Fall listings from the Quilts and Heirloom Team

Be sure to click on the seller's name to be taken to their shop in order to see their entire shop of  HANDMADE GOODIES.

Beautiful, hand crafted Holiday Table Topper Quilted Wreath

by rackinjean

Puffy Vintage Child's Quilt

by BlueRidge4Sisters



Heart Bookmarks - Set of 2, Coral, Purple, Green and Orange Fabric
by ArtfullySew

Molly, a hand knitted doll with two outfits
by StarryHomeCrafts

WACKY Wednesday Homemade Lap, Crib, Baby, Child, Love Throw Play Mat Quilt
by  QuiltSALAD

Madonna and Child Christmas Stained Glass Quilted Wall Hanging
by  greatquiltations

Quilted Floral Table Runner in Black Toile

by TheHomespunLoft

Holiday Quilted Mug Rugs - Set of 2

by clubaloha

Crochet Dishcloth-Purple with Multi-Color Stripes

by thegiftgarden

Star Quilted Coasters-Set of 4

by thegiftgarden

Gray Bunny in Soft Cotton with Patchwork Scarf

by littlepearlquilts

This is part of my WONDERFUL fabric stash

Youl'll notice some completed crazy blocks amongst the stash. Somehow a few balls of yarn found their way into the photo below. My name is Edna. I'm President of the wonderful Quilts and Heirlooms team. Thought I'd just show some of the wonderful fabrics that I've been accused of hoarding. Now who really hoardes fabric! We quilters, sewers, know that these wonderful assortments of florals, prints, plaids, retros, cottons, blends, etc. will go into some gorgeous project at some point in this lifetime or in the next. But you just can't accuse us of hoarding. We are fabric genuises. Just wait until you see the next quilt, purse, bag, tote, coat of many colors, diaper that we come up with.

New listings from some of our team members Dec 30, 2009

This is a lovely new brown and white quilt from team member Creationsbynoramarie.
++++++++++++++++++++

A new listing my member Quiltsalad/HandmadeDiva.

Crazy Appliqued Lunchbag Team Challenge

A lunchbag challenge was suggested for our team; with a deadline completion of August 31, 2009. Here is what two of our members came up with:
This bag was made by our StarryHomeCrafts . (click on either of the photos to be taken to Starry's Etsy shop where this lovely and very practical bag is for sale.)




























This bag was made by Quiltsalad:
(click on either of the photos to be taken to Quiltsalad's Etsy shop where this lovely bag is for sale.)

Never a dull moment

Sports Wall Pocket
Originally uploaded by starryhomecrafts

The picture I've included with today's post, is a wall pocket by StarryHomeCrafts. I chose this because it shows the variations handmade can bring to our lives. Whether you sew, quilt, crochet, knit, tatt or embroider, the possibilities are endless.

Items we create can be both functional and beautiful. There is creating simply for the artistic side and there is art meets function, where our skill can be used to create items we use daily.

Particularly today, many individuals don't have the money for books or a lot of equipment. Don't let that stop you from trying out various crafts. Your local library is still free and is a resource we can all use. The web is also a great resource for crafts. Below you'll find a few I came across on a quick browse this morning.

Crochet:
http://www.crochetcabana.com/crochet_dictionary.htm
Collecting and Caring for Vintage Heirlooms:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2148140_clean-heirloom-vintage-linens.html
Quilting:
http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbystepquilting/How_to_Make_a_Quilt.htm
Embroidery:
http://www.sublimestitching.com/howto.html
Knitting:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dkng/0,2044,DIY_18180,00.html
Sewing:
http://www.whatthecraft.com/index.php
Tatting
http://www.wikihow.com/Begin-Tatting

Let your creative side flourish and like us, you'll never have a dull moment again.

Spotlight on Fiber Artist Twentypoundtabby!

Tiny Doll Demo
Originally uploaded by twentypoundtabby

This tiny, almost 3 and 1/2 inch doll is just one of the marvelous creative endeavors being produced by the talented Denver, Colorado artist, Twentypoundtabby.

This very diverse lady is also a photographer and was kind enough to answer a few questions for me to share with you here.

1.In the range of over 50/under 50, where would you place yourself?

I'm exactly at 50.

2.How long have you been a member of the Quilts and Heirloom team and what made you decide to join this group? Are you in any other groups?

I believe I joined it right at the beginning which was the summer of 2008. I belong to EGADS - Etsy Guild of Doll Artisans, FAE - Fantasty Artists of Etsy, EtsyFAST and the Mile High Club (Denver Etsians). Right from the start this group was friendly and social so I wanted to join.

3.What do you consider your fiber art passion?

That's going to be hard to pin down. I sew, quilt, dye, embroider, felt, lucet chord, and do a little bit of weaving. Sewing Art Dolls is my biggest passion. I don't knit, which some people find strange because I have so much fiber.

4. Where or when did you learn this art?

I learned to sew from my mother at a very early age. My first sewing machine looked like -->this.

5. Do you have any encouraging suggestions or tips for someone new to your skill?

I've met folks who say they can't sew. To those I say anyone can sew if they take the time to take classes and practice. Very few people are going to be great at it right away - anything worth doing well takes study, practice and time.

6. Do you enjoy any other creative endeavors? And if so, could you tell us a little about them?

I paint, draw, sculpt, do calligraphy (SCA scrolls), bead, garden, and play a variety of instruments. I used to dance.

7. What is your shop and do you have other shops at Etsy?

I'm at twentypoundtabby.etsy.com and tabbytoo.etsy.com


8. As you look in your shop(s), what would be your favorite item in the bunch? The one you almost hate to part with?

Probably my dragon. I really like dragons.


9. Do you have any suggestions or advice for someone just starting out on etsy?

Not really. I could use more advice myself.

To see more of her work, in addition to her etsy shops, you can also find Twentypoundtabby on Myspace, Flickr and blogspot:
MySpace:
www.myspace.com/twentypoundtabby
Flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/twentypoundtabby/
Blog:
twentypoundtabby.blogspot.com/

Improvising Quilters

Youtube has some fantastic tutorials for crafty people. I was browsing through some videos today and came across two fantastic videos for creating your own custom sewing table. The author of these videos is a quilter and the table she created for her quilting is cheap to make and innovative.

Since I am currently working on a table not meant for sewing and have very little room to work with, I fell in love with this idea. A weekend project is in order! Here's the two videos and I hope you find them helpful.





See you on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Spotlight on Fiber Artist Stormeejean!

Late Autumn in Tennessee Duster
Originally uploaded by Stormeejean

I love this garment, created by another Quilt and Heirloom member, Stormeejean. Her etsy shop promises, "My only gimmick is quality". If you stop by her shop, you'll see what she means. I decided to interview her and share with you a little about this talented artist.

1.In the range of over 50/under 50, where would you place yourself?
Over 50 and close to 60 and lovin it.

2.How long have you been a member of the Quilts and Heirloom team and what made you decide to join this group? Are you in any other groups?
I don't remember, I know that I joined then quit then decided to rejoin because I really enjoyed the fellowship here.

3.What do you consider your fiber art passion?
I love working with fabric. I love the textures and colors and the way they all come together. Jackets are my favorite, I like the challenge of taking something that is worn all the time and making it different, one of a kind. But lately I have started quilting and I find that I really love that too. Only I think that I am more of an art quilter. I love to see the way patterns come together, no matter what colors or techniques you use.

4. Where or when did you learn this art?
I learned to sew from my mother and my grandmother, my grandmother gave it to me as an art and my mother gave it to me more as a skill. My mother was strict about how it was put together, she always checked my work from the inside out.

5. Do you have any encouraging suggestions or tips for someone new to your skill?
If you want to learn to sew, try to follow through on every project even if you mess up. I have learned that these are not mess ups but another way to be creative. Sometimes you have to put it away and come back to it later but always try to finish the project.

6. Do you enjoy any other creative endeavors? And if so, could you tell us a little about them?
Yes I have started crocheting, it gives me time to think about things like what am I going to make next, or meditate on something I read. Also it is so relaxing. I like crocheting with thread.
I also make casual men's clothes. I named the shop after my husband and his car.

7. What is your shop and do you have other shops at Etsy?
http://stormeejean.etsy.com/
http://bobbyjoes40designs.etsy.com/
http://relaxedhands.etsy.com/
Here is my blog;
http://stormeesewgoods.blogspot.com/

8. As you look in your shop(s), what would be your favorite item in the bunch? The one you almost hate to part with?
I love the Crazy About You" patchwork jacket. I love the way it feels on, it is made of colors that are neutral and looks good on you if you wear jeans or dress up.


9. Do you have any suggestions or advice for someone just starting out on etsy?
Just enjoy, and don't take it personal if you don't sell stuff right away. Some people sell and sell alot other things take a little longer to sell. Just don't get discouraged keep listing and don't give up.Join a couple of groups, get into the forums,and create some treasuries and also comment and click on some treasuries. You know what you made and you know that you loved making it, you know that you did your best, you know that you put your heart and soul into it,you know how long it took you to make it, you know what products you used to make it and how much they cost there is always people that understand all that and they are your target market. I could go on and on but I won't.

Be sure and stop by Stormeejean's shops. She is multi-talented and that quality she speaks of definitely shows in her work.

**Scroll down for our JOKE OF THE DAY****Featured Artist: Waterrose

My love of textiles has taken me on some wonderful adventures. My first love is quilting. My grandmother taught me to quilt when I was little and growing up in Ohio. We cut pieces one-by-one using what ever templates were available. Handstitching all of those pieces together helped teach me even, tiny straight stitches. First we made small quilts for my dolls and later in my life we made large quilts for beds together. She also taught me to applique.

As time has gone by, and now that my grandmother is gone, I have taken those basic skills and experimented with art quilts. There is nothing more freeing or more scary to look at your collection of fabric and just start designing. There is no right or wrong. If you make a mistake it generally turns into something beautiful and much different than your original idea.

My second love is embroidery. My mother's skill at embroidery was that of an artisian. She was so patient, especially since she was left-handed, while I'm right handed. Some of the stitches were difficult to master when you are wrapping the needle in the wrong direction! Since I do love embroidery so much, I brainstormed for a while to figure out a way to bring this art up-to-date. You usually see embroidery on pillowcases and I thought there was so much more to it than that. I had a stack of wool felt and some silk and then had an "ah ha" moment. Cuffs. Then I began designing some patterns that would fit on the average size wrist. This discovery has now led to my embroidery cuffs being featured in "Quilting Arts Gifts" edition in September. I'm also pursuing different quilt shops and craft venues to teach this wonderful skill. Stop by and visit my blog at http://waterrosez.blogspot.com/.

How About Grandma? - Dresden Grandmother's Fan Quilt Project

I decided to add these SCRAPPY FANS variations. You decide.

I can do these samples in ANY color combinations. Let me know if you'd like to see a different color combination.

Click for a prettier view.

How about this for a future team project?

(Must be finished in a 4 day period

Uh uh, 99.5 % of the team stampeded off)

It can be done in any color scheme that you like.

The fans can be foundation pieced or string pieced.

The dresden fans can be appliqued to the background, or inset.

The blocks finish at 8 x 8 inches. (You may make yours smaller or larger)

The finished quilt size is 60 x 60 inches. (variations on the block size will change your quilt size)

There are 36 blocks. (hides as I type that)

Can we get a vote?

Type YES or NO in your comment space below.

(Seriously, with our busy schedules, it could take at least 3 months to finish this one.)