McCall's Quilting QDS has started and a Tuesday tidbit

First off  I just want to let you all know that the voting has officially started ...... link on my side bar. Stop on by and vote for your favorite quilt remember that there are two categories and you can vote once a day in each one. If you go to the McCall's Quilting home page you will find links to all the quilts in the competition.
Good luck to all the participants. There are some great quilts in this round.

And now for my Tuesday tidbit I kn ow it's been a while
sew with out further a due here goes
While working on Guide Me Safely Home in the camper I came up with a way to hang my design wall...aka plastic picnic table cloth with a flannel backing.

I used ..... what else but picnic table clips on my cupboards above the couch

This worked perfectly, and did not take up any extra space and did not damage the cupboards by slipping  the clips on. ( the clips are still there waiting for the next project )
I also will use the clips to hold a garbage bag at my work area just to try and be a little tidy.
 Now to  come up with a way to hang it in the house.... right now I use a bunch of pins into the frame of a bookcase.
That's all for today.

Remember to go and vote
in stitches
Annette

Tuesday Tidbits #4

Today's little tidbits comes from the food court at the mall.

Chop Sticks
I find them very handy as a turning tool. and the price is great......... free with your meal.
You always get a pair, sew that you can share with a friend or just have a spare.
I have a small collection of them and use them when teaching my candle mat classes (Sorry I did forget them this last time)  I usually give one to each of the students for turning the points before pressing( I am always collecting them).
The blunt points on the chop sticks do not poke through the fabric creating holes. they are nice and smooth sew they do not snag on your fabric or threads.
 They also work well when turning tubes and ties. I was giving this set from a friend, but I have not used it in my sewing just yet.

the red ones are still in their wrapper

Sew you never know where you might find a new tool to make things easier.
Just  keep a look out and keep your mind open to new uses for what is out there.
Sew that's my tidbit for today.
stay in stitches
Annette

Tuesday Tidbits #2

thread catcher

Today's tidbit is found in your scrap bag of batting.

I will use a small scrap of batting near my machine to hold lose threads that I have clipped off. It also works well to grab dust bunnies (polar fleece works great as well)

This little thread catcher is also nice to have around when doing hand work to grab those stray threads. I have seen one done up like a little book ( might have been on stash manicure or in a Fons and Porter mag), here I have used a charm square -5 inches and a 4 inch piece of batting.

I also will use another to catch the dust bunnies that live in my machine. They grab them with just a light rub or swipe to the inside of your bobbin holder .

And speaking of dust bunnies Another great tool to grab them by their fuzzy little ears  comes from the cosmetics department



invasion of dust bunny's
sorry for the fuzzy pic

the eyeshadow brush can catch the ones hiding inside

the capture with the blush brush

and then you are left wth this 

just a handful of dust bunnies.

Special note .... no bunnies were harmed in the making of this blog

Sew dust bunnies beware, a sewing machine is not a safe place to hide.

Well that's my tidbit for today I am going to go and have some breakfast out on the patio this morning , mom's still sleeping sew she will miss this early fall morning but she will enjoy the day when she rises

sew stay in stitches and have a  dust bunny free day( and machine)

hugs

Annette

Tuesday Tidbits

A couple of my small ideas

Here are a couple of little things that I keep near my sewing area.
This first one is one of hubby's favorites as it keeps the shape pins corralled
It's just a old pill bottle with a small hole punched in the lid. It hold all old and broken shapes .... needles and pins

I used a sewing awl to punch the tiny hole in the center of the lid, just
big enough of the needles to pass through

Sew that you do not find them when gathering the garbage.Or on the floor with ones feet.

The second is a paper clip cup it's magnetic and has a large opening. It's great for those stray pins at the ironing board or when you are stitching in another room. Note  I do not keep any magnetic items near my sewing machine as they tend to scramble their brains.

Well those are my tidbits for today.
Stay in stitches
Hugs Annette

a note to Squirt ... I will have a look for some ideas on a memorial quilt or see what I can draft up for you, You could also check out Moda bakeshop as they have a great number of patterns and great directions.