Messy, disorganized, UFOs -- Oh My!

Well, I got through the Christmas holiday -- barely.  Tough one for me this year.  I'm looking forward now and we have a new year coming in just a few days.  I was in my sewing room this morning and it's in a bit of a mess.  I did some straightening and organizing which led me to my stack of UFOs.  Wow -- do I have UFOs!!!  I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions but I'm going to make one this year.  I am going to finish all of my UFOs.  I haven't counted yet but I think this is going to mean completing at least 2 each month. 

Snaz up your borders...

I am putting a border on a quilt and as I was getting ready to sew it on, I decided it was going to be a really boring addition.  I needed the border to make the quilt the right size for the bed though so I went in search of a solution.  I wanted something to snaz it up without creating a lot of work.  Of course, where does one go when in search of a solution and some inspiration?  You got it... the internet.  I found a really good video tutorial on adding a fabric flange.  This was just what my quilt needed.  Check it out... there are lots of other good video tutorials here as well.
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-add-flange-accent-your-quilt-232936/

Birthdays and Holidays...

It's been a long week and it's only Tuesday!  I celebrated my 55th birthday last week and I've been trying to keep my old bones going while also trying to catch the Christmas spirit. 

I have finished all of the shopping I plan to do.  Most of my Christmas giving are handmade gifts so now I'm working on the wrapping part of the gifting process.  I went shopping with my daughter and son-in-law today, just for the fun of it.  It was fun to watch them finish their last bit of Christmas shopping and we had a really good burger for lunch. 

So -- here I sit once again, watching my Christmas tree and hoping the holidays get merrier...

Sha-Zam!!! The Pillow Sham!

The Create-a-Bed by Christmas is progressing well despite an awful round of flu and an unexpected but delightful weekend trip with some of my grandchildren.  I'm making two of these and I have one quilt completed -- well, I'm sewing on the binding... the second is ready for quilting.  Since I'm quilting using a simple allover design, that takes almost no time. 

I decided to take a binding break today and get ready to make the pillow shams.  As I wrote the pattern, I decided that these are gonna be "easier-than-pillowcase" shams.  There's really nothing to it!  Check it out at http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/

Can't wait to post pictures of these quilts on my beautiful granddaughters beds!

Create-a-Bed SewAlong moving right along!

Bed Skirts are on their way.  Gotta love Amazon.com.  I have moments though when I think I really should make them even though the cost to make them will be about triple (or more) than to make them.  It must be something about actually writing a pattern and then not getting to use it.  Oh well -- no time for regrets now.  I have quilts to get mede!

I have finished the pattern for my Twin Size Fat Quarter Quick Quilt.  It is made with 30 very simple blocks.  You will get two blocks from each fat quarter so gather 15 quarters and a little yardage for your borders and let's get started.  Here is the link to get to the pattern -- http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/
I think I can get the center of one quilt finished this afternoon.  Since I am making two, I plan to do all of my cutting at the same time so the second quilt will be a breeze.

The cutting and sewing are fast and simple.  The totally random placement of fabrics and blocks makes this a quilt top a no-brainer.

Join me and SewAlong!

Bed Skirts Comin' Up in the Create-a-Bed Sew Along

December 3rd and I have the pattern all worked out for the Bed Skirt. I called my daughter to see if she wanted them to be pink or white and she tells me that she really thinks I should save some money and buy them. You can buy a twin size bed skirt for about $13 at Amazon. Well -- I can't justify spending the money on fabric when the finished product is so reasonably priced! So, I ordered the bed skirts and I'm getting ready to move on to the quilts. Don't panic though... I'm still including the Bed Skirt pattern for those of you who want to make one.  Go to http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/ to find it.

I've chosen the fabrics for the quilts and shams.  I have a good supply of Beach House by Robyn Pandolph in my stash.  This is a soft, feminine fabric line without going completely pastel.  I think the quilts can be used for years and years with this fabric because it's not juvenile.  Now -- to decide on a quick, easy pattern that will let me get these quilts done in flash!

Let It Snow-Man! Finishing Instructions posted!

I have corrected the problem with the link to the Finishing Instructions for the Let It Snow-Man! quilt.  You can find them here... http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/boms/snowman/

Let It Snow-Man finishing instructions...

I received an email from one of my followers today telling me that she can't find the finishing instructions for the Let It Snow-Man! applique quilt.  Sure enough... they are nowhere to be found on my website.  I'm not sure what happened here... I'm sure it was my mistake, but I will get on this right away.  I'll post here when I get the problem corrected.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

Create-a-Bed Commences!

The instructions for the Bed Skirt will be posted soon.  I have already shared a tutorial for French Seams which I will be using on my bed skirt just to give it that professional polish.  As I am working through the pattern though, I have encountered another technique that we, as quilters, do not use very often -- gathering.

This is a technique that is used often in garment sewing and I remember the headaches that I used to encounter.  The traditional method of gathering involved two stitched lines of basting that were pulled to gather fabric along the seams.  I can't tell you how many times I had those flimsy basting seams break on me and I had to start all over with the gathering. 

I now use a technique that is easier and much less frustrating.  It involves crochet thread but you can use just about any cording or string.  Here is a super tutorial that illustrates this technique -- www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/valuableinfo/

You can use your favorite gathering technique when gathering your bed skirt, but this cord method is what I will be using!

Preparing for the Create-a-Bed Sew Along!

As I prepare for the Create-a-Bed Sew Along, I have decided that I want to use French Seams to enclose all of the seams on the Bed Skirts.  My experience with French Seams dates back to my garment sewing days and I know that it is not necessarily a technique that is often used in the quilting world.  I decided to see what kind of information is out there on this particular technique.  I found a wonderful tutorial at the Sew Neau website.  Check it out here -- http://www.sewneau.com/how.to/french.seam.html  -- Thanks Sew Neau for a fantastic resource!

French seams are a fantastic way to put a clean finish on seams and I think it puts a professional touch on a project.  You decide if you want to use it or not...

Don't forget to check in often... Sew Along and Create-a-Bed by Christmas!

www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com