Thoughts on Thursday...

Looking in your purse, pocketbook, tote bag, back pack, wallet etc...what is the most important thing in there that you wouldn't leave home without...besides money!

Mine...cell phone and lipstick!

Come on, let's hear from all of you.

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Blog Buddy...How To Start A Blog (Video)

Starting this blog was the best thing I've ever done in my hobby life. I've met so many wonderful people and learned more than I could have ever imagine. Generous people all over the world willing to share their thoughts and ideas...amazing!

You can start a blog for a number of reasons...

• share your thoughts and ideas
• share your hobbies
• keep family members who live far away up to date with your life
• keep it as a journal
• use it as a scrap book of your life
• so much more...

I've had some email and facebook requests asking how to start a blog. If you've read any of my post, you know I can get kind of picture heavy. Explaining how to start a blog would end in the same way...a billion pictures. So I found this video from the Blogger Help section.

Tool Time Tuesday...A Plug Rug

Ok, this may be a crazy Tool Time, but it really helps me out...so there must be some one else out there who feels the same way.

Here's my gripe...when you try to plug something in, every single time, the plug is upside down. I know, crazy, trivial, not the most important thing in the world, but it's the little things in life, right?

So hear me out. Lol !!

• My phone charger is on the side of my bed. The last thing I do is check my email. It's dark and the only light is the shine from my phone. To charge it, I grab the plug and of course it doesn't fit in the phone...it's upside down.
• vacuuming and the plug for that room is behind the table. Reaching, reaching and finally hit the plug, but oh you guessed it...upside down. Seriously?
• reaching on the side or back of the computer to put in the usb plug...yep upside down
• many many more in this trivial pet peeve, but here is my solution!!

A Velcro Plug Rug (good name huh?)...sounds like one of those "As Seen on TV" ads.

It's a "tactile" way of feeling that the plug should be in the up position. A little "rug" for your "plug" !!

I use it for my computer and iphone chargers, because they don't generate heat. Not sure how this would work on things with electrical plugs.

Although, the vacuum one is good for me because it's not plugged in permanently...only for short periods of time.

I know most plugs have the logo on it for the "up" position, but not helpful in the dim light.

I use Velcro with the sticky backing.

I cut the squares with the furry part into four pieces.

and just stick it on both ends.

Looks like a duck with a toupee...

Please tell me I'm not the only crazy out there that this will help.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 49

Hello to another week of Sew Darn Crafty...wow does the time go by quickly. There were so many links to last week's party I just LOVED it. There were also a lot of first timers too. Thanks to new and old for joining in each week.

This week I'm going to draw out more first timers...those who really want to join in, but are afraid to take the leap. Come on...you can do it. It's easy and you really can't mess up. Even if you do, who cares...it's not like the computer will crash or anything!! LOL

When I first started linking to parties as a newbie, I was scared at every click. However, I realized the worst thing that could happen is...just have to start a new link over with a few clicks. No biggie.

My goal is to get you to come out from behind your computer and start linking your projects...if you can blog then you sure can link!!

Go Ahead...Click the button below that says "CLICK HERE TO ENTER". YOU CAN DO IT!!!

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

• "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
• "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
• Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
• ...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!! 

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

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 entire 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, vacations, parties 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~

Bow Tie Quilt Block Tutorial...A "Charm" ing Block

The bow tie quilt block dates back to 1898. I found one quilt in the book "Vintage Quilts...Identification and Pricing" by Maggi McCormick Gordon that was dated 1900.

This block is very easy and can be made in period fabric or jazzed up with your favorite modern fabric.

I used 5 inch squares, so all your charm packs you have tuck away for a project will work great for this.

For each 9 1/2 inch block (9 inches finished size when sewn with other blocks) you will need...

• 3 - five inch colored squares
• 2 - five inch neutral squares or background fabric. I used white.

Take one of the 5 inch colored squares and

cut it in half, then half again. You will end up with 4 squares at 2 1/2 inches square.

You will only need 2 of the smaller squares for each block.

Place one smaller red square in the corner of the 5 inch white square as shown below in the picture...right sides together.

There are 2 ways to sew this section...and there is a bonus block with each method.

Pencil method...

take a ruler and draw a pencil line from corner to corner diagonally.

If you don't want the bonus block, you're done. Just need to sew on the pencil line.

For the bonus block, take a quilt ruler and place the 1/4 inch line on the pencil line...see it under my finger

now draw another pencil line. This will eventually be your cutting line.

The first line, from corner to corner is sewn...black thread so you can see.

The second stitch line for the bonus block is sewn 1/4 inch away from the second pencil line. I use a 1/4 inch presser foot.

I am pointing to the second pencil (cutting) line here. You need to sew 1/4 inch away from that.

My 1/4 inch presser foot is lined up with the line.

Two stitch lines sewn. The pencil line is your cutting line

"No Pencil" method...

You will sew from corner to corner, but use your machine lines as guide. Start at one corner and have the lower corner point follow the "zero" line on your machine.

If you don't have lines on your machine, you can "eye" this to the lower corner, because the square is small.

Done...

For the extra bonus block you need to sew 1/2 inch away from the first stitch line. I use my machine top as a guide. Mine has the 1/2 inch line to the left of zero, but no guide line all the way up to the needle.

So I use a rubber band as a removable guide.

Line it up at the 1/2 inch mark on the throat plate.

Now sew the second line. Guiding your first stitch with rubber band

Done...without a pencil line.

Pencil line method...

No pencil line method...

Cut on pencil line...

Guesstimate cutting up the middle on the "no pencil line".

See your 2 little bonus half square triangles?

Press all seams.

then open up and press to the red or colored fabric.

If you want to be super accurate, you can square up all the squares.

The little bonus half square triangle blocks are 1 1/2" when trimmed.

These would make an adorable doll quilt, pinwheel blocks, sashing squares, borders etc...

You can click HERE for another post I did on extra half square triangle blocks for more layouts

Now take one solid colored square and place on top of one white square...right sides together.

and one of the white squares on top of the red square...as shown below.

Pin to secure, then sew a 1/4 inch seam on the right side of the squares.

Press seams...

Then fold back and press to the dark fabric.

Line up rows in configuration below.

Fold top row over onto bottom row, right sides together.

Match seams.

Pin to secure.

Sew 1/4 inch seam.

Press seam...open up and iron flat.

Isn't she cute?

There are so many layouts for this block...not to mention if you reversed the color pattern. Meaning a small white square on a larger colored square.

If you go to your "search" area on your computer and type in bow tie blocks, bow tie block layout or bow tie quilts...there is so much inspiration.

Have fun with this block,
~Karen~