Project Quilting 16.1: Mythical Creatures

*This post has been updated with the remake of the quilt*
Participating again this year in Project Quilting, going on over at Persimon Dreams blog. The first Challenge is Mtythical Creatures. This one was a bit difficult for me, as many patterns have a lot of detail that would require a lot of time to complete within a week's timeframe. I finally chose the: Crazy Labyrinth quilt block pattern from Moda, designed by Zen Chic. Please continue reading for more information, and for comments.

Great book find!

Hello everyone, Have you ever just happened upon a great book find, on sale? This is a book that I have wanted for a long time, Constellations. There are so many quilt block and other patterns inside, all based upon the zodiac's 12 constellation stars. This book was only $9.01 including tax. If your local stores do not have it, the book can be found at: Fancy Tiger Crafts {not an affiliate link}. Hoping that you are all doing well and enjoying autumn.

Queen of Gadgets Blog Hop!

Today is the final day of the Queen of Gadgets Blog Hop, hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt. Wow, so many nifty and neat gadgets have already been shared. This is the Fiskars® Folding Square Ruler (8"X8"). Already shared it a few months ago, as it is a gift from a comfort quilt challenge. Why is this my choice? It is just such a helpful and handy sewing tool. Being transparent, this is way easier than trying to cut around an opaque paper template shape. So far, it has been used in a couple of projects. (One will be revealed next month!). Keep reading for a list of all of the Gadgets blog hoppers...

Wonderful World of Color: clock

Welcome to my project for the Wonderful World of Color Blog Hop. This clock is from a pattern by: Holly Clarke Design.com, and is called Quilt O'Clock. Isn't that clever? So my clock is made from my fabric stash, and is hanging in the sewing area. The clock is 12" diameter, and has a chrome bezel. I was concerned about getting the clock hands back on correctly, and luckily they do work and keep perfect time. Please continue reading for more Blog Hop info.

Hand-Pieced QAL: top finished!

Two posts in one day, wow. 'Just couldn't wait to post this. Recently I participated in the Hand-Pieced QAL hosted by: Patty at Elm Street Quilts and: Kristin at: Simple. Handmade. Everyday. All of the stitching had to be done by hand. They both provided many helpful tutorials for us all. Please continue reading.

Hand Pieced QAL: first three weeks

Here are my first three weeks of blocks for Elm Street Quilts' Hand-Pieced QAL. Having done very little hand piecing, this is a true challenge + learning experience. From left to right, the first week was the 4 Patch, second week was Half-Square Triangles, and the third week is Flying Geese. It is not too late to join in on the fun. There are two choices for a layout, or you can create your own. It will not be a large quilt. Rules and guidelines are on Elm Street Quilts Blog. My chosen colorway is kinda simple. What would you choose?

~Linking-up with: Elm Street Quilts' Hand-Pieced QAL~

Danice G.

Happy Halloween from our family!

Happy Halloween to all from granddaughter Macey and our family! Lucy is wearing her witch ensemble, made by me. The dress is just made on-the-fly with a black tulle lining, and the scarf is a dollar store item. She also has purple and black striped stockings (made from dollar store adult socks) and some black shoes. Even a treats bag! The witch hat, how was that made? Well, actually it is created from a dollar store headband. Repurposed, you could say.

Carefully remove the headband from the hat (it was hot-glued). The brim is made of black craft felt. Hand sew in two ribbons, and whip-stitch around the circular area where it was hot-glued. Finis! Plus, now you have a headband that can be used for another project. Not bad, two projects for $1.00, right? The hat is the perfect scale size for the 18" fashion doll. Sending happy birthday wishes to my BIL today as well. You all please remember to be careful and safe if you are out-and-about tonight.

Autumn Jubilee 2018

The yearly Autumn Jubilee is going-on over at: From My Carolina Home. There are many projects and recipes, so hurry over there to read all of the awesomeness. I am working on a couple of those projects myself. This is a blog that you will truly enjoy. Carole is a quilter, card-maker, cook; she does so much crafting and sewing. Follow her blog to keep up with all of her posts. Prim blessings.

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018 has begun!

Are you ready? The annual 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop (hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict) is underway. Be sure to visit all of the blogs to see the great tutorials. Every day will feature several bloggers, including me. Yay! Sarah also has a quilt-along going on for the event. So much fun. Don't you also just love the pretty banner for the event? 'See you there!

Constellations quilt is finished!

Last year, I participated in the Constellations QAL at The Academic Quilter. The blocks are all stars, and followed the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month. Finally, here is my completed quilt. Please continue reading.

Earthly Paradise: rail fence quilt finished

You may recall that last year I won a gorgeous jelly roll of Earthly Paradise fabric from/designed by: Barbara Brackman of: Civil War Quilts Blog. Such luscious colors and designs in these late 19th-early 20th century reproduction fabrics. Sending more thanks to Barbara. Be sure to check-out her historical + fun blog. Guess what else. 'Tried a new quilting stitch: wavy lines (part of my #2018 Planning Party goals). Here is the finished rail fence quilt, and it's stats:

♦finished size: 36" square

♦fabrics: 100% cottons from Barbara Brackman's Earthly Paradise collection

♦backing: solid brown 100% cotton

♦binding: same solid brown as the backing, done by machine and hand

♦batting: Hobbs Heirloom® Natural 100% Cotton

♦machine quilting: horizontal wavy lines

♥ Completed WIP quilts in 2018: 6 ♥

Sewing table: redo

Here it is: the redo of my old sewing table. It was a find at an antique store some years ago. The table was unfinished, and had wobbly legs. It was likely originally a makeup vanity with a fabric skirt around the lower section. There were some small nails still around the top edges. If there were ever a matching stool, it is obviously long gone. After removing those small nails and sanding, this is the end result. The table now matches it's chest of drawers, painted in the same Valspar® Brisk Olive and the top varnished with the same olde maple stain. The original drawer pull was a simple wood round one. It was replaced with a round decorative, colorful pull that was in my stash for a long time. The drawer is handy for scissors, seam rippers, and other sewing notions. Have you ever refinished any wood furniture? Please continue reading.

