Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap: Round Three

 You've waited...

...and waited...

...AND WAITED...

Guess what Quilter's of Awesome?

IT'S HERE!

 {storybook quilt made for me by Amanda of Westwood Acres}

The Third Round of the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap is finally here!

I've done some plotting and planning and brainstorming to make this one even bigger and better than our previous rounds.  We have sponsors and prizes, optional donations to various Animal/Humane services, printable quilt labels and discounts from a few of my favorite fabric shops and pattern designers and more coming in every day!

Let's start with a couple of the prizes, but only a couple because I want to keep the excitement going:

**a SIX MONTH subscription to Make Modern Magazine**

**A Brand New Pattern by Kelly Biscopink**

 Rebel Craft Media

Discounts for swap participants have generously been offered by the following:

Stitcherie 

 Pink Door Fabrics

Gray Rayne Fabrics

Canoe Ridge Creations

(more info coming soon)

And, this is really exciting, Patchwork Threads and I have teamed up to help out our four-legged, feathered and/or furry friends by creating a special Animal/Quilt themed T-Shirt for you:

Patchwork Threads

20% of the profits from the sale of this very special shirt will go to the ASPCA.org 

ISN'T THAT AWESOME???  Thank you, Lindsay, for making this possible!

Now, most of you know how much my pets mean to me and what a softie I am for animals.  One of the goals of my career is to be able to open an animal rescue for misplaced, mistreated, unwanted, homeless animals.  It has been suggested to me that I charge people to participate in this swap, but for me it's not about making money.  This swap is all about making friendships and building community; breaking down walls and getting to know each other.  I am not interested in making a single cent off of any of you.  I am interested, however, in helping others.

So, here is my proposal:

Let's make a donation in our partners name.  I've had quilt labels designed for you by Ali Winston (Instagram user @a_2_w).  Feel free to print these off and use them for your quilts.  There is a place to write in your name and donation info (or not-there's an option to keep in anonymous, too!)  Be on the lookout for a separate post with these labels.  Ali will be guest blogging for me, and will be able to explain better how to print and use them.  Thank you, Ali!

Here is a list of shelters, rescues and charities that I love.  Donations are completely optional, and there is no pressure whatsoever to do it.  I just thought it would be a nice way for one community of friends to help another.  Take a look, if you have one that you love, please send me an email or contact me here so I can include the link.  Thanks!

ASPCA.org

Special Needs Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation

Last Chance Animal Rescue

Husker's Hope Dachshund Rescue

Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue

****

One last change before I give you the sign up link.  This round will be EXCLUSIVE to Instagram users.  Since this is an Instagram based swap, I thought it would be best to keep it on that platform.  We have a Flickr group that is great for communicating and stalking, but most of our activity happens on IG.  If you DO NOT have an Instagram account, you WILL NOT be able to participate.  I have so many participants in this swap that it is extremely challenging to keep on top of it if everyone isn't in the same place.  I know this is a disappointment for some, but it's the way it needs to be.  Thank you so much for understanding!

Here's some of the important stuff to know:

1. You will be assigned a partner according to the answers you submit, so think carefully!

2. Be sure to give as much information as possible so your swap is a happy success.

3. Quilts can be as small as 6"x6" and as big as 24"x24".

4. This is a secret swap, give us sneak peeks or even full views, but don't tag your partner!

5. Due dates to have your mini quilt in the mail is Friday, January 16, 2015.  This gives you two plus months to get through the holidays, finish up your WIP's, clear your cutting table off and stock your shelves.

6. Because the ship-by date is so far off, and this is a secret swap, please make every effort to send your swap by January 16 for International Swappers and January 23 for Local Swappers.

7. Come join the Flickr group to share all of your pictures, gather ideas and meet up with new and current friends.

8. Use the hashtag #schnitzelandboominiquiltswap and #makeaquiltmakeafriend to check out what everyone else is doing. These are the exact same hashtags that we used during the first round, let's keep it going!

9. Feel free to send goodies with your Quilts, if you want.  It is nice, but NOT necessary, so don't feel obligated to do so and don't feel bad if you don't. 

10.  YOU MUST HAVE AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT!

11. Have fun!

12. Upon receipt of your Swap Package, PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE take the time to post in on IG, say thank you and send your partner an email.  This is ESSENTIAL!

Please keep in mind that this swap is open to ALL SKILL LEVELS.  You may not get something that equals your own skills, so please be thoughtful (and gentle!) when receiving.  Send something that you are proud of and would be proud to display on your own wall. 

For more information on how this works, click here:

http://www.schnitzelandboo.com/2014/05/mini-quilt-swap-is-under-way.html

Are you ready to sign up?

Well then, here you go...

SIGN ME UP!

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the flight!  Erm, I mean, give me a little time to organize.  Because I don't set a limit on the number of participants, the partnering up process can take a week or so.  HANG TIGHT!

 Happy swapping!

-Kristi-

Tutorial: Flour Sack Snack Bag

I made a deal with my friend before I went to Kansas City for Quilt Market.  If she could watch The Roo before and after school for a few days while I was gone, I'd trade her for a sewing project or two.  She didn't even hesitate.  In fact, I'm pretty sure she said "Can you make me a few reusable snack bags?" before she even agreed to watch her.

At first she asked if they could be made out of vinyl or plastic so that they could be wiped out, but after discussing food safe vs. chemical laden plastic etc, we both decided that just plain ol' fabric 'n velcro bags would be the best.  Then I decided (on my own) that I was going to make the bags out of a flour sack towel because well, shoot-they had to be food safe that way, right? 

At first I was going to make these bags lined, but then decided against it for a couple of reasons.  I figured that an unlined bag would be easier to keep cleaner longer (no crumbs and food dust to get caught between the lining and outside layers, gross!) and also, I didn't want the bag to be too bulky.  (It needed to stay lightweight and compact enough for your child's lunch bag or your pocket.)

Before I set to work, I thought of just one more thing...French seams.  I definitely didn't want loose threads or trapped lint to get all wrapped up in her grapes so I knew I had to finish the raw edges but skip the serger.  As soon as all of the details were worked out, I sat down to complete my first snack bag and about twenty minutes later I was done!

So are you ready to make your own? 

Finished Snack Bag size: 9 3/4" x 6"

What you will need:

-Flour Sack towels (I found mine in a four-pack at Target for about $5)

-Scrap fabric about 3"x13"

-Thread

-Velcro

-Pen and Grid Ruler

What you will do:

Fold towel in half, then in half again (creating four equal squares) and press.

You can see that the towel was probably not totally square to begin with as you may have wonky edges.  This is okay, use your grid ruler to draw a straight line on both UNFOLDED edges; trim carefully on the straight line.  You may want to pin the layers together to prevent sliding. (I decided to skip that step.)

You will have four separate towel squares, but you will only need one.

Fold the square in half and press.  This will create a center guideline for your scrap fabric strip.

To finish the fabric strip, fold the long raw edges of the strip to the inside 1/2" and press.

Pin the strip carefully to the center of the square, using your center fold line as a guide.

Carefully edge-stitch the strip in place, 1/16" on all four sides.

Now, this is where it's going to "feel" strange.  With WRONG sides together, fold square in half, pin both short sides together and stitch, using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Very carefully trim the bottom corners off the bag.

Turn bag wrong side out and press.

Stitch the sides again, this time using a 3/4" seam allowance.

Without turning the bag right side out yet, press seams towards the sides.

Now, turn the top edge under 1/2", all the way around, and press.  (Again, the bag has not yet been turned right side out.)

Cut a piece of velcro the length of the bag opening minus 1/4".  For example, if the bag is 10" long across the top, cut your velcro 9 3/4".  Pin or glue the soft side velcro in place, then carefully edgestitch along all four sides.

Repeat the last step for the hard side velcro on the other side of the bag.

Turn bag right side out, poke out the corners and voila!  You're done!

If I wasn't giving this one away, I would have filled it up with snacks to show you how awesome and useful it is.  No more landfill plastic baggies, no more wasting your money on a throw-away item.  Doesn't that feel good? 

Happy sewing!

-Kristi-

Faith, Belief and Friendship

Pooh and Piglet walked home thoughtfully together in the golden evening, and for a long time they were silent.
"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.
-Winnie the Pooh

For my friend Dee, who has given me my dreams, my "Something Exciting" on a silver platter and given me so much to be thankful for this year.  If it weren't for your belief and enthusiasm, I wouldn't be madly churning out sewing patterns for the fabric enthused masses.  I will always and forever be grateful for this hugely incredible opportunity!

xoxoxo
-Kristi