Boo!!

It's been a while since I hid back in the cave... now it is the time to get out of there to feel a soft sunshine a little bit. While I was there some things were going on around and about me. I finally got a part time job at one of my favorite craft shops. I'm not so excited about it yet but hope I will enjoy working with other craft lovers. Honestly it is better than nothing for now.

Here is the Halloween quilt that I finished lately. This is called "Jack At The Gate" by Jan Patek. I made a big mistake making it, though. I guess I did not pay close attention to the direction for the appliques and added seam allowance for all of them. I started with the fence and wondered the background piece was not wide enough to lay out all fence pieces then realized "OOOPS!!" It was too late to do anything and I ended up adding more background pieces on the right side to be able to have all pumpkins and berries. Of course the border pieces needed to be bigger than the original by Jan's suggestion.
Well, it turned out well, I guess since the quilt stands out on the wall nicely. BOO!

This is the close up photo of the pumpkin. I used DMC pearl cotton thread to quilt as ditch stitches. It looks like ants are marching around it, huh?

I'm not sure if I want to make something for Christmas because I know it can't be done by the holiday.... instead maybe I will finish other UFOs to be sure.

Earlier this month Miley Cyrus came to our town to have a show. She was pretty and very energetic on the stage and my daughter and I enjoyed the show so much. Regardless of many controversies, I still like her honest and hard working spirit.

She did not talk much on the stage but introduced her new movie called "The Last Song" (will be released next spring (originally in January) . Another Nicholas Spark's love story!!! I've read six or seven of his novels so far. Just addicted to his bitter sweet human drama.

I am good to go now.
Thank you for your support and visit here for checking on me!!

Happy quilting!

Not Me For A While

I'll be out here for a while until I clean up my mess and get more attractive topics to blog about so you will enjoy reading and let me know what you might think about my post.

Thank you, Caryn & Stina, for your comment on my last post.


Happy quilting!

Making of A Recycling Tin

Since making a decorative tin for recycling was a lot of fun, I would like to share "how to make it" with those who are interested out there. I believe most of us have tins with different size and shape, but the process of making it is basically the same. So I hope you will like it and try it sometime. You can click each group of photo to enlarge it.
Here you go!

As you see in this group of photos, I put all materials together. Some scrap fabrics, a school glue (or fabric glue works, of course), Fabric tape (you might check the width of the lid before buying it at a craft store), batting, carton board (it can be cereal boxes), an old tin.
1. First, you need to make a top cover. Since I decided to make an applique top (see below), I traced the lid on the background fabric and added about one inch around it and made the applique on it. Patchwork piece top and cross-stitched top can be used as long as the background fabric has enough size to cover the lid.
2. Then apply the glue on top of the lid and put the batting then let the glue dry for a while.

3. Measure inside the tin up to the edge (in my case it was 2 3/4 inches high). Measure the perimeter of inside the tin. Cut the fabric by adding one inch to the width and two inches to the length(perimeter).
4. Fold the edge of the fabric lengthwise with an iron.
5. Apply the glue to the side of inside the tin as you put the fabric. Press moderately to remove any air pocket between the fabric and side of the tin. I used a hera for the process.
6. When the fabric has been pasted around the inside perimeter, fold the edge of the fabric and lap it over the beginning of the fabric with a glue. let it dry.

7. Now you need to cut the carton board for the bottom sheet. I traced it outside the tin body and reduced about 1/8 inches of it when cutting out of it. Cut the fabric with at least one inch bigger than the carton board.
8. Put the batting and the carton board on the wrong side of the fabric. Apply glue around the edge of the carton board and fold the edge of the fabric to paste it.
9. Apply glue inside the bottom of the tin and put the fabric sheet (made in the process 8) and press it. Let it dry.

10. The same process (3-6) can be applied to the outside the tin. Measure the height of the tin just under the lid covers. (in my case it was 3 1/4 inches high) Measure the outside perimeter and add two inches before cutting the fabric.
11. Fold the edge of the fabric lengthwise with an iron. Apply glue around the outside tin. **I applied the glue as I pasted the fabric instead of glue all around it.
12. Paste the fabric all around the side of the tin. Fold the end of the fabric (1/4 inch) and over lap the other end of the fabric with glue.
13. Fold the other edge of the fabric to the bottom. Apply glue around the edge of the tin bottom as folding the fabric. Use a hera to remove any air pocket. Let it dry.

14. Make the outside bottom cover. Trace the bottom of the tin on the carton board and cut it out by reducing about 1/8 inch smaller than the actual traced line.
15. Cut the fabric with an inch bigger than the carton board.
16. Apply glue around the edge of the carton board and fold the edge of the fabric. No batting is necessary on this.
17. Now move on to the top of the lid. Put the wrong side of the appliqued top and the lid upside down. Apply the glue on the side of the lid and fold the edge of the top fabric. This time do not fold the top fabric inside the lid. Adjust the fabric on each corner as necessary to make it smooth look. Let it dry.

18. Apply glue around the edge of the lid again and put the fabric tape around it.
19. Fold the end of the fabric (1/4 inches) and over lap the beginning of the tape to cover. Let it dry.

Now what would you like to keep in the tin?!

P.S. Did I tell you this primitive kitty tin would be another giveaway if you leave me a comment?!

Happy quilting!

Another Pouch

Just a little quick post for today.
I made another pouch for my cellular phone. I guess I beat the old one up so hard and see the loop and the bottom edge are torn. Instead of fixing the damage (I am not good at fixing things over all...), I made a new pouch. Simple and useful are my goal!

Happy quilting!