Using Scraps and Discussing Needle Crafts

Between being a bit under the weather the past several days and the usual everyday tasks that somehow always seem to require immediate attention when I would have much preferred to be quilting or doing embroidery, I haven't had a chance to do much blogging.
I have tried to keep up on reading other blogs and checking out various discussion groups on Yahoo as well as a few other places and I think I have some wonderful links to share with you. Hopefully these links will be useful to you and give you an opportunity to see what other quilters and needle crafters are doing this summer. If you are looking for a great summer quilting project that also will use up some of those scraps in the stash basket then I have just the thing for you. Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet is one of my favorite fabric designers and I'm an avid follower of her blog. So I was thrilled when I saw that her June 16, 2014 blog post was a tutorial on making a scrappy table runner. I've been working very hard to use up some of my scraps and this project looks like a perfect way to do just that. Here's where you can find her tutorial and make one of these for yourself. She is also hosting a Happy Scrappy Summer Sew-Along so you may want to check that out too when you visit.



I'm really into using up as many scraps as possible for my summer quilting projects so I've been on the look-out for interesting projects that are scrappy. Here's one that I found over at The Cloth Parcel website. It's an adorable baby quilt made up of pinwheels and snowballs, 2 of my favorite blocks! Perfect for you grandmothers to put together for the new ones in your life. I love the clever way the prairie points are used and the sweet-retro look of the fabrics used in the snowballs. You can find a materials list and instructions for making the quilt at their website.

I've been working at making my quilt bindings look even and more professional-looking but have not been very successful at it yet. I recently stumbled across this great (and easy-to-follow) tutorial that I thought I would share with you. I found it on the Canoe Ridge Creations website. It's in two parts that are both terrific and make it all look so simple.

Now, if you love participating in wonderful discussions about your favorite needlecraft, then I have just the thing for you. Here's a list of some of the really interesting groups I've found. Check them out for yourself and join the ones that look most interesting to you. Remember...with discussion groups, you get out of them only what you put into them so be active, participate and share your wonderful thoughts and expertise with others in the group.

QuiltersBee is an active, 1000+ member, internet quilting guild which meets on line daily.

Back Porch Friends is an online Christian-based group of 384 members

If your favourite quilting style is appliqué you will enjoy Appliqué Addicts. This group has 1137 members

The topic of the 2059 member Home Quilting Systems group is to share tips and techniques 

on owning and operating short, mid and long arm quilting machine

If you are a hand-quilting enthusiast then the Hand Quilt With Love group 

with its 48 members is the perfect place for you

And finally, if you use a needle; hand or machine, knitting or sewing, shuttling or weaving, 

or want to, you qualify for this great 115 member group...NeedleGals, et al

This is just a very few of the groups available and if you would like to find out about more of them, visit Yahoo Groups home page. You'll be amazed with the number of groups and the topics relating to needlework in all its forms.

Have a Wonderful Weekend,
Grammy

Be sure to visit my Etsy Shop to see all the new items

that would make perfect wedding or bridal shower gifts!

Here's a preview of one of the newest items in the Quilt Closet

#grammysquiltcloset