In all it’s glory, I present to you my newest pattern, Stargazing.
Stargazing has a special place in my heart. This quilt was my first published pattern, appearing in Make Modern Issue #20 in 2018. Then it became the first quilt that I submitted and was accepted into a national quilt show! Which then led to my first time going to AQS Paducah.
So many firsts.
I’ve remade it using Speckled fabric from Ruby Star Society. There are 17 colors to create the rainbow of the stars.
The pattern gives instruction on how to recreate this quilt and a coloring sheet so you can make it your own. It is all labelled for ease of organization.
Instructions include step by step diagrams on how to create two at a time half square triangles and quilt assembly.
Oh, I am so excited that is finally released!!!
To celebrate the release weekend, the pattern is 25% off!!!! Monday, December 13th is when it will be listed at full price of $10. You can find the pattern on my Etsy Shop, ShoppeLovinglyLissa.
It went very well!!! Want to see some before and after photos? (My design wall has a quilt on it now, so please ignore the background)
RESUME
I finished quilting and bound one quilt, bound another quilt, and buried threads on a third!!! One left to quilt and finish and one left to bind. Not bad!!!
REWORK
No change here. I pulled from my orphan block pile and reworked some of those. I just didn’t feel inspired with these two yet.
REHOME
WOOT WOOT!! This pile is gone! all but one are kid size quilts. A local guild I used to belong to makes and donates kid quilts, so I reached out to them to see if they would finish these off and they said yes! The last one is a charity quilt top that I received to make from somewhere, but have had so long I don’t know where to return it to. I figured it could go with these and that would be okay.
All in all I think I had a very successful UFOvember. How did you do?
Unfinished Objects, we all got them. I have a whole shelf dedicated to them. Hell, I got a Costco membership *just* so I can purchase some storage containers for them.
When I heard about Geeky Bobbin’s UFOvember I was all in. When she asked me to participate in the blog hop as well, I said “I got this.”
I was just finishing up the Quiltcon deadline and the Quilt Concert Series and took a look around my studio. It was a Disaster. I don’t pick up while working on a project, and since I always have multiple going at a time my work space can get overwhelmed very easily.
That is where I started. Cleaning up and taking inventory. When the day was done I had a beautiful studio again and these three piles.
And this didn’t even touch the UFO shelf I had. The Resume Pile is easy enough, it’s a pile of quilts that just need to be finished. One of them just needs threads buried. The Rework pile I am a little lost on what to do. There is one quilt I finished and didn’t like at all. I took the binding off and started un-quilting it, and that’s as far as I got. The other quilt is basted, but I’m not inspired to finish it as a quilt. The Rehome pile is a number of baby and child quilts I made when I was perfecting and learning new techniques. Not all are finished, but they are close. I plan to reach out to a local guild that donates kid’s quilts to see if anyone will take them and finish them.
Today, I want to talk about Rework. We all have a pile of quilt tops and blocks that we just aren’t happy with but don’t know what to do with them. I couldn’t think of how to rework the pile above yet, and that’s okay. We don’t always have answers right away and that’s what this blog hop is here to help with. In this case I decided to the aforementioned UFO shelf and pull out a box of orphan blocks.
My orphan blocks are extra blocks I’ve made that didn’t work in a quilt, test blocks for new patterns and maybe ones that I made a mistake on but they still can be useful. I wanted something that would just take me an afternoon and deplete the pile at least a little bit. I rummaged through and grabbed a few that inspired me.
Now for the project.
Let’s turn these blocks into cards!!!!!
The only thing I purchased for this project was some blank 5″ x 7″ cards and envelopes. I started with the mini blocks on the right and some scrapbook paper to create a frame for them. A little glue to hold them in place and then some machine stitching and here they are!
Next up was part of a leftover Dresden Plate from who knows when. I split it into two parts to make some funky hearts. Matching thread and a straight stitch and done!
