Author Archives: Jennifer Ofenstein

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About Jennifer Ofenstein

Owner of sewhooked.com and fandominstitches.com. #quiltforgood advocate. Quilt designer, instructor, Talk to Me Tuesday founder & contributor, cat mom, and craft enabler.

TTMT #247 – Much Better

After a week of Not Much At All, I’m back with this week’s (slightly froggy) TTMT! Be sure to watch for lots of fun prizes for the different places around the web you’ll find me!

Big Linus Heart

Big Linus Heart Quilt via LinusConnection, free on Craftsy

There’s not a whole lot for a crafty sick girl like me to do besides hang out in bed with her laptop, drawing quilts.

In this case, the quilt was already drawn, it just needed a little bit of instruction added.

This Big Linus Heart quilt is free for you to download and make oodles of gloriously scrappy heart quilts for your favorite blanket charity!

Big Linus Heart Patchwork Quilt

Inspired by heart logo used by my own favorite blanket making charity, The Linus Connection, Big Linus Heart is the second variation of this patchy heart I’ve created.

The Linus Connection Heart via LinusConnection, free on Craftsy.

Do you sense a theme going on here? 😉

While the paper pieced version above is a mere 5″ finished, the patchwork quilt version makes a respectable 44″ x 49″ quilt, a great lap size quilt for a kid’s blanket!

So go, dig out your scraps and make a patchwork quilt for a charity (or kiddo) you love, with my compliments.

Stay well, and I’ll see you again when I’m back to my usual, bouncy self!

 

 

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Waiting for Rain, companion pattern for my STITCHED Workshop.

Just $4 on Craftsy!

TTMT #246 – And Now I’m Going Back To Bed

Sewhooked

Fandom In Stitches

Also in this video:

 

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Waiting for Rain, companion pattern for my STITCHED Workshop.

Just $4 on Craftsy!

Paper Piecing Vintage: February

Paper Piecing Vintage BOM February Welcome to February! Is it just me, or did January seem to last forever? Maybe it’s just the excitement I’ve felt over every single Paper Piecing Vintage block that you wonderful people have shared! Today, I’d like to introduce you to the second installment in our Block of the Month: Come Fly Away. This block was inspired by a quilt I saw years ago but have never forgotten. I’ve recreated the block as best I can from memory. The name is my own and I hope you enjoy this sweet and simple chevron block! As with all the blocks from PPV, Come Fly Away is entirely paper pieced and both 6″ and 12″ patterns are included.

Already registered? Download your updated BOM file now!

Haven’t signed up for Paper Piecing Vintage yet? Registration for the entire year is just $12. That’s 12 patterns in two sizes, entirely paper pieced for one awesome price! Paper Piecing Vintage BOM February

Come Fly Away, designed & pieced by Jennifer Ofenstein (sewhooked.com)

Sign up for Paper Piecing Vintage now!

Be sure to stop back by the first of each month for the latest Paper Piecing Vintage block.  Join the Paper Piecing Vintage Facebook Group for exclusive content and to sew with friends! Share your Paper Piecing Vintage photos with the Sewhooked flickr group for a chance to win fun prizes all year long!

Need some help with paper piecing? Check out my full-length workshop, shared free right here on Sewhooked!

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Paper Piecing Art: Beginner and Beyond

STITCHED workshop - Paper Piecing Art, Beginner and Beyond

Way back in 2011, I was invited to be an instructor for STITCHED, a subscription-based online classroom community that offered workshops by experts in different craft-related areas. The entire shebang was conceived of and hosted an extraordinary artist, Alma Stoller.

STITCHED

My own workshop Paper Piecing Art: Beginner and Beyond, was geared to take students step-by-step through the paper piecing process.

I shared every tip and technique that I myself use when paper piecing. Now, over a year after the completion of the STITCHED 2012 Workshops, I offer my own class here, free for you.

If you’re already a paper piecer, you might pick up a trick or two; if you’re new to paper piecing or have tried before and it didn’t quite click, I hope this helps you on your paper piecing journey!

Jennifer’s Tools:

Paper Piecing Art uses Waiting for Rain, a pattern designed by myself especially for the workshop.

I'm a Craftsy Designer

You can find Waiting for Rain in my Craftsy shop for just $4.
Looking for a text-based tutorial? I have that here! Questions? Comments? I’m always happy to chat in comments!
Remember to stop back by tomorrow for the Paper Piecing Vintage February update! Have an extraordinarily happy Friday!

TTMT #245 – Busy Week!

Sewhooked

Fandom In Stitches

Also in this video:

2014-01-02 18.10.21-1

Congratulations to the January Flickr group winner: joygoldplanet!

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013
Joy wins one autographed copy of Quilts from 100 Blocks, which features one of my patterns, Corn Maze! Share your Paper Piecing Vintage photos with the Sewhooked flickr group for a chance to win fun prizes all year long!

Here are some more great blocks from flickr:
PPV - January DSCN4232 King's Crows January 2014 PPVBOM

 PPV BOM JANUARY PPV January 12in Kings Crow crop

 Paper piecing Vintage BOM, block 1 2014-01-01_17.20.57

01-January-KingCrows12 0104140122

Paper Piecing Vintage 2014 Block of the Month January Kings Crow IMG10056(1)

Sign up for Paper Piecing Vintage now!

Have you Joined the Paper Piecing Vintage Facebook Group

I’m around to answer questions, there are special, Facebook-only bonuses and lots of wonderful new quilting friends just waiting to meet you! 

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First UFO Finish of 2014!

#finishin2014 #charityblanket

 

I’m happy to share that I managed my first UFO finish for 2014!

Quilt as you go with raggy edge.

 

This is a simple flannel quilt made using a Quilt As You Go technique, completed with raggy edges instead of binding. I had very little flannel to work with and decided to not add borders.

Now that this quilt is done, it will be donated to The Linus Connection.  I love the simplicity and softness of it and think it will make a very snuggly blanket for a little one in need.

Making it real. #finishin2014

 

#11 on the list is ready to be crossed off! You can see the quilt blocks, pre-piecing to the right of The List.

Next, I think I’ll tackle #5, the PoD Signature quilt. All it needs is a binding!

Mail from a very special friend! #owlpost

 

Also this week, I received some special Owl Post from my friend Amber. These two hoot-tastic potholders are twins to the two she sent to my best girlfriend! Also included was a fantastic Harry Potter postcard. My friends are THE BEST!

Share your Paper Piecing Vintage or any other Sewhooked-inspired photos with the Sewhooked flickr group for a chance to win fun prizes all year long! First winner to be announced Monday, January 27!

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Paper Piecing Vintage BOM, just $12 on Craftsy

12 patterns in two sizes = 24 patterns!

Join the Paper Piecing Vintage Facebook Group and piece with friends!

 

Random Doings

Buttercup complete!
Just this evening, I finished stitching my first set of blocks for the As You Wish Quilt & Stitch along.

 photo AYWBadge_zpsfd93af71.jpg

The Princess Bride. Seriously! The Buttercup blocks were designed by Elizabeth from Such A Sew & Sew. The quilt layouts for the event were designed by me.

Four Patch Layout for As You Wish
This is the one I’m using, though the more popular of my two designs for this event is definitely this one.

Making it real. #finishin2014
I did an epic post and my TTMT this week all about the UFOs I want to at least touch, and hopefully finish, in 2014. Today I made an actual, physical list on a giant piece of paper. My goal is to finish 2014 with less projects than I started with. I thought that maybe marking projects done from a real life list would inspire me and remind me of my goals!

New projects aren’t on this list, just stuff that’s been hanging around prior to this year.

Smug kitty is smug. One more of Merlin, then I'm done, promise! #mycatisadorable
Marie and Merlin say hello!

Four puzzle postcards for my David Tennant-loving daughter! Mailing one a day for the next four days. #geekmom #itsasecret
I made these postcards to send to my daughter. You see, I’m a giant geek mom and send my college freshman daughter a postcard every day. Yeah, you heard that right. EVERY day. She loves it. I love it. We’re all happy!

Anyway, I have these ancient printable postcards that are essentially a sheet of cardstock with perforations. To make these, I found an awesome wallpaper on fanpop.com by deedeedee123 and printed it to an 8 1/2″ x 11″ document without borders. It seriously worked a treat!

Because. David Tennant. Yeah.

#crochet
Current crochet project…for The Linus Connection, my longtime favorite, Sideways Shell.

This one is slow going because I’ve mostly been working on hand embroidery the last month. My monthly goal is to donate two blankets per month to The Linus Connection. I missed it by ONE blanket in 2013 and I was super bummed. Seriously. ONE short. Pffth. I’ll do better this year!

Super old UFO #1 for 2014!
This is the first UFO I’m tackling for 2014. It’s 11 on the list. *points up* I’ve already gotten a good start . It’ll be a baby blanket and will again be donated to Linus. This one is so ancient, I don’t even remember when or why I started it! So far, I have done a quilt as you go technique and have most of it done. The goal is to have this one finished before next Tuesday!

Share your Paper Piecing Vintage or any other Sewhooked-inspired photos with the Sewhooked flickr group for a chance to win fun prizes all year long!

Happy Thursday, friends!

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Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

Paper Piecing Vintage BOM, just $12 on Craftsy

12 patterns in two sizes = 24 patterns!

Join the Paper Piecing Vintage Facebook Group and piece with friends!

TTMT #244 – Finish It In ’14!

Sewhooked

Fandom In Stitches

Also in this video:

 

 

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Featured Pattern: Bicycle!, just $2 on Craftsy!

