Denise Clason Studios~Sewing & Quilting author

I was tagged by a good friend of mine, named, Phyllis Dobbs. She is another designer of quilts and fabric, etc.. Her blog is listed on the right, check out her website and blog! 

Hi Denise! You’ve been “tagged”!  Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself on your blog.

Okay, so here goes—7 random or weird facts about me:

1. I broke my right arm when I was 5 years old. I had a cast on for about 6 weeks during kindergarten! So, in order to do all of the “crafts” I had to use my left arm, so now I’m ambidextrous!

2. I’ve got 4 brothers and 1 sister and we were all born within 7 years. Three of us actually got married in the same year! My poor parents!

I’m the third from the left.

3. I used to bring home all of the pets (mostly puppies) we ever had. My father used to tell me to take them back…of course, I couldn’t!  (He ended up playing with them anyway.) He actually named one of them “worthless-useless.” We all got a kick out of that…that puppie’s real name was “curly.” I have even been known to bring home pets after I got married. Here’s one of them, named Cory:

Isn’t he the cutest puppy! A black and tan Cocker Spaniel.

4. I used to check out costume books at the library when I was around 10-12 years old and make up my own doll clothes from the pictures. Each “pattern” I made up had all of the pattern pieces needed to finish the costume, a pattern envelope, a drawing on the cover of the envelope, just like a real pattern from the store. I still have some of my original “patterns” with my collection of antique dolls! And the costumes I made for them.

5. I used to ride horses with my sister. We exercised our neighbor’s horses about once a week. I remember one time we ran through an orchard of almond trees, nearly hitting our heads on the branches. (we were young teenagers) One of the horses kept trying to bite us on the leg when we’d kick it with our heels to run….I told the owner, “I think this horse is pregnant.” and he said, there’s no way….well—it was! He was so shocked the day it gave birth! Because this particular horse was in an area all by itself….hummm

6. I started my own sewing business, with my own business cards when I was only 16 years old! I made clothes, altered clothes, made wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses, suits, slacks, etc. I didn’t start quilting until I was about 18, when I made my first baby quilt for a teacher.

Sewing my daughter’s wedding dress, the first one since I was married, 22 years earlier.

7. I took interior design courses in college, until I switched my major to clothing and textiles. I still love to decorate! In fact—we are in the middle of a whole house remodel! And we are doing it ourselves!   

Okay, now that you know a little about me! It’s your turn to confess something weird or interesting about you! Please submit your comments below–  

Here is a list of seven of my friends that I’ve tagged, their names are: 

1. Debra Quartermain—Debra Quartermain (Debra designs patterns and fabric.)

2. Claudine Hellmuth—Claudine Hellmuth (Claudine is a collage artist)

3. Gina Halladay—Quilter’s Buzz (Gina is the owner of Quilter’s Buzz and knows all things quilt.)

4. Brenda Pinnick—Brenda Pinnick (Brenda is an illustrator and licenses her art)

5. Ann Butler Designs— Ann Butler (Ann designs with paper)

6. Rebekah Meier—Rebekah Meier Designs (paper and fabric designer) 

7. Joan Hawley—Lazy Girl Designs (Joan is another quilter and is the designer behind the Lazy Girl Design patterns.)

What very talented and great women! Check out their blogs!

Happy Quilting! Denise

Hi everyone!

I’ve put my books and name on a google alert and it is the coolest thing! I get notices anytime my name or my book names are mentioned on the internet.

Well, I got a google alert, today and this is the type of ”creativity” I found:

Karen’s version of my Amber Tote, which is in my book Quilted Bags and Totes, is so fun and inventive! Check out the handwork on the flowers and beads, as well as the handwork on the orange band around the bag. I love how she layers the green fabrics and sews them onto the batting to create her quilted design. She also sewed coordinating prints together to create the handle! Very cute, Karen! Karen has a talent for quilting art, check out her blog:  http://spiralsun65.blogspot.com/

happy quilting!

Denise

I’ve been craving scones the last few days and finally got busy this morning making them. Our family favorite is from a Better Homes and Gardens test kitchen. It is a prize tested recipe. Our family loves this recipe, infact, I’ve made it into a mix for ease on those mornings you want to fix a quick, yet elegant, breakfast. We serve these a lot when we have friends and family over to visit! And don’t forget a cuppa English Toffee Tea from Celestial Seasonings! You can order it on their website! Okay–so you’ve waited long enough, here is the recipe:

Country Scones, Mrs. M. McCavour, Curnaby, BC, Canada

1/2 C dried raisins, or craisins, dates, apricots, etc. I’ve used many different fruits, even canned peaches!

