It's All About The Kids Craft Blogging Event - Day 3 - Free Kid Friendly Patterns From The Fat Quarter Shop

Welcome to Day 3 of the It's All About The Kids Craft Blogging Event.  Today, I want to share a  sewing project with you that is kid friendly, as well as some free kid-friendly patterns from the Fat Quarter Shop who is also a sponsor for this blogging event and is giving away several gift certificates too!



The Fat Quarter Shop team has written an easy  to follow "pocket N pies" pattern that you can download in PDF format.    FQS has shared that this design would be appropriate for age 7 and up.
And they have also created a very helpful youtube video tutorial:

For those that have problems watching this embedded video, or are using a MAC, here is a direct link to view it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPNKDoWqnxA

In addition to the pocket and pies apron being a great kid friendly sewing project, an excellent apron for in the kitchen, it is also an excellent apron to wear when doing messy craft projects.  And, I found some cute fabric, to compliment the towel.  And there was enough fabric left over that I can make a matching  pencil roll up.

The Fat Quarter Shop has many free projects with video tutorials, and here are a few that kid friendly projects that would be great fun:

Kitchen Towel: http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2014/07/milk-cow-kitchen-towel.html
Coffee Koozie: http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2014/08/coffee-koozie-tutorial-with-fat-quarter.html

And definitely check out the fun Makin It Cute templates at the Fat Quarter Shop, from Me and My Sister Designs. You can make sweet 3D embellishments that you can use to decorate with, or use as an applique' on bags, towels and more.  The possibilities are endless and it makes for a great kid friendly and/or family craft night project.

Makin It Cute:  http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2014/10/more-makin-it-cute-with-me-my-sister.html



In 2014 Kimberly and the Fat Quarter Shop team hosted a super fun quilt-along to help raise funds for Make-A-Wish.  Their goal was to raise $10k and to help them reach their goal, their Wishes Quilt is now at auction.  ONLINE bidding closes November 30th.

You may wish to check out this online auction and place a bid, or maybe you can be a PR Angel and help FQS raise funds for Make-A-Wish by increasing awareness of this auction with all of your quilty, as well as non-quilty friends.  The url for the auction is: https://www.blacktie-sanantonio.com/auctions/index.cfm?fuseaction=Auctions.Category&cid=10200

Did I mention a Giveaway ?

Fat Quarter Shop has sponsored the "It's All About The Kids" blogging event and generously donated six $25 gift certificates.  You'll find the giveaways for these certificates on various blogs participating in this event this week.  And, followers of SewCalGal can use the rafflecopter form below to enter to win one of these $25 gift certificates.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will use the random number generator to select one lucky winner, any place in the world, on Sunday, November 2nd.  The winner will be announced on this post and I will also send them an email to notify them.

Don't forget several blogging friends are joining me this week, to help share insights on kid friendly projects.  Here is the schedule and links to all the participating blogs.  You'll also find some great giveaways in this hop, including six giveaways sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop for gift certificates.

Monday, October 27th

SewCalGal - Event kick off

Tuesday, October 28th

SewCalGal  

Sarah Vedeler Designs 

Wednesday, October 29th

SewCalGal  

Happy Cottage Quilter

Thursday, October 30th

SewCalGal
I Have A Notion  

Freemotion by the River

Blue Feather Studio/Marjorie's Quilting Bee

Friday, October 31st

SewCalGal

Jacquelynne Steves, The Art of Home  

Hoffman California Fabrics   

Jean's Quilting Page  

Wendy Sheppard/Ivory Spring 

If you are a blogger or non-blogger and would like to join the fun and share insights on projects suitable for kids, tips, or tutorials, as appropriate, you are also welcome to join the fun and add a link to the linky below.  Non-bloggers can upload photos in a Flickr group called "It's All About The Kids". An InLinkz Link-up


You can find the Fat Quarter Shop at:

http://www.fatquartershop.com/
http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FatQuarterShop
https://twitter.com/FatQuarterShop
https://www.youtube.com/user/FatQuarterShop

It's All About The Kids Craft Blogging Event - Day 1

Welcome to the week of "It's All About The Kids" blogging event, where everyone is welcome.  This week I'll be sharing insights on a variety of crafting projects that are kid friendly. And, I have several blogging friends that will join in and share their insights on fun kid friendly projects.

Many of us find when we get to spend time to quilting, or with other crafts, that we find an inner peace that can balance us when dealing with stress.  Well, kids also have to deal with stress and we hope to encourage awareness of the benefits of kids time to create, as well as family craft time, to help kids also find joy and happiness through creating!

Plus, many earn an income by way of creating. So, why not teach kids to create and maybe they'll also find ways to earn a little money from it too!  If you didn't listen to the podcast by Kimberly Geswein, on my previous post, I hope you check it out.  I found it inspirational to learn how her daughters are earning money by being creative!  But this event isn't about kids earning money, as much as trying to encourage kids to be creative, as well as for parents, grandparents and others to help create crafty environments for kids.

