Another Beautiful Roadtrip

The scenery on my drive was breath taking....here are some pix :)

Then of course I arrive and the scenery gets even better....LOL :)

My dear friend, Mary Jane, receiving a quilt from our Tuesday sewing group.  She starts chemo therapy on Monday so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers....she will definitely be in mine.

I loved every minute of my visit...even though I could not stay as long as I would liked.  Visiting with my amazing girlfriends from PA always brings joy to my heart.  While in Wellsboro, I stopped in at Needles Quilt Shop and learned they are having a SALE....so if you are in the area, do stop in and get yourself some beautiful fabrics.

Guess who else I got to see?  Someone many of you are familiar with....Susan from Hanging On by Needle and Thread blog.  What a treat that was! If she ever says her sewing room is a mess....don't believe her....it was beautiful :)  My phone was not charged otherwise I'd have taken a photo as proof!

Leaving PA is always the hardest for me....for so many reasons....I love North Central PA and I hope one day we can retire and live there.   As I drove away from MJ's house, I was thinking about her and her husband.....knowing next week starts chemo therapy.  She has the best attitude of anyone I've ever met and I'm so proud to be able to call her my friend.  Looking into the distance...this is what I saw:

In this photo it is faint....there is definitely a rainbow there and it made me smile instead of cry.  What a blessing.

The sunset last evening from I80 heading West.....so many gifts we receive.

If you have not yet entered to win the Hoffman Fabrics, CLICK HERE and enter.

Smiles,

Kelly

Hoffman Fabrics Giveaway

I'll be traveling back to PA today to spend time with my dear friend Mary Jane.  Since I'll be enjoying myself, I thought you may want to enjoy lusting after these beautiful Hoffman Fabrics and enter for your chance to win one of these 3 bundles. 
Oh the Hoffman Challenge Fabrics for 2014 are so beautiful that I'm really having a hard time parting with this bundle....but for you....I will....but just this once :)  giggles

This is the brochure for the challenge and you can read more on the Hoffman Fabric Website.

This is the bundle that I'll be parting with...so vibrant and lush. 

Suzy's Pumpkin Patch by Suzy's Zoo 

 Suzy's Pumpkin Patch Table Runner

Hoffman Fabrics has a link for free quilt patterns on their website and they just so happen to have a way fun table runner made with Suzy's Pumpkin Patch Fabrics.  This pattern would be great for this next bundle as well....

Suzy's Christmas by Hoffman Fabrics

Not only would Suzy's Christmas make a fun table runner, I think it would make a great Christmas quilt for any young child.

How to win?  Check out the Rafflecopter Widget below...I will ask the winners to pay for shipping so if you are not willing to pay for shipping, please do not enter. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smiles,
Kelly

All The Ways to Bind A Quilt

 Bot Troubles Over-Finishing my Post :)

I was responsible recently to do a presentation at the Black Swamp Quilt Guild.  The topic was Creative Borders, Creative Sashing, Mitered Corners and Binding.  My part of the presentation was binding.

All Quilts Shown in this post were made by Mary Jane Ehlich, my very dear friend, teacher and mentor.

Binding, why does it trouble people so?  I've heard many folks say that they hate binding....and for the life of me I don't know why......for me, that is the easiest part.  I love, love, love every stitch that I put in by hand because it is my way of saying goodbye to the quilt....it is the finishing...the end.

(Ok, sometimes ya just have to bow down to the tech gods and feed them mega bites of something!  All I'm trying to do is upload a photo from my phone so I can finish this post....nope...the IPhone camera isn't working like it always has.  Sometimes the universe speaks...as it is now)

Hand pieced and quilted by Mary Jane Ehlich

May 2014 Black Swamp Quilt Guild

Binding Tips, Ideas and Tutorials

Compiled by Kelly Jackson, I Have A Notion, Inc. (www.IHaveANotion.com)

Cutting Biased Binding Resources

Kelly’s note: I cut my binding 2 ½ “ wide and I always cut my fabric on the bias for quilts.  Below you will find some helpful resources that include a variety of ways to cut your fabric on the bias.  Note some people prefer to cut their fabric 2 ¼” and for smaller quilts they may cut their binding even smaller.

Below you will find a variety of tutorials and information about binding traditional quilts as well as art quilts.

Bernina Sewing Studio Video Tutorial: 

Demonstrates folding fabric prior to cutting bias binding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04FVcmBA_bA

Video Tutorial: McCalls Quilting

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/continuous_bias

Sew4Home.com

Title: Bias Binding: Figuring Yardage, Cutting, Making, Attaching

This site also links to several interesting tutorials for projects.

Link: http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/bias-binding-figuring-yardage-cutting-making-attaching

JayBirdQuilts.com

Julie Herman, Jay Bird Quilts, has several excellent tutorials on her blog for a variety of binding techniques.  Her book, Skip the Borders, is also an excellent resource on the subject of binding quilts.

Link: http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/search/label/binding

“Julie reveals in Skip the Borders, bindings matter. Bindings impact the look of your quilt, yes. But even more importantly—at least to me, who owns quilts that are now 15 years old—the wrong kind of binding can wear out long before your quilt is ready to do the same.”

Sewing Bias Binding to a Traditional Quilt

Note: There are a variety of ways to attach the binding to a quilt.  This is not a complete list just a reference:

 Machine stitch the binding to the front of the quilt and turn the binding to the back and hand stitch the binding down.

Machine stitch the entire binding to a quilt, using a straight stitch or using a wave stitch (Bernina stitch #4) to catch both front and back of binding.

SewMamaSew.com

Tutorial demonstrating sewing the binding to your quilt:

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2013/01/machine-quilt-binding-tutorial/

CluckCluckSew.com

Machine Stitched Binding

http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2013/01/machine-binding-tutorial.html

RedPepperQuilts.com

http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2009/11/binding-tutorial.html

DiaryOfAQuilter.com

Fast Machine Quilt Binding 101

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2010/11/fast-machine-quilt-binding.html

MommysNapTime.Blogspot.com

No Pins, No hand Sewing Binding

http://mommysnaptime.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-pins-no-handsewing-binding-tutorial.html

TheFatQuarterShop.com

You Tube: How to Hand Bind a Quilt featuring the Binding Tool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k63ZGAS2Xo

Mitered Corner Binding

MadeByMarzipan

You Tube Video Tutorial: How to Bind A Quilt With Mitered Corners and an Invisible Join

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2egganTi2us

Non-Traditional Ways to Bind A Quilt

Prairie Points, Ruffles, Ric Rac, Pillowcase Method, and Ribbons

These can be cute on baby quilts.

Patchworkposse.com

http://www.patchworkposse.com/2010/03/how-to-bind-a-quilt-non-traditional-style/

Scalloped Edge Binding

 Quick Points Scallop Ruler by Janet Platt

NOTE: With Janet's Quick Points Rulers you can make prairie point borders and bindings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMp5sRAzVD0

“Lady Eleanor Burns”

QuiltInADay.com

PDF File:  http://www.quiltinaday.com/RulerInstructions/ScallopVineWEB1.pdf

AnkasTreasures.wordpress.com

http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/a-tutorial-on-binding-scallops/

Binding Inside Corners Tutorial

Ankas Treasures

http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/how-to-bind-inside-corners-plus-a-give-away-to-practice-your-skills/

A Quilters Table has a variety of great resources:

AQuiltersTable.Blogspot.com

Straight Matched Binding

http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/2012/06/about-that-binding.html

Pieced Striped Binding

http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/2011/11/scrappy-binding.html

Angled Matching Binding

 http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/2014/04/angled-matched-binding.html

Piped Binding

Kelly: A few notions that I know about for making quick piping

·       PipingHot Binding by Susan Cleveland

·       Grande Groovin' Piping Trimming Tool by Susan Cleveland

·       SimplyE-Z Piping Wizard by Linda McGehee

·       DeluxeBias & Piping Machine by Simplicity

FonsandPorter.com

Video Tutorial Piped Binding

http://www.fonsandporter.com/articles/quilt_binding_with_piping

Faux Piped Binding

Little Miss Shabby.com

http://www.littlemissshabby.com/2013/11/scrappy-faux-piped-binding-tutorial/

Faux Piped Binding Tutorial by Trisha Chubbs PDF

http://lvqg.org/media/2a7a5a699c092a79ffff8102ffffe415.pdf

52Quilts.com

Magic Binding aka faux piped binding

http://www.52quilts.com/2012/05/tuesday-tutorial-susies-magic-binding.html

Faced Binding

SheCanQuilt.ca

Elizabeth's Faced Binding - a 2013 FAL Tutorial

http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2013/07/elizabeths-faced-binding-2013-fal.html

BlueMoonRiver.com

Susan Brubaker Knapp Non Mitered Facing for Quilts

 http://www.bluemoonriver.com/NonMitredFacing.pdf

French Binding

MollyFlanders.Blogspot.com

 http://mollyflanders.blogspot.com/2010/08/tutorial-french-bindingoohlala.html

Art Quilts

Quilting Arts Magazine 12 Quilt Binding Methods

PDF: "How To Bind A Quilt: 12 New Quilt Binding and Finishing Methods for Your Art Quilts"

Link: http://theartquiltassociation.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/QA-Quilt-Binding-Methods.pdf

I'm so very proud to be among Mary Jane's friends and the only purpose for adding these photos to this post was for pleasure.  I hope you have enjoyed.

NOTIONS

Kelly’s note: Some notions that I know about that assist in making and joining quilt binding.  **indicates tools I own and have used successfully

**Bias Ruler by Susan Brown

**Cut Rite Bind Up Tool by Quilter's Paradise

Dual Angle Quick Easy Mitered Binding Tool by Sew Biz

Quick-Easy Mitered Binding Tool by Sew Biz

Creative Grids Bias BindingSimplified Ruler by Creative Grids

Fons and Porter Binding Tool

Binding Thingy Tool by Deborah Manlove

Zip Bind System by Martelli Enterprises

Instructions for Cutting Bias Binding- Instruction Sheet from Q Snap Corporation

**Bias Tape Maker Machine by Simplicity

Bias Bender Adjustable Presser Foot by Euro Notions

**For PrariePoint and Scallop Binding: Quick PointsRulers

**Creative Feet by Clare Rowley

You Tube Videos using Creative Feet

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL73AEAACAAE92E9EF

One of the best books you can buy for yourself or a friend....it will tell you everything you need to know guaranteed!!!

 All-In-One Quilters Reference Tool

Kelly’s Note: If you have any suggestions to add to this list, please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com

I hope you have enjoyed this page, please refer to it as often as you like and bookmarking it will assure you know where to come back to for all the latest and best binding tips, tutorials, and tools.

Smiles,

Kelly

"Ahhhhh" Part 2

Back to Virginia.....by way of Rwanda....sort of.....these are not real spears used to catch dinner, rather decorative spears and they grabbed my attention while at Beth's house.  Aren't they neat?

Imagine my delight when "that girl who can COOK" served a South African Bobotie (Bob-boo-tie) for dinner last Thursday evening.  This was my first experience with African food and it was amazingly delicious.  Malva Pudding was served for desert.  After such a delicious dinner I was so very tempted to stand and shake my bah-boo-tie!

I felt so very spoiled, not only by the food, the surrounds but also the amazing company I was enjoying.  Frank, Beth's husband, has been making his own knives and I must say they were a bit scary to see at first  (I didn't know he made knives when I first saw them).

They grab your attention don't they?  When I learned Frank made these knives I took the time to look over the craftsmanship and they are absolutely beautiful knives.  A house full of creative energy....yep....absolutely full.

I left Friday early afternoon to travel to Virginia for my Wonder Woman Weekend and on the way I stopped at Jinny Beyer's Studio.

I had an extra 45 minutes to stop and soak in the beautiful fabrics and quilts.....more soul food :)

 I asked and was given permission to take these photographs....enjoy!

Imagine several of these shelves full of Jinny Beyer fabrics.....yes and I was fortunate enough to be standing within arms reach of every last bolt.  I behaved myself....only because I didn't want to have to unload the entire shop into my housed...LOL.

 This handy gadget caught my eye....it is a "Golden Gauge Calipers from Jinny Byer."  I'd never seen one before

This handy tool allows you to find proportions without doing the math.....spanky indeed :)  Impressive gadget and I'm so glad no one asked me to develop that tool....you'd still be waiting.

The sky was very different than the day before....the clouds were just beautiful.

 

It was only a 45 minute drive from Leesburg, VA to the Bolger Center in Maryland where my weekend would begin.   I passed some houses that looked like a small nation could live comfortably inside and the one below made me stop my car and get out for a photograph.

This will be someone's home....the large window in front brought a wee bit of envy....but now the housework that will need to take place to keep that home up....well....lets just say I'm so pleased it does not belong to me!  If they plan to plant grass on that hill....you know I'd be laughing until I leaked watching someone mow that....better to plant some of that crazy growing ivy and leave well enough alone.

My first time to the Bolger Center and I was pleasantly surprised by all the lovely gardens and patios.  The rooms were very nice and the food was plentiful and delicious as well.  The weekend was all I needed it to be and more.  

A wee bit of digression:  When my mother passed last year I knew I needed to find a time and place to get away to recenter myself and I wanted to spend some time with with someone or some people that I admired and respected.  There could be no sewing....this was going to be "soul time" for me.  Time to BE and not DO....know what I mean?  That's when I learned about Iyanla's Wonder Woman Weekend and I immediately signed up.  I was filled with anticipation and excitement and could hardly wait for my weekend in October 2013 to come.  Life did what life does....a week before my trip a nasty black rug reached up and grabbed me causing my left foot to dangle from the bottom of my leg....it was U G L Y.  I told the folks at Iyanla's Institute to hold on to my money because the first chance I got to attend the weekend in Virginia....I'd be there.

The first time I heard IyanlaVanzant speak, I think it was on the Oprah program, I knew I had found a kindred spirit.  She is a woman who says it like it is...what I call WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)....my favorite kind of people.   What ever the weekend would bring, I knew one thing for sure;  my mind would be stretched and I'd more than likely leave with a big smile on my face and in my heart.  That is exactly what happened and that's all I'm going to say about my weekend.....you'll have to go for yourself if you want to know more.  If you go, please tell them all that "Ownership" Class of Spring 2014 says Hello :)

 a portion of Beth's studio

At Beth's invitation, I returned to her home for Sunday evening to rest before making the 7 hour drive on Monday morning.  She is one smart girl because I really did need that rest and having more time with she and Frank, well....lets just say I was like a pig in mud.

 Pure Inspiration

Above and around the doorway there are postcards that Beth has received in exchanges.  They were all special and a few really grabbed me:

          

      

This was a gift from a friend that Beth framed, it is a landscape of Africa.  Ummmmm, yummy isn't it?

 The right side of Beth's studio....pretty darn inviting I have to say.

I'd love to have been able to stay and stitch for at least a week if not a month....my co-workers were waiting and I wanted and needed to get back to IHAN® Headquarters.  

I'm here now.....just in case you were wonderin'.

Happy Smiles,

Kelly