Day Five of The Twelve Days of Christmas in July!

 

Hi, all!

Welcome back!  I hope you are enjoying yourself as much as I am - I've re-discovered so many things I've wanted to do in the past, as well as some old favorites re-visited.  After yesterday's post, I'm on the lookout for some really cute Christmas fabric to make new pillow covers for this year.  I'll save the buffalo check ones until they come back in style again!

Today I'll be sharing some fun things you can do with your kids, grandkids, or neighborhood kids - activities to keep them busy and stoke their creative juices too!  We'll also have another step in the quilt-along to get a little bit closer to our finished Christmas wall hanging or quilt.  So let's get started!

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Have I ever told you that my grandkids call my studio "Nana's Playroom"?  And they love to play up there as much as I do.  I keep lots of craft goodies handy in addition to my sewing and quilting supplies, and they know just where they all are.  Sometimes I have to clear off a table or two for them to have room to work, but it's all good!

I'm notorious for sharing great craft ideas that I've found on the internet (particularly Pinterest) and today I've got a bunch for you.  I do not have tutorials for these, and in fact, many of them are so old that their links have become defunct.   But all of them can be figured out with a little ingenuity, and I bet you have many of the supplies in your own stash!

First up are these adorable bookmarks!  Find or take a fun pic of the kids, enlarge and print out on copier paper, glue it to card stock and let your kid cut it out.  Add a string and tassel, and you've got a bookmark!  Great for using up leftover embroider floss or yarn, and even the ends of cans of basting spray!

Wouldn't these make great teacher gifts or stocking stuffers?  Leftover ribbon, small scraps, old buttons, a circle of thin cardboard or plastic and a key ring.  You can either sew them together or glue them together (make the stiff center smaller than your outer fabrics).  For best success with one that will get hard use, I recommend sewing!

Mason jar crafts are always fun, and these two made me smile!  The ones on top are fall themed, but could take on whatever holiday you wish to make them for.  Place a large-ish sticker on the outside of the jar, paint whatever color you want, remove the sticker and add a ribbon and candle.  The ones on the bottom will satisfy the need for sparkle in your life, and are so simple!  Make a white glue wash (white glue and water) and then brush it up the insides of the mason jar. While it is still wet, add some glitter and roll it around the inside of the jar unit the sides have a good sprinkling on them.  Let it dry, add a candle and maybe a ribbon, and you've got a beautiful light catcher for your mantle!

I love these little wooden spool necklaces - noticed the buttons on top? I suspect there's one on the bottom too, that has the bead dangles attached to it.  I don't know about you, but I collect both wooden spools and old buttons, and this would be a good use for them!  A few leftover beads, bits of ribbon, and a small strip of a pretty fabric glued on the spool, and you're all done!  And you can buy really nice fine necklace chain on a spool at Hobby Lobby or on Amazon, enough to make a LOT of these!

And of course, Christmas wouldn't be complete (at least at our house) if we didn't end up making something in the kitchen.  I love the simplicity of these "oreos on a stick" lollipops that are simple enough for kids to make, but pretty enough to share!  Wouldn't they look nice in a short glass on a Christmas treat "charcuterie" board? 

And here's a tip I learned from a caterer - if you put kosher salt in the bottom of a glass or container, it will hold things like breadsticks, etc. in place, but looks like ice crystals or snow!  I have also used it in the bottom of some large hurricane lamps I have, with tiny Christmas trees and some little ceramic figures of gnomes, to make little Christmas vignettes.  The kiddos love them!

I hope you've been inspired to either make some of these with the kiddos in your life, or search out crafts that will work with your particular kind of crafting leftovers!

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Now let's move on to today's step in the quilt-along....

The center of the quilt consists of nine blocks.  Today we are going to make Block A.  I'm keeping it simple today because there is a technique to making the green blocks that may be new to you - it's simple once you learn it, though!  I can thank Kelli Fannin and Lorna McMahon for showing me how to do this through their patterns.  This is the first time I tried to graph one of my own out, though, and believe me, there was a lot of "rippin' and cussin' and hopin' and prayin'" going on!  

And now that I've given you that particular little earwig to keep you company, let's pull the fabrics for Block A.  You will need the following pieces:

1 9.5” x 5”     white

4 2” x 3.5”     white

2 3.5” sq.     white

1 6.5” x 3.5”   green

1 6.5” x 2”     green

Step 1 - make a flying geese block using the green 6.5” x 3.5” and the two 3.5” white squares.  Draw a diagonal line across the back of the two white blocks, corner to corner.  Lay one on the right end of the green piece, matching the edges and corners, with the diagonal line running from upper left to lower right.  Stitch on the line.  Trim off the corner 1/4” from your stitching line.  Press the white corner out.  Repeat for the other side, having the diagonal line running from upper right to lower left.  Trim off the corner.  Press the white corner out.  

Voila! Your flying geese block is complete.   Now sew the two 2” x 3.5” pieces to each end of the block.

Step 2 - Sew the flying geese strip to the bottom of the 9.5” x 5” white piece. 

