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Friday, September 28, 2012

Forget Me Not Sewalong ~ Part Fourteen


It's finally here!!  The big reveal!!  So......what do you think? 

I chose a simple setting to really showcase the sampler blocks.  The blocks are almost in the order that you made them, except block 11 is second in the quilt.  For me, it was always second, however, I didn't want you to make it as the second block because I wanted you to use up scraps for the HST's.  I wanted to balance the colors evenly throughout the quilt, didn't want all the HST clumped together, and liked the Forget Me Not block as the last block.  But...that's just me.

You have my permission (you certainly do not need it!) to arrange your blocks in any pleasing order you want.  Play with the setting triangles, too!  There's a couple of ways you can use them.  Make the quilt your own.

With my last sewalong, Busy Work, we had a show-n-tell about two months after the last post, and I thoroughly enjoyed that!  I think all of you did, too.....so let's do it again!!

 
Send me a photo of your completed quilt top.
 
Your quilt does not have to be quilted or bound!!  Please take a photo showing your quilt flat against a wall or the floor.  Include your name and the state or country where you live.  I will have a give-away to go along with the show-n-tell!  Email your photo to me no later than Friday, November 30th.
 
I'm working on the design for another sew-along, coming soon!
 
I can't tell you how much I loved sewing along with each and every one of you! 
Your comments and block photos were a joy each week. 
I hope you had fun, and love this little quilt as much as I do.
I won't be forgetting the experience any time soon!
 
Until next time....happy stitching!
 
Pam
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Tell Us What You Really Think!

 
While antiquing in Snohomish, WA a few weeks ago, this lovely little package of sewing needles was the only item I bought in the whole town.   I was totally satisfied with this little trinket as it
is quite special.  First of all it's dated 1889....just gotta love it for its age!
Then...it's RED!!!  You know how I love red. 
 
 
 
As you can see, it has a place for four different sized needle packets, and the needle holder flips
over to reveal a piece of white felt, a place to "park"  a needle.
 
While the needle package is a treasure just the way it is, it also contains a bit
of company venom, aimed at its unscrupulous competitors.  The paragraph on the bottom
left side of the package is quite something.  I'm amused and have to share it with all of you.....
 
 
It says.... "Numerous dishonest manufacturers have closely copied our labels.  They put up in purple envelopes like ours, and reading matter thereon, similarly arranged, worthless, rotten, brass-headed needles, and many deceived customers buying the ineffable trash,
have supposed they had"PARABOLA." 
Thus the high repute of the PARABOLA Needle has oft-times suffered.
 
See that the label reads "R.J. Roberts' Patent Parabola"
You will thus save yourselves from imposition.
 
Okay, then....do tell us how you really feel! 
Can you imagine seeing this on a package of needles now? 
I think this is hilarious...I hope you got a smile from it, too!
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Well....tomorrow morning, dear hubby and I are packing the car and taking a road trip.
Our first stop is Cleveland, to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Our son remarked, quite impressed, that we'll know every singer and band in the place...
after all, he said, you've been around since the beginning. 
Sigh...thanks, Ryan.  Glad you're impressed!
 
Then...on to New York where we'll cross the border into Canada to
see Niagara Falls.  Along the way, we'll be stopping to explore, antique,
enjoy the fall colors, and perhaps fit in a few quilt shops, too!
 
I'll try to blog from the road, Wi-Fi permitting, and will post on Facebook too.
 
Enjoy your day, and thanks so much for visiting with me.....
 
Pam
 
 
 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Forget Me Not Sewalong ~ Part Thirteen

I can hardly believe that we've been sewing together six weeks already!  Time sure does fly by when we're having fun.  This week's sewing is easy, breezy.  You'll have this done in half an hour!

Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part Thirteen:

Pink Print
*Cut (6) 5 3/8" squares for HST

Blue Print
*Cut (6) 5 3/8" squares for HST

Directions:

In the usual manner, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the pink squares.  Match with a blue square, and sew 1/4 inch on each side of the drawn line.  Cut apart and press to the blue.


Yup...you're all done!  I bet you're wondering how this will all come together, aren't you?  The wait is almost over.  Next Friday will be the big REVEAL.....I can hardly wait!  I've been keeping this a secret for a lonnnnnggg time, and I so want to share the quilt with you. 

 
Tomorrow, I'm picking up my BFF, Lynn M., and we're heading to
one of our favorite folk art shows of the season! 
Hopefully, I'll have some good pictures to share with you.
Hope you're doing fun things with your weekend....
I'll bet you'll be spending some time with your sewing machine!
 
Have fun....Pam


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Journey Four is Finished!!

 
Yippee!!! I'm doing a dance of J.O.Y. because Journey Four is completely
finished!!  Each Journey is jam-packed with so much information that I feel like
I've written a dissertation, and now I'm out for summer vacation!
 
I know loads of Prairie Women all over the world have been waiting for
Journey Four to be ready....and ready it is!!
 
 
I had the best time choosing the subjects for the six historic stories.   So fun!
My, the good people who lived on the prairie in the 1800's sure had a life full of
lots of work.  I can't imagine they had much down time.  Hhmmm....seems we
can say that now as well....except whether we have enough to eat during the
snowy winter doesn't depend on what we do now during harvest time!
We have it much easier!! 
 
The front cover shows the one throw sized quilt in the collection, and the
back cover shows the remaining five do-able, affordable smaller projects.
There are two bonus projects in Journey Four as well.
 
The Prairie Women's Sewing Circle is available only through participating
quilt shops!  Email me if you'd like a list of participating shops in your state,
or a referral to a shop offering membership-by-mail! 
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Forget Me Not Sewalong 
 
In my last post, I gave you the last two blocks in the sewalong, and asked for comments
about which blocks were your favs, and which ones were not.  A lot of you really
liked blocks 7 & 8.  I happen to like them all and don't really have a favorite. 
I just love a sampler quilt for that reason. 
 
The winner of the contest is......
 
Grannie Smith...who wrote....I have loved loved loved making all the blocks. I can't pick a favorite but I love the fact that block 12 will be my label AND it will be on the front...I won't have to make a separate label for the back. Laurie in Utah
 
Laurie...please email your snail mail address and choose a Heartspun Quilts pattern prize!
 
You know...the Forget Me Not sewalong isn't over yet!!  There are still
two parts coming.  This Friday, you'll receive the piecing instructions for the setting,
with the BIG REVEAL of the finished quilt coming Friday, Sept 28th!!
 
Many of you have emailed me to ask if I will have another sewalong....and the answer is....
 
Yes!
 
It will be a couple of months yet....so stay tuned!
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
The Heirloom scissors are now back in stock, and a limited number of
Fat Quarter and Fat Eighth bundles of my Heart of the Prairie fabric collection
should be back in stock next week. 
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I want to start sharing bits and pieces of 1800's trivia with you.  I adore
early American history, and while I'm researching stories for the
Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club, I often find tid-bits that are
fun, and I thought you'd enjoy them too!
 
My friend and fellow Prairie woman, Cheryl B, brought a bit of  personal nostalgia 
to a recent PWSC meeting.  Her mother collected thimbles, and kept index cards
with notes about the thimbles she had, what family member they belonged to, and some thimble history.  I asked her if I could share the information with all of you, and she was happy to share.
 
Cheryl's mother, Winifred, wrote....
 
Once upon a time every little girl was given a thimble for children were taught to sew and stitch a sampler at a very early age.  Most of these thimbles when found are in good condition as little fingers outgrew the thimble.  Also, girls on confirmation received as a gift a thimble -
so that she might get started on her hope chest. 
 
I have a "pudding" thimble.  It was put into a Christmas pudding in England,
and the person who got it was supposed to have the best luck all year.
 
Thimbles, or thumb-bells (originally they were worn on the thumb) date back to antiquity.  No one knows for sure who invented the first one, but it was probably someone who sewed and said "Ouch".
 
Thimbles come in all mediums: aluminum,bone, china, brass, copper, cut glass, gold, horn, ivory-scrimshaw, leather, pewter, plastic, porcelain, steel, sterling, stone, etc.
 
They are: carved, embossed, enameled, engraved, filigree, filleting (bands), gadroon(a series of raised decorative curves as adornments), hand painted, jeweled, moulded, stamped, and two-toned.
 
There are thimbles with jeweled tops, magnetic tops, open tops, razor on the side for cutting thread, needle threaders on the side and looped.
 
Wow...who knew so much could be done to something so tiny?
 
Until next time.....
 
Pam
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, September 14, 2012

Forget Me Not Sewalong ~ Parts Eleven & Twelve

Can you believe it?  We've made ten blocks together already, and we're about to make the last two!  My, the time has gone by quickly.  I purposefully held these two blocks for last because they are scrappy....meaning that you can use some of the scraps you have to complete them.  Always fun, I think!

Important Note:  For these last two blocks, you will be making your Half Square Triangles just a bit differently.  Normally, I ask you to draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4 inch on both sides of the drawn line.  This yields two identical HST.  For these blocks, we won't need two identical HST....we will only need one HST.  Therefore, to save on fabric, please carefully follow the directions for each block. 

Truth be told, this is a nice technique to know should you ever find yourself in the same spot needing only one HST.  The math formula is: finished size + 1/2 inch.  Just remember to sew "on the line",  not on both sides of the line. 

So....let's get busy sewing.......

Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part 11:

Light Prints:

*Cut (9)  2" squares from assorted light prints for HST.

Blue, Pink & Green Prints:

*Cut (3) 2" squares from each assorted blue, pink & green prints for HST.


Directions:


*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all (9) light print squares.

*Pair each with a blue, pink, or green square.

*Sew (scant) on the drawn line.  Notice in the photo that my seam is a thread or so next to the line.  This is the same as sewing a "scant" 1/4 inch seam. 
 
*Trim 1/4" seam allowance.

*Press seams open.  Make (9) HST that should measure 2" unfinished.



*Arrange the HST units for the block as shown.  Pay specific attention to color placement of the blue, pink, and green prints.



*Sew units into rows; press seams open.  Sew rows together; press seams open.  Make (1) block that should measure 5" unfinished.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part 12:

From assorted scraps for HST
*Cut (2) blue, (1) green, and (1) pink print 2 3/4" squares.

From light print:
*Cut (1) 2 3/4" x 5" rectangle for FG unit.

From blue & pink print
*Cut (2) 2 3/4" squares for FG unit.

Directions:
*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (2) blue print 2 3/4" squares.  Pair each with a pink
and green print.  Sew on the drawn line. Press to the blue print, trim 1/4 seam allowance. Make (2) HST that should measure 2 3/4" unfinished.

*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (2) blue & pink print 2 3/4" Connector Corner squares.
Make (1) Flying Geese unit that should measure 2 3/4" x 5" unfinished.




*Arrange the units for the block as shown.  Sew together into rows; press.  Sew rows together and press.  Make (1) block that should measure 5" unfinished.



*For an added touch, use a permanent marker, such as a Pigma Micron pen, and write:

Forget Me Not
Your name or initials
The year
 
If you're lucky enough to be artistic, (as clearly I am not!), you can draw other lovely design motifs as well.
 
 
Now that we're finished with all twelve blocks, I'd love to hear your
comments about them.  Which are your favorites?  Was there one or two
you didn't enjoy making?   
 
Leave me a comment by midnight Saturday, September 15th.
 
The winner will receive the Heartspun Quilts pattern of your choice!
(Sorry, Prairie Women's Sewing Circle patterns not included)

 
Happy sewing everyone!
Pam
 

 
 



 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sew Up Some Comfort!


Welcome to my blog!
 
Today is day 13 of American Patchwork & Quilting's Pillowcase Challenge Blog Hop!
 
It has been my pleasure to participate in some small way to this most honorable cause.
 
When I began thinking about what I wanted to do to help, I thought about all
of the women who banded together in the early years of our country's history.
They formed Soldier's Aid Societies, the Sanitary Comission,
 and worked in their communities and churches, to offer help
and comfort for folks with all kinds of need.
 
So...in honor of the efforts made by our quilting ancestors,
I sent out an invitation to my own group of Prairie Women. 
Let's meet at the quilt shop one evening and sew!

 
 One evening last week, we met to sew together at our favorite quilt shop, The Quilt Merchant.


Some of our club members couldn't stay to sew along with us, but came in to drop
off pillowcases they made at home.  Thanks, Debby!

 
 Even shop owner, Docia Fuller, joined in the fun.

 
 Sandy and I chose to make pillowcases using the Roll It Up! (burrito) method, because
neither of us had ever made a French seam, and we wanted to try it!

There are lots of pillowcase patterns available from the AP&Q website.
Click here to see them all!


I had never made a pillowcase before, and I have to say, it was fun and easy!!
For the first pillowcase, I chose fabrics from my first fabric collection,
Heart of the Prairie.


The rest of them were all made from novelty fabrics.  I don't often have a need
to buy these fabrics, and it was great fun to choose some.


All in all, we made 52 pillowcases that evening!  It went surprisingly fast once
we all got into a routine, with each one cuter than the other!!

All of the pillowcases will be donated to the

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's hospital at
Central Dupage Hospital in Winfield, IL

Every child who is admitted into the hospital finds a
fun, cheery pillowcase on the pillow when they arrive.
What a nice way to bring a bit of comfort and joy to a child!

 
Please consider making a pillowcase for a worthy cause. 
Click here to find all of the info you need.
 
If you don't have a favorite charity, or aren't sure where to donate, no worries!
Click here to see a long list of charities who would love to recieve your gift!
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
The fun is not over yet! 
Be sure to visit all of the participating blogs for more ideas,
and inspiring stories! 
 
Schedule:

1. Welcome from American Patchwork & Quilting (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
2. Rashida Coleman-Hale (http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/)
3. Olivia and Alayna's Pillowcase Project(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
4. Morgan’s Smile Factory (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
5. Pat Sloan (http://blog.patsloan.com/)
6. Northcott (http://pattispatchwork.com/)
7. Betsy Chutchian (http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/)
8. Vanessa Christenson (http://www.vanessachristenson.com/)
9. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
10. Laurie Simpson (http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/)
11. Oak Hill, Ohio (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
12. Robert Kaufman Fabrics (http://www.swatchandstitch.com/)
13. Pam Buda (http://www.heartspunquilts.blogspot.com/)
14. Indygo Junction (http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/)
15. 4-H (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
16. Katie Hennagir (http://baywindowquiltshop.wordpress.com/)
17. Anni Downs (http://hatchedandpatched.typepad.com/)
18. FreeSpirit Fabrics (http://www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/)
19. American Patchwork & Quilting Staff(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
20. Patty Young (http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com/)
21. Moda Fabrics (http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/)
22. Monica Solorio-Snow (http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/)
23. Moda Bake Shop (http://www.modabakeshop.com/)
24. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
25. Roseann Kermes from Rosebud’s Cottage(http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/)
26. Ann Kelle for Shannon Fabrics (http://www.annkelle.com/category/blog/)
27. Therm O Web (http://blog.thermoweb.com/)
28. Edyta Sitar (http://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/blog/)
29. Fabri-Quilt (http://inspiredbyfabric.blogspot.com/)
30. Cherri House (www.cherryhousequilts.com)

Thank you, American Patchwork & Quilting,
for leading us on such a fun and worthwhile cause!!

Happy Pillow-making!!

Pam


 
 
 

 

Friday, September 7, 2012

Forget Me Not Sewalong ~ Parts Nine & Ten

Well....we're just cruising thru the sampler of blocks, aren't we?  Hope you're having fun with them so far!!

Did you cast your vote on my last blog poll?  I asked you to tell me....what is the smallest finished size Nine Patch block are you were willing to make?  I found it very interesting that the majority of you (47%) said you would make a 1 1/2" finished block, with a 3" finished coming in second place (28%).
Hhmmm....I'll be keeping that in mind for future projects!  My thanks to all who participated in my poll!!  It's fun!

I've been busy traveling a bit, giving lectures and workshops, which allow me to meet some really great quilters....I love that!!  I also met with a bunch of my own Prairie Women Wednesday evening for a pillowcase sew-in at my favorite local quilt shop, The Quilt Merchant, where we teamed up, and made several dozen pillowcases for our local charity.  Do visit my blog again on September 13th when it's my turn to post as part of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine's blog hop all this month, all about making pillowcases for charity.  Perhaps you can take a short break from stitching your next two Forget Me Not blocks and click over to many of the other participating designers for AP&Q's blog hop.  Simply scroll down to my last post to see the list and click on the links!!

Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part Nine:

Light Print #1 ~ opposing corners of the block
*Cut (2) 2" squares

Light Print #2
*Cut (3) 2 3/8" squares for HST.

Blue Print
*Cut (2) 2 3/8" squares for HST.

Pink Print
*Cut (1) 2 3/8" square for HST.
*Cut (1) 2" square.

Directions:
*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (3) 2 3/8" Light Print #2 squares.  Match with the (2) blue print and (1) pink print 2 3/8" squares to make HST.  Make (4) blue and (2) pink HST that should measure 2" unfinished.




*Arrange the units for the block as shown. 


*Sew units together in rows; press to create opposing seams.  Sew rows together; press.  Your block should measure 5" unfinished.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part Ten:

Light Print
*Cut (2) 2 3/8" squares for HST.
*Cut (4) 1 1/4" x 2" rectangles.

Green Print
*Cut (2) 2 3/8" squares for HST.
*Cut (4) 1 1/4" x 2" rectangles.

Pink Print
*Cut (1) 2" square.

Directions:
*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (2) 2 3/8" Light Print squares. Match with the (2) green print 2 3/8" squares to make HST. Make (4) green HST that should measure 2" unfinished.

*Sew (1) light print and (1) green print 1 1/4 x 2" rectangles together; press to the green.  Repeat to make (4) strip sets that should measure 2" unfinished.



*Arrange the units for the block as shown. 


*Sew the units together into rows: press to the strip sets for opposing seams.  Sew rows together: press.  Your block should measure 5" unfinished.

 
Hope you like these blocks as much as I do!  I can't believe that next Friday,
you'll receive your last two sampler blocks! 
 
Have fun stitching.....Pam


 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Make A Pillowcase ~ Make A Difference!

Yesterday, American Patchwork & Quilting magazine launched a month-long blog hop to celebrate their wonderful Million Pillowcase Challenge campaign!  They asked me to be a part of this very worthy cause, and I am happy to help!  So....we invite you to hop from blog to blog throughout the month of September, hoping to inspire you to make a pillowcase for charity. 

Here's a list and the schedule for all of the participating blog hop designers:




Schedule:

1. Welcome from American Patchwork & Quilting (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
2. Rashida Coleman-Hale (http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/)
3. Olivia and Alayna's Pillowcase Project(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
4. Morgan’s Smile Factory (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
5. Pat Sloan (http://blog.patsloan.com/)
6. Northcott (http://pattispatchwork.com/)
7. Betsy Chutchian (http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/)
8. Vanessa Christenson (http://www.vanessachristenson.com/)
9. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
10. Laurie Simpson (http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/)
11. Oak Hill, Ohio (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
12. Robert Kaufman Fabrics (http://www.swatchandstitch.com/)
13. Pam Buda (http://www.heartspunquilts.blogspot.com/)
14. Indygo Junction (http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/)
15. 4-H (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
16. Katie Hennagir (http://baywindowquiltshop.wordpress.com/)
17. Anni Downs (http://hatchedandpatched.typepad.com/)
18. FreeSpirit Fabrics (http://www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/)
19. American Patchwork & Quilting Staff(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
20. Patty Young (http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com/)
21. Moda Fabrics (http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/)
22. Monica Solorio-Snow (http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/)
23. Moda Bake Shop (http://www.modabakeshop.com/)
24. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
25. Roseann Kermes from Rosebud’s Cottage(http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/)
26. Ann Kelle for Shannon Fabrics (http://www.annkelle.com/category/blog/)
27. Therm O Web (http://blog.thermoweb.com/)
28. Edyta Sitar (http://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/blog/)
29. Fabri-Quilt (http://inspiredbyfabric.blogspot.com/)
30. Cherri House (www.cherryhousequilts.com)

Be sure to check in with me on September 13th for my blog post!  I'm taking inspiration from our quilting ancestors, so be sure to check my blog post to see what I did!!  In the meantime.....grab some fun fabric prints, and make a pillowcase for the charity of your choice.  If you need some pillowcase pattern ideas, no worries.....click here!  You'll find great step-by-step instructions for a variety of pillowcases that are fun and easy to make.

Click here if you would like to see a list of places where you can donate your pillowcases. 

Join the fun and make a difference!!
 
Thanks so much.....Pam