Mel's Own Place

This little quilt was one I designed for Tooele (Utah) County Quilter's Guild Challenge in 2004.  


It was a fun idea, crayons were wrapped up in a little package and those who wanted to participate choose one.




The rules that we could use the color of the crayon, and shades of it, and one neutral color such as white, cream, black to create a quilt of any kind.  I was still new to hand applique, so I wanted something to practice my skills.


The fabrics are from Sandy Gervais' Happy Hollow collection.

One of my 2009 goals is to make at least 1 table runner or wall hanging per month.

You know I love a swap! Now that Christmas and New Year's is over, I don't have anything to stress about (ha-ha!) - so I went in search of some swaps! Creative Kismet is having a BIRD exchange! I'm excited about this since I just designed my own bird ornament to top Christmas gifts this year! Participants make 5 birds, send them to Regina then wait for her to send you back 5 different birds from other YOU can still join until January 9th! * * * * * * * * * * Valentine's hasn't been a favorite holiday of mine, probably since I feel that love is forced or expected. I'm trying to change my attitude and I think a fun ValDay exchange might do the trick! This swap found at Bunch of Scrap's blog is a great one since you are assigned just one person to give three things to, home-made or not. I can do this, and I might feel some love while I'm at it! Sign up until Jan 9th.

* * * * * * * * * *

So where did I find all of these fun swaps? On the Swap Dex blog. There's tons of swaps that look like fun, but I can only do so much!

* * * * * * * * * * For the resolutionaly challenged like me, Tip Junkie is hosting a "Word for the Year 2009" giveaway. It's a great concept, you choose ONE word to live by during 2009. ONE word that sums up what you want out of 2009. ONE. I'm going to have to think on this a bit, but wanted to let you all know about it. ZEAL * SIMPLE * BREATHE * TRY * CREATE

Glad you asked! I was so excited to get a gift certificate from my sis-in-law (we draw names) to Spoonflower! One can upload a design and they print it on fabric! So you can be a fabric designer! I can't wait to try it and I hope I don't get too addicted! I got subscriptions to McCall's Quilting, Fons & Porter quilting magazines. A gift certificate to Arnie's (where I get my basket weaving supplies!) Gift card to my FAV place to eat; Texas Roadhouse The coolest necklace sets from an Etsy shop I happened upon called Polarity . I told my hubby about the sewing one I wanted and my sister heard me talking about how cool it was and called the designer to have a quilting set made up for me too! I thought it was soooo cool that Cat, the owner, would make a special order set for no extra charge! I also got iPod speakers, clothes, some craft books such as how to bind books, and a trendy sewing book! I got so much creative stuff that my head is spinning trying to figure out where to begin! I think I'm going to have a fun and creative 2009!

This will makes a set of six placemats 


I don't prewash my fabrics before sewing. 


If you do, you may want to get more fabric than FQ's. 


As always, use a 1/4" seam allowance for all sewing except when applying binding. 


Precise cutting, ironing and squaring are key to a beautiful quilted project! 


Supplies: 
16 Crazy Squares (see my tutorial!)


You will need 4 Fat Quarters in coordinating fabrics/colors OR . . . thirty-six 6" squares to make the required Crazy Squares 
1/3 yard for inner border 
1/2 yard for outer border 
1 and 1/4 yard for backing OR six FQ's 
Thin batting that contains scrim


Cut: Inner border into 1 1/4" strips 
Outer border into 1 3/4" strips 
Backing fabric 14 1/2" X 20" (six) 
Batting 14 1/2" X 20" (six) 
Binding 1 yard 


Sew three blocks together for the top row. 


Press seams to right. 




Three more make up the second row. 


Press to left.



Sew the top row to the second row and press. 


Now sew your inner border strips onto the top and bottom of the placemat center. 


Press.



Next sew the inner border strips onto the sides of the placemat. 


Press. 


Sew outer border strips to the top and bottom, then sides. 


Press. 


Repeat process for the rest of the placemats.


To Quilt:  


Layer a thin batting between your pieced top and a backing fabric, and baste. 


I used large saftey pins.



Using the largest stitch my machine had (4) I stitched 'in the ditch' with a top thread that matched well with the top and my bobbin thread was mached to the backing fabric. 


Be sure not to have any unquilted areas larger than 4" so your mats batting won't shift around.


On the back, pull the top thread through to the back and tie in a knot and hide them by inserting the thread in between the layers coming back up about an inch or so. 


Clip threads, and they are gone! 


These make great gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, and Weddings. Make a set for your own home celebrating the seasons, holidays or for every day use!