Cuddle Fabric Quilt

Cuddle Fabric is so soft and I have found not that hard to work with. Cuddle fabric by Shannon fabrics is much like the Minkee fabric you see in fabric stores. The fabric is 100% polyester and oh so soft. I needed to make some craft sale items so I elected to sew up some quick cuddle stroller blankets. The blankets measure about 29 inches square and require 30 inches of two different 60 inch wide fabric. Since the fabric is so wide, you can make 2 cuddle blankets from the two 30 inch cuts. Lay the two 30 by 30 inch fabrics right sides together and then pin the heck out of the two layers. When I say pin the heck out of the layer I mean you will need a pin about every 1 1/2 inches. Sew the two pieces together leaving about a 4 inch opening on one side. Clip the corners and turn the blanket inside out. Pin the 4 inch opening and top stitch about a 1/4 inch away from the edge all the way around. Once you master pinning and not running over the pins, you can make these quick little baby stroller blankets in less than an hour.



The second Cuddle fabric project created I learned about from attending quilt market in October. The strip Cuddle quilt requires a combination of different prints that are sewn in strips onto a solid backing that is basted to your batting with spray adhesive. The strips sew on quite easily when you follow the directions. Add border strips as desired and then sew on binding and you have a great quilt as you go project that is so soft. I used the jaguar print and the brown fabric for the front of my quilt, green for the backing and then used the dark brown for the binding on the quilt.

Accuquilt Go!

How much Fun is the Accuquilt Go? I am having fun playing with my Go! Pictured is my quick baby quilt made from the Udder Cowboy fabric from Moda using one of the many Go! triangle templates. The Go makes cutting sew much faster. If you want the Go! for Christmas you better get your order in fast.

I have also cut snowflakes, Christmas trees, bears, ducks and hearts from the templates. There are lots of ideas on the Go website for what you can create using the Go templates.

Moda Sampler Box

I am so excited. I received my order of Moda Sampler Boxes today. Each Moda Sampler Box contains 12 miniature (2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch) charm packs of 40 squares each. The fabrics are all from the 2010 Spring fabric lines. Each box contains the history of the Charm quilt by Barbara Brackman as well as five different templates that can be used to make a charm quilt. Additionally, ten project ideas are also included in the sampler box template book.

Fun Gifts

Several gift giving occasions have come my way of late. I love to sew and when I have a gift to give it makes it even more fun. With inspiration from the ModaBakeshop.com website I created a diaper bag using 1/2 a Sultry Honey Bun and some coordinating Eva fabric. The most fun part was creating the inside of the bag and making goodies to go inside. I added a lined zipper pocket, a removable center pocket and a padded side pocket. Extras for the diaper bag included a vinyl coated changing mat made using iron on Heat and Bond vinyl, a vinyl lined bib embellished with an Accuquilt duck applique' and a burp pad made from a prefolded diaper, a bit of Eva fabric and large ric rac. Way fun project.






For a young lady getting married soon I made a reversible apron using Nouveau fabric. The main apron was a small floral print with teal accents. I embellished the apron bodice with a teal band and large rust colored ric rac. Ric rac was added to the pocket as well. The reverse of the apron was the teal fabric. The bride to be looked so cute in her apron.

New projects in the works

A diaper bag for a baby shower is in the works currently. It's been 10 years since I have needed a diaper bag though it seems just a few years ago. It's kind of fun picking out the fabric and design. I am using the Eva fabric that just arrived and a Sultry Honey Bun which coordinates well with Eva since both fabric lines are by Basicgrey for Moda. The lime greens are great color that really seem to go with just about any other color.



I just received my Happy Camper fabric by American Jane for Moda. Happy Camper fabric takes me to Colorado every time I look at it. As a kid we tent camped nearly every summer in Colorado. I love fabric that brings back memories. I am going to make a throw for when we go camping. I just have to decide what pattern to use.

Houston Quilt Market Finds

Inspiration at quilt market in Houston is a little overwhelming. There are lots of bold and bright large print fabrics on the market but also a large number of the retro look with a more muted earthy color in smaller prints. Of course there are always reproduction fabric lines that are so inspiring. Shannon Fabrics and Moda both have the cuddle soft polyester fabrics for those oh so soft baby blankets that are so popular. The Shannon Fabrics come in a multitude of prints. I should have soft pastels and brown animal prints in stock within a week or so just in time for Christmas gifts for you favorite baby.

The AccuQuilt GO! Quilter was everywhere at market it seemed. There were lots of new patterns for use with the die templates used but primarily what I saw was just imagination using the different die cuts. I had ordered an AccuQuilt Go cutter just before market and found it a great tool. One of the main trends I saw was scrappy quilts with large squares of small prints with the various appliques. Very nice. Appliques are used not only on quilts but also are great for bibs, children's clothing, tea towels, aprons or just about anything else you see applique on. AccuQuilt GO is available for order on my website. New dies will be added to the website as soon as possible.




