Workbench Sewing Table...

Hi everyone. Long time, no see. I have been on a little summer hiatus. Nothing in particular prompted this time off, just lots of little things happening all at once. My idea well had run dry, cleaning and purging our home of "things", working on Courtney and Courtland's new home, my 91 year old dad (who lives with us) has signs of dementia, poor health and needs more attention...just all the things we all have in our lives.

I have been sewing a lot though, using up my stash and making things to hopefully sell in my Etsy shop. It's nice to be back at my machine...blogging just took a back seat.

During one of my cleaning out sessions in the basement, I noticed my dad's old workbench system that I was using for Christmas storage. He hasn't used it in years due to his health. I thought to myself..."Why is this great set down here in the basement. I need to bring this up to my sewing room!!"

Tah Dah!!!

A double sewing machine, ironing station with storage.

I keep light colored thread in one machine and dark in the other, so it's always set up for those last minute clothing fixes, sewing projects or a day quilting with a friend...right Tina?

I know this system isn't for everyone, but pop in for some ideas to incorporate in your sewing room.

Accuquilt Orange Peel Die...Love it!!

Hi everyone! I'm back to share another Accuquilt Die and it's a great one! It's called the Orange Peel. It is now my favorite die from Accuquilt. Actually the hexagon dies are my favorite, but this new one is tied for first place!!

The Orange Peel die is an appliqué die, so the quilts or projects go together very quickly. Today, I am showing a couple ideas and placements, but I also have a few "unconventional" ideas using the die up my sleeve. I was trying to complete the unconventional project for this post, but you know how life gets in the way! I'll definitely share that one soon.

Here's what I made for today's post...a table runner. I also need your help at the end with how to finish the edges.

Come on in to see a few tips using the die and making projects of your own...

How To Make Your Own Small Pillow Form...

Hi everyone! We've been busy moving our oldest daughter Courtney and her fiancé Courtland into their first home. We still have one more move of furniture this coming weekend (that dreaded heavy Ikea furniture that we're afraid to dis-assemble), but we're almost done!! It's been a lot of heavy lifting, painting, cleaning, organizing, but their home is beautiful. We're so proud of both of them for all they've accomplished at such an early age.

When everything is moved in, the final stage of decorating the new extra rooms they have will be the most fun! We all know after moving into a new apartment or a new home, money for all the final touches of decorating might not be there.

Pops of color, in the simplest form of pillows, is the best idea. Just one yard of fabric and a pillow form will do the trick. One yard of fabric can yield 2 throw pillows at 18 inches by 18 inches. You can also use pre-made fabric napkins or a tablecloth to make pillows too. It's just straight line sewing from there.

Today's post, however, is about the pillow forms. They can be so expensive in fabric or craft stores. Here's a tip to make your own from cheaper bed pillows you can buy at discount stores or ones you may already have.

Come on in to see how easy...

How To Make Prairie Points For Your Next Quilt Top...

Hi everyone! I've been in my sewing room, fabric flying, making quilt tops to hopefully sell online soon!! Quilt tops that are already made are great for those of you who love to "quilt" and not piece. One of the little quilt tops or wall hangings I made has prairie points on it.  I thought I would share a tutorial on how to make them for those of you who love to piece like me!!

Here is one of the scrappy quilt tops I made with 1930's reproduction fabric...

The prairie points really add dimension to the quilt!

Come on in to see the steps to add the points to your next quilt top!!

Great Finds at the Brimfield Antique Show...

This past Sunday, I went to the Brimfield Antique Show with my daughter Courtney and her fiancé Courtland. The Brimfield Show is in central Massachusetts and is the largest outdoor show in New England running 3 times a year since 1959 with over 5000 dealers! It started on Tuesday, but we decided to go on Sunday, the last day. We weren't looking for anything in particular, but I did buy a few vintage goodies that I wanted share them with you.

I decorate one of my Christmas trees in a vintage theme with big colored light, colored glass ornaments and silver tinsel!! I'm always looking for old toys to place under the tree. I just loved this box of Pix Pix pick up sticks!!

Made in 1937...so cute and only $3.00!

Old fashioned bingo cards for only $2.00. Not sure what I'll do with them, but I love the look.

Another great find was this vintage lunch box from the 1960's, I think. Red tartan plaid!! I only paid $5.00 for it.

Still has the original sticker on the side.

and a cute "Safety First" poem on the inside. The thermos was missing, but you can see where it was stored all those years on the right hand side where the paint is chipped.

It's already washed and filled with an I Spy hexagon quilt that I'm sewing by hand. It's a cute little storage box to keep projects in.

I've sewn and given away so many I Spy quilts as baby gifts, I thought I'd better make 2 quilts for my future grandchildren before all my I Spy fabric is gone. To make these 2 quilts extra special, I'll sew them both by hand with English Paper Piecing.

The best deal was a zip lock bag filled with vintage 1930's fabric scraps for only $10.00

Next to the bags that were for sale was a grandmother's flower garden flower with the old paper pieces still on the backside. Amazing to think someone from the 1930's was sewing with this fabric.

