Friday, September 14, 2012

Craft Book Month: Sunday Morning Quilts

Craft Book Month at Craft Buds

When Lindsay from Craft Buds asked if I would participate in Craft Book Month, I jumped at the chance, especially after she said I could pick a project from any craft book. If there is anything I own in abundance (besides fabric, of course...), it is craft books!
Full Partial Disclosure
I knew right away the one book I would choose is Sunday Morning Quilts, co-written by my friends, Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkinson.
I had done a review of this book nearly as soon as I received it back in March. And might have mentioned how I nearly screamed out loud was thrilled to see my blog mentioned in the book!
There it is--around the block designs--how I wish I could change my URL to live a colorful life *sigh*

Have I mentioned that I have stayed at Amanda Jean's house? Probably so. It is always a highlight so spend time in her sewing room (although this is now outdated as she has moved her sewing room to another part of the house).
And to sleep under one of her quilts.
 And to see the original ticker tape quilt (and you all know how hard it is to come up with something original these days!)
And to dry my feet on this fabulous little rug by the shower.
Oh, and we chopped rhubarb and had homemade rhubarb crisp, warm out of the oven. Yum.
Ahem. Back to the book.

I chose to make one of Amanda Jean's fabulous quilted storage boxes.With a little twist.

While I love the rainbow of boxes (and I really do plan on making my own rainbow of these boxes), I started with a pile of selvages.
I sewed them together on a piece of muslin used as a foundation. To keep them nice and straight, I drew lines about every inch of so.

If you are using scraps, not selvages, you can sew horizontally and vertically as your build your slab of fabric. I tried that with selvages. Doesn't work so well. Because you are sewing selvages to a foundation, you end up with raw edges. But rather than un-sew them, I just sewed over them. It really didn't even matter. Sweet.

I had some Malka Dubrawsky selvages that were short, rather than a long strip. So I just sewed them all together before I added them to the slab.

Here are the completed sides.

Amanda Jean recommends adding some lightweight cardboard (think about recycling your cereal boxes) between the lining and the outside fabric to give the box some added stability. But I found that because the selvages are a little sturdier, this wasn't really necessary.

The lining is from Violet Craft's Peacock Alley line of fabric. So cute.
My completed box. I LOVE it!
Perhaps I should make a couple more boxes...

I love this book so much. Amanda Jean and Cheryl have done an outstanding job of giving steps to get your scraps organized and turn them into beautiful quilts. There are lots of books out there giving us great ideas for turning beautiful fabric into quilts and other projects. But no matter what you make, you end up with little bits, and sometimes larger bits, of fabric. This book is a great addition to any craft book library.

ETA: My good friend, Stephanie, just posted a review of this book, including a giveaway. Don't miss it!

Thanks for stopping by. Here is a list of the bloggers on the hop.


Week One
Sunday 9/2: Hopeful Threads / The Jolly JabberMonday 9/3: Stitchery Dickory Dock / Me Sew Crazy
Tuesday 9/4: Olive & Ollie / Sew SweetnessWednesday 9/5: Fabric Seeds / The Busy Bean
Thursday 9/6: CraftFoxes / Stitched In ColorFriday 9/7: Katie's Korner / A Prairie Sunrise
Week TwoSunday 9/9: Sweet Diesel Designs / missknitta's studioMonday 9/10: Sew Tara / Clover and Violet
Tuesday 9/11: Sew Fantastic / amylouwhoWednesday 9/12: Projektownia Jednoiglec / Two More Seconds
Thursday 9/13: Ellison Lane Quilts / Don't Call Me BetsyFriday 9/14: Live a Colorful Life / LRstitched
Week Three
Sunday 9/16: Fairy Face Designs / Canoe Ridge Creations
Monday 9/17: Inspire Me Grey / Freshly PiecedTuesday 9/18: Lindsay Sews / The Cute Life
Wednesday 9/19: The Littlest Thistle / Sew Crafty JessThursday 9/20: Urban Stitches / imagine gnats
Friday 9/21: Sew Bittersweet Designs / The Plaid Scottie

Now it's your turn. Make a project and then link it at Craft Buds from Sept 23-30 from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 1!

30 comments:

05 08
Mama Pea said... #

I love how your box turned out! I need to make some of these. I think making a box like that out of selvages to store my selvages in would be fun. I need something to store selvages in, and I haven't used any selvages yet.

