notes from Terry Ann

Santa's Belt Wine Tote

The Wine Tote from Let's Do Lunch has always been a wonderful hostess gift, so I decided to add a little something extra to mine this year! This Santa-themed wine tote is sure to be a hit, especially if it's filled with wine!

Download Santa Wine Tote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fat Quarter Christmas #9: Slumber Party

Elsa, Anna, and Olaf are having a slumber party and will need some snacks! I've found two delicious recipes: lemon bar buddies and microwave kettle corn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microwave Kettle Corn is sweet and savory - the perfect combination! Just stir butter, sugars, and oil together, mix in popcorn kernels, and microwave (I use an offset dinner plate to let steam escape). Salt when finished for a fast, easy, delicious treat!

 

Lemon Bar Buddies are fun to make with kids - just stir white chocolate chips, lemon curd, and butter together and pour over rice chex. Shake 'em up with powdered sugar for a yummy no-bake treat.

Download both recipes here.

Fat Quarter Christmas #8: Morning Noon and Night

Whenever I need a quick quilt for a gift, I make Morning, Noon, and Night because it is so fast and simple to put together. It's one of my favorites for that reason!

No matter which quilt I make, I like to finish the binding by machine because it is quick and durable. Here's how:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finger press the binding away from the center. Fold the binding around to the back and stitch “in the ditch”, catching the binding underneath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right before you reach the corner, look underneath and fold the edges exactly as shown. You may wish to place a pin to hold it. The side part must fold on top so it stays in place as it goes toward the needle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop with the needle down at the corner to turn.

Terry’s Tip: I like to fold each corner when I get there because if I try to pin them ahead of time it doesn’t work as well for me.

Fat Quarter Christmas #7: Happy Holidays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get the holiday season started with a Happy Holidays table runner! I love the star shape that this pattern creates, it's fun, festive, and perfect for this time of year!

The Happy Holidays table runner may look tricky but the triangles are actually made from simple rectangles! Here's how:

Fat Quarter Christmas #4: Bridget's Bagettes

Looking for a small and simple gift idea? Why not make some Bridget's Bagettes! Using just two fat quarters you get one in each of the three sizes. They're speedy to make and have an easy edge finish, no binding or fuss! Bridget's Bagettes are great for giving notions (how about some Wonder Clips!), gift cards, jewelry, and candy. 

Fat Quarter Christmas #3: Natalie's Napkins

The contrast fabric looks like binding on these reversible fat quarter napkins, but why waste time binding? Our Natalie's Napkins pattern includes a fast and easy edge finish that is much easier than traditional binding. Make luncheon or dinner size napkins. (luncheon size shown in jar, dinner size shown below)

Fat Quarter Christmas #2: Doll Apron

Josephina is ready to bake holiday and cookies and pies wearing her new apron. Even though she's not old enough to use the oven, she wants to wear her new oven mitts! She's excited that her apron looks just like mom's.

Pearl is wearing the child size apron from Mom and Me Aprons. There was enough leftover fabric to make a matching apron and Oven Mitts for Josephina.

You'll find toddler, child and adult aprons with a chenille hot pad in the Atkinson Designs "Mom and Me Apron" pattern.

Doll Apron and Oven Mitts: Download

Fat Quarter Christmas: #1 Monterrey Medallion

I'm diving into my fat quarter stash this week and each day I'll share my favorite fun and festive projects for everyone on your list. Each day I'll also share a  sewing tip, recipe, or decorating idea. I can't wait to get started!

Day 1 Monterrey Medallion quilt

 

We chose three completely different greens for the center star (above left) but when they were sewn together, they all looked the same. Out came the seam ripper!! Adding a lighter green made a huge difference (above right).

Lesson learned: If the colors don't seem quite right - try something else! Sometimes colors don't behave the way you think they will, and it just takes a few minutes to find a combination that you like better.

It was really fun to arrange and rearrange the blocks to try different layouts but we got the woodpile blocks all mixed up when switching layouts.

Lesson learned: It was faster and less confusing to stack the "lefty" and "righty" woodpile blocks in separate piles before trying each layout.

Favorite Layouts: We took a cell phone photo of each layout so we could compare them. Each layout uses the same blocks! Which one do you like best?

Stop back tomorrow for a gift idea for that special child on your list using just 3 far quarters.