Tool Time Tuesday...Organize With Seedling Trays

Happy Tuesday!! Here in my little corner of the world the whole month of May has been gray and rainy. We've had a few days of sunshine this week, so we were off to Home Depot's garden center. You know I always have a Tool Time eye open where ever I go...and this is what I found!

Seedling starter trays. They are made of fiber cells and are 100% natural and biodegradable. If they are safe enough to start tomato plants in them, they're safe enough to hold me craft supplies!!

This particular pack came with 4 trays for $2.59.

They're like egg cartons, but deeper and hold a little more.

You can arrange them in your drawers or shelves in any configuration.

or you can arrange them end to end on the back of your sewing table or craft table.

Here are some of the things I thought to fill them up with.

Of course, sewing supplies. Great for your sewing table, but how easy would it be to carry this to the chair or couch while you are doing some hand sewing. You could even make one of those sections into a pin cushion.

Manicure anyone...pink for summer, if summer ever gets here!!

How about all those tiny office supplies floating around in your desk or kitchen drawer.

and we can't forget all your craft supplies...beads, buttons, sequins, scrap booking doo dads etc...



These are great for kid's crafting parties too. Add all your craft supplies and each child gets their own tray. You can also cut them into sections too.

These trays also come in larger versions and are made out of plastic. Great for so many things.

Just wanted to "plant the seeds" of inspiration this Tuesday!

Have a great day,

~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 16

I'm going to be short and sweet this Sunday...I can't wait to see what you've been up to!! I just love Sew Darn Crafty and all your projects that you share.

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your whole blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,
~Karen~

Blog Buddy...How to Link on Your Blog Post

Blog Buddy is your friendly little helper in the blogging world. Sew Many Way's Blog Buddy posts have helpful hints and tips to make blogging fun and easy. Just things I picked up along the way or learned from mistakes I made myself.

Today I will be showing you how to link to something in your post. It may be another blog that you want to give credit to or an online fabric store that you just love and want to share or you may want to link back to one of your own posts from the past.

Linking is quick and easy once you know the steps.

Thoughts on Thursday...

Did you ever have one of those "To Do" List days? So many things to do and so many places to go. One day I was in the drive thru at the bank reading my list and when I was done, mind ticking away, I drove away with the bank tube container. I just took the tube and drove away! Who does that?

I still laugh about it...I had to drive all the way around the bank and wait in line again to return it. You only do that once in a life time.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Drop Cloth Purse

This week's Tool Time is definitely from the hardware store...in the paint section actually. We're using drop cloths today. They come in so many different sizes and different types of canvas and oh yeah...they're cheap. Some canvases in the fabric stores can be $10.00-$15.00 yer yard, if not more.

You can use drop cloth fabric for so many things...curtain panels, bags, outdoor furniture slip covers, pillows, tablecloth etc.

We'll be making this cute little tote bag today. Totally winging this pattern, so no specific measurements, just the concept.

Do You Have A Dream?...

I don't mean the dreams we have when we are sleeping, but a dream to do something...a hope, a some day. There are little dreams and big dreams.

My little dreams would be to finish a certain quilt, finish cleaning out the attic, get rid of things I really don't use.

My bigger dreams are to pay off the mortgage, pay off college bills (that's not happening any time soon, both girls are still in college, but I can dream!!)

My biggest dream...to own a quilt shop. This is soooo just a dream, because I still have to work my regular job as a dental hygienist to pay the bills....you know that pesky mortgage and the college bills. Oh yeah, food we need food too...LOL!

Ok, back to the dream. This won't be just any quilt shop. I want it to be a destination quilt shop. I want it to be in a big remodeled barn or barns...exposed beams, high ceilings, wide barn board floors, bright light from big windows and fabric every where.

I want fabric to be divided into three categories...designer, color and era. If you love just one designer, they will be arranged all in one place. If you are shopping just for reds...all colors will be together. If you are shopping just by civil war or 1930's, they will be there. I would by several bolts of the same fabric just to have it in each category. This is a dream remember...stay with me here!!

Attached to the store barn is the class room/retreat barn. Same look, but great big beautiful old farm tables every where with sewing machines, ironing boards and cutting tables for each person. A big old fashion soda fountain bar for snacks, yummy drinks, tea and coffee. Big comfy leather couches for reading thousand of quilt books and magazines.

Now on to the farm house next to the 2 barns...a big remodeled farm house turned retreat house. A big old farm kitchen...I won't get into the details, my head is spinning. I love kitchens. The rest of the farm house will be turned into individual single rooms for each quilter at the retreat. Each quilter will have her own bedroom, bathroom and little sitting area. I know...this is going to be a big farm house...again, a dream.

If you are making it just a day trip to the quilt shop and your hubby is coming along, another barn will have a lounge and virtual sports games like golf, baseball etc for them to play. Large screen TVs every where with all kinds of sporting games on.

My husband and I would love to work together some day and this seems to be the perfect way to go. However, I think we are missing about $500,000.00 give or take.

That's my dream in a nut shell...from a nut case!

Do you have a dream?

Remember...Walt Disney said...All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 15

So sorry I'm late getting the party started!! Better late than never. I can't thank you enough for joining in this linking party every week and for sharing all your fabulous projects. This party would be absolutely nothing without you!!.

So let's see what you have all been up to this week...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your whole blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,
~Karen~

How To A Mail Package For A Fabric Swap...

Here's a quick picture tutorial on how to mail your packages for a fabric swap.

Your package must include...

• the fabric squares in a plastic baggy. Protects them if envelope gets wet in mailing.
• 2 envelopes...one address to the host of the swap (Karen at Sew Many Ways) and another envelope addressed to the swapper.
• the envelope addressed back to the swapper must have appropriate amount of stamps on it to get it mailed back to you or include the money for Sew Many Ways to mail it back to swapper.

Fabric in Zip Lock Bags.

I strongly suggest FLAT RATE PRIORITY ENVELOPES.

• I live in Rhode Island and most swappers seem to be from the mid west or the west.
• this is the fast shipping 2-3 days
• and weight or destination are not a factor in flat rate envelopes
• envelope must say FLAT RATE
• flat rate is $4.95

The second envelope is addressed back to the swapper.

This is IMPORTANT. You can either send me the $4.95 and I will put the postage on when I mail it back to you...or

The only other option is to put a $4.95 cent stamp on there or a combo of stamps that equal $4.95. They do have $4.95 stamps...I called the post office.

You can not put a METERED MAIL sticker on the envelope going back to the swapper, because it will have your state and a date on it. I will be mailing it from my state.

In the envelope addressed to Sew Many Ways, you will place your fabric, the folded envelope addressed to the swapper and the money if needed.

If you would rather mail it First Class, make sure the correct amount is on the second envelope and the post office weighs it for you. They will factor in that the package has a thickness of more than a 1/4 inch...that's extra.

This is for all swappers in the United States. ALL INTERNATIONAL swappers will get a separate email from me with the shipping cost back to your country. Remember...the easiest way for me to pay for international shipping is for international swappers to pay me through PAYPAL...unless you have access to US funds.

Hope this helps,
~Karen~

There's More Than One Way To Skin A Cat...Uh, I Mean A Quilt

I did a post Thursday about how to rotary cut quilt squares. From some of the comments that were left and emails that were sent to me personally...I just wanted to clear up a few things, especially about the grain of the fabric.

This is how I cut my squares. I took one quilting class 15 years ago. I was the only person who signed up for the class, so I had a lot of one on one time with the quilt instructor. This is how she taught me. Is there another way to cut fabric squares or strips...you betcha!!! I'm sure there are Sew Many Ways to cut fabric! (sorry, couldn't resist) There are probably more ways than we can think of. However, at the end of the day, our fabric is cut, sewed together and we all have a beautiful quilt to keep or give away.

I quilt for my family or for gifts...mostly baby gifts. The people who receive my quilts have no clue what the grain of the fabric is. All they see is something made from the heart and I hope something beautiful.

