Wednesday, July 31, 2013

August's Block




It's time to work on August's block! I have chosen an easy block for this month. August can be a busy month, it's the last summer get-away, time to get the kids ready for back to school and if you're lucky, the garden is in full swing! Lots to do in August. So this month we will make a Log Cabin Block for our Quilt Doodle Sampler Quilt... next month's block will be a little more challenging. But I promise, no more paper piecing blocks in this quilt, last month's was the only one. Have fun with this block, it's another great block to tie some fabrics together in your quilt. August's pattern can be found on Craftsy. Past patterns can be found for the small fee of $1.99 at my Etsy and Craftsy shops just in case you are just joining us or you have missed one.   I used up 'scrap' pieces from the other blocks to complete my Log Cabin block. I used light and dark fabrics.... here's how I made mine....
I have quite a pile of fabric to work with...

I labeled my pieces as I cut them out of my light and dark fabrics.. A thru H.

The Log Cabin pieces laid out as they will appear in the block.
I find it easier to piece the block when I have it laid out and
ready to go.

Start out by sewing your G light strip to your H dark square....

Then add the F light strip to your HG section...

Then the F dark strip to the FGH section...

Keep following the block chart from the directions and keep adding strips...

It's starting to look like a Log Cabin block.

Adding the final light 'row'.

The final 'dark' strip....

Log Cabin
August's Block




The next block pattern will be posted on September1st! The winner for the August block giveaway will be announced on September 1st.... I can't wait to see every ones 'Log Cabin' block! Stop back to see this month's giveaway! (It's another great prize!) I will be announcing it on the 15th...
 There's a flicker group! If you haven't yet...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.  If you blog about the Quilt Doodle BOM 2013, please send me your link so that I can post your block on the Pinterst board!

Happy quilting!

Congratulations! 
Block #7
Maureen (mtclifford2012)

Quilting Fabric at the Fat Quarter Shop

Maureen has won a $20 gift certificate to The Fat Quarter Shop, one of my sponsors.
Keep posting those pictures for your chance to win! More fun prizes are to come.


I Love Kits!

I've been slacking on blog posts lately... if you follow me on facebook, well you know I've been on vacation and have also been spending time in the studio designing. Today I have been spending the day packaging up quilt kits! Doesn't that sound like fun... I've selected and prepackaged everything you need to get a project started... these are great for gift giving and quilt retreats. I've use quality 100% cotton fabric, notions like buttons and seed beads are included in the kits. My tea towel kits have the heat n bond included! Have you ever gotten a kit only to find there's no pattern! Don't you just hate when that happens, well, I've made sure to include the pattern too! You just need the thread (and sometimes batting) ! Just think, everything is all picked out for you. No running around looking for the perfect fabric! The kits are available on Etsy, you can also email me directly and I will ship them to you.




Also another exciting happening! Tea towels are now available for purchase in my Etsy store! They are fantastic and the same tea towels I use in many of my applique patterns. Keep my little shop in mind the next time you are looking for tea towels for a project.


Happy Quilting,

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Sashings and Borders!



I thought it would be a good time to release to you how to do the sashings and borders for the Quilt Doodle BOM 2013! woot! woot! I didn't want to wait until the end of the BOM to give you the finishing directions. December is too crazy busy to add sashings and borders.This way you can relax and work on them when you have time. I have all of mine finished and I plan on putting my quilt together soon so that I can get it quilted for the big reveal in December. I used a red for the dark and a cream print for the light fabric. Directions can be downloaded for free HERE and also in my Craftsy store. The finishing pattern will be free until the end of January 2014. Feel free to email me anytime if you have any questions! 

Here are all of my 2" strips out of my light and dark fabrics....
First I will construct my nine-patch blocks.... 

Sew together a light/dark/light strip... then cut into 2" segments...
you will need two for each block.

Then sew a dark/light/dark strip and cut into 2" segments....
you will need one for each block.

Here they are ready to be pieced for a nine-patch block.

The corner blocks....

You will need ten nine-patch blocks total.

Then you piece dark/light/dark strips using 12 dark 2" strips and 6 light 2" strips... then cut 12 1/2" segments for in between your blocks.
You need to make a total of 17 of these rectangle blocks.

Here's a preview of what it sorta will look like. Also a sneak peek at
November's block!

With the remaining strips, sew 6 light together end to end to form a
super long strip... make 2 long strips using the dark 2" strips.  Here
I have a pile of each super long strip, two red, 1 white.  Sew together to
make one long dark/light/dark segment. This will be used for your border.
When you are ready to border the quilt then you will cut it to size.


The borders and sashings for my BOM quilt.... can't wait to get
it all pieced together! Looking forward to seeing your's too!

For added chances to win the monthly prizes... post your nine-patch blocks, borders and sashings to the flickr group!

Happy quilting!



Friday, July 19, 2013

Mark Your Calendars!!!

Mark your calendars! Starting July 31st and running thru August 9th is the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop!!! It's been a while since I've done a blog hop and I thought this one would be so much fun.
It's sure be be full of Christmas inspiration to get those projects started early for the holidays!  I'm busy working on a couple of fun projects to present on my day (psst August 2nd) I'm also hoping to have the patterns for the projects I show available in my Etsy and Craftsy stores.
Happy Quilting,
Here's the list of all of the participants!
July 31
August 1
August 2
August 5
August 6
August 7
August 8
August 9

Monday, July 15, 2013

July's Giveaway!





