SEWING AND QUILTING TIP #7:   Start your holiday sewing now.
      Yes, its technically still summer, but its the right time to start your fall and winter holiday sewing and quilting projects.   Christmas fabric is often on sale starting in July and August.  Also, the selection is much better than if you wait until November.  So start now and you will have all those gifts ready to go with time to spare.  I am currently working on some more of my popular hanukkah table runners.  Photos coming soon.  Fall and year round table runners are currently for sale in my etsy shop at:
FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com
             

RAINBOW BABY QUILT:
        Primary colors and rainbows are great for both boys and girls.  I painted my daughters room pink before she was born.  Her  first favorite color was  yellow.  Her next favorite a few years later was "Rainbow".
This quilt is sale priced at $50.   See this quilt and more in my Etsy shop at:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/81691081/rainbow-baby-quilt-i-spy-quilt-game-on?ref=shop_home_active

Quilting and Sewing Tip number 6:      Quick and easy way to clean your iron.
I recently read that you can clean your iron with a crumpled up piece of aluminum foil.  Yesterday I was using a new type of iron on interfacing and accidentally iron on the sticky side ( Groan!).  If you have done this you know what a sticky mess it is.  I remembered the aluminum foil , grabbed a small piece, unplugged the iron and wow did it work quickly and easily!

Baby's birthdate can be added to my custom order order quilts in addition to names.  See my etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126132563/custom-baby-quilt-with-name-and-date-i?ref=shop_home_active

Give Away: Help me get to 500 sales on my etsy shop-- I am almost there.  Visit my etsy shop and send me a message on etsy to be entered to win surprise gift below.  The person who makes the 500th sale will also win a prize.  FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com

NEW:  My latest set of ladies hankies are this set of batiks in a rainbow of colors.   I can never have enough hankies: some in my nightstand, some in my purse, my gym bag,....
See these and many more hankies for both men and women for sale in my etsy shop at:
FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com

QUILTING AND SEWIG TIP # 5
     Having a good overhead light really helps a lot when it comes to seeing well while sewing and quilting.  At my old house I kept trying to position  a gooseneck lamp so I could see better, so when we built our new house, I chose an overhead light fixture with 5 down facing bulbs.  My previous overhead light had the bulbs facing up.  While you might not be building a new house, you could consider buying a new light fixture.  Happy sewing.

FALL TABLE RUNNER:
     Even though its time to sew for Fall, it sure does not feel like it here in Fargo today where it is 96 degrees with humidity feeling like 105!   I used some of my favorite fall fabrics to make this patchwork and applique runner which is available for sale in my etsy shop at:
FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com

LARGE DOUBLE SIDED FLANNEL BURP CLOTHS:  JUNGLE BABIES
   My  jungle baby burp cloths are being featured on  Simple as 1-2-3 blog.    If you sew yourself, these really are as easy as 1,2, 3 to make and the cute fabrics make them fun too!   I have a variety of fabrics to choose from on my etsy shop at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FabricCreationsFran?section_id=8006647
   

First day of school so its TIME TO SEW!

How do you make time for things you want to do and enjoy doing??  For me one of the key ways I can squeeze in sewing even on the busiest days when the kids are home all summer is to keep my sewing machine out.  I use the dinning room table ( we also have a kitchen table) so the dinning room is now called the sewing room.  I do clean it all up once or twice a year for a holiday dinner or a large party that needs both the kitchen table and the dinning room table.  By keeping things out and ready to go, even if I only have a few minutes I can get some work done.
How do you find time for your projects?

BABY QUILT WITH NAME and OWLS ON THE BACK:
  I had a lot of fun making this girly quilt.  I was not sure the name would fit ... I do have bigger sizes of quilts if your baby's name is even longer.  See this quilt and more at my etsy shop at:
FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com

Here is a view of the cute owls on the back;

BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCH BOX OR DINNER NAPKINS:


 I have enjoyed sewing my whole life and began  selling my creations  3 years in my esty shop Fabric Creations from Fran ( FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com).  I make colorful quilts, napkins, table runners and more.  One of my specialties is Baby Quilts.  I make patchwork and "I Spy " Quilts.  The personalized quilts with baby's name in applique are quite popular.  Another one of my  specialities  is cotton handkerchiefs for both men and women.  These come in a wide variety of styles, colors and gift sets.
    New creations are being added continuously to my shop.  I am currently working on some table runners for the holidays so stop by and see whats new.
FabricCreationsfran.etsy.com

LUNCH BOX CLOTH NAPKINS:  for back to school, dinner time, any time.

One of my most popular set of napkins is my set for girls with ballerina's, mermaids, cats, flips flops, and peace and love.  My kids do like using cloth napkins.  It is fun and no more having them waste paper napkins or using their sleeve to wipe their face.  Ok, it took a long time to remind them to not use their shirt but I think we finally have it at our house.  These 100% cotton cloth napkins are handmade approximately 11 inches square and can be found for sale in my etsy shop at the link below:
FabricCreationsfran.esty.com

Funniest use for my hankies so far:  I always carry one of my handmade handkerchiefs with me.  Usually I use them for a runny nose or tears-- I read a lot of happy/sad books.  Today I was glad I had a hankie.  I was sampling some pickles at our natural foods coop.   The farmer remembered to bring toothpicks to pick up a pickle sample but mine started dripping, I caught the puddle in my hand and asked if she had any napkins.  No she said she forgot.  "Don't worry" I said, "I have a hankie!" I took out one of my cotton hankies, this one in a lovely pink color.  I will never leave home without one or more of my hankies. 

   You can see the hankies photos above and my wide selection of mens and ladies hankies at:

FabricCreationsFran.etsy.com