July's Block ~ Bluebirds

Happy July everyone! The pace of family events has slowed down a little bit. It's time to sit back and enjoy the summer and have some cabin time with the family. I am looking forward to our annual family vacation. I've already started to make some lists and prepack a few things for the cabin. 

 This month's block features a couple of bluebirds. Earlier this year I had a set of bluebirds visit my bird feeders. They were so beautiful!  I had switched up the blend that I usually use in my feeders, and I had so many feathered friends visit. I should have written down the brand and the blend, but I didn't and I haven't been able to find it since. It was a fruit and nut blend that had cayenne pepper in it to keep the squirrels away. I'll keep my eye out!

 So let me show you how I have made this month's block. Go on over to the Website and download the PDF pattern. The links are below towards the end of the posting. Make sure that your email is correct so that the link for the pattern is sent to you. Also, if you don't find it, check your trash or spam folder just in case it ended up in there....

Trace the applique shapes onto the paper side of your fusible web. I use Flexifuse. I then group the shapes using the same color with the fabric.

Go thru your fabric and pull the colors that you are going to use for the block.

Group the shapes with the fabric colors

Following the manufacturer directions, I then iron the fusible web onto the backside of my fabric. Then cut all the shapes out...

Following the pattern placement sheet, position all the applique shapes on the cream background rectangle. Notice how some of the shapes overlap. Iron everything in place.

I like to use an open toe foot for applique stitch. It's easier to see needle and stitch placement. I am using a brown thread to buttonhole stitch around the

 design. 

Using pearl cotton or DMC floss embroider the bird's eyes and flower centers with French knots.

~ Bluebirds ~

Isn't it a fun design? I love it! This would be a cute design on a tea towel too! 

Each month will feature an applique design, I have a stash of basic colors that I use for applique, I bet you do too! You will also need a basic cream or white for the applique blocks. You will need 1 3/4 yards of a cream/white background fabric. It can be a tone on tone or neutral print. This cream fabric will also be used for the top and bottom boarders along with some pieced cornerstones. You can also get scrappy with your cream fabrics! The applique blocks will measure 8 1/2" x 10 1/2" (this includes the seam allowance).

It's an adorable quilt when it is done. The finished size of the quilt is 58" x 65" 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 pattern

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 will be ending this year's BOM with some giveaways. Make sure to stayed tuned for that!

I hope that you all have a wonderful day and find some time to do some stitching! I'm looking forward to the long holiday weekend. I'm off to make some red, white and blue treats to celebrate the 4th of July!  I'm thinking of making an angel food cake with strawberries and a batch of blue adult snow cone slush. 

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Here Comes the Sun Blog Hop! It's my day!!!

~ Josephine ~

It's been a while since I've been in a blog hop! It was so much fun to create something for this hop! The complete list of participants can be found at the end of this posting. I hope that you are able to visit them all! Today is my day to show you a fun project that is Josephine inspired! Who is Josephine you ask; well, she is my little side-kick. She's a beautiful black and white basset hound with a bunch of attitude. She certainly keeps me on my toes! She's five months old and is a little spitfire. She loves basking in the sunshine every moment she gets. In fact she will come to a dead stop during a walk and lay down in a sunny spot to bask in the sunshine. I do too if time allows (but not during our walks). I bought myself an inflatable kiddie pool to float in with my frozen cocktail. Now to be fair it does list adults too on the box. The UPS man will be delivering it sometime on Friday. It's been insanely hot here in Minnesota so I'm looking forward to a few lazy afternoons laying in my little pool! LOL!!! I have reached the age of, 'I don't care what the neighbors think'..... hubby just laughs.

I have a couple projects to show you that I made for this blog hop. Downloadable PDF patterns for both can be found in my Etsy Shop.  First, I made a garden flag to fly by my front door! It was easy and fun to make and shows off that little Josephine lives here with a big splash of color! Let me show you how I put it together....

I am using my Season Sampler Fabrics, some black fabric and a little bit of cream and a cream print, all from Marcus Fabrics. You will also need a half yard of blue fabric for your garden flag. Other items you will need are some fusible web, rotary cutter, applique scissors, thread and some uninterrupted time with your sewing machine!

