Scrappy New Year!

I'm determined this year to make a significant dent in my fabric stash. Starting now, all new fabric I bring in will be kept separate from the old fabric. I really just want to use up my older fabrics and have a stash consisting all of fabrics from this century! My goal is to make 12 scrappy projects in 2012. I'll be blogging about each one as I go. Wanna join me? I have a rough plan in mind. There'll be a nice variety of projects. Some small, some big, some quick, and some that I'll work on over time.

Leasons learned.

My mother doesn't sew. At all. I mean, she won't even try to thread a needle. That's fine . . . sort of. On one hand she thinks everything I do is beautiful. On the other, she doesn't see projects in terms of "easy" or "difficult". So one of her favorite lines is, "Oh, I bet Vicki can do/make/fix that."

Visiting Sunni

We're guest posting over at Love Affair With My Brother today . . . .

 . . . . . pop on over and see what we're talking about! :)

Worth Sharing

I recently came across a couple of blog posts that I would like to share with you. The first is a very touching story from a blog called From the Strawberry Patch; click here to read it.

The other one is a super fast and quite cute holiday snack idea from Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons; click here to check it out.

What fun holiday stories and ideas are you finding?

DEAL OF THE DAY!

Happy Holidays!!

We have some great news - starting today, throughout the holiday season, SassyPacks will be offering a special Deal of the Day at SassyPacks.com. The deal will be posted on our website at 9:30 a.m. eastern time, and will be available until sold out.

Today's deal is up - check it out, and come back to SassyPacks.com every day for a new deal.

Drop us a comment in the comments section and let us know what you think of our Deal of the Day!

Cyber Monday!

Hey Sassy Fans -- don't forget, 25% off all fabric by the yard at SassyPacks.com!!

Use coupon code CYBERM at checkout to save all day on fabulous new fabrics....holiday prints, stash-building Kona cotton solids, and more!

Also, beginning tomorrow through Dec. 20, SassyPacks will be offering a Deal of the Day - available only on our website. So be sure to stop by often to see what specials are in store!

During this holiday season, we are very appreciative of our wonderful customers who support us and other independent quilt stores. We are already planning for an even more exciting 2012, and looking forward to providing you with all your quilting needs!

Happy Holidays - and Happy Quilting!

Anyone home today? (and a sale!!)

Anyone else out there like me and staying out of the crowds today? I'm not a good shopper under the best of circumstances, so today I'd be like the person who gets on the Autobahn and drives 45 mph. I would just cause problems. It's best to let the "pros" have this one.

I'm busy getting ready for cyber monday - scouting out the places I hope have big sales on some of the things I need.

For those of you, like me, who are home today, be sure and check out the smokin' deal we have on all SassyPacks kits . . . 30% off!!

Wow! You can get Grandma Mary's 5-Patch

in gorgeous blues and greens for only $40.60.











That makes a 61" X 72" quilt top . . . seriously, how can you beat that?!


While you're there, be sure and check out the great sale on patterns, too!

And tell us - are you staying home, going shopping later, surfing the internet, or quilting today? Do you have a good/funny/scary/embarrassing shopping story to share with us?

Embroidery!

Everybody's into embroidery these days and we couldn't be happier about it! In fact, we've just added three embroidery kits (click on the links to see fabrics we used) to our SassyPacks inventory. How adorable are the 5 snowmen on this table runner?

Or maybe you'd like something a little more year-round. This wall hanging depicts the 4 seasons in the cutest way. They could also be made into individual pieces.

How about something smaller to give a cheerful greeting to visitors? Wouldn't this make a sweet house warming gift? We did our Welcome to the Hive in warm, modern browns.

And, to celebrate the introduction of embroidery to our store, we've teamed up with Kiera, who blogs at It's Sew Kiki to offer a special incentive to her readers. So jump over there and see what she has going on!

Join the fun!

I finished another Christmas Sampler block! Seriously, if you've been thinking at all about making this quilt, I have to say "do it!". These blocks are so much fun to make. Melissa did a great job on the design of the quilt and her tutorials are really easy to follow.

Two More Sampler Blocks

I just finished the Log Cabin and Wonky Barn Fence blocks from SewBitterSweetDesigns' Christmas Sampler. I really want to use all the fabrics from our fun and contemporary Santa's Chocolate Shoppe line,** so I decided it was time to start bringing in some of the blue.

Chocolate Sampler! Fabric Giveaway! Yum!

