Sunday, December 5, 2010

Gift on the GO and another good thing!

Did you ever need a quick hostess gift? Here is a gift I made up for a non-quilting friend this holiday season. It is a basket of 12 sets of seasonal coasters -a different set of four for each month of the year. They were so easy to make with my GO cutter and the value die. Cut 4 1/2 inch squares of fabric and batting. Put 2 squares of fabric right sides together and add a square of batting. (My coasters are different fabrics on the front and back but you could make them the same.) Sew around the edges with a 1/4 inch seam leaving a small opening to turn the coaster right side out.Before turning, clip the corners. I used a bodkin to get my corners squared out.  Press. I don't like to slip stitch the opening closed so I used Fabric Tac, a permanent fabric glue. Just be careful to keep the gluing neat so it doesn't get on the coaster. Be sure the glue dries thoroughly. Then topstitch all around. This was a great way to use up scraps of fabric and batting - and it didn't take long at all! If you want, you could use the decorative stitches or embroidery on your machine to make the coasters a little fancier. I spray my coasters with Scotch Guard to make them stain resistant.

Now for the big announcement....several months ago my quilting buddy, Pat, and I submitted some designs to McCall's Quick Quilts magazine. Two of our designs will appear in the Feb/March 2011 issue which will be on the newstands and sent to subscribers in December. Be sure to check them out. The article is called Woolen Whimsies. Here is a little picture of one of the designs.


Well, back to the machine - still making Christmas gifts!

8 comments:

Linda said...

Thanks for the great coaster idea. We aere out last night and there they had coasters made of felt that were round and the middle was sliced. Thats where your wine glass went. They had a bit of sewn on holly and that was it. Congrats! to you and Pat. your patterns published..

Three Birds Inspired said...

Congratulations on being published. I will certainly look for it when I am shopping!

Anonymous said...

I make those coasters too. Congrats to you and Pat..how fun to see your names in print and scattered about the quilt world!!

Unknown said...

wow, 12 sets of coaster, you go girl! they look lovely in that basket. BIG congrats to you and Pat on being published, that is awesome

Jocelyn said...

Wow congratulations! I just hopped over from Pat's blog when I read her news! Way to go!

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Great idea for a quick gift!

Congratulations on two of yours and Pat's designs being published (well soon to be published) !!!!!!

Annette said...

Yay! Congratulations! I will be keeping an eye out for the magazine.

Cheryll said...

Congrats... I think I want your autograph... haha
Well done!