Cookie Crumbs

 

This is my Christmas quilt which I named Cookie Crumbs, because it has whole cookies (fabric squares) and the crumbs (small scraps) put together to make a quilt I love.  I finished it in November 2020.  This quilt used almost all of my Christmas fabric yardage and scraps.  The only scraps I had left were fine to sort into their color scrap drawers.  

These drawers are part of a tower I got at Michaels.  I love how the color of scraps matches the color of the drawer.  

I started out making different kinds of scrap blocks based on the scraps I had in my Christmas fabric box.  I found it very helpful using the AccuQuilt 6.5 inch square die to square up the blocks.  

My scrap blocks included crumb blocks. scrap vortex blocks, quarter square log cabins, fence rail blocks, string blocks, and more.  I thought about placing the blocks around a Christmas Tree panel I bought on clearance.  

I decided I didn't like that, so I cut it up into more 6.5 inch squares.  This was definitely a project that evolved as I went along.  

It was becoming rather busy, so I decided to cut the rest of my Christmas yardage and use more whole 6.5 inch squares.  It was becoming an even larger quilt and I pulled out the third section of my modular design wall.  Most of the time I just use two sections because adding the third blocks the walkway.  

After putting up the whole 6.5 inch squares, I filled in with the scrappy blocks.  

Still busy, but I love it!  I got all those 6.5 inch squares sewn together and laid it on the floor.  

Then it was time for the golden cream border.  

The border really brightens it up and makes the quilt finish at 96 inches square.  

I bought three yards of a 108'' wide fabric and quilted it on the Bernina Q24.  I quilted it with my favorite loopy spiral.  The busy quilt needed a simple quilting design.  

Here it is before adding the binding.  I think the colors are the most accurate in this picture.  I bound the quilt in the leftover red fabric from the backing and took some pictures outside.  

It glowed in the late afternoon sun.  Then I took it into my bedroom to try it out on the bed.  

And there it stayed! What a great use of all of those scraps and leftover yardage.  It is no secret that I love seasonal quilts.  

XX,

Jasmine

My Modular Design Wall

I was finally able to enlarge my design wall so that it can be wider than 48 inches.  I did this by buying two more pieces of one inch thick foam insulation board.  Each of them were 24 inches wide.  I took the large flannel sheet off of my wide board, cut it into three pieces, serged the edges, and was able to cover all three boards.  It is attached to the back with extra strong Gorilla Tape.

I love my modular design wall.  I can have a four foot section like in the picture above, or I can add a second section with the corner cut off without blocking the walkway at all.  I make a lot of quilts 60 inches wide, and this is the perfect size design wall for that.

If I need a full six feet at the top I can use the other board and only block the walkway a little bit.

But if I want a really big board I can use all three.

This is now eight feet wide (minus the corner) and 89 inches tall.  While it blocks the walkway, I can still get in and out of my room.

I use a fabric scrap at the top to keep the design wall from tipping over.  I use the clips on my quilt hanger and then pin it to the board.  Monkey even tried hitting it from the back and it still stayed up.  I can use the extra big wall for a larger quilt or two smaller quilts.

A sneak peek at some stash busting quilts.

I can still store any or all of the sections in my closet and hang a quilt instead.  I love how functional and versatile this is for me.

Note:  The differences in white between the old section and new sections of my design wall is due to the fact that the four foot section is purple board and the two foot sections are blue boards.  They were purchased at two different stores so I could get the widths I wanted in the one inch thick foam insulation board.

XX,
Jasmine

New Design Wall

Shortly after we hung up my mini quilts, I got a new design wall.  It is my old flannel sheet taped to a one inch thick piece of foam insulation board.

It is stiff enough that I can lean it against the wall, and great for smaller quilt projects.  I am still figuring out what to do for larger projects, but here is a sneak peek at the first quilt I used it for.

I did cut the four foot wide board a little shorter to make it fit the space a little better.  When it is not being used I can hide it in my closet.

XX,
Jasmine

My Craft Room

{a picture heavy post}

I always love looking at the places where other people create.  I hope that doesn't mean I am nosy.  It really means that I am looking for ideas and inspiration.  :o)

I thought that it would be fun to take you on a tour of my craft room.  In the interest of keeping it real, I did not clean or put away anything before taking these pictures.  (The scribbles on the table and school notes on the wall make me itch to clean it.)  Yes, I am a bit of a neat freak.  I like to say that I am anti-clutter.  My sister-in-law calls me a minimalist.  My niece says I am OCD. 

I usually tidy up along the way while working on a project.  The messes my little helpers make only last a day.  Maybe two.  The only time it gets messy is when it becomes a dumping ground when I am too busy to sew.  (It usually means I am too busy to clean it up, too.) 

I have some crazy ingrained habits that anyone who sews with me quickly learns.  I have to have the garbage can close to the cutting table to immediately use.  I have to have my thread catcher right by my sewing machine for snipped threads.  (My 10 year old niece thinks it is hilarious, but she humors me when we sew together.) 

With that said, welcome to my craft room.  This is the view from the door the week I started my blog in November 2013. 



I should probably mention that my craft room is located in the basement.  It is the second largest bedroom in the house and has two large closets.  My husband is so good to me. 

I have a funny story about it.  When we first finished the basement, I was working with the cub scouts in my ward.  They wanted to see what the basement looked like, because we met in my home for our meetings.  I took them on a tour of the basement (remember these are eight year old boys).  I opened the door and said, "And this is my sewing room."  One of the boys said, "Sewing room!  My mom has a sewing drawer!"  I can still hear exactly how he said it in my mind.  Although back then (2005), this is what my sewing room looked like. 

Back to November 2013...  To the right of the door is my Horn sewing cabinet.  You can see a small scrap project next to my Janome 6500 waiting to be sewn into a doll quilt. Behind my machine is an extra table I sometimes use when machine quilting. (My cabinet does have an extension on the back, but when it is up I have a large hole in the corner.) 



On the large wall I have hung a queen size flannel sheet with thumb tacks.  My thanks go to Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts for this awesome idea. 

 

Continuing around the room, I have this Ikea table in the corner.  It is adjustable height, but won't go as tall as my cutting table.  :-(   I keep my cedar chest and garbage can under the table.  My large Cricut is under the bright doll blanket.  

 

 

I keep my computer under the doll bed when it is not in use.  It protects it from my little helpers. 

 



 

My sweet hubby installed these cabinets for me above the Ikea table. (You can barely see my birthday calendar hanging nearby.)   

 

 

The cabinets house pictures, cards, scrapbooking stuff, and my quilt books. 

 

 

Next to the Ikea table, I have my large cutting table.  My amazing hubby built the drawers himself.  Under the table I store a chest of scrapbook stuff, and some of my quilts.  I usually iron next to my cutting table.  But the scorched ironing board moves around the room as needed. 

 

 

Here is a straight shot of the quilt rack my wonderful hubby made for me.  (He is pretty handy.)  This is my Blushing Zebra quilt on display.  I call it Blushing Zebra, because the whole time I was working on it the phrase, "What is black and white and red all over" kept coming to my mind.  (Thank you, Boys Life.) Well since it is pink and not red.  It couldn't be a sunburned zebra.  Hence, it is a Blushing Zebra.  Cheesy, I know. 

 

 

Remember it is curiosity, not nosiness, that has you questioning what is in my closets. 

 

 

Okay, here is the messy part of my room.  I have scrapbook stuff, my embroidery unit, serger and some infrequently used clothing in this section.  (Including my old Boy Scouts of America leader uniform.)  The sides of my cutting table will collapse when I need better access. 

 

 

The next section of my closet has my scrapbook paper, cardstock, and other scrapbooking necessities.  My friend thinks I have a paper addiction.  When I scrapbook, I rotate my cutting table ninety degrees and use it.  Then my supplies are all right where I need them. 

 

 

The next section has my iron and ironing board (when not in use), quilting supplies, threads, batting scraps, and my other sewing machine (a Pfaff 7550). 

 

 

The last section has my fabric and scraps stash.  :D  I keep the scraps in those white boxes.  Yes, that is an Ikea Expedit hiding in my closet.  I LOVE it!  You can also see a batting roll peeking from the side.  (My larger roll is stored under the stairs.) 

 

 

So, after taking all of these pictures I decided to demonstrate how much I love my design wall.  I put the scraps from my Elk in the Pines quilts up.  The stripes will be the binding. 

 

 

But to be really accurate, I usually do my piecing with my machine facing the window.  Then, I can easily reach what is on the design wall while I sew. 

 

 

Then this becomes the view from the doorway.  Panda uses that black chair for his crafts while I sew.  (Making my room more child friendly gives me more time to sew near my children.)  I set up my other machine there when one of my nieces come to sew with me. 

 



 

Once again--in the interest of keeping it real--this is my awesome view from the sewing machine.  Please notice that I have a batting scrap taped over the part where the window slides.  It keeps my projects clean. 

 

 

Cheetah asked me, "Are you REALLY going to put THAT picture on the blog?" 

 

I said, "Of course!"  He thinks I am a little crazy at times.  Someday we may put a more interesting lining in this window.  And someday I will make a cute black and white valence. 

 

When I am not going to be sewing for awhile, I close and lock my cabinet.  Someday I may paint it white...

 

 

I seriously love this cabinet.  I move it around all the time.  For example, if I am going to machine quilt a large quilt, I set it up like this.  It really supports the weight of the quilt. 

 

 

This is why I have my Ikea table set to this height.  It matches the height of my cabinet.  I actually tape down the blue cutting mat, because it covers up this hole. 

 

 

When I have my craft room set up like this, Panda claims this little spot for his creations.  It is actually a table meant for my serger.  He and Monkey also like to play under all the tables. 

 



 

A tour of my craft room would not be complete without showing you my light.  I love it!  It shines light in all directions and helps me feel like I am not creating in the dark.  The fan will only turn on if I pull one of the chords on the light itself.  That keeps the little ones from turning it on and making my stuff fly around!  

 



 

 I hope you enjoyed this tour of my craft room. I really enjoy playing in here.

 

To see my updates to the craft room, click here.  

XX,

Jasmine