From the half yard of blue, cut a rectangle 13" x WOF.  With right sides together, sew a quarter inch seam all around leaving a 4" space to turn right side out. Iron.

Topstitch on all sides an eighth inch seam using matching thread.

Fold over the top edge to the back 2 1/2" and then topstitch along the edge to create a hanging sleeve.

Trace the design shapes onto the paper side of your fusible web and pair with the different colors of fabric. Iron the shapes onto the backside of your fabric following manufacturers directions.

With your applique scissors, cut all the shapes out.

Following the placement picture, assemble the design. Some of the shapes will overlap. I placed Josephine and the sunshine about a half inch in from the sides and the seam from the top hanging sleeve. I left a few inches from the bottom edge.

I felt like my garden flag needed a little more color so I added a strip of binding a couple inches from the edge. I stitched a quarter inch seam on the raw edge of my seam binding and then ironed the strip to cover the raw edge and then topstitched on both sides of the binding with a decorative stitch.

I then took my flag over to my sewing machine and stitched along the design edges using a straight stitch. (The picture of the finished flag shows this.) You can also stitch along the raw edge using a blanket stitch too!

I then decided this would make an adorable mug rug! So I made a mug rug, the finished size is 12" x 8 1/2". I sized the design down a little bit to fit on a 12" x 8 1/2" blue fabric rectangle. 

I layered the front with the backing and some leftover batting from a larger quilt. Using brown thread, I top stitched around all of the raw edges using a buttonhole stitch.  I had fun quilting the sun's rays. I enjoy making mug rugs and trying out different free motion quilting ideas. It's a great way to practice free motion quilting if you are new to machine quilting. I then squared my mug rug up and added a bright summertime binding.

The mug rug is Josephine approved!

I love the bright pop of color the garden flag adds to my front yard!

I would also like to let you know about a little giveaway I'm doing. Follow me, leave me a sweet comment, pin this posting to Pinterest, share to your Facebook for chances to WIN! I am giving away a fat quarter bundle of 6 of my Season Sampler fabrics to one lucky winner! Winner will be announced June 30th.

Thank you for visiting today! The complete list of bloggers is listed below! Have fun hopping!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Cindy and Josephine

June 20

Creatin' in the Sticks

Becky's Adventures in Quilting and Travel

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

For The Love Of Geese

That Fabric Feeling

 

June 21

MooseStashQuilting

Inflorescence

Ms P Designs USA

Quilting Gail

Vroomans Quilts

 

June 22

Samelia's Mum

Beaquilter

Karrin's Crazy World

Selina Quilts

Scrapdash

 

June 23

Quilt Doodle Designs (You are here!)

Patchouli Moon Studio

Karen's Korner

Homespun Hannah's Blog

Days Filled With Joy

 

June 24

Just Let Me Quilt

Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Quilted Delights

Quilt Schmilt

Lynn's Blog

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Summer Sampler ~ Let's begin!

 Welcome Summer! It's technically still spring here in Minnesota.  I have the garden planted and I'm patiently awaiting my first harvest of tomatoes, it'll be a while. I also planted sunflower seeds and am looking forward to their sunshining blooms this August. I have been enjoying watching the bumblebees in my flower gardens. The hummingbirds have found the feeders and all of my flowerpots are planted. I am ready for summertime, bring it on! The Summer Sampler quilt not only is inspired by my gardens, but the colors remind me of beach towels and cotton candy, summertime staples.  Let's begin with our Summer Season Sampler Quilt. Pull out the directions in the pattern kit. We will begin with the center embroidery piece. But first let's start with some 'housekeeping'. Below you will find just some of my hints and tips along with a thread listing if you choose to embroider your spring block.

·         Read all the instructions before beginning.

·         ¼” seam throughout

·         Always press to the dark side.

·         To reduce seam bulk, seams can be pressed open.

·         Cut fabric carefully Save all “scraps” for future blocks or bonus projects.

·         Accurate ¼” seams and cutting will insure an accurate sized block.

·         Monthly blocks measure 10 ½” x 10 ½” unless otherwise noted.

·         Instead of using iron on interfacing you can also use a square of muslin, flannel or thin batting to line the panel with.

·         DO NOT PREWASH FABRICS

·         For embroidery you can use either Valdani Pearl Cotton #12 or 3 strands DMC Embroidery Floss. Refer to the colors for each below:

 

·         Valdani Pearl Cotton #12 – use 1 strand or for a bolder look use a double strand. #8 can also be used for a bolder look.

·         DMC Embroidery Floss- use 3 strands for embroidery.

·         Colors chosen are all suggestions and picked to match the Season Sampler fabrics.

 Quarter One- Spring

            Week One- Embroider Summer Block

            Week Two- Butterfly Block (make 4)

            Week Three- Flower Block (make 4)

            Week Four- Bumblebee Block (make 4

            Week Five- Borders and assembly of quilt

            Week Six- Appliqued corner

Thread Listing Summer

Valdani #12 Pearl Cotton	DMC
M67 Blurry Vanilla Shades of Yellow	3822
Wee	976
71 Peach Rose	921
M14 Shades of Rose and Pink	602
80 Lavender	209
101 Heavenly Blue	793
311 Robins Egg	3810
M26 Green Grass shades of green	164
O511 Black Sea	310

The season sampler is pre-colored, so embroidery is optional. I love embroidery and the stitching adds an extra something special and is worth every stitch and finger poke!

Here I have my center panel all embroidered. I used satin stitch for the flower centers. I also used a satin stitch for the bumblebee's body. Lazy daisy stitches form the tiny flowers, and I used a back stitch for everything else. Remember you can stitch and embellish this any way you want to make it your own!

The saying ‘measure twice, cut once’ is especially important in this step. After you are done with the embroidery, fussy cut the Spring center square to measure 10 ½” x 10 ½”. Sew a 1/8” seam along the edges if desired.

Fabric Border #1

                From Pink fabric (8) cut:

                                2- 3” x 10 ½” strips

                                2- 3” x 15 ½” strips

Sew the 3” x 10 ½” strip to each side of the Summer embroidered block. Press. Sew the 3” x 15 ½” strip to the top and bottom of the Summer embroidered block. Press. You now have the center block done bordered in pink. Stop by next Saturday and we will work on the butterfly blocks.

Happy Stitching,

Cindy and Josephine

Yardage, Fat Quarter Bundles and Season Sampler Kits can be found on the Quilt Doodle Designs website.

HERE

The Season Sampler Quilt kit is on SALE. You get the pattern along with the fabric for all four quilts along with the panel! It's a great deal.

Spring Sampler Quilted

 

All of my flowers are planted, the garden is done. I'm just waiting for some seeds to start peeking and then it will start the challenge I have every year, keeping the bunnies from eating everything! Mainly my green beans and spinach.... keeping my fingers crossed the fence will work. 

I wanted to show you my Spring Sampler on display so you can see how I had it quilted. My friend Darci quilted it and she does such a beautiful job I just have to show it off! I display quilts above my buffet and it's so much fun to switch them out with the seasons.

~ Spring Season Sampler ~

Have fun quilting different textures to give your quilt some added interest.

The 'echo' quilting on the flower applique is a nice touch. I like how it adds interest to the quilt.

I am in love with this gnome from Rae Dunn, it is a great accent piece to display with my Spring Season Sampler quilt.

I love how Darci quilted the butterflies and added quilted antennae to the butterfly! So cute!

The swirls are so much fun and give the quilt a whimsical feel!

I hope that you enjoy seeing the quilting and it gives you some inspiration to try some of the designs on your own the next time you do some free motion quilting. 

Join me next Saturday when we will start the Summer Sampler quilt!

Happy Quilting

Cindy and Josephine

Yardage, Fat Quarter Bundles and Season Sampler Kits can be found on the Quilt Doodle Designs website. The patterns for the quilts are included in the Season Sampler Kits. This kit includes the pattern and all the fabric you need for all four Season Sampler Quilts.

HERE

The Season Sampler Quilt kit is on SALE. You get the pattern along with the fabric for all four quilts along with the panel! It's a great deal.