Sunday, June 29, 2014

Flaunt Your Finish: June 2014


We have just a few finishes to flaunt this month. As a guild, we have numerous projects in the works and I suspect that our members are working to get their portions completed or are still recovering from this week’s QuiltCon registration frenzy.

Don't forget to flaunt YOUR finish at the end of this post!


For our guild Quilt Show in October, we’ve all been asked to make two bunting flags. If you've already completed your flags, please get them to Amanda L. If you haven't started them yet, here's a little inspiration for you...

Ann completed her two flags this month. She found the pattern for the origami crane online and thought she’d give it her own twist by using prints instead of just solids. “I don’t do much paper piecing and this one was a little challenging because I didn’t have written directions and had to search out piecing order instructions.”

For the second flag, “I sat with graph paper pad in hand and sketched and sketched away until I came up with the design. Simple. Fun. Different from the first one. And, yeah, it’s got a message.”


Amanda L. has really wanted to get around to making some decorative items for various holidays and use up her scraps. Amanda designed this beautiful “Stars and Stripes Table Runner”. “It’s the first of, hopefully, many more fun, fast and scrappy holiday projects”. You can get the FREE pattern by visiting Amanda’s blog The Cozy Pumpkin.

Jana put the finishing touches and binding on this quilt. For those of you who remember, yes, this is the quilt top that was already pieced and she saved from an uncertain future. We still love her amazing quilting!

Regina used 4 traditional log-cabin quilt blocks that she discovered buried in her stash to make this great quilt for her husband for Father's Day. "The blocks (and cat print fabrics) are so old, that I’m calling them ‘vintage’! Had so much fun turning these traditional quilt blocks into a modern lap quilt. Hubby and our cat, Libby, both love it."

As for me, Leslie, I've been making receiving blankets for a nephew and his wife who are expecting their first baby. I told her I'd set her up with all the blankets she'll need and a quilt is next! This also gave me a chance to FINALLY use some of the decorative stitches on my machine that I bought two years ago. (Psssst....I should've taken that training class.)

You're next! Flaunt Your Finish by linking up your blog of Flickr page below! 



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Meeting Recap: June 2014


While we are at an all-time high of 63 members (Yippee!), the somewhat sparse attendance at June’s guild meeting was an obvious sign that summer is here! So if you were not there…(a) we missed you; and (b) no meeting in July. We’re going to take a little summer break ourselves and meet up again in August at our new location: Newchurch, 9201 N. Rockwell. Lots of reminders will be coming, so just keep an eye on your email, this site and our private Facebook page.

A big THANK YOU to Regina and New Hope OKC!  We've LOVED meeting in your facility. Thanks for opening it up to us.

So…the meeting…

The meeting was really great fun! Our program director, Amanda, planned another fun and informative night. Several members shared their methods of quilt labeling. If you already label your quilts, you may have a favorite method. If you haven’t yet found a method you prefer, here are some ideas to inspire you.

Becca machine embroiders her labels, which relate to the theme of the quilt. 
Here are a few examples of her work:



Christy also machine embroiders, but she embroiders on a miniature quilt block that she’s machine-paper pieced. It was really fun to watch her pre-programmed machine “do its thing”.



Amanda L’s labels are hand-embroidered with a little message. She gets free clipart from the internet to make her design and prints it from her computer. She then uses a light box to trace the design onto her fabric and then, with a layer of batting underneath, embroiders with Pearle cotton. She binds it (yes, just like the quilt) and hand-stitches it to the quilt.


Elizabeth A shared the basics of printing your own labels through Spoonflower. She created her graphic, laying it out 2 x 2, and uploaded to the Spoonflower site. Spoonflower then prints it on repeat, and Voila! labels on yardage. Just cut the label and stitch on or into the quilt. The fabric comes in many colors too.

Teresa hand writes her labels with fabric pens (colors them too!) and then heat-sets them.


Ann showed us iron-on labels using Transfer Magic Ink Jet Transfer Paper. After designing your graphic, create a mirror image and feed the sheet through your printer. Set with a hot, dry iron. When cool, remove the paper covering, place the image face down on your quilt and use a hot, dry iron to transfer the image.

Thanks, Ann, for the labels we took home!


Agnes prints her labels on fabric with her home printer. You can use the sheets that are already adhered to paper or use Wonder-Under and create your own sheet to feed through your printer. After cutting to its desired size, Agnes uses the selvedges to create a frame for the label.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways to label quilts. Use your imagination to experiment and discover what works best for you!







Jana rescued this quilt top and gave it new life! Stunning quilting! Keep yours eyes out for quilt tops in antique stores or garage sales. You never know what they can become.

And this is a quilt top that Jana pieced herself using beige linen.  We're looking forward to the finished project!

Regina completed her "Your Color Story" project that she started at our May meeting. After stitching down the scraps that spoke to her, she turned it into a pillow. Her husband loves it and asked, "Do we get to keep this one?" 

Regina also shared this cute and quick baby quilt. It's basically four fat quarters (squared up of course) border and binding. This is a quilt where the fabric makes all the difference. Love it!

...and the back is just as cute!

 Rebecca made this wonderful quilt top of golds and greens. Looking forward to seeing this one finished as well.

One day on Facebook, Rebecca posted photos of some random blocks she had and sought advice on what to do with them. She turned this bird into a cute mat or mug rug.

And a shoe block into a shoe BAG! Love it!

I love when a demonstration really inspires. Agnes continues to find great inspiration from Elizabeth R's "Your Color Story" presentation. A terrific pillow...

...and a scrap catcher with scrappy fringe!

 Ready for summer....Jemellia had been sewing clothing, including these cute shorts!

If you're making one pair, you might as well make two!

 And even though Shana is currently cutting back on the coffee, she completed this cute quilt top made with coffee themed fabric.

That's our meeting wrap up!  Check back often to see what else our members are creating!


Friday, June 6, 2014

A Monthly Dose of Inspiration: June 2014



Summer is up and running and the weather is heating up quickly.  Take advantage of the cool air conditioning and the long days to get in some productive sewing sessions.  What sewing projects do you have planned for the summer?  Here is a collage of some of our members' works to help get you in the creative mood.  Enjoy and happy sewing!