Omiyage

Gift giving is something I really enjoy.  Seeing someone's face as they receive a little remembrance as a surprise is fun.  In the Japanese tradition of Omiyage, in past times, gifts were given to the lords of the lands for protection with many rules on the gift itself down to how it was wrapped and …

Continue reading Omiyage

Sakura Tsuki Art Quilt

Japanese and Asian inspired fabrics are more easily found in stores now as well as online, or maybe I am just paying more attention to them more than I used to.  Beautiful prints with metallic accents are so appealing to me.  I have several pieces that I received from a friend before she passed, and …

Continue reading Sakura Tsuki Art Quilt

Travel Pillow Case

One thing that I do not like about traveling is hotel pillows.  For some reason most hotels have gone to all down pillows, which to me are very uncomfortable.  They go flat in a hurry, and I need the support for my neck to last all night.  So, I started asking for acrylic or polyester …

Continue reading Travel Pillow Case

How to Use a Towa Gauge

If you are a longarm quilter or you use a computerized embroidery machine with a bobbin case, a Towa gauge is either in your tool kit, or you have probably heard of it.  I have to admit that for several years I resisted buying one.  They are not cheap, and I just couldn't see the …

Continue reading How to Use a Towa Gauge

Christmas Quilt Along Nine Patch Star

Our second week will see the construction of the block and beginning the quilting. So, here is where we left off.  If you missed last weeks beginning with the cutting instructions and the first unit construction, click HERE. Start by sewing the HSTs units together. Press the seams open on these units to reduce bulk. …

Continue reading Christmas Quilt Along Nine Patch Star

Autumn Jubilee Sew Along Tablet Cover

Making gifts for the holidays especially for the guys in your life is sometimes a difficult task.  Today, we'll begin a sew-along to make a very fast tablet cover/carrier that will finish in just three installments.  The cutting and making the half-square triangles will begin today, using a different method - Moda Cake Mix papers …

Continue reading Autumn Jubilee Sew Along Tablet Cover

The Swing Bag – A Scrap Dance Pattern

Wouldn't you love to have a great travel bag for the holidays, or any travel weekend?  This weekender bag is compact yet packs a punch. You won't believe how much you can fit into it, and still have organization!  It will hold enough clothes and toiletries for a weekend getaway, just Swing it over your …

Continue reading The Swing Bag – A Scrap Dance Pattern

How to Shorten Sleeves on Ready to Wear

Shopping can be such a chore at times. As much as I like wearing nice clothes, sometimes it is just next to impossible to find what I need.  It is hard enough to find things in petite sizing to accommodate my short stature, much less something cute.  Recently I spent quite a bit of time …

Continue reading How to Shorten Sleeves on Ready to Wear

Repairing an Old Damaged Quilt

One of the things I do is repair well-loved quilts that no one else will touch. Most of the time, someone that is truly using a quilt will not care that it isn't museum quality, they just want the worst of the damage repaired.   But many quilters won't touch these, believing they are too damaged …

Continue reading Repairing an Old Damaged Quilt

Making Card Carriers

With the NC Quilt Symposium coming to Asheville in 2018, our local longarm group is once again making small items to add to the goodie bags to get our group publicity.  For locals, and those who don't mind mailing quilts to be quilted, we have a number of wonderful longarm quilters ready to make your …

Continue reading Making Card Carriers