Finally is a pile of string blocks I have. Now I really put a little extra into these. I cut them into strips and did a bit of weaving and rearranging. No real plan, just let the flow take me. I stitched them down a variety of ways too. I truly just let myself play with these and enjoy myself. I let the edges of the fabric hang over the card edge until I was done stitching them on and then trimmed to the card edge.
And there you have it!!! I have a few less orphan blocks in the box and now a nice set of cards that I can use, or put together into a gift for someone. Oh, I just thought of that while I was typing. Why not make a set of ten or so for that friend you have that loves to send cards?
This was really relaxing and what I like to consider mindless play. And it really helps spark your creativity. I may get myself more blank cards and just go for it whenever my sew-jo is feeling a bit low
UFOvember is a month long series dedicated to help diminish UFO sightings in your space! Please head to all these wonderful Blogs and check out more ideas to inspire you in your endeavors!!!!
Oh, who can it be? We had three wonderful grand prizes for the Quilt Concert Series. Cassandra and I used a random number generator to choose three lucky winners. I cannot wait to share who they are.
But first…
Did you miss out on the Quilt Concert? The entire pattern is now available at Shoppe Lovingly Lissa with a 15% discount through Sunday, November 7th!!!!
Let’s continue the applause for these Quilt Concert Goers and their wonderful First Notes quilts!
Let’s hear it for Tamara, Leayne, Carla, Marti, Birgit, Denise, Scot, Laura, Jane, Mimi, Connie, Rose, Betty, Angela, Cathy, Gayle, Carrie, Allison, Linda, Libby, Elizabeth, Jeny, Anne, and Jill!!!!!!!!
And now, for the moment you have been waiting for!
The Winners!!!
Grand Prize #3, (1) 6 month subscription to Make Modern Magazine from Make Modern Magazine goes to…
Denise N.
Grand Prize #2, (1) Oliso mini maker iron from Oliso and (1) set of 3 Sewfine Thread Gloss from Sewfine goes to…
Denise S.
And last but not least, Grand Prize #1, (1) curated 5 piece fat quarter bundle from Dabble and Stitch, (1) Carolyn Friedlander fat quarter bundle from Sew to Speak, (1) $50 gift card to Red Rooster Quilts and (1) queen size wool batting from Hobbs Batting goes to…
Laura C.
Thank you, everyone, for such a wonderful Quilt Along!!
Cassandra and I are prepping all the thank you gifts to everyone who sent us a photo of their quilt. We will be getting those out to you before the end of the month. Please be patient, there’s quite a bit of work going into this, and the wait will be worth it.
Today I’m starting to share some of the First Note Quilt tops that have been sent to us. I hope you enjoy them. Keep checking back as it will take me more than one blog post to get through them all!!!!
Appearing tonight is Debbie Y, Brenda S, Debra F, Mary M, Denise E, Cheryl H, Christy C, Catherine R, Jane A, Denise N, Connie D, Maria Clauda P, Victoria C, Michelle C, Megan F, Lauren R, Helen W, and Valerie R. Take a bow everyone!!!
Fall Cleaning.
For the month of November I will be joining The Geeky Bobbin in UFOvember. (don’t ask me how to pronounce it though) Starting November 1st I will be joining a long list of fellow bloggers in finishing up some unfinished projects! The first week is probably the easiest and the hardest. INVENTORY!!!! I already did a quick assessment of what is on my UFO shelf and it was overwhelming. I hope to get at least one of those boxes emptied by the end of the month.
You know the nearer your destination the more you’re just basting away.
Always a little earworm for y’all!
Now that First Notes quilt tops are popping up all over the place, I want to share how I baste my quilts. I was dying crawling all over the floor, and I don’t remember where I saw this, but I grabbed onto the idea and use it all the time.
You will need a good size table, something you don’t mind pin scratches on, and clamps. I found these at Lowe’s for a couple bucks each. They’re great for my small hands, and have an easy release latch.
