Super Quick Mug Rugs

It's time to think about Christmas in July. This is the time of year I usually start a project or two to get a jump on the holiday season. Now if I could only keep up with doing a little holiday sewing each month from now until Christmas, I certainly would get a lot done. But I would also be better prepared for the holidays. I like making mug rugs for quick gifts and also for decorating. Did you know that on the bottom of my Snow Globe panel I have included three adorable rectangles featuring snowmen that can be used to whip up into mug rugs? Let me show you how I do it...

Using my ruler and rotary cutter I fussy cut around the rectangle designs at the bottom of the Snow Globe panel.

 I then cut strips to sew to each side, then I cut strips for the top and bottom of the mug rug. Scraps of fabrics left over from your Snow Globe quilt would be perfect for this. Or maybe you have some blue fabric that matches the panel that would work too! Then layer your mug rug with a piece of fabric for the backing and a scrap piece of batting, you're making a quilt sandwich. Quilt as desired. These small projects are a great way to practice your free motion quilting.

It's also fun to embellish these mug rugs with star buttons for an added touch.

To add even more, you can embroider the mug rug before you add the borders and quilt it. I like to use variegated pearl cotton to embroider with.

The Snow Globe panel can be found in my Etsy Shop. I love how you can leave it plain or embellish it with stitching. 

Stay Cool! and let's get started on some Christmas in July projects!

~Cindy and Belvedere

Happy 4th of July!

I'd like to wish you all a Happy 4th of July. Hubby and I have decided to use our four day weekend to become weekend warriors and finish up the kitchen project. Or at least as much as we can in a long weekend! This has been a project in the process for what seems like f-o-r-e-v-e-r. But our beautiful kitchen is starting to take shape with the new countertops and backsplash. Hubby installed a new cabinet for a coffee bar and has been painting the new cabinet doors the last two weekends. This weekend it's time to tear off the old doors, sand and paint the cabinet frame... along with some rebuilding and then reinstalling the new doors and drawers. Well, we may need another long weekend. But I'm sure a lot will be accomplished this weekend. We're getting closer to finishing this huge DIY project. We will have to fit in a traditional barbeque brat and potato chip lunch for the 4th. Before the oven in pulled out, I'll bake an angel food cake or maybe some bars... it's also our anniversary weekend. Thinking we will go out to eat since there will be no to very little cooking this weekend with the stove pulled out. 

Let me share with you some festive

 Quilt Doodle projects for the 4th of July!

~Parade Day!~

~I Woof the USA!~

~Flag That I Love~

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and find some fireworks!

I'm sure Belvedere will be sitting on my lap as soon as the fireworks begin. We are lucky to be able to see them from our deck.

Happy 4th! 

Cindy and Belvedere

July's Block! Lazy Daisies...

July is here and boy is it warm and muggy here in Minnesota. My flowers and the garden is thriving with the heat and moisture so I will not complain too much. July is vacation time for me, I get to be lazy for a few days up at the lake with my family. I'm going to float on my pool floatie in the lake and bob around like a lazy daisy. Drink a cocktail or two, take some naps in the shade and play cards with mom. It will be a relaxing...

This month the blocks are similar as in past month's with the applique section with a set of four flying geese. So it should be an easy block to stitch together. This month you will make two blocks with a cluster of lazy daisies. You can make your daisies (flowers) any color you want. The direction of the flying geese does matter. Refer to the pattern for the correct direction and placement for the flying geese. The blocks for this month go together pretty easily. Your flying geese can be any color fabric you want, or you can use the same colors as I have pictured in the pattern. I look forward to seeing everyone's progress. Remember the blocks can also be embroidered.

Let's begin and cut out our squares and rectangles listed on this month's pattern.

Let's make some flying geese blocks with our 3 1/2" white background squares and 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" Aunt Grace rectactangles. With right sides together sew from corner to corner.

Then trim beyond the stitching line a 1/4"

…. and press.

Repeat on the other side to complete one flying geese section.

Each block will have 4 flying geese sections. Sew them together to form a flying geese strip. Iron.

With right sides together, stitch the white/cream background 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle to the flying geese rectangle sewing along the long side. Press. Finished block will measure 12 1/2" x 12 1/2". Make 2.

Following the instructions provided by the fusible web manufacturer, trace 2 sets of the designs pieces grouping together pieces that will be using the same fabric. Cut pieces out. Follow the pattern placement sheet. Iron in place.

Using a blanket, zig zag or satin stitch on your sewing machine; sew along the edges of all the pieces.

After the uqilt is quilted sew on buttons or yo-yo's for the flowers centers.

You can embroider the designs instead of applique too!

