Tuesday, April 30, 2013

May BOM



May is here and it's time for the BOM for this month. I've never made a spool block before. As a young child I remember marveling at my mom's spools of threads. When I was little I remember finding a ton of  spools in the desk in the laundry room. She had all sorts of colors! I just couldn't wait until I was old enough to sew too!
I enjoyed making this block of four spools. I was happy with how it went together You will need at least 3 fabrics to complete this block. I used 5 fabrics and made two sets of spools and alternated them. If you are using a FQB, it might be fun to make 4 different spools. This is a great block to tie some of your colors together. I'm calling this block 'Mama's Spools', it's a very traditional block. Have fun with your fabric while sewing this block together.  The printable pattern can be found on Craftsy. Past patterns can be found for a small $1.99 fee at my Etsy and Craftsy shops just in case you are just joining the BOM or have missed one. Let me show you how I completed my 'Sewing Spools' block....
Here is the color combination I choose for my spool blocks.  I mixing these with a cream background.

First out of the 'spool' fabric.... cut 2   2  3/8" squares for each spool block.
Then cut the block in half corner to corner.

From your background fabric cut  2    2   3/8" squares for each spool block.
Then cut the block in half corner to corner.

From your 'thread' fabric... cut 1 3  1/2" square for each block. (This is the center)
Then from the 'spool' fabric cut 2   2' x 3 1/2" rectangles for each block.
From the background fabric cut 2   2" x 3   1/2" rectangles for each block.
Here the pieces are all laid out and ready to be sewn.

Sew the triangle pieces together, iron, the trim off the 'dog ears'.

Your spool block is ready to be put together.  You will need for
spool blocks total for the final block.

I made two blocks in this color combo....

And two blocks in this combination.....

Here are my 4 completed spool blocks ready to piece together.

'Sewing Spools'
May's Quilt Doodle BOM 2013
  Don't forget to post photos of your Quilt Doodle BOM finishes in the BOM flicker group for a chance to win May's prize! Woot woot!

The next block pattern will be posted on June 1st! The winner for the May block giveaway will be announced on June 1st.... I can't wait to see every ones 'Mama's Spools' block! Stop back to see this month's giveaway! I will be announcing it on the 15th...
 There's a flicker group! Please join...Every month post photos of your Quilt Doodle BOM finishes in the BOM flicker group for a chance to win that month's prize! 
There is also a Quilt Doodle BOM Pinterest board. 

Happy quilting!

Congratulations! 
Jadavn


DebC in PA

Our April winners won  e-copies of both of the The Quilter's Cookbook from the   Quilting Gallery! Please email me  with your email address so that I can forward it onto Michele at the Quilting Gallery! Hope you both enjoy the e~ cookbooks, the recipes look so yummy!

Quilter's CookbookQuilter's Cookbook - Holiday Traditions

Monday, April 22, 2013

We Still Have Snow!

Oh my gosh.... we still have snow! It so very depressing to listen to the forecast this morning and hear that another winter storm is on the way, we are expect  another several inches of the white stuff!  The bright side, I haven't been tempted to go outside, so more time to quilt! I spent the weekend getting ready for my appearance for Bear Patch Quilt Co. and finishing details for my samples that are on their way to Portland for the International Quilt Market. I need to get my items off to Pattern Peddlers by the end of the week... it's been a fun quilty weekend. I do have a little show and tell! I finished quilting my Civil War Style quilt, which is still nameless.... any ideas? I'm looking for suggestions for the quilt's name. I'm hoping to get the pattern written and tested over the next month. If you would like to be a tester for this pattern please email me. It would be fun to see the pattern done in a few different color stories.I pieced the quilt over quilt retreat, it took me about 2 days, but that included a lot of note taking and breaks. So I think it would take about a full day to piece this quilt together.

I can't wait until the snow is gone and I can use my grill again....

I quilted a feather wreath around the center of the quilt. The picture doesn't show it , but I quilted a feather border also.
I haven't decided yet if I will quilt the cream space more or not.... 

I love how the quilting looks on the back!
Happy quilting!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Twin Cities Schoolhouse Hop

Photo: Twin Cities Shop Hop - Mark your calendars.  You can see this poster in any of the EIGHT GREAT SHOPS for more details.  Fun and Informative Schoolhouse Hop!

Mark your calendars for this fun event! I know my calendar is all starred and circled.
I will be appearing at 

Bear Patch Quilting Co. 
(2199 4th Street, White Bear Lake, MN)

Friday, May 3rd
 I'll be showing off my Quilt Doodle Samples, my patterns will be available and I'll be signing autographs!
Stop on by and say 'Hi'!

It's one of my favorite shops in the Twin Cities so I'm so excited to spend the day with the gals at Bear Patch Quilting Co. Let's hope it's not still snowing here in Minnesota! Looking forward to sharing some quilting fun! Hope to see you there.

Happy quilting,

Sunday, April 14, 2013

A Quilty Weekend

This is my view outside... it's so depressing to see snow in April. The trees look like a Currier and Ives painting, and they would have been lovely in December, but not so much in April. It snowed again overnight and the streets are covered with the white stuff again.... in protest I have not gone outside all weekend. I look quite a sight, hair pulled up in a ponytail, Capri pants, winter hunting socks, old sweatshirt.... maybe I'm depressed. Haven't emptied the mailbox in two days since I don't even want to walk outside in it! last year at this time my Cherry and Apple trees were blooming.The greenhouse opens in a week...lol...  I'll put money down that it's postponed. We are forecasted for more snow this week... yuck. So I have decided to sulk and have a quilty weekend in. It's the perfect excuse for a quilty weekend!

I've set my machine up in my kitchen so that I can watch TV too!

Here's my feathered wreath, I think it looks like a flower.

I've been quilting feathers around the edge of my quilt...

Here's another picture of my feathers, I'm using a variegated thread for my machine quilting. This quilt still remains un~named, any ideas? I'm hoping something comes to me while I'm sewing. I'm a little over halfway with my quilting, almost 3/4 done. I took lots of breaks yesterday, maybe I can get the quilting done today.
Now on to some Quilt Doodle announcements.... the BOM 2013 is on~going. The April block is out and I've been having fun seeing the pictures that are getting posted on to the flickr group! Everyone's blocks are so different, it's been so much fun to watch everyone's progress! For this month's prize giveaway Michele from the Quilting Gallery has donated her Quilter's Cookbooks! So keep posting those blocks for a chance to win! The recipes looks soooo yummy! 

Quilter's CookbookQuilter's Cookbook - Holiday Traditions

Spring Fling Blog Hop hosted by Soma at Whims and Fancies is still in full swing! My Baby Birdie pattern was posted on Friday...all the patterns are free!  there's a giveaway also being hosted on Soma's site too! Hope you have time to check it out.

Bundle Up Snowmen PDF Pattern from Quilt Doodle Designs
Bundle Up Snowmen PDF Pattern from Quilt Doodle Designs

My new pattern~ 'Bundle Up Snowman' is available for purchase too! It's a wonderful wintery snowman table runner and mini quilt (mug rug) pattern! Easy to follow directions.  PDF copies are available on my Craftsy and Etsy sites. The packaged version is also available thru  Etsy and my website. Pattern Peddlers is also taking wholesale orders for this and all my other patterns. 

Happy quilting,

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Spring Fling

SpringWelcome Spring! (which is arriving late to Minnesota... we have snow and are forecast-ed for more snow over the weekend) Wilson and I love to watch the birds on the feeders and in the birdbath, so I designed a bird block which I named 'Baby Birdie'. A cute, little, fat rolie polie baby bird. I made my bird look like a blue bird. Have fun and switch up the colors to be any type of bird that you would like! I had a lot of fun putting this block together and hope that you do too! You can find the pattern FREE HERE and also on my Craftsy store  I've seen some of the blocks to come and they are wonderful! All of these blocks made up would made a delightful spring time quilt! I hope spring arrives soon to Minnesota.


After I printed off the pattern, I cut the pieces out. Two of the pieces need to be taped together to make the 'A' section. I use my window to line up the lines, I don't have a light box.

I just use scotch tape to tape it together.

I went through my fabric stash and pulled out three fat quarters (Hoffman's Bali Handpaints) and some cream for the background.  For the bird's beak I only need a tiny little scrap of yellow.

I cut all my blues into manageable strips to work with for paper piecing.

Sewing on the lines....

Shown here are all of my sections, they need to be trimmed up before I can sew them together.

Here I am trimming my sections....

All ready to piece together...

'Baby Birdie'
I sewed two little seed beads on for the eyes.
10 1/2" x 10 1/2" (including seam allowance)


In addition to the prizes that I donated to Soma at Whims and Fancies for the hop.  I am also hosting a giveaway. Wilson and I will be giving away 2 PDF patterns of Thumper to two lucky winners! I'm trying out Rafflecopter for my giveaway.... you have three chances to win... leave a lovely comment, like the Quilt Doodle Facebook page, and be a follower....Wilson and I will pick a winner on the 30th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thumper

Have fun hopping around!
Happy quilting,
The Designers -
1. 04/01 Teri Emerson, handiwerx
2.  04/02 Barbara Cain, B’s Modern Quilting
3.  04/03 Ruth Davis, Ruthie quilts! And quilts…
4.  04/05 Marissa Nichols, MKissa Creations
5.  04/08 Cyrille, Bubblestitch Quilts
6.  04/09 Gaya, Le borse di Gaya
7.  04/10 Vicki Ruebel, Quilting Lodge
8.  04/11 Lilja Björk, liljabs.com
9.  04/12 Cindy, Quilt Doodle Designs
10. 04/15 Jennifer Ofenstein, Sewhooked
11.  04/16 Caroline, Trillium Design
12. 04/17 Sandy in Buenos Aires, Peek a Boo !
13. 04/18 Lynn Provencher, Thimblemouse & Spouse
14. 04/19 Jessica, Plum Patchwork
15. 04/22 Aalia,  Joy Of Stitches
16. 04/23 Michele Foster, Quilting Gallery
17. 04/24 Amy Gay, ButterflyAngels Quilts
18. 04/25 Soma Acharya, Whims And Fancies
19. 04/26 Michelle Thompson, misha29
20. 04/29 Regina Grewe, Textile Landscapes