Aprils Block ~ Baltimore Oriole

It's April! Spring is around the corner, I'm sure of it! Or so I hope, we did have sleet and snow over the last couple of days and our driveway is a skating rink! I can only hope for warmer weather soon! I'm ready to break out the capri pants and flip flops, LOL!

This month's block is a special one, a Baltimore Oriole. My dad loved to see them visit, he always had grape jelly set out for them. My sister gets her Oriole's about two weeks before I see mine. I know when I get a text that she's got Orioles, I'd better get my feeder out with fresh oranges and grape jelly! I don't want to miss the scouts. I love when they visit. They remind me of my dad and how much he loved feeding the birds.

 This month's block features this sweet bird perched on a pitcher filled with oranges and orange blossoms.  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....

Gather your fabrics for the oriole design...

Go to the website and print up the pattern...

Trace the design pieces onto the paper side of your fusible web, I like to use a pencil.

Following the directions on the fusible web, iron shapes onto the back side of your fabric.

Cut the shapes out.

Following the design placement sheet, peel the paper off the back of the fabric shapes and position them in place. Notice some shapes overlap others. Iron in place following the manufacturers directions.

Using a buttonhole stitch on your sewing machine, stitch around the raw edges. I used a white thread to stitch around the flowers. I know they are small, just go slow and remember to pivot with the needle down.  I used a dark brown to go around everything else.

~ Baltimore Oriole ~

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!

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Woodland Holiday BOM- Moose

 

Happy February! This month's block features a moose. When hubby and I were first married we had did mud truck... giant tires, just a beast of a truck, lol. Well, one Sunday afternoon we decided to take the truck to the gravel pits to drive around. I remember it being a cloudy, muddy type of day. Driving around we came upon a moose. We decided to stop and climb upon the top of the trucks cab and watch the moose. I don't remember how long we sat there watching this huge beast we realized that it was the mama moose and her baby. It was fun seeing them both and we didn't get too close for fear of  upsetting the mama moose. I haven't seen a moose up-close since. So I had to include a moose. Remember the PDF pattern is free for the month that it is out. As soon as a monthly pattern is available, the older patterns will be available at a cost of $2.50 each. The Fox pattern from last month is no longer available for free. So go on over the the website and download your pattern. This month we will only be working on the moose design. So if you bought the quilt kit, we will only be using the cream primo plaid and the fat quarters. Let's get started...

From the cream primo plaid, cut a 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" square for the moose block.

For the moose applique, I used white/cream, brown and green.

Trace the moose design onto the paper side of your fusible web.

Using paper scissors, rough cut them out and then iron onto the back side of the fabric.

I love using my OLFA applique scissors to cut the pieces out with.

Peel the paper backing off. Following the placement sheet on the pattern, lay the design onto the backing square. the antlers will overlap a little on the moose.

I wrote down my stitch size and type so that I could use the same setting for all of the applique.  It is also helpful to play around with stitch sizes on scrap fabric before you start your applique so you are sure to use a stitch length and width that you like for your design. I used a dark brown thread for around the moose body and the scarf. I used a white/cream thread for around the moose's antlers.

With the green pearl cotton I embroider the scarf's fringe using a straight stitch. Using a black or dark brown pearl cotton, I also embroider the eye of the moose using a French knot.

~ Woodland Moose ~

I hope that you join me in this years BOM. It's an adorable quilt when it is done. Remember it's a mystery. You will get a new block each month and in December 2021 we will assemble the quilt together. The finished size of the quilt is 65" x 80". Each month the pattern is a free PDF instant download after that it will be available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop. I am currently out of fabric kits for the Woodland Getaway BOM but if you are interested please email me and I will put together a list and order more fabric.

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! I post links and sneak peeks throughout the month so you are to be sure not to miss anything. I hope that you have a wonderful relaxing day and find some time to quilt.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere