Quilting Archives - By Quiet Waters

Tic Tac Toe Anyone? A Quilted Gift Idea

November 10, 2018 By Michelle

Some weeks ago I was in Joann Fabrics and passed by the display advertising upcoming classes. A cute quilted Tic Tac Toe board caught my eye, and as you can guess, I went home and created one!

This project was pretty simple, and inexpensive. I used fabric from my stash, using purple fabric designs and a cute black cat print as well. I cut the fabric into 5 inch blocks, using 2 coordinating prints for each board.

Then I pieced each board, row by row, and then stitched the rows together.

Then I laid the backing, right sides facing, on top of the pieced game board. I stitched all around, leaving about 3 inches open for turning. Once that was completed, I turned the game board right side out and pressed it all just right. Lastly, I top stitched along the rows and around the board, closing the opening.

For the X and O pieces I asked my 15 year old for help. She printed an X and an O template for me right out of Word. I then used the templates to cut out 5 X and 5 O pieces for each game board. I used stiff sparkly white felt squares for the X and O pieces, that I purchased from Joann Fabrics.

These game boards look so cute, and I hope that my grandkids and their parents have a little fun connecting over this tactile version of Tic Tac Toe! Here is the set that I have placed on a table in our living room. A little “invitation to play” as we relax after full and crazy days.

Using many different fabric combinations, you could make these as party favors, waiting room gifts, and of course little surprises in the mail for kids you love.

A cute quilted Tic Tac Toe board you can make in an afternoon. Make in any combination of colors, for an everyday or holiday addition to family fun. This idea was inspired by Joann Fabrics, but the details here are all my own. Enjoy!

Sofa Pillows, Home Made

November 14, 2017 By Michelle

Decorating is not a talent or nor developed skill that I possess. But last spring our home remodel was completed with a complete refresh of our living room. Our hardwood floors were refinished, and all new furniture was purchased. I have loved how our living room looks and feels now. Even so, the sweet little touches have been missing.

During a visit to pinterest for crafting and sewing inspiration this fall, I found an idea that caught my interest. Then, during a visit to Joann for some fabric for a different project, the idea took shape!

This plaiditudes brushed cotton is now lovely pillowcovers on my sofa! I took some pillows from our old sofa, and purchased a few more pillow forms. We have two sofas so I wanted a bunch of pillows. We’ve had the choose love and also choose joy pillows for a long time, and I love how all the pillows look together.

This project was so easy and super quick, so I also grabbed a couple of Christmas fabrics and whipped up two more pillow covers.

It feels good to have this project completed, and all the colors look great on our brown leather sofas. The living room is more cozy!

What kind of creative pursuits are you up to?

February Fringe Hours

February 21, 2017 By Michelle

February fringe hours have been spent mostly in the laundry/sewing room this month. After all the Christmas quilt creating in the fall, I set aside the red and green for awhile. There are more Christmas quilts to be made, but that will likely start back up in the summer. I might run out of daughters and grandchildren to give these too, before the fabric is all sewn up!

For now beautiful sunshine yellows are making their way into a quilt for my youngest. My youngest daughter says she will decorate her entire home in yellow when she is grown. Now I cannot picture that, but making her bedroom a warm sunny yellow retreat is in progress. Cutting this quilt is taking more time than any of my other endeavors, this will be my most complicated quilt so far. I am pretty excited about it, but when Valentine’s was approaching I got an idea for some quick projects that would give some instant gratification.

First I made these darling Valentine pockets. I filled each of them with a couple of gift cards and a little candy, then hung them on the bedroom doors of each of the kids. The live action Beauty and the Beast is coming out in March so we gave each of the kids theater gift cards and a gift card for lunch or dinner.

While making those pretty little pockets, I started a Valentine’s table runner. It wasn’t finished in time for this year, but it will be a lot of fun to pull it out of the tub next January! Kind of like the placemats I made last winter, and got to enjoy all Christmas season in December.

Now I am a little ahead of myself, with this St Patrick’s table runner that is nearly completed. I should have it on the table by March 1, to enjoy all month long. This is a French braid pattern, that instead of making blocks, I just made into a long braid. It will be backed with the green cross fabric, and the binding will be the black with shamrocks.

Having these little and big projects to work on has helped this month just fly by. Spring is just around the corner, right?

What have you been enjoying in the fringe hours?

Quilts and Pinterest

December 18, 2016 By Michelle

Quilts and Pinterest

Pinterest became a most frequented place for me this fall. I got bit by the quilting bug and have been pulling out fabric and looking up ideas to make a few quilts for my daughters. In 2007 or 2008 some women from our former congregation offered a quilting class, and I excitedly signed up! The small quilt I made in that class was a sampler with Christmas fabrics. It became part of our Christmas traditions, and was named the quilt of Christmas Dreams.

During Advent, the quilt of Christmas Dreams travels between the daughters who live at home, each getting to sleep under the quilt all cozy and warm. Last year my grand daughter got in on the fun, only she wasn’t pleased when her turn was over and the quilt moved on.

The Quilt of Miss Joyness’ Christmas Dreams

So,during a visit to JoAnns, I found some lovely winter and also Christmas fabric. During that visit, an idea grew, and grew. Two quilts have been finished, another quilt will have the final binding stitches completed this week. Two Winter Blues quilts are under the tree, in anticipation of a couple of new dolls for a certain Miss Joyness. A 9 patch stack is growing, and uncut fabric sits on the shelf above my sewing machine, calling to me. Yes, thanks to my need for some fringe hours creativity and pinterest, I have been bitten by the quilting bug!

doll quilt

Way back when I made that first Quilt of Christmas Dreams, and a few Story Quilts I used prefolded binding from the fabric store. I knew that I didn’t want to do that this time, and while Pinterest has a lot of tutorials, I needed more help. A sweet friend from our congregation had me over for a couple of hour and taught me how to make my own binding, how to attach it, and how to finish it.

This idea grew a bit crazy when instead of a new Christmas quilt for just my youngest grand daughter, quilts for my daughters were started. However, I’ve found this creative expression extremely fulfilling and satisfying.

So quilt ideas are what I’m pinning these days, and actual quilts are keeping my hands busy and my creative side happy.

What are you pinning and what is inspiring your creative side? Are there any Christmas crafts that might spill over to bring color and delight to the winter days ahead?

Quilts and Pinterest

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