"Make your Holiday's Sew Special w/ Island Batik Gift Bags!"

 Hey quilter's...hope you're weekend is off to a great start. Well the weather is cold and you might need to stay in so I thought this fun & easy "scrap" project would be a perfect time to share. If you'r like me and you have leftovers from 5" stamps of your favorite fabrics..."Island Batik" Pin..Dot..Floral that you just need to use. Yes...this fabric collection is stunning. I had some left over squares from a previous bag that I had made for a graduation gift. I thought with the Holiday's approaching this fabric would be perfect for some fun & easy Easter Bags. I wanted use the 5" squares and incorporate the small Nicholas bag from Sallie Tomato. I love her handbags/gift bags...the patterns are easy to follow that you can either rotary cut to the directions or incorporate 5" scraps to the directions. My gift bags are a tad bit bigger due to using as much of the 5" squares as possible. I will say I used all my squares of this stunning collection to make 2 bags and then lined them with Missouri Star Quilt Company Quilt Town White Stars fabric. Another one of my favorite fabrics ;-) I love using scraps. I also love giving a gift that is "re-gift-able." You can view/purchase the Nicholas Bag pattern as a download for your instant sewing project this weekend. I love the small bag size...you can "stuff" it with great quilting tools. The pic below shows how the MSQC 8" scissors & Rotary cutter...the Sallie Tomato Essential Creasing & Turning tool....Aurifil thread fit within and would make a great gift! Oh don't forget to leave room for your favorite chocolate & Chuck! My links to Missouri Star QuiltCompany & Sallie Tomato are on the upper right of home page for more sewing supplies & inspiration. I hope this inspires you to create a special gift bag for your Holiday's. Plus...your're using and sharing your favorite fabrics with othes! Win...Win...Thanks so much for following & check back soon for more fun & easy project inspiration. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Sallie Tomato Affiliate 

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

Island Batik...Pin Dot Floral Gift Bags...

Inspired by the Sallie Tomato "Nicholas Bag"...

Tip...Once you have downloaded the Sallie Tomato Nicholas Bag pattern follow the great instructions or rotary cut your 5" squares as desired then sew them using a 1/4" seam allowance until you get the size per instructions on pattern or your desired size/design. My bags are just a tad bit bigger 'cause I kept sewing strips together. Couldn't leave any Island Batik Fabric behind :-) i incorporated the simple 4 patch design which is also a great way to teach a beginner quilter too.  This Nicholas bag pattern is super fun & sew versatile. Make gift bags...hand bags using the same pattern & just add straps or handles. Sallie Tomato instructions come with a great tutorial to watch to make your sewing easy. View the website for more fun & easy patterns for all your sewing needs. Enjoy!

 

Cats Tip of the Day!..."Why I love Island Batik Fabric"

 Hey quilter's...hope your week is going well. It's so crazy watching the news and seeing pics of snow in Texas. I loved seeing texts from family having fun in the snow especially the dogs. Can you imagine what they are thinking? We've been having cold and rain but no snow just "sew days." But that's what I love. I love this time of year...planning...organizing...creating designs to share with y'all. Y'all know by now how much I love to create "gift bags" that are 100% Re-gift-able. This idea was due to my sweet grandson and I decided to carry it through for all holiday's. I really never thought of how much waste during the Christmas season goes into the trash. When he mentioned "while taking out the trash" of how much wrapping paper and gift bags get trashed it was an eye opener. He even mentioned that if you "recycle" the paper someone is still doing the job of organizing it to where it belongs. Smart kiddo he is! Or thruth he also hates taking the trash out :-) Gotta love him! Well today's tip that I'm sharing with y'all is my love for Island Batik Fabrics plus a fun technique if you haven't discovered yet. Island Batiks are 'hand dyed" cottons from skilled fabric artists in the garden village of Sanur, Bali. Due to this process it creates a design that is so amazing...creating unique textures that makes the fabrics so unique. I'm currently using Island Batik "Pin Dot Floral." I had scraps from the 5" squares that I had from making a previous handbag for my niece's granduation gift. This collection is stunning..the prints the color ways and the sweetiest butterflies that I had to incorporate into my gift bags. But here's the bonus y'all....we all know about "fussy cutting" to get the desired print/direction we want. But that also makes a lot of fabric waste. With Island Batiks due to the print is on both sides of the fabric you can actully flip the fabric over...place in the direction you want of the design with hardly any waste! Yes...I know...a-maz-ing! I seriously love being able to create unique squares using this process. It seems so simple but please try it. I especially love the fact that you don't waste this stunning fabric. The pics below is shown of how I flip the square over and turned the "butterflies" in the opposite directions for my squares. This is a "sneak peek" of a gift bag that I'll be sharing with y'all soon :-) I hope you try this technique and enjoy creating unique squares using this process. If you need fabrics or supplies my link to Missouri Star Quilt Company (upper right on home page) has a beautiful collection of Island Batik fabrics to inspire your next project. I thank y'all so much for following. Keep checking back for some fun and easy projects using those Batik scraps! Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Sallie Tomato Affiliate

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

Island Batik "Pin Dot Floral"...

"Start the New Year off Sew Organized!"

 Hey quilter's...happy Monday! Hope everyone is staying warm and safe with this crazy weather. I don't know about you but weather like this makes me want to stay home and sew. I wanted to share a super fun pattern with y'all to help you organize your sewing space. The "Martha" sewing machine mat organizer by Jennifer Reinke for Sallie Tomato Patterns is wonderful. The tutorial is very easy to follow along with and you can customize the pockets to your sewing needs. I love Sallie Tomato tutorials and products sew much that I am now affilated with this wonderful sewing company. I'll be sharing tips and techniques using the products and will keep you updated on specials as well. I have an affiliate link (upper right on home page) that will take you directly to the Sallie Tomato webiste to view all the wonderful products. I will receive a small percentage for you using my affiliate link which allows me to create more designs to share with y'all. I'm looking forward to a fun year with y'all...sewing...crafting...quilting and "QuiltMas Cheer all Year!" We already started w/ "Santa Bells are Ringing" in previous post. I will always give you an option when possible to show how versatile my designs can be by just changing the fabrics. I'm waiting on some fabrics to come in for that design so in the meantime let's get our sewing rooms organized 2gether. I've already started on my "Martha" organizer and you can view the options on the website to purchase the instant download or the paper pattern. I love Sallie Tomato 'Jess" she makes learning fun & convenient. You can see how super cute this pattern is with the pics below. It features a non-slip backing...durable cork fabric & design was inspired by "Aunt Martha" from the 1950's sitcom, Leave it to Beaver. How fun! View her products  to inspire you or put your own spin on it. Either way it's super cute and fun-ctional for you to be "sew organized" in the New Year! I thank y'all sew much for following and looking forward to a fun creative year 2gether. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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

Martha sewing machine mat & organizer 

by Jennifer Reinke for Sallie Tomato Patterns...

"Santa Bells are Ringing"...Wishing you Joy throughout the New Year!

 Hey quilter's....Happy New Year! Another year of making resolutions...goals or what I like to say "creating memories." I recently met someone that stated it's the "moments" that make the memories so make the moments count. Wow...when you hear it worded that way it really puts things in perspective. I've had a wonderful Christmas with my family but it always goes too fast. I love this time together...cooking...baking...seeing my grandson practice baseball and my daughter "sewing" again. When life gets hectic sewing is very therapeutic. It has truly helped me with not focusing on my pain although I do things in moderation. My design "Santa Bells are Ringing" Wishing you Joy throughout the New Year is my way of wishing us all Joy but also a reminder to cherish those special moments. I love Christmas...the music...making gifts for family and friends & that is just one reason why I promised "Qult-mas Cheer all Year." Yes, I'll have designs for all Seasons...tips & techniques to share plus a new series geared towards Children that I'll be sharing soon. This design is very "scrap friendly" using 2" squares so don't put those Christmas scraps away! It's very versatile if you want to start small wiith a pillow or table runner. The design is a "throw size" but can be easily adjusted to your needs. So here's to 2025 being a year filled with Joy and memories to cherish! I thank y'all so much for following and check back soon as we start this fun project 2gether. Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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

Santa Bells are Ringing...

