On The Trail Creations
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Days like this

2/27/2013

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Days like this are going to make it very hard to get a lot of sewing done! I told myself I only had time for two laps around the lake, since I have a three hour class to teach tonight that I'd like to be awake for...But after the second lap, the radio said it was supposed to be cloudy tomorrow, so I had to do one more!!! People in the interior of Alaska pretty much live for the sun coming back in the spring. I always pay attention to the sun's schedule (and usually the moon, that's been cool lately too!), but I made an observation today that I hadn't before. Our days change gradually from lighter to darker and back again all year round. But in the spring it seems to come back all at once. I finally realized that is because we have snow... it magnifies the light we get. It always seems painfully slow in January and the first part of February, but then suddenly it's spectacular.  (The daylight hours do change faster closer to the equinoxes also)  I think that's why March is my favorite month here. (And it's not even quite March yet!) That and the fact that I love cross country skiing, and when March cooperates, it's skiing heaven here! I'm still using my 33 year old skis....the boots have duct tape on them, and I need to bring a pair of pliers to get them out of the bindings when I'm done...one of these days I'll replace them, but I do love them! (I always listen to 80's music when I ski, it makes my skis feel more at home:-))

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Barbara LaVallee quilt

2/27/2013

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I'm still doing lots of sewing, but mostly repeats of things I've already posted, getting cards ready for tourist season! So it's back to the archives again. This is a baby quilt made with Barbara LaVallee fabrics a few years ago for a baby gift. Of course I had to include this book illustrated by Barbara LaVallee as well! This is as close as I get to traditional quilting, I've made a couple of baby quilts and that's about it:-)
Tonight is the last session of my latest class, designing quilts from photos, it's been a fun class with a great group of ladies.
This next month will be a challenge to get sewing done, March is my favorite month in Fairbanks. Usually it is very sunny and warm, but not too warm to melt snow, so I ski as much as I can! Right now it is sunny and 82 in my living room, I think I need to let the fire in the woodstove go out...:-)

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Quilted purse

2/24/2013

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Back to the archives....this is a little purse I made for my daughter a few years ago, when I was first discovering art quilting!

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Quilted potholder

2/23/2013

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I'm trying to put things on my blog regularly, but lately the sewing I've been doing is either repeats or working on a new pattern (hopefully coming soon!) so I'm digging into the archives for things to put on here:-) This is a quilted potholder I made a few years ago. It has a big plastic button, so you can only use the back side, and it wouldn't do much good as a trivet, but it's pretty, and that's what matters, right? :-)

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Chickadee

2/22/2013

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This card is a variation of my Black Capped Chickadee pattern. It's just vertical instead of horizontal, and I used my great birch tree fabric instead of making the tree myself.

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Ravens, blueberries and bears, oh my!

2/21/2013

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Major silkscreening operation at my house today, a friend came to help and we got 67 cards started! I just noticed I covered up most of the blueberry ones, but I'm too tired to take another picture:-) The ravens will get feet when I do the free motion stitching:-)
See my post from 1/31/13 for a tutorial on this easy method of silkscreening.

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Card making tip part two

2/19/2013

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In a recent blog post, I suggested making more than one of a card to maximize efficiency. Then today as I was making a batch or two of Raven Moon cards, I realized that this pattern is one step better than that:-) The pattern automatically makes 4 at a time, and uses several different background fabrics, so they are similar but not identical. You can vary them further by changing the binding fabrics and the card stock color. These four cards all had the same fabrics until I put the binding on, but they have some variety when they are done.
It must be getting toward the end of winter, I'm using tropical colors for my Alaskan ravens...:-)

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Update: This design and lots more are now available in pattern form, either print or download, click the photo below!
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Quilted Lily Card

2/17/2013

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This is a card I made for my neighbor who moved away, she grew lots of lilies, and her adorable dog's name was Lily Pad:-)

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Quilted Journal cover

2/16/2013

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I got to take a break from cards this week and make a journal cover for a birthday present:-)

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Card making tip

2/15/2013

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I almost always make my cards in batches of 4 or sometimes 6. That's mostly because I sell them, but I would recommend making more than one even if you are just making them at home for yourself or a gift. The reason for that is although they are already quick to make, if you make more than one, they are even quicker, because you only have to think, change thread, or choose fabric once, then do it several times. It's a mini version of factory efficiency, and since it is a consumable item, it doesn't hurt to have a duplicate or two. I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble finding someone to give the extras to:-) What I DON'T do is more than 6 very often, it gets boring at that point:-) Sometimes you can even use different fabrics and still use the same thread. Most patterns don't get made more than once, but since these are small, I'd highly recommend it!

