#137 - Whitty Crafters uses for a BUNCH of header fabric!!

Good morning, friends!

Today it's time to toss around ideas for what to do with some header fabric.  Headers, for those of you who've been wondering this, are manufacturer's samplers.  A line of fabric in it's "colorway" is attached to a cardboard "header" in such a way that the fabrics cascade down so you can see them all.  Buyers use the header to select fabric their business will carry and we can use it to look at what fabrics are in a line and how they go together.

A sample of header fabric that will go to a wonderful fabric loving fan!

This "prize" will be a flat rate Priority Mail envelope filled/stuffed/packed with as many headers as I can fit inside!

So, what could one possibly DO with such a selection?  Ah.... so many things!

• Let's start with making a patchwork quilt - perhaps a "crazy quilt"?  Here is a site with how to create one!
• How about a patchwork Christmas stocking?
• Perhaps some pin cushions?
• Possibly a patchwork purse?  Some of the pieces are actually big enough to create a small bag in one whole piece!  You could use the coordinates for pockets or sew some together for the strap.
• These would be GREAT for making fabric bags for snacks and sandwiches - thinking GREEN!
• You could make items like a cell phone or glasses cases.
• Perhaps you need some small drawstring bags?  
• You could cover picture frames
• or use the fabrics in scrapbooking. 
• How about getting REALLY small and making fabric covered buttons?

Okay....hope that gets the creative juices flowing!

Have a GREAT day, friends and happy creating!
Hugs,
Carrie

Day #136 - Whitty Crafters uses for quilt labels

Good morning!

A gorgeous day here in NH - hoping everyone has a LOVELY day where ever you are!

 Today I thought we could consider what to do with quilt labels. 

This set is winter/Christmas/holiday themed. 

• The obvious starter is, to label your quilts!  With the holiday season "just around the corner" these would be perfect to go on a holiday gift quilt!  Do you label your quilts?  If not, you should!  As someone who works in a historical society, adding your name and date is VERY important!  It may seem like a little thing now, but in the future (FAR into the future) that information maybe important to someone in your family!  It might seem hard for us to imagine, but put yourself in your great-great-grandchildren's shoes!  Okay...that might be hard to consider...but you get my point!
• Use to create your Christmas cards this season!  Cut these out and either glue or stitch them onto cardstock, add a greeting and they are ready to pop in the mail!
• On the same vein - use these to create postcards.  Once again, attach to cardstock and viola!
• How about tags for your gift-giving?  Some are a bit big, but trim them and use for the "To/From" on your gifts.
• Sew a pair together, or use one and a coordinating fabric from your stash to create a pin cushion.  Cut them out, sew wrong sides together leaving a space for filling and then add your choice of "insides".  
• Collect some coordinating fabrics and create some holiday pot holders.  You could use one as a center in a Log Cabin block and build out from there or some other such design...oh...actually...you may see ME try this one!!
• Applique a design or two on a sweatshirt for the holidays!  My mom loves this sort of thing!
• Go "mixed media" with your embroidery machine and design a wall hanging!  Oh dear....may have to try THAT one, too!

As you can see, there are LOTS of directions to take this prize!  I LOVE thinking of fun ideas! 
Enjoy the day everyone!
Carrie

Day #135 - Whitty Crafters Quilt Pattern Choices!

Good morning everyone!

Looks like the clouds and rain of the last few days has moved out and a wee bit cooler and drier (a girl can hope?) weather is moving in!  Yay! 

Before heading out to work today I thought I'd toss out some of the patterns you can chose from if YOU win a pattern from my Etsy store!

 

Do you have lots of scraps?  THIS would be the perfect one!  The kit I put together for this one on eBay has 50 ,8 x10"ALL different blocks of Thimbleberries to cut up!

 

Have you played with rag quilts?  Here's a fun one!

 

I love anything that is simple and fun to work with - this one qualifies!  Coordinate, coordinate, coordinate!  Love it!

