Bet You Can't Make Just One Halloween Mug Rug

For awhile now, I've been noticing mug rugs everywhere. They continue to be in the Top Twenty Best Sellers at www.craftsy.com. Finally, I took some time to design one and before I knew it, I had designed eight or so. Believe me, the designing took longer than it does to make one! They are super quick to make. Since it's the bewitching month, my first designs are all for Halloween--and since they are so fast to stitch up, you can certainly make up a batch or two to use for the remainder of the month.
So here are the first four of my ghoulishly easy Mug Rugs!

The background for each face is foundation-paper-pieced--a full-size pattern is included in each pattern. All of the features are fused in place, and then zigzagged as part of the quilting. Since each one measures only 5-1/2" x 9-1/2", fabric requirements are minimal. They are great stash busters! In addition to fabrics, you'll need batting and your favorite fusible web. A set of four different mug rugs, or a set of four of your favorite design, would make a great gift!

You'll find all four of these quick-and-easy PDF downloadable patterns at my Craftsy store--http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store

Each pattern is just $2.50. Even if you don't make them right away, once purchased, the patterns will always be in your pattern library at Craftsy to download when you are ready to have a little stitching therapy! 

Until next time,
Keep smiling, sewing, and quilting!
Barbara

Such a Pretty Pumpkin Centerpiece

I was shopping in Michael's yesterday and found most floral items and pumpkins on sale. I snatched up one of their hollow "plastic/rubber" pumpkins—difficult to know what the composition really is—plus a candle ring with "silk" leaves in fall colors, and a few sprays of golden and brilliant red velvetized leaf sprays--all on sale. The pumpkin was $4.00, the candle ring $2.49, and the sprays $1.69 each. For $10.00 I had the makings for a pretty pumpkin to add to my growing collection.

Here's how you can make your own:

1. Place the candle ring on top of the pumpkin and use a sharp knife to barely pierce the pumpkin all around the ring to mark the cutting line. Remove the ring.

Stab-cut around the marks to make opening.

2. Use a sharp knife to stab through the pumpkin into the hollow space, following the line you drew. I suggest making stabs rather than trying to "saw" along the line. Lift out the stem/lid and discard. 

Lift out and discard the stem/lid.

3. Tuck the candle ring inside the opening; you may have to coax it through. 

Tuck leafy candle ring inside the hole.

Then use a glue gun to secure it all the way around. You may be able to get glue on the ring itself, or not, but you can certainly put glue all the way around the opening and gently press plastic stems and leaves into the glue.

Use your glue gun to secure the ring inside the opening.

Oh so easy--and pretty too!

4. Remove the velvet (or silk) leaves from the plastic stems—there is usually a little plastic "cap" at the end of the stems that will pop right off so you can slip the leaves from it. Arrange the leaves underneath the leaves in the ring to add another circle of foliage, arranging as desired and securing with "globs" of glue from the glue gun. Primp the leaves as you go and glue in place.

6. Ta DA! I've placed my pumpkin in among others in my collection to create a pumpkin "tablescape" in my entry hall.

The really cool thing is, you can use the pumpkin just as it's shown for a centerpiece or in your mantel arrangement—OR you can tuck flowers and foliage through the center opening of the ring down into the pumpkin to use it as a vase. You could also set the pumpkin inside a fall wreath to make it into a more elaborate centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. If you want to "light it up" hide a candle "plate" under the foliage and add an LED candle (battery operated)--safer than the real thing!

Easy and inexpensive—that's how I like my craft projects for seasonal décor!

I know, I know! This isn't sewn or quilted, but it's fun and easy and I hope you like it!

Until next time, Keep stitching (and crafting) and smiling!

Barbara

Sewing as Meditation

Finally! After three months away from my sewing machine due to life events, health challenges (chronic back pain) and my looming book deadline (read more about that in my next post), I've been sewing again!  And, after a very long hiatus, I've returned to meditating. That the two "events" coincide is a joy to contemplate, and in doing so, I've found how related they are. Serendipity? Perhaps!

In the process, I've quietly re-discovered that sewing can have the same qualities as a quiet meditation. In meditation, you try to turn your attention to your breath—breathing in and breathing out—returning to that rhythmic rotation when your mind wanders.