Find the center of your backing fabric and center it on your table, right side down. Place one clamp in the middle of the long edge of the table, then head to the opposite side of the table. Smooth your fabric towards you, do not pull tight, and clamp it to the table. Repeat this around the table, using as many clamps as necessary. For my 5 foot table I use three clamps on each long side.
Find the center of your batting and lay it gently over the backing and clamps. If your batting has a scrim, make sure the scrim side is facing the backing.
And now lay your quilt top on top of the batting, right side up. Check the sides draping around the table and make sure there is batting and backing extending past your quilt top. Starting in the center, gently smooth the quilt outwards and then start pinning. I have this great handy dandy Kwik Klip tool that helps me pin and unpin when needed. More on that later in the post.
I like to pin so that when I lay my hand on the quilt it touches about 4 pins.
Now you have pinned the entire top that is on the table, but there is more quilt hanging down the sides!! What to do? No worries, I’ve got you covered.
Unclamp all the clamps on the table. Just reach under the top and batting and unclamp it. Then you want to slide the entire quilt sandwich to one side of the table. Leave just a small pinned area at the edge of the table and the rest of the table will be unpinned area. Starting at the center of the pinned side, clamp the whole sandwich to the table.
Gently fold back the unpinned top and batting, leaving the backing on the table. Be careful the weight of the top and batting doesn’t pull on the backing. Smooth the backing and clamp it to the table.
Fold the batting back over the table and smooth it out, then repeat with the quilt top. You can clamp the sides if need be.
Starting at the center continue pinning the quilt top. When you have finished this section, rotate and repeat until the entire quilt top is pin basted.
This has saved my knees and back from complete torture.
Another little hint I will give you. If you are planning on an intense quilting design on the quilt and the pins are going to be a problem, purchase some wash away thread. Take the pin basted quilt sandwich to your machine and quilt a large meander using the wash away thread. Now you can remove all the pins and add your quilting designs. The wash away basting thread does just that, it washes away. (do NOT under any circumstance lick the end of the thread so you can thread the needle, LOL). I use Superior Vanish thread.
I want to share with you the Handy Dandy tool I mentioned earlier. It is called Kwik Klip. I LOVE this tool and will not baste without it.
I created a little video to show you how it works.
What do you think? Pretty cool, huh? Even cooler is that Paula Jean Creations is sending one U.S. Quilt Concert Goer a Kwik Klip!!
Giveaway Rules
In order to enter for the prize drawing you must do the following
1-post a photo of your finished First Notes flimsy (a flimsy is just the top, no quilting required) on Instagram using a public Instagram account by 11:59 Eastern on Thursday, October 28th, 2021 (if you don’t want to make your primary account public, you can always create a second, public account to use for this quilt along and other projects like this) IF YOU HAVE ALREADY POSTED YOUR FIRST NOTES QUILT TOP, YOU ARE ALL SET HERE.
3- include the hashtags #quiltconcert2021 and #quiltconcertquilttop
4- Write in your post the country you live in. <——do not forget this!!!
Winners will be selected by random drawing and will be contacted via Instagram direct message by Saturday, October 30th, 2021. The winner must claim their prize by responding to the message with their mailing address by 11:59pm on Monday, November 1st 2021. If the prize is not claimed at that time, we will select an alternate winner.
(This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.)
GRAND PRIZES!!
We have been able to put together THREE GRAND PRIZES for the Quilt Concert 2021 series.
Grand Prize #1 open to all U.S. residents includes (1) curated 5 piece fat quarter bundle from Dabble and Stitch, (1) Carolyn Friedlander fat quarter bundle from Sew to Speak, (1) $50 gift card to Red Rooster Quilts and (1) queen size wool batting from Hobbs Batting
Grand Prize #2 open to all U.S. and Canadian residents included (1) Oliso mini maker iron from Oliso and (1) set of 3 Sewfine Thread Gloss from Sewfine.
Grand prize #3 open Worldwide includes (1) 6 month subscription to Make Modern Magazine from Make Modern Magazine.
ALL CONCERT GOERS WHO ENTER will also receive a small prize from Cassandra and I.
To enter you must fill out this google form. It will ask for your name, address and a photo of your quilt top, along with permission for us to use that photo in various marketing. You do not have to have an Instagram to enter.
I was sewing a new First Notes quilt along with all of you these past four months, and here it is! I used a Tula Pink fabric that I ice dyed as my main print and added some bold solids for the rest. I think it looks pretty amazing.
Okay, now for some important news. We still have GIVEAWAYS to talk about, plus the GRAND PRIZES!!! So please read through all this carefully.
Are you missing a block? Head to The Not So Dramatic Life and Shoppe Lovingly Lissa to purchase it for $2. We will be removing all the patterns from our shops on October 31st, so do no delay if you need one!
This week’s Sponsors and weekly Giveaway
We have two sponsors again this week. The incomparable Kid Giddy will send one pdf download of her Sew Plush Planner pattern to a Concert Goer and The Electric Quilt Company is sending a copy of Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns to a U.S. Resident Concert Goer.
The Encyclopedia was our resource in finding blocks for the Quilt Concert. I have two editions of this book and they’re usually within hand’s reach whenever I am designing, and sometimes just for flipping through.
Now, if you have already posted your First Notes Flimsy on Instagram you are already entered! Just make sure you follow @kidgiddy and @theelectricquiltcomany AND that you included what country you live in.
Everyone else here are the rules…
Giveaway Rules
In order to enter for the prize drawing you must do the following
1-post a photo of your finished First Notes flimsy (a flimsy is just the top, no quilting required) on Instagram using a public Instagram account by 11:59 Eastern on Thursday, October 21th, 2021 (if you don’t want to make your primary account public, you can always create a second, public account to use for this quilt along and other projects like this)
3- include the hashtags #quiltconcert2021 and #quiltconcertquilttop
4- Write in your post the country you live in. <——do not forget this!!!
Winners will be selected by random drawing and will be contacted via Instagram direct message by Saturday, October 23th, 2021. The winner must claim their prize by responding to the message with their mailing address by 11:59pm on Monday, October 25th, 2021. If the prize is not claimed at that time, we will select an alternate winner.
(This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.)
GRAND PRIZES!!
We have been able to put together THREE GRAND PRIZES for the Quilt Concert 2021 series.
Grand Prize #1 open to all U.S. residents includes (1) curated 5 piece fat quarter bundle from Dabble and Stitch, (1) Carolyn Friedlander fat quarter bundle from Sew to Speak, (1) $50 gift card to Red Rooster Quilts and (1) queen size wool batting from Hobbs Batting
Grand Prize #2 open to all U.S. and Canadian residents included (1) Oliso mini maker iron from Oliso and (1) set of 3 Sewfine Thread Gloss from Sewfine.
Grand prize #3 open Worldwide includes (1) 6 month subscription to Make Modern Magazine from Make Modern Magazine.
ALL CONCERT GOERS WHO ENTER will also receive a small prize from Cassandra and I.
To enter you must fill out this google form. It will ask for your name, address and a photo of your quilt top, along with permission for us to use that photo in various marketing. You do not have to have an Instagram to enter.
If you have made more than 1 quilt top, please feel free to fill out a separate entry for each one.
Entries must be received by midnight (Eastern Time) October 28.
Winners will be chosen and notified around the first week of November.
Prize from Cassandra and I will be mailed out mid to late November.
PJ Jam Zoom Party!
The party ends on Friday, October 22nd. Stop in and sew/chat with us! We love meeting our Concert Goers. The zoom link is my weekly newsletter, sign up below!
This is it! Let’s put First Notes together. It really is a simple last step with this pattern, in fact I’ve noticed a few Concert Goers already have theirs together without the pattern.
Don’t give up if you are missing blocks tho! We have the next few weeks set aside for finishing up any blocks as well as the flimsy (AKA a quilt top). And all the blocks are available in our Etsy Shops, The Not So Dramatic Life and Shoppe Lovingly Lissa.
