Wednesday, September 28

I have a problem


I have a problem. Some call it being frugal or economical. Some call it being a hoarder. Blame it on my Dutch heritage - I'm cheap, I don't throw anything out. But if you ain't Dutch, you ain't much. Long story short, I found myself with an incredible supply of tiny Loulouthi scraps left from Spring Quilt Market sewing. So I collected them all and started sewing them together.

Then we moved into our new house, my sewing fell by the wayside while I painted my new workspace, and the bits and pieces were left waiting rather impatiently.

Good news folks! My sewing desk is set up, not in it's permanent area and it needs a paint touch-up, but I'm sewing again. Which means all those bits finally got picked back up and I finished the last of 25 blocks last night.


Wanna know how I did it? It's a lot of fun, and a really great project for all those tiny chunks of your favorite fabric.

I started by sorting my scraps into sizes - crumbs, chunks, and legitimate pieces.


Then I just stitched the crumbs together, two by two, until I had a bunch, which I then started sewing to each other. This is a great excuse to do some major chain piecing!



Add more pieces as your work them, trimming to get a straight edge for the next piece.

 

I didn't think too much about the fabrics I was adding, just tried to make sure I had a good mix of patterns & colors.


As my chunks of crumbs got bigger, I started taking pieces from the other piles to grow them into 6" square blocks.


I did this a couple ways - a round-about log cabin style of adding strips around each side, and sewing chunks together.

This sometimes meant chopping off larger sections to get a square edge - but don't fear, just sew that into another block!


There is no planning in these blocks, creating lots of crazy angles and tiny pieces. Just keep sewing everything together - it's very relaxing!

(and you will make a basketful of the prettiest trash ever.)

I ended up with 25 blocks, all 6" square. I'm not sure what kind of layout I will do with them yet. I've considered sashing them, checker boarding them, or just piecing them randomly with neutral fabric to make a hodgepodge quilt in the spirit of the blocks.


I LOVE these fabrics and would like to make this a quilt big enough to enjoy myself. If that's not possible, I might turn it into a baby quilt for a future Lil' Anderson. (Future as in, I don't know when in the future .. no, I am not pregnant .. putting that disclosure in there because I know my family will ask.) I think it would make an amazing focal point for an otherwise subdued nursery.


Either way, I am happy to say my Loulouthi scrap pile has greatly decreased. And although my hubby hates multicolored quilts, he commended me on using only scraps to construct the blocks (aka "Thanks for not buying more fabric honey.")


Go forth and use up those scraps people! But before you do, please enter my giveaway. It's a nice thing to have in your back pocket. Happy Hump Day!

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Friday, September 23

My Memories Suite Giveaway!


Happy Friday everyone! I am so excited to offer you all a chance to win some really cool scrapbooking software from My Memories. They gave me a copy of their My Memories Suite to try out and are giving away another copy to one lucky winner! I'll tell you more about how to win at the end of the post, but for now, let's chat about the My Memories Suite software :)


When you purchase the scrapbooking software, you have the option to download it immediately or receive a physical copy via snail mail. Once installed, you have everything you need to start digital scrapbooking, right there on your computer. The possibilities are endless: pages, entire books, calendars, cards, posters ... you can do just about anything with the My Memories Suite. Here's a little page I made: 


The software comes with plenty of backgrounds and extra embellishments, but my favorite thing about My Memories is the hundreds of other kits, backgrounds, and elements they have online to download. There are free downloads, paid downloads, and tons of great stuff on sale! Check out the cute options for fall scrapbooking, adorable girlie kits, and don't forget the holidays are right around the corner! I know my family would love the camping and beach kits to document how they spent their summer :) 

The kits contain literally everything you need to make whole digital scrapbooks in a quick and simple way, without cluttering your craft area with all the paper, stamps, embellishments, and forgotten photos needed for traditional scrapbooking.  

For more ideas and inspiration, visit the My Memories blog and their collection of helpful video tutorials


Alright, let's get to the good stuff, shall we? I know you all want to win your own copy. You have three ways to enter, only three entries per person, please and thank you. 

1) Visit MyMemories.com and tell me what your favorite digital scrapbooking kit is and what kind of project you would make with it. 
2) Follow My Memories on Twitter. Leave a comment telling me you follow them. 
3) Like My Memories on Facebook. Leave a comment telling me you Liked their Facebook page. 

The giveaway will be open for the next week and I will pick a winner on Friday, September 30. Be sure to include your email so I can send you your free download code!


Finally, for those of you who don't win but still want your own My Memories Suite, I have a special deal for you! You can save $10 off your My Memories Suite v2.0 download when you use this code: STMMMS2617. Copy and paste that code to receive $10 off at checkout. As a bonus, you will also receive a $10 coupon with your software for downloads! 

At the risk of sounding cheesy, get on entering this giveaway and most importantly, keep on making memories :) 




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Disclosure: I was provided with a download of the My Memories Suite at no charge for personal review. All opinions are my own. Compensated affiliate code used in post.

Sunday, September 11

Shop!


Hello friends. I'm so excited to finally show you these quilts! Why you may ask? Because they could be yours!


How you may ask? Because I opened an online shop!


So whenever you may need a little something, be it a quilt, hair accessory, phone case, or just something adorable, you should think of me.


And visit my shop {brittneyanderson.etsy.com} and tell your friends!







 


More hair accessories to come -- I need to find a model or convince Curt to take photos of my head :)

I would love if you bookmark my shop and spread the word. Thanks! 

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Thursday, September 1

Nothing

I have nothing new to report, but I felt the need to post a blog because it's sitting here, so lonely.

soccer sunday

I'm still waiting for my sewing desk to find it's permanent home and I'm going absolutely crazy without it! We painted it white but ran out of paint a coat shy of completion, so we need to pick up more. Then it will get a protective coat of polyacrylic, which will have to cure for a few days, and then I will get my sewing space back. The thought of having to wait another week makes me even more anxious...

butterfly at home depot

I'm itching to make some scrappy quilts to eat up my stash. Here are some patterns I'm considering (click the pictures for links).


I've been thinking about these X block quilts for awhile now ... literally daydreaming about them as I go through life. So yeah, that's definitely on my list!




I love these scrappy bow tie quilts. They seem to be the perfect way to use up even the tiniest scraps!


That last one reminds me - I need to stash up on some more neutral solids for some other ideas I have!

Including a scrappy vintage quilt at my in-laws' house that I want to copy. It's a simple 9-patch with sashing and setting squares. I think they're 2.5 squares, all set on white. I rendered up a little something to jog your imagination:


Their quilt is made from what I assume to be vintage calicos and feed sacks and the result is an amazing  mix of colors and patterns. I plan to start cutting my scraps into 2.5" squares to steal this look.
An AccuQuilt might make that really easy. HINT HINT to anyone who might be shopping for me in the future :) 

Have a fabulous holiday weekend! Curt's family is coming to visit so we will have a busy weekend!
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