September's Block

September crept up on me yesterday, I had no idea that today was September 1st until I looked at my calendar! I really don't know what happened to summer, it just flew by. Kids will be back to school tomorrow and it really seems like summer break was just yesterday! My mom retired from her school lunchroom job just this year, so this is the first time in 35 years that she doesn't have to get up to go make the cookies for the kids. I know the kids will miss grandma's cookies, she makes them from scratch and the kids know the difference between the homemade ones and frozen ones!

 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". 

September's Block

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

August's Block 2025

August is here, it's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Seems like summers fly by too quickly. Soon the evenings will start to cool down and the leaves on my one maple tree will start to turn, it's always the first tree. I have a little touch of autumn in the middle of August. The garden seems slow this year... only one tomato so far, I'm hoping for more of course. (We've have had a lot of rain this year.) I have picked a couple of nice batches of green beans. I roasted them in the oven with a little bit of olive oil and seasoned them with salt and pepper, so yummy. 

 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". 

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

August'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

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

June's Block 2025

June is here! The garden is almost in. The seedlings and seed packets are bought. I hope to get things planted later today. At least the flowers are planted, and we are enjoying spending time outside grilling and relaxing on the patio and deck. 

 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. 

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". 

Go on over to the website and download the directions for this month's block.

Like the other month's I'm making my block very scrappy. The trick of making it very scrappy is evenly distributing the various fabric prints. I know it's hard for some quilters to make a scrap quilt without seeing the complete layout. I'm asking you to trust the process and know it's okay if there's more of a certain print in an area of the quilt. I promise, the quilt police will not be knocking on your door. I have the liberty of having a competed quilt, the one thing I worried about was the oversaturation of a particular background cream print. What I noticed when the quilt was done and the blocks were sewn together, the prints and tones melted together and did not stand out in one way or another.

Another thing I did with my quilt was threw in a very light pink in my background fabric. The pink does not stand out in the overall quilt. I also took the liberty to place a medium pink and purple block in place of two cream blocks. These two blocks are the 'center' of the quilt.

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

June'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.  

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 hope that you have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch. 

Have a wonderful day,

Cindy, Josephine & Bonaparte

May's Block

It's May Day! Spring is officially here! Gardening is in full swing here; I am redoing a perennial garden that is right off my deck. I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I'm going from a shade garden to a full sun garden since we took down a large oak tree last fall. There's lots of prep work to be done before I can start planting anything. I have been finding muscles that I didn't even knew existed and finding that I poop out quicker then I used to. I've been trying to put in at least a couple hours a day on this project. There's been a lot of weeds to pull since I've neglected this garden, not really sure what I would do with it. I have lots of shade perennials to dig up and move to shadier locations. I'm looking forward to going to the Amish greenhouses with my sister in a week or two and picking up all sorts of beautiful plants to fill my new sun garden and all of my flowerpots and gardens. I've been putting together my list of what I'm looking for so that I don't get sidetracked. At least I have a plan in mind, let's see if I can stick to it!

 Another fun shift for me is being able to do my work outside sitting at the patio table. I love drinking my coffee, reading emails in the morning as I listen to the birds chirping.

 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. 

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". 

Go on over to the website and download this month's free pattern. Print it up so that you can easily refer to the layout for this month's section.

I like to chain sew when I can. If you prefer to sew row by row, iron, feel free to do that.

May'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.  

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 hope that you have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch. I'm off to work on my gardens and get it ready for planting day!

Have a wonderful day,

Cindy, Josephine & Bonaparte

February's Block 2025

 

Happy February! I hope it's warmer where you are. It's cold here and I'm getting tired of it. I have spring fever and it's too soon, the gardening catalogs arriving in the mail isn't helping me any. At least it's good stitching weather. 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. 

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. Did you notice the green in the block, don't worry, it can be the same color as all your other dark blocks. I wanted to show you that you can mix it up color wise if you want to. Again, 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". 

As you can see, mine is very scrappy! I threw in a pink and purple square for the giggles of it. I am purplephobic and it's hard for me to use the color purple in my quilts. This is a challenge for me.... The quilt doesn't seem to make sense yet trust the process. If you stick with light and dark fabrics your quilt will turn out beautiful. I'm pushing the limits a little bit with some of my lighter blue fabric choices. 

