Long Beach International Quilt Festival

August 7, 2013 by 4 Comments
We spent Saturday in Long Beach at the International Quilt Festival!  It was my first time ever going and it was so much fun!!!
 
There were so many fun quilts to ohhhh and awwwww over!  The highlight of the day was finding the “Beyond the Reef” quilting booth where we met designer Natalie Barnes.  Immediately we fell in love with her tropical inspired fabrics and patterns.  (her blog HERE)
This is my daughter and Natalie.  My daughter is totally into Hawaii & fish (notice the homemade Huma huma shirt?)

 My daughter choose this pattern called huki lau – all different tropical fish appliquéd in hawaiian print fabrics!  Can’t wait to get her started on it!!

 We didn’t want to leave the Beyond the Reef booth!  It felt like we had been on a mini vacation!!

We had a little too much fun!  Now I can’t wait to get sewing!!!

This quilt was so much fun to look at!  So much detail!  I think it is of houses and buildings in Switzerland!

My daughter is determined to make her own version of this quilt:

 This was one of my favorites of the day!  I love 30’s prints!  This quilt was beautifully put together!

Amanda

Filed Under: quilt

9-Patch Big Block Quilt Tutorial

July 27, 2013 by 7 Comments
This has been such a fun week of quilt tutorials!  
 I made this quilt with lots and lots of love.  It’s for a friend who is battling cancer.  Sometimes only a hand-made quilt can express how you truly feel about a person.
I love this pattern because it showcases larger print fabrics which I am always drawn to!

 This quilt is made up of 9-patch blocks and plain blocks.
Quilt blocks measure 12″ finished
Make (10) 9-patch blocks
Cut (10) 12.5″ squares of theme print

Select your fabrics and lay them out how you want them in the 9-patch.  Cut them in strips of 4.5″x WOF

Sew them together in 3-strip sets: row 1, row 2, and row 3

 Press seams so they alternate for easy intersection pinning.  Cut in increments of 4.5″

 Do this with each of the strip sets until you have stacks that look like this:

Pin at seams
 
Here you can see how I did my pressing:

 Lay out your 9-patch blocks with your 12 1/2″ squares alternating.  Sew them in rows and join rows together.  This quilt is 4 squares across and 5 squares down.

I put flannel on the back and free-motion quilted it – it’s so cuddly!! 

Amanda

Filed Under: A Week of Quilt Tutorials, gift, gifts, quilt, tutorial, tutorials

Quilted Composition Book Cover

July 15, 2013 by 2 Comments
Today I am sharing my tutorial for these quilted composition book covers over at Riley Blake Designs Cutting Corners!  These book covers are so much fun to make.  They are perfect for gifts.  I use one for my journal, one for my sewing journal, one to carry with me to take notes or jot down ideas in.  My children each have one as well.  Don’t you love this fabric line?  It’s called Ashbury Heights.  You’re going to want to make one 🙂

 

Amanda

Filed Under: quilt, Riley Blake, sewing, tutorial, tutorials

Monster Truck Baby Quilt

July 1, 2013 by 3 Comments
Modern Monster Truck Quilt

I came up with the idea for this quilt when I was invited to a baby shower for a friend who loves going to Monster Jam.  I wanted a cute, modern take on the monster truck and this what I came up with. To begin, select fat quarters  of various prints.  I choose gray, white, black and green.  You can choose any prints or patterns you like.  I only had 8 different fabrics, but I would have liked 12.IMG_1708

Next, cut your fabric into 12.5″ strips, then sub-cut into the following measurements:monster truck measurements
Do this with each of your fabrics.  Now mix up the pieces and sew the following 12″ (finished) block:  (quarter inch seams)monster truck quilt block
You want the top and bottom pieces to be the same fabric, and the center to be different.  Press the seams toward the 6.5″ piece.
I love personalizing quilts, especially if they are gifts.  To add a name to the quilt block, print the name using your favorite word processing program.  I tried several different fonts until I got the one I liked.  If you can, reverse the image when you print.  Take your Heat N Bond® Lite and trace the reversed name in pencil.  Iron the piece of Heat N Bond® with the name to the WRONG side of your fabric.  Then, cut the name out.  Peel the backing off and arrange the letters how you want on your quilt block.  Finally press to attach it.
I outlined the letters using a straight stitch.  I went around each letter twice to give it the “sketch” feel….which I love.
IMG_1743
  After you make 11 of these blocks, lay them out.  For the truck applique block, cut a white square 12.5″x 12.5″
  IMG_1709
Next,  follow the same technique using Heat N Bond® Lite to applique the monster truck to the quilt block.  Click HERE for the truck pattern.
To finish the quilt, sew the blocks together to form rows and sew the rows together.  Quilt as desiredIMG_1782
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Note: These are big blocks which help make this a fast, easy quilt to put together in a day.  If you would like the same look, but with smaller blocks here are the measurements:
For a 10″ finished block: cut pieces 10.5″ x 5.5″, 10.5″ x 2.25″, 10.5″ x 3.75″
For an 8″ finished block: cut pieces 4.5″ x 8.5″, 1.5″ x 8.5″, 3.5″ x 8.5″
Essentially the bottom strip is 1/2 the block size, the top strip is 1/3 the block size and the center strip is 1/6 the block size.
Here is a little peek of the baby shower – we centered the colors and theme around the quilt.  We even hung the quilt in the entry way so it was the first thing people saw as the entered.
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I love that we were able to get a stack of tires!!
Monster truck cupcakes – complete with “dirt” on the top.IMG_1805
IMG_1808

 

Amanda

Filed Under: baby shower, gift, gifts, quilt

Blogger’s Quilt Festival – Wallhanging Entry

May 17, 2013 by 3 Comments
AmysCreativeSide.com

  If you are joining me from the Blogger’s Quilt Festival – Welcome to the Jedi Craft Girl Blog!  I am Amanda and I love sewing and quilting and crafting and creating!! 

This is my quilt entry in the “Wall Hanging Category”  This cute little bird quilt measures 32″ x 37″ and I do hang it on my wall.  I originally created it for Valentine’s Day.  I loved it so much and the colors work in my house that I still have it up!!
Most of the fabrics are Moda.  I machine appliqued the birds, hearts, and tree and I quilted it on my machine.

I love that the applique is not perfectly centered and it has a scrappy feel!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Amanda

Filed Under: Blogger's Quilt Festival, quilt

Bloggers Quilt Festival – Baby Quilt Entry

May 17, 2013 by 15 Comments
AmysCreativeSide.com
 It’s finally time for the Spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival!  I have been waiting and waiting.  I always love to see everyone’s beautiful quilts.

If you are new to my blog – Welcome!  My name is Amanda and I have been quilting for 14 years and sewing all my life.  I also enjoy crafting, thrifting, and any DIY project!

I am entering my Ava Baby Quilt in the Baby Quilt Category.  This quilt was sewn for a friend’s baby shower.  Her nursery colors are pink & red and the baby’s name will be Ava (due in June).  I love making quilts for my friends who are expecting.  My motto: Every baby deserves a quilt!!

The Quilt stats:
Measurements  36″ x 43″
Fabrics: a variety of quilting cottons
Machine quilted by me
Hand binding
 

Thanks for stopping by!

Amanda

Filed Under: Blogger's Quilt Festival, quilt

Quilted Pillow

May 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Today I am a guest blogger over at xo.gigi fabrics blog.  Click HERE for the tutorial on how to make this fun quilted pillow!
 
 
 
Amanda

Filed Under: pillow, quilt, sewing, tutorial, tutorials

The Covert Robin

April 10, 2013 by 2 Comments
 I am participating in “The Covert Robin, a mystery gift exchange.”  It is such a cute idea.  You sign up and then you are assigned a secret exchange person.  You make a handmade item and then send it off to her.  In return a totally different person makes something and sends it to your front door!  So much fun!  I found out about this cute idea because I follow Clover & Violet.  A darling quilting & sewing blog!  I was assigned Melle from Feathered Fuffles.  
Melle and I  have lots in common – she loves sewing and she loves cats!!  Here is what I made her.  Since she has received it,  I can write about it.
Meet my favorite tote bag.  (I, myself, don’t own one because I seem to make them and give them away!!)  The draw-string quilted tote.

  It has darling draw strings which cinch this bag and make it look all ruffly at the top.


 It opens up to be a large tote – big enough for a day at the beach, a day at the park, or a day at your favorite place.  I can just imagine stuffing towels, sweatshirts, and snacks in the bag and cinching it up!

 This bag begins as a quilt.  I pieced it kind of randomly so it would feel bright and colorful.

 
I love that it is quilted because it stands up by itself without being stiff and it feels soft and cuddly….and bonus – super easy to wash!!

 The bag measures 20″ wide by 15″ tall and 7″ deep.

 Melle, I hope you love your bag!!  It was sewn with love 🙂


Amanda

Filed Under: gift, gifts, quilt, sewing

Bird Quilt Giveaway

March 6, 2013 by 29 Comments

Isn’t this bird quilt darling?  It makes me think of spring!!!  It is the perfect size to hang on a wall, put on a couch or on a table.  Would you like to win it?

 As a thank you for reading my blog, I am giving away this quilt made by me.  The quilt measures 33″x38″.  All you have to do is follow my blog or “Like” me on Facebook.  Leave me a comment letting me know you are a follower and leave a comment telling me you “Liked” me on Facebook (2 entries max).  On Saturday, March 9th, I will announce the lucky winner and the quilt will be in the mail on Monday!!

I wish you all could be winners 🙂
  Amanda

Filed Under: quilt

My Favorite Quilt

March 2, 2013 by 4 Comments
  
Welcome to Jedi Craft Girl!  Family Ever After is hosting SEW-VIVOR and I am so excited to submit this post as my entry.
I love sewing and quilting more than anything!!!  I have been sewing since I was in junior high when I learned to sew myself shorts.  I have been quilting for the past 14 years and I don’t even want to count how many quilts I’ve made.  It was hard to choose “my best work” to submit….kind of like choosing which child you love best 🙂  I decided on this quilt.  It hangs in my entry way and I see everyday.  It makes me feel happy.
The quilt measures 57″x73″.  The blocks are pieced and the flowers and leaves are machine appliqued.
 
I don’t own a long arm quilt machine, so the quilting was all done by me on my regular sewing machine.  This is about the largest size I will quilt at home.  It gets too bulky.
I was so happy with the quilting.  (It took 3 hours and my back hurt for 2 days.)  I did tight meanders on all the white fabric.  The blocks have flowers and loop-de-loos quilted on them.  
 
The binding is hand-sewn.
A quilt on a windy day is so much fun!!
    
Here is where it lives most of the year.  It’s the first thing people see when they come in my home and it is a good representation of who I am.

“I cannot count my day complete, ’till fabric, thread, and needle meet”

Amanda

Filed Under: quilt