The monthly FREE pattern will be available on my website. I have a special 2019 BOM section on my website. Each month the FREE pattern will be posted. But as soon as the new section or block is out the old block pattern will no longer be a freebie. But it will still be available for a small fee on my website or in my Etsy shop. If you want to share your finished blocks, feel free to post them on Facebook Group (Quilt Doodle Designs Garden Sunshine BOM 2019) and tag me or post them on Instagram tag Quilt Doodle Designs. I love to see everyone's progress as we stitch along together. 

As a reminder... if someone asks for the PDF or where it is on the Facebook group, please do not post the PDF directly onto the site. I appreciate you referring them to my website or to the blog. Thank you!

This month's blocks will together quickly. Hope you are having a great day, remember June's block is no longer FREE. It can be found in my ETSY shop and also on the Quilt Doodle Website for a small fee. To get this month's block, head on over to Quilt Doodle Designs... remember this block is only available this month as a FREE PDF download. 

Happy Quilting!

Cindy and Belvedere

Meadowland

Good morning everyone! I hope that you are enjoying summer so far. I feel like mine is starting to get away from me a little bit. It's been awhile since I've posted anything on the blog and I wanted to let you know I'm still here, lol. Been working on some new projects that are hush, hush on the downlow right now. I'm looking forward to sharing those soon... The Snow Globe panel and BOM program thru Marcus Fabrics has been recieved well and that has been exciting and fun. I'm working on my 4th version of this quilt. Shhhh…. this one is actually for me. The original quilt has been making the rounds appearing at quilt shops around the US. It'll return home later this summer. I've also been busy with decluttering a kitchen since we're in the middle of a renovation that has been long overdue. Been busy gardening and cleaning up the perennial beds. With our late spring and cooler weather everything seems to be delayed, my peonies are just blooming now, which seems late at least by a couple of weeks if not longer! I've been sharing flower pictures on Instagram. I just love flowers! Also on Instagram I have fallen in love with the simplicity of the Meadowland Quilt by Megan Buchanan of Then Came June. I've seen this quilt done in a variety of fabrics and color combinations and all of the quilts have been beautiful. I decided this would be the perfect summertime quilt for me to use my coveted Bonnie and Camille fabric. I have a tendency to gravitate to this line and purchase fat quarters when ever I visit a quilt shop. Let me say this pattern is perfect for fat quarters... it's been a fun project to work on! So let me share a few photos of my blocks so far.

To begin I gathered up my fabric and just started to cut out the pieces listed in the directions.

The blocks are large so I've only got nine of them on the design wall. I actually have 19 blocks done. 

I love striped fabric but usually save it for binding since I think stripes make the most delightful binding for a quilt. I love how the striped fabric can be displayed in the Meadowland block.

I have to say this has been a fun project for me to work on and quite a change for me instead of designing. It has been a fun little break from my ordinary. I started this quilt with no plan in mind as to how big, or how I would use my fabrics. I just started to cut into my fabric and stitch along. What is really nice about this pattern is there is several size options available from a baby quilt to a bed sized quilt! I am thinking of wrapping this project up today and sewing one more block. My quilt will be 4x5 blocks. A nice sized quilt to travel with this summer. I also pulled two quilts out of my trunk show that I also used my Bonnie and Camille fabric on to finally use. I'm planning on packing them in a bin to travel with us when we go on our cabin trips this summer. You never know when there will be a chilly night or rainy day where there is a chill in the air. Having a cozy quilt will be perfect for those cooler Minnesota days.

Hope you have a wonderful day and find some time to quilt.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

After Market Reveal!

One of my favorite things to do after market is to participate in the After Market Reveal at Millie P's Quilt Shop in Anoka. It's so much fun to visit and meet everyone that attends. So if you live close and are planning on being in the Twin Cities this weekend, make sure to call and get your tickets! I've included all of the info below.... I would love to see you there! It's so much fun to visit with the local designers and see everyone's new products! So much inspiration in one day! Becky and her staff make it so special!

 It was a thrill to present my first fabric project with Marcus Fabrics at quilt market this year. I showed my Snow Globe panel and all the quilt projects that I made using my sweet panel. I had to pinch myself a couple of times because I'm so thrilled to have a panel that I actually designed! 

My booth at Market 

It was so much fun meeting all of these wonderful women at the Marcus Fabrics Designers dinner. It was such a lovely dinner. (Top Row: Laura Berringer, Vicky McCarty, Maryellen Robison, Paula Barnes, ME! Bottom Row: Pam Buda, Sarah Maxwell, Dolores Smith, Karen Styles)

My Snow Much Fun quilt will be at Millie P's this weekend. I'll have two versions on display.

Tomte will also be there along with my other new designs!

Major sneak peek of the Garden Sunshine quilt too! It will also be on display.
Come and see the fabulous quilting up close!

There are some fun extras on projects available for the Snow Globe panel to work with! I just love the mug rugs!

