How to Applique Words {LOVE YOU Pillow}

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I am a word-a-holic and I LOVE anything with words: signs, mugs, pillows, t-shirts, you name it!  I love adding words to my sewing projects and today I am going to show you how to do this start to finish! Today I’m sharing this pillow tutorial over at Diary of a Quilter!  Hop over to Amy’s blog to for the full instructions!

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Once the appliqué is finished you can turn it into a pillow using your favorite method; mine is a zipper closure on the back. For more information on inserting a zipper into a pillow, click HERE.

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Here is another example of a fun word appliqué project! Click HERE for the turorial.

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Valentine I Love Cats Quilt

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I love February!  I love Valentine’s Day and I love hearts!!!  I changed up the colors in my I Love Cats quilt to give you a little Valentine inspiration!!  You can find the link to the quilt by clicking here.  I only hope I have time to make it!

The Cake Mix Quilt Book {Marzipan Quilt}

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I am super excited to share with you the fun I’ve had sewing the Marzipan Quilt from It’s Sew Emma’s latest book The Cake Mix Quilt Book Volume One!!!  This is a collection of 8 Cake Mixes with two easy quilt patterns for each, totaling 16 yummy quilts!    For my layer cake I choose Little Miss Sunshine by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics.  The background fabric is Essex Linen in natural.

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I have always wanted to try the Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. Cake Mix Recipe cards!  Since I am a visual learner, I watched the You Tube video so I knew exactly how to use the Cake Mix Recipe cards.

Here is an up close photo of the Cake Mix recipe cards in action.  You pin them to the layer cakes squares and then sew on the dotted lines!

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Having the papers attached while pressing makes for crisp seams!IMG_6254

Hundreds of Half Square Triangles!!!
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The Marzipan Quilt consists of 16 blocks – the block is super fun to put together!

I enjoyed using the Cake Mix Recipe Cards because you get perfect half square triangles, they help with pressing, and you don’t have to square up the HSTs because it’s built into the pattern!

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I changed my quilt only slightly:  I used 2 1/2″ sashing strips and added 2 1/2″ setting squares.  This is such a great pattern – It allows you to make a large quilt with only 1 layer cake + background – it’s magic!!

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Mufasa just had to be apart of the action!  He’s a seasoned quilt model!!

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Farmhouse Christmas Ornaments

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Today I am sharing how to make these charming farmhouse-inspired Christmas ornaments!  With only 4 days left till Christmas you have plenty of time to whip these up!  You can find the full tutorial over on the Therm O Web blog!DSC_0951

You can download an print the words onto the EZ Print transfer sheets – did I mention I love adding words to EVERYTHING?????  🙂

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Moonlight Path – Update and Christmas Version

Here is a little update on my Moonlight Path quilt tutorial!
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I have always loved this pattern – it looks so much more difficult than it really is!

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I just got it back from the quilter and I love love love how it turned out!

It’s perfect with the soft aqua minky on the back!

You can scroll down to find the full tutorial.

img_6504As a little bonus I’ve included a Christmas design which alternates red block and green block.  You can use all your scraps of low volume for the background – super fun!

I omitted the “cat” blocks in the Christmas version – it’s the same block repeating.

OK – I got totally carried away with the quilt design software and I have a bunch of different Christmas versions!  I can’t wait to make one!!!

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Let’s get started!!

all seams 1/4″

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We will only be using 2 1/2″ strips for the blocks.

Each dark print 2 1/2″ strip will be enough for one block.  You need 50 dark strips for the 50 blocks.

Each light print 2 1/2″ strip will be enough for (2) blocks.  You need 25 light print strips.

Each medium print 2 1/2″ strip will be enough for (2) blocks.  You need 25 medium print strips.

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Once the strips are cut, sew the light and medium strips together lengthwise.  Press toward the dark.  Sub-cut into 2 1/2″ increments.  Cut the dark strips in 4 1/2″ increments.  The above picture shows everything you need for one block.

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Sew the strip set to the dark rectangle as pictured above.  You will have (4) of these units per block.

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Continue sewing in this manner until all the strips are sewn into these units.

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The pieced units will be sewn as pictured above, like a 4-patch.  I pressed the seams alternately as much as I could for easy matching.

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Now you have a finished block!  Continue sewing all the units together to form 50 blocks.

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I love how they each turned out!!!

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Cat Blocks

You will need to make 6 additional fussy-cut cat blocks to mix in.

Fussy cut the cat fabric in 4 1/2″ squares.  Cut 6.

