Up and Running on YouTube

I have been brainstorming for a while on what I could do to add to the awesomeness of what Fabric Nerds has to offer. After talking with a couple of friends and running around some ideas, I came up with what I think is a great addition to the Fabric Nerds website...YouTube Tutorials! 

After getting over my camera shyness :) and figuring out how to take a video and semi edit a video, I came up with my first tutorial. The first tutorial is on how to make quick and easy Fabric Braided Coasters. It is a perfect project for all those scrap fabric pieces you have lying around that you don't have the heart to throw out but they are not big enough to do any of your projects in mind. They would make awesome gifts for a house warming party, Christmas, etc... when given as a set. They are quick, super easy, and one of those projects I just love because the color combination possibilities are endless.

Here is a sneak peak of what mine came out like...

Well I hope you like it. Bare with me through these first couple of videos as I try to learn the art of movie making :)

<3 Kris

Fabric Nerds

Go Big or Go Home

I have been working on my quilt for my bedroom makeover surprise I hope to complete this weekend while my husband is away visiting family. As I type that I hope he doesn't read this blog but I think I am safe because I would place my life savings that he doesn't even know what a blog is or reads anything I post on Facebook :).  I have completed a full row of 9 blocks only 81 more blocks to go..I can do this! I went off the pattern a little because I thought with all the different patterns in the fabric, the blocks would look cool pieced right together instead of having sashing in between them. Here is a quick sneak peek of what it looks like so far;

I have to give myself a pat on the back. I am quite pleased with how it is coming out for my first time attempting a BIG quilt. 

I have also been contemplating on what else to do in this bedroom makeover and think I have picked out the colors I want to do. With the quilt being so colorful and bold I want the wall colors subdued, so I think I am going to do khaki color walls with a accent wall behind our bed in chocolate brown. I also did some poking around in our garage attic and I found an old wooden shutter that I think I am going to paint a deep purple,  dark red, aqua , (ugh not quite sure yet) and upholster part of it with some extra fabric I have. 

I was also thinking of putting some canvases of us throughout the years above our bed. Having canvases made is not in my budget though so I found some awesome tutorials on Pinterest on how to make my own. Of course I can't do something simple :) so I have started playing around in my photo program with a vintage photo effect to them. here is a sneak peak, what do you think?

Well that is it for now. Let me know what you all think of my ideas or any suggestions on this makeover. Right now I better get back to some sewing while my youngest is actually napping, which is a rarity nowadays.

<3 Kristyn
Fabric Nerds

Quilt Along with Me...

My semester has finally come to the end and now I have 4 months of no late night studying, reading, or paper writing. To be honest for the last few days it has kind of been odd. I don't know what to do with myself. I have a few things on my bucket list for the summer one is to do some reading but for pleasure not school. I have been reading Fifty Shades of Grey, I am on the 2nd book and they just keep getting better! Highly recommend quick reads.

 Another thing on my bucket list is to make a couple of quilts, one for my daughter's bed and one for my bed. I have never made quilts of these sizes, in these patterns, or have attempted to machine quilt before, but I am getting excited to start. My husband is going away Memorial day weekend to visit family and I want to surprise him with a bedroom makeover. We have redone our living room, our son's room, and our daughter's room together and I think its about time we have a nice bedroom too :) So I have stepped up to the challenge. Right now it has barely anything on the walls, is in a boring pale yellow, cream curtains, and a on sale target comforter, not very romantic or relaxing. I will definitely be writing some blog entries with pics of before, after, and the progress once that weekend comes but the first step is to get this quilt started and hopefully finished by then.

I thought it might be fun to have a few of us to do a quilt a long together. Post our blocks and progress and give us some motivation to keep on going since we are "working together".  Any newbie quilters, or any level quilter want to join me in this adventure? While I am not a newbie to the fabric world or sewing, I am a newbie in the quilt world so do not feel that it might be too big of a challenge for you, we will make mistakes together ;)

This is the beautiful quilt that I decided to make for our bed. It's by Art Gallery Fabrics.  

Secret Garden Quilt

If you click on the link above it will take you to the quilt and the free PDF file. It's final dimensions I believe are 52" x 52", so I will be increasing the size for my quilt since our bed is a queen size, but I think this pattern will look absolutely gorgeous. 

These are the fabrics that I chose for my quilt. They are also by Art Gallery, their Bazaar Style Collection. 

Now as you can see, I don't have as many different types of fabrics they list but I have tons of yardage of 9 different fabrics. I think that is the best part of this quilt you can use as many or as little fabric designs that you want to use, purely personal preference. 

So I hope you all are up to the challenge of completing this quilt with me, I love seeing all the different fabrics and patterns people choose, gives me inspiration. If you want you can email me you pics of your fabric and progress at fabricnerds@gmail.com. and I will post all of our weekly updates. So excited!!

My goals for the night: Ironing and beginning to cut my squares out :) listening to Pandora: Gretchen Wilson Radio (for all you country fans, awesome station!)

<3 Kris
Fabric Nerds