Gotta go!  Quilty hugs and creative thoughts to all!

Carrie

Send a friend!

Okay folks... we hit the 100 we needed for the blog but we are stalled at about 920 for Facebook!  If each of us brings 1 friend over, we should do it!  My thought is that most of you LOVE the headers, soooooooooooo.... invite your friends to "like" our Facebook page and be sure they say that YOU sent them (IE: "Carrie sent me") and for each new friend you send YOUR name goes into a drawing for a flat rate full of headers!

The drawing will be on the day we hit 1,000!  (Unless I am out in Missouri and don't have a computer handy...)  That also means that day is the day I will draw for ALL the goodies on the blog, as well!  Directions for that will be posted as soon as we get closer!  It will be easy peasy, I promise! 


Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #134 - Whitty Crafters Uses for Scrapbooking Goodies!

Good morning, friends!
Phew... got a bit waylaid with things around here, but I think I am back on track!

This morning I would like to consider ideas for using the scrapbooking goodies I have up for offer to my fans and followers in the upcoming drawing.

First, here they are:

This is a selection of Jolee's by You with a garden theme - unless you want to call the white pieces at the bottom boats, which would change the whole concept! 

Here's some thoughts...

• First, of course, would be accents to a scrapbooking page - say, something to your garden?  Some gorgeous, enlarged flowers tucked in the white "beds"?  Accent them with the little floral treats that are included?  Ones like these?  Trimmed and tucked in?

• Another easy peasy would be turning them into a card, actually, several cards with the number of goodies included!  OH.... wait!  How about 4-6 of them, all with a garden theme and then wrapped up together and given as a gift!!  Ha!!  

If you like that idea, here are some quotes you could use that I found at Wishafriend.com.

The earth laughs in flowers. - E. E. Cummings

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran

With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy. - Lope de Vega

Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. - Georgia O'Keeffe

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful, they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. - Luther Burbank

• How about adding them as decoration to a decoupage project?  Most of the flowers would be flat enough - a dot of glue and a bit of ModPodge!
• I used some of the tiny ones as accents on my project back a few months ago - you can see them sewed on on the bottom left.  It's not something you could wash, but it does make a sweet decoration!

• Glue as trim to a bulletin board, either on the border or to the cork.  Same thing on a small white board!
• Decorate the outside of a flower pot.
• Trim a picture frame.

Lot's of options!  Anyone else?

Have a great day, all!
Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #133 - "How-To" Using chalk cloth to make bunting/banners

Good morning!

I promised yesterday that I would give a How-To for making the chalk cloth banners mentioned yesterday.  Here you go:

To make the bunting/banners you need the following (quantity = how many you want to make!)

4" square blocks of chalkcloth (you can acually make them any size you want!) 

*** special note: DO NOT GET THE CHALKCLOTH NEAR THE IRON!!! (unless you like melted plastic!)

5" squares of backing fabric (whatever size you make the chalkcloth blocks, make these 1" bigger)
5" squares of iron on interfacing (follow sizing of backing fabric)
scrapbooking grommets & grommet tools OR just a hole punch!
ribbon to string them on

1. Cut out the 5" squares of fabric and interfacing.

2. Iron them together, wrong side of fabric to correct side of the interfacing (shiny side, on the Pellon I am using...oh...and I would realize that because...I tried to do the opposite?????) **Also, try to make them as accurate as possible! My iron smells pretty nasty when it goes on the sticky side of the Pellon!

3. Cut out 4" squares of chalkcloth.

4. Lay the chalkcloth in the center of the backed fabric (right side up) and fold the top and bottom sides into create the border. Clip them with binder clips.

5. Fold the sides in and crease. Then open them and clip at right angle to the square (see picture). Fold the top and bottom sides in and trim it off at an angle to create mitered corner.

6. Sew with a zigzag stitch.

7. To be able to string them, you can either just punch holes with a hole punch (they would be a bit big...perhaps just poke with an awl?) or what I did was to use my "Making Memories" scrapbooking tools and pop some of those colored grommets I have so many of! 

8. Run a ribbon through (I taped the end of the ribbon, like a shoelace, to make lacing easier, then just trimmed it off.)

9. To "fix" your chalkcloth, rub with chalk and wipe off. It's then "ready to use."

Have a great day!
Carrie

Day #132- "Whitty Crafter" ideas for Chalk cloth

Good morning!
We are about to REALLY hit some summer here today and tomorrow - high 90's!  Stay cool friends!

I thought we could chat this morning about chalk cloth.  Have you ever seen it?  It's GREAT!

I buy it by the yard and use it in all sorts of ways!  You can buy it from Amazon.com and Fabric.com (advantage = other fabric available and on sale... free shipping on orders over $35 right now) or you can win some from me!  :o)

Chalk cloth is sometimes referred to as "oil cloth" but this literally works with chalk and wipes off!

Some uses are:

• My favorite: activity placemats for children!  
• I found several reusable tag ideas while surfing the net, some to buy and some to make yourself.
• as a part of a portfolio/journal/car activity packet
• use when creating a bulletin board/chalkboard type message center as you can cut it to whatever shape you'd like!
• a whole blog dedicated to working with oil cloth!  WOW!  That would cover it!  
• How about the reusable banner blocks I am making in the picture above?   Come by tomorrow for a "how to"!! 

So stay cool, friends!
Chat tomorrow,
Carrie

PS.  We are rather stuck at 920ish FB fans.... we'd LOVE for you to "suggest" us to your friends!

Day #131 - "Whitty Crafters" Luggage Tag Ideas

Good morning, summer-lovin' friends!

The temps are supposed to be climbing here in NH over the next couple of days, so you'll hear us whining...it's what we do!  :o)

I thought today I would take a closer look at the luggage tags up for grabs in my Celebration Bash.  Here is a glimpse of what yours COULD look like: 

If you have been following the blog for awhile, you might remember that I made these when my youngest DD came home and asked "how much I loved her?"  That night I made up about a dozen of these for her softball team because their bat bags were all identical, and lucky for me: black.  You know, "Black goes with everything!" which meant I could make the tags any color needed!

So, here are a few ideas for you for how to use yours, if you win one!

• Mark your bat bag to show it's different!  (Lol!)
• Obviously, to tag your suitcase at the airport - colorful, eye catching.... works for me!
• Attach to a backpack or lunch bag for a school event: you know how those class trips can be!  You can be sure that sandwich and snack go to the right kiddo!
• Use as a part of a birthday or other special time's gift.  Stick a little card in the slot "Happy birthday, sweetie", tie it to the gift and it's the card that keeps on giving!
• Speaking of giving, do what I did which was the above with $$ tucked inside as the vehicle to be sure the $$ didn't get lost (ie: I forget it???)
• How about continuing on that vein and using it as a handcrafted way to give a gift card?  MUCH better than one of those paper envelopes!!
• Just thought of a fun one!  Make it the end of a treasure hunt game with a "prize" tucked inside!  Leave clues throughout the house and then when they find it, inside is a pair of tickets to a movie, a note to go mini-golfing, some other fun activity!
• Make it part of a game!  "Hide the tag" - and play like "Hot and Cold" or finding Easter eggs!  
• Use as a way to share notes with a child.  You hang it with a note in a special place: off a lamp in their room, on a bulletin board, somewhere they'd be sure to see it!  (This brainstorming is fun!!)

Would you like to make these for yourself?  I bought the pattern off of Etsy from StudioCherie.  She has a GREAT PDF, very reasonably priced and easy to follow.  Check it out here.  Tell her Carrie/Whitt's Kits sent you!!

Okay, well, gotta head to work!
Have fun thinking of other ideas and feel free to post them!
Quilty hugs all,
Carrie

Day #130 - "Whitty Crafters" Ideas for Machine Embroidered Designs!

Good morning, all!

Going to be another hot one, I hear - actually all week!  Yay!

Today I would like to play around with ideas for using the machine embroidered designs I have up for you.  Here they are:

Both of these come from Embroidery Library. They are one of my favs, as many of you know.

There are zillions of uses/projects you can use these for!

• The "Go Green" is perfect for either incorporating into the design of a shopping bag or stitching to the outside of a bag or two that you already have (what I did!).  I've whipped them up and just added them to bags I use for grocery shopping - shows I'm a proud Memere!  :o)
• The butterfly is a wonderful addition to any quilting project you have in mind.  I put one into a photo quilt that I made for a wonderful friend battling cancer.  If you do machine embroidery, yuu can download it from Embroidery Library for free!  I've made them in various colors - it's a very straightforward design and a powerful message.
• I think it would look great framed, on the wall, as well.  We can all use to keep those thoughts in our mind!
• You could also incorporate them into a wall hanging - print some photos on the special ink jet cloth/paper and surround the embroidery with them!  Add some coordinating fabric and viola!
• Either design could become the central design in a mug rug or table runner.
• What other ideas do YOU have?

Well, off to package up some eBay orders!  Woot woot!
Have a wonderful day everyone and stay cool!

Carrie

Day #129 - "Whitty Crafters" Ideas for Scanned Birthday Card

Good morning, friends!

I thought I would do a series of posts this week sharing what you could do with each of the items I am offering up as we get closer and closer to 1,000 fans on Facebook!  You know, build the excitement?  Have a bit of fun?

That being said, let's get started!  The first item I'd like to talk about is a scan of a vintage birthday postcard.

This came from a collection of my grandmother's.   It says:
"A happy birthday.
Fortune from her stores joys upon you pour
and may each new Birthday
Bring you more and more."

Personally, I love the calligraphy used for the "B's" and other first letters.  The flowers and picture are rather sweet.  What to do with it?  Hmmmmm..... let's see!

• For starters, how about using it as it was meant, a birthday card?  Print it out on cardstock and use it for someone special!
• I can also see it printing out and being used on a scrapbook page.  Combine it with some photographs, perhaps in sepia tones, some floral decorations and viola!
• On the same vein, how about either printing it on velum or putting a piece of velum over the printed card?  Give it that frosted look?
• How about printing it on white or off-white paper and using ModPodge on a box cover, either of wood or cardboard?  Add in some scraps of purple and green?  How about a bit of ribbon?
• Just recently I picked up one of those mugs at Micheal's that pops open and you can put a piece of paper inside with children's art work?  How about putting one of these, make it a birthday mug?
• You could print it on fabric paper (for use with ink jets) and incorporate it into a number of different projects: pillow cover, quilt block, tote bag and combine with a bit of quilting!!
• What other ideas do you have?  Do tell so we can all give it a whirl!

Don't forget, let your friends on Facebook know about what we are doing and suggest us to them!  The sooner we hit 1,000, the sooner I will do the drawings for ALL these goodies! 

Do YOU have any ideas?  Add them as comments to this post!!

I hope everyone had a GREAT day!  I am late today due to storms and a college visit!  Gotta love going into the senior year!

Quilty hugs everyone and looking forward to coming up with new ideas for tomorrows posting!

Carrie

 

Day #128 - 1K "Whitty Crafters" Celebration Bash!!

Good morning, friends!

It looks like it's going to be a warm one, but hey, it's July, it's SUPPOSED to be warm!  It's the weather we dream of here in NH when it's below zero!  :o)

So I've been thinking... my blog hit 100 followers (108 to be exact, as of today) so now it's seeing how long it takes us to reach 1,000 fans on Facebook!!  I decided to take one of the ideas from the interview naming contest to give a name to the celebration bash!  I thought "Whitty Crafters" fit us!  To that end, I am going to have more than just fabric available, but don't worry, there will be that as well!

So HERE is what I am offering up, as an overview.  I will do a bit more about each over the next week with some ideas for what you can do with each one!!

What would a Whitt's Kits drawing be WITHOUT fabric headers? 

The mix will vary, based on what I have at the time of the drawing!

Quilt labels would be nice;

How about a quilting pattern?

Your choice from my Etsy store!

Some scrapbooking goodie treats:

and how about chalk cloth?  Have you worked with it?  Makes GREAT projects!

Doing a bit of traveling?  Let's toss in a luggage tag!

You can give me a color and I'll create a OOAK for you!

Let's toss in a couple of machine embroidered designs!!

And a scan of a vintage postcard you could play with!

Phew!  I am pooped just listing them!!
Now, it's your turn!!  Tell your friends about my Facebook page, if they enjoy it, ask them to "like" it and we'll be at 1,000 before you know it!!

Thanks for all you do!
Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #127 - Birthday wishes and gifts for men

Good morning, everyone!

Special wishes going out to my first born - RJ!  27 years ago today you graced us with your presence!  Luv you, babe!

With that in mind, I thought I would scour the Internet for you folks and pop in some ideas for handmade gifts for the guys in our lives - they are a challenge sometimes!

The first site I found was about making homemade gifts and the page was literally my search terms: homemade gifts for men! There are a plethora  ideas for items you can sew, from iphone covers to a bed caddy as well as things you can put together, my favorite being the "Honey Do Belt"! 

Have you ever checked out Instructables.com?  They have loads of fun things to make!  There are several of the chunky bracelets some folks like, not my guys, but I do!

The one I think that will help ME the most for my "little boy's" birthday (okay, so he IS 6' tall, but he'll ALWAYS be MY "little boy"!!!) is from Mom Advice (how can you go wrong with that??)  Here is a link via Curate Us:

Clipped from: momadvice.com (share this clip)

Hope everyone has a GREAT day!

I am off for some fairy fun for the day ~ pix tomorrow!

Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #126 - Fairy Houses!

Good morning, friends!

It's fairy house time at the Historical Society where I work!  Have you heard of or seen any of these?  OMG...they are soooo fun!  There is a wonderful series by Tracy and Barry Kane including this one Fairy Houses Everywhere that we got at the Toadstool Bookstore to give away in a drawing tomorrow!

There are some wonderful websites about fairies and fairy houses - I've check LOTS of them out because of this project!  Here are a few I particularly enjoyed:

Fairyhouse.com is the one dedicated to Tracy Kane's materials and ideas.  Very sweet!
There is a wiki-how with a Youtube video here.
Little did I know, there is a "fairy building code"!  Lol!
How about a blog about the fairy world?  Take a peek!
How about a fairy tree house, fairy wings, wands and doors?  Visit here!

We've been creating at the Whitt Household and here's what we have so far:

The girls first "house"

There is a nest they found, resting on the top!

Parts and pieces, ready for construction!

There will be pictures either tomorrow or Sunday from our event!
Happy creating!
Carrie

Wanted: "Crafty Corner" Interviewees!!

Our first two interviews are under our belt and two new friends have shared their creative life with the world! 

How about YOU?  Don't be shy, really!  More importantly, DON'T think we wouldn't want to know about you - WE DO!!!  Each story touches something different in each of us - we connect with different things.  Come on, just talk with us - you KNOW you want to! 

Email me at carrie dot whittemore at gmail dot com and join in the fun!  Let's talk!!

Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #125 - #2 "Crafty Corner" Interview!!

Good morning from soggy NH!

It's time for another interview. Today, I'd like you to meet Melissa. I met Melissa through one of the header drawings I had offered up. Wait till you see what she has to say!

How did you start your business in the first place? I do not own a business but I am thinking about launching a custom quilt business right now. I just got a Janome Horizon and I have been designing my own quilts for the past 4 months and I think I have a unique perspective to share with other people. I will probably launch on Etsy.

How did you come up with your company name and what does it mean to you? The name of the business will be Bitter Sweet Baby Custom Quilts. My daughters name means Bitterly Gracious and I love the way that Bitter Sweet sounds. Sweet and Gracious go hand in hand in my opinion.

