National Embroidery Month

Happy National Embroidery Month! It seems quite fitting for the month of February, especially in Minnesota. It has been cold and snowy here all month. Since Punxsutawney Phil declared an early spring, Minnesota has been in revolt! I have been enjoying afternoon's stitching by the fireplace with Belvedere curled up next to me. While getting my Snow Globe quilt ready to be shipped off to the photographer for Marcus Fabrics,  I stitched up a special label. While I was doing this I thought that this extra little detail adds a lot of charm to a finished quilt and it's so easy to do but quite often overlooked. 

I used a basic back stitch, running stitch and French knots for the snowman's eyes and buttons.  Many of these stitches I learned when I was a young girl. Mom taught me how to embroider. I remember her pulling out one of her hoops and showing me where she kept her floss. I don't remember what my first project was but I'm guessing it was a flour sack towel or pillowcase.

I then used my sewing machine's lettering function to sign names, add dates etc.

So included with the main Snowman Snow Globe panel from Marcus Fabrics are three smaller designs that can be used as mug rugs or as a label for the back of your quilt! They can be left as is or  you can use the design lines as a guide for embroidery. You can either embroider the whole design or just highlight certain elements in the design.

Snowman Snow Globe Panel

Available from Marcus Fabrics

Happy stitching!

Cindy and Belvedere

Snuggly Warm Ice Fishing!

I am surrounded by boys, well, men. My boys are all grown up and they love to fish. Especially my oldest son, John. He will fish no matter what the weather or how cold it is outside! He pretty much fishes year round... I was encouraged when he told me, that designs a winner mom! It's not often that my boys comment on my quilt designs. So it made me smile knowing he likes my 'Let's Go Ice Fishing' applique pattern. I am slowly getting better with my wool applique. My blanket stitches are getting better and aren't as wonky anymore. For this project, I gathered my Let's Go Ice Fishing pattern, some wool, pins, pearl cotton, freezer paper, pencil and my Primo Plaid flannel from Marcus Fabrics.  I traced all my pieces onto my freezer paper. Then I ironed on the freezer paper onto the different colors of wool and cut my shapes out for my snowman design.

I used cream thread from Valdini Threads to stitch around the snowman body and the 'snow'.

Here you can see my buttonhole stitches. 

I used a dark brown variegated pearl cotton to stitch around everything else. The snowman's arms are stitched using a backstitch. A backstitch is also used to make the 'flap' on his pockets. French knots are used to make the buttons.

Everything is stitched! I even added a carrot nose button to the snowman's face.

I decided that I would turn this sweet design into a pillow...

I cut an assortment of different Primo Plaid flannel into 1 1/2" strips to sew around my center Let's Go Fishing appliqued block.

As you can see, I sewed the strips around the block in a Log Cabin style. I also wanted it to look scrappy. You could easy just stop here and turn this into a mini quilt or table topper. But I decided to turn mine into a pillow...

Then I added a 2 1/2" strip all the way around to make a 'flanged' pillow....

Here I have my pillow front layered with the back, right sides together. I have sewn around the edge with a 1/4" seam. I then trim the corners and turn it right side out.

Then I stitch, in the ditch between the pillow top front and the flange. Leaving a 2-3" opening so that I can stuff the pillow. After the pillow is stuffed I complete sewing the seams on the inner flange and also close the opening on the edge.

I'm in love with how it turned out. It's going to be an adorable addition to my family room downstairs. It's all decorated with all things 'cabin' and a few snowmen here and there. This pillow will fit right in! This would be a cute project to decorate a cabin with. It's a cozy design. Working on this project made me pretty excited about more of the possibilities working with wool and using my designs. So next time you work with one of my applique designs, think outside the box and stitch it in wool. 

Happy quilting,

Cindy

My fishermen...

Quilt Retreat....

It will be fun to see how
 much Tessa has grown.

Getting ready for quilt retreat is like packing for camp.  You feel like you need to have everything along but there isn't room in the car for it all!  I'm not real sure what I will be in the 'mood' to work on... Packing what to wear is easy... just like camping... yoga pants, t-shirt , flippity floppies. Don't need to dress to impress.  My friends think I'm beautiful no matter how frumpled I may look. Besides, by the end of retreat I am a big ol' walking thread and lint ball anyway!  More importantly, what projects should I pack? Here is a project list, I will be packing these projects.  I just don't know what I'll be in the mood to work on! It will be fun to see what I actually get done...

Takes Two quilt fabric and patterns (I'm so hopelessly behind!)

Building Houses project (months behind....)

Garden Party Blog Hop patterns (I have about 6-8 blocks done)

Civil War Diary Quilt (4 rows done out of 11)

Mock up pattern for un-named quilt using Marcus Brothers Fabrics

redwork designs for quilt

paper to draw out more designs

fabric for the sashing for above redwork quilt

'Laundry Day' quilt to make out of 'Breezy FQ bundle'

'Laundry Day' quilt to quilt

baby flannel for receiving blankets and burp pads
FQB of baby fabric for quilt
Quilt Doodle BOM 2013 blocks and sashing material

This Amy Bradley Design reminds me of
Mom Laura and I at retreat....

I also need to run to the quilt shop and pick up those items I may need or run out of! Thread, needles, batting etc. Mountain Dew.... I will need tons of Mountain Dew to keep me awake....   Of coarse my quilting family will come to my rescue if I need anything. But I really try to have everything on hand. Once I left my notions basket at home, this has EVERYTHING in it.... I sent a frantic text to my  husband..... my dear, sweet hubby made a special trip from home and dropped it off. (I live 1 1/2 hours away from retreat) Luckily he understands the importance of having everything. My friends covered me until his arrival. I'm such a lucky girl....a four day weekend to relax and quilt...

Happy quilting!

My ETSY shop now has INSTANT downloads, so more waiting!

A Wicked Blog Hop!

It's time to have a wicked good time! A huge Thank you to Madame Samm for another awesome hop and to Wendy at Why Knot Kwilt!  I worked on a few original designs. The first one being a haunted house!  Imagine the little ghouls and goblins that go trick or treating here! I enjoy to embroider and this was a fun project to work on in front of the TV.
After I got the center embroidered then I decided to make a no-waste flying geese border all the way around it.... so here's how I did it.... it's not a new technique, and I certainly can't take credit for it.  But it sure made making tiny flying geese blocks easy and accurate to do! I used 3 fat quarters from Thimbleberries to do my block.

I began by cutting 32  ~  1  7/8" black squares and 8 ~ 3  1/4" orange squares

Lay two black squares on one orange square right sides together and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner, you will sew a 1/4" scant seam on each side of the diagonal line.  (I have the diagonal marked here)

Sewing on the lines....

Then cut apart....

Iron... to the dark side....

Then lay a black square on your triangle section, again mark 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal.

I have a stack of them to do to make a border!

Sew on the 1/4" seam line....

Cut apart....

iron... iron to the dark side....this will make 1" x 2" flying geese (1  1/2" x 2  1/2")

Then I trim my embroidery piece down ....

8 flying geese blocks will form the border on each side....

I fussy cut the corner blocks for the border.



Border is all pieced and the block is now ready to quilt.

All quilted

Sewing on the binding....

It's time to welcome the Trick or Treaters!!!



I didn't just stop there, I also made this cute mug rug. 'Frankie'

I also made a skeleton mug rug. I call this fellow 'Mr. Bones'.  I love his candy corn nose. I love candy corn!

I was planning on giving a  copy of Halloween house as a prize, but I'm still trying to write it! But I do have directions for both 'Mr. Bones' and 'Frankie'. So Wilson and I will pick two lucky winners for both patterns. To win... leave me a comment on your favorite Halloween treat. I love candy corn mixed with peanuts. For a second chance to win, be a happy follower and let me know that you are. Wilson and I will draw our lucky winners on Halloween! Yep Halloween! We have all sorts of treats to give away on Halloween!

I get to share today with these talented quilters!

The Quilting Alleycat

Words & Stitches

Geema's Wonderings

Quilt Doodle Doodles (You are here!)

Bacon Then Eggs

Inga

Briarside Lane

Quilts And Smily Faces

Why Knot?

Quilt Matters

Mad Quilter's Disease

Susie's World

Sew Paint Create

Happy Halloween!
Cindy

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Boo!  Firt let me thank, Soma of Whims and Fancies for organizing this wonderfully spooky hop. I love fall and my favorite holiday is Halloween!  I had so much fun designing this spooky block for you! Many of you know that I do a lot of paper piecing.  But when it comes to designing, most of my patterns are applique. I haven't designed many paper pieced blocks, so this was a fun challenge. 

Come Here My Little Sweetie can be downloaded for FREE

HERE and HERE

I dug through my Halloween fabric for my block, since I love Halloween, I have no shortage of fabric. I haven't decided yet what to do with my block... pillow, do I make more spooky blocks and make a table runner or quilt?  hummmmmm ......What do you think?



'Come Here My Little Sweetie'

It's time for treats... I also have a giveaway!  Leave me a comment on what you would do with my 'Come Here Little Sweetie' block..... for a chance to win a PDF copy of my 'Grandpa's Pumpkin' table runner pattern.

For a second chance to win let me know that you are a follower... for a third... tweet about my post and/or the 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' Blog Hop.
Wilson and I will choose two winners on Halloween!  Yep.... October 31st!

Two lucky winners will win a PDF copy of my very first pattern!

 A complete listing of designers for this hop can be found at Whims and Fancies.

Yesterday's block was designed by Jennifer Ofenstein, Sewhooked 

Tomorrow's block will be presented by Suziecurls, Hosted at Whims And Fancies

Happy Halloween!!!

Psssssst.... I also have a giveaway going on for The Glorious Autumn Block Party... Wilson and I will be picking a winner October 23rd.... check it out and enter!  There's a free block pattern too!

Leafs Me Happy!

  I love fall, it is my favorite season, fall makes me happy!  I enjoy the cooler weather, the fall colors and the smell of fireplaces burning and hot apple cider.... Wilson and I enjoy fall time walks and the crunch of leaves beneath our feet.  So for this blog hop I designed a Fall themed block which displays a happy pumpkin skipping along on a cool fall day!  The fabric is from Marcus Brothers, and I used variegated orange DMC floss for the embroidery. The pattern for 'Autumn Dance' can be found in my Etsy and Craftsy shop.

My 'Autumn Dance' block measures 12  1/2" x 12  1/2"
It fits perfectly on a quilt hanger.

I had so much fun sewing my block, that I also designed a fall themed mug mat.
The pattern for the mug mat can be found in my Craftsy and Etsy stores.  It's a quick
and easy project!

   I love giveaways so I am offering to a lucky winner a set of two 1/3 yard cuts of fabric from Marcus Brothers Bonnie Blue Cotton Club! For a chance to win leave me a comment about what you love about fall. Follow me for a second chance to win and make sure to leave a comment that you do. For a third chance... tweet about this fabulous hop and leave a comment that you did. Wilson and I will pick our lucky winner on October 11th.  

Bonnie Blue from Marcus Brothers
each are a 1/3 yard cut...

Thank you!  Madame Samm and Cherry at Cherry Blossoms for organizing such a fun Fall Blog Hop. So grab a hot cup of apple cider, hot chocolate or coffee and enjoy the hop.   I get to share today's hop with these talented quilters;   Debby Kratovil Quilts
Patchouli Moon Studio
Freemotion by the River
Quilt Doodle Designs (You are here!)
Apple Avenue Quilts
Jane’s Quilting
Spoilt Dog Quilts
Ramblings of a Quilter
Deborah Brightwell – on That Other Blog
A Passion For Appliqué
Gracie Oliver Arts

The master schedule can also be found HERE... Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Takes Two Quilt Progress....

Life sometimes happens and we need to adapt and adjust.... that's been my summer pretty much.  Last weekend was our scheduled quilt retreat and well, life threw us a curve ball again and I had to get my catchers mitt out and I adapted and made some adjustments.  Quilt retreat was spent at mom and dad's sewing at the dining room table as I helped to care for my dad.  My sister joined us and it was very nice.... I still got to see what everyone was working on and enjoyed visiting with my family.  I maybe didn't get as much done but that's OK.  I allowed myself time to just slow down.... I watched some John Wayne movies with dad while I stitched along, I got to admire my sisters projects.... she's got a super cute block made for the Dots on Dots Blog Hop. Mom worked on a pretty fall quilt.

While at mom and dad's, I worked on my Takes Two Quilt.  I am so hopelessly behind on this project.....  big sigh...... I started my weekend putting my printed instructions in order.... I haven't worked on this in months.  I just faithfully printed up directions twice a month and man, did my stack pile up! So here is what I got accomplished this last weekend....

Here's block #40
It took a while to get pieced together, don't look too close... my set in seams aren't great.

I was able to piece together section A.  Woot! Woot!

These are the blocks I got done this weekend.  I'm in love with the
airplanes... I think they are so sweet.  You can't see it here because I
strategically layered my blocks to hide it, but one block is put together wrong.
I made the same mistake TWICE... so I put the block away for another day....

Happy Quilting and perfect stitches to you,