My New Juki Sewing Machine!

"Sew" I received this new sewing machine made by Juki for a Christmas, birthday and Valentine's present.  I am in love and very blessed to have it.  Okay, I need to stop referring to by saying "It".  She had a name that was Japanese and I know it started with an A, but don't tell her, I forgot it.  So I think I have figured out another name for her and maybe this is semi lame but since "HZL-F600"  is the model and it looks like Hazel to me, that will be her new name.  My friend Stephanie suggested giving her a name and was on the phone with me when I first did, but she also forgot it...hahaha!  I have friends that name their cars and motorcycles so maybe it isn't so strange to name my sewing machine as well.  What about you, do you name your sewing machines / long arm machines or Sergers?  Leave me a note and share with me what you call yours.  =)

Hugs & Smiles, Tiffiny ~ Smilie Mommy

Easy & cheap (free) DIY 1/4 inch Sewing Guide Tool

This is a cool and easy way to have a quarter inch tool at your fingertips, even if you can't find your measuring tape or special clear ruler!  This tool was first given to me from my quilt instructor during my first quilting class when I made a beginner's sampler quilt, you can click this link to see it!  She told us how to use it so we would know when to stop while we are sewing on our binding.  When you see this special tool you may say something like "Why didn't I think of that?"  That is if you don't already know about this unique tool...hehehe.  Now take a seat if you aren't already, don't want you to fall over when you start to giggle. 

Yes, you are looking at a business card that can either be your own or one of the 100's you can pick up during a quilt convention for free!  Below is a picture of how I made my very own special tool, since I lost my original guide that was given to me from my first quilting teacher.  

Just place your ruler over the corner of the card and mark at the quarter inch mark, viola, it is that simple!  Now you can know exactly where to stop when you are putting on your bindings and need to pause and turn at the 1/4 inch spot.  Just be sure to use something that disappears and won't leave a permanent mark when you mark your fabric.

Hugs & Smiles, Tiffiny ~ Smilie Mommy Tweet

Pliers Snap Kit Issues - I'm Looking for your 2 Cents or More Please! =)

I bought this pliers kit so I could add a snap to the business card holder I made.

I used it and it put a hole almost all the way around the snap that was inserted.

So, I know how I plan on fixing the hole that was put into the business card holder with the snap pliers.  But I am wondering if anyone has a set similar that they have never had this issue with and they swear by?  I am returning this set and want to get a set that I won't ever have these issues with.  It was really difficult to use, I had to squeeze unreasonably hard to get it even to clamp enough to let go of the pliers, which I am sure why it has a hole in the fabric in the first place.  I love the variegated thread I used to finish the edges.  If you know of another brand that I wouldn't have issues with like I did this one, please leave me a comment, I would love to hear from you =)


Hugs & Smiles, Tiffiny ~ Smilie Mommy

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My Olfa Collection of Rotary Cutters & Mats

So, I made a new friend, Bruce Kennedy on Twitter yesterday and he runs a Olfa business in the UK and online.  It made me start thinking about how all of my rotary cutters   and cutting mats are made by Olfa.  So here is a picture of my growing collection.  I bought the nifty Olfa rotary circle cutter during a demonstration at a quilt show last year, seems it would work so much better if I took it out of the package, oops....haha :p  I have three of their Olfa cutting mats, a nice sized one for my cutting table (36"x24"), and one that sits next to my sewing machine (18"x12" Olfa cutting mat) that is great while I am paper piecing and one that is my tote (18"x24")   when I take a class.  I honestly do use all of my rotary cutters, the largest one when I am cutting through many layers of fabric at the same time, like I did for my Stack-n-Whack quilts.  I obviously love their stuff.  No one asked me to write this blog post, this was my idea since if you know me, I will take pictures of everything if it stays still long enough...LoL!  So let me know, what is your favorite tool and even the brand you prefer.  This happened to be the brand I received recommendations for and have stuck with them ever since.  :-)

Go Ahead Grab my Blog Button Please ;-)

:-) My new blog button:

To place my link button (shown above) on your blog, cut & paste the following code into your blog:

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DIY - Bobbin Mates Tutorial - No More Loose Ends!

I love the fact that my bobbins are no longer hooking up with each other in one tangled mess.  Everything I had seen before seemed like a huge hassle or you couldn't see the color of the thread at a glance like you can with these.  I saw this idea on Pinterest a while back, but I can not find it anywhere on my boards to give credit.  So, I took pictures along the way as I recreated what I could remember and probably changed it a bit since I am sure I missed some details or added some.  I hope you love it as much as I do.  Let me know what you think :-)

Things you will need:  
1.   Clear Vinyl Tubing (I found it in the plumbing section @ Home Depot) The 1/2"x3/8" size worked perfectly for my size bobbins.
2.  A sharp utility knife (I borrowed my hubby's Husky...shhh), I tried with scissors at first, my hands hurt after one.
3.  A cutting board.
4.  A measuring tape (mine is a Dritz), which I ended up not needing since I was eye balling it, and worked out just fine.
5.  A Sharpie Marker if you are going to use the measuring tape.
6.  And the most important thing you need is a tangled mess of bobbins.  :-)
(Amazon Affiliate links above, if you click and shop at Amazon I would then make a tiny profit from the sale.  Thanks in advance for your support)

Things you will need :-)

Close up of the tubing label

I cut the tubing approximately 5/8' wide.  I didn't mark many of them, I started to eyeball it :-)

Now cut the small O shape tubes into a C shape by cutting down one side.

 

Some of my completed bobbins with their clear shields on them, No more loose ends!

Now they stack so nicely, I wonder if I can make something similar to go on the big spools of thread...haha :p

Now, I just need to figure out how to make these for my large spools of thread.  :-p   I am in the transition of moving my sewing area to a different room in the house.  I will post those pics soon also.  Any questions about this, feel free to ask me :-)

Hugs & Smiles, Tiffiny ~ Smilie Mommy

End of Bolt Discount

I have a pretty cool suggestion that many of you may already do on your own. When you are out and about looking for fabric for your next project or to add to your stash, don't be afraid to ask if the store offers a discount for end of bolt purchases. I had a shop today offer a 20% discount for any of my end of bolt purchases! I had fun finding bolts of fabric near the end that I really liked, hope you do one day soon as well :-)

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Need Quilt Shop suggestions Please :-)

Hi everyone!  I will be traveling soon to the Phoenix, Arizona and Minneapolis, Minnesota  areas.  I would love your suggestions for if I were to only go to 1 or 2 shops while there, which is a MUST SEE?  Also would love to hear your favorites or even the ones to avoid in other states too and why, maybe it is their great prices or enormous and unique fabric selections, details, details, details pretty please.  :-)   Thanks sooooo much in advance for taking your time to answer this for me.  Big hugs from the Smilie Mommy :-)

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2012 February ~ Matching Perfect Points While Quilt Block Piecing ~ Tutorial

Updated October 2014:  My quilty friend Wanda T. wrote me on my Facebook page, pointing out something I was totally forgetting to pass on to you even though it is in the photos below, I didn't suggest it in this tutorial.  Here is Wanda's message:  Thanks Tiffiny,
pressing those seams open will help get rid of the hard bump in the center that I hate so much! This is one of those, "why didn't I think of that" moments!
Thank you again Wanda T. for catching a very important step =)

When I took a class last April for making a Stack-n-Whack quilt the instructor taught us this neat trick on how to make our points always line up together.  I will pass what I learned on to you now by making the following picture tutorial.  I hope this tutorial helps, please let me know.  PS...this is the book and pins I used for my stack and whack patterns, you can click the picture of the book below to purchase it yourself from Amazon.com:  :-)

This will be your finished product.  Nice pointy Points ~ not the technical term...hehe :p

1.  Pin through the back of your fabric and the top of your 1st point.

2.  With right sides of fabric facing each other you now pin the same spot right below the point going through both layers.

3.  Bottom view of two fingers holding the stabilizing pin.

4.  Pin along one side of the stabilizing pin, while stabilizing pin from bottom & after matching the seams on the bottom & top.