I like to chain sew when I can. If you prefer to sew row by row, iron, feel free to do that.

February'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.  

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 hope that you have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch.

Have a wonderful day,

Cindy, Josephine & Bonaparte

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

Valentine Basket Mug Rug

~Valentine Basket Mug Rug~

 Welcome! Today it's all about my favorite color red. I LOVE RED! I have pops of red throughout my kitchen so this mug rug, mini quilt is the perfect addition! It's also perfect for Valentine's Day! Today is also the beginning of Mondays with Marcus Series III. So today, ALL of us will be presenting a project in red. So, make sure to jump onto Instagram and check out our projects. You can also find links on Mondays with Marcus Facebook page. Join in on the fun! There're tons of inspiring projects for you to try out along with chances to win prizes! So go like the Mondays with Marcus page. Follow the links to our projects and have some quilty fun! If you make any of our projects, make sure to tag us #mondayswithmarcus on Facebook and or Instagram. We would love to see what you are working on!

Happy quilting!

Cindy

You can find the FREE pattern for Valentine Basket Mug Rug 

HERE

Scrappy Valentine Heart

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and I have a couple of cute patterns for you that I put together for OLFA. There's a cute scrappy mug rug and a fun heart garland. Both projects are free thru OLFA . There's still time to finish these projects in time for Valentine's Day! 

Go dig thru your fabric stash, I bet you can find some red, pink and cream fabrics that will work! 

Also, stayed tuned on Monday for the next Mondays with Marcus series III! We are all diving into color!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cindy

 

Happy July! I can't believe that the 4th of July weekend is right around the corner. We have a low key weekend planned filled with yard projects provided the weather is good. I'm also planning some quality time in my sewing room too. Last year the fireworks were shot off just a quarter mile away from our home so it was such a treat to see the display but I'm sure this year the fireworks display has been moved back to it's normal venue. Our trees have grown so much that we no longer can watch from the comfort of our deck. Haven't decided if I want to brave the crowds this year. I will more then likely be home playing with the dogs and giving them extra treats as neighbors set off firecrackers.

Let's get to this month's block. It's a log cabin with a little visitor. I'm making my bear black, but you can make yours brown or even white. The cabin reminds me of all of our cabin trips that we've taken over the years. A friend of mine lives up north and the bears paid a visit to her yard recently and made quite the mess getting into her birdfeeders, tossing things around. She posted their big ol pawprints on Facebook. From the pictures it looks like they had a grand old time! The pattern can be found on the Quilt Doodle Website as a FREE PDF download this month. So go on over to the website and download and print your pattern so that you don't miss out on it. Hint: download the monthly patterns and print them up even if you don't have time to make the block. Keep all of the patterns together in a folder for when you are ready to make the Woodland BOM 2021 quilt..

Out of the cream flannel, cut a 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" square for your block background.

Gather your fabrics that you are going to use for the applique design. Trace the applique pieces onto the backside of your fusible web.

Pair the shapes up with the fabric by color. Iron the fusible web shapes onto the back side of the fabric and then cut them out using a sharp scissor. I love my OLFA applique scissors for cutting.

Peel the paper off the back of your shapes. Following the design placement page of the pattern, position the pieces in place. Some of the shapes will overlap. Iron in place on the 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" square. I will be using a dark brown thread and white thread to applique around the raw edges.

When we first started this quilt back in January, I mentioned that you keep track of what stitch you are using to stitch around the raw edges. I keep referring back to this picture which shows what buttonhole stitch I am using along with the stitch width and length. It's so easy just to snap a picture with you phone so that you have it for reference.

Stitching around all of the raw edges.....

Love how the block is turning out!

With black or dark brown #12 pearl cotton, embroider the bear's eyes with French knots.

~ Woodland Cabin ~

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.  It's not too late to join in on the fun. 

 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 weekend and find some time to quilt.

Hope that you enjoy making this month's block. I'm off to go spend some time in my sewing room! I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere