Chloe Findlay-Harder, over at Tangled Thread, is creating with yo-yo’s again, one of those favorite little decorative pieces that quilters and fabric artists enjoy.  She needs your help in determining whether her yo-yo Christmas wreath is too busy.
She has a poll where you can vote and help her decide what to do?
What fun…to help someone else with their design challenges!

Yo-yo ornaments are making the rounds again this year as quilters and fabric artists  use them in many ways to create interesting decorative objects.  I used to attach loops and hang them from the tree.  Sometimes I stitched them together to make a chain.
Chloe, at Tangled Thread, has created a unique Christmas tree yo-yo, actually five threaded together with a gold loop at the top.  Check this out and learn what you can do, too.

Many of the b5media blogs offer contests throughout the month.  Some bloggers also provide opportunities for our readers to submit entries to their theme days.  If you’re a blogger involved in arts and crafts, you’re invited to participate in the Arts and Design November Showcase. 
Check out the rules at Tangled Thread’s Call for Entry – November’s Blog Carnival.

Chloe at Tangled Thread has discovered another neat idea…a bobbin winder, Sidewinder bobbin winder from Wrights.  This enables you to wind your bobbin without taking the thread from the machine.
Also,  if you order it, using the code Chloe provides, you’ll receive a discount.  What more could you ask for?  Time saving gadget and a discount.

 Although Chloe didn’t make a quilted or patchwork vest for her husband, some of the tips she gives for changing the basic pattern to fit a particular idea, size, or amount of fabric on hand should help if you want to be creative in your sewing.
Check out her post, Altering Vest Patterns, at Tangled Thread.
At one time in my quiltmaking career, I designed and made quilted, appliqued vests for children.  I sold these individually, as well as supplied them to stores throughout the country.  I learned to alter patterns and designs to create original vests and to make them on …read more

My daughter enjoys painting and dyeing fabric, creating original canvas, so to speak, for her quilting and fabric art work.  Chloe, at Tangled Thread, has a very interesting post, printing on fabric – playing with surface design.
For this, she’s using taffeta as the fabric and her own hand-carved stamps.  She gives you a mini tutorial at her blog so you, too, can create your own exotic designs.
In addition to Chloe’s suggestions, you may want to check out ideas in some of the many books on this topic.  Chloe keeps her techniques simple which is great for the beginner.

It seems more and more patchwork tote bags catch my eye as I look at displays, browse blogs, or check out books.  Are they the quilting fad right now?  Or am I simply more aware.
I mentioned Emily’s tote in a previous post, Create a Patchwork Tote Bag.  Today I came across Chloe’s post, Eco-friendly Fabric Totebags, at Tangled Thread.  For Blog Action Day, Chloe called her readers’ attention to this easy-to-make nine-patch tote bag with a free pattern from JoAnn’s.  (See Chloe’s blog for this at the above link.)
This brought back memories of tote bags I used to make because they were a …read more

Yo-yo’s, those shirred little circles, have become favorites in quilts, fabric art, and home decorating.  Chloe, at Tangled Thread, has addressed this topic again, Fall Decorating With Yo-Yo’s.
She’s got some great ideas for fall decorating and links to some previous posts with holiday yo-yo themes.  It’s also not too early to start creating your Christmas gifts and decorations.

Do you have your own quilting and fabric art work space or studio?  Or do you work in a corner of the family room, dining table, or nook in the bedroom. 
Chloe at Tangled Thread lists 20 reasons why having your own work space is great.  As you look this over you may find yourself nodding your head and agreeing.  Or this may get you motivated to find some way to get your own work space for sewing and quilting.
                               
I particularly agree with #4…Straight pins will be kept out of your living room carpet.  And I can add…our of the …read more

What a marvelous idea Noreen Crone-Findlay had to begin the festivities for her daughter Chloe…a bridal tea.  Noreen blogs at Hankering for Yarn and Chloe at Tangled Thread.
Since I enjoy tea myself and often write about it in “one of my other lives” as a newspaper columnist of the Country Kitchen column, I thought the idea of a bridal tea simply a delightful one.  This could be adapted for a quilter who’s getting married by using patchwork placemats or appliqued table cloth.  Perhaps there would be napkins to carry out the theme.
Would there be some type of quilted or patchwork …read more