HOW A RULER CAN INSPIRE A QUILT DESIGN" and A SWEET WAY TO HANG YOUR RULERS"

Hey quilters....hope all is going well....I wanted to share my easy & fun technique for hanging rulers plus if you haven't tried these rulers...well ya need too! I was blessed to receive the whole collection of Kaye Englands "Cut for the Cure" ruler collection a few years back from my mom-in-law. I love having the rulers displayed for creativity. You would be surprised of how a ruler can inspire a quilt design. I also had this old worn out hutch that I absolutely love. It's old...worn out and a tad-bit wrinkled...kinda like me. I did not want to paint it or even change out the drawer pulls (see miss-matched) cause I thought well if this hutch could talk I am sure it has some major stories to tell. Anyway, this project was so fast & easy and inexpensive. My kind of project!
     All I did was...make a template of the top arch of the panel and then cut to scale using "Chalkboard Fabric". I love this fabric for fun/easy projects. Then used wood glue to adhere it to hutch. Waited a day to make sure I didn't have any areas to touch up(that part killed me). Then...oh my gosh...have to stop a sec...a herd of 11 does and a sweet buck just went across front property...mother nature at it's finest! Anyway, back to the rulers...then strategically placed the rulers and used push pins to hang them. After I was happy with the placement of rulers, I used my chalk pen to write each rulers name, Oh my gosh...these rulers not only help a cure with purchase (Breast Cancer) but are excellent when cutting fabric & designing. I absolutely love them! Anyway, hope everyone has a great "quilting weekend"...enjoy!

"Blessed Quilting from Our Home to Yours"
Cat
email...cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

                                                 "a little scruffy pic but love my hutch"

"LoVe my Fat Quarters"

Well....happy 2016 everyone! First I have to say...a dear Pastor of ours once said "what happened yesterday can't happen today 'cause now you are aware of it". Hmm...do I have to say...2015 was a pure example of that saying. I haven't blogged sense June of 2015 due to some tragedies that hit our family starting in July. But now looking back we are blessed 'cause we got through them with the grace of God & we are still here, fighting everyday but still here! Sometimes you need to focus on the everyday stuff verses what you enjoy. Let me tell ya 2015 was that year. Lately I've come to realize it's not what or whom you want to be but lovin' who you are. I know a little cliche' but it's true. With all the stress in 2015, I started stress eating again. Not very happy with myself due to I had lost 20 pounds earlier in the year. I had gained 50 lbs. in the past several years due to my ankle accident in 2007 and lack of mobility. Needless to say..."I'm a little mad that 10 of those lost pounds found me again". Weird how that happens...must have left a trail of bread crumbs behind!
     Anyway, it's a new year and for those of you who know me...it's back to basics again! I have a quilt to finish! Previously, I had blogged about how I am making a quilt out of the jeans that I cut up when loosing weight. I have to say...it really works. Oh my gosh how I have been frustrated putting the pounds back on. I've cut up my jeans and seriously uncomfortable in my current ones. If that doesn't make you stick to the plan, nothing will. I have been determined to stay focused. Mostly due to who has money to waist buying jeans." Miss Me" jeans have a new meaning with me...I won't "Miss You". But in the meantime, I have to say...be happy with who you are 'cause nobody does it better and most of all "Love your Fat Quarters":-) Anyway....part two will be coming up next week of how the "jean quilt" is progressing using "Aurifil thread".

"Quilt Blessings from Our Home to Yours",
Cat
cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com
Facebook...I heard it through the Quilt-vine

"Scrappin' it...Denim Style"

Hey quilter's...hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. I've been busy working on the Stain Glass Window project for our town's Museum. Each and every window is appliqued and quilted. Yes, I know...what was I thinking. But have to say I was blessed to have all the bright Batiks donated by Hoffman fabrics and all the thread was donated by Aurifil. If you haven't checked out their amazing color hues please do so. Excellent quality and many design hues & weights to choose from.
 Anyway, I think we all have a "stress relief" project... and this is mine. Working on a sweet gift and have to say it's been fun cleaning out my stash. I had "yards" of lace that I had stashed and plenty of denim to choose from. I wanted to incorporate a "cross design" and give it a little trendy feel as well. The only fabric that I have purchased is the Chevron pattern which I absolutely love. The chevron ties in the two shades of denim that I'm using plus saves me time piecing the chevrons. A plus when you are working within a time frame for a gift. Plus this quilt will have a very rustic appearance due to the seams will all be frayed. Another time saving tip! I am using very sharp applique scissors to trim around the lace and each cross is appliqued and pieced to form a cross. I will post more pics along the way. Like I mentioned...this is my fun...stress relief project from doing the Stain Glass Window Project for our sweet old Museum. Hope you enjoy and have a great quilt week!

"Blessed Quilting from Our Home to Yours",
Cat
like us on Facebook...ihearditthroughthequilt-vine

"SENDING WARM WISHES & YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW"

Hey quilter's....when I saw this funny cartoon, I immediately filed it for a crazy winter day. I know some of us are truly thankful for the sun these past couple of days, but also know how some are cold right now. I definitely feel your pain, been a survivor of a -10* once myself, and didn't care for it at all. I would always try to think warm thoughts, summer project ideas and mostly just keep from going nuts while being snowed in. Don't get me wrong, it's fun for a couple of days and if you could only plan it when you needed it, I would then love the snow. I recently read an article that during the winter months you should plan your summer vacations. Hmmm...hasn't worked yet but maybe I'm not thinking "tropical" due to I'm a more "mountain" kinda gal. I posted this cartoon for everyone to have a laugh during these crazy winter months. I love the fact that it's featured some of my favorite items for sewing/quilting except it's missing a couple of rows. I personally would be planting/sewing rows of my favorite weights and color hues of Aurifil thread. Oh how wonderful that would be to just go out and pick the "perfect color hue" & weights of thread. This is the one time I would love to hear the old saying..."you reap what you sew". All kidding aside, want to send warm wishes and hugs to all who are a bit chilly these days & special thanks for following my blog. We will be posting many designs & patterns soon as a free download. I elevate my ankle quite a bit so I am constantly designing in my EQ7 to keep from going insane these days.We"ll also feature fast & easy gifts for free downloads as well. Warm Hugs!

Blessed Quilting from our Home to Yours"
www.perfectgift-fromabove.com
www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

"CAT'S LINT ROLLER & AURIFIL THREAD 4 THE BIRDS"

Hey quilters...I hope everyone is having a "little bit of sunshine" during this cold season. I recently discovered a neat trick due to watching my cat Lottie sunning in front of the window. I can't help but laugh when she get's excited seeing the sun peeking in on a quilt. She will gravitate immediately to the bed, stretch out and start "sunning",One smart cat! Well, due to our lovely cat, we also have a "Lint Roller" in just about every room. It might be a little ocd, but being clean freeks it does come in handy. Here's the funny...due to my long hair, it tends to shed. Yes, I'm admitting the fact that I shed. Funny as it sounds, the lint brush works wonders on my hair as well. If you have "accent rugs" in your bathroom & "shed hair", like I do and hate to drag out the vacuum everyday, then this tip is for you. I now swipe the lint brush over the rugs to pick up my loose hair after styling. I have to say it works wonders and only takes a few seconds of your time verses dragging out the vacuum. Also, they are so cheap at the dollar store so you can keep one under the cabinet for easy access. I know some people use the "swiffer" in between vacuuming but that hardly pics up hair off rugs. Works great on floors though. O.K...by now you are wondering the funny...my nickname as some of you know is Cat...so it's funny now we leave them in all rooms for the Cat's shedding :-)
Anyway, we all know that Lint rollers are wonderful to keep in your sewing/quilting room. But I have to say recently I had the hardest time throwing away my cut threads of Aurifil thread. I now roll up the extra threads that are cut and stick them in the trees for the birds. It might seem a bit extreme but they love threads to incorporate into their nests. I love watching the birds outside my quilting room feed and when they grab that loop of thread and fly away with it, I feel I've done something special. What's funny is when they fly back to that same spot and look into "your window" wondering where the next thread loop is. I have to say..."the birds know Great Quality Thread". I do take the time to loop the thread together so the birds don't choke on it while flying. Maybe one day I can video them 'cause it's pretty stinkin' cute!

"Blessed Quilting from our Home to Yours",
 Cat

www.perfectgift-fromabove.com
www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Need more "Fiber" in your diet?...2015 is the Year!

Hey quilter's...recently I went to the doctor and he actually told me I needed more fiber in my diet. I know you are laughing, it's an old joke among quilter's, but he really did state those exact words. I have to share, I laughed so hard and I do believe he thought I was nuts. I proceeded to tell him that I quilt and my room is full of "colorful fibers" from Aurifl threads. He rolled his eyes and said, "stay away from my wife, she's a quilter. I laughed, no problem...I have her email address! Well, this joke inspired this post due to wanting to showcase some of the bright Batiks by Hoffman California fabrics that will be appliqued and quilted with Aurifil thread. This was the inspiration for my 2015 Museum project for our sweet town of Frankston. I will be designing/quilting "Stain Glass Windows' out of these wonderful color ways. The museum is getting a "face lift" and I was asked to do the window treatments. Well, I had to put a spin on it of course! The wonderful bright colors of the fabrics and Aurifil threads is such an inspiration for any designs! Wish me luck and I will post pics along the way. I hope everyone does a little "quilt it forward in 2015" with some sort of project for your community. Have a wonderful 2015!


"Blessed Quilting from our Home to Yours"
www.perfectgift-fromabove.com
www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

"20 no 15" Tips 2 organize your sewing room, Plus a "Color Inspiration tip using Aurifil thread"

Hey quilters...it's hard to believe 2014 is coming to an end. I've had some memorable moments this year along with some hardships but as they say "That's Life". The quote inspiration says it all. I've been organizing my sewing/quilting room mostly for myself (can't handle clutter) and Miss Lottie (precious Cat). I would love to have things out for easy access but with her it makes things difficult. I have to keep things in drawers out of reach for her which makes organizing a bit harder. I am guilty of "Pinterest Searching" for tips, techniques, etc. I have to elevate my ankle quite a bit so this gives me something to do while "being stranded". I have to say one thing about searching for organizing tips, those craft rooms are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I always thought "I was organized", oh my gosh....some of those sewing/craft/quilting rooms are bigger then my kitchen and have granite countertops. As a designer, I've had the pleasure of designing many model homes and usually did a combo Utility/Craft room. I tried to keep things practical for most purposes of how families needs are plus budget friendly designs as well. I will be the first to admit...I've seen some designs on pinterest that I would love to have...maybe someday! I have some organizing tips to share that have helped me organizing on a "budget". I do have a temporary "security block" that is not allowing me to download my pics so will post pics soon.
First....for any type of hobby you need inspiration..."Color inspires Creativity"...you don't need to spend a lot of money to have an inspirational spot in your sewing room. I used what I have...I made a "color wheel" using "Aurifil Thread"....great color inspiration!
Second...a "Design Wall" is a must for me....when I am putting a design 2gether, I always pin fabric on my design wall to see what fabrics inspire designs.... I stand back and say..."O.K., show me what you got"...kinda silly, but it works. A design wall allows you to "see" your creativity on a visual eye level (not on floor). You don't have to spend a lot of money to have one & you can search the internet for some clever do-it-yourself tips". I personally recommend having a few if you do several different size projects/designs. I have 3 permanent ones on wall but love my 2 tiny ones that I move around with me depending on my project.
Third...my most important one is..."You cannot be creative without another stimulation..."chocolate"..."Color and Chocolate" go hand in hand...literally....I laughed so hard while searching craft rooms on pinterest...I did not see one room that had a jar of candy....seriously, I know we all do it!
Fourth...Organize your fabric by color hues and try to cut/size your scraps by projects....fat quarters, charm squares, etc. I like to have my half hard fabrics in baskets for that "splash of inspirational color"...fold in thirds and roll for a space saver.
Fifth...Wrap your fabrics with large yard quantities on cardboard (you can get them for free at your local fabric/quilt shops...just ask)...this is a great time saver technique if you "pre-iron" your fabric for your projects.
Sixth...."Tag" your fabrics if you washed them...nothing can be worse to go back on your stash and wonder if you washed them or not...if you're like me and iron them it does make it difficult to tell sometimes.
Seventh...Have your cutting and or sewing table at a great height....preferably your sewing machine should be at desk level (insert) for easier access (less strain on wrists) and your cutting table needs to be at a height that is comfortable for your back. If you are not comfortable...you can't create!
Eighth...Lighting, as a designer I cannot stress this enough to have adequate lighting. If you don't have recessed can lights in your room simply do this...if you have a ceiling fan with directional lighting attached, simply add bulbs per watts of areas you need most. Mine has 5 lights and needless to say two have low watts in them due to where they shine.
Ninth...If possible invest in a craft lamp that you can move around with you from space to space, allowing you to have that extra direct lighting when needed.
Tenth...This actually goes for color inspiration....invest in "Aurifil thread chart"....great way to audition your fabric and thread together...plus if you are an internet shopper, it's a wonderful way to actually see your thread hues at hand....if you're like me "display it" for that inspirational color!
Eleventh...Invest in a "over the door" shoe holder to house your craft/sewing items...great space saver for small rooms...I have a bi-fold closet door and it will still work, just maneuver it until it hangs correctly.
Twelve...Invest @ dollar store...2 pk sweater/storage bags (18 x 12 x3 in.) are wonderful for storing your projects at hand and are great for taking projects to quilt functions as well.
Thirteen...if possible find a "Armoire" that you can use to store your scrap booking and or fabric etc. in. I love mine due to "closing" all of the items that I don't want "Lottie" to get into!
Thirteen...Check out "yard sales" for that ugly chest that is priced to get rid of...take it home pull out the drawers, paint it...put baskets in place of the drawers and you have a great/inexpensive organizer!
Here's an additional tip...if your drawers are somewhat reusable, use them as shelves on your wall & use some splash of fabric for color inspiration on the inside wall of drawer...showcase your collectibles!
Fourteen...Organize your ideas/projects in binders (label on outside for each project) if possible store away in your armoire for a space saver. Inspirational tips... view magazines....save that card that you received with an inspirational photo...I have many patterns that have been inspired by a card that I received.. Take a walk "with mother nature"...you will be surprised of how something so simple trigger that creative wave you need!
Fifteen...and probably the most important one....be comfortable while doing your crafts/sewing...you can find an office chair at a yard sale and paint the color if it doesn't suit you...just cover the fabric/cushion before doing so and then use a fabric hue to match your décor and reupholster the seat cushion..."Comfy & Cheap"


"As I always say...Be You...Be Creative...and Design like Nobody is Watching!"
Have a Safe & Wonderful 2015!
"Blessings from our Home to Yours"
www.perfectgift-fromabove.com
www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com