Patchwork Fabric Headboard

I saw this idea in Better Homes & Gardens emailed newsletter and thought it was pretty cool.

Directions for making the headboard are here.  It seems pretty easy, and a relatively inexpensive way to change the look of a bedroom.  I'd be interested except I already have a headboard...and a footboard.  But I'm filing this away for possible future use.

Snowballs

I've got a second project going here for Christmas in July.  This one is more of a winter theme than strictly Christmas and is going to become a wall hanging to use in January, after the strictly-Christmas decorations have been put away. 

I just finished 12 snowball blocks.  My Angler tool got another workout, as the corners are formed using squares instead of triangles and the sew-diagonally-and-flip method.  Next up are 64 flying geese blocks but I am not satisfied with the fabric I was planning to use for the "sky" and can't find anything in my stash that will work well.  Oh no, does this mean I have to make a trip to the local quilt shop?

Decisions, Decisions

With some help from Lynne, I chose one of the dark green floral prints for both the unpieced blocks and the setting triangles.  The main body of the quilt is finished and I am really liking it.  I especially like the star blocks, which are a variation on Ohio star.  Now it needs both borders.  I did some more auditioning on the design bed and made another decision.  But cutting and sewing the borders will have to wait until the coming weekend.  That job is too big for my short evenings after work.

What is amazing is how much of the Aubrey Rose and Folk Art Christmas fabric I still have!  More than enough to make another quilt (maybe not the back) and I already have an IDEA!  But it will probably have to wait until next year's Christmas in July.

So much fabric, so little time to quilt!

Friday Find - Christmas Fabric on Sale!

Have I inspired you to start a Christmas or winter project yet?  If so, and you need quilting fabric, check out what's available at Shabby Fabrics.  They are having a Christmas in July sale, with 20% off Christmas fabric and 15% off kits.  They have Glace, 12 Days of Christmas, plus the collection that I think is my new favorite, Woodland Holiday.  Plus many more! 

I could be so tempted by this table runner or this cute snowman advent calendar if I did not already have so many projects "in the works."  I'm looking forward to lots of time in the studio this weekend.

Making Snow

For my next trick, I will be making snow - out of fabric.

It has been unusually warm here (90's, even 100+) for over a week but just looking at these cool blues and whites with silver accents makes be feel cooler.  I am getting ready to start my next Christmas in July project!

Christmas Gifts for Teachers

Yes, I know it is summer vacation, and a little early to be thinking about gifts for your kids' teachers, but in keeping with my Christmas in July theme this month, I thought I'd tell you about a great idea for teacher gifts. 

Bookjournals

The BookJournals people take old books and repurpose them as journals, replacing the spine with a spiral binding and most of the book pages with blank paper.  There are all kinds of old books to choose from and part of the fun is selecting old book covers that are meaningful to your recipient.  Last December, I bought several for Miss Main Street to give to her teachers:  French Teacher received a journal made from an old French-English dictionary, Algebra Teacher received one that used a math text book, Chemistry Teacher received a journal made from a children's "fun science experiments" book, and so on.

If you would rather make your own, Just Something I Made has a tutorial for making a planner out of an old book and you easily adapt this tutorial to make a journal.  You can get interesting old books cheap at library book sales and yard sales.

Quilted, Bound, and Labeled

I started this quilt in January, using a Glace jelly roll.  My objective was to have it finished in time for Christmas 2010.  Well, I beat that deadline!  It is quilted, bound, and labeled!

If you want to know more, I blogged about making this quilt here and here and here.  I even made some matching pillowcases, shown here.  The pattern is called Sweet Menagerie Nine Patch Quilt and is a freebie from the Moda Bakeshop.  You can find it here.  It is very easy to make using a jelly roll and some yardage.  Even the pieced border is much easier than it looks.

If you are looking for a pattern that uses a jelly roll, or just need a quilt that works up in a jiffy, I highly recommend this one.