Welcome to the Curlicue Creations blog.

I'm so happy you could stop by. I'll be posting about my latest quilt patterns, and projects in the works. I'll also be periodically posting information and pictures about my on-line sewing museum. Please visit my shop at curlicuecreations.com. Have a super day!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Pepper Mint's First Quilt

 Pepper Mint and her newest goodies.

Pepper Mint has been busy working on some items for her new home (in restoration).  It's time for an update on what she's been doing.

 Cheater Cloth Miniature Basket Quilt

She just finished making her very first quilt!  At 6" x 8", it may be a little small for her new bed, but it's oh so charming with all the little country baskets.  She machine quilted the top and it came out quite nicely.

 Yo-Yo Mini Wreath

My children gifted me with this adorable Yo-Yo Wreath ornament from the Quilt Museum in Paducah for Mother's Day.  It's the perfect size for decorating Pepper Mint's home this Christmas season.  

 Queen Anne Serving Table

She also finished making this replica Queen Anne Serving Table.  It's circa 1740-1750.  This will be lovely for entertaining guests.  

 Miniature Tatted Doily

While out vintage shopping this week, she came across this teeny tiny tatted doily, perfect for the top of the Queen Anne Serving Table.  Adorable!

Cross Stitched Lighthouse on Aida

Pepper Mint also stitched up this cute cross stitch lighthouse kit by DMC.  I need to find her a suitable frame, and then, up on her wall it goes!  This kit is made to introduce newbies to cross stitch.  I thought it was a little bit complicated for a first timer, but it was quick and fun to make.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Jennifer

Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day


Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you to all who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy in this great country.  God Bless the U.S.A.

Have a super day!

Jennifer

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Stormy Sunday

What is going on with the weather around here?  It's all cloudy and gloomy outside again.  Tropical Storm Beryl is looming ever closer, threatening to rain, rain, rain for the next few days.  Two named storms in two weeks, and it isn't even hurricane season yet.  What does the summer have in store for us this year?

Melon Ball Blocks

I managed to snap this photo before the rain starts falling.  Outside pictures always come out so much better.  This shows the progress I've been making on my melon ball block roll-up curtains for my bedroom.  I've finished cutting out all of the pieces for these, and most of the blocks have been sewn.  This week I stitched a lot of them into strips for the curtains.  They didn't all fit on my picnic table.  I'm making 30 strips of 11 blocks each.  Looks like it would make a great Memorial Day picnic tablecloth, too.  Hmmmmm.....

On a sunnier note, when I went to the grocery store yesterday, they were giving away bouquets of fresh flowers.  I should have taken a photo of those.  A nice variety of pink and purple flowers with a little greenery and baby's breath.  It made my day!

I hope you are having a great holiday weekend!  Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

Friday, May 25, 2012

Arts and Crafts Day

 Trent with his art project

I've been making an effort to do some arts and crafts with my youngest son, Trent.  Today we made multi-colored snowflakes out of coffee filters.  I did the cutting, as he is not able to use the scissors just yet.  Then we folded up the coffee filters and dipped them into cups filled with water tinted with different colors of food coloring.  He loved it.  I'm going to hang them on his bedroom windows later today.

Star Cat Quilt Block

Yesterday I was able to also finish up the pattern for the Star Cat Quilt Block and add it to the Curlicue Creations Shop.  This is the fifth pattern in a series of twelve Basket Cat Blocks.  These blocks are paper pieced, and finish at a useful 12" square.  At only $3.00 a pop, they are fun to collect, too.

Right Hand Fingerless Glove

LOL!  I finally finished the right handed fingerless glove.  I messed up the thumb a little bit, though.  It was larger than the space at the top for my four fingers to come out!  Oooops!  It did give me and my 13 y.o. son a good laugh, though.  I  decided to try to "fix" it by knitting two together on the rest of the thumb, and it kind of worked.  It's a little funny looking, but it fits, and it's just for me.  Now all I need to do is weave the ends in.  I'm already working on the left glove and it's going better.  I'm only five rounds away from the thumb gusset.  Wish me luck.  This is why I'm a quilter.  But, I try to knit anyway - you have to laugh sometimes.

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Frosty Felines

 Frosty Quilted Tablerunner

I just had to show Frosty today.  He's almost finished.  All I have to do is finish sewing the binding on to the two short sides, and Voila!

 Broken Dishes Cat 

New to the Curlicue Creations Shop today is the Broken Dishes Cat quilt block pattern.  This is the fourth installment in the Basket Cat Series.  There will be 12 blocks in all.  The blocks are all paper pieced, and have a 12" square finished size.  Each block features a different cat peeping out of a basket decorated with a different traditional quilt block.  It's a kitty cat sampler, of sorts.

Here's the previous three Basket Cat blocks, all available in the Quilt Block Patterns section of the shop.

 Pinwheel Cat

 Square in a Square Cat

Checkerboard Cat

Today I'm working on the Star Cat quilt block pattern.  Star Cat is a tortiseshell cat with a good figure.  Her basket is sporting a popping red star on a sky blue background.  Look for her in the shop soon.

Until next time...Have a super day!

Jennifer

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Quarter Seamers Quilting


Arrowhead Block

Here's the Arrowhead block I made at the Quarter Seamers group a couple of weeks ago.  I like it so much, that I added it to my list of quilting projects that I keep posted on the refrigerator.  I want to make a bunch of these!  This block is designed by Anita Grossman Soloman, and you can learn to make one too, at this link:

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 5

Anita also has a block in the current issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks,Volume 5.  It's block #496, Ginger and Fred.  I really like the retro fabrics she used in her block.  It makes a good effect.


Polka Party

Here's another peeky at my block from the issue, #429, Polka Party.  If you make a version of my block, please send me a pic.  I would love to see it!


video

This little video is all about Miss Lou's Quilting Studio, where I've been going to the Quarter Seamers quilting group.  It's been just wonderful. I've met so many friendly people & had a great time quilting, too.  It's the only time I get an opportunity to sew for three whole hours in a row.   The video was made by Charles Gupton Photography.  I can't believe I figured out how to include it in my blog post!  Pretty neat!

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Quilting and Baseball


Stack the Deck blocks

Above is one of the projects I've been working on at the Quarter Seamers quilting group I've been going to. It's called Stack the Deck.  Basically you line up your fabric squares, cut them all the same way, rearrange the pieces, and sew them back together.  Fun!  I've made these six, and I'm making six more, cut in a different way.  I'm not sure what I'm going to use them for yet.  Any great ideas?


Levi, batting for the White Sox

This week, however, I'm going to miss the group because Levi (the 7 y.o.) has baseball practice.  His team, the White Sox have acquired a new, more experienced coach, and they are practicing A LOT!   It's working.  They are getting better.  Saturday they lost 12-3 and they were excited about it!  It was the first game they got a score all season.  You just gotta laugh, so you don't cry.



Here's another great dress pattern I added to the Curlicue Creations Shop this past week.  It's brand new, and fits sizes 8 through 18.  Bonny good!

This week look for more books to be added to the Craft Books Section.  Also, coming up this summer, I will have some brand new quilt block patterns designed by my son, Gavin Eutsler.  He has been working on a couple of pieced block designs, and one paper piecing block that makes me laugh.  It's so funny!  Keep an eye out for these.

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer