Jenny from the Missouri Star Quilt Company!

The other day, I was looking for quilt videos. Although I've been sewing for a really long time, I am a sporadic quilter. Mostly I'm a quilt starter, not a quilt finisher.

Be that as it may, I wanted to brush up on my quilting skills so did what any quilter of the modern era would do - went to YouTube. There I discovered the wonders of Jenny from the Missouri Star Quilt Company.

I am now a disciple of Jenny and her videos! One of the reasons I have been a lifelong sporadic quilter is that the demand for precision has scared me into inaction. Jenny likes precision but as she puts it, if it doesn't come out quite right, nobody dies and you can make do.

Jenny is upbeat, funny, sensible, and inspires me to make ALL the quilts. I watch her videos for quilts I never intend to make.

One of the things I most appreciate is that she can make even the most complicated patterns simple. And she makes me believe I can make those same patterns. When I watch her videos, I have the same feelings of security and tranquility I used to find with Bob Ross's painting videos and his happy little trees. Jenny makes adorable quilts and loves sharing them with her audience.

After watching this video, I decided to make my own pennant quilt. As soon as I have it finished, I'll post the end results. (It is a really fun quilt to make!)

Go enjoy Jenny and her videos which will inspire you to want to make ALL the quilts.

Pattern Copyright Law

I found this article very interesting. I thought you might find it useful as well.

Sewing Pattern Copyright Law on so-sew-easy

Ballerinas Dancing Across a Wall Hanging

I have always loved the art of Ballet. If I'd been shorter, thinner, and more athletic, I would have dreamt of being a ballerina. Alas, that was not to be. I am a sewer which means I can create ballerinas from fabric and thread. This is the result!

Even more photos are available here: Ballerina Wall Hanging - Four Swans Dancing

Ballerina Wall Hanging is available from my Etsy shop.

I created this wall hanging using Adobe Illustrator to trace various ballerinas in several poses. If you would like to make your own wall hanging, here is a copy of the swans. Please don't claim this design as yours - a link back would be nice but not required. Anything you choose to do with this design is up to you, as long as you don't say you designed it yourself. Thanks!

Four Swans Dancing (c) Crafts of Note 

Joyful Elephant Wall Hanging

Isn't there something so adorable about elephants? I've always thought of elephants as true gentle giants. I feel certain that in real life they are loud, smelly, and ill tempered - much like us, now that I think about it.

That doesn't mean that I don't harbor a love of elephants. When I saw this design at Windham Fabrics, I knew I had to make my own.

I was a little surprised that the elephant on the appliqué pattern wasn't reversed. And since I'd already printed it out, I decided not to reverse it when I made it. That makes mine a mirror image of the original but I'm okay with it. I still think it's incredibly adorable.

What do you think?

More photos are available here: Joyful Elephant Wall Hanging.

Joyful Elephant Wall Hanging is available in my Etsy shop.