Funny, I was going to do a book review of her book and a giveaway on it today. I'll see if I can get it written. I worked 18 hours yesterday, and I just feel like vegging out today. (Too bad I have to work!) I'll link back to this when I do my book review. Could I post the photo of your finished box with your link to entice people over? (Or one of the other photos?)

Thanks, Cindy! I love it!

B Greene said... #

I agree with you 100 percent! Sunday Morning Quilts is such a wonderful, inspirational book! Loved your behind the scenes peek and your selvage project is wonderful!!

Lori said... #

This seems like a wonderful book. I will have to see if the library has it. Thanks for the inspirtation. I love the use of your selvages. such a cute project.

Lucy | Charm About You said... #

LOVE love love!! Gorgeous box for scraps :) And way jealous of you spending time with Amanda ;)
And now I'm craving Rhubarb crisp (I don't actually know what that is but it looks yummy!) x

Katy Cameron said... #

The selvedges were the perfect choice for this project after they gave you the mention and all :oD

Mary on Lake Pulaski said... #

Great little box Cindy. I think I'll do the same as Stephanie and make one like yours for holding selveges!

Rene' said... #

Great post and great twist on the storage box. Maybe I'll give this project a try....still haven't mastered the 3D thing yet ;-)

giddy99 said... #

Love the scrap box of scraps! Looks like you gonna need a bigger box, though... ;)

Terriaw said... #

How fun to get to participate in this blog hop! Don't you love making these storage boxes? They are so handy to have around. I love your selvage version, which is perfectly your style!

Tsoniki Crazy Bull said... #

I love that storage box. I have a couple of bags of selvages and have only used them to make a couple of pincushions. I'm thinking I need to make something bigger and these boxes look great. And I'm thinking they would make great Christmas gifts! I always need something for my Mom.

Kris from Duke Says Sew What said... #

Love that box! I think I will go make one!

Kristy said... #

This looks great! Fun and useful project. :)

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

I love your box and definitely see more in your future!!

Poppyprint said... #

What fun - love your selvage box and your 'perhaps I should make a couple more boxes' hehe.

Wendy said... #

gorgeous little box! I think I might beat you on the craft book front, I have an obscene amount!

Pieced Brain Quilt Designs said... #

Awesome box!I want one!!!

Vicky K said... #

Cheryl was at my guild meeting last night. What a pleasure to meet her!

I bought two of her books. I'll be giving one away around the last week of September. I'm so excited to read more in the books.
VickyKCreating.blogspot.com
VickyKCreating@gmail.com

Amanda Jean said... #

ah, cindy! this post makes me miss you so very much. i LOVE LOVE LOVE your selvage box. thanks for picking our book to post about. you are so sweet! (also loved getting a peek at your book collection! you do have a few.... :) )

have a fantabulous weekend!
xoxox

granniegee said... #

I just love this book, and each time I see it I want it more. You have a great blog. I love your tips and techniques and the little box is just wonderful. Thanks for a chance to win.

Cheryl Arkison said... #

Aw, Cindy. Such kind words. And I love that you describe a visit to Amanda's so well. I had all those same thrills! well, except we made tortillas instead of crisp.

FlourishingPalms said... #

Love your selvage container. Well done. Are you finding lots of sewing time these days? Hope you'll stop by and enter my giveaway.

Kris from Duke Says Sew What said... #

Ok I made one too! I'm gonna blog about it now. It's on IG, of course! LOL

MaterialGirlQuilts said... #

Cindy, that box is just perfect! I love it. Thanks for providing more selvage inspiration :-)
Amanda

Michele said... #

Great idea!

Suzanne said... #

That selvage container is absolutely ingenious. I love it and since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I may have to start one myself ASAP. I hope you don't mind!

QLT812 said... #

A gorgeous box made out of selvage. I'm glad I didn't throw mine away. Being a newbie I knew it could be used to create something very charming and very useful :-).

Maggie said... #

I bought the kindle version of Sunday Morning Quilts a few weeks ago and I have made 6 of the scrap boxes so far. They're so addictive! I love your selvidge box. If you get a minute you can see some of my boxes in my blog post here:
http://prettyflowersinthewindow.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/little-boxes.html
Maggie xx

vexa said... #

I wish I had so many books like you :-) Great box!

Carla said... #

Fabulous job on the box. I have yet to make one ; ) is it difficult?

OPQuilt said... #

Seriously. Do you ever sleep?

I love your selvage box and how fun it must have been to make a tiny dent in your collection--don't you feel positively wonderful about that? Such a darling box--I'd be filling it with stuff just to play with it. Need some more selvages??

:) E.