“Garden Veggies” Table Topper Featured in the August Issue of “The Quilt Pattern Magazine”

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If you’re not already a subscriber, make it a point to subscribe to The Quilt Pattern Magazine as one of my original designs is featured in the August 2015 issue – a table topper titled “Garden Veggies”!

I had my “Garden Veggies” table topper sitting on our coffee table one day.  Our second-born daughter looked at it and said she really liked it.  She asked me what the name of it was…I told her “Garden Veggies”.  She studied it for a minute and then let out a laugh.  She said, “Okay, Mom, this fabric is a perfect representation of our garden!  This fabric (center w/dots) are those exploding tomato plants Dad planted, that grew over six feet tall.  And this yellow is the crook-neck squash, the green is the zucchinis and the brownish/orange-ish fabric is the sweet potatoes.”

Can you see what she sees?

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Truly a whole lot of bang for your buck if you are a subscriber to The Quilt Pattern Magazine.  I’ve enjoyed every single issue, whether I have a submission in it or not!

The fabric for this project was sponsored by Abbi May’s Fabric Shop, where ALL fabric is at least 10% off retail EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!


Friday Funday: Funky Quilts

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“Kwik Funky Quilt – the TKQ way” designed by Karie from Two Kwik Qiulters

“Original Gypsy Caravan Fat Quarters Quilt” designed by and from Amy Butler

“Sampler in Solids” designed by Gwen Marston from Robert Kaufman

“Improvisational Sampler Quilt” designed by Leila Gardunia from Moda Bakeshop

“Alchemy Quilt” designed by and from Amy Butler


Christmas in July 2015 at BOMquilts.com: Always Stars

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Cruise on over to our Christmas in July celebration at BOMquilts.com and you can download this quiltastic FREE quilt Block Set pattern!  The instructions offer your choice of quilt projects:  Table topper, bed runner, lap quilt – and more!  The possibilities are endless and all you have to do is decide which size to make first.

Always Stars - – an Original Design by TK Harrison, Owner of BOMquilts.com

Always Stars – – an Original Design by TK Harrison, Owner of BOMquilts.com


Tutorial Tuesday: Mug Rug with Embellishments

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MugRug

Items Needed:

  • Scrap fabric for front & back of your mug rug as well as the binding
  • Scrap batting
  • Embellishments of your choice.  In this case, I used an old miniature crocheted flower doily and a 4″ square of fabric

Instructions:

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Choose the fabric and embellishments you want to use for your mug rug.  This mug rug is 7″ high x 10″ wide.  The front of this mug rug is a single scrap of fabric.  The back of the mug rug will be scrappy fabrics, leftovers from a charm pack (5″ squares).

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Piece together the back of your mug rug.  I sew two 5″ squares together and repeat for the second set of squares.

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This is the result of the charm squares sewn together.  It is a square but I need to adjust it so that it is the same (or a tad larger) than the fabric for the front of the mug rug.
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I cut off 2 1/2″ from one end of the pieced backing fabrics.

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Pin the 2 1/2″ strip to the end of the scrappy backing.

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Then sew that 2 1/2″ strip to the end of the scrappy backing.

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Now the front and back fabrics are ready for the next step.

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A 5″ square of fabric was too large for the front of my mug rug so I cut it down to a 4″ square.

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It’s time to add the embellishments!  I begin with sewing the little crocheted flower to the front fabric.  First, pin it in place.

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  I really want this mini doily to stay in place through usage and washings so I ran a stitch all the way around the center of the doily as well as all around the edge of the doily.

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Then pin and sew the scrappy square to the top fabric.  Raw edge applique is my specialty so I just ran a single stitch, 1/4″ from the edge, all the way around the scrappy square.  The quilting will further adhere the scrappy square to the mug rug.

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The top of my mug rug is ready!  Now it’s time to make your quilt sandwich using the top and bottom fabrics with a piece of scrappy batting in the center.

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Quilt as desired.  In this case, I used a maroon thread on the top and a black thread in my bobbin.  Because my top fabric was a plaid fabric, I made it easy on myself and just followed the lines of the fabric with my quilt stitches.  I did not quilt over the doily but I did quilt over the scrappy square.

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After quilting, trim your mug rug of any excess fabric or batting and then square it up.

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Now it’s time for the binding.  I did not have a 2″ x WOF strip available (remember – this is scrappy), so I sewed two strips together to make my binding.  To do this, with right sides together, place the top strip at a 90 degree angle to the bottom strip.  Then, draw a diagonal line from the beginning of the top strip across to the corner of the edge of the bottom strip.

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Pin and sew the two binding pieces together on the line you drew.

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Cut the corner off of the binding strips, 1/4″ from the line you drew and sewed.

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I chose to press the seam open.  This project is so small that by pressing the seam in a single direction, it would have made for a lumpy spot on the edge of the mug rug.

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Now, sew the binding on the front of your mug rug, making sure to miter the corners.  Finally, whip-stitch the binding to the back of your mug rug.  Congrats, you’re done!

MugRug


Personal Quilt Records

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Why didn’t I think of documenting who and where my quilts went 30+ years ago when I started quilting?  My answer is that I didn’t think of it back in the days of my early quilts.

After a few years, I did start to take photos of the quilts and afghans I made.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get name the photos so I could remember just who the gift went to.  So I have a stack of photos as a reminder, but I am not sure I could tell anyone who the items were given to.

After I was diagnosed with MS and we realized the extent of the loss of my short- and long-term memory problems, I started asking the recipients of my quilts to take a digital photo and send it to me, so I could refer back to it and know who my quilts went to.  Unfortunately, my request hasn’t always been honored.

There’s also a reason to document your quilts if you ever need to show your work to someone who is interested in purchasing or commissioning a quilt from you.  The stack of photos I have has been passed along to others many times and many quilts have been made based on quilts I had made in the past via those photos.

But, here are a few suggestions for documenting quilts (or any type of handmade gift) that you make and give or gift away:

  1. Photo album:  A photo of the finished quilt before it is sent to its new home, plus a photo of the recipient (if possible) with their new quilt.  But take this one step further and write or type a little note, adding the information on where the quilt went and who it went to.  A date would be great, too.  If nothing else, take a photo of the tag on the quilt, then you could eliminate any further need to write anything.
  2. Write out information about your quilts.  This is a pretty thorough list items to help you:  https://www.reddawn.net/quilt/documnt.htm.  This is even a more thorough form you can print and use:  https://oregonquiltproject.blogspot.com/
  3. “Personal Quilt Registry“, a book written by Lynne Fritz, offers a seemingly excellent opportunity to keep a record of your quilts – not just what you’ve gifted away but also those you have kept.
  4. Make a quilt journal:  https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/05/how-to-make-a-quilt-journal/.
  5. There’s also software you can purchase and use on your computer to document your quilts:  https://softexpressions.com/software/organ/index.html#Quilters.

There are many options for you to choose from to help you keep a record of your quilts.  What’s your favorite way?