Happy Zombie

I love, love, love those plastic webbed lawn chairs. Even that creaking aluminum sound they make, I love. When I was a kid, we belonged to the Orinda Park Pool - every day of our summers were spent here.  My mom and her friends had super cool low-rider lawn chairs, and would sit in the sun and play gin rummy and bridge on the lawn.  This was in the pre-melanoma and pre-mom’s-had-to-go-to-work era.  Priceless childhood memories.   (in the “1960’s Stingers” [color] photo… that’s me, 4th on the left in the front - the one fiddling with her bathing cap - twas the height of the Pixie cut era!)

Oh for the love of lawn chairs, quilts and Moda… I have a Lawn Chair quilt tutorial at the Moda Bakeshop.  One Jelly Roll of MoMo’s It’s a Hoot (I’m so madly in love with this line!!!) and two Jelly Rolls of Moda Bella solids will make TWO 48″ x 75″ lap size quilts (or one 75″ x 96″ quilt).

I started playing around with a Honey Bun (1½” wide strips roll) of Urban Chick’s Sweet (one of my all time fave lines… along with Swell… hoping the Urban Chicks are working on a Savory for me next!!) - and putting the solid in the center.

I’m still in playing mode (which is one of my favorite modes) - and adjustments in the measurements have to be made for the 1½” striping - cutting the 3-piece units into 3½” x 3½”, 3½” x 6½” and 2″ x 3½ units.  I don’t know yet what I’m going to make… or what my finished size will be… I’ll probably figure it all out (and post it) when I finish what I started next week month year.

I secretly refer to the Lawn Chair quilt as the UPS quilt.   Last July, during a freak NW Oregon heat spell - Violet made a tweet the about the heat and her UPS man JUST as I had finished making the Lawn Chair quilts.  I will forever think of Violet (and Melissa too!) and a hunky hot UPS man when I think of this quilt.

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One last Olympic/Vancouverage mention. TWO actually. First… I can’t thank everyone enough for all the kind and enthusiastic comments on my Vancouver post!  I wanted to email everyone back and thank them, but I messed up my in-box juggling between my laptop and my desktop (a common occurrence in my little corner of chaos).  A special thank you to my Canadian commenters… THANK YOU and I was so deeply touched!

Second.  Did anyone else drink the Curling Kool-aid?   I went nuts over it.   NUTS I tell you… NUTS!  I even found myself shouting “hard hard hard hard…” as I was Swiffering my kitchen the other day.   There’s just something about curling that appeals to me so much.

1. There’s strategy (though I prefer strategery).
2. There’s skill and teamwork involved.
3. You get to play with friends and chit-chat while playing.
4. You get to yell things like “hard, hard, hard, hard…”.
5. Dazzling team uniforms!!!

I got swept up in the Norwegian Men’s Curling team pants… The Pants. Who knew obnoxious golf pants could be cool!

Photo credit: Associated Press/Yahoo Sports

I decided I wanted a piece of the Loudmouth pie - and made a Norwegian Curling Pants Market Bag. I used my Better Homes & Gardens - Quilts and More Fall 2008 “To Market, To Market” bag pattern (page 50 if you have the issue) with a few minor modifications.

The To Market, To Market pattern is available online free at BHG’s All People Quilt. I don’t know if you have to sign up to be a member first… but you’ll want to be a member anyway!

I used Moda’s new Minick & Simpson’s Bar Harbor layer cake “slices” to make my outer bag as well as the liner. I used some yardage from my stash for the casing and strap - which just so happened was some Minick & Simpson Prairie Paisley.  Who knew Laurie and Polly’s Americana could also be so Norwegian-ishy…  Norwegiacana…  Norde-cana.

Grab the pattern/instructions at BH&G’s All People Quilt here.
Modify the 19″ x 15″ x 5″ bag pattern instructions to make a 20″ x 16″x 5″ bag.

+-+-+-+-+-+- Modifications are in bold.-+-+-+-+-+-+
Casings
ORIGINAL:
From blue polka dot, cut:
2) 3½ x 39½” strips

MODIFICATION:
From tan print, cut:
2) 3½ x 41½” strips
—————-
Strap
ORIG:
From brown print, cut:
2) 3 x 26½” strips

MOD:
From tan print, cut:
1) 3½ x 42″ strip
—————-
Outer Bag
ORIG:
From red print, cut:
2) 20½” squares

MOD:
Follow materials needed, cutting and piecing
directions below to make two 21½” quilted bag units.
—————-
Liner
ORIG:
From muslin, cut:
2) 20½” squares

MOD:
Follow materials needed, cutting and piecing
directions below to make two 21½” liner units.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

MATERIALS:
6 RED PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for bag)
7 BLUE PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for bag)
8 TAN PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for bag)
10 ASSORTED PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for liner)
⅜ yard WHITE SOLID
½ yard TAN PRINT
25 x 25″ BATTING (I used Warm & White)

CUTTING:
From 6 RED PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares, cut:
24) 3½” squares

From 7 BLUE PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares, cut:
26) 3½” squares

From 8 TAN PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares, cut:
16) 3½” squares
8) 3⅞” squares - cut diagonally once
1) 4¼” square - cut diagonally twice

From ⅜ yard WHITE SOLID, cut:
16) 3½” squares
8) 3⅞” squares - cut diagonally once
1) 4¼” square - cut diagonally twice

ASSEMBLY:
Assemble pieces as per illustration to make outer bag unit.  Make 2.

