More Mini Quilting - ACEO's

Love Fan

I recently learned about ACEO's.  ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  They are kind of like a trading card for artists.  They always measure 2-1/2" x 3-1/2", and people collect them.  I've seen a few quilty ACEO's, and I thought I'd try my hand at making one.  The result is "Love Fan", pictured above.

 Back View of Love Fan

This was really fun to make, and, uh-oh!...slightly addictive.  I don't know how many I'm going to make.  I've always had a love for miniatures. We'll see what happens.

 Love Fan's Top Model shot

Love Fan is available in the Curlicue Creations Shop, in the new section, ACEO.

Oak Leaf Wreath Block

Here's a preview of ACEO #2.  I've started by making this little Oak Leaf Wreath block.  It's tiny - 2-1/2" x 2-1/2".  I should make some more progress on this today, as we are getting a nice, steady, all day rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl.

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer

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

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

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

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

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

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:

http://www.quiltmaker.com/content_downloads/QM_Anita_s-Arrowhead.pdf

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!

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

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.

New Look 6394 Maxi Dress Pattern

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

Sew Easy! Every Day Napkins for Greener Living Tutorial

I make these simple napkins for my family to use at mealtime.  They cut down on paper waste, are attractive, and you can just toss them in the laundry for re-use.

To begin, cut some 10-1/2" squares from your desired fabric.

Sew a small zig-zag stitch along all four edges.  If you are making multiple napkins, it is easy to do this in a chain-piecing manner, sewing down one side of each napkin, then clipping them apart and turning to do the next side.

Clip the thread ends close to the fabric.

Then simply finger press the edges under about 1/4", and hold the hem in place while you stitch around all four sides.  Use a reverse stitch to secure the thread ends.  Use a straight stitch and a thread that coordinates with your fabric choice.

The corners are a bit small for mitering, so I just fold them under, and hold in place with a seam ripper as I turn the corner.  Remember, they don't have to be perfect!  This is just for every day use, not a formal dinner party.

Here's a view of the finished napkin, unfolded.

I fold my napkins in half once, then fold twice more for neat storage.  Happy eating!

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

Jennifer

Tales from the Cutting Room Floor

All right...we've all been warned multiple times to keep the rotary cutter blade guard on every time you finish a cut.  But what about other cutting dangers?   Recently I took my rotary cutter out of it's drawer and apparently the screw wasn't on tight.  I pulled it out of the drawer with such a flourish that the blade went zinging across the studio, along with all the other tiny pieces.  Scary!  Lucky thing I was alone.

Here's what I was working on, some Melon Ball blocks for my bedroom curtains.

And here's another rotary cutting danger you probably never thought about.  A couple of weeks ago when I was at my Monday night quilting group, the Quarter Seamers, the woman next to me was cutting some fabric when she just barely knicked the cord to the iron with her blade.  "Pop!"  went the iron!  Sparks flew at me in an electrifying way!  The handle of her rotary cutter turned black and the blade had a neat little hole in it.  The iron, of course, went kaput.  Luckily no one was hurt.

Here's some more sewing patterns I added to the Vintage Sewing Patterns section of the shop yesterday.  Here's a sexy lingerie pattern.  Oh la la!

Here's a pattern to make a variety of clothing for your Cabbage Patch Kids doll.  Do you still have one of these collectible dolls from the 1980's?  If so, isn't it time to sew them some new clothes?

And, if you're ready to give your living room a makeover, here's a great designer pattern to make some fair, new slipcovers, a couple of table toppers, and a folding room divider screen.

Now, let's sum up the rotary cutter safety rules.

1.  Always close the blade after every cut.

2.  Make sure the screw on your cutter is tight before putting it away.

3.  Never cut with a power cord on your table.

Let me know if you have anything to add to this list.  I love safety!  Also, here's your reminder to clean the lint out of your sewing machine.  Go do it...do it now...before it gets clogged up!

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

Jennifer

Mother's Day & a Quiltmaker Giveaway!

Hello!  I hope everyone had a happy Mother's Day!  I did here.  I talked to my Mother on the phone.  And I thought about how thankful I am to be a mother to my three boys, Gavin, Levi, and Trent.  I didn't have to cook anything.  Plus I got a nice card from my husband, and a "handmade" hand-print card from Levi, and some quilty notecards, a wreath ornament made from tiny yo-yo's, and some chocolate - Yum!  It was a pretty nice day!

Wedding Chapel Windows Quilt

Here's another photo of my Wedding Chapel Windows Quilt that I made using some of the tester blocks I made for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 5.  This magazine is available now!  If you don't have a copy, go out and get one...right now!  If you already own a copy of this source of eye candy and quilty goodness, you can enter Quiltmaker's contest to win some of the designer's blocks.  Click on this link for more details.

http://www.quiltmaker.com/contests/quiltmakers-100-blocks-contest.html

 Here are a few new quilty magnets I made recently.

Two of them are Mariner's Compass style blocks.

And two of them are Flying Geese style.  I just love Flying Geese.  I use them in a lot of my quilts.

If you place an order with the shop, Curlicue Creations, I will include one of my magnets as a "thank you" with your purchase.

Here are some vintage dress patterns I just added to the shop last week.  An 80's style office dress.

This pattern sews up a whole wardrobe, with a hoodie style jacket, pants, shirt in two lengths, dress in two lengths, and a skirt.

Also this easy, breezy jumpsuit.  It looks super comfortable to wear, but it's still a little bit dressy.

I have two whole drawers full of vintage patterns, some dating back to the 1940's that I'm working on adding to the shop.  Check the Vintage Dress Pattern section of the shop often for upcoming additions.

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer

Knitting Update

This past Monday, I made it to the Knitting at the Library group.  And this time I actually brought my knitting with me!  (At the last meeting I did some hand-quilting on the Fourth of July Geese quilt instead)  So, here's a photo of my progress on the first fingerless glove.

Not too bad, eh?  I'm using a pattern by Renee Rigdon, "Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers" from the Stitch 'N Bitch Nation book, by Debbie Stoller.  What I am loving about this pattern is it uses a cable needle to form the design, but it's such a random look that if I mess it up, even I won't know!  I'm only 5 rounds away from the thumb, my next challenge.  We'll see how that goes.

In the shop this week, I'm adding some dress patterns, both modern and vintage, like this great 60's  dress and coat.  It's easy to make, and though the envelope is a little torn, the pattern pieces and instructions are uncut and in excellent condition.  Look for this pattern and more in the Curlicue Creations Shop today.

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer

Vintage Shopping & Sewing Museum Collection

Lucky, lucky, me.  My husband is always on the lookout for new sewing items for my collection.  Here are some new additions he recently brought home.  Above is a sewing machine music box.  It plays "Home Sweet Home".  Adorable, and apparently a bit rare.  I couldn't find one like it on the internet, however, there is a large variety of sewing machine music boxes out there!  I was surprised.  It is shown sitting on one of three Twist and Shout blocks I made at Quarter Seamers on Monday night.

He also brought home three quilting books for my library.  All books that I didn't already have - yay!  The first is 60 Machine Quilting Patterns by Pat Holly and Sue Nickels.  I am reading this one.  I hope it will help me in my quest to improve my machine quilting skills.
 

The second book is Fast Patch Kids' Quilts by Anita Hallock and Betsy Hallock Heath, sisters, I think.  Very cute designs for kids in here.

The third book is Quick Quilts from the Heart by Liz Porter and Marianne Fons.  If this isn't a classic in the quilting world already, it will be someday.  It was printed in 1994, so it is kinda vintage.  Kinda, sorta.  There are some really beautiful, classic quilts in here.  Fun to look at.

And that was it.  He's out shopping again right now.  I hope he brings me home a cookie.  Really, I do.

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

Jennifer