quilted letters

I have had several people over the last couple of months ask how I do the quilted letters that I often put on the back of my quilts.  I have typed the process a couple times to different people into emails and Facebook messages so here is how I do my appliqué letters for anyone else that is interested in them. You need some very inexpensive supplies first:  Heat n' Bond Lite (this can be bought from JoAnn Fabrics), a chunky font that you can easily trace (I always use smiley monster) and the fabrics that you want to become letters (cottons are a must).

First print off your letters at the desired size and cut them out.  Then trace the letters upside down onto the smooth side of the Heat n' Bond.  I then cut out a square around each letter, but not the letter itself.  I then will iron (using no steam) the bumpy side of the heat n bond to the wrong side of the fabric.  Cut out your letters and you are good to go!

Your letters will fray a little, but not much and I really enjoy the slightly worn look.  I have used this technique on a number of quilts and on a turkey onesie of Charlottes this past Thanksgiving.  Charlottes baby blanket has been washed MANY times and the letters are still looking the same as they did one year ago (has it really been one year already!?)

Hope this helps. I love to appliqué and  seem to use it on almost everything I make!

valentines is coming...

We have never been really big Valentine people.  I need no chocolate, diamonds, flowers or fancy meals.  I would rather for people to show me they love and appreciate me the rest of the 364 days of the year than in one day.  Jay does a pretty good job at that, so we have really never been big into this holiday. I think it is sweet and I like to celebrate it more with the kids in my life.  Nephews, nieces, students and of course, Charlotte.  Thinking of the upcoming holiday, I have whipped up a few valentines to go to those extra special kiddos in my life. Please feel free to download and use if you like them!

Valentine for that boy in your life that is “wheelie” digging all things that go vrooom! I am pairing this with a matchbox car.

Valentine for that super cutie that is so young, sweet and as cute as a button!  With this valentine I am sending a picture frame covered in buttons.

Of course a tricky little play on words for the fifth grades.  These will be given with a lollipop that has a fake mustache attached on the stick!

And last but not least, I want to make sure that the other teachers on my team at school do not feel forgotten.  I always want them to know that I think we are “mint” to be, no matter how crazy the school year gets!

Hope you enjoy and can use a few of these ideas!

-melissa

flying shrapnel

 

I have written my share of sewing posts.  Typically these posts share the love I have of sewing, today is a different day.  I have always been interested in sewing and roughly seven years ago Jay bought me a fairly inexpensive machine from Target for my birthday.  Like most things you get what you pay for, even machines...except for mine...she is/was a beast.  I know that I have put far more miles on that machine than was intended.  She has sewn all the curtains in my house, dresses a plenty including a bridesmaid dress, window seats, lawn furniture slip covers, purses, bags, stuffed animals, bed skirts and roughly seven quilts.

She has been so good to me.  Pushing through layers of fabric, long hours, not all the time treated kindly, sometimes even shamefully I will admit cursed at and at times hit her.  She has been telling me that she needs to retire, dropping stitches and getting louder and louder.  Tonight she really told me.  She cursed a little and hit back.  After going through two quilters feet, dropping countless stitches and breaking three needles (one hit me in the chin, one in my left eye) I threw up my white flag.

She won, I will retire her.  All it took was flying shrapnel.

Okay my sweet dear old lady I give up, I will retire you.  Thanks for your devotion and all the good hours we put in together.

-melissa

yellow snow=no. colorful snow=yes!

We are from an area of the U.S. that gets snow, some years a good amount.  I need snow, I look forward to it, and being a teacher I really need it as built in personal health day.  Here in Richmond, I think it may never snow this year.  At first the warm weather was nice, I heard of friends who even had to have the a/c on over Christmas break.  But now really, enough is enough.  January is quickly escaping us and we have had no ice, no snow, no nothing! Every year I create tie-dye snowflakes with my class.  Everyone seems to get into it, who doesn't like to tie-dye, right?  This year I even added a writing assignment to go with it.  The fifth graders wrote how-to essays about the process.   Well here you go, it may not be as detailed as some of my ten year olds, but a quick how to anyway!

Here are two finished projects that I did at school with my class awhile back, I attached both the flake and their how-to paper to a piece of black paper that I sprayed with snow in a can.

Maybe if we all made some beautiful tie-dye snowflakes we could convince some icy, snowy precipitation to head our way a bit!  If we finally do get a snow day, what better way to spend the day than filling your house with tie-dye snowflakes!  Enjoy!

-melissa