Place mats again?

  I finished off a couple more of the smaller place mats over the weekend.  It was just too cold to go anywhere, or do anything else.  So I pinned and stitched a few things. 
   I had some leftover cuts of the fusible interfacing that were just big enough for a 8 by 5 grid for the watercolor.  That created a mat about 8'' by 12''---just a bit small, so I added a 2 '' strip of batik for an outer border.    No binding on this one either, just a simple pillowcase style edge.

   When I am not using binding on these small projects, I finally figured out how to get a better edge on them.  Usually, you need to leave a 3 to 5 inch opening for turning.  And no matter how I tried, my turning opening would gap/not lay flat/ never look just right.  There had to be a better way.

  I know I have talked about this, but for the life of me I can't find the older post, so I will just share the words for now. 

   I cut the backing fabric larger than needed, so I can cut it into 2 sections.    Then I turn around and sew them back together---leaving a 3'' opening un-sewn.  That is the opening for turning.  

  Then I can assemble the project placing  the top and backing with right sides together and the batting on top.  The batting is cut a tiny bit over the exact size needed.   (So the batting is smaller than the fabric being sewn.  I actually catch the smallest bit of batting in the seam, which holds it in place).  I sew all 4 sides....completely.  Turn it right side out thru the opening in the back and press.
  The opening is then hand stitched closed.  Projects just need a few lines of quilting to keep it in shape.  I usually stitch around the outer edge about 3/8'' from the edge first.    Quilt!  As much or as little as you like. 

  As a note for those asking for patterns......I don't have patterns for sale.  I have done up a couple of design guides for value placement.  These are found at the bottom of  the Patterns page ----look under the banner photo for it.
   I also do not have kits for sale.  But......here is a source for them.  Go to WHIMS .  They are a company with kits, pattern notions, and some watercolor fabrics.
Happy stitching.

New snack mats

   While I was making the watercolor place mats, I put together a couple of snack mats.    A mug rug is not big enough for the island in the kitchen, and place mats are slightly too large.....snack mats are just right for here!





















 

   The size is about 9'' by 12''.  Perfect for a small plate and drink.  I used leftover binding strips to finish these off.    Since these will get a lot of wear and be washed over and over, I use a zig-zag stitch to finish the binding on the front.

    I watch Bonnie on Quilt-cam while finishing up all my bindings and started on some of the Boxes  Squared blocks that I had cut.   She shared her new pressing mat made from Alpaca fur.  Interesting......not sure I need one, but I am tempted.   Maybe I will check it out a bit more. 
Happy stitching.  

That crazy elf!

   I saw this sign last night when we went to dinner and it made me giggle.  Right now my elf---Mr. Dinks--- is visiting Florida and will fly up just in time  to surprise Remy.   My brother is having fun finding vantage points for the elf to nap.   The adults enjoy the wonder in a child's eyes when he spies that crazy figure perched on the cabinet door, or handing on to the door knob.










  A quick finish between assembling the orange peels.  This is snack mat size ----about 12'' by 12''.    I shared another applique earlier in Friday Finds.     I snatched this one there and enlarged it a bit.  It is still smaller than I wanted......next time I will enlarge it some more.   Pieces were fused and machine stitched.  I  cut into some of that new fabric....on the border. Luscious!

  I have reached the row assembly stage on the orange peels......and have an idea for a border.  So I know this one won't get finished this year.  And the floral exploration will carry on next year too, it seems.   Big grin, what else would you expect?
Happy stitching.

Lots of small things

  No great finds this week.....blogland seems to in the middle of summer vapors, and things are slow.  If you discover any good finds, let me know and I will share them next week.

I have been working on small things...snack mats and mug rugs all week.  I worked with everything from strings to hunks, threw in some appliques and leftovers.  These are practical ones, not necessarily beauties.

 I did a pair using this fabric for Remy.   While he was helping his Dad sort through boxes of stored items, he discovered "treasures"......a bag of fishing lures that were my Dad's.  So when I had 2 hunks of this fabric left from pillowcases, I knew exactly what to do with it......a couple of snack mats for him.  He will drive his dad crazy talking about the ones on this!

   The diagonal strings go together quickly but ended up a little plain.  So I did some raw edge appliques using simple plume shapes.

  Moving things around, I ran across one more embroidered hankie.  I love turning  these into mug rugs for gifts....they are so delicate.

  One more......leftover floral band, another bit of raw edge applique and a couple of chunks for balance.  In all I finished 10  items, for a nice start to gifts for later this year.











