Card making time

 This year I thought I would make a few Christmas cards to send off with a letter inside. I didn’t send any last year so I wanted to put in a bit of effort this year. A lady from my quilt group made some beautiful cards for some birthdays and also did a tutorial. Sadly I was not able to attend. But, I am now able to get out a bit. A visit to her house was arranged for a quick lesson. 

On the way home I stopped to buy the base cards and envelopes.

At home I cut out enough to make 10 cards. 

Here they are stitched.

Now to get them in the post.

Back to Chandlers Cottage Advent sewing

 Last year (2024) my daughter bought me a great sew along Advent Calendar from Chandlers Cottage. As you know, my plans changed and I wasn’t able to work on them at the time. 

I choose to work on this project. Just a small one.

I have done cross stitch before but have never used this fabric stabiliser before. You don’t have to draw the design onto your fabric. Just count, stitch and pull the threads away when you are done.

And here it is all stitched.

Now to trim it and make it into the pin cushion.

Oops cut it wrong. I had stitched it in the correct orientation so I didn’t have to trim it small. Looks like I forgot and I followed the instructions to trim (shouldn’t have). Now I have made it square and not on point.

And sewn together.  Well it’s a lot smaller now. Finished at 2”.

 

Placemat # 46

 My friend was trimming her flowers back the other week before the most terrible windy day. I was lucky enough to get some. They are pretty.

After finishing the baby quilt top I made another placemat. Instead of putting the scraps into a tub I sewed them up.

#46 out of #50. I’m nearly there

And my friend brought me another bunch of flowers. They are nearly past their time but are a pretty colour. 

Baby quilt top is done

 I have been busy sewing the baby quilt top. 

After looking for a suitable backing I just went with what I had at home. I couldn’t find anything at spotlight suitable. This is what was from the kit. My daughter has lost one of the blocks so I had to make it up with the leftovers. This fabric wasn’t quite right but it will do. After all it is 17 years later since the quilt was started.

All the appliqué is ironed on. My daughter hand stitched the first block but I will do the rest by machine.

Here the top is finished. My daughter had only started sewing and her seams weren’t quite straight. I had to trim the blocks down by a bit to get them square so the borders had to be altered as well. I just made the corners different to fit. She hasn’t sewn since.

Not a good light in the shade

Or in the sun

You can see the difference in the background fabric but it is what it is. And a finished quilt is better than it ending up in the rubbish.

I have since basted it ready for quilting.

The POTATO CHIP block

Everyone is asking  “What is a potato Chip Block”.

Well I first saw it on Brenda’s YouTube when I was searching ideas for scraps.

https://youtu.be/-lyBtI2086I?si=fU0hFg74PjfWN3EU

She remembers a chip commercial that says “good luck eating just one” . 

So now she says “good luck just making one”.

There is a great 33 page booklet that is free.  You can get yours from HERE

As the title says, this is the basic design and colour layout. Lights and darks. Whether it be in a colourway or totally scrappy. 

I have chosen totally scrappy. Each piece is 2.5” * 4*5”.  It goes together like courthouse steps.

Here is my block done. It measures 12.5”. You can keep adding as many  rounds as you like. Some people have made full baby quilts and even larger by just continuing the rounds.

When I cut my blocks I store them in this box from Bunnings. The drawers are the perfect size.

A great way to use up all your scraps  and leftover bindings without thinking too hard. An easy one to do for leaders and Enders. You don’t even have to match seams.

I also found this site which explains a bit too.

https://inspiredquiltingbylealouise.com/best-potato-chip-block-secrets/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20Potato%20Chip,name%20the%20Potato%20Chip%20Block!

What is a Potato Chip Block

While this pattern goes back at least 100 years and has been published under different names, it continues to be a popular favorite. The current name is only a couple years old. The idea being that this quilt is so simple and quick to assemble, you can’t make just one. Hence, its name the Potato Chip Block!.

For everyone on Facebook go to Conquering Mount Scrapmore with Brenda and search for Potato Chip Block. You will get loads of ideas and pictures of so many great quilts.

 Apparently they are addictive.

Linking up with https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2025/11/scraphappy-saturday-tangents.html

Potato Chips and another placemat

I have joined a swap for potato chips. These measure 2.5” * 4.5”.

I had to cut out 200. Lucky I have a die for the go cutter. This made it quick.

So with the scraps I made another placemat.

That’s now # 45 out of 50 

Linking up with https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2025/11/scraphappy-saturday-tangents.html

Placemats, placemats and more placemats

 After finishing my Spring Fling mystery quilt I used up the scraps

I had plenty for the binding

 and made some placemats for Meals on Wheels.

This makes my tally 44 out of my 50 goal.

Linking up with Angela for Scrap Happy Saturday

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2025/11/scraphappy-saturday-wrapping-up-and.html

Another Quillow made

I wanted to make a quick gift for a special person. I had an idea for a quillow. Yep, you know, a quilt and pillow. I bought a jelly roll in Darwin from spotlight. It was a nice bright one. I had found some kids quilts I liked on Pinterest that gave me a basic idea of what I wanted. So I got started.

I stitched together 25 strips and cut strips from scraps of white tone on tones about 20”-25” long. Whatever the piece was I had. I also added in a strip of fabric and a strip of the backing from my race track quilt I just finished. Then staggered them next to each other.

This person loves beetle cars and combi’s. These remind me of the flower power era and the Partridge family bus. So I had some fun. 

A couple of years ago I was given a box of silky machine embroidery threads. I used them for the blanket stitch appliqué.

I crosshatched quilted on the coloured strips and free motioned flowers on the white.

I had the perfect backing in my stash I had bought cheap years ago.

There was enough to use them as the pocket too. Notice the VW  emblem. I added that to the combi on the front. 

It worked out beautiful and so colourful.

Measures 50” * 60”. 

 

Tilda Nantucket zippered pouch.

 My quilt group had a tutorial night making a zippered pouch.

I am using my left over Tilda fabric that I purchased in Humpty Doo.

I even had an old zip to match.

My squares are sewn together and I’m big stitch quilting it.

And I now have a cute boxed pouch.

It is a good size too.

The pattern is free from MODA. 

But you can also watch a video HERE on YouTube.