the one that comes with the machine!
 



Monday, October 22, 2012

Another Sewing Machine?

Yep.  Another.  :)


The Husband picked this one up for me for Sweetest Day.  I'm feeling pretty loved.  :)  I have two belts coming in the mail any day - one for this machine and one for the Minnesota that's just sitting in my bedroom waiting for some attention.  For now though, I have sewing to do and both machines will be neglected for a bit.

A friend commissioned me to make a costume for her for a charity she does around the end of November.  It's a secret what she'll be, but it's fun I have to say, making the costume...and keeping me busy - but what's new there?

Quilty pictures coming very soon...  ;)

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

White Family Rotary Sewing Machine

Look what came home with me today!  Lol*  I know these are pretty common but I don't have one!  :)  I am really thrilled...$10 well spent.  Born in 1924 and we shall soon see if she runs by electric.  If not, never fear, she is ready and willing to be treadled!  :)
 
 
 





Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Batting

What kind of batting do you use?  What do you prefer even if you don't get to use it all the time?

My absolute favorite batting is Hobbs 80/20.  I was seriously miffed when my local Jo Ann Fabrics stopped carrying it!  For me convenience is a huge factor in my batting purchases.  I'm home most days and when I do venture out, I often have three bored children and a Daddy who's not thrilled with shopping tagging along with me.  Lately I've been using the inexpensive Quilter's Fleece from Walmart.  I've washed and used several projects with it and I'm pretty happy!  For utility type quilts I think it's great stuff, but I'll have to use it long term to see if there are any issues with bearding.  Because my beloved Hobbs isn't easily available to me my second choice has been Warm and White for machine quilting and for the once in a blue moon when I get a bug up my butt to hand quilt, I use Warm and Natural.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 90" wide cuts you can get at the fabric store.  No need to buy pre-bagged hunks and I love that because I can buy just how much I want.  If I know that I'm going to be stuck with leftover I can buy just a little more so that the extra hunk can be used for something - less waste!

What kind of batting do you use?

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Stroller Cover Set Tutorial - PART TWO

 
I'm back!  The stroller cover was a hit at Disney!  I might have to make another less-Disney-ish cover just for fun.  :)
 
Here's part two of the Cover Tutorial...
 
For ties for the canopy cover I cut two 3" strips from a cut of fabric folded selvege to selvege.  I folded and pressed those strips in half, then folded both strips in half and cut them into four ties. 
 
 

 
 
I sewed each tie down one side and created a tube, turned that tube inside out using a safety pin as a guide, and then pressed again.  For stability I sewed four lines of stitching down each tie.


 
 
Attach two ties to both either ends of the bottom edges of the canopy cover with pins, then stitch.  When you place it over your canopy it will tie into a pretty bow just like this!  :)

 
 
To make the seat cover I just guestimated.  Lay your fabric over the seat, and cut a little notch in the side of the fabric selvege where the back and the seat meet.  This will give you an idea of where to cut a curve in your fabric.

 
 
I cut the fabric at the point where I wanted my cover to end, allowing enough extra fabric to turn under and create an elastic band at the top.  I didn't measure it but I want to say this is about 40" long.







Using the notch you cut as a guide as to where to cut, create a curve in your fabric.  Don't worry if selvedge is showing at this point, once you've sewn this under you won't see it.
 


To create a curve at the top and bottom neatly fold and press.  Stitch about 3/4" under.  You can serger the ends first...I don't have a serger!


Create a casing at the top for elastic.  This is going to go over the top of the stroller seat where your little one rests his or her head.

 
 
To create the elastic band at the head part of the seat cover make the elastic casing and mark with pins the approximate area to start and stop stitching.  The casing only goes around the head section, while the rest will be secured to the stroller with ties.

 
 
Again, I just held a piece of elastic accross the width of the cover and guestimated the length.

 

 
 
Besure to leave openings at the start and stop of your casing so that you have a place to insert your elastic!
 
 
 
TIP:  Whenver you are inserting elastic and there are TWO open ends of casing...to prevent your elastic from getting "sucked" up into the casing, add another safety pin.  So if you DO accidently pull that elastic up into the casing, you can easily guide it back out.
 
 
 
 

Now I made this covering for just a one time use.  We used this for our trip to Disney but I probably won't be using it again after that so I didn't put a lot of time into perserving the raw edges.  I simply cut a slit up the center of the leg area so that the belt will fit through.  I did NOT finish the raw edges but pressed them under...you may choose to use pinking shears and a zig statch stitch to prevent fraying or even serge the edges so that you can throw this in the washer.


To finish the center of the slit where fabric cannot be folded under I used a little patch of matching fabric and stitched it in place.


 Attach a ruffle if you choose to the bottom, and ties for attaching to the stroller made in the same way that you made the stroller cover ties.

 
Using a coordinating fabric again make a few more ties and attatch to close the bottom portion of the cover.

 
 
Voila!  You now have a super simple quick and easy stroller cover!!  If you choose you can even theme it up and add a Mickey head applique and ears!!!  :)
 


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

"A Goal Without A Plan..."

"...Is Just a Wish."

I overheard this little tidbit of wisdom while resting on the sofa yesterday as my Husband flipped through channels on the television.  He stopped on a show about ex-NFL players and how 70 some odd percent of them go broke after they quit playing ball.  I don't remember who said it...all I remember is the picture of a stern looking man with his arms crossed looking at the camera and shaking his head in disapproval.  I closed my eyes at that moment to take a little snooze when I heard the words, and it was as if they jumped off the screen and fell into my lap to ponder.  Who knew football players, ex ones at that, carried with them such wisdoms and share it so freely!
 
I love this quote.  I love it like I have never loved any quote.  Isn't it just the truth?  The words really got my gears going and I started thinking about the goals I have had over the years.  I'm on a mission to make all my quilty goals reality.  All those things I've wanted or wished for or thought about...well they can't happen without a plan!!!  Right?  So I'm there.  I have my plan and my goals in place.  Now I'm FOCUSED!!!

To kick off my new found motivation...I have a secret project.  Oh secrets are the worst!  The WORST I tell you.  I hate keeping secrets because, as you might have guessed being that I am the owner of my very own blog...I like to share.  :)  I love to share what I'm working on!!!  But to reach my goals I must be a little secretive...and maybe I will be lucky enough that you will come back and visit me to see what it is...  :)




Monday, October 1, 2012

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Sewing

We're back!  We had a wonderful week in Disney World...there is truly nothing like it!  I think I may have Disney costumes off my brain for a while.  The weather is beginning to cool down and I'm feeling in the mood to quilt.  I will finish up the Stroller cover shortly and begin some quilting projects next!  :) 

Oh, and the Etsy Shop is back open!!!