QUILTED BOOKMARK

If you need a quick gift here it is. These work up so quick and it's a good way to use up scraps from your stash.

Finished size 2" x 7-1/2"
CUT THE FOLLOWING:

One 2" square for the top.

One 2" x 6" piece for the bottom.
One 3" x 8-1/2" piece for backing.
One strip 2-1/4" by width of fabric (selvedge to selvedge) for the binding.

From thin cotton batting cut one 2-3/4" x 8-1/4" piece.

ASSEMBLY:
With right side together and using a 1/4" seam allowance sew the top and the bottom together. Press to the darker of the two fabrics. Sandwich the backing, batting, and bookmark together. Pin and quilt as desired. attach the binding and your finished.
HINT: Use a muslin or light fabric on the back and with a fabric pen write that special someone a message.
The picture below shows variations of bookmarks using pieced units at the top.

Hope you have as much fun with these as I have.
Joan

Sharing Exciting News.

While getting a free bookmark pattern ready for my next blog I received notice that I've been published in the May/June 2009 issue of Quiltmaker. My design is found on page 20 and is called "Blue Bayou". Pardon me if I sound like I'm bragging but I had to share with you as my excitement is bubbling over. Thanks to all of you for your support.

Will return real soon with my bookmark pattern.

Joan

Another Tip for Quilters.

I want to share a tip with you. This is not a new idea. I don't remember where I first heard of it.
When it's time to change your ironing board cover save the batting from your old one. It's great for potholders and hotpads. This idea makes me want to change my covers more often.
Will post again soon.
Joan

Quilting Show and Tell

I would like to share my husbands talents with you. I designed this wall hanging titled "Southwest Flavor". In need of a hanger my husband, Clyde, designed and made the one shown in the picture. Now how lucky can a girl be? To view a larger image click on the picture. The hangers can be purchased. They come in three sizes 14-1/2", 17", and 20-1/2". There's a slight variation in designs depending on size needed. For further information contact me at jaybeehive@yahoo.com. You can see more of my designs at http://www.quiltersfun.com/. I'm hoping to share a free pattern with you in a few weeks. It's quilted bookmarks. The instructions are written I just need to take pictures and get them in my computer. Have a great day and thanks for visiting.

Joan

Nifty, Quick, Quilt Hangers

I've come up with a neat way to hang wall quilts. I purchase a wooden shelf and drill holes, a little bigger than the diameter of a dowel, through the shelf supports. I used a 1/4" dowel. I then fed the dowel through a drilled hole, through the sleeve or tabs of my quilt, then through the drilled hole on the opposite side of the shelf. How simple is that and looks great too.


If you have a shelf without side supports just screw cup hooks under the shelf. One on each end to hold a dowel as shown below.


Have a great day.
Joan

Pinning Quilting Seams.

I'm back and getting ready for our local quilt show. In the meantime I wanted to share some information with you. As most quilters know life is so much easier when we can create opposing seams. These seams lock together. I have found through experiance that there's a little trick to pinning seams that aren't opposing. Pin the two seams together by sticking the pin in at an angle so that the edges stay even. When holding the pin straight up and down through the fabric and then slanting it the edges pyramid.
Till next time,
Joan

The Quilting Hints Continue.

I had a great Christmas and I'm ready to get back to my joy of quilting and designing.
I would like to share some info with you on borders. What to do if a quilt has two borders on it, the first a solid border and the second a pieced border? Don't cut the first border till the center of the quilt and the pieced second border is done. Not everybodies seam allowances are the same. Cut the first border the size needed to connect the center and the second border together. I call the first border a fudge factor. Hope this makes sense. It does to me but then I'm writting it. Any questions feel free to contact me at jaybeehive@yahoo.com .
Happy New Year!
Joan