As I write this post, I am still in Colton’s Point, Maryland with 2 of my (I want to say oldest here, but I don’t mean ages, I mean the number of years we’ve known each other) quilty pals, Leslie and Cathey.
I must confess that I am having a wonderful time here! Colton’s Point is a very special hidden treasure right on the Potomac River, it’s about 1.5 hours from Washington D.C. and a couple hours from Baltimore. Of course, we’re not here during any festivals or events, so it’s been quiet and peaceful — 2 things I’ve been craving for quite a while now. Too bad Leslie and I are only visiting Cathey and her husband, Bryon for 4 days — 4 days is barely enough time to unzip my suitcase, let alone unwind completely. Then again, not sure I could ever truly unwind completely, even if I tried — I don’t think it’s in my nature. LOL!
It was about a 7 hour drive to get to Colton’s Point from northwestern PA. Of course, Leslie and I do not live in the same area anymore, so we met about halfway in between. My sister, Tracy, kindly drove me to meet Leslie and then we were on our way! I rode shotgun and Leslie drove. I totally could not believe her car was getting 48.3 miles per gallon on average! Wowzer!
Here is Cathey and Bryon’s adorable cottage (it’s bigger than it looks as it is quite deep). It has a wonderful beachy vibe and is very welcoming.
One of the coolest things about their home is that mere steps away from their cottage is Cathey’s lovely quilt studio. This is, of course, where we definitely will be spending A LOT of our time together on our little “quilt retreat.”
Don’t you just love her barn quilt out front??? Cathey brought it all the way from PA when they moved here.
It didn’t take the 3 of us long to settle back into sewing together, although it’s been simply ages since our last quilt retreat experience. We certainly had a lot of catching up to do!
I know I packed too many projects to bring with me, but I wanted to be prepared. And I really wanted to do some free motion quilting — I have way too many unfinished tops, or flimsies, right now — so I brought along 3 table runners and my Whirly Bird top from last week’s summer tutorial to machine quilt. If you missed the Whirly Bird tutorial, you can find it HERE. I also brought a challenge project for the 3 of us — I think I’ll talk more about this project in next week’s post, though — I also brought several quilt kits in case I had time to do any cutting and piecing.
Luckily, Cathey has the same model of machine as I do — a Janome 8900 — so quilting on her machine felt a lot like quilting on my machine, although no 2 machines ever feel quite the same. In fact, Cathey is the person who got me into Janome machines, when she bought her first Janome 6260, it was such a nice machine, I had to get one too. Later she upgraded to a 8900, and so did I.
Here I am sitting on Cathey’s studio front porch, just chilling for a few minutes.
Here is Cathey, working on cutting out some projects.
Here is Leslie working on a second version of a quilt she designed several years ago.
Here is the view from where I am sitting in front of Cathey’s 8900 while I machine quilting Whirly Bird.
I think I’ve mentioned before that Cathey is a quilter/designer and is the owner of Cathey Marie Designs.
And after a long hiatus from quilting when life happened, Leslie is getting back into quilting once again.
And you all know little ol’ me. LOL!
Cathey, Leslie, and I have all designed quilts for magazines, too.
We’ve been trying to figure out when we first met and Leslie thinks it was 2007. Both Leslie and Cathey were relatively new quilters when we met on a bus trip to Chautauqua Institution in New York for Quilting Around Chautauqua. Cathey and I had met in the summer when I was seated behind her on the bus for our local Shop Hop. It was both our first Shop Hop. Those meetings led to many Shop Hops and quilting road trips, along with some quilting retreats (and staying in a cottage at Chautauqua for Quilting Around Chautauqua with our quilty pal, Mary Lee — HEY MARY LEE!) sprinkled in for good measure. But as things happen, life got in the ways and over time we didn’t spend as much time together. How wonderful to spend 4 days together quilting, sewing, catching up, and eating (yep, who can forget eating??).
The Potomac River….and Quilts!
We walked down to the river just to take it in, but we didn’t have a lot of time to soak it all in, as thunder started to rumble in the distance and before we arrived back at the cottage, it had started to rain.
What really amazed me was how wide the Potomac is right here at Colton’s Point! I could barely see the land on the other side of the river (which just so happened to be Virginia). I tried to find out how wide the Potomac was at Colton’s Point but could only find that the widest section was around 11 miles across and that was farther down towards Chesapeake Bay.
Do you see the little island there on the right beyond the pier? That is St. Clements Island, which is where the first settlers to Maryland landed in the 1600’s. Of course, back then the island was something like 10 times larger!
You can find the St. Clement’s Island Museum Campus down near the river. And on the museum grounds is a lovely Little Red Schoolhouse, built in 1820. We were able to go right into the schoolhouse, which is used for school field trips and events. It was like stepping back in time to Little House on the Prairie……
As a former children’s librarian, I was thrilled to see a Little Free Library right outside the Little Red Schoolhouse!
The next day, Bryon kindly shepherded Leslie and I back to the river, this time out on a pier, to witness the sunset. I was a little apprehensive walking out on the boardwalk to the pier, but I really wanted to have a front row seat for the sunset. Mother Nature did not disappoint! Not at all! My, what a sight! We also went to see the sunset again Wednesday night.
Tuesday night’s sunset.
Wednesday night’s sunset.
And on Wednesday afternoon, I wandered back down to the pier for more photos, taking the 2 runners I quilted, Whirly Bird, and the Discovery top I had just completed (stay tuned for a Discovery tutorial next week).
Here is my Whirly Bird quilt from last week’s tutorial! I haven’t added the binding yet, but it still looks beautiful. Being down at the river was really peaceful — I felt like I was the only person in the world for a little while, which really was priceless. I felt like I could really breathe here.
Get your own print Whirly Bird HERE or digital Whirly Bird HERE.
Here are 2 of the 3 table runners I brought with me to machine quilt. The one on the right is Molly’s Amen runner and the runner on the left is a variation of Amen.
You can get your own print Amen HERE or digital Amen HERE.
And here is my Discovery quilt top. I did a couple photos down at the river, but I think the autumn colors looked better on the picket fence in front of Cathey’s cottage.
Get your print discovery HERE or your digital Discovery HERE.
Sadly, Leslie and I are heading home in the morning, but we will be back. Soon.
Just one more photo…………
Well, that’s it for me this week! Stop back next week for a final Summer Tutorial.
I knew I wasn’t going to have time to do a tutorial for this week because I’ve been working on a couple other projects for VRD, so I started brainstorming about a topic for today’s blog post. Then it occurred to me that I haven’t ever talked about how to incorporate quilts into your life. So it’s about time I explore how to do more than just stack ’em in a corner or toss ’em on a bed. Make yourself a cup of ice cold sweet tea and enjoy a little air conditioning while we delve into Living With our Quilts. Let’s get started!
11 Awesome Ways to Incorporate Quilts into Your Life
1. Embrace Cozy Comfort
Image by Moi
Yep, you CAN put quilts on every bed in your home. Did you ever have any doubts? LOL! Why not transform your sleeping spaces into havens of warmth and style? Quilts are versatile pieces of functional art — they provide comfort and add character to your bedroom!
Go ahead and experiment with different patterns and textures to create your very own unique inviting atmosphere that shows your personal taste. Consider layering quilts of varying weights so you can adapt to changing seasons, ensuring year-round coziness. Lightweight cotton quilts such as hand-stitched Indian Kantha quilts without batting offer breathability for warmer months while options with batting, fleece, and flannel can provide extra warmth during those chilly nights. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and designs to refresh your space — make it totally you.
