New Find: The Quilt Pattern Shoppe

Have a new on-line source for patterns! Could be a new addiction, since there are no shipping fees nor rides to a quilt store. Patterns are only a printer away!

Not only does The Quilt Pattern Shoppe (http://www.thequiltpatternshoppe.com/) have dozens of designers who have authored over 200 patterns from which to choose, but shopper reward points usable towards free patterns and other quilty goodies.

So, I decided to try one of their free patterns and downloaded the "Simply Hearts Table Runner." This two day project was well-written and easy to use. Two thumbs up for whoever proof-read this pattern!

Loved the chance to make a controlled scrappy quilted table runner. (Random and I don't usually get along.) Tried to pick out colors that complimented my Polish stoneware and ended with a very happy, springtime table topper for our kitchen.

Quilted Clock

Because the commute to Ohio is not reasonable for me and I'd love to work in her quilt store, Donna from the Spider's Web Fabric Store (www.thespiderswebfabricstore.com) kindly allowed me to bring home a kit from our Block Buddies retreat to make as a store sample for her new brick and mortar shop.

Donna selected a fabric with cats strolling in lines and a beautiful amber colored hand-dyed. Because it made more sense for the cats to march horizontally rather than uphill, the squares needed to be cut on the bias, making for an exciting time piecing and quilting. With a little planning and careful handling of the bias edges, the whole project came together by lunchtime.

The directions were well-written, but part of the clock assembly instructions were excluded. If you decide to make this project, remember to put the hanging bracket on the motor first (it isn't listed) or you'll have to take it apart later. (Not as much fun as it sounds!)

Off to pack it up for shipping--Tuffi is offended that I would make a clock with quilted kitties instead of dogs, but Wheaten fabric is hard to find!

Another Tote Bag?

Was shopping at The Village Quilter on Monday and was so inspired by this bag, ironically named "Must Have," (www.ModaHome.com) , I made an impulse buy. Would be a perfect bag to take on a shopping trip anywhere.

The nice features about this bag are the vinyl outside, long handles and rolled top. Well-written instructions made construction a breeze in only a few hours.

Thinking this one is going to my mother--she will love the fabrics, size and the easy-care exterior.

This tote is the second I've made in less than three weeks--thinking all this momentum will help me get some UFO's done!

Schlep Bag

This cute patchwork bag was made from a kit purchased from Calico and Cotton, Ocean City, NJ during the Shop Hop. (Worked like a charm during my Ohio trip to hold all the fabric and cheese purchases.) Thought the fruit fabric was so realistic and the ants a humorous touch. The kit contained everything I needed, complete with pre-cut squares, fabric handles and batting strips.

The kit consisted of 32 six and a half inch charm squares sewn into a diagonal setting. I did change the construction of the handles since it was too much trouble to turn such a long tube inside out and then feed a length of batting through. Reinforced the handles with five rows of stitching, just so that it can hold plenty of goodies on shopping trips.

The bag is reversible, so if one side gets dirty, you still have another side to use. Glad mine is bright red--maybe I'll remember to take it into the grocery store!