Gabe’s Quilt Top

December 5th, 2009

by Nancy

Gabes quilt top

Here is the completed quilt top for my friends’ son who turns 1 on December 18. I like the thin black border that separates the theme print from the pieced blocks. I’m planning to use the black solid for the binding as well. I was very nervous as I was cutting the theme print because I was cutting it to fit into the 9 patch blocks which I had already made, rather than making the borders to fit the center of a quilt like you usually do. I must have measured and calculated and checked my math five times before I cut! The good thing is that I have a lot of the theme print, so even if I had made a mistake, I could have cut another center. But I got it right – phew! I went out to JoAnn’s this afternoon and bought batting and a blue flannel which matches the water in the theme print for the backing. I briefly considered using Minkee-type microfleece fabric, which needs no batting, for the backing. But I’ve never used it before, and JoAnn’s didn’t have a huge variety of colors, so I stuck with what I know. I think I will try Minkee sometime, though. Has anyone else used it?

Posted in Quilting Projects | 1 Comment »

New Project Linus Block

December 3rd, 2009

by Nancy

Linus Kite

I got my January/February ’10 issue of Quiltmaker this week, and it includes this year’s Project Linus quilt. I really like this block! It’s simple yet cute, and would be a great place to use leftovers of bright kid prints. I have our All Together Week Crackpot quilt tops from this summer to send in to Linus (the deadline is February 13) as well as another quilt top to send in to them, and I may make some rows of this block as well. Does anyone who is going to be at our house over Christmas want to make a few blocks some afternoon during their visit? I’ll provide the sewing machine, cutting tools, and fabrics!

Posted in Quilting Projects | 1 Comment »

Next Two Gift Bags

December 2nd, 2009

by Nancy

PC020001
Here are my next two fabric gift bags. I made the larger one Thanksgiving weekend with the expert assistance of Marty and Ann. They taught me how to put corners on the bottom of the bag, similar to a grocery sack, so that the bag can accommodate a gift that is not flat. Last night I made the smaller bag, using what I remembered and Marty’s drawing to do it on my own. And it worked! Both bags are just slightly shorter than I would like for the gifts enclosed in them, but they work. I’m working on a formula for how high to cut the fabric in order for it to be tall enough to tie the bag easily. For the smaller one, I used a height of 2.5 times the height of the gift. I think I will try 3 times the gift height on my next one and see how that turns out. Of course, how thick the gift is affects the formula, but I have quite a few items that are about 3″ thick, so I am working on a formula for this thickness first. The larger bag is for my nephew and the smaller one will get mailed to Germany soon for Friedrich.
PC020002

Posted in Other Crafty Projects | 1 Comment »

NaBloPoMo +1

December 1st, 2009

by Nancy

I didn’t quite have my act together enough to post this on the last day of NaBloPoMo, but here it is today.
Crochet hamburger

This was a very Crackpotty month for me, complete with a new crackpot activity – crochet! I think this cheeseburger pretty much sums it all up.

Posted in NaBloPoMo, Other Crafty Projects | 1 Comment »

Bathroom Curtain

November 30th, 2009

by Ann

bathroom curtain

Tah dah!! The curtain for the newly redecorated bathroom at the Cute Little House has been completed and hung. I like it! (And this post comes just in time for the finish of NoBloPoMo.)

Posted in NaBloPoMo, Other Crafty Projects | 1 Comment »

NaBloPoMo – End in Sight!

November 29th, 2009

By Ann

Crackpots are probably aware that tomorrow is the last day of NaBloPoMo. So if we’re gonna post, now is the time! Also, Nancy, do we do any sort of evaluation of NaBloPoMo? Other than that it was lots of Crackpotty fun? I didn’t think so. (-:

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Comments as Posts

November 29th, 2009

Posted by Ann

As some Crackpots are already aware, my most recent comments have not yet shown up in the blog because they are “awaiting moderation.” I think this glitch is related to my change of e-mail address some time ago. I will report it to our inestimable web mistress, but in the meantime, I will comment by posting.

1) Comment on Nancy’s post of Nov. 23 entitled “Progress Report:” I’m still in favor of a thin black inner border, but don’t let me interfere with your creativity. As for the outer border, how about a green border and black binding??

2) Comment on Nancy’s post of Nov. 21 entitled “Handmade Market Report:” I agree that this sounds very promising, Nancy! Also, I think your new line of crocheted edibles would be likely to sell well. Good luck!

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Progress Report

November 23rd, 2009

by Nancy

PB230001

I’ve finished the 9-patch blocks for Gabe’s quilt and have laid the blocks out around the focus print in an order that I like. Earlier I had thought I might need a thin black solid border between the focus fabric and the blocks to tone things down a little, but now it doesn’t seem as wild to me as it did at first. 🙂 Maybe it’s just because I’ve been looking at it for a while and I’ve gotten used to it! I do think I’d like a fairly thin border outside the blocks, either black or the green which is in the focus print. Any input from other Crackpots?

Posted in NaBloPoMo, Quilting Projects | 1 Comment »

That was easy!

November 22nd, 2009

by Nancy

Here are my first two fabric bags. I followed an instruction sheet that I had from Fields and kept it simple by not inserting a ribbon or other tie. They came together quite quickly, and I’m pleased with the results!

PB210002

Posted in NaBloPoMo, Other Crafty Projects | No Comments »

Handmade Market Report

November 21st, 2009

by Nancy

This morning I went to the Handmade Market hosted by my town’s Art Center. I had never heard of it before, but it was advertised in the paper along with quite a few other Christmas craft shows. This one said it was focused on local artists and hand-made items, so it sounded promising. I was interested both in a little Christmas shopping and a chance to check it out as a possible place for Nancy’s Quilts for Kids to try again to sell some of its items. I have done very little with NQfK for quite some time after my two very disappointing craft shows, but I have been thinking about trying again, particularly as the boys are getting older and more independent and I have more time to dedicate to it. I’ve been working on getting up my courage (and my portfolio of my work) to approach the owner of an upscale children’s boutique located on the courthouse square about selling some of my things there. And pondering what other items smaller than a quilt (placemats, bibs, etc) might sell well. And my new-found interest in crochet has opened up some other possibilities for small children’s toys that might work.

I was very pleased with what I found at the Handmade Market. Lots of friendly, low-key, local people with pretty good stuff. There was much less “junk” than I’ve experienced at other craft shows. There were several knitters, a place selling soap, several places selling hand-made cards, etc. And there was quite a crowd shopping. So, I spoke to the woman in charge about participating in next year’s Market, and she took my email address to receive information about the next Market. Apparently they are thinking of doing one in June, and then they will do another one before Christmas. I think it might be a good place for me to have some success selling things, and I’m quite excited about it! (And I also got cool stocking stuffers for my kids and nephew!)

Posted in NaBloPoMo | 1 Comment »

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