Alphabet Quilt Pattern New Updated Version

After 17 years, I thought it was high time to update my Alphabet Quilt Pattern. The original Alphabet Quilt pattern that I wrote 17 years ago, along with the updated supplement is now all in one pattern for sale on Craftsy.com So you can make the new updated Alphabet Quilt or the original Alphabet Quilt or a combination of the 2. If you purchased the original pattern from me on Craftsy, you will receive an update notice and you will be able to download the pattern for no additional cost, since you already purchased the pattern.

I started making the updated quilt a year and a half ago and got most of it done, but then life got in the way and the writing of the pattern took me so much longer to finish. But I got it done at last! While I made this new version in girly colors and hearts, you could make the updated version in boyish colors and use one or more of the original pattern's applique motifs instead of hearts.

The Patchouli Moon Studio header of my blog was made using my own Alphabet Quilt pattern, so if you can spell a word or more, you can create all kinds of quilts with this versatile pattern. (Hint, hint, lol!!!)

I had a long arm quilter quilt this new version with a heart pattern. I used a soft flannel for the backing fabric. *I am selling this version of the pink and purple quilt. Scroll down to the end if you are interested.

The new updated Alphabet Quilt.

Flannel backing that is an alphabet print, plus a polka dot border because I didn't have enough of the alphabet fabric, lol! You can see the heart quilting better here too.

I would love to see what you make using my pattern (old or new version). Please email me a photo or 2 if you make this quilt.

*If you are interested in purchasing the pink and purple updated version of the Alphabet Quilt (the quilt itself, not the pattern), I have it listed in my Etsy Shop. The pattern is available for sale on Craftsy and Makerist.

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Fiber Arts Fiesta 2017

I went to this year's Fiber Arts Fiesta with a friend on Friday. I entered a mixed media piece into the show, my first entry into this show ever. It was a fun show with lots of beautiful wearable and non-wearable art, plus vendors too. I took 318 photos! There was so much to see and I didn't even photograph everything, only stuff I liked, because there was just way too much. I posted all the photos I took on my Flickr album: Fiber Arts Fiesta 2017, if you would like to see the show.

This was my favorite in the mixed media, named "Burrito".

His name is Burrito. My favorite mixed media piece made out of felt. I love his 3-D ears! I like the frame on this piece too, Looks like Burrito was hungry and took a bite out of the center of the frame on all 4 sides, lol! Be sure and click on the link above to see all the other photos I took of this show. Enjoy!

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MJ's Messenger Bag

Annie Unrein of byAnnie Patterns had several patterns to test recently, but I chose to test MJ's Messenger Bag. This is Annie's longest pattern to date. It took me 3 long days to cut and sew this bag together too! But the sewing is really not that difficult if you take it one step-at-a-time (although not a bag to tackle for a beginner). There are so many nice features to this bag and of course using Soft and Stable foam stabilizer (a byAnnie product) really gives this bag structure and the padding it needs to hold a laptop or other electronic device. The pattern comes with a small and a large version. I chose to make the large bag and it is a big bag.

Here is my MJ's Messenger Bag~

I had this fabric for several years. I bought it when I was in California visiting a childhood friend about 10 years ago! I knew it would make a nice bag, but no bag pattern seemed quilt right until I saw this messenger bag.

On the sides of the bag are pockets. I chose to use triangle rings instead of the D-rings because when you are using swivel hooks the D-rings (or square or rectangle rings) end up shifting because the hook wants to grab the ring in the corner. So round rings or these triangle rings work best with swivel hooks. I told this to Annie and I am not sure if she made another bag with the triangle rings yet. But for anyone wanting to use swivel hooks on any bag, you should get triangle rings or round rings and not use rings with corners.

Under the flap there is a zippered closure too. The zipper provides that extra security that nothing falls out of the bag if you have it sitting on the car seat for example.

Under the flap there are 3 pen pockets.

Inside the bag is a pocket with a tab that has a Velcro closure to keep your device cushioned and secure. Across from that pocket is a slip pocket. I made my slip pocket out of fabric. The instructions have you use a mesh pocket, but I didn't have a good color mesh that would work, so I chose to make a fabric pocket instead.

There is an adjustable strap with an additional padded shoulder pad and a carrying handle too. The flap stays in place with the 2 swivel hooks and rings, keeping this bag very secure.

I quilted the bag in wavy lines and then stitched a decorative wavy stitch across the dark blue pocket flap, the carry handle and the strap too. My signature zipper pull is on the zipper.

The back of the bag has a large pocket that you can divide in half if you want to. I thought this would be a nice place to hold a folder or papers, so instead of stitching a dividing line in the middle of the bag, I added a snap closure that can be unsnapped for adding large papers, and kept snapped for putting in smaller items.

Looking into the back pocket you can see the snap above.

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Tip of the Morning Tuesday~Ironing Board

I have a tip to share with you after recovering my ironing board recently. I have a large rectangle board (29" x 35") that sits on top of a table and my last cover was looking rather scorched, so it needed a pretty new cover. I had used a home dec fabric last time with batting and InsulBright under the fabric and it lasted a few years, but with all the pressing/ironing that I do with making quilts and handbags, all the layers underneath felt rather flat. I really didn't want to add a lot more layers of batting and InsulBright again, ugh!

So I got this idea to use a foam stabilizer under the silver ironing surface that I wanted to use. I had a 36" x 58" package of double-sided fusible foam stabilizer called In-R-Form by Bosal, so I used that underneath. I left all the old stuff on the board and just stapled the foam stabilizer onto the back of the board, then covered it with the silver ironing board fabric and stapled it into place on the back of the board too. Once I started to iron, the fusible part adhered to the silver fabric. I love how the foam is firm bit adds a bit of cushioning to the ironing surface. You really don't need the foam stabilizer to have any fusible on it at all though. I used a fusible foam because I already had it on hand. You can use any brand you like: Soft and Stable byAnnie, In-R-Form by Bosal, Foam Flex by Pellon (although Pellon brand is only 20" wide, so depending on your board size, you may have to whip-stitch pieces together to make it the correct size to fit your board).

I love my new ironing surface now! I hope it stays pretty looking for a long, long time. Time will tell how the foam holds up underneath, but so far after over a month of ironing on it, it looks and feels great!

My ironing surface re-do. 

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2017 Thimbleweed Quilters Quilt Show

Thimbleweed Quilters (the quilt guild I belong to) had our annual outdoor quilt show in late April. It's always a great show with tons of gorgeous quilts and this year we had 4 vendors too. It's always a gamble with the weather because it is our windy season and the show is held outdoors in a park. But in all the years it has been held outdoors, it was only cancelled once! This year we just squeaked by because the next few days we had strong winds.

I didn't take photos of everything, because I had set up my quilts and bags to sell and then I took photos of what I could before it got busy with people. Some people hung their quilts a bit later, so I didn't even have a chance to see the later ones. Still I have 45 photos posted here, so enjoy the show!

This was the raffle quilt this year and the winning ticket was drawn at our last quilt meeting. The winner was a new quilt guild member Grace, who won this quilt. Grace was so overwhelmed that she won! Congratulations Grace!

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