tula pink free spirit – Mandy Cooks and Quilts

Happy New Year!!!

Wow, I have been blogging for one year! Although it has been quarterly for the latter part of the year due to the craziness that is life.

Christmas was a blast, and I celebrated a milestone birthday in the same week. I made my nieces and nephews reading pillows over the past few months. They are 18 inch pillows with a pocket on the pillowcase and handles. They can hold books or electronics and make a comfy addition to traveling. Here is a photo:

I also made this cute Penquin pillow for my kids’ bus driver. I used a multicolor thread for quilting it. The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman. I just love all her animal patterns.

I also made some other teacher gifts. I made these cute little mug rugs that look like coffee/cocoa cups. The block was a free pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop. I bagged them with a disposable coffee cup, some coffee and hot cocoa for a special treat.

As you can see Cinnimon the mini chonk cat approves.

I took two weeks off a Christmas from quilting to clean and organize my sewing supplies and just enjoy my family. I am ashamed to say that I was this years old when I discovered the Container Store online website. I found some very decorative storage bins to store my fabric without looking to messy. They also look great on my shelves as opposed to clear plastic containers. Here are a few shots of my sewing area aka my bedroom while it was clean. Since Christmas it has gotten only slightly messy. I plan to do a bi weekly tidy to put away fabric scraps and keep things organized.

I got a great Christmas gift. I actually bought it in October on sale and saved it for Christmas. It is a quilting frame that I can use with my own machine and kind of turn it into a long arm. It is called a Grace Cutie. I tried it out yesterday and it is awesome. I can use pantographs just like a pro long warmer. I just need to practice to get my speed and technique to make the designs cleaner on the quilts. I practiced on a quilt my daughter made for her dolls.

I finished my two block of the months just before the new year. Toes in the Sand came out beautiful and I cant wait to quilt it later this year.

The A Quilting lIfe block of the month also turned out well. I am not in love with the border fabric. I was looking for a navy floral for the border from the fabric line, but since the fabric is out of print now, I was only able to locate the red. To me it feels too loud but it will be a great picnic quilt.

New Years Dinner!! Hopping John from the Instant pot!

I cook Hopping John every year for new years. Its a Black eye pea “stew” that can be served over rice. I usually cook it on the stove in a cast iron dutch oven, but it takes hours and I really didn’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. Here is a quick recipe for it:

Instant Pot Hopping John

1 lb black eyed peas (if dried soaked for 6-8 hours in water then drained)

2 bell papers one green one another color chopped

1 medium onion chopped

2 teaspoons chopped garlic

Salt and pepper

1 quart of chicken broth4

1 smoked ham hock or a few slices of bacon

1 bay leaf

Saute up the onions, and peppers (us can use the saute function on the instant pot). Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes. Add the peas, ham hock, bay leaf, salt, and chicken stock. If there is not enoiught stock to cover the peas add a few cups of water. Place lid on instant pot and seal valve and select the beans setting with low pressure for 60 minutes.

I hope you all had a magical holiday season. Next week I will show what I will be working on for long-term projects and some new finishes.

A Quilted Coat in the Grand Canyon

A southwesternish coat in the southwest.

The quilted coat is done. Well, it is almost done. I still have to finish the inside, but you don’t see it when I am wearing it. I took it on vacation with us to the Grand Canyon. It only seemed appropriate. I am glad I did too. At 8,000 feet above sea level it was much cooler than I had planned, so this coat kept me warm each morning.

I learned a lot about making this coat. The first thing I learned is that making clothes is more difficult for me than making quilts. But I enjoyed the challenge. As mentioned in my previous post, the second thing I learned is that my Little Brother Sewing Machine (Bubba) has a limit and 4 layers of fabric, and two layers of batting almost exceed that limit. Hence the need to purchase a larger and more powerful machine. The third thing I learned is to really read pattern directions multiple times and don’t just rely on the you-tube tutorials. Luckily I had enough fabric when I boo-booed that I could keep going.

I made this jacket part of the #FreeSpiritCoatStory challenge sponsored by FreeSpirit Fabrics. Quilted coats are trending in the fashion world and the world of quilting. Although it seems to be coming back in style instead of being a new concept from what I have heard from quilters who are a little older than myself.

I chose to participate because I wanted to challenge myself. I know how to make patchwork quilts of various designs. I have made pillowcases, table runners, baby quilts, wall hangings, and bed quilts. I wanted to try something new that would challenge my skills, and it certainly did.

I chose the fabrics on a whim, really. As part of the challenge, you had to use Free Spirit Fabrics from current lines. I chose Tula Pink fabrics. I used an ombre print from her Daydreamer Line. I just loved the sun, moon, and birds on it. It reminded me of beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I then used some Tula Pink solids for the Lonestar. I chose a turquoise color for the lining because every good southwestern style piece of clothing needs some turquoise. You also had to use QuiltSmart interfacing made for jackets. Quiltsmart interfacing helps you sew together more complicated patterns with ease. I chose the Little Lonestar coat interfacing. Coming from a farm and loving horses, it felt more like me. You also had to use the Tamarack Jacket Pattern by Grainline Studios. I chose the option to add a hood because I love hooded jackets. It gave the coat a more modern look.

I chose to applique the lone stars on the quilted jacket pieces because I wanted them in specific places. Luckily I am a fluffier human, so I could get a full Lonestar on the back without having to modify the pattern or cutting off the points. Fluffiness for the win!!!

