I Can Be Influenced

I have joined a block exchange at my quilt guild which is a group of ladies who each put together the materials for a specific block.  Each month, we switch projects.  So, at the end you have sewn blocks for everyone in the group and you have a collection of blocks sewn on your project.  When I was putting together a bag for my project, I couldn’t figure out how blocks should get stored so they stay flat and nice.  Then, I saw someone’s block folder and a light bulb went off.

I went looking for a pattern and could not find one.  When has that stopped me?  I woke up on Saturday morning to more snow/rain and decided to make the block folder and submit it to Project Quilting.  The theme this week for Project Quilting is Team Colors.  I looked at fabric and determined that I had enough of a red to make a Block Folder with a University of Wisconsin theme. 

I used a piece of foam display board to give the block folder stability to keep my blocks flat.  I basically made two sleeves, quilted one end, slid the foam board into one end and attached the two pieces together.

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What do I like?

It worked!!  I had more than one doubt that my design would come together.  I like the size.  I like the handles, just not where I put them.  The foam board works really well.  It is light and gives a nice surface.  I like the letters and how quickly you can do letters if you have HTV vinyl and a cutter.  That was a 15 minute task.

What I’m not thrilled with?

The handles should be on the side so when you carry it by the handles the blocks can’t slide out.  The sides need something so it is not just open.  I don’t think Velcro would do it, maybe some kind of wing design?

For folks coming from Project Quilting:
I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the US.  In the 1970s, as a teenage girl, I decided to get a chemical engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin (don't ask me what I was thinking...).  My folder ended up being 14 3/4 inch x 14 3/4 inch without the handles.  I belong to a quilt guild and a friend there has been advertising Project Quilting Challenges and I decided to play on another snowy Saturday (3rd one in a row).

Christmas Fabric that Keeps Repeating

I have table runner #4 from a wonderful print I purchased several years ago.  Two runners were made exclusively with this fabric.  Two runners were made using coordinating fabric to offset the printed designs.  This is the second one using coordinating fabric.

More Birthday Cards

I needed more birthday cards in June.  I hunted up another flower stamp and made three more hand colored card.  This is feeling like a formula.  I think it is a successful formula for making quick cards.

Heat Activated Vinyl for a Tote

Heat activated vinyl (HAV) is the stuff that is used to make designs on t-shirts.  You can buy a roll of 12 inch wide material in a variety of colors.  I downloaded a design from the Silhouette store and cut it on my Silhouette Cameo.  The tote bag is a give away from the makeup company Lacome.  I don’t remember if I got the bag when making a Lacome purchase or if I picked it up at a resale shop.  It is fabric with vinyl trim.  All I did was use my iron to attach the design to the tote.  I was so worried about the vinyl sticking to the tote, I forgot to worry about scorching the fabric of the tote.  It was close.  Actually the design attached really easily.

Ironing Pads

Someone came up with felting wool to make ironing pads.  It’s a good thought.  Wool holds the heat and cotton fabric gets nice sharp creases.  These pads are not cheap. 

I decided I wanted a portable ironing pad, something to use in addition to my traditional ironing board.  My solution was to buy a winter coat at a resale shop.  I put heavy duck twill on the other side.  That fabric I bought at the Wisconsin Quilt Museum’s rummage sale for 50 cents.  I got two ironing pads out of the coat – one for me and one for Beth. 

September Thank You Cards

I had a really good 60th birthday.  I was treated to dinner and a performance of West Side Story.  I needed a couple of thank you cards.  I tried something different.  These are tri-fold cards.  I like how easy and quick they were to do.

Card #1:  Front

Card #1:  Inside

Card #1:  Back

Card #2:  Front

Card #2:  Inside

Card #2:  Back

Halloween Cards 2019

This year I simply added more weird bits to the collection I had and did collage cards.  These go really quick.  The backgrounds are fabric.

Nancy