Ok, so not that kind of chocolate sampler! I'm referring to my version of the Christmas Sampler being designed by Melissa of SewBitterSweetDesigns! Her blocks are so irresistible that, if you look, you'll want to quilt along. That's what happened to me - it was never a question of whether or not I wanted to make this quilt . . . only which fabrics to use. My favorite Christmas fabric in the store right now is Santa's Chocolate Shoppe. And the quilt is a "sampler" . . . so . . . well . . . you get it.

Scrappy Project 1 - Finish

For part one of this quick scrappy baby quilt, see yesterday's post.

All of our purple and yellow blocks are pieced and pressed! The green ones go together even faster. For each block, use:
(2) 2-1/2" X 5" green rectangles,
(1) 2-1/2" X 5" yellow rectangle,
(1) 2-1/2" X 2-1/2" green square, and
(2) 2-1/2" X 2-1/2" yellow squares.

Lay them out as shown in the picture below:

Stash Busting Project #1

Lately, I've really felt that it would be a good idea to use up some stash. Like most quilters, I sometimes feel like my personal stash is just a little bigger than it should be. And now the store's building up it's own stash.

Please join me in any or all of these projects and share your stash busting ideas with us! This first project is a semi-unplanned quilt. I'm going to make some blocks to get it started and then decide on size and border(s) later. I do know that I want it to be a baby size quilt. I don't have a big stash of 1/2 or 1 yard pieces, nor do I have fat quarter bundles of entire lines. Mine are mostly odd size cuts and little chunks of fabrics.

I also know I want to use purples and greens. And I'll set them in white soft yellow. I'm going to make pinwheels - they make such cute baby quilts. Pinwheels and 9-patches; I really like 2-block quilts.

Sew BitterSweet Designs

      


We're really excited to introduce you to our new friend, blogger and designer,  Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs!  Melissa has been well-known in the blogosphere as co-blogger of Love Affair With My Brother. Branching out and starting her own blog is a giant step toward realizing her dream of publishing her own quilt designs. And we can't wait to see what she does!!

During the month of October, SassyPacks will be a sponsor of her blog! Naturally, we'll have a couple of surprises going on for you . . . so hop on over (tell her SassyPacks sent you) and follow her blog, so you don't miss out on anything!

Baby Gift Set

Look at all the baby stuff you can make with just 2 fat quarters and a half yard of double-sided terry cloth!

The internet is full of great tutorials on making baby items. So we realize we're not showing you something you haven't already seen. And we certainly think these items are adorable, but the primary purpose here is showing you how to get the most for your money. How can you beat 9 - yes nine! - items for such a small amount?

Always the last to know . . .

Does anyone else feel like they're always the last to discover an easier way to do something? Or come across a great project or quilt block, only to find out everyone else did it 2 years ago? I feel like I'm always playing catch up.

This little tip is probably one of those things, so I hesitate to even share it. But it's one I figured out on my own and I'm kind of excited about that!

I've always struggled with sashing when it's used horizontally and vertically around each block. I get the short strips on one direction. But then when I add the long strips the opposite way, things stretch or my blocks are off a little and when I'm finished, I have nice straight sashing one way and a jagged line of sashing the other! I'm always ripping out sections, repinning and trying to "ease" them in where they should have been.

I solved that this morning! Here's how:

I sewed my blocks together with the short sashing strip between each block into rows. Then, I added the long strip of sashing to the first row. Before I added the next row, I folded the sashing back down (right sides together) onto the blocks. Here I marked where each seam is so I can line up the seams in the next row.

Then when I pinned the next row, I had these little marks to line up with those sashing seams. When it was all done, all the sashing strips lined up straight in both directions!

Again, I suspect almost everyone does this. But if there's anyone else out there like me that struggled with this, please be kind-hearted and let me know so I don't feel so alone!

More Kona Cottons (and a giveaway!)

Aren't these beautiful colors for this fall? What a selection! I can't wait to see what the designers do with them.        

This Pantone page was from Fashion Week in New York for Fall 2011. (The Orchid Hush - a light dusty blue washed out a bit in printing.) We matched Kona Cottons in tone and/or shade as closely as we could and put them in fall bundles for you. Get them in FQ's, half yards or one yards!

And, to get you started on a trendy fall quilt we're giving away a fat quarter bundle of these new colors!

You can enter up to 3 times by doing the following:

1) become a follower of this blog and leave a comment here saying you follow us;

2) "Like" us on facebook (www.facebook.com/sassypacks) and then come back here and leave another comment saying you Liked us;

3) mention this giveaway on your blog, facebook page or tweet it and leave a comment here telling us what you did and where.

We'll select a winner Monday, August 15, 2011.

Mug Rug Quickie

Flying Geese Mug Rug

This refreshing, citrus-colored mug rug was made with a flying geese ruler and a few scraps from my stash! I made 4 lime green and 4 lemon yellow flying geese that measure 3" X 1-1/2". Then I added a one-inch border onto each side to get a rectangle shape.

A one-inch yellow and green print border was added all the way around. Quick quilting and binding - finished at about 8" X 10"!

And then another comment from Tucker:
    "How many times do I have to tell you those are doggie treats, not props!!"

Flower Garden Strip Quilt

Here's a quick and easy idea for using some of those beautiful large panels that have several coordinating fabrics like these from Free Spirit Fabrics.

We made a simple strip quilt with the panel centered. Here's how:

Kona Cotton Giveaway!

We're giving away a Fat Quarter bundle of beautiful Kona Cottons!

The bundle inclues one 18" X 21" square of each of the following:  Black, Medium Grey, White, Red, Pacific, Canary, Mulberry, Fern, Orange, Turquiose, Bright Pink, and Chocolate.

Here's how to enter the drawing:

** Be or become a follower of this blog AND leave a comment saying you already are a follower or just became one. **

For a second entry:

** Be or become a Facebook fan by Liking us at www.facebook.com/sassypacks  AND then come back to this blog and tell us in another comment that you already did Like us or that you Like us now!!  :)  **

Please be sure your email address is linked to your comment or added to the body of the comment so we have a way to get in touch with you.

We'll draw a winner on Monday, August 1.

Kona Cottons!!

It seems everywhere you turn in the quilting world today, you see solid colored fabrics! Almost everyone has at least one project made with solids in the works . . . including us! :)

So we're building up our inventory of beautiful Kona Cotton solids. We have bundles in a rainbow of colors that can be purchased in 1-yard packs, 1/2-yard packs, 1/4-yard packs, or fat quarter packs. What a great way to get started on your stash of solids!

We also have Kona Cotton in 2-1/2" rolls. Try a roll-up of Kona White or Black to use as sashing that will make your prints "pop". Or pick up a couple of rolls in Classic or Bright colors.

These rolls would make a fantastic, modern quilt with this pattern:

Perhaps a colorway of fat quarters is more your thing! Then you're sure to love Kona Cotton's Colorstory - we have three varieties in stock now: Cotton Candy, Evergreen and Hot Spice. Wouldn't they be fabulous in one of the City Quilts projects?!!!

Oh yeah - we also have Kona Cotton by the yard!. Or should we say, "by the $7 yard!" Visit our website, click on Fabric by the Yard and then click Robert Kaufman. Or just click here for a super speedy ride straight to the Kaufman section!

Binding 60 degree corners

I've always had problems binding around a 60 degree corner, like on this hexagon pot holder. (These corners are on a lot of table runners, too.) Yesterday, I decided to figure out what I was doing wrong! This is how I got my corners from this:

to this:

Mug Rug Inspiration

I love these little mugs rugs - I could have dozens for summer! Our patio table has a sort of faux rock top on it and when I set a glass down, it feels rough. These are so much more convenient than a big place mat and unlike a napkin, they don't blow away when I pick my glass up!

These fun and easy mug rugs were inspired by the fabulous Mod Mosaic Floor Pillow designed by super-talented Elizabeth Hartman ("Oh, Fransson!" in the blog world). We made ours approximately 7-1/2" X 9-1/2", but of course you can make yours any size you like!

For how-to details, click here to go to Elizabeth's tutorial:
http://www.ohfransson.com/files/mod-mosaic-floor-pillow.pdf

And follow our blog for lots more Mug Rug inspiration this summer!

Yankee Doggie Dandy

Here's the patriotic leash I made Tucker for the July 4th Pet Parade!

Won't he be handsome?!!!   :)

STYLIN' DOGGIE LEASH

I'm forever leaving Tucker's leash in the wrong car or at home! I usually realize this when we get to the dog park and I start searching the floor in the back of the Jeep.

Sweetie Feeties ! ! !

It's summertime and everyone's hot and a little bit sweaty! And it seems our shoes get the worst of it . . . ew! So here's a super quick solution! These little shoe inserts are filled with kitty litter which helps absorb moisture and odors. Stick them in your shoes as soon as you remove them to help minimize some of the ickiness!

QUILT UPDATE - Thanks April!

Remember when April (aka Polkadot Sparrow) did that fabulous 9-patch tutorial for us?

http://sassypacks.blogspot.com/2011/01/class-is-in.html


Well, she recently updated us with the details of what she did with the finished quilt top. Read the story on her blog:

http://www.polkadotsparrow.com/2011/05/rainy-days-and-mondays/

So today we salute April for her generosity. What a wonderful thing to do - I'm sure someone was thrilled to receive such a beautiful quilt. Thanks, April for keeping us in the loop!

Quick Mug Rug for Dad!

  

Need a really quick gift for Father's Day? How about a super-simple, masculine mug rug for his coffee and snack? This generous-sized mug rug is roomy enough for the larger snacks that Dad likes!

GIVEAWAY

Win both of these cupcake pot holders and the little project book filled with cupcake-related things to sew, quilt, knit . . . even recipes to bake a yummy batch of cupcakes!

Fat Quarters . . . love 'em or hate 'em?

I haven't always felt this way, but now I'm willing to admit it....

Delectable Mountains Tutorial

Delectable Mountains Quilt

Made "Wild" with Ricky Tims'

Oodles of Doodles fabric!
Finished size approximately 48" X 60".

It's tutorial time! This project is a stunning quilt that you can customize to make it your own. We can't wait to see your projects (share 'em on Facebook) and, as always - post any questions in the comments. We're here to help! 

Materials:

   2 yards Ricky Tims Oodles of Doodles

   1/2 yard each of 5 different solids to coordinate

Purchase a kit for this project!

50% ALL Fabric by the Yard!!!!

SassyPacks is having an Inventory Blowout Sale! You're not going to want to miss this one. We have all fabric by the yard priced to move at 50% off regular prices!!

A Favorite Tip!!

Diagonal Seams 

This is a tip I learned in a class many years ago and it's still one of my favorites. I use it a lot when making quilts and I use it every time I sew binding strips together.

MyRewards at SassyPacks!

We are SO excited! 

Just this week, SassyPacks launched a new rewards program for our customers, called MyRewards. For every dollar spent on products at SassyPacks.com, you earn one point. Accumulate 500 points, and you can redeem those points for $10 off your next purchase!

Here's how it works:

1. Place an order at SassyPacks.com. Once the order has shipped, your MyRewards points will be available. 

PILLOW CASES FOR SHEETS

These great little pillow cases are actually storage cases for sheet sets. The beauty of them is you don't have to fold those pesky bottom sheets perfectly to have a beautiful looking linen closet! Make as many as you have sheet sets for - all in the same size. Then fold your sheets to fits the case and stack them with the size facing you. Perfect!!

Use fabrics you already have or order a SassyPack -- our kit comes with enough fabric to make 3 cases (including the dotted fabric and a piece of steam-a-seam for the letters) at an organizational-friendly price!

 Here's what you need to make one:               

   - 16 X 34 piece of white fabric (body)
   - 8 X 34 piece of white fabric (cuff)               
   - 2 X 34 piece of contrasting fabric (band)
   - enough contrasting fabric to cut letters for king, queen, full, or twin
   - piece of steam-a-seam (or other fusible) for letters



For letters, use the free download from our website or make your own by enlarging the letters on your word processor and printing them in outline form.

Get Ready - New Stuff Coming!!

We have a lot of fun stuff coming to SassyPacks this year and we'd like to take a minute to tell you about some of it. Besides an array of new sassypacks (kits), we're going to share a ton of freebies! We'll be bringing you fantastic tutorials, free pattern downloads, Facebook giveaways, quilting hints, time-saving ideas, and motivational "clubs" like UFOs (unfinished objects....who doesn't have those??) and Stash Busters! We'll even link to other tutorials when we come across something we know you'll like.

We are going to make 2011 the year of modern quilting....and we want your input!! So be sure you've signed up for our email alerts, follow this blog, and find us on Facebook. You won't want to miss anything - like the really cool linen closet organizational tutorial coming in this week! Even Martha Stewart would envy this one!

Most importantly, we want to hear from you! Are there trends you're loving? Projects you want to try? Need a little motivation or inspiration? Share your quilting needs and news with us! And share SassyPacks . . . be a friend and tell your friends about us! They'll love you for it, and so will we! ;)

Class Is In!

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Is your New Year's resolution to quilt more?? Hey, me too!

So let's start the year off right with a super-easy tutorial. Our friend April over at PolkadotSparrow (read her - she's very funny) put together this fabulous Nine-Patch tutorial, using the oh-so-popular Riley Blake Rainy Days and Monday's fabric line.

Isn't this adorable?

The tutorial a great way to learn the basics, with step-by-step instructions and photos...and even if you've nine-patched yourself silly, you may pick up a trick or two here!

Get the full tutorial here: Nine-Patch Tutorial

Let us know what you think, in the comments. Did you like this project? Want to see more tutorials? Have an idea yourself? Share away!