If you are unable to attend the After Market Reveal you can my 'Star Gazing' pattern and Snow Globe Panel along with my other new items are now available to order thru my Etsy Shop. Part of the panel is featured in the center of the quilt. The panel section can be left as is or embroidered. All of my new patterns are also available in my Etsy shop too. 

Hope you have a great day and find some time to do a little quilting. I'm hoping to do a little stitching after I take Belvedere for his walk. He's been patiently waiting for me to get emails answered and this blog post written. But you would laugh if you could here the goofy 'mom I'm here' noises he's been making while he waits!

Happy Quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

June's Block, Dragonflies and Bumble Bees...

June is here! I was hoping to get some time in the garden last night and plant my veggies. But it looks too wet right now. I am still planning my trip to the greenhouse to pick up my tomato plants! I can't wait for a garden ripe tomato from the garden. Or a fresh caprese salad. I hope the basil plants aren't all sold out.

Now back to this month's block! It's not just one block this month, but two! This month I am celebrating bumble bees and dragonflies! I am very fond of these little flying creatures and love seeing them at work in my flower garden. I try very hard to plant bee friendly flowers to help attract and feed them. A cousin of mine is actually a bee keeper and studies them. Every year I look forward to a fresh jar of honey when we see him. I love hot tea sweetened with honey. Yum..... Did you know that dragonflies flew the earth before dinosaurs. They are a fascinating ancient creature which I love to see flying about. An adult dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes each day. Yeah! Something that actually preys on Minnesota's national bird... another great reason to attract dragonflies to your garden! This month there are two blocks... both are similar to March's block in construction. The direction of the flying geese does matter. 

Hint: While cutting fabric, check what you have used so far and see if any of your scraps will work. This includes the background fabric. I am a very frugal fabric cutter and save every little scrap until the end.

After you construct the blocks trace all of the pieces for the block onto the back side of the fusible web, grouping like colors. For this block I am making a pink coneflower.

Iron everything in place with a dry iron.

Then stitch around all of the edges. I used a dark brown thread from Aurifil.

Here is my bumblebee block. The 3 dimensional  wings are added after the quilt is quilted.

Repeat with the other block and trace all of your pieces onto your Heat n Bond.

Position them onto your block....

Iron in place using a dry iron.

Stitch around these also using dark brown thread, or a color of your choice.

Dragonfly and bumble bee block... isn't it sweet.

The blocks for this month go together pretty easily. Your flying geese can be any color fabric you want, or you can use the same colors as I have pictured in the pattern. I look forward to seeing everyone's progress. Remember the blocks can also be embroidered.

I had fun embroidery the bee... I wanted him to pop more, so I added extra stitches to color him in.

The monthly FREE pattern will be available on my website. I have a special 2019 BOM section on my website. Each month the FREE pattern will be posted. But as soon as the new section or block is out the old block pattern will no longer be a freebie. But it will still be available for a small fee on my website or in my Etsy shop. If you want to share you finished blocks, feel free to post them on Facebook Group (Quilt Doodle Designs Garden Sunshine BOM 2019) and tag me or post them on Instagram tag Quilt Doodle Designs. I love to see everyone's progress as we stitch along together. 

Let me show you how I made this month's block. First, following the directions cut out all of the block pieces... as a reminder... if someone asks for the PDF or where it is on the Facebook group, please do not post the PDF directly onto the site. I appreciate you referring them to my website or to the blog.

This month's blocks will takes a little time to put together. Hope you are having a great day, remember May's block is no longer FREE. It can be found in my ETSY shop and also on the Quilt Doodle Website for a small fee. To get this month's block, head on over to Quilt Doodle Designs... remember this block is only available this month as a FREE PDF download. 

Happy Quilting!

Cindy and Belvedere

Star Gazing

It's been a busy couple of weeks, I returned from Quilt Market in Kansas City last week and I'm still playing catch up here at home. We had a wonderful time in Kansas City, it's a wonderful city and I certainly enjoyed my stay. It was a thrill to present my first fabric project with Marcus Fabrics. I showed my Snow Globe panel and all the quilt projects that I made using my sweet panel. I had to pinch myself a couple of times because I'm so thrilled to have a panel that I actually designed! 

My booth at Market 

Lynn and I made it out after set up to enjoy some great Kansas City food! The weather was beautiful while we were there and we took advantage by sitting outside whenever we could.

Lynn did some embroidery on the Snow Globe panel while at Market.

There are some fun extras on the Snow Globe panel to work with! I just love the mug rugs!

My 'Star Gazing' pattern and Snow Globe Panel are now available to order thru my Etsy Shop. Part of the panel is featured in the center of the quilt. The panel section can be left as is or embroidered. My sample is left plain in the quilt on the cover. I used Marcus Fabric's Mrs. Miller's Apprentice by Pam Buda for this quilt. The blues look so beautiful with my panel. I got to meet Pam and all of the other designers at market, it was another pinch me moment!

Happy Quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere