Tag Archives: quilting

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Keeping Busy with Fabrics

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I love fabrics and I love designing fabrics almost as much as I enjoy eating. That says a lot as I love all food groups! This has been a busy year with fabric design for me. My “Celebrate” fabric collection by Quilting Treasures will help create a cheerful birthday celebration. My newest collection will debut at Quilt Market at the end of the month that will be quite the “buzz”! A sneak preview will be coming very shortly.

In addition, I have fabrics in the Cranston Village V.I.P. line this year with more coming for this line as well with some really great colors.

Sewing design fabric Phyllis Dobbs VIP

“Sewing Notions” is a fun design for anyone who loves to sew or quilt. I thought of all the handy items that I frequently use while sewing and threw them into this fabric design. I took a little liberty when designing – my sewing machine does not really have polka dots.

Coffee Cups, Bird Patch, Texting Lingo fabrics by Phyllis Dobbs

The other 3 fabrics in V.I.P.’s line are “Bird Patch“, “Coffee Cups” and “Texting Lingo”.

Back to work – this is a busy month in preparing for the International Quilt Market in Houston in 3 weeks where I will also be conducting a Schoolhouse event.  More to come shortly on that.

Phyllis

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Free Quilt Pattern for a Happy Birthday Banner

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Its been fun designing and sewing with my new Celebrate fabrics from Quilting Treasures.  I have created this free sewing and quilt pattern (quilting optional) that you can use for sewing a Happy Birthday banner. The banner is 25″ x 35 1/2″ and can be hung on a wall, in a doorway or for a multitude of other uses.  Use it year after year for birthday celebrations. The colors of my Celebrate fabrics are bright and cheerful to add to the festivity and use birthday cakes and cupcakes for design motifs.

Free Pattern for Happy Birthday banner by Phyllis Dobbs

Click away to the download page for the quilt birthday banner free pattern.

The fabrics are available through independent quilt shop and stores. While the weather is so hot, its perfect for staying inside and working on new sewing or quilt projects. Other free quilt and sewing patterns created for the Celebrate fabric collection can be found on Quilting Treasures website for download.

Stay cool and keep sewing and quilting!

Phyllis

 

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A Favorite Part of my Job….Fabrics!

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Woohoo!  A favorite part of my job is when I receive a box of my fabrics! A just heard the door bell dingdong and went downstairs to see what the UPS guy left. The UPS or FedEx guys are the only ones that ring my doorbell in mid-afternoon, so I knew it had to be one of them.  There sat a huge box that was waaaaaaay too heavy for me to even move. So I looked to see who it was from, then went to get a pair scissors to open it. It was filled with my new fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures.

Celebrate fabrics by Phyllis Dobbs

I can’t wait to get started on more projects using the fabrics! You can see what the fabrics look like plus some free patterns that are available for download from Quilting Treasures in my prior post. The fun colors are great for birthday celebrations for all ages.

Stay cool!

Phyllis

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Say “Happy Birthday” with “Celebrate” fabrics and Free Patterns!

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My new fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures is out!  Yea! I’m so excited! The bright colors and cakes and cupcakes are perfect for boys and girls of all ages through at least 120 for birthdays celebrations. I loved playing with the fabrics and designing these free quilt and sewing patterns for you to use! After a previous sneak peek, here is the entire “Celebrate” collection –

Celebrate fabrics for birthdays and other celebrations

The project sheets for a quilted table topper, placemat, large gift bag and a happy birthday banner are available for free pattern download from Quilting Treasures’ website. Just scroll down and you will easily see them with their bright colors.

The quilted table topper measures 48″ x 48″ and will add a festive accent for birthday celebrations. All you need is a real cake for a perfect centerpiece! And of course, a pile of presents!

Celebrate Happy Birthday Table topper quilt free pattern

Another way to add a splash for a special birthday is with a placemat, sized 18 1/2″ x 13″. The yellow fabric on the right is a pocket to hold silverware or even better, a surprise gift or candy. The old saying is that a small present holds the best gift, like maybe a key to a car!

Celebrate Happy Birthday Placemat with pocket

And for a larger gifts, you can make this large gift bag with a drawstring opening. Think of all the gifts this bag will hold. Its 30″ high and 20″ wide.

Celebrate large fabric toy gift bag

And nothing announces a birthday better or makes someone feel more special than a banner. This Happy Birthday banner is 28″ wide and 35 1/2″ tall, with red triangle points at the bottom edge.

Happy Birthday banner made with Celebrate fabrics

Enjoy these fun projects and give them a try to use for many years of birthday celebrations. If you have a hard time choosing which one to make, make them all. They are easy to make. And I would love to see your finished projects!!

I have also designed another project, a small banner that I created for display at the Spring Quilt Market. I just have to finish writing the instructions and then I will post it here for another free pattern.

And while you are thinking of that perfect birthday event, please check out all the products I created in my Zazzle store using the “Celebrate” art to coordinate with the fabrics. I’m adding more products daily.

Have a fun day of quilting and sewing. And Happy Birthday to you on your special day!

Phyllis

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Hot Potatoes – Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head at Quilt Market

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Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head bring back childhood memories for me.  It was a fun toy that I loved playing with.  Hot Potatoes from Hasbro, a new fabric line from Quilting Treasures is delightful. It was even more fun with Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head as an adult – designing several sewing and quilting projects with the fabric collection.  I designed and created the Hot Potatoes quilted play mat, large tote bag, half apron and potholder. The potholder is potato shaped and can hang from the apron.  The projects were featured in Quilting Treasures booth at the Spring International Quilt Market held in Kansas City.

Hot Potatoes Fabric free projects Quilt Market

Hot Potatoes Free sewing projects at Quilt Market

I also designed additional pieces for this collection.  All will be free patterns for download from Quilting Treasures website.  The fabric will be available soon – August 2012. Please check back to see all the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head projects.

Phyllis

 

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New Products to Shout Your Love of Quilting!

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I have been busy adding new quilt art to items in my Zazzle store. Zazzle has also added so many great new products to their line as well, including cookie jars, laptop and ipad sleeves, cat and dog food dishes, cork coasters, plates, water bottles  and many, many more!

I have ordered several products from Zazzle, including the business cards below, and can vouch for the high quality. Their sturdy business cards are two sided and are customizable so that you can put all your info on them. The card with the tossed blocks comes in several color choices. Simply fill in your info and your business card is ready to go!

You can remind your cat or dog that you love quilting as much as you love them. Put it in their face with one of these pet food bowls available also in assorted colors as well as two sizes. They come in a smaller size for cats, but if your cat is like mine, he likes a large bowl filled at all times. If not, he lets me know and its usually in the middle of the night.
I like to keep some water to sip on while I’m working and have found that keeping it in a handy water bottle is much better than a glass. I’ve killed more than one keyboard by spilling my drink and this way, when I knock it over, no dead keyboard.  The travel mug also works the same way to prevent spilling your coffee. So if you are going to look at a water bottle or travel mug or both all day, you may as well pamper yourself and enjoy one with a quilt design!

Have a great day and I would love for you to check out the other products!

Phyllis
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Showing Friendship with a Quilt!

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Quilts are so comforting, both with the cuddling factor and the warmth of their beauty. Rita Clarke made a special quilt for a friend’s daughter who’s dog Shug had died. Pets are so important to us and are a part of our families so the loss of a pet is heartbreaking. Rita designed and made this quilt in memory of Shug using the pink fabrics in the “Its a Dog’s Life” fabric collection I designed a while back for Quilting Treasures.

Its a Dog's Life Quilt by Rita Clarke

Rita also embroidered Shug’s name in the sashing throughout the quilt. I’m sure that this quilt provides Mary a lot of  comfort and warm memories of Shug each time she cuddles with it.

Rita Clarke's It's a Dog's Life Quilt

Rita does take orders to create personalized quilts through her business Sew Creative by Rita.

I love Rita’s use of pink throughout the quilt. One of the things that amazes me with quilting is that you can get such different looks from the same fabrics, based on how you put the fabrics together and arrange the colors and the patterns of the fabrics. Other posts I have written feature a locker caddy and notebook, a dog coat, aprons, tote bag, and a quilt made with “Its’s a Dog’s Life” fabrics and each in different color combinations.

Thanks to Rita for showing me the pictures of the quilt she made! I think she’s a wonderful friend to make this beautiful quilt for Mary.

Happy quilting!

Phyllis

 

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Think Snow with this Free Quilt Pattern!

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I know its May and the weather is getting hot, but its not too early to start thinking about your Christmas quilting with this free quilt pattern that I designed!  Think “Let it Snow” to cool down with this adorable fabric collection from Quilting Treasures based on the art of Debra Jordan Bryan.

Let it Snow Free quilt Pattern by Phyllis Dobbs for Quilting Treasures

It was a treat to design this quilt with the fun, colorful fabric.  At 43 1/2″ x 48 1/4″, its a perfect size for a wall hanging, a lap quilt or for a little one to cuddle with. The quilt is pieced and is topped with appliqued green and red mittens in the wide border area. Buttons are used for accents on the mittens. The quilt center is a snowman panel with other snowman pieces in the corners. Its easy to piece and is a great project for beginners as well as all skill levels.

When you check out this pattern, look through all the other free quilt patterns from Quilting Treasures. I’m sure you will find several that you will love!

Happy quilting and stay cool!

Phyllis

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Upcycle – Create a Decorative Pillow from Pants or Other Clothing!

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If you are like me, you have a lot of clothing hanging in your closet that you no longer wear. But there is something you still love about these pieces – the color, fabric design, etc. Repurpose or upcycle it to give it a new life. I repurposed a pair of capri pants made with fabric that I loved into a decorative pillow for a guest blog post on FaveCrafts for Earth Week. I had never worn these pants and think that I bought them just for the fabric.

Upcycled decorative pillow by Phyllis Dobbs

Although I chose to make a decorative pillow, you can make many different type projects using this technique. I added detail to the pillow top by sewing multiple wavy lines of both non-metallic and metallic Gutermann threads vertically to quilt the fabric to a piece of cotton batting.  I used different shades of both turquoise and coral threads in addition to a black thread. I also sewed turquoise, red and yellow beads randomly and to the flowers. Please visit the FaveCrafts blog post for full tutorial instructions as well as additional photos.

Close up detail of upcycled pillow by Phyllis Dobbs

In addition to your closet, you can locate fabulous finds at thrift stores or yard sales to repurpose. I’m a fabric junkie so I always keep my eyes peeled for fabrics, as well as sweaters and other items I can sew into something else or use in other type of crafts.

Phyllis

 

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Sneak Peak – New Fabric Collection “Celebrate”

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I’m excited to give you a sneak peak at my newest fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures, filled with cakes and cupcakes. It will be available for shipping to stores in June 2012. As you can see, the colors are bright primary colors that are perfect for both boys and girls. The designs are also great for all ages, from kids to adults, after all, you never get too old to celebrate! It was really fun creating these designs but it did activate my sweet tooth! Fortunately, all the cakes and cupcakes were created with paint so no calories!

Celebrate fabric collection from Quilting Treasures by Phyllis Dobbs

This design is the main design of a patch panel. Other fabrics in the “Celebrate” collection will include lots of fun designs and stripes all in bright “celebration” colors and all coordinated for delightful quilting and sewing projects. Think of a celebration or birthday quilt, or a banner or table runner for a birthday party.  There will be several free patterns available from Quilting Treasures when the fabric is in. Plus, I will create some patterns to post here on my blog for free download – I already have several ideas formed and just waiting to sew them. I just love designing patterns to go with my fabrics.

I can’t wait to show you all the fabrics when they are out!  And it won’t be long – I can’t believe June is so close already!  Meanwhile, I’ve been working away on the next fabric collection and am just as excited about it! Its still on the drawing board, but I’m loving it.

So please check back for fun fabrics and lots of free patterns and think cake and cupcakes. And here’s to a little celebration in your life each day.

Phyllis