2. Wall Art with a Personal Touch
Image by Moi
Why not embrace your inner quilter and transform your living spaces into vibrant galleries of memories and craftsmanship by showcasing your quilts as wall art? Quilts deserve to be admired daily, not just when adorning a bed so by displaying quilts on your walls, you can create a unique and personal display that tells your story and celebrates the art of quilting.
Consider rotating your quilt displays seasonally to refresh your home’s decor. You can even expand your creativity by exploring different hanging techniques such as decorative quilt hangers, shelves with attached quilt rails, or even tree branches (I personally love birch). What about suspending quilts from rustic wooden beams or even folding them over the rungs of a folksy wooden ladder for a charming farmhouse feel?
3. Snuggle Up in Style
Image by Moi
Isn’t it time to transform your living space into a haven of warmth and comfort by adding quilts? Quilts can add a touch of style to your decor but can also invite you to curl up and relax — isn’t that what we want in our living spaces? Drape a colorful quilt over your favorite armchair to create an instant reading nook, perfect for losing yourself in a good book on lazy afternoons.
Experiment with different textures and patterns to breathe new life into your space — a patchwork quilt (or 2…) can become a focal point or even the start of a new decor style. Why not try layering quilts, especially in the colder months of the year? Every chair or sofa in my living room has at least one quilt folded over the back — just sayin’…….
4. Outdoor Quilting Adventures
Image by Moi
Imagine the joy of spreading your quilt beneath a canopy of stars, or laying it out on a sun-dappled meadow for a perfect picnic. Outdoor adventures can offer unique and special ways to blend your passion for quilting with the beauty of nature.
Consider making weatherproof quilts, designed with durable fabrics and water-resistant backings and you’ll have trusty quilt companions for every outdoor escapade. Imagine the memories you’ll create when you add special quilts into the mix — the laughter of family and friends sharing stories over a picnic feast, or the quiet wonder of pointing out constellations to loved ones on a clear night. Quilts are so much more than simply a “blanket” — quilts can be a canvas for life’s precious moments.
5. Wrap Yourself in Memories
Image by Moi
Memory quilts are tangible pieces of history that can tell our stories. These one of a kind special creations allow us to preserve cherished moments, honor loved ones, and pass down our family legacies. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just beginning, creating a memory quilt can be a deeply fulfilling experience.
Have you ever considered making a photo quilt? You can transfer favorite snapshots onto fabric and incorporate your photos into your quilt design. Photo quilts bring your memories to life, allowing you to relive those special moments every time you wrap yourself in the quilt or look at that wall hanging. You can preserve your family’s story as a quilt and pass it down to the next generation.
You could also use clothing from significant events or people in your life to tell your story. Once you decide on a quilt design, you can add these cherished fabrics into a patchwork of nostalgia. For those looking to create a family heirloom, consider incorporating items like handwritten recipes, old letters, or even small trinkets into your quilt design. These personal touches add depth and meaning to your creation, making it a true treasure for generations to come.
Another idea for creating a quilt to remember a special event like a wedding or a birth is to make quilt blocks and have loved ones sign (and date) the blocks. Signers could even write sentiments, good wishes, or advice on the quilt blocks. The center quilt block can detail the information about the special event.
You could even incorporate multiple techniques to create your very own one of a kind unique memory quilt.
6. Quilted Fashion Statements
Image by Moi
Have you embraced the exciting world of quilted fashion yet? Quilted wearables are where tradition meets contemporary style! Quilt jackets are no longer just cozy comforts — they’ve become bold fashion statements. Quilted bags are must-have accessories, combining functionality with artistic flair.
Patchwork fashion even extends beyond jackets and bags. Quilted accessories like scarves, hats, and even shoes are pushing the boundaries of conventional style. These pieces not only keep you warm but also wrap you in wearable art that expresses your individuality. Don’t forget that by donning quilted fashion, you’re not just following a trend, you’re carrying forward a rich heritage of textile artistry into the modern world.
7. Cozy Up Your Workspace
Image by Moi
Transform your home office into a haven of creativity and comfort with the warmth of quilts! Quilts are pieces of art and can add a personal touch to your workspace as well as boost productivity by creating a welcoming atmosphere. Drape a colorful quilt over your office chair or even create a patchwork chair cover for an instant ergonomic upgrade and a pop of personality. Incorporate quilted desk accessories like mouse pads or keyboard wrist rests for both functionality and style.
Did you know that the textures and patterns of quilts can inspire innovative thinking and problem-solving? Go ahead and select designs that resonate with your work ethos – maybe geometric patterns for analytical tasks or floral motifs for creative endeavors. What about hanging a special family quilt on the wall as a reminder of your roots and motivation? Quilts can provide a soothing visual break during intense work sessions.
8. Kid-Friendly Quilt Spaces
Image by Moi
Often when people think of quilts, they think of a quilt for a new baby. Making a quilt for a new baby in the family is a good start, but there is so much more you can do to incorporate quilts into children’s spaces. Decorating with kid-friendly quilts in nurseries, bedrooms, and play spaces can create a warm, inviting atmosphere that sparks imagination and fosters learning.
Vibrant, colorful quilts featuring playful patterns and educational designs can be functional decor as well as interactive tools for young minds. Consider incorporating alphabet quilts that teach letter recognition or number-themed designs to introduce basic counting skills. For playrooms, opt for durable quilt materials that can withstand active play while adding a cozy touch to reading nooks or play areas. Quilts with scenes from favorite storybooks or featuring beloved characters can encourage storytelling and imaginative play. In nurseries, soft, tactile quilts with gentle textures and soothing colors can provide comfort and stimulate sensory development.
Don’t just stop at quilts, though! Show your quilting prowess with quilted toys, blocks, fabric matching games, stuffed toys and dolls and whatever else your can dream up.
9. Holidays and Seasonal Celebrations
Image by Moi
Enjoy every season and holiday with colorful quilts that turn your home into a festive haven. From cozy winter throws sprinkled with snowflakes to spring wall quilts bursting with flowers, quilts can capture the essence of each holiday and special occasion.
Imagine draping your Thanksgiving table with a richly-hued autumn runner, or surprising loved ones with personalized quilted stockings at Christmas. Or a red, white, and blue quilt to cuddle on and watch Independence Day fireworks? These thoughtful creations not only add warmth to your living spaces but also become cherished family heirlooms to be passed down through generations.
Celebrate life’s milestones with quilts — a baby’s first quilt, a graduation memory blanket, or an anniversary piece showcasing a couple’s journey — each stitch tells a unique story. These quilts aren’t just decorations; they’re expressions of love, care, and the artistry of human hands.
10. Quilted Sanctuaries
Image by Moi
Quilts have the power to change ordinary spaces into cozy havens of tranquility. By incorporating quilts into your home, you can create serene retreats that nurture both body and soul.
There are so many ways to use quilts to soften and soothe your world. Imagine a meditation corner with a soft earth-toned quilt, its intricate patterns serving as a focal point for mindfulness practice. Or picture a reading nook enveloped in a vibrant patchwork quilt, inviting you to lose yourself in the pages of your favorite book. Quilted room dividers offer a unique way to define spaces while adding warmth and texture to your environment.
11. Love Your Pets
Image by Moi
Don’t forget about those special furry, feathered, and scaly creatures sharing your space! You can share your quilty love with them, too!