5.  Pin on the other side of the center stabilizing pin (I use these flat head butterfly pins).

**** Click the button on the left  below this red writing to continue reading the full tutorial**** :-)
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Save your fingertips with this Nifty Tool While Cutting Fabric!

This Ruler Gripper is by Omnigrid was recommended to me in my 1st sewing class over a year ago, the teacher told the tale of a student who cut her finger tip off, that was enough for me to run and get one ASAP, haha.  I think their original intentions when they came out were to help you out of a tub but   I Love it!  You can keep your weight balanced on it and not worry about your fingers laying over the edge of the ruler and getting snipped off.  Looks like a phone to me...ring ring, it's for you!  :-)

New Customer Freebies :)

I was so excited today while traveling out of state, I was able to visit 2 quilt shops. My first stop one of the ladies behind the counter realized it was my first visit there and told me I was able to select a FREE pattern! I was given over 20 to choose from and the one I finally chose was over $10 too! So I was brave walking into the next store that was a few miles away. I asked them if they happened to offer anything since I was a first time customer. I told them about my recent experience (with their competition)and they let me pick out a FREE fat quarter! So today my thinking is the only thing better then lots of great fabric is FREE fabric! So maybe you too will be brave, remember the worst thing that can happen is they say no. :-)

Sleepy sewing = a different type of Crazy Quilting :-p

Not sure how I managed to do it but I erased a story I wrote earlier. This story was about how I was falling asleep while sewing the other day and in my mind since I was hearing the hum of the machine and appeared to be on the fabric then it must be great...hahaha...NOT! So I can't even blame it on the dog who historically gets accused of eating everything from homework and being the one passing all of the gas. I don't even own a dog...giggles. So the morning after as I'm ripping out my version of Crazy Quilting of a barely there seam allowance...hehehe :-) I was thinking to myself if I would do sleepy sewing again. The answer is most likely yes, since honesty is the best policy, it is hard to walk away sometimes when you think you are almost to a certain point. But redoing stuff can be such a pain in the patootie...so the moral of the story is try not to fall asleep behind the wheel and with the pedal to the metal of your sewing machine. :-p

Awesome Tool for a perfect 1/4 inch seam and no-mark-no-paper half-square triangles

I have been using this "Sew Easy Guide - 2" since August 2011 designed by Sara of "Sew Together".  The time it saves me is incredible.  I no longer have to risk leaving a mark on the fabric and it be ruined because of it.  I keep a perfect 1/4 seam with a scant (when I'm not sleepy or distracted...hehehe) It also makes half square triangles without running a line down the middle first with this clear guide that you stick to the bottom of your presser foot. It is removable and reusable.  The size I have is 11.25 inches and works on squares that have sides up to 7 1/2 inches that means no-mark-no-paper half-square triangles!  I use mine all of the time and would suggest it for people of any level who wants to save time!  :-)

***UPDATE***:  Sara has now given directions on how to make a Sew Easy Guide Baby!  Great idea since I am getting ready to buy the refill pack!  =) 

Hugs & Smiles, Tiffiny ~ Smilie Mommy 

Taking Classes / Sew-Ins

I strongly encourage you to take classes at your local quilt shops no matter what level of experience you may have.  I have sat next to professional quilters in a quilt class, don't feel like you will look like a newbie.  Every day someone figures out a better way or a new technique to do something like put on binding.  I have taken classes on thread  painting and applique (not just quilting) and enjoy implementing them when I have the creative urge into my work.  Also many quilt shops have something once a week or month that may be called a Sew In or a UFO Day, (Unfinished Objects), Lock-ins, etc...that is where they encourage everyone to come in for free and bring their machines and sew together.  Sometimes you may not even get your machine out you may want to help someone with their project by helping them with basting, which is the process that keeps all 3 layers of fabric together, most likely with special safety pins or traditionally was with a needle and thread.  All levels come to socialize, so you can get free advice and training.  Sooooo remember:  we all should be able to admit we don't know everything, even if we just whisper it to ourselves...haha :-)