"U.S.A. Garden Flag"

 Hey quilter's...Happy Memorial Day! Today is so special...honoring those who have served for our Country. Growing up in a  Military family brings so many memories. Some are sad and some you wish as an adult you could go back and cherish. You don't realize how blessed you were as a child until you reflect memories as an adult. I know it sounds a bit odd to say that but due to my dads service, I was blessed to travel to countries that I would not be able to afford today. So today and everyday..."I thank all who have served and are serving." It is very stressful on the families back home while there loved ones are away. We all put our strength of honor face on but my heart does go the families that have a loved one serving. My scrap-a-long today is a tribute to my love of our country. I knew when Missouri Star Quilt Company gifted me the templates to create a design with that it was going to be special. Also a bit hard because creating the garden flag brought many tears...especially now that my dad is in heaven. The garden flag was made with my love of Island Batik Fabrics "Lumin Fabrics.." I made the flag similiar to the previous "Lake garden flag." All you need to do is adjust your cutting for a finished 13 1/4 x 19 1/4. It's a tad bit longer than previous flag due to using the super cute templates. The design can be used as a banner too if desired. I did strip piecing of the fabrics (per design) for the letters but you could do a solid fabric color too.  I pieced/quilted on my Brother sewing machine and designed the garden flag in EQ8. I love how quickly this project comes together...no border piecing...you are starting with a background fabric that is rotary cut to 13 x 19. After you fuse your design per manufacturer's directions then a-play-que and quilt as desired. I did a 1/4" border with the Red and Blue fabrics alternating at sides and corners. Endless possibilities to have fun. This is a great small project for beginners to play with your machine and just have fun! I'll list the fabrics from Lumin that I used below and the Aurifil thread hues. This project is so fun and I hope it inspires you to create a design that is unique and special to you as well Check back soon for a "Graduation gift" that is a tribute to all us Moms! :-) Wishing y'all a great day and thanks so much for following. Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Island Batik/Lumin Fabrics used...

* Background...Foundations Dots Neutral

* Ravishing Red Batik Solid Cherry

* Twilight Batiks Daisy Storm (Blue)

Tip...always check your batiks for prewash instructions. They are beautifully hand dyed...that's what makes them so unique!

Thread used...

* MSQC 50# White

* Aurifil thread 50# (2260, 2780)

Letters and Shooting Star...

* Missouri Star Quilt Co U.S.A. & Shooting Star Templates

* Missouri Star Quilt Co. Sew Light Fusible Adhesive (double sided and love this product for fusing)

You can reflect back on previous post of Lake Garden Flag for instructions and inspiration. I encourage you to create you to try new sewing/quilting techniques due to the small scale of project. 

Today "officially" kicks off the kiddos being home for summer too. So check back soon for more fun...fast-n-fab projects!

Talk soon,

Cat

How To Make an English Paper Pieced Wall Hanging With Our Kit + 5 Episod...

Hey quilter's....hope you had a great weekend. Well here's another fab design with "At Home w/ Misty" from Missouri Star Quilt Company. This kit is available at MSQC (my link will take you there)...and it features English Paper Piecing using Tula Pink Fabrics. I hope you enjoy this tutorial. Misty is an awesome designer and I love how she explains and walks you through the process. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Cats Tip of the day!..."Table Runner 2a Mock Roman Shade"

 Hey quilter's...Sunday Blessings to y'all. It's a bit quiet this morning so I wanted to quickly share a fun project that I recently finished in my bathroom. I have one of those small long windows that have the privacy glass. I wanted something decorative on the window without the price. I've designed and made many custom window treatments but I wanted simple with texture. Recently, I was shopping in the home goods area in Walmart and saw the textured runners by Mainstarys. I have one on my dining table from another store and I love it. So here's the excitement...it's lined already & the length was perfect at 14 x 72 and my window was 13 1/2 x 40 L. Hmmm,,.I thought what do I have to loose...well 20. bucks if I mess it up.. :-) Seriously as a designer even a "Mock Roman Shade" is expensive so I went for it! It's not perfect but I'm not either but I absolutely love it! Who would have thought something so easy would make a huge difference in a window plus it's fun-ctional as in super cute because it's "Mock" which means it doesn't move. I did start out by "tacking" the folds using Aurifil 50# thread on my Brother sewing machine but realized that I didn't even need to do that step...I just used the industrial glue below. Yup...no sewing required y'all but I did use my "Olga" 45mm rotary cutter from Missouri Star Quilt Co. You do need that for sure for trimming. So if you have one of those weird window sizes give this a try. Thanks so much for following and talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you need...

