Wrapping Up the Quarantine QAL

It's been a busy week, I've made another batch of face masks that have been delivered to our local hospital. I dropped three quilts off to a friend to be quilted. I'm happy to say they are all for me. I've had time to finish some UFO's up and re-evaluate my fabric stash. Using fabric from what I have has been fun and I enjoyed making the Quick 3 day QAL project.  I want to say....

 

to everyone who participated in my quick 3 day QAL. Here are a couple of pictures of some of the quilts that were completed.

Selina Quilts made this one. I love the green mixed with the dark... lovely!

Jesskeepsewing made this one and I'm smittened with the pink sashing.

Here's mine... I used batiks from my batik bin with a white sashing. I'm very pleased with it.

For the backing I tried something different. I had a large stack of Mayowood Studio flannels that I've had been saving for years. So I decided to use them for the backing on this quilt. The colors were perfect for the backing.

So as you can see, I sewed them all together and made a backing for my quilt. I needed a little more width and length so that Stacy could machine quilt it. So I had some black and gray flannel. I now have a modern backing. I'm excited because I will have a 'two' sided quilt! This was pretty risky for me! I'm used to using just one fabric on the back. I think it'll be so fun when it's finished. I'm really looking forward to seeing it when it's done.

I had a little giveaway for my QAL. 

Congratulations!

Selinaquilts

I've messaged you thru Instagram, you won a festive holiday fat quarter bundle!

Having time dedicated to isolating at home has given be extra time to sew and dig thru my studio. Work on some UFO's, start some new ones, design some new ideas etc. I went thru my fabric about a year ago and donated a bunch of it to a local guild. I'm thinking it's time to do that again. I want to take some time to go thru and straighten my studio space. It used to be a huge room, but a lot of it has been swallowed up by shelving and boxes. A good spring cleaning is due. A designer friend suggested we all do studio/sewing room tours and post them on Instagram and Facebook. I think its a wonderful idea but thought "OMG..... my room could be featured on hoarders right now..... there's nothing cute about it!" I'm planning on posting before and after pics along with the tour. I live in the real world where creativity is messy.... lol..... 

I hope you have a wonderful Friday.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

100 Blocks Block Tour Road Rally!

First let me say Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Belvedere and I are thrilled you're here. We are excited to show you our block, Frosty's Sweater. First let me tell you I am so thrilled to be included in this issue. You should have heard me scream in delight when I received the acceptance letter for my block! So exciting!  Also, a big Thank you to Quiltmaker for hosting such a wonderful Blog Tour. I'm loving the 100 Blocks Block Tour Road Rally. I am so thrilled and honored to be included!
I explained to Belvedere that we're taking part in a road rally and Belvedere got all excited thinking he was going on a car ride. He loves car rides! But he also loves the sound of the doorbell ringing. He is happy to greet you with a big 'rooo rooo rooooo!' and also a few sloppy kisses. So come on in, let me grab you a cup of coffee and show you my adorable block,

  Now, let me show you my sweet block, Frosty's Sweater... I love Christmas and the whole holiday season so I drew up this whimsical snowman. He such a happy fellow, wearing his Christmas sweater. (Frosty's Sweater can be found on page 11.) The applique design pieces and layout can be found on page 66.

Frosty's Sweater

I have a 'Christmas Cheer' fat quarter bundle from Patrick Lose Studios, just screaming to be made into some fun items for Christmas. It's perfect for a Frosty's Sweater table runner. The basic pattern for my Pinwheel table runner can be found on my website. It's a free PDF download...

Let's make a fun table runner with my Frosty's Sweater block! Following the directions in the magazine, make two Frosty Sweater blocks. The Frosty Sweater blocks will be featured on each end of the table runner. (The blue squares on each side of the pinwheel block.)

The images are in reverse in the magazine since we will be tracing each section onto our fusible web. I like to use Heat n Bond Lite.

Then iron your fusible web onto the wrong side of the fabric, grouping together pieces that use the same color fabric.

After you iron on the heat n bond onto your fabric, it's time to cut all the pieces out. I am using the Pattern Elements page in the magazine for the general layout. Remember everything will be in reverse. When you get everything placed just so... (don't forget to peel off the paper) it's time to iron the design in place on your 12 1/2" block.

All ready to stitch around!

When I sew around my applique snowman, I like to use the buttonhole stitch found on my sewing machine. I use a 'small' stitch setting on my machine. ( width- 2.5mm length- 1.2mm) I use white thread to stitch around the snowman's head and body. I then use dark brown thread to go around everything else.

Following my Pinwheel Table Runner pattern, I made the center pinwheel block..

Here I have the table runner top layered with the backing fabric and batting. All ready to quilt. I find machine quilting to be so relaxing. I loose time in my sewing room when I quilt. After your table runner is all quilted, bind using your favorite method. Then embellish the snowman with some snowflake buttons. Using pearl cotton, embroider the snowman's eyes and smile using French knots. 

I am so pleased with how my table runner turned out. It's perfect for on Grandma Eva's trunk in my coat room. Very cheery and festive! Just perfect to greet visitors as they stop by this holiday season.

Want a chance to win a copy of 100 Blocks Volume 16 from Quiltmaker Just leave me a sweet comment for a chance to win. (Make sure to leave me an email so that you can be contacted if you win!) Winner will receive their magazine directly from Quiltmaker.

 I am also having a little giveaway! I will also be giving away a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol 16 to one luck winner too.  If you stop by Quiltmaker's blog you will have a chance to also win my 'Ugly Sweaters' Mug Rug Pattern and all sorts of other goodies!

Remember to just leave a sweet comment for a chance to win. If you want extra chances to win, follow me too, and leave a comment that you do. Make sure to leave me your email address if you are a no reply blogger.  I will announce winners on Monday, November 21st.

For more patterns from Quilt Doodle Designs check out my website;

quiltdoodledesigns.com

or the Quilt Doodle Designs Etsy Shop

I also have a limited supply of signed Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Vol.16

 for sale in my Etsy Shop.

Thank you again for stopping by! Hope that you have fun visiting everyone during the Road Rally! Here let me send you off with a couple of ginger cookies to munch on as you drive to your next destination.

Happy Quilting!

Cindy & Belvedere

Giveaway closed.... Congratulations Barbara Woods!!!

Hate Curved Piecing???

Is the curved piecing on the Dresden block driving you nuts? As I have learned over the years, there is usually more than one way to create a block. From my point of view, there is no right or wrong way as long as it gives you the same results as what the pattern is trying to achieve. Well my friend, Lea at Podunk Pretties has taken my Dresden BOM directions and shown a great tutorial on an alternative way to do the center circle. For those of you who hate curved piecing this is a great alternative method for you! I have gotten several emails on sewing the center circle so I thought it would helpful to share with you this method of doing the center circle. It may make some of your lives easier and make piecing a Dresden plate more enjoyable. You can find Lea's tutorial

HERE

To add a little extra sweetness to this little posting, I thought I would have a give away too! Post your pictures to Instagram, add the hashtag quiltdoodlebom2017 and tag me @quiltdoodledesigns for a chance to win! I am giving away a set of three of my brand new patterns to two winners! I will pick my winners at the end of the month. So remember to post your finished Dresden plates to Instagram and use the #quiltdoodlebom2017 @quiltdoodledesigns so that I can find your pictures!

Happy quilting!

Cindy

Tis the Season BOM Blog Hop

Mark your calendars for Janaury 19th - 22nd for a virtual show and tell. A group of us will be showing off our Quilt Doodle BOM 2016 blocks and finished quilts! Won't it be fun to see the quilts in different fabric choices. I'm really looking forward to it. Not only will it be fun to see everyone's projects but there is also some swag to giveaway to our lucky blog hop winners!

Even if your quilt top isn't finished, please join and show off your blocks. At the end of the hop I will announce the GRAND PRIZE winners for the BOM 2016. But to win you need to join the hop. To join, please EMAIL ME 

your name and email 

your blog if you have one

 ( if you do not have a blog)  I will host for you..

your url of your blog

More details to follow soon!

I will email a listing to all of our participants soon!

Mark your calendars for January 19-22th and post the BOM 2016 button on your blog or website. I have some wonderful prizes to give away at the end of the Quilt Doodle BOM Blog Hop. (Remember you need to participate to win)

You still have time to catch up if you are a block or two behind. This quilt will be so much fun to put out for the holidays. It would also make an awesome gift for someone special. The pattern for finishing the quilt up can be found for FREE this month in my Craftsy Shop and also on my website. Also, if you ever need to find past blocks or tutorials, I have a tab at the top of my blog labeled 2016 BOM that you can click on to get links to all past blog postings for this quilt. A complete listing of fabric supplies can be found on my website, Craftsy Shop and also under the 2016 BOM tab on my blog.

Button packs are available in my Etsy Shop. I have packaged the button packs a couple of different ways. Either as one big pack with everything in it or individually for each design/row.



 Happy Quilting!

Cindy

A Fun Visit

I made a special visit to the Prior Lake Quilters on Tuesday. What a wonderful, talented group of ladies. They were welcoming and fun... I'm always nervous when I do these appearances and afterwards I always think of what I should have said, or forgotten to say... one of these days I will give a perfect presentation. The ladies enjoyed my samples and the freebie design that I handed out. Murphy had fun and did a little of photo bombing while the ladies gathered for the evening.

I always look forward to the 'show and tell' part of the evening. I am always inspired by seeing what others make. Lately I have been envious of anyone who gets sewing time in. (I'm longing to get in the studio and get some quilting done... maybe today) 

I have been looking for a quilt guild to join in hopes that it will bring me some inspiration. Also it would be fun to hang out with some like minded quilting friends. This group seems like it would be a great group to join. I've penciled in the next meeting, I'm hoping to sneak in and sit in the back next month. I'm hoping that it's not too odd to join a group that I just did a presentation to.

Now I want to switch gear and announce a winner for my pre-100 blocks giveaway! I need to thank everyone who left a sweet comment. Please do know that I read them all and love to hear from you. I wish I had more time so that I could respond and write a note back to all of you in thanks! I appreciate the time that you take to leave me a comment. Again, thank you!

 Now onto the giveaway! Wilson and I assigned a number to each sweet comment and then drew a number using random.org

Drum roll.......................................................

and the winner is................

Cecelia

I sent Cecelia a congratulations email.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day and find some time to quilt.

Happy quilting,

Cindy

Giveaway Time!

It’s Giveaway time!!!

It's been awhile since I've had a giveaway!

I have a wonderful giveaway that would be so much fun to win...

Wilson and I are giving away a Bali Cracker which contains 40 - 10" x 10" precut squares 

Maddie girl picked out the pack of InvisaFil Thread... it's a set of 6 - 400m spools.

This thread is wonderful!

How can you win? Leave me a sweet comment on what kind of tutorials you would like to see on the Quilt Doodle Blog. Follow the blog for a second chance to win, leave me  comment that you do follow. Remember, if you are a 'No-reply' blog follower, you need to leave me your email address. It breaks my heart when I get no-reply comments and I have no way to get a hold of you!

-And-

For a third chance to win.... share my giveaway on your blog, or tweet it etc. and let me know how you shared it in a comment.

Good Luck!!!

Wilson, Maddie and I will pick out a winner this Saturday, July 30th!

Happy Quilting!!!

Cindy

Peek-A-Boo Pachyderm! And a Giveaway!

 
 
I am in love with this little elephant.... I had so much un drawing it up and even more fun sewing it. It was one of my new designs that I featured at International Quilt Market in Utah this year. What I love most of all about this particular quilt was the fabric that I used from Adornit. When Janet at Adornit sent me the fabric I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it and this sweet little quilt with the peek a boo corner was born. I just love playing peek a boo with little ones. This design would be adorable for either a little girl or boy and it's sure to become a favorite blankie. My testers enjoyed this pattern and raved about how quick and easy it went together. I enjoyed the 'traditional' layout of the front of the quilt and the peek-a-boo surprise on the back! Don't fret about lining up the applique on the back, it's much easier then you imagine, and the design is such a sweet addition.

Here I am cutting my strip sections to form my blue blocks.

Gotta have pink...

My sections for the blocks are all laid out, ready to sew
the blocks.... I used a total of 12 fat quarters, 4 pink, 4 blue,
4 gray and 4 'neutral'.

It's a very traditional block for the front of the quilt. It's
easy to get the scrappy look using the fat quarters. It's all worked
out in my pattern.

I added a piano key border to add to the quilts size.
The border is such a nice addition to the design.

 

I have the applique lined up with the batting and backing. I love how
the wording lined up on the elephant... I would like to think I fussy cut and planned
on the elephant's flower eye. But that was a happy coincidence. (My mom
pointed that detail out to me.)

All done! I did a basic stitch in the ditch, grid quilting on the quilt.

