Country By Design's Blog

Retirement Community Targets Indian Immigrants

countrybydesign — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:48:24 +0000

There are all kinds of niche retirement communities out there. But thus far, if you were a Hindu Indian-American, alas, there was no special place for you—until now.

Information technology professional Iggy Ignatius has started what he calls "the first retirement housing plan targeting a specific immigrant group in the country,” reports Religion News Service. It's in Orlando, FL, and it's called ShantiNiketan.

Pic of the Day - 2/22/13

countrybydesign — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:45:08 +0000

Reblogged from Check Your Premises:

Girls bearing water in Rajasthani.

First Impressions of Fusible Batting

countrybydesign — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:16:05 +0000

Reblogged from Diannajessie:

The postie did bring along my fusible batting this week and yesterday I got it out the bag to get busy with. It's so tacky that it sticks to itself and I really had to pull in out of the roll shape. I laid and smoothed out my backing fabric, the batting and the top on my table armed ready with an iron full of water and at top temp for a good steam.

Payback to the Dog

countrybydesign — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:12:50 +0000

Reblogged from Rantings of an Amateur Chef:

I am a dog person. I always had at least one dog, and often two, in the home while growing up. After marrying, moving into our own house and having a couple of kids, we decided it was time for us to get our own dog.

My wife also grew up with a dog in the family and had a fondness for collies.

Pic of the Day - 2/16/13

countrybydesign — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:08:41 +0000

Reblogged from Check Your Premises:

I like ravens. They are one of several reasons why I rooted for the Baltimore Ravens this year. As a result, I have several awesome raven pics.

Doesn't he look smart?

Country Quilting

countrybydesign — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:21:59 +0000

This week was rather crazy. Home on Monday, but Tuesday brought a funeral and used car shopping. Wednesday was a hair cut and more used car shopping. I was home again all day on Thursday, but today was my husband’s doctor’s appointment, and more car shopping. But we did stop in to see our newest granddaughter, so it wasn’t a total waste of time! I was exhausted by the time we got home, so it was grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, then computer time. Not one stitch on the sewing machine today!

However, I did manage to get a few projects finished this week, including a flannel baby quilt, a table runner, and a tote bag/diaper bag for our oldest granddaughter. I haven’t taken pictures of these items yet. No sunshine yesterday or today. Should be able to catch up tomorrow.

I did get a few little things finished that I could list on Etsy. I have completely used one pair of jeans making denim wallets and business card cases. All of the following items are listed on Etsy.

Denim business card case

Handmade denim wallet

I don’t always have a pattern when I start in making things like this, but I usually at least have a picture, but these are all the result of blood, sweat, and tears. I worked out the designs but trying different combinations until I was happy with the results. I have about a dozen wallets lying around here that didn’t turn out so well. Guess I can give them to the grandkids to play house with.

I still have a baby quilt that needs the binding hand stitched, and I have most of the layout done for another Valentine’s Day table runner made from Kissing Booth by Moda. And I have an order for 8 coasters in brown and pink. I think some of the fabrics from Kissing Booth will be perfect! So glad I ordered a couple of extra sets.

If the sun is shining tomorrow, I’ll take some more pictures, but I think our forecast for the next two days calls for rain. We do need it, so I’m not going to complain. I can always post a couple of pictures of the new baby!

Marking a quilt top for quilting by hand

countrybydesign — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:46:03 +0000

Two months ago I finished setting this quilt top together. Biggest project I have ever tried!

Quilt top with embroidery blocks

Since then, I have been piddling around at getting the top mark so it can be quilted. Marking is not my favorite activities. Part of the dread was just the fact that I had never done it before, and didn’t really know what I was doing.

Believe it or not, I finished marking today!

Quilt top with marks for quilting by hand.

The wide dark green border is marked with straight lines that run perpendicular to the edge. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. But I’m glad it’s done. Mary Ann already has another set of blocks finished that she is ready for me to set together. It is purple and has butterflies. Should be pretty.

Pink baby lovie with green frogs

countrybydesign — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:29:02 +0000

I made this baby lovie some time ago, but just recently someone ask me to share the instructions for making one.

Front of baby lovie

For reference, this is the front,

Back of flannel baby lovie

and this is the back, although both side are finished.

General instructions:

All fabrics are prewashed flannel. All seam allowances are 1/2 inch. Finished size is 16 inches square. Flannel squares are used in place of batting.

Cut:

Three 9 inch squares of white flannel, 16 five inch squares of pink flannel, 20 five inch squares of white flannel, and 2 four inch circles with design of choice plus 2 four inch circles of batting. For borders, cut 4 strips of white flannel 1 inch wide and 16 inches long, plus 4 strips of pink and white check the same size.

Directions:

1. Lay two large flannel squares together and stitch diagonally from corner to corner. Repeat stitching on third large square. Draw a pencil line on back side if needed.

2. Back each fussy cut flannel circle with a circle of batting, and stitch each one to the center of the large flannel squares.

3. Make sandwiches of the remaining small flannel squares so that you have four that are pink on the top and bottom and white in the middle, and 8 that are pink on the top and white on the back and middle. Stitch an X through each one from corner to corner.

4. Make two rows of four squares each by stitching 1/2 inch from the edge with WRONG sides together. Press seams open. Then clip each seam with clips being 1/8th to 1/4th inch apart. DO NOT clip into the seam allowance at each end of the seam. Refer to pictures for proper arrangement.

5. Make two sets of two squares each, pressing and clipping as before.

6. With wrong side together, stitch each two square set to opposite sides of the large squares which have been stacked together with designs to the outside. Press and clip.

7. Stitch the four square sets to the remaining edges of the white squares, matching seam lines and keeping seam allowances open. Press and clip.

8. To make the fluffy borders, stitch the one inch strips of flannel to the front side along each edge with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, folding and pressing both edges to the outside before crossing with another strip. Attach the pink check strips to the back the same way. Stitch the seam allowances at the corners to form 1/2 inch squares that are not clipped. Once your borders are stitched and pressed, go back and clip them just like your seams, making as many passes as needed to clip through all the layers.

9. Toss in the washing machine and dryer to fluff up the seams and your lovie is ready!

PS: I am not an expert pattern writer, so let me know if you don’t understand this. I may be able to provide some links with pictures that will help.

Making place mats with appliqued mittens (countrybydesign.wordpress.com)
Making a rag quilted table runner (countrybydesign.wordpress.com)

Lined pencil case from A Spoonful of Sugar

countrybydesign — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:25:53 +0000

I stumbled upon these instructions for making a pencil-case while I was looking for something else. I used the basic idea to make several of these. They are a great way to use leftover scraps of fabric.

One thing she showed me was an easy way to add lining to small bags. It takes me awhile to wrap my head around directions like these, and I still make mistakes, but when you do it right, it produces a professional looking bag.

There are several examples of these pencil cases in my Etsy shop.

Alpaca Scarf

countrybydesign — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:19:33 +0000

Reblogged from Neldee:

I finished up this Alpaca scarf this week. I do have to say it was hard to crochet... not that the yarn itself was hard to use but it looked like hair and for whatever reason just really grossed me out. hahaha... I guess since I have been bald by choice when I see hair places or have to deal with hair it brings this disgusted reaction...