Tell us about what you make and how you got started. For the most part I make quilts and things for my daughter. I started sewing when I was 11 years old in a home economics class, but I have been watching my mom sew my entire life. I started quilting when my niece was born. I finished my first quilt 10 years ago this month.

What is your favorite project to work on? I am a terrible project hopper. I start with one thing, then an idea catches my fancy and move on to that, coming back to the previous project sometimes months later. I also hate "finishing" work so some quilts will literally sit for months because I do not feel like hiding the threads from quilting.

How do you get your ideas? Do you start with a fabric, yarn, or fabrics or a concept in mind first? I usually start with a concept and then pick fabrics/yarns to go with my concept - at least that is what I do when I am designing my own quilts. Sometimes when I walk into a store though I will just buy fabric/yarn that I love and hold on to it until I design something that it will work with.

This is the first quilt Melissa designed.  It is for her daughter's "big girl bed."  Wouldn't YOU love to sleep under it?

What other type of crafting to do you? I sew, I quilt, I am a photographer, knitter and hooker (crocheter)

Describe your crafting/studio space to us: We just had a new home built so I got to design my sewing studio. It has a large window facing our front yard and three 2x2 foot windows along the side wall which are filled with frames of all the important people in my life. I have several framed "pictures" that dear friends have made for my crafty space. I have a large bookshelf full of knitting, sewing and quilting books/magazines and supplies. I have a large Ikea red cabinet that I have transformed into my fabric and active project cabinet. It has glass doors and is GORGEOUS. I have a large Ikea desk for my computer, scanner and printer and a desk from JoAnn's for my sewing machines. My theme is definitely blues and reds, which are two of my favorite colors. It is my zen place.

You have a blog, how do you decide what to write about? My blogging partner tossed around the idea for writing this blog for awhile and had the name Love Affair with my Brother, but she thought it would be too much of a time commitment to do it alone and asked me to join her. I said yes, I sew every day during nap time and I thought it would be a great opportunity to share what I make with like minded people. I have had so much fun doing it and I am really glad she asked me.

What is your best “stress buster”? Folding laundry, which I know sounds really weird, but I get a sense of accomplishment when the hamper and the laundry room are completely empty!

If you could meet anyone, who would it be, why? I would really love to meet 2 of my great-grandma's and my dad's mom. They were all very talented crafty woman and I would love the opportunity to learn from them and see the things that they created. I have been blessed to have a quilt top to finish from my great-grandma from Tahiti and I have every intention of doing so!

What is your favorite memory from childhood? Camping trips to Lake Tahoe, CA with my family. I remember being pulled out of the water because I had literally turned blue from the cold water. I can't wait to create the similar memories with my hubby and baby when she is older. There is nothing better than cutting oneself off from the world for a few days and getting lost in nature.

What are your lifelong dreams? My lifelong dream is to finish my Master's Degree in Education, teach during the school year and sew/quilt during the summers (while also playing with my baby). I have no plans to finish my degree until my daughter is in school, I don't want to miss out on this time in her life. I also really want to have my own long arm quilting machine, but that dream has to wait until we are a dual income family again.

If you could visit anywhere on Earth, where would it be and why? I would like to take my family to Tahiti, it is where my great grandparents are from and I want to share it with the two most important people in my life. I was there when I was 23 with my parents and it was a life changing experience.

Thanks for sharing a piece or two of your world with us, Melissa!
Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #124 - Bit of cooking and 1st try with Animoto!

Good morning, friends!

