May for Me Celebration Starts Sunday May 1st !

WHAT IS IT?
It is for you!  
Take time for you this month!  
Take a break... 
Enjoy quiet moments...
Smell the roses... 
Sew stuff you want to sew...
Craft new stuff...
Cook new recipes...
Do stuff you want to do...
Take time for yourself....(I call that Minutes for Me!)


Join us... by following... by linking ... by tweeting... by sharing... and just getting tons of ideas.... sewing, quilting, cooking, crafting,  organizing...etc...  See the May for Me Page for linking and sharing.


Bloggers are joining us everyday sharing their posts. Some bloggers are doing sew-a-longs, tutorials and how to's and prize giveaways.  Follow along and you will be filled with ideas on how to take time for yourself and not feel guilty about it.  


You are important.  


You need to take time for you.


When I take time for me, I am happier person.


It is time to celebrate you!  May for Me!


A quick Giveaway!  Share this somewhere - post a blog about it and link it, tweet it, share it on facebook... Just simply share it somewhere.  Make a comment and tell me where you shared it.  Help us spread the word about May for Me!  - for You!

Win May for Me Note Cards!

Sorry - Only US and Canada Free shipping. 

International winners shipping charges apply.

Drawing May 2, 2011 6pm CST 

Celebrate You! May for Me!
Marcia

I'm Joining in on Wordless Wednesday! It's hard not to add a word or two... AND My Entry POST for Pets on Quilts Show!

See the link in my sidebar to see more pets and quilts!

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - Hot Pads or Potholders - Quilt as You Sew

Bonus: This is now available in a PDF Downloadable Tutorial for only $4.00  Click Here


My cousin Randy asked me if I ever make hot pads or oven potholders?  He said he doesn't like the glove style oven mitts.  So I decided to make Randy a hot pad for this week's Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday.

So here is my quick version of how to do "quilt as you sew" 

to make a fast hot pad...

I used red thread and odd colored strips, so you can see how it goes together.
I cut a piece of heat resistant batting in a 9 inch square.
Then I cut the backing fabric in the green tye dye fabric about 12 inches square.  I wanted to make sure it was at least 1 1/2 inches larger on all four sides.  Place the backing fabric with the wrong side of the fabric up against the batting.


Then I just grabbed some strips from my strip drawer.  Some were 1 inch wide and some were 2 inches wide and some weren't even cut straight.


Follow along with the photo instructions....Place strips on batting with the pretty sides together and stitch.  Then press open and flat.  The add next strip and next strips until you have the batting covered.

Hot pad/pot holder

.

I stitched with a red thread, so you can see the stitching lines.  Check the back to make sure it is laying out flat. If not press the back side out flat.

Flip over and fold the backing fabric out of the way so you can trim the strips. Rotary cat all four sides off, but not the backing fabric.

Your hot pad should look like this after you trim the strips.

Flip is over so you can see the back stitching lines.

Snip all the loose threads!

Flip back to the front and with the rotary cutter trim
you have 1 1/4 inches on all four sides.

Press up one quarter inch all four sides.

Then bring the backing fabric up and over to the front.  Pin at each corner after pressing.

Pin sides to hold in place as you sew.  Pull out the pins as you sew - do not sew over the pins.
I use a Zig Zag stitch as I feel it holds best and is forgiving if you don't sew perfectly straight. You could use an embroidery stitch also.  See how I stitched the corners in the next photos.

Here it is Randy!  Hope you like it.  I am making another one to match it, so you have one for each hand.


You could use this method of quilting to make place mats and table runners.  It gets a little tricky keeping the back flat the larger you make something.


Share your ideas in the comments... love to hear from you!


Thanks for following along!


Marcia


Linked with 
Get Your Craft On --- Today's Creative Blog for September 14, 2011 
Gwenny Penny's Point of View Linky Party for September 23, 2011
Sew Many Ways : Sew Darn Crafty Week #36 - Oct. 16, 2011
Chef in Training - Tuesday Talent Show #8 - Oct. 18, 2011
Pieceful Life Little Quilts Monday - Oct. 24, 2011


* NOTE:  I am sharing a construction method for making a Hot Pad or Potholder.  This is not a pattern and I did not get the pattern from somewhere else.  I am just sharing how I do "quilt as you sew".  Have fun making this sewing project.  Any questions email me  at  Marcia@craftysewing.com.

Winners Announced from Two POSTS - May for Me Celebration!

This Cake Bunny jumped into the little quilted keeper - Not the one that I am mailing the winner!  Gwen and Jerry brought my husband and I two little cakes from BonTon Bakery in Jefferson, Wisconsin.  Isn't the little bunny cute?  Photogenic?

Winner from the post dated April 19th Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - What are 2 Things a Quilter needs in the Spring?   Thanks for the wonderful comments!  
The winners are: Jorge and Evielynne's RV Road Adventures.

They win the Fabric and Toes Note Cards!   


Their comment was:   "These are so Florida colors - I need one for my hiking bag and Jorge said he'll make them using your tips... Hope he can get it done before we head to ID..."


Visit their blog and check out their RV crafting adventures!  Click on their name for the link.




And the winner from the post dated April 20th Is it a Quilted Tissue Keeper or a Cell Phone Keeper or a.... More Ideas... Thanks for the Great comments with ideas for the little quilted keeper!
The winner is Stephanie at A Crafty Scheme.

She wins the May for Me Note Cards
AND 
 The Little Quilted Keeper from the post!


Her comment was: "This would be perfect for keeping my cell phone face from getting scratched in my purse! Adorable!"


Visit Stephanie's blog and see her wonderful craft ideas!  Clink on her name above for the link.

Just a few more photos of our little cakes!

 More Giveaways in May - Check out the  May for Me Page!













Do you want a Made to Order Little Quilted Keeper?  Email Marcia@craftysewing.com