RoJenDesigns

It’s official! RoJenDesigns is getting ready for classes to start in September. As we ALL know, it has been a crazy ride and I am glad to have the opportunity to continue classes for kids and adults. There will be quilts, technique, kids sewing, bags, and small projects along with a Ladies Craft Night every once in awhile. Come join me in the studio for Preview Night. Masks and being vaccinated are not mandatory. #kidscansew #ladiescraftnight #sewingclasses #sewingclassesforkids #makersgonnamake

I’m opening up the studio again!!! Please go to my website for the camp descriptions and call me to sign-up. www.RoJenDesigns.com

Do you want to know what the scariest part of free motion quilting is? This, right herethe very first stitch! I met the plan, jump in, and just start stitching. See you on the other side! #babyquilt @moderntextiles #cantmessitup #doneisbetterthanperfect #itsonlyfabric #notsoxoxoquilt

I finished up a 2 month series of private lessons with Finley. She and her @oceangrovecharterschool advisor wanted to get some lessons in as Monterey County is slowly opening up. She made an envelope pillow cover, a 1-Hour basket, a tote bag, a zippered pouch, and her lessons culminated in making the super cute wrap skirt. It brings me such joy to teach and to experience the excitement of creating something with your own hands, adults and kids alike. She is ready for the Fall 2021 school year and I will see her back in the studio classroom. Also, Summer Day Camps are coming in July. #makersgonnamake #charterschool @around.salinas @montereycountyweekly @happenings.montereycounty #kidscansew @emptybobbin #sewingwithkids #quilting

What a fun String-Pieced Potholder class last night! Thanks ladies for coming out to jumpstart the classes in the studio!

Finishing up a Christmas gift! It’s pieced, quilted, binding AND label are on, and now into the washer and dryer! @fatquartershop #jellyrollmysteryquilt2020 The labels are from @sweetwaterfabric Thank you @mommybellew for the quilting #shhhchristmasgift One of the silver linings of COVID-19, I have time to make my own personal projects.

I still have one week of the Autumn season left (I know it will also come around next year), but I wanted to quilt and finish this wall hanging so it will grace and decorate our front porch for our family Thanksgiving meal. Not sure if you all know this, but you can use a pattern tracing wheel to mark your quilts. I used Creative Grids 8.5x24.5 ruler, marked off 2 intervals and ran this little wheel along the edge of the ruler to make little dotted lines...connect the dots for quilting with my walking foot.

The Monterey Peninsula Quilters Guild Fall Quilt Auction has begun to help raise money for local charities and projects. There are some lovely items so, go take a peek and purchase some one of a kind items. I have my eye on a couple of them. https://go.rallyup.com/mpqgfall2020

Oh, just doing some market research on this beautiful, sunny Autumn day. Yes, someday RoJenDesigns will open up again for kids sewing and in the meantime, my favorite students are not far from my mind. @nattmariscal @therealsjbl @jscoob7 plus all the other little girls. Thank you Jenny Doan and @missouriquiltco for a fantastic #blockideabook magazine, filled with inspiration. This is a subscription magazine and is delivered in my mailbox every once in a while. I can always learn and grow to be a better teacher. #kidscansew

I made THE CUTEST little drawstring bag yesterday. How much candy can I cram in her? #tinydrawstringbag @incolororder Thanks for the inspiration! It was going to be for my grandson, but, I think it’s just too small to do any good. I better make him another one! #imkeepingthisadorableness #ireallyshouldshare

I use these numbered pins to mark the rows in my quilt while on the design wall and/or the individual blocks. BUT, I really don’t like the box because I doesn’t stay closed, pins fall out the side, and they are difficult to access. So, a light bulb went off...I’ll make a numbered pin cushion! I used 1.5 low volume scraps, laid them out, stamped the numbers with India ink, pressed them to set the ink, stitched together, filled with crushed walnut shell and voila...my pincushion! I could fit all the pins on here, but I won’t because it will be too cluttered. I have 4-5 of each number and I know where to get more. #marileesnumberedpins #lowvolumefabric #crushedwalnutshells #pincushion

Do you have any smaller quilts or quilty projects you need spray basted? I have a couple of projects I am getting ready to be quilted, so the tables are set up. I have 505 spray in stock, ready for you to purchase, for your basting needs. DM or text me if you want to come out. #quilting #spraybasting #505spray

Happy October 1st!!! The sun has an eerie, October glow about it due to the fires in California. It actually sets off my projects very nicely...ORANGE. The pumpkin quilt is from Allison Cluck Cluck Sew and I finished my Autumn Splendor Pillow from @sewlux I have joined their pillow of the month club, and so far, I have finished two pillows in a timely manor. Yay for me! @cluckclucksew #isewwithsewlux

Well, hello you cute little Jack-O-Lantern pillow and homegrown pumpkin! #greenpumpkin #twisterpattern #simplecountrypleasures

Look what I jumped into!!!! Do you want to dive in with me???

Here is my most recent finish in the studio. I LOVE sunflowers and when I saw this pouch on @sewlux website, I knew I had to make it! Yes, there are lots of little pieces, after un-sewing some rows, I am so pleased with the final product. This is part of their #sewluxpouchclub monthly subscription but you can order the kit separately on their site. I am now signed up for the #sewluxpillowclub too. Last year pouches, this year pillows. #sunflowers #makersgonnamake @ RoJenDesigns

A friend @kamanidesigns recently purchased a thread cutter from me, and I wanted to show you how I use mine. It is made, by me, from a manzanita branch someone gave to @paul_s_jensen @3twentyonefurniture I cut it to length, sanded it, drilled a hole, and dropped in the @cloverusa pendant thread cutter. Having the cutter on a steady base makes short work of slicing all those little threads when chain piecing. SO much easier than scissors. I wind my prepared binding on this adorable @doohikeydesigns holder and spindle. I have also used large vintage wooden thread spools to wind up and store my 2.5 bindings on until ready to put on a quilt. These are $11.00, including tax and I have about 7 left. @ RoJenDesigns

What is this a picture of? Your future bag of mixed greens or inspiration for a quilt block? For me, both. The quilt block is from 5 years of when I was commissioned to make a 12 square block for a contest the City of Salinas was participating in. Throwback to June 2015. I have been watching this crop of lettuce grow in a neighboring field and I keep thinking I want to take a picture as it is getting close for harvest time. #aroundsalinas @cityofsalinas #inspiration #quiltinspiration #baggedlettuce Thank you @peter_s_stroud for drawing John Steinbeck for me. @ RoJenDesigns