Trick or treat?

Spider on Pumpkin!

 Retractable tape measure embellished with hand crafted flower and rhinestone spider. When you press Spider's butt tape measure rewinds.

Now on Etsy or in my Quiltess.com store.

How to make budget magnetic ring pincushion

 Save the top from orange juice pack, half-n-half or olive oil bottle.

 Use glue gun to attach little magnet to the back side of the top.

 Cover it with nice piece of fabric. Glue piece of felt to the back side. Ready!

 You can also make a fancy ring pincushion, but you need special ring and special glue for it.

And this little tiny magnet has nothing to do with computerized machines, trust me! It's not that strong to ruin any machine, and you put it on your finger! Even magnetic pincushion attached to my machine, you can see it on my video, doesn't affect my Pfaff, and it's there already for more than  two years! So, no worry about magnetism! Lol!

Read more in previous post.

You can also watch my demonstration video here.

My new little invention - magnetic ring pincushion. Highly recommended for basting and chain piecing

Watch video on YouTube how to use it.

One day after making lunch I hold in my hand two little rings, one from olive oil bottle, another one from orange juice. 

Usually I throw them away. Accidentally I put one on my finger and it fit! Just like a ring! What can I do with it? Nothing. Cheap plastic ring... Oh, wait, there is a little concave on the top part! Can be used for something! Well, the magnet will go there! And I can cover it with nice fabric on the top and a little piece of felt for the soft touch. That's how I made my first magnetic ring cushion. I call it Budget ring cushion.

Then I made one more, and more, and more....
All of them were sold at our local quilt show! Wow!
Since then I am an official collector of juice, creams and oil leads! LOL! Seriously! All of my friends and family members now are collecting them and bringing to me for my future projects!
I have quite a big collection of those right now!

 Now I also have some fancier looking rings! And they are adjustable! Fits any size! I also have them in 2 colors - gold and black. 

Don't be distracted looking for regular pincushion or even wrist cushion, just set your pins on the magnet on the side of the ring, which is the closest place to the sewing foot and needle, so you can keep sewing without moving your eyes from the needle and stitching line! 

If you are left handed, please, let me know and your magnet will be on the opposite side!

 You can purchase this magnetic ring pincushion now in my Etsy store or in my Quiltess.com store.

And this little tiny magnet has nothing to do with computerized machines, trust me! It's not that strong to ruin any machine, and you put it on your finger! Even magnetic pincushion attached to my machine, you can see it on my video, doesn't affect my Pfaff, and it's there already for more than  two years! So, no worry about magnetism! Lol!

Thank you!

Happy sewing!

Natalie

Flower and Bee on tape measure

I embellished retractable tape measure with hexagon flower and rhinestone Bee, cut off leaf shaped piece of green felt and attached it to the bottom to softer touch. When you press Bee's butt tape measure rewinds!

You can purchase some of them in my Quiltess.com store at Handmade section.

I am also happy to share with you my tutorial How to make Floral Tape Measure. Janet Wickell, quilting expert at About.com, generously offered me to publish it there.

Please, visit this page!

Enjoy and make more your own flowers! 

Quilts in Boro 2015

 Our local quilt show "Quilts in Boro 2015" is over. I entered only 2 quilts this year and both of them won the ribbon! And one of them also has Merit award from Tennessee Valley Quilting Association.

Posted with Blogsy

Big bag, little bag

Here are two bags to compare the sizes, one is similar to bionic gear bag or Sew together bag and the bigger one is Quilters sewing bag. Similar but not the same. I will explain the difference.

When you open those bags you can see 3 pockets in it. Sometimes I make them all zippered, sometimes leave one without zipper. After testing these bags for a long time and using my personal Quilters sewing bag with one simple pocket in the middle without zipper I can make a conclusion to myself - it's OK to have one open pocket. However if you like them all zipped, make all using same pattern and technique - it's up to you!

The second difference is how the pockets made! Every time I was reading reviews for BGB or Sew together bag I heard the same complain - pockets are not easy to make, so I decided to simplify this process and changed the concept of attaching and making pockets. This concept also allows to slide the ruler and small cutting mat UNDER the pockets, which makes this bag even more attractive to use the space more efficiently! The ruler is also make the bottom of the bag sturdier and keeps it nicely shaped! I really like this feature, so now I am making the smaller bags the same way, so that's why I call the smaller bag similar to Sew together bag, because it's not the same anymore! 

Quilters sewing bag is 13 1/2" long, so 12" x 6" ruler easily slides under the pockets!

The smaller bag is meant to be for smaller projects and probably does not usually require a ruler with you. However the size of the smaller bag allows to insert  8" x 4" ruler under the pockets to lay flat on the bottom of the bag, again, helps to keep bottom sturdier and in better shape.

One more addition to my Quilters sewing bag is detachable clear vinyl pockets! The size of the pockets is perfect to keep them on the swivel hook between the fabric pockets. You can keep all your small items in them - machine and hand needles, pencils and markers, plastic templates and paper piecing templates, small pieces of fabrics, threads, beads, embellishments, 1/4" or 1/8" lip rulers, etc - and they are see through, which is very convenient! These clear bags make the whole bag is even more organized and more attractive! (See these clear bags with yellow closures on the right side of the bag). I also attach a little piece of felt on the side to use it as a pincushion.

And I always use double puller zipper for my bags! It's so much more convenient! You can open it from the center slightly or all the way!

Now, if you attach handles to this bag you can use it as a regular purse!

Or travel bag! Perfect size to put your flat iron, brush and beauty stuff in it! Think about it when you want to make a personal gift for your friends or family members! I made two of these bags for my Sisters-in-law as a birthday gifts! They are happy to have it, as far as I know!

You can find tutorial for my Quilters sewing bag in my Etsy store here. Or, if you don't want to use Etsy and want to pay by card, you can purchase it in my Quiltess.com store

If you want to make your own bag but not sure if you can find all supplies for it you can buy the kit of supplies here.

Need clear bags to attach to your bag? Buy them here, 5 for $5 and FREE SHIPPING within USA.

Happy sewing!

Natalie Quiltessa