2013 Finishes and other Fabulous Things

Vacation 2013

After all the UFO shenanigans going on around here, I really wanted to share some of the 2013 things that happened completely apart from my ever-growing to do list.

It was a big year filled with lots of projects, oodles of new patterns, vacation, graduation, college and the loss of a special furry loved one.

Here are a few photos to share some of my 2013 with you!

Doctor Who Quilt 2013

In 2013, I organized and designed for The Doctor Who Quilt Along on Fandom in Stitches.

This is the Doctor Who quilt I made for my daughter to take to college. This project was a balm to my aching mommy heart.

Doctor Who TARDIS pillow and Doctor Who Stitch Along Quilt

TARDIS pillow to go with! Naturally.

Agatha Christie quilt

Agatha Christie quilt for my best girlfriend, Jewells.

Eli's T-Shirt Quilt
Eli’s T-shirt quilt. No blog post here because I was so secretive about this, I forgot to write anything about it! I did, however, talk about it in this video.

Another one for Linus. #crochet

Scrappy afghan made and donated to The Linus Connection

Bonnet

Baby gift for my friend Cat’s baby girl, Tara. Free pattern here.

Bibs for Cat's B3

Not one of my better photos! Baby bibs also made for baby Tara.

Star Quilt - Secret Project for Jewells

Quilt made with friends to donate to Jewell’s Project Linus in Albuquerque.

Star Quilt for Jewells' PL

Quilt made with friends to donate to Jewell’s Project Linus in Albuquerque.

Mass Effect Bag

Customized Mass Effect messenger bag for my daughter.

For The Jeff Gordon Foundation

Quilt made from a kit for the Jeff Gordon foundation.

Jack Leaves The Light On! All pieced as posted on Sewhooked! Done stitching for today.

Jack leaves the Light On. I finished quilting this. Now, if I can just *find* it for a proper photo!

Momma's got a brand new bag!

Custom bag for my Singer 301A. I wanted a “to go” machine!

Finished up an afghan for The Linus Connection. #charity

Simple crochet afghan for The Linus Connection.

DIY Clothes Bar in my garage

Hanging PVC bar for the laundry area in my garage. Boy have we gotten some use out of this!

@ Sherwood Forest Faire 2013

My hubby and I at Sherwood Forest Faire.

Potholders, front

Potholders for my daughter to take to college. Microwave cooking ftw!

Repurposed Cigar Box

Upcycled/repurposed cigar box!

One more Stars for Linus!

Stars for Linus

Stars for Linus ready to donate tomorrow!

More Stars for Linus

Simple Crochet Ghan by me

Crochet blanket donated to The Linus Connection.
Bluebonnet Pillow

Embroidered Bluebonnet pattern. I gave the pillow to my mom for her birthday.
Trolls!

My two favorite projects, ready to go to Anime Overload 2013.

Project of Doom Mini Quilt

Project of Doom quilt made by the Fandom In Stitches community and donated to The Linus Connection.

The Project of Doom for Charity

Fundraiser quilt made by the Fandom In Stitches community. We raised over $700 for The Linus Connection!

Donated to The Linus Connection April 2013

Quilt made for The Linus Connection.

bookmark made from Dupioni silk scraps

Silk bookmark made for my friend Sarah.

Untitled

A 13 year project complete. My beautiful daughter graduated from high school with honors and went on to college in the fall.

Marie Bostwick Blog Tour - Between Heaven and Texas

I met author Marie Bostwick and took part in a blog hop to promote her new book.

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AmysCreativeSide Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

I took part in these events.

 Name That Mustache!  DW-SAL-Badge  photo FiSPoD_zpse9443b28.jpg 

And I organized these!

@ QuiltCon, 2013

I went to Quiltcon! By myself!

Vacation 2013

In June, my family went to Washington, D.C. for vacation and I “met” Stephen Colbert at Madame Tussauds. I’m a fan.

alexveronelli twitter

Retweeted by Alex Veronelli of Aurifil!

  

I was published in the spring.

Lemons into Lemonade

Make Lemonade quilt with hand embroidery

QMMS-130035-cover_500

And in the fall!

 Corn Maze in Quilts from 100 Blocks

I'm a Craftsy Designer

I designed and published more patterns online last year than I think I ever have before. I won’t even try to post them all here because, woah!really, but you can get a pretty good idea by visiting Craftsy.

When registration for this 2014 Block of the Month went live, 100 quilters signed up! You can still sign up by clicking here.

Tackett, 1997 - 2013

Last, but not least, a bittersweet end. We said goodbye to Tackett, the TTMT kitty, in June.  He was my best furry friend and I miss him dearly.

Want to keep up with my craziness in 2014? Here are some easy ways:

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Featured Pattern: Bicycle!, just $2 on Craftsy!