Sewing chest: re-do

Pictured here is an old wood chest of drawers, purchased about twelve years ago at a yard sale in MS. It was originally painted solid white, and had small round white porcelain drawer pulls. Actually, those pulls were not large enough to open the drawers easily. No drawers in the before photo. Looking back, 'should have made a better before photo. The first photo is the chest after refinished. Please continue reading to see more photos.

It's Data Privacy Day 2018

image: Bram Naus | Unsplash

On this blog, I have made several posts through the years regarding online safety. This is something that we should all consider very seriously, and take steps to protect ourselves. Today is Data Privacy Day, an international event that is lead by The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). Yes, you may be thinking, "...oh, here she goes again...". Well, it is not just a few people who are interested in sharing safety information. The NCSA website contains a wealth of helpful advice for staying safe online with our computers, email, and smartphones. Consider visiting their website at: Stay Safe Online, and checking to see that you are truly safe online.

Wooden spoon rack + tutorial

Hello all. Here is a wooden spoon rack that I made recently. It was quite simple to construct. If you love the prim look, one of these would be great. Of course, they are a decoration only. The supplies you will need: scrap wood piece in a rectangular shape, one 1/2" thick square dowel rod, acrylic paints, a wood stain and a clean rag, some sponge brushes, some small wood nails, wood glue, 100-180 grit sandpaper for wood, a metal sawtooth hanger, a hammer, a jigsaw, and a hand drill. Safety goggles and a paper nose/mouth protector also needed. The wooden spoons can be purchased at many dollar stores. Please continue reading to see the tutorial, with photos.

New design theme for this blog

Welcome to this blog's new Blogger theme! This is Soho. Having changed over, many older posts will still contain the jump break ("continue reading MORE of this post..."). I only recently realized that every time a published post is updated/changed, that you email subscribers receive an email for each and every one. Many apologies to you all for the inconvenience. Updating those posts would flood you all with emails, so those posts will not be updated. You all can expect to continue reading posts that are sewing/quilting/crafting-related, as well as some bits about blogging, and my family. 'Same as before. Only the design has changed.

Soho does have a left sidebar, but it is tucked away. To open it, look at the top left of the screen and select the following image:

This will open the left sidebar. Blessings to you all.

How to check your Blogger Comment folders

Good morning friends. I have been told by some blogging friends that they were not aware of the S***" folder in the Blogger dashboard. Pictured above is a screenshot of mine. This is not in your email account, it is found in your Blogger dashboard after you log in. Your email account filters are another subject entirely.

Let's look closely. It is circled in lime color to see. First, select Comments. There will be three folders appear below that: Published, Awaiting Moderation, and, yes, S***. If you don't use Comment Moderation, that folder will not appear in your dashboard. Next, notice that there are several comments in that S***" folder list. Of course I am not going to Publish any of them, I checked one of the boxes beside one just for an example. Next, below the checked comment, you can select the text link Delete, or the text link Not S***. If the comment is in fact Not S***, like from a friend, simply select the Not S*** text. Next, select Not S*** from the top of that list. Please continue reading.

Home State Pillow: AL

There is such a cute tutorial over at Kelly's My Quilt Infatuation: Home State Pillow. Since Alabama is my home state, here is the completed pillow. The state and heart are machine-stitched zig-zag and the "home" appliqué is raw-edge machine stitched. The front is quilted and machine-stitched with allover meandering. There is black piping trim around the edges. The fabrics are 100% cotton scraps. This pillow finishes at 18" X 18 1/2", as Alabama is kinda vertical shaped. To see the back of the pillow, please continue reading.

~Linking-up with Kelly at: My Quilt Infatuation: Needle & Thread Thursday~

wholecloth Allegory Story quilt

Good afternoon friends. 'Remember a couple of months ago when I won a gift certificate and purchased some quilting fabrics? The collection is Allegory Story by Carrie Bloomston for Windham Fabrics. Pictured above is the first of two projects with those fabrics. This panel is now a wholecloth wall quilt. Wholecloth refers to one piece quilt tops instead of many pieces in the quilt top. 'Decided to get bold (lol) and attempt the trapunto technique. This literally means "stuffed work", and is a process in which a heavier loft batting than is used for the main quilt is sewn behind the quilt top in design motifs. When the quilt's main batting is then later added behind the quilt top, those areas are raised to create a depth layer to the quilt. The background stitching also helps to accentuate the trapunto designs. Please keep reading for more info and to comment.

Mason® jars decorated

Hoping you all are enjoying these last remaining days of autumn. Winter will be here soon. Pictured above are two Mason® jars that I decorated. One is more autumn while the other is winter. The autumn one is filled with fake berries, while the winter one is filled with fake snow flakes. The instructions for these is from: Jill at: Create Craft Love.com. She did the autumn leaf one, and I decided to do the winter snowflake one. The jars were free, as they came from our own kitchen. Recall my post about finding them back in 2013. They appear to be a bit old. These are so cute, but decided to not give one to my daughter until granddaughter is a bit older (the glass could break if dropped). Many thanks to Jill for this tutorial. Today, we could obtain some real snow for that winter snowflake jar. Although the Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice does not begin until the 21st, we are getting a wintery mix currently. Prim autumn/winter blessings.