C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.
Sue Astroth
Heartfelt Valentine sachets—free project
Today I have a very special Valentine…just for you! It’s a fabric envelope filled with sweet-smelling heart sachets stuffed with some of last summer’s lavender from my garden. Super easy and super fast – your favorite fat quarter, a fast2fuse® Craft Pack, and a couple sheets of Lutradur® will get you started.
These would also make great party favors or thank-you gifts. And don’t forget the men in your life…just swap out the lavender for some cedar shavings.
(Continue Reading...)
Free project—Graph paper notebook
Here is a fast and functional notebook that is easy to make and so helpful to have handy for jotting down ideas, inspirations and the ever-necessary grocery lists…
I used our new Visi-GRID™ Quilter’s Tempate Sheets, Harriet Hargrave’s Quilter’s Graph Paper, and 3 binding rings.
I cut the template sheet in half (the plastic was very easy to cut with my rotary cutter) and rounded two corners with my Corner Chomper.
I cut the graph paper a bit smaller than the covers (Continue Reading...)
Caged Creature—free Halloween project
Halloween is just around the corner and I can’t wait to get the house decorated for all the spooky festivities. This year when I have the “ghouls” over, I want to send each of them home with their very own pet crow…just what everyone needs, right?!! So after rummaging through my craft room, here is what I came up with. They go together so fast, I’m sure you’ll want to create some treasures for your own group of (Continue Reading...)
A Basket Case
I am always looking for new and better ways to organize the treasures in my studio. Every time I go thrifting, I am drawn to baskets, drawers: large and small, old relish dishes with compartments, various sized jars and bottles, even doll trunks and dressers.
Lately, I’ve needed a way to store larger things like my extra yarn for current knitting projects. I find myself trying to move supplies from one end of the house to the other while I work (Continue Reading...)
Sewing and needlework keeper
I wanted to make a gift for a friend of mine that likes to do needlework. While she usually has several projects going at once and some are quite large, she often has “take-a-long” items she keeps in a plastic bag in her purse. I thought if I made her something decorative and useful, she just might be able to stop using the plastic bags.
I started with a project I’d made as a promo piece for my book, Make (Continue Reading...)
Bottle gift “sleeve”
Just in time for your 4th of July parties…here’s a quick and creative way to wrap a host/hostess gift. I discovered this method when I needed a quick wrap for a bottle of olive oil I was taking to a friend.
I’ve noticed creative types are repurposing sleeves from shirts and sweaters as vase and bottle gift wraps. With an old linen shirt in the “ready for scraps bin,” I thought I’d give it a try and here’s how it unfolded.
Get organized: a Christmas planner project
I know, I know it is way too early to think about Christmas…right? Or is it? Throughout the year I find myself collecting bits of information that will help me as I select gifts to either buy or make for my family and friends at the holidays. Things like…Vanessa likes Peerless Coffee best, or Rick wants the 5-minute Pizza cookbook and Debbie’s present is under the guest bed behind the box of ribbons. The problem is finding all those little notes (Continue Reading...)
Online inspiration destinations
Sometimes, creative ideas are all around, like springtime flowers to be picked…and sometimes, inspiration, creativity, motivation…well, they need a little nudge. With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, and other spring and summer activities fast approaching (or upon us already), now is the time to refuel your creativity tank. To keep new ideas flowing I look at magazines, attend various craft shows and I like to see what people are doing on the internet. Thought you might enjoy some of my (Continue Reading...)
Linen Country Bird block pillows for Mother’s Day
For Mom’s day this year I wanted to do something springy and special, yet still in alignment with my Junk to Jewel style. I decided on this mama and baby bird linen pillow set, and put a new, modern spin on one of C&T Publishing’s classic quiltmaking books in the process.
I used the Country Bird block from Nancy Johnson-Srebro’s Block Magic. I love that she has all the math figured out for you—mama bird is a 12″ block and baby (Continue Reading...)
Make Cloth Dolls this Valentine’s Day
The holiday decorations were all put away, the house was clean and the weather man said it was going to be a rainy weekend…seemed like a good chance to spend time in the studio to make myself a little treat. Last Fall I had such a great time making this doll from Terese Cato‘s Make Cloth Dolls book.
I thought maybe I could make just one more… Something different though, and after I reviewed the book once again, the small Emily Ann (Continue Reading...)
