New animal print fabrics in my Etsy Shop!!!

Finished quilts update

Dallas Cowboys Quilt

 

 

Daisy Mae quilt

 

 

 

Poppies Quilt

 

 

 

Old trucks quilt

 

Wine Quilt

Update on the custom ordered quilts and new designs

This week I have been playing around with new quilt designs and I tested out a star pattern:

 Worked for a little bit to put borders on the vintage flower quilt top which was ordered by one of my customers as a gift for a family member:

Still have to miter the borders, iron and find a backing fabric for this adorable quilt :)

I love the pretty fabrics used in this throw size quilt.

Needed: donation for "Quilts of Valor" project

Most of you that follow me on my personal Facebook, know that I am a retired Air Force veteran so "Quilts of Valor" (www.qovf.org) is dear to me.
As an textile and fiber artist, I like to contribute on a regular base, a handmade quilt to this Foundation that will be given to our wounded veterans.

To make this happen, I need your help. I will donate my time to design and make the quilts and I am asking you to consider donating: 100% cotton fabric in solid red, solid white, solid blue and patriotic print fabrics and help me with the supplies needed to make quilts to donate.
My husband will donate the money to ship the quilts to and from the long arm quilter and to the Foundation, where they will be given to our wounded veterans :)
How can you help?

• I set up a "wish list" on Amazon so you can see what I need and select what you like to donate. Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/registry/giftlist/3ADF83YFQKMUF Amazon has my address on file.
• If you like to donate money to buy fabrics/supplies, please use this link: http://www.gofundme.com/quiltsofvalor
• If you like to send fabrics to me, feel free to send me an email at: bubblesyeah2007@yahoo.com and I will give you the address where you can ship to.
• If you have 100% cotton fabrics scraps (min size 1.5"x1.5") in any color/print and would like to donate for this and other causes, please contact me for the shipping address by sending an email to: bubblesyeah2007@yahoo.com.

All donations will be appreciated and will ONLY be used to make the quilts!

Here is a picture of the fabrics that were donated this week:

I truly hope that we can ship many, many quilts to "Quilts of Valor"
Thank you so much!!!

New flannel PJ bottoms are ready

My new flannel PJ bottoms are done
Super soft, only $7 fabric cost, 2hrs of sewing and long enough
I think they look like clown pants though but I love them! LOL


Off to make the next pair tomorrow :)

Better picture of my latest sewing project

Here is a better picture, taken in daylight of my latest sewing projects:

Another sewing project finished :)

I totally forgot to share with you the sewing project I finished yesterday.

Part of the reason was that they were used immediately :)

That's a good sign though...

Look in my Etsy Shop (the link is at the left top above the header "my Etsy Shop") for more of my creative sewing projects since that's the way I support my blog and projects here...thank you :)

Or click here: www.etsy.com/shop/calicreative 

First pillow case (the big one), I finished a few weeks ago already.

The smaller ones I finished yesterday :)

Sorry for the dark picture...:(

FB group for Crochet/Knit and Sew Alongs

Someone whispered in my ear that it takes a lot of work out of my hands if I just set up a FB group for my Crochet/Knit and Sew Alongs, so they can post/interact with others. 

 

Everyone can share their creations from our monthly CAL/KAL/SAL's!!!

 

Make sure you add yourself to my FB group, just click on the link below!!!

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/546644012015571/

Start of the Poppies Wall hanging!!!

Finally, I got some important things that needed to be done squared away today and I still had some hours left in the day to work on my Poppies Wall hanging :)

 

But first I need to tell you that this chalk tool is AMAZING!!! See it has a little wheel on which the chalk falls out to draw a line. 

I still had it in my sewing box and I refilled it with chalk.

So easy and I don't remember the brand so I took two close up pics for you, in case you want to look for it.

 

 

 

 

I couldn't find my rotary cutter nor could I find my quilting ruler so I had to cut all the pieces needed for my wall hanger with scissors and measure with my yard stick.

 It took a little longer but it works.

 

Remember this is the wall hanger I am making.

 

I set up my ironing board after I finished cutting since I will be needing it while assembling the wall hanging.

Love my iron too, only $30 and it has a safety automatic turn off after 30 seconds!!

I rarely fill my water reservoir in my iron cos I use a spray bottle. It keeps my iron from getting calcium build up everywhere.

 

 

 

Can you see the gold sparkle fabric I found dirt cheap ($2/yd), love it!!

 

2 hours later the front frame part is assembled :)

 

 

It's looking good!!!

Hopefully tomorrow I will have some time again to work on it!

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

First of all, I like to say to everyone and your loved ones:

 



 

 

 

So we have that out of the way :) let's get back to creating beauty again...

Besides that I love fiberart, I also love sewing. Not so much clothing but quilts/wall hangings etc., smaller projects so I don't get bored that fast :)

Today I went to Joanns since I have this poppies wallhanging quilt in my possession forever and the Christmas coupons from Joanns made it possible to buy the materials.

It was published a while ago in Sewing Savvy 2008 (discontinued) but if you are interested, thanks to the internet, you can still buy the pattern here for $3.29 free shipping PDF file.

So with the batting I already had in my stash, these are all the materials you need besides some embroidery floss (yellow) and your sewing tools.

