It’s that time of year!! The huge weekend of sales before the holiday shopping season starts.

I won’t be updating my shop until Monday, but in the meantime everything is 20% off using the code BFSBSCM20 .

Sale ends Monday at Midnight EST

Shop Now!

Today is my stop on the Fussy Cut Sampler Blog Hop…

The Fussy Cut Sampler is a fantastic book by Nichole Ramirez and Elisabeth Woo (Elisabeth Hardy now. She got married!!) that features 48 9″ blocks that show the best ways to fussy cut (frame) your favorite prints. The book is packed with tips, tricks and more. 

I was sent a book and assigned Block 33 which is all about using geometric prints. I was a little sad I didn’t get to have cute little pictures centered and such like with all the previous blocks in the book, but geometric prints are my thing, so it really was a good match.

I followed their instructions and ended up with a gorgeous block!

I used Libs Elliot’s black and white geometric print in both corners. I made sure to line up all the elements the best that I could. I then added in the white fabric with tiny banners by Victoria Findlay Wolfe and made sure to keep them all going in the same direction.

The middle diagonal line of quarter square triangles are made up of Elizabeth Hartman’s star fabric and Carolyn Friendlander’s print from her new Friedlander line.

By paying attention to how the fabrics will line up, or the direction of prints, helps give the finished block a very polished look in my opinion.

As well as the blog hop, Nichole and Elisabeth are also hosting a HUGE quilt-a-long on InstaGram. Each week they feature two designers (this week is Samarra Khaja and myself) and have prizes to giveaway to randomly chosen participants. Just check out the hashtag #thefussycutsamplerqal to play along.

If it wasn’t for my very large workload, I would also be participating. The blocks being shared are so damn cute!!!

Since these pieces are laser cut, and not hand cast, I was able to make duplicates. So if there is anything you like that is sold out, I can remake it.

www.artschooldropout.net

Last year I had shared my first custom fleece blanket from Zazzle, as seen here, and we have been in love with it since. It washed up so well and still is as great looking and fluffy as ever.

So of course when they had yet another huge fleece sale, I just HAD to snag myself one. This time I used my new Various Marbled Hexies design on a much larger blanket. It’s perfection and looks great folded up on my couch. I am now officially obsessed with custom products. Seriously. Wait until i get good photos of the custom towel I also have made!! CRAZY!

If you are interested in this, or any of my other designs, then head on over to Zazzle to snag one!

I was expecting them to send a nice machine, but what I got was just pure amazing!

Say hello to the Janome Memory Craft 9400 QCP. It’s loaded with so many bells and whistles that I didn’t even know where to start with this review. I have a lot to say, so strap in for the long haul. Oh, and if you stick around to the end I’ll tell you how I pieced that pouch shown above…

Size:

One of the biggest features on this machine is it’s size. It’s a pretty large machine, but for all that it offers, it needs to be. It has an 11″ throat with a max height of 4.7″, so you can roll up a pretty big quilt and not have issues pulling it through. It also has a 15.5″ sewing space without the table attached, which I found to be very useful.

Bonus: It comes with its own extension table. This was a new concept to me, and I don’t know why other companies don’t do this. The table fit perfectly and even has these pins and notches, shown above, that keep the table in place. No shifting. The textured finish was nice too. I could pin things on the table without fear of scratching it up and ruining it forever (because that is actually an issue with me)

Lighting:

I was super impressed with the amount of LED lights above the throat area and needle.

Then got even more excited when I realized there was additional lighting in front of the needle. I tried my best to show above that you just pull it out when needed and it turns right on. You know you’re a serious sewist when you freak out over an extra light on a sewing machine.

The photo above show the work area with and without the light on during the day. I wish I had done one at night, that’s when its most useful. It’s a nice white light too, so taking photos for tutorials and such at night would be a lot easier.

Extra Needle Plates:

I’ve sewn on the same brand of sewing machines my entire life due to the fact that my mom was loyal to one specific brand, so I became loyal. When I purchased my first grown up machine 13 years ago, I didn’t think to even look at another brand. Which now I regret. I’ve had machines eat thin fabric because the feed dog area holes were too big. I didn’t know other companies, like Janome, offered additional needle plates! It’s genius.

