A Walk in the Woods Quilt

Hello all, did you make it through the Holidays? I had to get one more project in and I really wanted to use the new charm packs we have in by Aneela Hooey, A Walk in the Woods. Love this one.

I wanted to come up with something quick and easy. I used the whole charm pack, minus 2 squares, and some grey yardage. I will post the instructions soon. And thanks to Amy for getting it on the long arm and quilting it up for me.

I couldnt wait for the yardage to come so I used the puppies from her Sherbet Pips line. Too Cute. The binding is the scarfs from the same line. Perfect for binding.

And, so exciting, The Quilt Barn took out a big ad in the Irish Quilting magazine for the launch of our  new web store. We are still on etsy but now we have a big giant online store. I have spent the last month adding items to it and we have over 1100 listings! I also stared putting on our older fabrics so if you are looking for something that is now out of print, check it out. We may have what you are looking for.
We would love your feedback too. We have big plans for the site and still tweaking the pictures and links. We are at The Quilt Barn.

Merry Christmas

From all of us at The Quilt Barn we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays!

We are wrapping up our Christmas sewing and thinking of all our new projects we can start after the holidays.
Heather, Doug, Amy, Lori, Jenele, Tara, Erika, and Hayden

Fabric Friday

I love it when I can do a Fabric Friday post! I get giddy when a big Moda box is delivered. When I pulled out a fat quarter bundle from Aneela Hoey, A Walk in the Woods, I skipped around. Then I skipped over to Jenele because I knew she would be as excited as I was.
I am thinking one of the fat quarter bundles is coming home with me. We have lots of charm packs too and I put them on etsy.
I am thinking of a double dresden block with this line. And just for fun, look at this quilt. Its on my to do list.

 Ooh Sweetwater, you never disappoint.

And Cosmo Crickets, I love you too. But I had never heard of this line. I had to look you up.
My quilty mind is spinning. Not like I don't have a lot of projects on the go but I really want to start cutting up that fat quarter bundle.

Butter Tarts Recipe

I have a recipe for you today. I am originally from Canada (Victoria, BC) and these tarts are from my mom who makes them every year at this time. They are very easy to make and very sweet.

VELVET BUTTER TARTS

                      

1 cup raisins (I use the golden raisins)

2 tablespoons butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg well beaten

Package of frozen tarts in tinfoil cups (or circles cut from pie dough and pressed into muffin tins)

Pour boiling water to cover the raisins, let stand 10 min.

Drain and- immediately add the butter, vanilla, brown sugar and beaten egg.  Stir until all mixed and sugar is melted

This is important because the hot raisins melts the butter and brown sugar

Pour into raw tart shells no more that half full

I put these on a cookie sheet

.

 Bake 425  for 12-15 minute

I couldn't find the premade tart shells here so I bought a box of 2 premade pie dough rolls and cut out large circles with a glass and lightly pressed the dough into ungreased muffins tins. This recipe makes about 12 tarts.

Sew Mama Sew Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and became a follower for our Sew Mama Sew Giveaway. We will be participating again next time, bigger and better!!.
Thanks for the great blog suggestions. And if you shared your own blog with us I am going to visit.

I will be contacting the 4 winners. And they are...

#1
Ester from Calgary who said:
Wow! 4 fantastic prizes! One of my favorite bloggers is Jenni over at In Color Order. http://incolororder.blogspot.com/

#2
 Jingle said...
My own blog is my favorite, but I'm biased! HA! I do really like Moxie Fab World, though. It's great!

#3

Sarcastic Quilter

Hmm, the blog I'm always checking? Pioneer Woman. I also love Kirsten's Cooking and Quilting in my Pyjamas 

#4

Rebecca at A Busy Little Bunch

THANKS for the chance at all those generous prizes! I like the Cluck Cluck Sew blog :)

 Next time I need to figure out how to number the comments.

A Very Happy Holidays to you all.

Pointsettia PIllow

I have been seeing Pottery Barn's Poinsetta Pillow all over the internet. It is really chic but it is no longer available. I'm sure the price would have been not in the budget either.

I decided on the spot I needed to make one. I had the pillow form, backing and front fabric, and left over white felted wool from another project. I took pictures along the way from both of these tutorials and wouldnt you know, my daughter deleted them. Groan.

It isnt very hard to make this pillow though. I cut out 3 different size petals from the white wool. I arranged them on the front on the pillow fabric (already cut to fit my pillow plus seam allowances) to play around with the arrangement.
I then sewed the petals on starting an inch from the tip of the petal down to the base. I didnt sew a straight line but meandered a bit.
For the center I tacked on 3 wool circles. Sew the front and back of the pillow together, right sides together, and sew the opening closed after turning right sides out and inserting the pillow.
The petals can be fluffed up a bit by lifting the edges.

I will notify the winners of our Sew Mama Sew giveaway and post them this evening. I left the names at home. Of course.

Stockings a la Jenele

Jenele brought in 5 stockings she made this week and I quickly snapped a picture before they disappear to a fireplace mantle.
I love the row of bells down the side of the cuff.

Love ruffles, of course. The stripped hanger is a cute touch too.

Jenele used a sheet of Colorfast Sew-In Inkjet Fabric Sheets by June Tailor for the initials. I am thinking it would be cute for an advent calendar next year. I am already planning one so I can get it done on time. 11 months should be right.

We are planning a Christmas sweater day (of 2 or 3) here at The Quilt Barn. I searched high and low (4 thrift stores) and nary a sweater. Or vest. I was hoping for a kitten in a stocking. That lit up. And played music. And maybe a few hanging ornaments. I think Christmas sweaters are a hot item for parties so I may be too late. Maybe I should make one. Yah, I'll just whip one up.

Tula Bag

First, a huge lovely thanks to all who have entered our Sew mama Sew Giveaway. We are overjoyed with the response. You still have time to enter. Go here.
Second, I have a new tutorial coming up this week and some more Barn Chick projects to share.

Now on to the adorable bag above. You may have seen this store display here at The Quilt Barn. It was made by Barn Chick Jenny and has been taken from the store. She is heartbroken. We are heartbroken too. You can imagine how much work went into this bag.
If you are local and would like to re-post our facebook plea on your wall go here.
We are offering a reward for the return of this bag.

Giveaway Day!!!

Welcome to The Quilt Barn's first time participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!
We are so glad you stopped by. We have lots of great prizes for you.

First prize is 3 Countdown to Christmas Charm Packs.

Second Prize is 2- 12 Days of Christmas Jelly Rolls.

3rd Prize is a City Weekend and Wee Woodland Jelly Roll.

4th Prize are 3 Honey Buns:  Arcadia, Lamour, and Martinique.

4 Winners will be chosen and you have until December 15 at 5PM to enter.

To be entered to win one of these 4 prize packs leave a comment telling me your favorite blog and we would love for you to become a follower of our blog. If you  are a follower tell us you already are with your comment. We love our followers!

Be sure to visit the Sew Mama Sew site so see all the other great blogs that are participating in this great event.

Go check out the other giveaways on Sew Mama Sew and win some great stuff and find great new blogs.

New Curly Scarf Class Announced

Heather just announced another Marina, curly scarf, class. Come in Tuesday 13th at 11:00 and learn how to make this quick and cute scarf. A great project for any level of knitter.

Come in to The Quilt Barn, pay the class fee (10$) and buy the Marina yarn (a 5.99 skein will make one scarf) and you are set.

This week's shipment is almost gone but we will be getting more in next week. Including the grey and black! They got enough feedback (don't discontinue this color!) that they are going keep making it. Also all new colors coming in January.
I will post on Facebook the day we get our shipments in.

Quilt Alongs

I wanted to tell you about a couple of sew alongs that are starting up soon.  If you are looking for a fun new quilt pattern then check these out. I am thinking of making the Oh, My Stars quilt. The good thing about a quilt along? No deadline. You can start and finished anytime.

And the pictures? Random Christmas cuteness from out windows.
How is everyone doing on their handmade gifts for Christmas? Panicking yet? I think I am doing ok. I have a stack of half finished stuff that I should tend to before I forget about it and a couple of quilts that I am going to quilt on the long arm this weekend.

Monogram Gift Tag Tutorial

I showed you these tag lovlies last week and said I would have a tutorial for you.
In a pinch (like I was) and need a gift tag? Or not in a pinch. These are so quick to whip up and you can pilfer from your scraps.

You will need scraps of fabric for:
the white background
the backing fabric
the monogram and the hanger
 and
a scrap of batting

Optional
Spray Baste

Cut the backing, white front, and batting approx 5x5". Using spray baste layer the 3 pieces like a quilt sandwich.
Free hand cut out the letter you are wanting (seriously, it's not that hard). Spray baste that on the front of the square sandwich.
Sew close to the outer edge of the letter securing it in place.
Quilt a few, random lines across the square sandwich.
Trim to the desired size. This one ended up being 4x4"
Using your tag scrap fold over the long edge and iron (see the red piece to the left in the pic above). The hanger is approx 5" long and finished 1/2" wide. Sew a line down the open side and trim

Loop the hanger and pin to the back. Sew a few times across the hanger to secure it.

Voila. Now go make 20 for your closest and dearest friends and family. Or just make a few, like I did.

Fabric Baskets

I have made several things this week to take to my Guild Christmas party this weekend. Since I am swapping with a fellow guild member I am holding myself to high standards. This basket is project #5 and I think its the keeper. I used the free tutorial and pattern at Pink Penguin. Along the right hand side of her blog are more great tutorials. Many of them on my "someday when I need a distraction from my real projects"  list.

This is the first basket but my liner didn't sit well. It would bother me so I made another.
The great thing about this project is that is uses 2x2" scraps so I can finally use my favorite bits. There are some fabrics I cannot get rid of no matter how small.


Interested in attending a Quilting Guild? The Magic Valley has 2.
Desert Sage Quilters of Magic Valley (they meet in Twin Falls)
Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild (they meet at the Quilt Barn)

I am linking up to Amy's Sew-n-Tell Friday. Go check out sewing goodness

BSU Quilts

More holiday gifts to share with you before they get wrapped up. Easy peasy double sided fleece with a handmade tag.

A BSU quilt made with the pattern Pie Crust Pileup.

The backing a soft blue minky. Lucky, lucky recipients.
Another great job Jenele.

Swoon Table Topper

Swoon is one of my favorite patterns. One block is quite large, 24" I think. Each block uses 2 contrasting fat quarters and some background fabric.
These two fabrics are also a favorite and since the are only available as fat quarters here I had to buy some for this project. I love how it looks like a wreath.

And stop the presses! Is the Snowlady with the cat eye glasses and head scarf not the greatest! I see a little of myself in her. I have been chomping at the bit to use this fabric somehow and it made an appearance as the topper's backing. I have to use this again somehow. Not sure though. Any ideas?