Tombow Time

My friend, SewCal Gal, recently posted about Tombow.  I had never heard of it!  She described the products, and offered samples from Tombow to other bloggers who would write about it. 

From the Tombow press release:

"Bloggers who are interested in participating in the “100 Days of Tombow” movement should contact Barbara Pritchett, public relations coordinator, who will facilitate the provision of 100 Days of Tombow Starter Kit, containing Dual Brush Pens, Irojiten Color Pencils and the Stamp Runner Adhesive (photos attached). In addition, every submission for the “100 Days of Tombow” blogging program will result in a $100.00 product donation to the Council for Art Education. “We hope to donate $10,000 worth of product to this dynamic, vibrant cause that shapes the future crafters and artists of America through its educational programs,” said Hinn in closing. “After all, we want to be the product of choice for future generations, and what better way to celebrate the past than to promote the future.”

 

Since my BA degree is in Art and Education, anything I can do to support this VERY important factor in education, is important to me.  I received the sample pencils, dual brush pen set, and the adhesive stamp runner.  As I'm primarily focused on quilting, I couldn't think of uses for these for me.  One thing I did check with the markers and pencils, was their conforming to the quality standards or government regulations.  Tombow's products do.  As a teacher, I preferred Crayola products, and as a resident of the northeast part of PA, I've visited the Crayola Factory in Bethlehem.  I care about the ingredients that kids use, and Tombow does to. 

 

I brought these samples to my friend Sue, who does scrapbooking, and teaches classes on scrapbooking.  She uses Tombow.  Since I hadn't heard of Tombow before SewCal Gal's blog, I was surprised.  Sue liked the adhesive stamp runner.  She showed me how to use it, and said it's refillable, which is smart.  I then realized it would be perfect for combining pieces of patterns together.  Sometimes when I sew, the patterns come in sections.  They need to be matched and taped.  Brainstorm!!  It will also come in handy for attaching fabric swatches to designs before cutting for the quilt. 

 

 

The pencils were great, too.  The tips were smooth and the colors vibrant.  We also played with the markers.  There is a larger brush tip, and a fine tip.  The shape of the tip is marked on the barrel, so it's easy to pull the cap for the correct tip.  Occasionally I need to draw a design, and add color.  These are blendable, so that's a great feature.  Some of the designs I teach to kids are sketched.  These products will help them see their final design before they cut the fabric. 

 

 

 

So, even though our Tombow time was limited to testing the products, I can see I'll enjoy using them.  Although I don't plan to get into scrapbooking, these are great products to add to my supplies.  I will be looking for more Tombow products for gifts.  If you want more information on Tombow and their products, go to https://tombowusa.com/  Tombow, thanks for allowing me to try out your products! 

Catching Up

I can't believe I haven't written in almost a month!  I've been fairly busy. 

First, I was asked to do alterations, then asked to make costumes for Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Arts, in Bethlehem.  The alterations were rolled hems on dresses with circle skirts, and the costumes were 12 red satin, lined, bolero jackets with black trim.  Luckily, many of the girls were similar sizes, so I could cut multiples of the pieces to save time.  2 prototypes were made before the actual design was figured, so the rest were easy to make.  These were all for the performance in Quilt, their dance recital, which was May 17 and 18.  I went to the 2:00 performance.  All the dancers were wonderful!

Here's a shot of a few finished, ready to be delivered. 

I must admit that I got tired of seeing red!  I did use one of my quilting skills, chain piecing, to get these done a little faster.  The design is shorter than the pattern, and the sleeve is from another jacket pattern.  Creating the pattern to fit the teacher's idea isn't that difficult, but making sure it works for 6 different sizes was a small challenge.  After making 8, I was tired!  I had to keep going, though, and avoid procrastinating.  At one point, Hazel, my chocolate lab, decided to lay down in the doorway so I couldn't leave my sewing machine without disturbing her sleep.  It was funny!  She only sleeps on the tile floor when it's really warm, so I was surprised.  I guess she wanted the jackets to get done!!

This picture is from the final bow of the performance.  Since no pictures were supposed to be taken, I could not use my flash.  This one is the best of the few I snapped. 

 

The next finished project was a special order for my best customer in England.  She purchased Mary's Contrary Garden, and asked for a smaller version for a different chair.  This time she asked for a 21" square for the back of the chaise lounge.  Since I had a section of the second quilt done, I only needed to add borders and quilt it.  I took another square, and made it a pillow cover, to thank her for her support.  These were shipped off last week. 

 

I also did a quick 4 store one day Shop Hop with a friend.  I had lots of fun, got great inspiration, and some great deals!  It was a beautiful day, and I enjoyed seeing Wooden Bridge Dry Goods, in Kutztown, right on a Menonite farm, in the Spring.  Usually we go there for the November hop. 

Sometimes, after sewing things for my store, or custom orders, I need to make something for me, for fun.  Otherwise, I feel I get burned out.  I've been wanting a new lunch tote.  It needed to have a "wipe clean" interior, a zipper closure, and be insulated to keep my food cold.  I've had the Desk Deli pattern by Quilts Illustrated for a while, but it doesn't have a zipper closure.  I also wanted it a little taller.  I often pack something baked to share, and wanted something that would hold my lunch and a little more.  I changed the pattern size, added a section across the top with a zipper, and made my own laminated fabric for the inside.  There's a great product that you just iron on.  I only recommend that you don't drop the sticky part of the vinyl on the dog hair covered floor before you place it on your fabric, lol.  (Yes, there are a few hairs between the laminate and fabric inside my bag.) 

 

 

I also made a sling for a friend's little daughter.  She fell off her bike, and the sling from the hospital was too large.  I used a large white dot on red, like Minnie Mouse's skirt, and she was so excited! 

 

 

This is quilted, and has a padded cover over the strap. 

 

The project I'm working on now is pink and brown.  It's a quilt for my soon-to-be born great neice.  I'm just glad the fabric I picked isn't red!! 

 

Thanks for visiting! 

 

 

 

 

A Rose Garden

I LOVE roses!  The scent, the colors, the shape of the bud and how the many petals are hidden in that tight bud, then when it opens, it's huge!  I tried growing roses here in my garden in PA, but they didn't work.  The deer seemed to like them too much.  I do have two successful rose bushes at my mother's house.  She loves them, too. 

So, when I saw this fabric on sale, I HAD to buy it.  It's stunning!  The roses are about 4 to 6 inches across.  Huge!  Then I didn't want to cut it.  I needed to find a great pattern that allowed this fabric to shine!  Eleanor Burn's Pattern Party for March was a great choice!  It uses 10" squares, and is called Piece of Cake.  It's almost the same idea as her Tossed 9 Patch, only that uses 5" squares.  I pulled the large and smaller rose prints, and looked for other prints that would work in the design, and coordinate with the roses.  I had two prints of carnations in similar hues, plus a green blender, some tossed rose petals on cream, a cream with green print, and some Monet's Garden fabric that had all the same colors, but looked like a far-off view of the same garden.  Reds, pinks, greens, cream and black.  I cut the squares, pieced the top and found a wonderful black tone on tone for the sashing.  The directions were so well written, as are all of Quilt In A Day patterns, and it was so quick to make!  I needed to sew just 4 9-patch blocks!  Then I cut them, layed them out on the design wall at Enrights, then sewed the sashing and rows.  In just a few hours, I had a top! 

I used the same sashing fabric for the back, and used stencils in the largest blocks, as well as the small cream blocks, and quilted feathers in the rectangles and borders.  I used 3 different colors of Aurifil Mako 50wt cotton thread on the top: deep red, green and cream, as well as 6 bobbins of Aurifil black.  It's pieced with Aurifil, too.  I love that it doesn't break while quilting, and the colors blend so well.  It accents the fabrics. 

I'm pretty sure the rose prints are from Kona Bay, and the carnations and rose petals are from Northcott.  The black is Timeless Treasures.   This is just so much prettier in person.  It's a great lap size, or toss it on a twin bed.  And have your own rose garden without thorns!  I promise, I made sure I got all the pins out, lol. 

Here are some more pictures!

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

Works In Progress

Hi.  I'm linking to the Quiltsy Team blog again. 

This week I worked on contest or mystery quilt blocks.  I love Aurifil thread, and they have a Block of the Month contest.  If you make the block and post it on Flickr, you have a chance to win thread.  Here's March's entry.

 

I'm also doing a Quilt Along with Jo's Country Junction.  This is called Pieceful Nights.  I had to buy the pattern, but again, there are good prizes.  I won this FQ bundle, and wanted a really pretty quilt to show it off.  I think this design will work nicely.  I'll need to find border fabrics, which will be a challenge.   This collection seems to be sold out.  I'm sure I'll figure out something when it's time to finish it. 

 

And I am doing the Plenty of Fish mystery quilt from Prairie Quilt Merchantile on Facebook.  This is Step 1.  I have to catch up on the next two.  A mystery quilt gives a variety of steps, but you don't know what the quilt will actually look like until the end.  It's a challenge because you can't picture it and don't know exactlyhow the fabrics will work in the design.  you just have to trust that your lights, mediums and darks will be a good selection.  This one will have a very large variety of fabrics, almost 30.  Although I use strip packs (Jelly rolls) and FQ bundles, and charm packs, and some of my quilts look scrappy because of that, I seldom pick my own array.  For this one, I picked from my supply of fat quarters and some yardage.  It was a challenge to make the choices.  I do love coordinating fabrics, but usually I choose based on the finished quilt.  Since I don't know what this will look like, it was a different challenge.  Pushing the envelope, and being creative is always a good thing.  But the first step was very easy, so that helped. 

Those are my fabric choices, and below is Step 1. 

 

So, that's what I'm doing!  I also picked up flannel backed tablecloth fabric yesterday.  I got the blue plaid one.  I need to make a better design wall.  The tablecloth I have thumbtacked to the wall is falling, so I want to put this new piece up with a simple frame.  I think the blue "grid" from the right side will show through, and help me if I need lines to help lay out a quilt.  I needed something fast and easy, and cheap.  40% off coupons and some scrap trim pieces from the garage should do it.  I'll let you know!  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

 

 

This week's News!

I'm linking again with my Quiltsy team's Works In Progress blog. 

Here's the latest! 

This is Summer Festival, my second Quilt In A Day Zig A Zag quilt.  The colors are so much prettier in person.  It's all done and listed in my Etsy shop. I played with the quilting on this, a scroll and hook design, plus feathers in the outer borders. 

This is a better picture of the colors.  The fabric collection is called Pretty Sweet, by Island Batiks.  The borders are from Timeless Treasures. 

The newest Quilt In A Day pattern arrived last week, and the Webinar on Tuesday was fun to watch.  This is called Piece Of Cake, and it's made with 10" squares, which are also called Layer Cakes (the designer groups and collections of precuts have food names.)  I picked 9 fabrics out of my collection, and made my own Layer Cake.  I just think it's beautiful.  The top is ready, and I'll get it layered Thursday, and quilting will begin soon.  Look for this in my store, as well! 

I think I need to do some table runners and toppers next.  I'm in the mood for some smaller items, and maybe an apron or 3. 

I also did some alterations for the Lehigh Valley School for the Performing arts, and will be making bolero jackets for their show in May.  Picutres of them to come!  Thanks for visiting! 

Fun in the Mail

I have been winning quite a few blog and Facebook contests lately, and every few days I get something fun in the mail. 

Today's prize was from Benartex, a fun collection of prints from their Tree Frog by Kanvas line.  This Fat Quarter bundle contains the main print, and a number of really great blenders and prints in fun, bright colors.  Inside the box was also a ring pincushion.  I've seen the tutorial for these.  Basically, it's a soda bottle cap with holes punched to string some thin elastic.  That's the ring base (elastic goes around your finger).  Take a circle of fabric, gather the edge, stuff it, and hot glue it inside the cap.  Add ribbon to decorate the cap, and you have what I jokingly referred to as an "emerald engagement ring" so when I'm engaged in sewing, I have a good place for my pins, lol. 

 

This next picture shows the fabric bundle from Windham for the First Lady's Block of the Month contest on Facebook.  The red batik FQs and the white yardage under it are from Hoffman, for sharing a red and white quilt on their Facebook Wall on GO Red for Women's Heart Health in February, and the ruler and pattern are from the Facebook and Blog contest for World Wide Quilting Day. 

 

 

Lots of fun things to play with! 

 

For World Wide Quilting Day, I finished this quilt.  It was a special order for a customer in England.  She now owns 2 of my quilts, both the same design, but different sizes.  I'm honored to be able to sell my quilts around the world, because of my Etsy store. 

 

I'm working on finishing up another Zig A Zag quilt which will be named Summer Festival, and making a table topper with my Accuquilt Go! Winding Ways die and blue and white fabrics.  I tried to upload pictures from my camera, but the blog isn't finding them.  You will have to wait and be surprised, just like I am when I get my mail! 

 

Also, I'm in a few treasuries with my items on Etsy.  Here's the latest. 

https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE3MzMxOTN8MjcyMTU5NDM5Mw/whats-black-and-white-and-red-all-over?shmetsy=1542687872669856322113

I'm also linking up with Team Quiltsy's Work In Progress blog.  Too bad the pictures of what I'm doing won't upload!  Thanks for reading! 

International Quilting Day

 

Did you know I love to quilt?  I think it may be obvious to many by now, lol.  And today is National Quilting Day, hopefully soon to be International or World Wide Quilting Day. 

 

There have been some great surprises leading to this day.  World Wide Quilting Day has been giving out prizes.  I won on Day 3.  I got a new ruler and pattern, which I'm looking forward to trying.  http://worldwidequiltingday.com/

Benartex Fabric's blog, http://sewinlovewithfabric.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-madness-fabric-style.html has just started another contest, which promises to be fun.  It's my kind of March Madness.  I recently discovered I won a bundle of fabrics from them, too. 

 

And most online stores are having sales, too.  I'm so tempted to order!!  It's such fun to see the latest fabrics and notions, and find a bargain or try something new. 

 

My Etsy team, Quiltsy, is also celebrating, by creating treasuries of inspiring quilts.  https://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTk1NTI5M3wyNzIxNTcxOTY1/world-wide-quilting-day?index=59  This is my treasury, a collection of quilted items perfect for Spring.  Go look and comment, please!  It would be wonderful to see it on the front page. 

 

I've baked cupcakes, too.  What's a Sew-cial without chocolate??  I'll be frosting them soon. 

 

So, here's my quilting so far this evening.  I had a customer ask for a smaller version of the Jelly Roll Race quilt she recently purchased, in the same fabrics.  I cut the strips from my fabrics and pieced it last week.  I will finish this tonight, hopefully with the binding, and start on Quilt In A Day's newest pattern, Piece Of Cake, which is March's Party quilt pattern.  It came in the mail yesterday, and I can't wait until Tuesday's webinar to make it!  I have some of the fabrics picked already. 

 

I love Free Motion Quilting.  On this quilt (and it's larger sister) I used a clear nylon thread in the top, to add texture without adding too much more to the design.  The quilt has 14 different fabrics, so I wanted the quilting to just add texture, not compete with the fabrics.  I'm doing a loopy meander, kind of like a bumble bee visiting all the flowers in a garden.  This will be called Mary's Contrary Garden II.  (I was called Mary growing up, lol)

 

I do have a hint or suggestion, though.  When I quilt near the edge, I remove the safety pins and use large straight pins, the Quilters pins with flower heads.  I prefer the flat head, vs. a ball, because the quilting foot can pass over the pin.  Normally I choose pins that contrast with the fabric, so I can easily see them as I stitch.   See the yellow and white pins??  I space them about 4 inches apart, so I'm sure my border lays flat as I get close to the edge. 

 

Last week I was sewing at Christine's and forgot to grab my pins.  I borrowed a few from her.  I was stitching a meander in the border of this quilt.  She handed me a few blue pins.  I didn't realize at the time that they matched so well.  After I got the binding machine stitched on, I handed back the pins.  Then I went back to my apartment, and used my rotary cutter and ruler to cut the extra fabric and batting.  One cut was extremely difficult, but again, I didn't think about it.  I then brought it over to the ironing board and proceeded to press the binding away from the top, and over the edge to the back.  The binding is easier to turn and stitch if it's pressed (but only if your batting will tolerate heat).  I saw something shiny as I was turning the binding.  I had SEWED OVER A PIN!!!  The flower head was stitched into the binding, and the pin was still in the quilt.  That could have been painful if I hadn't noticed it.  It would also have damaged the machine when sewing the binding.  I had to remove some of the stitching to get the pin out of the fabric, and realized I had also cut the pin head with the rotary cutter when trimming the fabric.  So, if you choose to use flat head pins to hold the border so you can sew close to the edge, make sure you pick heads that CLASH with the quilt, and keep track of them!  You don't want to cut a pin with your rotary cutter (it damages the blade and pieces can become airborn) and you don't want to leave one in the quilt!  Getting pricked while snuggling is NOT fun.  I usually just use 2 pins to hold the border edge, and keep moving them, so I can keep track of where they are, and make sure they are out of the quilt when adding binding. 

 

So, count your pins!  Make sure you know where they are, and use contrasting colors so you can easily see them.

 

And DO enjoy World Wide Quilting Day.