Thursday, July 31, 2014

Throw Back Thursday Quilt

Pictured below is my TBT - Throw Back Thursday quilt.  I made this quilt for my husband shortly after he bought a 1967 Volkswagen Bus.  My inspiration was that I wasn't too sure he would always make it from point A to point B and just in case he got stuck somewhere and it was cold - he could use this quilt.  He loved it so much that the quilt never actually made it into the bus, but rather it's used on the couch.

It went together very simply.  Each block is pieced to have a driving surface for the wheels and a background like the sky or water.  Each bus is appliqued onto the block, then embellished with buttons for hubcaps.

I loved the fabric gathering stage of this quilt - it was so fun to personalize each bus.

For the quilting, I worked with a quilt designer to come up with a quilt design that I could use on my long arm that had 1960's elements.  It was perfect!  I quilted each block with that design, then used a simple wave in the sashings and a gecko design in the border.



#volkswagenbus #quilt #lovequilting #throwbackthursday



Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com

http://www.lovequilting.com/
 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

What is your Color?



I love color.  Color is considered a form of non verbal communication.  There is a psychology of color which predicts your personality based on the color you’re drawn to.  Of course, the meaning of each color can vary by culture.  Color can even be powerful enough to alter your current mood. 

In quilting, we often refer to the color wheel to help find complimentary and contrasting color.  We also very often talk about value, which refers to shades of color, and the importance of having a balance of light, medium and dark.

Some colors have been grouped into “warm” and “cool” colors and then there are the neutrals or the “weak” colors.  And of course, each of these groups have varying shades.  The placement of color and value can add dimension and movement to a project.  The same project made in warm colors can look completely different than one made in cool colors.  Reversing the placement of lights and darks can also create a totally different look.

Using one of my very favorite blocks, below are some examples of a 6 x 6 layout of Storm at Sea in warm and cool colors.  The Storm at Sea block creates such exciting movement.  As you can see from these examples, the use of various colors and the placement of lights and darks can create completely different looks. 

http://www.lovequilting.com/product-category/fabric/whats-on-sale/



As we head into the second half of summer, which, where I live, is always the hotter part of summer, I’m focusing on the warm colors – red, orange and yellow and all the shades in between.  All warm color fabrics are on sale this week.  Here are our top picks for “warm color” projects.

http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-hoffman-patterns/flavalicious/


http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/bagspurses/fiji-tote/




http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/patterns/sparks-table-runner/


#fabric #warmcolors #fabricsale #color #lovequilting

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com!

http://www.lovequilting.com/
 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Free Tutorial Tuesday

Today is Tuesday, so today's free tutorial is for a zipper snack bag.  This bag is great for taking snacks along on those long car rides, especially as we take summer road trips!  I made one for each of my kids so there would be no fighting, not to mention that each one likes their own particular snack.

The other benefit to the zippered snack bag is that it is environmentally friendly.  Prior to making this bag, I would put snacks in zip loc plastic bags and thrown them away when we were done.  With a fabric snack bag, it is certainly washable and therefore, stays out of the landfill.

Be sure to check the accessories category on the website for a great price on zippers!

http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-lovequilting-com-exclusive/snack-bag/


Make one today!
 
#snackbag #fabric #zipperedbag #lovequilting #freetutorial

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com

http://www.lovequilting.com/

 

Monday, July 28, 2014

Ladies Tea

There is only one day left for all Loralie Design fabrics on sale.  This includes one of her newest collections, Ladies Tea.  Ladies Tea features a panel and coordinates with the charming, and oh so whimsical ladies, this time dressed for tea!  What cup size are you?  Why, tea cup size, of course!

Who can resist these fabulous ladies and their tea attire and accessories.  And the coordinates are so fun too!





Shop now and save!!!

#fabricsale #quilting #quiltfabric #loralie #tea

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com

http://www.lovequilting.com/
 

Friday, July 25, 2014

Friday Funnies

Comic Con in San Diego is this weekend.  It sounds like such a blast!  So, in honor of Comic Con, today's Friday Funny is Captain Jean Luc Picard.





I always loved when he would tell Number One to "make it so", and I surely wouldn't mind if he came into my sewing room and told me to "make it sew"!!!

Happy sewing and happy Friday!

#comiccon #sewing #lovequilting

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com

http://www.lovequilting.com/
 

Thursday, July 24, 2014

All Loralie Fabric ON SALE!!!

All Loralie Fabric, from her fun whimsical panels to all the coordinates that accent the panels, or very boldly stand on their own with your other creations - are ON SALE!!!

This is a great time to stock up on bright blenders such as dinky dots, quirky stripes and beaded curtains, just to name a few!  Who could resist fabric with such original and playful names?

There are so many more - check them out by clicking here 
http://www.lovequilting.com/product-category/fabric/whats-on-sale/

Start following Quilting by the Beach on Bloglovin:

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12617513/?claim=4wjbnjmkhpd">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com


#quilt #quilting #loraliefabric #bloglovin #fabriconsale
 

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Wise Words Wednesday

This week's wise words were inspired from a recent sewing experience, which we have all probably experienced at one time or another.  I started sewing 2 pieces of fabric together and the fabric was being pushed into the needle plate hole instead of feeding nicely under the needle and out the back.

A few quilts back, I had cut a few too many 3-1/2" squares.  Not enough to make another project, but a few.  I've left them sitting beside my machine so they are handy if I want to try out a decorative stitch or stitch a sample buttonhole.  

Well, I just recently figured out, they make a great starter piece to whatever I'm sewing.  Since I feed this scrap under the needle, not necessarily at the edge, it doesn't get stuck and pushed into the needle plate hole.  Once my scrap is past the needle, I place my "to be sewed" piece in front of the needle and away it sews!

So, I've started keeping all the small pieces that are left over from cutting out a project and leaving a small scrap pile along side my sewing machine.

#fabric #sewing #sewingmachine

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Free Tutorial Tuesday - Small Zippered Bag

Happy Tuesday!  Today's tutorial is for a small zippered bag.  The inspiration for this project came from a visit to Disneyland in which I didn't want to be burdened with a purse, but yet I needed to have some essentials.  Money, credit card, license, keys, cel phone and hand sanitizer.  

This small zippered bag accommodates all of that and I still have room for a pony tail holder, a couple of band aids and any other incidental that comes up.  In an effort to stay organized, I put 2 pockets inside the bag, one is sized to hold a cel phone similar to an iphone 5 and the other is sized to hold credit cards/driver's license.  There is also an optional strap on this bag which serves as a handle or allows the bag to hang on my wrist.

I love this useful, functional bag and have made several others as gifts or for various other uses.  Enjoy this pattern and I would love to see pictures of your small zippered bags!

http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-lovequilting-com-exclusive/small-zippered-bag/



#zipperedbag #disneyland #sewing #fabric

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com
 

Monday, July 21, 2014

Woodsy Winter Collection Just In

Christmas fabrics have begun to arrive in the shop and they are oh so elegant!  The Woodsy Winter collection is just one of them and I think it's my favorite.  It looks like snow falling with silver metallic highlights.  With the upcoming heat wave this week, it makes me feel cooler just looking at it!

http://www.lovequilting.com/product-category/fabric/?filtering=1&filter_theme=194

These fabrics would coordinate well with others but they are definately rich and bold enough to stand on their own.

Here is a free pattern from Hoffman Fabrics featuring the Woodsy Winter collection.

http://www.lovequilting.com/product-category/patterns/free-quilt-patterns/free-hoffman-patterns/


#fabric, #christmas, #freeproject, #woodsywinter, #quilting

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com
 

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Final 2 Sale Days

All beach/nautical fabric is on sale for only 2 more days!  Get it while it's hot!!!

Get those summer projects started - a beach bag, a summer purse, a table runner, a cool neck tie.  Check out www.lovequilting.com for some great ideas!

Shop Now!







#fabric, #beach, #fabricsale, #quilting

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com
 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Friday Funnies

Friday Funnies July 18, 2014

Such dedication!!!





#quilting, #tanlines, #dedication, #fabric

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com!
 

Thursday, July 17, 2014



I am so lucky to have a

Quilt Buddy!


We spend at least one evening a week together in her sewing room.  We don’t necessarily have the same taste, but we certainly help each other with suggestions or figuring out instructions.  We both belong to several online discussion groups and whenever a topic is really hot, we sometimes decide to try the particular technique or project together.  Working with a friend on a collaborative project is

Sew Much Fun!

#quiltbuddy, #quilting, #quilt, #fun

Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com
 

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Zipper Frenzy!

There's a zipper frenzy at www.lovequilting.com!  We have a variety of sizes and colors.  The shorter zippers are only $1 and the longer zips are only $2. #zipper

http://www.lovequilting.com/product-category/accessories/


As you start to plan your holiday projects, consider a zippered bag or purse.  There are so many great patterns available.  Here's some of my favorites: #zipperedbag










 
#fabric, #quilting
 
Do what you love - love what you do - Lovequilting.com
  
 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Free Project Tuesday

Who doesn't love a free project idea?  Today I'm sharing with you a tutorial for a laundry bag with french seams.  The french seams help to eliminate the raveling that occurs from washing.  It's nice to know that you can wash your fabric laundry bag and not have all those pesky threads getting tangled in your socks!

If you know someone with an upcoming vacation or someone going to camp or even someone that will be going away to college next month, this is a great gift.  It goes together quickly and easily.

Click here for the free pattern download.  Below is a picture of the 2 laundry bags I made for my recent vacation - they worked out wonderfully!

http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-lovequilting-com-exclusive/laundry-bag/

Do what you love - Love what you do - Lovequilting.com!
 

Sunday, July 13, 2014

I’m just back from vacation in New York City with my daughter, celebrating her birthday. We enjoyed fabulous food, wonderful theater and created lifetime memories. While there, we took a tour of the garment district which included a visit to some fabric shops and embellishment/accessory shops. I came home very inspired to get back to my sewing machine.


We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet up with my aunt for dinner one evening. She was carrying this cheesy bag that contained a jacket and a change of shoes. I told her I was going to have to make her a bag and she said what she really wants is a string backpack. I started taking notice of these “string backpacks” as we rode the subway and I studied them, thinking about how to re-create this.


Stay tuned as I focus on constructing a string backpack. I will post instructions and pictures when it’s complete.


Thanks to my wonderful staff who took care of all orders in my absence!


New in the shop are fresh fun colors of Hoffman Watercolor Batiks! Who can resist such luscious fabrics named as Creamsicle and Strawberry Daiquiri?!


Watercolors

Here are a couple of quilt patterns that we found that would be perfect to showcase the Watercolor Batiks. We have over 50 wonderful shades of Watercolors in stock as well as over 80 coordinating batik prints.

Its Electrifying Jewel of the Nile


Shop Now:  www.lovequilting.com


Do what you love – love what you do – lovequilting.com!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Beach/Nautical Fabric on Sale!

Check out the fabulous beach/nautical fabric collections at www.lovequilting.com.

All beach/nautical fabric is on sale!!!

It's going fast - check it out!






 


Do what you love - love what you do - lovequilting.com

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Independence Day

Happy Birthday America!  And happy birthday to my Sweet 16 teenager!!!  It’s a party week!  My daughter and I are headed to New York City to celebrate her birthday.  The rest of the staff at Lovequilting.com is taking care of the shop and they’re having a party too – a beach party!  All beach/nautical fabric is on sale.  As the summer heats up, our thoughts turn to the beach and all the wonderful projects we can create with beach themed fabric.

New England Clambake Table Runner – perfect for your summer table or as a gift when attending a BBQ.
New-England-Clam-Bake-Table-Runnerhttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/kits/new-england-clam-bake-table-runner/
Weekend Retreat Panel Project (free)
weekend-retreathttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-henry-glass-patterns/weekend-retreat-panel-pattern/
Poseidons Adventure (free)
Poseidons Adventurehttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-benartex-patterns/poseidons-adventure/
Ocean frolic

Ocean Frolic

For a smaller, quicker project, our die cut kits can be made into summer pillows or table runners.
Dancing dolphins
Dancing-Dolphins-at-Sunrisehttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/kits/dancing-dolphins-at-sunrise/
    Dancing-Dolphins-at-Sunsethttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/kits/dancing-dolphins-at-sunset/

Customize one of our fabulous tote patterns for carrying your stuff to the beach in style:
Seashore Totehttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/bagspurses/seashore-tote/
The Bonnie Baghttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/bagspurses/the-bonnie-bag/

We have some wonderful new batiks in the shop this week!  These batiks are bold and rich in color.  Perfect for your modern projects, as coordinates, backgrounds or blenders.  Here are some of our favorite modern projects.
Watermelon-Shufflehttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-hoffman-patterns/watermelon-shuffle-quilt-pattern/
Winter Peakshttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/free-hoffman-patterns/winter-peaks/
Urban-Cabinhttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/patterns/urban-cabin/
Back-to-Square-Onehttp://www.lovequilting.com/shop/patterns/back-to-square-one/

Click here to see our newest fabrics.

Do what you love – love what you do – lovequilting.com!

Golf Quilt

As my dad continues to recover from his 3 surgeries in the rehab facility, he mentioned to me that he's cold.  Even though it's summer, he spends most of his time there sitting in a wheel chair and considering the lack of activity and moving around, the air conditioning is making him cold.

Soooo, Nancy to the rescue!  What a great opportunity to make a quilt!!!

I went through the piles of my mom's fabric and found a great collection of golf themed fabric.  One of the pieces must have been a panel at one time, or intended as pillows or something.  All that was left of that piece was one large square with a golf scene which I used as the focal point of my quilt.

My desired size, after doing some research for quilts for people in wheel chairs, was 36" x 36".  A row of flying geese around the central block seemed appropriate, as I remember my dad talking about geese on the golf course back when he golfed.  Then I added a border and that brought me to my desired finished size.  Easy peazy!


I brought it into my longarm room and found the perfect golf themed quilt design containing golf bags, flags, tees, etc.  I used wool batting and flannel for the back, then put a wide flannel binding on it.

 



I'll see dad on Sunday - I think he's going to love it!

Do what you love - love what you do - lovequilting.com

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Cool Yourself Down Tie

The summer is heating up.  The forecast is for a sweltering summer ahead.

For all those outdoor activities that we love to participate in, like a visit to the county fair, baseball games, soccer games, gardening, or exercising it's easy to get overheated by the extreme temperatures.  How about a Cool Yourself Down Tie?

These cool ties contain a water absorbing crystal that remain moist for days at a time.  Resting one of these ties on the neck helps bring down body temperature.  They can be re-moistened as needed, stored in the fridge for extra coolness, or when done, they dry to their original size for easy storage.



Free pattern download available on www.lovequilting.com.

Watersorb crystals also available at www.lovequilting.com.

http://www.lovequilting.com/shop/accessories/watersorb-crystals/



Do what you love - love what you do - lovequilting.com!