Birthdays and Blocks - TTMT #570 - October 21, 2025 - nmjewells (crafty ...

This week I talk about the latest awesome birthday gift I got from my BFF, Jennifer O (quilted by Jennifer R), her Star Trek Quilt! At the time this Rowalong was happening, I don't even know what I was up to but I didn't have time to sew along, and so this is so awesome. We were talking about that rowawalong and I talked about what rows I might include when I started mine and Jennifer asked me if I would like hers because she has so many fandom quilts. I decided that it would be amazing to take one more USO (unstarted object) off my list. Jennifer stopped her quilt after the Enterprise row. Neither of us watched Discovery, so that was perfect.

I also talk about my birthday, which happened to be the same day that I was hosting Paper Piecing Club and I showed off my October 5 inch finished block called "It's a Gift". The block is easy to make and the size can be adjusted up or down as desired. All 10 blocks that I have designed so far this year are available on the Hip Stitch website.

Stay crafty my friends!

Love,

nmjewells

Tag Your Friends (Crafty Show & Tell) - TTMT #569 - nmjewells - October ...

This week I talk about meeting up with friends this past weekend in Houston for International Quilt Festival. I was so excited to finally get to meet Jeanie in person, she's been part of out group here at TTMT for so long, and it was lovely to finally get to hang out with her and Jennifer R and Dominae and of course my bestie Jennifer O. We exchanged some gifts (I made luggage tags from this tutorial) and shopped, but mostly talked and talked. It was sort of a whirlwind trip, with me leaving Thursday morning and returning home Saturday night.

Things I talk about this week:

Zipper pulls from Threadcutterz

Embroidery patterns by Punkin Patch Craft Designs

My new Rotary Cutter from Linda's Electric Quilters

Rosie's Art Studio: Let's Create a Luggage Tag

Stay Crafty Y'all

Love,

Jewells

Project Teaser (Crafty Show & Tell) - TTMT #568 - nmjewells - October 7,...

This week I'm just popping in to say hi and tease a project I'll be able to show you next week. I've been upcycling clear vinyl bag holders that we used to use at the shop where I work back when we offered sewing machine repair. We used to use them to hold the paperwork so we could easily identify whose machine was whose. We haven't had a repair tech for well over a year now, and these badge holders have just been sitting around waiting for a new purpose. Well I found one and I will talk about that and show you what I made next week. If you happen to be at International Quilt Festival this weekend and see me wandering around, feel free to say hi!

Stay crafty, y'all.

Love,

nmjewells

From Clothes to Clowns (Crafty Show & Tell - TTMT#567) - nmjewells - Oct...

This week it's TTMT on a Wednesday... I talk about mending and clothing recon, what's working, what's not, and plans for more recons and garment making.

Things I talk about this week:

Base Cloth for a baja/hoodie - maybe I'll use Simplicity S9759... anyone used that pattern? If so what are your thoughts? I tried to purchase a pdf download but the website is down right now. Other pattern suggestions for this cloth?

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

nmjewells

Another Lil' Ghostie (TTMT #566-nmjewells) - September 23, 2025 (crafty ...

This week I talk briefly about last week's Paper Piecing Club and show another finished "Lil' Ghostie" block. "Lil' Ghostie" is my September block in my 2025 PP Club Pattern Series. The first 9 block patterns, up to and including "Lil' Ghostie" are available as a pdf download from Hip Stitch. 

Happy Fall Y'all... and stay crafty my friends.

Love,

nmjewells

Paper Piecing & Early Birthday (Crafty Show & Tell) - TTMT #565

This week I talk about Paper Piecing Club and show my finished test blocks for the patterns I'm releasing on Thursday. They'll be available, along with all the rest of the 2025 Paper Piecing Club Pattern series (which is available now) Thursday morning around 8am or so Mountain time. 

I also talk about the most amazing early birthday present: Jennifer O gave me the gift of TIME. Her time, given to me in taking on one of my languishing UFOs and finishing it for me, and my time, because now I have a finished object on my bed instead of a finished project hanging over my head. I had originally pieced these blocks into a top and did not like it at all. So I had taken it apart, last year maybe? And I sent her the blocks I received in the 2018 TTMT Quarter Log Cabin Block Swap, as well as the leftover blocks I had made in case we had more participants, and I sent a bunch of neutral fabrics she could use in the finished quilt. We discussed her laying out in a similar fashion to her finished quilt from the same swap, and then she started planning. She ended up having one leftover block from my extras that I had made and she even turned that into a zippered pillow cover. She backed both the pillow and the quilt in the most amazing mushroom fabric that is just super adorable. I love everything about this gift. It's just, well, perfect. Instead of posting a bunch of the same photos, I'm going to just link to her video about this quilt from this week so you can hear all about it directly from Jennifer. This truly was the best gift ever from the best friend ever. I love you Jennifer!

Love,

nmjewells

Sew-jo Suggestion Box (Craft Chat) - September 9, 2025 - nmjewells - aka TTMT #564

This week I'm talking about Sew-jo... how do you motivate yourself to do the stuff you don't WANT to do so that you can get to the fun stuff? I am having trouble motivating myself to clean and organize and purge, even though I know once I do I'll be happier trying to actually create in my space. What do you do? Asking for friend?

A Purrfect View of Chaos (Quilty Show & Tell) September 2, 2025 - aka T...

This week I talk about project room chaos and show my finished shop hop quilt called "A Purrfect View". These setting kits are currently sold out, but I plan to have the patterns available as a pdf download soon, and hope to have more setting kits available soon. This year's block ("Shroommates") and setting kit ("A Purrfect View" ) were designed in collaboration with my friend and cowork, Elizabeth Webb. We bounced ideas off each other, then she painted a mockup of our idea, then I turned that into a quilt layout in EQ and pieced the quilt. The quilt was quilted by Tisha Cavanuagh, of Quilt Icing. I'm very proud of what we accomplished this year with the block and the quilt, and look forward to more collabs with Elizabeth. 

Love,

nmjewells

Time to Hop! TTMT #561 - nmjewells - August 19, 2025

This week I share the dates and times for Albuquerque Shop Hop and show the Kokka fabric I bought to make new bedroom curtains for Miss P. Short and sweet!

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

nmjewells

Miss P and Sumi e (Crafty Show & Tell) - August 12, 2025 - TTMT #560 - n...

This week I talk about getting my beloved daughter Miss P home from Japan, and I show off the Sumi e paintings she did while studying abroad. Once again, I want to thank everyone that supported her Study Abroad fundraiser. That category has been removed from the Hip Stitch website, but you can still purchase my patterns there. I'm so proud of this adventure she took and I love the art she made while she was there.

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

nmjewells

About Sumi-e

Albuquerque Shop Hop

My patterns/classes at Hip Stitch

In Spinning Color (Crafty Show & Tell) - aka TTMT #559 - July 29, 2025

This week I show you my finished brand new Color Wheel of Destiny, a prize wheel I modified so that all the wedges are string pieced blocks, each a different color family. We will use the wheel each month at Scrappy Sewcials, a "sewcial sewing" event I created and co-host at Hip Stitch. Spin the wheel, and then go raid the basket of scraps from that color family to make your next block! Or aren't sure what color you want to use next? Spin the wheel! It's fun to let chance choose your colors and it makes it helps you avoid decision fatigue when you are working on a project. I also show you the scrappy improv blocks I pieced at Scrappy Sewcial this past weekend after unveiling the new wheel. Sew much fun! And that sound the wheel makes.... sew satisfying!

Things I talk about in this video:

Scrappy Sewcials at Hip Stitch

"Puzzling" - A Crafty Show & Tell - July 22, 2025 (TTMT #558)

This week I show my latest test blocks for the 2025 PP Club Pattern Series: "Puzzling", a modern take on the traditional Dutchman's Puzzle quilt block. I made two versions, one using all grunge and one using fussy cut scraps. I also talk about being almost done with my new Color Wheel of Destiny, which should be finished in time to make its debut at Scrappy Sewcial this Sunday. I'll show y'all the finished wheel next week!

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

nmjewells

Sampling & Shells (Crafty Show & Tell) - TTMT #557 - nmjewells - July 15...

Fabrics I used for this easy peasy panel quilt:

Classic Christmas Patch Panel (just 3 squares), Classic Christmas Collage in Parchment (2 squares), Classic Christmas Sheet Music in White (4 squares), Red Burlap Texture (4x 2.5in strips), Grunge Glitter Winter Spruce (4x 2.5in strips).

Free pattern for the Project Linus Sideways Shell Baby Afghan (aka Newbie Shell Afghan).

Stay crafty, y'all!

Love,

nmjewells

Halfway There - July 8, 2025 - Crafty Show & Tell - (TTMT #556) - nmjewells

Things I mention in my video:

Hip Stitch Birthday Bash

2025 Paper Piecing Club Pattern Series

Stay crafty!

Love,

@nmjewells

Fun with my Friends Crafty Show & Tell (TTMT #555) July 1, 2025

I'm back from almost a week in Austin, Texas where I visited my BFF and friend of over 30 years and her family (Jennifer O) and we did some thrifting and some LQS shopping. We also took a short road trip to visit a mutual friend, Jennifer R, in the Houston area! There's nothing better than getting away from work and recharging with your friends. Stay crafty, yall!

Crafty places I talk about:

Austin Creative Reuse

Sew Special Quilts Katy

find my patterns at Hip Stitch

Love,

nmjewells

TTMT #554 - nmjewells - June 24, 2025 - Dashing Sashing (Quilty Show & T...

This week I'm showing you the sashing fabric I purchased at Hip Stitch for a sampler quilt using my 5inch blocks from this year's PP Club Pattern Series.

Help support my daughter's study abroad experience in Japan (she's there now!). There are still a few physical items and patterns for which she will receive the proceeds. She's also currently getting the proceeds from any of my pattern sales, including the 2025 PP Club Pattern series. I've already added June's block, Hexplay!

Stay crafty!

Love,

@nmjewells

TTMT #553 - nmjewells - June 17, 2025 - Hexplay (Quilty Show & Tell)

I'm back from vacation and have a new thrifted top, a new haircut, and a new 5 inch pattern to release this Thursday at Paper Piecing Club at Hip Stitch.

Stay Crafty y'all!

Love,

@nmjewells

Sign up for Paper Piecing Club

2025 PP Club Pattern Series

 

TTMT #551 - nmjewells - June 3, 2025 - All the Pretty Wedges (Crafty Sho...

All of the scrappy, string-pieced wedges are done! Now I'm working on preparing them for insertion into my color wheel of destiny, so that when I spin the wheel they don't come flying out. So it's not finished, but the sewing part is finished, anyway.

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

@nmjewells

TTMT #550 - @nmjewells - May 27, 2025 - Strings & Things (Crafty Show & ...

Sorry I missed you last week, I've been working on something I can't show yet, but I did have some crafty time over the past week or so, and that's what I talk about in this video. I took a class last week with an out of town instructor and had a great time making art quilt bookmarks. Then this past weekend I started making string pieced wedges for a new color wheel of destiny to use at future scrappy sewcials. All in all a much craftier time for me lately. I also got rid of some of my personal scraps by adding them to the color sorted baskets at Scrappy Sewcial, and yesterday I color sorted the remining giant bag of scraps from my project room into ziploc bags and have them all in a single big tote bag to grab and sew with when I want/need a little bit of a color.

Dr. Susan Kruszyinski (my art quilt instructor)

Her two books: Starter Guide to Creating Art Quilts , and Art Quilts Made Easy.

Stay crafty, y'all!

Love,

@nmjewells

 

TTMT #549 - nmjewells - May 13, 2025 - Here Comes the Sun (Crafty Show &...

In which I show my next 5inch finished block that I'll be distributing this Thursday at Paper Piecing Club, "Here Comes the Sun". "Here Comes the Sun" makes a quarter of a sun design. You can use it as a single 5inch block, pair it with a second one to make a rising or setting sun, or make 4 and sew them together into a 10" finished full sun block! PDF pattern will be available for download soon.

January - April's blocks are already available on the Hip Stitch website

Learn more about Paper Piecing Club

Stay Crafty y'all!

Love,

@nmjewells

TTMT #548 - nmjewells - May 10, 2025 - Sew I Quilted (charity quilt show...

I'm coming to you a few days late, or a few days early, depending on whether I get another video posted this coming week, with 2 finished quilts that I donated at my local Project Linus group (Material Girls) meeting yesterday. It felt so good to finish two quilts from my two pants hangers' worth of quilt tops that have been languishing in my project room waiting to be quilted. I hope to be coming to you with more finishes soon.

Stay crafty, y'all!

Love,

nmjewells

TTMT #547 - nmjewells - April 29, 2025 - (RE)makin' It (crafty show & tell)

This week I'm talking about my current crafty endeavor, which is (re)fashioning clothing, to me it fit better either size-wise or personality-wise. There is no selvage name on the lightweight canvas I'm using to remake these overalls, so I can't share that, sadly. With my new work schedule I think it will be much easier for me to be able to post a video every week, and hopefully also to get more crafty-type stuff done every week.

