A Tule Patchwork Bag : :

In time to bring along on our Saturday day-trip, I stitched up this quick & easy tote bag making use of the Tule patchwork strips I had leftover from my Sunset quilt top. The outside and straps are made up of my scrappy strips and pieced together using the same Herringbone Quilt method that I just shared this past Monday. This time I sewed my rectangle panels together off-set just enough so this scrappy pattern looks more like a braid rather than the "V" herringbone design. I like it!



I used all but just a few of my scraps, so even though my bag construction is about as simple as it gets, I'm happy! I do enjoy making bags, but for me -- simple is very good!

It's lined with a pretty AGF Pure Element in Sweet Mint, with a nice layer of cotton batting to give it weight, boxed out sides, and finished with simple, densely quilted, throw-over-the-shoulder length straps.







I tossed in just a few supplies to work on quilting it during the drive and if there was a moment for handwork throughout the day. I love my thrifted stork scissors!



There ended up being several opportunities for this project on Saturday. It was so wonderful to just sit and add my hand-quilting stitches while watching Kevin & the kids fish!







I'm especially glad I brought it along to get these pretty pictures!



I'll be adding many, many more stitches as I find the time. I'll be sure to share what it looks like finished with all that lovely hand-quilting!

Happy Sewing!!  ♥  Maureen 

Improv Kite Mini Quilt : :

I haven't seen much sewing time this weekend, besides more birthday crown making, but I did finished my newest, little mini quilt. It's made up from the scraps left over from my Fly A Kite Pillows and what I had left over from that gorgeous Fly A Kite fabric stack. All that's left now are a few scraps and these three...



I kept with the Kite theme again for this project. I am noticing a trend here with some of my projects -- the quilt I made for my sister, my last mini, and on our new aprons. Several years ago, I went through a dream analysis phase after having the same recurring dream for a few months. I was in a field of calla lilies, wearing white, flying a kite. The wind kept changing from calm to strong and I kept holding on. Of course, I had to learn all about it!



I learned that to dream of flying can symbolize a desire to be free from problems and enjoy a more carefree and adventurous lifestyle. The kite symbolizes the same connotations, a desire to be free in your life, except in a more controlled way. Just as a kite is tethered by a string, you fly, but can never let go completely.



Since my sharing post a few weeks back, I've gone through some major ups and downs. I've wanted to share an update here, but decided to wait until I have it all figured out. I've been feeling like that kite for a while now, flying against the wind, getting further away as the wind gets stronger. Well, a week from today I'm headed to Hershey Medical Center here in Pa. Where I'm hoping to finally get all the answers. So many of you have been sending me sweet messages and prayers, I appreciate it all so much. Thank you! I am feeling much better this week, and you may have noticed -- I'm staying extra busy and very motivated to keep on creating! Many thanks to all of you!

Today, I'm wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, and productive start to your own week!! ♥ Maureen

Quilted Heart Throw Pillow Tutorial : :

Today's tutorial is for a fun and sweet Valentine's Day pillow cover -- A Quilted Heart Throw Pillow. Using several cuts of my very favorite red and pink fabrics, cherry red wool blend felt, and little hand stitching, I created this pillow for a fast and cute V-day decoration!

What you'll need : :

• 1 - Pillow Insert measuring 12" x 12"
• 9 - pieces of quilting weight fabric measuring 2" x 13"
• 1 - piece of batting (I use a bamboo/wool blend) measuring 14" x 14"
• 1 - piece of bright red wool blend felt measuring 12.5" x 12.5"
• 2 - 9" x 12.5" pieces of fabric for the back of the pillow (I used a white and red polka dot)
• Fabric pen
• Sewing pins
• Sharp scissors and/or a rotary cutter/mat set
• thread and embroidery floss/baker's twine

Creating the Quilted Pillow Top : :

1. Cut 9 strips of fabric measuring 2" x 13" 2. Piece together using a 1/4" seam allowance 3. Use iron to press seams open




4. Trim pieced together fabrics to measure a 12.5" square 5. Using pins, baste the pieced together fabrics (pillow top) to the piece of batting




6. Use coordinating thread to add quilting stitches to the pillow top and batting layers 7. Once finished, remove pins and trim away excess batting




8. Using a fabric pen, draw a heart on the wool blend felt large enough to show off the quilted fabrics 9. Cutting along the outside of the drawn heart, cut felt away to show the heart 10. Pin felt heart piece to quilted fabric layer and sew around the heart leaving a 1/4" seam, removing pins as you go




11. Use embroidery floss or a red and white baker's twine to hand sew a running stitch around the heart




Your pillow top is completely finished! Now, for instructions on finishing the envelope style back, please see my Quilted Stripes Pillow Tutorial here. The directions needed can be found in the "Sewing Pillow Together" section of that tutorial.

