2009 March

Why I do what I do!

March 13, 2009 By Anne 32 Comments

I had a phone call today from the nicest customer who said she reads my blog all the time. Hi Margo Odgen from Bakersfield! I loved talking to you today. You got me thinking about my business. Really thinking!

The past week has been really stressful. I deleted 1/2 the patterns on my web site. Hopefully you didn’t even notice, but it took hours to fix. Now that things are back in order, I just found out that my shopping cart isn’t working. Seems it doesn’t want anyone to buy anything! It’s just one of those weeks. All of this has taken time away from what I should be doing…working on patterns for a quilt market that’s coming up so fast I can hardly believe it! AUGGHHHHH!!!

NO SHOPPING ALLOWED…oh no!

And then Margo called and I started thinking about why I do what I do. Aside from the obvious fun of quilting, I do this because of customers like her! She made me feel good at the end of a rough week. She likes my patterns! Wow! Sometimes I step back and I can hardly believe it.

Margo said “I hope you’re working on a Christmas quilt for market”. Well, guess what? I am! And there might be a few sneak peaks before too long.

Thanks Margo for your kind words! And thank you to every single one of you reading this, even if your name isn’t Margo. It’s because of you I have so much fun creating!

Hugs,

Anne

Filed Under: Designing Patterns

Punch Needle Bunny

March 8, 2009 By Anne 25 Comments

Coming your way in time for Easter. If you love Punch Needle you can make this little bunny in just one evening. She’s the bunny from block number three of A Tisket, A Tasket and she’s so easy to make!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Picture frame with 4” x 6” opening

8” x 10” Weaver’s cloth or fabric like Moda Bella cotton.

8” x 10” thin batting or flannel

Punch needle (I use the Cameo Ultra Punch)

Embroidery hoop and stand (I use the Clover stand and hoop)

Pearl cotton size 8, or 3 strand floss such as Weeks Dye Works: pink, cream & brown.

Let’s start!

Center the design and trace onto wrong side of background fabric.

Following the directions that come with your punch needle, stitch the bunny’s eye with brown, body with pink and tail with white floss.

Remove from frame, press background (don’t press the bunny).

Add two little flowers to embroider under bunny. You can easily draw these yourself. Just make sure you are inside the 4” x 6” dimensions. Draw a straight line for the stem, a “v” for the leaves, and five little dots to indicate where to make your lazy daisy stitches. You’re set to go!

Using 2 strands of green floss, embroider stem with stem stitch. Embroider leaves with a lazy daisy stitch.

Using 2 strands of pink floss, embroider flowers with a lazy daisy stitch.

Place finished bunny on top of batting or flannel. This gives the finished picture a slightly padded look. Center on cardboard that came with frame. Check to make sure it looks good in the frame. Then remove from frame and go onto the next step.

Fold extra fabric to back of cardboard. Double thread a needle and stitch as shown to hold fabric in place.

(Trim a bit of fabric under each corner on the back of the frame to help it lay flat .) First stitch from side to side in one direction, then the opposite direction. You may have to re-thread your needle 3 or 4 times.

Insert finished bunny and back of frame. Hang with a ribbon or place on a table and enjoy!

Need another quick gift idea? Needle punch a bunny (yes, I know I forgot her tail poor baby). Place wrong side of bunny on top of a scrap of wool or felt. Machine stitch around bunny, right next to loops using a tiny stitch. Trim backing fabric next to stitching. Using pinking shears trim wool. Add a pin clasp to back of bunny and pin to tote or jacket.

Happy daylight savings everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

Filed Under: Holiday Decorating

It’s Basket Day!

March 5, 2009 By Anne 37 Comments

It’s true, I’m a bit of a basket case today! A March basket case! It’s the 5th of the month and I’m ready with the next block of the month. You’ll find it here!

Did you ever think you would see a bunny jumping over shamrocks? You should have known there would be something a little different in the March basket! At Bunny Hill we have to have whimsy!

Last month we had a little traffic jam on my web site, so this month I’ve called in the blog valets. That’s right, you can valet park over at crafts4me and download the pattern from there too. So if you can’t get on Bunny Hill, try here! And while you’re there you can pre-order the embellishment kit for A Tisket, A Tasket. It will be shipping in about 3 weeks. No, you can’t see what’s in it…it’s a mystery remember? If you buy the kit you have to promise NOT to peek tee hee!

Anne over at Cottons ‘n Wool is working away on a wool version of A Tisket, A Tasket. You’ll love what she does with wool. And guess what? It’s really hard for her to cut into that scrumptious wool so give her a round of applause!

Have a great day everyone and remember to valet park! I’ll be back tomorrow with an extra little project you can make using the bunny in this block. Here’s a hint…anyone into a quick punch needle project?

Hugs,

It’s 7AM here in California and look at what I just got in my email. The first block three to arrive is from Trelly in Spain! Look at how cute her block is!

Filed Under: Applique, Embroidery

Bias Maker Heaven

March 4, 2009 By Anne 28 Comments

If you haven’t used one of these little tools for making bias strips you are in for a treat! You can have perfect bias in no time at all! Think of all the little basket handles you can make! It’s so easy! Follow me…

Start with a square of fabric. Fold diagonally, wrong sides together.

Press the fold…

Now let’s go over to the cutting mat…

Line up ruler on the pressed fold line and cut diagonally across the square.

Step Three Ruler

Bias makers come in assorted sizes. The general rule is to cut the fabric strip double the width of the bias maker. For example: Cut 1/2” strip for a 1/4” bias maker…

Measure your fabric…

and cut the strip…

…and back to the ironing board we go!

To protect your ironing board from spray starch, cover it with a scrap of muslin or plain fabric. Lay the fabric strip right side down on top of the scrap and spray the cut strip with starch.

Insert the end of the strip into the wide end of the bias maker as shown in the photo below.

Now, flip the bias maker over (see below) and insert a straight pin into the hole on the back of the bias maker. Use the pin to push the fabric through the maker and out the other (narrow) end.

See? Look at the photo below! There’s a little folded strip coming out!

Now, turn it back over, and place the edge of your iron next to end of bias maker. Pull the bias maker down the strip of fabric, and move the iron along with it. Keep the iron right next to the edge of the bias maker.

Pick up the iron after about an inch, and check to see that your strip is folding correctly. If not, just push the bias maker back up the strip and start again.

Look at this finished basket handle! All you need to do is take it to your background fabric and appliqué in place!

See? Told you that was easy! If you’re using a larger square of fabric for a LONG piece of bias, spray the strip with starch as you go along. You’ll have a mess if you spray the whole strip at once.

So you’re ready to make the bias strip handle on the basket you’ll see on Thursday! See you then!

Hugs,