There are three plates that come with this machine. One is already attached and is the basic one. Then there is the Straight Stitch Needle Plate with left needle position for 1/4″ seam foot which is great for quilters, and the there is the Professional HP Needle Plate which I’m still learning about, but so far I gathered its creates a much smoother and more even straight stitch (hopefully I understood that correctly) There are also guides on the lid that show whch stitches to use with each plate.

All I know is that I tested numerous brands of fabric on this machine and not a single one was eaten up because of the positioning of the holes on those plates. That alone is making me sad this is only a loaner.

Actually Useful Decorative and Utility Stitches:

This machine comes packed to the brim with stitch options. Seriously, look at that diagram! 350 options plus 4 Alphabets. I actually tested out almost every single one of the decorative stitches and found that they were very useful for my style of sewing. The Alphabet was super useful for adding names to all my girl scouts vests too. It took seconds and you could actually read what it said.

I also like that when you chose a stitch, the machine told you exactly what foot to use. Perfect. I haven’t had much time to try out the utility stitches, but the sky is the limit with those too. Some even hove digital diagrams on how to use them, like the faux cover-stitch and the blind hem.

Storage:

I really liked the storage options on this machine. There was the removable storage around the arm like usual, except it had two compartments instead of the one I’m use to. Then there was the little indented tray next to the bobbin winder. It was perfect for storing feet that I used often.

I also liked that there was a pocket on the dust cover. It was the best place to keep the manual for quick reference.

Speed:

This machine is FAST. My mother was constantly telling me “it’s not a race” when I would sew as a kid, and I basically still sew the same way. So I was super happy with the 1,060 Stitches Per Minute (SPM) this machine could do.

I was also happy that you could turn the speed down. As someone with a young kid in the house who thinks she an adult, I’m glad I can let her use the big girl machine without fear of her sewing right through her finger at top speed. you know, because this isn’t a race and all.

Two Thread Cutter Options:

This machine comes with a built in thread cutter. When I bought one of my big girl machines a few years back, the dealer asked me “do you want to one with the thread cutter? It’s just a little more” I giggled and said I could cut my own thread and left with a plain ole machine. I didn’t know any better. My next machine had one and it was like magic! Yes, you can cut your own thread, but do you know how much time it can save when the machine cuts its for you? Also it pulls the thread to the back and can knot it before cutting too. These things are basically made of magic now. Just pure magic.

The 9400 has two options for thread cutting though, so it goes the next level with magic. The first, shown above, is a button off to the top right from the needle. You just press it and BAM the thread is cut.

The second option if that little pedal there off to the right of the foot pedal. You just press it and BAM the thread is cut and you didn’t have to move a finger, at all! I had taken a few pretty sweet videos showing how this shaves so much time off chain piecing, but I’m still learning video editing and can’t figure out how to upload it. I may just add it to IG later this week and somehow link it here. I don’t know. If you know please message me!! Haha.

End of Review.

Beginning of Tips, Tricks and How I Put Together The Panels on That Pouch:

I figured I could write a small tutorial to show off some features while also mixing in some tips and tricks.

I will just be showing how to assemble the panels of the pouch, this post is already very long and you can use your favorite zipper pouch tutorial to finish it up. If I have enough interest, I’ll rewrite the post I have done for many other blogs here.

Above are the two feet you will need for this project. The one on the left is the Dual Feed foot, and the one on the right is the 1/4″ Edge foot.

Both come with the machine, which I find so refreshing. No need to keep going out and buying specialty feet that you will actually use almost everyday. The only thing I was a little sad about was that there were not any measured markings on the dual feed foot. Does anyone know if there are additional attachments? As anyone who has been reading my blog will know, I use the markings on my other machine ALL THE TIME! It’s how I do my matchstick quilting.

I used the 1/4″ piecing foot for the first half of this project.

To set up the machine for the 1/4″ foot, you need to get to the quilting menu on the screen. First things first press the second square button with the mirrored swirly design on it.

That will bring you to this screen. Make sure to choose the Quilt(Q) menu.

From there you will be given all these great quilting option. Choose the 1/4″/#2 option.

Once it’s selected you will be shown exactly which foot to use.

