Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Happy Valentine's Day & Tuesday Tip

Today was suppose to be a quiet Valentine's Day.  I told my husband I didn't want anything accept to go to an antique store that is having a sale this Friday.  So how does my day start out?  I attend Garden Club at my local quilt shop, Quilter's Garden and they hand out cute valentines.  Sweetheart paper folded around a Kiss of Hershey's chocolate.
Next I received a sweet text from my sewing sister, Cathy!  Then later in the afternoon I received a special mushy card from my husband, he's a keeper. 
The biggest surprise was 3 beautiful red roses with a card from my son.
By the way, he's the best thing I ever made!  So the day was that was suppose to pass-by quietly ended up being precious.

Tuesday's Tip:  Have you been looking for a way to organize your Block of the Month or Block of the Week project?  My friend, Kathy Closen, showed me her method and I am sharing it with you because it really works nicely for me.  First, grab a three ring binder that is 2 to 3" wide at the binding. Second,  grab some plastic sheet protectors and slip the paper pattern into each sheet protector sleeve.

My project is Peace & Healing, from Debbie at Piecing the Past Quilts.  Click on the blue writing for the link to sign up for the Block of the Week.  She will send you an email each Monday with a new block.

Third, I go to my stash drawers and pull out fabrics until I am happy with  the combinations.  Then I slip the fabrics into the plastic page protector until I have time to cut out the pieces.  If I cut out the pieces, then only the pieces go into the page protector and I put the fabric back into the drawers.

If you are working on a large project and will need the fabrics throughout the project,  you might want to put the fabrics in ziplock bags or zipper style (pencil) bags that have three holes punched on the left.  This keeps all the fabrics together with the patterns and easy to handle each month or week.  I have two binders that I am working out of currently.  One for Women of the Bible that I shared yesterday and Peace and Healing from today's Blog.

I hope you enjoyed your day!

Yours in quilting,
Terry


Monday, February 13, 2017

What's on My Design Wall and My Mind

Welcome 2017.   Yes, I know I am late at welcoming in the new year on my blog as well as I have not written on here for quite some time.  Life just gets in the way of blogging.  Family definitely has taken a front row in my priorities.  I have decided I will blog and share when time allows.  There has also been one other issue that has kept me from blogging and that is unkind words from readers.  I know others have dealt with it, including one of my favorite bloggers, Bonnie Hunter.  I wasn't prepared to deal or accept the criticism so I shied away from dealing with it.  Time away from blogging has helped but more importantly positive reinforcement from friends stating that they missed reading and picking up tips on quilting from the blog, has helped. 

So I am back for now and see how things progress from here.  👉👉👉

On my design wall is a Quilt of Valor.  I had bought two jelly rolls of patriotic fabrics and planned on making these into Quilts of Valor.  There will be a Quilt of Valor ceremony in our town on March 24th.  I am trying to have two quilts made for the presentation. 

The pattern is Barns and Terraces from Quilters Garden Quilt Shop in Princeton, IL.  You can find their online store at www.quiltersgardenonline.com.  I am also working on Women of the Bible Block of the Week with Quilter's Garden.  (This is not a paid ad.  They are my local quilt shop and I support them whenever possible.)  Visit them on Facebook to find the free pattern.  You can also get announcements of the blocks by signing up for their newsletter.  I am sewing my blocks scrappy.  Each week I dig into my scrap drawers and pull fabrics.  My Tuesday Tip will about that subject tomorrow.

I hope you will join me when possible during 2017.  I have missed chatting with many of you and hope to hear from you on a regular basis.  Let's all lift up one another with positive feedback.

Yours in quilting,
Terry