2020 Projects in my Studio

Happy 2020! It has been a strange year so far. I was busy teaching a Beginning Quilting Class for ages 10 - adult, with a quilting friend at our local library, then in March we had to stop the classes, due to our current global pandemic. These are days I am sure none of us have imagined. (I usually try to think of pleasant things, and share positive thoughts with my friends and family as much as possible. I am not a fan of horror movies!)

Hope you are all staying safe and using this time to find the positive in your life as much as possible. 

Here are a few projects I have been working on in my studio.

This is a pillow case I made as part of the quilting class we were teaching. It was made using a video tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. It was a lot of fun to make, you might want to try making one at home! Just search for Missouri Star Quilt Co pillowcase tutorial, and you will find the YouTube video. 

Pillow case made using material
in my fabric stash.

Close up of pillow case edge.

I also have some other projects in the works, and have been learning a few new techniques.

I had gotten a new Tumbler cutting die from www.AccuQuilt.com for my Go Fabric cutter. I used 5 inch charm packs and cut the Tumbler shapes from them, and laid them out in an improvisational design on my design wall. The idea was to play with hot and cool colors, using older batiks I have had, some new Tula Pink solids, and new Benartex Batiks I had. I also used fabrics from Connecting Threads. I like the charm packs, since you get a wide assortment of fabrics to work with. I used a larger blue batik fabric from my stash for the border. The cutting was fun with the die, since it goes very quickly.

Close up Improvisational
Tumbler Quilt

Improvisational Tumbler Quilt in process.

The only difficult part of making the Tumbler quilt, is getting your points to match perfectly! I am going to resew a few, just in case I decide to enter a show with my quilt. I may add some applique design on top. I have been working on several quilt tops so I can practice quilting them, also. The more you do the better you get at doing it! Most important is to enjoy the process and be yourself!

Last for now, I have also been learning how to weave using a Pin loom. I had wanted to do this for a while, then I found some supplies at some sales we went to. Finally getting to it, since we are going out less often now. It was easier to learn than I thought, and it is very relaxing. Here are some pictures of my supplies and my first woven square. 

Vintage Weave-it
loom instructions.

Vintage Weave-It looms and weaving needles.

Newer Weavettes looms in box and small plastic Weave-it loom.

There are more projects I have in the works! Will save those to share later. I hope you will use some time now to find things you enjoy doing, and don't be afraid to try new things and learn new skills. As I get older I am learning to be braver about life.

Wishing all good things to you in this strange, new life and world in which we are living!

Blessings,

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk 

Update - Completed God's Eye Gift Tag Ornaments

Happy December everyone!

I recently finished making my God's Eye Gift Tag Ornaments, which I had started in October. You can read about how to make the God's Eyes out of perle cotton and toothpicks in my previous October post.

God's Eye Gift Tag Ornaments, sewn onto tags and  before adding corner embellishment.

After I finished making the God's Eye weavings, I sewed them onto pre-made Gift tags, which I had purchased from Craftsy.com earlier this year, during one of their supply sales. The gift tags have a nice gold glitter embellishment on the bottom of each tag. To sew them onto the tags, I used perle cotton thread, and sewed two opposite sides of each God's Eye onto the tag. I poked a hole in the cardstock tag on each side of the toothpicks, before beginning to sew them in place, I sewed through the holes about 2 times, and took a couple of stitches in place on the back, stitching into the threads to secure the ornaments onto the card.

Completed God's Eye Gift Tag Ornaments, sewn onto tags and with added corner embellishment.

I then embellished the corners of each gift tag with silver spiral designs, drawn with a silver gel marker. I experimented with a heart design on one of the cards, but opted for the spiral design for the other cards.

I added a Holiday greeting on the back of each gift tag, with my signature.

All the cards (except for two which I kept) are on their way to family and friends, along with my Holiday greetings.

#ad - Craftsy has a Holiday sale going on now, if you click on the link to the right in my blog you can check it out! Their supplies and classes are on sale, and they have free classes and patterns which you can download, too. Their free and paid classes are all great, and you can connect with other crafters through their online community. It's a great way to get creative, and try out new things. I love Craftsy!
I wish you a wonderful Holiday season, and if you are not celebrating the Holidays, I wish you a Blessed Winter Season.

Sincerely,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk