Tuffet Time!

I took a great 2-part tuffet class at the Portsmouth Fabric Company. It was taught by Kerin Ferrin, who is a certified Tuffet Instructor. I can't say enough nice things about Kerin. She was a wonderful instructor who was extremely good-natured and patient. She shared her wealth of knowledge and tips  on tuffet making with us. She made sure that everyone in the class was able to finish their project in the time allotted. And she's created more than 27 tuffets, so she knows her stuff! If you live in the Maine or New Hampshire area and you want to make a tuffet, definitely take a class with her.

Here is my beautiful tuffet. I am so pleased with it!

Here is a group shot of all the tuffets in my class. Everyone finished their project. As my Mom would say, "each one is prettier than the next!"

Another picture of my tuffet! All of the fabrics are from the Kaffe Fassett Collective.

Here is a close-up of my button. I fussy cut the fabric for the covered button in the center.

The tuffet is now in our living room, next to Mike's reading chair. LarryPug hasn't sat on it yet, but I expect to find him on top of it soon.

Thanks for visiting! Linking up on Friday to Crazy Mom Quilts, TGIFF, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Fabric Frenzy Friday, and Finished or Not Friday. Linking up on Tuesday to Freemotion by the River.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Sneak Preview

Hello Dear Blogging Friends,

Sometimes I just can not find the time to write. If I have a few minutes, I'd rather sew. Over the 4th of July weekend, I finished three tops.

This is a gift for a new baby cousin.

This is a gift for Martha, one of the receptionists at my vet's office.

This is an over-sized table runner or wall hanging. It will be a gift. Would you like it? First dibs to family members, so just speak up. Linda C.? Merry? Just send me an email and it will be yours.

More to come on these three projects.

Happy Monday! Thanks for visiting. Linking up on Friday to Crazy Mom Quilts.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Quilts for Pulse

On Saturday, Marion and I got together to make quilt blocks for the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild's drive to make quilts for the Pulse victims’ families and first responders. I'm sure that most have you have seen this somewhere already, but just in case you haven't, they are looking for 10 inch (finished) heart blocks with a light background in rainbow colors. You can use any pattern that you want. They have provided several in case you want something specific to refer to.

• Here is a link to a pieced block: http://cluckclucksew.com/…/making-heart-blocks-in-multiple-…
• Here is a link to a paper-pieced block: http://www.dontcallmebetsy.com/2016/06/quiltsforpulse.html
• Here is more information on the project: https://themodernquiltguild.wordpress.com/…/quiltsforpulse…/

I called upon my Brown Bagger quilting friends to join forces with me. I got an immediate response. You have to love those girls!

Here is Marion with her first finished block. This is the pattern in my first link above. It is super easy to make.

Although, it is possible to make it wrong if you are busy chatting with Marion and not paying attention! Fortunately I had more of the blue polka dot fabric and just made two more pieces!

On Saturday, Marion and I had completed 14 blocks.

On Sunday, at our monthly Brown Baggers meeting, Marion and I made another 16 blocks. Kim P.  made 6 and Lori made 2. We expect to collect more at our next meeting in August and I will assemble the quilt tops at our August weekend. We should definitely be able to contribute at least two quilt tops and I'm hoping for possibly more.

Linking up on Friday to Confessions of a Fabric Addict and WIPs Be Gone. Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Gifts for Julie and Jim

I made this over-sized lap quilt for my friend Julie at work. The photo looks kind of naked without my favorite model LarryPug on it.

Julie wanted her quilt to be lightweight, so I opted not to use any batting and put yummy leopard print minkee on the back for something soft to cuddle with.

There are lots of wonderful animal prints in Julie's quilt. I have collected them for years. Julie's favorite fabric is the tiger stripes.

This quilt was beautifully machine quilted by my friend Val who blogs at Val's Quilting Studio.

Check out my new leopard print sneakers!

I made this Star Trek fleece blanket for my friend Jim. Luckily LarryPug was available to model. Jim loves his new throw and is buying a new leather couch to go with it! That's the ultimate compliment!

Linking up on Tuesday to Freemotion by the River and Scraptastic Tuesday. Linking up on Wednesday to Let's Bee Social. Linking up on Friday to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, WIPs Be Gone, Finished or Not Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts, Fabric Frenzy Friday, and TGIFF. Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Counting My Coins with Val's Piggy Bank Challenge #3

Today was counting day for Val's annual Piggy Bank Challenge! This is Year 3, although it is my first year participating.

Here is Mr. Bear. Our challenge started last year. At first glance, my savings appear modest. But there were a lot of coins inside!

I am fortunate that Mike owns a coin sorter!

Here is my husband patiently teaching me how to use it, even though it is 10pm.

Here are my savings. Unfortunately, Mike did not have dime wrappers or quarter wrappers.

My grand total was $105.23! Guess what I'm doing with it? I'm going to send it to Val (hope she likes lots of spare change) and have her do some more machine quilting for me! I have three small quilt tops that I hope to finish and send to her by the end of this summer. She just did one for me, yet to be blogged, and she did a great job.

Linking up to Val's Piggy Bank Challenge. I'm definitely signing up again for Challenge #4. Won't you join me?

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

P.S. Val, if you're reading this, don't worry, just kidding, I'll send you a check!

Remnant Riot

I went to Joann Fabrics over the weekend for this:

Background fabric and one fat quarter

I want to make some heart blocks for the Orlando quilt project for Pulse so I needed some low volume background fabric. I had a package of polka dot fat quarters in my stash in rainbow colors but there wasn't any yellow (nor was there any red but I didn't realize that until I got back from my Joanns' trip), so that was my excuse. Everything was on sale, plus there was a 60% off coupon if you could find something in the store that wasn't on sale to use it on.

These fabrics jumped in my basket and demanded to go home with me. The remnants were an additional 50% off, so who was I to argue?

Yeah for more fabric! And I've got ideas for each of these little beauties...

There is an ancient quilting curse that you will have seven years of bad quilting luck if you leave behind any fabric that is 50% off! I didn't want to take any chances!

These fabrics were 40% off but I can always use more dog fabrics, especially in one of my favorite color combinations of black, white and red, and unbelievably I didn't have any grey zebra print.

A belated Happy 4th of July! Our friend Christine made us this delicious cheese and fruit flag.

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy