Happy Iron

 Maintaining a happy iron usually takes a little effort. 

I never put water in any of my irons. I use a spritzer whenever I need to dampen my fabric. But as I was re-reading the directions for cleaning my iron I came upon this little hint -

Rowenta irons are designed to be used with regular tap water (up to 12 grains of hardness). If your water is harder than this, Rowenta recommends mixing half tap water with half distilled water. Never use 100% pure distilled water since this can cause the iron to spit and leak.

There are many types of household water softeners. Many of them are perfectly acceptable for use in an iron. HOWEVER, some types of softeners, particularly those that use chemicals such as salt, can cause the iron to leak or spit during use. If you experience this type of problem, we recommend that you try using inexpensive bottled spring water. NEVER USE 100% PURE DISTILLED WATER. Once you have changed water it will take several uses to correct the problem.

So just a word to the wise. These are suggestions from the Rowenta cleaning kit, but it may be applicable to other brands as well.

I hope this will make for some Happy Quilting :-)

Quick way to use scraps

Here is a quick way to use up left over fabric. 

Cut 24 strips, 2" x 5", of assorted coordinating fabrics

Cut 10 2" x 2" for accenting blocks

 Lay the strips and accenting blocks in whatever order you like.

After you find a pattern that pleases your eye, start sewing the strip together.

Trim the edges.

Cut a 1 1/4" strip from a darker fabric for the inner border.

Cut 2 1/2" strips of outer border fabric and add to table runner

.

And now it's all ready for quilting!

I have enjoyed making these table runners in different color ways for the different seasons. This one is in icy blues and a touch of gold. This table runner is longer, using 42  2" x 5" strips.

I hope you enjoy making this easy table runner.

Happy Quilting!

Sew and Tell 

 Finished or not Friday 

  Brag About Your Beauties   

Scrap Happy

Tablerunner

 After I made my Valentines quilt, I had charms left over. So I decided to use them for a table runner.

Simple and cute :-)

Sew and Tell, 

Finished or not Friday   

Brag About Your Beauties,  

 Scrap Happy

What is really important?

 

This is the closet in my sewing room. Unfinished quilt tops waiting for backing and quilting. This is not all of them. There are still some that are older than dirt in a plastic container.  Sadly made from fabric that is really dated.

So why do we quilt? I have paused to reflect on this question. My love of quilting has not diminished, but the reasons have. I used to make quilts for gifts. Weddings, for babies, housewarming, birthdays. But through the years it appears that most people don't really appreciate all the time, effort and money that goes into a hand made quilt. Some quilts may even be relegated to the dog bed.

It's why I've been making more of an effort to make pillowcases for Ryan's' Case for Smiles. Hoping to bring a smile to a child, a boost while they are experiencing illness.

Most recently, these things that take our time and money have left a deep impression of what is really important in life.  A quote from the late Barbara Bush struck me.

 (source - Woman's World)

At the end of your life, what will you regret? What will really be important?

Happy Easter

 

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (John 11:25-27)

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said" (Matt. 28:6)

May you rejoice in knowing that the Savior of this world lives.

Wishing you a Blessed Easter.

Any shade will do.

 Okay, I have a thing for pink!

 What about you? Do you have a color that draws you?

Happy Quilting!

Carrot tops

 Last year I made this table runner for my daughter.

 So this year I decided to make one for myself.

The pattern is from Pat Sloans book.

Sew and Tell Finished or not Friday   

Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

These Empty Places

 

These Empty Places by Sarah Loudin Thomas is a slow paced interesting novel. 

Claire and Lena have experienced hardship. The story is about the strength and friendship of these two women and how they moved past the hurts. They learn to love and make choices that shape their lives. It's about courage and forgiveness. Beautifully written characters. Ms Thomas describes the time period and places so well. She is a master storyteller as evidenced in this novel. Clean and faith fulled.

I received an e- copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

National Quilting Day

 

Today is National Quilting Day! Wow, isn't it amazing that a whole day is devoted to a hobby that brings us so much fun and joy!!

Read about it HERE .

The Manhattan Confessions

 

The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green is a Christian historical romance set in New York City in the late 1920's.

Ivy Malone is a librarian with the New York Historical Society. She has a passion to preserve the history of early New York. When wealthy socialite Adeline King anonymously shares her life story with Ivy, she must keep Adeline's identity secret. Which ends up becoming a burden to Ivy.

Tom Lightfoot tries to protect Ivy as those who would invade Adeline's privacy become bolder, putting Ivy in danger. Ivy's Italian cousin Gina becomes entangled in sinister dealings as she tries to legally immigrate to the US. 

The characters were well developed. The story was gripping and engaging.  Clean, faith filled romance between Ivy and Tom. This is the best book written by Ms Green in my estimation. It was hard to put this one down.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pretty in pink

 Every baby girl needs a pink quilt.

Sew and Tell NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Chasing the Clouds Away

 

Chasing the Clouds Away by Debbie Macomber is a delightful romance novel. 

Maisy Gallagher gives up her dream to study to become a nurse after the death of her father. The family pulling together to make everything work. But hard as they try, it doesn't seem to be working.

Chase Furst, an arrogant self focused banker, meets Maisy at the Chicago airport. He is rich and thinks money can solve anything. He is on the way to make arrangements for his mothers funeral. But his whole life changes after meeting Maisy. 

This whole story flows so beautifully. From the meeting, to the clash of their different worlds, to the blossoming of romance. The characters were well developed and the story well written. A clean, uplifting, faith based read. Could not put it down. Perfect for something hopeful and heartwarming. 

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Doll quilt from scraps

I found I had quite a few blocks that were cut but not put together. It looked like there was enough to make something.

I started putting the squares together and came up with this little doll quilt!

Yay!! I love it! Do you make doll quilts??

Sew and Tell NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

O Scrap

Bunny tutorials

Do you have a little one who would enjoy a little bunny  These look like so much fun! 

See Kate Sew had the cutest little bunny slippers.

 

How about this cute Sock Bunny from Craft Passion  

 

 I think this adorable Bunny Pillow from Fab Art DIY is just about my favorite.

 

And wouldn't you love to have a Mooshy Belly Bunny by Chez Beeper Bebe? 

 

Have fun!

Journal Cover

I used to journal all the time. But in recent years, it has fallen off, mostly due to time constraints. My son and DIL gave me a book to use for journaling, so I thought I would make a cover.

I cheated a little bit by using pre-quilted fabric I had among my stash.

I also found a suitable coordinating fabric to use for the inside.

It was easy to turn down flaps, and sew the ends.

 Good fit!

 And wha-la! The finished journal cover :-)

Using the pre-quilted fabric made this a snap, but I think I'll quilt my own next time.

Happy Quilting!

Sew and Tell  NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Yardage Chart

 I've shared this before, but I think it's worth repeating.

One little hint about using yardage for a charm pack pattern is how many 5" squares can you get from a yard of fabric -
1/4 yard = 8 squares
1 fat quarter = 12 squares
1/2 yard = 24 squares
3/4 yard = 40 squares
1 yard = 56 squares

I thought I would go one more step and add the yardage guide for strips. I always find this information helpful when trying to decide how much fabric to purchase.

Width = Strips Per Yard -

1.5" = 23 strips
2" = 17 strips
2.5" = 13 strips
3" = 11 strips
3.5" = 10 strips
4" = 8 strips
4.5" = 7 strips
5" = 7 strips
5.5" = 6 strips
6" = 5 strips

Happy Quilting!

Wordless Wednesday

 

Happy Dreams

Where We Belong

 

Where We Belong by Kim Vogal Sawyer is the most heartwarming story I have read in a long time. 

Hester Haak is a childless widow who desires to be a mother. She opens her home to three orphan children that have come west on the Orphan train.  Eviee insists that she and her little sister are not an orphans. But with the New York Orphans home closing, and the matrons unsuccessful attempt to contact their father, they are sent to Kansas on the train.

Callum Holbrook is unable to care for his girls after the death of his wife. He places them in the Home temporarily. But as so much time passes, he is devastated that the girls have been sent away.

Kim Vogel Sawyer has written a very sweet and moving story. It engaged me from the first word. The element of faith in the characters was very endearing. Clean Christian fiction. Very well written. I would give this story a 5+.

 I received an ecopy of the book via Net Galley. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Winter Olympics

 The Winter Olympics is in full gear. So why not join them.

The inspiration for this quilt was from the book Accidental Landscapes by Karen Eckmeier.

It is fun to take a picture and recreate it in fabric. My kids loved to snowboard, so when I found these  stormy and mountain fabrics I fussy cut the snowboarder and placed him on the mountain. 

Create with your imagination.  

Words to Live By

 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Easy peasy

I love this pattern.

It's my go-to pattern when I need a quick gift. 

I've had this book for years, so I'm not sure it is still in publication.  Easy to follow directions, and the points always line up!

Sew and Tell NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Love/hate relationship

It's a love/hate relationship. I love cutting fabric, putting it together, quilting it. But when it comes to the final phase - sewing down the binding - my love turns to fatigued dislike.

I finished quilting this quilt (don't you love the backing?) and all that was left was sewing down the binding. I sometimes try to use the backing fabric, pulling it over the sides and machine stitching. But this backing was different than the quilt fabric, I just couldn't do it.

Sitting in front of the TV, I stitched night after night. It felt like forever. I'm just not a fan of hand stitching of any kind. But finally it was done.

I loved the fabric in this quilt so much that I scavenged the left over fabric and made a table runner.

My daughter happily absconded the table runner :-)

Happy Valentines Day