Quilted patchwork coats, collars, and leashes are a must for your trendy companions. What about a soft and cozy bed for your pup or a cage cover for your feathered friend? Just like their people, every pet deserves their own quilt too. Patchwork diaper covers are perfect for indoor tortoise buddies (In case you didn’t know, there is a delightful tortoise in my family named Carl. He is my niece Morgan’s special companion. You might think it’s odd, but Carl is a house tortoise and wears diapers because you can’t exactly potty train a tortoise, hence the idea for quilted diaper covers.).
PSST! Here is Carl celebrating his 9th birthday earlier this year. You can find him on Facebook.
Quilts possess a unique ability to weave their magic into every facet of our lives. From adorning our homes with warmth and beauty to preserving cherished memories, quilts offer far more than mere comfort. They serve as a testament to human creativity, patience, and skill, connecting us to our past while inspiring future generations.
Whether you’re a seasoned quilter, just beginning on your quilting journey, or simply an admirer of these textile treasures, embracing the world of quilts can bring a sense of joy, accomplishment, and connection to your daily life. So, let the vibrant patterns, rich textures, and heartfelt stories of quilts envelop you and your living spaces, enriching your experiences in ways you never imagined possible.
I hope you enjoyed exploring ways to live with your quilts. Go ahead and spread some quilt joy through your world. You know you wanna……….
Summer is here! Let the good times roll! Get out there and soak up some sunshine! That’s an order!
Sorry….I know I said I was going to do a table runner tutorial this week, but I just had to show off the new Rose Card patterns for June and share my recent quilt show experience with you. We’ll save the table runner for next week, I promise.
What a special day — today is the Thursday after the first Friday of the month. And you know what that means!
Woohoo!
NEW PATTERNS!
New June VRD Rose Card Patterns
Yay! Here they are. Aren’t they fun? I don’t think you’ll go wrong with whichever pattern you chose to make first. They are all equally great.
Want a F-U-N way to get started on a summer quilt? Order a kit from VRD, of course! You can see all of our kit offerings HERE. In fact, some of the new patterns, above, still have kits available. They’re going fast, though, so get yours before they’re gone.
But wait! There’s more! (Sorry, it looks like I’m in an exclamation kind of mood today. I’m not really yelling at you, though, just excited.)
No table runner this month due to technical difficulties, but check out these cute little Buzzy Bee Snack mats! And no stingers, so you can enjoy them safely, even if you’re allergic.
Get your Buzzy Bee Snack Mat physical pattern HERE
Now that you’ve seen the new patterns for June, let me tell you about the quilt show I went to last week.
2024 HAAEQG Quilt Show
The HAAEQG stands for Hands All Around Erie Quilt Guild. It’s actually been a couple years since I’ve been to an actual quilt show, so when I saw the poster on Facebook, I was so ready for a huge inspiration shot in the arm. And I wasn’t disappointed. We filled up the car with my 3 crazy quilting cousins (I call them the Cuz Crew) — Kim, Robin, and Lisa — and me (Hi there Cuz Crew!). We headed to Erie, PA (about 30 minutes away) for a FART (Fabric Acquisition Road Trip). We found the church where the show was being help, but we decided to find somewhere to eat because I wasn’t quite sure whether there would be food at the show, but of course there was).
The church was a couple streets over from the medical center where I’ve been taking my Mom for her appointments, and we’d recently had a very good lunch at the neighboring hospital cafeteria. So when we ended up by the medical center and hospital, I suggested we eat at the cafeteria. Maybe you think that’s a little weird, but — hey — the food is good and you have a lot of options in the food court. Everyone was game, so off to the hospital cafeteria we went.
Yum! The food was great! 3 of us had hot turkey sandwiches with either real mash potatoes and gravy or a broccoli rice casserole and/or a lovely veggie mix. Wish I’d thought to take a photo of all that food for you, but I imagine drooling on your device wouldn’t be such a great idea, would it?
Yup, now we were all powered up for the Quilt Show and back to the church we went.
Would you believe one of the first quilts I saw was my VRD Rose Card pattern Sisterhood made up in a lovely calming neutral palette.
Here I am with that gorgeous Sisterhood quilt, made by MaryBeth Cook, a member of the HAAEQG.
Here’s the Sisterhood Rose Card pattern in case you can’t really get an idea of the actual design or if you haven’t added this top seller Rose Card to your collection. I love how the neutral shades really change the whole look of the quilt, don’t you?
I was so excited and couldn’t wait to share the news with my Cuz Crew, who had already started to wander. A guild member was nearby and heard me. She got really excited, too, and told me not to move so she could get her sister, who had made the quilt.
This is how I met MaryBeth Cook (Hey there, MaryBeth!). What a lovely way to meet a new quilting friend and VRD fan!
Here we are together, posing in front of MaryBeth’s gorgeous quilt, which she made for her daughter. Lucky daughter, indeed! I didn’t get to ask you, MaryBeth, but what drew you to the Sisterhood pattern?
Now, let me tell you about the quilt show. There were somewhere between 350-400 or so quilts on display in every style, technique, and color combination you could think of! They were amazing! I must admit that I was a real slowpoke looking at and photographing quilts. By the time I did a spot of shopping, the Cuz Crew were sitting and waiting for me. Sorry. Not sorry. Meeting MaryBeth, seeing her Sisterhood quilt, and oohhing and aahhing over all the quilts really made my day. My cuz, Robin, told me later that she hadn’t seen me smile so much for a long time.
There were 2 very cool things going on at the quilt show, in addition to the quilts, that made the show experience even more fun:
When you entered the show, you were given a sheet of paper with numbered lines on it for a Scavenger Hunt. Hidden amongst the quilts in the show were quilt blocks from an Underground Railroad quilt. The quilt was on display at the front table for reference. We had to write the correct quilt block name next to each number and then return the completed list to the table to register for prizes. What fun!
Throughout the show quilt blocks were lined up alphabetically depicting a quilter’s alphabet. It was a show within a show!
While I enjoyed each and every quilt, I took photos of some of my favs to make you a slide show. Please note that each quilt’s maker information/story is the slide following the quilt in my slide show.
Why do I include the maker information??? It’s important to share the maker’s name and story not only to celebrate the maker’s accomplishment, but also to acknowledge that they are the creator of that quilt.
So, grab a frosty glass of sweet tea and watch my little slide show full of quilts from the HAAEQG Quilt Show!
I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the wonderful quilts on display at the quilt show. I have been enjoying looking at them a few more times myself! There would have been more photos, but on many of them I jerked or moved which resulted in a smear of colors — pretty, but not identifiable as a quilt. Oops! Next time, I’ll take my time and take better photos. Uh Oh, Cuz Crew, I’ll be even slower next time. Just sayin’……..
Huh. Would you believe that I walked out without turning in my Underground Railroad Scavenger Hunt paper before we left? Oh well.
Sending out a big round of applause to the HAAEQG for the wonderful Quilt Show they put on! Look forward to the next one! You can check out HAAEQG on Facebook HERE.
I am now bubbling over with lots of great ideas for new quilts and patterns. Now I just have give myself the time to get to use all that inspiration for good, not evil (Waahaahaa!).
Hey there! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend!