Is the grain of fabric important? Maybe to some, but not me. I always cut yardage the way I showed in the tutorial, which is pretty close to cutting on the grain...I know not precise, but that's ok for me. I will probably never enter a quilt in a quilt show...never have enough confidence for that! I love scrap quilts and using up bits and pieces. Do I have the time to figure out the "exact" grain of the fabric on a piece of scrap material? Nope. I just want to sew and get that top finished.

My mind goes back to the past and how women would cut up feed sacks to make those gorgeous 1930's quilts or how they cut up worn out clothing to make the best scrap quilts ever. Were they thinking about the grain of the fabric? I think I was born in the wrong time period.

My thoughts also go to Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville.com who is the scrap quilt queen in my eyes. She uses everything from shirts she finds in thrift stores to scraps that are sent to her from other quilters. I just love her scrap quilts! She is such an inspiration.

When it comes down to it, among the millions of quilters in this big world...professional to newbie...we are innately the same. Our destination in life is to create, sew and make something that speaks to the heart. We all just take a different path to get there.

Hope you have a wonderful day and can sneak some sewing time in there too,
~Karen~

How to Cut Fabric Squares with a Rotary Cutter...

Thought I would do a post on how to cut fabric squares with a rotary cutter and cutting mat.

Cotton fabric is usually 42"-45" inches wide. When you are ready to cut your fabric, fold it in half and match the edges of the selvedge. You would hold the fabric up to match the edges, but I pinned mine to the ironing board to take the picture.

See how flat the fabric is?

If your fabric has a little bow to it or a swag to one side, like in the picture below, that causes your fabric strips to have that wonky center. Just slide your fingers until the fabric straightens up.

Fold the fabric in half again...making sure you don't have that same swag in the fabric like below.

Once the fabric is folded and flat...iron the folds.

Now place on your cutting mat...

Line up the bottom, folded edge with a horizontal line on the mat.

Make sure the raw cut edges of the left side are past a line on the mat.

Make sure all four layers are past the line.

Top layers too.

To square up the edge, place your ruler on the line of the cutting mat.

Line up the ruler on the line of the mat below the fold.

and the top too.

Sometimes if there is enough fabric, I will match a horizontal line on the ruler with the line of the fabric too.

Hold your ruler in place and cut with your rotary cutter.

Peel away raw edges.

Keep fabric in place.

To cut the squares, place your quilt ruler at the fabric. I will be cutting 5 inch squares.

Match the vertical line on the clean cut edge of your first cut.

See the fabric in between the black lines...lined up with the black 5 inch line.

To keep the fabric square, line up the bottom line of the ruler with the folded edge of the fabric.

The fold is between the horizontal lines.

Hold your ruler in place and cut with rotary cutter. (My left hand would be holding the ruler, but I'm taking the picture)

Now you have one 5 inch strip of the folded fabric.

Take that 5 inch strip and turn it horizontal. Make sure both the raw edges and the folded edge are past a line on the mat. To make the most of your fabric, you can get 2 sets of 5 inch squares out of this strip, so you need 10 inches of fabric plus the little extra over the lines

Small amount of fabric past the line on the left...

Make sure all edges are over the line.

The folded edge is past the line on the left.

Now take your ruler and line it up with the line on the mat, just like your first cut that you made.

Cut the raw edge away.

To make the first set of 5 inch squares, take the ruler and line up the vertical line of the ruler and the horizontal line on the 5 inch mark. See my 2 fingers?

Cut with rotary cutter.

Tah Dah...but we're not done yet.

Slide the ruler over and cut your second set.

and trim off that little extra fabric of the folded edge.

Now you are officially done....8 squares at 5 inches each.                              

                                                     

                                     

If you are careful with your folding and raw edges, you can get 8 five inch squares out of each strip of fabric. Make sure every once in a while, as you are cutting down the length of your folded fabric, that your square it up with a clean edge again

One yard of fabric should yield 56 five inch squares.

Hope this helps,

~Karen~