Completed and Ready to Use

I've completed the quilting, added the binding and my quilt is set to go.  

Where will I display handiwork?

On the bed? 

It even looks good placed on point.

On the back of my sofa? 

Looks good there too.

Or over the rail?  

Where is your favorite spot to show off your quilts?

If you were wondering, I did run out of thread with just a small bit to go. I dug into my thread and up popped another spool of the same color quilting thread. I had plenty to complete the project and it looks like I will have another hand-quilting project in my future.

Cup and Saucer, Anyone?

Cup and Saucer Pillows

16" x 16"

©2013 Sharon V. Rotz

After working with interior designers and making a vast number of decorator pillows, I know the power of a pillow to renew and define a space. As a reprieve from working on my traditional 30's reproduction quilt, I thought I would finish these contemporary pillows.

The name was taken from the cup and saucer that I used for circle templates for the applique. 

Who doesn't raid the kitchen when looking for the proper size circle? 

Rather than the more traditional satin stitch for the attaching the applique, I used one of my un-used sewing machine decorative stitches, stitch number 203 on my Pfaff, a pseudo satin stitch with one consistent edge and one random edge.

The circles were cut from a powerful orange and the bold background fabric. Placed off-center, these blocks shout contemporary even with the use of a very traditional sounding rick-rack edge.  

I couldn't stop myself from adding a funky edge treatment to the pillow with the use of prairie points and more large rick-rack.

These pillows put a smile on my face, perfect to spice up the mid-winter blues.

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

Leaf Around a Bit More

Here is another idea to go along with the fall leaves stitched to the edge of the coaster in my previous post.

Make additional leaves and attach them to the ends of a wide ribbon. The ribbons are then tied around pillows to lend a seasonal touch to the pillows.

Wouldn't these be perfect for my Thanksgiving celebration?

Teach a Child to Sew

The Bed Skirt

When our 7 year old granddaughter came to visit, she wanted to make a bed skirt to match the quilt that I had made for her. 

First, we had to go fabric shopping. It was hard to pass up the watermelon fabric, the peace signs, and the cupcake fabric. We really liked the pink plaid and the blue patchwork. But, Grandma said we had to find a fabric that would match our yellow dragonfly quilt.  We finally made our choice.

To avoid cutting with sharp tools, we learned the fine art of ripping fabric.

We pulled and 

we pulled, ripping and ripping until we reached the other end.

We did have to deal with a few stray threads.

We laid out our fabric strips, one for each side of the three sides of the bed skirt. We used the selvedge to our advantage instead of making a bottom hem.

We had the opportunity to use the sewing machine to hem the sides. A zigzag stitch helped catch more fabric when our stitches went a little off course.

We used a piece of blue tape to help guide our fabric through the machine.

Our new bed skirt ready to take home and add to our bed. 

Are You Stuck in Winter?

As you look around your home's interior, do you see bright and sunny summer or are you still in winter mode? Is it time for a change? Do you need to update to match the sparkle of your summer garden?

Fast and easy pillow covers can add a dramatic splash to the look of your room. Made with an overlapping closure on the back, change is as quick as blink.

Enjoy summer inside and out with your updated fresh new look.

Tuesday's Tile - Displayed

Quilter's Tile - Blowing in the Wind

8" x 8"

Sharon V. Rotz

Today I thought I would share another way to display your Quilter's Tiles. In this tile, I have used an ultra firm interfacing, Pellon Peltex 72T, and the tile is stiff enough to stand on its own. The stand is super to use because you can easily change your tile or move your art from location to location.

This display stand was purchased, but I think a similar one could be easily made. You would need a groove cut into the front of the wood base. Two wooden dowels, cut to 4", are placed into drilled holes.

Do you have other suggestions for displaying small artworks?  Please share your ideas.

Find Your Joy

Are you bustling with holiday spirit?  Even your sewing studio can have a simple festive look. 

I've covered my small cabinet with a miniature Ohio star quilt to brighten my day as I work on Christmas gifts. This piece reminds me of days when I first started quilting, (many of you may recognize several of the fabrics) and brings to mind the joy I have found in my sewing studio.

  

One easy and quick project is to make your own Christmas greeting cards.

I started with scraps of fabric that I laid on a thin batting and machine quilted.

From the quilted piece, I cut out letters and stitched them onto card stock (yes, probably not so good for your needle, I used on old one.) The fabric was loosely woven and the edges are raveling but it wasn't a concern.

Today, the JOY is in creation

not in perfection.

Are you in the Christmas mood? Have you been busy running from shop to shop as you search for the perfect gift? Is you home beginning to take on a festive air?

As we put away Thanksgiving dishes and cleaned up from our holiday visitors, I gathered Christmas quilts to use in decorating our home. Often we face the dilemma of how to use a quilt which isn't sized for  our bed.  One of my favorite red and green quilts is smaller than my bed so I simply wrapped a coordinating sheet around the mattress and centered the quilt on the bed.

No, pillow tuck? Another quilt, lap size, covers the pillows. The red backs of my decorator pillows add a splash of color behind two muslin quilted throw pillows.

Instantly, we have transformed the room into a festive retreat for our next guest.