Fat Quarter Deal

Princess Buttercup & I "braved" the cold 40' weather to get a
great deal that Quilter's Corner was offering on selected fat
quarters. 2/$1 can you believe it?

Here are the ones I picked. Each and every one is great.
I tried to stick with 30's prints or Civil War type fabric.

Love, Moorea

Christmas Quilt

I was only able to get the flimsy of my mom's quilt done.
She LOVED it, said it reminded her of the Chihuly colors of all
things! (see 4 posts down) Yahoo! So, I will be basting and
quilting it in the coming weeks.

Love, Mooorea

Quilt Record Document

Quilt Record

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Hobby quilt record

Print on card stock ~ Enjoy! Merry Christmas!!!
Email me if it prints out backwards. Some have had this problem,
so I could email you the PDF file in Word if needed.

Love & stitches, Moorea

Wall Hanging

Princess Buttercup made a beautiful Batik wall hanging for her
mother's newly remodeled home. It will be given as a Christmas
gift. These are the colors of tile, wall paint & curtains.
It measures 44 x 44.


Look at the quilting- it is called "Basket Weave." I just love it.
Excellent work Princess Buttercup! I quilt vicariously through you!

Love, Moorea

Comfort Rice Wrap Tutorial

Instructions by Ruth Halley
Copyright: Moorea Richardson Bric-a-bracquilter.blogspot.com
Please ask to post these instructions on you blog,
or easier yet, post a link to this page!

You'll need:
~Sturdy/quality fabric
~100 %Cotton ONLY strapping (the kind for belts)
(polyester will melt in the microwave.)
~Thread to match fabric
~2 Lb. Medium grain rice for each wrap

Instructions: (Click on pictures to enlarge)


1) Cut Fabric to get a 11" x 28" rectangle.
Cut length across grain if possible, but not necessary.
Do not use flimsy fabric. Quality fabric will help it last longer.


2)Fold rectangle in half along long edge- so it will be 5 and 1/2" x 28"
3) Pin so it won't shift and sew a 1/2" seam.
4) Iron oopen the seam, this will give a more finished look.


5) Turn right side out and Iron the seam edge down to one side
so it does not show.
6) Roll the ends in 1" on both sides and iron down.


7) Insert straps 1 and 1/2" into opening, against outer edges
of one side. (straps cut at 13 and 1/2") Pin in place.
8) Top Stitch first row across width & straps at 1/4" from edge,
then second row 1/2" out from that, making sure you catch the
strapping in both top stitches.


9) Divide empty bag in thirds, mark half point with a pin, and the
two other folds with pins.
10) Make a 1 and 1/2" zig-zag stitch across the width at those
three points, going back and forth a few times to get the stitch
very strong. It can be a wide or thin zig-zag. This is to keep
rice somewhat separated, but adjustable.


11) Measure out 2Lb. Rice.


12) I made a homemade funnel out of construction paper to get the
rice in the bag quickly; a traditional funnel's spout is too tiny.


13) Shake the rice down around the zig-zag stitches so you do not
hit any rice grains while top stitching the second strap in.


14) Insert strap 1 and 1/2" against outer edge of each side of
opening, pin straps in place.
8) Top Stitch first row at 1/4" from edge, then second row 1/2" out
from that, making sure you catch the strapping in both top stitches.


Färdiga, Finito! Færdig, Fini! Terminat, Finished!

Instructions to include with your gift:

Comfort Wrap Neck Warmer
Do not wash or get wet.
~Heat on a clean, dry plate in microwave only!
~Do not heat more than 2 minutes
~Place thin towel between warmer & skin.
~Ingredients: 2 lb. white rice
~Enjoy!

Tumbler Update

Here is a mock-up of the tumbler pattern I created, that
unfortunately was a paper template. That does not really work
when you try to cut fabric with it over and over. I ended up
cutting the tumblers out wrong and each point was so obviously
off. You do not want the points to be off with the tumbler. It
is like a big red arrow pointing at the off points shouting
"ALL the points are off!" I'm no perfectionist, but that does
not work for me.



Here is the tumbler pattern I got off of e-bay. It is a great acrylic
template,it was just proportioned differently than what I was
expecting. The pattern I made used a 5" tall tumbler, and this is a
4 1/2" tall tumbler,which is fine, but the bottom on the new one is
WIDER than the one I made, by 1 " and that really spreads it out.
I thought was not not going to like it, but I cut fabric to make
another mock-up and it looks pretty good. It's grown on me!
Somehow it is more elegant, and not so country. It even came with
a 1/2 block template to finish the edges without having to cut
and waste fabric to square it up.

Love, Moorea

All Laid Out And Ready To Sew

I was able to cut out all the fabric for my mom's quilt today!
I have enough to do two quilts. I will stash the other fabric
away to make at a later time. So here it is, all laid out on my
bed. Aren't the jewel tones luscious? I am going to chain sew
them in blocks of four and then sew those blocks together. It
will go together lickety-split. It is the quilting that will take
a while. I am going to use orange thread and quilt it in a pattern
that mimics the everglade leaves. I think I can handle one row a
week, we'll see if I can do more. I hope so - as I have to get the
binding on by Christmas.

My Aunt Carolyn, my mom's sister, told me the colors reminded her
her of the Chihuly Exhibit they both went to see in
San Francisco at the de Young few months ago. Click on the arrows
on the bottom of the site to see the exhibit. His glass work is
visionary. It is hard to believe glass can be blown into such
large forms. My mom raved about the exhibit, so I am sure she
will like the colors and style of this quilt. It looks washed out
in the photo- thanks to my overactive flash.

Love, Moorea

This is a personality analyzer test of my blog from Typelizer.
The strange thing is: it's all true!

ESTP- The Entertainers
The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

~Moorea

I Got To Sew Today!

It was so beautiful and sunny today, that after we got home from
church, and I put the Littles down for their naps, I went directly
to the School Room, pushed all the paperwork & projects aside to
SEW! Yes-SEW! I have not been able to sew since Sept 9th, the day
we started school. I forgot that sewing felt so heavenly.


This is an 8 yd. section of fabric I pulled out of my stash so I could
make Comfort Wraps for my neighbors for Christmas. This will make
way more than I need, but now I am thinking of friends at church
I'd like give one to at Christmas. That will pretty much use it up,
as I cut four out of one yard.


Here they are. I have 11 to make and I finished six today.
I will post directions and a tutorial this week. Not only
are they are so very easy to make, they last for years!
They are filled with 2lb. of rice. It gets microwaved and
put it around the neck- there is nothing like it when you
have the flu!

Love, Moorea

An Invitation

I'm honored to have been invited to post my blog a new quilters
website: Quilt Qua. Check it out!
~Moorea

p.s. I ordered a Tumbler Template off of e-bay. Ooooooh,
I cannot wait to get it!
Update: I got it and I do NOT like it.

New Project

I was reading the latest Better Homes & Gardens Quilts and More,
when I saw this quilt pattern that promises to be the easiest
quilt I will ever make...


I thought about this fantastic "Everglades" fabric I have,
So I jumped in the van and went to Joann's armed with my 40% off
coupon to pick-up a few pieces to round out this collection...


So I can make this very bright lap quilt for my mom for Christmas.
If you knew my mom, you'd know how perfect the colors are for her.
(She does not read this blog unless I remind her, so I am safe! ;0)
I have 28 days, and I am taking Thanksgiving week OFF! We'll see!

Love, Moorea

Thrift Store Find

I found this great utility quilt at Eco Thrift for $6.99! Wow!

It is not the most beautiful quilt. I believe it was made for a
grandma in a rest home, as a name is written in the margins,
and floral scraps were mixed with checkers to make it not
so tempting to those who might want to steal it.

The backing is a sweet tan floral print. The size is a generous twin.
What I really liked about it is the batting is a blanket. It is very heavy,
so it makes for the perfect weekend mountain retreat blanket.
Josiah will be using it for just that purpose this weekend.
I saw on the weather last night that is is going to be very
blustery all weekend, so I am glad he can take it!

Love, Moorea

Yo yo Give Away

These are the remainders of 120 white 2" & 10 pattern 2"
(they need to be ironed) vintage yoyo's courtesy of Dori Ann,
who by the way is almost finished tacking her yoyo's down
to her mom's quilt! Yahoo! It will be done for her mom's
birthday in November (see below.)

If you'd like them, please leave a comment and
I will contact you.

~Moorea

Odds 'n Ends

I found this beautiful baby quilt at the thrift store for $1.99!
It has a denim sashing and batik four patches. The quilting
is a teeny tiny stippling all over, very sweet.

Here is a ribbon board I made for my brother's moving-out
condo warming. I found this Hawaiian style fabric when I
was cleaning out the stash and I thought it would be perfect
for this- Matt likes it and will use it to keep his bills on in the hall.

~Moorea

Pretty Posey

DoriAnn came over tonight to lay out the yo-yo posies and get
them Wonder-Undered on. We did it, despite two Little Yelpers.
(Of the people kind, not k-9 kind ;0)
All she needs to do now is to hand stitch them down and
put a label on! You GO girl! Isn't it beautiful?
When it is done I will get a good picture of it in natural light.

Love, Moorea

Machine Quilting Class

	I took the Voyager 17 class at Bear Paws today. Now that I know how hard it is to use the machine, I will never criticize my machine quilter again! I'm pretty sure I can do it by myself, If I get back to practice on it within a few weeks, otherwise I may forget! I REALLY want to quilt a quilt on this! They warn you it will not be pretty, but it will be DONE! I can live with that. ~Moorea

End of Giveaway

Well...no surprise that you won Princess Buttercup!
Congratulations all the same. I will deliver your prize
to you sometime this week.

Love, Moorea

Happy Labor Day

I took a few hours this Labor Day morning and sewed the strips
together. Since some of the blocks are so off point, I think
I will use this as a practice flimsie when I take the class on how
to use the quilting machine at Bear Paws and Holly Hocks.
I do not have the class scheduled yet, but I'd really like to do
it sometime soon. It is the perfect lap quilt size 53X68.

Love, Moorea

How to Quilt With Your Brain Disengaged

Wow! I was finally able to grab some time to quilt tonight!
It has been a while since I have had the energy to sit and
think about what needs to happen with old quilts I have forgotten
about, such as this menagerie of five inch charm squares.
"Fric and Frac," the tumbling, fist fighting duo have worn me to
oblivion lately. They have used all available brain cells to
monitor their every need and squabble. So imagine my surprise
when I was able to sort through old projects on the
'quilt project shelf' while they played reasonably well in the back yard.
I secretly sat down at my sewing machine(which overlooks the
sandbox.) to sew a few of these EASY blocks together.
Now here comes the brain disengaged part.
I wanted to sew, sooo badly. I was tired. I decided that if this
flimsy is EVER to get done, I need to just throw these blocks
together randomly and see what happens. I do not have the time
OR the room to lay them out. So... after the Littles were bathed
and put to bed, I disengaged my brain and sewed my heart out!
You can tell, but once it is quilted, it will not be so bad.
I feel like a million bucks. I actually got something of substance
sewed-up and close to being finished. Wahoo!!!

Love, Moorea

Giveaway!

I am very happy to be offering this beautiful panel as my first
quilt blog giveaway! It makes a medallion wall hanging.
click picture to enlarge.

Please tell me how you began and how long you have been quilting.
Contest will end Monday, Sept 1st. I will draw names out of a hat.

I began quilting because Princess Buttercup, who has quilted since
high school, kept saying "You should quilt." over and Over and OVER.
I kept saying "no, No, NO! I cannot possibly understand quilting."
But, i REALLY wanted to make a picnic quilt when I saw this ant
fabric, and she told me how to do it over the phone. I was hooked.
Now all my scrap booking is collecting dust and getting more and
more disorganized everyday! But I love Princess Buttercup for
being patient and teaching me all kinds of quilting stuff over the years.
Quilting is one of the most satisfying hobbies I think I could ever have.

Love, Moorea

p.s. I am also doing a giveaway on my homeschool blog,
check it out here.

Scrap User System

I finally broke down and got plastic bins for
Bonnie's Scrap User's System.
I am sure you have heard of Bonnie Hunter, I would not believe
it if you told me you had not! If you have, but not checked out
her SUS, you must!!! It is quiltingly enlightening.
And look directly below- that turquoise fabric I picked up
for my Southwest Quilt with my 40% off coupon.
Gorgeous color!
/

I picked up some drawers at a Joann's on a 50% discount!
The reason I need them now? This pile:

I went through my stash and took out all the lengths & fat quarters
& bits that I absolutely can live without, but do not hate (those, I
donated to the thrift store.) I just had to get rid of fabric that have
been sitting there and will in all reality not be used in any projects
because there is too little of it and they do not match. But with
Bonnie's SUS- they don't have to match! So... I am going to cut
these fabrics up and put them in various quilting projects.

Wish me luck! Moorea

Loved This

I was finally able to get a better picture of the rag quilt.
The natural sunlight is so much better to take a picture
in than those fluorescent bulbs! The color is such a soft pink,
it is very lovely with the floral print. It turned out to be a
perfect lap size, 58 x 48.

I had some little labels made with my name on them.
I just love to use them! This project was perfect for it.
I'll be off to the post on Monday!

I am getting better at making these. I am taking my time
when sewing the blocks together; making sure all the seams
are going in the right direction. I was also very careful when
I made the cuts for the ragging. I only cut through the stitching
two times!

Happy Quilting, Moorea

UFO Day

I spent a very fun day with my quilt club "The Strip Piecers."
We met in the morning, had a delicious lunch and quilted the
afternoon away on our UnFinished Objects!

Here is Princess Buttercup and her daughter 'Miss. O'
who sat and crocheted granny square and cleaned
all the nursery toys for me! Thank you so much!

Here is a blurry, but very happy Princess Buttercup because
her UFO "Lover's Knot" is completely quilted!

Here is Tea Rose, quilting away on her beloved Featherweight.
Notice the lovely quilting gloves, luckily it was an air conditioned
room!

Here is her Nickel Quilt in all its glory. It is stunning, and big!

I offer this simple fare, my Rag Quilt. I was able to get all
the blocks quilted and sewn together. I stared 'ragging' it tonight.
It will be off to its happy new owner next week after a
good wash!

I had a great time gals, I know you did too! TTFN.

Love, Moorea

Dolly Quilt

I am getting my projects together for a
serious quilt session with the Strip Piecers!

Isn't this adorable? It was in a bag of upholstery samples given to
Princess Buttercup. I could not resist making a doll quilt out of it
for the church nursery. I found time this week to prepare it for
quilting today. I was also able to get the binding on. I could have
gone navy blue, but I could not resist the maroon- it brings out
the little flowers.

OK- I've got Yvette's pink rag quilt blocks ready with batting,
this doll quilt to finish the binding on and assorted fabrics to
iron for a scrap quilt for my brother.
So much to do, so little time!

Love, Moorea

South Western

Relaxing tonight after a long day of working at a Boy Scouts fund
raiser, I was looking at the options I had in fabric to try my hand at
this pattern in the Fall Fons & Porter Easy Quilts magazine. I have
been looking for a pattern to use these beautiful South Western
fabrics in. I received them as a gift from my Auntie Ruthie who
lives in Arizona. She worked at a JoAnn's there, at the time. Anyhow,
I think I found what I am looking for, but I do not have enough fabric,
so I will have to go shopping to add to it Who knows when I am
going to make this thing, but hey, I'm a quilter right? I can stockpile
fabric and books with patterns and fabric with patterns and half cut
fabric with patterns and half done quilt tops and everyone already
thinks I'm nuts because I am stashing & quilting...

Love, Moorea

Picnick Quilt

You have got to listen to my new Playlist!
Turn it up so you can listen to it while doing housework!
Have fun!

I thought this picnic quilt with rock pockets was sew cute.
Even though Summer is almost over, it would be a great
gift for a house warming...

Love, Moorea

Work Day

I am scheduled to get together with the Strip Piecers next Wed.
for a day of quilt time! We will meet in the nursery at church
where there is a/c and doors to shut, to keep wanderers and
other possible interested parties from interrupting us. I am
looking forward to visiting, laughing and spreading out!

I hope I can get all the pink rag quilt blocks quilted. It will be nice
to finish a project before school starts for us in September.

Love, Moorea