Cabin Life

As you all know, I love my Lumberjack Primo Plaids, love, love, love the colors and have been having fun stitching with them. They are my go to colors, the colors that I love to work with. I have designed a new pattern to go with the Woodland Getaway Panel using these soft, yummy fabrics, Cabin Life. My inspiration comes from all the vacations we've taken up north to go fishing. There's always a morning or two that we wake up freezing and this will be the perfect quilt to pack along for our next trip. I usually pack a few quilts for those cod mornings.

I enjoyed quilting the center panel. I have a domestic machine with an extra deep throat that I use for quilting. I enjoy doing free motion quilting. I find it relaxing. The quilting makes the design pop a little bit. The quilting added some texture to the panel. I did not embroider the panel for this particular quilt, but you sure could if you wanted to.  I'm  thinking of adding some gold star buttons to the night sky for an added touch.

Cabin Life is a fun scrappy quilt to make. It features the words Cabin Life, Friendship Stars and Bear Paw blocks. The Log Cabin blocks are easy to stitch together and frame the Woodland Getaway Panel. I did not embroider the center panel on this quilt, but it can be embroidered if you so choose to. The finished quilt measures 68" x68", a great size to drape over a chair, roll up and pack in a travel bag or folded at the end of a bed. 

When I quilted this quilt is important to note that I used a thin cotton batting. I used a thin batting for quilting to reduce the bulk because the Primo Plaids are woven plaids and thicker then what we think of as flannel. The Primo Plaids are luxurious to work with and I love the results. I do not match up plaids to create a primitive look, which I love, especially for the cabin.

I have a limited number of quilt kits for Cabin Life available on the Website. I've picked out all of the plaids that you need to make the quilt as pictured. Everything is included except the backing and batting. The Cabin Life pattern is included! There is also FREE shipping in the USA.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and find some time to do some stitching.

Happy quilting,

Cindy & Belvedere

Hollyhocks!

My grandma had such a green thumb and I remember she used to grow hollyhocks. As a little kid they looked like they reached the sky. Grandma loved her garden and growing things. Maybe that’s where my love of gardening came from. I was very lucky to live near my grandparents when hubby and I were first married and she helped me plant my first garden. I remember shelling peas, picking corn and beans. I learned how to can that summer and have been canning since. Whenever I see hollyhocks growing I always think of grandma. So when I designed my blue ribbon panel, I just had to have hollyhocks (lilacs too) in memory of grandma.

Today I thought I would post directions on how to make this springtime table runner that can be put on display until fall. It uses the hollyhock section of my Blue Ribbon panel. The design can be embroidered or left plan as I did on mine. The patter n is very similar to the Hen and Chicks table runner and is a quick and easy project that has delightful results. I just love how bright and springy the Aunt Grace fabrics are. The table runner is a great size and can be easily adapted to hang on the wall just by adding a hanging sleeve to the upper back of the design. I like to use mine to add an extra pop of color in my home displayed on my kitchen island. So cute!

I hope you enjoy this little freebie pattern using my Blue Ribbon panel. It’s the perfect table runner to put out during the spring and summer months. If you happen to love to garden you could keep your runner on display year round! I do have the Blue Ribbon fabric panel available in my Etsy and Website Stores. The panel is also available in many local quilt stores too!

Happy quilting,

Cindy & Belvedere

Heroic Hearts

Join me and all of the Marcus Block Stars in celebrating the everyday heroes in our community during the pandemic. There are so many heroes such as hospital staff, teachers, neighbors, first responders... the list goes on and on. I bet that you have a hero or two in mind that has touched your heart during this difficult time. ‘Quilters around the world continue to respond to the Covid-19 crisis with fabric, needle and thread, sewing millions of face masks and more for those serving in the frontlines of the pandemic. Marcus Fabrics has created the Heroic Hearts Tote Project to give quilting and sewing enthusiasts a unique way to Show appreciation to those who are giving so much of themselves.’

Sarah Maxwell has designed a wonderful tote pattern for this project and it can be found on her website as a .FREE PDF DOWNLOAD

I am proud to be part of the project and am joining my fellow Marcus Fabrics Block Stars in presenting our versions of The Heroic Hearts tote bags. I made two bags, one in the Aunt Grace’s Apron fabric line by Judie Rothermel and one from the Lumber Jack Primo Plaid Flannel, both thru Marcus Fabrics. But, you can use any fabric that you want! The bag features 5 different fabrics and Sarah makes  switching up the fabrics with the pattern fabric page in the pattern easy. Let me show you how I constructed my totes.

I just love these Aunt Grace Fabrics, so cheerful!

Following the pattern, I've cut out all of my pieces....

Here I have the center heart section complete, all ready to be trimmed up.

It is very handy to have a 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square ruler to trim the square up. Following the directions, line up the ruler as pictures and trim the block up to measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

I've added the offset triangle sections, trimming between each step. The final block measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2". Now it's time to add borders.

The front of my tote is all done. Sew pretty!

I lined the tote bag front and back piece with fusible interfacing to give the bag a little more body. You could also use a fusible batting. I did not line my Primo Plaid Flannel tote.

Here you can see the front piece lined with the iron on interfacing.

Following the pattern, sew the front and back of the tote together. Then it's time to make the bottom gusset of the bag. Following the directions you will repeat this on the lining front and back sections too. 

It's time to make the handles. I made mine much longer. I cut 2-  4" x 36" for the handle sections. Then folded them in half, wrong sides together and pressed. I them folded the outer edges to the center pressed 'line' and pressed again to form a 1" x 36" handle.

I then top stitched on each side of the handle using white thread.

Following the directions I then attached the handles to the lining.

Make sure to sew a square and then an X for a good strong handle.

Almost done! I'm stitching across the top of the bag attaching the inner and outter sections of the tote!

~ Heroic Hearts Tote ~

These are fun totes to make. I completed two on Sunday. Now comes the fun part, fill it with something special to give. It can be anything! A batch of homemade cookies, lunch from a drive thru, a recipe with ingredients, flowers, gardening supplies.... the skies the limit! I'm off to fill my bags. Stay tuned to my Instagram, I'll be giving  my bags to a couple of special people... 

Remember to post your photos of your tote. Shhhhh although it isn't a competition more of a challenge to thank others, there will be fun fabric prizes throughout the challenge. Remember to post your pictures to Instagram using these hashtags when posting:

#heroicheartstote

#heroichearts

#heroicheartsblockstars

#heroicheartswithmarcus

#marcusblockstarts

#staysafeandcreate

#staysafeandcreatewithmarcus

I also have kits available on my website if you'd like to make one using Aunt Grace's Apron or Lumberjack Primo Plaid Flannels. 

Let's have fun and thank someone!

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere