Rescue No. 1 Block for Trent's Quilt

Isn't this cute?  It's block #597 from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 6.  Block design by Denise Starck.

Here's how it went:

This block has a LOT of little pieces.  68, if I counted correctly.  I was concerned about keeping them all straight without marking each one.  I solved this problem by cutting out some of the pieces, and sticking them to my design wall, in the same order as the cutting instructions in the magazine.

Next, I sewed some of the units together.

Here you can see the ladder with the little bucket on the end.

It's the cab!

At this point, I stopped sewing and cut out the remaining pieces, again sticking them to the design wall in order.

It's starting to look like a real fire truck!

Ready for some wheels....

Ta-da!

See how it goes with the Mixmaster?  They are both designed by Denise Starck.  I'm sure I'll be sewing the School Bus block, too.

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

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

Giving Thanks Blog Hop Winner!

A great big congratulations to Barbara Woods of Summerville,Georgia!  She was selected by random number generator as the winner of this lovely issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 8.  I'll get that out to you soon, Barbara!

Thank you, everyone for your captivating comments!  It was delightful reading and appreciating what you are thankful for.  It also made me think about all of the people and things in my life that I am thankful for.  

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

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

A Snow Day Block for Trent

The fourth block Trent selected for his quilt is "Snow Day".

"Snow Day" is block #509, from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 6.

Block design by Denise Russart.

Before embroidering the sled's rope, it looks like a big rock rolling down the hill!

A close up of the zig-zag stitching around the trees.

Here's the finished block.  On to the next one!

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

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

100 Blocks for Trent

My 3 year old son, Trent just loves to look at the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazines and pick out the blocks he wants me to sew for him.  I finally got around to sewing a few blocks for him when issue #8 came out.  I'm making him a special quilt with his favorite blocks.  Here's what I've sewn so far.

Mixmaster, Block #797, from issue #8.  Block design by Denise Starck.

Rollin' Along, Block #717, from issue #8.  Block design by Kristy Wolf.

Rubber Duckie, Block #246, from issue #3.  Block design by Heidi Pridemore.

The latest issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 8 is on sale now.  I have a few copies available in the Curlicue Creations online shop, here:  Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 8.

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

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

Giving Thanks with the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop!

Hello!  Welcome to my little segment of the Quilting Gallery Giving Thanks blog hop.  If you're a regular reader of my blog - thanks so much!  I'm thankful for all of you, your terrific comments, and suggestions.  You make me smile.

 If this is your first time visiting Curlicue Creations, welcome!  Here's a sampling of what I write about on my blog:  One of the subjects I write about is my ever growing vintage sewing collection, like my 1937 and 1951 featherweights (shown above), my iron collection, and other sewing nostalgia I come across in my vintage shopping forays.

We are also in the middle of a Star Block of the Month tutorial series.  Shadow Star block shown above.  To see all the tutorials, click on the Star Block of the Month Tutorials tab at the top of this page.  Join me on December 1st for the next block, Flying Star.

I'm a quilt pattern designer.  I sell my patterns in my online shop, Curlicue Creations.  Get the inside scoop about new patterns here first.  Chickens in the Kitchen Quilted Trivet, shown above.  I'm currently running a special in the shop, ten percent off any purchase of $10.00 or more with coupon code HOLIDAY13 at the checkout.

I also do quilt designs for magazines.  Above is my most recent, Shadow Play, block #713 from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 8.

Which brings me to my giveaway!  I'll be giving away one copy of  Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 8.  I love this issue so much that I'm already busy, sewing some of the blocks by other designers.  Each block is so unique - there is truly something for everyone.

To win a copy, I'd like to know what you are thankful for in your life.  Just leave me a comment below, and I'll choose a winner at random after the blog hop.  Comments will be open through November 26th and I know I have readers from all over the world, so yes, everyone is welcome to enter. Please be sure I have a way to contact you. 

Click the above icon to return to the Blog Hop Party!

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

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

What is Craftsy?

What is Craftsy? Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, and more.  Behind the Scenes: The Making of a CraftsyClass Before filming even begins, hours and hours are spent determining what content will be covered in each class, and how to best teach specific techniques to the camera. Instructors work with an instructional designer to create an in-depth outline of each lesson, and decide how to best prepare props or “step-outs” that show what your project should like at different steps. Instead of a scripted class, instructors follow their outlines on camera to create an authentic and engaging teaching experience. Most Craftsy classes are filmed in one of five Craftsy studios in Denver, CO, assuring that every part of the production process goes off without a hitch. They fly in instructors from all over the world to spend several days filming, then spend several weeks turning hours of footage into a two to three hour class experience that has been watched, rewatched, and reviewed by industry experts. The final result is an HD-quality video that takes you in-depth into specific topics in any given craft category- from cooking and fine art to sewing and knitting.  What IS the Craftsy experience? Craftsy classes are designed to have all the benefits of an in-person class, with none of the drawbacks. Available online and on-demand, you always have world-class instructors at the tip of your fingers. You can retake the class as many times as you want, and the 30-second repeat feature allows you to watch the same section over and over again until you get every technique just right. Watching a Craftsy class is like having a first-row seat with some of the best instructors in the world. Even better, classes have a 100% money-back guarantee. Try online learning today with a free mini-class from Craftsy! Choose from 23 Free Craftsy Classes ranging from drawing and painting to sewing and quilting, from knitting to cake decorating and more.

Monster Cat!

Every week Trent and I go to the public library for story time.  We usually look at the new books, do a few puzzles, sing a few songs and listen to a few stories.  Ms. Patti & Ms. Barbara, the children's librarians, are wonderful!  

Recently, Trent spied "Knitted Cats and Kittens" by Sue Stratford in the new section.  He began his campaign to convince me to check out this book and make a "knitty kitty" (his title for the book).  I was in the middle of two quilting deadline projects, but he campaigned hard for the "knitty kitties", and a few days after the quilting finishes we checked out the knitting book.

Fortunately for me, he chose the "Monster Cat". I'm not a very accomplished knitter, so I was thrilled to see the easy, straightforward directions.  It's mainly stockinette stitch - Yay!  Plus, it's a "monster", so it's not supposed to be perfect either.

Isn't he cute, peeking over the top of his kitty?  Monster Cat seems to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality.  One minute he's purring and all lovey-dovey, the next he's jumping and meowing crazy all over you.  Trent loves him.

Of course, this week I'm knitting a "Monster Cat" for Levi.  He wants one, too.  A green one, because, as he put it, "Monsters are green."

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

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas