Quick Hand-Makes for Anytime Gifts

My most popular pattern to date is my Easy Reversible Microwave Cozy.

A few years ago I made one for all my coworkers, church family and friends.

I finally got around to making a set for my own home.  I used one of my Pampered Chef bowls as inspiration for my set of four. 

What makes my pattern different?  It does not require a lot of marking like most of the others I've come across. 

You can purchase my pattern on Craftsy for $1.50.  

I also sell a combo pack which includes instructions for medium and large size cozies for $3,

If you are looking to make quick, quilted gifts, look no further!  Your peeps are gonna love these! I guarantee it!

Until next time, God bless and happy stitchin'!

A Thread for Life
In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should,  but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. Romans 8:26

Linking up at:
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Midweek Makers
Needle and Thread Thursday
Finished or Not Friday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop at A Quilted Passion

Hi All! Thank You so much for hopping by!

First things first! Can we get a huge round of applause for the AMAZING Sarah of Confessions of a Fabric Addict for organizing this hop and for allowing me to participate!  So much work goes into organizing and preparing. She also created a Christmas quilt pattern for a daily quilt along for the duration of the hop! There has to be a picture of Sarah in the dictionary next to Wonder Woman.  I don't know how you do it, but from the bottom of my heart...Thank you!

A couple of years ago I made these awesome Microwave Cozies as Christmas gifts for friends and family. 

They were a huge hit! So it became my intention to give practical home made gifts for Christmas going forward.   However, last year, Christmas came and went...along w/my good intention and only 3 peeps got something homemade from me. So I swore to myself that this year would be different!  I would start my gift making in July! And that's exactly what I've done!

This year, everyone is getting these grocery bag holders. I was able to get a wonderful head start on them this month!

I normally sell the pattern in my Craftsy Pattern Store, however for the rest of this hop you can download it for free on this post, along w/the rest of my patterns! Merry Christmas in July to you!


Easy Grocery Bag Catcher
Easy Reversible Microwave Cozy Combo
Easy MicrowaveTortilla Warmer Cozy

I'd also like to share a recipe that was shared w/me several years ago for an easy and delicious Clam Chowder. 

My church family usually does a potluck style progressive dinner around the Christmas holiday.  The first house we visit is where we have appetizers. We then progress/move on to the next house for the entrées,  and then finish w/desserts and coffee at a third house.

This Clam Chowder has been a favorite of many at our progressive dinners.

Easy Clam Chowder
1 can evaporated milk (makes it creamier) or 1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 cups water
4 chicken bouillon cubes (it also adds the salt)
1/4 cup of finely chopped onion
2 6oz cans chopped clams in clam juice
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1/4 tsp of Thyme
1/4 tsp of crushed Parsley
1/4 tsp of crushed Tarragon
1/4 tsp of crushed black pepper

Add all of the ingredients into a pot and bring to a rolling boil for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Test the potatoes for tenderness. To thicken, add 1 tbls of cornstarch with 2 tbls of water, mix till dissolved and then add it to the soup. It should thicken rather quickly. Serve hot w/crackers or in a bread bowl!

Alas, I've a confession. I'm also doing a little selfish sewing this month on my 1st Christmas quilt.

I'm using this Sparkle Punch tutorial by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson. 

Elizabeth's creation and my inspiration

I've got a wonderful head start on it as well and am super excited about how it's coming together! What do you think?

Again, thanks for visiting!

Here's the complete line up of the hop. We have a few more days yet.  You can click on the links below to check out the rest of the stops, or to access any you've missed along the way.

July 14th:     Sharon Vrooman @ Vrooman’s Quilts

                    Carole Carter @ From My Caroline Home

July 15th:    Yanicka Hachez @ Finding Myself As An Artist

                   Chris Dodsley @ Made by ChrissieD

July 16th:     Marsha Hodgkins @ Quilter in Motion

                    Leanne Parsons  @ Devoted Quilter

July 17th:     Tonia Conner @ All Thingz Sewn

                    Selina @ Selina Quilts

July 18th:     Lara Buccella @ Buzzin Bumble

                    Soma Acharya @ Whims and Fancies

July 19th:     Joanne Harris@ Quilts by Joanne

                    Suzy Webster @ Adventurous Applique and Quilting

July 20th:     Vicki in MN @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

                    Jennifer Fulton @ The Inquiring Quilter

July 21st:     Michele Kuhns @ Crayon Box Quilt Studio

                    Jan Ochterbeck @ The Colorful Fabriholic

July 22nd:     Alla Blanca @ Rainbows. Bunnies. Cupcakes.

                     Zenia Rene @ A Quilted Passion

July 23rd:     Joanne Hubbard @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

                    Paige Alexander @ Quilted Blooms

July 24th:     Carolyn Jones @ …by CJ

                    Tisha Nagel @ Quilty Therapy

July 25th:     Susan Arnold @ Quilt Fabrication

                    Beth Sellers @ Cooking Up Quilts

                    Linda Pearl @ One Quilting Circle

A Thread for Life
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

WHOOMP There IT Is! #15 - Gossamer

Hello, and welcome to another edition of WHOOMP There IT Is!  And what a special edition it is!

People, I give you, Gossamer!

Late October, I started my very 1st paper pieced project as a Christmas gift for David. Earlier in the year, I sent a photo of his 1976 Ford Bronco, Gossamer, to Janeen Van Niekerk of Quilted Art Designs and she made it into a paper pieced pattern. She does fantastic work by the way and has MANY wonderful patterns. Be sure to check out her pattern store.

I had mentioned to some ladies at Quilters Anonymous about my plans to learn paper piecing in order to make this special gift and they pointed me in Sue's direction.  Sue is a wonderful teacher who does it all; paper piecing, quilting, embroidery, applique, etc and she makes beautiful tops, like the one she's wearing in the pic below.  She taught me the Judy Niemeyer technique of paper piecing. She said I was a fast learner and a dream student. Okay, so she didn't use the words "dream student" but, I know it's what she was thinking. ;)  On a quick side note: Sue just opened up her Etsy shop, AZ Quilted Angel, where she sells gorgeous handmade purses! Be sure to check out her shop as well!

All I'd done before I got to her house was pick out the fabrics I wanted to use.  She pinned up the guide and got me started on cutting out ALL the pieces. And there were a lot! I spent about 5 hours a day for 5 Thursdays at her house working on this masterpiece.  And in my eyes, it is a masterpiece!

This is all I got done the 1st week.

2nd week

3rd week

4th week

5th week

 I made her proud!

If it weren't for Sue coordinating my numbered fabrics w/the respective paper pieces and getting them all lined up for me, it would've taken me much longer to finish. Thank you, Sue!

I thought I would hate paper piecing but I've grown quite fond of it.  I decided early on that if I liked how Gossamer came out, I'd enter it in the Arizona Quilters Guild Quilt Show in March.  I'm extremely pleased w/this finish so it will definitely be entered! David will have to wait a few more months to hang this beauty on the wall!

So here's to my 1st paper pieced project AND my 1st quilt show entry!

Here's another of last week's finishes. The block is called Summer Breeze by Upstairs Hobby Room.

One last thing before I let you go, I've listed another pattern in my Craftsy Pattern Store. My Easy Grocery Bag Catcher pattern is free for a limited time so be sure to download your copy today!

So that's all I've got folks! How about you? Do tell!

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A Thread for Life

WHOOMP There IT Is! #12

Hi y'all.  I hope this post finds you all in your right mind and not too stressed. =)

I'm very thankful to have celebrated another birthday yesterday.  I bought myself a bunch of gifts...most of which I wrote about in this post a few weeks ago...so I'm a happy camper.

Even though, I'm not going to finish all I'd set out to do "by Christmas", I'm totally okay w/it! I'm making progress and keeping my sanity and that's what it's all about.

I finished and delivered this comfort quilt for a friend whose son was senselessly shot and killed while playing his favorite sport. I pray it brings her a bit of comfort when she wraps up in it.

I made and mailed these lovely pillowcases for some littles of friends and family.

And just this evening I basted this Vintage Summer quilt, which I plan to have finished and mailed by Monday evening.

One of my son's had a marvelous idea.  He saw how cramped I was getting in my sewing room, and suggested I swap my bedroom(master), w/my sewing room!  I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! And of course once I get something in my  head, there's no stopping me. So...the big things have been moved and I've been working in my new space all week and it is so wonderful! I will post pics when the move is complete.

It's that time again. I'd love to know how things are comong along w/you.

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Everyone likes to hear "thank you" and know their effort is appreciated.

Spread the Love

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A Thread for Life

WHOOMP There IT Is! #8

Thank you all for your kind comments regarding my uncle's passing.  My cousin loves the quilt I made for her.  I finished it at about 1145a Saturday and left my house at 1230p.  It was my fastest binding job ever. I love machine binding!

I've got a few WHOOMPS to share this week.

I finished the quilt top for the custom order that I got through my Etsy shop a few weeks ago, which is for a throw size (60" x 75") of the Hillside Houses Quilt. I finally cut into my new roll of batting.  It is already basted and I will start quilting it this Sunday.  I'm hoping to have it completely finished and ready to ship next Thursday. A pic is coming soon.

This week I sold another quilt listed in my Etsy shop.  The wall hanging I made during the Hillside Houses QAL.  I call it Evening Hillside Houses.

I had to add a sleeve to it, which is something I hadn't done before but I got 'er done.  I used this handy dandy tutorial and watched this video.  I shipped it yesterday.

I recently listed a few patterns in my Craftsy Pattern Store and am extremely pleased w/the number of sales I've had so far.

I finished the Christmas gift paper piecing project! Well...it's not finished finished but the 20" square top is finished and I must say, it's pretty darn amazing!  Now I just have to figure out how to quilt it.  I'm also thinking about entering it in the Arizona Quilters Guild Quilt Show in March.

And lastly, I made a mug rug this week using this Tea Cup Pattern.  I liked it much better as a flimsy.

I learned a couple of valuable lessons in quilting it.
1. I should use a walking foot for straight line quilting, no matter how small the project.
2. Binding projects this small is for the birds and I will not do it again.

Now I'd like to see what you did this week. Link up and share below. =)

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Everyone likes to hear "thank you" and know their effort is appreciated.

Spread the Love

The more love you give, the more you get. Pick a number (mine is 5) and commit to visiting and commenting on that many link-ups. Let them know where you're visiting from and ask them to visit you. (This works well for me!)

Direct Link

Use a direct link to a specific post, not your main blog.

Link Back

In your blog post, include a link back to my post/blog and/or grab the WHOOMP There IT Is! button above and put in your post or sidebar. Thanks for spreading the love.

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A Thread for Life

WHOOMP There IT Is! #6

Hello and welcome to week #6 of WHOOMP There IT Is! 

I can't believe I haven't opened my giant roll of batting.  It's been standing in the same corner of my bedroom for about 3 weeks now. I'll cut into you soon enough Hobbs, I promise. ;)

Besides the custom quilt order I'm working on at home, I've been going every Thursday to my instructor's house to work on the Christmas gift paper piecing project.  She's a lovely woman from Quilters Anonymous, our chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild. Anyway, It's all pinned up on her design wall. She's been such a dear, coordinating my numbered fabrics w/the respective paper pieces. She gets several sets together and lines them up for me, so when I finish one, the next one is there ready and waiting. Yesterday was my 3rd week and I believe the 20" square top will be completed in the next 2 Thursdays.  It's been such a pleasure visiting in her home and getting to know her and her husband.

I actually have quite a few things to do "by Christmas"; three other quilts, eight pillowcases and hopefully several (2 dozen or so) simple sewn gifts for friends. On my honor, I will try not to add another thing to my "by Christmas" list!

I've already been thinking about my resolutions for the new year.  However, losing weight or exercising more have not even crossed my mind.  A more important resolution to me, is to do one project at a time.  I need to test and see just how productive I'll be. I'm thinking it will probably be about the same, but w/much less stress and anxiety.  Who's with me? (side note: I wasn't sure if I should've used who's or whose. Grammar Check says "no writing errors were found" either way...so I guess they are both acceptable??) 

Back to the subject of paper piecing though, I'm really falling for it!  I thought I was going to hate it but it's quite amazing.  I love how the Christmas gift project is coming along, but I wanted to have something to show and share this week. Since I'm halfway finished w/the top of the custom order, I decided to use what I've learned paper piecing and do a small solo project. I stitched up these 2 blocks the other night; cups of tea. After I add embroidery floss to the tea bag tags, they shall become a pair of mug rugs.  The pattern is one of several free patterns, by Maartje of Quilt in Amsterdam . Thank you Maartje! 

Thanks for visiting.  Now it's your turn to share what you've been working on.

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Thank the Host

Everyone likes to hear "thank you" and know their effort is appreciated.

Spread the Love

The more love you give, the more you get. Pick a number (mine is 5) and commit to visiting and commenting on that many link-ups. Let them know where you're visiting from and ask them to visit you. (This works well for me!)

Direct Link

Use a direct link to a specific post, not your main blog.

Link Back

In your blog post, include a link back to my post/blog and/or grab the WHOOMP There IT Is! button above and put in your post or sidebar. Thanks for spreading the love.

Follow Me ;)

Of course I would love for all you linky-uppers to be followers, but it's NOT required.

Party Hearty! 

An InLinkz Link-up

A Thread for Life
Waiting in faith is not an easy thing. 

Linking up at:
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