celebrate CREATIVITY in all its forms

Quilts, Gardens and a Day in the Country

If only quilts really did grow on trees.  What a wonderful world that would be.  

Yellow and green are my favorite colors and since this quilt uses shades of both, that makes this one of my favorite creations.  

This is called a Log Cabin quilt but this particular pattern with its appearance of large squares inside of larger squares, is called the Barn Raising. 

One of the amazing things about the Log Cabin quilt is that you can achieve a variety of designs depending on how you arrange the blocks.

I'll tell you more about this Log Cabin quilt in just a bit, but I wanted to first share something about where all the photos in this post were taken.

The photo below is a shot of the Maryland-area farm were I grew up.  This 144-acre farm has been in my family now for five generations.  Except for the four years we lived overseas when my dad was in the Peace Corps, this has always been home base. 

I may have learned to love the big city but deep down I'm a country girl at heart.

This is also where my mom enjoys maintaining a small but diverse vegetable garden. 

You may remember meeting Nana Banana earlier this year when she modeled an apron for me for another blog post.

Nana Banana produces a bumper crop of delicious veggies every year including beans, tomatoes, lettuce, corn and beautiful squash just to name a few savory selections. 

Mom often says she thinks people should know how to grow their own food and she finds great pleasure in working the earth to produce her own healthy and hearty produce.

 

During our recent visit to the family farm Cameron and Jordy got a chance to collect some of the ripe vegetables. 

I love to see my kids get their hands dirty with new experiences like this.  Next, I'll have to introduce them to some of the trees I used to climb when I was their age. 

 

I couldn't resist including this photo from Nana's garden.  This is an interesting take on a scarecrow, wouldn't you say?  Gotta love those lashes.

My mom says while her improvised creation may work scaring off the birds, unfortunately it has little/no effect on voles, groundhogs and other small pests that sometimes steal her garden goodies.

Jordy focused most of his attention on the peas which is ironic since you can't even get him to taste a pea.

In this photo I think you can almost hear Jordy saying "ooh, look what I found".  He was quite earnest in his vegetable picking and pretty proud of his haul too.

While Cameron and Jordy packed their baskets with veggies on one end of the farm, I went in search of some backdrops to snap a few photos of my quilt.

I made this Log Cabin years ago when I first started learning about quilting.  While the fabrics used are French-Country inspired, the colors have always reminded me of Nana's country vegetable garden with all the various shades of green and pretty squash-colored yellows. 

If you've never made a Log Cabin quilt, I think this pattern is among the easiest.

Log Cabins are made up of dozens of identical blocks.  You can achieve an almost endless choice of patterns by simply re-arranging the blocks which feature a collection of light-colored fabrics on one end and darker fabrics on the other.

Here's a sample sketch of the Barn Raising pattern.  You can see how moving these identical blocks around could create a completely different design.  That versatility is at the heart and beauty of the Log Cabin design.

You can see another one of my Log Cabin quilts in a zig-zag design if you click here.

      

The backing fabric can also be found as one of the quilt top borders.  I use this technique all the time as a way of helping to tie all the fabrics in the quilt together.

I think it gives the quilt an all-around coordinated look.

This is also the only quilt that I've ever made with a straight edge binding.  You may know by now that I have a penchant for scalloped edges.  However, in this case, I think the straight edge is perfect here given the busy designs in this particular fabric.

For the record, I think a straight edge binding (especially around the corners) is much harder to make than a scalloped one.

There are actually three borders on this quilt and I decided to miter each corner for a more seamless integration of the lines in the fabric. 

If you're working with more than one border fabric, it's a good idea to sew all your borders together first and then line up the design for mitering.  That way you only have to miter each corner once.

This mitering did take some extra effort and practice but I really like how it blended each corner together for near-perfect points.

I think it's time now to check in with my little vegetable gardeners.  Looks like a pretty good crop so far.  

I'd say these two are pretty pleased with their pickin's.  They really loved filling their wicker baskets with all the raw, natural food.

I love that Cameron and Jordan get an occasional taste of country life like this.  I think it's good for them to escape to the great rural outdoors from time to time.

Meanwhile, I'm glad I thought to bring my Log Cabin quilt along for this ride to the country.

I'm always on the lookout for interesting ways to not only practice my photography skills but also showcase my projects for this blog in more appealing and creative ways.

      

There's nothing like a trip to the country.  It's wonderful to be able to walk the farm and find old, familiar sights as well as a few new ones here and there.  

I feel really fortunate to have the opportunity to share this natural environment with its crisp, clean air and wide-open green space with Cameron and Jordy.  This was definitely a great way to spend a lazy Sunday.  