My big plans were having a multi-generational family garage sale on Friday and Saturday. I haven’t had a garage sale since before the Pandemic, so I really had no idea what to expect. We ended up with a very interesting assortment of items from the regular household stuff and clothing to antiques and collectibles to automotive items to vintage toys to beautiful collectible glassware and pottery and everything in between (except for quilting stuff, as I’m saving that for a later fabric yard sale). The comment I said frequently during the sale was “We have a little bit of a lot of different stuff.” And, boy, was that true!
While I was at the garage sale, I was thinking about what to write for the blog this week and I was inspired to come up with a fun list of ideas to make the most of your summer quilting because I know how difficult it is to fit quilting in during all the hustle and bustle of summer.
While I was at the garage sale and taking money, I was also working sewing down some binding which was something I could pick up and put down easily. By the way, I bound 3 out of the 4 snack mats I took with me to the sale. Not too shabby.
14 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Summer Quilting
OF COURSE, I had to have our VRD Rose Card patterns on the top of the list! As you probably already know, we have around 700 current patterns with new patterns coming out every month from our very talented group of designers. If Villa Rosa Designs was an entry in a dictionary, you know the definition would be FAST & FUN! With patterns for accessories, table runners, baby quilts, small quilts, throw quilts, and even large bed quilts — we really DO have a pattern for everyone for whatever purpose or occasion they need to make a quilt for! You can find our entire catalog of physical Rose Card patterns HERE or our digital Rose Card patterns HERE.
Kits are a real time saver because the fabrics and the pattern are packaged together. Did you know Villa Rosa has kits galore both in the physical quilt shop in California and in our online shop? You can find our current kit offerings HERE.
Precuts
Grab your favorite 2 1/2″ strip set, 5″ charm squares, 10″ squares, or fat quarter bundle………. VRD has a pattern for that! LOL! Using precuts is a HUGE time saver because some of the cutting is already done for you. AND you can pair your precuts with a great VRD Rose Card pattern.
Small Projects
You can find our Fast & Fun Accessory patterns HERE
Think small in the summertime — place mats, snack mats, mug rugs, small accessory patterns, throw pillows, wall quilts, and table runners are all great options for summer quilting. I personally find that summer is a great time to start working on small fun Christmas gifty items that can be whipped up in little pockets of time.
My advice is to save that complicated Double Wedding Ring Quilt for Fall and Winter and focus on Fast & Fun projects for the summer. Selecting easier projects that only take a couple days or even a couple hours to make will keep you moving right along instead of feeling stuck with a single more complex project for the whole summer. Check out my Go-to list for Fast & Fun Rose Card patterns that go together in a snap HERE.
Prepare a take along project (hand piecing, applique, embroidery, whatever you like) and have it ready to go for summer trips, picnics, vacations, appointments, kids’ events, etc. You might even want to prepare several small projects for on the go, so you can just grab one on your way out the door. You will be amazed at how those little pockets of time will give you additional quilting time. Maybe it’s time to try a little English Paper Piecing with Hexies. Just Sayin’….
Projects in Different Stages of Completion
Image created with Photoshop by moi
Not everyone will agree with me on this one and it might not work for everyone, but this is how I roll. If you have a quilt or 2 cut and ready to piece, another couple that you are quilting (either hand or machine), several that need the binding sewn on or tacked down, along with your take along project (or projects!) — you will never be bored and you can work on whatever project that fits into your current time/space.
On the go? Grab the quilt that needs the binding done (I’m thinking smaller projects here, not big bed quilts) or one of your take along projects — like maybe a hand applique pillow front.
Have an hour or two? Start piecing that quilt you cut out or maybe you can machine quilt a table runner.
Need a project in the evening while hanging out with the kiddos or friends? Maybe one that needs binding fits the bill or perhaps an ongoing project you already started hand-quilting?
Bored with one project? Then work on another one.
Use your time wisely by choosing the project that fits into specific pockets of time.
Try to Keep Your Sewing Space Organized
Image created with Photoshop by moi
You will notice I said “try”? I know how hard it is to keep your space uncluttered and organized from my personal struggles in my own space (which, by the way, looks like a quilt shop exploded). If you can find what you are looking for when you need it, that itself will save you time. Then you can get quilting faster and you may even have a little bit more time to work on your project in between swim practice and dinner if you’re not hunting for your scissors or thread or a new machine needle because you broke one.
Use Your Leaders and Enders to Maximize Your Sewing Time
What are Leaders and Enders, you might be wondering. Scraps of fabric to begin and end your chain-piecing so that your machine doesn’t “eat” your fabric at the beginning of your first unit (bet you know what I mean by this!). Bonnie’s idea is all about making simple scrappy blocks by using the pieces of one quilt as the Leaders and Enders for a second quilt — literally a two-fer! You go, Bonnie!
Sewing with friends is always a great idea — not only are you quilting, but you’re getting social time with your pals, too. Go ahead and actually schedule time on your calendar to quilt with your posse. Bring a project to work on and something for a pot luck. Why not make it a theme night — Taco Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, or maybe Fast & Fun Friday? By combining social time with quilting time, you get the best of both worlds at the same time!
Take a Quilt Class
Image created on Photoshop by moi
Learn something new or brush up on your skills. You are prioritizing quilting by scheduling it into your busy summer. Make that class even more fun by taking along your best quilting bud.
Yup, join a Quilt Guild where all the quilters hang out once or twice a month. Again, you are combining social time with quilting time as well as making quilting a priority. You can even tote a take along project with you to meetings. You’ll enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded folks and you might learn a thing or three from other members.
Maybe you don’t have a guild near where you live? You could join an online guild. Or maybe start a guild in your area!
Teach Someone to Quilt
Image created on Photoshop by moi
Have you ever heard the quote: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”? Do you know who said these important words? If you said Ben Franklin, then kudos to you!
So, teach someone to quilt!
Kids or grands need something to occupy their time besides video games and their cell phones? Teach them to make a simple quilt! Know someone who always wanted to make a quilt, but doesn’t know how? Teach them! Or maybe you know an expectant parent or grandparent who wants to make a baby quilt for that special little bundle? Don’t hesitate, teach them! You can even make the same project that you are teaching, so not only are you getting in some much-needed quilting time, you are also sharing your love of quilting with someone else.
Yay! Get your motors running! Head on out on the highway — er, on a Quilting Road Trip or FART (Fabric Acquisition Road Trip). Whether you’re going on a quilt retreat, to a quilt show, or hopping from shop to shop, enjoy some quilting R&R with your fav quilty pals. Don’t forget your take along project for the road….
I hope these fun ideas help you to squeeze a little more quilting time into your busy summer. If you have any additional ones to add, please leave a comment to share. Thanks!
Just keep quilting……just keep quilting…..just keep quilting………………………………….
Happy Memorial Day Week end to you too! What are your plans for this unofficial kick off to summer? For me, I am hustling to put together a garage sale for Friday and Saturday as this is THE BEST weekend all year to have a sale where I live. Fingers crossed that I’m not pulling an all-nighter Thursday to have everything ready for Friday. Wish me luck!
I am SEW EXCITED to share some AWESOME NEWS about Villa Rosa so I’m going to jump right in.
Exciting VRD NEWS!
Our Rose Queen and VRD owner, Pat Fryer, has a brand new fabric collection coming out with Riley Blake Designs! It’s called Bedazzled! and I can’t wait to share it with you! It will be available at your local quilt shops and at our online shop, villarosadesigns.com, in December! So mark your calendars now AND ask for it at your local shops.