Also new to my shop this week is the Hollyhock Potholder Pattern!!! If you are brand new to the paper piecing technique, this is the pattern for you!!! I have step by step and detailed diagrams to help you create your first Paper Pieced block. And don’t be frightened by the odd angles for binding, because I have included step by step and detailed diagrams for that as well! The Hollyhock pattern is on sale for the month of October, so grab it soon!
I love all the prints I used in this version and I can’t wait to put together the ice dye version I’ve been making along with all the rest of the Concert Goers since June.
Sponsor and Giveaway Prize
Have you ever been to Paducah, Kentucky? The American Quilter’s Society has a very large, very popular Quilt Show there every spring. It’s also the home of the National Quilt Museum. Last, but not least, you can lose yourself at the largest quilt shop in America, Hancock’s of Paducah.
We are thrilled this week to introduce Hancock’s of Paducah as a Quilt Concert Sponsor. One extremely lucky Concert Goer will receive a $100 giftcard from Hancock’s. You’ll be all set to get your fabric for next year’s Quilt Concert Series!!!
Giveaway Rules
This week’s prize is open to residents of the United States.
In order to enter for the prize drawing you must do the following
1-post a photo of your finished First Notes flimsy (a flimsy is just the top, no quilting required) on Instagram using a public Instagram account by 11:59 Eastern on Thursday, October 14th, 2021 (if you don’t want to make your primary account public, you can always create a second, public account to use for this quilt along and other projects like this)
3- include the hashtags #quiltconcert2021 and #quiltconcertquilttop
4- Write in your post the country you live in. <——do not forget this!!!
Winners will be selected by random drawing and will be contacted via Instagram direct message by Saturday, October 9th, 2021. The winner must claim their prize by responding to the message with their mailing address by 11:59pm on Monday, October 11th, 2021. If the prize is not claimed at that time, we will select an alternate winner.
(This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.)
Pottery Class update
My completed face pot came home today!! It’s hard to see all the nuances of the glaze in a photo, but it’s still pretty cool.
Today we did some slab work. My first is this “pint glass tumbler” that currently looks more like a vase. If I ever drink my ice tea out of it remains to be seen. Then I made the base of this pumpkin that looks fabulous! I have one more slab that I laid over a rectangle dish to give it shape, but it wasn’t dry enough for me to take off and photo before class was over.
It’s funny that I anticipated the tumbler being easy and the pumpkin being a disaster and it’s looking like its going to turn out the opposite!
I am falling in love with making pottery! I just finished my third class today where we painted on the glaze. Once again I only had time to work on 2 pieces, luckily it was 2 different ones than last week. I am especially in love with my “Creepy Face” pot. It really freaks my daughter out already! The glaze looks like a plain red here, but after firing it will be a mix of very glossy colors. The name of the color is Tiger Eyes, if that helps you envision it. It does make me think of a tiger eye stone.
So, how long until I can convince my family to let me turn the garage into a pottery studio? I’ve already taken over the basement for my quilting studio, but I cannot mix pottery dust with all my fabrics!
Pinwheel Patchwork Cushion Cover
Okay, so this week’s block name may not invoke a song, but isn’t it poetic with all that alliteration?
Oh my goodness, though! I cannot believe we have made it to October and the final block of First Notes! It’s not the end of the Quilt Concert, don’t worry!!! We still have a few weeks to catch up and put together the quilt top, but our Concert is winding down.
This week’s Sponsor is Hobbs Batting. Hobbs has been a wonderful supporter of the Quilt Concert and honestly, it’s the best batting around. I use Hobbs all the time now. The prize this week is a queen cotton batting with scrim. I haven’t tried it on a large quilt yet, but it is on my list.
My favorite batting is Tuscany Wool and Cotton Supreme. I also have a fondness for the Thermore in some projects. One of these days I’ll do a whole post on different batts, I do have a pile of sample batts from Hobbs that I’ve quilted up to see the differences and help me decide which one to use in a quilt. If you ever are at a quilt show and Hobbs Batting is there, head to that table and buy the sample pack.