Insert the pillow form and Voila! You're done!

I had a lot of fun making this pillow, I hope you do too!

Quilted Stripes Pillow Tutorial : :

Today I'm going to share a tutorial with you for a simple pillow cover -- My Favorite Colors Stripey Toss Pillow. A project designed to showoff your favorite color combinations that's quick, easy, and turns out super cute! It's a great project for a beginner quilter, if you want a project to practice sewing those perfect straight lines with your machine, and also great if you need to get a little hand quilting practice in.

What you'll need : :

• 1 - Pillow Insert measuring 12" x 16"
• 8 - 2.5" x 12.5" strips of quilting weight cotton fabric in your favorite color combination
• 2 - 9" x 12.5" pieces of fabric for the back of the pillow
• 1 - piece of cotton batting measuring 14" x 18" 
• 1 - piece of cotton muslin measuring 14" x 18"
• Threads and Pearl Cotton floss in coordinating colors
• Sharp scissors and an embroidery needle
• Embroidery Hoop or Quilting Hoop
• Note * Click on any of my images for a larger picture 

Cutting and Piecing the Fabrics : :

1. Choose eight different fabrics with a color scheme of your choice (you can find my inspiration for the Purple, Yellow, and Grey color scheme of my pillow here) 2. Cut the fabrics into eight 2.5" x 12.5" pieces (I recommend using a rotary cutter and mat set for cutting)


3. Leaving a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the fabric strips together. Sewn together, each color will measure 2", the entire piece 16.5" 4. On the reverse side, press all seams open. Once finished, give the front side a good press, as well


After these Cutting and Piecing steps, the pillow top should look like this : :

Layering and Quilting the Pillow Top : :

5. Cut Muslin and Batting to measure 14" x 18" -- Cutting these pieces larger will help when quilting. At a later point the excess will be trimmed away 6. Layer Muslin, Batting, and Pieced Pillow Top


7. Prepare for machine quilting. Pin layers together well, adding a few pins running down each of the eight different fabrics that makeup your pillow top 8. Stitch on either side of the seams as shown in the photo below (I used a pale purple and deep purple thread to match my color choices) 9. Once quilted, remove pins


After these Quilting steps, the pillow top should look like this : :


10. Using a large ruler or straight edge, trim away excess fabric, batting, and muslin. The pillow top should now measure 12.5" x 16.5"

Adding the Hand Quilted Detail : :

11. Carefully put the quilted pillow top inside the embroidery/quilting hoop, stretching it taught, but not too tight. 12. Cut a length of floss, thread strand onto embroidery needle, knotting one end


13. For a running Stitch : : Insert needle up through the bottom, pull the stitch through until the knot catches, insert down through the front and pull back through. Repeat leaving a little space between each stitch, like shown in the photo below. Try to keep those stitches even.


After these Hand Quilting steps, the pillow top should look like this : :
Sew pillow together : :

14. Prepare back pieces -- Using the 9" x 12.5" fabric pieces, fold over one of the sides measuring 12.5" just a 1/4", press, fold over again, press. Sew along inner folded edge and along the outer edge, staying close to the fold. This will create the double seam finish. 15. Place pillow top piece RIGHT side up on your work surface. Place both backing pieces RIGHT side down on top of the pillow top piece. Pin and sew along entire perimeter using a 1/4" seam allowance. 16. Zig zag stitch around the entire perimeter, as well


17. Trim all four corners


18. Turn pillow right side out (You can see here that I added my striped fabric running in different directions just for something different). Press well


19. Insert your pillow form and now you have your very own Favorite Colors Stripey Toss Pillow!!!

Wishing a wonderful weekend to all!!! 

Be sure to let me know if you give it a go!