Cats Tip of the Day! "Sew Needed Christmas Clean-up!"

 Hey quilter's...hope y'all are enjoying Christmas. It's been a memorable one which this Gege loves. I wanted to share a quick tip with y'all before we start putting those Christmas scraps to good use. I've been sewing up Christmas...trying to get gifts finished...going from one project to another...and neglected something very important. Yup...it happens! You can see by the pic below that it really doesn't take much to create "fabric dust." I alway's clean my machine under the bobbin plate...change needles between projects or as needed while sewing. I do a yearly maintenance with my local quilt shop but I was in a rush and neglected something sew important. It's shocking of how fabric lint can slow down your machine. I was sewing...heard growling...adjusted everything that I can think of then finally removed the bobbin plate. Oh my word. Found the source. So my tip to you is take a moment and add this step of taking a soft brush that usually comes with your machine and carefully remove any lint collected while sewing. A simple step can save you money in the long run. My machine is running smoothly...ready for our next "Scrap-a-long" together which I'm sew excited to share soon with you. I hope you find this friendly reminder useful...I know a lessoned well learned in my sewing room. Well..rest up...enjoy your Christmas Joy because we have some fun projects ahead. Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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

Sew Clever Charm-pack Scarfs!

 Hey quilter's...Sunday Blessings to y'all. I'm sure I don't need to remind anyone that we only have "10" more days until Christmas. Geeze! It's funny as you get older and the countdown gives me anxiety 'cause I'm still making presents. Well...remember I promised "Quilt-Mas Cheer all Year in 2025?" This is exactly why! So I wanted to share this super fun but fast gift idea with y'all. This concept is "sew clever"...I used the "Farmhouse Flannel III" charm pack by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics but if you're in a rush just cut some scraf fabric into 5" squares. I had a blast making these for the family. I'm using 2 charm packs...divided the prints into light and darks and then ordered a yard and a half of the corrdinating prints for the backing. You can "google" the tutorials on Charm Pack scarfs if desired. Basically you use as many squares for your desired length of scarf and sew with right sides together....2 at a time then sew the rows 2gether until you get your desired length. Your backing fabric will be the length of your scarf. You sew with right sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance and leave an opening at one end for turning right side out. I pressed mine and you can either do a top stitch to close the opening or use a washable fabric glue to close the ends together. You will be shocked of how fun the tutorials are to watch too.  I made the kiddos pretty simple. They are more of a grab n go warm scarf,,,not a fashion statement although I think they are super cute ;-) Scarfs can be of any length..just depends on whom you are making one for or yourself. You can definately add bling on ends if desired. I will give this one tip....Lay out your 5" squares before sewing. Then you can adjust if some prints are similiar before sewing. I have one more set of 3 to make with the lighter prints! I hope you try this concept if you're in the need of a gift to make. I love a gift that is thoughtful and very needed in this crazy weather we're having. I thank y'all so much for following and check back soon. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

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

Farmhouse Flannel III Charm-pack Scarfs...

Quilt-Mas Blessings!

 Hey quilter's...hope your week is off to a great start. I cannot believe we are already counting down the days until Christmas. This year has flown. I guess it is true time flies when your stitchin' up Christmas! If you're like me you need more stitchin' time but I had to tell myself yesterday to be calm and remember to enjoy the season. We all love to make handmade gifts for our loved ones to cherish. So no matter what I had to remind myself it's from me "you" and they will be happy. Well...hopefully I wont have to put a work in progress note attached this year :-) I've been making ornamets this year from the fun Christmas kit from Missouri Star Quilt Company. I'm making half this year and will finish the other designs for next year. I am excited about the new designs that I'll be sharing with y'all in 2025. I love designing home decor so we'll be making fun projects from beginner to advanced. Just a fun hint...save those Christmas scraps :-) Well here's to getting those Christmas gifts finished & great week!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

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