Here’s a quick and easy project, Bali Pops Tutorial. I love these fabrics, and this pattern is sure to come together very quickly. Sometimes we all need a project that’s just straight stitches and no fancy points to worry about… or is that just me?

In addition to instructions using 2.5″ strips, Rachel also provides measurements if you are using Fat Quarters, Jelly Cakes and Sweet 16 Rolls.

I was browsing the wonderful Doll Quilt Swap 4 creations earlier and saw this great, Wonky Butterfly Tutorial. I adore butterflies (and dragon flies), so I’m adding this to my list of projects to do one of these days.

If you decide to make some, please be sure to post on Lynne’s blog as she’d love to see what you come up with.

It’s no surprise to anyone that knows me that I love purses and tote bags. So, I was thrilled when I stumbled upon this great tutorial on how to make a Classic Tote from Sew, Mama, Sew!.

The photo instructions are superb. I’m definitely adding this to My To Do List.

I don’t know about you, but I seem to find thread all over my apartment. This cute Thread Holder would sure come in handy.

I’d need to make several, one for the sewing area, one for the living room and another for the office.

I love crazy quilts and was very intrigued by this great tutorial, Vintage Windows Crazy Block Tutorial which is a wonderful way to use up those scrappy bits and pieces we all have. Also check out the completed quilt that inspired this technique, Vintage Windows.

Many thanks to Quilting Blogger, Jacquie for her submission. I’m always thrilled to post tutorials and projects that others have created.

Crazy Mom Quilts has an amazing Star Sampler that she’s presenting as a weekly quilt along. Her directions for putting together each star are fantastic. You can find each weekly installment on the right sidebar.

I plan on putting together a few of the stars and making a table runner or a smaller 4×4 or 6×6 block wall hanging.

Seriously, dad, close the browser window and walk away from the computer … now!

For the rest of you, look what the mailman brought!! (Can you see me jumping up and down!)

A couple of weeks ago, in Kaye Wood’s Newsletter was a great pattern featuring some beautiful fabric of various tools. My dad is a Handyman. How perfect is this fabric?

And the coordinating fabric.

I quickly fired off an email to Kaye’s helpful staff, begging them to sell me, or tell me where to buy the fabric. They put me in touch with Donna over at Pieceful Patches, and lucky me, they still had some of the fabric in stock.

I purchased one panel (about a yard), which has 20-6.5″ tool blocks, 3 yards of the coordinating tools on black fabric (the picture doesn’t do it justice) and 2 yards of the tiny multi-coloured washers. There’s other coordinating fabric available too, and I think the entire line comes in navy as well. Best of all, the fabric is a wonderful quality, great weight, it’ll be a pleasure to work with.

I also purchased a package of reversible prairie points, for some yet thought of project in the future.

I’m so happy to finally have a quilt plan for my dad, as I’ve never made him one before, and no previous ideas inspired me like this fabric does.

Quilting Bloggers Reach a Thousand Contest Update: Did you see? Only 20 more bloggers to go until we reach a 1,000. My guess is I’ll be picking the three winners tomorrow, so be sure to check your email to see if you’re one of them.

Emma, a Quilting Blogger from Australia, has created this great picture tutorial on how she invisibly hand-stiches binding to the back of a quilt.

This is very useful for those of us that have never hand-sewn a binding before… one day I’ll have to give it a try.

For all the tea lovers out there, myself included, here’s a great Teacup Mini Quilt pattern that a fellow Quilting Blogger created.

I’ve always wanted to start my own tea cup collection, this quilt would be a lot less expensive and not nearly as fragile!

From TLC Stitches, here’s a great tutorial showing a unique way to create those wonderful Nine Patch blocks.

I’m sure this will be faster than the traditional method and more accurate too. This might even inspire me to use Nine Patches in my Doll Quilt Swap.

Further to my post last week on Sewing Ergonomics, Marguerita sent me this post she wrote on making your own Custom Sewing Desk - Cheap.

While not the prettiest to look at, this idea definitely has potential for me. I am loving free-motion quilting, but finding the stress on my shoulders and upper back prevents me from sewing as much as I would like.

I need to find out if I can buy adjustable legs from Ikea for my existing table, then I’ll look into getting some foam core. I have some spare paint, and might even try painting the foam core… we’ll see how ambitious I am.

I have some concerns about the static, as my apartment is very dry in the winter with electric heat and concrete walls. Does anyone have any ideas? I wonder if I can eliminate the vinyl altogether and instead use a paint that has some slick-ness to it. I think a phone call to my Dad, the Handyman is in order.

Contest Update: I have had three wonderful donations offered for the upcoming contest… you’re going to love them. Details will be posted in the next couple of days, so stay tuned.

Newsletter Update: If you missed the first edition of the Quilting Gallery Newsletter, it is now available on-line: Issue #1 - June 2008 - Are you a Quilting Blogger?.

There’s a great article over on the Lemon Tree Tales’ web site, Sewing Room Ergonomics or why does it hurt when I sew?.

My sewing machine and table set-up are my problem. I really need to lower my machine, about 4 inches, but can’t afford to buy a new table right now. I can raise the chair, and will try that again, with the presser foot on some boxes. I found the presser foot kept falling off the phone book I was using in the past. I only feel the stress when I’m doing the quilting part, no problems with piecing or regular sewing.

Here’s a completely unrelated link to a blog post a friend of mine made earlier tonight, Saving the Environment by Renovating the Little Red Golf. Please forgive the intrusion… we’re testing some Googleze to see what happens. Us web developers always have to stay on top of such things.

Here’s a great block, with very well written instructions, and tonnes of photos to help get it just right, The Shaded Four Patch. Units will finish at 6 1/2″ squares. Several block arrangement ideas are presented at the end of the page.

My rotary cutting mat could sure use a bath, how about yours? Here are some great tips for Caring for Your Rotary Mat.

I have an older mat, that I only use for cutting battting and other fluffy things… I think I’ll try to bathe it first to see what happens.

Here’s a very interesting idea on using Glad’s Press ‘N Seal Freezer Wrap to mark quilting designs. I might give this a try on the quilt I need to finish this weekend. Have you tried it?