September 30, 2014

Old-Fashioned Patchwork Lap Quilt

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I love traditional nine-patch quilts.  It's the order and symmetry that appeal to me.  This primitive quilt has been in my collection for several years.  
Old-Fashioned Patchwork Lap Quilt
I am not sure of the pattern, since I didn't make it.
It's a lovely mix of nine-patches and half-square triangles.
Old-Fashioned Patchwork Lap Quilt
I recognize the fabrics as quilt-shop quality but am unsure of the designer.
Old-Fashioned Patchwork Lap Quilt
The quilt is hand tied with hand-stitched binding.
Old-Fashioned Patchwork Lap Quilt
I am parting with this quilt since I no longer decorate my house with primitive decor.
Old-Fashioned Patchwork Lap Quilt
This quilt is for sale at Busy Hands Quilts!
Crafty has extended their Stash Sale through today!
It's not too late for great prices on these gorgeous quilting kits!


September 29, 2014

Twisted Irish Chain Lap Quilt in Bee My Honey

This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support!


I love the traditional pattern of this quilt!
Twisted Irish Chain Lap Quilt
Originally made for myself, I have decided to part with this quilt.  There are two matching window valances which can also be used as table runners.  I'll post about those soon.
Twisted Irish Chain Lap Quilt

Twisted Irish Chain Lap Quilt
Quilt Stats:
  • Pattern:  Twisted Irish Chain, an online Crafty class.
  • Size:  62" x 74"
  • Fabric:  All fabric is Bee My Honey by Mary Jane Butters for Moda
  • Batting:  Cotton
  • Quilting:  Allover meandering in white thread on Mrs.Singer
  • Binding:  Scrappy, double fold, attached by machine.
  • Value:  Bright and cheerful!
This quilt is for sale in my Etsy shop, BusyHandsQuilts!

The Twisted Irish Chain class by Amy Gibson is available online at Craftsy!  I really enjoyed this class and found it to be very inspiring!

If you purchase items through my Craftsy link, I earn a commission, for which I am grateful.  We are facing a $4,000 bill for our 13-year-old daughter's vision therapy.

Linking to:
Fresh Poppy Design Sew Fresh Quilts Needle and Thread Thursday stitch by stitch Val's Quilting Studio
Crazy Mom Quilts

September 27, 2014

Fall Flying Geese Table Runner

This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support!


Fall Flying Geese table runner is made from half-square triangles leftover from a custom Dream On quilt I made in 2013.
Fall Flying Geese Table Runner
One of my sisters decorates by the season, so this table runner has made its way to her house as a surprise gift!
Fall Flying Geese Table Runner
Straight-line stitching outlines the geese.
Fall Flying Geese Table Runner
The backing and binding are from the stash.
Fall Flying Geese Table Runner
Quilt Stats:
  • Pattern:  Flying geese using half-square triangles
  • Size:  Approx 15" x 34"
  • Fabric:  Leftover blocks from a custom quilt, backing and binding from stash; all quilt-shop quality.
  • Batting:  Hobbs Fusible cotton.
  • Quilting  Straight-line around the flying geese.
  • Value:  Oh Happy Fall!

Linking to:
Sew Fresh Quilts Needle and Thread Thursday
Crazy Mom Quilts
Scraptastic Tuesday
Please continue reading to learn how you can help us pay for vision therapy for our daughter.  It will cost $4,000 over the next six months!


Craftsy's big fabric and yarn sale is still running through Monday!  I have noticed at Craftsy that in order to see all fabrics and quilt kits, I need to go several places under the Kits and Supplies tabs at the top.  It seems that items "hide" and don't always show up where I'd expect them to be.  I found a lot more on sale today when I went to the Clearance Section.  I've learned to look around at all of the categories in order to see everything.

If you purchase through my Craftsy link, I earn a commission.  I would appreciate this very much.  My 13 year-old daughter will be undergoing vision therapy, which over the next six months will cost $4,000.  Using my Craftsy link will help us pay that bill.  Thank you!

We do not have traditional insurance to cover vision therapy; rather, we participate in Christian Healthcare Ministries, an ever-growing group of Christians who share one another's healthcare costs.  Maybe this seems a strange place to endorse CHM since they are not covering our need.  Even though Vision Therapy is not covered with CHM, the annual premium we would pay on a family policy that covers Vision Therapy is more than the cost of Vision Therapy, so the "benefit" of having it covered would actually cost us more money than paying for it ourselves!  {My husband's job does not cover insurance for the family, and we would pay the premiums ourselves.}
CHM is an eligible option under Obamacare and is much cheaper than traditional insurance.  If you decide to join Christian Healthcare Ministries, please let me know FIRST, and I will give you our sponsor information.  It earns us one month's paid premium after you've been a member for three months!  We highly recommend becoming Gold level members with additional Brother's Keeper coverage.  At this level, incidents costing over $500, including doctors visits, are covered no matter how big the bills and will be shared by all members.  An incident is all care related to one diagnosis.

September 26, 2014

Miss Kate 16-Patch / Hourglass Quilt + Craftsy Sale!

This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support!


I have fallen in love with Miss Kate by Camille Roskelley and have great plans for using it in my home!  I love 16 patches mixed with hourglass blocks, so that is the first quilt I am making with Miss Kate.


I cut a jelly roll in half and made sets of four strips.  They look pretty uninspiring to me, and I was beginning to doubt my decision of this fabric for this project.
Miss Kate 16 Patch
But look what happens when the strips are subcut into 2.5" segments!  
Magic!
Miss Kate 16 Patch
I have been in a bit of a slump lately, in most areas of my life.  I'm dealing with getting my digestion back to health, and for me this means elimination of a lot of things ... gluten, grains, corn, nightshades which include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, {did you notice that means CHIPS AND SALSA??} and after I get these down, I will eliminate dairy.  I still need it for my hot cocoa, my favorite treat!  

Mentally I am doing very well with the elimination {read I AM DETERMINED}, because I know I have to address my digestion issues as I am starting to have symptoms outside of the digestive arena that are caused by poor digestion.  They are in the neurological realm ... serious business to address before they progress to disease.  I have been having some headaches with the new way of eating, but they will pass!  

I have found Why Isn't My Brain Working? to be a very informative book and highly recommend it.  It explains the gut-brain connection and how to keep the brain working optimally and how to get it working again if it isn't working well, first by healing and supporting the gut.
Depression
ADHD
Anger
Thyroid disorders
Mental Fog
Forgetfulness
Alzheimer's
Parkinson's
...
and on and on and on and on 
...
can often be helped {or prevented or cured} by nourishing the gut.

'Nuf about that.  


On to some real exciting news for today!


Crafty is having a huge fabric and yarn kit sale this weekend through Monday!  All fabric and yarn kits are up to 70% off!!  
The Mystery Quilt Kit for October is made from ... MISS KATE!!  I have a kit on my shelf awaiting the instructions to be released in October!  It is on sale for less than I paid for it a few weeks ago.  {sigh... it happens}.  When the pattern is revealed, I'll probably wish I had bought another kit!!

I also purchased the September Quilting Workshop Kit but haven't started it yet.  I plan to do that very soon.  The fabrics have a real modern, fresh feel, and I love them in combination with the star quilt pattern.  Back when I purchased the kit, the pattern had not been revealed, and it was still a MYSTERY, and I was so tickled to see the pattern when it came out!  I love stars!


Some other Craftsy kits I have been eyeing may also find their way to my stash!



I'm really tempted by this one, because I LOVE making huge quilts!

Craftsy
Happy shopping!

Linking to:
Freshly Pieced Quilts

September 12, 2014

Simply Style Lap Quilt

This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support!


Simply Color Lap Quilt Top
On my design wall is this fun lap quilt in Simply Style fabrics.  It is made from a layer cake with sashing in between every other row.  The sashing tones down the busyness by giving the eye a place to rest.  {and, yes, the rows are straight; it's just tacked to the design wall crookedly.}
I have another row of blocks, and I am debating making this into a twin size or keeping it a lap size and putting the row of blocks into the backing.  I would also have to add a slate gray border to make it twin size.  Thoughts?  The backing will be a slate gray with very large white polka dots, and the binding will be one of the turquoise prints or slate gray.  
This quilt will eventually be for sale in my Etsy shop.

Linking to:
Freshly Pieced

September 11, 2014

Custom King-Sized Phoebe's Flower Box Quilt - Progress #3

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The king-sized Phoebe's Flower Box quilt top is moving right along!  The blocks have been assembled in a 9x10 layout, and the borders are partially attached.  There is a narrow gray border to frame the quilt blocks with a wider white/purple border. The outer border is much wider; 10"-13".  I give this variation in measurements because on the sides the border will be 13" wide, and on the top and bottom, the border will be 10" wide.  This will make the quilt fit the bed it is intended for - a custom fit!  Sometimes I make the side and top/bottom borders different widths if needed to obtain the size I need; it is not noticeable unless they are significantly different.  I always ask custom quilt customers for the size and thickness of the mattress they plan to use the quilt on to be sure the quilt fits well after washing. 
Custom King-Sized Phoebe's Flower Box Quilt Top
Here is one block.  The original pattern blocks are 6.5" unfinished.  I increased them to 8.5 so the quilt would go together faster.
Custom King-Sized Phoebe's Flower Box Quilt Top
This quilt is a custom quilt for my sister!  If you would like a custom quilt, please contact me through my Etsy shop, BusyHandsQuilts.

Linking to:
Freshly Pieced

September 2, 2014

Custom King-Sized Phoebe's Flower Box Quilt - Progress #2

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Phoebe's Flower Box quilt blocks are coming along!  The inner sections are made and ready for the gray sashings to be attached to two opposing sides, creating a square block.  They will be 8.5" unfinished, and there are a lot of them - I didn't count!
Custom King-Sized Phoebe's Flower Box
The sections went together quickly using strip-piecing methods.  After sewing together two WOF strips, I laid two strips sets right sides together with the seams butting together and subcut 4.5" sections.  I then pinned these subcut sections before moving them, since they were already perfectly lined up.  This resulted in nine duplicate blocks, but I figure in a quilt this size it will not matter.  It also made the process much faster because I didn't have to make additional decisions about what fabric should go where, then put them together and pin.  
Custom King-Sized Phoebe's Flower Box
You will find Progress Post #1 here.