Tuesday, June 5, 2018

May 2018 Material Girls Idaho meeting held at Darla Birch's home.  Darla showed us many organizing tips and ideas for our sewing rooms and projects. These tidying and organizing tips were very inspirational. Thank you, Darla.

~~ organize patterns in binders in page protectors--put small patterns on a ring  ~~fold fabric over a ruler--this helps you know the dimensions of the piece along with a very good fold   ~~take a picture of your quilts,  print and label them in a photo album, this is a great method for documentation and remembering! Darla has taken a picture of every quilt she has made.  ~~use see thru plastic containers for thread keeping  ~~ *see more organizing tips below.

This squares quilt was made using the grid/iron on product that makes for accurate piecing without pinning. Iron the cut fabric squares on the "grided white interfacing stuff", then sew the seams. After sewing, all of the seams need to be cut. Put the quilt together as normal. When washed the white stuff dissolves and the quilt comes out soft.

This wool project was created by Rachel Lamm. It is a pattern by Buttermilk Basin: "by the month vintage truck stitchery".  The tin tray was purchased at Walmart $10 It can go on the wall or on a table. A few people expressed interest in getting a kit to make this project!
The above small quilt is one completed using the grid method that Darla showed several months ago and in the above yellow and blue quilt.
"Apron Strings" was made by Darla as a graduation quilt. It calls for 2 1/2 inch strips. She had it quilted with orange thread!
"Animal Selfies" was made by Darla!
We decided this quilt made by Darla should be called Darla's Starla's. The reds and grays in  this quilt bled. We advised Darla to wash it with 3 color catchers.
This baby quilt made by Diane Spackman is a kit from Connecting Threads, made with fabric from Crazy Mom Quilts: Mrytle and Emma.
"Pink Quick Brick" is a baby quilt made by Diane, also. The binding was made bringing backing fabric folded, to the front and stitched down. An expectant mother purchased this quilt for her baby girl.
This 3rd baby quilt is entitled "Tiny Fours" for the little 4 patches that make up this quilt. It was made by Diane from her scrap baskets. This quilt will be shipped to the Netherlands for a baby girl.
The above quilt is a graduation quilt made of the graduate's deceased dad's shirts. Diane and her sister, Karen made this quilt. The backing is flannel, which was folded and brought to the front for the binding also.
Jean Hancock made this Blue and Yellow scalloped edge quilt. The pattern is a free one called Sunshine garden by Robert Kaufman.

Jean also made this "Fidget" quilt to donate to an assisted living center. She used items purchased at the dollar store and from craft warehouse, which include beads, zippers, velcro, buckles, a cleaning mitt and a squishy corn on the cob toy.
This bag was made by Jean's friend.
Nancy Christensen made this bag for her neighbor. It is a "Missouri Star"
Nancy made this black, gray and turquoise quilt using the Go Cutter to cut the triangles.
This is the back of the triangle quilt.
Detail ~~
Jeanie Farnworth made this "Fidget" quilt.

Jeanie made these two scrappy "Tumbler" quilts using the Go Cutter. They are both backed with cuddle fabric.

Jeanie said applying the zigzag edge binding went well and was not difficult. These quilts are for Twins!

Jeri Moore made this Happy Flower bright quilt with a a red and white polka dot backing and binding.
This "Fidget" quilt was made by Cindy Anderson. Many different ideas.
Monica Campbell used a purchased cuddle blanket to back this Square In A Square quilt. It is a little heavier, but oh so soft and snuggly. Perfect for cold winter nights!
This courthouse steps quilt was made by Monica. She used red, gray, white and black Christmas fabrics from Robert Kaufman. The back is a gray flannel.
Darla is pictured here with a stack of over 20 quilts! She has been sewing A LOT! and plans to donate almost all of these quilts!

*More organizing tips:
~~use the thread holders that attached to the wall with pegs, placing spools of thread on each peg.
~~can made a ruler holder by using a piece of wood and cutting slits to make slots to hold the rulers
~~can attach a strip to the wall that has hooks on it to keep scissors, etc tools
~~make fabric baskets, each a different color, keep small scraps is each color coordinating basket. There are many ideas for making these baskets on pinterest, including free tutorials on how to construct them.
~~a label maker can be a game changer...use it for labeling all plastic containers, boxes, tins and baskets.
~~Wool storage in plastic bins with handles is a must...the shorter height, long bins can be stored under tables or a bed.

Thank You, Darla and Caren Beal for a yummy lunch of salads and homemade rolls!
See you all next month, Wednesday, June 27. Caren Beal is hosting with helper: Nancy F.
Upcoming Schedule: July 25th...hosting: Monica Campbell with helper: Diane S.
                                   August 29th...hosting: Jeanie Farnworth with helper: Lenette P.