I did spend most of yesterday morning dealing with veggies and playing with recipes!  I made a broccoli-cheddar soup (one of my favorites!) and suddenly remembered WHY fresh broccoli is "interesting" to work with as the little worms floated to the surface!  I did a kale soup, and after getting everything going, realized we had used all the potatoes up with the bbq the other day...so, just kale, tomatoes, black beans, onions and garlic!  :o) 

Then it was all about trying to preserve somethings that weren't going to last: the end of the spinach and the beet greens were blanched and frozen for, well, whatever!  I did some basil by freezing it on a cookie sheet and then slipping the frozen leaves in mini bags - 2 lessons: #1. freeze in a single layer -weird things happen if you don't and #2. the hottest day in the kitchen with the stove going IS NOT the best time to take the cookie sheet out and then bag!  LEAVE cookie sheet in freezer, reach in and pop in ziplock WHILE all still in freezer!  They thawed instantly when I didn't!

I finished by shucking some peas, chopping some garlic scapes and then sitting down to a bowl of very good broccoli soup with some of Laurie's croutons on top!  Delish!

After some cooling down, I sat down and tried a new computer thingy!  It's from a website called Animoto

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Take a peek! You can create 30 second videos for FREE! You select your photos, add music and viola! This is my first try - would do different music, but all in all? Not bad!

Let me know if YOU try one!

Quilty hugs,
Carrie

Day #123 - Fresh Chicks Market and CSA goodies! YUM YUM!

Good morning, friends!

It's Tuesday and that means I was at the market yesterday!  YEA!  It was another lovely, but warm July day in NH.  I believe it was close to 90 degrees (87, to be exact) but there was a lovely breeze most of the day.  My youngest DD was with me (see photo) and helped set things up.  Pop up tents are soooo much easier with two! 

Met an old friend, Barb and her daughter there - they were telling me all about the Monadnock Crafters Guild to which her daughter belongs.  Thought I might pop in and check it out!  One of the things I've noticed is that every time I am there, I meet another friend who didn't know I dealt in fabric!   Keep handing out the cards, baby! 

My friend Laurie, the incredible baker, had croutons, so a bag of those made their way into my world - they will be gracing some salad later today!  Since we are all home through the late afternoon today, we're going to have "dinner" at noon - something with chicken and PLENTY of veggies!  Check out this stash:

My basket was brimming with incredible yummies from Tracie's Farm: beets, lettuce, broccoli, green onions, bok choi, 2 kinds of peas, radishes, kohlrabi and thyme.  I grabbed some kale, swiss chard & basil from the farm store to add to the mix! 

I've never cook/tried/eaten kale before...so I did a bit of Googling and think I may try kale soup!  How can anything with potatoes be bad?  Or maybe some kale crisps?  Kale and cheese, again, how can that NOT  be good?

Photo from recipe at above link!

I am thinking I'll try something with the beet greens - they are so pretty!  I LOVE roasted beets, so perhaps... and talk about "pretty"?  I sprang for the swiss chard because the colorful stalks caught my eye!  The great part?  I have a chunk of time today to "hit the kitchen" and so... I'm off!  I think there is an omelet calling my name!

I will leave you with my favorite shot of the day, yesterday - best part: she had NO idea I took her picture!  This is DD, with some time on her hands, giving hand embroidery a try! 

Quilty hugs!
Carrie

Day #122 - How to: Making your own "I Spy" Bag

Good morning!
I"m back!  Lol!  Didya miss me?  :o)

I thought I'd start this creative week off with another "how to" for you.  This one is based on the game "I spy".  You know, "I spy with my little eye...."  That one?  There are several ways you can make this game in a creative way, this is one of them!  These are perfect for a quiet time activity (you NEED them to be quiet!) or birthday party treats!

Here you go:

I-Spy Bag

****NOT FOR SMALL CHILDREN!!   

THE SMALL PIECES COULD BE A CHOKING HAZARD!! 

You need:

• ·        Fabric
• ·        Piece of heavy plastic for window
• ·        Pellets (bag insides - I purchased them off of eBay, but you can use other medium, like rice.  We have mice....so....)
• ·        Treats to find (small, recognizable objects: dice, charms, small toys, buttons, pieces of jewelry, Legos, puzzle pieces, etc - whatever you have on hand OR want to get at Micheal's or JoAnn's!

Directions:

1.       Cut out two pieces of fabric for the bag body.  8” x 8” works well.
2.    Cut a 2” square window out of the front piece.

      3.    Using a zig zag stitch, sew in the window in to the front piece.  (Using a zig zag stitch helps keep the plastic from tearing like a perforated edge.)

 

4.         Put the front and back right sides together.  Sew the two pieces together using a ½” seam.  LEAVE AN OPENING to pour the pellets in!! 

5.       Pour in the pellets.

      6. Add your treats (IE: I Spy goodies!)

      7. Sew the opening closed.

     8.  For good measure, sew around the entire bag at ¼” in to secure it.

9       Make a list with what is inside (can have pictures to help) so the searcher knows what they are looking for and when they have found everything!

I would like to remind you again that these ARE NOT FOR INFANTS!  

The small objects and the filler could be a choking hazard, so be aware!!

Off to pack the car up for the Fresh Chicks Market!  Hope to see some of you there!

Quilty hugs,

Carrie

PS.  I am having trouble with the format today... sorry for the wonky numbers!!  Not sure what is up...sigh...part of the "love/hate" relationship with computers!

Day #120 & #121 - Away for the weekend...so some cool blogs to check out!

Good afternoon, friends!

I am away for a couple of days and thought I might use this time to share some blogs you might enjoy.

Have fun!

Why Not Sew?

Stitched in Color

The Cozy Tea


The Purple Quiltapotamus

Rose Prairie Quilts and Farm

Lazy Daisy Hears Quilt

Hope you have fun!
Carrie

Day #118 - How to: Plastic Bag Sleeve

Good morning!

I thought I would share a "How to" this morning.  I call them "plastic bag sleeves" - you know, a place to stash those bags from the grocery store that you end up with when you forget yours?  I bring a sleeve with me to market to recycle them and put peoples fabrics in.  It hangs perfectly from the side of my tent with a clip!

You'll need:

* fabric that ends up 16 1/2" x 26" (ie: if you want to sew pieces together like I did for the first one you made, you need that to work with)
*elastic (I used 1/4")
*some straight pins and a safety pin

1. If you are using scraps, or just want a look like the one I did, you need to sew together several pieces. You CAN do French seams with them. To do that, pin WRONG sides together and sew 1/4" seam. Flip the piece RIGHT sides together and PRESS! I found this KEY in doing French seams! Sew 1/2" seam, open and press again.

2. Create top and bottom casing. Fold over wrong sides together 1/4" - 3/8" and press. Fold over AGAIN, I did 1/2", press that. Do both top and bottom. Sew to create casings.

3. If your fabric has a pattern to your fabric that needs top/bottom, figure out what it is. ( Bottom will have smaller elastic.) Using safety pin attached to end of elastic, feed it through and pin on the other end. Gather the fabric and pin on the other end once you decide on the opening you want at the bottom: not too big or too small as the bags need to be able to come through. Repeat at the top. Make the opening bigger. I did about twice the size of the bottom.

4. You now need to sew the side seam. If you are doing a French seam, go WRONG sides together, pin and sew a 1/4" seam. (***Be sure to CATCH the elastic at both ends...'cause if not....you'll be seam ripping and re-doing...and I know that because... :o)...) Flip it inside out, PRESS and get that nice neat edge! Back to the machine and sew 1/2" seam to conceal the original seam and you are ALMOST DONE!
If you are doing a regular seam, go RIGHT sides together and sew the 1/2" seam.

5. For the handle you have a couple of options. Take a 2 1/2" x 8" piece of fabric. RIGHT sides together, sew 1/2" seam and then turn RIGHT side out. I find that easier said than done!! I ended up using a pair of tweezers to pull the little bugger! Press and then sew both ends to the inside of your sleeve. The other option (which I was soooo ready for!) is to use a piece of coordinating ribbon!

6. Viola! You have a neat and tidy place to put those bags!

 Have a GREAT day, folks!

Quilty hugs from NH,

Carrie