When you sew by machine, the needle goes up and down, up and down, just as the breath goes in and out, in and out. The calmer you are when you sew, the slower you go, ensuring seams that are true and stitches that are straight. With hand sewing, which I find even more meditative, it's the hand moving the needle into and then out of the fabric in a soothing, rhythmic pattern that creates the "meditation."

If you are at all like me, it's not uncommon to find yourself "multi-tasking" while you meditate or while you sew. The mind wanders while you meditate, while you continue to see where it goes and then lovingly bring it back to the breath. And while sewing, whether by hand or machine, it's easy to lose focus on the in-and-out or the up-and-down of the needle as you the needle or the fabric with your hands. What's for dinner:, what will I make next; how fast can I get this thing finished; why can't I get this right? And so many more distracting questions and observations. Your focus gets fractured and the results of your stitching just don't measure up to your expectations. Worst of all, frustration sets in because you must rip out and redo seams.

When I was teaching sewing seminars all over the country in the early 1980s, one of things I talked about was learning "how to sew fast," so the sponsoring stores could sell more fabric and the sew-ers could make more clothes. (Note: I use sew-ers instead of sewers, for obvious reasons of pronunciation; I just don't like the new word "sewist" that everyone seems to be adopting. I'm a traditionalist, through and through.)

Now I realize that more wasn't really better and I wasn't really enjoying the process—because inevitably, I spent lots of time ripping out bad stitching. Now I know that slowing down and breathing in and out along with the up-and-down or in-and-out of the needle as I go, may mean I get less done, but I'm happier with the results because I've eliminated the frustration of sewing do-overs! And, ultimately, slowing down means less unstitching.

I used to advise students to turn on upbeat music to help speed up their work. Now, instead, I choose chants and classical music to help calm my mind and subtly influence the sewing experience.

Ah, just stitch and breathe, stitch and breathe, stitch and breathe, and enjoy the journey!

When I take the time to slow down, breathe and allow myself to "live" the process, I enjoy it more and I am happier with the results—plus sewing do-overs are fewer and I don't have to spend the time for them!

Ah, just stitch and breathe, stitch and breathe, stitch and breathe--and enjoy the journey! I think I'll just go and do that right now!

Until next time!

Keep smiling and sewing,

Barbara

It's Sew Rewarding

I love hearing from quilters and sewers who have finished a project using one of my patterns. Today, I received an e-mail from the Southwest Florida Quilter's Guild in Ft. Myers, Florida. The Guild was founded in 1993 and has about 200 members. Here's what Lyn Bruner, Chair, Community Service Committe had to say:

"On Saturday, Aug. 17 (2013) from 10 am - 3 pm, the Southwest Florida Quilter's Guild held its monthly Fun Day where members and guests are invited to participate in a planned activity and/or use the time to work on their own projects. It's a wonderful time to socialize with other quilters, find solutions to quilting challenges, or use the meeting room to lay out projects since many of our members' retirement homes don't have that kind of space.

 

The Community Service Committee organized the Aug. 17 activity using your Building Blocks pattern. 

Strips were pre-cut using an AccuQuilt Studio fabric cutter. Twenty-plus attendees (including two teenagers) received minimal instruction, selected their strips and proceeded to assemble one row at a time. Another member cut the rows into blocks while a third assisted participants with selecting from the variety of blocks to assemble each row in keeping with the pattern's suggested layout.  We completed 5 tops that day!

Other members volunteered to take the tops home to finish. Completed quilts will be included in our annual donations to the local Lee County Public Schools Head Start program in September. 

Thank you for allowing us to use your Building Blocks pattern. We had a great time."

Lyn also shared a few photos from their Fun Day.

The Building Blocks pattern is available as a FREE download at my pattern store on Craftsy. There you will find all of my other patterns for quilts, table settings, and tote bags. Here's the link: http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store

You can read more about this pattern in a previous blog entry for 2010--"Quilts for Han Thomas and Hunter." Look in the 2010 blog archives.

If you are looking for an easy design for charity quilts, "Building Blocks" is the perfect pattern--easy enough for beginners, great for anyone to piece! Please feel free to download and reproduce it as needed for your guild or group.

Thanks again, Lyn for using the pattern and sharing the experience. It makes my heart sing to know that Building Blocks quilts will go to a good home!

To learn more about the guild, go to: www.swfqg.com

Until next time, 

Keep sewing and smiling!

Barbara

Introducing the Strip Happy Fat Quarter Tote Bag

I love making tote bags and selling the patterns at http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store . I just uploaded my newest one there and I've already sold a few. Yippee! Sometimes it takes awhile to see the first sale. Perhaps it came so quickly because it was
designed specifically for fat quarters*, those lovely little of bundles of fabric that quilters just can't resist. * A fat quarter is 1/4 of yard of fabric, but cut the "fat way" so it measures 18" x 22". This cut has the same number of square inches as a quarter yard cut from fabric yardage (9" x 44"). I've been wanting to design a tote pattern using fat quarters and now I've done it!

When I'm designing and creating a new tote, it usually takes longer to complete it than I think it will. I always seem to forget that sometimes what I visualize as the best way to put it together, it turns out to be the most difficult. 

This tote is especially easy to make, but I did it the hard way first and did a lot of stitch-ripping, re-design, and stitching again. But I am happy I did because now it's easier and faster to make and it's a better design, overall. I'm really pleased with results and the little bow that connects to straps, which turned out to be a nice little afterthought! I saw the strap-and-ring treatment on another shopper's tote at a fabric store on a totally different bag style. It caught my eye and so I decided to try it on this new design. I'm happy I did!

Got Fat Quarters?
If you are an avid quilter, I'm guessing you already have a few fat-quarter bundles in your stash--or you need an excuse to go buy some new ones! Either way, this lined tote, sized for a not-too-big and not-too-little handbag, requires one each of 5 different-print fat quarters for the piecing and inside pockets, 2 fat quarters of another print for the straps, bows, and binding. You'll need two more of an other print for the lining-- that's seven different prints and nine fat quarters in all.

The tote is pieced directly onto a cotton canvas foundation, for added body. Divided pockets on the outside are formed as you stitch the finished pocket panel in place. There are two hanging pockets inside the tote--one zipped for security and a second that is open. It's the perfect place to tuck your cell phone or other small items you need at your fingertips. For a different twist, perky little bows connect to the strap rings.

I hope you'll try this pattern and share your results with me by sending a jpg to barbara.weiland@yahoo.com along with permission to use your photo along with your name or initials and where you live. I would love to see your tote and to feature it in this blog and my marketing efforts as I have several others in previous blog posts. Here's your opportunity to show off your work!

Design Inspiration is Everywhere!
Coming up with new designs can be a challenge, but since I've become a Pinterest fan, I have loads of inspiration and ideas to draw on for my own designs as well as for crafting projects, recipes to try, gardening information, and so much more. I pin every day and I've begun actually trying many of the ideas from my pin boards. Since I think others would benefit from what I've learned, I've started a new blog--Thumbs Up for Pinterest. You can find it at www.thumbsupforpinterest.com and I hope you'll visit soon. Today or tomorrow I'll be uploading a tutorial with step-by-step directions for a wonderful 4th of July wreath, inspired by several pins on one of my boards. Here's sneak peak of a portion of it. There's still a little time to make it and if not now, you can try it next year! It's really a fun idea an so easy and you can make it in a few hours and hang it on your door!

Until next time,
Keep sewing and smiling, and pinning and crafting, too!
Barbara

On the Leader Board at Craftsy

Hearts Entwined

I've been selling my patterns at www.craftsy.com for over a year now, and it thrills me no end when I go to their site and find one of my patterns on their Top Twenty Leader Board. When my pattern store on the Craftsy site first opened, two of my patterns appeared on the Leader Board day after day after day for months. The exposure to my patterns has been fabulous. The first to make it there was my Hearts Entwined Quilt Pattern and it still pops up on the board with some frequency. It combines traditional piecing with paper piecing for perfect diamond points. Several who have purchased the pattern said they made it as a wedding gift.

