Thursday, March 29, 2012

It's a Garden Party Sale

Who doesn't love a sale! I'm doing a little self promoting today in honor of the up coming Garden Party Blog Hop sponsered by Jennifer at Sewhooked..... Wilson and are are announcing a SALE on our Etsy site. With the coupon code ~~~~ TULIPS~~~~~ you will receive 20% off now through the month of April  So grab a hot cup of coffee, or tea stop by my Etsy shop and take a look. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments. The coupon code is only good in my Etsy store.  Remember to stop back and check out the Garden Party Blog Hop, April 1- 30th,  30 designers, 30 paper pieced blocks!  It will be so much fun.  I need to get back and work on my block for the blog hop!  Also, join me this Saturday for the next block on my Civil War Diary quilt!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

How to Make Those Goofy Fish....

I have a new pattern, Bear Tracks, so I thought I would do a mini tutorial on how to make those goofy fish.  Designing the pattern was fun, but to get the angles I wanted on the fish I had to be a bit creative.  Not the easiest way to make them, but I was having a total brain block as to how else to do them for the angles I have drawn out.  I wanted finished edges...Would it have been easier to change the fish and do it a different way?  Absolutely!  But I'm not known for taking the easy way out.  I was set on these goofy angled fish.... love them now that I have my quilt done.  You should have heard me in my studio as I worked on them.  It was not a happy sound.... so I thought a tutorial to help make the pattern clear for those of you who have the pattern,. If you don't have the pattern, it's a tutorial on easy turn applique......

To easily get the angles for the northern pike block we will do quick turn applique.  Trace 6 Northern Pike triangles onto the smooth side of fusible interfacing. 

Layer the fusible interfacing, smooth side up on the right side of your fabric. Sew on the lines marked ‘sew’.  Here you can see how I sew on the traced line.  Then trim each piece ¼” from the stitching.  Trim corners.  Turn the triangle sections right side out.  See the one piece I have turned inside out?

Lay the triangle pieces on the 5 ½” x 4” cream blocks as pictured above.  Line up raw edge of triangle piece along 5 ½” edge of cream rectangle.  Iron in place.  Here I have the sections of the fish lined up and ready to be sewn. 

Oops.... don't forget to trim away the excess fabric on the back before you sew the block together.   This reduces the bulk of the fabric in the block.  Then sew the sections for the fish block together.

Hand stitch finished edges down using a blind stitch.   (If you don't like hand stitching you can also do a blanket stitch around the fish when all the blocks are pieced together.)  I like the blind stitch on this block....

Make 2 Northern Pike blocks. Here is the finished block in my Bear Tracks Quilt Pattern.
Finished block measures 5 ½” x 20 ½”

You do the same technique for the Bluegill block...

You will need 3 Bluegill blocks for Bear Tracks...
Here is the finished block in the quilt.
I hope that you enjoyed this mini tutorial.  If you have any questions or comments on this or any other Quilt Doodle Pattern, feel free to email me anytime.  I love to hear from you!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,


Monday, March 26, 2012

Bear Tracks... It's quilted!

I love the quilted bear design...
 Woot hoo!  Look what came in the mail today!  Bear Tracks is all quilted!  Yes, I sorta cheated and had it quilted by Mimi's Quilting Cottage.  Stacy does such a wonderful job, I will recommend her work for your quilting needs.  I love the bear and tree design that she used all over the quilt, a few bear paws too.  Love it! Well now that Bear Tracks is quilted it's time for me to take pictures and make the pattern available to you!  I love this quilt, my boys even like this quilt!  I made my quilt using Primo Plaids from Marcus Brothers, yummy, yummy flannel.  It's such a cozy quilt!  It can be made out of flannels or cotton fabrics, it's up to you!

Meg's test quilt using fabric she had on hand...
Meg then made this one!  I love it, she added a 5th color (gold) into the blocks... very nice quilt!

I am so thankful to Meg, who tested my newest pattern.  You rock Meg!  She made the quilt twice!  I am humbled to see Bear Tracks made.  Thank you Meg!


Here is Bear Tracks using Primo Plaids from Marcus Brothers.  In the pattern the outer border will be all the same fabric, I had to piece together pieces and parts using the fabric I had left from what Marcus Brother sent me.  It turned out fine, has sorta a scrappy cabin look....
If you would like to make Bear Tracks, the pattern is available at my Etsy Store and on Craftsy

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

It's Time To Pick A Winner!

Congratulations!  You won this set of patterns!
Hummmmmm, * heavy sigh * , blog hop has come to a close.... it was so much fun this last week to hop around to everyone's blogs.  I loved seeing what everyone was up to.  I made some new quilt friends, and am looking forward to their future postings.  I want to also thank everyone who stopped by the Doodle Blog...
Thank you!!!

So I guess it's time to pick a WINNER.... whooot wooooo.....

Wilson.......... pick a number out of pop-pa's hat.......... drum roll please...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The winner is,
Kathy Harris!!!
She left this lovely comment ,
"I noticed the owl peeking out of the window right away and it gave me a laugh. Very nice patterns. Thanks for the chance."

Congratulations!   Please email me your address so that I can send you this lovely set of Spring Doodle Patterns!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Blog Hopping and Quilt Retreat Part 2

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways


I'm having so much fun!


You could win this set of patterns!

I'm giving away a set of three Quilt Doodle Patterns!  Would like a chance to win? It's easy... just post a comment to enter to win.... but if you want to up your chances to win and want to take the time.... you can do these things too.   Well to get an extra name in the bag, click 'follow me' too! Want a third name in the hat?  E-mail  me and tell me what you are currently working on.  I would love to hear about it!  Want another chance to win, yup one more chance... check out my craftsy store and let me know what pattern you like.  If you like what you see, follow me there too!  I love craftsy!  It's a wonderful source for patterns and ideas. On March 24th, Wilson and I will draw and announce the lucky winner!  Check out the other blogs in the Blog Hop Party, there's all sorts of goodies that you could win!  A lot of wonderful blogs.

I've been having so much fun visiting every one's blogs.  Leaving comments, answering emails, learning new ideas and making some new quilting friends.  So much fun that I'm planning on hopping around again today!  I thought I would share with you some more pictures from quilt retreat. 
This is Gus' quilt, she spent the weekend making quilts for the little people in her life...

My sister, Laura, working a quilt she's always wanted to do...

Isn't is coming along beautifully, I love the colors she's chosen.

Great picture of my mom, she got several projects done while we were at Cozy Home Quilt Retreat.

Laura's beautiful star quilt!  Just needs borders....

Tootie got this done along with several other quilt tops!  She's smiling in the picture!  Promise!

Cozy Home has a new addition.  Her name is 'Tessa'.  She adorable but the next time I see her she will weigh about 150 pounds.   Here she is wondering... "why did you hide your shoes?"

Tootie shared with us a quilt she made using some fabric that she won from a local quilt shop.

Laura whipped this beauty up right before we packed up to leave.... I also have this collection of fabric but have yet figured out what to do with it.  

'Tessa'
Cozy Home's English Mastiff



  So grab a hot cup of coffee, or tea , enter my give-away, check out the other give-aways, and have fun!

Hop! Hop! Hop!st-patricks day

  Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!


 





Friday, March 16, 2012

It's a Blog Hop Party!

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways


It's a Blog Hop Party!


You could win this set of patterns!

I'm giving away a set of three Quilt Doodle Patterns!  Would like a chance to win? It's easy... just post a comment to enter to win.... but if you want to up your chances to win and want to take the time.... you can do these things too.   Well to get an extra name in the bag, click 'follow me' too! Want a third name in the hat?  E-mail  me and tell me what you are currently working on.  I would love to hear about it!  Want another chance to win, yup one more chance... check out my craftsy store and let me know what pattern you like.  If you like what you see, follow me there too!  I love craftsy!  It's a wonderful source for patterns and ideas. On March 24th, Wilson and I will draw and announce the lucky winner!  Check out the other blogs in the Blog Hop Party, there's all sorts of goodies that you could win!  A lot of wonderful blogs.

It's been busy here at Quilt Doodles, I've been designing away for the International Quilt Market in Kansas City.  Pattern Peddlers will be representing Quilt Doodle Patterns along with a ton of other designers. If you have a chance to go, stop by and say 'hi' to Penel and the gang!  Oh and don't forget, tonight is FNSI!  I'll be trying to stay up and sew.  I have a few projects to work on, like my houses....


I finished these houses while on retreat last weekend.  The owl peeking out of the window makes me laugh!


  So grab a hot cup of coffee, or tea , enter my give-away, check out the other give-aways, and have fun!

Hop! Hop! Hop!st-patricks day

  Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!


 





Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Winner!

Before I announce a winner, I want to thank everyone who is following along as I work on my Civil War Diary Quilt.  I appreciate each and everyone of you who pop in and check out the Doodle Blog. Now on to business.... the winner is..... Wilson drum roll please...............................................drum roll............

Our winner is..... Pris Phillips!
Congratulations! Woot! Woo!
Please email  me your address so that I can send you your prize!

I love give-aways!  Another fun giveaway will be posted this weekend, you will all have another chance to win.  Details will be posted on the Doodle Blog on Friday!  Let me now share with you a few pictures from quilt retreat.  It was a fun weekend.  I packed just right even though I didn't bring a ton of stuff.  What I did bring kept me very busy!
Mom was the first to complete a project, isn't it wonderful!  She loves doing 5 yard quilts, this one turned out very nicely.  She smiling for the camera behind the quilt!

I worked on my Takes Two blocks...

I worked on them most of the weekend....

To add some interest I switched up and added different reds to some of the blocks....

This block just about sent me to the nut house.... but I'm proud to say that I got it done and I'm very pleased with the points.... it's not perfect but by far the hardest block I have ever completed without paper piecing it.  Wouldn't this make a lovely quilt if I repeated the block....

Kim made a Dresden Plate table runner.  Isn't it cute! I stayed up late Saturday night and helped her out with it.  She's smiling behind the table runner, really!
Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Friday, March 9, 2012

Four Rows Done!

I'm celebrating!
Fourth row complete on my
Civil War Diary Quilt!
This is the first time I've seen all the blocks together that I have done so far....
really loving how it looks.
So... I'm having a giveaway!

 I'm so excited about getting a row done on my Civil War Diary Quilt that Wilson and I decided to host a giveaway in celebration! Winner will be announced March 14th. So here's how you can win...

You will receive three, one-third yard cuts of fabric from Marcus Brothers if you win!


It's easy... just post a comment to enter to win... let me know which of the Civil War Quilt blocks you like best so far. Want to up your chances to win? Well, to get an extra name in the bag, click 'follow me' too! Want a third name in the hat?  E-mail  me and tell me what you are currently working on.  I would love to hear about it! How about one more way to win.... click 'like' on my facebook page. (leave a comment letting me know you 'liked' Quilt Doodles on facebook.) On March 14th Wilson and I will draw and announce the lucky winner! We'll assign numbers to all of our entries and then draw a number using random.org.

I'm on my way to Cozy Home Quilt Retreat... looking forward to the time spent with my quilting family.  Quality time with my mom, sister and good friend, Kim.  Time spent catching up on some started projects. I'm scared though, my bags and supplies are packed and I'm not bringing much compared with past years.  hummmmmmmmm what did I forget.....

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Craftsy

Quilt Doodle Design can now be found on Craftsy.  I'm loving this site.  I found this wonderful site about a year ago.  I'm so thrilled that I can share my patterns with you on Craftsy. I've also downloaded a few patterns from some independent designers myself.  Very slick.  I'm also following along with the block of the month.  It's a FREE class.  I've learn how to do a couple of new blocks just within the first couple of months.  A couple of my new designs can be found on this site too.... grab a cup of coffee and check it out.

This collection of Holiday applique designs can be found on Craftsy!

'Spinning Strips' is a new pattern from Quilt Doodle Designs.  It's a quick and easy quilt and is Jelly Roll friendly.

"Doodle Stamp' is a great stash buster.  A fun quilt made with 2 1/2" squares, a great project to use up all of those bits and pieces from other projects.
Well, I'm off to start packing for quilt retreat.  Not sure what I'll pack, but I'm sure I will have a ton of fun when I get there.  I have a couple of new ideas I would like to try and lots of catching up to do on my quilt challenges.  I hope that you enjoy Craftsy

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,