Lego Bernina!

Okay, I thought I saw everything, but....look at this: IT IS A LEGO BERNINA! and it looks very close to MY sewing machine! I have one of the Quilt Edition 170e machines.

I fell in LOVE! Our son loves legos and he continues to love them, even at his young age of 24! So, here's to you Matt! Do you think you could make me one of these? haha

Tell me what you think? and can you recreate it? if so, please post on the Quilt Girl Flickr page!

Block of the Month #6~Courthouse Steps

Here we have another Block of the Month...#6, Called, Courthouse Steps. This is a fun block to make, out of  your scrappy-strippy leftovers. (all of the 2012 BOM's are made from strip scraps! or jelly rolls)

I love this particular block, because it is using prints from different friends and family members, as well as a few from my own stash!  I really like the colors that were used in the block, the fruit print helped me decide on what else to use. Give that tip a try when making your block.

Here it is!

The pattern for courthouse steps is in my Free 2012 BOM tab! Enjoy!

click on my flickr page in the sidebar for other BOM photos!

 

And the Winner is......!

We have a winner for the book, "Just for the Frill of it" by Sonja Nimri. Margaret Hall Diggs! congratulations to YOU, Margaret! We'll be sending her the book ASAP! And if you are interested in repurposing your clothing and updating them, please check the book out!

Below is a sample of how you can repurpose some old clothing.  The green check is from an old shirt, as well as the green buttons..and the brown/pink print is left over from a quilt I made. The center square is from some fabric I purchased at a second hand store. I really LOVE using up things that I already have! OH, the yellow bucket was on sale at the JoAnns store, and it was a completely different color with a decal on the front...I like this much better with a little quilt. As you can see this hangs on a door to our guest bedroom. I think it is a beautiful thing to see as you enter!

You may find the pattern on the Today's Creative Home Arts website! Enjoy!

****Book~Give A-Way!!****

I'll be having a wonderful give-a-way this month! DEADLINE: March 10th at midnight! EXTENDED TO MARCH 17TH!!! PLEASE READ THE ENTRY INFORMATION IN, RED, BELOW!


I'm giving away a cute little book called, "Just for the Frill of it" by Sonya Nimri. It is a signed copy, too!!!

See the cute cover?

From the back cover:

"All you do is snip here, frill there, and pretso, you've created a hot new wardrobe---all with stuff you already own! You know all those clothes shoved in the back of your closet? Admit it, you'll never wear any of that stuff again. But Sonya Nimri has inventive ideas for turning those old duds into dreams-com-true. Cut off the neck of that pill turtleneck and make a cute purse, transform an outdated scarf into a club-worthy halter top, stitch a pile of old ties together to create a head-turning skirt---and this is just the beginning! Easy to follow step-by-steps show how to use simple sewing, gluing, and embellishing to turn boring into boho-beautiful. What are you wanting for? Grab your scissors and give your old clothes a new life---just for the frill of it!"

Here are a few sample projects from the book! Aren't they darling!

All you need to do is: (You'll earn a "drawing" for each step.) THIS MAY SOUND CONFUSING... SO, I'LL EXPLAIN...YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO POST A COMMENT AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES, IF YOU WANT TO DO THE EXTRA 3 ITEMS, YOU MAY ... TO HAVE 5 ENTRYS!

1. Leave a comment about"What would I want to repurpose?" (PLEASE SHARE WHICH METHODS YOU DO, IN YOUR COMMENT! SO, I CAN TRACK THEM. THANKS SO MUCH AND GOOD LUCK!)

2. Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/deniseclason

3. Follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/deniseclasonstudios

4. Subscribe to my blog with email.

5. Re-tweet to your friends AND/OR post on your Facebook page. You'll need to share your Facebook name in the comment.

So, you'll have a total of 5 entries when you do the above! if you want an extra bonus!!! you can share the link on your Facebook page!

xoxo

Denise

Floor Tiles~Inspiration for a Quilt!

I have a fascination with floor tiles and after you see these pictures, you'll see why! Here they are:

These were taken in a hotel that I stayed in. I can't remember the hotels name, but...I fell in love with the floor! The floor looked like a QUILT!!! Every time I look at these photos, I'm inspired to design a quilt. One day I will have to break down and sew one up! I also like the colors! The tiled design was so big, I couldn't get it all in the one picture!

Have any of  you been inspired by something you've seen on your travels? I'd love to hear about them, please make a comment!

happy quilting,

xoxo

Denise

I {Heart} Pinterest!

I know I've mentioned this before, but, I really do love pinterest! Just to show you how much, I've decided to make the Meatball Minestrone Soup ,that I pinned the other day, for Sunday dinner! We have our kids over with their families each Sunday and this will be perfect!...

I may also make the biscuit recipe that goes with the chicken soup recipe in my "Yummmm" folder!

Don't they both look yummy! Let me know how yours turns out!

xoxo

Denise

How do you like your Sugar Cookies?

I LOVE, LOVE sugar cookies! I have loved them ever since I found the recipe I'm going to share with you, today! I found this recipe when I was away at University and would spend time in the library ....to study....and to look at books (cook books to be exact) I was interested in....(I used to study for only about an hour and "play" the rest of the time.) Can you relate to this? I hope so, cause I don't want to be the only one!

Anyway, I like my sugar cookies more on the thin side with a little crunch and a little brown on the edges. I'll like them plain, but, then I also like to have a great frosting on them, too....I have found a frosting that I love, too! I'll share that with you!

We like to freeze our cookies so they taste fresh for several days...but, I don't think they'll last that long!