                                                                                   

 

Best-Seller

In quick succession, my best-selling tote pattern, The Quilted Carryall climbed to the top of the board. A year later, it still shows up on the board almost every week and has held the #1 spot many times. This week was no exception! I've been hearing from sewers and quilters who have made the Quilted Carryall, and have received photos of their completed bags, too. In a previous post, I shared photos of the totes Joan Wium of South Africa made from the pattern for a contest sponsored by Hatched in Africa. Her embroidered tote took the prize in her category and deserves sharing again. Mary Mc of Whidbey Island also shared photos of her Quilted Carryall. Kudos to both of them for making such beautiful bags. Their workmanship is impeccable, too!                                                                

Winning Totes by Joan Wium of South Africa

Quilted Carryall by Mary Mc of Whidbey Island

If you have used any of my tote (or quilt) patterns, please send jpgs so I can share them with readers. It's always fun to see your fabric choices and embellishments! Your comments and questions about my patterns are always welcome, too.

You can see all of my tote and quilt patterns in my pattern store on Craftsy:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store

Seeing my patterns on the Leader Board at Craftsy is always exciting, but even more wonderful are the quilters and sewers from all over the world who have honored me by purchasing them. It's a great vote of confidence! Thank you to every one!

Until next time...

Keep on sewing and smiling,

Barbara

Be Kind to Your Sewing Hands...

...and your feet, too! I don't know about you, but when I do a lot of sewing, my hands suffer. Fabrics dry them out and my nails, which aren't very strong to begin with, also take a beating.

Since my feet also suffer, especially in summer when I don't wear shoes unless I must, I decided to try one of the recipes I found for homemade lotions--and to treat my hands and feet with it. And it worked.

(I've been pinning onto Pinterest boards for over a year now and have collected lots of ideas for health and beauty along with lots of inspiration for sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking and decorating. Try it you'll like it!)

Basically, you beat baby lotion (love the scent), Vaseline, and Vitamin E cream together with your hand mixer. Or you can use solid-form coconut oil in place of the Vaseline.

Here are links to the two blog entries I found about making your own lotion; my recipe, below, is a variation on them, and works very well.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/12/16/fantastic-hand-cream/

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/make-your-own-simple-moisturizing.html

Here's What I Did

To keep the costs down, I opted for the Vaseline instead of coconut oil. I purchased a 3.53-ounce jar (coconut-scented) at the Dollar Tree for $1.00, along with their largest bottle of baby lotion for $1.00. I used two 4-ounce jars of Vitamin E cream from Wal-Mart (2 in a pack for about $3.70). Then as the directions in both posts direct, I mixed them in a bowl to creamy pink froth with my hand mixer and scooped them into the empty containers and a plastic tub. For under $6.00, I have a healthy supply of lotion. The other recipes call for more Vaseline or Coconut oil, but the small jar of Vaseline  was enough--I think more would make it greasier than I would like.

Note: What a great, inexpensive Christmas gift this would make for your gal pals, sewers or otherwise!

And oh, do I LOVE it! It's rich and creamy and as I said before, I love the scent. It's silky and not greasy and sinks into the skin pretty quickly. I love the way my hands feel and the dryness is gone. Be sure to work it into your cuticles, too. I usually put it on my heels and the soles of my feet, put on a pair of socks, and my walking shoes and head out the door. There's usually enough left on my hands to work it in and sometimes up my arms. While I'm walking the fluff sinks into and nourishes my feet and hands, which were badly cracked and calloused when I started this regime. WHAT a DIFFERENCE. The dryness is gone, the cracks have disappeared, my callouses are shrinking, and my feet and hands are baby soft! This will part of my daily health and beauty routine for the rest of my life! I've never been one for using lots of lotions as I don't like the "slimy" feel they usually leave behind. Now I have the answer. When I'm sewing a lot, I use the lotion on my hands often during the day.

Biotin--It Works!

The other Pinterest-generated beauty tip that has worked for me is to take Biotin for your nails (and hair and skin). Although, my nails are still not as hard as I would like after taking it for a year, they are stronger and the peeling and cracking has all but stopped, unless I abuse my hands by not wearing gardening gloves--I just love to get my hands in the dirt! I take two 1,000 mcg tablets every day with my other vitamins (Biotin is one of the B vitamins). I think it also makes my hair more manageble and shinier (nhot sure if it has made much difference in my skin).

So here's two thumbs up to Pinterest, for providing a way to collect, categorize, and use information from the WEB! Some things I've tried haven't given the desired results, but these two are winners, for sure.

Until next time, keep smiling and sewing!

Barbara