Easter is right around the corner, and I was thinking about all of the Easter egg hunts my sisters and I have done for our kids. Now that they are all grown up, I remember when they were little, and they would be happy just to find one egg and would be happy with that. You know the age; they are about two and don't quite get the concept of looking for more eggs. They are just happy with that one egg they found, and they toddle around happy with what they found. Well, this new design was inspired by that memory. It's a sweet little bunny just so happy that he found that one perfect Easter egg. This little fellow just makes me smile. Let me show you how easy this goes together.

I'm doing a little skipping ahead here... if you've done applique before, you know to trace all the design elements onto the paper side of the fusible web, iron it onto the backside of the fabric and then cut it out. So, we are jumping ahead to the layering the pieces onto your backing fabric following the layout sheet. Then iron these pieces in place. Then layer you backing, batting and applique top together. Pin. We are going to quilt our mug rug as we do the applique stitch around our design.

Then with white thread stitch a buttonhole stitch around the raw edges. Remember to stop with your needle down to pivot around corners.

I am going to use a backstitch on my machine to embroider the bunny's whiskers on. I practiced the stitch on a piece of scrap material before I stitched on my mug rug.

I've got half of the whiskers done... now on to the other side.

Using my walking foot, I do some additional quilting on my mug rug. I have been having fun with quilting wavy lines on my things lately. It's fun to do and looks nice when it's finished. After the quilting is done, bind your mini quilt.

~Egg Hunt~

I have my new little mini quilt, mug rug sitting on my coffee bar next to my new favorite mug. This design would also work on a tea towel, apron, really anything you think up. I hope that you have fun making your very own Egg Hunt mug rug and it brings back sweet springtime memories for you too!

Happy stitching,

Cindy and Josephine

This sweet design can be found in my Etsy Shop and on the Quilt Doodle Designs website.

Happy St. Patty's Day

This is a festive St. Patty's Day design that I made a few years ago. It's a fun fusible applique design and I really enjoyed making it. I bet if you dig thru your fabric, you can find some green.... leprechaun green fabric. I made my leprechaun with a white beard, but a red/orange beard would be very cute too! I used fabrics from my Marcus Fabrics stash. (Scrap Heap and Shadings, both by Laura Berringer) 

Following the pattern directions, I traced out the design onto the paper side of my fusible web and then ironed it onto the back side of my fabric that I choose for the applique design. After I had it press on, I then cut the pieces out. Following the placement page in the pattern I then peeled off the paper and positioned the design onto my rectangle piece of background fabric. I then pressed everything into place. I traced two sets of the gnome/leprechaun. 

The second set I ironed onto a fun green towel from Dunroven House.

I worked on both projects at the same time to reduce the number of times I would be changing thread color for the applique. When I make an applique mug rug, I like to layer the top, batting and batting all together before I do the stitching around the design. I like that when I'm doing the buttonhole stitch around my design, I'm also quilting my mug rug at the same time. You can do additional quilting if you'd like besides outlining the design. I just find it to be a great time saver. Like I said before, I'm really pleased with how my St. Patty's Day gnomes turned out. They will add a festive touch to my kitchen for the month of March.

I hope that you have a fun St. Patrick's Day, even if you're not Irish. Shhhhhh.... I'm not one bit, but I was once told that everyone's a little bit of Irish on St. Patty's Day. 

Happy St. Patty's Day,

Cindy & Josephine

Lucky Gnome pdf pattern can be found on my website and also in my Etsy Shop.

March's Block ~ Santas Journey BOM

Happy March 1st! We still have a ton of snow here in Minnesota, lots of ice too. I've fallen once this winter and I don't want to slip again. I have been tearing the house apart trying to find my cleats for walking on ice. I have no idea where they are, I have torn thru several closets! I sure hope they didn't end up in a Good Will box! So, I've been walking around like a little penguin when I'm outside. It's great weather for staying inside to sew and quilt. I am also going to take advantage of the crappy weather to take time to organize my studio and go thru my fabric to make room for NEW.  So, I'll be putting together USPS priority mail flat rate boxes with lots of fabric goodness and post them on my Etsy site. Keep an eye out for that. There'll be some great deals!

This month's block is also an easy one, a little green house. There's an upstairs light on, are the kids already up! As a kid, I remember getting up well before 5am to check to see if Santa had come. I'm surprised I didn't pass him in the hallway for how early it was! Sometimes I would get up and peek and then go back to bed, other times I would quietly snoop thru my Christmas stocking, waiting for my sisters to get up too. Let me show you how I put this month's block together. It's just like last month's, just switching up the house color for this block.

Make sure to download a copy of the pattern for February and gather your fabric.

·         Pair together blue A square with brown B rectangle, right sides together. Sew corner to corner diagonally. Trim to a ¼” seam on one side to form a triangle on the left side of the ‘roof’. Press to the dark side. Pair together the blue C square on the other side of the brown B rectangle, right sides together. Sew corner to corner diagonally to form the right side of the roof. Press to the dark side.

Following the block layout, lay out all of the pieces to the house block. Following the layout and picture on the pattern. 

Following the layout and picture, stitch the block together using a scant ¼” seam.

I stitch the 'rows' first, and then pieced the lower window sections together. Remember to use a scant quarter inch seam. Sew the rows and window door sections together to form the block. Iron. Block should measure 8 1/2" x 8 1/2". You will make only one this month.

 Trace the wreath shape onto the paper side of a piece of fusible web. Following the manufacturer's instructions. Iron the fusible web to the wrong side of a square of green fabric. Cut the applique design out. Peel off the paper and iron onto the house block centering it above the door between the two upper windows. Using a blanket stitch and green thread, stitch around the design

I took a picture of the stitch that I'm using to applique around the wreath shape. This is helpful so in case I forget what I used I have a record of it on my phone.

~ Green House ~

 I will be embellishing the wreath and door with buttons for the doorknob and holly berries but will hold off until the quilts are quilted. There's nothing like trying to work around buttons while quilting.

 Help spread the word and tell all your quilting friends about this fun wintery block of the month! Each month we will work on a new section of this mystery quilt. There's basic piecing, some applique and other fun embellishments. As always, the monthly directions will be free during that month and then available for a small fee after that.

Finished measurements of the 2023 BOM quilt is 60" x 70"

Grab the button and link it to the Quilt Doodle Blog and help spread the word! 

I will be doing two versions of this quilt as we sew along. The blue version and then a white one. It will be the same pattern just a different background. Make sure to download the PDF directions on the website. Grab your fabric and start sewing!

 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  

If you don't have a printer, you can purchase a PRINTED copy of the monthly patterns.

HERE

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! Make sure to post your blocks so far! 

I hope that you all have a wonderful day and find some time to do some stitching! I'm planning on going thru my studio. Stayed tuned, I'll be posting some fabric bundles on my Etsy site at clearance prices to make room for some new fabric which will be on the way very soon!

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Whoopsies!

What's cuter then a little baby's butt, well a bunny butt. Whoopsies! Little bunny is stuck in the flowerpot! Who can resist the cuteness of that fluffy cotton ball tail? I just had to draw one up to do heat n bond applique with. The bunnies usually play havoc with my garden so I have a bunny proof fence now. All of my perennials are bunny and deer proof so that I can enjoy the blooms too! But the bunnies have been known to dig up and eat my potted plants that I have on my deck. The little stinkers!

To make the design, first trace out all of the pieces a sheet of Flexifuse or heat n bond fusible interfacing. (Or whatever brand you like to use) Iron it onto your fabric grouping together shapes that use the same fabric.

Cut all of the shapes out. I did two sets of everything since I'm working on a couple of towels.

Arrange you pieces on your towel layering the different shapes as you go referring to the pattern placement sheet. Remember to peel all the paper off! With a hot, dry iron, fuse everything in place. I use white thread to stitch a buttonhole stitch around the bunny pieces and the Easter eggs. I used a dark brown thread to stitch around the flowerpot.

~ Bunny Butt ~

I made my tea towel reversible! I have the bunny butt on one side and a couple of carrots on the other side. Isn't that fun! This design is great for all of springtime thru harvest!

~ Carrots~

The pattern for these cute little bunny butt with carrot can be found on Etsy.   These designs are quick and easy to make in an afternoon and Easter is right around the corner. Paired with a candle or some candy and you have a wonderful springtime gift for the Easter dinner hostess.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Little Chicks

I love little chickens; I think they are so cute! My sister and sister-in-law both have chickens and I love to visit the little chicks. So, in celebration of spring let's make some little chick mug rugs. These are quick and easy and perfect for a beginner appliquer. I thought it would be a good opportunity to show you all how to do fusible applique. It's quick and easy!

Trace your pieces onto the heat n bond. Make sure to draw on the paper side.

Iron onto the wrong side of the fabric.

Cut out your pieces and then lay onto your fabric. Peel the paper off. Make sure you
have the pieces placed just right before you iron it. Remember your picture will be
'mirror' image of what you traced.

Layer the front, batting and backing and pin well.

I like to use my blanket stitch on my machine to sew around

the pieces. You can also handstitch these if you would like.

Aren't the little chickies cute!!!

The pattern for these cute little chickens can be found on Etsy.  The colors can be switched up to look like a little baby bluebird or robin. They are quick and easy to make in an afternoon and Easter is right around the corner. Paired with a candle or some candy and you have a wonderful springtime gift. 

Happy quilting,
Cindy and Josephine

February's Block ~ Santa's Journey

It's February! It's starting to warm up here in Minnesota after a week of below zero temperatures. Poor Josephine hates the cold weather and so do I. The cold temperatures are only tolerable if you are planning on staying home with a good book, a cozy quilt and a blazing fireplace. I envy all of the snowbirds out there that are basking in the sunshine and warm weather! I would love an above freezing day!  This month's block is an easy one, a little red house. The downstairs lights are on while parents are preparing for Christmas and the upstairs lights are off since the little kiddos are tucked in their beds dreaming of Christmas morning. Let me show you how I put this month's block together. 

 

Make sure to download a copy of the pattern for February and gather your fabric.

Following the block layout, lay out all of the pieces to the house block. Following the layout and picture on the pattern.

·         Pair together blue A square with brown B rectangle, right sides together. Sew corner to corner diagonally. Trim to a ¼” seam on one side to form a triangle on the left side of the ‘roof’. Press to the dark side. Pair together the blue C square on the other side of the brown B rectangle, right sides together. Sew corner to corner diagonally to form the right side of the roof. Press to the dark side.

 Following the layout and picture, stitch the block together using a scant ¼” seam.

I stitch the 'rows' first, and then pieced the lower window sections together. Remember to use a scant quarter inch seam. Sew the rows and window door sections together to form the block. Iron. Block should measure 8 1/2" x 8 1/2". You will make only one this month.

 Trace the wreath shape onto the paper side of a piece of fusible web. Following the manufacturer's instructions. Iron the fusible web to the wrong side of a square of green fabric. Cut the applique design out. Peel off the paper and iron onto the house block centering it above the door between the two upper windows. Using a blanket stitch and green thread, stitch around the design. I haven't gotten to stitch around the wreath yet. 

~ Red House Block ~

I'm making two versions of this quilt, one with the blue fabric background and one with the white fabric background. Also on a special note, I will be embellishing the wreath and door with buttons for the doorknob and holly berries but will hold off until the quilts are quilted. There's nothing like trying to work around buttons while quilting.

 Help spread the word and tell all your quilting friends about this fun wintery block of the month! Each month we will work on a new section of this mystery quilt. There's basic piecing, some applique and other fun embellishments. As always, the monthly directions will be free during that month and then available for a small fee after that.

Finished measurements of the 2023 BOM quilt is 60" x 70"

Grab the button and link it to the Quilt Doodle Blog and help spread the word! 

I will be doing two versions of this quilt as we sew along. The blue version and then a white one. It will be the same pattern just a different background. Make sure to download the PDF directions on the website. Grab your fabric and start sewing!

 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  

If you don't have a printer, you can purchase a PRINTED copy of the monthly patterns.

HERE

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! Make sure to post your blocks so far! 

I hope that you all have a wonderful day and find some time to do some stitching! I'm planning a few days watching my little sweetie. I plan on having some hand stitching with for when she naps. 

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Scrappy Mug Rug and Garland

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and I have a couple of cute patterns for you that I put together for OLFA. There's a cute scrappy mug rug and a fun heart garland. Both projects are free thru OLFA . There's still time to finish these projects in time for Valentine's Day! 

Go dig thru your fabric stash, I bet you can find some red, pink and cream fabrics that will work! 

Scrappy Heart Garland can be found HERE.

Scrappy Heart Mug Rug can be found HERE.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cindy & Josephine