The front perplexed me. I tried out doing different layouts to see which worked the best. I ended up on half stars on top and bottom of the front.

The hardest thing about putting the jacket together was the bulk. It was hard to get all the layers through my machine. My husband thought I was getting on to the kids and the cats several times as I was sewing because I kept saying things like, “Behave yourself and stop that.” I tried to get the jacket to behave while going through the machine. I also might have said a few curse words in the process too, but we will keep this blog rated G for the most part.

In the end, though, I really enjoyed making this jacket. It is not perfect by any means, but neither am I. It was a labor of love and creativity that reflects my nature-loving spirit.

A quilted coat, new finishes, and more.

Hi yall! It’s been a while since I posted. I have had some big things happening. I started a new position in the company I work for that aligns with my education in criminal justice. It is full time which has cut into my quilting time a little more than I would like. But it is a good job that piques my interest, and it gives me more money to fund my hobby (more money for fabric!).

Here is what I have been working on the past few weeks:

Toes in the Sand Block of the Month: February

I have finished my blocks for February and I love the Flamingos.

A Quilting Life Block of the Month: February

I also completed more of Pat Sloan’s Sweet DreamsSew-along blocks.

My last sew-along is A Quilting Life’s Block of the Month. I think this will be my summer picnic quilt when it is done.

I am loving the Happy Days Fabrics. These florals are soooo pretty!

Lastly, I have been working on my Free Spirit Coat Story Quilted Coat. I will have a blog post dedicated to the process of making it, information about the contest, and my inspiration for it as well as soon as it is finished which should be in two weeks if all goes as planned. Here is a preview picture of my cut pieces prior to quilting.

I have also been baking up some interesting things. I messed up on my Misfit produce order and ordered two 2 lb bags of blood oranges instead of what I thought was going to be 4 oranges. So I had to figure out how to use some up. I found a recipe in Cook’s Country Magazine for an orange upside-down cake. It was easy and so delicious. I highly recommend you check it out.

I have had 3 quilts come back from the quilters this past few weeks and I am working on the binding and getting them photographed. I will include them in my next post. One is this Koala quilt that everyone seems to love. They love it so much that they steal it from me and refuse to give it back, Here is my orange tabby laying his claim to it.

I get to snuggle it on occasion. My daughter wants to put it on her bed. I want to sleep under it a few nights first.

The other two that came back are my chicken quilt and my husband’s starstruck quilt. Photos will be coming soon as they are bound.

Well, that is all I have today. Stay tuned for a special post all about the quilted coat and a photography session of my new finishes. I will also be doing a post about getting kids involved in quilting and easy patterns.

Cold weather sewing. What I am working on for the next few weeks and the year.

This weekend was a cold one the initial forecast was snow and ice, but we were fortunate to get just a lot of cold rain. This meant lots of time to work on sewing projects and cooking yummy things.

I made 16 chicken blocks for a spring chicken quilt while thinking of the upcoming season. It’s a pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew. The fabric is Spring Chicken from Sweetwater by Moda. I have been wanting to do this quilt since I got the fabric last year, and I put it on my must-do list for the year. I grew up on a farm with cows, horses, chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats, and pigs. Now I live in a subdivided neighborhood, and I miss my barnyard creatures. The HOA here has a strict no chicken policy so these will be the only chickens I have for a while.

Here are the first nine of my chickens. I had to stop because I was making too many mistakes and having to rip out too many seams.

I also made a table topper for my kitchen table out of farmhouse-themed fabric. I made it as practice for a block of the month I am starting next weekend. It is Jaybird’s Quilts Gazebo pattern. It uses her Hex and More ruler. I have only ever used a standard quilting ruler so I wanted to “train” my brain on how to position the fabric. I also had to train my brain to piece triangle blocks where I have ever made squares and rectangles. It was a lot like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. I love puzzles.

Here is a picture of the pre-sewn version. Luckily, my cutting table surfing cats stayed off of it until I was able to sew it together Saturday morning.

I am going to be participating in several sew-alongs, block of the months and a challenge this year. The first is Toes in the Sand Block of the Month by Jaybirds Quilts using Tula Pink Daydreamer Fabrics. It is being held through my local quilt shop and is definitely going to be a challenge for me. I have only ever done quilts with squarish blocks. This one is composed of intricate triangles made of smaller triangles and hexagons. Hence why I was practicing for it using the ruler. Here is a link to the pattern and what the quilt will look like here.

I am also participating in A Quilting Life’s 2022 Block of the Month. I am using her Happy Days Fabric. I am trying to decide if I want to make all the churn dashes one color or two colors.

The January Block for A Quilting Life’s 2022 Block of the Month.

I am also participating in Pat Sloan’s Sweet Dreams Sew Along. It runs from January through May. It is one block per week. I am using Kitty Corn by Urban Chiks for Moda. I love the retro/ cartoony Halloween look. This will be my first Halloween quilt.

Here are Block one and two of Sweet Dreams Sew Along. I messed up a bit on block two but I’m going to keep it as a “creative blemish.”

I have also decided to complete the Free Spirit Coat challenge with my local quilt shop. I’m excited to try something other than a quilt.

Well, I hope all of yall are staying warm. Stay tuned for more exciting updates.