Have a Haunting Halloween!

11 Comments / halloween, Personal Post / By Melissa Dunworth

Happy Halloween Everyone!

I thought I would share a few pictures from Anne’s Halloween photo shoot. We have been having her picture taken professionally every year since her first Halloween. This year was extra special because…I made her costume!!!

The dress pattern is the Gemini Jumper by Little Comet Tails, the hat is from Simplicity Pattern 2571. It is the hat in picture E.

I didn’t actually start out to dress her up as a witch, I started out to just make her a dress she could wear this month, but when she saw the dress she asked if it was her costume and I told her if she wanted it to be it could. She originally wanted to be a pumpkin but it totally made my day that she wanted to wear the dress I made her!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Product Review – Omnigrid Ruler Grip

17 Comments / product review / By Melissa Dunworth

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Today I have a product review for you, the Omnigrid Ruler Grip Double Suction Cup. I bought this for myself last week on Amazon. I didn’t plan on buying it but I placed an order for a new hepa filter for my vacuum cleaner and some special cleanser for my laminate floors and if you can believe it, I was $0.82 shy of free shipping!!! It was like Amazon was challenging me to find something that I just couldn’t live without! So I bought myself a new quilting tool.

I can’t tell you how happy I am that I bought this. As many of you know I have an autoimmune disease which causes me a great deal of pain in my hands and fingers. Recently it has also moved into my feet. Well I have to say this was a God send this weekend. I was able to cut for an hour straight with little to no pain. First time in 2 years!

Here’s how it looks coming out of the box (it does come wrapped in plastic but that didn’t photograph very well).

I placed it on my 12.5″ x 12.5″ ruler and got right to cutting. My 12.5″ ruler is the smallest ruler I could get it to fit on (and yes that is small, I have a 15″ x 15″ ruler and two rulers that are 6.5″ by 24″ – and this grip also fits on those).

As you can see in the top left picture the black levers are up, you need to press down on the handle to engage the suction cups and then push the levers into the down position (see upper right photo). Then you are ready to cut! What I like is that I don’t have to exert nearly as much pressure as I did without the grip. In fact I like it so much that I plan on buying the Single Suction Cup Grip for my smaller rulers (yes I have A LOT of rulers!).

I have to say that any quilting tool that is going to make quilting more pleasurable and less painful for me is a must have, and this product is a must have for me. I can’t remember the last time that I was able to do so much cutting in one sitting without regretting it the next day.

This is not a sponsored post, I decided to share my thoughts because I know I’m not the only one who struggles with the cutting aspects of quilting. As I find products that are helpful for my hands I will continue to share them with you.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival

17 Comments / baby quilt, quilt along / By Melissa Dunworth

Hello everyone! This is my first time participating in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival hosted by Amy from Amy’s Creative Side and I’m really excited. This past month I made a baby quilt for Anne’s (my daughter) God Mother. She is having her second baby, a son, in December. I offered to make her a baby quilt and she asked if I could also make a crib skirt to go with it. That was a first for me but luckily I found a great tutorial that was easy to follow for that!

I wanted to do something special and original for her, so using the fabrics she picked out I designed an “I Spy” quilt of sorts. I call it “Eyes Crossed Spied”.

Here it is before quilting – we live in Western Washington and I was never able to get a shot of the quilt after I quilted outside in natural lighting.

I took a picture in my daughter’s room of the crib skirt and the quilt. Keep in mind my daughter is almost 3, so I don’t have a full crib anymore to show off how adorable the crib skirt truly looks, but you definitely get the idea!

I had so much fun designing and making this quilt. I am actually planning on offering it as Quilt-A-Long in the new year.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : 60″x60″

Special techniques used : Partially Finished Seams

Quilted by : Myself

Best Category : Baby Quilt

Sponsor Highlight & Giveaway – Quilting Lodge

128 Comments / Quilting Lodge / By Melissa Dunworth

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I would like to welcome my newest sponsor Quilting Lodge. Quilting Lodge is run by a mother/daughter team Judy (mom) and Vicki (daughter). They sew, quilt, long arm quilt, and design patterns – Hello Talent! They are also working on bringing Vicki’s daughter Hannah into the creative fold. Vicki and Judy blog regularly about their sewing and quilting adventures at Quilting Lodge Blog. Make sure you check it out for quilting inspiration and to see the lovely fabrics that they carry in their store in action!

And speaking of their store, let’s talk about some of the beauties that they carry! Some of the newest and freshest lines including:

Cuzco by Kate Spain, hello beautiful!

Simply Color Layer Cake

And…they carry so much more than just fabric. They carry notions, books, patterns, etc .

Hex N More Ruler by Jaybird Quilts (something I’ve been playing around with lately)

They also carry a gorgeous selection of batiks, and many of you may not know this, but I have a secret love affair with batiks. My mom’s family is from Tahiti and I have watched my family there make batik fabrics and I just love the organic feeling of them.

Before I announce the giveaway, yes I am asking you read a little more…I just have to tell you about a recent weekly sale that Vicki and Judy have started. It is called “Frugal Fridays”. It is a weekly sale posted over on the Quilting Lodge Blog, you can read more about it here. And a word of advice, get there early! The sales posted on Frugal Fridays are first come first serve!

Now that you have read all about what a wonderful store Quilting Lodge is, I have an INCREDIBLY generous giveaway for one of my lucky readers!

A $50.00 gift certificate!

In addition to this generous giveaway they are also offering 20% off all orders now through the end of the giveaway on November 1st! Just enter the coupon code SEWSWEET20 at check out.

Please follow the directions for entering on the rafflecopter below and good luck to everyone. This giveaway will run through November 1st and 9pm Pacific.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hopeful Threads October Sewing

5 Comments / Hopeful Threads / By Melissa Dunworth

Hi Everyone, happy Thursday!

As you all know I have been an avid supporter of Kristy over at Hopeful Threads for some time now and whenever I can, I sew for her monthly projects.

This month the project is to sew items for diaper bags that are provided by Sew For Kids.

I decided to contribute receiving blankets. Anne and I went to JoAnns yesterday to pick out some yummy and cuddly flannel prints, Anne loves any time she gets to play with fabric!

I added 2 more fabrics from my stash and created these 4 lovely blankets. I hope they bring some new babies comfort and warmth.

What I love about sewing with Hopeful Threads is that it almost always lifts me out of whatever mood I am in. It reminds me of how, even when things feel bleak and awful, that I am so very fortunate because I CAN sew for someone else. Thank you Kristy for all that you do.

Are you sewing this month for Hopeful Threads?

Author name: Melissa Dunworth

A $50.00 gift certificate!