While we'll be sharing inspirational projects, insights on free patterns, some tips and tutorials, we also have a several giveaways.  SewCalGal wants to recognize and thank sponsors that have donated prizes that will be randomly given out to participants in this event. And, there are some participating blogs that will also be hosting giveaways this week and SewCalGal will be increasing awareness throughout the week.

Today I want to share insights about a fun tutorial on the Brewer blog, that I think  would make for a great kid friendly project.

They have a pattern template and tutorial to make a cute stuffie that they showcase as a Happy Halloweenie hanging decoration.  But I think this design would also be fun to make in seasonal prints, as well as fabrics to match your quilts!

To clarify, this pattern is showcased using chalk fabric, but it would also be cute in a variety of fabrics.

Cutting fabrics using templates and sewing is easy and a good project for pre-teens and teens.  Turning the project is not that difficult, but it helps to use a pencil (eraser end), or wooden knitting needle, to help turn, as well as stuff with polyester stuffing material.  As such, due to the turning, this project may be best suited as a family project, or where a kid may have an experienced sewing enthusiast to help with the turning.  

I learned about this project during a crafty class at Cozy Quilt Shop.  You can call the shop if you want to order kits, but the pattern can be printed for free from the Brewer Blog.  I found it a fun and fast project and think it would be perfect for pre-teens and teens, maybe younger kids if they have help with a confident sewing enthusiast.  It really is cuter than my photos depict.

Tutorial/Free Pattern can be found at:  http://www.brewerinspires.com/home/2014/9/30/happy-halloweenie.html

Here is the current line up for this blogging event this week.  I'll update this post, if there are changes and also increase awareness with my Kid Friendly crafting projects this week, as well as announcements on giveaways.

I hope you have a fun and creative week and you come up with fun ideas for crafting with kids.

Monday, October 27th

SewCalGal - Event kick off

Tuesday, October 28th

SewCalGal

Sarah Vedeler Designs

Wednesday, October 29th

SewCalGal

Happy Cottage Quilter

Thursday, October 30th

SewCalGal

I Have A Notion

Freemotion by the River

Blue Feather Studio/Marjorie's Quilting Bee

Friday, October 31st

SewCalGal

Jacquelynne Steves, The Art of Home

Hoffman California Fabrics

Jean's Quilting Page  

Wendy Sheppard/Ivory Spring

If you are a blogger or non-blogger and would like to join the fun and share insights on projects suitable for kids, tips, or tutorials, as appropriate, you are also welcome to join the fun and add a link to the linky below.  Non-bloggers can upload photos in a Flickr group called "It's All About The Kids".

An InLinkz Link-up

There are a variety of ways to win prizes.  Here are the rules (aka basic guidelines)

1) Bloggers participating in this event and hosting their own giveaways will set their own rules.  While SewCalGal will help increase awareness of their giveaways, during this event, specifically on the day that their giveaways are  open, the prize details are up to the blogger hosting that specific giveaway.
2) For sponsored giveaways , for this event, on SewCalGal, all bloggers participating in this hop, as well as bloggers and non-bloggers that join the linky party, are all eligible to enter to win a prize.  They'll be a couple of different ways to enter and the details will be announced next week, and they will be shared as each giveaway during the week.  Basically, you get an entry as a participating blogger, non-blogger that takes time to share tips, tutorials, inspirational projects to help kids be crafty, as well as families create family crafty events.
3) NON-BLOGGERS need to have a free Flickr Account and upload their photo entries to Flickr, as well as making sure their photos are added to a group on Flickr called "Kid Friendly Craft Projects" 4) SewCalGal will also give entries to win prizes to those followers that take time to visit all of the official participating blogs, which SewCalGal showcases in the lineup, and you leave a positive comment on their blog post shared for this event.

5) There will also be a few extra ways to enter, based on the rafflecopter form, for those that may follow sponsors, as well as participating bloggers, on Facebook or Twitter. Totally optional, but for those that like more than one chance to win a giveaway prize, there are a few extra ways to enter.

New Fabric Line: Tonga Cabana, by Daniela Stout, from Timeless Treasures, New Book and a Free Pattern

SewCalGal loves to learn about new fabrics, quilting books, and other new items that can be fun to create with, or help us with our creativity.  As such, I'm absolutely thrilled to share insights with you today on a new line of batik fabric, a new quilting book, as well as a new free quilt pattern.

Tonga Cabana is a new line of batik fabrics, designed by Daniela Stout (Cozy Quilt Shop, Cozy Quilt Designs), from Timeless Treasures.

Daniel Stout and Team created a YouTube video during the Tonga Cabana debut at Cozy Quilt Shop that shows a variety of quilts and table toppers made with this new fabric, as well as shares insights about her new book, Sweet Tooth.


If you are using a MAC or having problems watching this embedded video you can click this clink to watch it directly in YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPZTh_txY34

The Tonga Cabana fabric line contains 28 different batik fabrics that are available in yardage, as well as all sorts of pre-cuts.



And, for a limited time you can download a free pattern designed by Daniela Stout that shows off the beauty of this new fabric.  This design is called Tonga Cabana.

Sweet Tooth is a new book, by Daniela Stout which includes six different projects that are made with the Tonga Cabana fabrics (but these projects could be made using any fabrics).  And it includes several recpies for sweet treats!

I wanted to share a little sneak peak of quilts from this book:

Slice N Serve, 65"x73"

Popped Art, 68"x78" 

Fast Lane, 68"x78"

You can find Tonga Cabana and Sweet Tooth online at Cozy Quilt Shop.  You should also be able to find it at your local quilt shops and favorite online stores.  But if you don't find this fabric in your favorite shops, just let them know you'd like to have them carry it.  

Wholesale fabric orders can be placed through Timeless Treasures and wholesale book orders can be placed directly through Cozy Quilt.

Happy Mother's Day - Quilting With Eleanor, free patterns

In honor of Mothers Day today, I wanted to recognize a woman whom some might think of as the Mother of Quilting.  Eleanor Burns certainly has taught many to quilt and is loved by many quilters from all around the world.

Did you know Eleanor is coming out with a new line of fabric, from Benartex?  It is called Zoey Christine.  This line of fabric is actually named after one of Eleanor's granddaughters.  So special, but as all mothers and grandmothers try to be fair, I think this means Eleanor is going to need to come out with more lines of fabric to ensure all her grandkids are recognized.  Or maybe I'm thinking that as she always comes out with such sweet fabric.

Pre-orders for Zoey Christine can now be accepted at Quilt in a Day.

Eleanor and the Quilt in a Day team created a fun YouTube video, where she also shares some insights in honor of Mother's Day.  Plus, she shows how to create a spectacular quilt using an AccuQuilt.  She makes a Jewel Box quilt that can be created with a 6" or 9" design.  I also enjoy all of the tips she shares for precision piecing and connecting blocks with perfect seams that press perfectly flat.

This video runs for 59 minutes, but you can start/stop/repeat anytime you want.  You'll see Eleanor make three quilt designs, as well as see these designs made in a variety of fabrics and colors.  Plus, there are free patterns for these designs!

If you have problems viewing this embedded video, or are on a MAC, you can watch it directly in Youtube by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdXqrMYQsuE&list=TL9PoAsZViBGQjYLoFR6zoxXthinWxFOeV

You can download free PDF patterns from Quilt In A Day for the three patterns covered in this video:

Jewel Box
Spools
School Girl Puzzle

Happy Mother's Day!

You can find Eleanor and Quilt In A Day at:

http://www.quiltinaday.com/
http://www.eleanorburns.com/
http://www.stripquilter.com/
http://www.quiltinaday.tv/

https://www.facebook.com/quiltinaday
https://twitter.com/QuiltInADay

You can find AccuQuilt at:

www.accuquilt.com

Quilt in a Day is also giving free  shipping on orders placed this weekend, as a way to celebrate Mother's Day.  They have a great online store with great prices too!  To clarify, the free shipping has no minimum order but is good for the 48 contiguous states in the US.  Non-contiguous states and International orders will receive 50% off shipping costs.  

Free Pattern - Duck Dynasty Apron - From Fat Quarter Shop

SewCalGal is just giddy about being able to share insights with my followers about a new pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop.  I've promised to not divulge this new pattern till today.  This is a super fun and fast pattern that will make for great gifts, throughout the year, but you'll also want to make it for use in your home!  It is an apron design that is super fun.  Even my hubby loves this design and wants me to make more!

And Fat Quarter Shop Design Team is celebrating the release of this new design with a blog hop today!

The Fat Quarter Shop team has written an easy  to follow pattern that you can download in PDF format.  And they have also created an excellent youtube video tutorial:

This cute apron is a super easy design that can be made quite quickly using a dish towel that you can find at Target, WalMart, or just about any store that carries kitchen items.  Plus one yard of fabric.  You may want to use a seasonal motif fabric, but really any complimentary fabric to your kitchen towel will work.

I enjoyed making an apron using nautical fabric.

Of course, I quickly realized the fun of creating aprons to celebrate Spring.  And I thought this Hoffman batik made for a fun combination for the season (although my photo doesn't capture the colors).  

As I have a friend that loves purple, I  also enjoyed using some purple Hoffman batiks to her an apron!  

Thank you to my hubby who endured being a last minute photo model. But as he was about to BBQ, it seemed like a perfect opportunity.  Plus, I do think if is an apron-aholic.  If he likes an apron I know the design is a good one. And he LOVES this design!

SewCalGal believes the possibilities are endless with this fun and fast apron design from the Fat Quarter Shop.  You could use it to make hostess gifts for when you are invited to dinner at a friend, add to a gift basket, decorate for an upcoming Easter Brunch (or any holiday).  Of course, SewCalGal is hoping to see some entries using this fun and fast design for entering one of the monthly challenges in the  Handmade Christmas Challenge (these aprons would certainly make for great gifts or use in your home for the holidays).

Click on over to the Fat Quarter Shop blog to see all the other inspirational aprons that fellow bloggers participating in this hop have created.

You can find the Fat Quarter Shop at:

http://www.fatquartershop.com/
http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FatQuarterShop
https://twitter.com/FatQuarterShop
https://www.youtube.com/user/FatQuarterShop