* Table runner

* MSQC "Olga" 45mm rotary cutter

* Tension Rod

* E6000 Clear Industrial strength glue

* Quilter's Clips

Here's all you do...

* Measure your window width and length...depending on your width you might not need to shorthen the sides of runner :-)

* Add 6" for the top of valance

* Add 6" per each mock fold desired.

* Carefully rotary cut your desired length on one end only leaving a "fringed end" for decorative purpose. My runner was thick and that's why I highly suggest a strong rotary cutter.

* Fold over the side edges to back side of table runner to your width if needed.

* Glue with E600 and clip to secure.

Tip...if you have a cat like I do...make sure they can't get to it...the smell attracted mine :-)

* Once dried...Fold "back" the cut end of runner to the "back side" about 6" for the Top of Valance.

* Glue the raw end only to the fabric lining which leaves an opening for tension rod later... clip to secure.

* Once dried...make folds/ about 4" in length and a 2" secure tuck then "glue" at the tucks on front of runner to secure...use your clips to secure whild drying.

* Continue this method for all of your desired folds...creating the "Mock Roman Shade"..leaving the "fringe" at the end.

Tip...I started my first "mock fold" about 3/4 of length of window...clipped...then worked my way down..so I could get a "visual" of the desired number of folds before I glued. ..this way I was able to adjust the length if needed. You know me...less stress :-)

* Once dried...remove clips add in the tension rod at top and position within your window.

* Seriously y'all,..easy...and you saved money :-)

Talk soon,

Cat

Cats Tip of the day!..."Bobbin thread Friend!"

 Hey quilter's...it's Saturday & that means a weekend start to sewing...right? Well, I hope "sew" anyway! I've been stitching up my next fun,,,fast-n-fab scrap-a-long using precuts and need to share this technique with y'all. I've been sewing for many years...too many to mention :-) but nobody taught me this technique. As a quilter we all know to "pull up the bobbin thread" before we begin so we don't have that hot tangled mess on the back. But...I'll be the first to admit it took me a while to get the hang of that technique. So here's my tip of the day that has helped me sew much...I "pull up" the bobbin thead on my Brother sewing machine as I'm piecing. Yes...practice makes perfect! Now when I'm ready to "quilt" my project it comes second nature to me. Now my "bobbin thread is my best friend" instead of that hot mess on the back. This is a great technique for new beginners to practice as well. Y'all know me...I'm all about ...'Less stress quilting" ...I believe in sharing the Joy of sewing and quilting so I hope this tip helps. Thanks so much for following and check back for some exciting events coming soon. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

*Also a "sneak peek" of a fun...fast-n-fab gift idea coming soon using Lumin Fabrics Precuts :-)

Cats Tip of the day!..."Monday Machine Maintenance"

 Hey quilter's...hope everyoen had a great weekend. I've been wanting to share this tip with y'all that is a life saver for me. Seems that Mondays roll around too fast and I spend most of the day catching up and preparing for the week. I don't know about you but "I" need to have reminders lately. Yes...most of them are a bit quirky as I've gotten older but it works. I "try" to remember that Mondays are "Maintenance Mondays" on my sewing machine. I've been using my Brother sewing machine a lot and I want to keep it working great. But....my arthritic fingers limit me sometimes. Afew weeks back while removing the screws from the plate I dropped one into the mechanical area of my machine. Needless to say I spent a lot of time trying to get it out...yup that noise you might have heard was me! Oh my gosh...my fingers couldn'[t pick up that screw to save my life. What a rude awakening it was too admit. So I thought I need something magnetic to hold the screws when I remove them so this doesn't happen again. Well...if you're like me you love the cute "needle minders" & I have a few from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Now I immediately secure the screw on the back of the needle minder while I'm cleaning my sewing machine. Yup...might sound a bit quirky but it works :-) I even took a few pics for y'all this morning while doing my maintenance and will say..."Life went a lot smoother!"...wishing y'all a great week and check back soon for a fun...fast-n-fab...scrap-a-long! Hope this tips helps :-)

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)