Scrappy Crossroads Quilt

 It's beautiful here in the winter in Arizona  :)

Even with a little cloud cover outside today

it's still warm and inviting.

I just finished

Scrappy Crossroads

 Pattern with Free Tutorial

by my friend Lori Holt

of Bee In My Bonnet

can be found 

HERE

 A great way to use up scraps!

I knew I saved those little itty bits of leftovers for a reason.

 A total of 

1440

2 1/2 inch scrappy squares 

were used in this project

 For the X part of the block

I used

American Made Brand Cotton

Dark Turquoise

It's the first time I have used this solid

and it was wonderful to work with  !

High thread count and solid to the touch.

 Hey, I remember some of these fabrics

from quilts I made long ago  :)

 And these too!

A trip down memory lane.

 The actual block 

measures 16 1/2 inches unfinished

 You can make the quilt any size you desire.

I opted to make it Twin Size

by putting 

5 rows across

and 

6 rows down.

 I even used some of Lori's fabrics in the scraps

Remember her first fabric line Sew Cherry?

And Millie's Closet ?

Thank you Lori for such a great Tutorial  !!

I feel like I now have a Free Quilt

I'm even considering being brave and

trying to quilt this one myself.

We'll see.

Sew Sturdy Travel Organizers Class on Craftsy

 My friend 

Annie Unrein

recently filmed a class

for Craftsy

and it's now available to watch!

I can tell you from personal experience that

Annie is an excellent teacher.

I've taken several classes from her

and recommend her highly.

 Sew Sturdy Travel Organizers

are provided in 7 HD-Video lessons

and can be ordered on Craftsy

HERE

In this class you will receive nearly 4 hours of in depth instruction

that can be viewed anytime, anywhere

on your computer or mobile device.

This means you can learn at your own pace,

and repeat the lessons as often as you like.

 With Annie's class you will learn

the secrets to professional quality

bag making.

 You also will receive

 on-going support

with the ability to ask questions and

communicate with Annie

in a virtual classroom.

Very cool.

 Learn how to choose the best batting for quilted components,

 select a stabilizer for bags with great body 

and find out how to sew vinyl and mesh with ease.

Then, turn handles, install hardware and bind edges like a pro. 

Annie will also share insider tips for installing zippers around curves.

 You’ll even discover ways to work with zippers by the yard to save yourself money and time.

If you sign up right away

you can receive the class 

at a 50% discount!

Annie Unrein is the creator of

Soft and Stable

a product that adds 

body and stability to purses and bags.

A quilter for over 40 years, 

Annie has been designing patterns and teaching classes since 2000. 

Her quilts and designs have been published in 

Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, Quilt, 

Quilter's Newsletter, and Memory Makers magazines.

And on top of that 

she is just one of the nicest people 

you will ever meet.
To learn more about Annie
make sure to visit her web site
https://www.byannie.com/

Day Trip Quilt

 My friend

Niser Holland of Scrappy Quilt Designs

is designer and creator of

Day Trip

I've loved this quilt from the moment I saw it

and have finally had the time to make one

 Day Trip

48" X 66"

 The rows are created 

Horizontally

with a simple sew and fold technique.

 "Ash" Gray Kona for the background

and 

Kaffe Fassett scraps for the Geese

Love those Kaffes!

 And a matching Kaffe for the binding.

 I even placed a sleeve on the back.

 Labeled and done.

How To Make A Regulation Quilt Sleeve

 When submitting a quilt to 

Quilt Shows

there are specific regulations 

for the size of sleeve

that needs to be attached to the back of the quilt.

The general rule for most shows request a

4 inch wide sleeve (finished)

that is placed 

1/2 inch from the bound edge

*make sure to check your specific Show Regulations

 Once you have quilted your quilt 

and trimmed the edges you are ready to make the sleeve.

Measure across the top of your quilt

which gives you the

Width of the Quilt

 Cut the sleeve fabric

9 inches long

by the Width of your Quilt

 On both sides of the 9 inch length

press down 1/4th inch

 Turn down 1/4th inch again and press

 Stitch the folded edges.

 Bring the bottom of the sleeve up to the top

matching raw edges.

