Everything is A-Okay!

I had two missed calls this morning.  One on the home phone, and one on my cell phone.  Both from my Grandma who is in Arizona visiting her sister.  So I called back. 

Me: Hi.  What’s up? 
Grandma:  Is everything okay? 
Me:  Yes… 
Grandma: Are you sure?  You haven’t blogged in a long time and I thought something was wrong. 

I blogged Saturday.  Today is Tuesday.  That’s 2 days I didn’t post.  Sunday.  Monday.  That just cracks me up!  So, incase you were wondering, everything is fine.  I just haven’t found the time to download photos or post.  I’m sure you can understand…with a 10 month old and all.  I think she just misses seeing Brice.  The family blog hasn’t been updated since Saturday, either.  That’s next on the list. 

I made a few more sleeves on Saturday.  I really wanted to do a linen sleeve, and had this great fabric button.  The linen just begged to be paired with a black gingham.  I love it.  I also made one out of some brown Joel Dewberry fabric with a linen back.  Love it, too!  I did some random “quilting” on them and can’t get enough of the great effect.  They are both listed in the shop!  I’m meeting up with Terri tomorrow to take her to a few of my favorite shops around town, and will get back my stuff from the craft show.  So I'll be taking pictures of all of those new sleeves I made up last week and then listing them, of course. 

The other reason I've been a little neglectful of the blogs is that I've been busy getting a new blog up and going: OVERexposed – everyday photography.  I was “knee deep” in HTML, CSS and JavaScript coding.  But I got it.  I’ve spent two weeks (or so) getting it how I want it and it’s finally done!  It’s nothing spectacular, but rollover drop down menu’s are a pain!  So, now that it’s done I can copy and paste into a blog I have up for my portrait photography.  Make that look a little better.  Remember, I was “getting cold feet”…  Well, business cards are getting passed out, so I need to have a better looking site for that.  Anyways, OVERexposed is a place for me to display my photography that doesn’t pertain to Brice or crafting.  I have Flickr, but everything just gets lumped together.  This way I can really show off what I like.  …and maybe sell…  So maybe you’d like to check that out from time to time, too.  Ok, that’s it.  Time to do the family blog and get some beauty sleep!

Requested :: Ginger Blossom Sleeve

I had a request via Etsy for an additional Ginger Blossom coffee sleeve.  So here was my creation.  It is now on it’s way to it’s new home along with it’s double, to be Mother’s Day gifts for friends.  How sweet!  I made up a bunch of new sleeves, but didn’t get a chance to take pictures of them before I sent them off to a craft show with a friend today.  What ever doesn’t sell will be listed in the shop this week.  At least come back and take a look – they’re are some really cute ones!  

Tutorial :: Easy Fabric Labels in Word

Because a few of you asked about my labels, and how I created them I thought I could dedicate a small post to that question.  For the labels in the last few posts I used Illustrator to create the design, and Photoshop to resize, duplicate and arrange it.  I then printed on EQ Pintables Inkjet Fabric Paper.  You can find this at Joann’s or on Amazon, for a start. 

Now I know a lot of you probably don’t use these programs or might not feel confident enough in them to create something like this.  But really, if you do have the programs, this was a SUPER simple design.  The hardest part was the little orange petals at the top.  I recommend playing around in Illustrator (if you have it) and doing a few tutorials you can find online for free.  I’m self taught and still learning.

For those of you that don’t have these programs, but still want to create your own labels, you can do so in a word processor program, such as Microsoft Word.  Here is something I created using Word.

And now you can make your own!  I’ll show you how.  It’s pretty easy.  I really want you to try it on your own, but for those that just want instant gratification, scroll to the end and you’ll find a link to download the Word template. 

Directions

1. Create a new Word document.  Set all your margins to 1/4” (File > Page Setup).  Click OK.  Click Ignore when it pops up telling you your margins are set outside the printable area of the page.  **You shouldn't have any trouble printing this fully, but if you do you might need to adjust your labels later.**

2.  Table > Insert > Table…  Set your columns to 4 and rows to 5.  Click OK.

  
3.  Move your mouse over the table and you’ll see the four-way directional arrow (circled in red in the top left corner of the image).  Click on this to highlight your whole table.  Right-click within the table for the menu and choose Table Properties… Within the Table Properties menu, under the Table tab, choose Center.  Do not click OK yet.

4.  In the Row tab check the Specify height box and put in 2”.  Choose Exactly for Row height is.  In the Column tab check Preferred width to 2” and make sure it’s measured in inches.  Click OK.

5. Next we need to insert our clipart.  Insert > Picture > Clip Art…

6.  Choose your Clip Art from the menu that shows up on the right side of your screen.  Just clicking on the image should insert it into your document.  Once inserted, click in that block and center it.  Resize if you need to.  You might want to add a hard return before and after it.  To do this you will need to hold down Shift + Enter together.  Add your text now, too.

7.  Now that you have your label you need to add it to the rest of the cells.  Highlight (i.e. select) everything in the cell.  Right-click over your highlighted info and click Copy.  Then proceed to paste into your other cells by right clicking in each cell and choosing Paste (below Copy) or just move (click) into each cell and press Ctrl + V on your keyboard!

8.  Lastly, you will probably not want to have those black lines surrounding each cell print.  You can either choose to have them go away completely or change them to a very light grey so as to have lines for cutting later.  Start off by clicking the four-way directional arrow at the top left corner of the table (as in step 3) to select the whole table.  Then right-click in highlighted area and choose Borders and Shading…  If you want no borders, choose None and OK.  If you want a light grey border, first make sure that All is selected along the side, then click on the drop down color menu and pick a shade of grey.  Then click OK. 

That’s it!  You’re done!  Go print your labels!  And for those of you that would rather just download and change the info, here you go.  You’ll just need to do the copy and paste part once you have your info entered in (see step 7). 

Don’t be afraid to experiment with this technique.  You can also create labels for your quilts, just make your table 2 columns by 4 rows for a bigger cell.  Let me know if you are having issues viewing the document once downloaded.  Also let me know if there are “bandwidth” issues.

In Action

 
My labels in action!  This is a pocket-to-be.  Amy Butler solid.  I love this blue!  It’s such a soft, baby blue.  I only have a fat quarter.  I think I need more.  I have to laugh.  You can see my crease lines I made to help center the label…even though I ironed them back out again.  Or so I thought.

Doesn’t it look so professional!?!  Yes, I'm a dork.  What?!?  You didn’t know that already!  Shame.  Another lame attempt at blogging.  Still tired, not much crafting going on.  Brice is just a busy guy these days and keeping me pretty tired with his constant need for mommy.  I’m trying to roll with it.  He’s growing so fast and I want to really enjoy and remember these days.  But I love my blog…and I'm neglecting it.  So much to do so little time!  Cross your fingers that I get some sewing done tomorrow.  I have fabric all laid out ready to be sewn together.  Just need to find the time/energy/nap time…

Tired…But Creating!

I’m tired!  The little guy is teething again.  So I'm going to bed now…before midnight!  Unheard of for me.  Thanks for all the great comments on my labels.  I’d love to create some for my Etsy store, but that requires the time to sit in front of Illustrator.  So for now I'm creating with pen, paper and fabric.  I have some finished creations, but I have something to debate first before showing.  I came up with a list of ideas today.  Some for tutorials for the blog.  I hope to share those soon. 

Fabric Labels

I made some fabrics labels for myself today.  Now I can sew “myself” into my creations.  Neat!
 

And because I don’t like to waste and had a little room at the bottom…I added these for smaller projects. 

How Do I Get It All Done

Quite simply, I don’t.  But I'm always flattered when others ask me this.  Yes, I do have a child.  A very needy child at that.  I just optimize nap times and get lots of help from my mom.  She’s a wonderful grandmother.  And I don’t go to bed until late.  Which is problematic…he wakes up about 6:30am.  I get very little sleep. 

I often ask my friend Terri how she does it.  She and I talk throughout the day via Gmail and I am constantly amazed at how much she gets done.  She is constantly getting custom orders on Etsy and I just don’t know how she finds the time with her little girl (two weeks older than Brice) to get them all done.  It’s amazing to me.  Especially since our kids are learning to walk now.  I really don’t get that much done.  I just show you lots of pretty pictures of the works in progress.  It just seems like I get a lot done.  I promise. 

Random Photos

 

I have no idea what these pictures have to do with this post.  I just hate a picture-less post.  I’ve been working on HTML + Blogger stuff.  Results to be shown shortly…I hope.  Oh, and I made progress on my “favoritest quilt” and have a new (tutorial) project to start tomorrow.  Woohoo!

Orange :: In Progress

 

Another quilt in progress.  Coming along slowly.  I’m excited to get this pieced and quilted.  It’s going to be my favoritest quilt yet! 

Tutorial :: Zigzag Block

Well, here we go!  For you experienced quilters, there will be a little more info than needed.  For those of you somewhat new to the game, I hope to provide ample information.  Never hesitate to email should you have a question.  I’m always here to help.

  

1. Pick out 5 complimentary fabrics and cut the following:
     Fabric 1: two - 4 1/4” squares (this will be the top of the block)
     Fabric 2: four - 4 1/4” squares
     Fabric 3: four - 4 1/4” squares
     Fabric 4: four - 4 1/4” squares
     Fabric 5: two - 4 1/4” squares (this will be the bottom of the block)

2. Cut your squares in half on their diagonal as shown. 

3. Lay out triangles in order they will appear in block to help with the following step.

   
3. Match up your fabrics as follows:
     4 Fabric 1’s with 4 Fabric 2’s
     4 Fabric 2’s with 4 Fabric 3’s
     4 Fabric 3’s with 4 Fabric 4’s
     4 Fabric 4’s with 4 Fabric 5’s

 
4. Sew your all of your blocks together. Press seams to one side.

*IMPORTANT*  For each set of blocks, press two blocks seams one direction (say to the left) and press the other two blocks seams to the opposite direction (to the right).

5. Square up all of your blocks to 3 1/2” square.

 
** A note on squaring up your blocks**
1.  Using a square ruler, align your diagonal line on ruler (should you have one) along the diagonal of your sewn block.  Find the width of your block (mine was approx. 3 3/14”) and visually divide the difference between this number and your goal number (3 1/2” in this case) and cut away excess fabric on the right side and top of the block.

2. Turn the block 180 degrees.  Line up your ruler’s 3 1/2” lines on the left side and bottom of block.  Your diagonal line on your ruler should be on the diagonal of your block automatically this time.  Now trim away the side and top edges. 

You now have a perfectly squared block!  Continuing on…

  
6.   Match up two of your Fabric 1 + Fabric 2 blocks with the Fabric 2 sides matching. 

You want to make sure your seam allowances are pressed opposite directions and that the seams are matched before sewing.  I recommend pinning them together after everything is matched so there is no shifting during sewing.  Pictures 3 + 4 show a better view of aligning seams.

7.  Sew them together.  Press seam allowance to one side.  Repeat for other pair.

8. Sew together the two Fabric 1 + 2 pairs to each other along the fabric one sides. 

You now have your first row of the zigzag. 

Fabric 2 + Fabric 3	Fabric 2 + Fabric 3
Fabric 3 + Fabric 4	Fabric 3 + Fabric 4
Fabric 4 + Fabric 5	Fabric 4 + Fabric 5

     
9.  Sew together the rest of your fabric pairs in the same manor.

  

10.  Sew together your rows to create your zigzags, matching like fabrics together.

11.  Square it up to 12”…or save that for the end of the quilt-along. 

I hope this is clear and understandable.  I think it would be easy to get lost in all the words, so I hope the visuals (as horrible as the photos are…see, I need a new lens) help to sort it all out for you.  Another thing I suggest (and that Sarah and I did for her block) is to lay it all out like the first picture above.  It will help you to visualize it.  My mom did it this way and then grabbed one set of triangles at a time to sew together and placed it back when she was finished.  Then she did the same for each of the different groupings.  If you are feeling a little intimidated by sewing this block, I suggest giving that a go.  I don’t know what Liz did…she’s like me, just figures it out.  Again, please don’t hesitate to email/comment with any questions. 

Since everyone understands things differently, go check out Netties tutorial on zigzag piecing.  While i’ve read her blog for some time, I just now read her tutorial on making the zigzag quilt.  She pieces her triangles differently (like I do my hourglass blocks) than I did here and that may work out for you a little better.  But remember, the instructions here are for a 12” block for this sampler quilt-along.  Happy sewing!