Technique: Using the digital camera when laying out your quilt design.

using a digital camera to help with placement of blocks and color values

Technique: using a digital camera to aid in layout arrangement and color value of your quilt top

Today at my quilting club at The Point on 3rd & Vine my friend Gwen was laying out her squares for the "Rag Quilt" she was making.  She had laid out her layered flannel 6" squares in a pleasing pattern and asked for me to check it out.  her layout looked good but I had my digital camera with me and remembered a tip a friend had given me about color values & layout arrangement using the camera to help me see it better.  So I did take a picture and showed it to Gwen.  we both noticed that the 2 squares in horizontal row 4 & 5 (third  vertical row from the right) seemed to be almost the same color value and give the top a white patch in that area.  So we switched the block placement and as you can see in the bottom photo was a more pleasing arrangement.  The camera on your cell phone would work just as well.

Have you tried this technique yourself?  Share your thoughts about it.

switching the blocks gives the layout a more pleasing arrangement.

My Custom Bundle of Fabric From My Stash

 

My Fabric Stash Bundle of fat quarters

Well Monday March 10th just passed and I created a new  - Custom Bundle of Fabric From My Stash using the color scheme Alyssa from Pile O' Fabric has created with fabrics from my Fabric Stash.  This is the 2nd bundle that I have created using fat quarters and fat eights .  What a great way to  organize my fabric bundles and threads.  On the back of the picture I wrote down the fabric name (If known) and Threads that I have to match.  I did not find red thread to match this bundle. 

all bundled up

Pile O' Fabrics stash share bundle

Glue Basting a great tutorial.

  

I have been glue basting my pieced projects for a while now learning the basics from  Cristy Fincher at purpledaisiesllc.com . Here is a great tutorial from Alyssa at Pile O' Fabric I wanted to share with you here.  You can even get a discount at Purple Daisies when ordering the tips/glue from their site. (use coupon code: Inspiring to get 15% off - Per Pile O' Fabric)

Spring Time Flowers Mug Rug Swap

The Spring Time Flowers Mug Rug Swap over at Michelle's Quilting Gallery and follow along on the Face Book Quilting Gallery Swaps Group 

Ive decided to join along on the Springtime Flowers Mug Rug Swap.  We just finished with the previous swap doing Olympic mug rugs and it was fun. So I am excited to start on these 2.  I do enjoy Patchworth Smith.

I Created My Custom Bundle of Fabric From My Stash - Easter Colors

Color Scheme from Pile O' Fabric's Stash Share

My Custom bundle of fabrics from my stash.

Did I tell you that I have decided to organize my fabric stash of fat Quarters so I created a custom bundle using the color scheme from Pile O' Fabric for this week. I love the color scheme for this week. Easter Colors, Dust Blue, Mustard, Regal, Violet, Tulip, and Rose.  I also gathered up matching threads.  The bright print is from Springs Industries "952 "Florence Allover", the dark tulip is a cotton I picked up at the West Virginia Quilt Shop last summer on my way to my cousin's wedding; the pink floral is Classic Cottons/FCI 1991 the three others were purchased in various Stores a while back so  I do not know were they are from.  I enjoyed playing with my fabrics although I had difficulty with my pink's since there were many shades.

My Bundle all tied up.

I was able to print out the color scheme on photo paper and after gathering my fabrics together I tied them together in a pretty bow and placed the picture under the bow.  Now to look at the other color schemes she has and make more custom bundles from my stash.   

"You Have My Heart"

A Mug Rug for my granddaughter's Birthday

Lately I have been doing a lot of  paper piecing and working on a series of Paper Pieced Hearts. The free Pattern is from Nancy Zieman's Blog and is so cute.  I have made several and plan to use them as gifts.  I call this project "You Have My Heart" and have already done several.and my 1st one has been already sent to my granddaughter Echo as a mug rug for her hot cocoa. I included a bow and a little doll with it.... too cute and I hope she enjoys it.  I had fun with the quilting on the 2 mug rugs I show below.  check out the closeup.  I was having so much fun with quilting the heart that before I knew it I had been sitting at my sewing machine almost an hour.  Since I am now 5 weeks post back surgery I find my endurance is returning and I am loving it.

I enjoyed the quilting I did with this heart

  I enjoyed piecing this heart mug rug but am not happy with my color choices.  Now to do sew more.  after I print out more sheets.