Here's to quilts, gardens and day in the country.

   

Hats Off To The (little) Chef

I may have mentioned before that I'm not a fantastic cook.  My husband and kids would likely second that, but at least I'm earnest. 

While I'm still learning and practicing my cooking skills, I've also been trying to get my kids more involved in preparing meals and experimenting in the kitchen along with me.

With that in mind, it occurred to me that attire could possibly inspire.

 

In an effort to encourage Cameron's burgeoning interest in cooking and baking, I made her this cute chef's hat.  I've almost finished one for Jordy too.

I thought looking the part would give the kids a pinch and a dash more inspiration when they're having fun in the kitchen.

A chef's hat is a super simple project and while there are any number of ways to make one, I'll walk you through my easy technique.

You'll need @3/4-yard of fabric, velcro and optional fusible interfacing.  First step is to make the following fabric cuts;  a 20 inch X 7 inch rectangle for the hat band and a 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch strip for facing. 

Also cut a fabric circle with a 22-inch diameter. 

Mark a 5-inch line from the edge of the fabric circle.  Cut the line as shown in the photo below.

Please pardon the uncustomary wordiness in some of these instructions.  I departed from my usual brevity to make sure I cover every step as clearly as possible.

 

Grab the 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch fabric strip which will serve as a mini binding to be placed around the slit that was just cut in the fabric circle.  Turn the strip by 1/4-inch and iron. 

Note: Some of the colors look a shade different from photo to photo due to inconsistent lighting conditions in-house.  All pieces shown are cut from the same fabric selection.

 

Pin the 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch facing strip along the entire slit, pin in place and then stitch using a 1/2 seam allowance. 

After attaching the facing strip to the slit, turn the finished edge toward unfinished side, iron and then top stitch to secure.

 

To make the hat band, first adhere fusible interfacing (or baste stitch another cut of matching 20 inch X 7 inch fabric) to the wrong side of this band. 

Heavier canvas-like fabric may not need interfacing but if you're using a lightweight fabric the extra stiffness gives the band a bit more support.

After applying the interfacing, turn one long edge over about 1/4-inch and iron.  Top-stitch the edge. 

The gathering process is one of my least favorite aspects of any project because all too often my threads break and I have to start over. 

Because of the large distance of required gathering on this project, be extra careful pulling your gathered threads. 

You may also want to consider stitching a series of gathered sets around the fabric circle to minimize the possibility of thread breaks. 

After gathering, pin the hat band (right sides together) to the hat.  Line up the each end with @1/2 clearance on each end.  Slide the gathers and ease to fit, pinning as you go.

You can adjust the size of the hat by simply changing the length of the band.

Stitch the band to the hat.  Fold the band in half toward the outside (rights sides together) and stitch each end from top to bottom using 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Then turn the band inside-out and fold in half toward the inside (wrong sides together) of the hat and iron.

Remember that slit I cut earlier?  Here's a closeup look at the finished slit as it relates to the hat band. 

I think this technique makes a nice and clean finished edge that not only makes the hat more adjustable, but also gives it a more professional appearance.

Finally, add some velcro to each end of the hat band.  Some velcro brands have adhesive on the back but I think it's better to actually stitch the velcro to the hat for a more secure hold. 

Learn from my mistake tip:  Do not stitch through velcro with adhesive-backing.  The adhesive will immediately gum up any needle and if you're using a sewing machine, the needle could carry adhesive down into the machine's internal parts which could cause serious damage to your machine.  If you're going to stitch the velcro on, use a brand without an adhesive-backing.

When you stitch the velcro, do not stitch through the entire band. Stitch the velcro to the inside of the band before securing the open edge of the band to the inside.  That way, the velcro stitching is not visible from the outside of the hat.  Once the velcro is attached, slipstitch the inside edge of the band to the hat to secure.

Meanwhile, no chef's hat would be complete without an apron.  A nice coordinated-looking ensemble is created by using some of the same hat fabric for the apron ties and waistband.

I used fabric designer Amy Butler's Domestic Goddess pattern for this apron which is as easy to make as it is beautiful. 

 

I always think it's nice to personalize homemade projects when possible.  A little embroidery on the bodice goes a long way to make this garment that much more special for Cameron. 

This Amy Butler apron is definitely one of my favorite designs and I've used it several times to create a nice collection. 

Even though the same pattern was used multiple times, I think each apron still has its own personality thanks to the varied fabrics.

This Domestic Goddess pattern has simple, easy-to-understand instructions and the result is quick, elegant and oh-so feminine. 

Trust me, you won't be able to resist creating your own assortment.