2 C flour

3 T sugar

2 t baking powder

3/4 t salt

1/2 t baking soda

5 T butter, softened

8-oz carton sour cream, I’ve used non-fat, too! Still tastes great!

1 egg yolk, separated

1 slightly beaten egg white

1 t sugar + 1/8 t cinnamon

Soak raisins in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain well, set aside. In large mixing bowl combine flour, 3 T sugar, baking powder, salt, and soda. Cut in butter with a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins.

In a small bowl, blend sour cream and egg yolk. Add all at once to crumb mixture, stirring with a fork, until dough clings together. Pour out onto a lightly floured surface, knead gently for 10-12 strokes. On a greased pan, roll dough into a 9″ circle . Cut into 8 sections with a flour-coated knife. Brush with beaten egg white, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Cut apart and serve with some strawberry freezer jam (homemade) and some whipped cream.

Hi everyone,

My sister, who is not a seamstress or quilter, loved my book, “New Country Quilting.” She wanted to make everything! I suggested that she start with one of the easier patterns, called The Sunshine and Diamond Throw Quilt. We went together to find the different prints and had a blast. I showed her how to sew the blocks together and then how easy it was to applique the diamond squares into place, using Steam-a-Seam2. She finished her quilt top and I showed her how to put all of the layers together for quilting, using my favorite temporary spray adhesive, Sulky KK2000. (this spray does NOT gum up your needles, no matter how fast you machine quilt!)

We basted the layers together using a walking foot, stitching in the ditch, to stabilize all of the layers! Then I showed her how to do all of the loopy designs for machine quilting all over. She was very nervous, since her specialty is art illustration. (She is the illustrator of the “fish” in this website!) Soooo—to get to the bottom line—-I told her I’d quilt it for her. She was told it may take a while to get to it…and it did. I had it since before Christmas 2007. Well, she was coming to Las Vegas for a show and I told myself that I would get it done while she was here. And that is what I did, in about 3 hours of no-interruption and focused machine quilting, I got it done!!! (2 weeks ago!)

Here is the finished quilt! (Note the binding, it is made from scraps of the prints, sewn together.)

Above is the center diamond shape, so you can see how simple it is to construct. You can also see how easy the quilting was!!! You can buy this book from Amazon or from ME! When you purchase from me, I will personalize your copy! :O)

Happy Quilting! Denise

PS. Please stay tuned, tomorrow I’ll have a FREE pattern/design for a custom luggage handle cover! (In celebration of National Quilt Day–March 15th!)–better late than never!

Here is my free pattern for the luggage handle cover I promised! I created this project to celebrate National Quilting Day, on March 15th!

Designer Luggage Handle Cover (designed by Denise Clason)

Supplies:

(2) 6″ x 6″ pieces of your favorite print, matching your luggage. NOTE: Be sure to measure your handle, it may be larger or smaller than my luggage handle.

Measure the circumference and add 1″ for overlap and keep these measurements aside, for now. My finished measurements were 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″.

You will also need:

(1) 2-1/4″ x 30″ strip of coordinating fabric print. (for binding)

(1) 6″ x 6″ piece of thin batting, I used Mountain Mist 100% Cotton.

(1) 5″ piece of 1″ hook and loop tape, matching fabric.

Coats All-purpose thread, matching fabric

Sulky KK2000 temporary spray

1/4″ quilting foot, and Darning or walking foot

Basic Sewing supplies and quilting supplies, such as rotary cutter, rotary ruler and mat.

Instructions:

1. Press the 6″ squares of fabric.

2. Layer the 6″ squares in this order—One of the prints (face down), batting (spray batting with KK2000), one of the prints (face up). See photo.

(Spraying the batting will keep the layers together while you machine quilt.)

Quilting the Handle Cover:

1. Attach your darning foot to the machine and LOWER the feed dog. (If you do not have a darning foot, you may use a walking foot and create straight stitching, without lowering the feed dog.) Machine quilt as desired. See photo. (I created a loopy design to match the pattern of the fabric.)

Cut the handle cover to your measurements that you set aside earlier. I cut mine to measure 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″.