Pictured is an over view of one slice of market and a picture of the Pittsburgh Friendship Quilt which was completed in 1988 and recently found. The quilt display was very pretty. For more information on the display go to the Quilts.com website.

The American Jane Booth (first picture below, Fig Tree Quilts Booth and the Blank Quilting Booths were three of my favorites.




The Spectacle Receptacle was one of my favorite pattern finds. This is a really quick little project to hold just about anything from eye glasses, rotary cutters, remote controls or perhaps use as a desk pencil holder.

Getting Ready for Quilt Market

Here is my new Market Bag all ready for stuffing lots of stuff in from quilt Market this weekend. Same block pattern used on both sides. The pattern is

Sweet Sugar Swirls

from Fig Tree Quilts. I will try to update with pictures and notes this weekend.

What to do on a rainy day.

What do you like to do on a rainy day? I like to sew. But then again "What day is it that you don't like to sew?" some in my family say. Today my daughter and I completed her charm square bag made from the Easiest Handbags Ever pattern from Fig Tree Quilts. Lindsey used a Summer Basket of Flowers Charm Pack for a fall bag. That girl has more purses and bags but "one more just for market next week to hold all our stuff Mom" is what she said. I enjoy crafting with my daughter.

All you need for the this charm pack bag is a charm pack, 5/8 yard of fabric and some batting.

Quick Gifts

Now is the time to get going on Christmas gifts. Charm packs make nice quick baby quilts or Christmas table runners or tree skirts or.... the list goes on. Precuts such as Jelly Rolls, Charm Packs, Honey Buns, Layer Cakes, Turnovers and Desert Rolls can really save a lot of valubale time by reducing the amount of fabric you have to cut apart just to sew back together. Use the left overs for project backs or have fun creating Journal book covers or totes.

Web special this week is $2.00 off each Honey Bun. Honey Buns are a roll of 40 1 1/2 inch by width of fabric strips. Much like Jelly Rolls, Honey Buns give a scrappy look to your project.

New P&B Fabric to arrive today.

I have 3 new lines of P&B fabric arriving today. Arabella is a contemporary line by Pat Sloan that has some fun floral paisley prints.






Chole by Janet Broxon is very colorful with small prints that would be great for children's clothing.






Woodland Christmas from Julie Ingleman has a colorful 12 Days of Christmas panel with coordinates in red, green and cream including great dot prints.

Cowbow quilt

Here is a blue and brown baby quilt made with just blocks and strips. I love EQ. You can create anything. This was a special request quilt for a 2nd cousin on the way. The nursery is blue and brown so the grandmother wanted something like this. I used the Udder Cowboy fabric with the shoofly print for the blocks and the paisley for the border.

Neck Coollers

Thomas and I made 16 Neck Coolers today in preparation to our trip to the Navajo Nation in Arizona. We will be teaching VBS all week in the mornings and maybe working outside later in the day. Neck coolers will be needed to chill us out. Thomas did most of the initial sewing and filling the tubes with the granules. I then would sew the sections for the granules in place. Doesn't he look like he was having fun. He does a great job sewing. We did the men neck coolers in Texas fabric and the ladies in bluebonnet fabric. When we get back home he is going to make one for him with baseball fabric.

Happy 4th of July to you all.

No time to sew

I try to make time to sew and find that all the other things on the priority list are winning out due to the deadlines that are enforce. I have started my pillow shams for my bed that will coordinate with my new years eve mystery quilt that lies lonesome with no pillows. Started is better than nothing I suppose.

This next month is going to really busy. I have church camp with the girls I work with at church (my dear hubby will be processing orders for me), then a few days of vacation, a week off to prepare for a mission trip I am going on to Arizona in July. Next time I will have a chance to sew is mid July. July is Dad's 75th birthday. The girls in the family will hopefully get together for our 2nd annual girls retreat. We may let the 2nd generation of girls join this year which should be fun.

One of my deadlines was ordering my fabric for fall - Decisions, Decisions. Bright colors are on the horizon for fall delivery with spring quilts in mind. I love the greens that are on the market now. Keep watching my website for more to come since I do have fabric coming in monthly.

Picture for this month is our new calf Juno. Inspiration for this picture post is the Udder Cowboy fabric that is in stock - way cute for that baby boy quilt you need to create.

Pauly cat is ready for summer

This is actually last years picture but I love it. It is time for the pool here in Texas.

Sweet Honeybun

I have found that working with precuts is such a fun chalenge. I know I have said that before. Here is a baby size quilt top I made from adapting Pieces from My Heart

Pattern Dutch Treat

. I scaled down the blocks to 3 by 3 from 5 by 6. I then added a little faux piping treatment around the inner border. Lastly for the outer border I used leftovers from mu Sweet Honeybun to make rail fence blocks for a finishing touch. All that was required was a pattern for inspiration, 1 Sweet Honeybun, 3/4 yard of Bella Solid white for blocks and inner border, 1/4 yard Bella Solid pink for inner border and of course the binding and backing.

Tilt a Whirl Quilt Top Completed

It was time for a fun Jelly Roll Project so I decided on Tilt a Whirl by Quilt Moments. I love Quilt Moments patterns because there are so many options for building your quilt. I chose a Maypole Jelly Roll and a yellow marble for the setting triagles. I experimented with different border options and then went with the Jelly Roll left overs. Jelly Rolls are so fun becuase so much less cutting.

Zippity Doo Dah

Zippity Doo Dah is such a fun patriotic fabric line by Sandy Gervais. I had to use the panel to make a stars and stripes wall hanging. Well the wall hanging grew a bit to almost a throw size. Panels make for quick fun projects when you just add a few blocks and borders. Check out the Zippity Doo Dah line at www.SuzzettsFabric.com

Pickin Wildflowers Table Runner

Quick projects give you a feeling of accomplishment for actually finishing the project. Charm packs are fun because no two projects need be alike just by the way you arrange the charm squares. Pictured is the Pickin Wildflowers table runner by This and That using a Tranquility Charm Pack. Any charm pack should work just choose based on your decor. Happy quilting!

What does March Madness Mean to you?

March Madness to me means TAXES. Yes that seems like every spare minute has gone to preparing my paperwork for Taxes. As a newbie, I have learned what will make tax preparation easier next year in regards to data entry in my Quickbooks software.

I can't wait to get back to sewing. I have about 30 different bolts of fabric to post to the website as well as multiple patterns. GOTTA GO.

Stacked Coins Baby Quilt - Candy Kisses

I found the Stacked Coins Baby Quilt pattern on the Moda Bakeshop website that I blogged about earlier in the week. Here is the picture. I used the Candy Kisses Charm Pack by Sandy Gervais though I did a few modifications because I wanted to use some Flirtation fabric also by Sandy Gervais to add some brown into the quilt. I then used the flirtation fabric for the backing and the binding. Way fast quilt to make.

Moda Bake Shop is sew sweet!

Check out the Moda Bake Shop to see what is cooking. I found a rag rug posted today but then of course I had to keep looking. Here is the link to the site. MODA BAKE SHOP

Portable Design Wall

Are you like me and have no wall space in your sewing area? I found Cheryl Ann's Design Wall to be my solution. This is a completely portable flannel wall that you assemble using fiberglass poles. The wall comes with a nice little carry case. My
5th grader was able to assemble the wall in less than 5 minutes. Order at www.SuzzettsFabric.com

Crazy Batik Shortcut Quilt

Well Lindsey is making progress on her Crazy Batik Shortcut quilt. She has finished all her blocks and is now ready to add the sashing. I think using the batik fabrics with black gives a cathedral window look.

Next thing you know I am going to have her teaching a class on Crazy Shortcut Quilts.

Winter Quilts in Texas?

Here in Texas it was 80 degrees yesterday. So how do you get in the mood to make a winter quilt in the middle of winter in Texas? I am not sure. I do know that I put my New Years Eve quilt top on the quilting frame and got two passes done when I decided I did not like the second pass so I'm going to gently remove those stiches and as I tell my children "Make a new plan Stan."

In the meantime, I have rearranged the shop again to accomodate more fabrics. I have lots of precuts in from Moda that just needed to show their pretty faces to me for inspiration. I have found a few patterns to accomodate the new Honey Buns and Turnovers from Moda. Are you like me and really just like to sit down and sew from what is in your head and see what appears? The problem is then you have to translate the creation to paper if someone else likes the creation which then takes you away from the sewing machine. Such a vicious circle!

It seems like the chat groups I am on are all quite. I suppose everyone is working on new projects instead of chatting. That is a good thing so we don't get behind in the new year projects.

If you are not a TV football fan, line up a project and get ready to sit and sew on Superbowl Sunday. That is my plan. I have some new Scrap Bags in from Moda that I may just have to pull off the shelf and make a quick Sunday project with those 40 coordinating 3 inch selvage strips that are calling my name.

Enough said have a good end of January.

Suzzy

New Year

Ok, I know I have not posted in a few weeks but what can I say the new year is quite busy. I started off making a mystery quilt with a couple of my Yahoo groups on NY eve. I decided to make the queen size quilt using one of my favorite colors, burgandy. What can I say but it just takes time to make a large quilt. The home stretch is now in sight with a completion goal of today.

The shop has been busy as well with new fabrics arriving. I have totally ran out of room on my racks I have so hubby has built more shelves for me. New shelves will hold the Hello Betty fabric that is due to arrive any day. I love 30's and Retro prints with this line having plenty of both. Those Retro fabrics just take me back to the halls of Lueders-Avoca High School and wearing those short dresses we wore back in the day. I know our dresses were as short as the girls we see at times now. Of course, I now know what Mom was concerned about now when she would say "Do not bend over in that dress."

Blueberry muffins in the oven for the munchkin. Have a great end of week.