Warning though, if you use the 1/4″ foot,but do not choose the 1/4″ option, you will end up with a 1/2″ seam. I learned this this hard way at Glamp last year.

This was a great scrap buster project btw. I was able to just pull pieces and trim them to the correct size.

Cutting Guide (cut one of each, unless otherwise specified):

• A – 2″x4.5″ 
• B – 1″x4.5″
• C – 2.5″x2.5″, Cut Six
• D – 1″x8.5″, Cut Two
• E – 4″x6.5″
• F – 1″x4″
• G – 2″x4″
• H – 4.5″x8.5″
• I – 4″x8.5″

Piecing:

To piece this project I started by sewing all the C pieces together, A & B together, F & G and then H & D using the photo above as a guide. I pressed my seams open because I knew I would be heavy on the quilting and because I wanted those skinny strips to have some bulk to them. Then I attached A & B to the cluster of C pieces, F & G to E and H&D to I,  pressing as I went along. Then I added the last D in between the two patchwork panels.

Piece D is rather thin, I know, but this machine can handle it! I had no slipping or anything. Those thing strips went through like butter.

While photographing the panels, I realized I liked the colorful part of the top more than the bottom, so I decided to flip them (but had already photographed the first diagram, so I apologize for any confusion)

To give the pouch some structure I used scrap batting and spray basted them together. See, great scrap buster!

My first step was to add the decorative stitching. I used Heirloom Stitch #29, and kept the walking foot on so I could get an even stitch with all the layers. This stitch pretty much does all the work for you, but you have to make sure you don’t tug on it while it’s doing it’s thing. As you can see in the photo above, its pushing fabric towards me, instead of pulling it away. I like to just lightly touch the fabric to keep it straight, but then do nothing else but watch.

The #29 stitch was my first choice because it fit perfectly on those thinner lines and since it doubles back on stitches, it really stands out. It also looks a little hand sewn, which is always a plus in my book. Big looks, less time.

For the rest of the pouch panel I decided to do some varied width quilting. I used the guide bar that can be attached to the dual feed foot to help me keep things straight. I would just move it random each time I started a new a new line. As I show in the photo, I always kept it either straight with the center strip or with the top or bottom edge. This was especially useful in the light grey area since my thread was so close in color to my fabric, i had no idea what was what.

After all the quilting is finished, just trim the blocks evenly and assemble them using your favorite pouch tutorial (I have a few swimming around out there in internet land, I just can’t link to them from this post)

I am just so in love with how this pouch ended up. Those decorative stitches were just perfect. I just want to add them to everything.

I don’t think I can even express how sad I am that this machine was just a loaner. It’s so awesome and I’ll be sad to see it go. Thank you again Janome for letting me play with it these past few months. You have a pretty sweet machine here.

Disclaimer: I was sent this loaner machine in exchange for writing a review or tutorial. All words and opinions are still my own though. I personally chose to do both because I was that happy with the machine. 

Make Modern Magazine is hosting a contest right now where you make a mini mini quilt, no bigger than 6″s and then just post a photo of it! You can read more about it here.

The contest ends June 20th, so I figured Id attempt a mini mini or two of my own…

I’ve been picking CT up from school this past week, and we’ve been frequenting the pool too, so I have had a bunch of time for hand sewing! I used mostly scraps and the English Paper Piecing technique.

I also used my Sizzix Fabi and their 1/2″ hexagon die to cut out all the tiny paper pieces, and Wonderfil Invisafil 100 wt. thread to piece AND quilt it all.

I had originally bound it with some lightweight denim fabric, but the weave lines got a little wonky, so I just used my favorite Tulip’s Soft Fabric Paint to just paint the binding black instead. It’s an art piece basically, it doesn’t need to be comfy! (though the paint didn’t stiffen the piece up at all!)

I have a full schedule this week including making a few dresses, kimono tops and quilts. So I’m not sure if I’ll finish another mini mini quilt, but if I do I’ll totally share it!

It just sounds crazier every year! Art School Dropout is 13?!! My business is now a true teenager. It had a rough patch there during puberty, but I think we are on the right path again. I have a giveaway planned for later in the month, but for now I’m having a teeny tiny sale…

40% off all patterns in the Etsy pattern shop! Just use coupon code “ASD13” during checkout to get the discount.

Make sure to check back in two weeks for the giveaway I mentioned! I wish i could have hosted it sooner, but I’ve been working my butt off prepping for my trip to Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City this week. If any of you remember the horror story from last year, please wish me all the luck for this year! I am staying four extra days this time around, so expect a few blog posts all about my trip when I get back.

My teenage business and I are very excited!

Today on the Sizzix blog I share a step by step tutorial on how I pieced this super scrap fabric busting half-square triangle quilt. There’s loads of photos and illustrations, plus I timed most of the process. Also, it was my absolute first custom quilt on my new longarm!! (which I now realize I never blogged about, I need to get on that!)

So head on over to read the full blog post.

So of course when a certain friend of mine who really loves Halloween suggested I host a Halloween swap, I said “GREAT IDEA!”

We called it the Trick or Treat Mini Quilt Swap, and had around 108 participants sign up in only 12 hours! Crazy, right? I had to turn off the submission form because I didn’t want to overwhelm myself the first time hosting one of these.

Something different I tried out with this swap was taking on brand new swappers! I thought everyone should have a chance to do a swap, and I didn’t mind helping everyone along.

That brings me to today’s tutorial. It’s a bit different than most of my sewing tutorials, since there isn’t any sewing involved, but I promise it’s useful!

How to Make a Square Photo Mosaic Specifically for Viewing on Instagram:

A lot of swaps require a mosaic of your favorite quilts or projects. Usually they include around 2-6 photos and they are meant to help your partner design something for you. Without a mosaic, they may make you something that just isn’t “you”. No one wants that.

First step is to actually find the photo’s you like! I like searching the hashtags #miniquilt #quilts #patchwork #quilting #miniquiltswap etc etc etc. You can also search more specific types of quilts like #halloweenquilt or #hexagonquilt or #trianglequilt. It all depends on what you are looking for!

Now if you are searching on Flickr, Pinterest or Blogs you can easily right click and save a photo. If I do this, I also write down the person who made the quilt so I can give credit later!

Things gets a little trickier on Instagram. There is no right click function. The way to capture a photo on IG is to “screen shot” it. Its where you basically take a photo of whatever is on your phones screen at that exact moment. Each phone is different and I wont get in to it with each model. I will tell you how to screen shot on an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy S6, since we have those in the house. (Apple vs. Android is a an ongoing joke around here btw) It seems both are the same process: Hold down the home button/middle button and the lock button at the same time. Your screen should flash and if your sound is on, you will hear a clicking sound. The photo will automatically save in your camera roll.

These photo will still be in their raw form and have all the words, time, battery life, etc all around it. There is no need to edit them though, the next step should do it for you!

For the actual mosaic positioning I like to use the app Diptic. I’ve tried loads of apps, and this one just seems to work the way I need it to. It comes with a whole pile of different layouts that you can edit, AND allows you to slightly edit the photos so they all look nice together. So it’s like a two in one deal. However there may be another one out there that fits your taste better. I’m sorry I can’t cover all of them…

I start by opening the app and choosing the layout I like.

Double click on a the box you want to fill first. This should bring you to your camera roll and photos. Choose the photo you like and zoom in until all you see is the quilt or project you want to include.

Repeat this step for all the empty boxes. Double clicking on each one.

Now if you need to slightly edit a photo, this is the time to do so! just tap on a photo and the edit function will pop up. As you can see, there are many options here.

Once you are happy with your layout, hit the Publish button in the top right corner. Choose the size you would like (For this I choose the largest, so it doesn’t degrade everyone’s beautiful work)

Now you would just upload it to InstaGram the exact same way you would any other photo. Make sure to give credit to any photos you use! A lot of quilters sell their patterns or have tutorials on their blogs. So this way anyone who sees your mosaic, especially your partner,will know exactly how to make each piece. If you forgot who made what, go back to your camera roll and look at the screen shots!!

This is also the right place to tag your Swap Mama or use the hashtag that goes along with your swap. It helps everyone keep track of everything this way!

This was tutorial was a new concept to me, so if I missed anything, or you have more questions, just comment below or email me.

Happy Swapping Everyone!