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About Me

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Hi there, I am Mary Nell and I live in the Ozarks. I live on a farm which is my own little piece of Heaven. I love to craft, quilt and create. There is always something new going through my head that I see that I want to try to make or design. While quilting is a long standing tradition here it is something that I am fairly new at. I hope that on this blog you will find something that will spark your interest.and you too will want to sit down and make something for your loved ones. But once you do I can tell you that it can lead to a serious condition. There is no cure. Once you start it is something that you just can't stop...Enjoy!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Happy Accidents

We all have those times when we are making something when it just doesn't turn out right.  We lay them aside and remake what ever it is so that it fits or it works into the scheme of things right.  Well don't throw away those blocks that are just not quite right or that strip that you made that didn't fit.  You never know when they will be Happy little accidents like this runner that I made. 
You never know how things will work out!  I know this is a fall piece and it has taken awhile to get it done.  But I think it is lovely and can't wait to display it on my table!  Add a strip on the back and it would be a really pretty wall hanging don't you think?   So the truth is if we just lay those things aside something someday will come into your head about what to do with with them.  That odd block with strips around it might become the start of a log cabin baby quilt..Or a pillow for just the right someone that you need a gift for.  What ever it is those Happy little accidents make us all happy in the end!  Create something special today. 

Went browsing around again this morning and found this sweet tutorial over on Cluck Cluck Sew.  I enjoyed it so much that I thought I would share it with you!  Great way to use up scraps and a beautiful piece of home decor. 
I put this one right up front on my todo list!  Here is the link: http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2009/10/tutorial-scrap-buster-fall-pillow.html
Happy Sewing!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Quilting Day...My Happy Quilt from my Happy Place!

I love to quilt.  I love taking something and making it into a vision that is in my head.  It makes me feel empowered, creative and happy.  So I wanted to share with you what I am calling my Happy Quilt. 



I still need to press and sandwich it together with the batting and backing.  I will post the finished pictures soon. 

Monday, March 17, 2014

CLOTH BASKETS






Here is a the tutorial on the baskets that I promised!  Finally got it done. 

I have made my basket 8x10.  One of the things I like about this pattern is to be able to adjust it to any size that you want without all the math.  So the first thing you do is cut out your outer fabric, lining and batting all the same.  3 pieces of ea. 10" in length and 8" wide. and 2 pieces of each 8x8 these are your sides. 
Start with your longest pieces of outer fabric and pin it together with a like piece of batting.and quilt it
After you have quilted all your pieces you are ready to start assembling your basket.  Join all the long pieces together lengthwise.  as in the picture below.


then pin and quilt the smaller two pieces and join them to form a T
Now you are ready to form your box shape by sewing the sides together

When all four sides are sewn together you are done with the outer basket.  Easy just make sure you sew completely off the corners.  Like in the picture above.
Turn right side out and check all the seams to make sure that you have caught all the layers while sewing. 

 Press your seams to make them crisper..


Now it is time for the lining.

You assemble the lining in the exact same way that you made the basket.  starting with the three longest pieces and sew them together.  Add the two smaller ones to form your T-shape and the sew the sides together to form another box.

Once your lining is done insert it in the basket and pin around the top to secure it.
Cut a strip 3 in' wide and long enough to reach around the top of the basket for your binding.  I pin it around and then where it meets mark and cut it with enough for a seam and join it together in a circle by sewing on that mark.  Then re-pin around the top about a 1/2" down from the top of the outer fabric. Making sure that your corners all meet up together .  Sew it to the bag and the lining. 

Turn the bag wrong side out fold the binding fabric over the top and fold it so that it meets your front sewing line and resew from the lining side.


after you have sewn along this seam line turn your bag back out and make your handles.  with about a 8 to 9 inch strip 3" wide fold one side in towards the middle of the strip press and then fold the other side in to meet it. 

fold in half again and sew down along the outer edge and then on the folded edge.  Pin this to the side of the bag either across or having it arch upwards. 
on mine I have chosen to place it upwards on the bag. 
do this on both sides and then sew across the top with a straight stitch going over it a couple of time for strength and then I usually zig zag across the bottom of the handle again to give it strength and to finish it off.  you can turn them under if you like just make them a little longer.  And your basket is done!  Oh and a bonus is they are reversible!   I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do! 
and here are a few more that I have done. 




Quilt Blocks and Books Starwood Quilter is a great place for both!!


 A wonderful quilter and book lover I so enjoy visiting and seeing all the lovely pictures.  Following her story of her grandmothers diary.  Reading about all the new books about quilting.  If you are like me and love poetry and quilting check out this blog. 





http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Organizing and scrapping best of both worlds

 Great projects using Denim in many different ways!  From Aprons to toys there is something here for everyone. 


http://www.denimdoover.com/

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Fabric

My sewing cabinet.
I just love fabric.  I have an obsession with good quilt fabric and love having it where I can see it.  I have a cabinet that I store mine in and sometimes it just calls to me to make something...I am sure that I am not the only one that loves to sew, quilt and craft that does this!  At least I hope I am not alone.  LOL  One of my favorite places to get fabric is right on facebook.  Yes on facebook,  it is like having my own personal shopper to find just the right thing for me.  You might want to check out the following link.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/persianpicklefabric.  Happy Shopping! 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

So many scraps

I am trying to use as many scraps as possible.  But it really isn't possible..LOL  I find that I build something with my scraps and those scraps keep growing.  You know how that is if you quilt.  There will be that one color that you find you really need and have to cut into another piece and those pieces end up where?  IN your scraps.  So I don't think I will run out of projects any time to soon using those wonderful little pieces of material..Here is a picture of some of the projects I have been working on. 
Hope to have a tutorial for you all on the baskets so fun and fast to make and great storage.


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

3 compartment scissors holder wall pocket

My scissors holder...I have multiple pairs of scissors and was always looking for them at least a dozen times a day.  So I decided that I needed to make myself a wall hanger for them.  Here is my tutorial on how to make them.  Hope you enjoy!

Cut 2 10" pieces of backing fabric and batting.
1 10" piece of your desired fabric for the back side of the holder and at least 3 different fabrics for your front.  These can be made with scraps really easily.
cut strips at an angle from your fabric  I usually cut at least 3 of each one. 
After cutting all your strips start to assemble them on your batting and backing.  Starting at the right side add a strip and sew it straight down the side
the next strip is applied like the photo above put it on the first strip right sides together and sew a 1/4 in seam following it right to the bottom corner.  Open it up and do this with all the strips until you have the batting covered.  All the strips will go to one corner making the fan shape.
at this point you are ready to trim around the top in a neat fan.
Now for the next piece.  With you batting a backing fabric that you chose lay them together in a sandwich and Quilt them by making a large X on the back just to secure them together.  Lay the Front piece on the back piece and trim to the same size.  Then Bind the tops of both by cutting a 11/2 to 2 " strip for both and sewing it to the front.  Turning to the back side and folding under stitch down around the top.
Now for the fun part.  You can add lace or trims that you have or just leave them plain...I love to use lace so I add two to this one.

You will also need to cut the fan shape at the bottom to cover those odd looking seams there.  I just zig zag this on and then add my lace around it.  After you get your lace sewn on put the back and the front together right sides facing and sew down both sides making sure that all the material is being caught with you stitching.  Turn it right side out and to make your pockets for your scissors you sew down two lines from top to bottom on your whole piece.
and you are Done...add any other embellishments that you choose and enjoy a 3 pocket pretty wall hanging.
Here are some others that I have made