Bedazzled! is a batik collection and is part of the Riley Blake Expressions line. It has 26 fabrics in rich saturated eye-popping colors! It’s fun and whimsical too!
Here is the entire collection:
Here are some larger images of each different pattern so you can see just how yummy the fabrics are:
Of course, Bedazzled! will be available in precuts — 5″ squares, 10″ squares, 2.5″ strips, and fat quarter bundles, so the collection will shine in lots and lots of VRD Rose Card patterns!
Speaking of VRD Rose Cards, here are the patterns Riley Blake Designs has selected to showcase with the collection.
And if that’s not enough — Riley Blake Designs has created a SUPER SPECIAL Rose Card Pattern Storage Tin! Finally!!! We’ve talked about storage ideas for your Rose Card collections many times in the past here on the blog and I know the topic comes up frequently on the Facebook group.
Thank you Riley Blake Designs for creating a solution for storing our Rose Card collections!
I am really excited about this tin and can’t wait to order several. I imagine we’ll carry them at villarosadesigns.com, but make sure you request these tins at your local quilt shop! I think they’ll go fast, so make sure you get yours in December.
Are you getting EXCITED yet???? Remember, Bedazzled! will be in stores in December, just in time for Christmas! I know what I’ll have on my Christmas list this year. Just sayin’ . . . .
One More VRD Update For You
Do you watch (and shop) Pat’s Fry-Day VRD Live Shows on Facebook? Or maybe you didn’t even know we had a weekly Live Show and Sale.
Here’s the info:
FRY-DAY HAPPY HOUR
Join us every Friday at 4pm PST on our Facebook Page for our Fry-Day Happy Hour.
Watch as we show new fabric and last-chance items – and comment to buy directly from the video.
I just wanted to let you know the show will now be available on the website due to some changes with the platform. We’re trying a few different things out right now in order to pick the new format that will be easiest for you, the shoppers and fans, so please be patient with us.
For now, you will be able to find the Fry-Day VRD Live Shows under the Live Shows tab at the top of the website. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Well, I guess that’s it for me this week. I’m off to work on getting my garage sale ready. If you find yourself in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, stop on over — I’d love to meet you in person.
Take care and be safe this Memorial Day Weekend. Don’t forget to kick back and relax, too.
Did you know quilting has its very own language? I am going way beyond quarter inch seams here.
Recently, I’ve been gathering up a long list of Quilting Acronyms and thought I’d share them with you. Some of them are so silly, they will make you laugh.
Before we dive into this crazy list, here’s an update on our Blog Hop last week.
Fast & More Fun Blog Hop Update
First, I want to thank you for hopping along with us. I hope you all had a great time last week for our second Villa Rosa Designs Blog Hop, Fast & More Fun! If you’re new to VRD, I bet you now know why we called the Hop Fast & More Fun.
What was your favorite part of the Hop? Mine was seeing all of the quilts. I couldn’t wait to see each day’s blogs and the quilts — oh my goodness! — the quilts were simply out of this world!
I am sending a great big quilty hug to each of our 28 amazing bloggers —
I hope you hoppers met some new quilty friends and found some new-to-you quilt blogs filled with inspiration. I know I did. Now how will I have time to write this blog when I’m sew busy reading all the others??? LOL!
I am sew in love with all of the quilts featured on the blogs for the Hop — it amazes me how quilters can take the same Villa Rosa Designs Rose Card pattern, add their own spin, and create a OOAK (wanna know what OOK means, keep reading!) really awesome quilt. Cheree at The Morning Latte comes to mind with her delightful scrappy pieced border on her version of the Gypsy pattern. I could literally go on and on about what I learned and saw on the Hop, but instead, let me ask you what you took away from the Hop?
Right now I am working my way through each blog’s winners — please be patient — that’s a lot of folks to contact and get shipping info from.
Let’s do the math (you might remember that I like math — check out my Quilting and Math post from a while back HERE):
28 blogs x 3 sponsor prizes each + 6 VRD quilts = 90 Individual prizes
30 blog posts x 1 set of patterns each = 30 Pattern Set prizes
30 blog posts x 3 Grand Prize entrants each = 90 Grand Prize entrants
So, 120 prizes are being given out and there are 90 entrants into 3 Grand Prize drawings.
Holy Cow! Go big or go home — that’s my motto!
Speaking of prizes, this blog hop would never have happened without the generosity of our lovely sponsors —
And don’t forget, you can order the Blog Hop Rose Card pattern set HERE if you haven’t gotten your own set yet. Of course, I am still working in notifying winners so maybe you’ll win a set.
While you are all waiting breathlessly to see if you are a Blog Hop winner — let’s dive right into a world of its own — Quilting Lingo!
Quilting Acronyms
Below you’ll find a long list of Quilting Acronyms. How many do you know already?
Who knew there was literally a dictionary of Quilting Acronyms? I guess it makes sense, though, because of text messaging abbreviations and acronyms like LOL, TTYL, and others. So why not Quilting acronyms too?
Read on. I dare you not to laugh — some of them are downright silly and will tickle your funny bone.
BC — Bias Cut
BDNQ — Bad Day, No Quilting
BOB — Beginners Only Block
BOM — Block of the Month
BOW — Block of The Week
BSK — Basic Sewing Kit
BSS — Basics Sewing Supplies
COC — Cream on Cream
DF — Double Fold
DSM — Domestic Sewing Machine
EPP — English Paper Piecing
FART — Fabric Acquisition Road Trip (One of my fav things to do! Tehehe….)
FE — Fat Eighth
FFO — Finally Finished Object
F-ing G’s — Flying Geese ( this one is for Gaynel and the rest of the Friday Quilt Crew!)
FMQ — Free Motion Quilting
FOB — Fear of Binding
FPP — Foundation Paper Piecing
FQ — Fat Quarter
FS — Forgotten Stash
FW — Featherweight (sewing machine)
GTG — Get ToGether
HSY — Haven’t Started Yet
HIPS — Hundreds of Ideas Piling Skyward. (Very true!)
HST — Half Square Triangle
HSY — Haven’t Started Yet
HQ — Hand Quilted/ing
LA — Long Armer. (Donna O!)
LAQ — Long Arm Quilter/Quilting
LOF — Length Of Fabric
LQS — Local Quilt Shop. (What would we do without our LQSs?)
MAQ — Mid Arm Machine
MGBTQ — Must Get Back to Quilting. (Yeah……every day)
NESTY — Not Even Started Yet
NQR — Not Quilt Related
NTBB — Needs To Be Bound
OOAK — One Of A Kind
OBW — One Block Wonder
OOP — Out of Print
PFC — Professional Fabric Collector
PhD — Projects Half Done
PIGS — Projects in Grocery Sacks
PIP — Project In Process
PIPS — Projects In Pretty Sacks
PIZB — Project In Ziplock Bag
PNTBF — Project Needs To Be Finished
PP — Paper Piecing
PFD — Prepared for Dyeing
PPO — Project Put Off
QAL — Quilt Along
QAYG — Quilt As You Go
QB — Quilting Board (flannel or felt board, I think….)
QMWL — Quilt More, Work Less
QR — Quilt Related
QST — Quarter Square Triangle
QTFDD — Quilt Top Finishing Deficit Disorder
RR — Round Robin
RST — Right Sides Together
SA — Seam Allowance
SABLE — Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy. Yup, that’s me!)
SF — Single Fold
SAQM — Small Arm Quilting Machine
SAS — Steam A Seam
SEX — Stash Enhancing Experience
SID — Stitch in the Ditch
SnW — Stack and Whack
SQUID — Sewing a Quilt Until I Die
SQUIDS — Some Quilts in DrawerS
SOG — Straight of Grain
STASH — Special Treasures All Hidden Secretly
TBQ — To Be Quilted
TGIF — Thank Goodness It’s Finished!
TIH — There is Hope
TOAD — Trashed Object Abandoned in Disgust. (We all have them!)
TOT — Tone on Tone
UFO — Unfinished Object
USO — UnStarted Project
VIP — Very Important Project
WHIMM — Works Hidden In My Mind
WIP — Work in Progress
WISP — Work In Slow Progress
WITHWIT — What In The Heck Was I Thinking?
WIWMI — Wish It Would Make Itself
WOA — Work Of Art
WOF — Width of Fabric
WOMBAT — Waste of Money and Time
WOW — White on White
WST — Wrong Sides Together
WTF — Where’s the Fabric?
WWIT — What Was I Thinking?
YD — Yard/Yardage
Whew! That’s a lot of Acronyms — it’s almost a dictionary. As many as there are on my list, I know that I missed some. Please feel free to comment with any that I missed. Maybe someone needs to write a Quilting Dictionary? Hmmmmmmmm. I’ll add it to the list. At the rate I’m going, I might get to start it as a project in the year 3078.
Well, that’s it for me, I need to get back to organizing and contacting all the Blog Hop winners so we can get all these quilty goodies sent out to their forever homes. Maybe even yours……
Aren’t they amazing??? I am so itching to make the Eclipses quilt by Creative Sewlutions before we have the Eclipse in April because I live in one of the viewing areas to see the total eclipse. Our local hotels are already booked up for the event.
Oh my gosh! I haven’t ordered my special viewing glasses yet. I’d better get on that, huh?
But wait — there’s more! Of course there is, right?
This month we have a cute new runner designed for your special fabrics you do not want to cut up.
We also have a snack mat this month perfect for those mugs of celebratory drink and green snacks on St. Patrick’s Day. Remember when I mentioned last year that in 2024, we’d be adding some new Accessory patterns? Well, here’s the first one. It’s super cute and quick to make up and you can use some of that St. Patrick’s Day fabric you’ve been hoarding.
Can’t wait to see your Shamrock Snack Mats on our Facebook group, so get ’em made and post those pics!
So…….which pattern are you going to make first? Me, definitely Eclipses. I know — let’s do that one as a tutorial after we wrap up the Blog Hop!
Now, let’s talk about the Blog Hop. You know, March 14th is next Thursday. Gulp! I just hope I’m ready. Are you ready? It’s going to be super amazing.
VRD Fast & More Fun Blog Hop
Are you getting excited??? The Villa Rosa Designs Fast & More Fun Blog Hop is literally just around the corner!!! It all starts right here next Thursday, March 14th!
Gather up all your quilty friends and family and join in on all the Blog Hop fun together! There are lots of prizes up for grabs, including quilt pattern sets, books, precuts from fat quarters to 5″ squares, and more.
This year, we also have 4 — count ’em — 4 very awesome Grand Prizes for you to register for on all of the Blogs. You’ll have to wait until March 14th to see them, though! Yep, I’m a tease…. (wink, wink)
Below, please find a list of our super fabulous Bloggers. Check them out and see what they’re all about.
Of course, this Blog Hop wouldn’t be possible without all of our fantastic super generous Blog Hop Sponsors. A great big THANK YOU HUG goes out to each of our Sponsors!
Mark your calendars for next Thursday’s Blog Hop kick off post — you won’t want to miss it. There are so so many prizes just waiting to be won. You just might be a winner. But you can’t win if you don’t join us on our Blog Hop adventure.
I’ll see you right here bright and early on March 14th for the kick off of our Fast & More Fun Blog Hop!
After our balmy winter weather last week, today I woke up to find snow on the ground. Not a lot, but enough to remind me that it is still winter. Then my mind immediately turned towards quilting for spring which always makes me feel sunny. So, I thought to myself, why not do a collection of spring VRD Rose Card patterns to get a dose of vitamin D along with a lot of inspiration? Maybe you need this little shot of sunshine right now, too.
Spring VRD Rose Card Quilt Patterns
Below you will find a wonderful eclectic collection of Spring-inspired projects curated just for you. I have included a link beneath each image so you can easily grab new-to-you physical Rose Cards. As always, there is NO SHIPPING on patterns!
For our international friends, I am here is a link to our digital Rose Card collection, where you will find most of the patterns in a download and print format: Digital Patterns.
After all these glorious Spring-inspired Rose Card patterns, I’m ready to head to my machine and start making a little spring for myself here in my dungeon — er….sewing room.
How about you? Betcha can’t pick just one….
Have a great week and don’t forget about our upcoming Blog Hop March 14th-21st.
Get ready for a fantastic time. Oh yeah — there will be prizes, too!
Here in NW PA, things are looking like spring! Punxatawney Phil (the Groundhog) did not see his shadow on February 2nd, which (hopefully) means an early spring. I started seeing some signs of spring even before Groundhog Day — on January 31st, I saw a groundhog awake and out of its hole. Next we started seeing some of our spring birds returning — starlings and bluebirds. We haven’t seen any robins in our yard yet, but other folks in our area have already seen them. Yes, we’ll probably see more snow before spring is completely sprung, but in the meantime I will enjoy winter days filled with sun and warmer temperatures.
Of course, true to living in NW PA, we did have a few weeks of very cold and snowy weather, but right now, we are enjoying the lack of snow and the sunshine with daytime temperatures in the 40’s with a few 50’s thrown in just to tease us. I hope you are just as fortunate as I am in the weather department right now. With all the sun, though, I am wanting to be outside to enjoy it, not down in my dungeon studio/office. Oh, the conundrums of nice weather……
On another note, do you know what day it is today??? It’s the first Thursday after the first Friday of the month which means NEW VRD Rose Card Patterns for February!
NEW VRD February Rose Card Patterns
YAY! Who doesn’t love NEW PATTERNS? Especially new patterns EVERY MONTH? And we’ve got some great new ones just for you this month, including several from our new designers Rachelle Handmade and Creative Sewlutions.
You can grab your set of February Rose Cards HERE for the special price of $8.95.
We also have 2 — count ’em — 2 table runners this month! One from Rachelle Handmade and one from yours truly.
What a great collection of patterns, don’t you think? Lots of variety AND different styles to appeal to just about every quilter. Which one are you going to make first this month?
Quilts of Valor National Sewing Day
As I mentioned last week, I had signed up to attend my local QOV group, PA Stitcher’s of Valor’s National Sew Day event. Our event was actually 2 days, Friday and Saturday, instead of just Saturday. This meant we could get even more sewing in. But with 2 days of sewing, I still didn’t get my project completely finished. I should have looked over the pattern a little bit more and pre-made my almost 200 Half Square Triangles (HSTs) before the actual sew days. Then I probably could have gotten my project finished. Hey, I was just pleased that I got all the pieces cut out. And I did get the 12 blocks sewn together, so now all I have to do is sew the blocks together and add the 2 borders.
I pretty much spent the first day just making HSTs. My cuz and pal, Robin and I switched projects for a while that first day because her machine was giving her some issues and she was having a hard time sewing her blocks together (Yes, Robin made her quilt blocks ahead of time. Good thinking, Robin!). So she worked on my HSTs while I sewed her blocks together. Group effort, definitely! Robin’s top was finished the first sewing day.
Here’s Robin’s top. Very patriotic, isn’t it?
OH NO! I think I switched blocks in the upper right corner….do you think it looks weird???
Here I am with my “cuz crew” — Kim (left front), Lisa (left back), and Robin (right back) laughing and sewing the day away! I am the person on the right in the front — you know, the one with all the mess. LOL! That’s just how I roll, I guess.
Here’s Kim sewing her big HSTs while Lisa is reading her pattern.
Here I am (front) with Robin (back) sewing happily along while we chat and laugh. You can see my cute little gnome sewing buddy on the table beside my machine. Notice my mess isn’t too bad as this was taken on the first day and the photo above was from Saturday (insert eye roll here).
We had a total of 60 quilters in 2 locations over 2 day! Some of the sewers were able to get a project finished, or brought ones to donate that they had already finished. Here are some of the gorgeous quilts and tops turned in over the weekend.
Hats off to Collene, our fearless leader for PA Stitchers, who organized such an amazing sewing event! Lunch was donated both days and there was plenty of snacks to keep us going at full speed. One of the things I loved the best about the event was lending a hand to each other when we needed some help. It wasn’t a race and there was always time to take a break and wander around, seeing what each other were working on. I am smiling while I think about the experience. I look forward to doing it again soon.
Our local PA Stitchers group meets once a month to work on quilts for QOV. Such a worthy cause — I’m so glad I have skills that can help others. Please contact your local QOV group and get involved — there are so many veterans and active military personnel who need to be covered by a special quilt. So get involved!
And don’t forget to grab your own set of our brand new 12 Quilts of Valor collection HERE. These 12 quilts will give a lot of different options for making your Quilts of Valor quilts, including multiple options for your patriotic panels! All the patterns fit the size requirements for a QOV quilt and a portion of the sales will be donated to the QOVF.
Well, I think that’s it for me today. I hope you enjoyed the quilt photos from our National Sew Day weekend for QOV. Don’t forget to find your local organization and get involved.
I’ve been thinking of some ways I can move forward in 2024 with my goals (Did you miss last week’s post? You can find it HERE). I’ve been seriously thinking about how to get my studio in order, which is definitely part of my 2024 Goals. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have the same thoughts, so let’s brainstorm some ideas together!
For some unknown reason, I never seem to get time to actually clean up, organize, and declutter my space. I truly believe there are little pixies who come to my studio at night and have wild parties because there’s no way that I’m making this mess. LOL!
I think I just need to take a couple days (or years) — maybe a week end — to focus entirely on my studio. Whew! That’s going to be a challenge, though, because I try to cram as much as I can into each day — you know what I mean? To focus completely on one task for a week end would be totally foreign to me. Sigh….I don’t know why 24 hours just isn’t enough time to get everything done every day…….
Now, don”t freak out, but I’m going to show you some pictures of my studio. I’m totally embarrassed to show you any photos of my space, but maybe if I do, then it will motivate me to make improvements. So here goes!
Okay, there it is — my very messy studio. Gulp! I am really embarrassed, but hopefully looking at these photos will motivate me to make some changes because obviously my current organizing system at isn’t working for me. Part of my problem is way too many quilts and way too much fabric — there just isn’t enough room for everything. That means it’s time to purge. Scary……..
Before I dive into this huge undertaking, I think I need a game plan. So here are 11 ideas to help get our sewing spaces ready for a new year of sewing! I bet you can come up with even more ideas so please share your thoughts in the comments.
Fabric and Supplies
1. Look at Your Stash: Take some time to go through your fabric stash and see what you really have. Sort your stuff into categories such as color, material, or project type. Maybe this will give you a better idea of what you have to work with.
2. Donate or Sell: If you come across fabrics that no longer spark joy or that you haven’t used in years, consider donating them to a local charity or selling them online. This way, someone else can put them to good use and that fabric isn’t just collecting dust. If you sell stuff, you will have extra space and extra money. Win-win!
3. Proper Storage: Invest in storage solutions that work for your needs. Clear plastic bins, shelves, or even hanging organizers can help keep everything neat and accessible. Be creative! What do you already have that you can use? Shop second hand. Psst! One of my favorite places to get bins and such is my local Dollar Tree store.
4. Label Everything: When storing your fabrics and supplies, labeling containers can be a lifesaver. It helps avoid the hassle of rummaging through everything when searching for specific items.
5. Streamline Notions: Just like with fabrics, it’s important to go through your sewing notions as well (buttons, zippers, threads, etc. ). Get rid of any duplicates or items that are no longer usable.
6. Keep Favorites Visible: If there are fabrics that inspire you every time you see them, make sure they’re easily visible in your workspace so they don’t get forgotten!
7. Pegboards: Hanging tools on pegboards is a great idea! Not only does it keep everything organized, but it also makes things easy to find whenever you need them. Pegboards come in various sizes and can be customized to fit your specific needs.
Clutter-free Surfaces
1. Clean Your Sewing Table: Start by giving your sewing table a good wipe down. Dust off any debris or lint that might have accumulated, and use some mild cleaning solution to get rid of any stubborn stains or spills.
2. Clutter-Free Work Surface: Take a look at your work surface and remove any unnecessary items that may be cluttering it up. This could include scissors, pins, scrap fabric, or anything else that doesn’t need to be there while you’re working. Yeah, according to my photos, this is definitely something I need to do ASAP!
3. Organize Your Cutting Table: If you have a cutting table, make sure it’s well-organized so you can find what you need when cutting fabrics. Consider using storage bins or containers for keeping your rulers, rotary cutters, and other cutting tools neatly in one place.
4. Tidy Sewing Desk: Keep your sewing desk tidy. Small storage compartments or jars can help keep everything organized while still being easily accessible.
Storage Ideas for Your Thread Collection
1. Wall-Mounted Thread Rack: A wall-mounted thread rack is not only functional but also adds a decorative touch to your sewing room. It keeps your thread spools where you can find them and is even visually appealing (think arranging your thread in rainbow order!).
2. Drawer Dividers: Use drawer dividers to create separate compartments for spools of thread or other sewing sundries.
3. Bobbin Rings or Holders: Keep your bobbins organized by using bobbin rings or holders. These handy accessories prevent tangling and make it easy to see the color of each bobbin at a glance.
4. Clear Plastic Boxes: Invest in clear plastic boxes with compartments specifically designed for storing spools of thread. These boxes are often stackable, making them perfect for maximizing storage space in your sewing room. And we all need that, don’t we???
Sewing Zones
1. Cutting area: This is where you’ll prep your fabrics before diving into the fun part of sewing. Make sure you have enough space for a cutting table or mat where you can spread out your materials comfortably. Consider adding storage for rulers, rotary cutters, and fabric scissors nearby to keep everything within arm’s reach.
2. Sewing stations: These are dedicated spaces where your sewing machines will live. Make sure that each station has enough room for the machine itself along with any additional equipment like sergers or embroidery machines that you may use. I’m hoping to set up a second sewing station in my space so I can have a friend or two sew with me in my studio.
3. Pressing station: Having a designated area for pressing fabrics is crucial in achieving professional-looking results. Set up an ironing board or invest in a sturdy pressing table that suits your needs. Keep essentials like irons, water spray bottles, and pressing tools nearby so that you don’t have to hunt them down every time.