Giveaway Rules
In order to enter for the prize drawing you must do the following
1-post a photo of your Pinwheel Patchwork Cushion cover block on Instagram using a public Instagram account by 11:59 Eastern on Thursday, October 7th, 2021 (if you don’t want to make your primary account public, you can always create a second, public account to use for this quilt along and other projects like this)
3- include the hashtags #quiltconcert2021 and #quiltconcertblock16
4- Write in your post the country you live in. <——do not forget this!!!
Winners will be selected by random drawing and will be contacted via Instagram direct message by Saturday, October 9th, 2021. The winner must claim their prize by responding to the message with their mailing address by 11:59pm on Monday, October 11th, 2021. If the prize is not claimed at that time, we will select an alternate winner.
(This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.)
I feel a bit wayward this week. I’m here, I’m there, the weather is all over the place, and time is just flying by.
Seriously, I can’t believe the season has changed, the temperature nosedived about 40 degrees, and we are on the second to last block of the Quilt Concert!!
Although, as the sew-in ends many other things are starting. The Potholder Swap sign ups are still open and I look forward to seeing what everyone makes for their partners. And did I mention that Hancock’s of Paducah is sponsoring it? Isn’t that freaking the bomb? Join in while you still can! The sign up form is on the Swap Info Page.
I started taking pottery classes. I’ve always wanted to learn how to throw pottery on a wheel and create a simple mug. Currently my simple mug is lopsided with a handle that isn’t straight either, but I’ll be damned if I don’t drink out of it.
In a few weeks I’ll also be going to a glass blowing class. I’ve actually done this a few times now, as well as taken a beginner’s course in glass bead making. I just need to win the lottery so I can just create stuff all the time!
I don’t know what it is about the creating and making that brings me such joy. In grad school I did various designs for theatre, but it was much more fun making those designs come to life. I do know it’s amazingly helpful to have this outlet as the days get shorter and colder.
Well, enough about me. I know you all came here for Block 15 of the Quilt Concert Series, so lets get to that. Remember, previous blocks can be purchased at The Not So Dramatic Life and Shoppe Lovingly, Lissa. We will have 2 weeks to catch up and complete your quilt top before the Quilt Along ends.
So, here is a pretty cool sponsor. Sewfine Thread Gloss. It’s pretty amazing stuff. Any thread that I use for any type of handwork, whether it be binding, applique, embroidery, or Sashiko. First thing I do is pull it through a tin of Sewfine. It prevents the thread from tangling up and pulls so much smoother through fabric. I think it even helps strengthen the Invisifil thread I’ve been using to applique lately. (Did you know I once tried to thread my own hair on a needle thinking it was the length of Invisifil I had just cut?)
Plus it smells beautiful. I was very wary of using it because I avoid scented everything. But I really love the tins I bought at Quiltcon Together this past year. I have Smash and Pink Macaroon. I was sent a mini tin of Pina Colada as a special gift in that order and it wound up being my favorite of the three.
This week Sewfine will send a winner from the Quilt Concert Series three tins of thread gloss. Who will that lucky, lucky person be? The winner must reside in the United States or Canada to receive the prize.
Giveaway Rules
In order to enter for the prize drawing you must do the following
1-post a photo of your Wayward block on Instagram using a public Instagram account by 11:59 Eastern on Thursday, September 30, 2021 (if you don’t want to make your primary account public, you can always create a second, public account to use for this quilt along and other projects like this)
3- include the hashtags #quiltconcertseries2021 and #quiltconcertblock15
4- Write in your post the country you live in.
Winners will be selected by random drawing and will be contacted via Instagram direct message by Saturday, October 2nd, 2021. The winner must claim their prize by responding to the message with their mailing address by 11:59pm on Monday, October 4th, 2021. If the prize is not claimed at that time, we will select an alternate winner.
(This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.)
