Found a wonderful tutorial on how to make "quilted greeting cards" !! Check it out at:

http://craftapple.wordpress.com/2006/08/23/quilted-cards-tutorial/

Also, stay tuned for Part 2 of our Insulated Food Carrier step-by-step sewing tutorial later today!

Daisy Project #2

Part 1

Directions are for an Insulated Food Carrier

1/2" seam allowances throughout

Will hold a 9 x 13 dish

First:  CUT YOUR FABRICS:

From the fabric cut:      Two   44" X 11" pieces  - these will become the flaps

                                    Two   30" X 15" pieces  - these will become the handles

From the Insul-Bright cut:  Two 44" X 11" pieces

                                          Two 30" X 15" pieces

From the Velcro tape (sew-in type)  cut: Two 7 " strips of the loop side

                                                              Three 4" strips of the hook side

ASSEMBLY:

Lay ONE of your 44 x 11 inch pieces of fabric on the table with the Right side of the fabric facing upwards.  

From the RIGHT SIDE edge - measure in 7 inches towards the left and place a pin to mark the location.   Lay one of the 7 inch velcro pieces in the center of the spot you marked with a pin.  It will look like the picture below.  Sew the velcro in place.   Next, sew the second piece of velcro 2 inches to the left of the first velcro strip.

NEXT:

Lay the second piece of 44 x 11 inch fabric on the table with the Right side of the fabric facing upwards also.  This time, measure from the LEFT side edge 2 inches, center a 4 inch velcro strip and sew in place. Sew the other two 4 inch pieces of velcro 2 inches to either side of the first velcro strip you sewed.   It will look like the upper side to the left of the picture shown below here.    

NEXT: Baste the 2 pieces of 44 x 11 inch  Insul-Bright to the WRONG sides of the two pieces of fabric with the velcro attached to them.  When you are done, it will look like the picture above.

NEXT: You will sew (I suggest doing this by hand - unless you have a "walking foot" for your sewing machine) - the two parts together.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  Place the two 44 x 11 inch strips WRONG SIDES together (Insul-Bright pieces will be touching each other),  BUT the Velcro on one piece of fabric MUST be at the OPPOSITE END of the Velcro on the other piece.   (We will be sewing binding strips around the edges of these fabric pieces to finish off the edges - don't worry, we will be doing that later.)

  

Whew, several days with no internet server!  I will finish up some duties and get back to the computer a little later with some fun pictures...

Yay!!! Almost done with "Ferns, Feathers, and Cobblestones"

Excited about going to the AQS show!!  Photos to follow...

Yay! Tomorrow I'm off to the American Quilting Society show here in Des Moines!!  Can't wait!!  Watch for pictures!

Hello to my faithful few followers,
Our next Daisy project will be an insulated food carrier!  Great gift idea or make one to transport your holiday goodies to wherever you are joining family or friends!  Here's what you will need:

1 1/2 yard of home decor fabric
1 1/2 yard of Insul-bright 
18 inches of Velcro hook & loop tape
wooden dowel rod
thread
sewing machine
basic sewing supplies
iron, pressing surface

Instructions to follow within the next few days.

Thankful for a wonderful worship hour this a.m.

Last evening, we had the wonderful privilege of attending an Onam festival.  Here is an explanation of the celebration.  A special deaf friend of ours is from Kerala, India.  We really enjoyed celebrating the festival with the group of people who have immigrated to Des Moines, IA from Kerala.  We had a lot of fun!

Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. Onam Festival falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali. Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala.