July's Block 2025

Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun and relaxing to get away. 

 In case you are just starting the BOM, the fabric requirements are below. Everything is based on a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square and this month's pattern can be found on my website for free this month. It's not too late to join, I actually pieced this quilt during a retreat and only spent two of the days putting the blocks together. That included lots of breaks for snacks and visiting so I know that you can easily catch up if you are just joining us.

2 yards contrasting color

2 1/2 yards cream background

3/4 yard for the border

1/2-yard binding

Tell your friends! Spread the word! Post the button on your blog!

Let me show you how I made this month's block... gather your 2 1/2" squares and following the block layout and sew your squares together using your favorite method making sure to nest your seams so everything lines up nicely. I am encouraging you to use your stash and have fun with it. Just remember the contrast between light and dark. This finished quilt block will measure 12 1/2" x 20 1/2". 

Don't forget to pop over to the website and download the free pattern this month. Just like last month, I threw in some light pink into the background along with a purple and a pink block. Have you tried anything different with your blocks? 

I have my squares lined up next to my machine to make it easy for me to chain sew my block.

July's Block

 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.00 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  

 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 have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch. 

Have a wonderful day,

Cindy, Josephine & Bonaparte

May's Blocks!

 

April showers bring May flowers, we're so happy spring is here and I'm ready to visit some greenhouses and plant some flowerpots. It's also been raining like crazy, and I would love to see the sunshine for a change. It's also been pretty busy around here with the new arrival of our newest granddaughter, she's a doll! I'm such a spoiled grandma! I get to spend time almost every day rocking her to sleep. We are smittened with miss Eleanor. I call her Ellie. Mom and dad live with us while they save and look for a house. I'm pretty lucky to be able to see Ellie every day, it's such a blessing. Now on to this month's block for the Snowman Forest BOM quilt.

Here's a quick recap, if you are just discovering this year's block of the month, it’s sort of a mystery and I am encouraging everyone to use fabric from their stash. You will want the same background color for the quilt to tie it all together but, other than that the sky’s the limit. So, to begin with go dig thru your fabric stash and look for the following.

Fabric Requirements

Blue background fabric- 2 yards

white fabric (snowman faces) - 1/2 yard

green (trees) - 3/4 yard

pieced border - red- 3/4-yard, pink - 1/2-yard, light green- 1/2-yard, light blue- 3/4-yard

orange- snowman noses

scrappy hats- 10 plus fat quarters or a combination of fat quarters and fat eights in a variety of colors such as red, blue, yellow, pink, green, purple. 

Now let's get stitching!

Snowman Hat Rectangle- Sew a background 2” square onto the top two corners right sides together corner to corner. Trim excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam. Press.

Trace 2 noses onto the paper side of the Heat N bond fusible web. (Or whatever fusible brand you prefer) Iron onto the back side of the orange fabric. Cut out all the carrot noses. Iron on carrot nose onto the snowman block using the quilt on the front cover for placement. Applique stitch using orange or brown thread around the raw edges of the carrot design. I like to use a small buttonhole stitch.

We will wait until the quilt is completed and then quilted before we put on the snowman faces, which will use either buttons or yo-yos.

 

Tell your friends! Spread the word! Post the button on your blog!

 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'm now off to my flower list for when I go to the greenhouse. Then I'm planning on watching some Great British Baking Show and doing some embroidery. I hope that you have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch.

Have a wonderful day,

Cindy and Josephine

Eleanor 'Ellie'

May's Block of the Month 2014

April showers, brings May flowers, but what does rain and snow bring? Starting to wonder if I'm jinxing the weather by working on a winter themed quilt... it doesn't feel like May, but the calendar says it is! Well, at least I'm not feeling guilty staying inside to quilt... gardens will have to wait. This month's block is called 'Fir Tree'. It's quick and easy to do. My cozy cabin is nestled in the woods, there needed to be more than one tree for 'the woods'. The block is similar to the 'Big Tree' block. I made my tree a little scrappy, using fabrics from my stash along with the fabrics that I picked up.  My plan is to embellish the center cabin scene with yo-yo snowflakes. I am also planning on having fun with the quilting.  Swirls for winter winds, smoke coming out of the chimney etc.  I am hoping this design will give you a little room for creativity on your own too! One thing to keep in mind is to do the background the same or similar fabrics as you did for your Cozy Cabin and Big Tree block. This will also be true with the block for September. The 'Fir Tree' pattern can be found  HERE and on Craftsy. The pattern is free for the month of May. If you missed Chilly Silly Snowmen, Cozy Cabin or Big Tree, or Sparkling Stars it's not too late to get the patterns. They can be found for a small fee on Etsy and Craftsy,.

My pieces are cut and all ready to sew...

Sewing corner to corner....

I like to 'chain' sew all of by block pairs at one time and
then I trim them up and iron them.

My Fir Tree block is all laid out and ready
to be sewn together...

To finish the block, sew the 2 1/2" x 14 1/2"
cream strip along the bottom to form the 'snow'...

'Fir Tree'
May's block

Layout so far...

Remember to post your finished Fir Tree Block onto the Flickr account for a chance to win the prize at the end of the month! If you blog about it, please email me a link so that I can attach it to the Pinterest Board I have going for the BOM 2014. I hope you have fun with this section of the mystery quilt. It can easily be done in an afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's Fir Trees! I'll be announcing the prize for this month's block around the 15th and the winner will be announCiced on June 1st, when the next section is out.

Happy Quilting,

Cindy

Congratulations!

craftingwithcindi

Cindi won the Turn Sharp Rotary Blade Sharpener from

Colonial Needle. I will be contacting Cindi to let her know

that she will never have a dull rotary blade again!

March's Block of the Month 2014

March is finally here! February has been a really long month here in Minnesota, I hope that March is warmer. At least the days are getting longer. I've enjoyed watching everyone's Cozy Cabins being built! I love them all! The fun thing about this quilt is you can choose to do it scrappy or not scrappy, I'm doing a little of both. It's a great project to use up some of your stash. But remember, tone on tone fabrics will work the best with this mystery design. This month we will work on a block that I have named 'Big Tree'. A cozy cabin needs a big tree to shade it. The block is the same size as the Cozy Cabin block. One thing to keep in mind is to do the background the same or similar fabrics as you did for your Cozy Cabin block. This will also be true with the blocks for May and September. (We will get back to making 'strips' next month.) The Cozy Cabin pattern can be found Etsy and on Craftsy.  If you missed Chilly Silly Snowmen or Cozy Cabin, it's not too late to get the patterns. They can be found for a small fee on Etsy, Craftsy, and Patternspot.

Here are my fabrics all cut and ready to go.

To form the triangle square blocks I sew corner to corner...

My stack of triangle squares, sewn... but I need to trim the extra fabric and iron.

I find it helpful to have a large work space to lay this block out.

Everything's in place and ready to be sewn.

All of my 2 1/2" squares are sewn, now just to add the bottom 2 1/2" strip.

'Big Tree'

Quilt Doodle BOM 2014 Quilt Layout

Remember to post your finished Big Tree block onto the Flickr account for a chance to win the prize at the end of the month! If you blog about it, please email me a link so that I can attach it to the Pinterest Board I have going for the BOM 2014. I hope you have fun with this section of the mystery quilt. It can easily be done in a weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's trees! I'll be announcing the prize for this month's block around the 15th and the winner will be announced on April 1st, when the next section is out.

Happy Quilting,

Cindy

Congratulations!

DeloresQuilts!

Isn't her Cozy Cabin cute! I love the cat in the window!

DeloresQuilts won a Moda Charm pack donated from Quilt Taffy!

