What I learned on my Christmas break

Each year on the first day of school I always had to write a paper titled "What I did on my summer vacation."
This morning as the house is quite and thoughts of the new year are swirling around in my head, I started thinking about the things I learned on my Christmas vacation. The list does not include the obvious things about how thankful and blessed I am to have and be a part of a wonderful family.

Here is the list in no particular order.
1. If an early lunch with an old friend lasts all day, maybe we need to get together more often.
2. Picking out just 6 fabrics for a quilt is very hard.
3. No Internet is a very detoxing and therapeutic experience.
4. Baking soda facial helps close those nasty pores. Thank you Pinterest.
5. A simple Christmas meal is just as wonderful as one with all the hoopla.
6. No matter which family member is missing the holiday is not the same.
7. The pounds I have lost..... I have found and they brought friends.
8. Surprising someone with a handmade gift that brings tears to their eyes is so gratifying.
9. Snow in Texas on Christmas is beautiful.
10. My moms vegetable soup is just as good as I remember.
11. My happiness journal brought back great memories from 2012.
12. I am excited for 2013.

Hope each of you had a wonderful holiday and here's to a blessed 2013.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

BOM coming soon

Blogger Girls Block of the Month

I am super excited to be a part of a big event starting January 1st, 2013. Monique Dillard from Open Gate is doing her first ever online Block of the Month. 

 

Instead of BOM (block of the month) 

this should probably be

 BGBOM (blogger girls block of the month)

So here is the line-up.
Monique Dillard from Open Gate - opengate.blogspot.com

(instructions posted here on the first of each month)

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/
Nicole from Sister’s Choice ~ sisterschoice.typepad.com
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

 and me

Lissa from Moda Lissa ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com

 

 

Each of us will be making the same block each month. We are all using different fabrics so this will really give you lots of color choices. There will be 6 blocks posted and you can make the 6 block quilt or make 2 of each block and make the 12 block quilt. There will also be a set of instructions with the finishing options to make either size quilt. 

The instructions will be on Monique's blog until July 2013.

As soon as you have packed away all the Christmas goodies, get ready, pick your favorite signature fabric for borders and stay tuned for yardages posted soon.

 

 here is a sneak peek at Monique's finished quilt

Stay tuned.....

 

Travel Pillowcases

Travel Pillowcases

I have been having so much fun making travel pillowcases. 

All you really need is 14" of fabric plus a band. 

It is pretty cool how the construction of this pillowcase is done.

 Don't get me wrong making the standard pillowcases with the

 sausage technique is absolutely amazing. 

The travel pillowcases are made completely different using 1 width of fabric. 

These are fun to keep in the car for road trips or the occasional road side pillow fights!

How about using them as pillowcases/gift bags!

FABRIC SUPPLIES

Body- 14" by 44"

Trim- 1 3/4" x 14"

Band- 8" x 14"

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Trim- Fold in half lengthwise and press

2. Band- Fold in half lengthwise and press

3. Lay the body of the pillow case face up and layer the raw edges of 

the trim and band. Pin in place.

4. Sew along the 14" side keeping all the layers together .

5. Press

( this is where it can be a bit tricky to understand from written directions)

6. On the opposite end of the pillow case, fold under 6". 

Press. Fold under 1/4" of the 6" and press to create a hem.

look close at the words on picture

7. Fold body right sides together.

8. Fold the flap over the top of the band creating an envelope and pin in place.

9. Sew the 2 side seams.

10. Trim corners to eliminate any bulk.

11. Turn the pillowcase right sides out. The envelope flap will hold 

the pillow in 

place and cover the top 6" of the side seams.

12. Press and add a 12" x 18" travel pillow.

thank you Carolyn Tover for the machine embroidery

Doing some research on travel pillows and found that the size of 

pillows can vary by manufacturer. You may want to decide what size 

your travel pillow is before cutting and vary the  pattern slightly.

For some of the pillowcases I used flannels.

top-Apple Jacks by Tim & Beck

Marmalade by Bonnie & Camille

bottom 2- Cottons from Bear Country School by Berenstain Bears

Sleep tight!

-modalissa

Ombre Jelly Roll quilt

Have you fallen in love with Vanessa's Simply Color fabric line?
I know I have.
Vanessa has ombre mini jelly rolls that include only her ombre fabrics.
The jelly rolls are a little misleading because at first glance they look like a nice
little set of spring colors. Once the jelly roll is opened, the colors burst as the
ombre colors flow creating a full pop of color. The quilt shown below
was made from 1 ombre jelly roll and a bella solid background.

 
 Look how cool the binding and border is using a ombre fabric also.

 

Now for the backing...
Just as colorful as the front.

 
Of course I had to use fat quarters from the Simply color  collections  for my quilt back.
Are you nervouse about just chopping up a bunch of fabrics to piece your backings?
Lynne Wilson has come up with patterns to help you through the process.
Each of the patterns will make a backing up to a certain size.
What a great way to use up your stash! OR use new fabrics like I did!! Ha ha!
I have a reversible quilt that is full of color!
The pattern line is BACK IT UP.





  

 For the pattern to make the quilt top, click HERE.

I also made a version with grey solid as the background. These fabrics are so addictive

 that I couldn't make just one!!

Friday Funny

Enough Said!! Hope you all have this much energy this weekend!

Berenstain Bears star quilt

Bear Country School

 Are you looking for something fun and quick to make?

All you need is

 1 charm pack, 

3/4 yd background fabric,

1/3 yd inner border,

 1 1/2 yds for border and binding

The entire pattern is listed below but the following pics are some 

step by steps so you can see how easy this ruler makes sewing "off" corners. 

Blocks like snowballs etc are perfect to use this technique

 and there is no marking involved.
Quilt measures 48" x 48"

Folded Corner Clipper, Stock #502
Prairie Sky Quilting

 With fabrics right side together, place the ruler on the fabric and trim. 

(the EXTRA trimmed triangles can be sewn together and used for another project.)

see how the ruler lines up at the point and includes the seam allowance

sew 1/4"

this method can also be done on pieces that are already sewn together such as the two squares above.

add the bella solid square

trim

sew
I also sewed all my "extra" triangles together as shown in the background.

To download the pattern to make this quilt, click HERE.

Welcome to Bear Country
by Berenstain Bears is in stores now.

 This is a great pattern to make using any charm pack!!

Have fun.
-modalissa