Wall Buckets - a one or two loop soul?

Everyone is 'organizing' this time of year. Maybe Wall Buckets can help. I photo-shopped my cover photo to show how TWO loops might look. So if you are making Wall Buckets, try adding a second loop; I think the bucket will be more stable on the wall.

Wall Buckets - P218. Are you a one or two loop soul?

A Simple Way of Threading Buttons for Fabric Caddies

Some of the caddy versions have buttons (maybe as many as five) on the top trim for embellishment. Looks cute, right!?! But sewing on the buttons, each one by hand, especially if making several caddies, is a nightmare. 

Well, I don't! I pre-thread them and hot glue them on -- so much easier. 

I had one suggestion to use your machine button attach option. Sew each button to a spare piece of fabric, cut the buttons off the fabric, and hot glue them then. But the little swatch of fabric on the back of the button in this process gets in the way of hot gluing the button thoroughly. 

So below are pics of my process:  

Really cute to have buttons on the top -- but it would be a nightmare sewing them all on by hand!

Make a group of threads, maybe ten strands thick and thread your first button.

Tie a knot on the back as shown. The end of the thread is only 2" long or less -- don't waste your thread here.

Cut off the thread right at the knot. You can use your ten-strand thread thing to knot several buttons. The whole process goes pretty fast. Then hot glue the buttons to the trim of each caddy.

 

Valerie Wells fabric -- projects for Sisters Quilt Show!

Jean Wells asked if I would make some samples for the Sisters Quilt Show! Sure! The following pics show the Boho Four Corners and Fabric Caddies using Valerie Wells new fabric. I just love her new fabric.

Boho Four Corners P216 using Valerie Wells' new block print fabrics.

Fabric Caddies P221 using Valerie Wells' new block print fabrics.

Also showing at Spring Quilt Market!

We are also showing these beauties at Spring Quilt Market!

"The Place Setting" P215 Place mats, napkins with napkin rings, and bread basket!

"Basket Liners" P213 Customize any square or rectangle basket with the  Basket Liner formula!

"Sew ImPressed" P209 Pressing boards with a pocket to hold and carry your grid rulers!

Other Market releases!

So here's the other three patterns we are releasing at Spring Quilt Market!

"Wall Buckets" P218

Comes in two sizes: one that fits a sheet of paper and another #10 envelopes. A dozen appliques available to download with the address found inside the pattern.

Simple way to turn the double-folded trim at the corners!

"Manhattan Bag" P220

Love the vertical zipper! Size is 13" deep by 12" x 5".

"Fabric Caddies" P221

Use segments of 4" diameter PVC pipe to create these fabric covered caddies. 3", 4", 5", and 6" tall. Six appliques included.

It's Time! For Quilt Market!

Okay everyone! It's time for Quilt Market! Booth 1232! Are we ReaDy? -- I don't think you are ever completely ready but I feel unusually unworried this time! It is about our 25th Quilt Market so we should have this down. Of course, on our 24th Quilt Market, I didn't get copies of our order form. You would think after 23 Markets, I wouldn't forget something like that on the 24th Market. So wonder what I am forgetting this time!!?
Anyway, you haven't heard from me much lately because ---- pre-show, for weeks, I concentrate completely on the patterns. But here are a few of the new releases (more later) ---- TA DA:

"Boho 4 Corners" ----- P216.

A Bohemian version of Vanilla House's signature Four Corners Apron. Scooped neckline, big pockets, lined, one size fits all!

"Ergo Mitt! oven mitt!" ---- P217

Weird-shaped oven mitt ergonomically designed to fit your hand so your thumb does not dip into that hot dish! Two sizes included! Right and left option! Loop or no loop!!!!

"Zip Folios" ---- P219

Sophisticated zipper pouch for your important office papers. Lined, inner pockets. Size 13" x 15". Three appliques included and nine more appliques available to download with the address found inside the pattern.


Okay, all for now. I will add the other three patterns tomorrow! And eventually post all the pics of fabric options! There's tons to come!

My latest project for P215!

'The Place Setting' is getting pretty close to publishing. Here's the three fabric sets I am going to use. 'The Place Setting' features a place mat, fabric napkin with napkin ring, and three sizes of bread baskets. Pretty soon I will post the finished items. The place mats and fabric napkins are featured -- they are made beautifully. Can't wait to show!

P215 Fabrics for 'The Place Setting'!

Basket Liners!

Sew, "Basket Liners" is the fourth of my new spring releases. So here's the deal -- you can line any basket or container that is a square of rectangle. There is a formula in the pattern to assist you in deciding how big to make the liner for your basket and how much fabric to buy. It is super easy! And I am loving the way it makes a basket look. The white basket is actually a plastic tote from Dollar Tree (it cost a dollar!!!lol) -- but the liner makes it look awesome. What a great way to coordinate baskets with your home decor.

Basket Liners - P213

Great features: the pattern comes with an Epattern version --- and both versions have a online video overview -- address inside the pattern. So go coordinate!

New Spring Patterns - Paper or Epattern!

We finally have our Spring 2015 patterns ready for the world to see!! Yeah! It's always a lot of work getting to this point and always a little nerve-racking -- always asking myself, " are they actually, finally, really  -- ready?. Took so long to get them done! 

So the first one to show is called, "The Really, Really Big Bag". It is really a huge bag, that holds everything from A to Z. I personally love it! When I have a lot of stuff, like a purse, a camera, a laptop, a coat, etc. -- I use this bag to collect everything in one spot and carrying it altogether. It really works great.........

A traditional paper pattern OR now available as an Epattern!

There are longer straps to carrying the bag on your shoulder OR shorter handles to carrying by hand.
There is a zipper pocket on the inside to carry things like your wallet that you might want more secure. And there is a scrunchy type band to help keep everything inside.  

Rather easy to make. You could make it in an evening. You could leave out the zipper pocket and it would go faster but the zipper pocket is awesome, so you wouldn't want to leave it out!! 

One of the reason they take so long to get written, I have online video overviews and/or tutorials that accompany the pattern. Lot more work on our part but much better for you.

And the Biggest News of all, it is available as a traditional paper pattern OR as an Epattern you can download from the website. Jacob is the site master and has a dozen Epatterns (I think a dozen so far) ready to go.

Basket liner fabric!

Another new project slated for this spring is fabric basket liners! These are the four fabrics I have chosen for the cover. I wanted four fabrics that 'kind of' go together or blend but each still having their own personality.

My favorite is the Playful Jacks fabric by Cotton & Steel.

Hugo's Amazing Tape

This glueless, reusable, self-adhesive tape is great! I use it to wrap around spools of thread, especially metallic threads. I also use it to wrap around pieces of trim. Really keeps things organized. I wonder how many different things this could be good for -- it really is amazing! http://www.amazingtape.com/products/

Hugo's Amazing Tape

Ring Around the Patterns

Keeping things organized in the sewing room is a big battle. Love the way I have found to organize my patterns. Each pattern, in its bag, gets stored on my gigantic ring. Check it out:

The Big Ring!

Bobbins, bobbins, oh my!

Love these bobbin holders.  I have two in my drawer right below my machine and they are indispensable! Can't live without them.

Bobbin Holder

Organized chaos!

De - clutter your life! Love the big rings in the corners!

Tie-dy Up! fabric box organizers (P192)