Craftsy Sweetens Up My Quilting Life

Welcome to the Craftsy Sweetens Up My Quilting Life Blog Hop hosted by Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon and Julie @ Pink Doxies.

Craftsy helps you be creative by making it easy and convenient to learn new things through classes and patterns (and they have lots of supplies!).  Right now, every class featured in the blog hop is on sale at 50% off for one week!  If you were thinking about a class, but were waiting on an inside scoop on whether it was a good fit for you, read the reviews on the blog hop.

Craftsy showcases lots of patterns, many of which are free.  I'll going to share my thoughts on four free patterns.

Visit Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.  She'll be reviewing two classes:  "Dot to Dot Quilting" by Angela Walters and "Shoot It!  A Product Photography Primer" by Caro Sheridan.

1-Hour Basket
This is a great project!  They really do sew up in an hour.  The instructions in the pattern are great, and there are a lot of photos.  Fusible fleece is used on the exterior fabric.  This was my time first time using fusible fleece.  I found the basket a little floppy, so I think next time I'll use fusible interacing to give the basket some stability.  It's a great basket to hold just about anything:  fabric, notions, face cloths, diapers -- the possibilities are endless.
Click here for the pattern.

Reusable Hand Warmers
I'm always cold, so I thought these hand warmers would be a great project to try.  They are quick and simple to make and are a great way to use scraps.  The blue one is made with flannel, and the orange one is made with cotton.  As an added touch, I top stitched around the outside.  Unfortunately, I put too much rice in the orange one.  They both hold the heat well, but I haven't used them for any length of time so can't say how long the warmth lasts.  These hand warmers would make a great little add-on to a gift.
Click here for the pattern.

Star Bright
This is a great beginner project.  There are instructions for both a baby quilt and a throw size, with two different block sizes provided for both.  The instructions are very clear, and it's a project that can be sewn up quickly.  I've made two baby quilts already, and I plan to use this pattern again.
Click here for the pattern.

Postcard from Sweden
I chose this pattern because the colours were so bright and vibrant...and I love Kona!

Postcard from Sweden by Jeli Quilts

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to finish the pattern yet.  All my squares are cut out and ready to be cut in half to make HST's.  The pattern has two sizes, and the instructions are very detailed, with lots of photos.  A colour legend is provided, with a column for you to track any colour substitutions you make.  There is also a fabric layout chart.  I'm looking forward to finishing this pattern -- I just need more hours in the day.
Click here for the pattern.

Giveaways

Find the link to enter the Craftsy Giveaway on each site during the hop.
Hearing firsthand about the terrific opportunities on the bloggers' sites below will surely entice you to explore Craftsy in a little more depth, and perhaps try something out of the norm to what you usually might buy.  However, Craftsy is sweetening the pot even more...

• 50% discount on classes discussed in each post! 
• giveaways on some of the individual blogger posts!
• Three fabulous prizes from Craftsy!  Two lucky people will win one class each, and one person will win this fabulous grand prize.

Boundless Solids Crown Jewels by Amy Gibson Quilt Kit - Boundless Solids Modern Brights Pre-Cuts 6" Strips - Boundless Solids Modern Brights 10" Squares

Enter until Sunday, February 21, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. MST.
The winners will be announced February 22 at Musings of a Menopausal Melon and at Pink Doxies.

Enter the Giveaway Here

BLOG HOP SCHEDULE:

Wednesday 10 February
Judy @ Quilt Paradigm
Helen @ Midget Gem Quilts

Thursday 11 February
Cindy @ Stitchin At Home 
Vicky @ Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Friday 12 February
Zenia @ A Quilted Passion 
Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

Saturday 13 February
Tish @ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland
Anja @ Anja Quilts

Sunday 14 February
Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts
Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

Monday 15 February
Julie @ Pink Doxies
Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon

Finish Friday - Free Patterns for the Win

Although there are many, many WIP's in my sewing room, none are near completion.  So I was looking for a quick project this week.  With only one evening this week to sew, I had to choose a project wisely.