This is how we decorate our cookies:

Here are a few more ideas on how to decorate your cookies (some of the pics have their website names on them and give instructions for you! YAY!):

Enjoy!
xoxo
Denise

Here is my favorite recipes:

Sugar Cookies-Our family favorite!

1 C butter (real is best)
1-2/3 C sugar
2 eggs
3 t vanilla
3-1/2 C flour
2-1/2 t baking powder
3/4 t salt
Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer. Add eggs and vanilla and cream until light and fluffy. Sift flour, baking power and salt into wet ingredients and mix well. Let chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll out on floured board. Cut out and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake @ 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Makes about 5 + dozen.


Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon butter flavoring
• 1 pound (3 1/2 cups) sifted confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or light cream, or to make smooth and spreadable

Preparation:

Cream butter, salt, vanilla and butter flavoring, beating with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar gradually, beating after each addition. Add 3 tablespoons milk or light cream, beating until smooth. Beat in more milk ,until spreading consistency is reached and the frosting is spreadable. Makes about 2-1/3 cups of frosting, enough to frost tops and sides of of an 8-inch 2-layer cake or a 10-inch tube or bundt cake, or about 1 dozen cupcakes.

How to make a Quilted Card!~great for Valentines!

Hi everyone,

Are you forever looking at left over blocks or pieces from a quilt that didn't quite make it into the quilt? Well, I have the solution for YOU! I had so many little four-patch pieces left over from a quilt, that I decided to make something worth remembering and passing on to someone else!

Now, if you want to print a little message inside, you should do that first and then cut to size recommended in the instructions! you may also want to add your name or sentiment on the back of the card, like you see @ the big card companies!

Well, now that I've got your brain full of ideas, you can even create a card with a heart block for the front or whatever you choose for Valentines Day! (note: the block should be square, for some reason my picture changed while uploading to blog.)

(click to enlarge and print)

*Please abide by the copyright laws and give credit when sharing.

Enjoy! xoxo and Have a Great Valentines day!
Denise

Quilt Girl Flickr Group! Join us!

Hi everyone!

I just created a quilt flickr group for Quilt Girl! Yes, you can upload all of your fun block-of-the-month photos to this group! Right now we are making use of all of our strips or left over quilt pieces in these blocks. Click on the tab, above, for Block of the month to see the FREE patterns.

These Strip blocks are fun blocks and they kill two birds with one stone! No more extra strips laying around, PLUS beautiful blocks for a beautiful quilt! We have 5 blocks right now! I'm working on block 6, so join in! Sign up for email subscriptions for notifications! and the join the Quilt Girl Group on Flickr! Can't wait to see you!

I have a new discussion on the Flickr group! "What are you working on right now?" so, tell us what YOU are working on!

xoxo, happy quilting!

Denise

What was your Messiest Moment?

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I grew up where we had a garden every summer. It wasn't a small garden, it was a BIG garden! We all had a part, in the garden, to make it grow and be successful. I especially liked working with the tomatoes, they were so pretty, red and easy to pick...as they were tall and in cages. All I had to do was put my hands in the 4" squares and pick a juicy, red, ripe tomato! 


One particular day, I went to the garden to pick some tomatoes, I thought I would use my shirt to put them in...(a true farmer! haha). Well, when I got back into the house, I dropped off the tomatoes into the kitchen, went into the bathroom to wash...and low and behold...there was red all over my white shirt. (did I fail to tell you I was wearing white?)  What was I to do? ...I knew Clorox was great at bleaching out stains...so, I put together a solution of bleach and water, poured it over my WHITE shirt and voila!!! it was WHITE again! I was the happiest person in the world! the rest of the story....because, this was not only a white shirt, it was a white shirt that I made myself! Thank you Clorox!

I ‘m sharing my messy moment for the chance to win prizes from TidyMom as part of Clorox’s Bleach It Away campaign.

Table Runner & Napkin Ring Pattern

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You can subscribe in the sidebar.

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I have a very talented daughter, named Erin Winfree! She designed a beautiful table runner for an online magazine and I wanted to share it with you. [I am a proud mama!] She picked out the fabrics from my stash and away she went! She figured out a pattern for any skill levels! AND it turned out beautiful!.... as you can see:

Runner is 17" x 47"

She used Insul-bright for the batting, so that when a hot pan sits on top, it will protect the table top! Isn't that genious!? The pattern also comes with a napkin-ring pattern. You can find the pattern on the Crafts'n Things online newsletter! 

For the runner you'll need:


Here is a link to the pattern illustrations.


Fabrics & Embellishments 
• Fat quarter (FQ) prints: beige (A), one; medium purple (B), one; salmon (C), one; medium green/cream (D) for border and part of blocks, two; green floral (E) for center block and backing, four; dark purple (F) for block and binding, three; light green/cream (G), one.
• Salmon satin ribbon, ½"-wide, 3-½ yards.

Tools & Supplies 
• Insul-Bright Batting, 1 yard (The Warming Company®).
• Lite Steam-A-Seam2, 9"x12" (The Warming Company®).
• All-Purpose Dual Duty XP thread, to match (Coats & Clark®).
• KK2000 "green" Temporary Spray Adhesive (Sulky®).
• Fray Check™ (Dritz®).
• Basic sewing and quilting supplies: sewing machine, straight pins, scissors, rotary cutter.
• Sewing machine feet: quilting foot, ¼"; darning foot, zipper foot.
• Iron and ironing surface.
• Cloth napkins to match.



The rest of the pattern is on the Crafts'n Things website!


This can be made many times in different seasonal colors! Easy to make and machine quilt! Enjoy! I have!


xoxo
Denise