patchwork crafts, quilt patterns for beginners, tutorials, free patterns

Always Cut the Big Pieces First

posse boss — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:45 +0000

I think that this is one lesson that I have a hard time remembering— because I did it again.

I cut the small pieces first and now, yup…..I don't have enough for the large blocks.

I new better- didn't I?

Of course—- I bought the fabric when I was up in Rupert Idaho and cut all the salvages off like a good little girl. ugh. See the issue?

So, now I carry around one block in the purse……just in case I stumble upon some brown that just might work.

It is one block from the quilt I am working on from Material Obsession. Can't wait to show it off!!! But, you'll just have to wait till the hunt is over…and the piecing can continue.

Hiding my Finds

posse boss — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:00:43 +0000

I have been a naughty girl lately and haven't shared my garage sale goodies—-

So, before I stock up again on the weekend I thought I'd share them. Ok. fine. It's really like- before they get 'put away' and lost forever.

A most lovely large pile of 14" X 14" square of designer weight samples.

I must make a quilt out of them for sure— great for a picnic something.

Nice little collection of buttons and a rotary-

6 yards of Wool!!! I am going to piece them into a large blanket so it will fit our bed in the winter.

All of our other woolies shrink when bodies get under them ?

Vintage Table Cloths and some embroideries–

Some super cute pre-made goodies:

I am thinking that a few of these might turn into a pattern or tutorial—

look how cute these little crochet cats are!!!!

She is holding a hat and he is holding a fish. hee hee.

So far, these little girls are my favorite:

I {heart} Garage Sales.

Vote for Focus Friday

posse boss — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:11:11 +0000

Just thought I'd point out that there is a new poll up.

See it on the right? ———————————->>>>>>

Go ahead and vote for the next Focus Friday subject.

Here are the choices:

* Sewing with Vintage Fabric {sheets, pillowcases, whatever else you find at the garage sales or thrift stores}

* Sewing with Feed Sacks

* Book: Patchwork & Quilted Gifts

This is the last week for Peanuts Travels. She hasn't gone far! So Make and Take her on your little trips. Let's see if she can make it around the world.

Focus Friday Peanuts Travels Week 4

posse boss — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:36:36 +0000

Today we continue our journey with Peanut!!!

We will continue to add to the link list— So get making her

{she is $3.00 epattern}

Water Bottle Make over Tutorial

posse boss — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

This has been on my to-do list for a bit, but I couldn't find the right supplies. Until Saturday…… I spotted it in Joann's and jumped for joy!!!

I think that this is one of the simplest tutorials I have ever done—- but it is totally cute!

So here are your materials you need:

water bottles
crafty cute tape with a design or deco on it– Fancy That is the maker of the one I found.
tags and ribbon

Step 1) Remove label from water bottle

Step 2) Wrap that cute new tape around the bottle. {same area as the old label}

Step 3) Make a cute tag. Hang it with some raffia, ribbon, string, hemp whatever….something cute like.

Step 4) Hand out at a party, Give as Thank You's, or just keep them all for yourself. You deserve to drink from something cute.

Isn't it just the cutest? Who cares about those old labels— water from the tahisian wells or whatever. I want cutesie— somethings got to look good when I am sweating and need to quench my thirst. hee hee.

{It actually did come in handy when playing soccer tues. night…..I could totally tell which one is mine}

Life Catch-up

posse boss — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:51:54 +0000

Just a quick catch up on my life and what is going on personally—- it's more for me than you, but maybe you if you are dealing with the same things.

My grandma Phillips did pass away. In fact we had her funeral last Monday. This was the day we were driving up to Bear Lake, so there is are cars in the parking lot– pulling trailers, boats and loaded to the hilt with goodies. {we did this once before with Grandpa Jones a few years ago too- weird}.

The funeral was lovely. I really don't like going and seeing the dead people, {they never really look the same do they?}. My dad and mom decided to put her little black pouch on the table with strips of paper and pencils. If you wanted you could write a little note to grandma and slip it into the bag. Before they closed the caskett they slipped the bag into it…….lots of love notes, and wonderful thoughts were tucked inside I am sure.

She was quite a wonderful lady. Full of spunk. Positive spunk. She was always encouraging you to do things and to be successful. That she was good at. Positivity. She had a memory like no other. Full of jokes and one liners– and quotes! I am not so good at that. She retains that info, me in one ear…out the other. With the occasional reminder and blurb.

Last Sunday we went to church as usuall. This time though we had a special suprise. The meeting had just barely started when the doors opened and in walked President Thomas S. Monson. I know, can you believe? What a total surprise!! It is but only like once in a lifetime when you are in the same room as the prophet.

Let me just tell you that he is a delightful grandpa! He spoke for a bit and told some great stories. Talked about his family, his wife {who he is truly head over heals for – even now}, and anything else that came to mind. He did wander in his thoughts- in a cute grandpa way- but what he said was great. My kids were delighted to tell you the truth. They were in total amazement that they were sitting there right behind him!

After the meeting ended Jarom was one of the first ones to go and shake his hand. He was overwhelmed by this man who called him 'Tiger' and said he liked his green shirt and shook his hand. I am sure he could feel his love and his spirit that he brought with him.

It is a bit weird to look there at a man who is in charge of all the members of our church in the world. Kind of like the pope I guess. Such a simple man. He had an 'air' about him. One that when you looked at him you thought— he doesn't look weighted down with things. He looks complete. Happy. When he said it he meant it sort of man.

That was a great day, and one to remember for a long time {or short, considering my track record}.

— just a quick shout out. Is there anyone out there that is wanting to go to the Start Up Princess Touchpoint for Women in September?

Clickety Click here for more info on it.

If we team up we can buy a pass and save a bunch of money- Basically it comes out to $100 bucks each.

So if you are interested in splitting the ticket to get the discount {doesn't mean we have to drive together and you are under no obligation to sit next to me during lunch, however that would be nice} please leave me a comment or contact me Patchwork Posse

** on a sewing note— i am quilting today!! wee….feels good to get back to that machine. Not sure why I take such long breaks….

20 Steps to Boost your Craft Blog e-book

posse boss — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:00:57 +0000

Ok. So. I know. Nut job! But seriously girls.

I have been doing this blogging thing for a bit and have grown my blog from scratch.

Scratch isn't easy. Scratch is time consuming.

I thought that it was about time for me to share a bit of the scratch recipe with you.

I have tweeked things enough to know what works and what doesn't.

When I pay attention to the steps and do them myself I see a considerable jump in readership, followers and subscribers.

They work. And,The steps will work for any crafty genre— sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, knitting, crochet….you name it!

Follow the steps {just like I still do} and you can boost your crafty blog along with me!!

Here is my blib for selling it:

Tired of struggling with your craft blog?

Are you ready to build your Followers List?
Get a better Google ranking? and Drive More Traffic to your craft blog?

This 20 step e-book will do all that and more!!!

I am sharing the steps I have personally taken to build my own craft blog to a readership of over 8,000/month and growing.

The 4 page e-book is easy to read, and easy to do. Quick and to the point, so you can get on with your crafty doings!

I have been there and done that— believe me!!!
Finding help out there to build a special niche for your craft blog is hard! There are many e-books out there to help, but none are specialized to the craft business.

This e-book is just that……it deals only with the craft blog world.

Price is $10

This e-book will be sent via email within 24 hours of purchase.

Save it, Print it and Start boosting your craft blog today!

For more help on your crafty blog Check out Sew Help Me Design

ok. and just for fun—–

Help me decide. What photo should I use for my About page? I need to get it updated and stop cropping people out of the photo- so I had some taken last week.

Leave a Comment with the # you think I should use…….

Thanks a bunch girls—

Splish-Splash Bear Lake 2010

posse boss — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:00:37 +0000

This week at Bear Lake was full of —-LAZINESS!!!!

I'm serious. Listen girls- I did nothing. I tell you. I even brought stitching…and guess what? I didn't do it. I wasn't feel'n it. For some reason I sat.

Here is what I did:

get up…sort of brush hair, I mean what is the purpose? It is getting wet anyways…or flattened by the straw hat.
eat something get swim suit on
walk 2 minutes to the little burm
sit. read. listen to the zune. sit some more
splash in the water. play some water volleyball.
slather some sunscreen
sit

So instead of bore you some more with the sitting and slathering I'll just share my pictures……

My brother Ashley had the kids playing a game……see who wins-

Ashley's turn:

Tuesday it was totally windy and the water—look:

We should have brought surf boards and given them a try they were so big!

Of course mom made us do family photos—

And just because we always see weird things on the freeway— here ya go:

except this wasn't on the freeway and they were paraded around with 6 power vehicles lifting the lines for them to pass. phew it was hot in that car!

With all that sun- I got a pretty nice tan this year…and luckily not a burn! yay!

While I didn't do any stitching I did write an e-book……hee hee. Didn't see that one coming did you?

Well, I did. Tomorrow I'll have some info on it —-

Off I go to finish up on the laundry— does sand agitate better in the washer so things come out cleaner? There was a lot!

Focus Friday- Peanuts Travels Week 3

posse boss — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:20:16 +0000

Today we continue our journey with Peanut!!! Last week we got to meet a few— {thanks for sharing}

We will continue to add to the link list— So get making her

{she is $3.00 epattern}

How to Antique your Quilt Top

posse boss — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:05:31 +0000

I finished up a quilt top the other day— Charm-a-long. {It is a pattern from the members group.} and it just didn't work….you know the background was wwwaaaayyyy too light for the whole quilt. So, after a bit of debating I decided to give it a dunk and antique it.

Just in case you would like to antique your own quilt top here is a quick little instruction on how to:

Materials needed:

big bowl
hot water
tan dye by Rit. I used the liquid kind
item you are antiqueing

Fill up the bowl with a bit of hot water.

Dump a bunch of tan dye. Don't be shy now…….Stuff your quilt top into the water

Let it sit for a bit…..

Rinse the top until the water runs clear. Throw into the dryer or dry outside for a bit.

HINT: if you want a uniform color than mix it into the water. If you want it splotchy a bit, then don't mix it.

Before:

After:

What do you think? How do you antique your quilt tops?

Pinwheel Party Finished— and cute!

posse boss — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:47:28 +0000

I have finished the Pinwheel Party quilt— What do you think?

Now, you don't need to go pointing out that it is smaller than the other ones that have been finished.

So what if I thought I was done and all giddy that I could sew it all together only to find out that hey— I didn't do all the blocks! whatever.

And— you don't need to point out that there are 2 large pinwheels either. I mean, where did that extra one come from? I apparently didn't keep track of which ones I did make.

It is still cute. I love it and it is a great baby size.

Clickety Click over here to Twiddletails and pick up your own pinwheel party pattern.

Round Robin Quilt — Quilting and Labeling

posse boss — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:00:34 +0000

So you have your top and now what? I thought I'd give you a little bit of help on the quilting and have a little suprise for you too—-

Didn't want to leave you hanging with a project that will hang in limbo land for eternity like mine.

Quilting:

Basket Block Quilting

Friendship star block quilting

border quilting. I did a leaf motif and in the 4 patches I did a straight feather {I used to really not like feathers— my simple brain just couldn't wrap around that pattern…..but it has finally clicked. I am not a pro at the feather, but I don't mind doing them now}

The back. Click the photo to make it BIG. I echoed the center block and around the other flower pots.

Front:

As for the label. I have yet to get mine done…..but I thought I'd share a quick secret and then I'll do a tutorial on it {next week}. I'll share more info and photos, but until then.

Here is a list of all the designers, their rows they were in charge, and their links if they had one. You can make your own label without having to write it all down……. you will need them a little big so they are legible. I added a few things that you need to write in the answers before printing or after with a fine tip sharpie.

Patchwork Round Robin 2010

Pieced by:

Quilted by:

Borders Designed by:

Becky– Center Block and Basket Weave patchworkposse.com

Konda– Scrappy top and bottom border moosequilts.blogspot.com

Joy– Applique flowers and pots jjsgiftsandcrafts.com

Donna– Flying Geese institchesdesigns.wordpress.com

Robin– Friendship Stars robingallagher.blogspot.com

Angie– Basket Blocks quiltingmelodies.blogspot.com

Molly– Rail Fence mollyscottage.blogspot.com

Becky– 4 Patch patchworkposse.com

So here is a quick how-to:

1) Copy and paste the list into a word program

2) Iron a piece of fabric to freezer paper

3) Stick into printer {ink one not a copy machine} and push print.

Your fabric will be printed!!! Cut around the words. Iron all sides under 1/4" and hand stitch to the back of the quilt. TA-DA!!

I'd love to see your finished Round Robins— or even those that are still in progress. Share them here!!!

5 Steps to Kill Your Marketing for Your Crafty Business

posse boss — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:00:10 +0000

Don't share it!!

I went to a little marketing meeting the other day in Salt Lake {great stuff– learned a lot!} and met a few new people. I met this one girl and let me tell you— she had killing your marketing right down!!!

Her name was Becky {how sad that I have to write something negative about someone who shares the same name}. We got talking for a few moments in between lows and she had just mentioned that she had a designer/programmer for her website. Well, I whipped out my pencil and said– can I have your email?

This was her reaction: why do you need that? Why would you want that? Well, so i can email you later and get your programmers name. Oh, well. I don't give that out.

what? don't share your info?

A bit later I asked her about what she does– she clammed right up. She said she doesn't share her site, or her ideas, or her knowledge with others.

What? Again— don't share?

After leaving and thinking, and thinking about how weird this was I came to the conclusion that her site was a sketchy one. Something she didn't want to share with anyone else for mere embarrasment. I couldn't come up with anything better than that.

So here are some steps to take when you are ready to kill your craft marketing:

1) Don't share yourself with others. Keep what you do a secret.

2) Don't give out or carry a business card. You might as well not even order any. You'll never use them anyways.

3) Act like you are the queen and miss know it all and when others ask you for help– snub them.

4) You should attend seminars and classes with others only to annoy others there ready to learn.

5) When you are asked a question– always answer it with 'why would you want that?'

So, there ya go. 5 ways to kill your craft marketing.

I don't know about you, but when I go places I am there to Network, Promote my blog, Promote my craft business. I am open to wonderful possibilties and connections with others. I am excited to learn and listen and then implement my new found knowledge.

So, next time you hang out or attend something….please, please make sure you don't start ticking off this list!!! Get out there with pride, a surity of your knowledge and a notebook to take all those wonderful new things down on.

This article is part of my free monthly newsletter. To receive my crafty articles, tutorials, blog posts and special subscriber-only discounts, sign-up on the right —>

Focus Friday– Peanuts Travels

posse boss — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:09:35 +0000

Today we continue our journey with Peanut!!! Last week we got to meet a few— {thanks for sharing}

We will continue to add to the link list— So get making her

{she is $3.00 epattern}

Blogher is in town— Meet & Greet

posse boss — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:20:55 +0000

Well, sort of in town. It is not coming here….but we get to have a meet and greet!!!! won't that be fun?

Just thought I'd give a quick shout out and let everyone know…..so if you are in town. Come on in and meet me. and others too, I guess.

Here are the important details:

The event is THIS Saturday evening (4-6pm) at the Orson Gygi Showroom in Salt Lake City
This event is FREE, casual and positive
We're giving away a few generous door prizes from Whimsy (I wanna win!), Gygi Culinary Institute and more!
The purpose of this event is to meet and inspire each other before the BlogHer Conference in New York City next month, BUT open to all bloggers large and small, whether or not attending the conference

See that big banner on the left side? Yup, that is Blogher. They promote woman bloggers everywhere!