Cut (24) light 2 1/2″ squares.

Cut (24) medium 2 1/2″ squares.

Cut (24) dark 2 1/2″ squares.

Lay them out according to the photo below:

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Sew the top and bottom rows together.  Sew the sides together, press, then sew to the sides of the cat square.  Finally sew the top and bottom rows to the center cat unit, matching seams.  Press.  img_6469

I love the cat block!  It wouldn’t be a quilt unless there was a little theme print in it!!!  Of course you could omit the cat blocks and just make 56 of the original blocks.

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Lay the quilt out 7 blocks across and 8 rows down.  I had to play around with my blocks so they didn’t create an unwanted pattern.  It’s tricky to look random 🙂  Sew the blocks together pressing seams alternately with each row.  Sew the rows together pinning at every seam intersection.  Quilt, bind, love!

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Save

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American Patchwork & Quilting Feb 2018 edition

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Be sure to pick up the latest American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine that just went on sale!  You will find this inside!  I loved working with the Farmer’s Daughter fabric line by Moda.  It is so beautiful.  I am stunned by this amazing photo – it captures the quilt so well!!!  It’s a fun quilt with 20 blocks and sashing!103194855_web

Here is the magazine cover so you know what to look for!  I hope you love it!
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Sparkle Quilt {Free Quilt Pattern}

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I am so totally in love with Simple Simon & Co’s latest fabric line Shine Bright by Riley Blake Designs!!  I just finished painting Sally’s room mint green and I designed this quilt for her bed!  The fabrics are perfect for girls – there is even a little bling on some of the fabrics!

Screen Shot 2017-12-06 at 12.49.36 AMYou will love how fast it comes together – each square is a 5″ charm square.  sparkle quilt
You can download the free PDF pattern by clicking HERE.

sparkle quilt blockEach block is cuter than the next!!
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Happiness is Handmade Table Runner

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I am so happy to be a part of Lori Whitlock’s Happiness is Handmade blog tour!  Lori is such a sweet and talented gal and her new line of fabric totally captured my heart!

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The fabrics are playful and whimsical and are just what you need in your Quilty stash!

Her floral print is what totally pushed me over the edge!  I was inspired by the vintage feel of the floral fabric to make a table runner – perfect for afternoon tea!

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I love all the fabrics in this line – I chose a more subtle palette for this project.  The table runner is from Sherri Falls’ Tablerunner Bliss book and this pattern is called Blossom Tablerunner.

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The flowers are so vintage-y beautiful!!!

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I even used the navy floral for the binding.  I really want a whole dress out of this fabric!
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The colors are perfect for my kitchen but it might just end up in the family room!
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Thanks for stopping by!!!  I’d love to invite you over for tea 🙂
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O Holy Night Advent

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It’s December 1st!  The spirit of Christmas is in the air!!!  This year our family is focusing on “Lighting the World” each day in December by doing an act of service or kindness.  These can be super small things like writing a thank you letter, forgiving someone, donating clothes, or visiting someone who is lonely.  However small the gesture seems, if we all participate, we CAN make a difference!  How will you Light the World this December?  To learn more and for a list of suggestions each day go to Mormon.org.

I am spreadig the light of Jesus by taking my favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night, and creating an image for each day in December using the song lyrics.  These are a little gift to you as they are free to download.  I was thinking it would be fun to print them out and use them with our advent calendar.  I hope you enjoy them and that they bring the spirit of Christ into you heart.

Click here for the Dropbox link to download the files.  I will add a new one each day!
o holy night

the stars

saviours birth

long lay

till he appeared 2

a thrill of hope

the weary world

for younder

fall on your knees

oh hear

o night

led by the light

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oer the world 2

king of kings

in our trials

he knows

behold your king

truly

his law

in his name

sweet hymns

with all our hearts

Christ is the Lord

his power

Christmas Party Quilt Reveal

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I just got my Christmas Party quilt back from my quilter!  I am so in love with this quilt!  My quilt model needed some work so here he is showing off the beautiful snowflake quilting!christmas party quilt 3

My favorite part of the quilt is the green cat border combined with the pink candy cane binding – SERIOUSLY!!!!!

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The back is a light aqua with small circles – from the Daysail line by Moda.christmas party quilt pattern
It goes perfectly in my retro-whimsy family room – but it’s actually going to be hung upstairs in the hallway.christmas party quilt
You can find the pattern for this quilt in my Etsy shop.  I hope you like it!

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