This Just In! Rodeo Rider for Riley Blake

My 2015 Cowboy fabric collection Rodeo Rider for Riley Blake just released in late March!

The boy version features cowboy silhouettes, while the girl version features barrel-racing cowgirl silhouettes. 

The boy version features traditional Americana colors with some fantastic tone on tone prints to pull it all together.

The Girl version features an updated color combination with pinks that have a hint of coral and light aqua to hit on the new color trends. There's plenty of color options to choose from should you want to go with just the pink and brown.

It should be arriving in your local quilt fabric boutique shop near you. 

If they do not carry this line, you can always ask them to. 

Just let them know that they can purchase it through Riley Blake. ;)

Quick and Easy Fabric Wall Decoration with Claudia Harvey

Hello everyone. Claudia here. I'm so excited to share another fabric project with you today. I just love Samantha's Serenata Collection! If you remember, I created these memo boards/wall decorations last month. I realized that not everyone has an Ikea nearby; which is where I bought the little round cork boards. So, I just had to create something using the next best thing... Fabric Hoops! You can find these at just about any craft and hobby store; even Walmart. Honestly, it gave me another excuse to play with Samantha's fabric.

These are the supplies I used:

First thing I did was fit the fabric to the hoops; then pulled the fabric to position it where I wanted it, and tightened it.

Then I turned the hoop over and trimmed the fabric, leaving it about 1/2 inch wider than the hoop; if you leave it any longer, it might look like the fabric is poking through the front when it is hanging. I may or may not have learned that the hard way.

Then simply fold over, and glue. Because this is wood, you can use just about any glue; however, I find that the hot glue dries really quick, so I barely have to press on it to hold before moving on.

Finally just position the Command hooks where you want and done!

Quick and easy!
I think I did this project in about 30 minutes. I think it took me longer to photograph that wall; my house does not have enough natural lighting.

Fabric has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I can't use a sewing machine to save my life; but with projects like this... I don't have to! I can make fabric hoops to match any season. These make such a fun and unique gift too!

Until next time.

Lots of happy hugs,

Quick and Easy Fabric Memo Boards by Claudia Harvey

Hello everyone. Claudia here. I am so excited to share this project (and tutorial) with you today.

Fabric Memo Boards

I knew exactly what I was going to do with these adorable fabric quarters from Samantha's Serenata Collection when I received them; I had been wanting to make my own memo boards for a long time.

These are my supplies:

First thing I did was find a plate that was slightly larger than the cork boards; I wanted it to be an inch to an inch and a half larger to ensure that it would cover over the edges of the board.

Next, I grabbed my glue gun and work my way around to secure the fabric on the backside.

Finally, I used Command strips to hang them up on the wall. Have you ever used those? I love them! I use them for just about anything I need to hang. They were perfect for these. Oh, and in case you wonder, the round cork boards are from Ikea.

That's it! It really was quick and easy.

Now the only thing I haven't decided is if I am going to use them as memo boards or decoration; they look great just the way they are hanging now, don't you think?

other products and tools used to make this project:

Until next time.

Lots of happy hugs, 

Silhouette Portrait Giveaway!

Good morning and happy Thursday!  
Today we are back with another fabulous giveaway sponsored by Silhouette!

All you need to do is enter below. You can earn multiple entries by following us on Facebook, commenting below, tweeting about the giveaway, and signing up for email updates. This giveaway is open to US customers only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Silhouette is also having a special promotion with their fabric interfacing!  

You are going to love all that you can do with your 

Silhouette and these fabric interfacings!

Jamie is sharing an adorable onesie she created using the Dog Puppy Silhouette cut, the Clean Cut Fabric Interfacing, and the Serenata fabric collection!  

Tutorial:

1.  Cut a piece of the Clean Cut Fabric Interface a little smaller than your fabric.  Place the textured side down on the back of your fabric.

2.  Use a hot iron to adhere the interfacing to the fabric.

3.  The back of your fabric should look like this now.

4.  Remove the backing from the interfacing.

5.  Place the fabric on your Silhouette mat.

6.  Insert your Fabric Blade into your machine and load your fabric.

7.  Move your design to match where your fabric is on your mat and then press the "send to silhouette" button.  Change your cut setting to "fabric cotton print" and make sure your blade is adjusted properly.  Press "cut".

 8.  Your Silhouette will cut your design.

 9.  Unload your mat once the cut is complete and remove the fabric.

10. Your cut should look similar to this.  Remove the design from the mat.

11. Place the design on your onesie and place it where you want it.

12. Iron the design on.

13. I used the Clean Cut Fabric Interfacing for my project and then hand-stitched the edges.  If you want to use a machine to sew on your design make sure you use the Sewable Fabric Interfacing.

If you already have a Silhouette, be sure to take advantage of the promotion!  You can get both the Clean Cut Fabric Interfacing and the Sewable Fabric Interfacing plus the Fabric Blade and a $25 download card for just $29.99!

Just click HERE and use promo code SAMANTHA!

Sandal Straps Tutorial by Maya

Hi, Samantha Walker fans!

It is Maya here today, sharing a tutorial for making cute sandal straps.

The spring finally arrived to Midwest and it's time to give my winter boots a break and dig out the sandals. The warm weather put me in a mood for a pair of new flowery straps for my Sseko sandals. I picked out cute fabric from  Samantha Walker Serenata collection  with sweet orange flowers. An hour later I had them wrapped around my feet. Let me show how I did them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can use the same technique to make a belt or a hair ribbon and  many other useful accessories. Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy the spring weather!

-Maya 

Push Pin Pillow Tutorial by Diana

Hello! Diana here with you today sharing something I made using the Samantha Walker Serenata fabrics from Riley Blake. 

As soon as I saw this blue fabric, I wanted to make a pillow. But alas, we have a new puppy who has taken to eating most of what it laying around the living room, so I settled on making a teeny tiny pillow for push pins that I can keep in my craft room. 

Here are a few quick tips on how you can make one, too!

I have a sewing machine, but I wanted to share with you how you can make one yourself even without a machine using just a needle and thread.

I cut about 1/4 of my fat quarter and grabbed about a fist full of filler stuffing. Then I threaded my needle and got to work sewing up the side with a very simple stitch.

You fold the edges over like you would gift wrap and stitch those edges, too. The backside looks a little bit like a gift wrapped up but with stitches instead of tape. Super simple and should hold nicely over time.

Choose a fun button for the middle and sew all the way through the pillow. You want to make it tight so that the pins will stick. Finish off the back with a knot. I liked to sew through the button once for the right side and again for the left. That way, if your button starts to get loose, you still have one side holding it tight and you can repair it if needed without loosing its shape.

If you are making this for a gift, finish off with a little gift tag. This tag is from the Traditions collection from Carta Bella and the stamp is from JustRite Buntings and Banners. 

There you have it! A cute mini pillow for a gift our yourself using some of your favorite fabrics. 

(Almost) No-Sew Hair Bows by Meg!

Hi everybody!  Happy Easter weekend - hope that you & yours are having a wonderful one.

As a busy, home-schooling mom of 3 kids who are each involved in 5-7 activities, I have a need for speed.  Gone are the days when I could spend hours perfecting my boeuf bourguignon, peruse 17 craft stores for the "perfect" paper to scrap my pictures with....or heck, even take a showere where I get to wash my hair AND shave my legs - ya know?

So - these days, it's all about fast.  Our family's crest should have the motto of "Git 'er done!"

Occasionally, I find a free 23 seconds and get to get my craft on - and make something pretty.  Today was one of those rare days!

Using the gorgeous Riley Blake fabric from the Serenata line, I decided to make a couple of cute hair bows for my daughter to wear for Easter Sunday.  Believe me when i tell you that if I can do this, you can, too - it doesn't even require a sewing machine.  Here goes (my 7yo son took the pictures...and it shows a little bit!):

Isn't this fabric to die for??

1.  Gather your supplies:  fabric, scissors, a needle & thread (or even a hot glue gun), and hair pins or a barrette.

 2.  Cut two pieces of fabric - one roughly 3x8" and another about 1" or 2x4"

 3.  Fold the edges of the larger piece of fabric in towards the back side.  Then fold each end towards the middle.

 4.  You could use a hot glue gun to hold the ends all together, I just put the scissors on top of the folded fabric to hold it while I worked with the smaller piece.

5.  Now - fold the smaller fabric piece the same way but roll it around your finger to form a ring.

6.  Throw a couple of quick stitches in to hold the fabric in the ring shape.  Neatness doesn't count - just keep the stitches on one side & they won't show.

7.  Now, crimp your larger folded fabric & stuff it through the ring that you just sewed - it will be snug & that's OK.  If you want, use a glue gun or an extra stitch or two to keep all the ends tucked in on the back of the bow.

8.  Tah-dah!  How cute is that?  And it only took about 5 minutes flat!  One final step:

9.  Slide a hairpin through the ring on the back - this is what I use for my daughter to pin them in her hair.  You could use a glue gun to attach it to a barrette or head band or even velcro.

10.  You can use any kind of fabric - yellow is my daughter's favorite color so I whipped this one up, too.

Hope you enjoyed this & can make some of your own.  

Happy Easter!!   

~Meg

Introducing Serenata, New Fabric Line with Riley Blake Designs!

Our Newest Fabric Line

Fabric Designer Website Link... Also Available: Pre-Cuts... and Sew Together Notions...