   While I was fresh this morning, I machine quilted the floral bargello.   I had planned to finish it up yesterday after my dental check up.  Well, that was a snake in the grass.  I have a cracked crown  that must be replaced....I will spare notating the details.  Let's just say I had a splitting headache the rest of the day.  And there won't be any fabric purchases for a while.    Not that I need any, mind you.  It's more the inspiration from new fabric that I enjoy and want.  I  will just use this time to clear out and use up some of my 20 year old stash.   But then I have said that before.....enjoy the weekend, stay cool, and happy stitching.

Friday Finds #4

From My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs

  Thinking ahead for Valentine's Day.  Here is a cute applique---love that swirl cut out---for a block, mug rug, wall hanging, pillow....bet you can't make just one!    The tutorial and pattern can be found  here at Riley Blake Designs.











  I really like this little block, something about it ......must be the swirl :)   So what could I do with just one block?   That wouldn't take too long.
   I found a small sized piece of batting scrap, dug into my "parts bin" of 4 patch pieces and blocks, and pulled out a few strings.  A little play time and I put together a small candle mat/table topper.  Size is 11" by 13"  just because that was the size of the batting.   Tell me, what could you do with just one block?

  As always, if you are pinning the pattern, go to Riley Blake link above to pin.
I'm still sewing on the border to the English Garden quilt.....those darn taxes are interfering with my sewing time.   I will be glad to get it all filed and put away.
Happy stitching.

Festival of Strings

I almost missed this!   The Festival of Strings is going on at Stitched in Color.  And there are some great ideas, and lots of string quilts.  Be sure to hop over and check them out.

I have a few small finished strings.....string snack mats that I have shared recently.   I know these don't count , but keep reading.  I do have a quilt top. 

Strings and slivers of batiks are fused to batting.  I then stitched row of upon row of parallel lines for the quilting.  Real big bold prints were used on the backs.  

  I also have a finished and ready to quilt string top.  It is next on my list to get quilted.  I caught the string fever a couple of months ago and began working on these rectangular coin blocks.  I love watercolor quilts, so why not a watercolor string quilt?   Last month I figured out how I wanted them blended, and set to work on making enough sets for this top.  It's a simple throw size of 65" by 50".

   I managed to make a small dent in my stash of 2" strips and some extra strings of floral fabrics with these blocks.  Unfortunately...... well not really that unfortunately....... I  added a few yards of floral fabrics  while in Michigan this last week! Oops!  More about that later.   It just means I need to make more quilts.  

  I do hope you enjoy the Festival of Strings. 

Remember to vote for your favorites in the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side.     

Happy stitching.

More snack mats

    These snack mats are like potato chips......addictive!    I put together a few more before we left.  This pair has the strings running  in the the other direction along the length of the mat.  Some of the pieces were too short  :(     That's OK....I just over-lapped them and secured the end with a bit of glue stick.  That held them in place until I could stitch it all down.    If you look close at this photo you can see a couple of overlaps.....the yellow strip at the top and the second strip from the bottom.    I was careful in stitching the parallel lines to catch the ends and secure them.  

Some more wild fabric on the back.

Ready for lunch?   Have fun.  

Happy stitching.

Just a fun project --with update

   I loved how this one turned out!  From a pile of trimmings came this snack mat---bigger than a mug rug really.   I stitched lots of rows on it..... random rows spaced from 1/8" to 3/8" apart....with a variegated thread.  That way I can be sure those slivers are not going anywhere.  The batiks are tightly woven and probably would not fray that much anyway.   I used a large print with butterflies on the back.

   Sir Old Man thought it looked like a landscape.  I love the texture and  I think I need to make another one to have a pair!
Update to this post:
   I was asked for specific details on this, so here is my "recipe" for this snack mat.

• Batting cut 9 1/2" by 12 1/2"
• Fusible Heat and Bond Lite cut to exact size of batting 9 1/2" by 12 1/2"
• Fuse the heat and bond to the batting.  Remove the paper and save  to use for pressing sheet. 
• Lay strings and slivers of batiks across the batting.  The fusible provides a tacky surface to hold them in place.  Cover the entire surface of the batting in this way.
• Fuse the stings to the batting.  Use the paper from the fusible as a pressing sheet---save your iron from getting messy.  
• Cut backing fabric--slightly larger than the fused batting.
• Quilt row after row of parallel lines.  I did not try to be exact, and varied my width slightly with each row of stitches.  Row vary from 1/8" to 1/4" to 3/8" apart.  I used a heavier quilting thread that was variegated in color.  
• Trim sides after quilting.  Attach binding of your choice.  I used a narrow zig zag to finish off the binding on the front.  Done!