 With a removable marker

draw a line 3/4 inch from the top of the sleeve.

I like to use Frixion pens where the lines are easily removed

with the touch of an iron.

 Stitch on the drawn line.

 Center the sleeve to the top of the quilt.

Notice this leaves a gap on the end.

Baste the sleeve to the top of the quilt

using about an 1/8th inch seam allowance

 Bind the quilt using a 1/4th inch seam allowance.

 The stitching line at the top of the sleeve

is now is exactly 1/2 inch to the binding line

and your pocket is 4 inches wide.

Hand stitch the bottom edge of the sleeve down to the backing.
The quilt is now ready to be

easily slipped over a rod

and

 hung on display.

2013 Was A Very Good (Quilty) Year

 Can it be that we are now at the end of 2013?

Where has the year gone?

One of the nice things about keeping a blog is that

it makes it easy to go back and review what was accomplished.

I always start my end of the year search 

anticipating there won't be much to show.

And then when I begin going through posts month by month

I realize maybe I finished a few more quilts than I originally thought.

There are always twists and turns in life and

2013 was no exception.

This is my 301st Post out of 365 days for the year :)

When I started 2013, I set a goal to 

Finish UP 

quilts that had not been quilted.

You know those stacks that wait patiently in the back of a closet?

As with all good intentions,

I started off with gusto

Star Crazy

The top was completed in early 2011

*I even led an on-line group

and I just needed to meet the right person 

to have it quilted.

 My next quilt to take to Pat was

Rabbits Prefer Chocolate

which was started several years ago

The blocks were completed but the top still

needed a little assembling.

 In March my friend Lori Holt (Bee In My Bonnet)

wrote and asked me

 if I would make a pillow with 

her new Half Hexie Ruler

that had just been launched into the market.

Of course I said "Yes!"

I love everything Lori makes

and I really enjoyed playing with her rulers.

 In April I completed a 

T-Shirt Quilt

as a gift for family members

using Crooked Nickel's

easy to do

fusible technique and

Memories To A T pattern.

 May brought a very fun completion

after sewing blocks for months

following Lori Holt's (Bee In My Bonnet) on-line tutorials.

Row Along Quilt

will always have such fond memories.

Another goal I had for 2013 was only sew from my stash

and I'm proud to say this entire quilt was made from scraps.

Lori even gave us a design to make the 

cutest label!

 We were very fortunate to be with Lori during those months

because her ideas became the book

Quilty Fun

this last year!

Yay Lori!

Cross Terrain

pattern by Freshly Pieced

was made out of my red and white scraps.

                                              Then my life began to change :)

The book store I worked for 

announced they were
Closing

and 

I began to wonder what I should do next?

Pat had recently purchased 

Triangles On A Roll

and I had the opportunity to become 

Sales Manager
I began to spend hours and hours 

playing with 

all the various papers

 I also started creating my own patterns

(something I had never done before)

and a new pattern company

Cactus Needle Quilts

was launched in July

 What a wonderful 

whirlwind 

it's been since then.

I have learned a lot!

6 new patterns

came out on the market

starting with 

Christmas Pyramids

Gina is made with

the basic Half Square Triangles

 The Eyes Have It

uses Quarter Square Triangles

 Hourglass Squared

also uses Quarter Square Triangles

*even the border is made with QST's

 Baby Waves 

is made from Half Square Triangles

that are simply cut in half.

So easy to do!

 I liked it so much,

I made one in blue.

 And my favorite quilt that I made in 2013

Indian Blanket

I made

Mod Geo Cruiser

as a pattern tester for 

Kelli Fannin (Seriously I Think It Needs Stitches)

Love that it matches my new aqua Cruiser bike!

 I've also been busy writing 

Tutorials

Scrappy Chevrons

With only a little spare time

I managed to crochet to a finish in 

the last few moments of December

Moss Stitch Afghan

was a gift for my daughter and her husband.

Oh yes, and there were the monthly
Bees Knees blocks
made and sent out to various members of our group.
I learn a lot from these wonderful ladies.

2013 Was a Very Good Quilty Year:)

And I'm excited to see what 2014 will bring!