Getting back to Cameron's ensemble, I think her hat and apron set looks just as adorable from the back as it does the front.  I love this linen-lookalike fabric which is so crisp when ironed.

Since this particular fabric is more on the lightweight side, I used some heavy-duty starch on the chef hat to give it more poof.

I must admit that after I finished this ensemble, I initially thought it was almost too pretty for Cameron to actually use in the kitchen.  

I thought it might be a bit painful to see food ingredients and fingerprints all over the front. 

However, since I did make this apron/hat set for Cameron to wear as she practices her culinary skills my reluctance was fleeting.  I think it will be fine.  Besides, everything here is completely washable and easy enough to duplicate if necessary. 

Still, I may try to steer her away from recipes that contain grape juice or tomato sauce.

Want to guarantee a smile on a loved ones face?  Try making a chef's hat and matching apron as a gift and you won't have any problem getting a smile as big as the great outdoors.

I think you can see Cameron is quite ready to whip up something in the kitchen right now.   

      

I look forward to the day when this budding young chef will be able to teach me a few things in the kitchen. 

Until then, hat's off to the (little) chef.

   

Wordplay

For the past few months I've been working to organize my new crafts area and while the progress has been slow, it has at least been steady. 

I recently added some wall decor to the space to incorporate some more personal identity into the area and I think you'll enjoy seeing how these fun letters were created.    

     

The words resemble hand painted letttering but they're actually made out of vinyl and they're super easy to make.

The wall signage was made using a digital craft cutter, which allows you to cut out various images as well as any true type font. 

After installing the requisite software program onto your personal computer, plug the digital cutter device into an available serial port on your computer.

The vinyl used to make the lettering comes on a roll like this and is available at most scrapbooking stores or on-line.

Since just about any true type font can be used, there are loads of lettering choices.  Simply open the digital cutter workspace screen in your computer and enter the desired letter or text. 

For the letters "CREATIVITY", I had to print them individually to get the size I wanted for each.

        

After typing the letter or word in the computer, simply load a piece of the adhesive vinyl adhesive into the digital cutter which receives the letter or image from the computer screen and cuts it out.

The vinyl has a backing which protects the adhesive.  After the cutter creates the shape or letter, the backing of the vinyl is peeled off just like contact paper.

If you have a lengthy word, you may need to spread it out to get a better perspective on how it might work on the wall.

 

Note:  The instructions on the Adhesive Vinyl roll specify that a special transfer paper is also needed to help adhere the letters to a wall surface.  While transfer paper may be needed for some projects, I did not need it for this.

After the letters are cut, peel the letters off the backing slowly.  Take extra care during this step because the letters are quite fragile and the vinyl tears very easily. 

To prepare for letter placement, determine the center of the wall area.  I think it's a good idea to select the letter that sits at the very center of the word and make that,the first letter you adhere over your pre-determined center wall mark.

Once that center letter is in place, start adhering the letters on either side working from the center outward.  This makes for a more symmetrical placement of the word.  If any letter in the lineup is slightly skewed, it's easy enough to lift it off the wall and re-position it for a more perfect alignment.

Once the main word is positioned in the desired location, just add to what you've started with additional words or decorative elements. 

For the subtitle "in all its forms", I used a true type font called Susie's Hand.  This is one of my favorite fonts and I use it quite often for journaling blocks in scrapbooking pages and projects.  It's also the same font used in my blog banner title.

Susie's Hand is a free font that you can download from the Internet if you click here.

Don't discard the large pieces of vinyl sheet scraps because the leftovers can also be used for lots of smaller images and lettering projects. 

I used scraps and this heart-shaped hand punch to add a touch of whimsy above the letter "i" in CREATIVITY.

 

I thought a few green flourishes would add some additional balance to my wall project and also break up the dominant pink in the lettering. 

These flourishes are also created by the digital cutter.

 

Just play around with the additional pieces to find the arrangement that works best. 

I suspect this pink and green color combination may be especially sweet to all my Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters out there. 

This wall art is completely removable and it's no problem to peel the letters or flourishes from the wall without any damage to the surface.

There are so many wonderful ways wall letters can be used to add to your home decor, especially with some of the pretty cursive or script-like fonts that are available. 

By the way, for those of you who have inquired lately about the progress of my Belfry, you can see at least one corner is slowly coming together.  

I still have lots I want to do in this attic space but it's nice to see the room less cluttered and finally taking shape.

Meanwhile, if you're thinking about vinyl lettering for your wall consider the following ideas;  greetings in an arched entryway, words on the instep of hardwood stairs, labels for large glass storage jars, names of favorite authors on a home library wall, a phrase or nickname over a baby's crib or some playful words and shapes in a child's play area. 