Here are my basket and tote bag -- both completed in one evening.  I  took advantage of a photo shoot last night at Patch Halifax during the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild monthly meeting.

I have been seeing this basket all over the internet but didn't realize it was a free pattern.  Thanks to my friend Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge for the tip.  The pattern can be found over at Kelby Sews.

The lining is Kona Cyan.

Thanks to Linda @ Scrapmaster for the tip on this free tote bag pattern.  I added a pocket to the front.  You can't see it, but the lining is....wait for it...orange.  I couldn't resist using my favourite colour.

The one-hour basket really only takes an hour -- although I spent a considerable amount of time choosing the lining fabric.  I didn't track how long it took to make the tote bag, but I'd guess about an hour and one-half.

Looking forward to Saturday.  Getting together with the Squares for a sew day.  I love when our little bee gets together.  Sewing, going out for lunch, and fabric shopping -- what a great way to spend a Saturday.  I hope there is sewing in your weekend plans.

Linking up with:

TGIFF @ Quilts Matters

Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

4 x 7 Sewing Challenge - The Final Week

Where does the time go?  It's hard to believe the 4 x 7 Sewing Challenge is in its fourth and final week.  The challenge has been a great motivator to incorporate sewing into my daily routine.

Here's how my third week unfolded:

Day 15:
Sewed the binding on the HST charity quilt and started quilting another charity quilt.

Day 16:
Finished quilting and binding the charity quilt and then sandwiched another charity quilt.

Day 17:
Purchased some fabric for the charity HST blocks for Maritime Modern Quilt Guild and made two storage bins for my sister's birthday.

Day 18:
Made a mug rug for a swap at the March meeting of the MMQG.

Day 19:
Cutting the fabric for the MMQG charity HST blocks.

Day 20:
Buying fabric for a new project (read all about it here) and choosing fabric for a prize for my one-year blog anniversary.

Day 21:
Started working on the prize.  Here's a small sample of some of the fabric:

Linking up with Sarah over at Berry Barn Designs:

Sunday Stash - This Fabric Makes Me Happy!

This past Tuesday, I was having an extremely bad day.  I came home and found my Sew Sisters Bargain Lovers' Club fat quarter collection in the mailbox.



Love the bright colours

Bad mood averted.  This fabric makes me happy!  It is a combination of Stonehenge Kids Rainbow and Monster Truck Madness from Northcott.  What awesome zippered pouches this fabric is going to make.

Not a lot of sewing going on this week.  I was busy doing paperwork to wrap up some volunteer positions that have ended, but I made these small storage bins.



The pattern is from Haberdashery Fun and is quick and easy.

Now with only one small volunteer position, more time for quilting!  Guess I can't procrastinate any longer on the tasks of organizing my fabric and my sewing room.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.

Sew Day with the Squares

Another great sew day with the Squares today.  Sadly QB couldn't join us.  But I bet she had lots of fun snuggling with her grandson.

QJ over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge made some great fabric storage bins a few weeks ago.  I really liked them and thought it would be a great way to use some of the orange and green fabric I bought in South Africa.  I finished one and then ran out of fusible interfacing.

Our LQS was out of stock of the weight of interfacing I needed (we always go out for lunch and a trip to our LQS on sew day), so a quick stop at another fabric store on my way home.  And then finished storage bin #2.

I also finished the two baby quilts tonight that had been in the QPP.  Just under the wire, as the baby shower is tomorrow....at my place.  Stay tuned for the reveal. 

The September meeting of the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild was this past week, and we had a zippered pouch exchange. Make and bring a pouch, receive a pouch.  I forgot to take a photo of the pouch I made with laminated fabric, but here is the great pouch I received from Scrapmaster.

Thanks, Linda.  I love it!

Decisions, decisions, decisions...do I stay up late to do the housework I didn't do tonight because I was sewing?  Or do I get up early and clean like a crazy lady before everyone arrives?  Maybe a little tidying up and then a hot bubble bath.  If I do housework tonight, then I'll feel like I can sew in the morning, and then there will be thread and bits of fabric everywhere, and then I'll have to clean again.

I hope you had some fun sewing today.