 
I hope that you are having fun with the BOM so far. I know that not everyone is fond of paper piecing. I love it because I can get such nicely matched points when I do it... I hope that those of you that haven't gotten to the block give it a try. This month's prize is awesome!

Keep posting those July blocks to the Flickr Group! Seeing everyone's progress on the quilt is so much fun.  Seven blocks done so far... The next block will be out on August 1st. I will also be including the directions for the corner blocks and sashing so that those of you who want to start on that can.
Quilting Fabric at the Fat Quarter Shop
 I have a wonderful giveaway for this month's block. The Fat Quarter Shop, one of my  sponsors, has donated a $20 gift certificate to one lucky winner! ~ If you won, what would you get? I like Deb Stain's Christmas fabric, Christmas Countdown. (It's not too early to start those Christmas projects.)  The Fat Quarter Shop also has a fun quilt a long going on, Deck-ade the Halls Quilt. I have been printing up the patterns as they come out in hopes that I will be able to work on this quilt when things slow down around here. It would be a fun quilt to start at my up and coming retreat I'm going to in August.

Remember you need to post your blocks to the flickr group for a chance to win! I will be picking a winner on August 1st! Keep posting your blocks!

Happy Quilting,

Here are some of the wonderful Jumping Jack Blossom blocks that have been posted so far...

Jumpin' Jack BlossomJumping Jack BlossomJumping Jack BlossomDSCN4970July BOMJuly's block

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Stars Over Cedar Creek Giveaway!

I am celebrating today and hosting a giveaway. 
My new pattern 'Stars Over Cedar Creek' has been posted on the
  Marcus Brothers Website.
You can see it here
#QD-123
So in celebration I am going to mail my new pattern to two lucky winners! All you have to do is leave a lovely comment on what Townhouse Gardens fabric you like best. I like all of the red fabrics of coarse, my favorite color! To earn extra chances tweet about my pattern and the giveaway. You can tweet everyday for extra chances if you would like! Wilson and I will announce a winner on July 21st!


Happy quilting!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Summer Is Here!

Summer is here and so are a couple of NEW applique designs from Quilt Doodle Designs. They are quick and easy. A great way to use up some scraps of fabric. Grandma's Bowl is perfect for someone learning machine applique. It has gentle curves for learning. The yo-yo cherries are fun to make and add a special touch to this design. My picnic basket pattern is also fun to make and would be a perfect 'housewarming' gift. (Especially if paired up with a brownie mix)

Both patterns are available as instant download on Craftsy and Etsy. I hope that you give them a try.

Happy quilting,

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

July's Block

July is here and it's time for the BOM for this month.I am a little slow to get the block out. (I'm so sorry...) I will do a better job next month! I was knee deep in Grad party stuff and I haven't been in my sewing room since the last block was released! The party was wonderful and now that it's over, I am now looking forward to some serious sewing time. I can't believe that July is here and the 4th is just in a couple of days! Wow the time flew!  
 I love the 4th of July, I have many fond memories of spending time at my grandparent's farm during the 4th. Grandma always had a huge gathering for the 4th and there were always lots of food and fireworks. So in the spirit of the 4th, I am naming this months block  'Jumping Jack Blossom'. The finished size of the block is 12" x 12". This time it's a paper piecing block. I thought that paper piecing would be the easiest way to complete this block due to the angles. I hope that you have fun making the block. 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 'Jumping Jack's Blossom' block.... 
I chose these fabrics for my block, 1 cream for the background and
3 coordinating fabrics.

I printed up the pattern on my computer printer...

I find it easier to do foundation piecing (paper piecing) when I work with  fabric strips.
Here I have one of the sections cut out ready to do my paper piecing.
I work one pattern page at a time so that I don't get them mixed up.
I find it easier for fabric placement if I write the colors in each of the
block sections.

One of the foundation pieces in the pattern for this block needs to
be cut out and taped together since it didn't fit on the pattern sheet.

Here it is all ready to go!

See how I am lining up the fabric, right sides together on the back of the foundation piece?

Sew on the line....

Finger pressed, I like to use pins too to make sure the
fabric doesn't shift.

If you look really close you can see where my sewing line is...


One section is ready to be pieced together. Do you see what I did wrong?
I thought I should discard this picture, but let me
point out to you that it is LAID OUT WRONG!!! Please double check your 'lay-out' before
sewing. I had to use 'Jack The Ripper' a couple of times. 

Sewing sections together...

This section is done!

Here's another section.... I have left all of the foundation
paper in place. When the block is done... then sew an 1/8 inch
stay stitching all around the outer edge before you remove
the paper.

The block is all ready to be pieced together...

Jumping Jack Blossom

   

The next block pattern will be posted on August 1st! The winner for the July block giveaway will be announced on August 1st.... I can't wait to see every ones 'Jumping Jack's Blossom' block! Stop back to see this month's giveaway! (It's another great prize!) 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.  If you blog about the Quilt Doodle BOM 2013, please send me your link so that I can post your block on the Pinterst board!

Happy quilting!

Congratulations! 
Grecian Urn
Sharon~Vroomansquilts
Please email me your address so that I can send you your awesome prize!


Our June winner won  a wonderful bundle of fabric! 
 Thank you Hoffman Fabrics for the donation!