No Sew Quilt Block for Easter

With Easter right around the corner, I wanted to try out a new product I found called Quilt Magic. It's a simple technique to learn and it requires NO SEWING!!!

Quilt Magic is similar to "painting by numbers" but you use fabric. The fabric is pressed or tucked into a foamboard with precut grooves. You tuck the fabric one by one until the picture is complete. It's that simple and the end results will give you a beautiful quilted block that you can hang or display in your home.  



For my first Quilt Magic design, I choose the mini cross design that represents the finished work of Jesus as he rose from the dead on Easter Resurrection Sunday. With this mini design, it was really quick to complete. I finished this design in one hour. There are more complex designs that are larger in size as well that could take a little more time. I recommend starting with a simple or smaller design to get comfortable before tackling the larger designs.



List of Supplies:
1. Quilt Magic kit of your choice
2. Fabric (purchased with kit or from your own stash)
3. Scissors
4. Kitchen knife
5. Tucking or Punch tool


Here are the 10 easy steps to complete a Quilt Magic kit.

1. Use a kitchen knife and cut through the 4 corners of the foamboard.  This will be used to tuck in the fabric in to the corner to get the look of a mitered corner.

2. Cut the templates.  The kit comes with a few sheets that has outline shapes to be used as templates to cut the fabric.  Cut each shape and organize them.

3. Layout the templates on the fabric and begin to cut the fabric pieces you need to complete your design.  Use pins to secure the template down on the fabric.  If you have a small piece of fabric, it's a good idea to lay out all the template pieces before cutting to make sure you have enough fabric.

4. Take the cut out fabric and match it up to the diagram to see where the fabric should be placed.  Start with #1 and work your way to the last number.  Place the fabric in the middle of the foam section and start to use the punch tool to tuck the all around the edges of the fabric into the foam.  If you see fabric sticking out, you might have to take the fabric out and re-center it.  It could have been shorter on once side and did not have enough fabric to tuck in.

5. Continue to the next number and work your way to the next  color..

6. The frame edge can be done first or last, it doesn't really matter.  Lay the fabric down and place the foam on top of it.. Tuck the frame edge and do the corners last.  There is a bit more excess fabric and might not fit nicely in the corner slit.  So trim the fabric on a 45 deg angle and tuck from the top and also on the side

7. Tuck, tuck and tuck some more until you get to the last number.

Here is the final product.  It turned out pretty good for my first try.  I chose different fabric colors than the kit recommends.  The best part about these Quilt Magic is that you can always change the fabric to another color if you don't like it.. They had some really cool designs where I could see potential for a different frame color fabric to match the season or your mood.  The possibilities are endless for color with these..

Happy Easter and Resurrection Sunday...


~~Words of Encouragement~~
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

Much needed Birthday Weekend Getaway!!

This weekend, my husband took me away for a much needed gateway to celebrate my birthday.. It just so happens that Lancaster, PA was having a Quilt Week so we decided to make plans to fill the whole weekend in Lancaster. There were multiple events being offered during the week for all those sewing and quilt lovers.  Two major events: the Lancaster Quilt Show and the American Quilt Socity QuiltWeek.

I decided to attend the Lancaster Quilt Show because it was more quaint with local vendors and they offered a class to make a quilted bag :-)
This show was smaller than I thought it was going to be but it turned out that they had to split the show into two locations.  The main location is in the Expo center of the Host Resort which had the quilt display, the vendors and the classrooms. 

The second location was across the street at the Continental Inn.  This is where the rest of the vendors was situated, you can find vendors in every possible nook and crany of the Inn. Every were you turn there was another section to explore. They also had quilts hanging through out the Inn on display.  This is the view from the entrance of the Quilt Mall

Lancaster Quilt Show - Quilt Mall

The class I signed up for was called "Terrific Tote" taught by Stephanie Farrell.  She walked us through how to make this bag.. Look how great this bag turned out.. only took me 4 hours to make. :-)
It has an cellphone pocket on the front side, two big pockets on the inside and a magnetic closure.  The bag wasn't so hard to make but the next time, I would chose my own colors..

Stephanie is the owner of Country Stitchin in Cambridge Springs, PA.   Stephanie has a great easy going personality, very patient and made the class really fun. Four hours of class zoomed so quickly with all the chatting the class did.  So if you ever get a chance to take a class with Stephanie, you'll be in for a treat.  Also if you want a class to improve your longarm skills, her husband Dusty is a pro.. check out some of his youtube videos; the free motion glow in the dark video looks very cool.
They had one of their quilts on display at the show.  Look at the details of this quilt.

Then to end the weekend, we bought tickets to Sight and Sound Theatre to watch NOAH.  For those who have never watched a show at Sight and Sound Theatre, you have to try it at least once.  It's like watching the bible come to life but broadway style.  The music and characters bring the story come to life right before your eyes.  This particular show about Noah's life as he builds the Ark was truly amazing.  They used live animals as well as life-like animals as Noah filled the Ark but at times you can't tell which animal was real vs the fake ones.. It was pretty cool the way they made you feel as you were inside the Ark with Noah.  Noah is only playing Mar 9-Dec 30 2013 so don't wait, the seats go quickly. It's a must see for all ages.

~~Words of Encouragement~~
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink,
But of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 (NLT)