Mug Rugs - How cute!

So I posted before about throwing some mug rugs on the quilting frame after finishing a quilt.  Well I've for them all bound and they are adorable.

The Dresden Plate was cut using AccuQuilt GO! and die.  Just easy as pie and just happen to be on sale for 25% off at www.stirchesnstories.com.  GO! check it out!

Simple Way I Stay Organized With My Quilt Projects

Like most quilters I am usually working on numerous projects at the same time.  At one point I felt I was spinning in circles and not finishing anything personal.  (Customer quilts always take priority and usually have a deadline.)

So I started making a project list which just seemed unending. It was just a word document and a list.  At this point I just felt like I as adding to the list daily and not removing anything.  :). 

A quilter friend showed a picture of her board one day (not sure who) and I thought it was an excellent idea and kids tweaked it to work for me.

 

It's just a simple dry erase board.  I use the right hand corner for the projects I want to accomplish this week.  I don't shoot myself if I miss one but it keeps my priorities up front and in focus.  The left hand side (not shown) I use when cutting fabric to track how many I need and what I've already cut.

Hope this helps you in some way.  I'd love to hear how you stay on top of your projects!

Now, lets GO! quilting.

Tumbler Memory Quilt

One of my passions is making memory quilts either from T-shirts or just old clothing.  It is a great way to help preserve and cherish someone we love.  Well this one is very special to me because it is of my father-in-laws clothing.  He was a retired sheriff's deputy and a Mr Tough Guy (really a big teddy bear).  :)

When decided on a design, I didn't want anything girly because of who he was and because of the fabric colors.  With that being said, I chose a Tumbler Block Quilt.

You know me, I'm all about using my AccuQuilt GO! So I used the GO! Tumbler- 6-1/2" (55020).  BTW, it's on sale at www.shop.stitchesnstories.com for 25% off.  

So here's a sneak peek.  It has the shirt that he and my mother-in-law got married in, his Hawaaii shirt from their vacation and even his deputy pants.

It was so easy to cut out all the tumblers and they are going together perfectly.  Can't wait to get it finished for my sweet mother in laws birthday.

So, let's GO! Quilting!!!!

Practicing What You've Learned

As a quilter, we read magazines and books, purchase ever gadget that someone says they found helpful and watch ever video we can find.  Why do we do those things if we are not going to use what we've learned.

Recently someone posted a great YouTube video about making diamond borders.  You can find it at http://youtu.be/guTwc1GTNeU, by Judith Madaen of Green Fairy Quilting.  So I decided to give some new techniques a try on my AccuQuilt! GO! SunBonnet Sue Quilt.

First of all, I would strongly suggest following her directions and marking your top first (which I did not).  :)

As an after thought, I did decide to mark the center diamonds.  I pray this Crayola Washable Marker is indeed washable.

Not to bad for a first shot.  Lets see what it looks like after I finished.  I love comparing first blocks of new designs to last.

So here we are at the end...

The next new technique comes from an APQS video.  I absolutely love this pattern and do believe it is now my new favorite.

It is very easy and fast to do and I love the look of the echo hearts.  No reason you couldn't do this with other shapes as well.

I also found a spot to use my new Quilter's Groove Proline Ruler (which is currently on sale at my website www.stitchesnstories.com).

Ad the moment of truth...  It's bound and all washed up!

All the marker is gone, thank you Lord!  I think the quilting turned out beautiful.

So I encourage you to not just watch and read but put it in place.  You may be surprised at what you can do.

Let's GO! Quilting!

What A Great Surprise!!!

When I receive a quilt top from a customer, especially a really old top that great-grandmother made, I normally do a really good inspection to make sure all seams are in tact and everything is good for quilting.  Well, on this top I must not have done a good job of that.  :)

While quilting along, I got to the last pass on the quilt and there was this sweet little note attached.  She tells who pieces the top and whose dress scraps the top was made from.

The top now belongs to a family who was lucky enough to find a whole trunk full of great grandmothers quilt tops.  We have been quilting them one at a time and I promise, each quilt has told it's own story.

Judging from the tops I've quilted so far for them, I would say that Mrs Rosie Poss truly loved her family and cherished in their memories as she made these tops.

I just decided to do a simple meandering on this one.  Thought the curves would be a nice contrast to all the straight lines. Plus the strings were attached to another piece of fabric so I was quilting through a two layer top all the way.

The stories behind the quilts are what I love about my career.  We are all so blessed!