Patriotic Quilt Project

Here's a great way to show your patriotic side!  

The Patriotic 3-D Banner

The stars are actually made with 3-D bowtie blocks.  
I'll show you how...

First, cut 5 squares of the same size -- I cut 2 1/2" squares.  If you were making a bowtie, you'd cut 3 squares for the bowtie and 2 squares for the background.  To make diamond stars, you'd cut 4 blue squares for the background, and one white square.  I'll show you how to make the star.

Lay a blue square down with its right side up.  Fold a white square in half, with wrong sides together.  Lay this on top of the background square, with the raw edges at the top and sides even.  Then lay another blue square on top of it with the right side down.  Sew one side (either side will work).

Fold the 2 blue squares out of the way.  Repeat the layering process, sandwiching the same folded white square between two more blue squares, with right sides together.  Sew the other side.  

 
When you open the blue squares, you should have what looks like a bridge.

Open the white piece and bring the two seams together at the center, nesting the seams with the seam allowances going in opposite directions.  Pin together.

Bring the white raw edges even with the blue raw edges, and pin in place.  Be sure there is at least 1/4” of white in the seam allowance, that is not folded, or you will get puckers.  Sew all the way across, pivoting at the center seam if needed.  Open it up to reveal a diamond star in the middle.

As you can see, it's pretty easy!  Get the Patriotic 3-D Banner pattern as a pdf download from Craftsy or Etsy. 

Vintage Memories Block-of-the-month

This has been a really big project for me!  It took me 5 weeks to piece, and about 30 hours to quilt on the HandiQuilter at the store.  It's so big, it will be hard to find a good spot to hang.  But I LOVE it!  You can click on the picture to see a bigger image.

Denim Stars Baby Blanket

I just finished a flannel and minky baby blanket from my Denim Stars quilt pattern.  It's done in a quilt-as-you-go method, and batting is optional.  I didn't use batting in this one.  It will be nice for a summer baby blanket.

Here's the front.

And here's the back.

Christmas Gifts For Friends

Here are some Christmas gifts that I've made for the ladies I work with.  They're for keeping your notions in.  I've made 11, including the prototype.  They really took a lot of time!  I will make a pattern for them to sell... later.

I also made some Dresden plate candle mats for my Visiting Teaching sisters.  On the card is a quote from Pres. Thomas S. Monson:

As we strive to place Christ at the center
of our lives by learning His words, by
following His teachings, and by walking in
His path, He has promised to share with
us the eternal life that He died to gain.
There is no higher end than this, that we
should choose to accept His discipline and
become His disciples and do His work
throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other
choice we make, can make of us what He can." 

This candle mat will help them remember to keep Christ at the center of their lives.

2014 Row By Row Experience Pattern Available

My 2014 Row By Row Experience pattern, Snowflake Collection,  is now available to purchase for just $3.95!  You can buy it from Craftsy or Etsy.  Here's a full picture, and a few of the individual snowflakes.  Print the third page on card stock for your foundation papers.

Freebies On My Website

In case you didn't know, I have some free patterns and tutorials on my QuiltedSunshine website.  Here's a link to my Free Page.

The Simple Quilt

The Simple Quilt has a rectangle in the center, with the 4 side borders made exactly the same. It doesn't get any easier than this!  Get the pattern for the matching pillow, too.

Binding Tutorial

Learn how to do traditional French Fold Binding. Includes figuring how much yardage to buy, cutting bias strips, sewing them together, mitering the corners, binding a scalloped edge and how to join the ends. 

Mitered Receiving Blanket

The mitered receiving blanket makes a great baby gift!  You can use 2 pieces of flannel or add some minky.  It's a fun and quick blanket to make, and there are no special tools required.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ! ! !

We LOVE Halloween!  Here are some pictures:

Here's most of the porch.

Here are the boxes that we "carved," and put lamps inside.

This is my Jack-o-lantern, and the talking skull who startles people as they come close to the door.

This is Rick's Jack-o-lantern and the lighted scary tree.

The spider above the door.

This is me, waiting for our guests.  I greet them with, "Welcome, sweet chickens!"

 

I invite them inside to see our Halloween display.  We have a good collection of bugs, ghost tears, fairy tears, "dead man's bones," Shad the Skull, "wilted violets of death," cat fur rope, a specimen of "The Greater North American Dust Bunny, a death memento...  and our prized possession, a real, mummified bat.

Here are the carved turnip (because turnips were the original Jack-o-lantern), and a rotten ogre's tooth.

I hope you've had a fun Halloween!