Binding: 

1. Fold the 2-1/4″ x 30″ coordinating fabric piece into a lengthwise strip (right side out) and press. 

2. Sew the binding onto the raw edge, RST, to the handle cover. See photo.

Stop sewing 1/4″ away from the corner of your handle cover (see right photo). Backstitch and cut threads. Reposition your piece so that you can manipulate the corner of the binding, see below.

Position the binding so that it is a straight extension of the edge of the handle cover (left photo, above, the photo is not exactly straight, because both of my hands were on the camera, you can do a better job!) Then, you’ll fold down the binding strip to lay down along the edge of the cover (right photo, above, notice that the binding is squared up on the corner, underneath is a “hidden” miter.) Pin and sew. Repeat on each of the three remaining corners.

Finishing the Binding:  This method is the quickest method for finishing a binding. It has a little bulk, so trim away some of the layers before turning to the other side to sew together.

1. Fold one side of the binding inside 1/4″. Trim the other side to “fit” 1/2″ inside of the folded side. See photos below.

2. Pin and sew all the layers together, trim any extra thickness at the overlap.

Click on the above picture to see the details. This shows how I’ve pinned all the layers together for finishing the binding. (It is a little hard to tell, since the circle in the fabric matches so closely!  what a fluke!)

3. Turn the binding to the other side in preparation for sewing.

5. Pin the binding to the back side of the handle cover. See above. Create a “miter” corner when pinning.

6. Stitch in the ditch on the front side. This is a stitch which is close to the binding and very close to the seam. Do not stitch on the front binding. (the backside of the binding will be stitched to hold it in place.) See photo below.

Sew on the Hook and Loop Tape:

1. Cut a length of hook and loop tape to fit across the handle cover, short of 1/2″. (I cut the tape in half, lengthwise. This was my preference, you may want to have 1″ width)

2. Pull the two pieces of tape apart. Lay one of the pieces across the handle cover, see below. Sew in place. Backstitch at each end for security.

3. Position the other piece onto the back side. (coincidentally, they end up being sewn on the “right” side of the handle cover.) See above.

4. You are now finished! Place onto your luggage and smile, now you have a designer luggage tag! You’ll never have trouble finding it at the baggage claim or in public!

*** I hope you enjoyed creating this fun and decorative handle cover for your luggage! If you want to see how I made one without a binding, see below:

Layer the prints RST, lay over the batting. Stitch through all the layers as shown, leaving a 3″ opening. Clip the corners. Turn right side out. Press. Slipstitch the opening. Top stitch 1/4″ around all the sides. Machine quilt as desired. (I quilted in a straight line.)

I love my new luggage handles! They look so CUSTOM! Happy Quilting! Denise Clason http://www.deniseclason.com/

Hi everyone,

My sister, who is not a seamstress or quilter, loved my book, “New Country Quilting.” She wanted to make everything! I suggested that she start with one of the easier patterns, called The Sunshine and Diamond Throw Quilt. We went together to find the different prints and had a blast. I showed her how to sew the blocks together and then how easy it was to applique the diamond squares into place, using Steam-a-Seam2. She finished her quilt top and I showed her how to put all of the layers together for quilting, using my favorite temporary spray adhesive, Sulky KK2000. (this spray does NOT gum up your needles, no matter how fast you machine quilt!)

We basted the layers together using a walking foot, stitching in the ditch, to stabilize all of the layers! Then I showed her how to do all of the loopy designs for machine quilting all over. She was very nervous, since her specialty is art illustration. (She is the illustrator of the “fish” in this website!) Soooo—to get to the bottom line—-I told her I’d quilt it for her. She was told it may take a while to get to it…and it did. I had it since before Christmas 2007. Well, she was coming to Las Vegas for a show and I told myself that I would get it done while she was here. And that is what I did, in about 3 hours of no-interruption and focused machine quilting, I got it done!!! (2 weeks ago!)

Here is the finished quilt! (Note the binding, it is made from scraps of the prints, sewn together.)

Above is the center diamond shape, so you can see how simple it is to construct. You can also see how easy the quilting was!!! You can buy this book from Amazon or from ME! When you purchase from me, I will personalize your copy! :O)

Happy Quilting! Denise

PS. Please stay tuned, tomorrow I’ll have a FREE pattern/design for a custom luggage handle cover! (In celebration of National Quilt Day–March 15th!)–better late than never!