Thursday, April 27, 2023

Cats Spring Scrap-a-long..."a Rose for Mom" Phase 1

 Hey quilter's...hope your day is off to a great start. Well today I'll be sharing phase 1 of a fun spring scrap-a-long in honor of our dear mom-in-law. She was an exceptional quilter...won many awards...lover of batiks & aurifil thread. We both love "orange peel" designs so this is my "modern twist" on a classic design. She was my "side kick" going to quilt shops and taught me if you're going to spend the time piecing/quilting projects together then use quality products. One reason why I'm obsessed with the quality of aurifil thread and my love for batiks. This fun design is so versatile. You can make the table runner as shown or follow today's post and make a trivet. Mom liked it when I would make a "test block" of my designs and flip it into a trivet for her. The design is a great beginner project especially for kiddos to make a fun accent pillow. I'll be sharing tips along the way to make this a fun project for all. I hope you've purchased the "mini orange peel" template cause as you can see we'll make a lot of those cuties. I'm having so much fun designing with this template so keep following for more home decor projects. Remember before we start...I'm all about "less-stress-quilting" so tweak any of my steps to your skill level. So, grab your scraps.... your aurifil thread & lets "a-play-que" 2gether this spring! Enjoy.

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Note: Instructions below for Block one or Trivet. Omit trivet instructions if making a runner :-)



Here's all you need...

*Batik scraps or your desired fabrics (sizes posted along the way)

* Aurifil thread ;-)

* Insul bright lining (heat n cold)

* Fusible applique sheet or your desired stabilizer

* Low loft Batting

Here's all you do...

* Fuse applique stabilizer (following manufacturer's directions) to wrong side of your "scrap pieces" of your preferred orange peel accent fabric....

* Trace orange peel template on paper side of fusible web. For design you will need 12 orange peels.

* Carefully cut out each orange peel on tracing line.

Tip....you can trace 2 orange peel templates on a 3.5 x 3.5 scrap piece of fabric. Great way to use those odd size scraps :-)


*Now following design...make 8 HST's (half-square-triangles" out of your desired scrap fabric.

Tip.. I press my scraps before starting due to scraps can be a bit wonky :-)

*Rotary cut a solid scrap piece to 3.5 sq and a printed scrap to 3.5 square. 

* Place with right sides together...using a ruler... draw a diagonal line across the square. 

* Sew a 1/4 " seam down each side of diagonal line.

* Rotary cut on solid line.

* Press to darker side of scraps.

* You will have 2 HST's that are 3 x 3 (includes a 1/4" seam allowance)

* Repeat steps for 8 HST's for Block 1.

Tip...Fons & Porter for Omnigrid has a wonderful 1/4" ruler :-)

* Rotary cut 8 (3 x 3 inch squares out of your desired scraps following design. (includes 1/4" seam allowance.

* Lay your squares in rows per design.

Note...this is a very important tip...view on previous blog post. Please take the time at this point and "audition" your squares in within your block. This is the time when you can switch squares around if you don't like to fabric hues together. :-) 

* Row 1...sew squares in order with right sides 2gether using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press.

Tip....Pin row 1 :-)

* Repeat rows 2.3.4 in same manner...pin/number each row....just in case you have a "cat" that loves to scramble your projects :-(


* Sew Row 1 to Row 2 following design & using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press

* Sew Row 2 to Row 3 using same steps.

* Then Row 3 to 4. 

* Press block & square up if needed. 

* Block should be approximately 10.5 x 10.5

No worries if different...scraps get a bit wonky... remember less-stress-quilting :-)

Pin to mark top of block. 


* Repeat previous steps for Blick # 3 if you are making the Table Runner show in previous post.

Hope you enjoyed Phase 1 and had fun using some of your scraps! Mine seem to keep growing.

Check back soon for Phase 2 :-)

Quilt Blessings,

Cat




Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Cats Tip of the Day!..."Audition those Scraps W/ Aurifil thread!"

 Hey quilters....hope your "mid-week" is going well. I wanted to share one of the "advanced tips" of the Scrap-a-long design, a "Rose for Mom." As you can see with previous post/design you can definitely use a few scrap hues and make it simple especially for a new quilter. But I love to challenge myself within a design. I guess it's the "Interior designer" coming out or maybe I like to live on the edge a bit. Ha! But when I saw the charm pack of "Pebbles & Daisies" by Banyan Batiks for Northcott fabrics I knew it had to be "scrappy." All the color hues of the stunning batiks inspired me & have to say challenged me. This is why I wanted to share this tip. I love to "audition my scraps."...I lay them out.... switch them around.... step back...most likely change again (My O.C.D) :-) Only Cat does! But this step is great cause sometimes you might have 2 hues that are similar and can make or break your design. I wanted to use as many pieces of that pack as possible. The more scraps I use the more Aurifil thread I can accent my design with...win...win for me! I may have got a bit crazy, but I do love all the color hues. It did challenge me and you don't have to use as many scrap pieces like me but do challenge yourself. I especially love to step out of my comfort zone in small projects. Trying new techniques on a small scale is less stressful and you know me I'm all about "less-stress-quilting" ;-) Well, Phase 1 starts tomorrow so grab your scraps & aurifil thread & lets "a-play-que" 2gether this spring. Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Monday, April 24, 2023

"Cats "Spring Scrapin' a-play-que Series" Sneak peek!

 Hey quilter's....hope you had a great weekend. I wanted to start off our Monday with a "sneak peek" of this week "scrap-a-long." This design is very dear to me. My mom-in-law recently passed and she was an exceptional quilter. Her detail with her perfect points always impressed me. She believed in buying great quality threads and fabrics. Mom won many awards with her quilts & she loved helping others new to the "quilt world." Yes, she was also a fan of Aurifil thread & Batiks. She once told me why would you spend all that time on a project and not use quality thread and fabric. Needless to say, I have spent the last two weeks donating her fabrics and notions to our quilt club. Her legacy will continue with all the projects they will make to help others. Mom loved roses. So, the design below is a tribute to her love of "pink roses". It's my modern spin on a rose using the "orange peel template" that I recently received from Missouri Star Quilt co. I will be using my fav of "Pebbles & Daisies by Banyan Batiks for Northcott fabrics, but you can see any fabric scraps will work! I'll be showing my "advanced technique" featuring 50 weight  Aurifil thread and designs from a trivet...table runner & pillow. Design easily can be enlarged for a lap quilt or any size. Endless quilt-possibilities with this fun scrap-a-long! You still have time to purchase the sweet "mini peel template" by Missouri Star Quilt Co or the Pebbles & Daisies fabric. I'll be starting the "scrap-a-long" mid-week but you sure can join in anytime! Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Design...."A Rose for Mom" 13 x 33 





Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Cats Tip of the Day!..."Why I love Aurifil Thread!"

 Hey quilter's...hope y'all are having a great week. I was recently ask why I'm I love Aurifil thread. I laughed and said, "how much time do you have?" I've always been a fan of Aurifil thread but a few years ago I became obsessed. I few years I took on a large project for our sweet towns Museum of "Stain Glass Windows" out of Batik fabrics & appliqued with Aurifil thread. I designed the pattern at the time in EQ7 for accuracy. Now I use EQ8 but that's another story :-) Well each individual piece of the stain glass design was appliqued with "Aurifil 50# thread" with no thread breakage. Yes...that's right....I designed 3 windows (one below of the Texas rose) and not once did I have a thread breakage or any kind of a thread "hick-up." This was a huge project of me & Aurifil thread made it a breeze with no stress. I preach on my techniques of "less-stress-quilting" with my "Scrap-a-longs" & this project started it all for me! The quality of Aurifil thread is beyond amazing plus you have so many color hues & weight threads to compliment any craft or quilting project. The term "endless possibilities" is definitely used to describe "Aurifil thread."  I hope you try Aurifil thread if you're not already addicted like me! 

Here's a tip...if you're not sure of what "thread hue" to use cause you have so many choices....purchase a smaller spool to "audition" your thread with your fabric. I recently ordered "2615" it's a very neutral color that I love while piecing my "scraps" together. Plus ordering small threads spools allows you to purchase more color hues especially if your just new to the wonderful world of quilting :-) I have a link at the upper right of my blog to Aurifil  & Missouri Star Quilt co where you can purchase this great thread. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Monday, April 17, 2023

Cats Tip of the Day.!..."Budget-Friendly Quilting!"

 Hey quilter's...hope your week is off to a great start. Well this week I'll be starting my "Spring-a-play-que" series using this stunning collection of "Pebbles & Daisies" by Banyan Batiks for Northcott fabrics. My series are "scrap-a-longs" but if you're new to the quilting world you may not have a lot of scraps especially in these stunning fabric hues. So, I wanted to share a "budget-friendly" quilting tip with y'all. In this pack of "Pebbles & Daisies" you get 42-5" squares of this stunning collection that allows you to have 2 of each fabric sku. Oh my goodness! With my "scrap-a-long" you don't need to purchase tons of yardage unless you absolutely want too ;-) Trust me...you probably will especially if you do the advanced designs. But that is why I love "Missouri Star Quilt company... "Sew much fabric to choose from at a great price. I do have to mention.... once you start "scrappin" with me you can't go back :-) We'll have so much fun and before you know it you'll have more tiny "scraps" for our next project 2gether. So pop on over to their website & grab your bundle of this stunning collection for this weeks scrap-a-long. You can click on their website at the top right corner of my blog under "sites I love" for convenience. Y'all know me by now....less-stress-quilting and I love a great bargain to share! Talk Soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Links on right side of blog for your convenience.



Saturday, April 8, 2023

Easter Blessings & "Rabbit in a hole for Breakfast"

 Hey quilter's...hope all is going great. If y'all know me by now I love quilting & cooking. My tips are a bit easier these days but that's o.k. too. For me...it's all about sharing and making memories rather it be quilting or cooking. If you've been following my cooking blog you know I've been working on a recipe cookbook with my sweet Grandson Davin. He's only 12 and wanted my recipes for when he goes off to college. Be still my heart! Well in our family "egg in a hole" is a tradition. We also love using "cookie cutters' every Holiday and make "Cinnamon Toast." Honestly, no matter your age this is such a fun Easter breakfast to make. I hope y'all pop on over to my cooking blog and try this fun recipe with your loved ones. I wish y'all a Blessed Easter weekend! Keep following for my fun "Spring-Scrap-a-long." Previous post shows the sweet "orange peel template" we'll be using :-) Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com



Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Cats Tip of the Day!..."Why I love Batiks"

Hey quilter's...hope y'all are having a great week. I was recently asked "why I love Batiks/" Oh my goodness...where do I begin. First of all Batiks are handmade, so you get a different design & texture throughout the fabric. The colors are just stunning incorporated into a design/pattern. I love blending Batiks with solids to give an interesting design in my 'scrap-a-longs." So, here's the funny.... sometimes when your piecing fabric squares 2gether and you go "shoot...I just sewed a wrong side of fabric together." Well at least for me it happens. :-) Piecing with Batiks you no longer need to worry about a 'mishap." Batik fabrics have no "wrong side." Yes...if you haven't already experienced the love of Batiks check them out. You will be amazed not only of the quality but the fact it's fabric dye is on both side of the fabric. Absolutely amazing! The pic below shows just a few of my "Batik love" with Banyan Batiks by Northcott fabrics. I'm obsessed with the collection "Pebbles & Daisies." So much in fact this is a "sneak peek" of what I will be using on my "Spring -Scrap-a-long" starting next week. I just received my "Pebbles & Daisies" 5 x5 Chip Pack. It contains 42 pieces (21 design selections) that I'll be using a long with my scraps of this stunning collection. If you peek at the picture you will also see the sweet "Mini Orange Peel" template by Missouri Star Quilt co. that I'll be using in the design/pattern. This orange peel template is perfect for my 2 1/2 in blocks that we'll be doing! I'm also to mention that I'm a part of the Influencer Program with Missouri Star Quilt co. They are a family-based business with excellent customer service and need to say great sales every day! So whatever your quilting/sewing/crafting needs are please check them out. You can click on my link below to go directly to their website if you wish. I do get a "kickback" going through my link which allows me to get some of the items needed for these fun "scrap-a-longs." Or go to their website listed below. I love to share the joy of quilting with others. My designs/patterns are geared towards the beginner quilter with advanced techniques along the way. So, check these stunning fabrics & check back soon for my exciting "Spring-Scrap-a-long." Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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