Designers Quilt Show – Day 4

Posted on April 16, 2020 by debbiewendt

We are on Day 4 of the virtual Designers Quilt Show. Take a look at the next set of designers and what they are up to. Register for prizes and checkout websites, blogs and Facebook pages! Enjoy!

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Two Tip Tuesday – Quilting and Cookies

Posted on April 15, 2020 by debbiewendt

I have been posting about the Designers Quilt Show that is happening on the website of the same name. Tomorrow (OOPS, I’m late….today is Wednesday in MA!) is Day 3 and my site will be highlighted along with 4 other designers. Have you been following each day? It is fun to see what other designers are creating! On day 6 there will be a recap of all the designers. Be sure you check out the prizes page. Wonderful goodies to be won by some of YOU!

Speaking of goodies…the first day of the “show” had a recipe for the best oatmeal cookies, EVER! This is the recipe I used in my Home Ec teaching days. One of the first times the kids got to turn on the oven and cook during class. Credit for this recipe goes to my colleague Oletta Miller. We taught side by side for 7 years! I will include the recipe below for her Crispy Oatmeal Cookies that are amazing! What with all the stay at home time, I thought it might be fun to share one of my favorite recipes. This would be a GREAT time to teach kids how to cook and SEW! Start them young and teach them life skills!!

Crispy Oatmeal Cookies on
Hex-a-ma-jig Jr. Mug Rug

The Crispy Oatmeal Cookies recipe will be below.  Did you notice anything else on the photo?  How cool when I realized my flash made a heart shape shadow on the milk in the glass!

#1 – Teach the next generation how to sew and cook!  This oatmeal cookie recipes, besides being the best EVER is a great place to start.  The mug rug would also be a good sewing project.  The mug rug can be found in my new Hexie Fun Placemats and Mug Rug Pattern.

Crispy Oatmeal Cookies

¾ cup sifted all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups quick oats

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

½ cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F.  In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer.  Add egg and vanilla.  Cream together.  In a separate bowl put sifted flour, oats, salt and baking soda, mix well.  Add dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture, mixing with a spoon.  On a lightly greased cookie sheet, drop cookie batter (by tablespoon) on sheet 2 inches apart.  Bake 9-10 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from pan and place cookies on wax paper to cool.  Makes 3 dozen.  Store in airtight container.

Be sure to checkout the Virtual Quilt Show on Designers Quilt Show.com Day 3! 

#2 – Visit the designers websites, Facebook pages, blogs and instagram.  Signup for their newsletters.  Your support and purchases are appreciated.

in quilting,

Debbie

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Designers Quilt Show – Day 2

Posted on April 14, 2020 by debbiewendt

Today brings another round of quilt designers over at Designers Quilt Show!  I hope you will click over to the online “show”.  I’ll post the link for Day 2 below.  Don’t forget to register for the prizes!

I’ll be posting my Two Tips Tuesday later today!!!

in quilting,

Debbie

Designers Quilt Show – Day 2

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Designers Quilt Show

Posted on April 13, 2020 by debbiewendt

Day 1 is here for the Designers Quilt Show!

Visit our sight to see what 28 quilt designers are up to.  Each day several designers will be spotlighted.  So, come back every day to see a whole new group of designers!  The last day will be a recap of all designers.  There are PRIZES, be sure to sign up.  I’d love for you to be a winner!

Hope to “see” you there.  (I’m on April 15th.)

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Doing what we can!

Posted on April 7, 2020 by debbiewendt

I hope you and your loved ones are staying well and safe! First, I want to share a funny …..(I have permission to share!)
My mom and dad went grocery shopping the other day. Their store has their aisles set up with ONE WAY arrows. Mom was pushing her cart across the ends of the aisles, got to the end of the cracker aisle and the arrow was coming towards her. Soooo, she turned her cart around and walked backwards to grab what she needed. I laughed so hard!!!  This, my friends, is what an 81 year old does to make the best of a trying situation.  Love my parents!

More shows have been cancelled.  Vermont Quilt Festival just cancelled yesterday, I was going to be vending.  Thanks to a local designer I know, she has put together an online event… Designers Quilt Show.com!!  Great idea Kathryn!  I will be a part of this event!  My day is April 15 along with several other designers.  April 13-19 will be the virtual show.  Each day, except the last, will have 4-5 designers highlighted.  Please visit their websites, Facebook pages and blogs!  Shopping with them is encouraged and we are grateful for your support.

At the “end of the show” there will be prizes!  All the information will be outlined on the website.  I’ll post a full list in the next couple days.  We appreciate your support.  We love designing for you and look forward to sharing our world of quilting with you.  The link for the event/website is

Designers Quilt Show

I wanted to share the block I made last week for Beth Helfter’s “Order Up!” event.  She is the owner of EvaPaige Quilt Designs.  We ended up with 18 blocks and were asked to use all 18 in a block adding in what we wanted.  Below is the block I sewed after much play.  My block is huge, as my half squares ended up 5″ finished.  It was a fun project to make.  Now to finish it into something!  Maybe a charity quilt.

My “Order Up!” block

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for continuing to make face masks!

Face masks with inside pocket
and wire across bridge of nose

My tips today show how I make the pleats in the masks I’m making.  You can measure to mark exact placement of each pleat or wing it.

Most pleated masks can handle 3 or 4 pleats. 

#1 – I like to measure 1″ increments and fold to match pin to pin.  Adjust so the pleats do not overlap.

Folding pleat in 1″ increments.

Pinching a pleat.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m now winging it and not measuring. 

#2 – I pin to my wool ironing mat.  It really helps hold it in place.  Pinch about a 1/2″ pleat and press into place.  Making sure the pleat is lining up across the mask.

folding pleat in place

I then stitch a basting stitch across the pleats, removing the pins.  It keeps everything in place for the modified binding I put on the edge.  I prefer this method because I don’t have as many layers to sew through! 

Please stay safe and well!

in quilting,

Debbie

 

 

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Two Tip Tuesday – Staying In and Online

Posted on March 31, 2020 by debbiewendt

I’m sure most of you are doing the same…staying in and social distancing. I don’t like it one little bit! As I’ve said before, I’m a go-er. I do like staying in my p.j.s all day, but then I don’t get much done. So, I’m focusing on getting up and getting ready for the day. How are you handling things? You don’t have to answer that, but just know I’m thinking about ALL of you!

Yesterday I was sewing some blocks for Beth Helfter’s “Order Up!” online event. I like to support my local peeps/designers and I’m doing her event. I might see some of you on the call tonight?!? So my tips today are in relation to Beth’s preferred method of pressing seams…OPEN. (I usually press to one side, but I’m following her instructions.) There are pros and cons for both ways. I’ve come from a seamstress background, so completely understand the reasoning. It spreads to bulk of the seams. However, from a longarm perspective, I like to one side as it less likely a seam will open up.  Over time, if a seam does open up, by pressing to one side you still have that underneath fabric for support instead of opening right to the batting. Like I said, we have our reasons for using each way. YOU must be comfortable in each situation that you use your method!

To press seams open…

#1 – I first press the seam as it was sewn.  This helps “set” the stitches.  Setting the stitches “melds” fabric and stitches “together”.  It does make for a much nicer seamline!

Press seam as sewn to “set” the seam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – I finger press from the back, as I use the iron.  This makes sure the seam is flat with NO tucks in the seamline.

Press seam open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT #3 – Press the seam again from the front!  Again, being sure there are no tucks in the seamline.

Lastly, press seam from the front!
One good final press!

 

 

 

Open or side…make sure your seams are pressed neatly.  It DOES make a difference!!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Sew…what do you need?

Posted on March 24, 2020 by debbiewendt

I’ve been watching email after email about stores closing… for now, groups, guilds and shows.  (AQS Lancaster Downtown is cancelled, Spring Quilt Market is cancelled and AQS Spring Paducah is postponed to Sept. 2-5.)  Many are following each other on the web and showing what they are working on. We have been encouraged to make face masks for the health industry, but then gotten scolded for doing it as it is not what they think it should be. We don’t have the materials to make the N95 masks, but isn’t something better than nothing? We are sewing and making because that is what we do when we need to help. Let us do that! If they don’t use them, they don’t. Let us sew and feel needed! Make the ones you want to make, don’t judge, MAKE!! Make it how you want to. Give to those who will take them, they requested them, so we make them!! I rant, it is my right and now rant over.

Today, my question to you….what do you need? I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing.  My guess is that you are already involved in a sew/quilt along project.  Or you have mounds of projects you need to start or finish.  So, I want to know, how can I help YOU?
Do you have sewing/piecing questions?

Do you have quilting questions?

Do you have finishing questions?

Please ask in the comments and I will work on answering them!  I’d like nothing better then to be teaching a class or answering questions in my booth.  We’ll go for the safe distance and do this remotely.

Tip #1 –  Sometimes we need to take a step back and do what feels good to us.  Is that sewing?  Maybe.  Or sitting and watching a movie?  Maybe.  Or playing Sudoku for the 100th time?  Maybe.  Do for YOU!

Tip #2 – Check in on those you care about.  A text or call might just brighten their day!

This happened yesterday…

March 23, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

But this was a few days before…

Look both ways!

 

Stay safe and well!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – What a week can do

Posted on March 17, 2020 by debbiewendt

As I think about what to write… I realized how things can “change on a dime”, so the saying goes. One little week has sure changed the world we live in. I am trying to be positive! I find difficulty in hoarding for oneself and facts being skewed for panic, not practicality. I like to think of myself as a pretty common sense kind of person. I taught Home Ec, I lived in a third world country, I’ve spent extended amounts of time in other third world nations. People can adapt, take what you are given (or not given!) and improvise! In America we have the power to make things from scratch, we have running water, electricity, communication through phone and internet. We have doctors, nurses and scientists working on solutions. Please don’t be a part of the problem, stay calm and connected with those you love. And wash your hands…with soap and water. The simple things will get us through this.

My quilt guild’s show, Thimble Pleasures, was cancelled and they are working on a reschedule date for the future.  AQS Quilt Week in Lancaster was cancelled and will not be rescheduled, I was going to be vending.  I’m sending out positive energy that we can see favorable results SOON, as I really want to go to AQS Quilt Week in Paducah to vend, demo and share my love of quilting with so many of you, like minded quilters!  Please join me in positive thinking!  I will be vending and teaching at the AQS Nook show in Lancaster in August.  And many other shows through the summer and fall.  I have been chosen to teach at the International Quilt Festival in Houston!  I’ll be updating my website in the coming weeks to include these events.  I hope you can join me.

Yes, I’ve gone on a bit about the world we live in right now.  I pray it is for now and solutions can be found to keep us well and safe!  Start by keeping yourself and loved ones well.  Teach little ones to sew, make something from scratch or go outside and enjoy nature.  Spring is here and trying to bud out.  Hibernate when you need to and rejuvenate your energy!

Find a project that makes you happy and sew.  I have two wedding quilts and a nephew quilt to work on.  Plus some new designs for patterns.  I will be busy during my time at home instead of on the road.  Those who know me well, know I’d much rather be on the go.  My tips today are totally selfish for all of us…

#1 – Take time for you and your health!  Be smart in your choices.  Enjoy the ones you love and hold dear!

#2 – Take time to quilt.  It is our passion and where many of us find joy.  Check out your local quilt shops and small designers.  We appreciate your support so we can continue bringing you new patterns, tools and inspiration.

http://www.wendtquilting.com

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Hexie placemat report!

Posted on March 10, 2020 by debbiewendt

Wow! We had some fun making Hexie placemats! As I mentioned last week, I love seeing all the different fabric combinations. I’ll post photos below of the student’s results. It was a very successful day with a lot of placemats being made, quilted and one bound!

I’ll start right off with the tips…  Nancy brought her flannel mat that she lays out her blocks.  It can roll up, keeping everything in place.  Quick and easy to make with flannel, backing and a bias binding to hold it together.

Nancy’s design mat!

#1 – Use a piece of flannel fabric, mat or similar to arrange blocks, or in our case placemats!

Then Cheryl reminded me of a tip I gave when I was teaching the Lucy Boston Blocks…if you are having trouble threading a needle, turn it around. 

#2 – Needles are punched in one direction and easier to thread in the direction they were punched.

Look at these wonderful colors!

Christmas! By Cheryl G.

Great colors! By Diane Z.

Fruits! By Gretel

Purple and Gray! Lori L.

Yes, three! By Nancy B.

Blues! By Cathy F.

Glamour! By Suzanne M.

Cute Bees! By Tina B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in quiting,

Debbie

DONE! With Back to Front Binding
By Sue L.

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Two Tip Tuesday – Hexie Placemats

Posted on March 4, 2020 by debbiewendt

I’m getting ready to teach a class on Saturday, “Hexie Fun Placemats” for Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilter.  We will be using my “Hex-a-ma-jig” tool for cutting the shapes.  Did you know you can cut a number of different shapes with “Hex-a-ma-jig”?  Yes!  Full hexies, half hexies, diamonds, triangles and edge pieces.  Looking forward to seeing some great fabrics in class.  I like seeing all the combinations everyone puts together.

Here is a look at a few I have done…

Hexie Fun Placemat and Mug Rug D.W.

Kitty cats will love them, too. D.W.

Ruby likes it! Check out the dog bone fabric!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 – Use theme fabrics for FUN placemats to brighten up any table.

#2 – “Hex-a-ma-jig” is a great tool for using up your scraps! 

Oh, we still have a few spots left if you would like to join us for the class.  Let me know!

A huge thank you to all of you who shopped in my booth and attended my Learning Center demos in Daytona Beach!!  Even though it was cooler weather in sunny Florida, we enjoyed it!

in quilting,

Debbie

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