Ashlawnfarms is back!

I am so EXCITED!  I just gave my blog a new facelift! It has been quite awhile since my last post and it is time for some changes.

1. New blog template ✔
2. New posts about my rag quilting! (Coming VERY soon!)

Did I mention I am EXCITED???

Here is a table runner I made a few weeks ago and you can find this in my Etsy Shop if you hurry....it might still be there!

Life Changes....

This is a very tedious subject for me to write about. As I look back to my last blog I am reminded that my plan 2 and 1/2 years ago was to continue blogging some free tutorials among other things. My life changed the following day as my then husband of almost 10 years told me he was leaving me finally. I was completely thrown for a loop and life changed for me instantly. We were miserable together and his psychiatrist recommended we separate. He moved 1200 miles away 2 weeks after the announcement. I filed for divorce soon after. It was time to move on.....

Fast forward to present day! New man, new house, new car, new job, new everything. My mother even lived with me for a year. She started helping me with my online fabric cutting business and after she moved to her new apartment we moved all the fabric with her. I am so blessed for her and the changes that have taken place. It definitely feels great to be happy again.

I lived in town before and now live in the country on 3 acres. I have a vision to create a 9-patch garden behind the house. I started a small strawberry patch already to see if I can get them established for next summer. My plan is to grow fruits and vegetables to live on eventually. It may end up being a seasonal market type of thing.

Sooo back to me blogging. I have visited this site several times, thinking I would dive back in, but the timing was not right I guess. We are settled into our new house and I have unpacked most of my sewing and quilting things. My sewing room is not exactly how I want it yet, but its a start. I did sew some last week and listed a candle mat on etsy yesterday.

So I am getting to where I want to be again....blogging on what I am doing and sharing some of my ideas and creations.

Thanks for reading!
Theresa

How to make a rag swag garland free tutorial

If you have a large stash of fabric scraps, like I do, then here is a great way to utilize them. I hate throwing scraps away because I feel I might need them for something. A few years ago I discovered a way to salvage them and give them new life by making rag swag garlands. Here is how I make them:








Materials needed: Jute twine and scrap fabrics

















Step 1: Cut your scrap fabrics into 1" x 6-8" strips. I like to use a non-uniform length, so cut them all the same length if you want your garland to look more uniform. Make several piles of the different fabrics in the colors you want in your garland.

Step 2: Cut your jute twine the length you desire and allowing an additional few inches at each end.
Tie a knot in the twine about 4 inches from the end.

Step 3: Grab a strip from the first pile and tie it onto the twine at the knot. Grab a strip from the second pile and do the same next to strip 1. Repeat this until the twine is full of tied strips to the last 4 inches of twine. Tie another knot here to end the garland.

Here are some garlands I have made.

 

Example using multiple fabrics.

 

For an additional spin on the garland try tying the fabric onto Christmas light strands instead of the jute twine.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my free tutorial!

Homespun Patriotic Rag Quilt Purse

 I am absolutely in love with homespun fabrics. This is the first of 3 purses I made last summer (2103).

 

I wrote the pattern used to make this one. If you would like to make your own please visit my Etsy shop for an instant download. 

 

Due to many requests for longer straps I have altered the straps on my handmade items that is different than what the pattern states. It is fairly easy to make them longer just add more inches to the length of strap fabrics.

 

 

This particular rag quilted purse has sold.

 

Rag Quilted Bible Covers Spring 2013

 

 

A few years ago I wrote instructions on how to make a Rag Quilted Bible/Book Cover. Since then I have been making some and offering them for sale.

 

 

This orange one was a custom order.

 

 

Earlier this year I tried making one in a patchwork style and it turned out super cute. I made 2 of these and they sold already.

 



 

Here are some pictures of ones before sewing:



 

I had cut out 36 Bible covers to make....

 

LOVE my homespuns!!

 

I always cut off more than I can chew......but I stuck with it!

 

And ones completed:

 

 

The inside with a Bible in it.

I have a few more to finish and will post pics of those when I am finished. In the meantime if you are eager to try out my copyrighted pattern you can find it on my epatternshoppe site. You can download the .pdf right from the site!

You will also find most of these Bible covers on Etsy or eBay if they have not sold yet.

Winter Project #1

I am having a tough time keeping up with this blog....I work too much I guess. Spring is around the corner, so maybe there will be a break in the current events?

 

I have heaping full boxes of scraps from all the rag quilts I have been making. Not to mention from the cutting services I do. And to top it off from all the rag quilt kits I have been putting together. Yeah I need to quit working....just to clean up my mess!

 

This winter I found a weekend to sort through much of my homespun scraps and was able to tie strands of this scrap fabric onto jute twine to make some rag swag garlands. Here are a few to show off, but there are many more.....I made them all that weekend to lessen the stash. HAH right. I have since added to it. I need to hire people now just to keep up. I could seriously run a factory in my basement.... well anyway we won't go there at least for now.

 

Check my Etsy or eBay listings for more rag swag garlands.

 

I am much better at posting and keeping up on my Facebook page. Check that out to see what I am up to from week to week. I need to boost my "Likes" there, so feel free to click "Like" when visiting.

 

October Projects

In October I completed 2 lap size rag quilts in Homespun.

This was a custom order super long table runner with mostly vintage fabrics and the batting showing in the seams. Loved it!