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

@nmjewells

TTMT #546 - nmjewells - April 15, 2025 - Silly Scrappy Star (Quilt Block...

This week I talk about my newest addition to the 2025 PP Club Pattern Series, "Silly Scrappy Star", which finishes at 5 inches square. I'll be giving printed copies of this block pattern to attendees of this month's Paper Piecing Club and then next month it will be available to purchase as a pdf download.

Can't come to Paper Piecing Club? You can purchase a pdf download of the first three blocks now.

Stay crafty y'all!

Love, 

@nmjewells

TTMT #545 - nmjewells - April 8, 2025 - Tokyo Ramble (fabric/travel sho...

I spent the most of the last week of March and first week of April in Tokyo with my daughter, Miss P, as I tagged along with her as she traveled there for her study abroad semester. There's a lot more tell than show in this video, but I talk about some of the places I visited with and without her, and show some of the things I purchased.

The Sumida Hosukai Museum

Nippori Fabric Town Official Website

Quilt Party (owned by renowned quilt author Yoko Saito)

Tokyo Sky Tree

Sumida Aquarium

Shorter video next week, I promise!

Love,

@nmjewells

TTMT #544 - nmjewells - April 1, 2025 - Greetings from Tokyo

 

just a video to say hello from Tokyo. Technically it's Tuesday evening here, but it's very early Tuesday back home in Albuquerque, NM, so I will greet you with Ohaiyo Gozaimas. My daughter Miss P and I arrived last Wednesday afternoon and have been exploring the city together. She is now in her dorm as her Study Abroad semester begins next week and this week she is busy with orientations and the like, so the next few days I will be doing some solo explorations before I head home this Saturday. See you next week! aregato gozaimas love, nmjewells

TTMT #543 - @nmjewells - March 25, 2025 - Color Pop Blocks (Quilty Show & Tell)

Hey y'all, I am back with a short video after missing next week. In this video I talk about my plan for my #ttmtbom quilt, which I'd like to finish in April. I will do my best to post a short video next Tuesday while I'm out of town. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported my daughter's Study Abroad Fundraiser. There are still some items/patterns available in the fundraiser on the Hip Stitch website.

Stay crafty, y'all!

Love,

@nmjewells

TTMT #542 - @nmjewells - March 11, 2025 - A Frame Cabin (Crafty Show & Tell)

 In which I show you my latest 5inch blocks designed for Paper Piecing Club, which I host at Hip Stitch here in Albuquerque, NM. I'll be making last month's block, "Nearly Nine", available for purchase as a pdf download on the Hip Stitch website this Thursday, and the majority of the funds from purchases of these 5 inch blocks will help fund my daughter Phebe's Study Abroad in Japan this year.

Join me at Paper Piecing Club this Thursday!

2025 PP Club 5 in Pattern Series

Phebe's Study Abroad Fundraiser

Stay crafty y'all! 

Love, Jewells

TTMT #541 - @nmjewells - March 4, 2025 - Sewjo's Back aka All Caught Up

This week's show and tell is mostly SHOW! I am all caught up with the #TTMTBOM and my design wall is chock full of brightly colored goodness.

Get the links to all the patterns on the pattern archive page

Support my daughter Phebe's study abroad adventure in Japan!

Stay crafty y'all!

Love,

jewells

TTMT #540 - @nmjewells - February 25, 2025 - Interwoven (not) Diamonds

TTMT #540 - @nmjewells - February 25, 2025 - Interwoven (not) Diamonds

I'm back from a one-week hiatus after a brief bout of some sort of flu, and this week I am showing and telling about my next finish in the TTMTBoM, Interwoven Diamonds, from December. I decided once again to alter the pattern and removed the rectangles at the top and bottom of each of the 4 pattern segments, resulting in my diamonds floating in the background. The way I did this was extend a couple pattern lines on each of the 6 inch sections of the 12 inch block, reducing the number of pattern pieces and using a single fabric for everything except the diamond in each section.

