July - An Island Batik Month

I had so much fun this month as an

Island Batik Ambassador.

I wanted to do a recap of the month

because the projects are some of my favorite to date.

The beginning of July brought the

Island Batik was super generous and provided the fabrics

from the new

Freedom fabrics collection designed by Kathy Engle

for my

Carpenter Star quilt.

I've always wanted to participate in the 

Quilts of Valor Foundation

and this was the month I finally did it.

That post can be found by clicking HERE.

One of the biggest challenges for July was a video challenge for Island Batik.

We receive 2 boxes a year and this was box number two.

Mid-July I was super excited to join other

talented Thermoweb designers

 for the

Summer Fun Sew Along.

I combined my Thermoweb designer gig with my Island Batik Ambassador gig

and

had so much fun 

 designing a quilt block inspired by so many childhood memories.

Later I made the Summer Fun Kitchen Towels with the sew along quilt blocks.

The post with all the pattern information is HERE and the towel post is HERE.

I saved my favorite July project for last:

The July Challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors was

Artsy Fartsy.

I went out to our pond and spent time just looking around and taking pictures.

That was my inspiration for

Patience - The Art

The real challenge was to make him look half in and out of the water of the pond.

Check out the fun pictures of my frog process HERE.

He was so fun to create and I didn't want him to get lost in the shuffle of vacations

 and 

crazy busy summer fun.

Bring on August!!

Catching Fireflies - Summer Fun Sew Along

Oh, how I love summer.

So many fun things to do and enjoy the outdoors.

Today, we are celebrating

sweet summertime with a sew-along.

I'm so excited to join the 

talented Thermoweb designers

 for the

Summer Fun Sew Along.

Today I am sharing this quilt block:

There are 4 quilt blocks and the patterns are all free.

The fabrics I'm using are from

Island Batik

and the thread I used to stitch around the applique is

Aurifil thread:  50wt #2620

I'm using

 HeatNBond EZ Print Lite 

to print the patterns right on the fusible adhesive to create all of the quilt blocks. 

 Just print, fuse, cut, bond, and stitch.  It's that easy.

Head over to the Thermoweb Blog

to download the 4 FREE patterns

and

Quilt Along

 with us.

I'll have a project with all the blocks to share on July 28th over on the Thermoweb blog.

I've been having some summer fun.

Union Square Quilt Along

When the Fat Quarter Shop asked if I would make a quilt block for the 

Union Square Quilt Along,

I took one look at the block

and couldn't wait to make one.

The Union Square Quilt Along is part of the

Fat Quarter Shop's 

Classic and Vintage Series

where they focus on traditional quilt blocks

and add a modern touch.

With each block in the series, the block pattern and video tutorial are FREE.

You can find the Union Square Quilt Block Pattern

HERE

and

the video tutorial HERE.

Once you've mastered the quilt block, a quilt pattern is available for purchase

with 4 different sizes included.

To make a quilt like this one

the Fat Quarter Shop has the 

Union Square Quilt Kit and a backing set available for purchase.

If you like the fabrics in the quilt, 

check out the

Susanna's Scraps collection by Betsy Chutchian for Moda Fabrics

I used Kona Cotton Solids for my block

and can't wait to make more.

Have fun making your own Union Square

and

joining the Quilt Along

with me!

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days in South Africa

It was about a year ago when I created

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days

and my year has been so fun keeping up with the enthusiasm I've received by everyone making blocks and quilts.

My heart swells and eyes tear from the comments and visits to my blog.

I designed these blocks with the beginner in mind

and

 the blocks are perfect for quick piecing for anyone.

Each block makes so many designs when put together.

 

Or make all 30 blocks for a great sampler quilt.

Today I received such a wonderful email from a guild in 

South Africa

 and I wanted to share their pictures.

In January, Sue emailed to ask if I minded if she used

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days

to share and teach to her guild,

Hayfields Quilting Guild in Pietermaritzburg SA.

Mind?  Of course not, but thank you, Sue, for asking!!!!

She explained her group of about 60 meets once a month to share, quilt, and chat.

Sue sent me this picture of her work in progress quilt top last April.

Today she shared more made by members of the guild:

Each quilt is a little different with color, but also with borders and sashing.

The quilting is so cool, too!

Thank you, Sue, for the email.

Feeling the love today!

Magical November - Fat Quarter Shop Quilt Along Maple Leaf Quilt / Aunt Challenge

 Today, I finally get to share this finish.

I'm not so good with secret sewing
and
this one was a "go" and then rescheduled.
(you may have seen it a few days ago - oops)

I'm excited to show this one now!

This quilt is made with Fat Quarter Shop's newest pattern from their 

Classic and Vintage Series of patterns,

Maple Leaf Quilt block.

The Fat Quarter Shop asked if I would make one quilt block for the Maple Leaf Quilt Along, but once I started I couldn't stop.

I had so much fun and my pile of blocks continued to grow.

I made 30 blocks and put a border around them to make a nice lap sized quilt.

My fabrics are Hello Jane by Windham Fabrics and the background is Kona in white

Fat Quarter Shop's downloadable pattern is available for purchase and there is a kit too. 

 Just click HERE. 

The best part of joining Fat Quarter Shop with the buzz about this new pattern

is I was able to make this quilt for my niece and her soon to be husband.

They are to be married next month, thus the name of the quilt is

 "Magical November"

For me, this is another quilt finished for my aunt challenge that was started 

6 years and 6 quilts ago.

Thank you, Fat Quarter Shop for this opportunity to join you and mark another quilt off my list.

It's the Final Day of the 30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop and Quilt Along! Giveaway Winner too.

Today is the final day of

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days.

It's hard to believe we are finishing today.  It makes me sad to see this blog hop end.

It's been so much fun.

Every day in April there has been one super simple quilt block tutorial for the quilt along here
and 
one designer showing a project with that block on their blog

and the bloggers have been incredible!

For 30 days bloggers

have shown new and different ways to use each of the

30 quilt blocks.

Today is my day to show a project using today's quilt block

but first, here is the block.

Block 30 - Slow Tee

Size Unfinished: 10 1/2" x 10 1/2"

Finished Size: 10" x 10"

Cut 6 rectangles 4 1/4" x 3" - 4 green / 2 white

Cut 2 rectangles 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" - white

Cut 4 squares 1 3/4" - 2 white / 2 green

Stitch them together as laid out with 1/4" seams.

Stitch the center squares together first, then sew the white 4 1/4" x 3" rectangles to the middle unit.  Stitch the green outer rectangles to the large white rectangles and lastly, 

stitch the three rows of units together.

When put together, these blocks make a great quilt.

Since it's my day in the blog hop, I made another layout with 30 blocks but this time I turned every other block. No matching seams that way.   I also used different Tula Pink All Stars collection fabrics.

I used 3" unfinished borders and made the quilt top.

The wind was blowing so hard that the fence was the only place I could take a picture.

I think this will be a perfect graduation present for my niece.

The finished size is 55" x 65".

We've been through all of the 30 quilt blocks.

Have you been quilting along?

Here is my "30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days" finished quilt.

The quilt was made with all 30 blocks in the order in columns and then 3" borders were added.

This quilt was made with the same blocks moved around a little and a different pieced border.

The fabrics were all scrappy stash fabrics. 

The details on this quilt can be found by clicking HERE.

THANK YOU

to all the bloggers

who inspired us with all the projects

and

practically ran this blog hop without me.

You are ALL STARS!!!

This is the full schedule for the Blog Hop

 with direct links (thanks to Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats) 

and links to tutorials for each block:

Date

Project Designer

Block

April 1st	Creatin’ in the Sticks	Block 1- 4 Patch
April 2nd	Kwilty Pleasures Blog	Block 2 – Double Stuffed
April 3rd	Sew Incredibly Crazy	Block 3 – Baby in a Corner
April 4th	SBD Embroidery and Quilting	Block 4 – Dutch Door
April 5th	What About Rheema	Block 5- Surrounded
April 6th	Quilted Delights	Block 6 – Tacked Up
April 7th	Joy Studio	Block 7 – Stripper
April 8th	Just Sew Quilter	Block 8 – Staggered
April 9th	Quiltscapes	Block 9 – Topsy Turvy
April 10th	beaquilter	Block 10 – Chunky Pinwheel
April 11th	Freemotion by the River	Block 11 – Painted Window
April 12th	krislovesfabric	Block 12 – Broken Cinder Block
April 13th	MooseStashQuilting	Block 13 – Reaction
April 14th	Quilts by Joanne	Block 14 – Median Strip
April 15th	Persimon Dreams	Block 15 – Center of Attention
April 16th	Needled Mom	Block 16 – Bounce
April 17th	Just Let Me Quilt	Block 17 – Sweet Sixteen
April 18th	Life in Scrapatch	Block 18 – Yeah Eights
April 19th	Quarter Inch Crafter	Block 19 – Weave
April 20th	Seams To Be Sew	Block 20 – Classic
April 21st	Just Let Me Quilt	Block 21 – Spot
April 22nd	Something Rosemade	Block 22 – Cross Walk
April 23rd	Thimblemouse and Spouse	Block 23 – Opposites Attract
April 24th	Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.	Block 24 – Possibility
April 25th	Words & Stitches	Block 25 – Camper Window
April 26th	Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats	Block 26 – Catching Z’s
April 27th	Selinaquilts	Block 27 – Broken Stripes
April 28th	QuiltFabrication	Block 28 – Stockade
April 29th	Lakeshore Stitches	Block 29 – Dovetail
April 30th	Creatin’ in the Sticks	Block 30 – Slow Tee

You can see all the blocks and quilts in one place:

If you are making or have made the blocks, we have a Facebook page for sharing.

Click here to join the group.

One more thing...

We have a giveaway winner to announce.

Congratulations to 

Brenda A!

I wish I had more prizes.

The comments have been oh so sweet!

Thanks for following this journey, I hope it was as fun for you as it was for me.

sob....