Our Beatitudes Panel and a Great Friend

We recently got a chance to visit with one of our amazing customers at a quilt show.  She mentioned that she had bought one of our panels to make a quilt for a friend.  Here is the story:

When I saw it, I immediately thought of my friend Deb.  We've know each other since 9th grade - I say that's since God invented dirt, but Deb claims it's since the beginning of all time.  We are both blessed with brothers, so we also recognize one another as the sisters we should have had.  Yes, it's that kind of friendship/kinship/sisterhood.  

A few years ago, Deb went with me to the Dallas Quilt Show, which is when I bought fat quarters that weren't in my normal favorites range for colors or prints.  Don't know why I bought them, but I figured there was reason, so I put them aside until the reason presented itself... scrap-logic all quilters understand.  And, lo and behold, the reason presented itself when I saw the Beatitudes panel last summer at the Plano Quilt Show.  

The fat quarters, the Beatitudes, the randomness/precision design... it all came together in a single weekend to make a Blessing cover for Deb.   And the name of the Quilt?  "Friendship is a Blessing".  

Here's hoping my story brightens your day, Sarah.

Take a look at this beautiful quilt - and may it inspire you to make something lovely for a friend or loved one this weekend.

Happy Sewing ~Jill

Kaylin the Amazing!

I have an awesome in-law family (as you might know, Karen is my mother-in-law and partner in crime).  I'm married to the oldest of her 4 children, and 3 of them all decided to get married in a 5 month time frame.  Because of that, naturally we all had children together - there are 14 of them ranging from almost 13 down to 3-1/2.  Christmas time with all these kiddos are super fun and crazy.  Because of the number, we all draw names so each kid buys for one of their cousins.

Long story short, this year my oldest picked Kaylin, one of my adorable 4 year old nieces.  She has always been a kid who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to tell you.  So I decided to ask her what she would like me to make her.  She very specifically told me she wanted a pink and purple cape with a heart on with a "K".

So, I found a great (and easy) tutorial on Pinterest and got to work.  I dug through my stash of Moda fabric and found the perfect pink and purple combo, along with a cute printed fabric.

Her nickname is "Bird" so we decided to use a decorative bird stitch to finish off the edge.

This project also allowed me to play with my new embroidery machine, so it was a double win for me!

~Happy Sewing!

Quilting is as Easy as... 1, 2, 3!

Are you an admirer of quilts?  Do you long to wrap yourself up in a beautiful, warm creation that we made by you?  Can you sew a straight line?  Than with our 1, 2, 3 method, ANYONE (even you) can be a quilter!

Supplies need:

• (3) 1-yard pieces of coordinating fabric
• Rotary Mat
• Rotary Cutter
• Ruler
• 3 Yard piece of Quilter's Grid
• Iron & Ironing board
• Sewing Machine
• Thread

Steps:

• Cut each of your 1 yard pieces of fabric into 6" strips.  Each 1 yard piece will give you (6) 6" strips
  
• Then cut all the 6" strips into 6" x 6" squares.  You will get (7) 6"x6" squares per strip for a total of (42) squares per 1 yard piece of fabric.  You will end up with (126) squares when all your 3 yards have been cut.
   
• You will need to cut off 6-8" of the bottom of your piece of grid.  Lay vertically on end to add to the overall width.  You will then lay out your squares on the Quilter's Grid using the 1, 2, 3 pattern.  Your quilt will be 9 squares across by 14 squares down.
  
• Continue laying out all the rows and iron into place.
  
• Once all your squares are ironed into place, you will fold over each row and sew a 1/4" seam (or just use the edge of your foot).  Either is fine as long as you are consistent.
• Sew one direction, iron all seams one direction, and then sew the seams going the other direction until all seams are sewn.  The press to lay all seams flat.
  
• Now you are ready to baste, quilt, and bind in your favorite way.  Finished quilt top measures approximately 48" x 74", depending on your seam size.

Check out our YouTube video to see how to use the Quilter's Grid.  And visit our website for all your quilting (and vintage-inspired home) goods.

~Happy Sewing!

A Snuggly Quilt for my Dad

My dad, like a lot of dads out there, is really hard to shop for.  So this year for Christmas, I wanted to do something for him besides just buying another gift card.

When we got our "Generation Gap" panel in featuring the Pickles comic by Brian Crane, I just knew it would be perfect for my dad.  So, I got out some of my Moda Jelly Roll strips and other coordinating fabrics and got to creating.

The smaller comic strip blocks weren't completely square so I decided to do a reverse applique technique.  Hope this inspires you to make something for that special dad/grandpa in your life!

~Happy Sewing!

What Cancer CANNOT Do - Quilt Tutorial

Hello Friends!  I have come up with a quick, easy, and fun quilt tutorial for all those wonderful quilters out there!  Even if you aren't an expert, this is a quilt that anyone who can sew a straight line can make :)

Supplies:

• "What Cancer Cannot Do" fabric panel
• Approx. 1/2 yard of Dinky Dots - Pink
• Approx. 1/2 yard of Dinky Dots - Lime Green
• Approx 1 yard of Sew Many Ladies - White
• Approx 1+ yard of fusible Quilter's Grid
• Approx. 1 yard of backing fabric - I used the Dinky Dots - Lime Green
• Luna Loft 80/20 Blend Batting
• Thread
• Basting Spray
  

Steps:

1. Iron "What Cancer Cannot Do" fabric panel flat and cut out sayings to the same size (approx 3.5" x 6.5")
2. Cut (6) 2.5" wide strips of both the Dinky Dots - Pink and the Dinky Dots - Lime Green fabric.
3. Line up the strips together and cut the same height of the sayings (approx 3.5").  You will need 2 of 3.5" pieces for each saying - there are 12.  You will do 12 pieces of the pink and 12 pieces of the green fabric.
4. Sew 1 piece onto each side of the saying.  Press open.
   
5. Measure across the middle of the finished piece.  Cut 12 2.5" wide pieces of the pink and 12 pieces of the green fabric.
6. Sew 1 piece onto each side of the saying.  Press open.
   
7. Measure your finished blocks and cut 12 blocks of the Sew Many Ladies - White to the same dimensions.
8. Layout quilt blocks per the pattern and iron onto the Quilter's Grid.  If you would like to see how to use the grid, watch our YouTube video.
   
9. Flip and sew each row to complete the quilt top.
10. Press top nice and flat.
    
11. Bast your quilt top to the Luna Loft 80/20 Blend Batting and backing fabric using Basting Spray.  If you have never used this AH-MAZING product - order yours today!!!!  It will save you SOOO much time, energy, and knees (if you are one to climb around the floor pins your quilt for hours).
12. Quilt and bind as you desire.

And you are done!  This quilt makes a fabulous gift for those in the middle of their treatment and those amazing survivors among us!

~Happy Sewing!

Bragging Rights - Peggy

At our recent show for the Plano Quilt Guild, we got to see and visit with one of our good customers, Peggy.  She had told us that the fabric she bought from us at another one of our shows had turned into a beautiful Saw Tooth Log Cabin Quilt.

And she was right.  Check out this GORGEOUS quilt she made using Moda Fabrics.  Along with the quilting done by Richard Larson, she now has a treasured keepsake to last for generations to come.

Remember, send us your pictures of what you have made and we will brag on you too.  Email them to me at jsmisek@homealamode.com or just post them to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/homealamode.

~Happy Sewing!

It's Time for Another "Affair"

Once again, the ladies of Home a la mode loaded up the trailer (a day early this time;)) and headed up north to the Tulsa Expo Center.  Being that this is one of the hottest shows we do, we were praying for cooler weather.  But as you all know, cooler weather in the south during the summer only comes with a rain storm.  So, we got a little wet unloading, but at least we didn't sweat as bad (see, there is an upside to everything).

If you are in the Tulsa area, or are just looking for an excuse for an impromptu road trip, head on out to the Affair of the Heart show.  Tell us that you read about it on this blog post for a special prize :)

An "Affair" Texas-Style

Many of you have met us along our journey with the Affair of the Heart shows in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.  Well, the amazing people of Affair of the Heart decided to take that wonderful tradition south of the border (well, the Texas/Oklahoma border that is).  

We have arrived, set up, and the doors are open!  Come out to the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio this weekend and visit us - we are in Booth #266-269.

Karen will be doing her demo of the AWESOME Quilter's Grid, we have more fabric than ever, and all 50 states in our Hand Embroidered State Towel collection. 

Tutorial: Toweling into Towels

Have you ever seen our collection of toweling and thought "so cute, but what would I do with it?"  Well, here's one thing... you can make your own kitchen towels.


SUPPLIES:

• 2 yards of the toweling of your choice.  Check out our selection here.
• Coordinating thread
• Twill tape or trim of your choice
• Iron and ironing board
• Rotary cutter
• Rotary mat
• Ruler
• Sewing machine

STEPS:

1. Take your 2 yards of toweling and fold into equal thirds.  Press the folds.
2. Using your rotary cutter, cut just to the edge of the fold, creating 3 equal pieces of toweling.
3. Fold over the edge the same distance as the side seams and press.
   
4. Fold over again to enclose the raw edge.
   
5. Repeat on the other end.
6. Cut approximately 5-1/2" of trim (you can alter depending on the size of the hook you want) and fold in half.
7. Slide the raw edges of the trim under the folded seam and pin into place.
   
8. Sew the seams down, staying close to the edge.  

And voila, you now have 3 new kitchen towels!

 

Happy Sewing!  ~Jill

Snug up with a "Flannel Tonight" Quilt

For those of you who knew Karen back in her quilt shop days will remember the "Flannel Tonight" quilts that everyone HAD to make!  We finally got her to sit still long enough to write up a tutorial so we can share this great quilt pattern with all our friends.

Great gift ideas for Springtime Celebrations

Just recently, our beautiful goddaughter made her Confirmation and my husband had the honor of being her sponsor. 

After scouring the Internet for the perfect gift idea, I decided to look no further than the amazing Home a la mode website (I'm not biased or anything :))  I decided to make her a quilt - I loved the idea of a keepsake that she could take with her wherever life takes her.  Naturally, I turned to our line of "Say It With Words" panels - especially the scriptural ones.  I felt drawn to the "Beatitudes" panel - I felt this is a great outline for how we should live our lives.

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

My dad recently celebrated his birthday with us.  It was a great day with family and we were blessed with AH-MAZINGLY beautiful weather.  We all enjoyed so time outside, just playing and spending time together.  My wonderful hubby fired up the grill and we made our favorite burgers.

Tutorial Thursday - Table Grace Coasters

A few weeks ago, I posted a tutorial for the Table Grace Table Runner.  Here is the follow-up that I promised.

Our First Video tutorial & a Giveaway!

Have you been to one of our shows lately?  If so, you have been witness to Karen demonstrating our FAVORITE quilt product, Quilter's Grid.

Well, we decided to share this fun, educational experience with the entire world.  We are starting a series of video tutorials that will help in your learning and knowledge of quilting and sewing.

And we have hit 10,000!!!

This past weekend, the Home a la mode ladies were at the Dallas Quilt Celebration at Market Hall.  We had a great time and got to meet some amazing new friends, along with visiting with some old friends.

Our "Say it With Words" samples and Quilter's Grid were a big hit and we are busy getting the shipments ready to send out!

And as you may know, we were VERY close to getting our 10,000th order before arriving at the show!  Well, on Sunday afternoon, it happened!!!  And to make it more special, the woman who won is one of the amazing therapists that help with Karen's mom at the nursing home.

We look forward to the next 10,000 orders and meeting more friends along the way!

Friends Indeed

Just recently, some very dear friends of me and my family were transferred to Washington DC.  Although we know this is where they need to be, it was heart-breaking for me and especially for my youngest daughter.  My kiddos are at that stage of life where friends move away, and they don't really understand why :(

To commemorate our wonderful friendship, I wanted to send them off with something special.  What is more special than a quilt made from the heart.  So of course, I turned to our "Say it With Words" panels for inspiration.  The "Friends Indeed" panel really spoke to me - especially the one that says "True Friends are never far apart... maybe in distance, but not in heart."  I know we will see them again (we've already planned our summer vacation) and they feel in their hearts that their time in Texas hasn't ended.  We can only hope and pray that jobs and situations bring them back to us.

Just remember, the road to a friend's house is never long - or so I hope on our LONG drive this summer with 2 kiddos ;-)

Where have you been?

Do you like to travel around our beautiful 50 states?  What type of souvenirs to you gravitate towards?  Well, our collection of State Tablecloths and Towels are a wonderful way to remember where you've been, where you want to go, or just where your friends and family are.  They also make great gifts for those that have moved away.  Keep the memories of where life has taken you :)

Faith, Hope, and Love

Well, I have been at it again.  Playing with our Say It With Words Panels.  Today I wanted to show you the Faith Hope and Love Panel.  When I first saw this one I was really unsure what I wanted to do with it.  I had never made anything on point.  I dragged my feet, just a little, but I did.  So let me start by showing you what I had to work with...

First off...

Faith Hope and Love Panel.

Next...

Joy by Kate Spain Layer Cake

Then...and this was my favorite part...

Swarovski Crystals 4mm

When we went to the Dallas Quilt Market this spring, it seemed just about every quilt had these on them.  I would never have thought about putting crystals on a quilt.  They add a completely different depth to the finished project.

They are so easy to apply using this little tool...

Crystal Crafter Applicator

So...now for my finished project...

I was going for a Christmas tree look.  If you look closely, you can see where I applied the crystals.  When you step away from this quilt and look at it, it just sparkles.  

I would love to hear what you think of the quilt.  Hope you are having a great start to your week!