Fabric Box Giveaway Winners & More Here we go… Box #1: Ellen Callo; Box #2: Melody Lutz! Congratulations, Ladies!! You will be receiving an email on how to proceed! :) THANK YOU ALL – for being so willing to help me destash! I am in the process of cleaning out more things. I just don’t know why, but my stash is ever growing, haha! I will be posting more giveaways next week. Stay tuned!! Editorial Feature You remember being introduced to Marmalade the pot belly bunny? 
This little stitchery wallhanging project featuring Marmalade is a free project I developed to support the embroidery floss collection I curated for Aurifil. You can order Marmalade Meadows here. 
So back to Marmalade… some of you might or might not know that the Marmalade stitchery designs are adaptations of my daughter’s (aka Miss Baby who just turned 9!) artwork. She was the one who first drew Marmalade for me. And I am happy to share with you the news that the second stitchery design, Easter Eggstravaganza just turned official in McCall’s Quilting March/April 2018!!! In Easter Eggstravaganza, Marmalade is seen decorating her little Easter tree! The magazine has full stitchery diagram, as well as instructions to make the pillow. It is on the newsstands right now if you aren’t a subscriber! I finished the pillow using Riley Blake Designs’ Dear Diary fabrics — the fabrics are just out! Be on a lookout for these darling fabrics. 
Something important to note — ALL Marmalade stitchery designs fit a finished 9″ x 9″ square. So, with that square, you can do whatever to finish the block. You can combine the stitchery from the free pattern upon purchase of Marmalade Meadows thread box with this current Easter Eggstravaganza and other upcoming Marmalade designs for a quilt or runner. Now, Marmalade is kind busy — rumor has it that she is preparing for Christmas 2018 already! Hey, no pressure there… she says! :) I think she also has a love of reading design in the works — because Miss Baby is quite the bookworm, and naturally, Marmalade is a reader too. *wink* That’s it for today…. I am rushing to get a quilt top finished. Playing catch up after being sick is no easy task for anyone! Later!!
Home Decor
Holiday Blog Blitz: Merry Christmas and Recipe
Dear Friends! I hope you have been well. I am happy to be part of SewCalGal‘s Holiday Blog Blitz.
Click on the participants’ blogs to read the bloggers share about Christmas and a recipe:
SewCalGal – www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Stitch This (Martingale) – http://blog.shopmartingale.com/
Leah Day – The Free Motion Quilting Project – http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/
Wendy Sheppard (Ivory Spring) – https://ivoryspring.wordpress.com/
Marjorie Busby (Blue Feather Quilt Studio) – http://b-quilts.com/blog/
Jeannette Jones (Inchworm Fabrics) – http://inchwormfabrics.blogspot.com/
Barb Gaddy (Bejeweled Quilts) – http://www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/
The Electric Quilt Company (Behind The Mouse – The Electric Quilt Blog) – http://doyoueq.com/blog/
*****
There is a lot of excitement at my end, as it is only 3 days away from Christmas. We have had a very fun month celebrating Christmas at the Ivory Spring household. From getting ready for performing on stage to share the Good News,
…the music of Christmas,
… the decorations,
…the baking,
… the crafts,
… to the anticipation (each day),
… all for my little family to ponder, appreciate and believe once again the reason for the season!
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
excerpted from There is Room in my Heart for Thee, by Emily Elliot (1864)
***
Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (from Christmas with Southern Living 1997)
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 (11.5 oz) package semisweet chocolate mega-morsels (I used dark chocolate chips)
1 cup walnut halves, toasted (I used chopped pecans)
1. Combine first 3 ingredients; stir well.
2. Combine butter and coffee granules in a small saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium-low heat until butter melts and coffee granules dissolve, stir occasionally. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature.
3. Combine butter mixture, sugars, egg, and egg yolk in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in mega morsels and walnuts.
4. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls 2″ apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 F for 12-14 minutes. Let cool slightly on cookie sheets. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
***
So, do you have a favorite Christmas cookie? If so, what is it?
Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a most blessed week. Hugs to you all.
Flower Basket Sneak Peeks & Christmas Snippets
Hello Friends, I hope you are well! Thank you for stopping by again. I thought I will share with you my Flower Basket quilt that had “refused to be finished”, but is now finally completed and shipped off. I am exploring the use of basic solid and batik fabrics together in a quilt.
Meanwhile, here are few Christmas snippets from my British country hutch. Those snowmen ornaments were featured in Quilter’s World’s Autumn 2013 issue. Click here for more information.
Both ornaments were on our Christmas Tree last year, but I decided to place them among my dishes this year. :)
What do you think? Do you think I made a good move with these snowmen ornaments this year?
Gotta run for now — I am exhausted, but I still have a few things to get done before I can go to bed tonight. Later, my Dear Friends!
Rise & Shine in QUILT (October/November 2013)
Hello Friends, I am happy to be able to share with you my chooky Rise & Shine project that is featured in the latest (October/November 2013) QUILT issue!
Rise & Shine is a kitchen decor project that comprises of a small wallhanging and a set of two placemats.
Wallhanging:
Placemats:
Both wallhanging and placemats use the panel blocks cut from Quilting Treasures‘ Rooster Royale panel print, as well as the accompanying prints in the collection. The chicken wire prints are my personal favorites – that’s why you see them showing off in full force in my Rise & Shine.
Both the placemats and wallhanging feature a play of snowball blocks in the designs. I designed these projects with SUPER EASY in mind so that they can be easily put together, to be given as gifts, or something quick to dress up your kitchen.
[image source: QUILT Magazine]
Quilting was pure straight lines for Rise & Shine. I felt like my usual style of quilting won’t really lend itself to the placemats and wallhanging. So I tried out some “no obligation” straight line quilting – meaning the straight lines where quilted in sort of a random fashion. The straight line quilting gives a nice overall textured look on the placemats and the wallhanging. As always, I piece and quilt with Aurifil Mako 50 threads over Hobbs Tuscany Silk batting.
I find that a well starched and pressed quilt top (before basting) works well for straight line quilting. I tend to not encounter significant slack when my quilt top is prepared that way before quilting – even though I do use my walking foot to quilt the straight lines.
Both the placemats and wallhanging projects are offered as kits (backing and binding included) by Fern Hill Gifts and Quilts (319-622-3657) for $29.99 and $49.99 respectively, plus shipping. Click here to purchase to placemats kit, and here to purchase the wallhanging kit.
AND… the wallhanging pattern is offered as a free downloadable pattern on QUILT’s website. Click here to download the pattern instructions.
You might recall I have shared with you three more Rooster Royale projects that are offered as free patterns by Quilting Treasures.
A throw quilt:
Throw Pillows:
(more) Placemats:
Click here for the information to download the pattern instructions for free!
I sincerely hope you will really enjoy making these projects if you are planning to do so! I can see all these projects lovingly made and packed as a gift ensemble for a housewarming, bridal shower, or birthday or even Christmas gift for your “fowl-ish” loved ones!
Do tell me how you will use these projects – would you make them for yourself or as gifts?
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a lovely rest of the week…
***
Have you seen the line-up of my other featured projects in 2013?
Annie’s Love Those Precuts Book (January 2013): Apple of My Eye
Annie’s Sweet Layer Cakes Book (April 2013): Sunburst Melody
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Spring 2013): Baubles, Baubles
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Curious Cats
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Fabrique Foursome
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Fall 2013): Interlock
Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting (March/April 2013): Now I know my ABC’s
Machine Quilting Unlimited (March/April 2013): Quilting Curvy Feathers
QUILT (June/July 2013): Color Burst
QUILT (June/July 2013): Pattern Play
QUILT (August/September 2013): Enchanted Forest
Quilt-it…today (July/August 2013): Yay Day
Quilt Trends (Winter 2013, Cover Quilt): Tango
Quilts and More (Spring 2013): 2 Wishes
Quilts and More (Spring 2013): Watercolor Sketches
Quilter’s World (February 2013): New Life
Quilter’s World (April 2013): Monkey Around
Quilter’s World (Summer 2013): Garden Mist
Quilter’s World (Autumn 2013): Christmas Cheer
Quilter’s World (Autumn 2013): Quilty Christmas Ornaments
Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): In & Out
Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): Garden Maze
Simple Quilts & Sewing (Spring 2013): Stained Glass
The Quilter (December 2012/January 2013): Not Too Square
The Quilter (April/May 2013): In the Meadow
The Quilter (August/September 2013): Rising Stars, Cover Quilt
Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Pumpkin Patch/Autumn Fauna
Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Flora Linda/Catalina
Lecien Free Pattern, Lynette Anderson (April 2013): Forest Floor/Wildflower Wood
Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (January 2013): Mediterranean Dream
Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (February 2013): Butterfly Kisses
RJR Fabrics Free Pattern (May 2013): Nature’s Harmony/Silent Harmony
RJR Fabrics Free Pattern (May 2013): Tied with a Bow/A Gingerbread Christmas
Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (June 2013): Simply Sweet using lief!Lifestyle
Benartex Free Pattern (June 2013): Birds on a Wire using Let’s Tweet
Benartex Free Pattern (July 2013): Silver Lining using Urban Oasis
Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (July 2013): Rooster Royale
Blog Hop: Celebrating Christmas in July with Benartex/Kanvas & Giveaway!
Happy Monday, Friends! I am happy to be part of Celebrating Christmas in July blog hop, hosted by Sew in Love {with Fabric}. It’s always fun to work with the fun fabrics sent to me.
Head on over to Sew in Love {with Fabric} by clicking here, and see how to make my “piece once and get one free” pillows! There is also a fabric giveaway too – don’t forget to enter.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week ahead!
***
Click here to see my previous blog hop post on Sew In Love {with Fabric}
2 Wishes in QUILTS AND MORE (Spring 2013)
Hello Friends, you have seen my Watercolor Sketches quilt in the Spring 2013 issue of Quilts and More. Click on quilt name to view more pictures of the quilt.
Today I am sharing with you the other project that is featured in the same magazine issue – my 2 Wishes pillows.
[image source: Meredith Corporation]
These pillows are quite different from my usual endeavors… and they had been most fun for me to make. Here are a few more shots in different angles. A sort of “ying yang” effect is achieve by using contrasting yellow on gray, and vice versa.
The 2 Wishes stitchery mimics dandelions that Miss Baby loves to pick whenever she is outside this time of year.
The fabrics are from Robert Kaufman’s Kona Solid collection, and the threads are DMC cotton embroidery threads. The stitching on 2 Wishes was hand done by yours truly using only straight stitches and occasional lazy daisies to keep the project simple and straightforward.
I am not fond of stitching with a hoop. So, to get around that, I lined my main fabric with a piece of thin batting and another piece of fabric — the stitching also turns out looking a bit more dimensional, as seen from the slight “poof”.
I hope you have enjoyed my “perfect for Spring” 2 Wishes pillows.
I am curious to know if you have 2 wishes this Spring. I can tell you one of Miss Baby’s 2 wishes would be “I wish to be outside playing…”
Have a great day!
***
My 2013 lineup thus far besides “2 Wishes” – click on the links for more information:
Annie’s Love Those Precuts Book (January 2013): Apple of My Eye
Annie’s Sweet Layer Cakes (April 2013): Sunburst Melody, to be posted
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Spring 2013): Baubles, Baubles
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Curious Cats
Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Fabrique Foursome, to be posted
Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting (March/April 2013): Now I know my ABC’s
Machine Quilting Unlimited (March/April 2013): Quilting Curvy Feathers
Quilt Trends (Winter 2013, Cover Quilt): Tango
Quilts and More (Spring 2013): Watercolor Sketches
Quilter’s World (February 2013): New Life
Quilter’s World (April 2013): Monkey Around
Quilter’s World (Summer 2013): Garden Mist, to be posted
Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): In & Out
Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): Garden Maze
Simple Quilts & Sewing (Spring 2013): Stained Glass
The Quilter (December 2012/January 2013): Not Too Square
The Quilter (April/May 2013): In the Meadow
Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Pumpkin Patch/Autumn Fauna
Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Flora Linda/Catalina
Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (January 2013): Mediterranean Dream
Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (February 2013): Butterfly Kisses
Midwinter Night Pillow in THE QUILTER (Holiday 2012)
Yup, it’s that time of the year. My favorite postmaster at my local post office asked me the other day if I knew we had exactly 90 days before Christmas. I had not a clue what he was talking about because I am still working on making gifts for Christmas 2011!!! Anyhow, I had shown you this sneak peek a few months ago…
The sneak peek is part of my Midwinter Night Pillow, featured in The Quilter’s Holiday 2012 issue.
I am not sure if you knew, but The Quilter has a separate Christmas Holiday issue every year in addition to their regular six bi-monthly magazine. So you get 7 issues for a 1-year subscription. I think this year’s Holiday issue is the best compared to Holiday issues past. The only thing I missed seeing was Pearl Louise Krush’s snowmen – you will know what I am talking about if you have seen The Quilter’s Holiday issues in the past! The following shows a sample of the projects in this year’s Holiday issue:
[Image Source: Screen shot from http://thequiltermag.com/features/hol12/quiltingforchristmas.shtml]
So back to the pillow. The project uses fabrics from Benartex Fossil Fern, Wintersong, and just plain scraps. The versatility of the design allows you to easily pick and choose the fabrics of your choice to make the pillow top.
I used fusible machine applique method to applique the tree branch and birds. Click here, and here to read about my articles on fusible machine applique.
This is a super close-up shot, where you also end up seeing my outline quilting stitches.
I almost often quilt my pillow before constructing the pillow case. That way, the top will have a bit of dimensional look to it, and doesn’t look as flat. So, I treated the pillow top as a quilt, basted and quilted it with Aurifil Mako 50 Cotton threads over Hobbs Tuscany Silk Batting. I outline quilted the edges of the applique shapes to give the shapes a bit of a poof. I used a pillow insert from Fairfield’s Poly-fil Home Elegance Collection.
And then I quilted snowflakes against the black mottled background. You can see the scales of the smaller snowflakes with respect to the size of a penny. The snowflake motif patterns are available on the tear-out section of the magazine.
The way I prepped for quilting the snowflakes is as follows: I traced a snowflake motif onto a piece of freezer paper, and cut out the snowflake shape. I auditioned placements for the cut out on the black mottled background. Once I found a placement I liked, I lightly dab the freezer paper shape with my iron to temporarily hold the shape in place on the black mottled background. I then used a Clover white marker to trace and transfer the motif outline to the black mottled background. I would remove the freezer paper shape, and quilted the snowflakes by following the traced outline.
If pillow isn’t your thing to do, you can always expand the cardinal center into a wallhanging, placemats, or even the front of a tote! And with that, I bid you all a Happy Weekend! See you next week.
Thanks for stopping by.
Mixing and Matching
Happy Monday, Friends! I hope you had a great weekend.
I mixed and matched my quilts Sweet Bouquets and Flower Duet, both made with Benartex‘s Perennials II fabrics by Eleanor Burns, on our staircase ledge for a display.
Looking from the side:
Looking from the top:
I am thinking of way to temporarily attach a tassel at the corner of Flower Duet pointing downward to add a bit of accent to the look. Anyone has an idea how I can do that?
Thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely week. Hugs to you all.
Christmas Hospitality Runner in Quilter’s World’s “A Quilted Christmas” (Fall 2011)
I didn’t think I would get to do a Christmas in July post this year, but the mail man was nice to me yesterday. So I am able to do it after all. I unexpectedly received a package from Quilter’s World, and in it are my Christmas runner and copies of the magazine’s special interest publication “A Quilted Christmas”!
This runner was made last year, and honestly I hadn’t thought of it in a long while. Seeing it again reminds me of the hot summer afternoon (much like today) we had last year while I was working on this project.
The pieced blocks are 12″ finished, sashed with 2″ finished sashing pieces. I do like the wide black sashing – the black sort of has the effect of “lifting” the pieced blocks.
The editorial staff presented the runner as a bed runner – what a splendid twist to the use of runners that we quilters make!
The fabrics are courtesy of Henry Glass (At Home for the Holidays), threads are courtesy of Aurifil (Mako 50 Cotton), and batting is courtesy of Hobbs Bonded Fibers (Tuscany Silk).
This is how I had quilted stenciled motif s on the runner. I “sewed” on the traced design using an unthreaded needle on a vellum sheet of paper one can easily purchase from the craft stores. I then positioned and pinned the paper onto the quilting area. With thread this time, I followed the design perforated on the paper. Easy peasy.
Are you thinking about Christmas yet? Oh, don’t tell me – I will feel guilty. :) Christmas to me is a looooooooooooooooooong way from now. Nonetheless, I would spend sometime this week browsing through “A Quilted Christmas” to see if there are any fun gifts to make.
Have a great weekend, dear Friends!
Setting the table for simple pleasures
Setting the table is one of my most enjoyed simple pleasures of life:
On a particular afternoon, I started setting the table for the company of my family — another simple pleasure:
I used my “Simple Pleasures” quilt to dress up the table:
Nothing too fancy, I just used my Spode Blue Italian, mixed in with a bit of Johnson Brothers Heritage White:
We were having Chinese-style stuffed buns. So I included the teapot for green tea at the table:
A great time was had by all! Thank you for stopping by – I hope you enjoy your Thursday – may your day be blessed with many simply pleasures!
My Beloved Camelback
For Blue Monday this week, I decided to tell you a little bit of my beloved camel back. No, not the recreational water system camelbak (haha):
But rather, my camel back couch:
If I had to pick out a favorite piece of furniture, I would probably most likely pick my camel back couch. During one of our moves, I decided not to let the old couch go through the door lest once it was in, it would never leave. So, we were without a couch for about 6 months while I looked for the couch after my own heart. I spotted my beloved camel back at a consignment place. It was in perfect condition. After mulling over my options and thinking through and through for days, I decided to bring it home with me. I really liked the peach/red blossoms against the blue fabric. It was made in North Carolina in the 40’s, and the fabric was original!
I have had the couch now for almost 10 years, and it still puts a smile on my face whenever I stop to admire it! :)
Thank you for stopping by. I hope a wonderful week awaits you! Might I suggest you stop and admire a piece of furniture in your house this week, even if it isn’t blue?! ;)
p.s. That quilt block pillow is made from scraps from my “Pieceful Garden” quilt.
Creative Machine Embroidery (May/June 2009) – please scroll down for new posts!
The new issue of Creative Machine Embroidery is out!
My cafe curtain project with a primitive Americana look is featured in the magazine:
The cafe tier window treatments are not hard to make, so you can quickly whip them up and jump right into some machine embroidery fun! :)
I don’t have a place to use these in my house, so I am using the bottom tier as a bed scarf. I added some lavender sprigs in a basket to add to the primitive country look. Doesn’t look too bad, does it?
Thanks for visiting. I hope my little project here gave you a lil’ bit of inspiration. Have a great weekend. I will see you Monday!
Ivory Spring 