There are such incredible fabrics in this bag, all crumbled and cut up. The colors and patterns are perfect! They must have been stored away for years and years in some one's sewing room.

Sad to think that the family had to go through all her fabric and sewing supplies and get rid of it all. Makes me want to sew up all my fabric and make things to give away to family and friends.

Although there is a different side to this story...her fabric is now with someone who loves it and will turn it into the cutest hexagon quilt that will be cherished for years to come!!

Add this project to the ever growing "To Do" list!!

Do you love going to antique shows or flea markets?

What was your greatest find?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
~Karen~

Magnetic Pin Picker Upper Pole...

We've all been there. You're sewing and you drop a needle, a pin or worse yet...the whole dish of pins. Dropping them on the carpet is the absolute worst, but even if you have tile or wood floors you can still leave a pin or needle behind. My biggest fear is someone stepping on one.

I was roaming the aisles of the hardware store and found this beauty that might help!!

A Telescoping Magnetic Pole...

The handle telescopes so you can reach all the pins on the floor without bending over. It's also great when the dish of pins drops behind your sewing table or desk.

The whole strip is magnetic and it's a great size too. It's 12 inches long by 2 inches wide.

The bottom of the magnet shows all the things it can pick up. I'll forgive the manufacturer for not putting a picture of pins and needles on there, but it's ok. If they knew we were buying this for our sewing rooms, they would raise the price!! Shhhh...don't tell them.

Just an FYI...the bottom has a warning label on it for anyone wearing a pacemaker. Do not have a magnet in close proximity with a pacemaker. May cause interference or failure of pacemaker.

One way to help eliminate the pins spilling is to have a magnetic pin bowl. Over the years, I've done posts on magnetic pin bowls like the ones pictured below.

This one is a magnetic automotive parts dish. Great to keep the pins in place. Click HERE to see that post.

You can also make your own with a post I did a while back. Click HERE to see how. You just glue magnets to the bottom of any dish to make it magnetic.

Like this cute little heart dish!! The post shows a ton of options for dishes.

The magnetic pole can be found in most all big box hardware stores, but you can also order them online! I have no affiliation with this product, just wanted to share.

Happy sewing,
~Karen~

English Paper Piecing, Freezer Paper, Hexie Sewing Tip...

I know that title is a little long, but I needed to get it all in! I've been sewing hexagons for over 15 years. I use the English Paper Piecing method of hand sewing. With EPP, you use some kind of paper as the foundation to shape the hexagon. I started with freezer paper and haven't changed since.

I wanted to share this little tip with you for ironing on the freezer paper...

A Mini Iron!!

Come in to see more tips and tricks and an EPP tutorial...

Attention All Quilters...I Have a Few Questions For You

Hi everyone!! I've been away from quilting for a long time. Well, I haven't been away completely. I love to buy the fabric, I'm always looking for inspiration and I cut the fabric for future projects, but actually finishing something from start to finish...that's where I'm back, full steam ahead!!

I've finished two baby gifts these past few days. Nothing big, just little I Spy quilts. I love baby or throw size quilts, because I can actually "finish" the project. The smaller size gives me the satisfaction of piecing it, putting the quilt sandwich together, quilting it and then binding it in a short amount of time.

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of every step in the quilting process. I actually did a post, when I first started blogging over 6 years ago, that making the quilt top was my most favorite part. I realized again this week... that fact is still true. Piecing the top is still #1!! What's #2?...washing the quilt and having it come out of the dryer all crinkly!!! I love that look and feel of a quilt.

Sitting at my sewing machine this week got me thinking. What is your favorite part of quilting? I have other questions too, so let's get started!!!

Post your favorites from 1-7 (#1 being your favorite and #7 your not so favorite) in the comment section. My comment section is open to everyone, just scroll down to the very end of the comments and pick anonymous if you don't have an account.

The Quilting Process...

• Looking for quilt inspirations online, in books and magazines
• Shopping for the fabric
• Cutting the fabric
• Piecing the quilt top
• Making the quilt sandwich
• Quilting the quilt
• Binding the quilt

Random Quilting Questions...

• Do you love to hand quilt or machine quilt?
• Do you hand sew or machine sew the last step of putting the binding on?
• Do you pre-wash your fabric?
• What do you use most...pre-cut fabrics or fabric by the yard?
• What do you do more...quilt your own quilts or send them out to be quilted?

I'll start the ball rolling with my answers...

The quilting process

1. piecing the quilt top
2. shopping for fabric
3. looking for inspiration
4. cutting the fabric
5. binding
6. quilting
7. making the sandwich

Random questions...

• I machine quilt
• I hand sew most all of my bindings on, but for these baby quilts, I did machine sew them do to time restraints. I love hand sewing them on because it looks so pretty on the back.
• I ALWAYS pre-wash my fabric
• I mostly use yardage. However, I do buy pre-cuts because they're so cute. The problem is they're so cute I hate to use them. I think I'm crazy!!
• I always quilt my own quilts, but my next larger quilt is definitely being sent out!!

I hope all of you can join in too. If you want to share this post on your blog, that would be fantastic...the more the merrier. It's so fun to hear from all of you and get a glimpse into your quilting world!

I can't wait to see what everyone writes for their answers!!

Thanks of stopping by,

~Karen~

DIY Disney Princess Party Favor Bags...

My family loves Disney World! It has been a special place to visit since my husband and I were first married 28 years ago. We have vacationed there many times since our daughters were little. It really is a magical place to visit.

Our daughter, Kelsie, has a special bond with Disney since she graduated from college last May. She worked there this past year with the Disney college internship program. She absolutely LOVED IT!! When she returned home this past January, she had lots of goodies that she bought for some of her friends who are still in school. This past weekend, there was a performance at the university and Kelsie wanted to give all the girls their Disney gifts. Kelsie wanted a special bag for all the presents and looked for inspiration on Pinterest. Here's our version made from felt and a Disney poster!!!

Disney Princess Gift Bags...

Come in to see how quick and easy they are to make. You could really adapt this to any theme for any party or occasion.

A Few of My Favorite Sewing Notions...

We all have our favorite sewing notions that help make our lives easier. I thought I would share a few of my must haves. I would love it if you would share your favorites in the comment section too. It's great to learn about new things, especially when they are tried and true!!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Bees Wax

I've always used bees wax when I'm hand sewing. I've always had the bigger size disc, but I just found this package of 5 little minis!! They are perfect to keep with different hand sewing projects.

Bees wax coats the thread so it doesn't knot up, twist or fray. I absolutely love it for sewing my hexagon projects.

Look how tiny each one. I have a bobbin in the center to compare the size. I found them in the quilting section at Joann fabrics for $3.99.

Thread Cutter Pendant

I also use a thread cutter when I'm hand sewing and this one from Clover is my favorite!!

It's a bronze metal pendant.

and has a hole to add your own chain to hang it around your neck like a necklace.

When you have it as a necklace, you will never lose your scissors. This is especially great when hand sewing in the car or on a plane. This was in the embroidery section at Joann's...$7.99, but use a 50% coupon.

It looks like jewelry!!

Just pass the thread over any of the openings and it cuts it beautifully. The sharp blade is totally encased in the metal, so you will never cut yourself.

Seam Fix...seam ripper and fixer

Another favorite is this rubber pen seam ripper. We've all been there when we have to rip out a seam. I'm there more often than I like. Lol

This is a great seam ripper, but to remove all those loose threads...

The cap of the seam ripper is a rubber cleaner. Just run this rubber pen over the seam and it will pull out all the little threads that you have left behind from the seam ripper. It's like magic!!

Handy Storage Box...

Ok, this is chocolate, but that's not my favorite...the box is!! Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate, but if I had a choice between chocolate and a bag of chips...it's salty all the way. I am a savory eater more than a sweet eater. I digress...

Back to the box. These little chocolates come in a cute metal box. I know some mints do too.

These boxes are perfect for a little sewing kit or a project holder.

Here's a little bobbin to show you the size of the box.

I keep my mini hexie projects in this box. It fits in my purse to sew anytime I have a few extra minutes in a doctors office, waiting for my daughter to get out of work or during my lunch time at work.

The box isn't a sewing "notion", but still a must have. It keeps things clean, organize and handy.

Hope you liked some of the items that I showed today. These are my own items and I wasn't paid by anyone to write this post...just wanted to share.

What are your sewing favorites or must haves?

Thanks for stopping by and sharing,
~Karen~

Double Use for Phone Charging Station...Sewing Box!!

Some of life's ordinary things can have double duty and make our day a little easier or at least pretty! I found a phone charging box in a thrift store a long time ago. It sits between 2 couches where everyone watches tv. We all have phone chargers in our bedrooms, but that time when you are watching television and your phone is low, I have these plugs available for iPhones and iPads.

I sit right next to this box, in the corner of the couch and do my hand sewing or little projects...charging my phone if needed.

I realized I wasn't using the drawer in the front...until now!! Now it holds all my hand sewing supplies for my mini hexies.

Then I had a better idea for the whole box. Pop in to see...

What Thimble Do You Use?...It's a Linky Party Too

I love English Paper Piecing! It's a method of hand sewing hexagons together and perfect for a "take along" project. I keep some in my purse and beside the couch while watching tv. You just need a little fabric, paper hexagons, needle and thread. One more thing I always use is a thimble. I also use a thimble when I'm sewing on a quilt binding, but haven't done that in a while.

I've tried different types of thimbles over the years and there are still some I'd like to buy. Here are a few that I have stored away and the one I like to use the most.

Leather, metal, rubber and plastic. They come in all shapes and sizes...

Come in to see and share yours too...

How to Assemble the Double Wedding Ring Block...

How to assemble the block...the first timer way! I've been quilting for years, but I've never sewn the double wedding block. It was a learning experience, but with some researching online and some trial and error, I came up with this.

Double Wedding Ring Block...

You can cut your pieces from a template, but I used the AccuQuilt Go Big cutter from this post. The cutting was so fast and easy with their new die!

Lay out all the pieces in a specific color order or in a scrappy look. I picked scrappy.

The post is filled with lots of pictures, so come in and see the steps.