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    Beret Nelson's On The Trail Creations Blog Page

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    Beret Nelson

    I am a homeschooling mom of three fun kids, who are now old enough that I have a little time to pursue my passion for sewing! After several years of making quilted cards and art quilts, I'm now designing kits and patterns.  Some of my designs have been in Keepsake Quilting and Art Quilting Studios magazine! I  teach classes online, and am starting to do more traveling and teaching. I also have many tutorials, including some on YouTube. I am blessed to live in Alaska where I am surrounded by the inspiration provided by the beauty of God's creation!
    To see all of my patterns, click here.
    To follow my blog, sign up below to receive e-mails, and/or "like" my facebook page, button below!

    Free card pattern and also an e-book, and a quilt planning checklist!
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    "Like" my facebook page!

    I am also an independent distributor for Plexus supplements, since I credit them with enabling me to be healthy enough to do all these fun things! They target blood sugar and gut health, which are at the root of so many modern health issues. E-mail me for more info, or check out my website! I am as passionate about getting people healthy as I am about getting people creating :-)

    beret@onthetrailcreations.com
    or

    https://plexusworldwide.com/beretnelson
      

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  • Home
  • Shop Online
    • Art For Sale
    • Collage Art Quilt Kits
    • Store - Wall Hangings/Table Runners Kit & Patterns >
      • Sandhill Sunset Wall Hanging
      • Moonshadows Wall Hanging
      • Moonlight Moose Table Runner
      • Serenity Wall Hanging
      • Summer Dragonfly Wall Hanging
      • Summer Dragonfly Table Runner
      • Moonlight Moose Wall Hanging
      • Autumn Leaves Wall Hanging
      • Autumn Leaves Table Runner
      • Night Owl Wall Hanging Quilt
    • Store - Quilted Greeting Card Kits/Patterns >
      • Acrylic Card Template
      • Trish Stuart Collection
      • Out On a Limb Card Kit
      • Wonder Lake Card Kit
      • Moonshadows Card
      • Raven Moon Card
      • Chickadee With Berries Card
      • Whale Tale Card
      • Moose and Willows Card Kit
      • Raven Card Kit
      • Wild Iris Card
      • Northwoods Nisse Card
      • Boreal Botanicals Card
      • Winter Trees Card
      • For the Birds Card Pattern
      • Wild Flower I Card Pattern
      • Wild Flower II Card Pattern
      • Wild Flower III Card Pattern
      • Wonky Heart Card Pattern
      • Whimsical Heart Card Pattern
      • Black-Capped Chickadee Card
      • Three Leaves Card Pattern
      • Let it Snow Card Pattern
      • Happy Birthday Card Pattern
      • Tundra Swan Card Pattern
      • Milepost Card Pattern
    • Store - Coffee Kuspuks/Quilt Panels >
      • Season of Hope Velvet Panel
      • Screen Prints
      • Coffee Kuspuk
      • Moonlight Moose Potholder Kit
      • Chickadee Menu Planner
      • Spring Flowers Coaster Pattern
      • Teresa Ascone Panels
      • Scrappy Baby Bib
    • Molly Molecule Book
  • Online Classes
    • Simple Secrets for Art Quilting
    • Framed Collage Quilt Class
  • Beret's Blog
  • 40 Ways
  • About Us
  • Tutorials
    • Grace quilt tutorial
    • Sewing Machine Needle Organizer Pincushion
    • Organza silk screen tutorial
    • Polymer Clay button tutorial
    • Birch Tree card tutorial
    • Coffee Shop greeting card
    • Free Motion Stitching Tutorials >
      • Free Motion Tutorial
      • 10 minute project tutorial
      • Valentine Coasters
      • Grape hyacinth postcard
      • Advanced free motion projects >
        • Sparkly 3D dragonfly wings
        • Inktense Frog quilt
        • Dream Big flower panel
    • Journal Cover - Book Tutorials >
      • Quilted Book Cover Tutorial
      • 1000 Gifts Journal Cover Tutorial
      • Quiet Book Tutorial
    • Tutorials for Our Kits >
      • Moonshadows Video Tutorials
      • Summer Dragonfly Video Tutorials
      • Serenity Video Tutorials
    • Video Tutorials - Screenprinting, Inktense, Quilted Card Binding
    • Pocket Prayer Quilt
  • Art Quilt Gallery
  • Quilted Cards Gallery
  • Quilt Shops
  • Contact Us
  • Sked Verks
    • Sked Verks Gallery
    • Sked Verks Online Store
  • Return Policy - FAQs