I quilted in-the-ditch directly on to my batting (with no backing), and then trimmed off excess batting.

LINING
Cut:
8) 10″ squares
8) 10″ x 2½” strips
2) 2½ squares from left over scraps
Make 2 “9-patch” units (as per photo).

A modification from the original pattern, I made the strap shorter so it’s “invisible” and tucked in quietly inside the casing. Just enough room from grabbing as you fill your bag.

Uff da!

I’ve been having so much fun lately - talking my Rock-star friend Tammy into having the best ever lunch with me (and she said YES!), or hanging out on my twitter (how else would I know what Super-woman Camille plans on wearing at Market), or my daily yimmer yammers with Super-star PamKittyMorning…. that I actually MADE SOMETHING.

Yup.
I did.
I made something.
A little Valentine-ish “Choc-O-Cherry” table runner for the Moda Bake Shop.

One pack of Turnovers is all you need to make the runner. And in the blink of an eye, a bee flew up my butt - and I started thinking about what could be done with more turnovers. So I whipped out my trusty and magical Adobe sewing machine - and I went right to work.

Two packages of Turnovers = 4 x 5 block grid, 32″ x 40″ finished quilt.

Three packages of Turnovers = 5 x 6 block grid, 40″ x 48″ finished quilt.

Seven packages of Turnovers = 7 x 10 block grid, 56″ x 80″ finished quilt.

Ahh… if only it was as fast to make projects on a real sewing machine as it is in Photoshop. Just thinking about ALT + Click + Drag on some fabric… and POOF, I just doubled my inventory. Tripled. Quadrupled! I’d have a Costco sized stash before I knew it.

December 8th… how did that happen? So here’s the thing. I was going to do a tutorial for a fun little holiday project. I even got the PDF template made. No, seriously. And then all of a sudden… it’s December 8th.

So as if by design and being organized… I’m totally prepared now for Christmas 2010 (mmm hmm). So in the spirit of re-gifting… I’m re-projecting.  Re-project Runway.  Something fun to put under your Christmas tree, Hanukkah bush or Festivas pole. Or in my case - since Kohl’s shipped me the wrong tree… something for under my old skinny tree (aka MaryKate-mas tree).

Re-project from 2008 - Pennie Pockets:

I’ll do just about anything to create an opportunity for some ding-dong-ditchin’… and that’s how the Pennie Pockets came to be.   A crime craft of opportunity. Two versions/two ways to make the Pennie Pockets - a PDF on my blog, or a tutorial version at the Moda Bake Shop using Layer Cakes. You should see what my pal Thimbleanna made!

Re-project from 2007 - Jingle Jolly Table Runner:
I’m a charms nut. Love, love, love charms… so I got my jollies making this little table runner.  The little Jingle Jolly finishes at 16” x 40”.  The PDF pattern and the Post of Christmas Past can be found here.

I hope you enjoy (or re-enjoy). Happy Re-holidays!

There’s only one thing more fun then being in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks issue… and that’s being featured with lots of friends and rock-star quilters - and I’m so honored to be amongst them!   I kind of fudged a little… I’m using the alternate cover image that features Camille, Laurie, Elizabeth, Pat, Pam and me AND ME!

You can follow along on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour, and even have a chance to win prizes and an issue. Tomorrow (9/13) is my day on the tour, so leave me a comment - and for jollies tell me your favorite 2-color combo. Or tell me whatcha makin’ for dinner.  I’ll draw a name from all the entries posted by 12:01am PST Nov. 14th, 2009 (that’s right, mmmm-hmmmm… I’m not messin’ around with Friday the 13th), and the winner will be sent a copy from the nice folks at Quiltmaker.  It’ll be so fresh off the press you’ll be able to sniff it like a ditto.

Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block (#90) and my block (#89) use the same fabrics (Sweet, by our pals the Urban Chicks)? Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block and my block are great companion blocks and look Sew Happy Together?

Only time will tell.  It’s very possible we’ve been cookin’ somethin’ up.
Yup.
It’s possible.

Howard Marcus’ Collection for a Cause Collections for a Cause - Legacy by Moda

I had so much fun with making my Poochie Bag pattern… I decided I’d make some Itty Bitty Poochie Bags too.  Pee wee fun size bags.

Itty bitty Trick-or-Treat bags filled with treats.  H’ween fabric used is from my stash cupboard - it must be 5+ years old and I have no idea who/what it is.