 

Now, on to some super fun stuff... Janet is hosting a giveaway on the Adornit blog and I'm hosting a giveaway here too! It's super easy.... leave a sweet comment here for a chance to win a copy of my Peek-A-Boo Pachyderm pattern... then ... head on over to the Adornit blog and leave a sweet comment there for a chance to win a fat quarter pack of You & Me fabric!! Wilson and I will pick a winner this Friday, (July 1st).

 

Happy Quilting!

Cindy

The Last of the Show and Tell

 

 

Today is the last of the show and tell for the BOM 2015, I have enjoyed seeing everyone's quilts. But this is the last of the show and tell that will be eligible for the end of the 2015 BOM prizes. I will be picking winners and posting them on Monday, February 29th. I've got some fun prizes and they are listed below.

I haven't posted in a while, life is busy, not in a usual way. I have been juggling more than usual. Some of you know I work in a library during the day and 'quilt' by night (and weekends too) but since before Christmas I have been doing double duty at work. My supervisor took a fall on the ice and has been out since suffering from a head injury. I have been holding down the fort at school since. I keep hoping that she'll recover soon. We all miss her smiling face at work. So I come home at night and collapse in my chair. To add to it all, my blood pressure has spiked, really spiked so I'm on meds. ----big sigh---- This morning is one of the first mornings I actually feel good. Feel like I can conquer the world. At least my little quilt world. I didn't know I was feeling crappy until I woke up this morning feeling great! I know things will get better and I'm hopeful that my co-worker will be back soon. The kids and I really miss her. So thank you for listening...
 

Penny's quilt... I love the pink fabric. Here's a little note from Penny... "Loved this quilt when I saw it...still love it after sewing the blocks together...still need to sandwich and binding will be in the blue in the quilt.."

Judith's quilt, so cute! The added flower border on the top is adorable. Here's a little note from Judith..."I kinda did my own thing with the layout. This quilt makes me happy! Haven't had a chance to quilt it yet. But soon!"

Lori's quilt, I love how she fill the spaces with hearts, bows, flowers and stars. So cute and a nice way to tie some of the colors together. Here's a note from Lori... "I made this quilt with a super group of ladies. We enjoyed each others company through the year. I changed the dog block to a kitty and added some fun applique in the blank blocks."

Helen's quilt is so cute too. I love her birthday cake, it looks like chocolate! Yum!!!
Here's a sweet note from Helen... "The sewing group I belong to, was as excited as I was for the first of the month. 20 of us say "it is a very cute quilt." Thank you...Thank you!" Helen, you are very welcome... it was a fun quilt to design and I have loved seeing everyone's results.

Now onto Prizes!

 

 



 I have some wonderful prizes to give away..... A $75 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop, a batik layer cake from Hoffman Fabrics, a Bali Snap and a package of 'Stone Strips'. Leave a sweet comment for today's quilters for a chance to win too. (Remember you need to participate to win)

I also want to take a moment and thank everyone who participated in last years BOM. I had a great year watching everyone's progress. Thank you! Thank you! You can see more pictures on the Flickr Group.

Happy Quilting,

 

More of My Favorite Things!

 

 

Welcome to the second day of our virtual show and tell of our quilts from the 2015 BOM. It's so much fun seeing the quilt done in different fabrics. Today's quilts are from Janice and Helen. Both have done a beautiful job and I love the stitching and use of fabrics.

A note from Janice... "Many thanks for designing and sharing the 2015 BoM patterns for My Favorite Things.  I looked forward each month to the release of the new block.    My top will be quilted at a quilt retreat at the end of February and I look forward to using it."




Janice's Quilt

Helen's Blocks for her 2015 BOM Quilt

 Stop by again tomorrow for more of our virtual show and tell. I look forward to showing more of the Quilt Doodle BOM 2015 blocks and finished quilts!

Even if your quilt top isn't finished, please join and show off your blocks. At the end of our show and tell I will announce the GRAND PRIZE winners for the BOM 2015.  To join, please EMAIL ME your pictures so that I can add them to the postings for the virtual show and tell.

 I have some wonderful prizes to give away at the end of the Quilt Doodle BOM Blog Hop. A $75 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop, a batik layer cake from Hoffman Fabrics, plus a few other fun things. Leave a sweet comment for today's quilters for a chance to win too. (Remember you need to participate to win)

Remember to also hop over to visit Nicole at
Quilting Like a Maniac tomorrow. She's showing off her beautiful quilt!

Happy Quilting,