What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

The NC Mountain State Fair this year has been as much fun as ever. I worked the quilt take-in table for a shift on Labor Day, then back to the Expo building on Wednesday to work as a judge for the Professional Crafts Division. Both days were fun, and so inspirational to see the wonderful projects and quilts coming through. Back to the fair on Friday evening for the first cooking competition, I had a chance to look around the exhibits to see how my entries fared. I was so excited to see Koi Pond with a First Place ribbon ...

It is less than three weeks from the turn-in day for entries to the Mountain State Fair, and I am in the process of getting it all together. This year, the turn in day is September 1, the earliest it can possibly be. The first thing I did was to register online for all the categories I entered in previous years. I may not actually have an entry for everything, but it is far easier to turn in an unused entry tag rather than try to add an entry. I printed out the entry list, and started looking around for ...

The flowers on the veranda continue to be happy with the high humidity these past days. The geranium keeps giving me gorgeous blooms. The plant is really leggy now, and I need to cut it back, but I want to wait until these blooms fade.

Sunset one day last week after a rainstorm had passed gave an interesting look to the clouds. The section lit by the fading sunlight just glowed.

On the bird feeder, the cardinal pair visited again. The female and male took turns on the perch. I think the one on the right is a female house ...

Make Your Own Custom Quilted Sneakers—Yes, You Can!

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It has rained most of the week, which has been wonderful for tamping down the wildfires. It has made the grass and weeds grow, and brought the azaleas in full bloom. I’ve been taking more photos of them. We have this deep pink, along with the pastel pink and white ones. A few days from now, there should be blooms all the way down the driveway.

My Merlin app says we have a blue-grey gnatcatcher in the local avian choir, but I have not seen it yet. They look a lot like a titmouse without the tufted head. There ...

In a heartfelt journey of transformation, we embraced change, moving closer to our grandchildren, and creating a new dream studio. Through meticulous design and cherished memories, I built a space brimming with intention, comfort, and inspiration. Blessed with love, light, and creativity, it reflects a life dedicated to passion and purpose. Continue reading →

For many Christmas’s, my five siblings, and I, rotated through our names and each made a hand crafted gift for another. I almost always make a quilt. I had previously made three (sadly no photo of the first…) for this … Continue reading →

This Christmas 2020 wallhanging quilt for our youngest granddaughter, Amelia, the unicorn loving one. This Laura Heine collage was a winner! Even after quilting for well over 40 years there was still so much color value to be learned! This … Continue reading →

This is the second time I’ve made this Freewheeling Single Girl quilt. The first time was for our oldest granddaughter’s high school graduation in 2017. Both times I resized the rings so you got more rings per quilt. To make … Continue reading →

Well, here we are, the last weekend before the big day. I still have a lot I want to do! Even starting early, time always seems to run out before I have done all the things on my list. Are you like that, too? Today, I’ll give you some ideas for those last minute needs with easy solutions to make Christmas more relaxed. Most of these are fun things that I enjoy like baking cookies, making cards and visiting with friends. This past week, I made the Cranberry Eggnog Biscotti to go with the Fantasy Cookies, and gave the ...

When I saw this design I knew I needed it in my life!!! And then I decided I needed to make it for all three of our children as Christmas quilt. I have made each of them many quilts over … Continue reading →

Lots of piddling around was done yesterday, starting with this ornament that I began at the November guild meeting workshop, and didn’t finish. These are easier than they look. Our presenter had done the fabric fusing for us, and cut the basic square shapes. All we had to do was the folding, cutting and gluing.

Next was to glue the pieced together at the sides, making sure all the bits were facing the same way to make the colors alternate.

Pull the bottoms together and begin gluing them. I found gluing half at a time worked well.

Then, glue ...

It is Cyber Monday, the day we are encouraged to shop at our favorite online merchants. So, come shop with me! Thank you for using my links when you can, your purchases may earn a small commission for me that does not affect your total cost, and you can use your own accounts. Supporting the costs of the blog means I can continue to create and share free patterns, ideas and inspiration through the year. I only share these links when you can take advantage of a sale or special.

Fat Quarter Shop has new Cyber Monday Combo Craze for ...

Join us for this episode where Vanessa is trying out the NEW HTVRONT Auto Heat Press 2-Digit and giving you her take on it. She’ll put it to the test for pressing fabrics, fabric + interfacing and even heat transfer vinyl for t-shirt craft projects! Let’s try it out together and see if it fits your needs for a new heat press!

• HTVRONT Auto Heat Press 2-Digit (affiliate link): http://shrsl.com/4r1ib

* USE COUPON CODE “Gemini60” at checkout for $60 OFF!*

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• Order your own DTF Ninja Transfers here (affiliate link): https://ninjatransfers.com/craftygemini

OTHER HTVRONT products Vanessa ...

Did you have fun with Fall Fortnight? In this post, I will give you a bit of a round-up of some other ideas from previous fall inspired projects with free patterns. For some readers, these will be new, for others a reminder of project maybe you’d like to make but didn’t get to yet. Decorating with fall season quilted table toppers and wall hangings gives a cozy feel to almost any room. This arrangement is on the formal dining table that we rarely use anymore. The topper is the Autumn Jubilee Quilt Along project for 2021 starting HERE ...

In this episode Vanessa shows how to make coiled rope drink coasters using a new rope kit from The Mountain Thread Company. Their rope is so nice to work with you can order it here: https://www.themountainthreadcompany.com/shop/rope

• Essentials Tote Bag Course Info: https://craftygemini.com/shop/essentials-tote-bag-pdf-video-course/

• Halloween Quilt Block Tutorial: https://youtu.be/6AMUCG6Pj0I?si=23Q_whPwVMGXyPuz

• How I hang my mini quilts: https://youtu.be/zBmNGDHetbw?si=z0D2IjC3JEckgoNo

• Rope Kit featured: https://www.themountainthreadcompany.com/shop/p/5/16rope-coaster-kit

• How to make a coiled rope bowl tutorial: https://youtu.be/Bpz6VTFS0Zo?si=GNq1S8oOYBnCnyvL

• Rope I ...

Join us for this episode where Vanessa is using the HTVRONT manual heat press to show you how to apply DTF Transfers from Ninja Transfers to a canvas tote bag!

If you have always wondered how to get full color and multi-color t-shirt transfers then DTF transfers is for you! Learn how easy they are to apply. You just upload your artwork and Ninja Transfers ships them directly to your house so all you have to do is press them on your garments or bags and be done!

• Order your own Ninja Transfers here (affiliate link): https://ninjatransfers.com/craftygemini ...

Join us for this episode where Vanessa is using the HTVRONT manual heat press for the first time and giving her honest review! She’ll put it to the test for pressing fabrics, fabric + interfacing and even heat transfer vinyl for t-shirt craft projects!

• HTVRONT Manual Heat Press (affiliate link): https://shrsl.com/4no6v
**Use code: MANUAL4FANS for $30 OFF (EXPIRES SOON!)**

• SVG Design is from Creative Fabrica (affiliate link): https://www.creativefabrica.com/ref/4919581/

OTHER HTVRONT products:

• Auto Heat Press (affiliate link): https://shrsl.com/4d0p1

• Mini Heat Press (affiliate link): https://shrsl.com/4n4eo

• Mini Heat Press ...

This week I have to finish the embellishing of the Jewelry Tree. If you are just now finding this project, see the Christmas in July Sew Along posts – Week 1 starts the base, Week 2 finishes and quilts the base with the pocket, and Week 3 shows you several ideas on how to embellish and use the pocket. I wanted mine to use some broken but beautiful jewelry that I just could not stand to throw away. I began with a huge pin that has missing rhinestones, pinning it vertically in the center and arranging some broken bracelet links around ...

Join us for this episode where Vanessa is comparing two of HTVront’s mini heat presses. Which one is better for pressing fabric? Can I use they fuse interfacing to cotton fabric? How hot do they get? Can they be used as a mini iron for sewing/quilting?

Vanessa will answer these questions and more!

• Mini Heat Press (affiliate link): https://shrsl.com/4n4eo

• Mini Heat Press 3 (affiliate link): https://shrsl.com/4n4ei

• WIP Wednesday #141: Unboxing a Mini Press!: https://craftygemini.com/2024/08/wip-wednesday-141-unboxing-a-mini-press.html

What we’re covering:

0:23 – Welcome to WIP Wednesday #142

2 ...