Prize Announcement for February's Block

I am so thrilled with the line up of prizes I have for the BOM 2014 this year! I am happy to announce the next prize from Quilt Taffy. Corrie has generously donated a Moda Charm Pack for this month's winner. So how do I win do you ask? Well, it's very simple, make this month's, February Block, Cozy Cabin and post it to the flickr group.  For an added chance to win, blog about it too! (Send me a link if you take time to blog about it!) Wilson and I will number all of the entries and pick a winner using random.org

If you won this month's prize what would you like to get? Check out  Quilt Taffy's Website. Corrie has so much beautiful fabric.There's some super cute fabric on Corrie's site! Have fun browsing. I will be announcing a winner at the end of the month, the same time that March's block will be out.

Talking about fabric, some of you have asked about yardages for the new BOM quilt. A complete listing for fabric can be found under the BOM 2014 tab at the top of my blog. Then check under, 'The Beginning'. There you will find the listing there. Feel free to email me anytime if you have questions. The listing is a guide to help give you direction on picking out your fabrics. This quilt can also be done 'scrappy' and I will direct you how in my postings each month. I have been enjoying everyone's blocks, they all have their own personality. That is what is so much fun about a BOM challenge. Some of you have been asking for hints on this and that, but I'm very good at keeping a secret, that's part of the fun. It will be a delightful 'winter' quilt when you are done. That's all I'm sayin'.....  I love seasonal quilts and being able to switch them out depending on the season.


Remember to post your pictures! I love to see pictures!! Here are just a few...











I also have patterns posted on Patternspot and they are running a coupon code for applique patterns February 20th-26th and also a coupon code for Valentine's Day.

 10% off applique patterns! February 20th-26th
Code APP10 (all caps)

Enter VAL20 at check out - Valentine's Day Promotion! 20% off your entire order.

Happy Quilting,
Happy Valentine's Day!
 

February's Block Of The Month 2014

February is here! Everyone's Chilly Silly Snowmen are so stinkin cute! I love them all! The fun thing about this quilt is you can choose to do it scrappy or not scrappy, I'm doing a little of both. It's a great project to use up some of your stash. But remember, tone on tone fabrics will work the best with this mystery design. This month we will work on a block that I have named 'Cozy Cabin'. Imagine, sitting in a nice cozy cabin with the fireplace going.... some chocolate, a good book, maybe a little glass of 'something, something'.... sounds perfect doesn't it. The Cozy Cabin pattern can be found Etsy and Craftsy.  If you missed Chilly Silly Snowmen, it's not too late to get the pattern. It can be found for a small fee on Etsy, Craftsy, and Patternspot.

Here are all of the pieces and parts cut out for the Cozy Cabin block.

Here I am sewing corner to corner to form the triangle square 2 1/2" blocks

It took me an afternoon to complete this block, from
start to finish.

Trim away the excess and iron...

After you piece the triangle square blocks and rectangle square blocks, lay them out
to form the Cozy Cabin block. Take it slow to sew all of the pieces together
making sure to match up seams as you go. It's important to stay
consistent with your 1/4 inch seam allowance from the start to finish of your quilt.

The squares are all sewn together... I made my cabin
scrappy, but you can choose to make it all in the same brown.

Add the 2 1/2" x 22 1/2" cream/white strip along
the bottom of the block. Iron.

Cozy Cabin
(The snowflakes in the picture represent the cream~
white yo-yo's that will be added later on, I have a thing for yo-yo's!)

Quilt Doodle BOM 2014 Quilt Layout

Remember to post your finished Cozy Cabin block onto the Flickr account for a chance to win the prize at the end of the month! If you blog about it, please email me a link so that I can attach it to the Pinterest Board I have going for the BOM 2014. I hope you have fun with this section of the mystery quilt. It can easily be done in a weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's Cozy Cabins! I'll be announcing the prize for this month's block around the 15th and the winner will be announced on March 1st, when the next section is out.

Happy Quilting,

Cindy

Congratulations!!!

Big Lake Quilter!

You won a $20 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop!