Commenting on Blogger.....

Am I the only one who is having problems posting comments on Blogger blogs? For the past few days, every time I try to leave a comment I have to log in to Blogger, then it redirects me to do word verification. After word verification I am again bumped back to logging in -- and it all starts over again! Maddening!

Anyone else having trouble?

I ♥ Ugly Fabrics!

I'm not gonna lie -- I love ugly fabric! What is it about it? Well, perhaps it's the challenge -- to make something beautiful out of something completely hideous. Lemons into lemonade?
Perhaps it's because I feel sorry for the poor, unloved fabrics.

No matter what it is, I love ugly. It makes me so happy!

I wanted to share a few of the "uglies" I have in my ugly stash....

Brown, purple and orange... add in the PAISLEY factor, and you have a real winner!!


Ahhh... one of my loveliest uglies. I have a couple yards of it. Beautifully ugly.

Nothing like Cheetos orange plus green plus purple -- and hideous caviar-like circles! Woo!


Then there is a completely new category I like to call "What were they THINKING??"

Waaaaaaay too much going on here, and check out those COLORS!! Hee hee!!!

Paisley +sunflowers?? Not to mention all the other hideosity going on here!
Horrid!! I love to hate this one!

Whaaaaaaaaaaa?!!
I have no earthly use for this one, but -- oh my! -- I love it!!

And last but not least a full collection of fat quarters I purchased all together for one smashingly loathsome combination! It is, of course, heavy on the Kaffe Fasset, whom I truly ADORE. But there are a few other lovely pieces in there too. I just have to come up a fantastic quilt method for these ones!

Oh, and my favorite of the bunch? The weird circly things in the center left? That one is called "Fish Lips." Win!!

To see some of my finished ugly quilts,
CLICK HERE!

The no.2 Pencil Softie -- TUTORIAL!

There's something about oversized or undersized objects that just tickles me... and today's project is certainly no exception!

So... just how oversized IS the pencil softie?
......

Here it is with its regular-sized counterpart!
Hee hee!

Want to make one?
C'mon, you know you want to!


What You Need:
Fleece
(scraps will do! I chose classic pencil yellow, grey, black, tan, and pink)
Sewing Machine
Polyester Stuffing
Needle and Thread

STEP ONE:
Cut your fleece as follows:
yellow: 9"x5"
grey: 2"x5"
pink: 1.5"x5" + a 2" circle
black: small scraps
tan: (see step two!)

STEP TWO: Cut your tan piece. Begin by folding your yellow piece in half, long sides together. You will fold your tan fleece and place it next to the folded yellow piece, with the fold at an angle and cutting at an angle. This does not make sense, I know, until you look at the next photo!

Basically, it is a diamond with its angled sides the same length as your folded yellow piece -- 2 1/2"!

STEP THREE: Topstitch a black scrap to the end of your tan piece to create the lead tip. I cut a curve on one end and sewed along the edge of the curve a scant 1/4" from the edge, then trimmed the angled edges to size. Do not cut away the tan fabric from the back side of your lead tip.

STEP FOUR: If desired, stitch a "no.2" on your yellow rectangle. I used my free-motion foot to "write" it, then cut away the excess with finely pointed scissors. You could also choose to embroider it on once your pencil is completed, using black yarn.

Also attach your grey rectangle, right sides together, using a 1/4" seam allowance.

STEP FIVE: Sew one long side of your pink rectangle to your pink circle, gently matching the curve of the circle as you go and using a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Remember to start and stop 1/4" from the edge of your rectangle.

This is what it should look like when you turn it right side out.

STEP SIX: Sew the other long edge of your eraser's rectangle right sides together to your grey piece, gently pulling the eraser piece around in front of your sewing machine foot as you go -- as shown.

STEP SIX: Attach the tip of your pencil. Line up the edges together for the first half of the tan piece, then stop at the midpoint (with your needle down), lift your presser foot, and turn the tan piece to match the edges of the second half. Put your presser foot back down and sew to the edge.

STEP SEVEN: Finish sewing the pencil together! Line up the straight edges of your eraser and start sewing, matching up the seams as you go. Leave a space about the width between my fingers, as shown in the photo. Then start sewing again, all the way to the point.

STEP EIGHT: Turn your pencil right side out and stuff it firmly with polyester stuffing. Sew together the opening using a whipstitch.

You're done!!