This week I also talk about the 2025 Paper Piecing Club Pattern Series, the new patterns I'm designing each month to share with the folks that come to the Paper Piecing Club I host at the shop where I work, Hip Stitch. I've decided to make my original patterns for this series available as part of Miss P's Study Abroad Fundraiser, so the first pattern is now available as a pdf download on the Hip Stitch website, where they've graciously allowed me to continue to raise funds for Miss P's academic adventure in Japan. As with the rest of the items/patterns in this fundraiser, the majority of the proceeds of these sales goes directly to help my daughter pay for her Study Abroad this year (the rest just goes to cover things like cc fees, website fees, and taxes). 

 2024 TTMTBom Pattern Archive

Miss P's Study Abroad Fundraiser

TTMT #539 - @nmjewells - February 11, 2025 - Nearly Nine (Crafty Show & ...

TTMT #539 - @nmjewells - February 11, 2025 - Nearly Nine (Crafty Show & Tell)

This week I show you 3 sample/test blocks made for my new pattern for February's Paper Piecing Club, a PP sew-together that I host at Hip Stitch. The first attempt had way too many pieces, but the test was important because when I looked at the pattern again, I could see that it could be made with fewer pieces, so back to the drawing board I went, resulting in a finished pattern that I sent to my fellow TTMTers Jennifer R and Abbie D, who graciously agreed to test the pattern and offer feedback. The name of the block, "Nearly Nine", was a collaboration of brainstorming with Jennifer O., and I'm very pleased with not only the name but also the finished pattern and test blocks. At some point (possibly not until the last block is released, but I might start sooner) these patterns will be available as free pdf downloads on my blog. Until then, if you are local to the Albuquerque Area, come join us at Paper Piecing Club in person, as we sew together and share our favorite tips and tricks and best practices with each other. 

Meanwhile, there are still some items/downloads available in the Study Abroad Fundraiser for Miss P on the Hip Stitch website. Thank you so much for supporting this endeavor. I'm so excited for Miss P that she has this amazing opportunity to live and study in Tokyo for a semester.

Stay crafty my friends,

Love, 

Jewells

TTMT #538 - @nmjewells - February 4, 2025 - A Twist on November (Quilt B...

TTMT #538 - @nmjewells - February 4, 2025 - A Twist on November (Quilt Block Show & Tell)

In which I show you my versions of the Talk to Me Tuesday Block of the Month blocks for November, chosen by Rainey, and talk about changing one of the blocks and why. 

You can find all of the #ttmtbom blocks released so far in the pattern archive.

There are still items for sale as well as a couple of my pdf patterns available in the Study Abroad fundraiser for Miss P, and hopefully I will also get some new pdf patterns in there soon.

Stay Crafty Y'all!

Love,

jewells

TTMT #537 - @nmjewells - January 28, 2025 - Scrappy Improv Blocks

TTMT #537 - @nmjewells - January 28, 2025 - Scrappy Improv Blocks

This week I show off the three scrappy improv quilt blocks I made at the January Scrappy Sewcial at Hip Stitch this past weekend. I really enjoyed sewing, snacking, and being silly. It was a lot of fun, and there was even a brand new face this month. I love our little group of scrappy gals.

Stay Crafty y'all... here comes February!

Love, 

@nmjewells

TTMT #536 - @nmjewells - January 21, 2025 - XStitch Cat

TTMT #536 - @nmjewells - January 21, 2025 - XStitch Cat

This week I show a new craft for my daughter Miss P. She's at it again, learning a brand new craft, and this time it's counted cross stitch. So I show you her first ever attempt at this, and she did a great job!

There are some new items available in her Study Abroad Fundraiser Feel free to check it out.

Want to come do some scrappy sewing with me? Register for Scrappy Sewcial

Stay crafty, and try to stay warm, y'all!

Love, Jewells

TTMT #535 - @nmjewells - January 15, 2025 - Half a Heart

TTMT #535 - @nmjewells - January 15, 2025 - Half a Heart

Happy New Year! I am back in my project room with a brand new design and an actually finished block sample. *throws confetti* I've given myself permission to put a pause on the room organization because I really wanted to actually sew something. And so let me introduce you to "Half a Heart" my new 5" paper pieced pattern. It's going to be free on my blog after I've released it at the first Paper Piecing Club of the year, which is Thursday morning January 16 at Hip Stitch. Every attendee will receive 2 free printed copies of the pattern, so they can make one in the club that day and take one home for making copies. Then the free pattern will eventually make it onto my blog.

Phebe's Study Abroad fundraiser at Hip Stitch is still going well, and I'll be adding things periodically to keep it going up to and during her semester in Tokyo. You can find the items still available on the Hip Stitch website.