Merry Kite

  As I have been working with the different blocks, some of them I think would make some interesting quilts.  If I only had the time to make them all.  As the year proceeds, I will see how many of them get made.  I would like to see what you are coming up with using the blocks.
  Today's block is Merry Kite made from flying geese and squares.

Merry Kite

Cutting
  Light Fabric
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese

  Light Medium fabric
    eight  1 1/2" sq.

  Medium fabric
    twelve  1 1/2" sq.  eight for flying geese
    one  2 1/2" sq.  for center

  Dark Medium fabric
    four  1 1/2" sq.  for outer corners

  Dark fabric
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect.  for flying geese
    eight  1 1/2" sq.    

Four Crowns

  Christopher  and I did some taping today.  He should start posting the videos to youtube of some of the blocks that we have been piecing.  In the tutorials, I show you how I put the blocks together and the blocks that I have made for the quilts.  I am still picking out and sewing my blocks so the quilt is not finished.  Check out Fabric Junction on youtube for the new tutorials.
  Today"s block is--Four Crowns.  It reminds me of bear's paws.  It is made of nothing but HST.

Four Crowns

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once
    ten   1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Medium fabric
    ten  1 7/8"  sq.  cut diagonally once

  Dark fabric
    two  2 7/8"  cut diagonally once

Enjoy,
  Terry


 

End of Day

  There is nothing like breaking up the day with a visit to the dentist.  There wasn't any problem but it changes the tempo of my day.  First, you are busy piecing, then the dentist, then trying to get back in the swing of sewing.  It seems like the dentist just sucks the life out of me.
  Enough of that, on to today's block--End of Day.  What a neat block of HST and squares.

End of Day

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Medium fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq.  cut diagonally once
    four  2" sq.

  Dark fabric
    four  2 3/8" sq. cut diagonally once
    four  2" sq.

  Just a reminder that you can sew your HST first then cut them.  Your choice.
  Terry  

Crosses & Losses

   Talen stopped by to help me make salads for Christmas eve.  His favorite thing to make is the pinwheels made from jello and marshmallows.  He is going skiing tomorrow so I am on my own baking pies.  Before he left, he made his request for an apple pie.
  Today's block is-- Crosses & Losses.

Crosses & Losses

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq. for HST
    four  2" sq.
    one  3 7/8" sq. for HST

  Medium or Dark fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq. for HST
    one  3 7/8" sq. for HST

Enjoy your weekend,
  Terry

Soup Night

  It was soup night with my grandchildren.  It was an enjoyable evening.  Some of them are starting Christmas vacation tomorrow and some had homework to get done.  Their vacation starts Saturday.  We will all be together again on Sunday.
  Even though things are busy, here is today's block--Aunt Sukey's Choice.  You will make it in sections of 2 squares and rectangle,  2 flying geese and a center square.

Aunt Sukey's Choice

Cutting
  Light fabric
    eight  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" four rectangles for flying geese
    twelve 1 1/2" sq.  eight squares for flying geese

  Medium fabric
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles for flying geese
    twelve 1 1/2" sq.  eight squares for flying geese

  Dark fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq.  for center

Don't stress out, relax,
  Terry

Triplet

   Well, I didn't get my tree decorated.  I spend the day sewing Christmas gift for my family, that was more important.
If I keep up the work, I may have everyone taken care of by Christmas.  I hope that you are getting your holiday ready to enjoy with family and friends.
  Today's block is--Triplet.

Triplet

Cutting
  Medium fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice creating 8 triangles, you will use 6 of them
      two  2 1/2" sq.

  Dark fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice creating 8 triangles, you will use 6 of them
    four  2 1/2" sq.

  Terry

Another Day

  Sometimes, it is hard to think of what to write.  I spend most days quilting.  That is not very exciting for some but that is my job and I enjoy it.  I sew samples for the shop, create for Fabric Junction's youtube channel and make quilts that I have been commissioned to do.  Today was not any different.  I was hoping to have my 6" block quilt finished by now to show you what could be done.  No, I am still working on it.  The good thing is that the blocks are all picked and my fabric is cut.
  Today's block is At the Square.  Use your favorite method in making the hourglass units that are in the corners.  Either cut the squares diagonally twice then sew or mark them diagonally, sew and cut, repeat twice.

Cutting
Light fabric
  one  2 1/2" sq.

Medium fabric
  two  3 1/4" sq. for the hourglass
  four  1 1/8" x 2 1/2" rect.
  two  1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect.

Dark fabric
  two  3 1/4" sq. for the hourglass
  four  1 1/8" x 2 1/2" rect.
  two 1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect. 

Hope that you get to spend your time doing what you enjoy.
  Terry

  

Quilting

  Have you picked your fabric, yet?  I am making my blocks from Northcott's Toscana line of blues and purples.  Also, using white solid as my light.
  Here is today's block.  It is Album Star.  The star points are made from flying geese.  I used the stitch and flip method.  You place the square in the corner of the rectangle and sew it diagonally.  Trim the extra off the corner and press.  You can check out the technique on youtube.com at Fabric Junction under making flying geese--3 different methods.