• Top green is for the backing
• Dark green is for the outer border and binding
• Yellow is for the inner border
• Off white with a little gold in it is for the background behind the flowers
• And the two packages of yellow/red and light to dark green are for the leaves and poppies.

 

So this is what I am going to be busy with over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Most likely I will not finish it in 2 days but that's ok :)

 

Again, Merry Christmas everyone!!! Be safe!!! xoxo

 

Inspirations for designing tutorial

I am pretty much a "loner" or a very quiet "observer" as I like to call it myself :)

I don't like to call myself a "designer", I will leave that decision up to you... 

Love to be by myself, mostly, especially when I feel creative inspiration that day...

On top of that, I have an amazing, loving husband that supports me and encourages me daily.

 

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I first like to say that I dislike people that think that sharing "information" on how to design in our "trade" is like giving away a TOP SECRET document.

Well, I believe in sharing and these days the internet makes it possible for everyone to just "google" about everything you would like to know so why not share?

So I don't mind sharing my "top secrets" it's a free world so if you still have questions just ask me!

 

Some times I just like to sit somewhere and observe...soon enough my head starts working and the first thing that happens is that I picture the sketch of my new design in my head.

Second I draw out my little sketch book and sketch it out roughly. I might use or I might not. If I forgot my sketch book...well, I write down some notes in my phone.

 

Some times I just start thinking about all the places/countries I visited throughout the years and try to picture what first pops up as a memory. Than I try to write that down, just words no sketch. At home I will sit down and read through my notes and start translating them into colors or sketch some designs. Some will be executed...some won't...some will sit for a while and some sit for years...

 

Some times it's one of my friends/customers that tells me something they need/want and ask me to translate it into a design.

 

Some times I just take pictures from wherever I am or whatever I like.

 

In the end, there are a lot of ways to get inspired, in my opinion.

Just a package of a product or color combo's used in advertising, magazines, books...anything, you just have to "train" yourself to look different at things. It works for me...

I use these "inspiration" techniques for my knitting, crochet designs, my paintings and sewing.

 

Today, I have no idea what happened or inspired me but I drew up 22 sketches of designs up...

The only thing I can think of is that I "lost" the stress from the last few months since in the past, I worked way too much, had to orchestrated our move over 150 miles and unpack/settle in our new place. Or as I like to call it "life happened" :)

 

The sketches I drew up today are probably going to be a combo of crochet, knitting and/or sewing. I just have to work on each one and tackle all the details.

I start with determine the size, material choices, base colors/background colors, subject and finally detailing/accents. It's a process that takes a while, some times days/weeks/months/years. I have a bunch of sketches that just need detailing or a sample that I need to finish but I am married too LOL. There are only so many hours in a day :)

 

One important thing I learned while starting to design is:

"I can't "force" myself in being creative...I need to let "it" just happen"

"open yourself up to new ideas"

"think outside the box"

"relax"

 

Maybe this little "tutorial" on how I get to my final designs helps you...good luck!!!

Need help/second opinion or....? Just ask...

 

 

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Remember for those who don't know...

I wasn't born here so...

I will make grammar mistakes or misspell words or..., I don't think I need to apologize for them, since English isn't my first/native language. Just picture yourself living in a foreign country...you will never be a native speaker :)

thank you for understanding and just know: I do my very best to keep them to a minimum!!! :)

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing for my mug rug sew along tutorial, granny square blanket and ....

For those who follow me on Facebook already know that I almost finished my crochet (granny square) CA King size bed cover.

Just a few more rounds to complete it, so it nicely covers the sides of the bed.

It is a huge project that at a certain stage you can only work on the bed or in a big chair.

Constantly turning it around to be able to keep working on it,

but after finishing 4 previous bed covers (same style, different color combo's) I knew what I was in for...

Blanket is made in Caron One Pound.

 

Last steps are the finishing rounds, reverse single crochet edge and working in the ends, it will soon be used on our own CA King bed.

Video for single crochet edge:

 

 

Puppy Snuggles loves it too :)

He has a fetish for blankets since he was 2.5 months young LOL

 

 

Almost done... :)

 

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I finally made some time in the day to get my nails done (last nail tech flaked on me).

Taking care of myself:

PRETTY!!!

 

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Tonight I found my little stash of fabrics so I can start thinking about combo's, patterns and work on the photo tutorial.

I even found a 2 yard Christmas panel that I still can use to make a Christmas quilt/wall hanging!!!

WOOHOO BONUS!!!

But that has to wait a little bit since the mug rug tutorial has to be done first.

 

Here is a picture of the few fabrics I have left, let me know if you see any combo's...

 

I don't know where I got the Betty Boop Bingo fabric from...????

Did I tell you that mug rugs are perfect fabric stash busters??

 

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BTW did you notice that I have 2 blogs so that it is easier for people to follow:

 

Blog on Wordpress: www.beautifulyeah.wordpress.com

Blogger: www.wwwbeautifulyeahcom.blogspot.com

 

You choose!!! Same posts on each blog so don't worry about missing out :)

 

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So this was pretty much my day today...besides the regular errands/wife duties :)

See you soon again and thank you for visiting.