TIP:  You are about to make a block using the stitch-and-flip technique.  FYI, it is VERY easy to make a mistake and stitch the wrong direction.  I highly recommend checking to be sure you have sewn it correctly BEFORE cutting off the corner!  You are making the long rectangular piece on the bottom of Block A - check it to be sure the green ends angle correctly before trimming.  

Step 3 - Lay out the green 6.5” x 2” piece on your workspace.  Take one of the white 2” x 3.5” pieces, and place one of the short ends on the right side of the green piece, aligning the top right corner with the top right corner of the green piece.  The remainder of the white piece should hang down as shown above.  Draw a diagonal line from the upper left corner to the point where the lower right edge of the green piece falls under the white strip. (Enlarge the picture if you can't see the line I've drawn.)  Stitch on the line.  Trim off the corner.  Press out.  Repeat for the other corner, drawing your line from the upper right to the lower left.  Stitch on the line.  Trim off the corner.  Press out.  Sew this strip to the bottom of the piece you completed in Step 2.

Your Block A is complete!  It should measure 9.5” square.  Trim if needed. (I suggest doing this for all your blocks.)

Take a deep breath!  You've learned the basic technique that will get you through the Christmas tree center of this quilt.  It may be familiar to you, but if not, it's a good trick to add to your repertoire.  

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Tomorrow we will get to do a little hopping again - Kate of Arts and Socks has a fun project to share with us and we will work on two more blocks for the quilt-along.

See you then!

Sarah

I May Have a Scrap Problem.. A Tutorial and a Winner!

Hi, all!

It occurred to me last Thursday that I had forgotten to choose a winner for the Summer Wedding pattern!  What was I thinking - well, ok, I wasn't thinking, but that's still no excuse.  So now, better late than never, here's the winner...

I'll be contacting you via email today to get your mailing address!

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You may have seen these on my blog last week - a quick and easy scrap project - so I thought I'd share a tutorial so you can make some too!  Grab four 2.5" squares out of your scrap stash and let's get started...

Sew them together in a four-patch block using a fairly short stitch...

...then fold that block in half and stitch up the ends.

Now fold the block to match up the ends of the two seams you just made.  Stick a pin in it!

Now stitch from one seam allowance to the other.  Don't stitch over the seam allowance at the pin!

Next, turn the piece so that you can get to the remaining unsewn edges.  Pull all the other pieces out the way so you don't sew them into the seam.  

Stitch a short way in from either end, leaving a gap for turning and filling.  Trim the corners where you can to make them turn easier.  Be careful not to trim too closely, though!

Turn the piece inside out.  You may find that a chopstick helps you get nicely turned corners.

Now it's time to fill your pincushion!  I like to use crushed walnut shells in my pincushions - it gives them some weight, and helps keep the pins sharp.  You can buy it at your local pet shop by asking for lizard litter!

Once your pincushion is full (just keep forcing it in there, it will take a lot more than you think it will!) ladderstitch the opening closed.  You can stitch a button to the pincushion, running a long needle all the way through the cushion to give it a tufted look, or you can just use several strands of embroidery floss.  Run them through from top to bottom of the cushion and back, then tie them tightly.  I like to use Fray Check on the knot so it doesn't come undone, then trim the threads to about 1/4".

And voila, you have a pincushion!  This is a great size to put on the bed of your sewing machine to corral all those pins.  And you can make lots of them really quickly - great gifts for all your quilt-y friends!

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And I am reminded that this is the first post for October, which means I should share my September achievements...

Lilli's ginormous annual quilt, called "Something Blue" is pieced and ready for quilting!  This was a huge undertaking, but I think it will be a quilt that she can use for the rest of her life.  

And in October, I'll be working on Nathanael's annual quilt, which I have all cut out and ready to take on a quilt retreat next week.  I'll also be working on Emmy's annual quilt, which will use up some tail ends of yardage from my stash.  I'll keep you posted progress as the month goes along!

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So what are you working on?  What have you done to tame your scrap monster?  We haven't had a link party in a while, so let's do one now.  Share some of your posts showing your scrappy sewing - it doesn't matter how old they are, let's get caught up!

Hugs!

Sarah

12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop, Day 10!

Hi, all!

What was it Elvis sang about Christmas - I'll have a blue Christmas without you?  Well, it's not like that around here - you guys have been showing up in droves for the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop and I'm so glad!  It's wonderful to hear about what you have found and what inspires you and especially to hear that some of you are following along with the quilt-along!  There's only three more days of the hop, but don't expect all the inspiration to ease up - there's lots more to come!

Today, our bloggers are:

Sunday, July 23rd

Mel's Quilting Blog
Resourceful Momma
Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

Meloney of Mel's Quilting Blog, Mel of Resourceful Momma, and once again our little over-achiever Cheryl of Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting are all here to give us lots more really fun projects and ideas - I can't wait to see what each one has in store for us.  My cup is running over with ideas, but like a glutton, I just want more!!

Remember to leave a comment on each of their posts, and one here too, for four entries in today's giveaway.   You don't want to miss out on the chance to win some of Tula Pink's Holiday Homies, do you?  

