TTMT #493 - jewells68 - December 26, 2023 - 4 Finished Quilts

In which I show four "ready to donate" quilts that I finished for Project Linus last week. So far only 30% through the 14 tops I had ready to quilt, but after quilting like gangbusters I hit a wall and didn't get any further. I'm still very happy to have gotten 4 quilts quilted and bound and labeled and ready to donate in January. 

Stay crafty, y'all and see you next year!

TTMT #492 - jewells68 - December 12, 2023 - Progress! and a New Tee

In which I talk about Project Linus, sew days, pot lucks, and a snowman gift.

See the quilts Jennifer sent for me to donate to Project Linus in these two videos:

https://youtu.be/18RPujbFab8?si=q2P5sqfNsFNCnLTN

and

https://youtu.be/t1mB32fBWYI?si=VsAx5DQsgGgKyzhd

TTMT #491 - jewells68 - December 5, 2023 - Getting Stuff Done

In which I talk about making progress in my goal of getting 14 Project Linus quilts done (3 of 14 already quilted!) before the end of the year and a new Christmas panel quilt sample and video I made for Hip Stitch.

Stay crafty, y'all!

TTMT #490 - jewells68 - November 28, 2023 - Back That Quilt Up

In which I talk about my goals for the rest of this year regarding Project Linus, going through all my charity quilt fabric, and continuing my quest to downsize my stash and the number of storage bins in my craft room. I also show pics of the 4 fleece backs I managed to piece from remnants on my serger last week. Those backs will be used to create comfy blankets for shelter pets.

TTMT #489 - jewells68 - November 21, 2023 - Happy Birthday to Miss P!

In which I talk about my daughter's birthday and my new serger, with which I am already happily sewing together fleece remnants to help make blankets for shelter pets.

I bought my new serger from Ann Silva's Sewing Center which is closing permanently by the end of February, but they will have a new machine repair and service business opening by Mid-March called SewResQ, so I won't have to find a new place to get my Moxie serviced, yay!

Creature Comforts meets the 4th Wednesday of each month in the Hip Stitch Classroom from 1pm-3pm. There are details about the sizes needed and what materials we can use on the Hip Stitch website. 

TTMT #488 - jewells68 - November 14, 2023 - Scraps and Butterflies

In which I show two completed quilts donated to Project Linus this past weekend, a panel quilt (s) I want to work on and talk about hosting Scrappy New Year!

TTMT #487 - jewells68 - November 7, 2023 - Back to Quilting

In which I talk about mending, quilting, and trying to get some stuff done.

TTMT #486 - jewells68 - October 24, 2023 - Home again home again

Part 1 of my visit to see family in Clifton, TX. A huge thank you to my sister for room and board for the week, as well as lots of laughs and coffee and wine. I look forward to my next visit. Another huge thank you to my BFF Jennifer who was my airport shuttle for this trip. It gave us some bonus visit time each direction, but also made it possible for me to go and not have to rent a car, because one I was in Clifton I didn't really need one! If you get the chance, visit 5th Street Market and Nursery in Clifton. If you don't, visit Stem and Tallow for Sam's amazing candles and melts.

TTMT #484 - jewells68 - October 10, 2023 - O Christmas Tree Finished!

In which there is a bit of confusion about today's date! Also I talk about current local events, using Halloween scraps for improv piecing, and finishing my latest kit at the shop where I work.

Stay crafty Y'all!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Oh Christmas Tree Quilt Kit

Oh Christmas Tree (Panel only)

Diva 2 Quilt Pattern

Quilt Icing (Tisha Cavanaugh long arm quilting services)

TTMT #483 - jewells68 - October 3, 2023 - Project Juggling

In which my brain is clearly jumping all over the place! I talk about improvisational piecing, Christmas quilts, Halloween quilts, and a walrus hut, lol.

Stay crafty, my friends.

TTMT #482 - jewells68 - September 26, 2023 - Chain Piecing & String Piecing

In which I show a finished charity quilt top for Project Linus as well as another quickly completed project... a new placemat for future sewing retreats! It's so fun to make some projects that come together so quickly... sort of like instant gratification. Stay crafty, my friends!

TTMT #481 - jewells68 - September 19, 2023 - Thrift Crawl, Y'all!

In which I talk about my amazingly fun vacation at my BFF's house in Austin during which we did an epic thrift store crawl visiting all her favorites plus one she hadn't visited for years. We had so much fun, and we even visited Austin Creative Reuse twice, once at the beginning of my stay and one on my last full day there. I cannot recommend that shop enough, it's the most amazing resource for anyone crafty and they support the art programs in the schools and local artists, it's just a great place and I really wish my own city had something similar.

I did finish quilting the Halloween quilt sample I made for Hip Stitch and I show the finished quilt at the end. You can see the kit on the Hip Stitch website, it's called "Spellcaster's Garden Quilt Kit". The pattern I used is a Villa Rosa pattern card called "Quilter's Palette" and it was super easy to make and a great pattern for panels! I'm back home and back in the swing of things, but still basking in the glow of this awesome time with my BFF.

Spend time with the people you love, and stay crafty, y'all!

TTMT #479 - jewells68 - September 5, 2023 - A New Halloween Quilt in the...

In which I talk about making a new Halloween quilt to be a kit sample at the quilt shop where I work, as well as getting my recently serviced Moxie mid-arm quilting machine home and set up again and ready to quilt. Pretty much that's all that's going on... ideas for quilts and for the shop. And upcoming travel in the planning stages. All is well on the home front. Be well and stay crafty y'all!

TTMT #478 - jewells68 - August 29,2023 - Craft Room Chaos

In which I talk about getting my Moxie home from her stay in the "hospital" and the purging and organizing going on in the Project Room. The time has come to downsize my stash a bit, and I'll be talking more about that later, but for now just try not to get too stressed out about the vast amount of chaos currently cramping up the Project Room. Stay crafty, y'all!

TTMT #477 - jewells68 - August 24, 2023 - A Quick Hello

In which I talk about not doing any crafting, my Moxie being in the shop, and Albuquerque Area Shop Hop

Stay crafty y'all!

TTMT #476 - jewells68 - August 9, 2023 - I'm Home!

I just got back from a trip to help my sister move from one end of Texas to another, help her get settled in a bit, then I got to hang out with my BFF Jennifer O. My brother and sister and I had some family jam sessions where I tried my hand at mandolin... I learned 4 chords, lol! I got to spend a bit of time with my nephew, his wife, and their 4 kids as well as visit their beautiful plant nursery and market in Central Texas. I was gone 15 days, so I'm tired and happy to be home with my daughter Miss P and my husband K. Already back into the swing and teaching a class in the morning and another next week, yipes! The best part of coming home was leaving multiple days of 108 degrees and landing in 74 degrees and RAIN. We need that rain so badly.

I hope to be back to crafting SOMETHING or other by next Tuesday, but it might take me longer than that just to clean up the project room.

See you next week, stay crafty, y'all!

TTMT #473 - jewells68 - July 18, 2023 - TamaWow! The Race to the Finish

In which I talking about being close to finishing the Tamagotchi quilt, which is currently on my moxie's loft quilt frame, for my great niece. Making this monster of a tamagotchi has been a real adventure, from learning how to design a pixel quilt in EQ8 to be the "screen", then designing the giant paper pieced "egg" border in EQ8, to printing out all 100ish pages of the paper pieced border pattern and then joining them all together (took a combination of gluestick, a light pad, and more than an entire roll of masking tape). From figuring out how to insert the pixel quilt into the center and then piecing a GIANT paper pieced egg frame pattern (hint, I had to put a folding table behind my sewing table to help keep it from falling off the machine and table and use a metal yard stick instead of a post card to fold the pattern over the lines) to deciding which of the designs from the faceplate I wanted to reproduce from sparkly fabric for appliques to decorate the faceplate, and using every bit of double-sided, fusible, sew-able stabilizer I had lying around to make them into iron-on appliques, and finally figuring out how I was going to quilt it. I truly hope my great-niece cherishes it for many years to come. Regardless, the skills I learned (and the things I learned about myself) throughout the entire process of making this gift are truly priceless to me. I will make sure to get photos once it's finished, even if the finished quilt doesn't make it into my next video. Stay crafty y'all... and what's that old saying? "If you can dream it, you can achieve it."

TTMT #472 - jewells68 - July 6, 2023 - ALL THE QUILTS!

In which I show off FOUR finished Project Linus quilts that will be donated this Saturday morning, one of which came from Jennifer O, and three by me, including Dinos visit Beartown... FINALLY! Also the finished Dia del Los Muertos quilt, which I named ¡Todas Las Calaveras! , that I made for my friend Grace. It feels so very good to have gotten so much done over the past couple of weeks, but I am really going to need this vacation, lol. Now it's time to focus 100% of my crafty efforts on the Tamagotchi Quilt. Can she get it done? Only time will tell... Stay crafty my friends!

TTMT #471 - jewells68 - June 27, 2023 - Let's Do The Twist

In which I show 2 Project Linus quilts fresh off my Moxie frame, one quilt for a friend currently loaded, and a sample for my newest class. Stay crafty, y'all!

TTMT #470 - jewells68 - June 20, 2023 - ALL THE PINK

In which I talk about loading 2 small quilts on the frame, a busy week, and show you the fabric I'm using for my great-niece Madi's Tamagotchi quilt.

TTMT #469 - jewells68 - June 13, 2023 - Finished x 2

In which I show the finished quilts pieced by Sarah in Houston that I donated this past weekend to the Bernalillo County Chapter of Project Linus. I also talk about a deadline for the Tamagotchi quilt so that I can deliver it in person to my great niece, and, of course, I talk about magnets... as you do, lol.

TTMT #468 - jewells68 - June 7, 2023 - Binding

In which I talk about binding two quilt tops that were pieced by Sarah in Houston and quilted by me, which I am trying to have finished for this weekend's Project Linus meeting. A bit about the quilt shop where I work and why it's keeping me so busy lately.

Jeanie and Jennifer O, the things y'all have been through lately, oh my. wishing you all the best in your healing Jeanie, and you in getting settled back into your home Jennifer. Hugs to you both!

TTMT #467 - jewells8 - May 30, 2023 - Strippin' and Quiltin'

In which I talk about (finally) quilting up all my long-languishing Project Linus tops, including those from others, with my HandiQuilter Moxie. The top you see loaded on my frame was made by fellow TTMTer Sarah in Houston. You did a great job Sarah, it's beautiful! Stay crafty y'all!

TTMT #466 - jewells68 - May 23, 2023 - Back It Up

In which I quickly talk about what I've been up to in the Project Room, and change the point of view. I apologize for the weird angle. I was in a hurry to set up and in the process broke my tripod, so I stacked the camera on top of several things and thought I had it high enough... OOPS!

TTMT #465 - jewells68 - May 16, 2023 - The Tooth Shall Out

In which I explain my recent absence from TTMT and show a small crafty item from this past weekend. Fortunately I am on the mend and hope to be back to my ol' crafty self soon, once my energy returns.

Thanks for the well wishes over the past couple of weeks. 

TTMT #464 - jewells68 - April 25, 2023 - Tamagotchi Quilt "Screen" is fi...

In which I talk about my great-niece Madi's Tamagotchi quilt, which is well under way, how to proceed with the rest of the quilt, and upcoming travel. Happy early birthday to the bestest BFF (and host and founder of TTMT) Jennifer O ! Make sure you send good wishes her way this week. Friday is her birthday!! ((glomps Jennifer))

TTMT #463 - jewells68 - April 18, 2023 - Tamagotchi Quilt Begins

In which I talk about (finally) starting the Tamagotchi quilt for my great-niece Madi, and how pleased I am with how it's going so far. I also (finally) quilted the Dinos Visit Beartown quilt that I started several years ago. It feels good to be making progress on some projects that have been languishing. I apologize for the numerous uses of the word "chunk(s)" in this video. Not sure what was up with that but I was cracking up by the end of editing. Clearly, it's my word for the day, lol. Stay crafty, y'all!

TTMT #462 - jewells68 - April 11, 2023 - Panel Parts

In which I talk about my latest Project Linus donations as well as what I brought home from this month's meeting and what's currently on my sewing machine. The motto for this week is "Quilter Know Thyself". I've decided as far as PL goes to part with yardage that isn't at least partially pieced or isn't orphan blocks or chopped up panels, etc, because those are the challenges I like to work with the most. They get my creative juices flowing and are just plain fun to do! And if it's not fun why do it, right? Stay crafty y'all!

TTMT #461 - jewells68 - April 4, 2023 - Design Wall is Done!!!

In which I show you my totally finished, new floor-to-ceiling design wall, plus a few other additions to my project room. Photos at the end of the video before the credits. I am super excited to have this part of the re-vamp and reorganization of my project room complete and look forward to designing many a quilt on this pristine new surface. Such a happy camper today!

TTMT #460 - jewells68 - March 28, 2023 - Design Wall Progress

Today I'm sharing my progress on my new design wall, which is moving right along! For the tutorial on how to cut and cover a hole for your wall outlet in your design wall visit Wendi Gratz' tutorial or you could check out her entire tutorial, which I kind of wish I had first, then I could have avoided constantly peppering Jennifer O with questions, lol. I would say Wendi's is probably one of the best tutorials I've seen for this project, and I have seriously done my research y'all. Some that know me well might tell you I over think and over research things, but I prefer to think of myself as deliberate and thorough, lol. Curious about the new Paper Piecing Basics class? You can check it out on the Hip Stitch website. This Friday's class is almost sold out, need to schedule another one in April I guess! 

TTMT #459 - jewells68 - March 21, 2023 - Bowtie Top

Not a lot of craftiness going on lately, been battling lack of motivation, work, and sew-jo (or lack thereof). But I'm back this week to show you my finished Bright Bowties on Black quilt top and, well that's about it. Hope y'all are finding time to squeeze in some craftiness, even if you don't have time to tell us about it.

TTMT #458 - jewells68 - March 7, 2023 - Bowties and Birthday Blocks

In which I talk about working on some VERY old UFOs and a new design wall. Thanks for the inspiration to work on those UFOs Abbie!

Pattern for the quickie bowtie block (and MANY others) 

TTMT #457 - jewells68 - February 28, 2023 - News and Muertos

In which I talk about my pattern & kit at Hip Stitch (thank you Rainey for being my first customer!) , finishing the Dia de los Muertos Quilt for my friend, and what's on the horizon for March. Stay crafty, Y'all!

Southwest Sonoma Star pdf pattern download , printed pattern , Pattern + fabric

TTMT #456 - jewells68 - February 21, 2023 - Scraps & Cats

In which I talk about going through all my fabric bins, organizing, and culling of scraps. It's really hard to get rid of fabric, y'all. I am sure you are feeling me. As I go through each bin and look at each piece I remember things I've made with it. It's almost as bad as clearing out a closet or going through old photos. So many memories. But I have to make this room easier to work in and my fabric more inviting. So I'll just keep plugging away. That's the best I can do. Also, meet Zane Grey the Cat. His human is out of town again so I am visiting him every day this week. 

TTMT #455 - jewells68 - February 14, 2023 - Finishes and Fabric

In which I show my first two Project Linus donations for this year as well as some fabric and orphan blocks I brought home to make more charity quilts. I've been working on some things for Hip Stitch but hope to be back at the Dia de los Muertos quilt very soon.

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all! I love my TTMT sisters!

TTMT #454 - jewells68 - February 7, 2023 - I've Only Just Begun

Hey y'all! this week I give a brief update on the SW Sonoma Sunset Star quilt as well as talk about (and show progress on) a new, scrappy quilt I'm making for a friend. I'm having so much fun creating this scrappy stash quilt that I think I'm going to have to incorporate at least one more of these into my projects this year. There is something so satisfying about stretching your creative muscles to work only with items you already have on hand and still make something beautiful. I cannot recommend a project like this more, it really is feeding my creative soul. 

What's currently under your presser foot?

TTMT #453 - jewells68 - January 31, 2023 - Southwest Sonoma Sunset Star

In which I show off a new small quilt top I designed in EQ8 using some truly yummy fabrics! I really love how easy this was to put together and how easy it is to swap out the background fabric and change the whole look. It feels so good to be sewing again!

TTMT #452 - jewells68 - January 24, 2023 - A Pressing Matter

In which I show you my new pressing board and cover and invite you to join me for Paper Piecing Club at Hip Stitch. I'll be testing a new pattern today, and PPC will be meeting every other month for now, at least until it seems we need to meet every month. Stay Crafty, y'all! 

TTMT #451 - jewells68 - January 17, 2023 - I'm All Talk

In which I talk about the process of rearranging and organizing and a new shop sample soon to be in the works for Hip Stitch. Be glad I went with this version, in the first 5 takes I went on for like 10 minutes at a time, lol. Having as much trouble organizing my thoughts this week as I am organizing my project room. 

TTMT #450 - jewells68 - January 3, 2023 - New Year, New Hogwarts Stairs

Yes, y'all read that right, rearranging more. I know... I KNOW, but I gotta make this room more user friendly. Anyway I show you some new to me orphan blocks, and other donated fabrics I brought home from the December Linus meeting. I also show off my two fabric tree decorations together and talk about my new quilt pattern for my great-niece Madi, who graduates high school this year. Let's have a Crafty New Year, y'all!