Super Secret Sewing

I'm working on a special project and I'm looking for a few  quilters to test bits and pieces of the pattern for me. It's so hush, hush that I can't even share with you the image of the full quilt. The task is to test block directions and check for spelling errors. I would need it within 2 weeks of receiving the directions. If you are interested in taking on this mission. Please email me...

Thank you in advance for considering,

Cindy

Winners Announced!!!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and participated in the Snow Much Fun Blog Hop/ sharing event! Belvedere and I have picked winners with the help of Random.org … all of the winners have been emailed and prizes will be sent out as soon as I hear back from everyone with their mailing addresses.

The winners are.....

Brenna- Farm Quilter

Sharon Aurora

Moe West

Joyce Carter

Debbie Gauvain

Congratulations!

I also want to thank OLFA and Quilters Dream for providing the prizes.

10 Minute Table Runner...

I have rediscovered a fun pattern over Christmas. While digging thru my linen drawer I found a table runner mom made me a few years ago, it was perfect for serving a buffet on Christmas. Since packing items away from the holidays I got to thinking how fun it would be to make a few seasonal table runners for my kitchen buffet. And I love how quickly this particular pattern whips up! The pattern can be found free by just googling '10 minute table runner' and images  and patterns will pop up. My favorite directions are from Utah State Extension Office. Since the next holiday is Valentine's Day I decided to make a Valentine table runner to begin with.

To make this table runner you will need two coordinating fabrics. Cut one 10"-12" by WOF, and the other fabric cut one 18" x WOF. One of these fabrics could be a large print or theme fabric.

Place right sides together. Stitch a 1/2" seam along the long edge. You are making a long tube. Press the seam away from the center fabric.

Turn right side out and press.

Trim the ends so that they are even. It was so much fun to use my new Ruby red Olfa rotary cutter!

Fold the 'tube' of fabric in half lengthwise with the center panel facing out. Stitch a 1/2" seam on both sides.

Press the seam open and then turn the seam to the inside to form a point on each end and press.

I decided I wanted to add a decorative stitch to my tablerunner. I did a little test stitching on a piece of scrap fabric.

I did a decorative stitch along the seam on the contrasting fabrics.

I then did a top stitch along the edge of my table runner.

All done! Didn't it turn out great! I'm in love with it...

I am looking forward to putting my new table runner on display on my kitchen table, but right now it is full of tools.... yep.... tools. 19 years ago we moved into our home on Valentine's Day. We bought our home knowing that there would be some work we would have to do on it... one of them being kitchen counters. Well, we have finally gotten around to it... new granite counters, backsplash, and cabinet doors. So in my excitement, I want to make more table runners to switch out with the seasons for my new kitchen.

Spending time in my sewing room has  also been therapeutic since I am struggling with my homes upheaval. Dust everywhere.... pots and pans in boxes in the dining room... cleaning products on my dining room table... can't cook unless it's in the microwave or crockpot.... I'm tired of take-out (never thought I'd say that!) Hubby is doing an amazing job on everything and I know I'm going to love it when it's all done... but his time is limited to nights and weekends. It's going to take time.  Hey, Belvedere.... let's go head back to the sewing room and make some more 10 minute table runners. I'll bring some treats for you...

Have a wonderful day and I hope you find some time to sew.
Happy quilting,
Cindy and Belvedere

Snow Much Fun Blog Hop

Welcome to the Snow Much Fun mini blog hop. Several of us are sharing out finished quilts. Over the coarse of last year we worked on a block each month on a winter themed snowman quilt. Many of the blocks were inspired by my boys, family and childhood memories. I did my quilts using flannel. One of them were done all in flannel, the other one was done with wool applique. Both quilts turned out to be yummy warm quilts that are fun to snuggle under with a good book next to the fireplace. Today I am sharing with you some of the quilts from other talented sewers that followed along with me last year!

~Max's Quilt~

~Patti's Quilt~

~Anette's Quilt~

~Betty's Quilt~

~Giovanna's Quilt~

"To make the quilt I used cotton and silk fabric for neckties, quilted with rayon thread and I put some Swarovski to give some light."

~Marchelle's Quilt

~Carol's Quilt~

~Debbie's Quilt~

~Christils Quilt~

Did I tell you that I have some prizes too to give away at the end of the hop? I will be picking winners in a week. Stayed tuned, I'll post winners. Also, make sure there's a way that I can contact you! One winner will be from one of our talented quilters that shared their quilt with us. But you will have a chance to win a great prize too, just leave a sweet comment. Let me know if you follow the Quilt Doodle Blog. I hope that you enjoyed the quilts. There are more to see at the blog links below.... more talented quilters! Make sure to leave them some sweet comments.

In Stitches and Seams

Farm Quilter

Quilting Like a Maniac

 Quilt Doodle Designs (You are here)
Lynn's Blog

Well, there are some great prizes! Here's a list of some of our sponsors.

Happy Quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

Mark Your Calendars!

I think it would be fun to show off our finished quilts! So I'm going have a little blog hop so we can share them January 21st. If you don't have a blog I can share your posting on the Quilt Doodle Blog. I have some fun prizes to celebrate! To post your quilt, they don't have to be quilted, just the top pieced. Only have a few blocks done, come and join the fun and show what you have done so far! I would love to see everyone's progress!

So email me,

Your name

Your email address

Your Blog Name

Your Blog URL

Did I tell you there are prizes? Well, there are some great prizes! Here's a list of some of our sponsors and what they have graciously donated for prizes.

Garden Sunshine Facebook Group!

It has been fun to see the blocks that have been made so far for this years BOM. I have decided to make a Facebook group for us so that we can share our progress. This group is meant to be a positive space where we can support each other while we work on this years 'Garden Sunshine' quilt. I am hoping that we can inspire each other with our progress. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's blocks each month. When I first started sharing a BOM I used to set up a Flicker Group. Over the years this site has been difficult to manage, especially when I loose or forget my password, or it gets hacked into etc. I miss sharing our progress so thought I would give a Facebook group a try. You can find the Facebook Group for 'Garden Sunshine' BOM 2019 HERE

I have also been asked about a supply list... here it is again. Remember this is merely a guide... if you are using 1930's fabrics or fabrics from your stash, you will need two yellows.... hint..... hint.... there's a 'beehive' block in the quilt..... but this is only a guide, remember no quilt police will come and get after you if you use different colors. I've been asked if it can be done all in reds or blues... I don't see why not.... I create these designs to inspire you... your finish quilts also inspire me! I love to see my designs interpreted in different fabrics and colors.

I've also given you the freedom to either applique or embroider the designs.  I'm doing one of each... 

I hope that I was able to answer a few questions. Looking forward to seeing everyone's blocks as they get them done.

Happy quilting!

Cindy and Belvedere

Happy New Year! January's Block is Out!

Happy New Year! It's time to start a new BOM and I have a sweet one for you. It is called Garden Sunshine. It's a bright sunny quilt out of 1930's reproduction fabric but you can use anything from your stash. Let's have fun with it! It's a mystery quilt. Before we start, let's do a couple of things to make this BOM go easier. First pick out the fabric listed below, and number the fabric 1 to 16 excluding the background fabric and binding. Colors 4 and 15 need to be a yellow or gold color, all of the other colors are negotiable. I have fabric kits available in my Etsy shop. I also have yardage of some 1930's prints if you need to add to your stash. Now another decision.... if you are going to applique or embroider the added designs to some of the blocks. If you applique, you can dig thru your stash for the applique pieces, I am using a combination of 1930's fabric and solid fabrics. If you choose to embroider the designs you will need pearl cotton or DMC floss in several coordinating colors for the designs. This is a scrappy quilt with many different blocks.

Each month we will work on a different section of the quilt. This quilt will take us all year to do. Sometimes you will have one block, sometimes two. Some blocks stand alone with no further applique or other embellishments, some will have extra design features. I am no longer posting monthly patterns on Craftsy. 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 it 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 and tag me or post them on Instagram tag Quilt Doodle Designs. I love to see everyone's progress as we stitch along together. 

Now let's begin! This month's blocks are called Birds in the Air. You will make two of the basic block, each will have a different applique design. You will use color number 16 and the cream/white background fabric. One block features a birdhouse and the second block features a couple of bluebirds. 

This is the fabric I am working with, I am making two versions. An appliqued one and an embroidered one.

Following the pattern I have my pieces all cut out and ready to sew together using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Here I am sewing a small background triangle and pink triangle together right sides together. I am sewing along the long diagonal edge. This will form a triangle square block. You will make three for each block.

I find it helpful to lay my block pieces out on my cutting board before I sew everything together. During this step you will sew together the triangle square to the pink triangles to form a large triangle section.

Then you sew the pieced triangle section to the large background triangle along the diagonal edge using a 1/4" seam.

Make 2 blocks. This is the base for the applique designs.

Trace the bird house design onto your heat n bond and iron the shapes onto the wrong side of you fabrics. I'm using a combination of fabric scraps and solid fabrics.

Then cut the shapes out, peel off the paper and arrange them on the large triangle section as shown. Then iron in place. Remember to keep the design within the 1/4" seam allowance.

I am using dark brown thread to stitch around all of the raw edges of the applique design.

For the flower center and birdhouse opening, I have decided to use buttons. I dug thru my button jar and found a couple that work perfectly. You could also make a couple of small yo-yos too. 

Trace the bird design onto your heat n bond and iron the shapes onto the wrong side of you fabrics. I'm using all solid fabrics.

Cut your pieces out and arrange onto the large triangle section of the block. Notice the block in laid out differently for this design. It takes a little fenagling to get everything to fit.

Here's a handy dandy tip to transfer your block to your ironing board after you have everything placed just so..... gently slide your 12 1/2" square OLFA ruler under the block and voila! An easy way to transfer your block safely. Remember to gently remove the ruler before you iron your design in place.

Notice that the tip of the birds wing and the branch overlap onto the 'other' half of the block.... it's okay.... 

I am using dark brown thread to stitch around all of the raw edges of the applique design.

The leaves are a bit of a challenge to stitch around, just go slow and remember to pivot the design. This is the most complicated applique design out of all of them.

I hope that you enjoy making these two blocks. It was a pretty long posting today for being New Years Day. Happy 2019 everyone! I'll see you February 1st for the next block. Remember to have fun and feel free to share with me your finished blocks. I will make a suggestion. Store your finished blocks in a scrapbook container or bin. There's no sewing blocks together until the very end....

I'm still working on the embroidered blocks for this month. I will post them in a day or two. They are equally as cute!

Happy quilting!

Cindy and Belvedere