The possibilities for Wordplay are endless.

Monkey Business

There's nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread throughout the house.  When that bread is banana bread, that's even better.

These mini banana bread loaves are not only delicious but with a special finishing touch, this particular bread can also help raise a lot of "dough". 

       

It's that time of year again when students, parents and volunteers scramble to bake, create and make all kinds of goods to be sold for worthy scholastic causes.  Yes, it's time for THE ANNUAL SCHOOL FUNDRAISER. 

I enjoy working on fund-raising efforts because it typically turns out to be a nice creative outlet for me.  I've taken on my share of school projects in the past too, a few of which you can see here and here.

This year I supervised the Oglesby home-based banana bread production line.  I also had the good fortune to snag a dedicated, hard working, all-volunteer staff.

There are a ton of delicious recipes for banana bread.  I personally love banana bread with nuts, but with so many childhood nut allergies these days we played it safe and stuck with a favorite no-nuts recipe we found in this fun cookbook for kids.

Cameron and Jordy are eager beavers when it comes to things like this.  I suspect any kid would love being let loose in the kitchen to get their hands dirty with flour and bananas. 

Of course, I'm still working on getting these two to enjoy kitchen cleanup just as much.  Wish me luck on that one.

 

We wanted to wow potential buyers with our product,  so we decided to spice up the packaging by attaching handmade recipe cards to the bread baggies.

It never hurts to incorporate a little craftiness into the picture and this little monkey die cut is adorable and just right for this project. 

A die is a metal plate that contains a raised image or lettering that is used in conjunction with a press tool like the one shown in the photo below.

The metal plate is topped with a square of colored cardstock and then the two pieces are fed through the special press.

As the metal plate and cardstock come through the other end of the press tool, the pressure cuts the image into the paper and a die cut of the image or letters is created.

 

Repeat this step several times.  It's a good idea to target specific portions of the image with smaller pieces of colored cardstock to get the exact monkey part you need as you go.  This avoids cutting monkey parts in colors you don't need which would waste a lot of cardstock.

Once all the monkey pieces have been cut, separate the various cardstock pieces into like-shapes.  Then, put your volunteer staff to work assembling everything.

OK, I just had to throw in this photo of my little monkey-boy.  Jordy has the most adorable smile complete with irresistable dimples and a few missing teeth. 

Meanwhile, I think you can tell that this mini-assembly line is the perfect project for little hands. 

    

Decorative craft chalk (found at most crafts stores) is an easy way to add some depth to the die cuts.  Plain die cuts typically look pretty flat so when you introduce a bit of chalk into the picture it really helps the image come alive. 

After chalking the monkey shapes, adhere them to cut cardstock.

     

You can see how much nicer the cards look with the chalk-shading on the monkey parts and along the edges of the card. 

Pull out the label maker to make the ID's and a corner-rounder punch gives the cards nice curved edges.

        

By the way you don't always have to glue down every part of the die cut image.  I decided not to adhere the monkey tail to the card and I think leaving it loose and free-flowing adds a cute dimension to the project.

Another tip: Make the recipe cards well in advance of the fund raising date so you won't get jammed up making bread and cards at the same time the night before.  We made these cards several weeks before we actually needed them and it was nice to have them finished early and ready to attach to the bread.

     

The addition of the banana bread recipe (or just the ingredients) on the back of the card helps bake sale browsers know exactly what's inside the bread before they buy it.  That can be very useful information to many families, especially those with allergies in-house.

Print the information from your computer, cut it down to size, round the corners and use double sided tape or glue to adhere the recipe to the back of the card. 

      

Be sure to use the strong twist ties that come with the mini bake sale bags to seal the bag tightly so the bread stays fresh.  The mini bags with twist ties are available at most crafts stores that sell baking accessories.

A pretty ribbon is a nice way to finish off the packaging.  I love this green and white polka dot and the ribbon also conceals that boring twist tie.

Finally, add a strip of double-sided tape (not glue) on the bottom of the card to adhere the recipe card to the back end of the bread baggies.

If you tape the card so that the bottom of the cardstock is level with the bottom of the bread, that will help the card stand up straight for display.

Once the bake sale buyer has devoured the bread, they'll have this cute little card to hang onto for future reference.  This banana bread would look great on any bake sale table from any direction. 

I really think presentation is just as important as content.

We baked and packaged two-dozen loaves and I think an attractive offering like this is a great way to draw greater interest to any bake sale item.  

Huge thanks and hugs go my little volunteers for pitching in every step of the way.

         

By the way, I suggest you bake a few extra banana bread loaves to serve at home. 

When your young helpers have finished their monkey business, I think you can guess what they're going to want to bite into.