Cutting
  Light fabric
    one  1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle
    four  2" x 3 1/2" rectangles
    four  2" sq.

  Medium or Dark fabric
    two  1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangles
    eight  2" sq.

Enjoy the block,
  Terry

November Days

  As the days get colder, the more I enjoy sewing.  I can sit at my sewing machine and look out the window watching as winter comes this way.  The leaves have fallen, the nights are colder and frost is on the windshield of my car but I am warm and safe at my sewing machine.  Have you ever noticed how time goes quickly when you are busy working on that new project or finishing an old one?  I lose track of time all of the time.  
  Time for the next block--Card Basket.  I don't understand why it is called Card Basket for it doesn't look like cards or a basket.  There are 3 great types of squares in Card Basket.  HST are in the corners, hour glass units on the sides and a square in a square in the center.

Cutting

Light fabric
  two  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice then sew or sew then cut (pick you favorite method for making the hour glass)
  one  1 7/8" sq. for the center

Light Medium fabric
  two  2 7/8" sq. for HST

Dark Medium fabric
  one  3 1/4" sq. for hour glass
  two  1 7/8" sq. for sq. in a sq.

Dark fabric
  one 3 1/4" sq. for hour glass
  two  2 7/8" sq. for HST

Stay warm,
  Terry  

Fabric Junction-A History Lesson

Fabric Junction hasn't always been this bustling quilting business you see and hear about today.  Yes, Terry has been sewing since before 6th grade.  But the store got its start when Terry wanted to sew clothes for her children, back in the 70's.  As her expertise grew, Terry was asked to create and repair clothes for friends and family.  From there she expanded to baby blankets.  In 1982, she started entering craft fairs.  Crocheted and baby nursery items were her favorite things to enter. 

Soon she started sewing formal wear-prom and wedding dresses for the ladies, and tuxedos for the men.  Along with creating original apparel, she started doing alteration work for the public.  With a daughter who was a dancer, Terry quickly learned how to make dance costumes.  She was hired to create costumes for many dance troupes in the Black Hills.  She was also asked to make costumes for an old west bar in Deadwood, and costumes for various theater productions in Rapid City.  Although she sewed clothes for other people, Terry had been quilting for herself for years. Her earliest quilts were quilted on a sewing machine, taking a week to finish after the piecing.

She opened her store in 1998.  Originally, she offered fabric for clothes and quilting.  In 1999, she bought her first long-arm machine.  This allowed her to add quilting services to her repertoire.

As the store became more successful, she spent most of her time offering fabric, notions, and service for the quilting side.  She started traveling to quilting shows all over the U.S. in 2004.  This allowed her to expand her knowledge in fabric and technique.  She also became well known here in South Dakota.  She eventually needed a business partner to help with all of the responsibilities.  She partnered with one of her sons, Chris, in 2012.  Chris soon became indispensable with his knowledge of sewing machines, embroidery, buying, and administrative duties, to name a few.  The same year, they decided to carry Baby Lock sewing machines.  The store is now an authorized dealer and a huge source of machines and support in our area.

As the store grew, the footprint of the brick and mortar store grew from 600 square feet to 2400 square feet.  At this point, we're busting at the seams with fabric, notions, two long arm machines, and multiple finished projects that beautify the walls in the store!  We boast six employees who are almost as knowledgeable as Chris about our fabrics, notions, and services.  All of our employees are sewers, so they completely understand your struggles and triumphs as you work through your projects.  Online, our store has expanded our business beyond our state borders.  We currently ship nationally and internationally on a regular basis.  It's a fun part of our day to see where all of our customers live.

Throughout Terry's journey, she has been an advocate for teaching what she knows.  Because of this she started a YouTube channel in 2013.  To date, over 24,000 subscribe to her channel to watch her clearly explain how to make quilts, table runners, scarves, pillow cases, and other beautiful projects.  We have also expanded into Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.  We hope to continue to reach people with our quality fabric art.

Terry's history with her store has been one of love, hard work, and service.  We can't wait to see what happens in the next 20 years!

Phoenix Bound!

In just a few short days, Terry will be headed down to Phoenix for their HUGE quilt show.  Officially called the Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, it is held January 26-28, 2017.  Over 150 vendors will descend on the Arizona State Fairgrounds to provide seminars, workshops, and prizes.
In the meantime, she is packing up the trailer.  

She's filling it with all the goodies she wants to show everyone. Finished projects, kits, fat quarters, rotary cutters... 

She'll pack them up, and load them in and out of the truck with these convenient storage carts.

And then she'll be out of here...

Photo Credit:  Cody Lere Photography

and pulling up to here!  

Photo Credit:  3009 Investments

Those of us staying back at the shop might be a tad bit jealous.  Sturgis in January is a smidge colder than Phoenix.  But the show, I mean, the shop, must go on.  We are still open to serve our customers in the area and online.  

We can't wait to see what Terry finds down in Phoenix.  We'll try and post some pictures of this great show.  Terry hopes to see some of you there!