Originally I was going to call them Poochie Bagettes… but my mind thinks in food - and it looked like “baguette” - and all I wanted to do was stuff the bags with feta, basil, balsamic vinegar and tomato slices.  Thanks to Jenny for helping me with the name.  Messy food crisis averted.

While I was sewing my Itty Bitty’s… I had a visitor just outside my window.  This is Frank.

Frank alerted Frosty and Heidi that I was on to them.

Side-show over, back to sewing.  Giving the Itty Bitty’s some “pooch” is easy.  Just pin up the bottom corners - and tack with a few hidden stitches.

Ready to be filled. And not just for kids! The Itty Bitty’s interior measures at about 4½” square (4″comfortably).  What to put inside… any treat filling ideas?

I have a tutorial at the Moda Bakeshop for the Itty Bitty’s.  I’ve used Moda Layer Cake sheets of American Jane’s Happy Campers and fabric ribbon to make the Itty Bitty’s.  Very yummy harvesty vintageishy looking fabric - I just love it.

My favorite thing about the Itty Bitty’s… they’re the carrier for Ding-Dong-Ditch.

Edited in:
GASP! Look at Kimberly’s Itty Bitty’s! So darn cute - she’s a fabric whisperer!

Hi.
My name is Monica,
and I’m not going to Market.
I am a card carrying member of the NonMarketGoing Society.

Allegedly all the cool kids will be at Market.  Turns out… THE EVEN COOLER KIDS are NOT going to Market - and instead are coming to my NMG Potluck & Slumber Party… and then after a hearty breakfast of my German pancakes - we’ll head over to Amy’s and join in on her Blogger’s Quilt Festival.

Quilt Market, Quilt Schmarket. We’ll show THEM!

NMG Potluck & Slumber Party
+ Bring a pillow, jammies & a quilt (we’ll be making tents in my living room)
+ Bring a dish to share (hoping Candace brings her Crockpot Nachos and Camille brings Route 44’s - yes, I schmooze for food)
+ Post your NMG dish’s recipe on your blog
+ Grab a KPKM button and put it on your blog (sorry, I can’t help with any tech support)
+ Enter your NMG post’s url into Pam’s Mr. Linky and be sure to title it with an “NMG” (because that’s what cool kids do)

While I’m at home (and causing a wee bit-o-mischief), my “Baby Happy” quilt will be on display in the Lecien booth at Market.  Baby Happy is one of two quilts from my “Two Happy” pattern for Lecien, featuring Lecien’s ADORABLE new “Old New Fabric Collection 30’s” fabric (ONFC30 for short).  Best of all… it’s FAT QUARTER FRIENDLY.  Just doin’ my part to make those chubby lil’ 18″ x 22″ cuts feel loved.

One pattern. Two Quilts. One for Momma, one for Baby. This free for download pattern is available here.

Since I’m hosting the NMG Potluck & Slumber Party… I get a recipe pass, right? Besides - my recipe box only holds take-out menus. But I will be making this from the kitchen of April Cornell.  Numnumnummy!

Ok, I’m off to buy some ala mode.  See you at the party!

Wanting an outdoor shot for my latest Moda Bake Shop project, my plan was to finish my quilt and then snap a shot later for a banner. And then it happened. The sun came out to play. Occasionally it stops raining in Oregon.  And when it does… I have to grab my stuff, my camera… and shoot fast.  No time for quilting and binding, dangit… the sun is out.
The SUN is OUT.
太陽は外である!
Il sole è fuori!!!!!
¡El sol está afuera!
Le soleil est dehors!
THE. SUN. IS. OUT!!!
Die Sonne ist draußen!
- …. .   … ..- -.   .. …   — ..- -
I love writing in swoosh formation.

On my back porch… my dogs/cats are mystified at what I’m up to as they watch from behind the sliding glass door. They are jealous they never get to play with my cloth apples. They watched as I made them last winter - certain I was making toys for them.

Of course it would be wrong, wrong, wrong to post these pics on MBS since the apples are made from my scarps and not Moda pre-cuts. But I don’t want my sunshine and super sat-n-happy colors to go to waste, either.   So I will plant them here on my blog.  If you check out my 9-patchtastic project at MBS… you never saw these apples, k.

This easy 9-patch method makes for a perfect retreat or group project. Less thinkie - more talkie, more snackie, more laughie. Any size square of fabric can be used, as long as you trim up your square so that it can be divided equally into thirds. Example:
17¼” square ÷ 3 = 5¾” (finished 9-patch = 15¾”)
9″ square ÷ 3 = 3″ (finished 9-patch = 7½”)
7½” square ÷ 3 = 2½” (finished 9-patch = 6″)

And then it went back to rain.
And they lived happily ever after.
Wet.
But happy.

Edited in 4/4/09: Thanks for the nice comments and emails about the apples. I wish I had a pattern for those asking for one, but I have none (yet!). I just whipped the apples up with no thought or notes. Kinda like when I bake - I have no idea how much flour, butter and sugar I used either. Gulp.