Patterns
1. Purge: Bring all your patterns to the same place and decided which ones to keep and which ones to donate, sell, or discard.
2. Categorize by pattern type: One way to organize your sewing patterns is by grouping them together by topics. For example, you could have sections for bags, jackets, toys, accessories, quilts, pillows, etc. You could even subdivide categories into smaller groups like quilts could be subdivided into bed quilts, throw quilts, wall quilts, runners, etc. Grouping patterns with the same topics together will make finding what you’re looking for a lot easier when starting a new project.
3. Sort by difficulty level: If you have patterns that vary in complexity, maybe organizing them based on their difficulty level would work for you. You can have separate sections for beginner-friendly patterns and more advanced ones.
4. Use binders or folders: To keep your sewing patterns neat and easily accessible, consider storing them in binders or folders with clear sleeves or pockets. This allows you to flip through the pages without damaging the patterns and also makes it simple to locate specific designs. If you use clear sleeves and only put one pattern in each sleeve, you won’t have to pull out the pattern to see the fabric requirements (if they are listed on the back of the pattern).
5. Label everything: Don’t forget to label so that you can quickly identify what’s inside your boxes, baskets, drawers, or binders without having to search through every single one.
Books and Magazines
1. Purge: gather up all your books and magazines in one place and decide what to keep and what to donate, sell, or discard.
2. Alphabetical order: If you have a collection of books related to sewing techniques or reference guides, alphabetizing them can make finding specific information a breeze.
3. Subject-based organization: Another option is to group your books based on their topic such as applique, paper piecing, hand quilting, machine quilting, etc. Once you’ve gathered your books and you start to look through them, you’ll get a good sense of what categories you can divide them into.
4. Get control of your magazines: sort them by year or by magazine name. Or maybe tear out the patterns you want to keep and pass the rest of the magazine onto someone else.
Scrap Fabric 101
1. Scrap Fabric Bins: Transform old shoe boxes or plastic containers into storage bins for your fabric scraps. You can label them by color or sizes/shapes, making it easy to find what you need for future projects.
2. Fabric Scrap Garland: Turn your fabric scraps into a colorful garland by cutting them into strips and tying them onto a string or ribbon. Hang it up as decoration in your craft room or use it to jazz up a plain wall.
3. Scrap Quilts: Need I say more???
4. Fabric Covered Storage Boxes: Give plain cardboard boxes a makeover by wrapping them with scrap fabric using glue or double-sided tape. These stylish storage solutions are perfect for organizing smaller items like buttons, ribbons, and beads. Covered cereal boxes make great magazine and pattern storage!
5. Scrap Fabric Wreaths: Use wire wreath frames as the base and tie on small pieces of fabric all around until the frame is completely covered. This DIY wreath ad
6. Bags and totes: Use your scraps to make bags and totes in a multitude of sizes and shapes. Bags and totes can used to store projects, take on the go, use in place of plastic grocery bags, and much more.
7. Rag Rugs: Cut fabric scraps into strips and weave them together to make colorful rag rugs for your home decor. It’s an eco-friendly way to repurpose those leftover materials!
8. Pincushions: Imagine the possibilities!
Cleaning Habits and Routines
1. Start with a clear workspace: Before you begin sewing, take a few minutes to clear off your work area. Put away any tools or materials that are not in use, so you have plenty of room to work. Sounds like a good habit to start, doesn’t it?
2. Wipe down surfaces: Dust and debris can accumulate quickly in a sewing room, so it’s important to regularly wipe down your surfaces. Use a damp cloth or disinfectant wipes to keep things clean and hygienic.
3. Empty the trash regularly: Don’t let the scraps of fabric or discarded thread pile up next to you as you sew. Make it part of your routine to empty the trash bin frequently, keeping your space neat and tidy.
4. Organize your supplies: Invest in some storage containers or bins for all of your sewing supplies such as thread spools, bobbins, scissors, etc. Having designated spots for everything will make it easier for you to find what you need and to maintain an organized space.
5. Vacuum or sweep the floor: Fabric lint can easily accumulate on the floor around your sewing area, so give it a good vacuum or sweep every now and then to keep things looking fresh.
Better Lighting
1. Natural Light: Place your sewing table near a window to take advantage of natural light during the day.
2. Task Lighting: Invest in good task lighting options, such as adjustable desk lamps or floor lamps with flexible necks. This will help you focus light directly on your sewing machine or work area, reducing eye strain.
3. LED Bulbs: Consider using LED bulbs as they are energy-efficient and provide bright, white light that mimics natural daylight. They also last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
4. Overhead Lighting: Ensure that you have adequate overhead lighting in the room to provide general illumination when needed. Choose fixtures with adjustable brightness settings so you can control the intensity based on your needs.
5. Multiple Light Sources: Use multiple light sources around your sewing room to minimize shadows and ensure even illumination across your work area.
6. Dimmers or Smart Bulbs: Installing dimmers or using smart bulbs that allow easy adjustment of brightness levels.
An Ergonomic Sewing Room
1. Your Sewing Chair: Look for one that provides good back support and has adjustable height options. This way, you can ensure proper posture while you work your creative magic.
2. Adjustable Cutting Table: It’s important to have a surface at a comfortable height so that you don’t strain your back or shoulders while cutting fabric. Look for tables with height-adjustable legs or consider using risers to customize the height according to your needs.
3. Sewing Machine Height: Make sure your sewing machine is set up at the right height for optimal comfort. You don’t want to be hunching over or straining your neck while working. Adjust the table or use additional supports if needed.
Make Your Space Your Space
1. Inspiration boards: These are fantastic for keeping your creative juices flowing. You can pin up fabric swatches, color palettes, sketches, and anything else that inspires you. It’s like having a visual brainstorming session right in front of you! Plus, it adds a lovely touch to your sewing room decor.
2: Artwork: Hang up some beautiful prints or paintings that speak to your soul. Maybe vintage sewing illustrations, artistic photographs of sewing machines, or framed inspirational quotes about quilting. Surrounding yourself with art that speaks to you will definitely lift your spirits while you work.
3. Special Keepsakes: Why not add some special keepsakes to your space? Maybe display a vintage thimble collection passed down from generations of skilled sewists in your family? Or use an antique jar as storage for small notions? Adding these personal touches adds character to your space and keeps those precious family memories alive.
I hope these ideas will help jump-start your journey of taking back your sewing space!Stay tuned and I’ll tell you more about my own journey in future posts.
VRD UPDATES
Just a few quick update on our recent projects:
12 Quilts of Valor Pattern Collection
The Quilts of Valor VRD Collection is finally available — you can get it HERE. You will definitely want to add this pattern collection to your Quilts of Valor patterns because all 12 quilts meet the QOVF size requirements. Additionally, a portion of the sales will be donated to the QOVF. You can visit the QOVF HERE.
12 Quilts of Christmas
I’m sorry we didn’t get this collection out in time for the 2023 Holidays, but you can be sure it’ll be out in plenty of time for Christmas in July 2024! Woohoo!
VRD Blog Hop
You bet we’re still having our 2nd VRD Blog Hop in 2024. We’ve just bumped it a little later in the year to March 2024. Stay tuned…….we’ll have more information coming soon.
I can’t think of any other updates right now, did I forget anything?
Well, that’s it for me this week. Fingers crossed that I squeeze in some time in the next week to begin taking back my studio from those wild partying pixies!
Villa Rosa Quilts 