Giveaway Winner...

Wow, was that fun!  Thanks to Julie at Jaybird quilts I got to meet so many bloggers (100 posts)!  Thanks everyone for your kind comments on the tutorial and sharing what is in your mug.  I learned many quilters are tea drinkers and everyone loves a charm pack!  So....here we go.


(Random number generator used)
The Odyssea charm pack goes to #37


Lisa said...


I work in coffee, so my favorite changes a lot so I don't suffer drnk burn out, right now I am liking caramel macchiatos, but we'll see what sounds good next week =) since I don't really relax at starbucks (since I work there and it sometimes kills me not to go and help) I read in my car in the driveway sometimes. or I siton my dryer and read and look at my fabric =)

and The Fruitcake charm pack goes to #74


momto2wasd said...
That is the most darling thing...a quilt for your coffee!!  Have you tried the dark cherry mocha--yummy! But my standard is a double tall vanilla latte.

I'll be in touch with these two winners and thanks again for entering!  I loved looking at all of your blogs, I am not quite through them all but I found so many cool ideas and inspiring quilts!  

If you are in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area please join our Modern Quilt Guild and our next event, a book signing with Sandi Henderson (details here)!  Have a great weekend.

Cozy Coffee Sleeve Tutorial and a Giveaway

{If you are new, welcome to my blog!  You can scroll down and find the giveaway at the end!!}

Well, this is not the newest project on the block but it remains one of my favorites.  I thought I would share my way of putting these cute coffee cozies together.  Now, if you are like me and have an embarassing addiction to Starbucks, grab all of your scraps, make lots of these sleeves and boom!  Now you have another cute accessory to wear.  If you don't share my money-down-the-drain addiction love of the coffeehouse, just make one and call it your earthday project!

OK, grab your latte, some scraps and lets get sewing!

Supplies/Prep:

You will need two pieces of fabric and a piece of batting each measuring 12 inches by 5 inches.  For the binding you will need fabric measuring 2.5 inches by about 30 inches.  You will also need coordinating thread, a button and a medium sized hair elastic.  

{tip} If you are planning on attaching your binding by machine the 2.5 inch binding is important.

{tip} Since it will be on the back and not seen, you can use a cheaper, scrap piece of fabric for one of your two fabric choices.

{tip} If you like a patchwork look, feel free to sew together scraps randomly to create your main fabric piece.

Sewing:

Start by making a quilt sandwich, with the batting in the middle, fabric right sides out.

Quilt as desired.  Just about everything looks cool on these, loops, meandering, straight lines, etc.  This is a great place to practice free-motion quilting.

{tip} If you plan on making a few sleeves with the same fabric scheme, go ahead and make a larger quilt sandwich and cut out more than one sleeve out of the piece.

Now, following this template, trace the sleeve shape with a pencil.  This will be covered with binding so don't worry about the line showing.

Cut out sleeve along the lines.

Binding:

Take your binding strip and fold in half, right sides out, ironing as you go along.  Once the strip is folded you can pin onto the sleeve with the folded side to the center.  If you are not familiar with binding check out this great Heather Bailey Binding Tutorial.  You will be mitering corners and attaching with pins along the way.

Although I would not use this method for a quilt, folding and wrapping the edge of the binding like shown works for this little project.  Perfectionists...flip, measure and stitch if you want to!!!

Then sew with a quarter inch seam around the sleeve.  Remember to stop 1/4 inch from each mitered corner and continue along the next side. Once you get to the right side of the sleeve, insert the hair elastic so that just a little is showing on the outside.  You can see it in the photo below.  Then reverse stitch and reinforce the stitching a few times over the elastic.

Now flip that binding over and if you would like, you can sew it down on the back by hand.  This looks really nice but I often make a few of these at once and I like to go for quick!  I flip over the binding to the back but I secure it on the front, grabbing the back side of the binding with the pin, right in what will be the stitch in the ditch line.

Then I sew in the ditch all the way around, securing the back binding as I go.

{tip} As you can see above, there might be little slip-ups (lower left corner) but as long as it is secure, especially the corners, no problem (unless it is a gift...or your perfectionist tendencies come out)

Almost done.  Time to go and grab coffee if you haven't already because we need to measure that button.  The elastic allows for some give, so the sleeve is effective for many size cups.  Although you may as well fit it for what you use the most.  I use a medium sized cup and wrap it around.  Cross over the elastic and mark a centered spot that will hold the sleeve snug but not tight.  

{note} If you use these a lot the elastic will stretch out a bit but I have never had to reposition a button.

Mark your spot then sew on your button.  Keep in mind if you have a large button you will need more slack from the elastic to get it around the large button when fastening.

You are finished!  If you finished your coffee too, you can use your caffeine high to jump around a bit or call your good friend and ramble on about what a fantastic job you did.

{*Giveaway*}

So, how do you enjoy your Java?  What is your favorite beverage treat?  Do you have a favorite place to read a book or chat with friends?  I'd love to hear about it.  Leave a comment here and you will be entered in my giveaway.  I am giving away two Moda charm packs.  I have an Odyssea by Momo charm pack and a Fruitcake by BasicGrey charm pack.  I will pick one winner for each of them on Friday, April 30th.

This is also a celebration of one year and almost 100 posts. :)  No need to link up, be a follower, etc.  But...I would love it if you would!

See you next Friday.

Flying Time...and lots of links!

Wow.  I started this blog over a year ago now and it has been a fantastic way of journaling my crafty side.  I warned you all from the beginning that my prose is nothing to write home about but I am excited about what I am learning in the quilting and photography arenas.  I am looking forward to exploring my garden with my new camera this summer and since the leaves are already popping out there should be less bird photos (this makes my mom and aunts very happy!).  I hope to do a little giveaway soon so keep checking back...

I am currently working on a quilt that I started way back in the fall.  It is using a charm pack and some yardage.  I did this one without a pattern and using Simple Abundance fabric from Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  I am in the middle of straight line quilting it and I am loving it.  I'll share a little more when I finish it.


The fun news is that a few quilting friends Cheryl, Kristina and I are starting another chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild!!  This one is the Twin Cities Suburban chapter and our first meeting is Friday, April 23rd, 7-9pm at Quilted Treasures in Rogers, MN.  Please join us if you are in the Minneapolis area!!  


Part two of that news is that the new guild is co-hosting a book signing and open house with fabric designer Sandi Henderson.  Holy Cow is all I have to say.  I can't wait!!!  That is May 19th, from 6-8pm.  Woo Hoo!


So that's what is going on in my little quilting world.  More later.

Macy's Flower Show 2010

A few of you might remember my post from last year's flower show.  This year my daughter and I ventured downtown to enjoy it.  Activities together are always fun, but it was on her time not mine.  Since last year I have upgraded my camera, a plus, but even with a good camera the fluorescent lights are tough.  I did manage to take a few photos, but fast.  It was inspiring and so colorful and then, in a flash, she wanted to go home.

For all the bird lovers...

And I know that many of you are not!  But I was greeted this morning with pheasants in my yard!  I never was able to get a great photo but here are a few from the morning:

The above picture isn't the greatest but it's like guys morning out!  A cardinal, 2 blue jays, and the male pheasant.

Ok, more nature than some of you need, I know!  Next post will feature a quilt, or baby, or something of that nature...

Road Trip!

It was short but it was sweet.  Last week we headed to Detroit to see my brother and his family.  I was a little worried about two days driving with the kids but they did great.  This was the first real road trip since they were born and it felt good to get out on the road and see some sights.  I'll include some photos for the friends and family out there.  The highlight?  Getting to see this precious face again in person!

Here are some other photos of the kids.  Most are at the Hands-on Museum in Ann Arbor, MI.

We couldn't leave without fixing our hair!  

Happy Easter everyone.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend with family and friends. 

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.    

Matthew 28: 5-6