Thanks to our wonderful sponsor, Free Spirit Fabrics, I have six jelly rolls, six layer cakes, and a fat quarter bundle to give away!  So go do some blog-hopping!!

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And now for today's step in the Santa's Trip Around the World quilt-along!  It's pretty simple - today you create the last quarter-panel for the quilt!  Follow the instructions you'll find here, and while you're doing that, feast your eyes on these fun gifts for quilters!  You can make or buy them for other quilters in your life, or print out this post and leave it laying around for your husband and kids, with circles around the ones you like!!

Let's start with jewelry...

I love this bobbin necklace with polymer clay "thread"...

And how about this leather "ruler" bracelet?

Do you like to make your own?  I bet you could find all the parts for this at your local Joann's or Hobby Lobby!

Now... how about some useful gadgets?

I love this idea - - - AND I have a spare glasses case in a drawer somewhere!  

And how about this bobbin case - made from a yardstick!  Even if you had to buy a new one, you could age it with olive oil and coffee to get that vintage look...

And check out these adorable pieced refrigerator magnets!  Definitely useful, and a fun way to show off your (tiny) piecing skills!

Do you need small gifts for a quilter's dinner or buffet?  How about these cute fat quarter "cupcakes" in individual cupcake liners... They'd make great place markers, too!

Or as a gift for a quilter in your life, how about a six-pack of fat quarter cupcakes?  Plus it gives you a good excuse to start buying cupcakes at the grocery store so you have a stock of the plastic containers!

 Here's another great idea, one that could be used for a large group too.  And here's a link for the printable to go with that package of M&Ms!

And how about a couple of quilt-y sayings to decorate your sewing space?

You can find the links for these pins and more on my Pinterest board 12DCIJ Pins!

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That's it for today, folks!  Be sure to check out today's blogs and leave comments, and then come back tomorrow as we finally pull all those quarter panels together into a quilt top!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Here are the blogs participating in the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop!

Friday, July 14th

From My Carolina Home

Vrooman's Quilts

Pampered Pettit

Saturday, July 15th

Citymousequilter

Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Quilting Fun

Sunday, July 16th

Swimming in a Sea of Estrogen

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

Monday, July 17th

Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Crayon Box Quilt Studio

Tuesday, July 18th

Seams To Be Sew

Stitchin at Home

Domestic Felicity

Wednesday, July 19th

The Colorful Fabriholic

Smiles From Kate

Thursday, July 20th

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

The Inquiring Quilter

Selina Quilts

Friday, July 21st

Katie Mae Quilts

Quilted Blooms

QuiltFabrication

Saturday, July 22nd

Devoted Quilter

Kathy's Kwilts and More

All Points of the Compass

Sunday, July 23rd

Mel's Quilting Blog
Resourceful Momma
Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

Monday, July 24th

Anja Quilts
PickingandStitching
A Dream and a Stitch

Tuesday, July 25th

Christina's Handicrafts
Abyquilts

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I May Have a Scrap Problem... but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hi, all!

Well, last week's post sharing some scrappy gift ideas was so popular, I thought it might be fun to share some scrappy Christmas decorating ideas this week (plus it makes for a fairly quick post that I can populate with images I found while surfing Pinterest while my hair color processed this morning!)  So let these put you in the Christmas mood, and maybe help you diminish that "stash of shame" - the Christmas fabrics you hide away during the year, that chant "use me, use me" every time you look at the beautiful new fabrics that come out each July.....  😊

Let's start with some wall hangings!  Simple to make, small in size, these are the perfect accessory to take a room from everyday to "Christmas cheery"!

Consider making a mini the same size as a picture on the wall - that way you can hang it right on top of the picture frame and undecorating is a breeze after Christmas!

I love the circles that make up the tree in this - and if you have a GO! Cutter and the circle die, it makes this one super simple!

Don't have a die cutter?  Then how about these ornaments made with snowball blocks?  

Remember the "Stack-o-Gifts" you could once order for Christmas gifts?  That's what this mini reminds me of.  I bet you could make this one up in an afternoon!

Now personally, I think everyone should have a Christmas quilt to put out at this time of year.  It instantly transforms a room with warmth and begs to be snuggled with!  Here are some great options that look simple and like they would be great scrap busters!

Aren't these Christmas trees adorable?  And so modern...

Got lots of strips?  This would be an awesome way to whip up a quick little Christmas tree quilt!

This one is a bit more complicated, but isn't it gorgeous?

I've always loved this quilt, and plan to make one of my own some day!  Those blue accents just sparkle...

And speaking of sparkle, I know this quilt isn't shown in Christmas fabrics - but wouldn't it look great made up in them?  Maybe even use a silver or silver on white for the stars.  I've made this quilt before and it is so simple and fun - simple 9-patch blocks!

And just to round out the theme, here's some cute little Christmas tree ornaments...

And some great towels for the kitchen or bathroom!

Feeling inspired yet?

Go whip those scraps into submission!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Once again, you can find the original links for all these pictures and more on my Pinterest board, Oh Scrap!