More Library Quilts

In April, I posted a picture of the first library quilt I made for my daughter.  Since then, I have completed 2 more quilts.  That leaves 2 more to go--she has 5 school libraries.  I plan on starting on the 4th this month.  Here, I am including pictures of the 2nd and 3rd quilts I made for Anna.

"Grab a Book and Grow" came about after seeing a picture of a tree with books for leaves.  I made these books 3-dimensional.  It was lots of fun looking for appropriate fabric for children's books.  I used a leaf pattern to free-motion quilt the borders.

Next, I found a poster of a boy reading a book, and all kinds of objects were just jumping out of the book.  It was really fun to turn into this quilt.  I have plans to make another one of these some day.  I think it is my favorite, so far.

I'm not very good with faces, but I loved this concept.  I hope you enjoy these.

Birthday Gifts in 2014

Since my New Year's resolution is to post what I am making, I thought I would go back and post a couple of birthday gifts that I made this past fall.  The first is a log cabin table runner made for my daughter-in-law, Susan, in September.  It was made from a kit, and I loved the fabrics.

I also made a wall hanging for my granddaughter, Lauren.  She loves hummingbirds.

I really enjoy machine applique.  I enjoy hand applique, as well, but those wings would be really difficult if I was doing needle-turn.  I was very pleased with the outcome.

Christmas Gifts

I love making Christmas gifts for friends and family.  I made several this year.  I purchased a quilt pattern a few years ago, and these snowmen were across the top of it.  I thought they would make a really cute tablerunner--and they did.

I made this for our pastor, Tim Laird, and his wife, Betty Sue.  They do so much for our church and are a great addition to our community.  Betty Sue and I have become good friends.

 Ladies, don't forget to sign your gifts.  It is important to document our work.  This is the back of Tim and Betty Sue's gift.

I taught a lesson at our quilt club on this beautiful poinsettia wall hanging.  I made 3 for gifts and one for a benefit last year.  This year, I made one for myself and one for one of my very best friends, Sue.  I forgot to take a picture of Sue's (oops!), but I did take a picture of mine.  They are the same except I used a different border for Sue's.  I made one of these for Tim and Betty Sue last Christmas.

I like the 3-d effect of the red and green leaves.  They are made by sewing front and back together, right sides together, making a slit in the back, and turning them.  A simple seam to sew them onto the background gives them the 3-d effect, along with some red beads.

Another lesson this year at quilt club was taught by my friend, Norma.  She showed us how to make purses from neckties.  It is surprising just how much fabric is in one tie.  I decided to use my husband's ties to make purses for my 2 granddaughters and my daughter, Anna.  I also used my father's tie to make one for my daughter.  Then, I e-mailed my 2 daughter-in-laws' fathers and asked for ties from them.  My daughter-in-laws, Susan and Jae, were surprised to get gifts made from their father's ties.  I was able to put pins of mine on the ties made from my husband's ties and a pin of my mother's on my dad's tie for Anna.

The Bugs Bunny ties were my husband's, and the purses were for my granddaughters, Julia and Lauren.  The sunflower purse was from my husband's tie for my daughter, Anna.  The top left purse was made for Susan, my daughter-in-law.  The gold striped tie was made for my daughter-in-law, Jae.  I remember my dad wearing the blue and brown striped tie.  I'm sure Anna appreciates it and my mother's bumble bee pin. I think they will be great memory pieces through the years.

These are my gifts for this Christmas.  They were lots of fun to make.  I love giving gifts that I have made and hope everyone enjoyed receiving them!

Mardi Gras Purse Tutorial

 My previous post showed the  Mardi Gras purses I made for my daughter, Anna, to throw from her float this year.  Here are the instructions for making this simple, little purse:

2 squares 8 1/2" X 6" for purse
2 squares 7 1/2" X 6" for lining
2 squares 7 1/2" X 6" lightweight fusible interfacing
1 button
24" to 30" cording, ribbon, or beads for handles

Cut a piece of paper (I used cardstock) 7 1/2" X 6" for a pattern.  Round off the bottom 2 corners.

  Use this pattern to trim squares for the purse, lining, and interfacing.  Save the extra 1" piece from the purse fabric to make a loop for the button.

Fuse interfacing to wrong side of purse fabric.  Sew around the 3 sides, right sides together, leaving the top open, using 1/4" seam allowance.   Clip curves. (I use my pinking shears.)   Turn purse right side out.

Sew cording or ribbon straps to (outside) side seams...cording will hang out below the bottom of the purse when placed in the lining.  Top of strap goes on outside of purse with end standing up.  If you are using beads, wait until purse is completed and hand sew to the inside of seams.

Sew around the lining fabric, right sides together, leaving the top open AND about 2" on the bottom center. (This is the opening for turning your purse.)

Take the extra 1" of purse fabric and fold both long sides into the center.  Fold in half and stitch lengthwise.  Form a loop from this fabric.

Place the purse inside the lining (right sides together) and pull the purse handles through the opening at the bottom.

Match and pin the side seams, place loop at center of back of purse (loop down inside of purse),  then sew all the way around the top of the purse.

Pull the handles and outside of purse through the opening at the bottom of the lining.  Stitch the opening closed.  Push lining inside of purse.  Press around the top of the purse and top-stitch.

Sew on button.

Glue on gemstones or sequins to give it some "bling" or leave it plain.

Note:  A simpler way to add the handles would be to simply stitch inside the purse along the side seams when the purse has been completed.  This is what I had to do with the beads, but it would also work with the cording or ribbon if you aren't looking for as finished a product.  You could also use velcro in place of the button and loop.

New Year's Resolution--Post More!

My New Year's Resolution is to post everything I make this year, documenting with pictures so that I have a good record.  (I wanted to make my friend, Sue, a wall hanging for Christmas and couldn't remember if I made one for her last year.)  Time to keep better records if my memory is going. LOL

I started the year off making Mardi Gras purses for my daughter, Anna.  She will be riding on one of the Mardi Gras floats this year and wanted purses to throw from the float.

  A friend of mine, Denice, suggested using beads as handles for the purses, and it worked perfectly.  I used a pattern for tie purses that we had made in my quilt club this past year, and cut it down to a nice size for tossing.  Now, they are ready to ship off to Anna to add a little "bling"--gemstones and/or sequins to dress them up.

I put gemstones on a couple to get an idea of how they would look:

 I am really happy with them.  They were fun and quick to make and are really cute.  I'll post a tutorial soon!